January 15, 2026
Omar Ruiz of NFL Network reports that Kansas City Chiefs quarterback
Patrick Mahomes (knee) says his rehab from ACL and LCL tears in his knee is "going great." According to Ruiz, Mahomes stated that his goal is to be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 season, which doctors have said is possible, but there is still a long way to go. Mahomes underwent surgery in mid-December, so a Week 1 return would require less than nine months of recovery time. Across 14 games before getting injured, the 30-year-old completed 62.7% of his pass attempts for 3,587 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Mahomes also rushed for 422 yards and five scores, making 2025 the most productive rushing season of his career. His recovery progress will be one of the key storylines for fantasy managers to track throughout the offseason.
--Will BradySource: NFL Network - Omar Ruiz
January 15, 2026
The Colorado Rockies agreed to a two-year, $12 million deal with free-agent utility man
Willi Castro on Thursday, sources told Jorge Castillo of ESPN. Castro, a 28-year-old switch-hitter from Puerto Rico, will be looking to bounce back in 2026 after a rough year with the Minnesota Twins and Chicago Cubs in 2025. In 120 total games last season, he hit .226/.313/.366 with a .679 OPS, 11 home runs, 33 RBI, 58 runs, and 10 stolen bases. After being traded to the Cubs, Castro went 17-for-100 (.170) with a homer, eight walks, and 27 strikeouts in 34 regular-season games. He can play pretty much all over the diamond, which should give him a path to regular playing time in Colorado this year. Castro should also bounce back offensively at hitter-friendly Coors Field, but he remains a glove-first asset that won't be much more than bench depth in deeper fantasy baseball leagues in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jorge Castillo
January 15, 2026
ESPN's Jeff Darlington reports that former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel could decide to wait to take another head-coaching job this cycle, especially since he very much likes the idea of a few of the open offensive-coordinator jobs around the league. The Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Los Angeles Chargers all have openings that McDaniel might really like. The Buccaneers' job, in particular, could be the most appealing to McDaniel because of the autonomy it would provide. The Eagles, Lions, and Chargers all have offensive-minded head coaches who could clash with McDaniels' scheme and preferences. Right now, the former Dolphins coach is doing his due diligence and interviewing with all the teams that are interested in him before he makes a final decision.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Darlington
January 15, 2026
Buffalo Bills kicker
Matt Prater (quadriceps, calf) has been cleared to kick in the Divisional Round this Saturday against his former team, the Denver Broncos. Prater was held out of Tuesday's practice, was a full-go on Wednesday, and was limited on Thursday. The 41-year-old veteran aggravated a quad injury in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the New York Jets, but he was active last weekend and handled field goals and extra points in the Wild-Card win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Prater made both of his field goals (one from 50-plus yards) and all three of his extra points against the Jags. He'll have the thin air in Denver to his advantage on Saturday, but at less than 100% in a tough matchup, Prater is on the lower end of kicking options this weekend. The Broncos allowed the third-fewest fantasy points per game to placekickers in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: Buffalo Bills PR
January 15, 2026
Buffalo Bills tight end
Dalton Kincaid (knee, calf) was limited in practice all week with knee and calf injuries, but he was cleared from the final injury report on Thursday and will be active on Saturday against the hosting Denver Broncos in the Divisional Round. Kincaid might not be 100% healthy this weekend, but he'll be available and should be one of quarterback
Josh Allen's top targets, especially with receivers
Gabe Davis (knee) and
Tyrell Shavers (knee) out. The Broncos' defense was pretty stingy all year against opposing offenses, but they were around the middle of the pack in terms of half-PPR points allowed per game to the TE position. Given the lack of aerial weapons for Allen, he'll be forced to use both Kincaid and TE
Dawson Knox. Kincaid is coming off a touchdown in the Wild-Card win over the Jaguars and should be considered a top-three TE in fantasy lineups this weekend.
--Keith HernandezSource: Buffalo Bills PR
January 15, 2026
Dallas Mavericks guard/forward
Cooper Flagg (ankle) left Wednesday's loss early with a sprained left ankle and is officially listed as doubtful for the second game of his team's back-to-back on Thursday night against the Jazz. Without Flagg and
Anthony Davis (finger),
P.J. Washington (ankle) could be in for a big workload if he can play through his own questionable tag, while
Brandon Williams,
Jaden Hardy,
Ryan Nembhard,
Caleb Martin, and
Naji Marshall should all get more minutes and usage. Both teams will roll out depleted rotations on Thursday, creating a ton of potential value plays on both sides of this contest. Williams is the primary place to start, but there will be plenty of work to go around.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NBA Injury Report
January 15, 2026
Buffalo Bills quarterback
Josh Allen (foot, knee, finger) was listed with foot, knee, and finger injuries this week, but he practiced in full on Wednesday and Thursday and has been cleared to play in the Divisional Round of the playoffs this Saturday against the Denver Broncos. Allen is heading into a less-than-ideal matchup on the road with two of his receivers (
Gabe Davis and
Tyrell Shavers) out for the rest of the year with torn ACLs. However, he should still be considered one of the top-two QB plays in fantasy football playoff leagues because of his dual-threat abilities. Denver's strong defense allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to QBs during the regular season, but Allen is a different breed. He was the top fantasy QB in 2025 and led the NFL with 14 rushing touchdowns -- the next closest was
Trevor Lawrence with nine.
--Keith HernandezSource: Buffalo Bills PR
January 15, 2026
Utah Jazz forward
Lauri Markkanen (illness) was listed as out on Thursday, as the team finishes a back-to-back with a game in Dallas. Markkanen missed Wednesday's loss to the Bulls and will also be out Thursday, leaving more work for the rest of the rotation.
Brice Sensabaugh went off for 43 points on Wednesday night off the bench, while
Kyle Filipowski also got some extra work and had 19 points and seven rebounds in 31 minutes. Filipowski and Sensabaugh will be strong options against the short-handed Mavs, while
Keyonte George should also be lined up for all the usage he can handle.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NBA Injury Report
January 15, 2026
Miami Heat guard
Davion Mitchell (shoulder) was downgraded to out after originally being listed as doubtful for Thursday's home game against the Boston Celtics. Mitchell picked up a left shoulder contusion on Tuesday against the Suns, and he'll miss at least one game with the injury. With the starting point guard out Thursday,
Pelle Larsson and
Dru Smith should get extra work in the backcourt and could be great value plays for DFS lineups or streaming consideration this Thursday.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NBA Injury Report
January 15, 2026
Miami Heat forward
Jaime Jaquez Jr. (knee) was downgraded from questionable to out for Thursday night's home game against the Celtics. This will be the first game Jaquez misses with knee soreness, and his next chance to return will be Saturday against the Thunder. Without Miami's version of JJJ,
Nikola Jovic could pick up some extra minutes in the second unit, although Jaquez is only playing 23.0 minutes per game over his last five games, produccing averaging 12.4 points, 3.8 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NBA Injury Reprot
January 15, 2026
Phoenix Suns guard
Devin Booker (ankle) was downgraded to out after originally being listed as questionable for Thursday's matchup against the Detroit Pistons. Booker suffered a sprained ankle inTuesday's loss to the Miami Heat, although he was able to finish the game and carry his usual heavy workload. He'll be sidelined for this matchup in the Motor City, though, leaving lots of work for
Dillon Brooks (if he plays through his questionable tag as expected),
Collin Gillespie,
Jordan Goodwin, and
Ryan Dunn. With so much usage available, the rest of the Suns' rotation will be in great spots to contribute to DFS lineups and as streaming options.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NBA Injury Report
January 15, 2026
Milwaukee Bucks forward
Kyle Kuzma (illness) was added to the injury report as questionable ahead of the team's home game against the Spurs. Kuz only had two points and two assists in Tuesday's blowout loss to the Timberwolves, and he has been in a more reduced role since
Giannis Antetokounmpo returned to the rotation. If Kuzma is unable to play, though,
Bobby Portis would likely be more involved on Thursday.
--Zach ThompsonSource: NBA Injury Report
January 15, 2026
Golden State Warriors forward
Jonathan Kuminga demanded a trade from the Warriors on the first day he became eligible to be moved. The fifth-year forward signed a two-year, $46.8 million contract as a restricted free agent this past offseason with a team option on the second season. The season has not gone well, though, and Kuminga has totally fallen out of the rotation for the last 13 games. He flashed lots of upside when playing with the starting unit early in the season and when called upon for expanded usage last season. Especially because of his flexible contract structure, he should draw plenty of interest, and the Kings and Mavericks are among the teams already rumored to be interested in him. Kuminga will be a key piece to watch ahead of the Feb. 5 NBA Trade Deadline, and his change of scenery could make him a valuable fantasy piece depending on where he lands.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
January 15, 2026
New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez (concussion) shed his non-contact jersey in practice on Thursday, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN. It suggests that Gonzalez is trending in the right direction to clear the league's concussion protocol to play on Sunday in the Divisional Round versus the visiting Houston Texans. Gonzalez could be a full participant in practice after being limited on Wednesday, but even if he is, he'd still need clearance from an independent neurologist to play on Sunday. The 23-year-old former first-rounder is one of the top cornerbacks in the league, so not having him this weekend would be a big blow to the Patriots' defense. The good news for New England is that it's looking like Houston will be without top receiver
Nico Collins (concussion). If Gonzalez plays, he could be locked up against rookie wideout
Jayden Higgins for most of the day.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN Boston - Mike Reiss
January 15, 2026
According to Jessee Rogers of ESPN, Chicago Cubs third baseman
Matt Shaw could see time in the outfield during the upcoming season. Last week, the Cubs signed free agent third baseman
Alex Bregman to a massive five-year contract, which will likely block Shaw out of a starting role in the infield with
Nico Hoerner,
Dansby Swanson, and
Michael Busch slated to cover second base, shortstop, and first base, respectively. However, the team's President of Baseball Operations, Jed Hoyer, expressed that the team could get creative to find Shaw at-bats, especially in the outfield. Shaw made his MLB debut at the beginning of the 2025 season and struggled, posting a low .226/.295/.394 line across 126 gams. However, he did hit 13 home runs and swipe 17 bags. Managers should monitor Shaw's usage during spring training. While the Cubs' outfield is currently crowded as well, Shaw could take on a super-utility role, which could earn him close to every-day at-bats. For now, he is best left for deeper 15+ team redraft leagues given his unknown role.
--Andy SmithSource: Jesse Rogers
January 15, 2026
According to Jon Heyman of The New York Post, top free-agent outfielder
Kyle Tucker could make his decision on Thursday. Heyman noted that the three primary suitors for the superstar are the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Heyman noted that while there are other suitors, if one of them were to sign Tucker, it would come as a major surprise. Tucker spent the 2024 season in Chicago with the Cubs after beginning his MLB career with the Houston Astros. Despite dealing with a lingering calf injury during the second half of the 2025 campaign, Tucker still finished the campaign holding a .266/.377/.464 line with 22 long balls and 25 stolen bases. Under the hood, Tucker generated a .372 xwOBA, suggesting he is primed for an even more productive 2026. Given his ability to draw walks at an elite 14.6% rate and make high-quality contact, Tucker carries high-end OF1 upside in all formats heading into 2026.
--Andy SmithSource: Jon Heyman
January 15, 2026
The Seattle Mariners have expressed interest in bolstering their bullpen and have been linked to St. Louis Cardinals reliever
JoJo Romero. The Cardinals are currently in the midst of a "re-tool" as they shipped off starting third baseman
Nolan Arenado to the Arizona Diamondbacks this week and have also been shopping infielder
Brendan Donovan. According to Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat, the Mariners are among the teams that have shown interest in Romero. Last summer, Romero was quite effective in the St. Louis bullpen, logging 61 innings to the tune of a 2.07 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. He tallied just 55 punchouts but was a go-to option in high-leverage situations as he earned 24 holds and eight saves. While Romero would not contend for saves in Seattle as
Andres Munoz is slated to remain the closer, he could find value in deeper holds leagues, operating as the primary left-hander in setup situations.
--Andy SmithSource: Jeff Jones
January 15, 2026
The New York Mets have officially sent top free-agent outfielder
Kyle Tucker a contract proposal for four years in length. As reported earlier this week, the Mets were considering increasing their offer to Tucker to four years. Mike Puma of The New York Post reported on Wednesday that the Mets have finally added an additional year to their proposal in hopes of acquiring the star outfielder. The 28-year-old has been linked to numerous clubs during the winter, including the Mets, Blue Jays, and Dodgers. After opting not to re-sign
Pete Alonso and
Edwin Diaz, it appears the Mets are actively pursuing Tucker to bolster their starting lineup. Last season in Chicago, Tucker had a bit of a down year but still held a strong .266/.377/.464 line with an .841 OPS, 22 home runs, and 25 stolen bases. If he were to sign with the Mets, Tucker would carry elite OF1 upside in all formats, batting alongside high-end hitters such as
Juan Soto and
Francisco Lindor.
--Andy SmithSource: Mike Puma
January 15, 2026
According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Blue Jays have not closed the door on a potential reunion with top free-agent infielder
Bo Bichette. Throughout the winter, Bichette has been linked to several suitors and has even drawn significant interest from certain clubs such as the Philadelphia Phillies. Even though the Blue Jays appear to be pivoting away from Bichette, they have still kept the door open to re-signing their former infielder. Bichette has spent his entire seven-year MLB career with Toronto. In 2025, Bichette turned in a massive bounce-back season after struggling in 2024. Across 139 games, the 27-year-old posted an elite .311/.357/.483 line with 18 home runs and four stolen bases. Under the hood, he generated a strong .353 xwOBA with an elite .295 xBA. If Bichette were to return to Toronto, he would continue to hold high-end value at the shortstop position despite his lack of speed, as he possesses elite contact skills with high-end counting stats.
--Andy SmithSource: Jeff Passan
January 15, 2026
The Pittsburgh Steelers have requested to interview Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley for their vacant head-coaching position, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Hafley has now been contacted by six teams about their head-coaching job, and he's considered one of the favorites to land the gig with the Miami Dolphins. So far, the Steelers are focusing their attention on defensive-minded head-coaching candidates as they look to replace Mike Tomlin, who resigned on Tuesday. Hafley has run the Packers' defense the last two seasons under head coach Matt LaFleur. In addition to searching for a new head coach, Pittsburgh will most likely be trying to figure out what to do at quarterback, with veteran
Aaron Rodgers unlikely to re-sign as a free agent now that Tomlin is gone.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
January 15, 2026
The Minnesota Twins have designated catcher/first baseman
Mickey Gasper for assignment. This transaction opened a spot on the roster for infielder
Vidal Brujan, whom the team claimed off waivers from the Braves earlier this week. Gasper spent the 2025 campaign with the Twins after making his MLB debut in 2024 with the Boston Red Sox. Last summer, Gasper appeared in 45 games with the Twins and posted a .158/.257/.232 line with a low .489 OPS. He hit just two home runs and held a 20:10 K:BB. Through 117 career games with Triple-A, Gasper has posted a .303/.406/.512 line with an eye-catching .918 OPS. Given his success at the top level of the minor leagues, the 30-year-old could draw interest on waivers.
--Andy SmithSource: Aaron G
January 15, 2026
Houston Texans wide receiver
Nico Collins (concussion) is not at the portion of practice open to the media on Thursday as he remains in the league's concussion protocol, according to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. Collins is a "long shot" to play on Sunday against the New England Patriots in the Divisional Round, considering the steps he must still clear to be allowed to play this weekend. The 26-year-old suffered a concussion on Monday night in the Wild-Card win over the Pittsburgh Steelers and never returned. He was seen being carted off the field with a towel over his head. He has one more day to return to practice, but this late in the week, Collins' chances aren't great. It's looking like the Texans will ask rookie receivers
Jayden Higgins and
Jaylin Noel,
Christian Kirk, and
Xavier Hutchinson to step up on Sunday, with Collins likely unavailable.
--Keith HernandezSource: Houston Chronicle - Jonathan M. Alexander
January 15, 2026
Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver (biceps, knee) was limited in practice all week and will be listed as questionable for Saturday's Divisional Round game versus the hosting Denver Broncos, according to Cameron Wolfe of the NFL Network. The Bills will be without two starters on defense in cornerback Maxwell Hairston (ankle) and safety Jordan Poyer (hamstring), so the Bills would certainly welcome Oliver back if he is ready. The 28-year-old interior defensive lineman has been on Injured Reserve for most of the year due to biceps and knee injuries. In just three games before being shut down, Oliver was very effective, recording 12 total tackles, three sacks, and a forced fumble for the Bills. If the Bills officially activate Oliver off IR on Friday, he'll almost certainly be active on Saturday.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Cameron Wolfe
January 15, 2026
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott said that running back
Ty Johnson (ankle) will be limited in practice on Thursday and will be listed as questionable on the final injury report for the Divisional Round on Saturday in Denver against the Broncos, according to Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic. Johnson injured his ankle in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the New York Jets and was inactive last Sunday for the Wild-Card victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 28-year-old could be a game-time decision in Denver on Saturday, but even if he suits up, he won't be recommended for fantasy playoff lineups against a stout Broncos defense. Johnson has mostly operated as the RB3 this year behind starter
James Cook and
Ray Davis, carrying the ball 50 times for 200 yards and three touchdowns. Johnson added two receiving TDs in 17 regular-season games.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Joe Buscaglia
January 15, 2026
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott said that wide receiver
Curtis Samuel (elbow) will practice in full again on Thursday and will be listed as questionable for the Divisional Round of the playoffs on Saturday against the Denver Broncos, according to Katherine Fitzgerald of The Buffalo News. Samuel is still on Injured Reserve and missed the last eight games with an elbow injury, but he's been practicing in full this week and looks ready to return. Although the 29-year-old probably won't have a big role on offense if he's active in Denver, the Bills will welcome Samuel's return after losing both
Gabe Davis (knee) and
Tyrell Shavers (knee) to torn ACLs in the Wild-Card win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Samuel has appeared in only six games for the Bills this year, catching seven of his nine targets for 81 yards and a touchdown.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Buffalo News - Katherine Fitzgerald
January 15, 2026
Seattle Seahawks running back
Zach Charbonnet enters the playoffs as one of the hottest RBs in the league, having scored four rushing touchdowns in his last three games combined. In the Week 18 regular-season finale against the San Francisco 49ers, who the Seahawks will play for a third time this Saturday night, Charbonnet had 17 carries for 74 yards and a touchdown. He added three catches for 23 yards. The 25-year-old's touchdown was a 27-yard scamper, which ended up being the only TD of the game on either side. The previous week, he saw a season-high 18 rushing attempts for a season-high 110 yards and two rushing scores in a win over the Carolina Panthers. In Week 1 against San Fran, Charb had 12 carries for 47 yards and a TD. He will continue to split touches with
Kenneth Walker III, but Charbonnet isn't a bad RB option in fantasy leagues this week against a banged-up 49ers defense that has allowed the sixth-most half-PPR points per game to RBs in the last five weeks.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 15, 2026
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has been requested by the Detroit Lions to interview for their offensive-coordinator position, a source told the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Smith is also still in the mix for multiple head-coaching jobs and has significant interest around the league as an OC. Even though the Lions offense was still pretty formidable in 2025, the team chose to part ways with OC Johnny Morton after just one year. Head coach Dan Campbell took over play-calling duties late in the year, but it wasn't enough to help the Lions get back to the playoffs. Depending on who the team hires as the next OC, Campbell is expected to give up play-calling duties. Smith has developed a reputation as an OC who prefers to run the ball and who uses a lot of two-tight-end sets. It would be a stark change for the Lions' offense.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
January 15, 2026
Former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, who was the OC for Baltimore the last three years under former head coach John Harbaugh, is among the leading candidates to follow Harbaugh to New York to become the Giants' OC, sources told Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. The Giants will still go through a formal search, but Monken is the early leader. Harbaugh is expected to officially become New York's new head coach on Thursday after meeting with the team on Wednesday. If Monken follows Harbaugh to the Big Apple, he'll be tasked with helping first-round quarterback
Jaxson Dart develop as he heads into his sophomore season. Dart showed impressive dual-threat abilities in his first year in the NFL, but durability will continue to be an issue if he doesn't get better at protecting himself as a runner. In addition to Dart, the Giants have strong building blocks around him on offense in wide receiver
Malik Nabers (knee) and running back
Cam Skattebo.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
January 15, 2026
LSU wide receiver transfer Kyle Parker is trending to land at Auburn or Ohio State, according to On3. Parker was a four-star recruit out of Texas in the Class of 2023, but he did not earn significant playing time until his redshirt-sophomore campaign in 2025. After catching just three passes for 55 yards as a freshman, Parker hauled in 31 receptions for 330 yards and four touchdowns last season. Both Auburn (Cam Coleman) and Ohio State (Carnell Tate) are losing big-time wide receiver talents from last year's squad, so Parker could be an impact player right away for the Tigers or Buckeyes. Auburn has been trending as the team to beat for Parker, but Ohio State is making a late push in the recruitment process.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: On3.com
January 15, 2026
The Pittsburgh Steelers have requested to interview Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero for their open head coaching job, a source told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. The Steelers are beginning to create a list of head-coaching candidates after long-time head coach Mike Tomlin announced his resignation on Tuesday. Evero has been running the Panthers' defense for the last three seasons. Before that, he was the DC for the Denver Broncos in 2022. In addition to the Steelers, Evero is in the running for the head-coaching jobs this cycle for the Atlanta Falcons and Las Vegas Raiders. Steelers owner Art Rooney II said the organization isn't putting a timeframe on when it expects to have a new head coach, and he shot down suggestions that the Steelers would be in a "rebuild" phase after the departure of Tomlin, who has been with the team for 19 years.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
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