Author: Yahoo Sports

Posted on

Kawhi Leonard’s masterclass has Nuggets scrambling for answers | The Kevin O'Connor Show

(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

Kawhi Leonard’s near-flawless Game 2 performance against the Denver Nuggets has the NBA world buzzing. Kevin O’Connor and guest Nate Duncan broke down the wild Nuggets-Clippers playoff matchup on the most recent episode of "The Kevin O’Connor Show."

Leonard finished with 39 points on a devastating 15-of-19 shooting line in L.A.'s Game 2 win Monday night. According to O’Connor, it was the seventh-highest true shooting percentage ever for a 35-plus-point postseason outing.

“He feels like a fictional legend,” O’Connor said. “Most of these guys that have injuries, they fall off. And yet here he is right now, in 2025, looking like he's in peak condition.”

Both O'Connor and Duncan were baffled by Denver’s refusal to blitz and double Leonard late. “I can't believe the Nuggets weren't sending two, blitzing, doubling Kawhi Leonard down the stretch,” O’Connor said. 

O'Connor also wondered if Nikola Jokić was fatigued after grinding through Ivica Zubac’s physical defense, calling out “mental lapses, mental mistakes” in the MVP’s game.  

To hear the full discussion, tune into "The Kevin O'Connor Show" on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.

Posted on

Even while 'struggling,' Mets star Juan Soto is still elite

(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

When a player is as talented as Juan Soto, even his “down” moments generate headlines. On the latest episode of "Baseball Bar-B-Cast," hosts Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman dove into the ongoing conversation around Soto’s performance thus far for the 2025 New York Mets — and let’s just say both hosts think the concern about Soto is seriously overblown.

For Mets fans who might be worried about Soto after a slightly “slow” start, just pause and look at the numbers. As Mintz points out, “Do you know what his OPS+ is right now? … It’s 137.” 

Shusterman echoes the sentiment, highlighting how baseball discourse tends to exaggerate any little blip for stars such as Soto: “When we’re talking about these tiny April samples … superstars all over the place have 60 OPS+ through the first [few weeks]. They're, like, actively crap, [but] you know, doesn't happen with [Soto]. It doesn't exist. He's on base too often. And that's why, you know, [he has the] highest floor in baseball.”

The bottom line: Even while Mets Twitter wrings its hands, Soto is producing at a rate that’s 37% better than league average. That kind of “struggle” would be a career year for most big leaguers. 

As Mintz says, “That's why Juan Soto is different. … The struggle, the strife, the worry is about a guy who is 37% better than the average hitter.”

What Mintz and Shusterman are saying is that the conversation around Soto is more about expectations than reality. “Pretty bad for Juan Soto, but this is why Juan Soto is different,” Mintz deadpans.

They also offer a dose of long-term context, pointing out that last year, Aaron Judge looked “like a bad dude” for a month, posting a .674 OPS through 22 games. Hot and cold streaks come for everyone, but the truth is that Soto’s “lows” are higher than most players’ highs. What sets Soto apart, according to the hosts, is not just his power but also his ability to reach base and avoid prolonged hitting droughts.

So if you’re tuning in to Mets games or scrolling through social media and see worried takes about Soto, take it from "Baseball Bar-B-Cast:" There’s nothing to stress about. 

“Juan Soto — he’ll be just fine. I wouldn't be too concerned about him,” Shusterman concludes.

The real takeaway? Enjoy the show, and take some time to appreciate the player.

For more on the Mets and the rest of the league, tune in to "Baseball-Bar-B-Cast" on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.

Posted on

2025 NFL Draft: What happened to the Tetairoa McMillan hype?

(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

Subscribe to Yahoo Fantasy Forecast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.

As we inch closer to the NFL Draft, the discussion around the top wide receiver prospects is more intense than ever. One name that's generated plenty of conversation is Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan (or "T-Mac" as he's often called). In the latest episode of the Yahoo Fantasy Forecast, host Matt Harmon and The Athletic’s Dane Brugler dove deep into McMillan’s draft stock, bringing much-needed clarity to where he stands among the 2025 WR class.

