England was jubilant after taking down Mexico in their Round of 16 World Cup match on Sunday night but a small slip-up amid a celebration after the 3-2 win may have cost them a player.

English midfielder Jordan Henderson was taken to the hospital after he injured his wrist, coach Thomas Tuchel said. Henderson suffered the injury when he tumbled over an advertising board during the post-match celebration.

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England’s Jordan Henderson celebrates his team’s victory over Panama in the World Cup Group L soccer match in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (Frank Franklin II / AP)

“I have mixed feelings; I am sad because Jordan injured his wrist and it is quite serious. It just does not fit with the evening that Jordan is not with us,” Tuchel said. “I do not know the procedure; the doctor told me that he is in the hospital.”

Henderson slipped as he put his hand on the board to hop over it. Henderson’s teammates immediately called over for medical trainers to tend to him. He was stretchered off the field.

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England’s Harry Kane, right, and Jordan Henderson, left, celebrate at the end of the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Mexico and England in Mexico City, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (Silvia Izquierdo / AP)

It was Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane lifted England over Mexico. Bellingham scored two goals 98 seconds apart in the first half. Then, Kane converted a penalty to give England a two-goal lead.

“It was a crazy game. We had to fight,” Kane said. “I can’t really talk, but the occasion, the team, everything against us, we found a way.”

The defeat handed Mexico’s first World Cup loss at Estadio Azteca.

“We’ve done something incredible tonight, no doubt about it, and we’ll enjoy it. And we’ll sing songs until we lose our voices on the plane and whatnot, but we’ll have a couple of days recovering, then it’s straight back to business in terms of facing Norway,” Bellingham said.

England’s Jordan Henderson (14) is attended to by training staff following an injury during the postgame celebration after the World Cup round of 16 match between Mexico and England in Mexico City, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (Eduardo Verdugo / AP)

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England will play Norway in the quarterfinals on Saturday in Miami Gardens, Florida.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

It’s time to start thinking about Minnesota Vikings’ training camp — one of the most wonderful times of the year — because that will arrive live and in color at the end of the month. To get you ready, it’s important to know which players are trending up, eyeing roster spots, or in worst-case scenarios, practice squad placement.

Listed alphabetically, these are the Vikings who are suddenly turning heads — in a good way.

Dillon Bell’s Gadget Case Is Getting Harder to Ignore

1. Dillon Bell | WR

The Vikings haven’t had a player quite like Bell in a long time. While technically a wide receiver, Bell’s true value emerges when Minnesota utilizes him beyond that traditional role. His appeal lies in his versatility: think hand-off and gadgetry. Basically manufactured touches that exploit his athleticism if he make the active roster.

Percy Harvin, who last played for the Vikings 13 years ago, served as a prime example of this type of dynamic playmaker. Cordarrelle Patterson also comes to mind, too, though Minnesota never fully capitalized on his diverse skill set before his departure.

Bell’s immediate challenge is to parlay his early-summer buzz into a roster spot by September. If he secures a place on the 53-man roster, Minnesota gains a wide receiver capable of significantly shaking up their offensive scheme. The Vikings already possess a strong contingent of conventional receivers; Bell’s unique selling proposition is to offer Kevin O’Connell something entirely different.

Kevin Seifert wrote about Bell last month, “It can be difficult to gauge receiver skill sets in spring practices, when NFL rules prohibit physical coverage techniques. But it was eye-opening to see Bell — an undrafted rookie from Georgia — working extensively with the second team during drills.”

“That placement spoke volumes about his initial impression with Vikings coaches, who in essence were putting him in the (early) mix to be the No. 4 receiver behind Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings.”

2. Charles Demmings | CB

The Athletic‘s Dane Brugler noted on Bell after the draft, “Day 3 pick who could surprise: Charles Demmings, CB, Stephen F. Austin. Aside from Demmings always being a great quote, he leaves everything he has on the field. With his cover athleticism and mental toughness, Demmings was a worthy bet in the fifth round, and he landed with a team that needed cornerback depth.”

Fast forward to minicamp, and Demmings basically effectuated that Brugler prediction. He looked terrific, and Minnesota’s cornerback room is ripe for a hungry newcomer.

Demmings possesses an impressive physical profile even before he steps onto the field. Standing 6’1″, 195 pounds, and running a 4.41 40-yard dash, his measurables alone command attention for a cornerback. At Stephen F. Austin, he further solidified his resume with nine interceptions and showed the ability to cover deep routes.

His combination of length and speed is precisely what Minnesota can leverage at cornerback, particularly within a Brian Flores defense that demands defensive backs to excel in isolated coverage.

