RADIO
Gunnar Helm Has Momentum on His Side Entering 2026
Tennessee Titans tight end Gunnar Helm finished the 2025 season on a very strong note, and he'll look to pick up exactly where he left off as the 2026 campaign gets underway. Helm was the overall TE31 as a rookie. He had at least four catches in six of his final 12 games last year, including an impressive stat line of 20 catches, 141 yards, and one touchdown over the last six weeks. His emergence might have been a motivating factor in the Titans' decision to let Chig Okonkwo walk in free agency. Helm is now the undisputed No. 1 tight end in Tennessee, and while he'll likely face competition for targets from Carnell Tate and Wan'Dale Robinson, he figures to handle a decent target share throughout the upcoming season. The Texas product is currently the TE31 in RotoBaller's latest redraft rankings, but he has legitimate top-18 upside in both dynasty and redraft formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kaytron Allen on Track to Round Out the Backfield
Washington Commanders running back Kaytron Allen remains behind Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Rachaad White on the depth chart, but as the current projected No. 3 ball-carrier, he should have no trouble making the 53-man roster. A sixth-round pick out of Penn State, Allen made a significant impact in Week 2 of the preseason as he handled a team-high 10 carries, although it resulted in a modest total of 30 yards (3.0 YPC). He also caught one pass for no gain. Purely based on volume, it looks like the Commanders could give Allen a role as early as Week 1 of the regular season, even if he's not quite as involved as Croskey-Merritt or White. Allen is the RB68 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Michael Mayer's Fantasy Outlook Dependent on Teammate's Health
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer is one of the more talented backups in the NFL, but his fantasy relevance has been put on hold as long as he remains in the No. 2 role. Mayer is currently the backup to superstar tight end Brock Bowers, which means that his only real path to fantasy production is an injury to Bowers. We did see that come into play last year, as Mayer totaled 18 catches, 196 yards, and one touchdown across four games without Bowers. That came with Geno Smith at quarterback, so all pass catchers should have a higher ceiling this year with Kirk Cousins or Fernando Mendoza. The quarterback upgrade still isn't enough for managers to justify drafting Mayer, but he's a name to watch on the waiver wire and a potential deep-league dynasty stash in case Bowers has to miss any time.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chig Okonkwo Has an Opportunity to Break Out in 2026
Washington Commanders tight end Chig Okonkwo should benefit from a change of scenery ahead of the 2026 season. The Maryland product spent the last four seasons in Tennessee, finishing each of the four years between TE21 and TE25 in PPR leagues. That level of consistency became the norm for Okonkwo in Tennessee, but it never resulted in a true breakout. Instead, he was frequently a mid-range TE2 in fantasy football, with his best stats coming in 2025 when he caught 56 passes for 560 yards and two touchdowns. We could be looking at a similar situation to when Washington brought in veteran Zach Ertz, fueling his career resurgence. Ertz was the overall TE7 with 654 yards and seven touchdowns as the Commanders' primary tight end in 2024, and while Okonkwo's leap might not be quite that large, he still has clear top-12 upside in fantasy football, especially if quarterback Jayden Daniels can stay healthy for a full season. He's a very appealing late-round target for fantasy managers who want to roster two tight ends in 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Sam Darnold Should Benefit From a Strong Supporting Cast
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold has a talented group of weapons around him at wide receiver, running back, and tight end. Although Jake Bobo (knee) went down with a season-ending ACL tear, this is still a very talented wide receiver room headlined by Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, and Rashid Shaheed. All three have different skill sets that should give Darnold plenty of options in the passing game. At tight end, AJ Barner is coming off a big 2025 campaign, while Elijah Arroyo has a second-round draft stock. Meanwhile, the Seahawks have an impressive backfield featuring Jadarian Price and Zach Charbonnet (knee). Rounding out the offense is a very dependable offensive line. The Seahawks didn't make many additions in the trenches, but mostly because it was already a strong unit. Grey Zabel and Charles Cross are terrific blindside protectors for Darnold, who only took 27 sacks last year (as opposed to 48 in 2024 with Minnesota). Despite having limited mobility, the veteran signal caller has ranked as a top-13 quarterback in fantasy football for each of the last two seasons. He enters the 2026 season as the QB23 in RotoBaller's latest draft rankings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Consistency is Key for Terry McLaurin in 2026
Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin is looking to put an atrocious 2025 season behind him. He was limited to just 10 games due to injury, and he finished the year with a modest 38 catches, 582 yards, and three touchdowns. Even if you extrapolate his stats over a full 17-game campaign, he still would have had just five touchdowns and fewer than 1,000 yards. It's certainly not a lack of talent, as McLaurin was the WR7 in 2025. More likely, he struggled as a result of his own inconsistent availability, as well as inconsistent quarterback play. The Commanders cycled through three different quarterbacks last year, and Jayden Daniels missed 10 games. If both McLaurin and Daniels can play close to 17 games in 2026, the talented pass-catcher should return to the top-15 receiver range in fantasy football. The upside is somewhat baked into his current ADP of 52.8, and he currently ranks as the WR24 in RotoBaller's latest draft rankings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Troy Franklin is No Longer a Flashy Fantasy Target
Denver Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin fell down the depth chart this past offseason after the team traded for Jaylen Waddle from Miami. Not only did Franklin slip to No. 3 in the wide receiver pecking order, but he hasn't exactly made a compelling case for more volume. In Week 2 of the preseason, he played 16 snaps but didn't fetch a single target. Last year, he was the WR31 in PPR leagues with 709 yards and six touchdowns, but he might have trouble eclipsing those same numbers in his new role behind both Waddle and Courtland Sutton. The good news for Franklin is that his quarterback and former college teammate, Bo Nix (ankle), is back from injury, but we're still not very confident in the 23-year-old receiver for fantasy purposes as long as Waddle and Sutton are healthy. As it stands, Franklin is the WR102 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football draft rankings for 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Klint Kubiak Praises Mike Washington Jr.
Las Vegas Raiders rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. has earned the praise of head coach Klint Kubiak ahead of the 2026 season. "He's done a great job of growing up real fast," Kubiak told Levi Edwards of the team's official website. "He's a guy that understands we're counting on him. He's maturing really fast." Washington is a fourth-round pick out of Arkansas, and while he was initially drafted to be a backup, he could step into a larger role right away if Ashton Jeanty (ankle) isn't ready to play in Week 1. Jeanty recently suffered a low-ankle sprain that could sideline him for a couple of weeks, so there's a real chance that we see Washington draw the start during the season opener against the Dolphins on Sept. 13. Washington may be a rookie, but Kubiak's comments suggest that he's ready for a big role. He currently ranks as the RB48 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for 2026.
Source: Levi Edwards
Source: Levi Edwards
Broncos Say Jaylen Waddle is "Going to Play Everywhere"
Denver Broncos wide receiver Jaylen Waddle "is going to play everywhere except offensive line," offensive coordinator Davis Webb told Zac Stevens of DNVR Sports. These remarks obviously come with a little sarcasm, as Waddle obviously isn't going to line up in the trenches, nor do we expect him to throw any passes. With that being said, it's still fair to read into these comments and wonder if we might see some design rushing attempts for Waddle out of the backfield, as well as a very heavy dose of snaps in the slot and out wide. Denver gave up a first-round pick in the package for the young receiver, so it makes sense that they want to get him involved in as many ways as possible. He had 910 yards and six touchdowns last season, and those numbers should only increase as he gets a quarterback upgrade with Bo Nix throwing to him. Waddle currently ranks as the WR20 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings, 20 spots ahead of teammate Courtland Sutton.
Source: Zac Stevens
Source: Zac Stevens
Coach Says RJ Harvey is Becoming a "Complete Back"
Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey is evolving into a "complete back," offensive coordinator Davis Webb told Zac Stevens of DNVR Sports. Harvey impressed as a rookie last season, scoring 12 touchdowns and ranking as the RB20 in PPR leagues despite finishing with fewer than 1,000 rushing yards. He demonstrated impressive versatility last year, and Webb's comments would seem to indicate that Harvey has taken another step forward this preseason. It's a bit of a crowded backfield between Harvey, JK Dobbins, and Jonah Coleman, but Harvey seemingly has the highest upside of that group. If he plays a full 17-game slate this year, he should have no problem eclipsing 1,000 yards while pushing for another 12+ touchdowns. He ranks as the RB35 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football draft rankings, which is four spots behind Dobbins and 17 spots ahead of Coleman.
