Jun 4, 2026, 12:49 PM ET

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Justin Fields remains in the mix to start Week 1 of the 2026 season, giving him some short-term upside in fantasy football. The Chiefs traded for Fields this offseason as a solid backup option to Patrick Mahomes (knee), who might not be ready for the season opener. If that's the case, Fields would draw the start against the Broncos, with potential games to follow in subsequent weeks against the Colts, Dolphins, and Raiders. The former Bears first-round pick was a productive fantasy option in 2024 with the Steelers, but he lost his job to Russell Wilson midseason that year. Likewise, he was a solid fantasy quarterback as a Jet in 2025, but an injury cost him the second half of his season. Across his six healthy games last year, Fields totaled 1,259 passing yards, 325 rushing yards, 11 total touchdowns, and just two turnovers. Fields' rushing upside and ability to protect the football give him high-end QB2 appeal as long as Mahomes is sidelined, even if that's just for a couple of weeks. Dynasty managers with some quarterback uncertainty should look to acquire him at a discount and deploy him as a solid fantasy option for the first few weeks of the 2026 campaign.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

Jun 4, 2026, 12:41 PM ET

Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert faces new competition within the position group, and yet he still remains a dynasty riser after his career-best finish (TE7) last season. Goedert had never finished higher than TE10 before last year, but he broke out in a huge way with 60 catches, 591 yards, and a whopping 11 touchdowns. We can expect some natural touchdown regression in 2026, and Goedert probably will lose some volume to rookie tight end Eli Stowers. Nevertheless, he remains a candidate for a large target share, especially after the Eagles traded away A.J. Brown and his 121 vacated targets. It's a contract year for Goedert, and at just 31 years old, he should remain an NFL starter for several years to come, regardless of whether he's in Philadelphia or somewhere else. The Stowers addition has lowered Goedert's cost in dynasty trades, making him an appealing buy-low target this offseason.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

Jun 4, 2026, 12:33 PM ET

Kansas City Royals manager Matt Quatraro said that third baseman Maikel Garcia (hamstring) will be available off the bench in Thursday's series opener versus the division-rival Minnesota Twins, and he hopes that Garcia will be able to return in Minnesota this weekend, according to Royals broadcaster Joel Goldberg. The 26-year-old will miss a fifth straight game on Thursday due to a right-hamstring injury, but it looks like he will avoid a trip to the injured list. Nick Loftin has been making starts at the hot corner in place of Garcia, and he should do so again in the series opener at Target Field on Thursday night against Twins right-hander Andrew Morris. Garcia has only gone deep three times so far in 2026 and has not homered since April 30. The Venezuelan third baseman was a first-time All-Star in 2025, but he has so far disappointed fantasy managers in his fifth year in the majors, slashing .268/.325/.384 with a .709 OPS, 21 RBI, 28 runs scored, and only four stolen bases across 56 games played.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Joel Goldberg

Jun 4, 2026, 12:22 PM ET

The Green Bay Packers have signed wide receiver Christian Watson to a four-year, $110.5 million extension, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. The deal includes a $31 million signing bonus. Watson is a very talented receiver and former first-round pick, but injuries have plagued him over the years. He has missed 20 games in four years since entering the league, including the first six weeks of the 2025 season. With that being said, he's productive when healthy. He caught 35 passes for 611 yards and six touchdowns across 10 games last year, ranking as the overall WR9 in PPR leagues from Week 9-17. Watson's role is only expected to grow in 2026, now that Romeo Doubs has departed for New England. Watson projects as the Packers' No. 1 receiver ahead of players like Jayden Reed and Matthew Golden. An AAV of $26M+ is a big investment for a receiver with a significant injury history, but when he's healthy, he's worth every penny. As it stands, Watson is the WR42 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Adam Schefter

Jun 4, 2026, 12:22 PM ET

Kansas City Royals manager Matt Quatraro said that he will match up the ninth inning based on availability and situations moving forward in the short term, but he still views right-handed reliever Lucas Erceg as a ninth-inning option in the long term, according to Royals broadcaster Joel Goldberg. Erceg has been the team's primary option for saves since veteran Carlos Estevez (shoulder) went down due to injury after his first appearance of the year in late March, but the 31-year-old blew his sixth save of the season on Tuesday and has a rough 6.45 ERA, 1.97 WHIP, and 20:15 K:BB along with his 11 saves in 22 1/3 innings pitched so far in 2026. The Royals called upon Alex Lange to close out the win over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday, and he, Daniel Lynch, and Matt Strahm could start seeing more chances in the ninth inning with Erceg struggling for consistency. Once Estevez returns from the injured list, whenever that may be, he could be the favorite for saves in KC the rest of the way, making him a stash candidate now for fantasy managers in need of saves options.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Joel Goldberg

