April 19, 2026
Joel Eriksson Ek did not hesitate, he simply kept shooting the puck. Eriksson Ek had five shots on goal in Game 1 against the Dallas Stars. Two of those shots went in the net on the power play as Minnesota routed Dallas 6-1. The first goal came as Eriksson Ek cruised into the slot. He beat Jake Oettinger off a brilliant feed from Matt Boldy. His second goal came from a Kirill Kaprizov pass where Oettinger had zero chance of stopping the puck. The key part is that the forward was willing to get into a position in the slot where he might take punishment but would get chances. Eriksson Ek did not miss as the top line racked up 15 of Minnesota's 28 shots in Game 1.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: Ryan Bowlin
April 19, 2026
Tyler Reddick is fast once again this week, as the No. 45 Toyota was the quickest in both practice and qualifying at Kansas Speedway on Saturday afternoon and will lead the field to the green for the AdventHealth 400 on Sunday. Reddick is a previous Kansas winner (back in 2023) and ended up finishing seventh here last fall. Now the question is, will he be able to stay up front this weekend? His team owner, Denny Hamlin, starts on the outside pole this weekend and was dominant in the fall race here at Kansas last season as well as the Las Vegas race this season. However, Reddick showed good speed in practice here on Saturday, ranking the best in 15- and 20-lap average during the session. Reddick should be at least a top-five contender on race day, and it wouldn't be surprising if he challenged for the win. In DFS, he could be a solid value pick ($9,500 salary) if he can grab dominator points early.
--Jordan McAbeeSource: RACER
April 19, 2026
Ryan Blaney of Team Penske will start in ninth for the AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway, marking the seventh time this year that he will start inside the top 10 in a race. In 22 races at Kansas, Blaney has nine top-10 finishes and an average finish of 15.2. After eight races so far this year, Blaney is second in the regular-season standings with one win and six top-10 finishes with an average finish of 9.1. In practice for this week's race, Blaney ranked 31st in overall lap averages and displayed top-10 speeds in the 10-30 consecutive lap average categories. Blaney is a driver who is capable of placing in the top 10 and competing for a top-5 finish based on equipment, season-wide performance, and track history.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: DriverAverages.com
April 19, 2026
Ty Gibbs is on a hot streak to say the least. Over the last six Cup Series races, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver hasn't finished worse than sixth, and he's coming off of his first-ever Cup win at Bristol last weekend, too. And he looks poised to continue running well at Kansas this weekend. Gibbs will roll off the starting grid from third-place when the AdventHealth 400 goes green on Sunday afternoon, and in practice the No. 54 Toyota looked stout, ranking fifth-best in 15-, 20-, and 25-lap average. Gibbs has a shaky history at Kansas Speedway (five finishes of 25th or worse in seven starts) but he did end up fifth here in 2024, and he ran fifth at Las Vegas earlier this season as well. From a DFS perspective, Ty Gibbs is a tournament play on DraftKings ($9,200 salary) and should be a top-five contender all day in the AdventHealth 400.
--Jordan McAbeeSource: Speedway Digest
April 19, 2026
Logan Stankoven had a nice scoring run before the Stanley Cup Playoffs started. Stankoven scored seven goals and 11 points over his final eight regular season contests. He began Game 1 against Ottawa with three shots in the opening 20 minutes including a few high quality opportunities. Stankoven ended with a pivotal goal and an assist along with six shots on goal. Lost in the gaudy numbers may be the six hits the forward delivered. He was the physical centerpiece on a second line, along with Jackson Blake and Taylor Hall, that caused problems for Ottawa's defense.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: Ryan Henkel
April 19, 2026
Chris Buescher is no stranger to running well at Kansas Speedway. Over the last four races at the track, Buescher has the fifth-best average driver rating (96.5) and has not had a result worse than 15th during that span--including his near-win here back in the spring of 2024. As far as intermediate tracks in general, Buescher is as reliable as they come. He's posted top-15 finishes in five of the last six, including a sixth-place run at Las Vegas a month ago. Las Vegas is the sister track to Kansas Speedway, and it appears that Roush-Fenway Keselowski Racing brought a similar hot rod here this weekend, as the No. 17 Ford ranked second-best in 20-lap average during practice and Buescher ended up qualifying seventh after that. He should be a solid top-10 threat on race day, and could be a sleeper for a top five. Buescher is a risky tournament-style play on DraftKings ($8,300 salary).
--Jordan McAbeeSource: Driver Averages
April 19, 2026
Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron will start the AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway from the 14th position after qualifying. In 16 Cup starts at Kansas, Byron has nine top-10 finishes, including the last two Fall races at the site. Through eight races so far this year, Byron is ranked seventh in the regular-season standings with four top-10 finishes and an average finish of 13.3. In practice for this week's race, Byron ranked 11th in overall lap averages while displaying top-10 speeds in the 15-30 consecutive lap average categories, including ranking second in 30 consecutive lap averages. Overall, Byron is a solid driver capable of placing in the top 10 based on practice speeds and past track history at Kansas.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: DriverAverages.com
April 19, 2026
Don't be surprised if Carson Hocevar has a career-best run at Kansas Speedway this weekend in the AdventHealth 400. Now, to be fully transparent, it's not going to take a lot to accomplish that, as Hocevar's track record at Kansas is absymal; he's never finished better than 20th at the 1.5-mile track in five career starts. However, Hocevar noted during practice on Saturday that this was the best car he's ever had at Kansas, and he has been a top 10 contender in the past before running into issues. When it came to speed, the No. 77 Chevrolet ranked 10th-fastest on the speed chart on Saturday, and Hocevar will roll off the starting grid from sixth on race day. At $7,700 on DraftKings, Hocevar is a very risky play due to his limited Place Differential upside. It's probably best to stay away from him, but don't avoid completely.
--Jordan McAbeeSource: ifantasyrace
April 19, 2026
Porter Martone started out his first taste of the NHL with a bang. He scored four goals and 10 points in nine games. Naturally, Martone made a difference when it counted most on Saturday night. Though, he missed a couple of scoring chances early in the contest, Martone made a late third period chance count. That goal made the score 3-1 Philadelphia and the Flyers would hold on to win 3-2. Martone silenced the entire crowd in Pittsburgh with a move that stunned everyone as he fired a quick shot past Stuart Skinner. As Martone put it, he found an opportunity and took it.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: Adam Kimelman
April 19, 2026
Frederik Andersen went into the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs with some doubt. Andersen endured the worst season of his 13-year career. However, he only gave up three goals on 52 shots in his final two starts of the regular season. When Rod Brind'Amour gave Andersen the starting nod for Game 1, some were surprised. Andersen made 22 saves against Ottawa including a shot some thought was a goal by Drake Batherson. It turned into a key moment as the Senators never got one past Andersen. The Danish goaltender picked quite a time to get his first shutout of the season to open the playoffs.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: Cory Lavalette
April 19, 2026
Chase Briscoe, driver of the No. 19 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, will start in the fifth position after qualifying for the AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway, marking the second time in his Cup career that he will start in the top five at the site. In 10 races at Kansas, Briscoe has an average finish of 18.0 with two top-5 finishes, both of which were last year's races at the site. In eight Cup races so far this year, Briscoe ranks 17th in the regular-season standings with three top-10 finishes and an average finish of 18.9. In practice for this week's race at Kansas, Briscoe ranked 35th in overall lap averages, while ranking as high as sixth in 10 consecutive lap averages. Kansas has proven to be a strong track for Briscoe since joining JGR in 2025, and he will be a top-5 threat once again due to his equipment and practice speeds for this week's race.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: DriverAverages.com
April 19, 2026
Three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence has been traded from the New York Giants to the Cincinnati Bengals in a deal that sees the Bengals' 10th overall pick in the 2026 Draft heading back to New York. The two-time second-team All-Pro had reportedly demanded a trade after initially seeking a new deal with the Giants, and the team obliged after the two sides were unable to come to an agreement. The 28-year-old Lawrence registered only half a sack in 2025 after tallying a career-high nine in 2024, but his 108 pressures since 2022, when lined up at the nose, are more than triple that of any other player in the league. Cincinnati has had one of the league's lowest-ranked defensive units for years, and they have paid a steep price to bolster the trenches. Lawrence's true impact will now be put to the test without the help of a much stronger surrounding cast, particularly on the edges.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Ian Rapoport
April 19, 2026
Chase Elliott of Hendrick Motorsports qualified 13th for the AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway, marking his first starting position outside of the top 10 in a race at the site since September 2024. In 20 Cup races at Kansas, Elliott has two wins, 13 top-10 finishes, and a series-leading average finish of 9.9. He is also the track's most recent winner in the Cup Series. Through eight Cup races so far in the 2026 season, Elliott ranks fifth in the Cup Series standings with one win, four top-10 finishes, and an average finish of 10.6. In practice for Sunday's race at Kansas, Elliott ranked 18th in overall lap averages and displayed top-10 speeds in the 10-25 consecutive lap average categories. Elliott is a solid overall DFS option who can be used in all formats this week, especially due to his favorable track history and top-10 practice speeds at Kansas.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: DriverAverages.com
April 19, 2026
Matt Boldy led the Minnesota Wild in a resounding 6-1 Game 1 victory. Boldy wound up with a game-high eight shots on goal. He followed that up with two goals and an assist. That included a bunch of scoring chances and an empty net tally too. Boldy found Joel Eriksson Ek in the slot for the first of Eriksson Ek's two power play goals. The duo combined for 13 shots and six points against the Dallas Stars. Overall, the top line ended up with nine points including Kirill Kaprizov. Boldy and the trio could not be stopped by Dallas' team defense. His ability to create space and chances changed the entire tenor of Game 1.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: Alex Micheletti
April 19, 2026
Team Penske's Joey Logano will start 15th for the AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway. This will be a lower starting position compared to last year's spring Cup race at Kansas (fifth). In 33 Cup races at Kansas, Logano has three wins, 13 top-10 finishes, and an average finish of 16.7. In eight races so far this season, Logano ranks 12th in the regular-season standings with three top-10 finishes and an average finish of 15.6. In practice for this week's race, Logano ranked 33rd in overall lap averages, but ranked as high as 10th in 30 consecutive lap averages. Although Logano is a playable and decent DFS option who can maintain a top-15 finish based on track history and practice speeds, there are more favorable options with higher upside around his salary range for DFS this week.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: DriverAverages.com
April 19, 2026
Bubba Wallace of 23XI Racing will start in 10th after qualifying for the AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway. It will be the second time in Wallace's Cup career that he has had back-to-back top-10 starting positions in two Kansas races in a row since the 2019 season. In 16 Cup races at Kansas, Wallace has one win and four top-10 finishes, which were all scored within his last eight Cup appearances at the site. Through eight races so far in the 2026 season, Wallace ranks eighth in the regular-season standings with four top-10 finishes and an average finish of 15.6. In practice for this week's race, Wallace ranked 17th in overall lap averages but displayed top-5 speeds in most categories, including first in 10 consecutive lap averages. Considering his positive history, top-notch equipment, and upside from his starting position with a car capable of placing in the top five, Wallace is a great driver to consider for all DFS formats this week.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: DriverAverages.com
April 19, 2026
Trackhouse Racing driver Ross Chastain is starting 31st after qualifying for the AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway. This is Chastain's lowest starting position in a Kansas Cup race since 2019, when he drove for Premium Motorsports. In 14 Cup events at Kansas, Chastain has 10 top-20 finishes, with four inside the top 10, and one win. Chastain placed 19th or better in every Kansas race since 2021. After the first eight races of the 2026 season, Chastain ranks 21st in the regular-season standings with an average finish of 19.4 and six top-20 finishes. In practice for this week's race, Chastain ranked 29th in overall lap averages and as high as 21st in 10 consecutive lap averages. Chastain's high upside from his starting position makes him playable in all DFS lineups, but he is best utilized in cash game lineups, especially with his practice speeds indicating that he will compete for a top-20 finish at best.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: DriverAverages.com
April 19, 2026
RFK Racing's Brad Keselowski will start in the 21st position for the AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway. This will be the fifth consecutive race in a row where Keselowski will start outside of the top 20 at Kansas. In 32 races at Kansas, Keselowski has 26 top-20 finishes, with 15 inside the top 10, including two victories. After eight races so far in the 2026 season, Keselowski ranks 11th in the regular-season standings with an average finish of 19.3. The No. 6 Ford driver is one of only two drivers left in the field to finish inside the top 20 in every race so far this year. In practice for this week's Cup race, Keselowski ranked 23rd in overall lap averages and as high as 21st in 20 consecutive lap averages. Due to the potential upside of his equipment, Keselowski is one to watch for DFS this week, especially with three finishes of 11th or better in the last five Kansas Cup races.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: DriverAverages.com
April 19, 2026
Daniel Suarez of Spire Motorsports qualified eighth for this week's AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway. This will be the sixth time in his Cup career at Kansas that Suarez will start a race inside the top 10. In 18 previous races at the site, Suarez has only two top-10 finishes, with his last one being scored in September 2022. Through the first eight races of the 2026 season, Suarez ranks 15th in the regular-season standings with two top-10 finishes and an average finish of 16.3. In practice for this week's race, Suarez ranks 25th in overall lap averages and ranks as high as 11th in 25 consecutive lap averages. Although Suarez is having one of his better seasons to date, Kansas is a track where he has notably struggled in the past, and he does have some risk of losing Place Differential based on his starting position. Fantasy players should only consider Suarez for tournament lineups based on his 2026 performance so far, but even then, there are more favorable DFS options with upside available around his salary range.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: DriverAverages.com
April 18, 2026
Detroit Tigers catcher
Dillon Dingler has been hot recently, collecting a hit in five of his last nine games with two home runs and seven RBI during that stretch. Overall, Dingler is slashing .259/.348/.517 with four home runs, 14 RBI, and nine runs over 18 games. The 27-year-old has seen increases across the board in xBA (.328) and xSLG (.694), and his HardHit% (59.1%). His K% (18.2%) has decreased by about five points from 2025 (23.5%). For fantasy managers needing catcher help, Dingler is emerging as an add candidate in leagues with 12 teams or more. He is currently rostered in 37% of Yahoo Fantasy leagues and is 57th overall in the latest RotoBaller waiver rankings for Week 3.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 18, 2026
Seattle Mariners first baseman/outfielder
Luke Raley went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk, and two additional runs scored in Saturday's 7-3 win over the Texas Rangers. His home run traveled 381 feet with an exit velocity of 112.7 mph. Raley is heating up and has homered twice over his last four games while logging multi-hit efforts in three of his last six contests. Overall, the 31-year-old is slashing .318/.375/.636 with five home runs, 13 RBI, 11 runs, and a 1.011 OPS over 20 games in 2026. Raley is known as a streaky hitter but is emerging as a hitter to add off the waiver wire while he's swinging a hot bat. He is currently rostered in 22% of Yahoo Fantasy leagues, but is more of a streamer and an option in deep leagues. Raley is currently ranked 83rd in the latest waiver wire rankings for RotoBaller.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 18, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers reliever
Alex Vesia is becoming an elite handcuff for fantasy managers with Dodgers closer
Edwin Diaz. Vesia owns two saves, a 0.60 WHIP, and 10 strikeouts over 8 1/3 innings in 2026. The 30-year-old would be the top option to close for the Dodgers if Diaz were to miss any time. Vesia struck out the side and earned his second save of the season on Tuesday, with Diaz unavailable after throwing a bullpen session earlier in the afternoon. He is mainly used in high-leverage situations and is quickly emerging as an elite handcuff in fantasy baseball. Vesia provides elite ratios, solds, and is rostered in only 24% of Yahoo Fantasy leagues. The veteran right-hander should be added in leagues with 12 teams or more and is currently 16th in the latest RotoBaller waiver wire rankings for Week 3.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 18, 2026
Pittsburgh Pirates reliever
Dennis Santana has picked up two saves over his last five innings pitched while posting a 1.80 ERA. Santana owns a (2-1) record with two saves while posting a 0.82 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, and 7:5 K:BB across 11 innings in 2026. The 30-year-old entered the ninth inning in Friday's win over the Tampa Bay Rays, but it ended up being a non-save situation. However, the good news is that Santana has appeared in the ninth inning or later in his last six appearances. He is coming off a career year in 2025, when he posted a 2.18 ERA and 0.87 WHIP and recorded 16 saves. Santana was the favorite to start the year as Pittsburgh's primary closer, but the Pirates opted to use
Gregory Soto in save situations to start the year. With the recent trend of Santana handling ninth-inning duties and Soto being used primarily as a setup man, Santana is quickly reclaiming his role as the main Pirates closer.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 18, 2026
Cleveland Guardians left-hander
Joey Cantillo (1-0) is off to a great start to the 2026 season, posting a 2.61 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and a 24:9 K:BB across 20 2/3 innings. He is becoming a key part of Cleveland's rotation and owns an elite 29.6 K% and a 11.4% swinging strike rate through four starts. Cantillo had been pitching well last season after joining the rotation in July, posting a 2.96 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 72:28 K:BB over 67 innings over his last 13 starts. The 26-year-old has allowed two earned runs or less in each of his four starts and will look to continue his impressive stretch in his next start Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals. Fantasy managers looking for a streamer on Sunday and a boost to their pitching staff should consider adding Cantillo. He is currently rostered in 52% of Yahoo Fantasy leagues and is becoming a priority add for fantasy managers in need of starting pitching.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Savant
April 18, 2026
San Antonio Spurs guard
Dylan Harper (thumb) has been removed from the injury report ahead of Sunday's Game 1 against the Portland Trail Blazers. Harper was forced to exit the regular-season finale due to a left thumb injury. It doesn't appear to be serious enough to force Harper to miss the beginning of the playoffs. Harper should resume his role as the backup guard to
De'Aaron Fox. The rookie guard averaged 11.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.9 assists across 22.6 minutes per game during the regular season. He won't be an ideal DFS option with Fox and
Stephon Castle healthy. The 20-year-old is an important part of the Spurs rotation, so they'll be glad to have him back for the beginning of this series.
--Andy WebbSource: NBA Injury Report
April 18, 2026
Phoenix Suns guard/forward
Grayson Allen (hamstring) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Allen has been dealing with a lingering hamstring issue, but was available for Friday's game against the Golden State Warriors. Despite being available, Allen didn't suit up for Friday's Play-In victory.
Jordan Goodwin,
Collin Gillespie, and
Haywood Highsmith stand to gain the most value if Allen remains on the sideline for Sunday's contest. Goodwin is by far the best streaming choice between the three players, but he could lose value if Allen does end up playing.
--Andy WebbSource: NBA Injury Report
April 18, 2026
Phoenix Suns center
Mark Williams (foot) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Williams was able to play 22 minutes during Tuesday's loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. The big man was unable to suit up for Friday's win over the Golden State Warriors due to a lingering foot issue.
Oso Ighodaro finished with 10 points and six rebounds across 26 minutes of action on Friday. He figures to play a similar role once again if Williams misses a second straight game.
Khaman Maluach could see an expanded role as well, but Ighodaro is the better streaming option if Williams gets downgraded.
--Andy WebbSource: NBA Injury Report
April 18, 2026
Houston Rockets guard
Reed Sheppard will move into the starting five ahead of Saturday's Game 1 against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Rockets will be without
Kevin Durant (knee), which will shift Sheppard into the starting unit. The Rockets are hopeful that this will only be a one-game absence for the superstar forward. Sheppard will be asked to take on a larger role offensively without Durant available. He should be a focal point on offense along with
Alperen Sengun and
Amen Thompson.
Tari Eason,
Dorian Finney-Smith, and
Jae'Sean Tate could all see increased run as well. Among the bench, Sheppard is the best DFS option with Durant missing at least Game 1.
--Andy WebbSource: NBA Injury Report
April 18, 2026
Houston Rockets forward
Kevin Durant (knee) has been ruled out ahead of Saturday's Game 1 against the Los Angeles Lakers. Durant will be downgraded from questionable to out due to a right knee contusion. Head coach Ime Udoka is hopeful that this will be a one-game absence for Durant. His absence from the rotation will mean that
Reed Sheppard will move into the starting five on Saturday.
Tari Eason,
Dorian Finney-Smith, and
Jae'Sean Tate are all candidates to see increased run as well. Among the bunch, Sheppard is the best DFS option ahead of Saturday's slate. He should be a focal point on offense along with
Amen Thompson and
Alperen Sengun.
--Andy WebbSource: NBA Injury Report
April 18, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher
Brad Keller could be asked to take on a larger role in the bullpen over the next few weeks. On Saturday, closer
Jhoan Duran (oblique) was placed on the 15-day Injured List. The organization is hopeful it'll be a minimal stay for Duran, but the Phillies will still be without him for the next two weeks. The expectation is that either Keller or
Jose Alvarado will take over in the closer role while Duran is down. Given Alvarado's struggles, Keller seems like the favorite to get saves right now. Fantasy managers looking for a source for saves might want to consider adding Keller if he does end up taking over the closer role.
--Andy WebbSource: Baseball Reference
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