Source: Zac Stevens
Source: Zac Stevens
Alec Bohm a Priority Waiver-Wire Target Amidst August Hot Streak
Across 513 plate appearances this season entering play on Tuesday, Philadelphia Phillies infielder Alec Bohm was hitting .246/.302/.387 with 14 home runs, 76 RBI, 49 runs scored, and two stolen bases. The 30-year-old got off to a rough start to the season, hitting .151 with one home run across 119 plate appearances through the end of April. However, Bohm has rebounded and largely produced at his established levels since the start of May. Bohm has been particularly hot in August, hitting .359 with 17 RBI across 85 trips to the plate this month. With just a 13.6% strikeout rate, Bohm's ability to put the ball in play keeps his batting average floor high and helps him rack up run production while playing an everyday role in the heart of the Phillies lineup. As long as he stays healthy the rest of the way, Bohm has a chance to top 90 RBI for the third time in the last four seasons. Especially amidst his current hot streak, Bohm is a worthy waiver wire target in leagues where he is not already rostered.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jackson Holliday's Balanced Production Gives Him Waiver Appeal
Across 281 plate appearances in 2026, Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday is hitting .236/.325/.360 with six home runs, 27 RBI, 36 runs scored, and seven stolen bases. The 22-year-old got off to a rough start to the year, as he suffered a fractured hamate bone that delayed his season debut until May 19. Holliday's underlying batted-ball metrics are uninspiring. He's logged just a 6.7% barrel rate and a 34.8% hard-hit rate on the year, both of which currently represent career lows. However, Holliday has boosted his walk rate to a career-best 12.4%, which gives him a stable floor at the plate and has allowed him to move into the leadoff spot in the Baltimore lineup in recent games. Holliday is unlikely to be a standout performer in any one category for fantasy managers, but his balanced profile at the plate gives him deep-league value as a quality middle infield option.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Carson Whisenhunt Suffers UCL Tear, Surgery Recommended
San Francisco Giants left-hander Carson Whisenhunt (elbow) has suffered a torn UCL in his left elbow and has been recommended for surgery, per Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area. It's not yet clear whether Whisenhunt will undergo Tommy John surgery or an internal brace procedure. Either way, he is now likely facing an extended absence and could miss the entire 2027 season as well as the remainder of 2026. Across 34 2/3 innings (eight starts) before getting hurt, Whisenhunt recorded a 3-4 record with a 6.49 ERA, 1.79 WHIP, and 26 strikeouts. Despite his rough numbers in the big leagues this season, the 25-year-old is considered to be one of the top young arms in the Giants' system and could have been in line for a spot in the team's starting rotation in 2027. With Whisenhunt now sidelined, Giants' pitching prospect Matt Wilkinson could be a candidate to be recalled from Triple-A to rejoin the team's rotation.
Source: NBC Sports Bay Area - Alex Pavlovic
Source: NBC Sports Bay Area - Alex Pavlovic
J.P. Crawford Reinstated from 10-Day Injured List on Tuesday
The Seattle Mariners reinstated infielder J.P. Crawford (wrist) from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday, optioning infielder Leo Rivas to Triple-A Tacoma as the corresponding move. Crawford had been sidelined since late July due to left wrist inflammation. Across 364 plate appearances on the year, the 31-year-old is hitting .212/.330/.345 with 10 home runs, 30 RBI, 38 runs scored, and one stolen base. Crawford's 6.4% barrel rate and 35.3% hard-hit rate are both subpar, but his stellar 13.7% walk rate provides him with a relatively stable floor at the plate. With Mariners infielders Brendan Donovan (concussion) and Colt Emerson (wrist) both on the injured list, Crawford should also be in line for everyday playing time on the left side of the infield. He's starting at third base and batting eighth on Tuesday night against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Sal Frelick Reinstated from Injured List on Tuesday
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick (shoulder) was activated from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday, per Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. Frelick has been sidelined since mid-July due to a shoulder injury. The 26-year-old was having a rough season before getting hurt, slashing .236/.301/.330 with four home runs, 34 RBI, 33 runs scored, and six stolen bases. Frelick does an excellent job of limiting swing-and-miss, as he's struck out in just 9.9% of his plate appearances this season. His low batting average is a symptom of his unlucky .250 batting average on balls in play, which is significantly below his career mark of .296. However, Frelick has also posted just a 2.0% barrel rate and a 27.1% hard-hit rate on the year. Now that he's healthy, the lefty-swinging Frelick will likely form the big side of a platoon with outfielder Luis Lara in right field for the Brewers.
Source: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
Source: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
