Sports

August 27, 2025

Published 15 days ago

TL;DR

NFL rosters set, MLB 2026 opens March 25, Ohtani hits 45th HR, Alyssa Thomas sets WNBA record.


Highlights

  • NFL teams finalized 53-man rosters; Dolphins signed CB Rasul Douglas, Patriots cut Cole Strange, Panthers released Hunter Renfrow, Bills released KJ Hamler 111.
  • Texans S Jimmie Ward placed on Commissioner Exempt List; 49ers WR Demarcus Robinson suspended three games 10.
  • Lions traded WR Tim Patrick to Jaguars for a 2026 sixth-round pick 12.
  • MLB announced 2026 schedule: earliest Opening Day ever (Yankees at Giants, March 25); A’s to play six 2026 games in Las Vegas ahead of 2028 relocation 213.
  • Shohei Ohtani hit his 45th homer (tied NL lead); Dodgers beat Padres, Yamamoto earned 11th win 4.
  • Giancarlo Stanton hit a 451-foot HR, drove in 5 runs as Yankees beat Nationals; Justin Verlander got first home win for Giants, moved to 9th in career strikeouts 1516.
  • Alyssa Thomas set WNBA single-season record with her 7th triple-double, keeping Phoenix in playoff contention 6.
  • Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff advanced to US Open round two; Gauff survived a three-set match 7.
  • EuroBasket 2025 tipped off, with Serbia (Jokic), Slovenia (Doncic), and Greece (Antetokounmpo) as top contenders 17.
  • Chelsea beat West Ham 5-1 for Enzo Maresca’s first Premier League win; EstevĂŁo became youngest Chelsea player with PL assist 14.
  • Real Madrid nearing loan-to-buy deal sending Dani Ceballos to Marseille 9.
  • Deion Sanders named Kaidon Salter (Liberty transfer) as Colorado’s starting QB for 2025 5.

Commentary

NFL roster cutdown day introduced significant movement for both depth charts and fantasy implications. The Dolphins’ addition of Rasul Douglas addresses secondary depth, while the release of players like Cole Strange, Hunter Renfrow, and KJ Hamler creates new free-agent options and affects position battles 111. The Lions’ trade of Tim Patrick to Jacksonville gives the Jaguars a veteran red-zone target, which could impact target shares for Christian Kirk and rookie Micah Franklin 12. Off-field issues have sidelined Texans S Jimmie Ward and 49ers WR Demarcus Robinson, further shifting early-season projections for those teams’ defenses and receiving corps 10.

MLB’s 2026 schedule release is notable for the earliest Opening Day ever and the A’s partial move to Las Vegas—a factor for bettors and fantasy players tracking venue effects and travel 213. On the field, Shohei Ohtani’s 45th homer keeps him atop the NL leaderboard, while Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s consistency cements his rotation value 4. Giancarlo Stanton’s power surge and Justin Verlander’s career milestone both have direct fantasy and betting implications as the Yankees and Giants push for playoff positions 1516.

Alyssa Thomas’s record-breaking seventh triple-double is not just a statistical feat—it’s keeping Phoenix in the WNBA playoff race and solidifying her MVP credentials 6. In tennis, Naomi Osaka’s efficient win and Coco Gauff’s gritty three-set victory keep two top draws alive at the US Open, maintaining strong DFS and betting interest as the women’s field holds form 7.

EuroBasket 2025’s start brings a dense international slate, with NBA stars Jokic, Doncic, and Antetokounmpo leading favored teams—key for futures markets and daily betting action 17. In soccer, Chelsea’s dominant win under new coach Maresca and Estevão’s record assist highlight tactical changes and emerging fantasy targets 14. In college football, Deion Sanders’ decision to start Kaidon Salter at QB for Colorado signals a shift in the Buffaloes’ offense and will be tracked closely by CFB bettors and fantasy players 5.

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