Sleeper pitchers for Week 25 (Sept. 7-13)
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Is the Walker Cup golf’s greatest team event? It’s been making the case
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Sleeper pitchers Week 25: Rankings, sleepers and start/sit
Scott White identifies 10 streaming pitchers for Fantasy Week 25, with Jacob Lopez and Andrew Painter leading the options to trust
Streaming pitchers isn’t for the faint of heart, but if you find yourself without enough reliable options in a given scoring period, it may be what you need to stay afloat. Scott White has 10 recommendations for the upcoming scoring period, all rostered in no more than 80 percent of CBS Sports leagues. Generally, only the top two or three are full-throated endorsements, while the rest are more about making the best of a bad situation.
All information is up to date as of late Sunday.
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The Pros and Cons of Harrison Smith’s Return

The final lingering question of the Vikings offseason has finally been answered. After an offseason of “will he, won’t he,” Harrison Smith has finally been announced as returning to Minnesota. It’s another year in purple for the Hitman.
While sending some credit to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo, the NFL’s social media sent the details: “Vikings S Harrison Smith agrees to terms to come back for 15th season on a 1-year, $12.25M deal with playoff incentives worth up to $16.25M.”
The Pros and Cons of Harrison Smith’s Return
It felt like a goodbye when he left the field to a hero’s reception in the Vikings’ final game of the 2025 season. While CJ Ham and Adam Thielen officially announced their retirements, Smith never said a word, which led to ongoing talk of one more season. It became official on Saturday when the team released the news of Smith’s return and a timely boost to the Vikings safety group.

He agreed to terms to come back for his 15th season in the league, all of which have been as a Viking, on a 1-year, $12.25 million deal with playoff incentives. A Vikings legend is back for what seems like one last rodeo, which is exciting news for an extremely popular player as we head into opening week of the 2026 season. The return of the Hitman will be popular, but is it all good news? I take a look at the pros and cons of Harrison Smith’s return.
Pro – Leadership
Smith has been a huge figure for the Vikings for a long time now. He isn’t necessarily a big talker, but he leads by example, and his presence in the locker room will have a positive effect. You just have to look at how the team’s coaches and players spoke about him over the last few months when they were constantly questioned about his potential return.
Con – Steady Decline

There’s no getting away from it. The Hitman isn’t the same player he was in 2017, when he was named first-team All-Pro. There has been a steady decline over the years, and questioning how much he has left in the tank is valid. He wasn’t terrible last season; he still made interceptions, sacked the quarterback, and earned a respectable Pro Football Focus grade of 68.9, but he isn’t the force he once was.
Pro – Football Intelligence
Smith has never lacked anything physically, but his football IQ has set him apart and is why he should eventually find his way into the Hall of Fame. In Brian Flores’ notoriously complicated defense, you need intelligent players to make it work. A master of the disguise that Flores wants at the line of scrimmage, Smith has no peers when it comes to fooling quarterbacks by showing pressure and then either either coming downhill or backing out. There’s great nuance needed to do it successfully, and Smith is the best.
Con – No Preseason

Smith had a slow start to last season and got better as the year went on. Maybe sitting out the preseason is what he needed to revitalize himself and hit the ground running in 2026. However, I do have a concern about how sharp he will be on the field. Of course, he will have kept himself fit, and his football IQ will help, but it might take him a while to get up to full speed.
Pro – Mentoring the Young Vikings Safeties
Josh Metellus has probably finished his mentorship under the Hitman, which helped a late-round draft pick become a hugely valuable member of the roster. Minnesota has a couple of promising rookies this year in Jacob Thomas and Jakobe Thomas. They will now get a year sat under the learning tree with one of the best to ever do it. That will be a positive for both.
An Overall Positive
Smith brings so much wisdom to the team that, as long as there isn’t a big decline from last season, I view his return as an overall positive. It will be interesting to see if he remains an every-down player or is used more sparingly. The price tag for his return would suggest that the Vikings will still want a lot from him. Smith should still have something to give, its just a case of how much.
Sports
Two far-right activists go on trial in Paris over 2022 killing of Argentine rugby star Aramburu
Two far-right activists are to go on trial in Paris on Monday over the 2022 killing of Argentine rugby international Federico Martin Aramburu after a late-night argument turned violent.
Read moreFormer Pumas star Aramburu shot and killed in Paris
Aramburu, 42, was with another player sitting at a brasserie in Paris in the early hours of March 19, 2022 when they argued with Loik Le Priol and Romain Bouvier.
After the sportsmen left, the two accused are suspected of having fired several shots at Aramburu, who died of his wounds.
