Not every great player is going to have a great Fantasy season.

A federal judge's injunction could grant a fifth year of eligibility to a massive amount of athletes, opening a chaotic transfer portal window in August

Here is how it played out drafting from the No. 12 spot in full PPR

Is nine fine? You might need some wine after seeing the tough early-round decisions ahead

Just days after acquiring center Walker Kessler in a sign-and-trade deal with the Utah Jazz, the Los Angeles Lakers traded Deandre Ayton, their starting 5 last season, to the Washington Wizards for two second-round draft picks and guard Jaden Hardy.While some understood the reasoning behind the trade, others felt it was ill-advised. To them, Ayton would've made an outstanding backup center behind Kessler, although Ayton has never averaged fewer than 27 minutes a game in eight NBA seasons and would've likely gotten no more than about 15 minutes a game on this new-look Lakers squad.Jovan Buha, who covers the team on his "Buha's Block" podcast, revealed during a recent episode an interesting reason why L.A. jettisoned Ayton, and according to him, it wasn't just to recoup a bit of the draft capital it gave up to get Kessler.My understanding with the Ayton situation is its not just that they traded him to replenish the cupboard. I mean, they needed to save some money, and they got some assets back. So I think those were the two driving forces of that move. Remember, they needed to save some money to get under the cap to execute several of their moves. However, it wasnt just that.There was also an element of Ayton and Luka [Doncic] sharing an agent, and they wanted to put Ayton in a position where he could continue to play and rehab his value. Hes not going to be playing a ton. Hes not going to be starting, but maybe AD (Anthony Davis) gets traded.Maybe AD gets injured, and now suddenly hes in a more prominent role. So I think there are multiple wrinkles with the Kuminga situation. There are multiple wrinkles with the Ayton situation.Davis, the former Lakers superstar big man, was sent to Washington by the Dallas Mavericks midway through last season. There have been rumors that he could get traded, but it doesn't appear that Washington wants to give him up.Ayton averaged 12.5 points, 8.3 shot attempts and eight rebounds a game last season, all of which were career lows. He had to adjust to playing a diminished role offensively as L.A.'s fourth option, and keeping him as a backup would've resulted in a chance that he would've become a malcontent.He decided to exercise the player option on his contract for the 2026-27 campaign last month. Ayton signed a two-year, $16.6 million deal with the Lakers last summer after his previous contract was bought out by the Portland Trail Blazers.This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers insider reveals real reason Deandre Ayton was traded

LOS ANGELES (AP) Dodgers reliever Brock Stewart is headed to the 15-day injured list with right shoulder discomfort for the third time this season.Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts on Friday called the move proactive" and downplayed the severity. Stewart is scheduled to have imaging on Saturday.The Dodgers selected the contract of left-hander Cole Irvin from Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he was 9-6 with a 3.58 ERA in 20 starts this season. He was expected to pitch as part of a bullpen game against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night. It would be Irvin's first appearance in a major league game since 2024. Stewart, a right-hander, has a 2.45 ERA and one save in 14 games this season.To make room on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Chayce McDermott was designated for assignment.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

This article originally appeared on PGHBaseballNOW.com.For the Pirates, Friday nights game at Great American Ballpark was a nightmare.Starter Paul Skenes struggled, the bullpen blew its 20th save, a costly miscue in the eighth gave the Reds the lead, and Ryan OHearn had to be carried off the field in the ninth inning of an 8-7 loss to the Reds. Their losing streak is now at four games.Scoring PlaysTop 1st, 2-0 PIT:The Pirates (55-56) took advantage of a couple defensive miscues and scored a pair of runs on a Nick Gonzales two-out single up the middle off Hunter Greene with the bases loaded.Bottom 1st, 2-2:Paul Skenes labored through a 36-pitch inning and the Reds (52-57) quickly struck back to tie the game. Tyler Stephenson ripped an RBI double down the left field line and Nathaniel Lowe plated a run with a base hit to right.Top 2nd, 3-2 PIT:Jake Mangum lined a solo home run that just cleared the right field wall and stayed inside the foul pole. Mangums 336-foot homer was his third of the season.Bottom 3rd, 3-3:JJ Bleday tied the game with a solo home run to right field.Bottom 4th, 5-3 CIN:The Reds took their first lead of the game when Sal Stewart hit a two-run home run to center field following an Elly De La Cruz triple.Top 5th, 5-4 CIN:Esmerlyn Valdez brought the Pirates back within one with a sacrifice fly to right. Brandon Lowe, who doubled to open the inning, scored after advancing to third base.Top 8th, 7-5 PIT:The Pirates rallied for three runs, all with two outs, to take the lead. Gonzales and Endy Rodrguez had one-out singles off Caleb Ferguson. The Reds brought in Pierce Johnson, who struck out pinch-hitter Jared Triolo before Henry Davis, Mangum and Lowe each delivered an RBI single.Bottom 8th, 8-7 CIN:Stewart singled home a pair off Wilber Dotel (1-4) to tie the game. Mason Montgomery entered and looked to have the final out, but the Reds took the lead when Gonzales fielded a ball at third with two outs and runners on the corners. But Gonzales threw to second base, where Lowe was charged with an error after the ball ticked off his glove. Stewart scored from third. Click here to read more from PGHBaseballNOW.com.Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW

From fall through winter, spring into summer, the Mystery of Tory Horton endured.What was the unspecified shin injury that ended Hortons 2025 rookie season after his massive Seahawks splash of six touchdowns in his first NFL games? Why did the team win the Super Bowl in February without him?Coach Mike Macdonald remained vague on why the teams speedy wide receiver and kick returner was out for the rest of last season. The coach remained nonspecific about Horton as he missed spring organized team activities. Then Horton missed Seattles minicamp in June.He appeared to be a candidate to join star safety Nick Emmanwori on the physically-unable-to-perform list to begin training camp.Then, this first week of training camp: Viola!Hortons back, zooming across the practices fields of the Virginia Mason Athletic Center. Hes catching punts. Hes running deep pass routes on sprints stretching the Seahawks defense. Hes catching passes from quarterbacks Sam Darnold and Drew Lock.Friday, Horton was back with cornerback Noah Igbinoghene in special-teams coach Jay Harbaughs two-deep alignment of kickoff returners.What happened to Horton?It was weird, he said Friday following the sixth practice of training camp, the fifth one he fully participated in. About week three (of the 2025 season), I started feeling my shin, and worked through it through a couple games.In week three Horton had three catches of Sam Darnolds passes for 32 yards and a touchdown. He also returned a punt untouched 95 yards for a touchdown to set a team record plus spark the Seahawks runaway first half and 44-13 rout of the New Orleans Saints Sept 21.It was the first of his two two-score games while playing with what turned out to be a major shin injury. His second one was his two-touchdown extravaganza to lead Seattles blowout win at Washington on a Sunday night, Nov. 2. That was in week eight.That remains the last game hes played.Got to week nine, got it checked up and found out there was a crack (in his shin), Horton said Friday. Ended up getting surgery on it. And that was that. Something that you work through until you cant.Its not something that I wish happened, but it did and we got the issue solved. And the leg isnt going anywhere now.I feel good.The right leg isnt going anywhere because Horton now has two rods surgically implanted in it. The other one was from the major right knee and leg injury he got in the fall of 2024. That ended his college career at Colorado State.Seattle drafted him the following spring, in the fifth round. Most NFL scouts believe Horton would have gone much earlier in the 2025 draft if not for that injury and surgery.Wait. Go back: Horton played five games with a crack in his shin last rookie season? And scored four touchdowns in those five games while compromised?Yeah. It didnt feel as bad as it got until after the Washington game, he said. Those couple weeks before, building up, there was always a little something there that I felt and over the weeks it got worse. I finally took the time to get it checked out and thats when we found out.Tory Hortons and Rashid Shaheeds speedHorton said he felt during his absence last season he let the team down.Fortunately for the Seahawks, general manager John Schneider finally pried another speedy wide receiver and kick returner from the Saints, one hed been pursuing for months and perhaps a year. The same week the Seahawks learned Horton had a cracked shin, Schneider traded to get Rashid Shaheed from New Orleans.I felt like I let the team down a bit, not being able to go back out there as much as I wanted, Horton said. There were times I still tried to go out there and run some routes and the trainers had to tell me to take it easy.Dealing with a bone thing, you have to let that heal. Theres no playing through that once you get to a certain point. I did the most I could and made it to however far I got...I feel like we made the smart move of holding out and seeing if it heals on its own, and the time got away from us.He had the surgery in February, after he was part of the Seahawks Super Bowl victory parade through downtown Seattle.Now Horton is back. Almost all the way back.He practiced the first two days of training camp last weekend, doing position drills but not any 11-on-11 scrimmaging. The teams medical and training staff had him take the Monday practice off.Then Tuesday, Horton was full go, including in 11-on-11 scrimmaging. After a players day off from practice Wednesday, Horton again practiced and scrimmaged fully in the first two padded practices of camp Thursday and Friday.Friday, he zoomed across and up the field to catch passes from Darnold, running away from defensive backs.After a pacing day off Monday, Tory Horton full go for the third consecutive practice in #Seahawks training camp. @thenewstribunepic.twitter.com/WF9a4UMDnr Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) July 31, 2026He is showing the speed coach Mike Macdonald and new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury are excited and curious to unleash during the regular season: Horton and Shaheed both in the same formations challenging the deep coverage of defenses.In theory, Horton and Shaheed running deep on the same play should open the rest of the field for NFL offensive player of the year Jaxon Smith-Njigba, two-time Super Bowl champion Cooper Kupp and emerging tight-end star AJ Barner underneath them.For now, Macdonald is preaching some caution about Hortons return from the injury that remained mysterious for so long.Were managing him right now, Macdonald said.Think of it as a ramp. Give them more exposure until their bodys ready to go 100%. Thats the plan right now.But everythings going to plan.

