April 18, 2026

Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Jhoan Duran (oblique) was placed on the 15-day Injured List, retroactive to April 15, on Saturday. The Phillies are hopeful that Duran will be back in 15 days. It's a "very mild" oblique strain, so the team believes he'll only need the minimum of 15 days on the shelf. It's unclear who is going to be the primary closer while Duran is out. It could be a closer-by-committee situation, which is never fun for fantasy managers. At the moment, Brad Keller and Jose Alvarado are the favorites to get the ball in the ninth while Duran is down. Fantasy managers will hopefully only be without Duran for the next two weeks, but the team should continue to update his status as Duran progresses.--Andy Webb
Source: Todd Zolecki

April 18, 2026

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (knee) has been reinstated from the Injured List on Saturday. Gurriel is set to make his season debut after missing the beginning of the season while recovering from ACL surgery he underwent last September. The assumption was that Gurriel would be eased back into things and serve as the designated hitter. That isn't the case as Gurriel is in left field and batting cleanup against right-hander Max Scherzer on Saturday. The 32-year-old is coming off major knee surgery, so fantasy managers should dampen their expectations. Gurriel should still be able to offer decent value in deeper mixed leagues.--Andy Webb
Source: mlb.com

April 18, 2026

Colorado Rockies infielder Willi Castro (hand) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. This marks the third game in a row that Castro has missed due to a lingering hand issue. Castro was hit by a pitch on Wednesday and hasn't suited up for a game since then. It doesn't sound like this issue is going to force Castro to land on the Injured List. For now, Castro should be considered day-to-day until the Rockies give another update on his status. Edouard Julien will serve as the leadoff hitter and cover second base against right-hander Emmet Sheehan on Saturday.--Andy Webb
Source: mlb.com

April 18, 2026

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho (knee) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Saturday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. This doesn't come as a surprise after Varsho was forced to make an early exit from Friday's contest due to left knee discomfort. The Jays are considering Varsho as day-to-day and will give him a rest day on Saturday. His absence means that Myles Straw draws the start in center field and will bat eighth versus right-hander Zac Gallen. Straw doesn't offer enough upside with the bat to warrant looking at in fantasy leagues.--Andy Webb
Source: mlb.com

April 18, 2026

Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Stuart Skinner will guard the crease in Saturday's Game 1 against the Philadelphia Flyers, Michelle Crechiolo of the Penguins' official site reports. Skinner had a 2-1-0 record against the Flyers during the regular season and is looking to make a positive start to his fourth postseason campaign. The 27-year-old has 50 NHL playoff games under his belt, but his postseason performances tend to be inconsistent. With the Edmonton Oilers, Skinner gave up nearly three goals per game during the playoffs (2.88) with a .893 save percentage.--Taavi Pailk
Source: Michelle Crechiolo

April 18, 2026

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexandre Carrier (upper body) practiced on Saturday, Sean Farrell of NHL.com reports. He missed the last nine regular-season games due to an upper-body injury. Montreal ruled Carrier out for 2-4 weeks, and he now appears on the cusp of returning to the action. After being paired with Lane Hutson during Friday's practice session, Carrier worked with his usual partner, Mike Matheson, on Saturday. With Noah Dobson (upper body) out for the start of the postseason, that pairing could play a massive role in the Canadiens' first-round tilt against the Tampa Bay Lightning. During the regular season, Carrier made his presence felt on both ends of the ice, recording 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists), 56 SOG, and 155 blocks in 73 games.--Taavi Pailk
Source: Sean Farrell

April 18, 2026

Seattle Kraken forward Jared McCann (lower body) underwent a procedure on Friday to address a nagging injury. He missed the last three regular-season games and battled a lower-body issue throughout the campaign. Despite his ongoing health issues, McCann managed a respectable 40 points (20 goals, 20 assists) in 52 outings. He has been among Seattle's scoring leaders for several seasons and is likely to remain among the team's top offensive contributors in 2026-27. McCann will enter a career year, potentially increasing his fantasy productivity.--Taavi Pailk
Source: Emerald City Hockey

April 18, 2026

Los Angeles Kings winger Andrei Kuzmenko (knee) was activated from Injured Reserve on Saturday,  Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site reports. The Russian forward underwent meniscus surgery in late February, missing 25 games. However, he will be an option to return to the lineup for Sunday's postseason opener against the Colorado Avalanche. Kuzmenko finished the regular season with 13 goals and 25 points in 52 appearances. He would add scoring punch to a team that averaged the fewest goals per game during the regular season among those who qualified for the playoffs. The Kings are also expected to have Alex Turcotte (undisclosed) and Jeff Malott (undisclosed) available on Sunday, providing additional offensive options.--Taavi Pailk
Source: Zach Dooley

