RADIO
Jose Fermin Emerging as a Potential Deep-League Saves Source
Los Angeles Angels right-hander Jose Fermin has been an emergent young arm in his team's bullpen in 2026. Across 39 innings (36 games), the 24-year-old has recorded a 3.23 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and 45 strikeouts. Fermin is averaging 96.8 miles per hour on his fastball and has struck out 26.5% of the batters he's faced this year. He also picked up the first save of his big-league career on Friday. With the Angels having traded right-hander Ryan Zeferjahn to the Chicago Cubs at the trade deadline, Fermin could be poised to step into more regular save opportunities in Los Angeles. The Angels have other high-leverage options in right-hander Ben Joyce and left-hander Samy Natera Jr., so fantasy managers should not expect Fermin to exclusively work in the ninth inning. Still, Fermin could be a worthy flier to target on the waiver wire in deeper leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jordan Love to Play in Preseason Opener on Thursday
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said that as of right now, quarterback Jordan Love will play in the team's preseason opener on Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers, although he said he reserves the right to change his mind, per Rob Demovsky of ESPN. LaFleur said there is "value in getting mentally prepared to go play a game." If Love does play on Thursday night, he likely won't be in the game for more than a couple of offensive series, and he probably won't be working with all of the team's offensive skill players. Going into his fourth year as the Packers' full-time QB, Love ranks 19th in RotoBaller's QB rankings for the 2026 season after throwing for 3,381 yards, 23 touchdowns, and six interceptions in 15 regular-season starts in 2025. Consistency has evaded the former first-rounder from Utah State, but there is still plenty of fantasy upside because of his success with the deep ball in Green Bay's offense. With better health from the entire Packers' offense this year, Love is an intriguing QB2 target with upside.
Source: ESPN.com - Rob Demovsky
Source: ESPN.com - Rob Demovsky
Bo Nix Improving With the Deep Ball
Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said that quarterback Bo Nix's deep-ball accuracy during training camp practices has been "off the charts," according to Nick Kosmider of The Athletic. Nix's evasiveness and his ability to avoid sacks and negative plays have been invaluable to the Broncos' offense the last two years, but his efficiency deep down the field has been lacking. If head coach Sean Payton had to nitpick, it's that sometimes Nix goes through his first progressions too fast. New offensive coordinator Davis Webb said that Nix is "definitely progressing in that area," and it appears he's making strides with his deep passing game as well. The Broncos traded a first- and third-rounder to acquire speedy receiver Jaylen Waddle in the offseason, which should help Nix continue to improve as a deep passer. Nix has a high ceiling in fantasy because of his rushing ability, but fantasy managers have a reason to be hesitant after Nix underwent offseason ankle surgery. Target him as a low-end QB1/high-end QB2 in fantasy drafts.
Source: The Athletic - Nick Kosmider
Source: The Athletic - Nick Kosmider
Jacob Webb Looks Like the Saves Source to Roster in Chicago
Across 51 2/3 innings (52 games) in 2026, Chicago Cubs right-hander Jacob Webb has recorded a 4-2 record with a 2.44 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with 58 strikeouts and seven saves. With closer Daniel Palencia (elbow) on the injured list, the Cubs have largely taken a committee approach to the ninth inning. Still, Webb has now earned saves in each of his last two appearances, both of which came after Chicago acquired right-hander Ryan Zeferjahn from the Los Angeles Angels at the trade deadline. Even with another high-leverage arm in the mix for the Cubs, Webb may be the team's preferred option. The 32-year-old has posted a stellar 27.1% strikeout rate and has been one of Chicago's more reliable bullpen arms all season long. In deeper leagues, Webb carries waiver wire appeal for fantasy managers in need of stable ratios and some saves upside.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Clayton Beeter Still Carries Deep-League Waiver-Wire Appeal
Across 36 innings (38 games) in 2026, Washington Nationals right-hander Clayton Beeter has recorded a 3.75 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with 37 strikeouts, 12 saves, and five wins. The 27-year-old has issues with both command (15.1% walk rate) and home runs (1.50 HR/9), which is a dangerous combination for a high-leverage reliever. Beeter's strikeout rate has also nosedived this season to 24.3%, down from 31.7% in 2025. Still, Washington has consistently relied on Beeter to work the ninth inning, especially of late. Across his last seven outings, Beeter has recorded four saves. Fantasy managers should be wary of Beeter's blow-up potential and should not expect him to provide high-end closer production. However, he remains a worthy deep-league waiver wire target for managers in need of saves.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Zay Flowers Back at Practice on Tuesday
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (quadriceps) is back at training camp practice on Tuesday, according to Sam Cohn of The Baltimore Sun. Flowers will most likely be limited in his return to practice after he left Saturday's practice early due to a contusion to his left quad muscle. The injury was never considered serious, so it should not affect whether the 25-year-old will be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season in September. The former 22nd overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft out of Boston College is Baltimore's unquestioned WR1, and the Ravens recently rewarded him with a four-year contract extension worth up to $140 million. The two-time Pro Bowler is looking for his third straight 1,000-yard campaign in 2026 in a new Ravens offense led by offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. As long as he stays healthy, Flowers should have a pretty big target share, giving him a high fantasy floor. Target him as a low-end WR1/high-end WR2 early in upcoming fantasy football drafts. RotoBaller has Flowers ranked as the No. 15 WR.