The only catch? Demmings did not really face top-tier collegiate receivers, and he occasionally tends to be overly physical downfield, a habit that is quickly penalized by NFL officials.

3. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins | DL

Ingram-Dawkins represents the kind of experimental player development that sounds unconventional until Flores gets involved. Initially drafted as a defensive tackle, Ingram-Dawkins is now exploring outside linebacker or a hybrid role — an intriguing positional shift. The versatility is precisely why Minnesota drafted him. The Vikings identified “tweener” potential, and Flores likely envisions a versatile weapon to disrupt opposing offenses.

Should the transition prove successful, Minnesota could cultivate an in-house EDGE rusher, circumventing the need to pursue a free agent. The Vikings really, really need a backup outside linebacker to step up this summer.

Ingram-Dawkins said last month about switching to OLB: “I just cleaned up my body a lot in the offseason. I mean, I’m still 280 pounds. Why was it important to clean up your body? You know, just trying to make a big, big jump from my last year. You know, I feel like that was one of the things that I could work on in my game. You know, developing a core and all that, that’ll help me in my techniques with all the versatile positions that I’m playing across the line.”

“The main focus was to just clean up my body. You know, I feel like that could only help me with how versatile I’m using, I’m being used across the line with all positions. You know, I just feel like I can play all around the line and wherever they wanna plug me and play me. That’s — I’m gonna just put my all into that.”

Wouldn’t you know it? At minicamp, Ingram-Dawkins saw most action on the EDGEs of the defensive line.

4. The Thomas Safeties

This gets confusing, so pull up a chair.

Minnesota drafted Miami’s Jakobe Thomas in Round 3 two months ago — the first installment of the Jonathan Greenard trade. Another 3rd-Rounder is on the way next year. Meanwhile, the Vikings also signed safety and undrafted free agent Jacob Thomas from James Madison.

Both Thomases did their part at minicamp; there’s a decent chance that a ‘J. Thomas” puts his thumbprint on the 2026 Vikings.

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

Erling Haaland (l), and Indian U-17 side which played against Norway in 2016

Ten years ago, an Indian Under-17 team held Norway scoreless in the first-half in a youth international game. On Sunday, one of the boys in that Norway side, Erling Haaland, led his country into the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals with a match-winning performance against the mighty Brazil.Haaland scored twice as Norway beat Brazil 2-1 to reach the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time. The striker headed in the go-ahead goal in the 79th minute before adding another before the end of regulation time to send his team through. “Maybe this will write history in Norway,” Haaland said. “Everyone just need to enjoy themselves. This is just an insane day. It’s one of the most insane days in Norwegian history. Just enjoy it, embrace it and enjoy the moment.”The second goal was Haaland’s seventh of the tournament, drawing him level with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé in the race for the Golden Boot.Norway are playing in the World Cup for only the fourth time and for the first time since 1998 after missing the previous six editions. Haaland, who turns 26 on July 21, was not even born when Norway last appeared at the tournament. Today, he is the country’s best-known footballer.Following Haaland’s performance, cricket commentator Joy Bhattacharjya recalled his link with Indian football.Bhattacharjya pointed out that in 2016, Haaland played for Norway’s Under-16 team against India’s Under-17 side, which was preparing for the Under-17 World Cup. The game was goalless at half-time before India defender Sanjeev Stalin was sent off. Haaland then scored as Norway went on to win 2-0.The match report from June 19, 2016, is still available on the All India Football Federation website.“After the Indian Colts were reduced to 10 men in the 54th minute when Sanjeev earned a second yellow card for a rash tackle, Norway took the lead in the 57th minute through Erling Braut Haaland and doubled their lead in the 80th minute when Erik Botheim’s strike found the net,” it stated.“After a goalless first half, Sanjeev was red-carded in the 54th minute and India were reduced to 10 men. The Indian Colts failed to erase their deficit after conceding goals in the 57th and 80th minutes as the full-time scoreline read 2-0 in Norway’s favour.”Several players from that India Under-17 side later represented the senior national team and clubs in the Indian Super League. Haaland, meanwhile, developed into one of the leading players in world football.As Norway prepare for the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinals, Indian football finds itself in a different position. Among FIFA’s 211 member associations, India are ranked 138th.

Eddie Hearn looks to pioneer a new era of heavyweight boxing, believing he has a “huge star” on his books who has everything it takes to become world champion.

Oleksander Usyk vacated his three titles last week, signalling the end of an era in boxing’s top division. Now, a new generation of heavyweights is beginning to emerge.

Matchroom Boxing’s Hearn, having promoted golden boy Anthony Joshua since 2013, believes he has a new star on his hands in Teremoana Teremoana.