Jun 4, 2026, 12:22 PM ET

New York Yankees outfielder/designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (calf) will take live batting practice again on Saturday and then continue to ramp up his running program, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. However, Stanton will not be activated from the 10-day injured list during the team's next road trip, according to manager Aaron Boone. The Yankees kick off their next road trip on Monday, June 8, in Cleveland, and it runs until Sunday, June 14, in Toronto. The right-handed power hitter continues to progress slowly from a strained calf and hasn't played for the Yankees since April 24. There's still plenty of power in Stanton's lumber, but durability issues continue to make him hard to keep rostered in shallow mixed leagues. Stanton is now rostered in less than 30% of Yahoo leagues. With Aaron Judge (ribs) potentially joining Stanton on the IL, the Yankees could be dangerously thin in the outfield going forward.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch

Jun 4, 2026, 11:51 AM ET

Chicago Cubs left-hander Justin Steele (elbow) will be sidelined until after the All-Star break in mid-July after suffering a setback during his rehab from UCL surgery in late April. However, the 30-year-old southpaw might still be worth stashing for pitching depth in the second half of the 2026 season in deeper leagues. Steele, a fifth-rounder in 2014 out of a high school in Mississippi, only made four starts for the Cubbies last year before needing surgery on his left elbow. From 2022 to 2024, though, Steele combined for a 25-17 record, 3.10 ERA (3.14 FIP), a 1.19 WHIP, and a 437:123 K:BB in 78 starts across 427 innings pitched. There will surely be limitations on his workload when he returns to Chicago's starting rotation in the second half, but his body of work in recent seasons shows that he can be an asset for fantasy managers when he's healthy. Right now, Steele is rostered in just under 10% of Yahoo leagues, and that number should slowly rise as he nears his 2026 debut this summer.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Baseball Reference

Jun 4, 2026, 11:45 AM ET

Miami Marlins corner infielder Deyvison De Los Santos is seeing the ball well with the Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp right now and could be on the verge of returning to the big leagues early in June. The 22-year-old Dominican is currently hitting .266 (45-for-169) with six home runs, 30 RBI, 22 runs scored, and eight stolen bases in his 43 games with Jacksonville. He got a cup of coffee with the big-league club back in early April and went 2-for-7 at the plate with a double and three strikeouts in just three games played before being shipped back to the farm. De Los Santos isn't among the Marlins' top-30 prospects at MLB Pipeline, but his impressive raw power and high exit velocities on the farm make him an intriguing dynasty/keeper stash with another MLB call-up likely to come sooner rather than later in 2026. In the last 28 days at Triple-A, De Los Santos is hitting .293 (24-for-82) with two homers and 15 RBI. He can be had in nearly all Yahoo leagues, as he's currently rostered in just 1% of formats.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Baseball Reference

Jun 4, 2026, 11:30 AM ET

Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter returned from the injured list on Sunday after missing roughly three weeks with an AC joint sprain in his left shoulder, and now that he's back, he deserves attention off the waiver wire from fantasy managers who are searching for more power. Carpenter might only be hitting .239 (27-for-113) on the season, but he has hit seven home runs in just 129 plate appearances, and he has gone 5-for-11 with a homer, double, three RBI, and a run scored in his first three games since being reinstated from the IL on Sunday. The 28-year-old former 19th-round pick in 2019 out of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University can be a streaky hitter, but when he's locked in at the plate, he can carry fantasy baseball teams. Carpenter has an .825 career OPS and clubbed a career-high 26 home runs while driving in 62 runs in 130 regular-season games in 2025 for the Tigers. He's available in just over 60% of Yahoo leagues right now. Don't miss out on him before he heats up further.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Baseball Reference

