Chase Elliott Under Playoff Pressure After 17th-Place Darlington Finish

Chase Elliott hasn't been very fast at Darlington with the Next Gen car, and his woes continued in last night's Southern 500 where he finished 17th and frequently ran even worse than that as his average running position was 18th and he only earned the 19th-highest driver rating. Elliott spent much of the second half […]

Despite Hendrick Mediocrity, Kyle Larson Remains Pretty Safe in Playoffs

In a race where the Chevy teams were unexpectedly out to lunch, Hendrick Motorsports placed no cars in the top 15 for the first time on an unrestricted oval since the 2019 Southern 500, a shocking display for a team that had won 16 times there including utterly dominating the last two races with William […]

Opening Lap Crash and Botched Pit Stop Might've Sunk Alex Bowman's Playoff Hopes

After making the playoffs by the skin of his teeth last weekend, Alex Bowman became something of a longshot to advance to the Round of 12 after a miserable Southern 500. Bowman's day effectively ended almost as soon as it started because he suffered damage while checking up to avoid the multi-car opening lap melee. […]

Darlington Master Erik Jones Comes Up Short, but Still Finishes Third

Although Erik Jones has typically been an average driver over the general NASCAR Cup Series schedule, he has always been a Darlington master, especially in the Southern 500, which he won in 2019 and 2022, and last night's Southern 500 was no exception. In a race the Toyotas had dominant speed, Jones came to the […]

AJ Allmendinger Highest-Finishing Chevy Driver on an Unrestricted Oval for the First Time Since 2016

A.J. Allmendinger had one of the most low-key impressive races of his career in last night's Southern 500 as he finished fifth in a race where Chevrolet and Ford both badly struggled. This marked the first time Allmendinger was the highest-finishing Chevy driver in a Cup Series race on an unrestricted oval since Martinsville in […]

Walter Nolen to Open Season on PUP List

Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Walter Nolen (calf) has been placed on the PUP list and will miss at least the first four games of the 2025 season. It's crushing news for Arizona, which spent its 16th overall pick on the Ole Miss product. During his final year at school, Nolen totaled 48 tackles, 14 tackles […]

Dameon Pierce Ahead of Schedule, Ready for Season

Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce (quad) told KPRC's Aaron Wilson that his recovery is ahead of schedule and he feels ready for the regular season. "It's really a couple weeks ahead of schedule, which is a blessing," Pierce said. "I feel ready to go." The Florida product missed six games last season and didn't […]

Jordan Love May Wear Thumb Brace During Season

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love is still wearing a brace on his surgically-repaired left thumb, and he may continue to wear the brace as the regular season gets underway. "It'll be some weeks having to brace it up and just keep it protected," Love told ESPN's Rob Demovsky. "We'll play it by ear as […]

Bears HC Admits Offense Could Face Learning Curve

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson acknowledged that his team's offense will evolve throughout the 2025 season. "We might have to ebb and flow a little bit after that opening game," Johnson told ESPN's Courtney Cronin. "Usually, it'll take up until the bye week. I think it's placed at just the right time (Week 5) […]

Shemar Stewart Draws Praise From Defensive Star

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Shemar Stewart earned the praise of Trey Hendrickson, who returned to the field this week and was able to observe his new and returning teammates in action. "A great football player with a tremendous amount of potential," Hendrickson said of Stewart, via Geoff Hobson of the team's official website. "And I […]

Walker Buehler to Join Phillies Rotation on Sept. 12

After signing a minor-league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday, right-hander Walker Buehler will have to wait a little while to debut with the club. Philadelphia plans to have Buehler make one start with Triple-A Lehigh Valley before it brings him up to take the ball against the Kansas City Royals on Sept. 12, […]

Jorge Mateo Not Ready to Return

Baltimore Orioles utility player Jorge Mateo (hamstring) will not return from the 60-day injured list when rosters expand on Monday, interim manager Tony Mansolino told reporters. Mateo has been out since early June with elbow and hamstring problems. The 30-year-old has been on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk since Aug. 20, and he'll spend […]

Jake Burger Could Return on Monday

Texas Rangers first baseman Jake Burger (wrist) faced live pitching on Sunday and could come off the 10-day injured list Monday, manager Bruce Bochy told reporters. Burger suffered a sprained left wrist on Aug. 17, continuing an injury-marred season for the 29-year-old. He has taken a total of three trips to the IL while also […]

James McCann Dealing With Lower-Back Tightness

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher James McCann (back) was scratched Friday with tightness in his lower back and did not play in Sunday's 5-4 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Diamondbacks instead started Adrian Del Castillo, who has mostly served as a DH when he has played this year. Shortly after starter Gabriel Moreno landed on […]

Pablo Lopez Dominant in Triple-A Rehab Start

Minnesota Twins right-hander Pablo Lopez (shoulder) was outstanding in a rehab start with Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday. Lopez threw 5 2/3 innings of scoreless, four-hit ball while striking out seven and walking one on 82 pitches (52 strikes). It was the third and likely final rehab start for Lopez, who has been sidelined with […]

