January 21, 2026
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang (upper body) is a game-time decision for Wednesday's contest against the Calgary Flames. He missed practice on Tuesday and could also sit out at least one game. Pittsburgh will remain without Erik Karlsson (lower body) on Wednesday, so having Letang available on defense would be crucial. Due to Karlsson's absence, Letang has recently seen more power-play time. In 10 January outings, Letang has produced one goal and five assists. Overall, he has managed 25 points (three goals, 22 assists) in 48 games. If Letang doesn't play on Wednesday, the Penguins could use Brett Kulak on the top power-play unit.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 21, 2026
Detroit Pistons shooting guard
Caris LeVert (illness) won't play Wednesday against the New Orleans Pelicans. LeVert is dealing with an illness, and his next chance to return to action is on Friday against the Rockets. Detroit's backcourt will also be without its star point guard,
Cade Cunningham (hip, illness), so
Jaden Ivey and
Daniss Jenkins will likely see expanded roles and could be considered marginal streaming options ahead of tonight's clash in The Big Easy.
--Andrew LennoxSource: NBA Injury Report
January 21, 2026
Detroit Pistons point guard
Cade Cunningham (illness, hip) won't suit up against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday. The 24-year-old is feeling under the weather, and he is also dealing with a left hip contusion. His next chance to get back on the floor is on Friday against Houston. With Cunningham out of action,
Jaden Ivey,
Marcus Sasser and
Daniss Jenkins will likely have expanded roles in the Pistons backcourt.
--Andrew LennoxSource: NBA Injury Report
January 21, 2026
Charlotte Hornets PR announced that Charlotte Hornets guard
Tre Mann (illness) will suit up against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. The 24-year-old was feeling under the weather and was added to the injury report late, but he has since been cleared to play. Mann is averaging 7.8 points, 2.3 assists and 2.4 rebounds in 16.9 minutes per game across 28 outings this season. With a fully healthy Hornets backcourt, Mann will likely see limited minutes during tonight's contest.
--Andrew LennoxSource: Hornets PR
January 21, 2026
Toronto Raptors guard/forward
Ja'Kobe Walter (hip) won't play on Wednesday night against the Sacramento Kings. Walter is dealing with a right hip pointer and he will miss his sixth straight game. The 21-year-old's next chance to suit up comes on Friday on the road in Portland. An injury-riddled Raptors lineup will also once again be without
RJ Barrett (ankle), so they will rely on
Jamal Shead to be the primary playmaker, making him a solid streaming option during tonight's clash.
--Andrew LennoxSource: NBA Injury Report
January 21, 2026
Toronto Raptors guard/forward
RJ Barrett (ankle) is still not ready to return from a sprained left ankle, and he'll miss his seventh straight game on Wednesday against the Sacramento Kings. Barrett still hasn't been given a timeline for his return, and he should be considered questionable for Friday's matchup with the Trail Blazers. With
Ja'Kobe Walter (hip) also out of action,
Jamal Shead and Grady Dick will continue to carry a heavier workload during tonight's clash.
--Andrew LennoxSource: NBA Injury Report
January 21, 2026
The Philadelphia Eagles interviewed former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy for their offensive-coordinator job on Wednesday, sources told Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. Nagy was previously an intern and assistant for head coach Andy Reid with the Eagles from 2008 to 2012. He is now exploring a few OC options around the league since he didn't get the head-coaching job with the Tennessee Titans. The Chiefs' offense took a step back under Nagy the last few seasons, and they will turn back to former OC Eric Bieniemy now that Nagy's contract is up. If Nagy were to land the gig in Philadelphia, he'd be in charge of an offense with plenty of weapons, but one that went stagnant under first-year OC Kevin Patullo in 2025. The 47-year-old also went 34-33 as the Chicago Bears' head coach from 2018 to 2021.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
January 21, 2026
The Philadelphia Phillies "hope" that top pitching prospect
Andrew Painter will make the Opening Day rotation, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Painter was the Phillies' first-round pick in 2021, but he missed the entire 2023 and 2024 seasons due to Tommy John surgery, pushing back the ETA for his MLB debut. He tossed 118 innings in the minors last year, which was his highest innings total since being drafted. More than 106 of those innings came at Triple-A, where he posted a 4.34 xFIP, 9.4 K/9, and 3.9 BB/9. He allowed a significant amount of loud contact, but despite some of the concerning metrics, he looked healthy for the first time since 2022. His health will put him in the mix for the No. 5 starter role when the Phillies break camp in a couple of months. His chances to make the rotation are higher than ever with
Ranger Suarez departing in free agency and
Zack Wheeler (shoulder) still recovering. As it stands, Painter ranks as the #102 starting pitcher in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings for 2026.