Le Priol, 32, and Bouvier, 35, have been charged with murder and attempted murder respectively in the trial to last several weeks, and risk up to life in jail if they are found guilty.
Le Priol, a former commando and member of a now dissolved ultra-right movement GUD, is suspected of having fired the shots that killed the rugbyman.
He was arrested several days later at the Hungary-Ukraine border, where he told police he was “going to Ukraine to fight” after Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Aramburu had been living in the southwestern French town of Biarritz after retiring. He played club rugby for Perpignan, Biarritz and Dax in France, as well as for the Glasgow Warriors.
He earned 22 caps for Argentina from 2004 to 2009.
Le Priol and Bouvier were at the time of the killing already under investigation over the 2015 beating of a former GUD official. A court in 2022 sentenced them to two and three years in jail over the incident.
According to the investigation, tensions soared at the restaurant after Aramburu’s friend, fellow rugby player Shaun Hegarty, criticised Le Priol for the way he snapped at another customer. Le Priol tapped him on the head.
As the rugby players left, Aramburu grabbed him by the hood, slamming him to the ground. The ensuing exchange of blows left Le Priol with a few broken teeth, as the rugby players fled the scene.
After catching up with them in the vehicle of Le Priol’s then girlfriend, Bouvier shot at Aramburu, before escaping. Le Priol then turned up on foot, firing again at the Argentine and killing him.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
Sports
‘Not enough guts’: AB de Villiers questions Pakistan players’ hunger after England rout | Cricket News
Pakistan’s recent struggles have sparked plenty of criticism of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), but former South Africa captain AB de Villiers believes the players themselves must also take responsibility for the team’s alarming performances.The Babar Azam-led Pakistan side endured a miserable start to its England tour, suffering heavy defeats in the first two Tests at Headingley and Lord’s. The results prompted the PCB to make sweeping changes ahead of the third and final Test in Birmingham, including sending seven players home and replacing Test coach Sarfaraz Ahmed with white-ball coach Mike Hesson.However, de Villiers believes the problems extend beyond the boardroom. The former Proteas skipper questioned whether enough Pakistan players are willing to put in the hard work required to succeed in Test cricket, particularly when conditions become difficult.
De Villiers questions Pakistan’s character
Pakistan’s struggles with the bat were particularly concerning during the opening two Tests. The first match finished inside three days, while the second went into a fourth day largely because of rain.Across four innings, Pakistan failed to score 200 even once, leaving de Villiers questioning the team’s ability to withstand pressure and fight through difficult periods.“I don’t often currently see a lot of Pakistan players individually being prepared to put in those extra hard yards. Especially with the batting unit. Not enough, what’s the word, guts. Fight. It doesn’t always have to be pretty. Lots of soft wickets, and that’s what it comes down to. It’s a decision that you make,” de Villiers said on his YouTube channel.The former South Africa captain explained that he viewed Test cricket as an opportunity to demonstrate mental strength rather than simply focus on aesthetics or personal statistics.“It’s sometimes ugly and terribly difficult to watch. If I played for my ego, I probably would have been a different player. It was always about how much character I could show out here today. It always felt like a threat to my character from the opposition. That’s the way I decided to play the situation,” he added.De Villiers believes that quality performances in Test cricket often come down to a player’s ability to respond when circumstances are stacked against them.“I always felt that Test cricket was a test of your character. That’s maybe what Pakistan is lacking at the moment. A bit of character, a bit of fight. An individual leadership group of four or five players who decide together, you know what, let’s be the leaders here and show the guys,” said the former Proteas skipper.He added: “Let’s be the example. Show the youngsters what it takes to win Test matches, ODIs, or T20S. Maybe that is the area they’re lacking in.”
PCB instability also a major concern
While de Villiers was critical of the players, he did not absolve the PCB of responsibility.Pakistan cricket has gone through repeated changes in leadership and coaching in recent years, with several coaches and captains coming and going. Jason Gillespie and Gary Kirsten, for instance, departed after allegedly being sidelined by the selection committee headed by Aaqib Javed.De Villiers believes this instability has played a part in Pakistan’s decline and stressed the importance of giving the current leadership greater continuity.“Also, a bit of mismanagement from the top. Lots of chopping and changing. Lots of changes in leadership. Babar is back now. So hopefully he gets an extended run, stays fit, and starts scoring runs again like we all know he can. And for his fellow teammates to start following that lead,” said de Villiers.Babar’s return to the leadership group comes at a difficult moment for Pakistan, with the team attempting to rebuild following the heavy defeats in England.
De Villiers hopes Pakistan can recover
Despite his criticism, de Villiers remains hopeful that Pakistan can rediscover the quality that has made them competitive across formats.He believes a stronger leadership group, greater character from the players and improved stability at the administrative level could help the team turn things around.“So that’s my long and short on Pakistan cricket. Hopefully they’ll make their way back to the form and to the team that we know they can be in all formats of the game,” he concluded.Pakistan will now have one final opportunity to respond on the England tour when they face the hosts in the third and final Test in Birmingham. With major changes already made before the series has concluded, the team will be under pressure to show considerably more fight and character in the final match.
Sports
FFMIC 2026 Fall Knockout Week 2 Day 3: Overall standings and highlights
Day 3 of the FFMIC 2026 Fall Knockout Week 2 was held on September 6, 2026, with the top performers progressing to the Grand Finals and the bottom 10 teams moving to Week 3. A total of six teams from Week 2 secured their spots in the Grand Finals. The remaining six finalists will be chosen from the third and final week of the Knockout.
TSG Pros was the top performer of Day 3 with 112 points and one Booyah. The team clinched 81 eliminations in six games. The lineup registered a mammoth 43-point win in the last match of the day, with Blood14 grabbing 36 eliminations.
Team GodLike claimed second place with 107 points and one Booyah. The club accumulated 72 eliminations and 35 placement points in six matches, with Marco racking up 25 eliminations.
Day 3 leaderboard of FFMIC 2026 Fall Knockout Week 2
Here is the points table of Day 3
- TSG Pros – 112 points
- Team GodLike – 107 points
- Revenant XSpark – 107 points
- NG Pros – 93 points
- S8UL Esports – 90 points
- Insane Power – 83 points
- Resurrection Esports – 81 points
- LR7 Esports – 80 points
- Clutza Esports – 71 points
- Nebula Esports – 62 points
- Black Flag Army – 61 points
- Rackers Esports – 44 points
Revenant XSpark narrowly missed out on a place in the FFMIC Finals on Day 3. The team ranked third with 107 points, including 69 eliminations. They emerged victorious in the fourth game, scoring 31 points, with Sohan notching up 24 eliminations.
NG Pros was fourth with 93 points and one Booyah. The lineup grabbed a 27-point win in the second encounter. S8UL Esports had an average run on Day 3 of the FFMIC Knockout Week 2, as the club finished fifth with 90 points, including 63 eliminations. Their pros Bunny and Troll took 20 and 19 eliminations, respectively.
Insane Power and Resurrection were sixth and seventh with 83 and 81 points, respectively. LR7 came eighth with 80 points, including 54 kills. Clutza ended up in ninth position with 71 points. Nebula was inconsistent on Day 3, as they finished 10th with 62 points despite winning one Booyah. BFA and Rackers were in the bottom two with 61 and 44 points, respectively.
Week 3 of the FFMIC Knockout will be held from September 11 to 13, 2026. The bottom 10 teams of Day 3 and the 17th- and 18th-placed teams of Week 1 will fight over three days for six spots in the Grand Finals.
Check out the latest Free Fire MAX redeem codes here.
Edited by Sandeep Banerjee
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Stuart Grehan’s wins over Preston Stout keyed Walker Cup comeback
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Satwik, Chirag draw confidence from China Masters win ahead of Asian Games | Other Sports News
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty say staying “mindfully aggressive” helped them break the China Masters jinx and the triumph has provided a “big boost” ahead of the Asian Games where they will go “all guns blazing”.
It was third time lucky for the Indian duo as they produced a stirring comeback to beat China’s He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu 11-21 21-13 21-17 and clinch the USD 1,250,000 China Masters Super 750 title here on Sunday on their third attempt.
It was their second title of the 2026 season and first at this event.
“Playing here is always good. We have always played (well) coming back from injury. In 2024 after Olympics we played here, we played semis. Then last year we played, we weren’t in a good shape. We played finals,” Satwik said.
“I think this also, after coming back from injury, this has been a tournament where it gave us a lot of confidence. This week has been the same story. Except the first round, all the games we have played three games.” Talking about the final, Satwik said: “Today, we kind of held the nerve. We didn’t make easy mistakes in the end. So that was a positive from today’s match. And we are just sticking to the game plan.” “We made a game plan before coming. We wanted to do that. If it works, then it’s good. If not, we’ll go back and work again. So I think that has worked today and really happy. We kind of broke the jinx and I think second title in 2026. Really happy.” The title comes just weeks ahead of their title defence at the Asian Games, which is scheduled to be held from September 19 in Japan.
