Top Headlines
-
Football
Fantasy 2024: Cook, Waddle Rd 2
-
Most Viewed Players
-
Baseball
Prospects: Dominguez surging
-
Football
Superflex rookie-only draft recap
-
Baseball
Positive signs for 10 pitchers
-
Football
#AskFFT Fan Mock Draft 2
-
Baseball
Waivers: Matos, Manoah top the list
-
Baseball
Week 9 sleeper hitters
Player News
-
Tim Patrick DEN WR
Broncos' Tim Patrick: On field for OTAs
29m agoPatrick (Achilles) is participating in Thursday's OTAs session, Nick Kosmider of The Athletic reports.
Patrick continues to work his way back from the left Achilles tear that cost him the entire 2023 season. As an ACL tear also wiped out his 2022 campaign, the 30-year-old wideout now hasn't suited up for an NFL game since 2021, and he likely would've been cut this offseason had he not agreed to a pay cut. Health permitting, there's opportunity for Patrick to carve out a role in Denver's wide receiver corps, which gets thin behind Courtland Sutton. The other top candidates to start in three-wide sets are Josh Reynolds, Marvin Mims and Troy Franklin.
-
Dalvin Cook BAL RB
Dalvin Cook: Hopes for training camp chance
38m agoCook said Thursday he hopes to compete in training camp this offseason with a new team, Kevin Patra of NFL.com reports.
Cook said he wants to participate fully in training camp this offseason to "get my legs back under me and feel like myself again." The veteran is coming off the worst season of his career by a good margin, but says if given a chance to compete, he believes he'll be able to impress new coaches and teammates. Cook averaged just 3.2 yards per carry across 15 games with the Jets last year, and he made a minimal impact after linking up with Baltimore in the postseason.
-
Rome Odunze CHI WR
Bears' Rome Odunze: Almost over hamstring issue
42m agoOdunze (hamstring) is expected to resume practicing next week, Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Odunze participated in Chicago's first practice of OTAs, but he's dealt with hamstring tightness since Day Two, as Dan Weiderer of the Chicago Tribune reports. The Bears seem to have been taking a cautious approach to the recovery of the rookie No. 9 overall pick, but it doesn't look like there's any real concern about his injury. Odunze will have plenty more time this offseason to build chemistry with rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, and to find his footing in what figures to be a starting role alongside DJ Moore and Keenan Allen.
-
Travis Etienne JAC RB
Jaguars' Travis Etienne: Workload to decline?
2h agoDoug Pederson said during OTAs that the Jaguars want to lean on Etienne less during the 2024 campaign in order to keep him healthy, Michael DiRocco of ESPN reports.
Pederson said it's "hard to put necessarily a rep count" on Etienne's weekly touches, but that looking ahead to 2024 season the coaching staff is "making sure [Tank Bigsby] gets opportunities to get out there and take some of the pounding off of [Etienne]." As DiRocco notes, Etienne finished 2023 accounting for 76 percent of the running back touches for Jacksonville, a high workload that coincided with a disappointing rookie showing for Bigsby. If either D'Ernest Johnson or Bigsby can emerge as a more consistent backup, fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if Etienne's total touches do indeed decrease this season. While that would certainly represent a blow to Etienne's fantasy ceiling, the 2021 first-round pick does his damage more with efficiency and speed than grinding out carries between the tackles. Jacksonville picked up Etienne's fifth-year option earlier this offseason, which keeps him under contract through 2025.
-
Jameson Williams DET WR
Lions' Jameson Williams: Making improvements
3h agoCoach Dan Campbell said Thursday that Williams is "a man on a mission" and has made notable improvements this offseason, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports.
Williams hasn't yet lived up to his 12th overall draft capital from back in 2022, but he's also faced unique hurdles to begin his NFL career. His big-play ability is undeniable, as is the opportunity for a third playmaker to emerge in Detroit's passing game behind standouts Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta, though plenty of targets should be distributed to running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Potential for a year-three breakout is still there, but it depends on Williams truly logging an impressive offseason and earning consistent targets in a crowded offense.
-
Lamar Jackson BAL QB
Ravens' Lamar Jackson: Drops weight over offseason
17h agoJackson said Wednesday that he dropped weight over the offseason in an effort to be more agile in 2024, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.
Jackson was listed at 215 pounds last season and 225 during the 2022 season. Earlier this month, Jackson indicated he was closer to 205 pounds, but it's unclear if that's his intended playing weight. An even more elusive Jackson would be dangerous to opposing defenses, and adding Derrick Henry and getting Mark Andrews back to full health after his season was derailed by a broken ankle could make the Baltimore offense even more lethal in 2024.
-
Tyler Alexander TB SP
Rays' Tyler Alexander: Slated for bulk relief
12m agoAlexander is in line to serve as a bulk reliever in Friday's game versus the Royals, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Alexander carried a perfect game into the eighth inning of his last outing in Toronto as a traditional starter, but he's slated to follow opener Shawn Armstrong on Friday. The left-hander holds a 5.06 ERA in six traditional starts and a 5.40 ERA in bulk relief this season.
-
Shawn Armstrong TB RP
Rays' Shawn Armstrong: Will be opener Friday
19m agoArmstrong will serve as an opener for Friday's game against the Royals, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The right-hander will be first into the game before handing things off to Tyler Alexander, who is slated to handle the bulk of the innings. It will be the fourth opener assignment this season for Armstrong, who has allowed four runs (three earned) with an 8:2 K:BB over four innings in the first three outings.
-
Alex Lange DET RP
Tigers' Alex Lange: Optioned to Triple-A
1h agoThe Tigers optioned Lange to Triple-A Toledo on Thursday.
A day after allowing four earned runs in one inning during Wednesday's loss to the Royals, Lange will be sent to Triple-A in order to get back on track. The 28-year-old owns a 4.34 ERA and 1.77 WHIP alongside a 21:17 K:BB through 18.2 innings this season, and he figures to return to Detroit's bullpen once he starts turning in promising results with Toledo. In the meantime, Mason Englert will come up from Triple-A to take Lange's place.
-
Mason Englert DET RP
Tigers' Mason Englert: Recalled from Triple-A
1h agoThe Tigers recalled Englert from Triple-A Toledo on Thursday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Englert has put up a 2.35 ERA and 34:9 K:BB over 23 innings with Toledo this season. The 24-year-old collected a 5.46 ERA across 31 appearances for the Tigers last season. He should operate in low-leverage situations.
-
Mark Canha DET LF
Tigers' Mark Canha: Getting breather Thursday
1h agoCanha isn't in the Tigers' lineup for Thursday's game versus Toronto.
Canha will get a day to regroup after going 0-for-15 with five strikeouts across his past four games. Matt Vierling, Wenceel Perez and Kerry Carpenter will start across the outfield while Riley Greene serves as Detroit's designated hitter.
-
Jake Rogers DET C
Tigers' Jake Rogers: Sitting Thursday
1h agoRogers isn't in the Tigers' lineup for Thursday's game against the Blue Jays.
The Tigers seem content alternating between Rogers and Carson Kelly behind the plate, and Thursday will mark Kelly's turn to start while batting ninth.
-
Xavier Tillman BOS C
Celtics' Xavier Tillman: Available for Game 2
3h agoTillman (personal) is available for Thursday's Game 2 against the Pacers, Justin Turpin of WEEI.com reports.
The reserve big has seen limited action throughout the playoffs, appearing in just three games -- one against Miami and two against Cleveland. With Kristaps Porzingis (calf) expected to be sidelined until at least Game 4, Al Horford has been seeing extended minutes. It's possible Tillman will be thrown into action in hopes of giving Horford some more rest time.
-
Karl-Anthony Towns MIN PF
Timberwolves' Karl-Anthony Towns: Poor shooting in Game 1
4h agoTowns racked up 16 points (6-20 FG, 2-9 3Pt, 2-2 FT), seven rebounds, two assists and one steal across 34 minutes during Wednesday's 108-105 loss to Dallas in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.
The Timberwolves need Towns to be consistent as an offensive threat, and while the numbers have been there most of the time, the efficiency has been lacking. Towns has scored at least 20 points in four of his last eight appearances since the start of the series against the Nuggets while shooting 47.4 percent from the field in that span, so he seems to be getting the job done even when he has an off night from time to time. Given he only made 30 percent of his shots in Game 1 on Wednesday, Towns will aim to bounce back in Game 2 on Friday.
-
Jaden McDaniels MIN SF
Timberwolves' Jaden McDaniels: Leads Minnesota in Game 1 loss
4h agoMcDaniels finished Wednesday's 108-105 loss to the Mavericks in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals with 24 points (9-15 FG, 6-9 3Pt), four rebounds, three assists and one steal in 39 minutes.
McDaniels carried the Timberwolves in scoring and delivered another impressive outing, as he seems to have carried the momentum of the series against the Nuggets into this matchup. McDaniels has now scored at least 20 points in three straight games -- a personal-best mark -- while shooting 68.6 percent from the field, so it wouldn't be shocking if he has a more prominent role as a scoring weapon in Game 2 on Friday.
-
Anthony Edwards MIN SG
Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards: Shooting woes continue Wednesday
4h agoEdwards ended Wednesday's 108-105 loss to the Mavericks in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals with 19 points (6-16 FG, 5-12 3Pt, 2-2 FT), 11 rebounds, eight assists and two steals across 41 minutes.
Edwards might have ended just two assists away from recording a triple-double, but the Timberwolves need him to be an efficient scorer, and he hasn't been able to do that of late. The Timberwolves have gone 2-2 across their last four playoff contests, and Edwards is averaging just 20.0 points per game while shooting a mere 34.7 percent from the field. That's a clear downgrade from a regular season in which he scored 25.9 points per contest while shooting a career-high 46.1 percent from the floor.
-
Daniel Gafford DAL C
Mavericks' Daniel Gafford: Close to double-double in win
4h agoGafford accumulated 10 points (5-9 FG), nine rebounds and one block across 21 minutes during Wednesday's 108-105 win over Minnesota in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.
Gafford has been rotating at center with Dereck Lively, but the former Wizards big man continues to deliver every time he's called upon duty. He's scored in double digits in six of his last eight playoff contests, a span in which he's averaging 11.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per contest. It's only one game, but he looked quite good despite dealing with the presence and threat of Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns throughout the contest.
-
Kyrie Irving DAL PG
Mavericks' Kyrie Irving: Reaches 30-point mark Wednesday
4h agoIrving ended with 30 points (12-23 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 6-6 FT), five rebounds, four assists and one block over 40 minutes during Wednesday's 108-105 win over the Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.
Even though Luka Doncic grabbed most of the headlines following an impressive performance in the series opener, there's no question Irving also played a pivotal role in the Mavericks' win. Irving has had a few subpar showings in the current postseason run, but he's scored 22 or more points in three of his last five appearances, so he seems to be peaking at the right time for a Dallas team that's only three wins away from a berth in the 2024 NBA Finals.
-
Adam Fox NYR D
Rangers' Adam Fox: Held off scoresheet in loss
2h agoFox was held without a point in Wednesday's 3-0 loss to Florida in Game 1 of the series.
Fox's 24:56 of ice time was the most of any skater on either side in the contest, but he was unable to help New York's offense in the loss. The 26-year-old had five blocked shots, two shots on goal and a minus-2 rating. It's the fifth consecutive outing that Fox has failed to register a point, a rare occurrence for the star defenseman. The Long Island native has four points (no goals) and a minus-1 rating in 11 contests so far during the playoffs.
-
Artemi Panarin NYR LW
Rangers' Artemi Panarin: Most ice time of any forward
2h agoPanarin didn't register a point in Wednesday's 3-0 loss to the Panthers in Game 1.
Panarin was on the ice for almost 25 minutes in Wednesday's loss, but he was unable to provide any offensive production for New York. It's been a tough stretch for the star winger -- over his last four games Panarin only has two helpers and a minus-7 rating. The 32-year-old is up to four goals, seven assists and a minus-5 rating in 11 contests so far this postseason. Panarin and the Rangers will attempt to avoid a two-game deficit in the series when they're back in action for Game 2 on Saturday.
-
Alexis Lafreniere NYR LW
Rangers' Alexis Lafreniere: Minus-3 in loss
2h agoLafreniere was held off the scoresheet in Wednesday's 3-0 loss to Florida in Game 1.
Lafreniere has failed to find the scoresheet in three straight outings after registering 10 points over his first eight games of the postseason. The 2020 first-overall pick had three shots on goal, four hits, two blocks and two PIM in 17:23 of ice time. The 22-year-old winger has four goals and six assists with a minus-2 rating in 11 contests so far this postseason. Lafreniere and the Rangers will attempt to even up the series in Game 2 on Saturday night.
-
Sam Bennett FLA C
Panthers' Sam Bennett: Seals win for Florida
2h agoBennett scored an empty-net goal in Wednesday's 3-0 win over New York in Game 1 of the series.
Bennett was held off the scoresheet in consecutive games prior to helping seal the win for Florida in Game 1. He added five shots, three hits and a plus-1 rating in 13:17 of ice time. Bennett's ice time will be something to monitor going forward -- he's currently centering Florida's third line after playing most of the regular season on the second line with Matthew Tkachuk. Bennett is up to five points (three goals) in seven contests so far this postseason.
-
Carter Verhaeghe FLA C
Panthers' Carter Verhaeghe: Two points in win
2h agoVerhaeghe scored a goal and added an assist in Wednesday's 3-0 win over the Rangers in Game 1.
Verhaeghe had a secondary assist on Matthew Tkachuk's first-period marker before adding an insurance goal late in the third period to put the Panthers up by two. Verhaeghe also had five shots on goal, one hit and a plus-2 rating in 18:29 of ice time. Verhaeghe went six consecutive games without a multi-point effort before registering two points in Wednesday's Game 1 tilt. The top-six fixture is over a point-per-game pace so far during the postseason -- he has seven goals, six assists and a plus-4 rating in 12 contests.
-
Matthew Tkachuk FLA LW
Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk: Scores opening goal of series
2h agoTkachuk registered a goal and an assist in Wednesday's 3-0 win over New York in Game 1.
Tkachuk's goal to open the scoring in Wednesday's win wound up being the game-winner. The 26-year-old's marker was his first since Game 1 of Florida's second-round series against Boston. In addition to recording two points against New York, Tkachuk had three hits, one shot and a plus-3 rating in 18:49 of ice time. The multi-point effort marks the sixth time in 12 games this postseason that Tkachuk has notched at least two points. The star winger is leading the way for the Panthers during the playoffs with five goals and eleven assists in 12 contests so far.