This might sound odd coming from someone who just released his Fantasy Strength of Schedule Matrix, but you need to be careful to not overweigh those types of season-long metrics.
As I mentioned in that article, the full-season strength of schedule is good to use as a tiebreaker between players you're targeting in drafts — just don't get overconfident and let it dictate your outlooks for later in the year. That's because injuries and changes in performance on both sides of the ball can have a significant impact in the latter stages of a campaign.
Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL season
The best way to gain an advantage using strength of schedule is by focusing on the first few weeks and drafting players set for hot starts or avoiding those likely to struggle through a tough streak of opponents. Players with difficult schedules in the early going are prime trade targets when managers begin to question their value in the opening month.
So let's take a look at each position and identify who has the hardest early-season slates.

#fantasy #Football #might

Every NFL franchise eventually faces the same dilemma. A homegrown star develops into one of the league's best players. That, in turn, births conversations about a lucrative second contract. Few teams know more about difficult salary cap decisions than the Philadelphia Eagles.
Some teams respond by overspending to keep everyone together. Others watch key contributors leave and scramble to replace them. Howie Roseman and his staff have adopted a different approach.
Rather than reacting to expensive departures, Howie Roseman has built a roster with the expectation that they will happen. That's why the Eagles continue drafting premium talent even when there doesn't appear to be an immediate need. More often than not, they're preparing for tomorrow's roster before today's begins to change. It's a philosophy that has helped keep Philadelphia among the NFL's perennial contenders.
To outside observers, some of Philadelphia's draft selections have initially seemed puzzling. Why invest another premium pick on the defensive line when the position already appears loaded? Why draft a defensive back early with established veterans still in place? Why select an offensive lineman who may not start immediately?
The Eagles aren't drafting solely for the upcoming season. They're drafting for the seasons that follow.

#Eagles #drafting #roseman #teams

The Seattle Seahawks are set to move on from one of their running backs.
ESPN's Brady Henderson reported on Monday that the Seahawks are planning to waive fourth-year back Kenny McIntosh, who is currently on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list after suffering a torn ACL last training camp.
The Seahawks confirmed Henderson's report shortly thereafter. McIntosh was not immediately replaced, so the Seahawks will enter Tuesday with an open roster spot.
It's an unfortunate situation for the national champion from Georgia, who injured his knee during 2023 training camp and barely played as a rookie. In 2024, McIntosh played in every game but predominantly on special teams. When he did get involved in the offense, rushed for 172 yards on 31 carries and caught three passes for 22 yards in limited playing time. He also was part of Seattle's kick return rotation.
With the Seahawks drafting Jadarian Price in the first round and signing Emanuel Wilson in free agency, it was always going to be difficult for McIntosh to make the roster this season. George Holani, who lost out to McIntosh for a roster spot in 2024, was able to secure a spot after McIntosh's injury and has the inside track to have an increased role in the offense. Factor in the eventual return of Zach Charbonnet from his own ACL tear, and there just wasn't much of a realistic path for McIntosh to make the 53-man roster.

#spot #offense

The Philadelphia 76ers have been trusting the process since drafting Joel Embiid with the third overall pick during the 2014 NBA Draft.
Unfortunately, for one reason or another, the Philadelphia 76ers are yet to win an NBA Championship during the Joel Embiid era.
However, this could change during the 2026-27 NBA season as the 76ers have one of the strongest starting fives in the league after the addition of LeBron James.
Photo by Aris MESSINIS / AFP via Getty Images
James recently signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the 76ers. The contract has a player option in the second year.

#embiid

It's a little early to start reimagining this year's NFL draft, as the class has yet to even complete its first training camp, let alone play in an NFL game.
But that is where we are, days away from camp. Justin Melo of Sports Illustrated recently conducted the exercise of redrafting the 2026 college class knowing what we know now about these players.
The first two picks remained unchanged. The Las Vegas Raiders selected Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza at No. 1, and the New York Jets took Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey second overall.
At No. 3, the Arizona Cardinals selected Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese instead of Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. Next up, at No. 4, the Tennessee **** ans stay the course with Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate.
The New York Giants, at No. 5, and with Reese, their actual pick this year, select his Buckeyes teammate, linebacker Sonny Styles.

#selected

The Los Angeles Rams have one of the best front offices in the NFL, and as a result, they have been one of the best drafting teams in the league since general manager Les Snead took control in 2012.
Exemplifying their success is their status in CBS Sports' rankings of the best first-round picks since 2020. Despite only having one first-round pick from 2020 to 2025, their selection of Jared Verse was ranked 11th. Verse, a 2024 selection, won NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. He was the 19th selection in his class and the third-highest member (Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels) of his class in the rankings.
"The Rams' ******* ysis is easily the funniest of any in the NFL," wrote CBS Sports' Mike Renner. "They had only one first-round pick from 2020-25, and it was one of the best picks over that span, with Jared Verse checking in at No. 11 out of 191. In an ironic twist of fate, he's no longer on the Rams after the Myles Garrett trade this offseason. The Rams' attitude toward the draft is truly one of one."
While convention might state that the Rams should keep and use their first-round picks if they have such success, every first-round pick flipped since 2019 has been for a star player, including Jalen Ramsey, Matthew Stafford and Trent McDuffie.
Rams cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr., who the Commanders drafted, was ranked 184th. Forbes had a redemptive 2025 after a struggling start to his career in Washington.

#since

The Panthers are set to open the season without either of their starting offensive tackles from 2025, but General Manager Dan Morgan didn't seem worried about that during a Wednesday press conference.
Carolina signed Rasheed Walker as a free agent in March because they knew left tackle Ikem Ekwonu had a long rehab ahead of him after tearing his patellar tendon, but news this week that right tackle Taylor Moton is dealing with a blood clot in his lung came as a surprise. Moton is expected to be out into the regular season and that puts first-round pick Monroe Freeling on track to start on that side of the offensive line.
Freeling played left tackle at Georgia and he appeared set to play an apprentice role as a rookie, but Morgan said he feels comfortable with how things are currently taking shape up front.
"I think we’ll be covered there," Morgan said, via the team's website. "We feel good about it, and I know T-Mo will definitely support Monroe there at right tackle and teach him all he knows. So, yeah, we feel good about it. I think that's why depth matters so much in this league. And drafting Monroe and taking the best player available, it happened to be a tackle, it worked out really well for us. So we feel really good about him. We're confident in him, and I know he's going to attack it and he's going to be out there competing."
The Panthers also have a new center in Luke Fortner and the offensive line will have to gel over the coming weeks for the team to get off on the right foot come September.

#monroe #offensive #right #panthers

The San Francisco 49ers have built one of the league's most experienced rosters, for better or worse.
San Francisco has the NFL's second-oldest roster and, unfortunately, doesn't have much young talent from recent drafts. That approach shows up in ESPN's latest ranking of NFL teams' under-25 talent, where the 49ers checked in at No. 27. The rankings weigh starts and snaps from players under 25, age-adjusted quality of play with extra credit for Pro Bowl and All-Pro nods, contract value and length, positional importance, recent draft capital, projected 2026 depth charts and injury availability.
While drafting is an issue as well, the biggest reason for the 49ers' ranking is injuries, according to ESPN's Aaron Schatz.
Injuries led to playing time for a lot of the youth in San Francisco last season, as six different players currently under 25 started at least six games.
Edge rusher Mykel Williams, the 49ers' only blue chip on the list, turned 22 in June after a rookie season as a first-round pick. He missed most of the year with an ACL injury, though. Beyond him, the under-25 contributors are largely late-round or middle-round finds forced into duty by attrition: safeties Malik Mustapha and Marques Sigle, nickelback Upton Stout and defensive tackle Alfred Collins are all 24, while left guard hopefuls Connor Colby (23) and Carver Willis (24) will compete in camp.

#round #injuries #players

Reports are that the Los Angeles Rams were interested in drafting De'Zhaun Stribling during the 2026 NFL Draft, but Stribling was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the second-round well before the Rams had a chance to take him.
Some critics say that the 49ers reached for Stribling. Maybe. Odds are that the 49ers took Stribling before another team could, so if it was a reach, it was a risk the 49ers were willing to take to get their guy. I think that's good management, in theory. Get who you want.
Now, we'll see if they can make the pick work, but I don't doubt the 49ers will be able to incorporate Stribling as long as he stays healthy, we'll see. This topic may be worth a re-visit later.
Either way, the Rams took a receiver in CJ Daniels later in the draft, and some have high hopes for him. The Rams likely do which is why they took him.
Always interesting to hear reports like this after the draft and seeing what teams actually thought or wanted during their respective drafts. Of course, we don't know that all of these reports are facts, per se, but interesting nonetheless.

#take #don 't

The Steelers head into the 2026 season with higher hopes for their receiving corps.
DK Metcalf caught 59 passes last season, but the rest of the group only had 77 and the 136 total receptions ranked 31st among receiving groups for the 2025 campaign. The Steelers addressed that shortcoming by trading for Michael Pittman Jr. and drafting two wideouts — second-rounder Germie Bernard and fourth-rounder Kaden Wetjen — in April.
New head coach Mike McCarthy isn't counting out another returning member of the group, however. 2024 third-rounder Roman Wilson played just one game as a rookie and had 12 catches in 13 appearances last season, but McCarthy said that he liked how Wilson approached the offseason.
"He's been here from Day 1," McCarthy said, via Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com. "He was one of the first men to reach out and clearly ask what the expectation was of him, how I view him, how I saw him fitting in as the roles X, F and Z. He's doing the work. He's had a great offseason. I just need him to keep showing up and keep working his tail off because he's got a skill set, there's a lot there to work with. Roman's done a really nice job."
Metcalf and Pittman are going to be the top wideouts to kick off the season in Pittsburgh, but Wilson could find his way into a bigger role if his offseason work continues into training camp and leads to a strong bond with Aaron Rodgers.

When the Cincinnati Bengals selected Kris Jenkins Jr. with the 49th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, they weren't simply looking for another rotational defensive tackle. They believed they were drafting the future anchor of their defensive front, a player capable of controlling the line of scrimmage, collapsing the pocket, and helping restore the physical identity that once defined Cincinnati's defense.
Two years later, the flashes have been there, but not the consistency. With all the additions Cincinnati has made along the defensive line, it is now or never for the former Michigan captain.
If Jenkins takes the leap that many young defensive tackles make in Year Three, the Bengals' defense could become dramatically more difficult to run against while finally developing the interior pass rush that has been missing for several seasons. If not, this could be his last season in the Queen City.
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 305 pounds

When the Dallas Cowboys shipped Micah Parsons off to the land of piney woods and squeaky cheese last summer, they didn’t quite know what they had left in the edge rush department. For years Parsons represented the position group to the highest degree, establishing himself as one of the best in the game. He was the alpha and the omega of the edge room and a player who made things easier for everyone around him. To make things even more unpredictable, Parsons' departure coincided with DeMarcus Lawrence's, pushing the Cowboys headfirst into the unknown.
Yet, the cabinet wasn’t empty. Sam Williams was an aspiring talent, Donovan Ezeiruaku looked like a draft steal and Dante Fowler was a double-digit sack mercenary, so there was hope things would work out. As luck would have it, things did not work out. All three aforementioned players underachieved one way or another and the Cowboys were left scrambling for answers, midseason.
Looking back, it was clear the timing was off on everything; from the time of the Parsons trade, to the testing of internal options, to the hunt for emergency solutions, everything seemed to be too little and too late.
In 2026, Dallas had a chance to fix things at edge rusher. They had a full offseason to strategize, they had money to spend in free agency, and they had picks in the draft. But instead of going all-in at edge rusher, they handled things modestly, adding Rashan Gary in a trade with the Green Bay Packers, drafting Malachi Lawrence in the first round, but largely banking on a scheme change to unlock roster carryovers.
Based on pure personnel, things look mildly better today than they looked at the beginning of last season, but it's not the level of attention many wanted from the home team. There’s a good chance the Cowboys are still one good pass rusher away from being complete and the clock is ticking.

The ramifications of the LA Rams drafting Ty Simpson are still being discussed around the league, especially since Simpson is having trouble adjusting to the Rams' offense, according to some.
Even though Simpson is a rookie and this is his first training camp, some still feel the Rams made a mistake by drafting him so high.
Former draft scout Daniel Kelly said he thought Simpson was drafted way too high and that he is doomed to be a backup quarterback in the NFL.
"Ty Simpson never belonged in the first- or second-round conversation," he posted on X.
Kelly piggybacked on what Washington Commanders GM Scot McCloughan had said about Simpson.

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syria's newly elected parliament on Sunday held its first session since the ouster of former President Bashar ******* ad, hoping to restart the legislative process in the country after years of conflict and autocratic rule.
The launch of the parliament indicates Syria is moving ahead with drafting new laws as it recovers from decades of brutal rule under the ******* ad family and a deadly civil war that killed about half a million people.
Two-thirds of the 210-member People's ******* embly were elected through electoral colleges, while one-third were appointed directly by the country's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The new parliament will serve a 30-month term while preparing for future elections.
"After liberating our homeland and regaining our freedom, we are all moving toward consolidating the state," al-Sharaa said in an address to parliamentarians.
After taking an oath, the legislators elected Abdul Hamid al-Awak as speaker. Al-Awak, who is from northeastern Hassakeh province, served as a judge in the Justice Ministry for a decade, according to Syria's state-run SANA news agency. Reports said he was among many Syrian officials who defected from the ******* ad government in the early days of the uprising and left to Turkey.

Ryan Blaney dominated before and after a 3-hour weather delay on July 12 and 13 at EchoPark Speedway.
But he still had to make a final-lap pass for the win on the drafting track via a major push from Christopher Bell to claim the Quaker State 400 NASCAR Cup Series race in Atlanta.
Carson Hocevar held the lead at the white flag, but Blaney and Bubba Wallace made runs into turns 3 and 4 to create a 3-wide race to the line.
Blaney won, while Wallace was penalized for going below the yellow line on the backstretch. Hocevar finished 3rd, singing on the radio before the overtime finish and during his post-race interview.
Here are the winners and losers from the NASCAR Atlanta race:

The best teams around the NFL tend to double down on their roster strengths, turning good units into dominant ones over time as they develop into championship contenders.
Although the Carolina Panthers' roster still has a ton of work to do before they join that conversation, they have at least a couple of spots that are starting to look awfully good compared to the competition.
Let's review each position group on the Panthers' roster right now, ranking them from best to worst going into 2026.
The Panthers are paying for the most expensive offensive line in the league this year, and they should be getting their money's worth.
This offseason, general manager Dan Morgan went out of his way to upgrade this unit's depth—bulking up the blindside by signing former Green Bay Packers left tackle Rasheed Walker and drafting Georgia’s Monroe Freeling with this year’s 19th overall pick. He also added veteran Luke Fortner and fifth-rounder Sam Hecht at center.

Ryan Blaney dominated before and after a 3-hour weather delay on July 12 and 13 at EchoPark Speedway.
But he still had to make a final-lap pass for the win on the drafting track via a major push from Christopher Bell to claim the Quaker State 400 NASCAR Cup Series race in Atlanta.
Carson Hocevar held the lead at the white flag, but Blaney and Bubba Wallace made runs into turns 3 and 4 to create a 3-wide race to the line.
Blaney won, while Wallace was penalized for going below the yellow line on the backstretch. Hocevar finished 3rd, singing on the radio before the overtime finish and during his post-race interview.
Here are the winners and losers from the NASCAR Atlanta race:

Ryan Blaney turned in one of the most commanding performances of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season Sunday night, overcoming a lengthy weather delay to capture the victory in the Quaker State 400 at EchoPark Speedway. The triumph marked Blaney's second win of the season and further solidified his place among the championship favorites.

After severe weather halted the race for three hours, NASCAR resumed competition at approximately 11:45 p.m. ET. The late-night restart did nothing to slow Blaney, who remained the driver to beat from the opening green flag to the final lap.

Starting from the pole, the Team Penske driver dominated the evening, sweeping all three stages and leading a race-high 171 laps. Blaney controlled the pace throughout the race, showcasing the speed of the No. 12 Ford while expertly navigating the pack on the high-speed drafting track.

Despite several late-race challenges and an overtime finish, Blaney stayed composed. He made the decisive pass on the final lap to secure the victory, capping off one of the most complete performances of his NASCAR Cup Series career.

EchoPark Speedway once again delivered dramatic racing, but on this night it belonged to Ryan Blaney. From winning Stage 1 before the rain, returning after the race resumed at 11:45 p.m. ET to capture Stage 2, claiming Stage 3, and ultimately taking the checkered flag, Blaney put together a nearly flawless performance that left little doubt about who had the fastest car.
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The Minnesota Vikings haven't had many hits in the draft in recent years. Could their top pick from the 2026 draft class be their next big disappointment?
In April, the Vikings shocked the NFL landscape by drafting Florida defensive lineman Caleb Banks with the 18th overall pick. Two foot surgeries since August 2025 led most to believe Banks could potentially slide into the second round. But Minnesota is convinced Banks will be healthy when training camp begins later this month.
Still, not everyone is convinced Banks will be healthy or even live up to his potential. Moe Moton of Bleacher Report listed each NFL team's biggest bust for the 2026 season, whether a draft pick or a veteran signing. Moton listed Banks as the Vikings' biggest bust, citing health concerns.
The Minnesota Vikings selected Banks with the No. 18 overall pick in the draft, and he's yet to participate in practice. Head coach Kevin O'Connell expects the 6'6", 327-pound defensive tackle to be ready for training camp (h/t ESPN's Kevin Seifert).
Even if Banks is on the practice field in a couple of weeks, the Vikings probably won't ramp him up to full speed right away. After missing spring practices, the rookie first-rounder may see limited reps, which may delay his start to the season and push for a prominent role on the defensive line.

Patriots, Kylian Mbappe Make Jets Look Really Bad originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Maybe the New York Jets should've tried drafting Kylian Mbappe one of these years.
Because right now, the AFC East bottom dwellers are being made to look quite bad by a combined stat that involves the New England Patriots as well as France's World Cup superstar Mbappe.
The key here is that Mbappe and France have played twice at the Pats' stadium during the World Cup.
During the group stage, they defeated Norway.

All in family: Giants draft Barry Bonds' nephew, Peyton, in third round originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The San Francisco Giants added to their family legacy Saturday.
By drafting Peyton Bonds in the third round of the 2026 MLB Draft, the organization added the third member of the Bonds clan to join the franchise.
The younger Bonds, 20, was selected with the No. 90 overall pick and has a lot to play up to. He is the nephew of Barry Bonds, the all-time home run champion who spent 15 of 22 MLB seasons with Giants (1993-2007), and grandson to Bobby Bonds, who spent seven of 14 seasons with the organization (1968-74). His father, Bobby Bonds Jr., spent 11 seasons in the minor leagues.
Listed at 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, Peyton Bonds started his college career at Cambell University in 2024 before transferring to the Scarlet Knights' program.

Peyton Bonds has been drafted in the third round of the MLB draft by the team that two of his ancestors played for, the San Francisco Giants. With his drafting, Bonds will have the opportunity to continue his family’s legacy not just in MLB but in the Bay Area, as both his father, Bobby Bonds II, and his uncle, Barry Bonds, spent much of their careers playing for the Giants. Barry currently holds the MLB record for home runs in a career.
Bonds was taken with the 90th overall pick.
Last season for Rutgers, Bonds recorded 50 hits in 142 at-bats along with 6 home runs. He also recorded 31 total runs and 29 RBI’s last season.
Many scouting reports say that he has a good power-hitting build at 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, and that he has a good bat speed and good exit velocity, likely just needing a few tweaks to be a good power hitter at the major league level.
However, many reports also talk about his good skill in the field. Last season, Bonds recorded 80 put-outs and a .976 fielding percentage.

The White Sox added a potential cornerstone player by selecting UCLA shortstop Daniel Roch Cholowsky with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 MLB draft, with the toss-up between Cholowsky and prep SS Grady Emerson apparently lasting deep into Saturday morning.
But that all turned out to be a ruse, as Cholowsky admitted that the White Sox informed him on Thursday that he was their pick, easing some of his anxiety about having lost out on the team he wanted to land with (as well as a record signing bonus — it won’t be the full $11 million-plus designated for the slot, but it won’t be a mere nine figures, either).
So, the rest of us still were stirred when word “broke” from MLB’s Jim Callis right before the pick announcement that Cholowsky — the presumptive No. 1 since the end of the 2025 draft — would join the White Sox. Minutes later, commissioner Rob Manfred made it official, welcoming Rob “Cha-lew-sky” (sic) to Chicago.
In doing so, Cholowsky becomes just the third college shortstop ever selected first overall, joining Bill Almon (1974) and Dansby Swanson (2015). Although neither player went on to a Hall of Fame career, that’s rare company, and another indication of just how highly Cholowsky is regarded.
“Drafting Roch today adds another standout talent and person of impressive character to this organization at absolutely the right time,” GM Chris Getz said in a press release announcing the pick. “Roch, his family and his support structure impressed us throughout the entire process, and his experience at UCLA certainly prepared him to take the next step as a professional. An outstanding defensive shortstop, Roch brings an impact bat to any lineup, and he is a leader on the field as well as in the clubhouse. He has more than lived up to very high expectations, and we cannot wait to get him into our organization, get started and see him continue his growth and success.”

LAS VEGAS — It's always interesting to see the reaction in the media seats at NBA Summer League when news breaks. When the news came down about Gary Trent re-signing with the Bucks for four years, $64 million (a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN), the reaction was something like this.
This is a fully guaranteed contract, no options. The Bucks and Trent's representatives looked at sign-and-trade options before settling on this deal, reports Charania. It seems like a lot of money for Trent and his production, although this is the size of contract that falls right into the sweet spot for potential trades.
Last season, Trent was on a minimum deal with the Bucks and averaged 8.1 points per game, shooting 36% from 3, playing about 21 minutes per night.
The Bucks have all the guards, it seems. We'll call Trent 6'5" a wing, and in the mix for that role is Tyler Herro, Caris LeVert, Jamie Jaquiez Jr. and just drafted Brayden Burries, who has looked pretty good at Summer League. The Bucks are stockpiling talent and picks in the hope of drafting or trading for their next star in the coming seasons as they move on from the Giannis Antetokounmpo era.

HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) — EchoPark Speedway may be the perfect setting for Tyler Reddick to reclaim his momentum in the NASCAR Cup Series points race.
Reddick won five of the first nine stops on this year's Cup Series schedule, including at EchoPark Speedway on Feb. 22, one week after winning the Daytona 500, to take a dominant lead in the points race.
Reddick’s points lead has disappeared in recent weeks. Denny Hamlin, who co-owns 23XI Racing with Michael Jordan, enters Sunday night’s race leading Reddick by 44 points.
Overall, Reddick has two wins in three starts on drafting tracks this season in his 23XI Racing Toyota, giving him reason for optimism. Reddick said Saturday he is “extremely” confident he can enjoy more success in his return to the track formerly known as Atlanta Motor Speedway.
“In my opinion, we’re stronger when we come back here in the summer race,” Reddick said. “We’re still plenty good in the spring, but what we do well at EchoPark Speedway really shows up in the summer. ... Our strength typically is handling and I feel like the more that’s in play the better I do with these kind of races.”

The Seattle Seahawks underwent significant changes at running back this offseason. They lost Super Bowl 60 MVP Kenneth Walker III to free agency and replaced him by drafting Jadarian Price. The NFC West has some very competitive backfields throughout the division. Heading into the 2026 NFL season, we've ranked all four backfields in the division from best to worst.
A healthy Christian McCaffrey is still arguably the best running back in the league. The dual-threat playmaker has been a cheat code for San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy. When available, McCaffrey is an annual Offensive Player of the Year candidate.
The rebuilding Arizona Cardinals wouldn't rank highly on most division-based lists, but their running back room is undeniably in good shape. Veteran James Conner is still impactful. The Cardinals drafted Jeremiyah Love at No. 3 overall. Love was arguably the best overall prospect in the 2026 NFL draft. Before drafting him, they also signed Tyler Allgeier in free agency. This backfield has three-headed monster potential.
Kyren Williams has firmly established himself as a top-10 back in the NFL. The former Notre Dame standout has rushed for 1,000+ yards in three straight seasons. Blake Corum rushed for 746 yards and six touchdowns last year, proving he's one of the better handcuffs in the NFL.
The unknown factor surrounding the Seahawks' backfield has them currently ranking last in the division. Will Jadarian Price be an effective rookie? When will Zach Charbonnet be healthy and available? How involved will George Holani be? The Seahawks have questions at running back heading into camp.

Jerry Rice talks 49ers: Mike Evans addition, De'Zhaun Stribling, 2026 expectations
"Just throw it up," Rice said. "Throw it up because he's got that big frame. He's going to be able to go up and attack the football. So, once you're in the end zone, just throw that thing up, like 'Alley-Oop' (R.C. Owens) back in the day. Just throw it up and let him go get it, and he's capable of doing that."
Andrew Whitworth questions 49ers' confidence in drafting an offensive tackle
"I think, to me, it does scream that maybe they just don't have a lot of confidence in their ability to select the right one," Whitworth told Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area this week at the American Century Championship in South Lake Tahoe.
When you're going to allocate a first-round pick or a second-round pick on an offensive lineman, a lot of people love that theory, but you better be ***** good at picking it," Whitworth said. "Because when you hit on an offensive lineman, it could be unbelievable for your franchise early in the draft, because a great offensive line, a great D-line is the story to successful football teams….You draft an unproductive lineman, you are cooked because now you're getting a second-, third-, fourth-tier lineman who's going to have to play because the money you allocated for this guy is worthless," Whitworth said. "And now, your team is going to struggle because you're not going to get quality reps out of a guy. So, you can both shoot your team forward and really set yourself back when you miss on offensive linemen."
Alex Highsmith to the 49ers? Steelers reporter suggests trade proposal
"Highsmith's absence from mandatory minicamp coupled with Nick Herbig's massive extension have led many, including myself, to believe the Steelers could look for a trade partner sooner than later," Vasquez explained. "The 49ers could desperately use another edge rusher to pair with Nick Bosa, and the Steelers may be one of the few teams with talent at the position to spare."
Why 'There's no logical reason to expect the 49ers' injury plague to extend into a third year'
"The 49ers added bigger bodies at receiver in Mike Evans and De'Zhaun Stribling. The same is true for defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, who comes in with as clean a health bill as it gets for a pro."

Drafting races have a way of making oddsmakers look smart one minute and completely wrong the next.
That's the challenge facing sportsbooks ahead of Sunday's Quaker State 400 at EchoPark Speedway. While betting markets have identified three clear favorites entering the weekend, history suggests almost anyone in the field could find themselves battling for the win when the checkered flag falls.
EchoPark Speedway's pack racing produces late-race crashes, surprise contenders and dramatic finishes almost every time the NASCAR Cup Series visits the 1.54-mile oval. Still, the latest odds reveal which drivers sportsbooks believe have the strongest chance to survive the chaos.
Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott each open the weekend at +900, making them co-favorites for Sunday's race.
Reddick's position is hardly surprising. The 23XI Racing driver won the February race at EchoPark Speedway, leading 53 laps before holding off Chase Briscoe in the closing miles. Although his past two races have ended in disappointing finishes, sportsbooks clearly believe his drafting-track success outweighs that recent slump.

New York Giants WR Malik Nabers has been recovering from a torn ACL sustained during the 2025 regular season. While the injury occurred early enough in the campaign to have Nabers on track to be ready for 2026, that isn't quite the case as we approach training camp at the end of the month.
Nabers had another procedure and now his status for Week 1 seems murky. Obviously, we'll gather more intel during camp and see if Nabers can get out on the field for preseason games. But for now, if you're drafting early, it's tough to have optimism toward the talented wideout.
Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL season
Matt Harmon is joined by Sharp Football's Rich Hribar to discuss Nabers' injury and fantasy football expectations on the latest episode of the Yahoo Fantasy Forecast.
The Giants moved on from head coach Brian Daboll and installed a new regime headed by former Baltimore Ravens HC John Harbaugh. He is tasked with getting the franchise, particularly QB Jaxson Dart and the offense, on track.

The Atlanta Falcons were somewhat careless with their money during the last few seasons under former general manager Terry Fontenot. While fans will likely never get over the team giving Kirk Cousins $100 million before drafting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. one month later, Fontenot had some free-agent hits as well.
The Falcons signed star safety Jessie Bates III, who has been stellar over three seasons in Atlanta. Those around the league scoffed after the team signed Divine Deablo last year, but the veteran linebacker was among the best defensive players on the roster.
Cornerback Mike Hughes has been solid and Darnell Mooney looked like a steal after his first season with the team. However, current Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham was hamstrung by the mistakes Fontenot made, and could only sign bargain-level free agents in the offseason.
Cunningham has done a good job of retaining talent, though. He extended both Drake London and Kyle Pitts, which brought Atlanta's salary cap ******* e up to $37.9 million.
After looking at the Falcons' top-paid offensive players yesterday, here's a look at the team's 10 highest-paid defensive players based of their 2026 salary cap hits (all numbers via Over The Cap).