Teremoana, aged 28 and standing at 6 ft 6 in tall, is praised for his incredible punching power, boasting an undefeated record of 11 wins with 11 knockouts. In his last outing, he stopped Bowie Tupou in the first round, and he is now set to fight DeAndre Savage on August 12 at The Star Casino Gold Coast, Australia, in his first headline bout.

Savage – who also boasts 11 wins by knockout – offers a test for the Aussie heavyweight, his only loss coming against Brandon Moore on points in September 2025.

Following the first-round stoppage of Tupou back in April, Hearn made it clear just how far he thinks his charge can go.

“What you’re watching right now is a future world heavyweight champion. This is going to be a huge star. He’s not just got the personality, he’s not just got the dance moves, he can really fight and he’s got power in both hands. A giant of a man.”

If Teremona can defeat Savage in impressive fashion, he will continue to build his case as one of the future dominant forces in the division alongside the likes of Moses Itauma.

Talented recruiters are invaluable to a program’s development and worthy of recognition.

Below you’ll find a listing of the Top 25 recruiters from the West for the Class of 2027, based on points assigned to their commits by 247Sports Rankings* as of July 6, 2026.

Some current Conference coaches coached at schools outside of the region during part of the recruiting cycle. Those coaches are included on this list only if at least half of their recruits signed with a school from the West.

Coaches who recruited Conference players but who no longer coach teams from the West have been excluded.

In addition to recruiters, the table below includes their team, role, pledge count, total points, and the names of their committed recruits.

*247Sports currently is not tracking UNLV recruiters.

Folarin Balogun (20) fouls Bosnia’s Tarik Muharemovic (4). Balogun received a red card on the play, US President Donald Trump. (AP)

European football’s governing body UEFA on Monday criticised FIFA for allowing United States forward Folarin Balogun to play in Tuesday’s (IST) FIFA World Cup round-of-16 match against Belgium despite receiving a red card in the previous game.In a statement, UEFA called FIFA’s move an “incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision” and said the world body had “crossed a red line.”“Sometimes rules are open to interpretation. In this case not,” UEFA said, adding “the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined.”“A minimum automatic suspension of one match following a red card is not a discretionary option and does not require the decision of a competent body to be enacted. It is a principle embedded in regulations, which cannot be made subject to exceptions, let alone in the middle of a tournament where several other players have been in the same situation and regularly served their suspension,” UEFA said in its statement.Folarin Balogun’s one-game ban was surprisingly suspended by FIFA on Sunday, clearing the American forward to play in the team’s World Cup round of 16 match against Belgium, a decision that was praised by US President Donald Trump and promoted outrage from the Red Devils.News agency Assosiated Press later reported that US President Donald Trump personally intervened to help Balogun get the suspension lifted.Balogun, who has scored three goals in the tournament for the United States, was shown a red card after stepping on the right ankle of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Tarik Muharemovic during the USA’s 2-0 win in the round of 32 on Wednesday. A red card triggers an automatic one-game suspension.FIFA, however, decided to suspend the punishment.“The implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year,” FIFA announced. “If Folarin Balogun commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement.”The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) said it was “astonished.”“The decision is in direct contradiction with the provisions of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Competition Regulations,” it said in a statement. “In order to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport, both at this FIFA World Cup and at future editions of the tournament, the RBFA is investigating all potential options.”Belgium coach Rudi Garcia mocked FIFA’s action.“I didn’t know that in the offices of FIFA the 5th of July was the 1st of April in Europe,” Garcia said through a translator in an April Fools’ Day comparison.

The Minnesota Vikings’ draft was rather defense-oriented in April, while most rookies throughout franchise history who make a mark right away play offense. It’s actually quite strange — the Vikings’ best rookies of all time are running backs and wide receivers.

Need evidence? We’ve got it below. And yes, — Randy Moss leads the way.

Before the official publication, these are the honorable mentions:

• Carl Eller (LDE)
• Paul Flatley (DE)
• Chad Greenway (LB)
• Matt Kalil (LT)
• George Rose (CB)
• Fran Tarkenton (QB)
• Sammy White (WR)

Moss Still Owns the Franchise’s Rookie Gold Standard

1. Randy Moss | WR | (1998)

The Stats:
69 Rec | 1,313 Yds | 17 TDs

Moss’s rookie season was not merely the best in Vikings history; it is a strong contender for the greatest rookie season in NFL history. Full stop.

His arrival in 1998 was extraordinary. The combination of size, speed, body control, and an utter disregard for defensive backs was immediately apparent and felt almost unfair to opposing defenses, who had no idea how to contain him. No clue.

Moss instantly became the face of the franchise as a rookie. Nine years before Adrian Peterson achieved something similar, Moss made the Vikings feel like his team. Every deep pass was an event.