Source: The Baltimore Sun - Sam Cohn
Source: The Baltimore Sun - Sam Cohn
Cyrus Allen Standing Out Again in Training Camp Practice
Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Cyrus Allen has been one of the early standouts at training camp this summer for the Chiefs. The 23-year-old fifth-rounder from the University of Cincinnati missed some time with a shin injury last week, but he's back on the field again and had the first two completions from quarterback Patrick Mahomes on Tuesday during the early team blitz period, per The Kansas City Star's Pete Sweeney. Allen has built clear chemistry with Mahomes in practice. However, if all of Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, and Tyquan Thornton are healthy during the regular season, Allen is going to be fighting an uphill battle for consistent snaps on offense. The 5-foot-11, 180-pounder never had more than 778 receiving yards in his four collegiate seasons at Cincinnati, Texas A&M, and Louisiana Tech, but he did manage to score 13 touchdowns on 51 receptions with the Bearcats in 2025. It's hard to envision major fantasy upside for Allen in 2026, but he's an interesting stash candidate in dynasty/keeper leagues.
Source: The Kansas City Star - Pete Sweeney
Source: The Kansas City Star - Pete Sweeney
Hogan Harris Re-Emerging as the Preferred Ninth-Inning Option for the Athletics
Across 52 innings (55 games) in 2026, Athletics left-hander Hogan Harris has recorded a 3.63 ERA and 1.58 WHIP with 70 strikeouts and 11 saves. Harris' inflated WHIP is a symptom of his command issues, as he's posted a 14.2% walk rate. However, the 29-year-old is also averaging a career-best 95.3 miles per hour on his fastball and has logged a stellar 29.3% strikeout rate. Harris appears to be re-asserting himself as the preferred ninth-inning option for the Athletics, as he's notched saves in each of his last two appearances and has recorded five saves in his last nine outings. Fantasy managers should not expect to get high-end ratio help from Harris, but he looks like a viable source of saves and strikeouts to target on the waiver wire in deeper leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Josh Jacobs to Miss At Least a Week
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (groin) has been sidelined since Thursday while dealing with a groin issue, and in speaking with reporters on Tuesday, head coach Matt LaFleur said, "He's gonna be out for at least this week." The Packers open their preseason schedule on Thursday with a road game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and while Jacobs was unlikely to see much, if any, work even if healthy, the given timeline sets the team's second preseason game against the Broncos on August 21 as his next opportunity for a tune-up ahead of the regular season. Injuries derailed Jacobs' 2025 campaign, and a tumultuous offseason followed by soft tissue concerns in training camp have seen him slip in 2026 drafts, often into the third round. While now a riskier pick than he has been in previous seasons, Jacobs still has RB1 upside and could prove to be one of the season's top values if he can stay on the field and healthy.
Source: Weston Hodkiewicz
Source: Weston Hodkiewicz
Drake Maye Not Expected to Play in Preseason Opener on Thursday
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is not expected to play in the team's preseason opener on Thursday against the Indianapolis Colts, according to Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald. "I wouldn't anticipate seeing Drake out there Thursday," head coach Mike Vrabel said. Not even the experts most bullish on Maye would have predicted him to finish second in the MVP voting while leading the Patriots to the Super Bowl in 2025 in his first full season as the starter under center. The 23-year-old former third overall pick from North Carolina excelled with the deep ball and had a league-best 72% completion percentage while throwing for 4,394 yards, 31 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions in 17 regular-season starts. The Patriots' soft schedule definitely helped Maye's cause, as he came back down to Earth in the playoffs and struggled mightily in the Super Bowl loss against an elite defense. But with receivers A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs now in the fold in 2026, the impressive young QB has now jumped into RotoBaller's top-five rankings at the position.
