Fantasy football draft season is here! If you have the opportunity to choose your draft slot, choosing the correct one can make or break your season. Joel Smyth breaks down his favorite draft slots for each common league setting in 2026.12-team half-PPR pick breakdown. (Photo by Joel Smyth/Yahoo Sports)1.01 - In some seasons, such as 2025, the top four or so draft picks are all seen as pretty even, making it advantageous to get the better value and draft from the middle. At the end of the day, the No. 1 fantasy asset is the largest advantage there is. This year I believe the clear best shot at that is Jahmyr Gibbs, making my favorite draft pick the 1.01 in all formats.In games without David Montgomery in 2024, Gibbs averaged 30.4 fantasy points per game. On top of all this, I like the end of Round 2 and early Round 3, while a late Round 4 pick is not as much of a drop off as the first couple rounds.1.02 - Bijan Robinson is still on another level as a top fantasy RB. It's a great backup option if the 1.01 is taken, with the small potential of Gibbs still being there. Especially in half-PPR, early RBs are everything.Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL season1.06 - Middle-round picks are the most ideal for roster construction. If you have the 1.12, it's tough to build out a full team without reaching on different positions. The 1.06 allows you to take the best player available and be patient for values. It sets you up well early with being the end of my top tier of the three best WRs and RBs, while being in a sweet spot in Round 2, especially for RB value.1.10 - 1.12 - Not only, in my opinion, are the late firsts much worse than the early and middle picks this season, but I also don't see as much of an advantage at getting an early second-round pick versus a mid-second. The positive is It makes it easy to go RB-RB if that's your desire, but with seven current RBs going in Round 2, it's usually there for you if you want it. Once it finally gets back at the end of the third round, the fantasy stars become much less certain. The difference between an early third and a late third is George Pickens to Tetairoa McMillan.What happens if you're playing in a 10-team league?10-team half-PPR pick breakdown. (Photo by Joel Smyth/Yahoo Sports)Middle Rounds - Once you go down to 10 teams, the middle-round picks get a value increase again. The middle of Round 2 is nearly identical to the early second with fewer drafters, and gives a much better pick in Round 1 and 3.1.09 - For a 10-team league, that ninth overall pick is much closer to the wrap around point then the middle. James Cook is the projected ninth pick, which I don't mind at all, but the early second becomes difficult. You have the next tier of WRs in CeeDee Lamb and Justin Jefferson, alongside RBs who are more fit for PPR leagues like De'Von Achane and Chase Brown. The eighth overall pick is very similar.What changes if it's a PPR league?12-team full-PPR pick breakdown. (Photo by Joel Smyth/Yahoo Sports)10-team full-PPR pick breakdown. (Photo by Joel Smyth/Yahoo Sports)In PPR leagues, Picks 10-12 aren't as much of a disadvantage, but still not favorable with the second round becoming a little deeper, and the RBs lasting further into the middle and end of Round 2, especially in surplus for 10-team leagues. 1.08/9 - In 12-team leagues, Pick 8 and 9 stay strong, getting receiver value from the mid-first round range, a bump and a prime Round 2 selection.

