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Player News
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J.J. McCarthy 2005 QBVikings' J.J. McCarthy: Landed by Minnesota with 10th pick
4m agoThe Vikings selected McCarthy in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, 10th overall.
The Vikings moved up from the 11th spot to nab McCarthy, who was almost universally expected to go before fellow quarterback Michael Penix (eighth overall, Atlanta). From that frame this could arguably be a good value for the Vikings. What's less clear is whether McCarthy is immediately prepared to take the starting Minnesota quarterback role from free agent pickup Sam Darnold. McCarthy (6-foot-3, 216 pounds) was extremely successful but largely untested at Michigan, where he averaged only 22.6 pass attempts per game over the last two years. The good news is that McCarthy raked with his otherwise limited pass volume, finishing his Michigan career completing 67.6 percent of his passes at 8.7 yards per pass, with 49 touchdowns versus 11 interceptions. If McCarthy can immediately earn the starting role in Minnesota then it would bode well for his long-term future, and it would also make him an immediate fantasy consideration if only for his enviable group of pass catchers (Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson).
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Rome Odunze 2005 WRBears' Rome Odunze: Paired with Williams in Windy City
12m agoThe Bears selected Odunze in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, ninth overall.
Chicago has changed the outlook of its entire offense in the first 10 picks of the draft by scooping quarterback Caleb Williams with the first pick and pairing him with a top-flight receiver in Odunze. The Washington product, and top target of Michael Penix, sports a great combination of on-field production and athletic measurables. Odunze racked up 24 touchdowns in the last three seasons along with two 1,000-yard seasons. At the combine, he checked in at 6-foot-3 and 212 pounds with 4.45 speed. He has the long speed to win downfield, the size to make contested catches, and the route-running ability to be deployed at any level of the field. For fantasy, he joins a crowded receiver group that already features DJ Moore and Keenan Allen. However, there's still room for Odunze to produce as a rookie thanks to his talent and versatility.
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Michael Penix Jr. 2005 QBFalcons' Michael Penix: Goes eighth overall to Atlanta
15m agoThe Falcons selected Penix in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, eighth overall.
It's a stunning pick for Atlanta to make, both because Penix wasn't expected to go this high and because the Falcons just gave Kirk Cousins a four-year, $180 million contract. Penix will be about 24.5 years old as a rookie, and he'll have no shot to play anytime soon if Cousins is healthy. Penix in any case boasts a uniquely strong arm, and he was memorably good at avoiding sacks as a college quarterback. Before Penix emerged as a star passer for Washington he did his best to carry the Indiana program before that, but unsurprisingly he found it easier to move the ball in a Washington offense with three NFL receivers and two NFL tackles. Despite possessing a 40-yard dash time just under the 4.60 mark, Penix very rarely attempted to run in college and therefore is unlikely to leverage his speed in the form of rushing production at the NFL level.
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JC Latham 2005 OTTitans' JC Latham: Taken by Tennessee
24m agoThe Titans selected Latham in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, seventh overall.
The Titans drafted their quarterback of the future with Will Levis in 2023 and are now investing in keeping him upright. Latham arrives via Alabama, where he routinely mauled SEC defenders with his massive frame (6-foot-5, 342 pounds) long arms (35.13 inches, 73rd percentile) and tenacious play. He immediately projects as a franchise tackle to protect Levis as Tennessee looks to get back into contention in an increasingly tough AFC South. It's worth noting, however, that Latham played exclusively at right tackle in college, so that may be his destination, at least at the outset of his career.
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Malik Nabers 2005 WRGiants' Malik Nabers: Selected sixth overall by New York
26m agoThe Giants selected Nabers in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, sixth overall.
Nabers (6-feet, 200 pounds) is the latest top wideout prospect out of LSU, hopefully following a successful path like Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase before him. Nabers was wildly productive for the Tigers, drawing a mammoth 31.6 percent target share in 2023 even while sharing the offense with fellow soon-to-be NFL wideout Brian Thomas. To draw that many targets at a 68.5 percent catch rate and 12.1 yards per target is a dizzying level of dominance, and it's made more impressive yet by the fact that Nabers won't turn 21 until July 28. Since Nabers is so young it might make a fast start difficult, especially in an offense as challenged as the Giants, but the other side of the coin is that it also means he might not be done improving anytime soon. Although he's not a big wideout Nabers plays fearlessly and should apply well at all levels of the field, though there's no doubt that it's Nabers' rare big-play ability -- both downfield and after the catch -- that makes his upside scenario so particularly intriguing. Hopefully the Giants' passing game woes can resolve themselves, perhaps largely thanks to Nabers' arrival.
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Joe Alt 2005 OTChargers' Joe Alt: First tackle off the board to LAC
36m agoThe Chargers selected Alt in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, fifth overall.
Los Angeles had been circled as a possible trade-down candidate, or a team that would be interested in dipping into the wide receiver pool given the team's weakness at that position. However, the new regime led by coach Jim Harbaugh opted to bolster the trenches with Alt. The latest Notre Dame tackle to be selected high in the draft, Alt checks in at a mammoth 6-foot-8 and 321 pounds with 34.25-inch arms. He started for three seasons in South Bend and profiles as a tackle who can do it all, whether it's in pass protection or run blocking. Rashawn Slater was a high draft pick for the Chargers who has been holding down the left tackle spot for years, so Alt may be tasked with learning how to play right tackle.
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Josh Sborz TEX RPRangers' Josh Sborz: Tosses scoreless frame
23m agoSborz threw a scoreless ninth inning in Thursday's 4-3 loss to Seattle.
Sborz, who was activated off the injured list Thursday, retired the side in order, needing just nine pitches. He was placed on the IL due to a shoulder injury April 7 after just three appearances. The back end of the bullpen has changed since then -- Kirby Yates replaced Jose Leclerc as the closer -- but Sborz should remain part of the setup group.
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Josh H. Smith TEX 3BRangers' Josh Smith: Homers in loss
30m agoSmith started at shortstop and went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's 4-3 loss to Seattle.
Smith launched his first homer of the season in the fourth inning, which tied the game momentarily before the Mariners plated two a half-inning later. He got the start at shortstop while primary starter Corey Seager served as DH a day after he left a game with a bruised shin. If Seager is limited to DH for a bit, Smith will be the primary fill-in at short. If Seager is ready for a defensive role, then Smith will go back to sharing third base with Ezequiel Duran. Smith is batting .292/.393/.417 over 84 plate appearances, much better than his previous two MLB seasons would indicate.
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Corey Seager TEX SSRangers' Corey Seager: Hitless as DH
37m agoSeager started at designated hitter and went 0-for-3 with a walk in Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Mariners.
Seager, who was removed from Wednesday's game with a bruised shin, was available a day later for DH duties. It's unclear if he'll be limited to DH for a stretch. If so, Josh Smith will fill in at shortstop.
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Nate Lowe TEX 1BRangers' Nathaniel Lowe: Goes deep in loss
1h agoLowe went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's 4-3 loss Seattle.
Lowe reached down for a slider low in the zone to blast his first home run of the season. The first baseman has played in all five games since being activated off the injured list last Saturday.
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Jonathan India CIN 2BReds' Jonathan India: Returns to action
1h agoIndia started at designated hitter and went 0-for-4 in Thursday's 5-0 loss to the Phillies.
India, who made his first appearance since Saturday after dealing with an illness, went hitless for the seventh time in the last nine contests. He entered the game in a 4-for-42 slump over the past 13 games.
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Bryce Elder ATL SPBraves' Bryce Elder: Nabs another start Sunday
3h agoElder is slated to start Sunday's game against the Guardians in Atlanta.
Elder staged a successful 2024 MLB debut Monday, holding the Marlins scoreless over 6.2 innings while striking out four and allowing nine baserunners in a winning effort. He joined the Atlanta rotation as a replacement for Darius Vines and should have some staying power with the big club due to Spencer Strider (elbow) being out for the season. Elder compiled a 3.81 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 128:63 K:BB across 174.2 innings with Atlanta in 2023.
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Mitchell Robinson NY CKnicks' Mitchell Robinson: Won't return Thursday
3m agoRobinson won't return to Thursday's Game 3 versus the 76ers due to a sprained left ankle, Ian Begley of SportsNet New York reports. He finished with two points and seven rebounds in 12 minutes.
Robinson carried a questionable tag into Thursday, and he seemed uncomfortable and a step slow for most of the evening before he left the game for good. Isaiah Hartenstein will likely be asked to soak up more minutes in the meantime. Robinson should be considered questionable for Game 4 Sunday.
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Kyle Anderson MIN SFTimberwolves' Kyle Anderson: Questionable for Friday
1h agoAnderson (hip) is questionable for Friday's Game 3 versus the Suns, Alan Horton of the Timberwolves Radio Network reports.
Anderson was cleared to play in Game 2 with this same right hip issue, but he never saw the floor. Instead, Nickeil Alexander-Walker played 31 minutes off the bench and Minnesota tightened up their rotation.
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Joel Embiid PHI C76ers' Joel Embiid: Good to go Thursday
2h agoEmbiid (knee) will start Thursday's Game 3 against the Knicks, Kyle Neubeck of AllPHLY.com reports.
Embiid carried a questionable tag prior to this update, but he seemed more than fine in the opening pair of games in this series. He made it through his usual warmup and there's no word of any restrictions ahead of tipoff, so he seems like a safe bet to handle his regular workload after logging 35-plus minutes in the first two contests of the series.
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Daniel Gafford DAL CMavericks' Daniel Gafford: Listed questionable for Friday
3h agoGafford (back) is questionable for Friday's game against the Clippers, Mike Curtis of The Detroit News reports.
The questionable tag on Gafford is not surprising, as the big man missed Thursday's practice due to his lower back problem. If he can't go Friday, then Dereck Lively and Maxi Kleber are candidates to receive increased playing time.
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Kawhi Leonard LAC SFClippers' Kawhi Leonard: Questionable to play Friday
3h agoLeonard is questionable for Game 3 against the Mavericks on Friday due to right knee inflammation, Mike Curtis of The Detroit News reports.
Leonard posted 15 points and seven rebounds in his return to action in Game 2, and while he's included in the injury report ahead of Friday's decisive contest, he did log 35 minutes in Game 2, so he should be in line to handle his regular workload in a pivotal matchup at home.
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Jonathan Isaac ORL PFMagic's Jonathan Isaac: Won't start Game 3
3h agoIsaac is not in the starting lineup to face the Cavaliers on Thursday, Josh Robbins of The Athletic reports.
Isaac started the first two games of the series, where he averaged 6.5 points and 4.5 rebounds across 24.5 minutes per contest, but he'll head back to the bench here. Wendell Carter will get the nod in the frontcourt alongside Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.
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Jesper Fast CAR RWHurricanes' Jesper Fast: Likely out for postseason
2h agoFast (upper body) is unlikely to recover before the end of the playoffs, coach Rod Brind'Amour told Cory Lavalette of the North State Journal on Thursday.
Fast was injured during the Hurricanes' regular-season finale April 16. He had six goals and 19 points in 73 contests in 2023-24. Fast is in the first campaign of a two-year, $4.8 million contract, so even if he does miss the remainder of the postseason, he likely hasn't played in his final contest with Carolina. The 32-year-old serves in a bottom-six capacity when healthy.
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Matt Martin NYI LWIslanders' Matt Martin: Expected to play Thursday
2h agoMartin (undisclosed) was in his usual spot during line rushes, indicating he'll play in Thursday's Game 3 versus the Hurricanes, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.
Martin has played on the fourth line throughout the campaign, so his presence in the lineup isn't likely to make a big impact in fantasy. The 34-year-old has no points, 19 hits and 21 PIM over his last 10 outings.
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Haydn Fleury TB DLightning's Haydn Fleury: Out Thursday
3h agoFleury (undisclosed) won't return for Game 3 on Thursday, Chris Krenn of the Lightning's official site reports.
Fleury hasn't been in the lineup since April 6 because of the injury. He has a goal and five points in 24 contests this season. Fleury might be deployed on the third pairing once he's recovered, but it's also possible Tampa Bay would make him a healthy scratch.
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Andrei Vasilevskiy TB GLightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy: In goal for Game 3
3h agoVasilevskiy will guard the home goal versus the Panthers on Thursday in Game 3, Chris Krenn of the Lightning's official site reports.
Vasilevskiy has lost four games in a row, though the Lightning haven't scored more than twice in any of those contests. The 29-year-old will look for more goal support on home ice in Thursday's contest, as a loss would put Tampa Bay down 3-0 in the series.
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Frederik Andersen CAR GHurricanes' Frederik Andersen: Set to start Thursday
4h agoAndersen is expected to start on the road against the Islanders in Game 3 on Thursday, per Andrew Gross of Newsday.
Andersen won the first two outings of the first-round series while stopping 42 of 46 shots (.913 save percentage). He was fantastic in the regular season, posting a 13-2-0 record, 1.84 GAA and .932 save percentage in 16 appearances. The Islanders weren't particularly strong offensively during the 2023-24 campaign, finishing 22nd with 2.99 goals per contest, so Andersen should generally have the advantage over them.
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Tyler Myers VAN DCanucks' Tyler Myers: Available for Friday
5h agoMyers (illness) is expected to draw back into the lineup for Game 3 on Friday, per Adam Kimelman of NHL.com.
Myers had five goals, 29 points, 77 PIM, 110 hits and 136 blocks in 77 contests during the regular season. He missed Tuesday's 4-1 loss to Nashville because of the illness. Now that Myers is healthy, he'll probably serve on the second pairing while Noah Juulsen might be scratched.