--Andersen PickardSource: Matt Gelb
January 21, 2026
The Buffalo Bills requested an interview with Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver for their head-coaching job, sources told The Athletic's Dianna Russini. The Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers also have strong interest in Weaver for their head-coaching positions. Although Miami's defense was a weak spot in 2025, Weaver is generating plenty of head-coaching buzz this cycle. We would think he'd be more of a long shot to replace Sean McDermott in Buffalo for a couple of reasons. Weaver doesn't have any prior head-coaching experience, and reports have also suggested that the Bills probably prefer to hire an offensive-minded head coach who can connect with franchise quarterback
Josh Allen. In addition to Weaver, the Bills have requested interviews with former Giants head coach Brian Daboll, Jags OC Grant Udinski, and Colts DC Lou Anarumo.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Dianna Russini
January 21, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher
Zack Wheeler (shoulder) continues to recover from thoracic outlet syndrome, and manager Rob Thomson indicated that the veteran right-hander could be ahead of schedule. It was previously reported that Wheeler's estimated return was sometime in May, but now, Thomson has told the media that the 35-year-old has been handling "a very heavy workload for him." Additionally, Matt Gelb of The Athletic writes that Wheeler "will be behind the other pitchers in camp, but by every indication, he will not be too far behind." This phrasing suggests that Wheeler still has a chance to be ready for Opening Day. If so, he could fill a key role in a Phillies rotation that saw
Ranger Suarez depart during free agency. Wheeler, who had a 2.73 xFIP, 11.73 K/9, and 1.98 B/9 through 24 starts last year, ranks as the #51 starting pitcher in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings for 2026.
--Andersen PickardSource: Matt Gelb
January 21, 2026
Toronto Raptors forward/center
Collin Murray-Boyles (thumb) will sit out Wednesday's game against the Sacramento Kings. The 20-year-old rookie will miss his second consecutive contest due to a thumb contusion. His next chance to return is on the road in Portland on Friday. With
Jakob Poeltl (back) still out,
Sandro Mamukelashvili should get all the work he can handle. Mamukelashvili can score points in bunches, and with added minutes, he could be a servicable streaming option during tonight's tilt.
--Andrew LennoxSource: NBA Injury Report
January 21, 2026
The Buffalo Bills requested to interview former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll for their head-coaching job, a source told The Athletic's Dianna Russini. Daboll has ties to Buffalo and president of football operations Brandon Beane, having served as their offensive coordinator from 2018 to 2021, and he's also a native of Western New York. During Daboll's time in New York, the Bills' offense was a top-five unit in yards and points per game in 2020 and 2021. Daboll didn't have much success as a head coach with the Giants, but his prior success with Allen could make him a leading candidate for the job to replace Sean McDermott, who was fired on Monday. If Daboll doesn't get the job in Buffalo, he's expected to become the Tennessee Titans' offensive coordinator under new head coach Robert Saleh. The Bills also plan to interview Jaguars OC Grant Udinski and Colts DC Lou Anarumo.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Dianna Russini
January 21, 2026
The Buffalo Bills requested to interview Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski for their head-coaching job, a source told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. The 30-year-old rising young coach also has a second head-coaching interview scheduled with the Cleveland Browns on Friday. After firing Sean McDermott on Friday, the Bills could shake things up and go with a young offensive-minded coach like Udinski to lead their team moving forward while also hopefully developing strong chemistry with quarterback
Josh Allen. The Bills led the NFL in rushing in 2025, but it didn't help them get over the hump and return to the Super Bowl. Udinski, who helped quarterback
Trevor Lawrence play the best football of his career this year, could potentially improve Buffalo's passing attack going forward. Still, Udinski might be a stretch with no head-coaching or play-calling experience in the NFL.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
January 21, 2026
Sacramento Kings forward/center
Domantas Sabonis (rest) won't play against the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday. Tonight's contest is the second half of a back-to-back, so the 29-year-old big man will sit out for injury maintenance. Sabonis finished with six points, 10 rebounds, and three assists in 17 minutes during Tuesday's 130-117 loss to the Heat. With Sabonis out and
Precious Achiuwa (ankle) considered questionable,
Maxime Raynaud could be in line for extra minutes. The 22-year-old rookie has become a marginal fantasy asset as he's posted averages of 9.9 points and 6.8 rebounds in his last eight outings.
