April 7, 2026
Miami Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan said on ESPN in an interview with Kevin Clark on This Is Football that the team is planning to build around new quarterback
Malik Willis. "I'm very comfortable with Malik and his ability to play with what's around him," Sullivan said. The Dolphins gave the 26-year-old Willis a three-year, $67.5 million contract after they released
Tua Tagovailoa this offseason. In his two years with the Green Bay Packers, Willis completed 78.7% of his passes for 972 yards, six touchdowns, and no interceptions in 11 games (just three starts). In his four years in the NFL, Willis has only made six starts, and he'll be leading an offense in 2026 that will have do-it-all running back
De'Von Achane and not much else after
Tyreek Hill (knee) was cut and
Jaylen Waddle was traded to the Denver Broncos. Willis is very athletic and can be a dual threat under center with his arms and his legs, but he could be fighting an uphill battle for fantasy production in his first year in South Beach as Miami begins building around him through the draft.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Kevin Clark
April 7, 2026
Atlanta Falcons tight end
Kyle Pitts Sr. is signing his franchise tag and will be present for the start of the team's offseason program this week, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Pitts and the Falcons can still negotiate a long-term deal until the deadline in mid-July, but he's now locked into his $15.045 million fully guaranteed one-year deal on the franchise tag for the 2026 season. The 25-year-old finally delivered for fantasy managers in 2025 after teasing everyone with a 1,000-yard season as a rookie. In 17 starts last year, the former fourth overall pick in 2021 out of the University of Florida caught 88 of his 118 targets for 928 yards and five touchdowns. He was especially productive down the stretch when it mattered the most for his fantasy managers. Although Pitts' fantasy stock is on the rise after his big season, there is still plenty of volatility with Atlanta's quarterback picture unsettled between the injured
Michael Penix Jr. (knee) and
Tua Tagovailoa.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
April 7, 2026
Chicago White Sox infielder
Brooks Baldwin (elbow) elected to have a season-ending UCL internal-brace surgery on his right elbow last Wednesday, April 1, according to White Sox beat reporter Brooke Fletcher. Baldwin was placed on the 10-day injured list back on March 26. He is expected to be ready for spring training next year. The 25-year-old utility player injured his elbow during spring training. Baldwin debuted in the big leagues with the Pale Hose in 2024 and hit just .211 (24-for-114) with two homers before slashing .240/.290/.407 with a .697 OPS, 11 home runs, 38 RBI, 32 runs scored, and five stolen bases in 103 games played in his second season in 2025. He'll be hoping to be 100% recovered in time for spring training in 2027 as he attempts to win a roster spot on the big-league squad.
--Keith HernandezSource: Brooke Fletcher
April 7, 2026
The Philadelphia Phillies will activate right-handed reliever
Orion Kerkering (hamstring) from the injured list on Tuesday, according to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. In a corresponding move, the Phillies optioned left-hander
Kyle Backhus to the minors after Monday's game. Kerkering will be making his 2026 debut after straining his right hamstring in spring training. The hard-throwing 25-year-old will return to a late-inning setup role for the Phils and can be useful for strikeouts and holds. In his third MLB season in 2025, Kerkering picked up his first four career saves while also posting a 3.30 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, and 65:27 K:BB in 60 innings out of the bullpen. Kerkering's strikeout rate has dropped in each of his three seasons in the big leagues, going from 42.9% in just three innings in 2023 to 24.4% last year in a career-high 69 appearances.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Todd Zolecki
April 7, 2026
The Baltimore Orioles transferred right-hander
Zach Eflin (elbow) to the 60-day injured list on Tuesday due to right-elbow discomfort, according to Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports. Eflin was seeking a second opinion on his injured right elbow after initially being placed on the 15-day IL by the O's. Now that he's on the 60-day IL, he is not eligible to return to the starting rotation until May 31. Right-hander
Brandon Young was called up to start in Eflin's place on Monday against the Chicago White Sox and pitched well, so he's likely to get another turn in the rotation this weekend. Eflin allowed one earned run with two walks and seven strikeouts in a no-decision in 3 2/3 innings in his first start of 2026 against the Texas Rangers, but it's now looking like the veteran hurler will miss most of the first half of the season with elbow troubles.
--Keith HernandezSource: MASN Sports - Roch Kubatko
April 7, 2026
The Cleveland Guardians called up infield prospect
Juan Brito from Triple-A Columbus on Tuesday with shortstop
Gabriel Arias (hamstring) landing on the 10-day injured list, and Brito is making his major-league debut on Tuesday, per MLB.com. Brito, the team's No. 16 prospect per MLB Pipeline, will start at second base and bat sixth against Kansas City Royals left-hander
Noah Cameron. The 24-year-old Dominican will likely be on the short side of a platoon against lefty pitchers at the keystone in Cleveland for as long as Arias is on the shelf.
Brayan Rocchio, who had been starting at second, is shifting over to the 6 for now with Arias on the IL. Brito got off to a strong start in nine games at Columbus, going 11-for-35 (.314) with no homers, four RBI, and five runs scored. The young infielder missed a lot of time in 2025 on the farm with thumb and hamstring injuries, and long-term, he profiles as more of a utility infielder for the Guardians, with top prospect
Travis Bazzana ticketed for the everyday role at second base.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 7, 2026
The Chicago White Sox announced on Tuesday that they placed outfielder
Austin Hays (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list with a right-hamstring strain and selected the contract of outfielder
Dustin Harris from Triple-A Charlotte in a corresponding move. The move comes after Hays injured his right hamstring while on defense in Monday's game against the Baltimore Orioles. With the veteran outfielder on the shelf,
Andrew Benintendi should see more action in left field for the Pale Hose. The 30-year-old veteran was off to a slow start at the plate for the White Sox before his injury, going 7-for-32 (.219) with a home run, six RBI, and two runs scored in nine games in his first year on the South Side in Chicago. In addition to Benintendi,
Derek Hill,
Tanner Murray, and Harris could see some playing time in left field until Hays is cleared to come off the IL, potentially before the end of April.
--Keith HernandezSource: Chicago White Sox
April 7, 2026
ESPN's Jesse Rogers reports that Chicago Cubs right-hander
Cade Horton's (forearm) MRI results did not look clean, so he will visit with Dr. Keith Meister in Texas on Tuesday. Horton is "trending down a bad path." The Cubs pulled Horton from his last start early with a right-forearm strain. At the very least, it looks like Horton is looking at an extended absence, but he could also need season-ending surgery, depending on what Meister says. It's bad news for a Cubs' starting rotation that is already missing
Matthew Boyd (biceps) and
Justin Steele (elbow). With Chicago's rotation snakebitten by injuries early in the season, both
Javier Assad and Collin Rea could end up making plenty of starts in the first half of the season. Horton, a former seventh overall pick in 2022 out of Oklahoma, allowed just two earned runs with two walks and four strikeouts in his first two starts of 2026 before dealing with forearm issues his last time out. For now, keep him stashed in an IL spot in fantasy leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN Chicago - Jesse Rogers
April 7, 2026
Cleveland Guardians shortstop
Gabriel Arias (hamstring) was placed on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday with a left-hamstring strain, according to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. In a corresponding move, the Guardians called up
Juan Brito from Triple-A Columbus. Arias suffered the injury while running out a double in Monday's game versus the Kansas City Royals. Until he's able to return,
Brayan Rocchio will likely move from second to shortstop, with Daniel Schneeman and Brito platooning at the keystone in Cleveland. Brito will make the start on Tuesday for the Guards against a lefty. Arias, 26, is more of a glove-first player with very modest power and speed at the plate. Before his injury, he had gone 6-for-30 (.200) in the first 10 games of the 2026 season with two home runs, four RBI, two runs scored, two walks, and 12 strikeouts.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Tim Stebbins
April 7, 2026
Tommy Fleetwood continues his strong form, recording his fourth top-10 finish in his last five starts at the Valero Texas Open last week. He now heads to The Masters, where he has made eight straight cuts, including a T3 and T21 in his last two appearances. Fleetwood's game sets up well for Augusta, ranking 14th in total strokes gained, 28th on approach, and 32nd off the tee, all key areas at this course. The only real concern is the putter. He ranks 120th and is losing strokes on the greens, including in each of his last three events, though he has gained strokes putting here in four of eight measured appearances. He also lacks elite power, ranking 117th in driving distance, but has still found success at Augusta, largely on the back of strong around-the-green play. Fleetwood's form and tee-to-green play make him a solid option, but his chances of contending will likely come down to whether the putter cooperates.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
April 7, 2026
Broncos tight end
Evan Engram signed with Denver in 2025 following an injury-hampered final season in Jacksonville, and while he was able to appear in 16 games, his 28.8 yards per contest were the second-lowest total of his nine-year career. The Broncos got flashes out of their young receiving core of
Troy Franklin,
Pat Bryant, and
Marvin Mims Jr., and the team recently paid up to pair explosive playmaker
Jaylen Waddle with the steady target-earner
Courtland Sutton. All of that amounts to a crowded group of pass catchers before even factoring in the 83 Denver targets that went to running backs in 2025. Head coach Sean Payton has made no secret that he wants to add a level of dynamism to the tight end position, and with the 2026 NFL Draft offering a deep class with varied skillsets, he will likely be on the hunt to fill the fabled Joker role he's struggled to implement since coming to Denver. Engram is RotoBaller's TE35 in dynasty rankings, and should the Broncos spend early capital at the position, it could mark the official end of what was at times an exciting fantasy career.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
April 7, 2026
New York Yankees catcher/first baseman
Ben Rice has gotten off to a great start to the season, going 10-for-27 (.370) in his first eight games. Of his 10 hits, seven have been for extra bases, and he has four doubles and three homers as a result of a sparkling 77.8% hard-hit rate and 27.8% barrel rate. The lefty has all of his extra-base hits against righties this season, but is 1-for-4 with a walk in his limited action against lefties as well. After the Yankees' off day to start the week, the team will host the Athletics Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in a three-game set in the Bronx. The A's are scheduled to start righties
Aaron Civale and
Luis Severino in the first two games of the series, setting up Rice to keep on rolling from New York's cleanup spot.
--Zach ThompsonSource: RotoBaller
April 7, 2026
New England Patriots running back
TreVeyon Henderson is coming off the most productive season of any rookie back in a Josh McDaniels-led offense since Knowshon Moreno in 2009. McDaniels' famously complex protection schemes have often resulted in essentially a redshirt season for most of his rookie runners, followed by a consistent year-two leap. Henderson was touted as the best pass-protecting halfback in a loaded 2025 class, and while he was the first Patriots rookie to see 500 offensive snaps since Curtis Martin in 1995, his still-developing play strength and recognition often made him a liability on obvious passing downs, with the coaching staff favoring
Rhamondre Stevenson in critical situations. Additional time in the Patriots' new weight room and one more year with McDaniels' playbook, along with his clearly evident big-play ability, could see Henderson carve out a larger share of running back snaps in 2026. While Stevenson will still get his, the moves made by New England in free agency suggest an emphasis on getting more productive on early downs and less reliant on
Drake Maye to bail the team out of third-and-long scenarios. When healthy, Alijah Vera-Tucker is one of the most disruptive interior linemen in the league, while fullback
Reggie Gilliam and tight end
Julian Hill add snarl that the team sorely lacked in gotta-have-it situations in 2025.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
April 7, 2026
Seattle Mariners catcher
Cal Raleigh connected on his first home run of the season on Monday night in his team's loss to the Rangers. Raleigh didn't homer in his first 10 games of the season, going 5-for-38 (.132) with five walks and 20 strikeouts. He had a pair of hard-hit balls on Monday night, and his home run came in the first inning after a 12-pitch duel with
Jacob deGrom. Raleigh didn't have another hit in the contest, but the Mariners and his fantasy managers will hope that this gets the start catcher back in the home run groove after he smashed 60 homers last season with a .342 ISO that stands in stark contrast to his .122 ISO so far this season. He'll look to build some momentum as the Mariners continue their series in Texas by facing Nate Eovaldi on Tuesday.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
April 7, 2026
Washington Nationals starting pitcher
Cade Cavalli is set to make his third start of the season on Tuesday against the Cardinals, and he makes sense to consider if you need a starting pitcher pickup from the waiver wire. The 27-year-old righty has allowed a total of three earned runs in his first two starts of the season, picking up eight strikeouts in 9 2/3 innings in a pair of no-decisions. He looked strong in his last outing on the road against the Phillies, going six innings and allowing one run on five hits. He's in a favorable matchup at home against the Cardinals on Tuesday night and will be looking to turn in his second straight quality outing after struggling a little with his command in his first start of the season. If you're looking for solid innings off the waiver wire, Cavalli is a solid place to look on Tuesday.
--Zach ThompsonSource: RotoBaller
April 7, 2026
Chicago Bears quarterback
Caleb Williams finished his second professional season as the QB5 despite failing to reach 4,000 passing yards or even a 60% completion rate. Heading into year two under the tutelage of head coach Ben Johnson, if Williams can clean up some of the details that have plagued his young career, he has the natural ability and tools to become a fantasy league winner.
Rome Odunze,
Luther Burden III, and tight end
Colston Loveland represent one of the best young groups of pass catchers in the league, and for all of Williams' highlight-worthy improvisation, he's done a remarkable job of keeping the ball out of harm's way, accounting for 50 career touchdowns to only 13 interceptions and 19 total turnovers. While the sample size is small and imprecise,
Jared Goff finished as QB10 in his second season with the Lions (his first with Johnson at offensive coordinator) before reeling off consecutive top-7 finishes. Williams is currently RotoBaller's QB5 in dynasty rankings, so any meaningful leap could land him among the fantasy elite.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
April 7, 2026
Texas Rangers relief pitcher
Jakob Junis earned his first save of the season on Monday by shutting down Seattle in the ninth inning of a close, 2-1 victory. Junis faced the middle of the Mariners' order and got
Cal Raleigh to ground out to start the inning and
Josh Naylor to hit into a game-ending double play after he hit
Julio Rodriguez with a pitch. Junis only needed four pitches to get through the inning after
Robert Garcia worked the eighth inning and earned a hold against the bottom of the order. Garcia and
Chris Martin have had some early-season struggles, while Junis has worked six scoreless innings with just one hit allowed. He could continue to get opportunities, and he makes sense as a speculative addition if you're searching for saves on the waiver wire. He isn't the primary closing option yet, but with more outings like Monday's, he could secure that role soon.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
April 7, 2026
Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov recorded his 400th career goal in Monday's 4-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. The former MVP found the back of the net on the power play midway through the first period. Steven Stamkos was previously the only Lightning player to score at least 400 times, and Kucherov became the eighth Russia-born player to reach the 400-goal mark. Following Monday night's action, Kucherov once again shares the NHL's scoring lead with Edmonton's Connor McDavid. He has bagged 126 points (43 goals, 83 assists) in 71 appearances, scoring in three consecutive games.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
April 7, 2026
Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher
Jordan Romano only needed three pitches to secure his fourth save of the season on Monday night. He didn't start the ninth inning since the Angels had a 6-1 lead, but he entered with the tying run on deck after
Chase Silseth gave up a run and put two more runners on base. Romano retired
Mike Yastrzemski on a flyout to center to end the threat and earn his fourth save in six games to start the season. He has not allowed a run or a hit in his five innings, while picking up seven strikeouts and issuing two walks. He is still available in over 40% of leagues on Yahoo! leagues and is a great closer pickup after his hot start.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
April 7, 2026
Seattle Seahawks tight end
Elijah Arroyo finished his rookie season with 15 receptions for 179 yards and one touchdown, but he did show signs of encouraging usage. His 90.8% route participation was highest among rookie tight ends, while his average depth of target and yards per route run were both close to the top of the class. While it was
AJ Barner, in a second-season breakout of his own, who saw the vast majority of high-value touches out of the tight end room, a new offensive coaching staff could help to clear the slate for Arroyo. Brian Fleury takes over as the offensive coordinator in Seattle after four seasons as the 49ers' tight ends coach. While
George Kittle can potentially make said position look easy, Fleury and the Niners offense got several fantasy-relevant performances out of
Jake Tonges in Kittle's absence. It's worth noting that while Seattle deployed 12 personnel at a top 10 rate under Klint Kubiak, San Francisco ranked near the bottom of the league in each of the last four seasons, though context is important here. The 49ers ran the highest rate of 21 personnel over that time, and while San Francisco boasts arguably the best halfback/fullback duo in the league, Seattle might not have either position figured out heading into the NFL Draft, while tight end remains a strength in 2026.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
April 7, 2026
Vancouver Canucks left wing Evander Kane (undisclosed) didn't practice on Monday and is unlikely to play on Tuesday night against the Vegas Golden Knights. He is considered day-to-day with an undisclosed injury. The veteran power forward has been dealing with the issue for a while, but he played through the injury to reach 1,000 career games a week ago. Kane then sat out the last two games of a four-game road trip before returning to the lineup for Saturday's home contest against Utah, where he was honored in a pregame ceremony commemorating his 1,000th regular-season game. With Vancouver firmly planted at the bottom of the standings, there's little reason to push Kane back into action when he's not at 100 percent.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
April 7, 2026
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher
Jose Soriano has looked outstanding in his three outings this season, improving to 3-0 by out-dueling
Chris Sale to help the Halos beat the Braves on Monday, 6-2. Soriano did give up his first run of the season, but worked eight innings with 10 strikeouts while giving up just three hits and one run. He has a 0.45 ERA and 2.63 FIP in his first 20 innings this season with 21 strikeouts and a 0.65 WHIP. Soriano flashed potential in dominant starts last year, but the 27-year-old righty has looked like a true ace in his first three starts of this year and is a great option if you need some help in your starting rotation. He's scheduled to take the mound again this coming weekend in Cincinnati, and his road splits were very strong last season, so you can start him with confidence after his three excellent outings to begin the 2026 season.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
April 7, 2026
Raiders wide receiver
Tre Tucker was the leading receiver on a 2025 Las Vegas team that has since added only
Jalen Nailor on a mid-market free agent contract. His 696 receiving yards marked a career high, and he could see enough early-season success to make him a sellable fantasy depth piece. Tucker is an undersized speedster in a mold similar to
Darnell Mooney, whose best games in Atlanta came with
Kirk Cousins, the presumed starter in Vegas to start the year. It's important to note that Tucker's sell window could be tightened by what the Raiders do in the NFL Draft, as the team is expected to add receiving help for presumed number one overall pick
Fernando Mendoza, and Tucker should not be viewed as an irreplaceable talent. Almost 30% of his fantasy points in 2025 came in a single game against the Commanders while
Brock Bowers was fighting through injury.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
April 7, 2026
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher
Bubba Chandler took the loss in his team's 5-0 loss to the Padres on Monday night. While Chandler did pick up four strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings, he issued four walks and was charged with three earned runs. In just 8 2/3 innings in his first two starts, he has issued 10 free passes, which is a major concern after he only walked four batters in 31 1/3 innings in the majors last year. He walked 11 in 11 spring training innings as well, so it's not just a small sample-size issue anymore. Chandler still has a very high ceiling and can dominate with a high strikeout ceiling, but his control issues are a major concern for his fantasy managers and the Pirates. He'll make his second start of the week on Sunday in Chicago against the Cubs, and he'll remain a high-risk, boom-or-bust fantasy asset until he gets his control back.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
April 7, 2026
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen (upper body) won't be available for Tuesday's tilt against the Vegas Golden Knights. After battling an illness over the weekend, Lankinen missed Monday's practice and is considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury. The 30-year-old has had a miserable campaign in Vancouver, going 9-26-5 across 40 starts. He carries a 3.69 goals-against average and a .875 save percentage. Jiri Patera was recalled on an emergency basis from the minors before Saturday's clash against Utah and will presumably stay with the big club until Lankinen returns. Nikita Tolopilo started Saturday's game, allowing six goals with a .739 save percentage in a 7-4 loss.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
April 7, 2026
Winnipeg Jets forward Morgan Barron (lower body) is week-to-week. He missed Monday's win over Seattle and could be out for the remainder of the regular season. The 27-year-old has had the best season of his career, posting 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists) in 65 games. He is fourth on the Jets' roster with 132 hits. Losing Barron is a setback for the playoff-chasing Winnipeg, but the team welcomed back some reinforcements on Monday. Nino Niederreiter and Vladislav Namestnikov both returned to action, with the latter finishing the scoring with an empty-net goal in a 6-2 victory.
--Taavi PailkSource: TSN
April 7, 2026
Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Pontus Holmberg (upper body) was injured during the third period of Monday's 4-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. He took an awkward fall into an unlatched penalty box door following a hit from Sabres forward Peyton Krebs. The NHL has launched an investigation into the incident. After the game, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper questioned whether the penalty box operator should be fired. Cooper added that Holmberg is "not good." The Swedish forward was spotted having his left arm in a sling. Holmberg is in his first year with the Lightning and has notched a career-high 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) in 70 games. Tampa Bay's offense was already without Anthony Cirelli (undisclosed), Brandon Hagel (lower body), and Dominic James(leg) on Monday night.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
April 7, 2026
Seattle Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer (lower body) left Monday's 6-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets in the second period. The German netminder allowed three goals on 18 SOG, finishing with a .833 save percentage. Grubauer's replacement, Joey Daccord, had the same save percentage as Seattle's playoff hopes suffered another blow. The team has now lost five straight and is 1-7-2 over the last 10 games. Grubauer has been the starter in most of the recent defeats. He has performed quite well, but the team hasn't scored enough goals. On Monday, Grubauer's record dropped to 13-12-4. He has a 2.65 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
April 7, 2026
Indiana Pacers guard
Andrew Nembhard (back) will remain sidelined on Tuesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He's on the injury report due to thoracic and lumbar injury management, sitting out a fourth consecutive contest. With Nembhard out of the picture,
Quenton Jackson has enjoyed a stint as a starter and is expected to lead the backcourt again, especially with
T.J. McConnell (hamstring) also unavailable. Jackson has averaged 13.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.3 steals per game since Nembhard departed the lineup.
Kam Jones and
Ethan Thompson also benefit from Nembhard's absence.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
April 7, 2026
Indiana Pacers forward
Pascal Siakam (ankle) will miss a second consecutive game on Tuesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Cameroonian star injured his left ankle on Friday night against Charlotte and could be done for the rest of the season. After Tuesday, the Pacers will have only three more games to go.
Jalen Slawson stepped into the first unit as Siakam's replacement on Sunday against Cleveland and is likely to maintain the spot after a productive outing. Across a team-high 33 minutes, Slawson had 19 points, six rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
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