Talking about the Asian Games, Chirag said: “It feels really special. Obviously, going into the Asian Games, winning a title definitely gives a huge boost that yes, what we are working for is in the right direction.
“We will go back home, push ourselves to the limit, train for the next 10 days and go all guns blazing at the Asian Games. We want to go out there and have some fun.” Asked whether they were not aggressive enough in the opening game, Chirag said the issue was their shot selection.
“In the first game, it wasn’t lacking but we were not playing the right strokes. We were playing a style which favoured them. And when we play a style which favours them, they come all guns blazing. You don’t really find any space to play against them because they are extremely fast and furious,” Chirag said.
“So in the second game when we started, we wanted to be aggressive, but mindfully aggressive. And that’s what he (coach) was telling.” Satwik, who opted for a flick serve and gained several points, said he sharpened his service and receive during his recovery from a recurring shoulder injury that has bothered him for most of the season.
“It’s very rare I get five points on my service. It’s always Chirag who takes the game. In quarterfinals when we played with Kim-Anders, I think that match gave confidence,” he said.
“Same scenario, 17-17, we are down. I was serving then. I was practising more on the services because I was injured. When I was injured also, I was doing a lot of services and catching it. So I think that has helped me in the last two tournaments. But I think it’s just a feeling, mental thing.
“You just need to catch something, serve and believe in yourself. There has been a lot of behind-the-scenes with the coach, training, the same thing. Because we know opponents will target me when I’m serving. So we have seen a lot of videos, people targeting me in the service. They want to challenge me. So I think I have been practising that. I think that has helped me.” It was a battle of nerve in the end game as Satwik and Chirag, after lagging for all the game, caught up at 16-16 before prevailing.
“In the third game, we were pretty much calm. Even Chirag was telling, ‘we are under control’. We didn’t panic much, actually. So we just served and played according to the schedule. That has helped us,” Satwik said.
Sports
Savi Davison to show no let up in bronze battle vs Creamline

Savi Davison and PLDT during a game against Creamline in the PVL Invitational Conference.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — PLDT already saw its title defense shattered even before playing its final preliminary game in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference.
But not even the High Speed Hitters’ early elimination could douse Savi Davison’s competitive fire.
Davison posted her third 30-point game of the week-long conference with a new career-high 37 points on 35 kills and two blocks to power PLDT to a comeback win and pull the plug on Creamline’s bid to claim the last ticket to the final.
READ: PVL: PLDT denies Creamline, sends Nxled to first-ever finals
Savi Davison on a chance for a podium finish. #PVL2026 @inquirersports pic.twitter.com/MatbKnobNi
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) September 6, 2026
As a result, the High Speed Hitters arranged a battle for bronze against the Cool Smashers on Tuesday, serving as the curtain raiser to the championship game between Nxled and Thailand’s EST Cola.
“This is what we play for. I love the atmosphere when we play Creamline. I love to compete. I love being pushed,” said Davison, who was also stellar on the defensive end with 24 excellent receptions and 18 digs.
“I think in those situations we thrive. So having everyone have the right mindset going into this game meant a lot. And going into Tuesday, it’s what we need as well.”
Nxled, Creamline and PLDT actually finished the elimination round tied at No. 2 with similar 3-2 records but the Chameleons advanced due to a superior tie-break score.
“Because they are looked at as the best team. They have the legacy of being a very hard team to beat, so when you go up against the best, we wanna be better,” said Davison. “ So I think in that sense, we pushed ourselves to, like, wanna prove to everyone that we can also contend as one of the top teams as well in the PVL.”
READ: PVL Invitational: Savi Davison sizzles to open PLDT title defense
“Although not this conference, we fell short, and it does leave a sour taste in our mouth. But I think, just coming out and proving to ourselves, most importantly, that we’re able to still compete after what happened. It’s a really good thing,” she added.
The reigning Invitational MVP relished their big win against fancied Creamline, which was led by Jaja Santiago-Minowa, who had 25 points, highlighted by nine kill blocks.
“She’s really strong. And it was really something that we talked about going into the game, we needed to take them out of the system as much as possible. Because if they have a good pass, like, she puts it away in seconds,” she said. “She’s really good.”
PLDT hopes to pull off an encore against Creamline on Tuesday at 4 p.m. for third place.
“It’s showing up during the games, but it’s also being consistent when we’re not pushed as hard as we want to be. And I think that’s when great teams kind of make their stand is, whoever your face, you play and perform,” Davison said. “I’m just glad that we were able to take this win. And it gives us a little bit of momentum going into the next game and then into all-Filipino.”
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US Open late finishes spark pushback
Alexander Zverev, of Germany, celebrates after defeating Quentin Halys, of France, in five sets in the the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, early Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
NEW YORK — Alexander Zverev wasn’t in the mood for much conversation.
With empty seats everywhere after he finished his US Open first-round match in the early morning hours, he took two questions from reporters on the court and quickly wrapped it up.
“I think everybody’s tired,” he said. “Everybody wants to go to sleep.”
READ: US Open: Presence of influencers, tennis etiquette become hot topics
The city that never sleeps is going a little overboard this year.
Players have long loved the electricity of night matches at the US Open, where tennis under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium is a hallmark of the American Grand Slam tournament, with fans staying late and bringing plenty of energy. But with the tournament this year already setting a record with three post-2 a.m. finishes over the first six days, plus two more going past 1 a.m., concerns are bubbling up about how much after midnight is too much on such a big stage.

A fans watch Ben Shelton, of the United States, plays against Denis Shapovalov, of Canada, in the fourth set during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, early Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
“I know they’re dealing with a lot of different aspects as far as broadcast and TV and making sure certain matches get done and are starting at a certain time for those reasons,” third-ranked women’s player Jessica Pegula said. ”But you have to wonder if it’s really the right thing for players to be finishing at 2 a.m., especially when it’s not — like, I’m not watching on TV. I’m sleeping. Some people stay, but there is a lot of people that need to go home.”
Wimbledon instituted an 11 p.m. curfew. The French Open schedules just one match a night. The U.S. Open is famous for going late, though this time maybe to an extreme.
READ: Alex Eala mania a reason why US Open ticket prices reach all-time high
On opening night, Venus Williams was subjected to the latest start in US Open history at 12:13 a.m., after it took 4 hours, 36 minutes for Novak Djokovic to get knocked out in the first round.
Much of the crowd stuck around to see what could wind up being the 46-year-old’s final Grand Slam singles match, a loss to Sofia Kenin, but the timing itself was a challenge.
“It’s not ideal,” Williams said. “I would have preferred something else, definitely. It wasn’t great for either of us, so I think we both tried our best. I just don’t know any other sport where you have to start that late. I definitely think there’s room for improvement there.”
Zverev’s first two matches ended at 1:55 and 2:15 a.m., making him the first top-seeded man to play back-to-back five-set matches to start a major in the Open era, which dates to 1968. Ben Shelton’s second-rounder that started Friday night went until 2:07 a.m. Saturday thanks to the Williams sisters’ doubles match lasting more than three hours.
READ: Alexander Zverev outlasts Lorenzo Sonego in wild US Open five-setter
Four of the latest 17 finishes in tournament history have occurred this year. The record is still 2:50 a.m. from when Carlos Alcaraz beat Jannik Sinner in the quarterfinals in 2022 on the way to his first US Open title.
“Not easy,” Shelton said after defeating Denis Shapovalov in 3 hours, 22 minutes. “My first time experiencing playing this late.”
Shelton figured the earliest he’d get to sleep was 5 a.m.
Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, who two years ago played what is now the fourth-latest women’s match, is not a fan of playing after midnight and the potentially lingering effects.
“When you finish late, the next day shifts a lot,” Sabalenka said. “Like, you still need to get your hours of sleep, so you start later. You just can really mess up your schedule.”
Sports
Betts homers late as Dodgers rally past Nationals
LOS ANGELES — Mookie Betts hit a three-run home run in the eighth inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers extended their winning streak to four games with a 7-5 victory over the Washington Nationals on Sunday night.
Max Muncy had three hits and two runs and Tommy Edman had a pair of hits with two runs and an RBI as the Dodgers went 6-0 against the Nationals this season.
In his season debut, Bobby Miller (1-0) gave up one run over three innings to earn the win as Los Angeles moved 1 1/2 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the best record in the major leagues.
The Dodgers’ winning streak has come without Shohei Ohtani, who has been out for the past four games with left knee and right biceps discomfort.
CJ Abrams reached 30 home runs for the first time in his career and Harry Ford had a two-run double with two runs scored as Washington lost its fourth consecutive game.
In his second inning of work, Nationals left-hander Will Dion (1-2) gave up Betts’ home run after Alex Call singled and Edman walked, both with two outs.
Edgardo Henriquez pitched the ninth inning for the Dodgers to earn his second save.
The Dodgers had not announced a starter for their home game Monday night against Cincinnati. RHP Chase Burns (15-3, 2.79 ERA) was set to start for the Reds.
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