April 18, 2026

Victor Hedman is skating for the Tampa Bay Lightning. The bad news is that the defenseman is not close to ready yet to play. Hedman has been out for basically a month now. First, there was an injury and then Hedman was out for personal reasons. It has been a tough season for the 35-year old. He is a team captain but missed 49 games in 2025-26. The normal point leader from the blueline had a mere 17 points (one goal) in 33 appearances. Right now, Hedman will not play until he is in shape to play. That means, he will be out for Game 1 on Sunday against Montreal. More than likely, the fact that Hedman has been skating appears to signal he is closer to returning than May 3rd potentially. --Chris Wassel - RotoBaller
Source: Benjamin Pierce

April 18, 2026

Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson (lower body) won't be available for the start of the team's first-round playoff series against the Utah Mammoth, Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. It's also unclear whether Karlsson will play at all against Utah after Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon said the team must have "some success in the playoffs for him to play again." The Swedish veteran has been out of action since early November due to a lower-body injury. He appeared in only 14 regular-season games, recording four goals and three assists.--Taavi Pailk
Source: Danny Webster

April 18, 2026

Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes (illness) will be in action on Saturday against the Dallas Stars, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports. Zach Bogosian (lower body) has also been cleared to play, giving Minnesota's defense a boost. Hughes has been dealing with an illness lately and didn't suit up for the Wild's last two regular-season contests. The Olympic champion had 76 points (seven goals, 69 assists) in 74 games during the regular season, ranking as the league's fifth-highest scoring defenseman. Hughes notched 53 points (five goals, 48 assists) in 48 contests, playing an integral role for the team on both ends of the ice.--Taavi Pailk
Source: Elliotte Friedman

April 18, 2026

Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen (lower body) will play in Game 1 against the Minnesota Wild on Saturday, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports. The Finnish defensive star was unavailable for the last three regular-season games due to a lower-body injury. Heiskanen finished the campaign as the NHL's ninth-highest scoring defenseman, posting 63 points (nine goals, 54 assists) in 77 contests. He averaged a point per game in four meetings with the Wild. As a member of the first defensive pairing and the top power-play unit, Heiskanen is set to have a huge workload in the playoffs and will be a popular pick among DFS managers.--Taavi Pailk
Source: Elliotte Friedman

April 18, 2026

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) missed the entirety of the 2025 season after tearing his ACL for the second time on the ninth carry of his NFL career. Brooks went down in Week 14 of his 2024 rookie season after missing ten games during a lengthy recovery from his first ACL tear, sustained at the end of his final collegiate season at Texas. With the injuries stacking up and so much passing time between meaningful snaps, it can be easy to forget that the 2024 second-round pick was seeing an incremental increase in usage leading up to the injury, even though Chuba Hubbard had the fourth most rushing yards in the league to that point. With Rico Dowdle departing in free agency after only one season in Carolina, Brooks will return to a running back room strikingly similar to the one in which he last played. Hubbard will be 27 years old at the start of the season, coming off a year in which injuries and inefficiency saw him turn the room over to Dowdle for much of the season, and his career yards per route run remains well under 1.0 yards. As RotoBaller's dynasty RB37, Brooks could be severely underpriced for a running back with both the skills and the path to take over the lead back role in a steadily improving offense.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 18, 2026

Connecticut wide receiver Skyler Bell set school records in 2025 with 101 receptions and 13 touchdown catches and was the first consensus All-American in school history. An older prospect who will turn 24 before the start of training camps, he has the versatility to line up across the formation but projects as an NFL slot. He received considerable pre-draft hype after winning the Stock Up Offensive Player of the Week at the Senior Bowl, but has since settled into a more reasonable projection as an early Day 3 pick. His obvious work ethic will help him get onto the field, but like many prospects in this deep rookie class, he may make stronger contributions to an NFL offense than a fantasy team. Before knowing landing spots, Bell slots in as RotoBaller's rookie WR14.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 18, 2026

