Sports
The 3 Teams to Monitor if J.J. McCarthy Gets Put Onto Trade Market
J.J. McCarthy isn’t on the trade market. Unless something unusual happens, that’ll remain the case for the remainder of 2026 and into 2027.
Afterwards, all bets are off.
The Vikings intend to have a stuffed-full quarterback room, but that doesn’t mean teams won’t be calling. After all, McCarthy has been a disappointment in Minnesota and the GM that pulled off the pick is gone. Connecting the dots isn’t difficult. Which teams are realistic fits for Mr. McCarthy? Consider a trio that look like reasonable bets to have some degree of interest.
J.J. McCarthy and The Trade Market
Trade Destination No. 1 — San Francisco 49ers
Kyle Shanahan would figure it out. He’s a terrific coach, somebody who has proven far more than Kevin O’Connell.
Going to San Francisco would mean being the QB3 for the upcoming season behind Brock Purdy and Mac Jones. Soaking up wisdom from more accomplished veterans away from the spotlight would be a nice outcome. Next year, Jones likely lands somewhere to battle for a top job as McCarthy can then burn off the final season of his rookie deal as the main backup.
Working under Shanahan would do wonders for the kid. San Francisco knows how to run.
Trade Destination No. 2 — New York Jets
An odd reality is that the Jets and Vikings have commonly coveted the same passers. If memory serves, New York opted to trade for Geno Smith due to concerns about Minnesota scooping him up. Likewise, there was some chatter about Carson Wentz being a possible depth option for the Jets prior to returning to the Vikings.
Journeying back in time would mean uplifting the Brett Favre situation. Aaron Rodgers went to the Jets but wanted the Vikings (like Favre). Kirk Cousins opted for Minnesota in the 2018 free agency period with the Jets being the other suitor (he’s now getting in fights in Sin City). Sam Darnold was a Jets draft pick who would do well for the Vikings.
Could J.J. McCarthy be the next quarterback connection?
Trade Destination No. 3 — The Los Angeles Chargers
The Vikings were very close to hiring Jim Harbaugh. Instead, the outspoken coach went back to the NCAA level and won a National Championship with J.J. McCarthy
A reunion does make sense.
Nobody is going to displace Justin Herbert as the QB1 in Tinseltown. McCarthy could go to LA to learn and grow. Get his body right, continue fixing his mechanics, and let Harbaugh put confidence back into him. In a couple of seasons, go to free agency as a talented mid-20s QB who can hopefully get his career going again. Maybe he could mirror what Malik Willis did with Green Bay.
J.J. McCarthy is 23 and coming off some up-and-down work at training camp.
Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.
Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Larry Fitzgerald and his son Devin Fitzgerald unveil his bust during the Class of 2026 enshrinement ceremony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 8, 2026. One day after being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, longtime Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald paid for a full-page ad in the Arizona Republic to thank everyone who made a Minnesota native feel welcome in the state he calls home.
After being selected by the Cardinals with the third overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, Fitzgerald spent all 17 years of his NFL career in Arizona. He caught 1,432 passes for 17,492 yards and 121 touchdowns while earning 11 trips to the Pro Bowl.
Fitzgerald ranks second to Jerry Rice on the NFL’s all-time lists for receptions and receiving yards. He stands sixth in touchdown catches, trailing Rice, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Chris Carter and Marvin Harrison.
Here’s the message Fitzgerald penned for his Arizona Republic ad:
People have asked me countless times what it felt like to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The truth is, it was one of the greatest honors of my life.
But this really isn’t a Hall of Fame story.
It’s a thank-you letter.
I arrived in Arizona as a 20-year-old kid who didn’t know a single person. I had no idea this desert would become the place that would shape me into the man I am today.
The day I landed was the same day the nation learned Pat Tillman had lost his life. Pat is one of America’s great heroes.
I stepped off the plane into a state where its people were carrying real grief, and something inside me grew quiet. I started paying attention.
You learn quickly what loyalty looks like when it isn’t just a word.
For the next 17 seasons, I quietly measured myself against the standard Pat Tillman set. I’m still not sure I ever lived up to it.
Somewhere along the way, Arizona stopped being the place where I lived and became the place I was from.
It happened through a thousand ordinary moments until one day, I realized this was simply home. Not because I was a Hall of Famer. Not because I was a wide receiver. Just because the people of this state allowed me to be Larry.
You don’t fall in love with a place because of its stadiums. You fall in love on quiet mornings hiking Camelback Mountain.
On crisp fall afternoons walking a golf course. During summers in Flagstaff and standing among the red rocks of Sedona that remind you just how small you are in the best possible way.
When I stopped playing football, I walked away quietly. I’m known for my Irish goodbyes. Arizona even gave me that. Yet you kept showing up for me anyway, especially through the work of my foundation. Your support was never conditional. You never asked me to be anything other than myself, and somehow that was always enough.
Arizona gave a kid from Minneapolis something he didn’t even know he was searching for.
Belonging. And that sense of belonging changed me.
After a while, you weren’t cheering for a wide receiver anymore, you were cheering for one of your own.
So this isn’t really a story about 17 years in a Cardinals uniform or a bronze bust in Canton.
It’s the story of a young man who was welcomed by a state that owed him nothing and gave him everything. Thank you, Arizona.
Thank you for letting a kid from somewhere else become one of your own.
Thank you for embracing not just the player, but the man.
You gave me far more than a career. You gave me friendships that will last a lifetime. You gave me purpose beyond football. You gave me a place where my children will always know they belong.
Most of all, you gave me a home.
With love and gratitude,
(signed) Larry Fitzgerald
HOF 26
–Field Level Media
Jul 29, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants pitcher starting Logan Webb (62) delivers a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers during the sixth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images Two hot pitchers who have gotten the script on how to handle Sunday afternoon’s opponent get an opportunity to show off what they’ve absorbed when Troy Melton and the Detroit Tigers close out a road interleague series against Logan Webb and the San Francisco Giants.
The teams have split the first two decisions in the three-game set, each receiving a strong pitching performance from a surprising source.
The Giants opened the series with uncertainty as to who would fill traded Robbie Ray’s spot in the starting rotation, electing to go the opener route Friday night. Adrian Houser made manager Tony Vitello’s strategy look brilliant with five innings of one-run relief in a 5-2 win.
The Tigers countered by scheduling Jackson Jobe, who hadn’t pitched a big-league game in more than 14 months, in Saturday’s rematch, and he responded with five one-hit innings in an 8-0 victory. Jobe had been recovering from Tommy John surgery.
That sets the stage for an expected pitchers’ duel between Melton (7-1, 1.58 ERA), who hasn’t lost since June 25, and Webb (7-7, 3.74), who is unbeaten in his last four starts.
Melton will be making his second start on Detroit’s nine-game trip, hoping to duplicate the effort that helped produce an 8-0 win at Seattle on Tuesday. It was his second consecutive seven-inning, three-hit shutout outing.
As the Tigers continue a generally positive run following trades that saw them lose top pitchers Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize, the right-hander wants to make it clear it won’t be a superhuman effort from one man that will keep the club in the American League playoff race.
“I think we definitely have the people here to be able to make a run,” Melton told reporters during the Western swing. “I don’t think anybody in this room would ever question that. Losing two good players (stinks), but we have some players here to fill some shoes.” The 25-year-old California native has never faced the Giants in his two-year, major-league career.
The Giants also saw two top pitchers – Ray and Tyler Mahle – dealt at this week’s trade deadline. Webb helped ease the pain in his last start, a 5-1 win at Texas that came just hours after the Ray trade to the San Diego Padres was announced.
The right-hander threw six innings of shutout ball against the Rangers, striking out eight.
Vitello insisted to reporters after Monday’s win that the performance by Webb was an all-timer given the circumstances. “What he did today is incredible,” the manager gushed. “The only thing that’d be worse is if he was dealing with something off the field, family-wise. But as far as business-wise, he’s the first one here today. I walked by him at different times, either on the phone or grabbing people, it was pure chaos around him. But it was anything but on the field.”