His 17 receiving touchdowns remain a staggering rookie record. Other rookie receivers like Odell Beckham Jr., Justin Jefferson, and Ja’Marr Chase have since surpassed his yardage, but that touchdown record stands untouched.

Moss later set the single-season receiving touchdown record with 23 for the Patriots in 2007, underscoring how pivotal his rookie year was as the genesis of a legendary career. It all started in Minnesota.

2. Adrian Peterson | RB | (2007)

The Stats:
238 Att | 1,341 Yds | 13 TDs

Despite having a competent running back, the Vikings’ decision to draft Peterson proved to be a stroke of genius. Chester Taylor was coming off a productive season, so the Vikings weren’t in dire need of a running back. However, Peterson rendered that fact irrelevant almost immediately. By the midpoint of his rookie season, he had completely taken over the starting role.

Then came his astonishing 296-yard game.

That single-game rushing record still stands, achieved in his inaugural year. The accomplishment alone would secure his place on any such list, yet it represents only a fraction of his overall impact. Peterson became the undisputed centerpiece of the Vikings’ offense for years, particularly during a period of frequent quarterback changes.

Peterson was the bedrock from 2007 to 2015. The offense could adapt and evolve around him, but he provided Minnesota with a genuine chance to win every Sunday.

He currently ranks fifth all-time in rushing yards, trailing Barry Sanders by a mere 351 yards for fourth place.

The Vikings announced this offseason that Peterson would be inducted into the Ring of Honor. Well deserved.

3. Justin Jefferson | WR | (2020)

The Stats:
88 Rec | 1,400 Yds | 7 TDs

Jefferson took three weeks to get going as a rookie, but once Mike Zimmer allowed him to participate fully, the fireworks began. The four-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro basically never looked back, easing the pain of Stefon Diggs’s departure during the 2020 offseason.

He’s the face of the franchise and will remain that way until someone comes up with the terrible idea to get rid of him. Jefferson logged a quiet season by his standards in 2025, but with Kyler Murray freshly arriving in Minneapolis, most think he’ll return to his normal production — 1,533 receiving yards every 17 games.

4. Chuck Foreman | RB | (1973)

The Stats:
1,163 Yds from Scrimmage | 6 TDs

Foreman’s diverse skill set would be highly valued in today’s NFL; in fact, he might be even more impactful now than he was during his playing career.

For years, the Vikings have sought a running back capable of both prolific rushing and significant receiving contributions. While Dalvin Cook displayed flashes of this at his peak, Foreman embodied the complete package decades earlier.

Upon entering the NFL in 1973, he immediately appointed himself as one of the league’s most versatile backs. He then embarked on a sweet streak of five consecutive Pro Bowl selections, a testament to his dominance. By 1975, Foreman had amassed 73 receptions from Fran Tarkenton that year, placing him firmly in the MVP conversation.

Foreman is actively involved in the Vikings community and frequently interacts with fans on Twitter (X).

5. Percy Harvin | WR | (2009)

The Stats:
925 Yds from Scrimmage | 8 TDs

The memories of Harvin remain captivating, especially as the NFL evolves into a league perfectly suited for his distinctive skill set.

Ironically, the Vikings rostered Harvin before the widespread adoption of versatile WRs — like Deebo Samuel. Harvin was an elusive threat against defensive backs and a game-changer on special teams. In today’s NFL, every offensive coordinator would be designing at least 12 touches per game for him.

His tenure in Minnesota, though brief and complex, was impeccably timed. Harvin joined the Vikings just months before Brett Favre, and their on-field chemistry was instantaneous.

For a period, a Super Bowl seemed within reach. The Vikings narrowly missed a championship, and Harvin was instrumental in making the 2009 team a contender.

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

FIFA’s decision to suspend U.S. striker Folarin Balogun’s World Cup red card, after an intervention from Donald Trump, has sparked a political firestorm and led some to warn it will tarnish their team’s achievements.

Balogun, 25, the U.S.’s breakout star, has scored three times in three games for Mauricio Pochettino’s side but was sent off in their last-32 match against Bosnia-Herzegovina Wednesday for a foul on defender Tarik Muharemovic, ruling him out of their last-16 clash with Belgium.

However, after Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino Thursday, the forward’s suspension was effectively lifted, allowing him to play in Monday’s crucial knock-out match after all.

Former Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger, a longtime critic of the president, wrote on X: “Even FIFA is engaged in Trump crime family corruption. If USA wins the cup there will now always be an asterisk. Fair or unfair.”

