RADIO
Sean Tucker Returns to Practice Thursday
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker (hamstring) returned to practice Thursday after sitting out Wednesday's session, according to Rick Stroud. Tucker had also missed practice time earlier in the week while rehabbing the injury, and head coach Todd Bowles had called him a game-time decision for Sunday's opener against Cincinnati. It is not yet clear how much Tucker was able to do Thursday, so his official participation level will be important when Tampa Bay releases its next injury report. Tucker rushed for 320 yards and seven touchdowns on 86 carries last season and enters Week 1 behind Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell on the depth chart. His return to the field Thursday is at least a positive development after opening the practice week with a DNP.
Source: Rick Stroud
Source: Rick Stroud
Pat Bryant Could Force his Way into Bigger Role in 2026
There was a lot of positive talk coming out of Denver Broncos training camp this summer about second-year wide receiver Pat Bryant, the team's third-round pick in 2025. The Broncos' big offseason move was acquiring speedy receiver Jaylen Waddle from the Miami Dolphins, and Courtland Sutton will continue to be a factor. But the praise about Bryant's Year 2 improvements makes ESPN's Dan Graziano wonder if he could "force his way into a bigger role than expected." Graziano does not think that people should be shocked if Bryant is a big part of Denver's new-look passing attack in their Monday night opener on the road in Week 1 against the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs. The 23-year-old from Illinois caught 31 of his 49 targets for 378 yards and only one touchdown in 15 regular-season games in 2025 as a rookie, but he was more involved later in the year while battling multiple injuries. The Broncos' WR room is more crowded than ever, and Bryant will have to compete for targets with Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims Jr., but he is an intriguing upside bench stash in deeper fantasy formats in an ascending Broncos offense. Bryant is currently rostered in 7% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: ESPN.com - Dan Graziano
Source: ESPN.com - Dan Graziano
Blake Grupe Still Competing for Week 1 Kicking Job
New York Jets kicker Blake Grupe still hasn't secured the job for Sunday's opener against Tennessee. Special teams coordinator Chris Banjo said Thursday that Grupe and Jason Sanders remain in competition, according to Zack Rosenblatt. Banjo said he is looking for "confidence and consistency" before making the call. Grupe is currently on the active roster after the Jets claimed him off waivers from Indianapolis on Aug. 31, while Sanders is on the practice squad. Grupe made all 11 of his field-goal attempts over five games with the Colts last season, including a 60-yarder, after going 18-for-26 earlier in the year with New Orleans. Sanders missed all of 2025 with a hip injury but has considerably more NFL experience. For now, fantasy managers looking for a Week 1 kicker should wait for the Jets to actually name one.
Source: Zack Rosenblatt
Source: Zack Rosenblatt
Cristopher Sanchez Notches 17th Win in Shaky Outing on Wednesday
Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sanchez picked up his 17th win of the season on Wednesday despite not having his best stuff, allowing 10 hits and six earned runs while striking out just three across six innings in his team's 11-7 win over the Houston Astros. Sanchez has been one of the better pitchers in baseball for the majority of 2026, recording a 17-5 record with a 2.79 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 210 strikeouts across 187 1/3 innings (30 starts). However, the 29-year-old has hit a bit of a rough patch of late, relative to his lofty standards. Across his last 25 2/3 innings (four starts), Sanchez has allowed 26 hits and 13 earned runs. He's been less dominant in the second half of the season than he was in the first, as his K-BB rate has dropped from 22.7% to 19.4% and his WHIP has increased from 1.19 to 1.27. Sanchez remains a must-start pitcher, but fantasy managers may want to temper expectations slightly down the stretch.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Stefon Diggs May Not Be Slowing Down Yet
Washington Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs may not be slowing down yet. According to Zach Selby, offensive coordinator David Blough said he is excited for Diggs and Jayden Daniels to show the chemistry they have worked on this weekend. That is not the first positive sign. Washington's own camp coverage noted that Diggs and Daniels were connecting often during joint practices, and Diggs is officially listed as a starter alongside Terry McLaurin. He also isn't coming off a down year. Diggs caught 85 passes for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns with New England in 2025, finishing as the WR17 in PPR scoring. The target ceiling may be lower with McLaurin still at the top of the pecking order, but Diggs does not need to dominate targets to stay useful. If the chemistry with Daniels carries into games, his value could hold stronger than expected and still have room to rise.
