Articles
Tennessee Releases Malcolm Butler
Cornerback Malcolm Butler was released by the Tennessee Titans on Tuesday, voiding the final two years of what was originally a five-year pact. The move can be viewed as a cost-cutting measure, albeit one that comes after Butler started all 16 regular-season contests and accrued a career-high 100 tackles last season. Butler's release paves the […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoTennessee Does Not Franchise Tag Jonnu Smith For 2021
Tight end Jonnu Smith is on track toward becoming a free agent after the Tennessee Titans did not place their franchise tag on him Tuesday. Smith started 53 of the 60 games that he has appeared in with Tennessee since 2017, having racked up 16 receiving touchdowns, eight of which came this past year, setting […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoLavonte David Inks Two-Year Contract Extension
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may not have placed the franchise tag on linebacker Lavonte David, but he will be returning for 2021 -- and beyond. The specifics of the deal are a bit convoluted, as three voidable years have been tagged to the back end, but ultimately, David is set to earn $25 million over […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoKenyan Drake, Haason Reddick Set To Become Free Agents
Running back Kenyan Drake and linebacker Haason Reddick both did not have the franchise tag utilized on them by the Arizona Cardinals on Tuesday, paving the way for the duo to become free agents. The decision on Reddick is hardly a surprise after the investment that the front office made in bringing J.J. Watt aboard. […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoJuJu Smith-Schuster Heads Toward Free Agency
Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is officially set to become a free agent after the Pittsburgh Steelers chose not to use their franchise tag on the wideout Tuesday. Smith-Schuster is coming off having hauled in a career-high nine touchdowns during 2020, hauling in 97 receptions all while sharing targets in a crowded Pittsburgh WR corps. Should […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoDetroit Opts To Not Franchise Tag Kenny Golladay
Wide receiver Kenny Golladay is heading to free agency after the decision by the Detroit Lions to not place the franchise tag on their former star wideout. Golladay spent the vast majority of 2020 on the sidelines due to a persistent hip injury. After having led the NFL in receiving touchdowns in 2019, Golladay was […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoAaron Jones Heads To Free Agency, Green Bay Remains In Play
Running back Aaron Jones is set to become a free agent after the Green Bay Packers opted not to utilize their franchise tag on the star back. Jones was selected to his first career Pro Bowl this past year, amassing a career-high 1,104 yards rushing with nine scores on the ground and another two through […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoJoe Kelly Not A Lock To Be Healthy By Opening Day
Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed reliever Joe Kelly (shoulder) remains engaged in a throwing program, but he is reportedly not close to returning to game action, which shrouds his availability for Opening Day in doubt. Kelly battled right shoulder inflammation (which landed him on the IL) last year, although he finished the year with just three […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoChicago Aims For Jake Marisnick To Return Within Week
Chicago Cubs outfielder Jake Marisnick (calf) is expected to make his Cactus League debut between March 13-15, as he has dealt with a calf setback to this point. Marisnick saw extremely limited time with the Mets last season, but he impressed in the at-bats that he was given, collecting a 159 OPS+ across 16 games. […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoJon Lester Returns To Spring Camp, Faces No Setback
Washington Nationals left-handed pitcher Jon Lester (thyroid) returned to Spring Training on Monday, following surgery that was performed on his thyroid gland last week. Having already been cranked up to a 50-pitch allotment, it doesn't appear as if the southpaw has been sidetracked by the absence, which does not figure to impact him long-term. After […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoDinelson Lamet Ramps Up To 98 MPH In Sim Game
San Diego Padres right-handed pitcher Dinelson Lamet (elbow) tossed another sim game Sunday, this time displaying his slider against opposing batters. After receiving a PRP injection that ended his 2020 campaign, there was some concern that the pitch may have to be dialed back some heading into '21, especially if the righty was to avoid […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoMyles Straw Emerges As Astros Likely Leadoff Hitter
Houston Astros outfielder Myles Straw has stuck out as manager Dusty Baker's likeliest choice to hit in the No. 1 slot in the lineup come Opening Day. Straw is taking over on a full-time basis for George Springer, who signed with the Blue Jays during the off-season. Straw's speed is a rare commodity in 2021, […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoMike Soroka Tosses Two Scoreless During Sim Game
Atlanta Braves right-handed pitcher Mike Soroka (Achilles) worked two innings during a simulated game Sunday, not allowing a run in his first ramp up toward game action. Working his way back from a torn right Achilles tendon, Soroka's availability for Opening Day remains unclear. Despite looking solid in three appearances during 2020, fantasy managers can […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoNick Madrigal Progresses Toward Opening Day
Chicago White Sox second baseman Nick Madrigal (shoulder) made his Cactus League debut Monday, going 0-for-2 versus the Dodgers. But that's not the story. Madrigal said afterward that he was "ahead of schedule" in his return from October shoulder surgery. With that in mind, combined with the fact that Madrigal has already returned to game […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoTim Lopes Lands On 60-Day Injured List
Milwaukee Brewers utilityman Tim Lopes (oblique) has been placed on the 60-day injured list due to an oblique injury, putting him out for the foreseeable future. Lopes had been a long shot to make the Brewers' Opening Day roster, with the injury sealing that fate. Over the past two years with Seattle, Lopes compiled a […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoTrevor Rosenthal Battles Groin Strain During Camp
Oakland Athletics right-handed pitcher Trevor Rosenthal (groin) has yet to appear in a Cactus League game during 2021 and it was announced Monday that it's been due to a groin strain. Manager Bob Melvin noted that the team will ease Rosenthal back into the mix, but the hope is that the ailment is minor. Rosenthal […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoJacob deGrom Named Mets Opening Day Starter
New York Mets right-handed pitcher Jacob deGrom has been officially tabbed as the team's starting pitcher for April 1 vs. the Nationals, per manager Luis Rojas. The move comes as no surprise as deGrom has established himself among the game's elite, having led the National League in strikeouts each of the past two years. The […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoChris Archer Nears Return To Game Action
Tampa Bay Rays right-handed pitcher Chris Archer has come out of an intrasquad/sim contest healthy, with manager Kevin Cash impressed by the spin of his slider, speculating that Archer could be back on the mound Friday. A fascinating fantasy asset on the heels of having undergone surgery to relieve thoracic outlet syndrome, Archer's highest level […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoMaikel Franco Drawing Interest From Orioles, Others
Free-agent third baseman Maikel Franco has entered the first week of March without an organization to call home for the 2021 year. After having been non-tendered by the Royals at the end of last season, Franco has labored on the market; although it appears that the Orioles and other clubs have expressed interest in bringing […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoJose Alvarez Joins Giants Bullpen Mix
Left-handed reliever Jose Alvarez and the San Francisco Giants have agreed to a one-year deal with a club option for the 2022 campaign. Alvarez has combined to produce a 3.32 ERA over the past six seasons, which he has spent with the Angels and Phillies. Utilized primarily as a left-handed specialist, he has held same-side […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoJarred Kelenic Sustains Adductor Strain In Knee
Seattle Mariners outfield prospect Jarred Kelenic has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 adductor strain in his left knee, an ailment that should be expected to sideline him for the coming days. Any setbacks during spring camp figure to significantly affect Kelenic's outlook as it pertains to cracking the Mariners' Opening Day roster, even as […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoHouston Inks Jake Odorizzi To Two-Year Deal
Right-handed starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi and the Houston Astros have reportedly agreed to a two-year contract that also includes a player option for 2023. Odorizzi was the top arm still available on the free-agent market, with Houston incentivized to act quickly after potentially losing promising starter Framber Valdez (finger) for the remainder of the year. […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoTrevor Bauer Flashes Elite Upside To Begin Spring
Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed pitcher Trevor Bauer posted two scoreless frames with two strikeouts in his first appearance with L.A. While there was considerable pomp around his free agency, fantasy managers shouldn't lose sight of the production that the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner has compiled. Many have pointed to Bauer's 3.90 career […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoMookie Betts Set To Be Catalyst For Dodgers Order In 2021
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts continued his elite fantasy output during the 2020 year, his first as a Dodger. Now he enters '21 with a baseline of expectation, having finished second in National League MVP voting last year. Having kicked off Cactus League play 1-for-4 with a double, Betts is expected to be a […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoDraftKings Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks (3/3/21): NBA DFS Lineups
When the Houston Rockets dealt James Harden to Brooklyn earlier this season, they knew that today, March 3, 2021, would come. Harden is back in the city where he became a mega-star and the team’s decision to announce his number retirement at a future date Tuesday should make for quite the occasion. All of which […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoJames Ennis Remains Sidelined Wednesday
Orlando Magic small/power forward James Ennis (calf) has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against Atlanta due to left calf soreness, marking his third straight absence. Dwayne Bacon has entered the starting five in Ennis' place and should continue to see an uptick in minutes while with the group. Despite having started the previous 23 […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoJeff Green, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot Unlikely To Play Wednesday
The Brooklyn Nets are once again set to be short-handed for Wednesday's game against Houston with power forward/center Jeff Green (shoulder) and small/power forward Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (knee) listed as doubtful to play. The duo missed Monday's outing, which led to second unit minutes for Nicolas Claxton, as well as an uptick in usage for DeAndre […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoFred VanVleet, OG Anunoby Ruled Out For Wednesday
Toronto Raptors point/shooting guard Fred Vanvleet and small/power forward OG Anunoby headline the newly released list of Raptors to enter the league's COVID-19 health and safety protocols, ruling them out for Wednesday's contest against the Hawks. The duo, along with Malachi Flynn and Patrick McCaw, joins Pascal Siakam on the sidelines, throwing the team's ability […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoEvan Fournier Picks Up Questionable Tag For Wednesday
Orlando Magic shooting guard/small forward Evan Fournier (groin) has been listed as questionable to play in Wednesday's game versus Atlanta due to a left groin strain. Somewhat encouraging for fantasy managers is that Fournier's ailment is not the back spasms that have sidetracked his season to this point. Fournier has been on a scoring barrage […]
Jesse Borek 4 years agoEric Gordon, Danuel House Jr. Questionable For Wednesday
Houston Rockets point/shooting guard Eric Gordon (knee) and small/power forward Danuel House Jr. (knee) have been deemed questionable to suit up for Wednesday's game against Brooklyn. Gordon has sporadically missed a game on occasion over the past month, which could bode well for his prospects of returning against the Nets, especially with the Rockets facing […]
Jesse Borek 4 years ago