Geopolitics expert Cyrus Janssen and anti-Trump commentator Brian Krassenstein both worried that the president had created a no-win situation for the U.S. team, with their achievements in the competition from here on in likely to be undermined by FIFA’s actions.

“This isn’t good karma for the U.S. Men’s Team, the U.S. President should not have the power to force FIFA to overturn a decision, but as Trump has proved in his presidency, he is above the law and the U.S. is a country without checks and balances,” Janssen posted.

“This is a lose-lose situation for Team USA now. We beat Belgium and the victory will be tainted as we needed our President to cheat to help us win. If we lose than [sic] even our President cheating couldn’t help us win.”

Krassenstein, responding to an AI video of Balogun reacting to Brazilian Raphael Claus’s red card by brandishing a literal “Trump card” of his own, said: “MAGA clowns are posting this like it’s a good thing.

“Trump getting Folarin Balogun unsuspended from the World Cup just shows you that everything he touches is delegitimate crap. Now, if the U.S. wins the World Cup, it will be questioned. Thanks, Trump.”

Political journalist Julia Ioffe accused the president of hypocrisy, given that he has recently challenged the constitutional right to birthright citizenship in the Supreme Court, only to then intervene on behalf of Balogun, who was born in New York in July 2001 to British parents who were in the city on holiday at the time and not allowed to fly home to London because of the advanced state of his mother’s pregnancy.

“The irony of Trump calling FIFA to overturn a red card for Balogun because he knows the U.S. can’t win without Balogun, who only qualifies for the U.S. team because of birthright citizenship, which Trump just tried to overturn,” she wrote.

FIFA explained its decision in a statement that read: “In line with Article 27 of the FIFA disciplinary code, the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year.

“If Folarin Balogun commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement.”

Trump took to Truth Social Sunday to thank the federation for “reversing a great injustice,” his first meaningful involvement in the World Cup so far, having attended no games. Before his intervention, Secretary of State Marco Rubio had said the U.S. “got screwed” by Balogun’s sending off.

Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House’s World Cup task force, also privately reached out to FIFA over the matter, according to CBS News.

While the development has been welcomed by Pochettino and playmaker Christian Pulisic, many observers have been more inclined to agree with Belgium’s manager, Rudi Garcia, who said: “I didn’t know that at the World Cup the 5th of July is actually the first of April. It’s April Fools.

“We’re not defending the national team or the federation, we are defending football, integrity. It’s the first time in World Cup history that such a decision has been taken.”

The Royal Belgian Football Association said it was “astonished” by the rule-bending, given that there is no appeal process in place to challenge bookings at the tournament, while European pundits reacted with even greater derision.

Gary Neville said on ITV Sunday that Balogun’s reprieve “absolutely stinks,” while, on the BBC, Wayne Rooney said: “If I’m the USA’s opponent, I’d be absolutely fuming. I think it’s wrong in every way. I think it’s an absolute disgrace.”

Meanwhile, England manager Thomas Tuchel has jokingly suggested he might now lodge an appeal with Trump to get Jarell Quansah’s red card overturned, after the defender was dismissed in the Three Lions’ thrilling 3-2 win over Mexico.

How much of the Indianapolis Colts’ 2026 salary cap space is devoted to the linebacker position?

For this season, the league-wide salary cap was set at $301.2 million, and of that, $9.146 million will go towards the linebacker unit for the Colts, according to Over the Cap.

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Compared to the rest of the NFL, the Colts rank last in salary cap spending at this position, and that figure accounts for only 3.03% of the team’s allotted cap space.

Colts salary cap breakdown at linebacker

A lot of turnover took place at this position group during the offseason. Zaire Franklin and Germaine Pratt, who led the Colts in snaps at linebacker in 2025, are no longer on the team.

Instead, the Colts signed Akeem Davis-Gaither to a one-year deal. He has a cap hit of just $2.725 million.

CJ Allen, Bryce Boettcher, and Jaylon Carlies are all playing on rookie deals and have cap hits below $1.7 million.

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Austin Ajiake and Devin Veresuk are on minimum deals, while West Weeks and Tahj Chambers are UDFAs with cap hits below $1 million.

This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts last in salary cap spending at linebacker in 2026

There’s no such thing as having “too much pitching,” and the Brewers are our latest example. They’ve been a pitching factory in recent years, and there was some fretting from Fantasy players in recent days and weeks about whether there would be enough room for Logan Henderson in the rotation, or whether interesting pitchers like Shane Drohan or Brandon Sproat would be out of a job by the time Henderson was healthy enough to return from a back injury.

But, as usually happens in these kinds of situations, attrition took care of that problem, with Brandon Woodruff suffering yet another setback with his troublesome right shoulder. Woodruff was placed on the IL Sunday after leaving Saturday’s start after just 61 pitches and amid another troubling drop in velocity. 

Woodruff has dealt with a ton of injuries over the past four or five seasons with his right shoulder, most recently needing a minor procedure to remove a cyst that had developed in his shoulder in May. Woodruff acknowledged this injury seems similar to the previous one which caused him to miss almost two months, so I think you have to assume it’s going to be a similar timetable for Woodruff this time around. And even if he returns before that, I don’t see how you can assume he’ll stay healthy at this point. 

That clears a rotation spot for Henderson, who is working his way back from a back injury but is expected to return to the rotation before the All-Star break. Henderson has had his own troubles staying healthy, but when he’s been on the mound, he’s been incredibly effective – in 10 MLB starts he has a 2.23 ERA with a 33.3% strikeout rate and 7.4% walk rate, elite numbers. With his return looming and a rotation spot open, he should be rostered in just about all Fantasy leagues these days – he’s available in around 25% of CBS Fantasy leagues entering Week 16. 

And Woodruff wasn’t the only pitcher we lost this weekend. Carlos Rodon went on the IL elbow inflammation, and while Rodon did say his UCL is intact, we have to assume he’ll miss at least a few weeks, likely more – from 2021 through 2025, pitchers missed 46 days on average with an elbow inflammation diagnosis, so I wouldn’t expect him back until August.

And Shohei Ohtani left Friday’s game due to a biceps injury, similar to the one he dealt with a few months ago. The injury seems to be affecting Ohtani more as a hitter than a pitcher, but it wouldn’t shock me if they erred on the side of caution and didn’t pitch Ohtani until after the All-Star break next week, something manager Dave Roberts acknowledged the team is considering. 

So, we’ve got some rotation spots to fill for Week 16 and beyond. If he’s available, Henderson should be at the top of your list of targets, but he probably isn’t, so here are five other pitchers to consider adding this week. 

Troy Melton, Tigers (69%) – It was hard to get too excited about Melton in his first handful of starts, because despite really solid results, he wasn’t missing many bats. Well, he has 13 strikeouts to just one walk over his past two starts since a mechanical adjustment led to a spike in velocity, and suddenly he looks a lot more interesting. Melton has consistently missed bats in the minors, so it’s good to see him figuring out how to do it in the majors. If Henderson isn’t available, I think Melton should be your top target on the wire. 

Joey Cantillo, Guardians (69%) – Despite a shaky performance in his most recent start, I still like the changes Cantillo has made lately, introducing a cutter, adding velocity across his entire arsenal, and prioritizing his curveball. He has 23 strikeouts to eight walks in 19 innings over his past three starts and if he can avoid walking too many hitters, I think there’s a path forward for Cantillo to be very useful moving forward – especially with two starts against the Twins and Marlins this week. 

Cade Cavalli, Nationals (70%) – Cavalli is now one of two pitchers this season with both consecutive double-digit strikeout starts and a separate start of at least 13 strikeouts. The other one is Jacob Misiorowski. No, Cavalli isn’t anywhere near as good as Misiorowski, but he’s flashed rare bat-missing upside this season, so now it’s about finding some consistency. I don’t have a ton of faith in him to do that – he already stumbled in Sunday’s start – but he has shown rare upside, and that can be worth chasing. 

Ian Seymour, Rays (54%) – If you’re in a points league, I don’t mind prioritizing Seymour ahead of Cavalli for the SPaRP eligibility. But I’m also open to the possibility that Seymour just might be better even without the positional eligibility gimmick. Across nine starts dating back to last season he has a 3.16 ERA and is a rare pitcher who actually sees his performance increase as a starter relative to his time in the bullpen, with his strikeout rate jumping from 24.7% to 29.1% in those nine starts. It’s still a small sample size, but given how effective he’s been in that role, I’m starting to believe. 

Jake Bennett, Red Sox (50%) – The Red Sox aren’t quite on the Brewers’ level as a pitching factory, but they’re developing a well-earned reputation on that side of the ball, and Bennett is another win for them. He’s like a less-talented Payton Tolle, leaning on a very good pair of fastballs from the left side that has him down to a 3.10 ERA and 2.82 xERA through his first seven starts. He gets one start this week against the White Sox, a middling matchup, but he’s looked so good lately that I think you might just want Bennett around for the long run. 

Hurston Waldrep, Braves (25%) – This one is probably more of a long-term play, because Waldrep didn’t have the feel for his splitter in his first start last week and looked shaky as a result. He’s expanded the arsenal since his prospect days, but it’s always going to be tough for him to succeed without that pitch, so he’ll need to lock in before we get to the point where it’ll feel good to trust him. But he has the kind of upside to get there for those of you in deeper leagues.

