Kirk Cousins an Option for Rams as Backup Quarterback?
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said that the team is "hopeful for a reunion" with veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, but he also said that they have talked with free-agent QB Kirk Cousins and his agent as another possibility for the backup role in 2026, per Rams beat writer Stu Jackson. The 37-year-old Cousins is on the open market after the Atlanta Falcons officially released him at the start of the new league year earlier this month. He's biding his time for the right situation, which could come in Los Angeles if Jimmy G departs. As Cousins nears the end of his career, he won't have any fantasy football appeal unless an injury to a starter forces him into action again. If he were to sign with the Rams, he'd be sitting behind reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford. The four-time Pro Bowler was benched in favor of Michael Penix Jr. in 2024 and then appeared in 10 games (eight starts) in 2025, throwing for 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions while going 5-3 as a starter down the stretch.
Source: Rams.com - Stu Jackson
Source: Rams.com - Stu Jackson
Cowboys Not Worried About George Pickens' Offseason Participation
Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said he's been staying in contact with franchise-tagged wide receiver George Pickens, but he "hasn't asked for or received assurances" that Pickens will be present for offseason workouts, according to Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The Cowboys and Pickens have until mid-July to work out a long-term contract extension after they placed the franchise tag on him. Minicamp and organized team activities are voluntary, so Pickens almost certainly won't be present for those if he remains on the franchise tag. The Cowboys won't be concerned about the star wideout unless he starts holding out of mandatory workouts at training camp this summer, which is entirely possible if the two sides don't work out an extension by the deadline in July. Pickens will be a WR1 in fantasy football drafts in 2026 after breaking out in his first year in Dallas with 93 catches, 1,429 yards, and nine touchdowns as Dallas' leading receiver.
Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram - Nick Harris
Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram - Nick Harris
Bills Pick Up Dalton Kincaid's Fifth-Year Option
The Buffalo Bills officially picked up tight end Dalton Kincaid's fifth-year option on Monday, general manager Brandon Beane told Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News. Kincaid revealed after the season that he played through a PCL knee injury that has lingered since late in the 2024 season, which is why he was limited to a career-low 12 games in 2025. The 26-year-old former 25th overall pick in 2023 out of Utah finished last year with a career-low 39 receptions for 571 yards and a career-high five touchdowns on 49 targets. He caught nine passes for 111 yards and two more touchdowns in two playoff games on 11 targets for the Bills. The good news is that Kincaid didn't require offseason surgery on his knee. The bad news is that the Bills acquired receiver DJ Moore from the Bears in an offseason trade, bringing more target competition for Kincaid in his fourth year in the NFL in 2026. Although Kincaid is still Buffalo's clear No. 1 tight end, it's also not great that Dawson Knox returned on a new three-year deal.
Source: The Buffalo News - Lance Lysowski
Source: The Buffalo News - Lance Lysowski
Max Homa Looks to Get Back on Track at Valero Texas Open
Max Homa missed the cut at the Valspar Championship two weeks ago, following a tied-for-32nd finish at the PLAYERS Championship three weeks ago. Homa will now turn his focus to preparing for this week's Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio in San Antonio, Texas. Homa has had mixed results at the Valero Texas Open, missing the cut in 2023 and finishing tied for 25th in 2024. Over the past 12 months, Homa ranks in the 38th percentile in greens in regulation percentage on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway. This is worth pointing out because over 36% of approach shots came from this distance at last year's Valero Texas Open.
Source: Data Golf
Source: Data Golf
Russell Henley Continues Blistering Start to 2026 Season
Russell Henley tied for 13th place at the PLAYERS Championship three weeks ago, followed by a sixth-place finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He is now preparing for this week's Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio in Texas. This season, Henley has five top-25 finishes and one missed cut in six starts. Fleetwood missed last year's Valero Texas Open, but he finished fourth in the 2024 edition. In the past 12 months, Henley has ranked in the 97th percentile for greens in regulation percentage on approach shots from 150-200 yards when hitting from the fairway. This statistic is significant because over 36% of approach shots at last year's Valero Texas Open came from this distance.
Source: Data Golf
Source: Data Golf
Tommy Fleetwood Returns to Valero Texas Open
Tommy Fleetwood finished tied for eighth at the PLAYERS Championship three weeks ago, finishing 49th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational the week before. Fleetwood will now focus on preparing for this week's Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio in San Antonio, Texas. Fleetwood has three top-10 finishes and no missed cuts this season. Fleetwood finished tied for 62nd at last year's Valero Texas Open and tied for seventh in the 2024 edition. Over the past 12 months, Fleetwood ranks in the 55th percentile in greens in regulation percentage on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway. This is worth pointing out because over 36% of approach shots came from this distance at last year's Valero Texas Open.
Source: Data Golf
Source: Data Golf
Coby Mayo Ready for Breakout Season?
Baltimore Orioles corner infielder Coby Mayo spent the offseason hitting sliders, curveballs, and changeups "at their most extreme movement profiles" off a pitching machine in an effort to help him square the baseball up more frequently, according to Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner. Mayo is Baltimore's everyday third baseman to begin the 2026 season with Jordan Westburg (elbow) likely out through April. In 2025, Mayo whiffed on 43.8% of the breaking balls that he swung at. Although he's gone just 2-for-9 in the early going in the first three games of the 2026 season, Mayo has two walks and two strikeouts and is already squaring the ball up more frequently. In 85 games for the O's last year, Mayo slashed .217/.299/.388 with a .687 OPS, 11 home runs, 28 RBI, and 30 runs scored in 294 plate appearances. With more consistent playing time at third base early on this year, Mayo will have an opportunity to become a post-hype breakout in Baltimore.
Source: The Baltimore Banner - Andy Kostka
Source: The Baltimore Banner - Andy Kostka
Daniel Berger Returns to Action For Valero Texas Open
Daniel Berger finished tied for 66th at the PLAYERS Championship three weeks ago, following a second-place finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He is now focusing on preparing for this week's Valero Texas Open, which will take place at TPC San Antonio in Texas. This season, Berger has three top-25 finishes but has also missed the cut once in eight appearances. Last year, he tied for 30th at the Valero Texas Open. Over the past 12 months, Berger ranks in the 88th percentile for greens in regulation percentage on approach shots from 150 to 200 yards in the fairway. This statistic is significant because over 36% of approach shots at last year's Valero Texas Open came from this distance.
Source: Data Golf
Source: Data Golf
Wander Franco's Re-Trial in Dominican Republic Delayed Again
The re-trial of Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, which was scheduled to start on Monday in the Dominican Republic, has been delayed again and is now set to take place from May 13 to 15, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Franco was found guilty of sexual abuse of a minor in the Dominican Republic back in June of last year and received a suspended two-year prison sentence. The 25-year-old could be subject to further discipline under MLB's domestic-violence, sexual-assault, and child-abuse policies. Franco remains on the restricted list and will be unlikely to obtain a visa to ever return to play for the Rays or another big-league club in the future. A once-promising MLB career has been thrown away due to poor personal choices by Franco. In Tampa, youngster Carson Williams has taken over the shortstop job early in 2026 with Taylor Walls (oblique) on the 10-day injured list.
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
Carlos Estevez Still in Boot, Unlikely to be Available on Monday
Kansas City Royals right-handed reliever Carlos Estevez (ankle) is still in a walking boot on Monday, and the team will see how he feels, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Estevez probably won't be available to pitch to begin the week, but with an off day on Tuesday, the Royals will determine if he needs to go on the injured list. The 33-year-old veteran took a line drive off his left ankle when he allowed a whopping six runs in a blown save on Saturday against the Atlanta Braves, and he wasn't available to pitch in the series finale in Atlanta on Sunday. With Estevez out, Lucas Erceg picked up the save for KC in the 4-1 win. Even if Estevez was available on Sunday, manager Matt Quatraro hinted that the Royals want to use the struggling reliever in lower-leverage situations going forward. Estevez could certainly be used in save situations again in 2026, but right now, he's firmly on the closer hot seat, and fantasy managers need to scoop up Erceg wherever they can. An IL stint seems likely for Estevez, mainly so that he can figure out a way to get his velocity back up.
Source: MLB.com - Anne Rogers
Source: MLB.com - Anne Rogers
Bo Bichette Off to a Slow Start in Queens, Hears Boos on Opening Weekend
New York Mets third baseman Bo Bichette didn't take long to hear the boo-birds coming his way during his opening weekend with his new team, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. It wasn't all bad for Bichette in the series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, but he did strike out multiple times per game and carries an early 53.3% strikeout rate in 15 plate appearances. Bichette acknowledged that he's feeling the pressure after signing a three-year, $126 million contract with the Mets in the offseason. To begin the 2026 season, he went 1-for-14 with an RBI, run scored, and eight strikeouts. "We can talk about it being early, but I need to figure some things out," Bichette said. "I've done it before. Just different circumstances." Fantasy managers shouldn't be overly concerned just yet, especially since Bichette is also transitioning on defense from the move from shortstop to the hot corner in Queens.
Source: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
Source: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
Chase Elliott Takes Advantage of Pit Strategies for Second Career Martinsville Win
Chase Elliott obtained his first victory of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season in the Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday. Elliott began the race from 10th, but struggled to maintain his place inside the top 10 throughout the first stage. He eventually finished the stage in 12th and failed to earn stage points. The second stage was similar in the fact that Elliott could not reach the top 10 and ended the stage in 14th, leaving him with no stage points for the entire race. In the final stage, Elliott's crew chief, Alan Gustafson, made a call to pit the No. 9 Chevrolet driver early for tires on lap 261 and gained track position after late race cautions bunched the field back up. Elliott then took the lead from Ross Chastain and Denny Hamlin and never looked back, leading 84 laps for the second win of his Cup career at Martinsville. With his victory this past weekend, Elliott is now ranked fourth in the regular-season standings after seven races.
Source: NASCAR.com
Source: NASCAR.com
Denny Hamlin Dominates but Finishes Second at Martinsville
Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing was the dominant driver in Sunday's Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway. The No. 11 Toyota driver went on to lead 292 of 400 total laps in the race while winning the first two stages, but fell short of victory to Chase Elliott. Through the first two stages, Hamlin looked untouchable outside of when William Byron passed him and led for six laps in the first stage until Hamlin took the lead back from Byron. In the final stage, however, Hamlin eventually lost the lead to Chase Elliott, who made his way to the lead thanks to a pit strategy call that allowed him to gain track position over Hamlin after some late cautions occurred for crashes and debris. Late in the stage, Hamlin was trying to catch Elliott to pass him for the win, but just could not pass Elliott as he did not have the proper tire grip in his car by the end of the race. Although Hamlin earned his third top-5 of the season and missed out on winning, he now rose up to third in the regular-season standings after seven races this year.
Source: NASCAR.com
Source: NASCAR.com
Joey Logano Bounces Back with Third-Place Finish at Martinsville
Joey Logano, the No. 22 Ford driver for Team Penske, bounced back from a horrible 33rd-place run at Darlington to finish third in the Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway. Logano began the race from the ninth position and, in the first stage, showcased a car that was fast on longer green flag runs. The Penske driver went from ninth to seventh in the first stage, earning four stage points as passing became a challenge at the track throughout the day. In the second stage, Logano made up further ground as he went from seventh all the way to third by the end of the stage. He scored eight more stage points as the race transitioned to the final stage. For most of the stage, Logano ran inside the top five and made it as high as second to try and challenge Denny Hamlin for the lead. However, Logano's car was not fast enough to overtake Hamlin and then fell behind Chase Elliott, who took advantage of a pit strategy and the timing of cautions late in the race to gain track position. On the final restart, Logano went from the middle of the top 10 to finishing in third behind Elliott and Hamlin, matching his best result of the 2026 season so far and continuing his top-10 streak at Martinsville to 14 consecutive races. After seven Cup races this year, Logano is now 12th in the regular season standings.
Source: NASCAR.com
Source: NASCAR.com
Dylan Cease Featuring New Changeup in Pitch Mix
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease looked amazing in his first start with Toronto over the weekend, striking out 12 hitters in 5 1/3 innings (one run allowed) versus the Athletics. His 12 K's were a franchise record for a Blue Jays starter in their debut. Per The Athletic's Mitch Bannon, Cease's goal this spring was to incorporate a new changeup, mostly against left-handed hitters, to complement his fastball/slider mix. The new changeup is faster than Cease's previous version and has more arm-side movement. "I'm going to keep fine-tuning it," Cease said. "Trying to find a little more consistency with command, but I like where it's at." The new changeup isn't an excellent pitch, but it could keep hitters more off balance and generate weak contact, especially late in games. Fantasy managers won't argue with the results in Cease's 2026 debut in his new digs. He threw eight changeups against the A's and got eight whiffs.
Source: The Athletic - Mitch Bannon
Source: The Athletic - Mitch Bannon
Ty Gibbs Gains his Fourth Top-Five Finish of the Season at Martinsville
Joe Gibbs Racing driver Ty Gibbs placed fourth in the Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway. Gibbs began the race from the same position and had one of the fastest cars in the field. In the first stage, Gibbs maintained his starting position throughout the stage and finished it with seven stage points. In the second stage, the No. 54 Toyota team improved Gibbs' car to the point that he drove up to second, but did not have the speed to get past Denny Hamlin, who proved to be the dominant driver of the day. Gibbs finished the second stage in second place and obtained nine more stage points. In the final stage of the race, Gibbs lost ground to Joey Logano and eventually Chase Elliott, who took advantage of a pit strategy to gain track position under two late race cautions to get past Gibbs. In the late parts of the final stage, Gibbs did not have enough speed to get past Elliott, Hamlin, and Logano and settled for fourth, leading to his fourth top-5 finish of the year. The No. 54 Toyota driver is now sixth in points after seven races this season.
Source: NASCAR.com
Source: NASCAR.com
William Byron Scores Another Top-Five Finish at Martinsville
William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports finished in fifth place during Sunday's Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway. The No. 24 Chevrolet driver ran a mostly consistent race from start to finish after beginning the race from second. In the first stage, Byron ran second for almost the entire stage, passing Denny Hamlin for the lead once midway through it in order to lead six laps before Hamlin took the lead back. Byron finished the first stage in second and earned nine stage points. In the second stage, Byron ran inside the top 10 throughout most of the stage, but then made his way back to fifth by the end of the stage to collect six more stage points. The final stage for Byron went similarly to the second stage as he continued to run inside the top 10, but did not have the pace to make it past his eventual finishing position of fifth. As a result, Byron earned back-to-back top-5 finishes in consecutive Martinsville races since the 2024 season, and he now sits fifth in the regular-season standings after five races.
Source: NASCAR.com
Source: NASCAR.com
Spencer Strider Not Expected to be Out Long
The Atlanta Braves don't expect right-hander Spencer Strider (oblique) to be out for too long to begin the 2026 season after he was placed on the 15-day injured list with a Grade 1 left-oblique strain before Opening Day, according to Thomas Harrigan of MLB.com. Catcher Sean Murphy missed almost two months two years ago with the same injury, but president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos doesn't think Strider's injury is nearly as severe. Strider's oblique injury is being described as "minor" compared to Murphy's. Still, injury issues are piling up for Strider, who also missed most of 2024 while recovering from surgery to fix a torn UCL in his right elbow. He then suffered a right-hamstring strain when he returned that year. The 27-year-old hurler had a left-oblique strain in 2022 and missed around a month. He's eligible to return as early as April 6. Fantasy managers are wondering what version of Strider they'll get, but most fantasy analysts are skeptical after Strider displayed diminished velocity in spring training.
Source: MLB.com - Thomas Harrigan
Source: MLB.com - Thomas Harrigan
49ers Looking to Spell Christian McCaffrey More in 2026?
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan hinted that the team might try to give star running back Christian McCaffrey more breathers in 2026 to keep him healthy and fresh, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. McCaffrey was the overall RB1 in fantasy football scoring in 2025 and is coming off a career-high 413 touches. The four-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro will turn 30 this summer, and although CMC is a game-changer when he's on the field, the Niners are being mindful about his workload, especially when considering his lengthy injury history in his nine years in the NFL. "I know that I don't want Christian to have to take all of that. It was amazing that he did and was able to do that. The reason it's so hard to get Christian out is because of how much he affects everything in the pass game, even when he's not getting the ball... But in order for us to be the running team we want to be, in order to have Christian be as good as he can be throughout the whole year, we've got to get someone to help him," Shanahan said. Even with a potential reduction in touches in 2026, McCaffrey will be a no-doubt RB1 target in the first round of fantasy drafts this fall.
Source: ESPN.com - Nick Wagoner
Source: ESPN.com - Nick Wagoner
49ers in No Rush on Brandon Aiyuk Situation
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that the team is hoping that they can get something in return for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee), according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic. Shanahan is unsure when a potential trade might take place, and he also said, "I know we're in no rush to do that." The 49ers are still holding out hope of trading the disgruntled and injured former first-rounder. Once they've exhausted all those avenues, they are eventually expected to release him after signing him to a four-year, $120 million contract in August of 2024. Aiyuk played in only seven games that year, catching 25 of his 47 targets for 374 yards and no touchdowns before suffering a season-ending torn ACL. The 28-year-old out of Arizona State didn't play at all in 2025. The Niners are expected to eventually release him with a post-June 1 designation, and the Commanders have been the most rumored landing spot for Aiyuk if/when he's released. Aiyuk had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in the Bay Area before his injury in 2024, making him a high-risk, high-reward player going into 2026 fantasy drafts.
Source: The Athletic - Dianna Russini
Source: The Athletic - Dianna Russini
Clayton Beeter Tallies First Nationals' Save of 2026
Washington Nationals right-hander Clayton Beeter picked up his first save of 2026 on Sunday, pitching a scoreless ninth inning without allowing a base runner in his team's 6-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs. Beeter was used in the eighth inning of Washington's 10-4 win over Chicago on Thursday, so he may not be the team's strict closer at this point in the year. However, it's obviously worth noting that the 27-year-old was the man on the mound for the Nationals' first save opportunity of 2026. Washington acquired Beeter from the New York Yankees at the 2025 trade deadline. In his first extended run of MLB action in Washington, the hard-throwing right-hander recorded a 2.49 ERA and 1.02 WHIP with 32 strikeouts and one save across 21 2/3 innings. Beeter also allowed 14 walks and posted an 18.4% walk rate across 27 2/3 minor league innings in 2025, making control a major red flag in his profile. Still, Beeter could be a cheap source of saves for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Falcons Don't Want to Rush Michael Penix Jr.'s Rehab
Atlanta Falcons new head coach Kevin Stefanski said that the team isn't going to rush quarterback Michael Penix Jr.'s (knee) rehab from a torn ACL that he suffered last season, according to Marc Raimondi of ESPN. The Falcons aren't putting a timetable on Penix this offseason after his season-ending knee injury in Week 11 of 2025. However, there have been reports that Penix is expected to be ready to return to action at some point in training camp this summer. By then, it could be too late for the former first-rounder out of the University of Washington if Tua Tagovailoa has already impressed the coaching staff in the competition for the starting QB job in 2026. Penix has torn the ACL in his knees already three times, dating back to college, so the Falcons have every reason to take it slow with the lefty signal-caller. Tua probably has the inside edge on the job in his first year in Atlanta, and Penix's lengthy injury history is ruining his dynasty/keeper stock. Depending on how Penix's rehab goes in the coming months, he could open training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list.
Source: ESPN.com - Marc Raimondi
Source: ESPN.com - Marc Raimondi
A.J. Brown is a "Member" of the Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said on Sunday at the league meetings that wide receiver A.J. Brown is a "member" of the team amid trade speculation this offseason, according to Tim McManus of ESPN. In January, Roseman said, "It is hard to find great players in the NFL, and A.J. is a great player. I think from my perspective, that's what we're going out and looking for when we go out here in free agency, in the draft, just trying to find great players who love football, and he's that guy." It's no secret that Brown was frustrated with the team's offense in 2025, which has fueled speculation that the Eagles would trade him this offseason. The New England Patriots have been the most commonly discussed destination, but Philly's asking price for Brown is very high, and the Pats also signed Romeo Doubs in free agency. Brown could still be traded, though, as the Eagles are financially incentivized to wait until at least June 1 to trade Brown. The 28-year-old three-time Pro Bowler had his sixth 1,000-yard season in his seventh year in the league, but he also had a career-low 12.9 yards per catch and was as inconsistent as you can get for fantasy managers for a 1,000-yard wideout.
Source: ESPN.com - Tim McManus
Source: ESPN.com - Tim McManus
Joey Wiemer Raking to Start 2026
Washington Nationals outfielder Joey Wiemer is off to a scorching start to the 2026 season, recording two home runs and four RBI in his first eight plate appearances of the year. The 27-year-old right-handed hitter currently appears limited to a short-side platoon role, as he was out of the starting lineup for his team's matchup against Chicago Cubs right-hander Cade Horton on Saturday. Still, Wiemer could force his way into everyday playing time in short order if he continues to rake. Wiemer logged just 61 MLB plate appearances in 2025 as a member of the Miami Marlins, hitting .236/.279/.436 with three home runs, 12 RBI, and seven runs scored. He struck out in 37.7% of his plate appearances and owns a career strikeout rate of 29.2% across 507 career trips to the plate in the big leagues. However, he's yet to strike out this season, albeit in a very small sample size. Wiemer could easily regress to career norms over a more extended run of playing time, but he could be a player for deep-league fantasy managers to monitor early in 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Panthers Expect Jonathon Brooks to be Ready for OTAs and Minicamp
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said that he expects running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) to be ready for organized team activities and minicamp, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. Brooks is a major question mark in dynasty/keeper leagues after tearing his right ACL for the second time last year. The 22-year-old got a late start to his rookie campaign in 2024 in Carolina after rehabbing his first torn ACL from college, and he only saw nine carries for 22 yards in three games before tearing his ACL again. He missed all of the 2025 campaign, but he's now ramping up to help the Panthers' backfield in 2026, potentially. And with Rico Dowdle leaving in free agency to join the Pittsburgh Steelers, Brooks could have a clear path to RB2 duties in Carolina this coming season behind Chuba Hubbard if he can stay on the field. If fully healthy, Brooks will compete with both Trevor Etienne and AJ Dillon for complementary work behind Hubbard in 2026.
Source: The Athletic - Joe Person
Source: The Athletic - Joe Person
Is Christian Yelich at Risk of Reduced Playing Time in 2026?
Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter Christian Yelich provided one of the more thrilling moments of the opening weekend of the season on Sunday, coming off the bench to hit a go-ahead three-run home run in the eighth inning of his team's 9-7 win over the Chicago White Sox. The 34-year-old is off to a hot start to the year, having recorded six hits in 10 at-bats while logging a homer, five RBI, four runs scored, and a stolen base. However, it's worth noting that Yelich was not in the starting lineup in just the third game of the season for Milwaukee on Sunday. The team chose to shift star catcher William Contreras to designated hitter in a day game after night game situation. Even with regular starting outfielder Jackson Chourio (hand) currently on the injured list, Yelich has not yet been trusted to start a game in the field. Yelich has an extensive track record of back injuries, so Milwaukee could simply be looking to ease him into the regular season. When he's on the field, Yelich looks capable of providing excellent five-category production. Still, his playing time is something for fantasy managers to monitor in the early portion of 2026.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Tatsuya Imai Stumbles in MLB Debut on Sunday
Houston Astros starting pitcher Tatsuya Imai struggled in his MLB debut on Sunday, allowing three hits, four walks, and four earned runs while striking out four over 2 2/3 innings in his team's 9-7 win over the Los Angeles Angels. Imai comes to the Astros after a lengthy professional career in Japan, where he largely logged excellent results. Across 163 2/3 innings (24 starts) for the Seibu Lions in 2025, Imai posted a 10-5 record with a 1.92 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and 178 strikeouts. While Imai lowered his walk rate to 7% in 2025, he posted double-digit walk rates in each of his first six professional seasons from 2018 through 2023. If his first start in the big leagues is any indication, command and control could be an issue for Imai in 2026. It's too early for fantasy managers to panic after just one start, but Imai will obviously need to pitch better in the weeks to come. His next outing is currently scheduled for Saturday in Sacramento against the Athletics.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Saints Going Through "Offseason Process" With Alvin Kamara
New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore said on Monday that "they'll go through the whole offseason process" regarding running backs Alvin Kamara (knee) and Travis Etienne Jr., according to Katherine Terrell of ESPN. Moore added that "you can find a role for everyone" and that if you look around the NFL, "plenty of running backs play." Kamara and Etienne are similar RBs in terms of their explosiveness, but Kamara is 30 years old and has finished the last two seasons on the sidelines due to injuries. Kamara ended the 2025 campaign with a knee injury, and a contract restructure this offseason led many to wonder whether he would retire from professional football. For now, Moore continues to say that Kamara is absolutely on the Saints' roster, but after the team signed Etienne to a four-year, $52 million deal, Kamara's role will certainly shrink if he doesn't hang up his cleats and stays in the Big Easy. The former third-rounder in 2017 out of Tennessee played in a career-low 11 games in 2025 and averaged a career-low 3.6 yards per carry for 471 rushing yards and just one touchdown. Believe it or not, but Kamara has never had a 1,000-yard rushing season in his nine years in the NFL.
Source: ESPN.com - Katherine Terrell
Source: ESPN.com - Katherine Terrell
MacKenzie Gore Looks Sharp in Rangers Debut
Texas Rangers starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore picked up the win in his first start of 2026 on Sunday, pitching 5 1/3 innings and recording seven strikeouts while allowing two hits, three walks, and two earned runs in his team's 8-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. Across 159 2/3 innings (30 starts) for the Washington Nationals in 2025, Gore recorded a 5-15 record with a 4.17 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and 185 strikeouts. Generating swing-and-miss has never been an issue for the 27-year-old, as he owns a 25.6% strikeout rate for his career and posted a 27.2% strikeout rate in 2025. However, Gore has never posted a WHIP below 1.35 thanks to his 9.7% career walk rate and .323 career opponent batting average on balls in play. Allowing three walks in 5 1/3 innings on Sunday won't allay concerns about Gore's command, but it's still encouraging to see him pitch well against a tough Phillies lineup. Gore has the stuff to be a breakout candidate in 2026 if he can put it all together.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jeff Hoffman Bounces Back to Record First Save of 2026 on Sunday
Toronto Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman picked up his first save of the 2026 season on Sunday, pitching a scoreless ninth inning with two strikeouts in his team's 5-2 win over the Athletics. The steady outing is a welcome sign for fantasy managers after Hoffman blew his first save chance of the year on Friday, allowing a game-tying solo home run to Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers. Hoffman is coming off an up-and-down season with the Blue Jays in 2025. The 33-year-old recorded 33 saves and a 29.3% strikeout rate, but he also pitched to an elevated 4.37 ERA thanks to his 1.99 HR/9. Hoffman still appears to be secure in the closer role in Toronto for the time being, but he may not have the longest leash, particularly if his home run issues persist.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
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