--Andrew LennoxSource: NBA Injury Report
January 21, 2026
The Buffalo Bills requested to interview Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo for their head-coaching vacancy, a source told Dianna Russini of The Athletic. Anarumo interviewed for head-coaching positions with the New York Giants and Tennessee Titans before both those positions were filled, and now he'll get another head-coaching interview after the Bills fired Sean McDermott on Monday. The 59-year-old helped the Colts' defense finish 23rd in yards allowed and 21st in points allowed in his first year with the team in 2025. Reports have suggested that the Bills will most likely go with an offensive mind to pair with quarterback
Josh Allen, which could make Anarumo more of a long shot to land the job. Expectations will be high for whoever is hired, since McDermott was fired after leading the Bills to eight playoff wins in his nine years at the helm.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Dianna Russini
January 21, 2026
The New York Mets have signed free-agent relief pitcher
Luis Garcia to a one-year, $1.75 million contract, according to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY. The deal includes an additional $1.25 million in potential incentives. The veteran right-hander turns 39 years old next week and split last season with the Dodgers, Nationals, and Angels. He made 58 relief appearances in 2025, amassing a 3.28 FIP with 7.8 K/9, 4.2 BB/9, and 0.3 HR/9. He had some issues with control but consistently forced weak contact, as evidenced by his respectable 49.7% ground ball rate. New York might not deploy him in a high-leverage role, but he's capable of eating relief innings and lighting up the radar gun with a fastball that averages 97 mph.
--Andersen PickardSource: Bob Nightengale
January 21, 2026
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said on Wednesday that defensive end Nick Bosa (knee) is expected to return from his ACL injury around the start of training camp, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. Bosa tore the ACL in his right knee back on Sept. 21 (Week 3), so he should have a chance to be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season this fall, depending on how he does in his recovery. First-round defensive lineman Mykel Williams (knee) is also expected to be ready to return around training camp. It would be great news for the 49ers' defense if both Bosa and Williams are ready for Week 1, considering how banged up the team's defense was in 2025. Bosa was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2022, when he had a league-high 18.5 sacks, but durability issues make him a risk/reward pass-rusher in IDP fantasy formats.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Matt Barrows
January 21, 2026
The Minnesota Twins have acquired infielder
Tristan Gray from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for catcher
Nate Baez, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.com. Gray, 29, was the Pirates' 13th-round pick out of Rice University in 2018. He was later traded to the Rays and made his MLB debut with Tampa Bay in 2023. He split 2024 with the Marlins and Athletics before returning to the Rays for the 2025 campaign. This offseason, Tampa Bay traded him to the Red Sox in exchange for reliever
Luis Guerrero. Now, he's on the move once again, despite never playing in a game for Boston. In 30 big-league games last year, he slashed .231/.282/.410 with a 7.0% walk rate, 22.1% walk rate, and an 89 wRC+. He produced 0.1 fWAR and played all four infield positions, but most of his reps came up the middle. The catching prospect headed back to Boston is Baez, who was drafted by the Twins out of Arizona State in 2022. He slashed .278/.371/.423 with eight home runs between High-A and Double-A, amassing a wRC+ of 124. He'll offer minor league depth for a Red Sox organization that could be looking to replace backup catcher
Connor Wong in the future.
--Andersen PickardSource: Jeff Passan
January 21, 2026
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that tight end
Jake Tonges (foot) suffered a plantar-fascia injury in the Divisional Round loss to the Seattle Seahawks last week and will need three weeks to recover, according to Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group. Before his injury on Saturday, Tonges caught five of his six targets for 59 yards, with
George Kittle suffering a season-ending torn Achilles the week prior in the Wild-Card win over the Philadelphia Eagles. The 26-year-old saw an expanded role during the regular season, too, with Kittle missing time with injuries, and he finished with career highs across the board in catches (34), targets (46), receiving yards (293), and touchdowns (five) in 17 regular-season contests. Tonges should be fully healthy for next season, and he should be back in the Bay Area as a restricted free agent.
--Keith HernandezSource: Bay Area News Group - Cam Inman
January 21, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers star outfielder
Kyle Tucker is expected to bat second or third during the 2026 season, according to manager Dave Roberts. Tucker inked a massive four-year, $240 million contract last week, penciling him into an everyday role with the reigning World Series champions. The 29-year-old is coming off a slightly down year by his standards, but he still put together a .266/.377/.464 slash line with 22 home runs, 25 stolen bases, a 14.6% walk rate, a 14.7% strikeout rate, and a 136 wRC+ in his lone season as a Cub. He has produced at least 4.2 fWAR in each of his last five seasons and will now have an opportunity to extend that streak in a star-studded Dodgers lineup.
Shohei Ohtani projects as Los Angeles' leadoff hitter, leaving Tucker and
Mookie Betts in the second or third spots. Tucker ranks as the #9 hitter and #5 outfielder in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings for 2026.
--Andersen PickardSource: Katie Woo
January 21, 2026
League sources emphasized on Monday that Houston Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley is expected to return for a second season, according to KPRC2 Sports' Aaron Wilson. If the Texans had chosen to move on from Caley, it would have meant three offensive coordinators heading into head coach DeMeco Ryans' fourth year. "I would anticipate Nick being here next year," general manager Nick Caserio said. "All of us are just trying to improve and do what we can to make the team and the organization better. I think Nick has grown a lot." Although the Texans' offense got off to a rough start and looked bad in two playoff games, progress was made in 2025 as Caley gained a comfort level and built rapport with players. Houston had a 10-game winning streak and finished 13th in scoring offense, 18th in total offense, 14th in passing offense, and 22nd in rushing offense. The move to retain Caley should be good news for quarterback
C.J. Stroud, who has regressed in two years since his marvelous rookie campaign.
--Keith HernandezSource: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
January 21, 2026
Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio said on Wednesday that tight end
Dalton Schultz (calf) is "going to be OK" after getting hurt in the Divisional Round loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday, according to Sam Warren of the Houston Chronicle. Caserio also added that tight end
Cade Stover (knee) "avoided serious injury" and should be ready for the offseason program. Before getting hurt on Sunday, Schultz caught both of his targets for 47 yards and was on his way to a big game. Unfortunately, the 29-year-old never returned. He wrapped up his third season in Houston and eighth NFL season overall with a career-high 82 receptions on 106 targets for 777 yards and three touchdowns in 17 regular-season games. Schultz was the TE11 in half-PPR scoring, but for him to become a legitimate TE1 in fantasy, quarterback
C.J. Stroud must improve as a passer.
--Keith HernandezSource: Houston Chronicle - Sam Warren
January 21, 2026
Notre Dame tight end Eli Raridon was the full-time starter in South Bend for the first season of his career in 2025, and he tallied solid numbers on limited volume in 12 games. Overall, the 21-year-old secured 32 receptions for 482 yards, good for 15.1 yards per reception. For much of his career, he was stuck behind NFL tight ends
Mitchell Evans and
Michael Mayer, but he made the most of his one season to showcase his abilities to NFL teams. Raridon has real speed at the position, making him a vertical threat at the NFL level. He's also a willing and capable blocker, but he'll need more work in that area to become a consistent contributor in the early stages of his pro career. He projects as a fourth-round pick early in the process, but the athletic testing has caused tight ends to shoot up or down draft boards for many years.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Sports Reference CFB
January 21, 2026
Losing out on free-agent infielder
Bo Bichette -- he eventually signed a three-year, $126 million deal with the division-rival New York Mets -- was a "gut punch" for the Philadelphia Phillies, according to president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. The Phillies thought they "were very close to having a deal done" and were willing to rearrange their roster in a significant way to accommodate Bichette. The Phillies actually called catcher
J.T. Realmuto's agent to tell him the team was going in another direction. Philly offered Bichette a seven-year deal in the range of $190 million to $200 million. After re-signing Realmuto for three years and $45 million, the Phillies are not expected to pursue any other multi-year deals with free agents. In New York, Bichette is expected to play third base, a position he has never played before.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Matt Gelb
January 21, 2026
Seattle Seahawks running back
George Holani (hamstring), who was activated from Injured Reserve on Wednesday, is in "great shape" and could play in Sunday's NFC Championship game against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams, according to head coach Mike Macdonald. It's excellent timing for the Seahawks, who lost
Zach Charbonnet (knee) to a torn ACL in the Divisional Round win over the San Francisco 49ers.
Kenneth Walker III should see an elevated backfield role this weekend, regardless of whether Holani returns to the fold after landing on IR back in late November. If the 26-year-old isn't ready to return for the NFC Championship, the Seahawks will choose between
Velus Jones Jr. or
Cam Akers as the RB2 behind Walker. Before his injury, Holani had 22 carries for 73 yards and one touchdown in 11 games, adding two catches for 15 yards.
UPDATE: Holani was a full participant in practice on Wednesday.--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Michael-Shawn Dugar
January 21, 2026
Ohio State tight end Max Klare has officially declared for the 2026 NFL Draft, and many view him as the second-best tight end in the class, behind Oregon's Kenyon Sadiq. The 22-year-old joined the Buckeyes after three seasons with Purdue, and although he didn't have a monster season, he did enough to keep him in the running for TE2 status in the shallow upcoming tight end class. After a 685-yard season at Purdue in 2024, he tallied 43 receptions for 448 yards and two touchdowns in his lone season in Columbus. His counting stats were not notable, but he shared a field with Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate while catching passes from first-year starter Julian Sayin, which is important context. Klare is an explosive athlete with great blocking skills, and the NFL's shift toward more two-and-three tight end sets will give him the ability to be a valuable asset at the next level. He's likely to be a Round 2 or 3 pick in April's draft.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Sports Reference CFB
January 21, 2026
Seattle Seahawks quarterback
Sam Darnold (oblique) "continues to get better" but will be limited in practice this week as he deals with a left-oblique injury that he suffered in practice last Thursday, according to head coach Mike Macdonald. Darnold won't throw every pass in practice, but the plan is still for him to start on Sunday in the NFC Championship against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams. The 28-year-old went 12-for-17 passing for 124 yards and a touchdown in the 40-6 blowout win over the Niners. Darnold could draw another questionable tag going into the weekend, but all signs point to him suiting up as he attempts to lead the Seahawks to the Super Bowl. We expect Darnold to have to throw the ball much more against the Rams, which will give him a higher fantasy ceiling. In two games against L.A. this year, Darnold went 51-for-78 for 549 yards, two touchdowns, and six picks.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Michael-Shawn Dugar
January 21, 2026
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch had nothing but good things to say about wide receiver
Jauan Jennings, and the team is interested in re-signing him after he becomes an unrestricted free agent in March. "Always plays with passion we can count on. We can move him around the way he blocks. He plays the right way. It frustrated other people. We'd love to have him back. We'll work to get that accomplished," Lynch said. Jennings caught just two passes for 23 yards in the Divisional Round loss to the Seattle Seahawks and didn't score in any of his final three games, but he was a big contributor in the regular season, especially when tight end
George Kittle and receiver
Ricky Pearsall missed time with injuries. The 28-year-old caught 55 of 90 targets for 643 yards and a career-high nine TDs in 15 regular-season games. If Jennings returns in 2026, he'll be a trusted target for quarterback
Brock Purdy.
--Keith HernandezSource: Bay Area News Group - Cam Inman
January 21, 2026
Both San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch seem intent on keeping quarterback
Mac Jones around going into next season as the backup for
Brock Purdy, according to Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group. "We're not into getting rid of good players. I'd be surprised if he's not here next year," Shanahan said. "Mac made this place better and picked us up in a huge way ... Can't say enough about his play but also his leadership," Lynch said. The 27-year-old kept the 49ers afloat in 2025 with Purdy missing a chunk of time due to a turf-toe injury. He was in the first year of a two-year, $8.4 million contract, and all signs point to Jones returning in 2026 as one of the better backup QBs in the league. As a starter for the Niners this year, Jones went 5-3 while completing 69.6% of his passes for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions.
--Keith HernandezSource: Bay Area News Group - Cam Inman
January 21, 2026
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said on Wednesday that "it's safe to say" that wide receiver
Brandon Aiyuk (knee), who missed the entire 2025 season, has "played his last snap as a Niner," according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. The 27-year-old has been trying to get the 49ers to release him for a while, and it was essentially a done deal when the team voided guarantees in his contract. An official transaction releasing Aiyuk will probably come in the weeks following the Super Bowl. The former 25th overall pick in 2020 out of Arizona State had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2022 and 2023 before signing an extension with the team before the 2024 campaign. Aiyuk wasn't living up to expectations that year before tearing his ACL and MCL in Week 7. In addition to concerns about whether he can return to his pre-injury form, Aiyuk's fantasy value going forward will depend largely on where he ends up.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Nick Wagoner
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