Here’s who else we’re looking to add ahead of Week 16: 

Week 16 Waiver Targets

Catcher

Francisco Alvarez, Mets (45%) 

It’s increasingly tough to break into the crowded field of No. 1-caliber catchers in Fantasy, which is why Alvarez’s roster rate has remained relatively low. However, he is coming off a May that saw him put up a .265/.306/.515 line with five homers in around two-thirds of a month, and he still has the best expected wOBA on contact of his career while matching last year’s strikeout rate, so I think Alvarez’s remains a little under-rostered, even if he does remain a fringe top-12 guy right now. 

Deep league option: Endy Rodriguez, Pirates (20%) – What if Rodriguez is just finally healthy? He barely played across 2024 and 2025 while dealing with elbow issues that dated back to 2023, but was one of the top catching prospects in baseball before that. He has shown terrific plate discipline and plus power so far, including a really impressive 92.6 mph average exit velocity and 13.4% barrel rate. On the surface, Rodriguez looks like a difference-making bat, and while it’s reasonable to be skeptical about that, you should maintain that skepticism while nonetheless adding him in any two-catcher leagues, at least, with a bonus in leagues where OBP is directly valued.

First Base

Bryce Eldridge, Giants (74%)

Eldridge slumped in the latter part of June, but he still finished the month with a .300/.394/.489 line and just a 22% strikeout rate. As a lefty power hitter in the toughest ballpark in the majors for lefty power, Eldridge has a lot working against him, but with the strikeout rate remaining in check, he also has the skills to absolutely be a must-start first baseman for Fantasy. At the very least, you should want him in your lineup for Week 16, with what Scott White says are the second-best hitter matchups in the league. 

Deep league option: Jacob Gonzalez, White Sox (14%) – Gonzalez has kept the strikeout issues largely in check since his promotion, and he’s starting to find ways to be productive despite not hitting for a ton of power. He finished June with 11 hits in his final six games, driving in 12 runs in that span. As a hot-hand player who figures to still have some runway with Munetaka Murakami out, Gonzalez is an interesting deep-league player with 1B and 2B eligibility.

Second Base

Cole Young, Mariners (40%) 

Young might be starting to figure it out. He finished June with a .295/.333/.457 line, and it might not have been a fluke, as he struck out just 10 times in 111 plate appearances and put up a strong .369 expected wOBA. He’s still running a bit behind his expected stats overall and that might remain an issue for a young left-handed hitter stuck in one of the toughest ballparks in baseball. But both the underlying and surface-level numbers have taken a step forward this season and has gotten better as it has gone on, a good sign for a young hitter. 

Deep league option: Javier Sanoja, Marlins (25%) – This one is mostly just a hot-hand play for a player I don’t have a ton of trust in. Sanoja has almost no power to speak of, but he makes a lot of contact and sprays line drives all over the field, which can lead to stretches he just gets hot and racks up hits; that’s what we’re seeing right now, with Sanoja putting together six multi-hit games in his past 12 starts. He won’t give you much beyond singles even when he’s hot, but he’s eligible at 2B, 3B, SS, and OF, which is a nice bonus if you play with a short bench.

Third Base

Royce Lewis, Twins (57%) 

Going back to Triple-A for a spell seems to have helped Lewis, whose 90.7 mph average exit velocity in June was his highest for a month since last July. His underlying numbers still aren’t all that impressive since his return to the majors (though they are improved!), but Lewis has always been a hitter who outperforms metrics like xwOBA thanks to a high pulled-air rate that is actually the highest of his career at 32.4% this season. He’s hitting the ball hard, to the right parts of the field, and he’s doing so without his early-season strikeout issues, which is what we want to see, even if it hasn’t led to huge production lately. The skills are there for Lewis to remain a useful Fantasy contributor at either 1B or preferably 3B. 

Deep league option: Sean Keys, Blue Jays (7%) – Keys is by no means a must-add player, even in AL-only leagues, mostly because it just isn’t clear how much he’s going to play in a crowded Blue Jays lineup. He needs to get hot quickly to have a chance, so it helps that he followed up his first homer Wednesday with his first two-hit game Friday. He had 21 homers in 67 games before his promotion down at Triple-A, so there’s some upside here if the playing time is there.

Shortstop

Nasim Nunez, Nationals (42%) 

Nunez almost certainly won’t keep his hot streak up, but he hasn’t cooled off yet either. He hit .333 in June, nearly double his .173 average in May, and while it was mostly a fluke – his expected average in June was .230, his best mark in a month this season but also still clearly a putrid mark – it seems reasonable enough to just hop on board until it falls apart. If nothing else, you’ll continue to get a ton of steals from him at a time when he isn’t actively dragging your team down otherwise. 