Webb has pitched well against the Tigers in his career, but with little to show for it. In three starts, he’s struck out 24 in 17 2/3 innings, allowing just four earned runs, but has nothing more than a 1-2 record despite a 2.04 ERA.
– Field Level Media
Aug 8, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill (3) hits an RBI single during the first inning against the Houston Astros at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images For San Diego Padres fans, Jackson Merrill at-bats prior to the All-Star break took on a sad sameness. Opposing pitchers would get ahead in the count, then get him to chase a high fastball or an off-speed pitch in the dirt for another strikeout.
Since the All-Star break, Merrill has looked like the franchise player everyone expects him to be. His third-inning homer on Saturday, his seventh since the break, and two RBIs helped San Diego gain ground in the National League wild-card race with a 3-2 win over the visiting Houston Astros.
Merrill will try to keep his hot streak going on Sunday night when the teams finish their three-game weekend series in San Diego. The Astros took a 6-3 win in the opener.
When the Padres took four days off for the All-Star break, Merrill’s average sat at a miserable .219, far below the .292 he hit as a rookie and .264 during an injury-plagued 2025. It’s now at .242, a gain of 23 points in 22 games.
What’s different?
“Playing looser and freer,” manager Craig Stammen said of Merrill. “Something clicked in Kansas City and since then, he’s been on fire. It shows you how mentally tough he is. He’s one of those players you build a team around.”
Something to be sajd about Merrill is that when he hits the ball hard to the opposite field, he’s about to go on a tear. In a 19-2 rout of Kansas City on July 19, he drilled a pair of home runs — 405 and 419 feet. Balls have flown a long way and at a high velocity since then.
Merrill’s homer helped San Diego move within a game of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Philadelphia Phillies for the final NL wild-card spot, as both lost at home in extra innings. The Padres had not named a starter for the series finale as of Sunday morning, although Randy Vasquez (7-6, 4.19 ERA) is expected to start or serve as a bulk reliever. He’s coming off a 9-4 win at Arizona on Tuesday night that saw him fire six shutout innings, allowing just two hits and a walk.
Vasquez has made just one career appearance against the Astros, a two-inning stint in 2023 when he allowed one hit in relief.
Houston is expected to start Cristian Javier (1-2, 6.59), who returned to the rotation Monday night in a 3-1 loss to Toronto. He yielded seven hits and three runs in six innings, walking none and striking out two. Javier has no record in three career outings (one start) against the Padres with a 9.00 ERA. He has allowed four home runs in nine innings.
Astros manager Joe Espada said that the rotation, which has been a source of concern most of the year, is by no means written in ink as they try to hold on in the American League West. “Looking at the performance, matchups, just kind of go day-by-day,” he said. “That’s how we’re going to kind of move forward here for the next couple of weeks.”
Javier, who went 11-9 with a 2.54 ERA in 2022 when Houston won the World Series, has pitched only 24 games since 2023 due to injury. He replaced ineffective rookie Tatsuya Imai, who in 16 games is 6-4 but owns a 5.55 ERA, in the rotation.
The Astros go into the series finale with a half-game lead on Texas in the American League West after their loss and the Rangers’ 5-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.
–Field Level Media
Shaun Maloney deputised for the absent Martin O’Neill in Celtic’s William Hill Premiership clash with Kilmarnock as the 74-year-old continues to recover from a hospital procedure.
But O’Neill visited the players at their team hotel ahead of the Rugby Park encounter and is improving after his health issue.
Celtic announced earlier this week that the former Republic of Ireland manager had undergone a “small procedure” in hospital on Wednesday before being discharged the following day.
Assistant manager Maloney told Sky Sports ahead of the game: “He is doing better again. He came to the team hotel and spoke to the players but he just needs an extra few days. But he’s good. He is definitely improving.”
Maloney said the players would miss their manager’s influence in the dressing room, but that did not impact their performance as new signing Kasper Hogh his a first-half hat-trick in a 5-1 win.
After the match, Maloney spoke more about O’Neill’s pre-match visit, saying: “He was at the team hotel and took the team meeting, speaking to the players. Then he told the staff to get on with it.
“I’ve never experienced anything like what’s happened this week. The staff and the senior guys have been very good. I’m really pleased for the boss to get the win.
“The quicker we get him back the better. We’ll see how it goes day to day. He was much better, he was in good form when he spoke to the group.
“You know what he’s like, his only instruction was to go and win. We had a meeting on Saturday night and it was normal, where we went through his team selection, he picks what he thinks and he asks the staff.
“It was a boost for all of us to see him. There is a real good bond between the boss and the players. I’m glad he spoke to them before we left, it had a real positive impact.
“It will be up to him when he feels good enough – and if the doctors are happy then he’ll just come back in.”
Basant Kumar Meghwal became the first Indian to win a high jump medal at the World Athletics U20 Championships, while Shahnavaz Khan added a bronze in the long jump as India secured two medals on a memorable day here.
The 19-year-old Meghwal from Anupgarh, a border town in Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar district, cleared a personal-best of 2.21m to win silver in the men’s high jump.
Representing the Indian Navy, he produced the landmark performance on the fourth and penultimate day of the championships, here on Saturday.
Algeria’s Younes Ayachi won the gold, while Great Britain’s Otis Poole took the bronze. All the three medallists could only clear 2.21m but failed all their three attempts to sail over 2.24m.
The positions were thus decided on countback based on the number of attempts to clear the previous height. Ayachi cleared 2.21m in his first jump, while Meghwal and Poole did the same in their second and third attempts respectively.
Meghwal’s silver also made him the first Indian to win a medal in the high jump at the World U20 Championships.
Coached by former Indian women’s high jump national record holder Sahana Kumari, Meghwal has made a remarkable 10cm improvement this season, raising his personal best from 2.11m to 2.21m.
India’s medal tally then rose to three at the championships after Shahnavaz clinched bronze in the men’s long jump with a best effort of 7.84m.
The 18-year-old produced his best jump in his third attempt, with his series reading 7.67m, 7.72m, 7.84m, 7.52m, 7.83m and 5.37m.
R.C. Jithin Arjunan was the other Indian in the final, finishing eighth with a best jump of 7.59m that he achieved in his first and fourth attempts.
Italy’s Daniele Inzoli won the gold medal with a jump of 7.97m, while Australia’s Mason McGroder took silver with a personal best of 7.96m.
India’s medal campaign at the championships had begun on Friday when Ashish Yadav won silver in the men’s javelin throw.
Yadav became only the second Indian after Neeraj Chopra to win a silver medal in the javelin at the World U20 Championships. Chopra congratulated Yadav after his achievement, calling it “just the start” and expressing his pride in the young thrower.
Team India had the ideal preparation under its belt ahead of the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, with the Shubman Gill-led side defeating Sri Lanka Cricket XI by six wickets in a three-day warm-up game on Sunday. Despite injury concerns, with pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and Sai Sudharsan both out of the Test series, India will now head into the Galle Test with considerable confidence. Let’s take a look at Team India’s report card from the three-day warm-up game:
Shubman Gill – 7/10, Good
Shubman Gill threw up a big surprise after he missed the first two days of action due to a finger injury sustained during training. The Indian skipper played a crucial role in the 207-run chase. Gill’s form with the bat will be crucial for the team in the remaining two matches.
Yashasvi Jaiswal – 6/10, Above Average
After a duck in the first innings, Jaiswal put on a 105-run stand in the chase with skipper Gill. He scored 61 off 46 balls, with nine fours and two sixes, before being retired out.
Devdutt Padikkal – 10/10, Perfect
Padikkal made the most of Sai Sudharsan’s absence, smashing a breathtaking 142 in the first innings. The pitch had become much easier to bat on, and Padikkal took full advantage, hitting 18 fours to seal the No. 3 spot for the Galle Test.
Rishabh Pant – 3/10, Poor
The wicketkeeper somehow managed to carry forward his poor IPL season in Colombo, falling cheaply in the first innings. While he did score 28 in the second innings, he threw away his wicket once again with India pushing towards the target. Pant has clearly lost his mojo, and it is time he pulled up his socks.
KL Rahul – 6/10, Above Average
KL Rahul showed grit, determination and class to score a face-saving 40 in the first innings. However, he did not get the chance to bat in the second innings as the management decided to give everyone a chance before the real Test. His assured presence with the bat makes him a must-have in the line-up.
Ravindra Jadeja – 9/10, Excellent
One of the senior statesmen of this side, Jadeja turned out to be a complete package on his return, having been dropped for the one-off Test against Afghanistan. His performance is a big positive for the team at a time when some batters are going through a lean patch. He hit a composed 63 in the first innings before adding another 22 in the second. In addition, he bagged four wickets across the two innings.
Dhruv Jurel – 2/10, Very Poor
Dhruv Jurel’s form has been poor, his technique has come under scrutiny, and he has struggled to score runs consistently. For now, his place in the playing XI appears safe, but he may consider himself fortunate if he continues to hold on to it for long, especially with the likes of Ishan Kishan waiting in the wings.
Manav Suthar – 6/10, Above Average
The all-rounder had a game of two halves, thriving with both bat and ball in the first innings but failing to replicate that form in the second. He took two wickets and scored a crucial 41 in the first innings. However, he misfired in both departments in the second innings.
Saransh Jain – 3/10, Poor
Saransh misfired with the ball and failed to pick up a single wicket. The only positive for him was his gritty batting in the first innings, where he scored 22 before being retired out. His bowling ability is what could help him keep his place in the playing XI for the first Test in Galle.
Mohammed Siraj – 7/10, Good
Siraj came in clutch, smashing 32 off just 15 balls, including three successive sixes, to bring the game to an emphatic end. The leader of India’s pace attack in Sri Lanka, however, struggled with the ball, picking up just one wicket across the two innings.
Gurnoor Brar – 6/10, Above Average
Despite being a bit expensive with the ball, Gurnoor showcased glimpses of his potential, often troubling the Sri Lankan batters with his pace and bounce on a relatively slow track. He picked up three wickets.
Kuldeep Yadav – 6/10, Above Average
Kuldeep once again proved why he is considered a match-winner. He was India’s best bowler in the first innings but was unlucky to be taken for a few boundaries. He did not bowl in the second innings, but his form will be crucial for India in the upcoming series.
Prasidh Krishna – 3/10, Poor
Apart from his yorker to get rid of Pasindu Sooriyabandara in the first innings, Prasidh Krishna was pretty much non-existent in the bowling department. His form could be a concern for the team heading into the Galle Test.
Note: Auqib Nabi bowled just five overs, which was not enough to fairly assess his performance.
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Fantasy football rankings 2026: Sleepers from model that nailed De’Von Achane’s standout season
Fantasy football drafts 2026 are going on the clock as the second weekend of August marks one of the first big draft weekends. Hitting on a few 2026 Fantasy football sleepers is a must, no matter what type of league you’re in, and that means finding those diamonds in the rough that others bypass with Fantasy football picks. It also means taking chances on injury-prone players with the hope that they’ll bounce back as Fantasy football 2026 sleepers.
Dak Prescott, Christian McCaffrey and Chris Olave all shook off the injury bug last year to come up huge for those who took chances on them. Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow and Malik Nabers could have similar bounce backs from injury-plagued seasons this year and be steals as picks, relative to their 2026 Fantasy football ADPs. Before finalizing your 2026 Fantasy football draft strategy, be sure to check out the 2026 Fantasy football rankings and cheat sheets from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
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Last year, the model accurately predicted that Dolphins running back De’Von Achane would comfortably outperform his ADP (RB12). The result: Achane produced 1,838 scrimmage yards — sixth most in the NFL — to go along with 12 touchdowns. SportsLine’s model slotted Achane as the RB6, and that’s precisely what he finished as, ranking sixth among RBs in Fantasy points in CBS Sports PPR leagues.
The same model has a proven track record providing Fantasy football tips, identifying A.J. Brown as a sleeper in 2020, nailing Jonathan Taylor’s monstrous season in 2021, correctly predicting C.J. Stroud would take a step back in 2024 and calling Daniel Jones’ breakout season in 2025. Additionally, it’s called past Fantasy football sleepers like Derrick Henry in 2019, Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara in 2018, and Davante Adams in 2017. Anybody who banked on players like those made a run at their league title.
Now, SportsLine has simulated the entire NFL season 10,000 times and released its latest Fantasy football rankings 2026, along with plenty of sleepers, breakouts and busts. Head to SportsLine now to see them.
Top 2026 Fantasy football sleepers
One of the 2026 Fantasy football sleepers the model is predicting: New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely, who followed coach John Harbaugh from the Ravens to the Giants this offseason. Likely, who has an ADP of 97 this year, showed big-play capability in Baltimore, but always battled Mark Andrews for targets.
Now the clear-cut No. 1 tight end, Likely has reportedly been a favorite target of quarterback Jaxson Dart, especially with Malik Nabers (knee) limited in camp. SportsLine’s model has Likely as TE9 in its Fantasy football rankings, ahead of players such as Sam LaPorta and George Kittle, both of whom are being picked nearly two rounds earlier.
Another sleeper that SportsLine’s Fantasy football rankings 2026 have identified: Eagles wideout DeVonta Smith, who has an ADP of No. 38. Playing in a bottom-10 passing offense, Smith still produced a 1,000-yard season in 2025. Philly then replaced its offensive coordinator and sent A.J. Brown to New England, as Smith will now assume the top wideout role with the Eagles, as well as the increase in targets that comes with it.
A similar scenario played out in Seattle last season, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba ascending to the WR1 role once DK Metcalf departed, and ‘JSN’ won the OPOY award. Given the renewed focus the Eagles will put on the passing game, plus Smith having less competition for targets, the model sees him poised for a career season. He’s projected to be a top-15 Fantasy wideout this season, despite his ADP putting him outside the top 25 at his position. See which other Fantasy football sleepers 2026 to pick here.
How to find proven 2026 Fantasy football rankings
SportsLine is also extremely high on a veteran wide receiver to surprise with his production. The model says this wideout is a shocking top-10 option ahead of stars like CeeDee Lamb and A.J. Brown. You can only see who it is, and the 2026 Fantasy football rankings for every player, at SportsLine.
So which 2026 Fantasy Football sleepers should you target, and which wide receiver shocks the NFL with a top-10 performance? Visit SportsLine now to get 2026 Fantasy Football cheat sheets for every single position, all from the model that called De’Von Achane’s huge season, and find out.
2026 Fantasy football ADP
(PPR, via CBS)
Get Fantasy football cheat sheets at SportsLine.
1. Jahmyr Gibbs (1.48)
2. Bijan Robinson (1.87)
3. Ja’Marr Chase (4.04)
4. Puka Nacua (4.59)
5. Jonathan Taylor (5.54)
6. Jaxon Smith-Njigba (6.35)
7. Christian McCaffrey (6.72)
8. Amon-Ra St. Brown (8.76)
9. De’Von Achane (11.15)
10. James Cook (12.09)
Soon enough, the Minnesota Vikings will be playing real football. Soon enough, fantasy football is going to return. Contained below is a humble attempt at a marriage between those two things.
Football, at least in theory, should be fun. The Vikings appear to enjoy twisting the knife, refusing to find any form of meaningful success. May these team name suggestions function as a sweet balm to soothe any football wounds that may have accumulated over the years.
12 Minnesota Vikings Fantasy Team Names
Air Jordan — A touch drab and bland at this stage. One can only assume fantasy leagues have seen some variation of this name used a million times (give or take). Drafting Jordan Addison is likely to be a wise decision.
Do You Want Fries with That? — Will Fries plays right guard. A right guard generally has little to do with fantasy. Make your own decision.
Flores’ Fiends — Opting for the Minnesota Vikings defense doesn’t appear like a bad option. Sacks should be a given. What happens if the secondary bounces back with more interceptions? Plus, leagues often toss special teams into defense, so a return touchdown (or two) can really help.
For Whom the Bell Tolls — Somebody out there is a massive fan of Ernest Hemingway and Vikings rookie receiver Dillon Bell. If that’s you, then go ahead and roll with this name.
He Came, He Darrisaw, He Conquered — Again, an offensive lineman. Still, not too bad, right?
Hock, Stock, and 2 Smoking Touchdowns — T.J. Hockenson has never been a touchdown assassin in his career. Maybe playing in a contract year will help.
Mad Max — Truth be told, I don’t know why you would have either of Max Bredeson or Max Brosmer on your team. Of the two, Mr. Bredeson appears to be the option to roll with if your league has a fullback slot.
Natural Born Kylers — Most think Kyler Murray is locked into being the QB1. Anyhow, enjoy the movie pun.
Oliver Twist — Josh Oliver isn’t super valuable in fantasy. Instead, he’s built for real life. Rolling with Minnesota’s TE2 means hoping for a touchdown.
The Price is Right — Myles Price boasts a pile of potential. Soon, the returner is going to put points on the board. Whether he can do so on offense is what remains to be seen.
The Stone Masons — A tip of the cap to The Simpsons (Stonecutters on there, I think). Mason is going to get tasked with carrying the rock. He’s supposed to be in excellent shape.
Will the Thrill — Kicker is a valid fantasy position. Mr. Will Reichard is an assassin out there, meaning he should be the first kicker taken.
Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.
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Shohei Ohtani resumes throwing after 2-week shutdown, hopes to progress enough to pitch before regular season ends
With Shohei Ohtani, even playing catch draws attention. However, Ohtani throwing at all right now is worth noting.
After a two-week break from throwing the ball, Ohtani began a progression toward his return to pitching on Saturday by playing catch before the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 2-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday.
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The session began with throwing plyometrics before advancing to throwing catch on the field, according to MLB.com’s Sonja Chen. Eventually, Ohtani progressed to throwing 90 feet, something he hoped to do for the first time since being shut down and taken out of the Dodgers’ starting rotation indefinitely due to continued soreness and inflammation in his left knee.
He also developed an issue in his left biceps following his last bullpen throwing session on July 22.
“It’s getting pretty good day by day,” Ohtani told reporters on Wednesday through interpreter Will Ireton. “It’s hard to tell at this point what the schedule is going to look like.”
“Rather than rush the progression of this, I would rather make sure we’re headed in the right direction,” he added. “But making sure we’re taking the right steps.”
Ohtani hasn’t pitched in a game since July 3 when he threw 6 innings, allowing 3 runs and 6 hits with 9 strikeouts in a 4-3 win over the San Diego Padres. He threw 110 pitches in that appearance.
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In 14 starts this season, Ohtani has a 1.79 ERA with 95 strikeouts in 85 2/3 innings.
With the layoff, Ohtani still has quite a few steps before he’s considered ready to pitch again. After stretching out his catch distance on flat ground, he can begin throwing from a mound and can resume bullpen sessions. From there, the progression will be to face live batters, likely in simulated games.
If he does return during the regular season, it will likely be as an opener rather than full starter pitching multiple innings. That could also apply if Ohtani pitches in the postseason, according to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
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“Any inning, any innings we get from him are bonuses, given he’s a two-way player,” Roberts told reporters, via MLB.com. “So I think whether it’s one inning, two innings, three innings, I’m not too concerned about the timeline.”
Despite not pitching, Ohtani has continued to hit for the Dodgers. In Saturday’s game, he batted 1-for-5 and drove in a run. During July, Ohtani compiled a slash line of .273/.330/.557 with 6 home runs, 7 doubles and 17 RBI. Since the All-Star break, he has a .303/.372/.540 slash average.
That performance has Ohtani in line to win his fourth consecutive MVP award and fifth overall. He currently ranks second in MLB with a .398 on-base percentage and .945 OPS while the Dodgers are tied for the second-best record in MLB at 70-47.
4 Best Compression Boots: Therabody, Hyperice, and More (2026)
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