Sep 7, 2026, 1:32 PM ET

Denny Hamlin entered the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway as the No. 1 Seed for The Chase, but ended the race with the championship lead despite a big setback. Hamlin began the race from the fourth position after qualifying was canceled due to weather. The No. 11 Toyota driver started strong, as he went ahead and took the lead from Daniel Suarez and Tyler Reddick early in the first stage before Reddick took it back on lap 29. Hamlin took the lead back from Reddick later on in the stage on lap 45 and kept leading until later in the stage, when Reddick regained the lead again. From there, Hamlin went on to finish the first stage in third, behind Reddick and his teammate Bubba Wallace, who passed Hamlin before the stage ended under caution. In the second stage, Hamlin failed to reacquire the lead, but ran in the top five through most of the stage outside of pit stops. He went on to finish the stage in third and gained eight more stage points. During the stage break before the final stage, Hamlin's pit crew had a slow pit stop with trouble on the right-rear tire, causing him to lose positions. Then, on lap 241, Hamlin made contact with the wall and with Michael McDowell, causing him to lose plenty of speed due to damage. Hamlin fell two laps down after losing the pace, while his team took time to repair the damage. Hamlin spent the rest of the race trying to recover positions, but he finished 18th. Despite his underwhelming finish, Hamlin maintains the championship lead by 12 points ahead of Christopher Bell after the 27th race of the season.--Sean Engel - RotoBaller
Source: NASCAR.com

Sep 7, 2026, 1:26 PM ET

Miami Dolphins rookie wide receiver Chris Bell saw five targets in roughly 10 minutes of game time in his lone preseason appearance, and team beat reporter Kyle Crabbs believes the team's concerted effort to get him involved could be a precursor of things to come in the regular season. Appearing on NFL Spotlight with Ari Meirov on Monday, Crabbs noted that he saw Bell as a top 50 talent in the 2026 NFL draft, describing him as a "run-after-catch monster". Bell is still playing catch-up after spending most of the spring and summer rehabbing from the torn ACL that ended his collegiate career, but Crabbs believes his versatility could lead to designed targets early in the year with the potential for significant growth. With an injury-depressed ADP causing him to go undrafted in a number of leagues throughout the summer, Bell has a path to becoming the Dolphins' top wide receiver and should be viewed as a top waiver priority wherever he's still available.--Patrick McGrath
Source: Kyle Crabbs

Sep 7, 2026, 1:19 PM ET

San Diego Padres right-hander Nick Pivetta (forearm) will come off the 60-day injured list to start Monday's series opener against the visiting Washington Nationals at Petco Park, manager Craig Stammen told AJ Cassavell of MLB.com. It will be Pivetta's first major-league outing since April 12. The 33-year-old veteran has been cleared to return to San Diego's starting rotation for the stretch run after throwing 4 1/3 scoreless innings with seven strikeouts in a minor-league rehab start on Aug. 30 with Triple-A El Paso. He was able to throw 64 pitches in that outing, and while Pivetta will be a part of the Friars' rotation as they seek a playoff spot in the National League, he will most likely be on a short leash in his return on Monday and therefore will not be a recommended streaming option for fantasy managers. Pivetta is currently rostered in 75% of Yahoo leagues despite having made only four starts in 2026. In those four starts, the Canadian hurler went 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 24 strikeouts in 16 innings pitched. The 10-year MLB veteran had a career year in 2025 in his first year in SD, going 13-5 with a 2.87 ERA (3.49 FIP) and 0.98 WHIP with a career-high 190 strikeouts and 50 walks in 181 2/3 innings across his 31 regular-season starts.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com - AJ Cassavell

Sep 7, 2026, 1:12 PM ET

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker (undisclosed), who missed time last week with what head coach Todd Bowles described as a minor injury, was not spotted during Monday's practice, according to beat writer Rick Stroud. Following rumors of a potential split from the team, Tucker recently agreed to a pay cut and is again a candidate to see significant goal-line usage after leading the Buccaneers with seven rushing touchdowns in 2025. The Buccaneers open the 2026 season with a road game against the Bengals, and with the first official injury report of the season set for release on Wednesday, Tucker's status will need to be monitored, as, to this point, the nature of his injury has not been disclosed.--Patrick McGrath
Source: Rick Stroud

Sep 7, 2026, 1:10 PM ET

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (knee) was seen practicing on Monday, according to the Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud. In addition to McMillan, fellow wideout Emeka Egbuka (toe) was on the field, which means the team's top three wideouts -- Egbuka, Chris Godwin Jr., and McMillan -- could all be active for Week 1 this Sunday, Sept. 13, against the Cincinnati Bengals. That would be great news for quarterback Baker Mayfield in a potential shootout as he looks to get out of the gate strong following a disappointing 2025 campaign. McMillan did not play at all in the preseason due to his knee injury, but there is optimism that he will be available this weekend in the regular-season opener. The 24-year-old played in only four games last year due to a serious neck injury that he suffered in the preseason, but he had an impressive 37-461-8 line in 13 games played as a rookie in 2024, and he should have a bigger role this year with Mike Evans no longer around. Still, McMillan will need to hold off rising young receiver Ted Hurst III in a new offense in 2026. McMillan is currently rostered in only 16% of Yahoo leagues and is shaping up as a deep-league sleeper for his Week 1 matchup against the Bengals if he plays this weekend.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Rick Stroud

Sep 7, 2026, 1:08 PM ET

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, there is a "real possibility" Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua does not face any suspension during the 2026 season. This news comes after the star wideout was not placed on the Commissioner Exempt List the past week. The 25-year-old is facing a civil lawsuit and was subject to potential discipline from the league. However, it appears Nacua will avoid any missed time due to legal issues ahead of the new season. Schefter also noted that Nacua is progressing well from the psoas soreness that sidelined him at times during the later stages of camp. Last season, Nacua turned in a dominant effort, catching 129 passes for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns, and should carry this momentum into his season opener on Thursday against the 49ers. When active, Nacua carries elite WR1 upside and has a clear path to finishing the season as the top fantasy asset.--Andy Smith
Source: Adam Schefter

Sep 7, 2026, 1:04 PM ET

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (toe) is practicing on Monday, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. Pewter Report reports that Egbuka is "participating in warmups and running routes." It is a good sign to see Egbuka doing something on the field on Monday after he was limited to side work last week. However, the 23-year-old could just be limited and may need to upgrade to a full practice before the end of the week before the Bucs clear him to play in the Week 1 season opener on Sunday, Sept. 13, against the Cincinnati Bengals. Jalen McMillan (knee) was also practicing on Monday, so Tampa could have all three of their top wideouts available against Cincy this weekend, in addition to veteran Chris Godwin Jr. That would be good news for quarterback Baker Mayfield in a game in which the Bucs may need to open up the passing playbook in order to keep pace with the Bengals' explosive offense. If Egbuka is cleared to play later this week, fantasy managers should consider him a low-end WR2 option to kick off the season. The Bucs will release their first official practice report of 2026 on Wednesday.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Rick Stroud

Sep 7, 2026, 12:54 PM ET

San Francisco 49ers veteran wide receiver Mike Evans (groin) said that none of the injuries that he dealt with this summer during training camp were significant, according to Christopher Mathis of The Drive. "I know I'm an older player. I've had probably over a thousand football practices in my life now, so I know what I'm doing out there. They know what they're doing. They did a good job taking care of me. None of my injuries were significant, so if it was a game week, I wouldn't have missed any time," Evans said. The 33-year-old was spotted on the field on Monday in Melbourne, Australia, in the portion of practice open to the media, but he could have been limited with a groin injury that he has been dealing with since the end of camp. While the Niners have been careful with Evans after he played in a career-low eight games in 2025 in his final season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he is expected to suit up on Thursday against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams in his 49ers debut. Evans is a future Hall of Famer and the unquestioned WR1 in San Fran in 2026, but durability concerns as he nears the end of his career should not be ignored. Fantasy managers should treat Evans as a WR3/flex for his debut with his new squad in Week 1.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Drive - Christopher Mathis

Sep 7, 2026, 12:08 PM ET

New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson (ankle) was not spotted during the media-access portion of Monday's practice, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN. Henderson has not practiced since injuring his ankle Aug. 24 and was officially listed as a non-participant Sunday. With New England opening Wednesday night in Seattle, there is very little time left for him to get back on the field. Rhamondre Stevenson and Corey Kiner were both practicing Monday, along with practice-squad running backs Lan Larison and Hassan Haskins. Neither practice-squad back has been elevated yet, but both would give New England another option if Henderson cannot play. Monday's official practice designation is still pending, but his Week 1 availability is firmly in question.--Bruno Mulé
Source: Mike Reiss

