January 12, 2026
According to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart, Houston Astros top infield prospect
Brice Matthews is expected to see time in the outfield during the upcoming season. Matthews made his MLB debut last season but was deployed in the infield, spending most of his time at the keystone. The former first-round pick came up in the minor leagues as a shortstop but appears ticketed to shift to the outfield to open more opportunities, given the crowded Houston infield. Currently,
Jeremy Pena,
Carlos Correa, Isaac Paredees,
Christian Walker, and
Jose Altuve all appear poised to see opportunities before Matthews. As a result, the former Nebraska standout's best opportunity to crack the Opening Day roster would be to shift positions. In his debut season, Matthews posted an underwhelming .167/.222/.452 line across 13 games. However, he did flash high power potential, launching four long balls during this brief taste. He could be worth a look in AL-only formats if he can earn a consistent role.
--Andy SmithSource: Brian McTaggart
January 12, 2026
Pittsburgh Steelers running back
Kenneth Gainwell emerged as a surprisingly critical piece of his team's offense over the course of the 2025 season, recording 1,023 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns on 187 touches. Gainwell and the Steelers will face one of the NFL's best defenses in the Wild Card round in the Houston Texans. Houston dominated opposing rushing attacks in the regular season, allowing the fourth-fewest rushing yards (1,593) in the NFL. However, Gainwell does most of his work in the Steelers' passing game. The 26-year-old recorded 73 receptions for 486 yards and three touchdowns this season and earned at least seven targets in four out of Pittsburgh's final five games. Houston has been slightly more susceptible to running back production in the pass game this season, allowing an average of four receptions and 31 receiving yards per game to the position. Given his relatively safe receiving floor, Gainwell profiles as a solid fantasy RB2 option in PPR-scoring leagues in the Wild Card.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 12, 2026
Houston Texans wide receiver
Nico Collins sat out the final week of the regular season for rest purposes, but he's back and ready to go for his team's Wild Card round matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 26-year-old had his second-straight Pro Bowl campaign in 2025, recording 71 receptions for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns on 120 targets across 15 games played. Collins is the clear WR1 in Houston and should heavily feature in the Texans' offensive game plan against the Steelers. Additionally, he will face a Pittsburgh defense that had its struggles defending the pass in the regular season. Pittsburgh finished 2025 ranked 30th in the NFL in passing yards allowed (4,437) and tied for 23rd in passing touchdowns allowed (30). The Steelers also allowed 53 receptions of 20 or more yards, so Collins should have a chance to make plays down the field. Collins averaged 15.7 yards per reception in the regular season and has a career average of 15.0 yards per reception across 66 NFL games. Fantasy managers in playoff leagues should view Collins as a WR1 option in the Wild Card round.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 12, 2026
According to Kevin Barral of FishOnFirst.com, outfield prospect
Owen Caissie will "very likely" crack the Opening Day roster and serve as a primary right fielder. The Marlins acquired Caissie from the Cubs as the top asset in the trade that shipped right-handed pitcher
Edward Cabrera to Chicago. While Caissie was already expected to compete for an everyday role in Miami, this report confirms that Caissie appears ticketed for a large role at the start of the season. The former 45th overall pick made his MLB debut last season with the Cubs and hit one home run with a .192/.222/.346 line across 12 games. At Triple-A, Caissie flashed immense upside, posting a .286/.386/.551 slash line with 28 doubles and 22 home runs. If he can claim the starting job in right field, Caissie would have intriguing sleeper appeal in five-outfielder formats.
--Andy SmithSource: Kevin Barral
January 12, 2026
Houston Texans rookie running back
Woody Marks finished his first season in the NFL with 911 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns on 220 touches across 16 games. Marks finished the year as the clear RB1 in Houston, earning double-digit touches in 10 out of his last 11 contests. He may see an even larger workload in Houston's Wild Card round matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, as Texans backup running back
Jawhar Jordan (ankle) has been ruled out with an ankle injury. The Pittsburgh rush defense finished a solid-but-unspectacular 13th in the NFL in total rushing yards allowed (1,922) in the regular season. However, the Steelers proved difficult to score on on the ground, allowing the third-fewest rushing touchdowns (10) in the league. Marks is a good bet to see a heavy workload against Pittsburgh, but he may have to rely on volume alone for fantasy production. RotoBaller projects Marks as the overall RB10 in full PPR scoring for his matchup against the Steelers.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 12, 2026
Chicago Cubs former top prospect
Matt Shaw appears to be in serious danger of falling into a reserve role for the 2026 campaign. On Saturday night, the Cubs inked a massive five-year $175 million contract with third baseman free agent
Alex Bregman. However, with Bregman now slated to cover the hot corner on the North Side of Chicago, Shaw could be shifted to the bench early in the season. In 2025, Shaw logged 124 games at third base and added four at the kystone. With
Nico Hoerner locked in as the everyday second baseman, Shaw will likely take on a super-utility role, which will hurt his short-term fantasy value. In his debut campaign, the former 13th overall pick posted a disappointing .226/.295/.394 line with 13 home runs nd 17 stolen bases. Given this signing, Shaw is only worth targeting late in drafts in 15+ team formats for the time being.
--Andy SmithSource: Jeff Passan
January 12, 2026
The Green Bay Packers are expected to work out a new contract with head coach Matt LaFleur "in the coming days," per ESPN's Adam Schefter. LaFleur has just one season remaining on his current agreement, and Schefter reports that "both sides want clarity moving forward." LaFleur, who will turn 47 in November, has gone 76-40-1 in the regular season across seven seasons at the helm in Green Bay. He's led the Packers to six postseason appearances and won 13 games in each of his first three years with the organization. However, the team has gone out in the first round in back-to-back years, most recently blowing a sizable second-half lead to the division rival Chicago Bears, ending their 2025 campaign. Regardless, it appears as though Green Bay wants to commit to LaFleur long-term and end speculation about his job security going forward.
--Will BradySource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
January 12, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks top outfield prospect
Ryan Waldschmidt could break camp with the MLB roster. According to Baseball America, the Kentucky product appears to be entering camp with a legitimate chance to make the Opening Day roster as outfielder
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (knee) is expected to miss at least the first half of the season, recovering from a torn ACL. Additionally, the Diamondbacks also shipped depth outfielder
Jake McCarthy to the Colorado Rockies, further opening a position for Waldschmidt. The 23-year-old has yet to even debut at Triple-A, but has seen his prospect stock soar. In 2025, Waldschmidt split the seasons at High-A and Double-A and held an overall .289/.419/.473 line with an .812 OPS. He showed an elite eye at the plate, posting a 96:106 K:BB. Managers in the deeper leagues should continue to closely monitor his status, as he could be worth a late-round flyer if he performs well in camp.
--Andy SmithSource: Baseball America
January 12, 2026
The Cleveland Browns are interviewing former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel for their open head-coaching role on Monday, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Miami fired McDaniel on Thursday after four seasons at the helm. McDaniel went 35-33 in the regular season with the Dolphins, but posted losing records and missed the playoffs in each of the last two years. He led the Dolphins to playoff berths in both 2022 and 2023, but finished his tenure with the Dolphins a career playoff record of 0-2. McDaniel has a reputation as an offensive guru, and Miami was the number one offense in the NFL in terms of yardage in McDaniel's second season. However, the Dolphins regressed in 2025, finishing 26th in total yards and 25th in points scored. The Browns have finished 28th or worse in points scored in each of the last two seasons, so the organization is no doubt eyeing McDaniel as a potential fix for its ailing offense.
--Will BradySource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
January 12, 2026
Former Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola committed to Oregon on Monday, according to Pete Nakos and Hayes Fawcett of On3Sports. The former five-star recruit and top-10 overall player in the Class of 2024 entered the transfer portal following two seasons at Nebraska, which yielded mixed results. In 22 career starts, the rising junior completed 69.1% of his passes for 4,819 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions. The 20-year-old finished his career in Lincoln with a 13-9 record. His sophomore season was cut short after suffering a broken fibula on November 1 against USC. Oregon has lived in the transfer portal to find starting quarterbacks since the arrival of Dan Lanning, who brought in Bo Nix, Dillon Gabriel, and Dante Moore. This announcement could signal that Moore is set to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft, though that is not yet final.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: On3 on X
January 12, 2026
According to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com, Arizona Diamondbacks infielder
Jordan Lawlar could see opportunities in center field during spring training. While the former top prospect has only seen opportunities at shortstop and third base during his first two stints in the big league, it appears the Diamondbacks are exploring an alternative way to get him on the field. Lawlar has seen his MLB opportunities limited due to the crowded nature of the Arizona infield and, most recently,
Geraldo Perdomo's breakout campaign in 2025. Last summer, Lawlar appeared in just 28 games for the Diamondbacks, posting a .182/.257/.288 line. He made his MLB debut in 2024 and held a .129/.206/.129 line across 14 contests. However, at Triple-A, Lawlar has been quite productive, posting an elite .328/.414/.576 line through 91 games. He is a name to keep a close eye on as he could carry five-category upside if he were to see an everyday role in Arizona.
--Andy SmithSource: Steve Gilbert
January 12, 2026
Buffalo Bills wide receiver
Gabe Davis (knee) is set to undergo an MRI on his injured knee on Monday, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Davis was carted off from Buffalo's Wild Card round win over the Jacksonville Jaguars after taking a big hit going over the middle of the field. Rapoport reports that Davis' knee was so swollen initially that diagnosing the injury has been difficult, and that Davis' status "does not look good" for the remainder of the postseason. The 26-year-old recorded two receptions for 14 yards on three targets against Jacksonville before getting injured and hauled in 12 catches for 129 yards and a touchdown across six regular-season games with the Bills. If Davis is unable to play in the AFC Divisional round against the Denver Broncos, the Bills will likely rely more heavily on wide receivers
Brandin Cooks,
Keon Coleman, and
Tyrell Shavers.
--Will BradySource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
January 12, 2026
Former Miami and Alabama wide receiver Isaiah Horton is signing with Texas A&M, according to On3Sports. The rising senior spent one season with the Crimson Tide, catching 42 passes for 511 yards and a team-high eight touchdowns. In 44 career games with the Canes and Tide, he's tallied 112 catches for 1,301 yards and 14 touchdown grabs. The Aggies did not secure Auburn transfer Cam Coleman, who committed to Texas, but Horton is a nice consolation prize. Texas A&M leading receiver KC Concepcion is NFL-bound after a breakout performance in the SEC, but Mario Craver will be back in College Station for 2026. Horton could help quarterback Marcel Reed take the next step as a passer as the Aggies look to get back to the College Football Playoff.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: On3 on X
January 12, 2026
According to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon, the New York Mets remain in "pole position" to acquire Brewers right-hander
Freddy Peralta. Rosenthal and Sammon reported that while many teams remain in the mix for Milwaukee's top pitcher, the Mets could complete the trade without moving their top young pitcher,
Nolan McLean. Instead, they could look to trade
Jonah Tong,
Christian Scott, or
Brandon Sproat to acquire the 29-year-old. Peralta enjoyed a career season in 2025, logging 176 2/3 innings to the tune of a 2.70 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. He picked up 17 wins, pitching for the NL Central Champions, and struck out 204 batters. If he were to join the Mets, Peralta would likely operate as their ace and carry solid SP2/high-end SP3 upside in all fantasy formats.
--Andy SmithSource: Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon
January 12, 2026
Following the Cubs' signing of third baseman
Alex Bregman, the New York Yankees have already expressed interest in trading for second baseman
Nico Hoerner and have reached out to begin preliminary discussions. Bregman's signing with the Cubs does create a bit of a logjam in their infield, as top prospect
Matt Shaw will likely revert to a super-utility role. However, if the Cubs were to move Hoerner, who is in the final year of his contract, Shaw could become the everyday second baseman. The Yankees are expected to rely on
Jazz Chisholm Jr. at the keystone this season, but could shift him to the hot corner if they were to acquire Hoerner from the Cubs. While he does not possess much power upside, Hoerner posted an elite .297 AVG with 29 stolen bases last season. Hoerner would likely slot in as the everyday leadoff hitter in New York and could see his run total push for a career high, batting in front of
Aaron Judge and
Giancarlo Stanton.
--Andy SmithSource: Pat Ragazzo
January 12, 2026
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Boston Red Sox will now turn their attention to free-agent infielder
Bo Bichette after missing out on third baseman
Alex Bregman. Bregman inked a massive five-year $175 million contract with the Cubs, but the Red Sox were expressing significant interest in him and even offered him a similar offer. However, Nightingale reports that the Red Sox remain interested in improving their infield before the start of the season. In 2026, Bichette posted a stellar .311/.357/.483 line with 44 doubles, 18 home runs, and four stolen bases. This was a massive bounce-back for Bichette in comparison to his .225/.277/.322 line he held the year prior. If Bichette were to agree to terms with the Red Sox, he could limit
Marcelo Mayer's playing time, as Bichette would likely slot in as the everyday third baseman.
--Andy SmithSource: Bob Nightengale
January 12, 2026
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves bounced back from three consecutive losses on Sunday with a 3-2 overtime win against the Utah Mammoth. He had 25 saves as Columbus turned a 2-1 deficit into a win with a pair of power-play goals. Graves had won four of five starts before suddenly cooling off at the start of this month. Still, he has enjoyed a good campaign in Columbus, posting a 2.71 goals-against average with a .908 save percentage. If Greaves can keep up these numbers for the rest of the way, his 13-12-6 record is poised to improve.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 12, 2026
Free agent right-handed pitcher
Max Kranick (elbow) is set to be throwing on Monday, according to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic. Kranick has been on the shelf since undergoing flexor tendon surgery in July. He was eventually released by the Mets earlier in the offseason. However, it appears Kranick has progressed well and could find a suitor before spring Training. Last season before the injury, Kranick logged 37 innings to the tune of a 3.65 ERA and a strong 1.05 WHIP. During this stint, he allowed only five walks but tallied just 25 punchouts. Through 142 2/3 career innings at Triple-A, the 28-year-old has posted a 3.72 ERA with a 1.19 WHIP, spending most of his time pitching out of the bullpen. If he were to find a suitor, he would likely compete for a middle-relief role during the spring.
--Andy SmithSource: Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon
January 12, 2026
Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi was instrumental in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Washington Capitals, factoring in on all three of his team's goals. The Predators captain finished with the game-winning goal and added two assists. Two points, including his goal, came on the power play for Josi, who entered Sunday's contest with a four-game scoreless run. It's been a bit of a rocky patch for Josi lately, but he will be pleased to know that his team has upped its level of play in recent weeks. Thanks to an 8-4-0 surge, the Predators are now only two points out of a wild-card position in the Western Conference. Josi has tallied 21 points (six goals, 15 assists) in 33 games this season, while recording 85 shots and 49 blocked shots.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 12, 2026
The Boston Red Sox offered third baseman
Alex Bregman a five-year, $165 million contract before he opted to sign with the Cubs on Saturday evening. The Cubs were able to narrowly win the bidding war for the longtime Astro, inking him to a five-year $175 million contract. Bregman spent the 2025 campaign with the Red Sox and expressed interest in returning to Boston on a long-term deal. In his lone season with Boston, Bregman posted a .273/.360/.462 slash line with 18 home runs and 28 doubles. He generated a .337 xwOBA and showed an elite eye at the plate, drawing walks at a 10.3% rate and striking out at a 14.1% clip. With Bregman out of the picture, managers should expect the Red Sox to give young infielder
Marcelo Mayer the slight edge for the starting third base job in Spring Training.
--Andy SmithSource: Chris Cotillo
January 12, 2026
Boston Bruins goaltender Joonas Korpisalo collected his first shutout of the season on Sunday, stopping 27 shots in a 1-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Korpisalo became the first Bruins netminder in 11 years to shut out Sidney Crosby's squad. The 31-year-old has now won back-to-back starts, improving to 8-8-0 for the season. Korpisalo has allowed 3.20 goals with a .894 save percentage. Jeremy Swayman will probably return to the blue paint on Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings. In his next outing, however, Korpisalo will have an opportunity to match his longest winning streak of the season.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 12, 2026
According to Andrew Parker of SoxProspects.com, the Boston Red Sox have signed right-handed pitcher
Tayron Guerrero to a minor league contract. The right-hander spent the 2025 season in Japan with the NPB. Guerrero last appeared in an MLB game during the 2019 season with the Miami Marlins but was in the minor leagues from 2021 through 2024. In 2024, Guerrero logged 33 innings with Triple-A Salt Lake and posted a 5.73 ERA with a 1.76 WHIP. During this stint, he struck out 32 hitters and allowed 11 free passes. Through 106 career innings in the majors, Guerrero has held a high 5.77 ERA with a 1.66 WHIP. Given his lack of proven success in the major leagues, managers should expect Guerrero to open the season in the minor leagues.
--Andy SmithSource: Andrew Parker
January 12, 2026
New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes registered two assists in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. He helped Cody Glass get a pair of second-period goals. Glass' second goal of the game put New Jersey 3-2 up, but Hughes' crew couldn't stop the rot. Bizarrely, New Jersey has gone 2-7-1 since getting Hughes back from a hand injury. The 24-year-old star forward has produced one goal and six assists in 10 outings since his return. Hughes won't be happy with his recent contributions, as he had a higher scoring rate before his injury. For the season, Hughes has recorded 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists) in 27 games.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 12, 2026
Vegas Golden Knights forward Tomas Hertl tied the franchise record with five points in Sunday's 7-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks. He was on fire against his former team, scoring two goals and delivering three assists. Hertl's first goal came on the power play. Previously, only Mark Stone had managed as many as five points in a single game for the Golden Knights, doing so in a pair of contests in 2020 and 2021. While Hertl isn't among the most consistent forwards in the world, he is having a strong 2025-26 campaign. Across 44 outings, Hertl has registered 39 points (18 goals, 21 assists), 120 shots, and 55 hits. He has had three multi-point performances in his past four games.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 12, 2026
Washington Capitals forward Justin Sourdif (upper body) was injured in the second period of Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Nashville Predators. He took a puck to the face, leaving the game after logging only 6:17 of ice time. Sourdif recently matched a Capitals rookie record with five points (three goals, two assists) in a game against the Anaheim Ducks. Overall, he has totaled 19 points (nine goals, 10 assists) in 45 outings, tied for the eighth-most among first-year players. Sourdif has been a regular on the second line, while also skating with the second power-play unit. It's unclear whether Sourdif will be available for Tuesday's tilt against the Montreal Canadiens.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
January 12, 2026
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Denton Mateychuk (upper body) played only one shift in Sunday's 3-2 overtime win against the Utah Mammoth. He exited the game with an upper-body injury after taking a hard hit from Mammoth forward Brandon Tanev. Mateychuk is having a strong sophomore campaign, recording 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists), 52 shots, and 63 blocks in 44 appearances. He has been Zach Werenski's partner on the first defensive pairing. If Mateychuk has to miss time, Columbus will bring Jake Christiansen back into the lineup.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 11, 2026
Chicago Bears quarterback
Caleb Williams led his team to yet another comeback win in impressive fashion in the 31-27 victory over the division-rival Green Bay Packers on Saturday night in the Wild-Card round of the playoffs. Williams finished 24-for-48 passing for a season-high 361 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. He added four carries for 20 yards and also took one sack for a loss of nine yards. The 24-year-old second-year signal-caller also fumbled, but it was recovered by the Bears. It was the Bears' single-game playoff passing-yardage record. It wasn't pretty, but Williams continues to display his elite athleticism by extending the play outside the pocket to find his receivers deep down the field. The USC alum could get into a shootout with the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round, giving him plenty of fantasy upside. Williams has now gone over 300 passing yards in two of his last three games, with six touchdowns and three interceptions combined in his last three contests.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com
January 11, 2026
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur's future with the organization is in question after losing to the division-rival Chicago Bears in the Wild-Card round of this year's postseason, according to Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Packers president Ed Policy must decide if the team will give LaFleur a contract extension, or if they will be looking for a new head coach this offseason. The least likely option is for the Packers to retain LaFleur for the final year of his contract in 2026. LaFleur said "of course" his preference would be to remain with the team. If LaFleur were to be fired, he'd instantly become one of the top candidates on the market for another head-coaching job, along with Baltimore Ravens former head coach John Harbaugh. In his seven seasons with the Packers, LaFleur has gone 76-41. If Green Bay has a head-coaching vacancy, it will be one of the most coveted positions with a roster already built for Super Bowl contention.
--Keith HernandezSource: Green Bay Press-Gazette - Ryan Wood
January 11, 2026
Chicago Bears tight end
Colston Loveland caught eight of his 15 targets for 137 yards during Saturday's Wild Card win over the Green Bay Packers. Loveland's impressive rookie campaign continued as he set new personal-best marks in targets and yards. He now has 24 catches, 322 yards, and two touchdowns over his last three games. According to Jacob Gibbs of CBS Sports, the 21-year-old's big game made him just the second tight end in NFL history to record at least 10 targets and at least 130 yards in a playoff game at age 22 or younger. He joins just
Rob Gronkowski in that select group. Loveland will look to remain hot as the Bears advance to face either the Eagles or Rams in the Divisional Round next weekend.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
January 11, 2026
New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez (head) exited during the fourth quarter of Sunday's playoff contest against the Los Angeles Chargers. He is officially listed as questionable to return. Gonzalez left the game after breaking up a pass attempt on second down. At the time of his departure, he had defended two passes. The 23-year-old didn't record an interception during the regular season, but he was named to the AFC Pro Bowl roster and is consistently relied upon to cover opponents' No. 1 receivers. His absence will be something to monitor as the Patriots look to defend a three-pronged wide receiver room featuring
Ladd McConkey,
Keenan Allen, and
Quentin Johnston. Charles Woods should earn more cornerback snaps behind Carlton Davis and Marcus Jones.
--Andersen PickardSource: New England Patriots
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