Deep league option: Anthony Volpes, Yankees (23%) – Volpe has remade himself again this season, focusing more on working the count and slapping line drives all over the field rather than trying to hit for power like he has in the past. It puts a pretty limited ceiling on his production, but he is getting on base and running a decent amount, putting together a near-30-steal pace since his return to the lineup. You won’t get much beyond steals, but in an OBP league, that could still be useful thanks to his strong walk rate so far.

Outfield

Esmerlyn Valdez, Pirates (57%) 

Here’s the key question with Valdez: How high can the strikeout rate get before the profile just collapses? He’s going to hit the ball hard and work his way deep into counts, so it’s just a question of whether he can avoid strike three often enough to be productive. His current 33% strikeout rate is probably right on the borderline, and may in fact even be a bit too high for him to really make this all work. But he’s been astoundingly locked in and the strikeout rate was actually trending in the right direction before Sunday’s four-strikeout showing. Skepticism is a reasonable response to Valdez’s play so far, but he’s been too good to ignore, so let’s see if he can strike the right balance. 

Dylan Crews, Nationals (51%) 

It isn’t obvious from the surface-level numbers, but we’re starting to see signs from Crews. He has kept the strikeout rate in check since his return from Triple-A while actually hitting the ball with the kind of authority we’ve never really seen from him in the majors – his 90.9 mph average exit velocity and .385 expected wOBA on contact are both the best marks of his career and the first time he’s ever been above-average in either category. None of that is a guarantee that Crews will be a viable starter in Fantasy, but he’s playing on a 20-20 pace so far, so at least in categories leagues he’s showing signs of it already. And better days could be coming. 

Jake McCarthy, Rockies (63%) 

For a lot of Rockies hitters, you only really want to use them at home, but that might not be the case for McCarthy. Sure, he’s significantly better at home, but he’s been perfectly playable on the road, too, hitting .292 with eight stolen bases in 31 starts for the season. He isn’t an especially impactful hitter outside of Coors overall, but the batting average, speed, and generally strong approach at the plate – just an 18.4% strikeout rate on the road – make him a worthwhile option in any five-outfielder or categories league. 

Lars Nootbaar, Cardinals (25%) 

The Cardinals play eight games in Week 16, so even if Nootbaar gets a day or two off, he’s likely to play a whole bunch this week. That makes him worth a look in all formats even before you get into his career-best .361 xwOBA, which is starting to make last season’s struggles look like an injury-related fluke. 

Samad Taylor, Twins (25%)

Look, the .481 BABIP is clearly a fluke, and I’m not sure Taylor has much to fall back on as a hitter when that inevitably regresses. He has a pretty good approach at the plate, but swings and misses too much for a guy with effectively zero power, so eventually he is going to be relegated to the Fantasy also-ran category. But he makes sense as a short-term hot-hand play with some stolen base potential, at least. 

Tommy Edman, Dodgers (40%) 

I don’t have a ton of faith in Edman in the medium to long term unless he gets back to running, something I don’t expect to see given his history of ankle injuries. So this is another one where you’re buying into a player who is currently hot and just hoping he can keep it up, with the added bonus of 2B eligibility to make it easier to fit Edman into your lineup to give you some cheap exposure to the Dodgers lineup. 

Relief Pitcher

Tyler Wells, Orioles (10%) 

When Ryan Helsley went on the IL with another elbow injury, I assumed the Orioles would go with Rico Garcia in that role like they did last time. But when Friday’s game came around, Garcia worked the sixth and seventh innings, while converted starter Tyler Wells got the ninth for his first save. And proving it wasn’t just a one-off thing, they turned to Wells for the save the very next day. That’s a pattern, so I think we can go ahead and say Wells seems like the guy to roster here in the ninth inning for the Orioles. 

Reynaldo Lopez, Braves (30%)

If you’re looking for another SPaRP and either Cantillo or Seymour are gone, give Lopez a look. He flopped in an earlier stint in the rotation to open the season but has rediscovered his lost velocity and looked excellent in his most recent start, striking out six and walking just one over five innings of work. I’ve never been a huge believer in Lopez’s, but he has been effective in the past and is worth an add in points leagues, at least. 

Caleb Kilian, Giants (28%) 

The Giants have been looking for an answer in the back end of the bullpen and they have settled on Kilian, who has the team’s past four saves and has been working exclusively in the ninth inning since the second week of June. I’m not convinced Kilian is a great pitcher – his 4.14 ERA is backed up by similarly iffy peripherals, thanks to poor command and some homer issues – but the role matters more here if you’re just looking to make up ground on saves.