Sep 7, 2026, 12:00 PM ET

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks is still dealing with general soreness and worked off to the side with a trainer during Monday's practice, according to Mike Kaye. Brooks was also held out of Carolina's Sept. 1 and Sept. 2 practices before the team took a few days off. Head coach Dave Canales said last week that he was "very optimistic" Brooks would be available for Week 1, but the third-year back has yet to get back into regular team work. Brooks missed all of 2025 following his second right ACL tear before returning this summer and appearing in two preseason games. Carolina doesn't open against Chicago until Sept. 13, so there is still time. For now, Brooks' practice participation over the next few days will be worth watching.--Bruno Mulé
Source: Mike Kaye

Sep 7, 2026, 11:53 AM ET

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed is becoming one of the more interesting players still available in a lot of leagues. He didn't do much through the air after arriving in Seattle last season, catching 15 passes for 188 yards in nine games, but the Seahawks appear ready to give him more this time around. Shaheed had a strong offseason, and the latest expectation is that he'll be used as more of a complete receiver rather than mostly being sent downfield. Seattle also wants to spread the targets around more after leaning so heavily on Jaxon Smith-Njigba last year. That doesn't make Shaheed an automatic Week 1 starter, and RotoBaller currently has him at WR59 for the opener. The waiver case is stronger. He's sixth among the site's wide receiver pickups and carries an add recommendation for leagues with 10 or more teams. If Shaheed is still available, he's worth grabbing now before the expanded role gets a chance to show up on Sundays.--Bruno Mulé
Source: RotoBaller

Sep 7, 2026, 11:47 AM ET

New England Patriots wide receiver Romeo Doubs shouldn't be sitting on many waiver wires heading into Week 1. RotoBaller has him fifth among its pre-Week 1 wide receiver pickups and recommends adding him in leagues with 10 or more teams. The role is there, too. New England's unofficial depth chart has Doubs with the first-team offense after he came over from Green Bay, where he caught 55 passes for a career-high 724 yards and six touchdowns last season. He followed that with eight catches for 124 yards and another score in the playoffs. A.J. Brown will command plenty of targets, and DeMario Douglas and Hunter Henry aren't going away, so Doubs doesn't need to be forced into fantasy lineups immediately. RotoBaller has him at WR48 for the opener in Seattle. That ranking shouldn't stop managers from adding him, though. Doubs has enough of a role and enough production behind him to be more than a speculative stash, making him a priority pickup in 10-team leagues and deeper.--Bruno Mulé
Source: RotoBaller

Sep 7, 2026, 11:32 AM ET

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) will be inactive for Sunday's season opener against Pittsburgh, head coach Kevin Stefanski said, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter. Tua Tagovailoa will start, with Cooper Rush serving as Atlanta's No. 2 quarterback. Penix spent most of the offseason and training camp working his way back from ACL surgery before finally being cleared for full-team work in late August. He did not play in any of Atlanta's three preseason games. Stefanski declined to put a timeline on what comes next for Penix, but said he is "very, very confident" in the team's plan for him and feels good about where he is right now. Penix started nine games last season, throwing for 1,982 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions.--Bruno Mulé
Source: D. Orlando Ledbetter

Sep 7, 2026, 11:22 AM ET

Denver Broncos wide receiver Pat Bryant turned plenty of heads during training camp and could be in line for more work in Year 2. According to Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post, Sean Payton keeps coming back to one fairly simple trait when talking about Bryant: he rarely has to leave his feet to make a clean catch. That allows him to stay in stride and create more after the catch. Payton has also praised Bryant's strong hands, intelligence, size and consistency after what he called a "heck of a camp." Bryant caught 31 passes for 378 yards and one touchdown across 15 games as a rookie, starting seven of them. Denver still has Courtland Sutton, Jaylen Waddle and Marvin Mims Jr. ahead of him on the current depth chart, but Bryant can work outside or from the slot. After the summer he just put together, finding him more snaps shouldn't be difficult.--Bruno Mulé
Source: The Denver Post