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Fantasy Football D/ST Rankings: Week 1 2026
There is plenty of fantasy football speculation running backs . And there are some undervalued tight ends . But people often forget about the defenses. Don’t do it! Pick a good one and stick with it. And here are the fantasy football defense and special teams rankings for Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season. The Week 1 list looks a lot like the usual […] The post Fantasy Football D/ST Rankings: Week 1 2026 appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Projecting the Eagles’ starting defense against Washington in Week 1
Projecting Vic Fangio’s defensive starters for Philadelphia’s Week 1 matchup.
Matthew Bailey Shines in Illinois Fighting Illini Season Opener
Matthew Bailey made his presence felt in Illinois' season opener, leading the defense with eight tackles.
Beat reporter makes very bold prediction for Panthers' 2026 season
The Athletic's bold prediction for the 2026 Panthers has the team's defense making a massive leap.
Where can the Steelers rank top 10 in 2026?
The Steelers’ roster looks stronger than last year’s — could a top-10 finish on offense or defense be on the horizon?
Jays Lose To A’s
Blue Jays 5 A’s 6 I wanted to title this ‘Bad Pitching, Defense and Hitting Leads to a Loss’ but that’s too many words. A bad moment on defense, in the first inning, turned out to be very costly. Dylan Cease was having a rough time in the first. A walk to Henry Bolte, who […]
Illinois’ efficient offense compensated for dodgy defense
The Illini offense will need consistent production while the defense adjusts to a new scheme.
Christian Watson Issues Clear Harrison Smith Message Before Vikings Game
The Minnesota Vikings defense received a major boost this past weekend as Harrison Smith returned on a one-year contract. Moreover, the reported contract is worth $12.25 million, with a maximum value of $16.25 million, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo.Minnesota will have its QB on defense relaying what defensive coordinator Brian Flores wants the […] The post Christian Watson Issues Clear Harrison Smith Message Before Vikings Game appeared first on HEAVY.
Trump calls for a Bombardier plane ban, drawing pushback from a GOP senator
The president ripped the Canadian aerospace company Monday amid a trade war with the country, but Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., came to Bombardier’s defense.
Seahawks D/ST No. 1 overall in Yahoo Sports rankings for 2026
The Seahawks have much talent on defense and special teams that make their unit an elite one in fantasy football this year, perhaps above the field.
Minnesota Vikings Bold Prediction Reveals Biggest Strength, Concern for 2026
Brian Flores’ elite linebacker corps anchors a rising defense, yet Kyler Murray’s durability and field vision remain the primary obstacles to Minnesota claiming NFC North dominance.
Democrats Condemn NIH-DOD Research Agreement
The Defense Department could tap up to $2 billion in federal research dollars designated for biomedical research, under an agreement signed with the National Institutes of Health.
Bills Add Defensive Star in New 2027 NFL Mock Draft
The Buffalo Bills load up on defense in a new 2027 NFL mock draft, adding a star to the mix.
Stanford's Test Will Come Against Duke
The Stanford defense was walloped by the Miami Hurricanes over the weekend, but that was to be expected. Now with an extra week to prepare, the game against Duke will be the Cardinal's big litmus test for 2026.
Five takeaways from Week 1 of CUSA action
From FIU’s stellar defense to Sam Houston un-Locke-ing its passing game, here’s what we saw in Week 1 of CUSA play.
UCF Focused on Containing Pittsburgh QB Mason Heintschel
After a record-breaking seven-touchdown performance, Pitt's dual-threat star faces a violent UCF defense determined to cage the pocket and erase their road woes in this non-conference showdown.
Key Takeaways From Notre Dame's Defense vs The Wisconsin Badgers
Witness an aggressive, high-speed unit stifle Wisconsin's ground game and showcase elite depth, proving the Fighting Irish possess a championship-caliber identity built on relentless pursuit and physicality.
Browns biggest strength remains their defense in 2026
The Browns' defense is going to set the tone in 2026 despite losing Myles Garrett.
Giants Acquire Former Packers Defender Before Week 1
The New York Giants have added another piece to their defense.
Orlando Magic's Biggest X-Factor Next Season
Jalen Suggs holds the key to Orlando's championship aspirations. Success hinges on his ability to anchor a physical defense while recapturing the elite shooting stroke that vanished.