Source: Boston Herald - Andrew Callahan
Source: Boston Herald - Andrew Callahan
Kodai Senga Earns First Save on Monday, Emerging as a Waiver-Wire Target
New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga earned his first save of 2026 on Monday, pitching a scoreless ninth inning with a walk and two strikeouts in his team's 8-5 win over the Atlanta Braves. After a brutal start to the year in the Mets' rotation, Senga has worked almost exclusively out of the bullpen since late June. Mets closer Devin Williams (shoulder) is currently on the 15-day injured list due to a shoulder strain, and the team traded away multiple high-leverage relief arms at the trade deadline. As a result, Senga appears to be in a position to see regular opportunities in the ninth inning in New York. While the 33-year-old's command and health issues have plagued him in recent years, he still has high-end strikeout stuff that could play up in a short-relief role. Fantasy managers in need of saves upside should target Senga on the waiver wire.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Josh Downs Back at Practice
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (groin) is in attendance for Tuesday's joint practice session with the New England Patriots, according to The Athletic's James Boyd. Downs missed three consecutive practices while dealing with a groin issue, but after a travel day on Monday, he will take the field in Foxboro. With starters unlikely to see much, if any, action in the team's preseason opener on Thursday, Tuesday's work against an unfamiliar opponent will serve to prepare the team for the regular season, and Downs' presence is a major boon. At RotoBaller's WR40, Downs is a 2026 breakout candidate who could be in line for his second career 100-target season following the departure of Michael Pittman Jr. in an offseason trade to the Steelers.
Source: James Boyd
Source: James Boyd
Alec Pierce Did Not Receive a Second PRP Injection
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (ankle) did not receive a second platelet-rich plasma injection this offseason after having surgery on his left ankle in late March, a league source told Nathan Brown of the Indianapolis Star. Monday night's source told the Indy Star that it had misspoken. Pierce remains on the Physically Unable to Perform list in training camp, and there is no timetable for him to return to practice with the rest of the team. The 26-year-old still has time to get back on the field and get ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener, but the longer he's away from the team, the harder it will be to get behind him as a solid fantasy contributor in 2026. When healthy, the former second-rounder from the University of Cincinnati has been a strong deep threat for the Colts' offense, leading the league the last two seasons in yards per reception 21.8 while scoring 13 touchdowns. Pierce is expected to take on a much bigger role in Indy's passing attack in 2026 with Michael Pittman Jr. out of town, but he might need to be eased in to start his fifth NFL campaign. Fantasy managers should consider Pierce more of a boom/bust WR3/flex commodity as he continues to rehab from ankle surgery.
Source: Indianapolis Star - Nathan Brown
Source: Indianapolis Star - Nathan Brown
DeVonta Smith Will Not Practice on Tuesday
Philadelphia Eagles wide receivers DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and rookie first-rounder Makai Lemon (hamstring) will miss another day of training camp practice on Tuesday, according to Martin Frank of the Delaware News Journal. Smith is missing a fifth straight day of practice due to a hamstring injury, but he was seen doing some running before practice, and the Eagles are not concerned that his injury will keep him from suiting up in the 2026 regular-season opener in Week 1. Philly is being extra cautious with Smith, who is their new No. 1 receiver now that Pro Bowler A.J. Brown is in New England. The 27-year-old former 10th overall pick out of the University of Alabama had the third 1,000-yard season of his career in 2025 and added four touchdowns in 17 regular-season games. With more targets coming his way and a higher floor for fantasy managers, Smith is now being viewed as a low-end WR1 as the Eagles' new No. 1 receiver, even though he's missing time in training camp with an injury. The fact that Smith was doing some running before practice on Tuesday means he could be back sooner rather than later.
Source: Delaware News Journal - Martin Frank
Source: Delaware News Journal - Martin Frank
Northwestern Football to Receive $35 Million Donation Over Next Three Years
According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, the family of Liz and Dick Uihlein has committed to a $35 million donation to the Northwestern football program, which will be paid in the next three years. "The donation is intended for holistic football success," Thamel reports. "Including recruiting support and broader program needs." The Wildcats are behind many of their Big Ten counterparts in football resources, so this is a significant development for the program. Northwestern has not had an outright Big Ten Championship since 1995, and the team has had 11 losing seasons since 2000. This could be a program on the rise.
Source: Pete Thamel - ESPN
Source: Pete Thamel - ESPN