Columbus Clippers Travis Bazzana (12) throws the ball to first base during home opener at Huntington Park on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio. | Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesColumbus Clippers 15, Syracuse Mets 7Clippers improve to 58-50The Columbus Clippers offense erupted for 15 runs on 16 hits and eight walks Tuesday in an absolute beatdown of Somerset. Leading the charge was top infield prospect Angel Genao, who blasted two home runs (both over 100 mph exit velocity) while going 2-for-5 with a walk in the victory.Angel Genao MULTI-HOMER GAMEHis second home run of the night is a 2-run shot! pic.twitter.com/2IMmXtKsXr GuardsInsider (@GuardsInsider) August 5, 2026Also homering was Ralphy Velazquez, who has been heating up of late. Velazquez went 3-for-5 with his eight homer at Triple-A. Kahlil Watson was perfect at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a double while George Valera went 2-for-5 with a home run and a walk and the newly-acquired Blake Perkins tripled. Coopre Ingle went 2-for-5 with a double and a walk.Starting pitcher Austin Peterson allowed four runs (one earned) on five hits with three strikeouts and no walks in 6.0 innings.Ryan Webb allowed one run and Hunter Stanley allowed two runs in their lone innings of work while Daniel Espino pitched a perfect inning with two strikeouts.Akron RubberDucks 17, Somerset Patriots 3RubberDucks improve to 48-54It wasnt just Columbus that had a huge day offensively on Tuesday. Akron also went off with 17 runs on 13 hits and 11 walks.Leading the charge was Nolan Schubart, who went 4-for-6 with a double. Maick Collado also had a huge game, going 4-for-6 with a double and four RBIs. Ryan Cesarini went 2-for-3 with a double, two walks and a stolen base and Bennett Thompson went 1-for-4 with a walk, a hit by pitch and a stolen base.Aaron Walton reached base safely four times, walking three times and getting hit by a pitch while Jaison Chourio doubled and had three RBIs.Starting pitcher Rafe Schlesinger was rock solid, allowing two runs on six hits in 6.0 innings with six strikeouts and four walks.Jack Jasiack and Adam Tulloch both pitched a scoreless inning of relief.Lake County Captains 6, Lansing Lugnuts 7Captains fall to 54-45A late rally from Lake County fell just short on Tuesday.Welbyn Francisca had the lone multi-hit game, going 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles. Cannon Peebles also had an excellent game, going 1-for-2 with a home run and two walks.Jonah Advincula tripled, Garrett Howe went 1-for-3 with a walk and both Esteban Gonzalez and Luis De La Cruz doubled, with Gonzalez stealing a base.Starting pitcher Ben Livelys rehab continued with two runs allowed on four hits in 2.2 innings with three strikeouts and a walk.Will McCausland piggybacked with Lively, allowing five runs on six hits in 5.1 innings while striking out three and walking one.Hill City Howlers 3, Wilson Warbirds 6Howlers fall to 43-60Riley Nelson went 1-for-2 with a double and two walks to lead the way for Hill City offensively. Jonathan Martinez went 2-for-4 with two doubles while Johan Rodriguez homered and Alejandro Blasco tripled. Starting pitcher Aden Major allowed two runs on four hits in 5.2 innings with five strikeouts and one walk. Luis Torres followed by allowing four runs in 1.1 innings to take the loss. Aaron Savary impressed in 2.0 innings of perfect relief with three strikeouts.

JUPITER, FL - MARCH 19: Coy James #10 of the Washington Nationals bats during the game between the Washington Nationals and the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Thursday, March 19, 2026 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Jared Blais/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty ImagesCoy James may have been a 5th rounder in the 2025 draft, but he is not your average fifth round pick. The Nats gave James a $2.5 million signing bonus, paying him approximately the slot value of the 39th overall pick in that draft. With that in mind, big things were expected from the high school shortstop, and so far he has lived up to expectations.It has not been a perfect first season for James by any means. He is only hitting .222 and is striking out 25.4% of the time in Low-A. However, he is showing flashes of immense upside with 16 homers and 27 steals. His .755 OPS is also above league average. James remains a work in progress, but his upside remains tantalizing.We got reminded of how loud those tools are last night. While the Nats were lifelessly meandering to a 7th straight loss, James hit a 456 foot bomb. That is some crazy raw power for a 19 year old. When James is firing on all cylinders, he is one of the most impressive of the Nats many infield prospects.456 feet for Coy James! pic.twitter.com/3v80Z67JQF Fredericksburg Nationals (@FXBGNats) August 5, 2026James season has been interesting because going into the draft scouts were split on if he were a power first guy or a hit first profile. Baseball America gave him a 55 hit tool with 50 power, while MLB Pipeline gave him a 45 hit tool with 55 power. So far the Pipeline projection has been more accurate, though his raw power might be closer to a 60.Interestingly, it also seems like James athleticism got undersold coming out of the draft as well. Both BA and Pipeline graded him as an average runner. However, he has looked more explosive in pro ball. He has 27 steals, but Fangraphs also gave him a 60 run tool in their early season update.So instead of being a polished prep bat, James is more of a highly athletic project with big upside. This change has not really changed his overall stock, it is just a change in the profile. The hit tool is a bit worse than expected while the power and speed is better.While that hit tool is not outstanding, it is good enough to work with. James contact rates on pitches in the zone this season is average, and his whiff rates are slightly worse than average. The hit tool needs some polish, but this is not an Elijah Green situation by any means.James has also done a good job tapping into his power this season. He is pulling the ball in the air at a high clip and the home run totals are high for a teenager. This is an exciting profile who likely will need a lot of time in the minors, but I believe his progress will be steady.Coy James HR #13This is the most homers Ive seen a Nats HS draftee put up in their first pro season in a long time. 25 SB for James too. Might be different pic.twitter.com/TUKsfbNsK2 Nats Of The Future (@NatsOfTheFuture) July 19, 2026When you watch James swing, his bat speed and quick hands are easy to see. This kid is just bursting with raw ability. He has shown plenty of flashes this year, but has not fully broken out. I think James will get on more radars next season.It is tough to adapt in your first season in pro ball. The Nats also gave him a tough assignment, sending him straight to Low-A instead of giving him some time to adapt on the complex. That shows you the belief the Nats have in the youngster.Mike DeBartolos first draft is just brimming with upside a year later. Between James, Eli Willits, Miguel Sime Jr. and Landon Harmon, there is so much potential here. Willits is the only one here who doesnt have some warts, but the other three all have big upside.Another thing that makes me buy into James is his defensive upside. The Nats have had him playing all over the place this season. He has gotten reps at shortstop, third base, second base and even left field. James is not an elite defender, but he could be at least average at multiple positions. His athleticism and arm strength allow him to make some crazy plays, which we saw last night.Coy James pic.twitter.com/uVWI2uVZUZ Fredericksburg Nationals (@FXBGNats) August 4, 2026Since Eli Willits got promoted to High-A, James has mostly played shortstop though. I think with James tools and versatility, it is easy to picture a big league role for him. If his development does not totally stall, he is likely to be at least a solid bench utility guy who can provide power and speed. His ceiling is an everyday infielder who can be a 20-20 guy though. However, as such a young player there is still plenty of time for things to change for better or worse.With all of these young, exciting infielders, you would think at least a couple of them will hit. James is one I am very intrigued by though. This has been a solid season for him, but 2027 could be the year where he really takes the leap and becomes a household name in the prospect world.

Despite one of the highest payrolls in the sport, the New York Mets have played like well the New York Mets in 2026. With the team sputtering in the first half, the Mets engaged in a significant fire sale at the trade deadline, with eight major-league players being shipped out. Given the way the team played this season, you cant blame some fans for expressing relief that the team dismantled its disappointing roster. But you wouldnt expect to hear that from one of the teams broadcasters. Keith Hernandez may have taken things a bit too far when discussing the teams moves at the deadline. Ahead of Tuesdays game, Hernandez said the Mets took out all the garbage with their deals. "They definitely shuffled, brought in the truck and took out all the garbage" - Keith Hernandez on the Mets' fire sale pic.twitter.com/q6RAzp7Z8c Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 5, 2026Hernandez immediately seemed to realize calling former Mets players garbage was a poor decision, adding a so to speak to his analysis after the fact. And to further hammer home the point that Hernandez felt bad, he apologized for that term before Cleveland Guardians starter Joey Cantillo threw the first pitch."I said, 'got out the garbage.' That's a poor choice of words...I can't believe that word came out of my mouth, so my apologies" - Keith Hernandez pic.twitter.com/e4WYeeX9Xw Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 5, 2026As Hernandez explained, the Mets got rid of some very good players at the deadline. Clay Holmes was in the midst of a great year before he sustained a broken bone in his leg. Relievers Huascar Brazobn, Brooks Raley and Luke Weaver were all experiencing excellent years before being traded as well. The team also traded starter Freddy Peralta, who did not perform well in his first start with the Tampa Bay Rays. While Hernandez and the Mets booth are highly regarded for their ability to evenly call a game and be critical of the team when necessary, Hernandez likely meant no malice with his words. He merely used a poor turn of phrase to describe the teams action at the deadline.Despite all those moves, the Mets managed to pick up a 6-2 win in Tuesdays game, the teams first since the trade deadline. With the playoffs out of the question, the Mets will play for the future in the second half. That means younger players should get opportunities to prove themselves moving forward. If the team can find enough young talent to push it forward next season, and hit on some prospects acquired in their deadline deals, the Mets could hop back into contention before long. Thats not a bad result for a team that had a lot of garbage in the first half of 2026.