Jun 4, 2026, 11:20 AM ET

Athletics outfielder Carlos Cortes is hitting .316 (75-for-237) in his first 91 major-league games since debuting with the A's in 2025. In 49 games so far in 2026 in his first full year in the Show, he has hit .322/.406/.503 with a .910 OPS, five home runs, nine doubles, a triple, 17 RBI, 15 runs scored, and a stolen base across 165 plate appearances. It has helped that the A's have shielded him from left-handed pitchers, but in his 10 at-bats against southpaws, he has five hits (two doubles). The 28-year-old left-handed hitter has proven that he can hit for average so far in the big leagues, even if he doesn't have a ton of power. Cortes has slowed down a bit in recent games, going 3-for-20 with a double, two runs, three walks, and two strikeouts in his last seven contests. Under the hood, Cortes ranks in just the 51st percentile in hard-hit rate, but his expected batting average of .310 is the fourth-highest among qualified hitters, suggesting that he should be rostered in more than 12% of Yahoo leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Baseball Reference

Jun 4, 2026, 11:20 AM ET

Chicago White Sox rookie second baseman/outfielder Rikuu Nishida, who is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the team's No. 26 prospect, was recently called up from the minors by the Pale Hose, and he had hits in his first two big-league games. The 25-year-old Japanese native was an 11th-round selection by Chicago in the 2023 MLB draft out of the University of Oregon. With Jarred Kelenic being designated for assignment recently, it looks like Nishida will get the opportunity to serve on the strong side of a platoon in Chicago's outfield for the time being against right-handed pitching. Through his first nine games in the big leagues, Nishida has gone 5-for-24 (.208) with two RBI, three runs scored, no walks, and five strikeouts. He only stands at a mere 5-foot-6, 150 pounds, and has zero power. However, Nishida is extremely disciplined at the plate and rarely chases out of the zone. If you're looking for a boost in on-base percentage with some plus speed, Nishida might be worth a look off the waiver wire in much deeper fantasy leagues. Nishida is rostered in just 1% of Yahoo leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Baseball Reference

Jun 4, 2026, 11:20 AM ET

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (ribs, shoulder) is missing a third straight game on Thursday in the series finale in the Bronx against the Cleveland Guardians, per MLB.com. Max Schuemann will make the start in right field for the Yankees and will bat ninth against Guardians right-hander Slade Cecconi. Judge is considered day-to-day for now, but he was scheduled to be sent for more testing on what the Yankees are calling a bone bruise in his ribs that is causing soreness in his right shoulder. Until we know more, there's a chance the superstar outfielder will need a stint on the 10-day injured list, so fantasy managers need to plan accordingly. The 34-year-old three-time MVP's recent struggles -- .163 average with one homer, seven walks, and 15 strikeouts in his last 13 games -- could be attributed to his health issue. With Giancarlo Stanton (calf) and Jasson Dominguez (shoulder) still on the IL, the Yankees are dangerously thin in their outfield. If Judge goes on the IL, left-handed-hitting outfield prospect Spencer Jones could return to the majors.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

Jun 4, 2026, 11:20 AM ET

Detroit Tigers right-hander Casey Mize (groin) threw a bullpen session on Tuesday after just being placed on the 15-day injured list last Friday with inflammation in his right groin, according to Chris McCosky of The Detroit News. It's unclear what is next for Mize, but it's looking like he might be ready to return to the Tigers' starting rotation when he's eligible to come off the IL on June 12. That would only happen if the team feels that he doesn't need to go on a minor-league rehab assignment. Mize doesn't have a ton of strikeout upside, although he does have a career-best 26.5% strikeout rate so far in 2026 in his nine starts for Detroit. After being named an All-Star for the first time in 2025, Mize has gone 2-3 this year with a career-best 2.27 ERA (2.41 FIP) and 0.96 WHIP with 49 strikeouts and only 12 walks in 47 2/3 innings pitched. He has a smaller margin for error than other starting pitchers, but he has become more attractive as a matchup-based streamer so far in 2026. Mize is currently rostered in just over half of Yahoo leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Detroit News - Chris McCosky

Jun 4, 2026, 10:46 AM ET

St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said that rookie infielder JJ Wetherholt has been dealing with some lower-half soreness, but he is expected to return to the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Cincinnati Reds, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The Cardinals held Wetherholt out of the lineup in their win over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday, and he'll have another day of rest during the team's scheduled off day on Thursday. The Cardinals expect Wetherholt to be ready to roll for the weekend after two days of rest. In his first year in the big leagues, the 23-year-old former seventh overall pick in 2024 out of West Virginia University has hit .249/.357/.400 with a .757 OPS, nine home runs, 25 RBI, seven stolen bases, and 40 runs scored across his 225 at-bats. Wetherholt hasn't homered since May 19, but he's hit .286 (14-for-49) with two doubles, an RBI, five runs scored, and two steals in his last 12 games since May 20. Expect him to be back atop the Cardinals' batting order on Friday.--Keith Hernandez
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold

Jun 4, 2026, 10:19 AM ET

New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson caught 45 passes in 2025 for 528 yards and five touchdowns, demonstrating a clear chemistry with quarterback Jaxson Dart and finishing as the TE13 or better in six of their nine games played together. However, calls for a true year-three breakout were largely quieted when the Giants committed $26 million in guaranteed money to free agent Isaiah Likely. With Johnson having since fallen to TE40 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings, he could now be seen as a low-cost trade target with multiple paths to outperforming expectations. Head coach John Harbaugh arrives from Baltimore, where the Ravens were the only team in 2025 to run more plays out of 12-personnel than out of 11, and new offensive coordinator Matt Nagy's successful ability to run an offense through the tight end position is well documented. Johnson is only 25 years old, and in an offense proven desperate for secondary pass catchers by the recent signings of Odell Beckham Jr., JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Braxton Berrios, he could hold a legitimate role in 2026 and beyond.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jun 4, 2026, 10:19 AM ET

Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai was a fantasy difference-maker whenever given volume as a seventh-round rookie in 2025. Twice in his debut season, he handled more than 15 carries in a game, and in those two outings, he averaged 153 rushing yards while scoring 22.2 half-PPR fantasy points per game. He still projects as the 1B to seventh-year veteran D'Andre Swift in what should again be a well-run Bears offense, providing him with a usable floor from the flex spot, while his proven ability to capitalize on an increased workload makes him one of the more attractive handcuffs in the league. That said, there's a chance he's now being overvalued in dynasty leagues, coming into 2026 as RotoBaller's RB27, ranking ahead of several current starters. His rookie season sample size was small, and his best game came against a Bengals defense that allowed a league-worst 2,500 rushing yards. While ultimately unsuccessful, the Bears have been active in trying to acquire top running back talent in each of the past two offseasons, and as a late-Day 3 pick, Monangai is by no means irreplaceable even if he does carve out a larger role in his second season. Monangai is fully capable of taking a sizable step forward in year two, but with his long-term viability less clear, rebuilding dynasty managers would be wise to sell on the back of any growing training camp hype or an early-season boom game.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jun 4, 2026, 9:45 AM ET

San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Keaton Winn got the call to close out his team's 1-0 win over the Brewers on Wednesday night. Winn came in with one out in the eighth inning and two runners on base. He got pinch-hitter Gary Sanchez to ground into a double play, and he returned for the ninth inning and worked around a leadoff double by Christian Yelich to secure the one-run win. The 28-year-old righty has 11 holds in his 26 games this season and earned his first save in Wednesday's win. He has a solid 2.30 ERA and 2.77 FIP, and he has been one of the Giants' best options out of the bullpen. Manager Tony Vitello has used a closer committee all year long, so Winn isn't likely to lock up the full-time job alone. However, he seems to be trending into a bigger role and makes sense as a waiver wire option in deep leagues if you are searching for saves and solid relief innings.--Zach Thompson
Source: ESPN

Jun 4, 2026, 9:37 AM ET

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has caught at least 115 passes and double-digit touchdowns in each of the past three seasons, never falling below 1,250 receiving yards and finishing as the fantasy WR3 in all three seasons. In 2026, it's possible his ceiling could be even higher under new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. The buzz out of Detroit through OTAs has been around Petzing's ability to bring balance to an offense that became too reliant on explosive plays in 2025. With St. Brown healthy after sitting out this time last year following an offseason knee surgery, he's been one of several Lions players to express excitement about the new direction of the offense. As the coordinator for the Cardinals in 2025, Petzing helped to transform third-year receiver Michael Wilson into a fantasy league-winner in an offense that also saw Trey McBride set the single-season tight end reception record. While former Pro Bowler Sam LaPorta is expected back in the fold after missing eight games in 2025 with a herniated disc in his back, he is no threat to earn a McBride-level of volume, and St. Brown should be the biggest benefactor of an offense designed to exploit the weaknesses of opposing teams. At RotoBaller's dynasty WR6, the 26-year-old St. Brown continues to be undervalued, but he should remain one of the most reliable fantasy contributors in one of the league's most high-powered offenses for the foreseeable future.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jun 4, 2026, 9:31 AM ET

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Riley O'Brien took the loss on Tuesday after giving up three runs in the ninth inning, but the team went right back to the 31-year-old righty on Wednesday in a save situation. O'Brien entered to start the ninth inning with a 5-3 lead and walked the leadoff batter, but he escaped with no damage done, getting Josh Jung to fly out to end the game. O'Brien has 15 saves in his 27 games with a 3.95 ERA and 2.66 FIP. While things have been a little bumpy lately, he still seems to be clearly the go-to option for the Cardinals at the end of the game and can continue to be used as a strong closer option, even though he's not quite as dominant as the truly elite relievers.--Zach Thompson
Source: ESPN

Jun 4, 2026, 9:31 AM ET

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy led the team in 2025 with 105 targets, but inconsistency, drops, and a disconnect with all three starting quarterbacks translated to only 50 receptions, 602 yards, and two scores. The Browns have since spent first and second round picks to bolster the receiver room, adding KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston in the 2026 NFL Draft, but for at least one more season, Jeudy should still have a role in two-receiver sets in a Todd Monken offense built around putting his playmakers in the best position to succeed. As the offensive coordinator in Baltimore, Monken used space and motion to help scheme Zay Flowers to more than 1,200 yards and a WR7 fantasy finish in 2025. In Cleveland, both Jeudy and Concepcion have the versatility to adopt a similar role, and it remains to be seen if one or both will be used comparably, but with Jeudy all but written off after a down year, he's fallen to RotoBaller's WR85. With an opportunity to handle a larger-than-expected workload, he has become a low-cost dynasty depth piece who is still just 27 years old and only one season removed from a career-high 90 receptions for 1,229 yards in 2024.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jun 4, 2026, 9:31 AM ET

Houston Astros relief pitcher Josh Hader made his long-awaited season debut on Wednesday after dealing with shoulder and biceps issues through the first two months of the season. Hader stepped right back into his closer role for Houston and worked a hitless ninth inning for a save against the Pirates. He did walk a batter and also picked up a strikeout to preserve the 11-9 victory. Hader had a 4.15 ERA in his nine rehab appearances with 11 strikeouts in 8 2/3 innings. His stuff looked sharp on Wednesday, and he'll take back over as the primary closer, leaving Bryan King, Enyel De Los Santos, and Bryan Abreu without much fantasy value in standard leagues. For as long as he's healthy, Hader has plenty of upside and can be counted on as an elite closer now that he's back.--Zach Thompson
Source: ESPN

Jun 4, 2026, 9:18 AM ET

Winnipeg Jets center Jonathan Toews is expected to hang up his skates this offseason, TSN's Darren Dreger reports. After missing two years due to Chronic Immune Response Syndrome and Long COVID, Toews made his NHL comeback in 2025-26. The two-time Stanley Cup champion appeared in all 82 regular-season games, posting 11 goals and 18 assists. He was limited to a third-line role, averaging 14:29 of ice time. Although Toews registered a career-low 29 points, he showed class with a 62.1% face-off win percentage. Toews played on a one-year, $2 million contract this season.--Taavi Pailk
Source: Darren Dreger

Jun 4, 2026, 9:18 AM ET

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Alex Lange picked up his first save of the season on Wednesday in his 25th appearance. He gave up a hit and a walk but didn't allow any runs, making a 5-2 lead stand up against the Reds. Lange had 26 saves in 2023 with the Tigers, but he has a 4.33 ERA and 3.77 FIP in his 27 innings in 25 games this year. With Lucas Erceg struggling and Carlos Estevez (shoulder) sidelined, the Royals' bullpen does offer some interesting save opportunities. Lange could be a part of the committee while Estevez continues to work his way back, and he's trending up after allowing only one run in his last 10 games. He's still a speculative addition at this point, but in deep leagues, he's definitely worth watching on the waiver wire if you need saves.--Zach Thompson
Source: ESPN