Anaheim (Calif.)ServiteathleteBenjamin Harris has committed to Oregon State and broke down why he chose the Beavers. Harris took his official visit to Corvallis back on June 19, the final big trip weekend of the month. Going in to the visit, we thought the Beavers were in a good spot and they were able to seal the deal earlier this week.I really connected well with the coaching staff, Harris said. I really appreciated the honesty from the staff and how everyone treated not just me but my family when I visited.They have a specific plan in place for me in the offense and that was another big plus as well. They dont see me at a specific position but want to move me all around and use me a weapon as a running back and receiver and I love that fit.Oregon State running back Lee Marks and receiver coach James Finley were the lead recruiters with Harris. Former Beaver great James Rodgers was the player the staff compared to Harris in terms of how they would like to use him.Yeh I love that fit, Harris said. I can play running back, receiver, the slot, do a little of everything. I was tempted to commit on my visit but wanted to wait and make sure.I feel great about it now and Im excited about my decision. It feels great to have it locked in before my senior season. Now I can just go out and focus on my senior year and school and not have to stress about recruiting or where Ill be playing in college.Harris had a busy spring tearing up the track and put up some historical numbers along with his Friar teammates. Servite won their second straight CA State Championship and broke the state record for most points ever scored and Harris was a huge part of that.He finished 1st in the 100m with a personal best 10.14 time, placed 5th in the 200m with a time of 20.84 and anchored the schools 4X100m relay that finished with a time of 39.73, the 2nd fastest time in state history.Hes currently rated a high three-star with an 87 Rating and a big senior season will definitely boost him up our board. Hes a talented athlete with more than just game breaking speed. Harris has a strong frame with room to add good weight and has the all around skill set to develop in to a difference maker at the next level.

RENTON, WASHINGTON - JULY 25: Leonard Williams #99 of the Seattle Seahawks reacts before practice at Virginia Mason Athletic Center on July 25, 2026 in Renton, Washington. (Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesThe Seattle Seahawks finished up their sixth training camp practice on a beautiful Friday afternoon at team headquarters in Renton. For the 12s, this was their first opportunity to watch the Seahawks practice in pads, and as is customary when the pads are put on and the physicality and intensity ramps up, things got a little heated during practice. Nothing to worry about when its something that happens across NFL training camps all the time on an annual basis.Lets get to the Day 6 recap!Seahawks training camp news and notesIt got testy, and Leonard Williams was involved in the chippinessYoure not going to get any video from beat reporters or fans due to team rules, so if youre absolutely hankering to see a training camp skirmish then you might just have to wait for Hard Knocks. Either way, Leonard Williams took down A.J. Barner on a catch down the field and Barner took exception, while there was a little incident between Connor OToole and Bryce Cabeldue. #Seahawks end 6th training-camp practice: Two fights. Derick Hall jumped Bryce Cabledue from behind after 11-on-11 play. LB Connor OToole got into a scrap with Cabledue.AJ Barner didnt like Leonard Williams tackling him 15 yds downfield after catch/play ended. Got in faces pic.twitter.com/VoraxdU8oS Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) July 31, 2026Its football, its physical, its emotional, and I would not hold a strong reaction to this whatsoever.An important Jalen Milroe developmentFriend of Field Gulls and Seahawksdraftblog.com guest contributor Curtis Allen was at training camp again on Friday. Second-year quarterback Jalen Milroe throwing to Elijah Arroyo immediately caught my attention, if only because that statement certainly wasnt a thing last year. Milroe was almost exclusively limited to third-team offensive duties, but based on Curtis observations, Milroe has mixed in some work higher up the depth chart.Milroe finds Arroyo deep and he uses his height and reach to grab itMilroe then takes snap rolls right and looks left and finds a RB all alone and gets it to him for a good gain#seahawks Curtis Allen (@curtis93969) July 31, 2026Hes mixing quite a bit todayId guess 60% twos, 20% threes and 20% ones Curtis Allen (@curtis93969) July 31, 2026If there is to be any semblance of a promising leap for Milroes development, it starts with actually getting valuable reps with 1s and 2s in training camp, not preseason. Once he gets those in camp, as long as its not a disaster, we may yet see a different preseason out of Milroe in a couple of weeks.Tory Horton confirms last years injury was a cracked tibiaThe second-year receiver had a promising start to his rookie season before a somewhat vague shin injury unexpectedly shut him down from November onward. Horton has since confirmed that he cracked his tibia, with the feeling in his shin stemming way back in Week 3 before it became too much of a problem following the Week 9 win over the Washington Commanders.It was weird. About Week 3, I started feeling my shin and worked through it through a couple games. Got to Week 9, got it checked up and found out there was a crack. Ended up getting surgery on it and that was that. Something that you work through until you cant. Its not something that I wish happened but it did and we got the issue solved and the leg isnt going anywhere now. I feel good.Horton had a metal rod inserted into his leg after the Super Bowl, and his recovery went smoothly enough for him to avoid PUP and start training camp Day 1.Jadarian Price on his pass catching, pass blockingSeahawks first-round rookie Jadarian Price is undoubtedly a talented pure rusher, but theres obviously more to that to be a complete running back at the professional level. His lack of catches at Notre Dame has been brought up as a concern for a team looking to get running backs more involved in the passing game, while pass protection is typically a struggle for any rookie. Heres what he had to say on both fronts in his first media availability of camp.(On pass catching ability) Thats one thing I have worked on since high school. Ive continuously gotten better at it throughout college and thats one thing people question going into the pros, so I worked on it and continue to work on it and understand the space and catching abilities.(On his pass protection) Im improving. Ive shown countless times in practice that I can catch the ball. Still need to show my pass protection more, but were going day by day and were day six in camp.Brian Fleury: Getting his tight ends and fullbacks involvedIts only training camp. Its only training camp. But if this is going to be a major wrinkle in Fleurys offense compared to Klint Kubiak (who heavily used A.J. Barner, in fairness) then this could be an exciting development. Theres always a positive in diversifying the passing attack, particularly in Seattles case with opposing defenses likely to be hell-bent on slowing down Jaxon Smith-Njigba.Six different #Seahawks tight ends/fullbacks yes, six had a 20-plus yard reception in scrimmage play during today's practice.First time that this felt like an offense coordinated by a former tight end coach. Corbin K. Smith (@CorbinSmithNFL) July 31, 2026Highlight: Yes, Devon Witherspoon is practicingHe doesnt have a new contract just yet, but hes not doing a hold-in. With two years left on his existing deal, talks are ongoing to make Witherspoon the highest paid cornerback in the NFL. In the meantime, hes putting in the work on the practice field.Devon Witherspoon all business as he awaits new contract from #Seahawks. pic.twitter.com/oiBhiZfiK9 Corbin K. Smith (@CorbinSmithNFL) July 31, 2026Highlight: Sam Darnold to Rashid ShaheedHey, we get them for a full offseason! Lets see the chemistry continue to improve.Sam Darnold and Rashid Shaheed continue their synchronization in this #Seahawks training camp. They worked together at a college field on SoCal, near Darnolds San Clemente, last month.They are light years ahead of when Shaheed arrived last midseason in his trade from Saints. pic.twitter.com/sVtDXkWAw3 Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) July 31, 2026The Seahawks return to practice on Saturday at 1 pm PT as part of Back Together Weekend.Reminder: Meet Field Gulls at Seahawks training camp!In just a few days Field Gulls will be on site as part of the Seahawks Syndicate crew, which features myself, Bryce Coutts, Dan Viens, and Brandon Cain (who wont be attending in-person this year). Well be at three practices on Aug. 5, 7, and 8, with live podcasts streaming from Fast Fashion Brewing in SoDo! Emerald City Spectrums Corbin Smith will be a special guest on Aug. 5 at 7:30 pm PT. Youre all invited to all three recordings, but especially a special Town Hall style show on Aug. 7 at 7:30 pm. Our last show is 2:30 pm PT before Fan Fest at lumen Field. Myself, Bryce, and Josh Hite are among the Field Gulls staff that will be at camp in some capacity during these days. Come hang with us at Fast Fashion and/or meet us at the berm on those two VMAC days.Its more fun when we can do our own reports instead of aggregating from others.