With NFL training camps fully ramped up and the preseason on the horizon, there is no shortage of various quick-hit highlight videos popping up on social media. This certainly stands true for the Dallas Cowboys, and one specific training camp drill done by CeeDee Lamb quickly grabbed the attention of fans league-wide.Wide receivers, in particular, have been known to follow specific routines in their daily preparation for the season. Some may have a set number of balls they catch each day, while others utilize unique drills to help work on catching passes in coverage. But for Lamb, his drill included a large white net covering his entire face/helmet while catching passes, as Cowboys reporter Patrik Walker first revealed.oh thats new. CeeDee Lamb wearing a net over his helmet and facemask during Jugs drills. #Cowboyspic.twitter.com/R2DCzofG4Y Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) August 4, 2026It was unquestionably a unique (and I'd go out on a limb and guess very rarely seen) approach to a pass-catching drill. It also sparked some questions and speculation about exactly why Lamb was using the net as part of his training.Why did CeeDee Lamb wear the white net over his head at training camp?While it hasn't been confirmed, the popular theory is that Lamb took this approach to address the sunlight issue that's been a topic of conversation in late-afternoon games at AT&T Stadium. That thought process makes sense, as the sun directly in players' eyes has caused a few notable issues in previous seasons.In a bit of positive news for Cowboys fans who have been bothered by this, owner Jerry Jones told Sam Gannon of KDFW Fox 4 that he's giving "a thought" to tinting the windows, which would be a significant step toward addressing the sunlight issue during games.While Lamb seemed to have adjusted to his new, off-the-wall training approach, it appears George Pickens wasn't a fan, as Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News revealed. Pickens used the same white net over his helmet, and as Watkins described, "tried it and was done with it."George Pickens tried it and was done with it. pic.twitter.com/ZxAvmggDXc Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) August 4, 2026This article originally appeared on For The Win: Why did CeeDee Lamb wear a net over his head at Cowboys camp for a difficult drill?

ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND , August 5, 2026 — The global laboratory animal medicine market crossed a valuation of USD 4.6 billion in 2025 and is projected to increase from USD 4.9 billion in 2026 to USD 9.0 billion by 2036, expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.3% over the forecast period. According to a research report published by Fact.MR (Report ID:...

Help is on the way for LIV Golf. On Wednesday, LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil announced that an investment in the league has been agreed to in a statement of optimism for its future. "LIV Golf has an agreement in place with a lead investor, signed by the investor and approved by the Board, to anchor the transaction and play a key role in supporting the path forward for the Leagues next era, driven by and for the players," O'Neil said. "We're also seeing strong interest frommore than a dozen additional parties to potentially serve as minority investors, creating a multi-partner model built for long-term stability and growth. Notably, our next chapter will make our players the majority equity holders in LIV Golf, a first for a major global sports league, and gives the League the foundation to keep growing the game worldwide. "We anticipate finalizing terms in the coming weeks, with the goal of entering a transaction in September. In the meantime, our focus is on delivering a great week for fans and players at Bedminster and finishing the 2026 season strong." This statement comes in the wake of months-long speculation about the future of LIV Golf, which exclusively airs on the FOX family of networks. LIV Golf began in 2023, with the sport previously existing in a smaller capacity dating back to 2021. Over the years, LIV Golf has featured several prominent stars like Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Dustin Johnson, among others. There are two events remaining in the 2026 LIV season, the first one commencing this Thursday: LIV Golf New York at Old Course Bedminster, New Jersey from Aug. 6-9. The final event is LIV Golf Indianapolis, which will take place from Aug. 20-23. The Team Championship is scheduled for Aug. 27-30 at The Cardinal at Saint Johns in Michigan. LIV's season has been a successful one, especially around the globe. Events in Australia and South Africa drew record attendance numbers. The league has also made strides off the course in making players eligible for the Official World Golf Rankings while maintaining its emphasis on team golf.