Steelers Remains Without Crucial Information on Week 1 Opponent
The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently preparing to take on the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1. The Falcons have a long list of skill players the Pittsburgh defense must specifically prepare for.The problem is what still remains unknown about the Atlanta offense.Head coach Kevin Stefanski remains the only head coach in the NFL to not yet […] The post Steelers Remains Without Crucial Information on Week 1 Opponent appeared first on HEAVY.
Oregon's Matayo Uiagalelei Joins Elite Defense in 2027 Mock Draft
Oregon Ducks star pass rusher Matayo Uiagalelei is predicted to land with an elite defense in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Patriots’ Josh McDaniels Has Strong Words for Seahawks’ Defense
The last defense the New England Patriots offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels, faced was the Seattle Seahawks, with head coach Mike Macdonald running the show in Super Bowl LX. Now, the first defense McDaniels will see at the start of the 2026 season is the Seahawks.In the Super Bowl LX win, the Seahawks made life challenging […] The post Patriots’ Josh McDaniels Has Strong Words for Seahawks’ Defense appeared first on HEAVY.
Why Kam Franklin’s Helmet Is Different For Ole Miss
Kam Franklin is a big-time player for the Ole Miss defense. He’s also got a bigger helmet than the rest of his teammates — or at least, that’s how it appears as it looks different on his head than everyone else’s. Of course, for those who have been watching football in recent years, you realize […] The post Why Kam Franklin’s Helmet Is Different For Ole Miss appeared first on HEAVY.
Jaguars D/ST Is Must-Draft Fantasy Football Sleeper
The Jacksonville Jaguars have a solid defense and special teams when it pertains to a choice in a fantasy football league. But the reality is that if you want to wait on the D/ST position in your draft, the Jags become a must-draft sleeper. The reason is actually simple: Their schedule to open the season […] The post Jaguars D/ST Is Must-Draft Fantasy Football Sleeper appeared first on HEAVY.
Ashton Jeanty Learned Football On Defense In Texas
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty was once a safety playing high school football in Texas.
Richard Sherman blasts Bengals defense in AFC North prediction
Richard Sherman explained why a healthy Joe Burrow still isn't enough for him to pick the Cincinnati Bengals to win the AFC North in 2026.
Connor McDavid Teams Up With Maple Leafs Defenseman In Offseason
The Edmonton Oilers are essentially in “win now” mode considering that star captain Connor McDavid is entering the first of the two-year extension that he agreed to in October of last season.McDavid, regarded as the NHL’s top player and who has now lost twice in the Stanley Cup Final, has essentially declared that the Oilers […] The post Connor McDavid Teams Up With Maple Leafs Defenseman In Offseason appeared first on HEAVY.
Girona earns three points at El Molinón
Girona secured three valuable points at El Molinón after defeating Sporting de Gijón 0-2. Quique Álvarez's team delivered a solid and effective performance, especially in defense, against an Asturi...
NFL Execs Believe In Broncos Defense But Still Have Doubts
The Denver Broncos are ranked high in every preseason list, but NFL executives don't completely believe in them.
How Christian Braun Can Bounce Back for Nuggets This Season
Braun's new contract kicks in this season, and Denver needs the shooting and defense from 2024-25 to come back with it.
Dolphins’ new-look secondary has something to prove in 2026
The Miami Dolphins' young cornerback trio enters 2026 with high expectations and a chance to establish itself as a strength of their defense.
49ers’ Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw Get Key Rams Game Message
The San Francisco 49ers have a major question mark on defense regarding their pass rush. Nick Bosa is expected to play in Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 10 in Australia. Nonetheless, apart from the pass rush that’s leaning heavily on Bosa, a Niners reporter sees two other players who need to […] The post 49ers’ Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw Get Key Rams Game Message appeared first on HEAVY.
Red Raiders Take Down ACU 33-10 with Conservative Offense
No. 12-ranked Texas Tech began its Big 12 championship defense with a victory over FCS Abilene Christian.