Source: Zach Selby
Source: Zach Selby
Drake Baldwin a High-End Catcher Option Amid Second-Half Surge
Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin has emerged as one of the best-hitting backstops in baseball this season, slashing .276/.353/.452 with 23 home runs, 71 RBI, 77 runs scored, and three stolen bases across 544 plate appearances. After a red-hot start to the season, Baldwin missed about a month after suffering an oblique strain in May and then battled through an extended slump upon his return, recording just three hits across 50 plate appearances in June. However, the 25-year-old has gotten back to his normal self since then, hitting .306 across 225 plate appearances since the All-Star break. The Braves also frequently deploy Baldwin as their designated hitter on days when he's not behind the plate, which helps keep his legs fresh and keeps him in the lineup on an everyday basis. Entering the final few weeks of the year, Baldwin remains an elite catcher option for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Antonio Williams Drawing More Praise in Washington
Washington Commanders wide receiver Antonio Williams keeps giving the coaching staff reasons to stay interested. According to Zach Selby, offensive coordinator David Blough said he has seen a lot of growth from Williams and called the rookie a joy to work with. That fits what Washington has been saying for months. Williams was praised for his route running and ability to create separation in the spring, then continued to flash during training camp. He was also held out of the preseason finale along with a large group of regulars. The Week 1 depth chart still has Treylon Burks ahead of him, with Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs occupying the other starting spots, so there is no immediate fantasy role to bank on. Still, Williams was the 71st overall pick for a reason, and the positive reports have not stopped. If that growth starts turning into regular snaps, his fantasy value could move quickly.
Source: Zach Selby
Source: Zach Selby
Jacob Misiorowski Remains an Elite Starting Pitcher Option
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski is the runaway favorite to win the National League Cy Young Award in 2026, as he's recorded a 14-5 record with a 1.95 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, and 236 strikeouts across 161 1/3 innings (27 starts). The 24-year-old had a rare off-night at Wrigley Field on September 2, allowing five earned runs across four innings against the Chicago Cubs. However, Misiorowski bounced back against the Cubs in his most recent outing on Tuesday, allowing just one earned run while striking out nine across 6 1/3 innings. The young right-hander is averaging 100.5 miles per hour on his fastball and has posted a ridiculous 38.3% strikeout rate for the year. Misiorowski has also limited free passes (6.7% walk rate) and power, allowing opposing hitters to log just a 3.3% barrel rate. Heading into the final few weeks of the regular season, Misiorowski remains an elite starting pitching option for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tyler Shough Leaves Fantasy Managers Plenty to Believe In
New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough made a pretty convincing case for himself before his rookie season ended. Over his final five games, Shough completed 69.9% of his passes for 1,316 yards, five touchdowns and only two interceptions while New Orleans went 4-1. He gave fantasy managers something on the ground too, adding 135 rushing yards and three more scores during that stretch. It was enough to earn him NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month honors for December and January. Shough now enters Year 2 without a quarterback competition and with Chris Olave coming off the best season of his career. First-round receiver Jordyn Tyson will miss the beginning of the year on injured reserve, so the supporting cast isn't completely intact. Still, Shough's finish is difficult to brush aside as one good game or a short hot streak. If that late-season version sticks around, he could move well beyond being viewed as just another matchup-dependent fantasy quarterback.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jordan Love May Have to Carry More of Green Bay's Offense
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love could have more put on his plate than we've seen the past couple of seasons. Josh Jacobs remains unavailable, leaving Green Bay to sort through an unproven group of running backs as the season begins. Love didn't need huge volume to play well last year, completing a career-high 66.3% of his passes for 3,381 yards, 23 touchdowns and only six interceptions on 439 attempts. Fantasy managers have already seen what happens when those attempts climb. Love threw 579 times for 4,159 yards and 32 touchdowns in 2023, his best fantasy season by far. The receiving group is also in better shape, with Christian Watson, Jayden Reed and Tucker Kraft all off the initial injury report. Love still doesn't give managers much of a rushing floor, and Minnesota isn't an easy opening matchup. This is more about what comes next. If Green Bay can't lean on the running game the way it has recently, Love's fantasy ceiling gets a lot more interesting.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
A.J. Ewing Remains a Priority Speed Target on the Waiver Wire
Across 425 plate appearances in 2026, New York Mets outfielder A.J. Ewing is hitting .252/.322/.370 with eight home runs, 35 RBI, 48 runs scored, and 23 stolen bases. The 22-year-old's power has dried up in the second half of the season, as he's hit just one home run across 208 plate appearances since the All-Star break. Ewing's 25.4% strikeout rate is also a bit higher than is ideal, particularly given his power profile. However, Ewing's 9.2% walk rate allows him to get on base with enough consistency to get to his speed, which is his main appeal for fantasy managers. After going just nine for his first 15 as a base stealer in the big leagues, Ewing has been caught just twice in his last 16 attempts. For fantasy managers in need of speed, Ewing profiles as a priority waiver wire target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ethan Salas Worth Targeting on the Waiver Wire Despite Slow Start?
San Diego Padres catcher Ethan Salas has gotten off to a slow start in the big leagues since making his MLB debut on September 2, as he's gone hitless in his first 10 plate appearances. Salas has also split playing time in the early going with fellow Padres catchers Luis Campusano and Freddy Fermin. However, the 20-year-old Salas is widely considered to be one of the top catcher prospects in all of baseball, so it could just be a matter of time before he takes over as the full-time backstop in San Diego. Across 405 plate appearances split between Double-A and Triple-A before his promotion, Salas hit .296/.374/.448 with 10 home runs, 61 RBI, 54 runs scored, and 17 stolen bases. Salas may struggle to get to significant power in his first taste of big-league action, but he's posted an impressive 11.6% walk rate while striking out in just 14.3% of his trips to the plate in the minors. In two-catcher formats, Salas could be worth targeting on the waiver wire just in case he takes over as the everyday catcher for the Padres down the stretch.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tucker Kraft's Contract Talks Could Reset Tight End Market
Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft remains in contract talks with the team, and the next deal at the position could be a big one. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that Green Bay hopes to get something done by the end of Week 1, with Kraft in position to become the first tight end to reach $20 million per year. George Kittle currently tops the market at $19.1 million annually, just ahead of Trey McBride at $19 million. Kraft is entering the final year of his rookie contract after catching 32 passes for 489 yards and six touchdowns in eight games last season before tearing his ACL against Carolina. He returned from the PUP list on July 31 and worked back into 11-on-11 drills in August. If the two sides can close the gap, Kraft's deal could be the one that finally pushes the tight-end market past $20 million.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Hector Rodriguez a High-Upside Power Bat to Target on the Waiver Wire
Across 102 plate appearances since making his MLB debut in early August, Cincinnati Reds outfielder Hector Rodriguez is hitting .266/.324/.457 with five home runs, 12 RBI, and 14 runs scored. Swing-and-miss is a red flag in the 22-year-old's profile, as he's struck out in 28.4% of his plate appearances. With middling barrel (7.7%) and hard-hit (33.8%) rates, Rodriguez's underlying batted-ball metrics at the big-league level are not amazing either. However, the young outfielder put up monster power numbers in the minors this season before getting promoted, hitting 27 home runs across 455 plate appearances at Triple-A. He's also taken over as the Reds' everyday right fielder and should get an extended run to prove himself as the season winds to a close. Fantasy managers in search of power upside on the waiver wire may want to target Rodriguez.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Isaiah Likely Could Hit The Ground Running This Season
New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely is creating some real buzz in the fantasy community, mostly because he is no longer blocked from playing time behind Mark Andrews for the Baltimore Ravens. He has been impressive in training camp, and there is a real belief among many who follow the team that he emerges as the No. 2 target behind Malik Nabers on the outside for the Giants. Adam Bernstein of GMENHQ, a Giants blog, wrote this about Likely: "Given the state of New York's receiver room, there's a real chance he functions as Dart's No. 2 receiving option behind Malik Nabers." Likely played in 14 games last year with the Baltimore Ravens and caught 27 passes for 307 yards and a touchdown, playing most of the season behind Andrews on the depth chart. This is an opportunity for a breakout season for Likely in an expanded role.
Source: GMEN HQ blog
Source: GMEN HQ blog