Jun 4, 2026, 9:18 AM ET

Buffalo wide receiver Skyler Bell is a versatile prospect who has drawn lofty comparisons since the Bills selected him with the 125th pick in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. He caught over 100 passes in his final season at Connecticut for 1,282 yards and 13 touchdowns, and by most accounts, he has put a shaky rookie minicamp behind him and was seen making plays during Buffalo's final open practice of OTAs on Tuesday. With third-year receiver Keon Coleman absent from the session, Bell reportedly proved a reliable target for Josh Allen in 11-on-11s. The step up in competition from Connecticut to the NFL is a significant one, but Bell's ability to play both inside and outside will help to create multiple paths to playing time. If he can continue to develop chemistry with the perennial MVP-contender under center, then he has a good chance to emerge from the third round of rookie-only drafts as a steady fantasy contributor.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jun 4, 2026, 9:18 AM ET

New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee is heading toward free agency, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reports. While the Islanders want to keep their captain, talks over a new contract haven't progressed. Lee, who has spent his entire 14-year NHL career with the Islanders, is coming off a seven-year, $49 million contract. His production has declined with age, but Lee managed a respectable 42 points (19 goals, 23 assists) in 82 games this season. Lee will turn 36 in a month, but he still appears to have some gas left and could attract plenty of interest in the open market.--Taavi Pailk
Source: Pierre LeBrun

Jun 4, 2026, 9:18 AM ET

Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper has been awarded the 2025-26 Jack Adams Trophy as the best coach in the NHL. During his 14 years in charge, Cooper has led the Lightning to two Stanley Cup wins and four Finals appearances, but this is the first time he has received the Jack Adams Trophy. Cooper narrowly beat out Buffalo Sabres' Lindy Ruff for the award, earning 226 points, including 36 first-place votes, while Ruff finished second with 223 points and 26 first-place votes. He guided an injury-hit Lightning team to the third-best record in the Eastern Conference. Cooper is the second Lightning head coach to win the Jack Adams Trophy, joining John Tortorella. In January, he became the second-fastest coach in NHL history to reach 600 wins. The 58-year-old has a 622-332-89 record through 1,043 career games.--Taavi Pailk
Source: NHL.com

Jun 4, 2026, 8:32 AM ET

San Antonio Spurs point guard De'Aaron Fox managed only seven points as the team was defeated by the New York Knicks 105-95 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday. He was the Spurs' lowest-scoring starter, going 3-for-13 from the field and 0-for-4 from three-point range. Across 38 minutes of action, Fox also tallied four rebounds, five assists, and one steal. The two-time All-Star has now finished three of the last four games with single-digit points. He's been hampered by an ankle injury in the playoffs and hasn't shown the sharpness we usually expect from the explosive guard.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

Jun 4, 2026, 8:32 AM ET

San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper molded a hot start into a 16-point, eight-rebound effort in his NBA Finals debut on Wednesday against the New York Knicks. With Harper on fire, the Spurs dominated early, but they struggled in the second half and lost the series opener 105-95. Harper, who finished 6-for-10 from the floor, also had one assist and one steal. The 20-year-old rookie impressed with his maturity and wasn't fazed by the occasion. You could say he was San Antonio's best player, as many of Harper's teammates failed to meet their usual standards. After a slump midway through the Western Conference Finals, Harper has come back strong. He's gone 62.9% from the field over the last three games, averaging 15.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

Jun 4, 2026, 8:17 AM ET

San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle finished a 105-95 loss to the New York Knicks in Wednesday's Finals opener with 17 points, eight rebounds, and three assists. This was his first outing in eight games without any defensive stats. San Antonio struggled to score consistently in Game 1, and it also impacted Castle, who was 7-for-16 from the field and 1-for-5 from behind the arc. With the team desperate to avoid a 2-0 series deficit on home court Friday night, Castle should be determined to make a bigger impact. The 2025 Rookie of the Year has averaged 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.5 assists during his first postseason campaign.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

Jun 4, 2026, 8:17 AM ET

San Antonio Spurs forward/center Victor Wembanyama scored a team-high 26 points in Wednesday's 105-95 Game 1 loss in the 2026 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks. He also led the Spurs with 12 rebounds and amassed two assists, one steal, and three blocks. The 22-year-old superstar cooked up a decent line in his Finals debut, though things were far from perfect. Wembanyama committed a game-high six turnovers and finished 6-for-21 from the field, going 2-for-9 from downtown. Nearly half of his points came via a 12-for-13 effort at the charity stripe. After the game, Wembanyama openly admitted he was bad on Wednesday night. He'll aim to rebound in Game 2 on Friday.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN