2 years agoThe Tampa Bay Rays reinstated left-handed reliever Brooks Raley from the restricted list on Friday and optioned right-hander Kevin Herget to Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move. Raley was unable to pitch this week in Toronto against the Blue Jays because of his vaccination status, but he'll be back in the Rays' bullpen this weekend for a three-game series against the Texas Rangers. The 34-year-old southpaw has been excellent for Tampa this year, posting a 2.03 ERA (2.04 FIP), a 0.90 WHIP, six saves and 58 strikeouts in 48 2/3 relief innings. He has 10 holds and a 0.92 ERA in 19 outings since the All-Star break. Fantasy managers need to get him back into their lineups in holds leagues.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Rays Communications

2 years agoIndianapolis Colts linebacker Shaquille Leonard (back) and wide receiver Alec Pierce (concussion) have both been ruled out ahead of Sunday's game versus the Jacksonville Jaguars. Although Leonard practiced in full on Wednesday and Thursday, it appears he'll still miss his second consecutive game. Meanwhile, Pierce made real progress but was unable to clear the concussion protocol in time. It will be important to monitor Colts injury updates over the next few days since wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (quad) is listed as questionable. If Pittman joins Pierce on the inactive list, Parris Campbell would serve as the team's No. 1 wide receiver.--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Adam Schefter

2 years agoLos Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (rib) avoided any broken bones following Thursday night's game. According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, Herbert's X-rays came back negative. As a result, the third-string quarterback will undergo further testing. The injury clearly bothered Herbert in Week 2, but he only missed one offensive snap. Los Angeles doesn't play again until next Sunday, giving Herbert 10 days to recover. Still, fantasy managers should monitor his status going forward in case he does have to miss time. Chase Daniel is the Chargers' current backup quarterback.--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Mike Garafolo

2 years agoChicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki (hand, wrist) remains out of the starting lineup on Friday against the Colorado Rockies. However, the good news is that his X-rays came back negative for structural damage after he was hit by a pitch on his left hand/wrist in Wednesday's game against the New York Mets. Fantasy managers should consider the 28-year-old Japanese outfielder as day-to-day heading into the weekend. With Suzuki out on Friday, rookie Nelson Velazquez is starting in right field and is batting eighth against Rockies right-hander German Marquez. Velazquez is hitting .211/.286/.375 with six home runs, 20 RBI, 18 runs scored and four stolen bases in his first 152 major-league at-bats. He'll be a low-upside DFS option at the bottom of the lineup.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Press

2 years agoArizona Cardinals wide receivers Rondale Moore (hamstring) and Andy Isabella (back) have both been ruled out ahead of Week 2. With these wideouts sidelined and DeAndre Hopkins suspended, Arizona will proceed with Marquise Brown, A.J. Green, Greg Dortch, and Zach Ertz headlining the passing game. Brown and Ertz are both worth starting against a suspect Las Vegas Raiders defense. Meanwhile, Green and Dortch have FLEX appeal in deeper formats.--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Josh Weinfuss

2 years agoChicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras (ankle) has progressed to light agility work in a running progression. Contreras sprained his left ankle recently and was placed on the 10-day injured list on Sept. 6. The Cubs have no reason to rush the 30-year-old All-Star back in a lost season, but it's good news that he's moving in the right direction. Skipper David Ross said that Contreras is likely around a week from returning to the team. Yan Gomes will continue to do most of the catching, while P.J. Higgins will occasionally mix in. Contreras made his third All-Star team this year and is currently hitting .246/.351/.471 with an .822 OPS, 21 home runs, 54 RBI, 63 runs scored and four stolen bases in 107 games. Keep him stashed everywhere.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Jordan Bastian

2 years agoIndianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (quadriceps) is listed as questionable for Week 2, head coach Frank Reich announced. Pittman aggravated the injury on Wednesday and was limited in practice. Then, he was a non-participant on Thursday. It is unclear if he practiced in any capacity on Friday, but the good news is that the questionable designation leaves the door open for him to play on Sunday. If active, the 24-year-old would rank as a top-12 option against a Jaguars secondary that surrendered the second-most points to wideouts last week. If he can't go, the Colts would be without both Pittman and Alec Pierce (concussion), leaving Parris Campbell as the top option. We should know more about Pittman's availability by Sunday morning, and the Colts' 1 p.m. kickoff gives fantasy managers some flexibility in case a last-minute lineup change is needed.--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Stephen Holder

2 years agoGreen Bay Packers kicker Mason Crosby will face the Chicago Bears in the team's home opener Sunday night. The 38-year-old made his lone extra-point attempt last week, recording no field goal tries in the Packers' blowout loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Green Bay's offense should fair better this week against Chicago, but Crosby's fantasy scoring ceiling remains capped. The offense could continue to struggle as Aaron Rodgers slowly gains chemistry with the slew of new receivers in Green Bay. Even if Allen Lazard (ankle) plays this week, Crosby is likely to kick multiple extra points rather than multiple field goals. With only a 41.5 implied point total, it is better to look elsewhere for a fantasy kicker this week.--Ryan Larrison - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller

2 years agoChicago Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner (triceps) underwent an MRI exam on Friday and is meeting with a doctor to go over the results. Hoerner has missed the team's last four games with right triceps tightness and might have to be placed on the injured list. It would be a big blow for fantasy managers, as the 25-year-old has been a solid contributor all year. Hoerner is batting .291/.338/.421 with nine home runs, 49 RBI, 51 runs scored and 18 stolen bases in 444 at-bats in 2022. With Hoerner still sidelined, rookie Christopher Morel will start at shortstop and bat ninth against Colorado Rockies right-hander German Marquez on Friday. Morel has 13 long balls in his first MLB season, but there won't be a ton of upside in DFS in the nine-hole.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Jordan Bastian

2 years agoThe Green Bay Packers defense will host the Chicago Bears in their home opener on Sunday night. The team struggled last weekend against the Minnesota Vikings, allowing wide receiver Justin Jefferson to catch nine passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns. However, they have a more favorable matchup this week against the Justin Fields-led Bears. The Packers' pass rush should have an easier time against the Chicago offensive line, but they will need to generate some turnovers and get to Fields more often than they got to Kirk Cousins last week to make fantasy managers happy. The Packers are a decent streaming option this week, but they do not carry top-five scoring upside.--Ryan Larrison - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller

2 years agoGreen Bay Packers tight end Robert Tonyan faces the Chicago Bears this Sunday night in Green Bay's home opener. The 28-year-old tied for the team-high in targets last week with rookie wide receiver Romeo Doubs and could see a decent target share again Sunday. San Francisco was without George Kittle last week, allowing Chicago to hold the backup duo of Ross Dwelley and Tyler Kroft to two receptions for 20 yards. The matchup with Chicago is not one to avoid, making Tonyan a decent streaming option in Week 2 as the Packers passing attack will look to bounce back after a poor performance to open the season.--Ryan Larrison - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller

2 years agoGreen Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson will face the Chicago Bears on Sunday night. The first-round rookie played 66% of the offensive snaps in Week 1 against Minnesota but produced only two receptions on four targets for 34 yards. He also dropped a deep go-ahead touchdown down the sideline. It was positive to see Watson record the second-highest snap share of the Packers' wide receivers, finishing only one percent behind veteran Sammy Watkins. However, Allen Lazard (ankle) could return this week after practicing on a limited basis, muddying the rookie's potential snap share moving forward. Chicago is not a matchup that should scare fantasy managers away from starting a wide receiver, but with a possible Lazard return, Watson profiles as an extremely risky boom or bust flex option in Week 2.--Ryan Larrison - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller

2 years agoSan Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa is a high-end DE/edge-rushing option for IDP leagues in his Week 2 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Bosa is coming off a one-sack, multi-pressure showing against the Bears and facing another weak offensive line. PFF ranked the Seahawks the single worst O-line in its preseason rankings, and they still ranked 12th worst this week despite a better-than-expected Week 1. Bradley Chubb took advantage of the rookie left tackle Charles Cross and made two sacks. Bosa could wreak havoc.--Mitchell Blatt - RotoBallerSource: PFF

2 years agoThe San Francisco 49ers defensive and special teams unit faces a Seattle Seahawks offense that entered the season with low expectations. The Seahawks ranked 20th in total offense last season—and that was with Russell Wilson at quarterback. Now Geno Smith is the starter. He looked very bad early in his career, then he only played in six games since joining the Seahawks in 2020, but in those six games, he actually looked good. Still, Seattle only gained 253 yards and scored 17 points Week 1. The 49ers DST is a possible streaming option Week 2 with borderline DST1 potential.--Mitchell Blatt - RotoBallerSource: Team Rankings

2 years agoSan Francisco 49ers kicker Robbie Gould is coming off a game in which he made the only field goal he attempted, and he's facing a Seattle Seahawks team this week that allowed 6.6 kicking points per game last season, the 13th-fewest in the league. The Seahawks defense is about average, and the 49ers offense is struggling. You can probably find a better fantasy kicker to stream in Week 2.--Mitchell Blatt - RotoBallerSource: Team Rankings

2 years agoSan Francisco 49ers rookie running back Jordan Mason could have an expanded role in the 49ers upcoming home game against the Seattle Seahawks. With starting RB Elijah Mitchell (knee) set to miss the next eight or so games with a sprained MCL, other Niners backs will have to step up. Jeff Wilson Jr. is the starter going into Week 2, but he wasn't impressive in Week 1 and wasn't impressive when he has started four games last season. Mason was on the field for no offensive snaps in Week 1, but he should get some opportunities in Week 2. If he can outplay Wilson, who has averaged less than 3.0 yards per carry in four of his past seven games, then the starting job could become his. Don't start Mason this week, but consider him as a potential stash.--Mitchell Blatt - RotoBallerSource: Team Rankings

2 years agoSan Francisco 49ers running back Jeff Wilson Jr. takes on the starting role for the 49ers in their Week 2 home matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson started four games last year and averaged 44.3 yards per game and 3.9 yards per carry in those games. The Seahawks played well on defense in their Week 1 win over the Denver Broncos. They allowed 113.6 rushing yards per game last season, 17th-most in the league, but just 3.8 yards per carry, the second-fewest. PFF ranked their run defense as third-best. The starting 49ers RB always has the opportunity to pull off a big game, but Wilson has been given the opportunity before and has rarely produced for fantasy managers.--Mitchell Blatt - RotoBallerSource: Team Rankings

2 years agoWhile San Francisco 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk's Week 2 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks is favorable on paper, the situation surrounding his team is not. The Seahawks defense allowed the second-most passing yards in 2021 and gave up 340 to the Broncos Week 1. Both the Broncos top two WRs scored double digits in PPR. But the 49ers passing game was anemic Week 1, and Aiyuk was only targeted three times. Lance says he will be looking to get Aiyuk more involved. But going back to QB Trey Lance's rookie season, Aiyuk was targeted on average 1.2 fewer times in games in which Lance played and scored 2.3 fewer points than when Lance did not play. Add in the fact that the 49ers are missing RB Elijah Mitchell (MCL) and that it is expected to rain, and it just doesn't seem like a good week for Aiyuk or the 49ers offense to put up points.--Mitchell Blatt - RotoBallerSource: Tristi Rodriguez - NBC Sports

2 years agoSan Francisco 49ers receiver Deebo Samuel's role in his team's running game offers him some insurance value in his Week 2 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. The Niners' passing game looked terrible Week 1, and Samuel only made two catches, but he still finished inside the top 30 WRs in standard scoring on the strength of his 52 rushing yards and rushing TD on eight carries. He should have at least as many carries and possibly more this week (and going forward), as RB Elijah Mitchell is missing the next few games with an MCL injury. In 2021, in games that Mitchell played, Samuel averaged 86.1 receiving yards and 21.7 rushing yards, and in games Mitchell missed, he averaged 77.3 receiving yards and 29.7 rushing yards. His receiving volume might suffer, but he can make up for it on the ground. Samuel is a low-end WR2 and a strong flex play.--Mitchell Blatt - RotoBallerSource: Team Rankings

2 years agoArizona Cardinals kicker Matt Prater is a solid option in Week 2 in what could be a high-scoring affair with the Las Vegas Raiders. He didn't attempt a field goal in Week 1, but that was expected when the Cardinals went down by multiple possessions early in the game. The 38-year-old was a decent option last season, making 30-of-37 field goals and converting on seven 50+ yard attempts. Fantasy managers can treat him as a viable starting option this week.--Tommy Adamopoulos - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com

2 years agoGreen Bay Packers running back AJ Dillon will face the Chicago Bears on Sunday night in Green Bay's home opener. The 24-year-old tallied 15 touches in Week 1 against Minnesota, totaling 91 yards while scoring the Packers' lone touchdown. Dillon out-touched teammate Aaron Jones 15-8, and while he will likely have more carries on a regular basis than Jones, the target totals for the two backs are tougher to predict. Jones will see his workload increase in the passing game, but it should not affect Dillon's status as a high-end RB2. Chicago allowed 6.8 yards per carry to San Francisco 49ers back Elijah Mitchell before he went down with a knee injury last week, so Dillon should have no issue producing Sunday night. The third-year back is a top-tier RB2 for fantasy managers this week.--Ryan Larrison - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller

2 years agoThe Arizona Cardinals defense will have their hands full once again in Week 2 as they take on Derek Carr, Davante Adams, Darren Waller, and company. They were shredded in Week 1 by Patrick Mahomes as they allowed 360 passing yards and five touchdowns. After what we saw in the season opener, it is hard to trust them in fantasy lineups moving forward, especially against good offenses. Fantasy managers should look elsewhere for a D/ST in Week 2.--Tommy Adamopoulos - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com

2 years agoSan Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance will attempt to quiet the doubters when the Seahawks come to Levi's Stadium for a Week 2 divisional matchup. Lance struggled last week against the Bears, finishing as the QB27, but Soldier Field was a sloppy mess from heavy rain. It is likely to rain in San Francisco, too, but it can't be worse than it was last weekend. The Seahawks are also ranked as a significantly poorer defense against the pass last season than did the Bears. They allowed the second-most passing yards in the league. The absence of injured starting RB Elijah Mitchell (MCL) could increase Lance's role in the running game. With a high floor built on rushing yards, Lance just needs to do a little in the passing game to be a QB2.--Mitchell Blatt - RotoBallerSource: Team Rankings

2 years agoAtlanta Falcons running back Damien Williams (rib) has been ruled out for the Week 2 contest against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. Williams missed practice all week after picking up the injury in the Week 1 loss to the New Orleans Saints. He was expected to have a big role as Cordarrelle Patterson's backup, but he finished with only two carries for two yards on 10 offensive snaps. With Williams now officially out this weekend, it should mean that rookie Tyler Allgeier, who was a healthy scratch in Week 1, will make his NFL debut and serve as the primary backup to Patterson. Avery Williams could also be involved, though, so Allgeier will be a stretch for standalone fantasy appeal in starting lineups.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Michael Rothstein

2 years agoArizona Cardinals wide receiver Greg Dortch could have some solid upside in Week 2 after a strong performance in the season opener. The 24-year-old led the team in targets with nine, turning it into seven catches for 63 yards. With Rondale Moore (hamstring) unlikely to play again, Dortch will take on the slot receiver role once again versus the Las Vegas Raiders. Marquise Brown and Zach Ertz are his main competition for targets, so fantasy managers shouldn't count on him leading the team in targets on a weekly basis. Still, he figures to have a big role in the offense once again, which could put him on the FLEX radar in deeper PPR formats.--Tommy Adamopoulos - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com

2 years agoGreen Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones will face the Chicago Bears on Sunday night. After receiving just eight touches last week, the 27-year-old will look to bounce back against the division rival. Jones was hyper-efficient with his touches, averaging 9.8 yards per carry and nine yards per reception in Week 1. Teammate AJ Dillon out-touched Jones 15-8, but the game got away from Green Bay early, so this will not likely be the norm when the offense is operating properly. Chicago held San Francisco's running backs to 63 yards last week, but Elijah Mitchell left the game early with a knee injury. He averaged 6.8 yards per carry before he exited. Jones should bounce back in Week 2 and should be considered a low-end RB1 in all scoring formats.--Ryan Larrison - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller

2 years agoAfter a couple of big knockout wins against future Hall of Famers, Cory Sandhagen (14-4) has struggled of late and is looking to rebound from back-to-back losses when he enters the Octagon for Saturday's main event against Song Yadong. With several impressive finishes under his belt against big names, nine of Sandhagen's 14 career wins have come by the finish, with six of them coming by knockout/TKO. DraftKings sees the Sandman as the big favorite to rebound with a salary of $9,200. Throughout his UFC career, Sandhagen averages 81.8 fantasy points per contest. With his recent struggles, Sandhagen is in dire need of a win to rebound, but he's facing a fighter who has been nothing short of dominant for years in the UFC.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoRiding a three-fight winning streak heading into Saturday's main event, Team Alpha Male's Song Yadong (19-6-1) will look to take a victory from the struggling Cory Sandhagen. Since joining the UFC in 2017, Yadong has amassed an impressive 8-1-1 record in the organization's bantamweight division. Able to earn a victory by any means necessary, 11 of his 14 career wins have come via the finish, with eight of them via knockout/TKO. DraftKings sees Yadong as a big underdog with a salary of $7,00. Throughout his UFC career, he averages 81.8 fantasy points per contest. At this price point, Yadong is a steal and should be rostered, especially with his current run of victories.--Matt Bricker - RotoBallerSource: UFC

2 years agoArizona Cardinals wide receiver Marquise Brown will look to build on a solid start to the season after catching a touchdown in his Cardinals debut. The former Baltimore Raven looks to be Kyler Murray's go-to target down the field, as he had 102 air yards and an average target distance of 17 yards in the season opener. The matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders could call for a high-scoring affair, which is only a positive for the outlook of Brown. They gave up 279 passing yards and three touchdowns last week, so there should be an opportunity for the speedster to get loose in this one. The 25-year-old can be valued as a WR2 this week.--Tommy Adamopoulos - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com

2 years agoTampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that wide receiver Chris Godwin (hamstring) and left tackle Donovan Smith (elbow) are still in play to suit up in Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints. However, if Bowles had to guess, he said it's unlikely that either plays on Sunday. Expect both Godwin and Smith to be listed as questionable on Friday's final injury report. The 26-year-old Godwin missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday after getting hurt in the Week 1 win over the Dallas Cowboys. Fantasy managers should be looking elsewhere in Week 2. With Mike Evans (calf) and Julio Jones (knee) also banged up, Russell Gage could be in for heavy target volume in this divisional clash against New Orleans.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Buccaneers.com - Scott Smith