RADIO
Dalton Kincaid Healthy And Not Facing Snap Restrictions
Multiple people with the Buffalo Bills told ESPN's Dan Graziano that tight end Dalton Kincaid is healthier than he was this time last year and is not on any snap-count restrictions. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that Kincaid is "looking more slippery now that he's healthy." Buffalo wants to put multiple tight ends on the field at the same time, and the trio of Kincaid, Dawson Knox, and Jackson Hawes "could be a formidable one." The Bills are happy with the improvements that Kincaid has shown as a blocker, but he will continue to make his biggest contributions as a pass-catcher down the field and should have more of an impact when the team has multiple TEs in the formation. The 26-year-old former first-rounder from Utah in 2023 battled knee issues in each of the last two seasons, but now that he is fully healthy, he has clear TE1 potential for fantasy managers in a Bills offense that is one of the highest-scoring units in the league. Start him with confidence in Week 2 on Thursday night in what should be a high-scoring affair against the Detroit Lions.
Source: ESPN.com - Dan Graziano
Source: ESPN.com - Dan Graziano
Lawson Luckie Hoping to Break Out
It's been a slow start to the year for Georgia tight end Lawson Luckie, who has recorded just one reception for four yards through his team's first four games of the year. Georgia has yet to take on a formidable opponent, earning blowout wins over Tennessee State and Western Kentucky to start the year, which may have contributed to Luckie's limited involvement in the offense. But Luckie hopes to break out in Week 3 as the Bulldogs prepare for SEC opponent Arkansas. The Razorbacks allowed Utah tight end Noah Bennee to record four receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown last week.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
De'Zhaun Stribling Being Placed on Injured Reserve
San Francisco 49ers rookie second-round wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling (ankle) is being placed on Injured Reserve due to his ankle injury on Wednesday, which will sideline him for at least four games, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. The earliest that Stribling will be able to return for the Niners will be for the Oct. 19 game against the Washington Commanders. The 23-year-old is expected to miss at least a month after suffering a deltoid sprain of his left ankle in the Week 1 season-opening win over the division-rival Los Angeles Rams last Thursday in Australia. It is a tough start to Stribling's NFL career after he did not catch a single pass in his debut. In Stribling's absence for at least the next four games, Demarcus Robinson, who had a team-high 50 receiving yards and one touchdown on only two catches in the season opener, should become the team's WR3 behind Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel Sr., making him a waiver-wire consideration heading into the team's Week 2 clash against the Miami Dolphins. Stribling, who generated a ton of buzz for his performance in training camp this summer, is a worthy stash in leagues that have IR spots.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Mason Mini Looks to Rebound
Cal tight end Mason Mini is expected to have a big week as RotoBaller's TE6 in the Week 3 rankings. Mini performed well in Week 1, recording four receptions for 58 yards and a touchdown during a season-opening win over UCLA. However, this past week against Syracuse, he managed just a couple of receptions for 38 yards. This week, going up against a lesser opponent in Wagner, Mini has a chance to rebound. Wagner fell to James Madison 87-3 in Week 2, allowing three different JMU pass catchers to find the end zone in a lopsided defeat. Mini is projected to score 9.5 fantasy points this week.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Michael Penix Jr. Not Ready For Live Game Action
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that the Atlanta Falcons' best option at quarterback remains third-year man Michael Penix Jr. (knee), but he is not yet ready for live game action. Penix "wants to be fully confident" before stepping back onto the field after having surgery on his left ACL in November. The Falcons are leaving the comfort level part of his recovery up to him. It was Penix's third ACL reconstruction (he had two in college), and it could take a lot of mental work to convince Penix that he's good to go. Tua Tagovailoa's oblique injury last week has complicated the QB picture in Atlanta and forced veteran backup Cooper Rush to make the start in the Week 1 season-opening loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Right now, all signs are pointing to Rush making a second straight start in Week 2 versus the division-rival Carolina Panthers, but it will ultimately come down to Tua's health and practice participation from Wednesday through Friday of this week. Penix will eventually be ruled out for Week 2, but he is the best long-term bet in 2026 in the Falcons' QB room.
Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
Jalen McMillan Making Progress Ahead of Week 2
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (knee) was on the field for Wednesday's practice, according to Greg Auman. That's encouraging after McMillan couldn't get cleared for the opener, but it's worth remembering that he practiced on a limited basis all three days last week before ultimately sitting out against Cincinnati. Wednesday alone doesn't guarantee much. McMillan appeared in only four games last season, finishing with 12 catches for 178 yards, and Tampa Bay still lists him with the first-team receivers alongside Chris Godwin Jr. and Emeka Egbuka. His return would make an already crowded passing game even tougher to sort through for fantasy purposes. The next step is seeing whether McMillan can increase his workload as the week goes on. For now, he's moving in the right direction, but fantasy managers shouldn't assume he'll be ready for Cleveland just yet.
Source: Greg Auman
Source: Greg Auman
Billy Horschel Fighting to Keep His Tour Card
Billy Horschel had a very disappointing 2026, making just 14 of 24 cuts and recording no top-10 finishes in solo events. Due to his poor play, he dropped to 100th in the FedExCup standings and 162nd in the Official World Golf Ranking, putting his Tour card in jeopardy. He will need a solid result to finish inside the top 100 and retain his spot on the PGA Tour. His poor play cannot be attributed to one specific issue, as he struggled throughout the bag, ranking 104th in strokes gained tee to green (-0.124 strokes per round), 112th off the tee (-0.142), and 141st around the green (-0.263). He was solid on approach, however, ranking 45th and gaining +0.281 strokes per round. Horschel has struggled all season, so there is little reason to think he will suddenly find something at the Biltmore Championship, but the added motivation could result in a stronger finish than we have seen from him recently.
Source: PGA Tour
Source: PGA Tour
Sean Tucker Returns to Practice Wednesday
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker (hamstring) was dressed and practicing Wednesday, according to Greg Auman. Tucker missed the season opener against Cincinnati after being listed as doubtful, so getting back on the field to start Week 2 is a positive sign. He did not practice last Wednesday, then was limited Thursday and Friday before sitting out Sunday. Tampa Bay has not yet released Wednesday's official participation level, so it is too early to say whether Tucker was limited or full. The fourth-year back ran 86 times for 320 yards and seven touchdowns last season and added eight catches for 34 yards and another score. He remains third on the depth chart behind Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell, which keeps his standalone fantasy value pretty limited. Still, getting Tucker back would give Tampa Bay another backfield option and its top-listed kick returner ahead of Sunday's matchup with Cleveland. His practice status over the next two days should tell us more about his chances of making his season debut.
Source: Greg Auman
Source: Greg Auman
Carson Wentz Likely to Start if Teammate Isn't Cleared
ESPN's Dan Graziano believes that Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz is likely to start in Week 2 against the division-rival Chicago Bears if Kyler Murray (concussion) is not cleared in time. Former first-rounder J.J. McCarthy is the one who was competing with Murray for the starting job in training camp, but it is more about the Vikings believing that Wentz's veteran experience will put them in a better position with limited preparation time. Graziano foresees a scenario where Wentz starts this week with McCarthy as the backup, assuming Murray does not clear the league's concussion protocol before Sunday. If Wentz makes the start, he is set up for success. The 33-year-old veteran led the Vikings to a come-from-behind victory over the division-rival Green Bay Packers in Week 1, throwing for 133 yards and three touchdowns, and the Bears just allowed 361 passing yards to Panthers QB Bryce Young. Murray should not be out long-term, but in deep two-QB fantasy leagues, Wentz could be an attractive streamer in Week 2.
Source: ESPN.com - Dan Graziano
Source: ESPN.com - Dan Graziano
Austin Simmons Trying to Stay Hot
Missouri quarterback Austin Simmons has recorded seven touchdown passes through the first two weeks of the 2026 season and is RotoBaller's QB20 entering Week 3, when he has quite a juicy matchup against Troy. The Trojans have allowed 220 yards passing per game through the first two weeks of the year, while Simmons is averaging 272 yards per contest. In a Week 2 rivalry win over Kansas, Simmons completed 65.5% of his passes for 292 yards passing and three touchdowns. He is hoping for more this week against a non-conference opponent and is projected to score 24.2 fantasy points in Week 3.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Antonio Williams Makes Strong Case for More Work
Washington Commanders wide receiver Antonio Williams made plenty happen with a small Week 1 role, catching all four of his targets for a team-high 64 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 24-22 loss to Philadelphia. The third-round rookie was only on the field for 26 of Washington's 70 offensive snaps, which makes the debut more interesting than the box score alone. Williams had spent much of the offseason working from the slot, and ESPN reported this week that he appears to have a role there that could grow as the season moves along. He gave Washington a reason to consider it. Williams came through on a 33-yard catch on third-and-long before scoring from one yard out late in the fourth quarter. He still has work to do before becoming a consistent fantasy option, especially after such limited playing time in the opener. His stock is clearly moving up, though. Four catches on four chances is a strong first argument for getting him onto the field more often.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Walbert Urena Remains a High-End Starting Pitcher Target
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Walbert Urena has been one of the breakout success stories of the 2026 season, recording a 9-10 record with a 2.88 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 131 strikeouts across 137 1/3 innings (27 games). Urena's sinker-heavy approach limits his strikeout upside to some degree, but he's generated a 54.7% ground ball rate and has allowed just 0.59 HR/9. The 22-year-old has also been remarkably consistent in his first big-league season, recording 12 quality starts and allowing more than four earned runs in just one appearance. In leagues where he remains available on the waiver wire, Urena profiles as a high-end starting pitcher target for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
JJ Wetherholt Activated And Starting on Wednesday
The St. Louis Cardinals announced on Wednesday that they activated rookie infielder JJ Wetherholt (wrist) from the 10-day injured list. Wetherholt is right back in the starting lineup on Wednesday against the visiting San Francisco Giants and right-hander Anthony Molina, starting at second base and batting leadoff in his return. He will return for the first time since late August while dealing with tendinitis in his right wrist. The 24-year-old left-handed-hitting infielder can still help fantasy managers battling for a championship in the final week and a half of the regular season. The former seventh overall selection from West Virginia in 2024 will return to a .242/.343/.370 slash line with a .713 OPS, 17 home runs, 48 RBI, 14 stolen bases, and 88 runs scored across his 505 at-bats. Wetherholt struggled in August before he was shut down, going 19-for-95 (.200) with a homer, four doubles, seven RBI, 19 runs scored, two steals, 15 walks, and 19 strikeouts in 25 games played. Hopefully, he will have better results on offense to close out the year with his wrist issues behind him.
Source: St. Louis Cardinals
Source: St. Louis Cardinals
Emiliano Grillo a Solid Value Play at Biltmore Championship
Emiliano Grillo made 12 of 20 cuts, recording four top-25 finishes on the season. This felt like a step in the wrong direction for Grillo, as he recorded nine top-25 finishes in 2025 and seven in 2024. His statistical profile wasn't bad, ranking 74th off the tee (+0.085 strokes per round), 64th on approach (+0.171), and sixth in driving accuracy (69.18%). Where he struggled was in the short game, ranking 114th around the greens (-0.118) and 106th in putting (-0.153). Many of his putting woes came earlier in the year, as Grillo has surprisingly gained at least 0.7 strokes with the flat stick in five of his last six starts. At just $7,400 on DraftKings for the inaugural Biltmore Championship, Grillo is worth strong consideration as a mid-range option.
Source: PGA Tour
Source: PGA Tour
Hector Rodriguez Remains an Intriguing Power Target on the Waiver Wire
Across 124 plate appearances since making his MLB debut in early August, Cincinnati Reds outfielder Hector Rodriguez is hitting .224/.274/.379 with five home runs, 12 RBI, and 14 runs scored. Swing-and-miss has been an issue for Rodriguez early in his big-league career, as he's struck out in 25.8% of his trips to the plate. His underlying batted-ball metrics don't leap off the page either, as he's posted just a 6.0% barrel rate and a 33.3% hard-hit rate. However, Rodriguez showcased high-end power upside in the minors this season, hitting 27 home runs across 455 plate appearances with Triple-A Louisville. He's also emerged as the everyday right fielder in Cincinnati, which figures to continue as the Reds try to evaluate their roster ahead of 2027. For fantasy managers searching for power potential on the waiver wire, Rodriguez is a logical target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