Mitch Farris Could Start for Angels on Tuesday

The Los Angeles Angels could call up minor-league left-hander Mitch Farris to start Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals, according to Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register. The Angels need starting help after optioning Jack Kochanowicz to Triple-A and placing Tyler Anderson (oblique) on the 15-day injured list. That may lead them to Farris, […]

Nolan Schanuel hasn't Resumed Baseball Activities

Los Angeles Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel (wrist) has not resumed baseball activities since he went on the 10-day injured list with a left-wrist contusion on Aug. 24, according to Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register. Schanuel now looks likely to miss more than 10 days, and it's unclear when he'll be able to […]

Jorge Soler Ramping Up Activities

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jorge Soler (back) is making progress in his recovery from inflammation in his lower back. Soler has begun increasing activities in the field, including shagging fly balls, while taking batting practice on "several" occasions and hitting off a high-velocity machine, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports. Soler has been […]

Enrique Bradfield Jr. Moving Up to Triple-A

The Baltimore Orioles are promoting outfield prospect Enrique Bradfield Jr. from Double-A Chesapeake to Triple-A Norfolk. The 17th overall pick in the 2023 draft, Bradfield dealt with a hamstring strain that limited him to 50 games with Chesapeake this year. The 23-year-old speedster still posted impressive production with the Baysox, slashing .269/.393/.386 with two homers, […]

Jets Expect Arian Smith to Contribute "Right Away"

The New York Jets expect rookie wide receiver Arian Smith to "contribute right away," according to ESPN's Rich Cimini. A fourth-round pick out of Georgia, Smith recorded 48 catches for 817 yards and four touchdowns in his final collegiate season for the Bulldogs. Outside of top wideout Garrett Wilson, the Jets are hurting for talent […]

Ricky White III Signs Practice-Squad Deal With Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks released seventh-round rookie wide receiver Ricky White III from their active roster, but White has re-signed with the team on a practice-squad contract. The 23-year-old played one year in college at Michigan State before transferring to UNLV, where he recorded 218 catches for 3,336 yards and 24 touchdowns across three seasons. White […]

Ollie Gordon II - Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Fantasy Football Picks for Week 1 (2025)

BALLER MOVE: Start in 14+ team leagues POSITIONAL VALUE: Upside RB4 ANALYSIS: The Miami Dolphins added to their running back room by selecting Ollie Gordon II in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma State. Despite having a disappointing 2024 campaign in college, Gordon looked like one of the game's top […]

Nick Nash Signs Practice-Squad Deal With Falcons

Undrafted wide receiver Nick Nash did not make the Atlanta Falcons' initial 53-man roster but will remain with the team via its practice squad, per ESPN's Marc Raimondi. Nash played well in the preseason, hauling in six catches for 87 yards in the team's final exhibition contest against the Dallas Cowboys. The 26-year-old was named […]

Brenden Rice to Work Out for Saints

Free-agent wide receiver Brenden Rice is working out for the New Orleans Saints on Monday, according to Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports. Rice is the son of Hall of Fame wideout Jerry Rice. A seventh-round pick of the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024, Rice appeared in three games without recording a catch as a rookie […]

Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings for PPR Drafts: T.J. Hockenson, Jake Ferguson, Kyle Pitts, Zach Ertz, Tyler Warren, Jonnu Smith, Evan Engram, Cade Otton

With fantasy draft season coming to a close soon, it's time for another rankings article to help you crush your final fantasy football drafts. At RotoBaller HQ, we rank the top 50 tight ends in PPR formats. Whether you draft a tight end early or play the waiting game, below you will find where essential […]

Riley O'Brien Could Land on 15-Day Injured List

St. Louis Cardinals reliever Riley O'Brien (shoulder) is dealing with fatigue in his right shoulder and could go on the 15-day injured list, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. The Cardinals will know more on Monday after a doctor examines O'Brien. Since the Cardinals traded closer Ryan Helsley to the New York Mets […]

Luis Severino to Start on Tuesday

Athletics right-hander Luis Severino (oblique) will come off the 15-day injured list to start Tuesday against the St. Louis Cardinals. It'll be the first start since Aug. 5 for Severino, who has missed just under a month with a strained left oblique. In his first season with the A's, the 31-year-old has gone 6-11 with […]

Matt Chapman Leaves Early on Sunday, Expects to Play Monday

San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman (shin, foot) exited a 13-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday after fouling a ball off his left shin/foot in the bottom of the sixth inning. Chapman finished his plate appearance with a walk before the Giants subbed in Casey Schmitt to pinch run for him. It […]

Jac Caglianone Returning From 10-Day Injured List on Monday

The Kansas City Royals announced that they will activate outfielder Jac Caglianone (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list on Monday. The 22-year-old rookie missed the last few days of July and all of August with a strained left hamstring. Caglianone was the sixth pick in the 2024 draft, and his promotion to the majors in […]

Kyle Williams - Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Picks for Week 1 (2025)

BALLER MOVE: Start in 14+ team leagues POSITIONAL VALUE: Upside WR4 ANALYSIS: The Patriots selected wide receiver Kyle Williams out of Washington State in the third round of April's NFL Draft. Williams spent his final two seasons of his college career with Washington State. In 2023, Williams caught 61 passes for 843 yards and six […]