January 28, 2026
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Jack St. Ivany (hand) is expected to miss up to eight weeks after undergoing surgery, the team announced. The 26-year-old injured his left hand during Sunday's 3-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks. St. Ivany has suited up in 17 games this season, recording seven assists and 16 shots on goal. Last week, he impressed with back-to-back two-assist games. The Penguins have Connor Clifton and Ilya Solovyov available on the roster as replacements for St. Ivany on the backline.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 28, 2026
New Jersey Devils forward Cody Glass (undisclosed) couldn't finish Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets after blocking a shot. He was limited to 6:44 of ice time. According to Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe, Glass attempted to return to the game, which suggests his injury isn't severe, and it's possible Glass won't have to miss time. The Devils will return to work on Thursday against the Nashville Predators. Glass has scored 13 goals this season, putting him in a three-way tie for the second-most goals on his team. In 42 outings, he has also contributed five assists. Five of Glass' 18 points this season came during a recent two-game hot spell.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 28, 2026
Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell (upper body) couldn't complete Tuesday's tilt versus the Utah Mammotn, but he is expected to play in Thursday's matchup against the St. Louis Blues. Lundell was on the receiving end of a big hit in the second period and didn't come out for the third due to an upper-body injury. "I think he's going to be fine," Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said postgame. With Aleksander Barkov (knee) unavailable, Lundell has played a vital role for the back-to-back champions this season. He has tallied 36 points (15 goals, 21 assists) in 52 appearances, ranking fifth in scoring on his team.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 28, 2026
St. Louis Blues forwards Jordan Kyrou (upper body) and Jake Neighbours (lower body) couldn't complete Tuesday's tilt against the Dallas Stars. St. Louis lost Neighbours to a lower-body injury in the first frame, and Kyrou sustained an upper-body injury in the third. The two started the game on the second line alongside Pavel Buchnevich. Injuries have been a constant concern for the Blues up front, and the team will be desperate to have at least one of Neighbours and Kyrou available on Thursday night against the Florida Panthers. If both miss time, Dalibor Dvorsky and Robby Fabbri are potential candidates to fill the top six spots.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
January 28, 2026
Boston Bruins center Elias Lindholm (upper body) exited Tuesday's 3-2 overtime win against the Nashville Predators in the second period. He appeared to have been hurt during a face-off. While Lindholm has been on fire lately, he had a quiet evening on Tuesday, going scoreless with one shot on goal in 11:03 of action. If Lindholm has to miss time, Marat Khusnutdinov could rejoin the top six, while Casey Mittelstadt
may be shifted from the wing to center. Boston will be back in action on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
January 28, 2026
Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (lower body) was forced to cut his night at the office short on Tuesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Midway through the opening frame, Luukkonen suffered a lower-body injury while attempting to make a save. He had a rough start in the game, allowing two goals on five shots. Following Luukkonen's exit, Colten Ellis took over the crease, helping the team to a 7-4 victory with 16 saves. Even if Luukkonen misses time, Ellis will have to settle for a backup role due to Alex Lyon's presence. In his next start, Lyon has a chance to establish a new franchise record with a 10th consecutive win.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
January 28, 2026
The Kansas City Royals have invited catching prospect
Blake Mitchell to spring training. Mitchell missed most of the first half of the 2025 season after suffering a broken wrist in February. However, once he returned to action, the top prospect struggled to find his footing. The team's No. 2-ranked prospect spent most of the campaign with High-A Quad Cities and posted an underwhelming .207/.372/.296 slash line with seventeen doubles, two home runs, and nine stolen bases. During this stretch, he carried a 71:45 K:BB. In 2024, Mitchell spent most of the season with Low-A Columbia, where he hit .238/.376/.439 line across a 106-game stint. The No. 56-ranked prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline, is not expected to compete for his MLB debut this season but is a name to watch in dynasty formats.
--Andy SmithSource: Kansas City Royals
January 28, 2026
The New York Islanders have acquired left wing Ondrej Palat in a trade with the New Jersey Devils. Winger Maxim Tsyplakov moved in the opposite direction, along with a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick. The Devils had to attach a couple of draft picks to Palat to move him, as the Czech veteran has been underperforming for the team. In 51 outings this season, Palat has contributed only four goals and six assists. He has one more year left on his contract, which carries a $6 million cap hit. Palat probably won't have a large impact in New York, but he will add a lot of playoff experience to the Islanders' roster. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect much improvement from Tsyplakov either, as the Russian forward has been limited to two points (one goal, one assist) in 27 outings.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 28, 2026
Detroit Tigers catching prospect
Josue Briceno made significant strides last season and could be in contention for a second-half MLB debut in 2026. The backstop began the season with High-A but needed only 55 games with West Michigan to prove he was ready to join Double-A. During his stint at High-A, Briceno posted an elite .296/.422/.602 line with 13 doubles and 15 home runs. He was then moved up to Double-A, where he took a step back, carrying a .232/.335/.381 line with six doubles, five home runs, and a 47:25 K:BB. Managers should expect the Tigers to keep Briceno at Double-A, given his inconsistency in the second half to begin 2026. However, he may only need a brief stint to prove he is ready to join Triple-A. Given the power upside he showed at High-A, Briceno would be a popular stash candidate once he is nearing an MLB promotion.
--Andy SmithSource: RotoBaller
January 28, 2026
Boston Red Sox top prospect
Franklin Arias quickly progressed through the lower levels of the system in 2025 and is nearing his MLB debut. The shortstop, who is considered the team's top prospect on MLB.com and the overall No. 24 in the sport, began the 2025 season with Low-A but reached Double-A Portland in the second half. With Low-A, Arias held a .346/.407/.397 line across a short 19-game stint. He would spend most of his season with High-A Greenville, where he posted a .265/.329/.380 slash line with 21 doubles, six home runs, and seven stolen bases. He finished the season, posting a modest .685 OPS during his first 10 games at Double-A. Managers should expect Arias to open the season at Double-A and be in contention for a second-half promotion to Triple-A.
--Andy SmithSource: RotoBaller
January 28, 2026
Toronto Raptors forward/center
Collin Murray-Boyles (thumb) practiced on Tuesday, but he is still listed as questionable for Wednesday's game against the New York Knicks. A thumb injury could keep the talented rookie sidelined for a fifth consecutive game. Due to
Jakob Poeltl's (back) health issues, Murray-Boyles' role has grown throughout the campaign, and he took over as the starting center at the beginning of January. In Murray-Boyles' absence,
Sandro Mamukelashvili has enjoyed a good spell as a starter. Given how well Mamukelashvili has played, Murray-Boyles might come off the bench if he's available.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 28, 2026
The Milwaukee Brewers have invited recently acquired infield prospect
Jett Williams to big-league spring training. Williams was sent to Milwaukee alongside right-hander
Brandon Sproat in the deal that sent right-hander
Freddy Peralta to New York. Williams was viewed as the top prospect in the Mets system prior to the trade and now sits as the No. 3 prospect in Milwaukee (on MLB.com), trailing only
Jesus Made and
Luis Pena. Last season, Williams began the campaign with Double-A, where he posted a strong .281/.390/.477 slash line with 29 doubles, 10 home runs, 32 stolen bases. He was then promoted to Triple-A Syracuse, where he took a slight step back, carrying a lower .209/.285/.433 line with seven long balls across a 34-game stint. Managers should expect Williams to open the season at Triple-A but should be in contention for an early MLB debut, especially if
Joey Ortiz continues to struggle in the batter's box.
--Andy SmithSource: Milwaukee Brewers
January 28, 2026
Memphis Grizzlies center
Jock Landale (personal) has been removed from the injury report ahead of Wednesday's contest against the Charlotte Hornets. The Australian big man will return to action after sitting out one game for personal reasons. Landale has gained a lot of momentum lately, posting back-to-back double-doubles and averaging 13.9 points and 8.6 rebounds for the month. On Wednesday, Landale finds himself in a tricky spot, as only six teams have allowed fewer fantasy points to centers than Charlotte. Landale's return will likely bump
Santi Aldama back to the bench, but he will remain an important part of the rotation and could still see around 30 minutes of action.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 28, 2026
The Milwaukee Brewers have invited shortstop prospect
Cooper Pratt to big-league camp. Pratt is currently considered the No. 53 overall prospect on MLB.com and the No. 3-ranked prospect in the Milwaukee system. Pratt joined the Brewers in the sixth round of the 2023 MLB Draft but has progressed through the minor leagues fairly quickly. After a brief stint in the Arizona Complex League in 2023, Pratt would spend the 2024 season with Low-A and High-A. Through 96 games, Pratt posted a .277/.362/.406 line with 15 doubles, eight home runs, and 25 stolen bases. In 2025, the Magnolia Heights HS product would spend the entire season with Double-A Biloxi, where he posted a .238/.343/.348 line with eight home runs and 31 stolen bases. Managers should closely monitor his development in camp, as he could begin the season at Triple-A.
--Andy SmithSource: Milwaukee Brewers
January 28, 2026
Miami Heat forward/center
Kel'el Ware (hamstring) is questionable for Wednesday's meeting with the Orlando Magic. He's dealing with a right hamstring strain and may be sidelined for a fifth consecutive game. Still, Ware returned to practice on Tuesday, suggesting that he could soon be back in the lineup.
Nikola Jovic has seen consistent minutes during Ware's absence, averaging 17.5 points and 4.5 rebounds over the last two games. While Jovic has been productive in recent games, his numbers have been lacking for most of the campaign, making him a risky fantasy choice.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 28, 2026
Sahith Theegala wanted to put 2025 behind him and for good reason. The American golfer made 17 of 23 cuts but had zero Top 10 finishes and only was inside the Top 25 twice. Theegala missed two months and a little more due to injury. His form got wrecked and yet, he never truly looked right until the Fall season. Even then, he missed the cut at The RSM Classic. His weekend at the Farmers Insurance Open last year was a nightmarish 75-73. However, Theegala finished T-4 the previous year. If the conditions are right, the player can be a solid DFS choice (4.14 - 40th in birdie average for 2024). With a Top 10 result (T-8) at The American Express, Theegala has momentum and lots of it.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
January 28, 2026
Milwaukee Brewers top prospect
Jesus Made is being invited to big-league spring training. The 18-year-old shortstop is currently viewed as the No. 4-ranked overall prospect in the entire sport on MLB.com. He made his professional debut in 2024 in the Dominican Summer League and held a .331/.458/.554 with a strong 1.012 OPS. In 2025, Made began the season in Low-A but quickly progressed through the Milwaukee system, finishing the season in Double-A. Across 83 games with Low-A, Made posted a solid .267/.373/.388 line with four home runs and 40 stolen bases. Through 32 games split between High-A and Double-A, Made took his level of play even higher, carrying an elite .331/.392/.474 line. While a 2026 MLB debut is unlikely, if he continues this current trajectory, he could make a strong case in the second half.
--Andy SmithSource: Milwaukee Brewers
January 28, 2026
Miami Heat point guard
Davion Mitchell (shoulder) is listed as questionable for Wednesday's matchup against the Orlando Magic. He may miss his fourth consecutive game due to a left shoulder injury that Mitchell sustained earlier this month. If Mitchell can't return against Orlando,
Kasparas Jakucionis will remain in the starting unit. The Lithuanian rookie has made five total starts this season, averaging 8.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. He could be a bit busier on Wednesday against an Orlando team that gives up the seventh-most fantasy points to point guards.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 28, 2026
Gary Woodland has been driving the ball well in 2026. The American golfer ranks second early on in driving distance at a whopping average of 327.1 yards. Again, it is early. However, the South Course weighs in at a whopping 7.802 yards. Even the North Course is a solid 7,258 yards. Six holes on the South Course are 500 yards or greater. Two are Par-4's by the way (505 and that 517 yard 15th hole). Woodland will need to be accurate but that length is vital on a course like this. Woodland is +16500 to win on DraftKings but +420 to finish in the Top 20. It all comes down to accuracy here which should at least make Woodland an eye catcher for the Farmers Insurance Open.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
January 28, 2026
Miami Heat guard/forward
Norman Powell (back) is considered questionable for Wednesday's game against the Orlando Magic. Powell has recently played through a back issue, but he may eventually need to take some time off to recover. With
Tyler Herro (ribs) out, Miami relies heavily on Powell on the offensive end. If he can't play on Wednesday, there would be additional playing time available for
Pelle Larsson,
Jaime Jaquez Jr., and
Simone Fontecchio. Although Larsson has enjoyed a couple of very good performances lately, Jaquez Jr. has more fantasy potential.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 28, 2026
Miami Heat guard
Tyler Herro (ribs) won't play against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday, missing his seventh straight game. The Heat have two back-to-backs scheduled this week, meaning Herro could miss several more games. Miami is currently dealing with other injury issues as well, giving
Pelle Larsson,
Dru Smith,
Jaime Jaquez Jr., and
Kasparas Jakucionis additional playing opportunities. The team has a good fantasy matchup on Wednesday against a mediocre defensive team.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 28, 2026
According to Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic, the San Francisco Giants recently made an aggressive push to acquire Washington Nationals shortstop
CJ Abrams. According to sources, the Giants made it clear they would offer top prospect Josuar Gonzalez as part of a package to acquire Abrams. Additionally, top pitching prospects
Carson Whisenhunt and Jacob Bresnahan were likely to be moved to Washington if they reached an agreement. The Nationals recently traded top pitcher
MacKenzie Gore to the Texas Rangers and have expressed willingness to shop Abrams as well. While the Giants were unsuccessful in this offer, they remain focused on improving their infield before spring training. The Giants have also been linked to St. Louis Cardinals infielder
Brendan Donovan throughout the offseason. If the Giants were to fall short in these trade talks,
Casey Schmitt would likely open the season as the starting second baseman, while Willy Adams would cover shortstop.
--Andy SmithSource: Andrew Baggarly
January 28, 2026
Andrew Putnam nearly won The American Express last week. The American golfer ended up T-2 after an opening round 72. While Scottie Scheffler did his thing and surgically took the field apart, Putnam did have the round of the week with a 60 on Friday. He was a whopping 10 under par during a 10 hole stretch. It was something to watch. Also, this buoyed Putnam to a big paycheck and huge result. There is one brick wall in the way and that is Torrey Pines. Putnam had consecutive solid starts then sputtered ending up over par last year and in 2018. Getting off the tee is something Putnam does not excel in ranking 173rd losing 0.69 strokes. Worse, Torrey Pines is one of those courses where errant shots can ruin a round. Putnam is another golfer to probably fade.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
January 28, 2026
Denver Nuggets center
Nikola Jokic (knee) will be re-evaluated in one week, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. "The Denver Nuggets will re-evaluate Nikola Jokic in about a week," Charania said on Tuesday's episode of NBA Today. "He is making great progress; he's in the ramp-up phase of his return to play process." After injuring his left knee on Dec. 29, Jokic returned to on-court activities two weeks ago. The three-time MVP has missed 15 games.
Jonas Valanciunas, who notched 16 points and 16 rebounds in Tuesday's loss to the Detroit Pistons, will continue to start at center until Jokic returns.
--Taavi PailkSource: Shams Charania
January 28, 2026
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, free agent infielder
Luis Arraez is not seeing a large market. While Arraez is one of the game's top contact hitters, his struggles on the defensive side of the game have prevented him from securing a contract. Rosenthal noted on The Foul Territory podcast that he expects the 28-year-old to sign a "prove-it" type deal shortly before spring training. In 2025, Arraez appeared in 154 games for the Padres and served as their primary first baseman, while also seeing occasional starts at second base and DH. He posted a .293/.327/.392 line with 30 doubles, eight home runs, and 11 stolen bases. However, he placed in the fourth percentile in Outs Above Average and the 28th percentile in arm strength. Managers should monitor his status, as he would remain a top batting-average contributor in rotisserie leagues but offer minimal power upside.
--Andy SmithSource: Ken Rosenthal
January 28, 2026
Matthieu Pavon was the 2024 winner of the Farmers Insurance Open. The French golfer played 26 PGA events in 2025 and managed not to finish inside the Top 25 once. That is correct. Even after a two month break, Pavon missed two cuts in four Fall events. As a result, Pavon dropped further to 260 in the OWGR (World Rankings). The golfer's odds are now bleak at DraftKings (a whopping +34000). What about last year at this event? Pavon blew up with an 80 during the second round to miss the cut. His biggest problem early in 2025 were these rounds that just melted down. There was that 83 at the Arnold Palmer, the 78-76 at the Masters, and the 80 at the RBC Canadian. If Pavon misses a few putts early, the warning bells could go off again this week.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
January 28, 2026
Houston Astros third baseman/outfielder
Cam Smith is not guaranteed a spot on the major league roster to begin the 2026 season. Chandler Rome of The Athletic notes that the team's general manager, Dana Brown, has made it clear that Smith will have to "prove himself" in camp to make the Opening Day roster. The Astors acquired Smith from the Chicago Cubs last offseason in exchange for
Kyle Tucker. Smith was selected by the Cubs in the opening round of the 2024 MLB Draft with the 14th overall pick out of Florida State. Smith was given a lead role in the Houston offense in all of 2025 but posted an underwhelming .236/.312/.358 line with 21 doubles, nine home runs, and eight stolen bases across 134 games. If Smith were to miss out on a roster spot, top prospect
Brice Matthews would likely see more opportunities in the outfield.
--Andy SmithSource: Chandler Rome
January 28, 2026
According to Jon Heyman of The New York Post, a trade involving Detroit Tigers ace
Tarik Skubal remains slim in the final stages of the offseason. Skubal, who is in the final year of his contract, has had his name in many trade discussions this winter. However, Detroit's asking price has been quite high, and no suitor has matched it. According to reports, the Tigers asked the New York Mets for five of their top prospects in return for the left-hander. The Mets would then pivot to acquire Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher
Freddy Peralta for only two of their top prospects. Skubal has won the AL Cy Young in back-to-back seasons and remains an elite SP1 for all fantasy formats heading into 2026. Last summer, Skubal posted a dominant 2.21 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, with a 241:33 K:BB across 195 1/3 innings.
--Andy SmithSource: Jon Heyman
January 28, 2026
New York Mets manager
Carlos Mendoza suggested that infielder
Jorge Polanco could open the season as the team's primary cleanup hitter. When discussing his initial plans for the top of the New York Mets lineup with Jon Heyman of The New York Post, Mendoa noted that
Francisco Lindor would likely remain the leadoff hitter with
Juan Soto and
Bo Bichette sitting behind him as the No. 2 and No. 3 hitters. Polanco was then suggested as the primary cleanup hitter with second baseman
Marcus Semien listed as the No. 5 option. Mendoza noted that having two switch-hitters on the roster (Polanco and Lindor) gives him a lot of versatility when constructing lineups. Polanco is coming off a resurgent season in which he posted a .265/.326/.495 line with 30 doubles and 16 home runs. If he were to bat in the cleanup spot behind the three All-Stars, Polanco could surpass his previous career-high of 98 RBI, which he tallied back in 2021.
--Andy SmithSource: Jon Heyman
January 28, 2026
San Francisco Giants infielder
Casey Schmitt (wrist) was cleared to begin a hitting progression last week, according to Maria Guardado of MLB.com. Schmitt has been on the shelf since undergoing wrist surgery early in the offseason. The infielder noted that he hopes to be a full-go for spring training. Schmitt sustained this injury on June 25 but was able to play through it during the entire second half. Across 95 games, the former 49th overall pick held a .237/.305/.401 line with a .706 OPS. He hit 12 home runs and added 15 doubles. Under the hood, Schmitt generated a modest .328 xwOBA with a slightly higher .256 xBA. Managers should expect the 26-year-old to open the regular season serving as the team's primary second baseman.
--Andy SmithSource: Maria Guardado
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