Tennessee wide receiver Chris Brazzell II led the SEC in receiving yards per game and touchdowns in 2025, while taking 94.3% of his snaps on the outside, and more specifically, the right side. A staggering 85 of Brazzell's 86 targets came on routes originating from the right side of the formation. While Josh Heupel's offensive system has evolved past the gimmicky label of prior seasons, stats like that make it difficult not to lump Brazzell in with past Tennessee deep threats like Dont'e Thornton Jr., Jalin Hyatt, and Cedric Tillman. Brazzell does possess game-changing speed, banking a 4.37-second 40 time at the Combine after measuring in at 6'4", and his past success at Tulane is another feather in the cap of a player who could receive Day 2 draft capital and eventually earn a role as a legitimate NFL field stretcher. Heading into the draft, he is RotoBaller's rookie WR10.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 18, 2026

Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins finished his first season as RB23 by points per game, the fourth-highest total in a loaded rookie class. A dislocated ankle and fractured fibula ended his season in Week 16, but by all accounts, his recovery has gone well, and he should be available for the start of training camp. The Browns have brought in a new coaching staff for 2026, but some of the surrounding elements that stood in the way of a true breakout have not been addressed. Cleveland saw some of the worst quarterback and offensive line play in the league in 2025, and those remain points of concern heading into the NFL Draft. While they will likely need to wait until 2027 to make any upgrades at quarterback, two first-round picks could have them in position to address the line at multiple spots. Judkins hard-running style and safe bet for volume should provide a healthy floor for fantasy, but with Cleveland's offense again projected to be among the worst in the league, he may not have the scoring opportunities needed to raise his ceiling, especially considering his lack of involvement in the passing game.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 18, 2026

At 31 years old, San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (knee) came into the 2025 season still in the conversation as a top-five dynasty tight end. Six games missed due to a hamstring injury and an unfortunate postseason Achilles tear that now threatens his availability for the start of the 2026 season have pushed him well down the rankings. However, even without the injuries, the emergence of rookie stars Colston Loveland, Tyler Warren, and Harold Fannin Jr. would have already had a hand in shaking up the rankings. The two factors working together may have created a perfect buy-low window for Kittle, who could now be viewed as undervalued as RotoBaller's dynasty TE13. Yes, he will be only eight months removed from his Achilles tear by the time the 49ers next play meaningful football, and he will turn 33 shortly after that, but he has not scored fewer than 10.6 fantasy points per game since his rookie season. For reference, over the past five seasons, the TE13 has averaged 8.0 Half-PPR points per game. While it could, and likely will, take Kittle time to get back up to speed, even 80% of the player he has historically been represents a smart dynasty buy for contenders with the surrounding roster strength to bank on a fantasy playoff appearance.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 18, 2026

TCU wide receiver Eric McAlister (foot) had an excellent senior season with the Horned Frogs in 2025, recording 72 receptions for 1,190 yards and 10 touchdowns across 13 games. Unfortunately for his draft prospects, McAlister suffered a Jones fracture in his foot during his pro day, which could put his availability for the early part of his rookie season in question. While McAlister should still hear his name called, he was not considered to be an elite wide receiver prospect even before the injuries. As a result, he's likely to be facing an uphill battle for playing time early in his NFL career, regardless of where he ends up getting drafted. McAlister's dynasty value is an open question as he works his way back from injury.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

April 18, 2026

The Philadelphia Phillies placed right-handed closer Jhoan Duran (oblique) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to April 15) with a left-oblique strain on Saturday, according to Jeff Skversky of FOX 29 Philly. Fantasy managers should expect Duran to be out longer than the 15 days with his oblique injury, but he needs to remain stashed in all fantasy leagues while he recovers. The hard-throwing 28-year-old Dominican was off to a fine start in 2026, too, in his first full season with the Phillies. Through seven relief appearances, Duran held a 1.35 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, five saves, eight strikeouts, and no walks in 6 2/3 innings pitched. It's unclear how the Phils will approach the ninth inning in the absence of Duran moving forward, but all of Jose Alvarado, Brad Keller, and Orion Kerkering could be involved in some sort of closer-by-committee situation. Alvarado, 30, has the most closing experience in his nine-plus MLB seasons, for what it's worth. The left-hander has recorded 52 saves in 374 1/3 innings pitched, and he's been in Philly since the start of the 2021 campaign.--Keith Hernandez
Source: FOX 29 Philly - Jeff Skversky