[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season]

Brugler, renowned for his exhaustive draft guide "The Beast," isn’t shy about his admiration for McMillan’s game. He describes T-Mac as "a borderline top 10 pick in this draft," emphasizing McMillan’s rare combination of size, catch radius and hands: "I love the catch radius, love how he attacks the football. You rarely — show me the film where the ball is getting into his body. He doesn’t let that happen."

Brugler’s praise isn’t hollow — he ranks McMillan as a first-round talent, albeit not quite in the elite Marvin Harrison Jr./Brian Thomas Jr. tier from last year. McMillan’s ability to play true X receiver, a premium position in most NFL offenses, cements his value.

Harmon points out just how well McMillan would fit a team like the Saints, who are desperate for an outside receiver with size to complement Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. Harmon’s experience charting receivers for Reception Perception also lines up favorably, comparing McMillan’s style and impact to NFL players like Courtland Sutton: "I think he kind of belongs to the same family of receivers that Drake London does, but he’s not quite Drake London. ... These big guys that separate better than you think and they can do a lot of damage on these in-breaking routes."

When a receiver has versatility, hands, size and can unlock different looks for an offense, it's hard to keep him out of the top-10 conversation.

Despite the consensus love, McMillan isn’t without detractors or question marks. Both Brugler and Harmon touch on why some evaluators — and potentially some NFL teams — see McMillan sliding a bit from the “lock top-10” label he wore early in the process.

McMillan’s 4.53 forty at his pro day surprised nobody who watched him in college, but it did accentuate that he wins with nuance, not raw speed. Brugler notes, "He’s not a burner. We know that. ... He is a little bit raw as a route runner ... he’s probably more finesse than truly aggressive. ... There’s just a big jump between the Big 12 and what he’ll face in the NFL."

Both analysts agree McMillan might be best as an elite No. 2, which (somewhat unfairly) suppresses his top-10 ceiling. Harmon said: "He’s probably best if he’s your really, really good number two ... those guys can kind of share that "Who’s the 1A and who’s the 1B title" and provide a really dynamic duo."

It’s also worth mentioning the 2025 class doesn’t have the same top-heavy WR talent as last year’s legendary group. Brugler specifically says if McMillan were in last year’s class, he’d be ranked behind Brian Thomas Jr., but in this year’s group, that’s a borderline top-10, top-12 valuation.

Verdict: Yes, T-Mac is still top-10 — with a realistic ceiling

After digesting Harmon and Brugler’s in-depth conversation, here’s where things stand:

  • McMillan is still in that top-10 wide receiver prospect conversation in this class — not as a no-doubt blue-chipper, but as a highly valuable, NFL-ready talent with clear “starter-plus” potential.

  • His best fit likely comes as a team’s X receiver — or a high-volume 1B — on a squad that can maximize his catch radius, physicality and polish versus focusing on deep speed.

  • The split in the scouting community is less about a lack of talent and more about expectations: McMillan isn’t Marvin Harrison Jr., but he’s rock solid and projects as a possible instant starter.

  • Don’t be surprised if teams like the Saints or Cowboys fall in love with his fit and take him in the 9-12 range comfortably. Either way, he’ll be among the first handful of receivers off the board, and rightfully so.

Tetairoa McMillan absolutely remains a top-10 prospect in the 2025 class, with the only major knock being whether he’s a true WR1 or a perfect 1B for a creative NFL offense.

Check out the full Yahoo Fantasy Forecast episode with Matt Harmon and Dane Brugler for all the nuanced breakdowns — it’s a must-listen for draft fans and fantasy managers alike.

Posted on

Why the Steelers can't wait on Aaron Rodgers

(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

Aaron Rodgers’ comments on the Pat McAfee Show sparked a lot of discussion between Charles Robinson, Frank Schwab and Jason Fitz on the latest episode of the Inside Coverage podcast. Here’s what their conversation reveals about Rodgers’ future:

According to Charles Robinson, Rodgers was very clear that he’s dealing with personal issues, particularly within his close circle, and that’s a significant reason for his delay in making a decision about playing football next season. Robinson emphasized Rodgers doesn’t owe anyone a set timeline or rushed decision, especially since he’s not currently under contract with any NFL team.  

“He’s not beholden any team right now," Robinson said. "He’s not under contract. So I think we owe him the grace."

All three hosts agree that, while Rodgers is entitled to handle his personal life however he sees fit, this leaves teams like the Steelers in a precarious position. Charles and Frank both stress that the Steelers “can’t count on this situation anymore.” Frank says, “For the first time yesterday, I said, they can’t. They got to move on.” Charles adds that, even if Rodgers eventually signs, Pittsburgh still needs to draft a young quarterback for the future, because relying on Rodgers is too uncertain.

Both Charles and Frank highlight that Rodgers said he’s been upfront with the Steelers, telling them that if they need to move on without him, they should. This signals to the hosts that Rodgers isn’t making any commitments or setting deadlines for a decision about joining a team. Charles sums it up: “He did open up that avenue to them ... if somebody wants to move on, that's just how it's going to go and you're okay with it.”

The group expresses that Rodgers, despite leaving the door open, sounded more like a person who might elect not to play, at least for now.

The broader takeaway for the hosts is that any team entertaining the idea of signing Rodgers needs to continue with their offseason plans as if he won’t be there. Fitz and Schwab both note that there’s real fatigue and “exhaustion” around the ongoing Rodgers saga, both for teams and fans.

To hear more NFL discussions, tune into Inside Coverage on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.

Posted on

MLB dynasties: Why the late-'90s Yankees ruled and why it’s so hard to replicate today

(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

On the latest episode of "Baseball Bar-B-Cast," hosts Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman sat down with ESPN’s Buster Olney to dig into the question: Where did all the dynasties go? Their conversation offers a look at the legendary New York Yankees dynasty of the late 1990s — and why today’s superteams struggle to achieve similar levels of dominance.

Buster Olney quite literally wrote the book on the Yankees’ dynasty years: "The Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty: The Game, the Team, and the Cost of Greatness." As he explains in the episode, the late-’90s Yankees weren’t just a collection of high-priced free agents; they were a product of patience, clever management during a brief George Steinbrenner suspension and a homegrown core that included Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte and Bernie Williams. Veterans and stars such as David Cone and Roger Clemens rounded out the roster, but the key ingredients were sustainability and in-house talent.

Olney frames the 1998-2001 Yankees as the last “true” MLB dynasty, or as he puts it: “maybe the last dynasty that's going to win four World Series in five years.” 

What made the Yankees so special? Olney emphasizes the “combination of homegrown players and great stars that they added through free agency,” plus, crucially, a culture that made outside stars want to join: “Because they were so successful, they have what the Dodgers have now, which is a lot of players coming in from the outside saying, 'I want to be a part of that.'”

So what has changed? Olney, Mintz, and Shusterman point to several big reasons dynasties have become nearly impossible in MLB.

  • Roster turnover and free agency: With player movement so much more common today, keeping a championship core together is extremely difficult.

  • Injuries and luck: As Olney notes, “it’s also about luck, it’s about injuries, it’s about players who decide to depart.” Maintaining excellence over multiple MLB seasons is just brutally difficult.

  • The psychological toll: Olney makes a great point: Today’s social media era means players face far more noise, scrutiny and pressure than Ken Griffey Jr. ever did in the clubhouse. “I do think it takes a toll … players get worn down by the constant feedback.”

  • Expanded playoff fields: More rounds mean more opportunities for upsets — a dynasty killer. As Mintz notes, “The playoffs are longer by one round … just another roll of the dice.”

Every few years a team emerges — think the Dodgers, Astros or the earlier 2010s Giants — and gets branded with the “dynasty in the making” label. But as the Bar-B-Cast crew explains, none has repeated the Yankees’ level of sustained postseason success. Olney praises the current Dodgers as, “on paper, the best team I've ever seen,” but even he acknowledges that it’s far from a given that they’ll embark on a pinstripes-level run.

The Astros’ frequent postseason trips and the Giants’ trio of even-year titles are impressive, but Mintz still contends, “I would probably argue against both of those [being true dynasties].”

All signs, according to the podcast trio, point to “maybe, but don’t hold your breath.” The hosts agree that because of all the factors named above, a four-titles-in-five-years run looks like an artifact of another era.

But as Mintz points out, that isn’t a reason to stop believing: “For those of us who love the drama, there’s always a chance … and that’s what keeps baseball compelling.”

For more deep dives into baseball’s dynasties and other debates, tune in to "Baseball-Bar-B-Cast" on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.

Posted on

Fantasy Football: Colston Loveland or Tyler Warren — who's the real TE1 of the 2025 NFL Draft?

(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

Subscribe to Yahoo Fantasy Forecast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.

As tight end prospects get ready to hear their names called in the 2025 NFL Draft, the big debate in draft circles — and on this week’s Yahoo Fantasy Forecast — is whether Michigan’s Colston Loveland or Penn State’s Tyler Warren is the best tight end in this year’s class.

Hosts Matt Harmon and Charles McDonald dove deeply into both prospects, and if you’re wading through pre-draft rankings, their conversation makes one thing clear: this debate is anything but settled.

McDonald kicked things off by praising Warren’s athleticism, movement skills, and size. At 6-foot-6, 256 pounds, Warren is a “mismatch nightmare” for NFL linebackers and safeties. He broke out with a massive production year, not just catching passes but showing up as a runner — 26 carries, 218 yards and four TDs on the ground. Penn State clearly saw him as their top playmaker and schemed up plenty of touches.

Yet, Harmon noted, Warren isn’t the classic in-line tight end. Most of his production came on designed touches, rather than overpowering defenders in traditional fashion. Still, as McDonald made clear, that’s not a knock, it’s a creative use of a unique skill set. Teams that put Warren in the “Sam LaPorta role” (think: creative schemes, space-creation, YAC opportunities) could really unlock something special.

Loveland, meanwhile, has quickly become a favorite among some draft analysts who see his “dynamite” receiver skills and imagine a player who could survive — and even thrive — as a big slot or genuine mismatch. McDonald raved about his hands, fluid route running and ability to hang with actual NFL corners and safeties. While he needs to develop as a blocker (and could stand to add bulk), you can’t coach the kind of movement Loveland flashes at 6-6, 248 lbs.

Loveland’s best football is almost certainly ahead of him. His college production is a bit harder to parse, partly due to Michigan’s offense and a nagging shoulder injury, but the film suggests a player ready to make an immediate impact as a receiving threat — if his new team is willing to scheme him open and let him develop as a blocker.

Both Harmon and McDonald agreed the gap between Warren and Loveland is close — and depends heavily on what a team wants out of the position. Warren is an out-of-the-box “finishing piece” for an offense seeking YAC and creative deployment (the Jets or Bears were floated as ideal landing spots). Loveland, on the other hand, might rate higher as a traditional route-running, hands-first mismatch and carries a “high ceiling/high floor” projection if he can round out his blocking.

In McDonald’s words, “If you’re just painting a broad picture of both ... you come away with some similar takeaways,” but Loveland might be “a little bit stronger at the catch point ... some more real-deal receiver skills,” while Warren is an “explosive receiving option” with upside and rare versatility.

For fantasy and NFL fans, the key might be fit. As Harmon put it, most NFL offenses aren’t built to flow through the tight end — even the best ones get upstaged by true perimeter WRs in high-powered offenses. That actually makes landing spot even more crucial for these prospects. A team willing to scheme up touches, commit to a versatile game plan, and be patient with development will benefit the most, whichever way they go.

So, who’s the TE1? The Yahoo Fantasy Forecast guys see it as a matter of taste:

— Want explosive, versatile athleticism, and a player ready for heavy manufactured production? Tyler Warren’s your guy.

— Want a pure receiver with starter-level mismatch upside and long-term all-around potential? Colston Loveland is a compelling bet.

Both should hear their names called early in the draft’s second half of the first round — or perhaps even earlier, if one team falls in love.

Who’s your pick to be the best tight end in the 2025 class? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to follow Harmon, McDonald and the entire Yahoo crew for live coverage throughout the NFL Draft!