Jones defense holds off late Evans surge in Soul Bowl
Jones football coaches have pretty much come to the expectation that the defense is going to win games for the Tigers, at least in the early part of the season. That was quite evident at Evans on Saturday afternoon in this year’s edition of the Soul Bowl. The Jones defense came up with a third-quarter goal-line stand, had seven sacks and added an interception, wreaking havoc on the Trojans’ ...
Hawkeye Football: Instant Reaction NIU vs Iowa
A sleeping giant awakens as Iowa’s offense finds its groove and the defense shuts down Northern Illinois.
Scientists find a weak spot in one of the deadliest brain cancers
Researchers may have found a new way to weaken glioblastoma’s defenses against treatment. Blocking a protein called SET prevented tumors from forming in preclinical models, while targeting related proteins made cancer cells more vulnerable to radiation. The strategy works by restoring activity of PP2A, an enzyme that glioblastoma cells appear to suppress. Human testing will be needed to determine whether the approach is safe and effective.
Boston Red Sox Announce Wilyer Abreu Change Before Orioles Game
After taking the first two games of their series against the Baltimore Orioles, the Boston Red Sox will send their top pitcher, Sonny Gray, out to the mound on Saturday night to win the series.As for the lineup and defense behind him, interim manager Chad Tracy is mixing things up both defensively and with his […] The post Boston Red Sox Announce Wilyer Abreu Change Before Orioles Game appeared first on HEAVY.
Turnovers Are the Hallmark of UCF’s Defense
From Jayden Williams’ explosive pick-six to relentless strip-sacks, the Knights are weaponizing takeaways to transform their defensive identity and fuel a dominant start to the season.
Post Match Reaction: Dortmund Complete the Comeback in Hoffenheim
Borussia Dortmund did it the hard way today in only their second match of the season. Away to Hoffenheim, the Black and Yellows went two goals behind, leaving it all to do with thirty minutes to play. Waldemar Anton took charge, sporting the captain’s armband, blasting through the Hoffenheim defense at a lax moment to […]
Defenses worth prioritizing in 2026 fantasy football drafts
If you're going to use a premium pick on a D/ST, here are your options
Notre Dame star LB questionable, WR ruled out vs. Badgers
Notre Dame may have one of their stars back on defense for the season opener.
NFL Executives Flag DeMarvion Overshown Health As Cowboys Variable
Multiple NFL executives identified DeMarvion Overshown’s health as a key variable for the Dallas Cowboys defense entering the 2026 season.
Texas, Texas State meet for first time since 1930
No. 5 Texas opens the season against a veteran Texas State team that will provide an early test for Will Muschamp's new-look defense.
Green Bay Packers receive low defensive ranking from PFF prior to Week 1 of 2026 NFL season
The Green Bay Packers defense has a lot to prove in 2026. Unfortunately, one of those things is that they can play well without All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons. He, of course, is out for at least the first four games of the season as he works his way back from a torn ACL. With [...]
Complacency Might Be Biggest Issue For Broncos Defense
The Denver Broncos have a dominant defense, and that comes with the risk of complacency going into this season.
Quinnen Williams sees growth in the Cowboys defense
Quinnen Williams has become so important for the Cowboys.
GM vs. Ford: U.S. defense, energy sectors add to automakers' century-old rivalry
General Motors and Ford are looking for new potential growth areas, including by seeking military contracts and getting into energy storage businesses.
Letters: Clippers and Kawhi get off easy; fans are big losers
Readers of the Los Angeles Times Sports section give their thoughts on the NBA's penalties for the Clippers, USC's defense, the Angels sale and more.
Three killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon, health ministry says
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had targeted Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon "in response to Hezbollah’s attempted attack yesterday against IDF troops operating in the security zone."
Commanders defense has several reasons to be optimistic for 2026
There's no question that Washington's defense will be much better in 2026. How much better?
Poor pitching, defense leads to another Reds loss to Brewers
The Reds have now lost seven of eight games against the Brewers this season.
Las Vegas defense attorney says Lindsay Clancy mistrial points to mental health defense strength
With the Lindsay Clancy murder trial ending in a mistrial, a prominent attorney breaks down why the 11-1 deadlock in favor of insanity is a win for the defense.
Mike Norvell on SMU: ‘I love coaching in these games’
On Labor Day, Florida State and SMU face off for only the second time in the history of their programs. SMU will deploy a vaunted and aggressive passing offense against a Florida State defense that, at times, was not aggressive enough in their pass defense against New Mexico State in week zero.
4 bold predictions for the Chargers' defense in 2026
From defensive takeaways to star-studded performances, these four bold predictions showcase how we expect the Chargers' defense to perform in 2026.
Maple Leafs’ Chris Tanev Breaks Silence With Important Health Update
The Toronto Maple Leafs were anything but fully healthy last season, as several key players missed weeks of time with various ailments. One such player was defenseman Chris Tanev, who was limited to 11 games.Tanev missed time because of a concussion and later, because of a core-muscle injury that took place shortly after he returned […] The post Maple Leafs’ Chris Tanev Breaks Silence With Important Health Update appeared first on HEAVY.
Pentagon agreement with NIH on biodefense draws alarm from Democrats
The deal is being criticized by Democrats who warn it could allow the Defense Department to go around Congress and gain access to billions of dollars meant for infectious disease research.
Broncos Hope to Capitalize On Injury to Chiefs Key Guard
The Denver Broncos defense will be hunting matchups in Kansas City on Week 1, and Trey Smith could be a target.
Pentagon Agreement With N.I.H. on Biodefense Draws Alarm From Democrats
Under a new partnership, the Defense Department would play a larger role in biodefense and pandemic preparedness. Democrats warned it could allow a Pentagon cash grab.
Special adviser to Hegseth explains that military testosterone guidance was rescinded after being posted ‘inadvertently’
Apple Cup Preparation for Washington, Prediction
For the second straight year, Jedd Fisch and Washington have to prepare for a reshuffled Washington State program with a coaching staff and personnel overhaul. Former Oregon State defensive coordinator and head coach Trent Bray now calls the Cougar defense. Washington State head coach Kirby Moore’s offense stems from his stint as the offensive coordinator …
Illinois Football Defense Remains a Concern
Illinois football opened the 2026 season with a 44-23 victory over UAB, but the Illini's defensive performance left plenty of questions.
NATO drills highlight Iceland's role in Arctic defense
Iceland is at the heart of NATO monitoring activities in the North Atlantic and Arctic amid rising Russian and Chinese presence. DW reports from a NATO exercise practicing submarine attack scenarios.
Sterlington football takes the first step with Franklin Parish victory
Sterlington's title defense was once again on full display with a come-from-behind victory at Franklin Parish.
Seahawks Trade Addition Drops ‘Legendary’ Message After Joining Seattle
Rookie cornerback Avery Smith already sounds comfortable with the standard attached to playing defense in Seattle.Smith met with reporters Thursday after joining the Seattle Seahawks from the Los Angeles Chargers, and the former Toledo standout didn’t undersell the history he’s stepping into.“Legendary defenses are built in Seattle. LOB and now you got the MOB,” Smith […] The post Seahawks Trade Addition Drops ‘Legendary’ Message After Joining Seattle appeared first on HEAVY.
Bold Rams Prediction Will Fire Up Los Angeles Fans
The Los Angeles Rams have been handed one of the boldest predictions heading into the 2026 NFL season, and it should give their fans plenty of reason for excitement. The forecast calls for the team to finish the year with both the league’s No. 1 scoring offense and No. 1 scoring defense, a feat accomplished […] The post Bold Rams Prediction Will Fire Up Los Angeles Fans appeared first on Gridiron Heroics.
Trump Taps Army Engineering Official as Acting Secretary
The move came days after the resignation of Daniel P. Driscoll, who had clashed with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the purge of top generals in the Army.
Pete Hegseth’s problems are getting harder to ignore
When GOP Sen. Mitch McConnell voted against Pete Hegseth for defense secretary last year, he bypassed the big-ticket controversies over Hegseth’s personal life and instead focused on his lack of experience.
Carencro oil & gas business plans to tap into SpaceX development
An oil and gas manufacturer plans to invest $25.5 million to expand its Carencro facility and focus new production lines on aerospace and defense.
Iran targets Kuwait in retaliation for U.S. bombardments
It came after U.S. allies Bahrain and Jordan said their air defense systems also intercepted several Iranian air attacks Wednesday
Getting to know Western Michigan ahead of Michigan’s season opener
A potent rushing attack and a defense with returning talent. Here’s what you need to know about Western Michigan ahead of Michigan’s season opener.
‘Right in your face’: The science behind Maryland field hockey’s press defense
While the intensity of the Terps’ press defense stays consistent, part of what makes it so effective is the different shapes the players take on.
Some elected Republicans are pushing back on Defense Secretary Hegseth’s overhaul of the military
Sony and Microsoft say they’re not obligated to pass U.S. tariff refunds to consumers, echoing Nintendo
Back in July, Sony executives told investors that the company expected to receive $508 million in refunds from the U.S. government, after tariffs that the PlayStation-maker paid were ruled mostly in 2025 were found to be illegal. “Most” of the refund would by recouped by Sony’s gaming division, its chief financial officer said. This week, Sony’s lawyers are arguing that the company is not legally obligated to pass those proceeds on to consumers who paid for recently price-hiked PlayStation consoles. That’s in the face of a lawsuit from gamers calling on them to do exactly that. “Paying fair market price for voluntarily purchased consumer goods is not a legally cognizable injury in fact,” the lawyers wrote in a legal motion filed on Monday, as they asked a judge in California’s Northern District to dismiss a potential class action lawsuit over the tariff refunds. Microsoft made a similar argument two weeks ahead of Sony’s lawyers, in a similar lawsuit brought by a gamer in federal court in Washington State. As Microsoft’s legal team put it on August 21, in their request for a dismissal of that lawsuit: “There is nothing unjust about Plaintiff purchasing an Xbox at an advertised price and getting exactly what he paid for—regardless of whatever theory he devised months later about Microsoft’s cost structure.” Both legal fights are set to go on for some time. How things got to this point U.S. tariffs impacting a wide range of imported goods, including game consoles, had kicked off in early 2025. In May 2025, Microsoft raised the price of its Xbox consoles, citing “market conditions and the rising cost of development.” They raised them again that September. In August of that year, Sony raised the price of PlayStation 5 consoles, citing “a challenging economic environment.” Sony later told investors that its tariff fees for the fall quarter were nearly $200 million. in February of this year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the 2025 tariffs illegal, prompting impacted companies to begin to request refunds. In turn, consumers began suing the likes of Sony and Microsoft to get what they said was their share. The gamers in the Microsoft and Sony lawsuits argue that the 2025 price hikes of PlayStation and Xbox consoles, which added $50 or more to their sticker price, were due to illegal tariffs and should now be returned to consumers. The Sony suit started in May, when a group of gamers sued in federal court in California, saying Sony Interactive Entertainment (PlayStation) would be unjustly enriching itself if it did not pass tariff refunds to its PS5 buyers. “Sony is poised to be paid twice for the same unlawful tariff burden: once by its customers (through elevated prices) and once by the U.S. government (through tariff refunds),” the gamers’ lawyers wrote at the time. They called for Sony to partially reimburse anyone who bought a PlayStation in the U.S. since August 1, 2025. The Microsoft suit, filed by gamer Trevor Hastings against the Xbox giant in July, made similar claims. The console makers push back In late July, Nintendo’s lawyers, facing a similar suit accusing them of double-dipping on tariffs and refunds, replied with arguments that previewed Microsoft’s and Sony’s: “Nintendo or one of its retailers set a price for each product, and consumers decided whether that price was worth paying,” they wrote. Sony has buttressed that Nintendo-style argument this week by saying that the gamers have failed to prove that tariffs were the reason for its August 2025 PS5 price hike. They call thatclaim “speculative and illogical.” Other factors, including “inflation, currency fluctuations, component costs, logistics, competitive dynamics, or demand,” could have played a role. (No, the Sony lawyers do not break down the costs and factors that officially triggered the price increases). Microsoft has also argued that there’s no proof in these lawsuits that tariffs drove all or some of the price increase, as it seeks to dismiss the tariff refund suit it’s facing: “Plaintiff provides no specific allegations that would establish any pricing differential attributable to tariffs or suggest any possibility that Microsoft applied then or could recreate now any dollar-for-dollar calculation of tariff-related pricing—any more than it could any other market factor that affects pricing.” To further skewer the gamer side’s argument in its case, Sony’s lawyers have pointed to what might be a surprising defense: yet another PlayStation 5 price hike from this past spring, after the tariffs were ruled illegal. “If the original price increase were attributable to tariffs, SIE [Sony Interactive Entertainment, aka PlayStation] would have had no reason to raise prices again after the Supreme Court invalidated the IEEPA tariffs.” … “If tariffs were the cause of the price increases, one would expect SIE to lower prices once the tariffs were eliminated—not raise them again. Instead, the timeline confirms that the pricing of PlayStation consoles includes a diverse and dynamic set of input costs.” Judges have not yet ruled on the arguments made by Sony, Microsoft or Nintendo. Last week, Panic, the company behind the small, yellow Playdate handheld said it would be passing its tariff refunds on to consumers. It is the only gaming hardware maker to have made such a pledge. Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my reporting, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Item 2: A reporter’s second Second Life Wagner James Au, who from 2003-2006 was paid by San Francisco-based tech company Linden Lab to be a full-time journalist embedded in their virtual world Second Life, is returning to the company. This time, he’ll be an editorial advisor and business development specialist, he tells Game File. The new role will involve trying to share the stories of people inhabiting Second Life’s ongoing online world with reporters and by extension the public. Au plans to continue to also chronicle some of that through his long-running blog New World Notes. I’ve known Au since the mid-2000s and featured him in a 2007 article for the Columbia Journalism Review about reporters like him opening up virtual news outlets within Second Life. As I wrote at the time: On April 22, 2003, writing as Hamlet Linden for the New World Notes blog on Second Life’s Web site, Au introduced himself. “For the next few months, Linden Lab has invited me to set aside my journalist cap, and instead, don the digital beanie of their in-house virtual correspondent.” He wasn’t paid to keep it positive. He wrote about builders and eccentrics, but then in August of that year, he reported on a tax revolt against Linden Lab (a complaint about the fees it charges users who build stuff) led by a resident whose avatar was a big cat. Second Life has always been less of a video game and more of a virtual world where people can live, hang out, make art, sell virtual items and flirt. Back in 2007, Au described touring it as “sort of like underwater lucid dreaming.” For the past two decades, Au has maintained New World Notes as an independent publication. But he said he’s been drawn back to Second Life and Linden Lab as a place to directly work. The virtual world has around 650,000 monthly active users, he said, “which is actually about what it was during the hype wave.” Au says he’s still finding rich stories in Second Life, the kind that keep him interested 20 years into the beat: “Over the last few months for instance, I wrote about an SL creator in Venezuela whose apartment was destroyed by the earthquakes, so the global SL community rallied to get him back on his feet,” he told me. “Then there’s the woman from a Middle Eastern country who explored her lesbian sexuality in SL, then earned enough from her virtual jewelry to escape her abusive family situation and country.” Au wants to beckon more reporters to give Second Life another look. He argues that it is often ahead of internet trends, noting, for example, an early backlash in the community against AI-made art. Now the platform is drawing curiosity from more of the user-generated content community who’ve grown up with the likes of Roblox, according to Au. “Second Life was too early during its hype wave in 2005-2010, but it now feels right for a new wave of interest,” he told me.
Republican Senator Calls On Trump to Replace Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
Sen. Thom Tillis is urging the President to oust Hegseth because of what he described as “inept management.”
Statement by Chief Pentagon Spokesman, Sean Parnell, on the Clinical G
The War Department remains focused on building and maintaining a ready, lethal fighting force prepared to dominate the battlefield and achieve peace through strength.
Driscoll offers no reason for his exit as Army secretary
Tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have been widely reported
Expert analyzes impact of Clancy trial on mental health care
Criminal defense attorney Donna Rotunno discusses the latest on the Lindsay Clancy trial during 'Outnumbered' as the jury continues deliberations for a fifth day.
Defeated by physics
The Pentagon's $3.2 billion bet on space-based boost-phase missile defense ignores basic orbital dynamics, offering no real protection while fueling a costly, destabilizing arms race in space.
Florida's 6-Foot-1 Enforcer Feels 'Disrespected' Before Season
Fueled by an All-SEC snub, junior linebacker Myles Graham aims to anchor a revitalized Gators defense and silence critics during head coach Jon Sumrall’s high-stakes debut season.
What Box Office Bomb Crushed Obsession on Streaming?
(Welcome to my weekly streaming ratings report, the single best guide to what’s popular in streaming TV and what isn’t. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. If you were forwarded this email, please subscribe to get these insights each week.) Before we get into this week’s issue, let me ask you for some suggestions. At the risk of coining too many names for too many things (hence my dictionary of terms...), I need a name for straight-to-streaming films that are too expensive to justify a straight-to-streaming release, but not big enough to justify a theatrical release. Like some of the films I highlighted in last week’s tally of the biggest film flops of 2026 so far: Hulu’s Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice, Pizza Movie or Never Change! They don’t feel like “made for TV movies” (think Hallmark and Lifetime movies, cheap Netflix romcoms, or Disney Channel Original movies, for example) but they don’t feel big enough for the big screen. They’re not “cinematic” enough, so to speak. As I wrote... “I still need a name for this middle zone of film that’s too expensive to go straight-to-streaming but too small to justify a theatrical release (with all the PR, distribution, marketing and whatnot costs that go along with it), the Goldilocks zone of streaming film death.” Friend of the newsletter Brandon Katz has suggested the “Bermuda Budget Triangle”, “The Platform Gap” and “The Distribution Deadzone”. I love that first one. I’d offer up the much wordier “The Streaming Budget Dead Zone” or “the Goldilocks Zone of streaming film death” but that last one isn’t accurate since, unlike Goldilocks’ porridge, these films are the opposite of “just right”. That’s the problem! Anyway, if you have any suggestions, let me know! On to today’s Streaming Ratings Report. As you can tell by today’s headline, things are going to be spicy! I’m looking at a box office bomb that did really, really well on streaming, somewhat challenging a few different narratives. And another Netflix series declined in its second season. All that, plus Wicked: For Good switching streamers, The Hawk continuing its strong run, _The Bear’_s finale season finally dropping off the charts, the WNBA posting a big viewership number, “shallow libraries”, a sitcom spinoff failing to launch, more big budget IP flopping on Paramount+, all the flops, bombs and misses, and a whole lot more. Let’s dive right in! (Reminder: The streaming ratings report focuses on the U.S. market and compiles data from Nielsen’s weekly top ten viewership ranks, Luminate’s Top Ten Data, JustWatch and Reelgood interest data, Samba TV household viewership, company datecdotes, Netflix hours viewed data, Google Trends, and IMDb to determine the most popular content. While most data points are current, Nielsen’s data covers the weeks of July 20th to July 26th, 2026. You can find a link to my terminology here.) Subscribe Film - The Latest Theatrical Success Story on Streaming In the latest edition of “Flops, Bombs and Misses of the First Half of 2026”, I made a crucial change: I started including theatrical films with the streaming misses. The streamers have collectively—including Netflix, but not to as big of an extent—stopped making a lot of straight-to-streaming films, and the ones they do make aren’t as expensive as in the heyday of the streaming bubble. After the following two films bombed in theaters, you’d guess that they’ll be included in my next collection of flops, bombs and misses six months from now: Masters of the Universe on Prime Video (only $64 million domestic box office) Mortal Kombat II on HBO Max ($79 million domestic) But you’d be wrong! Masters of the Universe, a reboot of the He-Man franchise, a toy from the 1980s, came to streaming on 22-July and did great! This long-gestating project—it’s been at every studio for years, and came close to getting a greenlight at Netflix—then finally came to theaters in June, and showed up on streaming less than two months later. (I don’t love this short theatrical window.) It surprisingly grabbed nearly 20 million hours on its debut: That means, wait for it, Masters of the Universe is currently the eighth biggest film on streaming through two weeks. My rough bar for “hit” is shows or films in the top 15%. Ergo…Masters of the Universe is a legit, streaming hit! (One quick caveat: if it falls out of the top ten next week, it will move to 13th overall, just on the edge of the top 15.) Of course, that’s the data for just 2026. Here’s how it stacks up to Prime Video’s theatrical films: That drop into its second week is typical for Amazon films, but also a worrying sign. I have a feeling interest in this film is front-loaded and we’ll see it drop off after this. As for Mortal Kombat II, in this case, the viewership numbers roughly match the theatrical outing, with only 4.1 million hours in its first week. Here’s how it stacks up to other HBO Max films: The best defense of this number is that, as a relatively violent rated-R film, Mortal Kombat II never had a good chance at breaking out. So now it’s time for a little big of “Entertainment Nuance Guy”: First, yeah, my headline is obviously facetious, since Masters of the Universe besting Obsession says more about horror as a genre than it does that film. Second, I read and listened to quite a few “nobody wanted this IP” takes about Masters of the Universe, and that’s not really true. At least enough people wanted it to power a 20 million+ hour debut! Third, both this film and Mortal Kombat II were considered “average” by viewers, but not great films, with a 6.4 and 6.3 respectively on IMDb. That’s just shy of the level needed to be a word-of-mouth hit. Fourth, in the olden days, strong word of mouth could transform a box office miss into a cable/DVD hit, like Austin Powers or The Shawshank Redemption. We haven’t seen a lot of examples of that on streaming, though. And there are far fewer ways to monetize the post-theatrical life of a film these days. Fifth, Prime Video has shown an ability to push their own titles well, likely because they control the Amazon Fire TV ecosystem. Add it all up, and here’s my nuanced take on Masters of the Universe: it was a box office bomb, but, shockingly, a streaming hit. Unfortunately, while being a theatrical hit saves your film financially, being a streaming hit does not. Both Masters of the Universe and Mortal Kombat II had big budgets and needed to make more money in theaters to justify them. So…Straight-to-Streaming or Theaters? We’ve hit a really fun point in the streaming calendar, since the films that came out in theaters in April, May, and June are now arriving on streaming. So the “Do theatrical releases help streaming performances?” question is gonna get a fresh round of updates nearly every week. No single week will answer the question, but we may get some insights. For example, so far in 2026, it looks like theatrical films are lasting longer on the weekly Nielsen film charts. Here’s a list of films that have made the charts in their fourth or fifth week of release, separated by “for kids” and “general entertainment”: It certainly seems like theatrical films are lasting just a pinch longer on the charts, with Project Hail Mary being the current five-week champion. One Battle After Another did well for HBO Max too, and even The Sheep Detectives made it four weeks. The only exception to this trend? Obsession, which only lasted two weeks on the charts. You might tempted to overreact to this news. Don’t. Obsession is a huge horror hit, but horror just doesn’t do as well on streaming. By the way, here’s the Google Trends for various theatrical and stremaing films: Plus, when it comes to Netflix in four months, Obsession may have another big boost. Quick Notes on Film Note that when I write, “the streamers have pulled back on straight-to-streaming films” that doesn’t mean “abandoned” because Netflix is gonna Netflix. On 24-July, they released 72 Hours, a Kevin Hart comedy. Along with Eddie Murphy, Mark Wahlberg, John Cena and Adam Sandler, Kevin Hart is a streaming film star now. Did this latest one work? Not really. It only garnered two weeks of 13.2 and 12.2 million hours on its debut, well below the 20-million-hour hit threshold. It also was poorly received critically—a 44 on Metacritic—and by customers—a 5.4 on IMDb on 21K IMDb reviews. We’re just getting started with this issue, but the rest is for paid subscribers of the Entertainment Strategy Guy, so if you’d like to find out… The latest Netflix true crime doc to pop on the charts… How The Bear finished its run… Netflix’s latest Western to return to streaming… What Paramount+ animated film flopped… And what sitcom also missed… All the flops, bombs and misses… And a whole lot more… ...please subscribe! We can only keep doing this great work with your support. Coming Soon! I’m behind by a week, so we’ve got two issues coming your way this week, including one in a couple of days or so, then we’ll be all caught up**.** Next issue, inspired by The Super Mario Galaxy Movie coming to Peacock, I’m going to take a look at the workhouse of streaming TV: kids films. Plus The Devil Wears Prada 2 continues theatrical films’ big run on streaming. All that, plus another surprise hit on Hulu, Lioness on CBS, and a whole lot more. Long term, LeBron James is filming his own “Last Dance”-style docu-series, surprising no one. But as I’ve been writing about a lot this summer, this genre is really overrated, so whoever ends up buying it (reportedly ESPN) really shouldn’t pay too much for it.
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