February 12, 2026
Texas Rangers shortstop prospect
Sebastian Walcott (elbow) will undergo elbow surgery and will likely miss most, if not all, of 2026, according to Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News. Walcott was expected to start the season back in the minors, but he almost certainly would have made his major-league debut this year had he been healthy. The 19-year-old is ranked as the No. 7 overall prospect at MLB Pipeline after hitting .255/.355/.386 with 13 home runs and 32 stolen bases in 124 games last year at Double-A Frisco. Despite being the youngest qualified hitter at Double-A in 2025, Walcott posted a 110 wRC+. He also showed improvement with his strikeout rate, walk rate, and swing rate. The 6-foot-4, 190-pounder has plenty of maturing to do, but he has one of the highest fantasy ceilings of any young position-player prospect in the game. Unfortunately, his timeline has been extended by a year.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Dallas Morning News - Evan Grant
February 12, 2026
Utah Jazz forward/center
Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee) is likely to miss the remainder of the season and will undergo surgery on his left knee to deal with a localized PVNS growth. The issue was discovered after the Jazz acquired Jackson in a trade from the Grizzlies, and the procedure will hopefully ensure his long-term health. Jackson has been excellent in limited minutes for the Jazz, and he'll be a big part of their future plans if he's able to start next season healthy. The star big man can be dropped in re-draft formats for this season, while
Kyle Filipowski,
Jusuf Nurkic,
Brice Sensabaugh, and
John Konchar will help pick up more minutes the rest of this season.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Chris Haynes
February 12, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies top pitching prospect
Andrew Painter has no restrictions in spring training, and the Phillies are hoping he wins a rotation spot in camp, according to John Clark of NBC Sports. It's been a long road for Painter to this point after a tear in his UCL was discovered three years ago, which led to Tommy John surgery.
Cristopher Sanchez,
Jesus Luzardo, and
Aaron Nola are locked into the team's top-three rotation spots, but there's a clear opening for Painter now that we know
Zack Wheeler (shoulder) won't be ready for Opening Day. In his first full season back from TJ surgery, Painter struggled, posting a 5.40 ERA and 1.55 WHIP in 22 starts at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The good news is that his stuff looked fine, and he threw a combined 118 innings at two levels. If the 22-year-old is a little sharper than he was last year and he stays healthy, he will most definitely be in play in all fantasy formats as long as he is locked into a rotation spot in Philly.
--Keith HernandezSource: NBC Sports Philadelphia - John Clark
February 12, 2026
New York Yankees pitcher
Luis Gil will throw live batting practice as he looks to get ready for a full 2026 season. Gil will face
Aaron Judge,
Amed Rosario, and
Paul Goldschmidt out of the gate. The 2024 American League Rookie of the Year got a late start to 2025, making his season debut in early August. He went 4-1 with a 3.32 ERA and 4.63 FIP with 41 strikeouts in 57 innings in the regular season. Gil is expected to compete with
Clarke Schmidt for the fifth spot in the rotation for the Yankees this spring training, and the 27-year-old from the Dominican brings a high ceiling if he can return to his 2024 form. In 2024, he had 10.15 K/9, but that dropped all the way to 6.47 K/9 in his limited work last year, causing his FIP and xERA to climb even though his ERA remained low. His progress will be important to watch, and it's a great sign that he's ready to throw live BP this early in the spring.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Gary Phillips
February 12, 2026
Baltimore Orioles first baseman/third baseman
Coby Mayo was the subject of plenty of trade rumors this offseason after the O's signed
Pete Alonso to play 1B on a five-year deal. Mayo has been an elite power prospect for the last few seasons, but he hasn't really established himself in the majors yet. He played 85 games for the O's last year, hitting .217 with 11 homers and a .303 wOBA. He and
Ryan Mountcastle will both be looking for playing time after the Alonso addition, but space could be opening up with 2B
Jackson Holliday (hand) needing surgery and
Jordan Westburg (oblique) behind schedule in his ramp-up to Opening Day. Mayo could be part of the solution to fill in for Holliday, since he could play 3B, while Westburg slides to 2B. Mayo played 1B mostly last season but came through the minors at 3B, where he was working out on a backfield in Orioles spring training on Wednesday. If Mayo can build on his strong September and have a strong spring at the plate, he could earn an Opening Day roster spot, and his power potential is intriguing enough to make him worth watching as a late-round flier.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Andy Kostka
February 12, 2026
Atlanta Braves pitcher
Grant Holmes (elbow) was diagnosed with a partially torn UCL last season and shut down at the end of July. He opted not to undergo surgery, instead resting and rehabbing, and now he wonders if it was a pre-existing condition, based on his quick recovery so quickly. The 29-year-old righty has no restrictions coming into spring training and could end up in the starting rotation that has already lost
Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow) for an extended period of time to start the season. Holms will join Reynaldo López,
Spencer Strider, and
Chris Sale as the established rotation pieces, with
Bryce Elder,
Hurston Waldrep, and
Joey Wentz competing for the fifth spot. Holmes went 4-9 with a 3.99 ERA, 4.40 FIP, and 123 strikeouts in his 115 innings last season. How well his elbow responds to the spring workload will be critical to monitor to see if he breaks camp in the starting rotation for the Braves.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Mark Bowman
February 12, 2026
BYU wide receiver Parker Kingston was charged with first-degree felony rape, the Washington County, Utah Attorney's Office announced on Wednesday. This charge stems from an accusation from February 23, 2025, when a woman told officers that Kington sexually assaulted her. After a yearlong investigation, Kingston was arrested and is being held without bail. He is scheduled to appear in Utah's Fifth Judicial District Court on Friday. Last season, Kingston hauled in 66 receptions for 924 yards and five touchdowns in his fourth year with the Cougars. Needless to say, his future with the program is rightfully unclear moving forward.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Pete Thamel - ESPN
February 12, 2026
Washington Nationals starting pitcher
DJ Herz (elbow) will continue to rehab from his Tommy John surgery to start the season and won't be available until mid-season at the earliest. He underwent the procedure last April, so he could return at some point this season, depending on how the recovery goes. The young lefty showed some upside as a rookie in 2024, with 106 strikeouts in 88 2/3 innings, going 4-9 in 19 starts. His main issue was control problems in his rise through the minors, and he'll need to regain his control after the procedure if he wants to make an impact this season. He's not someone you need to worry about in drafts in almost any format, but he could be a midseason pickup or streaming option late in the year as he looks to return to fantasy relevance for 2027.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Mark Zuckerman
February 12, 2026
Free-agent relief pitcher
Julian Merryweather is joining the Twins bullpen mix by signing a minor-league deal with an invite to camp. The 34-year-old righty has pitched for the Blue Jays and Cubs over the last six seasons, with his best year coming in 2023, when he went 5-1 with a 3.38 ERA and 3.52 FIP in 69 games out of the bullpen while racking up 98 strikeouts in 72 innings. He has battled injury since then, though, and only pitched in 33 2/3 innings over the last two seasons with reduced velocity resulting in a 6.15 ERA and 4.25 FIP. With the Twins bullpen still very uncertain, Merryweather i sanother name to track this spring training to see if he can earn a role in Minnesota.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Dan Hayes
February 12, 2026
Philadelphia 76ers center
Joel Embiid (knee) will be re-evaluated after the All-Star break, ESPN's Tim Bontemps reports. The big man felt soreness in his right knee last weekend against Phoenix and missed a second consecutive game on Wednesday night versus the Knicks. Philadelphia won't return to action until Feb. 19, giving Embiid a full week to shake off the soreness. The 2023 MVP has been back to his best lately, averaging 33.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists across his last 10 appearances.
Andre Drummond and
Adem Bona have filled in as starters with Embiid out of the lineup, and both will maintain their elevated roles if he isn't able to return next week.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
February 12, 2026
Dallas Mavericks forward
Caleb Martin (ankle) is listed as questionable for Thursday's contest against the Los Angeles Lakers. The 30-year-old injured his left ankle on Tuesday night against Phoenix and could be sidelined for the first time since Dec. 20. Martin has averaged 7.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.2 steals in 24.1 minutes per game since Jan. 15, mostly appearing as a starter.
Cooper Flagg (foot) has been ruled out, and
Naji Marshall (foot) is also questionable for Thursday, meaning players like
Klay Thompson,
Khris Middleton, and
Brandon Williams could have larger roles.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
February 12, 2026
Dallas Mavericks forward
Naji Marshall (foot) is questionable for Thursday's clash against the Los Angeles Lakers. Marshall has tallied 30-plus points twice in his last three outings, but he may have to miss Thursday's action due to a left foot sprain. With
Cooper Flagg (foot) already ruled out, Dallas could be without two of its top three scorers.
P.J. Washington,
Max Christie,
Khris Middleton, and
Brandon Williams might all enjoy additional offensive usage on Thursday night. It's a good matchup for the Mavericks offensively, as the Lakers sit 23rd in defensive efficiency.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
February 12, 2026
Dallas Mavericks guard/forward
Klay Thompson (rest) is not on the injury report for Thursday's matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers. The veteran was rested by Dallas on Tuesday night versus Phoenix. Thompson's exit from the lineup coincided with
Khris Middleton's team debut. On Thursday, Thompson will replace
Cooper Flagg (foot) in the rotation. Dallas may also have a couple of additional absences, putting Thompson in a position to play a larger role. The five-time All-Star has shown improved form in recent weeks, averaging 13.4 points over his last 14 appearances.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
February 12, 2026
New Orleans Pelicans guard/forward
Trey Murphy III (shoulder) wasn't able to complete Wednesday's game against the Miami Heat. He left in the third quarter due to right shoulder soreness. Hopefully, this isn't anything serious, as Murphy III's 2024-25 campaign was cut short by a torn labrum in his right shoulder. Murphy III tallied 19 points, four rebounds, and six assists in 27 minutes on Wednesday. He has been a bright spot on a struggling team.
Jeremiah Fears, who missed a triple-double by two assists against Miami, will likely rejoin the starting lineup if Murphy III isn't available after the All-Star break. There would also be additional minutes available for
Bryce McGowens, who totaled 13 points, three assists, and one steal in Wednesday's loss.
--Taavi PailkSource: New Orleans Pelicans PR
February 12, 2026
Oklahoma City Thunder forward
Jalen Williams (hamstring) missed the fourth quarter of Wednesday's 136-109 win over the Phoenix Suns. The 2025 All-Star appeared to reinjure his right hamstring, exiting the game with a few minutes left in the third quarter. Williams was on fire against Phoenix, scoring 28 points on 11-for-12 shooting in just 20 minutes of action. This was only his second outing since returning from a right hamstring strain that kept Williams sidelined for 10 games. Williams is unlikely to play on Thursday against Milwaukee and could miss further time, though he will have extra days to recover during the All-Star break. In the meantime,
Aaron Wiggins and
Isaiah Joe could see extended minutes for the Thunder.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
February 12, 2026
Dallas Mavericks guard/forward
Cooper Flagg (foot) won't be available for Thursday's contest against the Los Angeles Lakers and will miss the All-Star weekend. The 19-year-old rookie sensation suffered a left midfoot sprain in Tuesday's loss to the Phoenix Suns. A source told ESPN that Flagg is expected to be available immediately after the All-Star break. Dallas will resume the season on Feb. 20 with a matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves. With Flagg out, the Mavericks have to fill a gap in the starting lineup on Thursday.
Naji Marshall (foot) is the prime candidate to step into the role, though he must first shake off a questionable tag.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
February 12, 2026
The Kansas City Chiefs hired former NFL running back and current Oklahoma RBs coach DeMarco Murray as their RBs coach on head coach Andy Reid's staff on Wednesday, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Murray has been coaching at the college level since 2019 and will now make the jump to the NFL. The 37-year-old played seven years in the NFL and made three Pro Bowls, finishing his career with 7,174 rushing yards and 49 rushing touchdowns on 1,604 carries (4.5 yards per carry) with the Dallas Cowboys, Tennessee Titans, and Philadelphia Eagles. He was the Offensive Player of the Year in 2014 with Dallas, when he had a league-high 1,845 rushing yards and 13 TDs. KC's RB room could look drastically different in 2026, with both
Isiah Pacheco and
Kareem Hunt set for free agency. Murray will be working under offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX Sports - Jordan Schultz
February 11, 2026
Free-agent right-handed reliever
Liam Hendriks signed a minor-league deal with the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Hendriks, a three-time All-Star, has only made 19 relief appearances since the start of the 2023 season due to injuries. The 37-year-old veteran Australian missed time last year with hip and elbow injuries and pitched in only 14 games for the Boston Red Sox, allowing 11 runs (10 earned) on 12 hits (two homers) while walking seven and striking out 12 in 13 2/3 innings. The Twins certainly could use the experience in their bullpen, but Hendriks is going to have to pitch well this spring and stay healthy to earn an Opening Day bullpen spot in Minnesota. Hendriks has 116 career saves in 14 major-league seasons, but fantasy managers should be looking to ignore him for now.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
February 11, 2026
Los Angeles Lakers center
Deandre Ayton (knee) is questionable for Thursday's contest against the Dallas Mavericks. He could be out for the third time in four games due to a sore right knee. Ayton's absence would allow
Jaxson Hayes to make another start, with
Maxi Kleber and
Drew Timme seeing additional minutes off the bench. As a starter, Hayes has managed 11.0 points and 4.2 rebounds per game this season. Dallas allows the fifth-most fantasy points in the league to centers, making this an attractive matchup for L.A.'s big men.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
February 11, 2026
Dallas Mavericks guard/forward
Cooper Flagg (foot) is listed as doubtful for Thursday's clash against the Los Angeles Lakers. The star rookie is on the injury report due to a left midfoot sprain and appears set to exit the lineup after appearing in six consecutive games. Assuming Flagg won't play, the Mavericks will need more playmaking from
Tyus Jones and
Brandon Williams, while
Naji Marshall might be his replacement in the starting unit. At the same time,
Klay Thompson, who missed Tuesday's loss to Phoenix, could absorb most of the available minutes in the rotation.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
February 11, 2026
San Antonio Spurs guard
Stephon Castle (pelvis) will be in action on Wednesday against the Golden State Warriors. San Antonio's rising star suffered a pelvic contusion in Tuesday's win over the Lakers and was listed as questionable on the initial injury report. Castle entered Tuesday's game coming off a huge 40-point triple-double. He's been shooting nearly 64 percent from the field this month and could be tough to handle for the Warriors.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
February 11, 2026
Los Angeles Lakers guard/forward
Austin Reaves (calf) will return from a one-game absence on Thursday against the Dallas Mavericks. The team has not included Reaves on the injury report. Reaves is managing a calf injury and didn't play on Tuesday night against San Antonio when the Lakers completed a back-to-back. After returning from a calf strain, Reaves has been limited to 24.8 minutes per game across four outings. He has averaged 20.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.3 steals. During Monday's matchup versus Oklahoma City, Reaves logged close to 30 minutes, which could be a sign he may soon be ready to handle his usual workload.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
February 11, 2026
Free-agent right-hander
Chris Bassitt and the Baltimore Orioles agreed on a one-year, $18.5 million contract on Wednesday night, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. The 36-year-old now joins an overhauled Orioles rotation that also includes
Shane Baz,
Zach Eflin,
Kyle Bradish,
Trevor Rogers, and
Dean Kremer. Bassitt will stay in the American League East after going 11-9 with a 3.96 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and 166:52 K:BB in 170 1/3 innings over 32 regular-season outings (31 starts) in 2025 with the Toronto Blue Jays. The veteran hurler isn't overpowering (career 22% strikeout rate), but he does an excellent job at avoiding hard contact. Bassitt was in the 85th percentile last year in average exit velocity and the 80th percentile in hard-hit rate, and he's made at least 30 starts each year since 2022. At his age, fantasy managers know what they are getting: a safe, dependable back-end starter with a limited ceiling.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
February 11, 2026
Los Angeles Lakers forward
LeBron James (foot) is not on the injury report for Thursday's game against the Dallas Mavericks, indicating he will return to the lineup. The veteran superstar sat out the second leg of a back-to-back against San Antonio on Tuesday. With
Luka Doncic (hamstring) out, James has taken on more playmaking duties, finishing each of his last three appearances with a double-double. He is averaging 21.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 8.6 assists, and 1.2 steals for the month.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
February 11, 2026
Los Angeles Lakers point guard
Luka Doncic (hamstring) has been ruled out for Thursday's matchup with the Dallas Mavericks. He will skip the meeting with his former team due to a left hamstring strain. This will be Doncic's fourth consecutive absence.
Marcus Smart,
Luke Kennard, and
Kobe Bufkin have a chance to see more action with Doncic out of commission. Meanwhile,
LeBron James and
Austin Reaves are responsible for keeping the Lakers' offense ticking.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
February 11, 2026
The Denver Post's Kyle Newman writes that new Colorado Rockies outfielder
Jake McCarthy "could very well end up starting in right field" to begin the 2026 season over
Mickey Moniak. McCarthy can play all three outfield spots and will be the fastest Rockies player with a sprint speed in the 99th percentile. The 28-year-old finished fourth in the National League Rookie of the Year voting back in 2022 and played in a career-high 142 games in 2024, but he dealt with injuries and slumped to the tune of a .204/.247/.345 slash line with a career-worst .591 OPS in 67 games (222 plate appearances) last year. McCarthy faces significant competition in Colorado's outfield, but if he bounces back, he could make the left-handed-hitting Moniak expendable. Speed is McCarthy's greatest asset, and although he doesn't have much power, he's a more intriguing bench stash in deeper fantasy leagues now that he's in Colorado.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Denver Post - Kyle Newman
February 11, 2026
Golden State Warriors guard/forward
Will Richard (knee) won't play on Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs. He is battling a right knee contusion, and Golden State has downgraded Richard from questionable to out. After having some standout moments early in the campaign, Richard has not been a major part of the rotation in recent weeks. Across this month, he has been limited to 16.5 minutes per game.
De'Anthony Melton,
Gary Payton II, and
Brandin Podziemski will absorb Richard's minutes on Wednesday night.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
February 11, 2026
Golden State Warriors guard
De'Anthony Melton (glute) will play on Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs. He has been upgraded from questionable to available. Melton has been a starter for three consecutive games, averaging 10.7 points and 2.7 steals in 24.6 minutes. The 27-year-old will be a crucial defensive piece against San Antonio's backcourt, which is spearheaded by
De'Aaron Fox. Offensively, this is a bad matchup for him, as San Antonio ranks third in defensive efficiency.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
February 11, 2026
Denver Nuggets guard/forward
Spencer Jones (concussion) will not return to action on Wednesday against the Memphis Grizzlies. There was initially a chance Jones would be back after the team listed him as questionable on the injury report. However, he has been ruled out ahead of tip-off.
Julian Strawther is set to remain in the starting lineup and has plenty to offer fantasy teams, having averaged 19.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.0 steals over the last two games.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
February 11, 2026
Denver Nuggets guard/forward
Christian Braun (ankle) has been cleared to play on Wednesday against the Memphis Grizzlies. He is ready to suit up for a fifth consecutive game after initially having a probable tag on the injury report. Braun has started to pick up momentum and matched his season high with 20 points in Monday's loss to Cleveland. He also had five rebounds and a pair of assists. With a softer defensive matchup on Wednesday night, Braun may have an even bigger impact.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
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