April 18, 2026

After recording nearly 1,300 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie in 2024, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. regressed in his second season. Across 14 games, the 23-year-old hauled in 48 receptions for 707 yards and two touchdowns on 91 targets. After looking like a no-doubt fantasy WR1 as a rookie, Thomas Jr.'s dynasty value is now an open question. However, Thomas Jr. battled wrist, shoulder, and ankle injuries throughout the year, which may have played a role in his subpar performance. The Jaguars also reportedly plan to play cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter (knee) more on the defensive side of the ball in 2026, which could open up a few more target opportunities for Thomas Jr. He comes with a significant amount of risk, but dynasty managers may never have a better buy-low window on Thomas Jr.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

April 18, 2026

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes's (knee) status for the start of the 2026 season is currently unclear as he recovers from the torn ACL and LCL he suffered last December. Across 14 games before getting injured, Mahomes II completed 62.7% of his pass attempts for 3,587 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. A large portion of his fantasy value came from his work as a rusher, as he collected 422 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 64 attempts. While Mahomes II remains arguably the best overall quarterback in the NFL, his fantasy production as a passer has not been elite since 2022. If his recovery from major knee surgery limits his effectiveness as a rusher, Mahomes II's short-term value as a must-start quarterback could be in question. Until he proves he's fully recovered from the injury, Mahomes II's dynasty value is trending slightly downward as well.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

April 18, 2026

A second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tre' Harris did not get many chances to contribute to his team's offense as a rookie. Across 17 games, the 24-year-old recorded 30 receptions for 324 yards and one touchdown on 43 targets. Harris largely operated as the fifth target in the Chargers' passing game behind wide receivers Ladd McConkey, Keenan Allen, and Quentin Johnston, as well as tight end Oronde Gadsden. Allen currently remains unsigned heading into 2026, which could open the door for Harris to move into a more prominent role in Los Angeles. The Chargers also replaced former offensive coordinator Greg Roman with former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, which could lead to a more pass-happy offense overall. Harris still faces an uphill battle to make a significant contribution in Los Angeles, but he could be a decent buy-low target for dynasty managers after his quiet rookie year.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

April 18, 2026

New York Jets running back Braelon Allen (knee) was limited to just four games played in 2025 after suffering a season-ending torn MCL in Week 4. The 22-year-old had been expected to play a significant role as a complementary piece to fellow Jets back Breece Hall, but instead was limited to just 93 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on 20 touches for the year. Allen should be fully healthy for the start of the 2026 season. While Hall remains with the Jets and profiles as the team's clear lead back, he is currently signed via the franchise tag, and his future in New York beyond 2026 is uncertain. Allen currently profiles as a high-end handcuff option for dynasty managers, and his long-term value could surge if the Jets move on from Hall. In dynasty formats, now might be the best time for managers to buy low on Allen.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

April 18, 2026

Miami Marlins outfielder Kyle Stowers (hamstring) will be activated from the 10-day injured list on Sunday, according to manager Clayton McCullough. The 28-year-old has missed the entire 2026 season due to a right hamstring injury that he sustained during Spring Training. After battling back in March, he reaggravated the injury while rounding the bases in a split-squad game against the Astros. After that, the team announced that he would get some opportunities to play first base upon his return. During his five-game minor-league rehab assignment, he only started there once, so it's unclear if and when he will get that opportunity this season. All that being said, fantasy managers should be excited to have the power-hitting Stowers back in their lineup, as he looks to build off a successful 2025 season where he hit 25 home runs.--Dave Funnell - RotoBaller
Source: Kevin Barral

April 18, 2026

Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jeremiah Jackson has had a surprisingly hot start to the season. Taking over for the injured Jackson Holliday, the 26-year-old second baseman has given the Orioles a much-needed spark more than once. This past week alone, he has hit four home runs and recorded 11 RBI in just five games played. While this should be considered a huge success, it's hard to trust that this will sustain itself long-term. He has yet to record a walk this year and has posted a 44.0% chase rate, bringing attention to his tendency to lack patience at the plate. Additionally, his 31.1% hard-hit rate suggests that there might not be much power in his future unless changes are made at the plate. For now, he should be added to the deepest of leagues for minimal cost, as fantasy managers would be wise to be ready to drop him once Holliday returns to the lineup.--Dave Funnell - RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller

April 18, 2026

After a hot start to the season, Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda has cooled off significantly throughout most of April. The 27-year-old has just two hits over his last 30 plate appearances (.091), and only eight total base hits this month. His current .214 BA is more than 100 points lower than his 2025 batting average, though this does come with a .246 xBA. While it is too early in the season to panic, this is something to monitor. Calling Tropicana Field home in 2026 should be considered a downgrade for most hitters, as it is widely considered to be a pitcher's ballpark. That, alongside these early-season struggles, may cause fantasy managers to want to make a change. For now, he can remain on the bench with the hope that he can turn things around and get back to his powerful and productive ways from just one year ago.--Dave Funnell - RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller

April 18, 2026

New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga will remain in the team's starting rotation for now, manager Carlos Mendoza told Laura Albanese of Newsday. The Mets will continue to look at film to figure something out. "We've got to help him," Mendoza said. The 33-year-old Japanese hurler is off to a dreadful start in 2026, going 0-3 with an 8.83 ERA (5.35 FIP) and 1.90 WHIP with 22 strikeouts and 10 walks in 17 1/3 innings over his first four starts for the Mets. Senga got off to a decent start with four earned runs allowed in his first two starts of the year against the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants, but he's surrendered 13 earned runs on 14 hits (four homers) while walking five and striking out six in 5 2/3 innings in his last two outings against the Athletics and Chicago Cubs. He might be one more bad outing away from being sent to the bullpen in New York. If Senga is demoted from the rotation, either veteran left-hander Sean Manaea or pitching prospect Jonah Tong could be the top options to replace him.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Newsday - Laura Albanese

April 18, 2026

New York Mets rookie outfielder Carson Benge will serve as the team's leadoff hitter for the second straight day on Saturday for Game 2 of the series in Chicago against the Cubs and right-hander Jameson Taillon at Wrigley Field, according to MLB.com. Benge went 1-for-4 in the team's ninth straight loss to the Cubs on Friday. The Mets are trying anything to get their bats going without star outfielder Juan Soto (calf). They currently rank 28th in MLB with a .632 team OPS as they head into Saturday's game at the friendly confines of Wrigley Field. Benge's DFS value will increase for the second straight game in the leadoff spot, but since hitting a home run in his major-league debut on Opening Day, he's been pretty ice-cold at the plate. The former 19th overall pick in 2024 out of Oklahoma State is hitting just 158 (9-for-57) with three RBI, five stolen bases, five runs scored, six walks, and 16 strikeouts in his first 17 big-league games.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

April 18, 2026

Free agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers remains unsigned heading into the back half of April. As the NFL Draft approaches, Rodgers still hasn't given any indication as to where (or if) he'll be playing in 2026. The future Hall of Famer is coming off a solid season, all things considered. Now 42 years old, he has managed to rank as a top-18 fantasy quarterback each of the last two years. Across 16 games in 2025, he completed 65.7% of his pass attempts for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. It was the lowest passing yards total of his career (minimum 10 games), but that can be explained by the fact that he had a weak receiving corps around him. DK Metcalf didn't operate like a true WR1 in his first season with the Steelers, and Calvin Austin III failed to take a fourth-year leap. Heading into 2026, Rodgers still has the ability to keep teams in a competitive position, as he did with the Steelers last year. We wouldn't be surprised to see him sign shortly after the NFL Draft. That's what he did in 2025 with the Steelers; once it was clear they didn't select an immediate starter in the draft, he was essentially assured the starting job, so he put pen to paper. There are rumors that the Steelers, whose current QB1 is Mason Rudolph, won't draft a quarterback in the first round. At this point, a post-draft return to Pittsburgh (and a reunion with head coach Mike McCarthy) seems like the most probable outcome for Rodgers. He's a low-end QB2 in redraft leagues, and he's merely a one-year bridge option in dynasty formats.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

April 18, 2026

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen continues to be an elite option in fantasy football, and his ceiling might be getting even higher now that he's healthy and has a new weapon at his disposal. Allen underwent surgery to fix a broken bone in his right foot following the 2025 season, but head coach Joe Brady said that the superstar quarterback is fully healthy. It doesn't sound like the surgery will have any limitations on his performance during training camp or the 2026 regular season. Additionally, Allen will benefit from the Bills' acquisition of wide receiver DJ Moore. While Moore is coming off a down year in which he was essentially pushed down to third on the depth chart in Chicago, he should bounce back as the No. 1 receiver in Buffalo. He'll operate ahead of Khalil Shakir, serving as a reliable medium to deep threat for Allen. It should be no surprise that Allen, who ranked as a top-two fantasy quarterback in each of his last six seasons, remains the QB1 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller