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Austin Cindric Could Contend For Another Talladega Win
Don't be surprised if Austin Cindric contends for another Talladega win on Sunday. Cindric is the defending spring race winner at Talladega Superspeedway and had led laps in each of the last five races at the track. Additionally, the Team Penske driver has the fifth-best average driver rating (84.8) over the last four Talladega races, and the fourth-best average driver rating (84.2) over the last 14 drafting track races overall. Cindric starts 13th for this weekend's Jack Link's 500, which makes him a very interesting DFS play. There isn't a ton of Place Differential upside there, but Cindric can absolutely win this race. There could be a good leverage opportunity in play with the Team Penske driver in daily fantasy tournaments this weekend.
Source: The Athletic
Source: The Athletic
Kyle Busch an Easy DFS Pick at Talladega
Kyle Busch will start from 34th place when Sunday's Jack Link's 500 goes green at Talladega Superspeedway, and that means he's going to be one of the highest-rostered drivers in DraftKings contests because of his sky-high place-differential potential. Additionally, superspeedways are really the only track types where Busch has been competitive over the last couple of years. With that being said, Rowdy only has one good finish over the last nine races at drafting tracks, and that was a seventh-place finish at Atlanta back in February of 2025. When it comes to DFS strategy on Sunday, Busch is an easy Place Differential pick, but if you want to be contrarian and go underweight on him to gain leverage on other players, there's certainly an opportunity to do so. We'll also have to keep an eye on the Denny Hamlin/Kyle Busch rivalry, as that could come to a head this weekend.
Source: Field Level Media
Source: Field Level Media
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. a High-Risk, High-Reward Pick at Talladega
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is the definition of high risk, high reward. Over 25 career starts at Talladega Superspeedway, Stenhouse has posted two wins, eight top-five finishes, and 11 total top-10 results. He has also ended up outside of the top 20 entirely in nine of those 25 races. Lately, though, Stenhouse has been good. He won the October 2024 race here, and over the last six 'Dega events, he's walked away with two top-five results and four top-15s. This weekend, Stenhouse will start from back in 22nd-place for the Jack Link's 500, which gives him good Place Differential upside in DFS. He's a risky daily fantasy pick on Sunday, but he's also one of those drivers who could contend for the win if he doesn't wreck. Make sure you have some Stenhouse exposure with your lineups this weekend.
Source: Autoweek
Source: Autoweek
Todd Gilliland a Sleeper to Watch at Talladega
Races at Talladega Superspeedway are a great equalizer. They give almost every driver in the field a chance to win, as the draft gives teams a "right place, right time" opportunity on race day. So when it comes to DFS, we get to look at deep sleepers when the Cup Series visits Talladega. Enter Todd Gilliland. over the last four Talladega races, Gilliland has the third-best average driver rating (88.4), and he's coming off of a career-best second-place finish here last fall. Additionally, over the last seven 'Dega races, Gilliland has finished 12th or better five times. He starts 19th for this weekend's Jack Link's 500, so the No. 34 Ford should be very low-owned in DFS tournaments, but if can pull off another top-five finish (or dare we say a win), Gilliland could be an excellent leverage option in daily contests on Sunday.
Source: Driver Averages
Source: Driver Averages
Is Brad Keselowski Worth Rostering for Talladega Lineups?
RFK Racing's Brad Keselowski will start the Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway from the sixth position after qualifying was canceled due to weather. The No. 6 Ford driver last started inside the top 10 in the October 2023 race at Talladega. In 34 starts at the Alabama track, Keselowski has six wins (most of active drivers), 17 top-10 finishes, and an average finish of 15.5. In nine races completed this season, Keselowski has four top-10 finishes, an average finish of 11.3, and sits ninth in the regular-season standings. Although Keselowski has been one of the better drivers historically at Talladega, he does not carry much upside based on his starting position. Keselowski is best used in tournament lineups due to his low upside, but he has the history to justify a start in this week's race.
Source: DriverAverages.com
Source: DriverAverages.com
Blake Corum's 2026 Role Appears Secured
For the first time since 2016, the Los Angeles Rams did not add to the running back position through the NFL draft, and Blake Corum's place on the depth chart appears to be secured heading into his third professional season. A 2024 third-round pick, Corum came into his own in year two, rushing for 746 yards and six scores while averaging more than five yards per carry. With the room looking identical to the one from last year, 2025 fourth-round pick Jarquez Hunter could be in line for his own sophomore season bump after only seeing the field on special teams plays as a rookie, but with the Rams showing an eagerness to keep Kyren Williams fresh, Corum's role still has room for expansion. Corum averaged 10.5 carries per game from Week 7 through the end of the year, and he was the RB15 over the final five weeks of the fantasy season. At RotoBaller's dynasty RB32, he is one of the league's most valuable insurance backs, but he should also maintain his own standalone worth in a high-powered Rams offense.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Miguel Vargas is Worth a Look During Hot Streak
Chicago White Sox infielder Miguel Vargas has been putting together a nice stretch of play at the plate recently. Vargas is currently riding a six-game hitting streak heading into Sunday's game against the Washington Nationals. During this stretch, Vargas is hitting over .400 with three home runs, five RBI, and seven walks. His overall numbers aren't pretty, but it seems like Vargas is finally turning a corner. The plate discipline is great to see with Vargas already having 19 walks on the season. Fantasy managers looking for help with walks or just need a batter right now should consider adding Vargas during his hot stretch.
Source: Sox on 35th
Source: Sox on 35th
The Arrow is Pointing Way Up for Jaxson Dart Ahead of Second Season
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart brought a spark to the team as soon as he took over as the starter in Week 4, and while his fantasy-friendly play style as a rookie bordered on reckless at times, the team has taken strides to protect and build around their young signal caller. The Giants spent the 10th pick of the 2026 NFL Draft on Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa, who could make an immediate impact at guard or eventually develop into one of the best tackles from this class. They traded into the top of the third round to add Notre Dame's outside field-stretcher Malachi Fields, who will give Dart another downfield weapon after the free agent acquisition of Darnell Mooney. No move, though, will have a larger impact on Dart's year two growth than the return to health of 2024 first-round pick Malik Nabers. Nabers tore his ACL in Dart's first career start, so the two never had a chance to develop chemistry, but his 109 receptions as a rookie were a Giants single-season record. Dart is RotoBaller's dynasty QB10, but if he can learn to protect himself and make it through a full season, there's no reason he can't threaten for a top-five ranking as early as 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
JR Ritchie is Gaining Value After Excellent First Start
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher JR Ritchie looked fantastic on the mound during his first start on Thursday. The rookie right-hander tossed seven innings, allowing two earned runs on two hits, while striking out seven batters in the win. Afterwards, Braves manager Walt Weiss said Ritchie will remain with the big league club for now. Ritchie was sharp against the Nationals and is now looking like a solid waiver wire addition with the news that he's sticking around. It's worth noting that Spencer Strider (oblique) is supposed to rejoin the Braves within the next week. It's unclear if Ritchie will move to the bullpen or if the Braves will operate with a six-man rotation. Ritchie is worth a look in deep leagues at the minimum right now.
Source: Atlanta Braves
Source: Atlanta Braves
Can Calvin Ridley Earn Back a Starting Role?
Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley has become the forgotten piece of Tennessee's passing offense. After paying up to land former Giant Wan'Dale Robinson in free agency, the team spent the fourth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Ohio State prospect Carnell Tate, continuing to add youth to a group that saw rookies account for 41.2% of the team's receiving yards in 2025. While three of the Titans' four leading pass catchers were first-year players, it was Ridley who was leading the team in targets and yards before a broken fibula ended his season after only six games. His 48.3 receiving yards per game ultimately held up as the most on the team, all accomplished before quarterback Cam Ward took significant strides toward the end of his own rookie season. If Ridley can earn his way back into three-receiver sets alongside Tate and Robinson, he could become a steal at his current cost of RotoBaller's dynasty WR91.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jacob Latz Earns Save on Saturday, Worth Stashing in Deep Leagues?
Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob Latz earned his first save of the season during Saturday's game against the Athletics. Latz was called upon with a one-run lead in the ninth inning. The southpaw tossed a scoreless inning, recording one strikeout and earning the save on 14 pitches. It was his first save of the season as the Rangers continue to operate with a committee approach. Latz has been solid with a 1.23 ERA, 0.48 WHIP, and a 13/3 K:BB ratio across 14.2 innings of work. Given his success, Latz will likely receive more opportunities to pitch in high-leverage spots, but the Rangers also have other options to pitch in the ninth. Latz could be worth a look in deep leagues, but isn't a full-time closer at the moment.
Source: Texas Rangers
Source: Texas Rangers
Jordan Romano Stumbles in Low-Leverage Spot, Time to Cut Ties?
Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Jordan Romano had a horrendous outing on the mound during Saturday's game against the Kansas City Royals. Romano came into the game in a mop-up role and only made things worse. The right-hander gave up four earned runs on three hits with one walk across 0.2 innings of work. This disaster of an outing will put Romano at a 10.13 ERA on the year. Despite a few blow-up outings, Romano is likely still the favorite for saves in Los Angeles. Given his struggles, it probably won't take much for Romano to get yanked out of the role. Fantasy managers may want to start looking elsewhere for help.
Source: Los Angeles Angels
Source: Los Angeles Angels
David Montgomery Escapes NFL Draft Unscathed
Houston Texans running back David Montgomery was acquired this offseason when the team sent a package, including their 2026 fourth-round pick, to the Detroit Lions. Montgomery joined a backfield that was dominated, largely out of necessity, by 2025 fourth-round pick Woody Marks, and with the Texans entering the NFL Draft with few glaring needs, there was a thought that they could add an additional body to the room. That did not come to pass, and Montgomery escaped the weekend as the clear top back on the depth chart. While splitting time with former first-round pick and three-time Pro Bowler Jahmyr Gibbs, Montgomery averaged more than 70 yards and .73 touchdowns per game in their time together. Marks is a reliable pass catcher who will prevent him from taking on a full bellcow role, but Montgomery is in a position to handle his largest workload since his time in Chicago, and at RotoBaller's dynasty RB31, he is a smart buy for contending managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Could Chase Briscoe be A Sneaky Tournament Play for Talladega Lineups?
Chase Briscoe, driver of the No. 19 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, will start fifth in this week's Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Briscoe was awarded the top-5 starting position after qualifying was canceled earlier in the week, and the starting lineup was set by the NASCAR rulebook. In 10 prior Talladega races in his career, Briscoe has eight top-15 finishes and is the track's most recent winner at the Cup level. Through nine races so far this year, Briscoe is ranked 15th in the regular-season standings with four top-10 finishes and an average finish of 17.1. Briscoe's high starting position provides very little upside for DFS, but his track history is better than most starting inside the top 10 this week. Fantasy players in cash games should not use Briscoe due to his lack of upside, but tournament players can utilize him as a potentially sneaky option to score a high finish.
Source: DriverAverages.com
Source: DriverAverages.com
Chris Godwin Jr. an Offseason Winner
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. is coming off a year in which he saw career lows in receptions, yards, and yards per route run, while his two receiving touchdowns were the lowest since his rookie season. However, he is now 18 months removed from the gruesome lower leg injury that ended his 2024 season and limited him at times throughout 2025. Prior to the injury, he was the fantasy WR2 through the first seven weeks of his age-28 season. Now 30, any fears that he may be slowing down did not show up in the Buccaneers' offseason approach. The team allowed Mike Evans to depart in free agency and spent only a late Day 2 pick on the receiver position, adding Georgia State's Ted Hurst in the middle of the third round. Hurst will likely compete with Jalen McMillan for Evans' vacated snaps on the boundary, while Godwin and Emeka Egbuka offer versatility across the formation and should be the team's most consistent target-earners in 2026. At RotoBaller's dynasty WR49, Godwin is a low-cost buy for competing managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Shane McClanahan Turns in Best Start of the Season, Regaining High-End Value?
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Shane McClanahan was sharp on the mound during Saturday's outing against the Minnesota Twins. The southpaw tossed five scoreless innings, allowing three hits, while striking out seven batters in the win. This was McClanahan's best outing of the season and hopefully a turning point for him. The Rays continue to ease him into things, so fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to work deep into games yet. He'll take a 3.91 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and a 25:13 K:BB ratio into his next start against the San Francisco Giants. The southpaw has allowed two earned runs or less in four of his first five starts of the season. It's going to take time for the southpaw to build up his stamina, but he could be an elite option once he's back to full speed.
Source: Tampa Bay Rays
Source: Tampa Bay Rays
Should DFS Managers Trust Christopher Bell at Talladega?
Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing will start the Jack Link's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway from the 14th position after qualifying was canceled due to rain. The No. 20 Toyota driver last started lower than 14th in October 2024 at Talladega. In 12 Cup races at the site, Bell has four top-10 finishes, including two of the last three Cup races. After nine races this year, Bell ranks 10th in the season standings with four top-10 finishes and an average finish of 15.3. Bell is a decent DFS option for this week as he does have a little bit of upside with a car capable of placing inside the top 10. Fantasy players could consider the No. 20 driver in all formats this week, but he could be a sneaky pick for tournaments in particular, as he is expected to carry below-average rostership due to his mixed history at Talladega.
Source: DriverAverages.com
Source: DriverAverages.com
Ty Gibbs Is A DFS Risk for Talladega Lineups
Joe Gibbs Racing driver Ty Gibbs will start ninth for this week's Jack Link's 500, taking place at Talladega Superspeedway, after qualifying was canceled due to weather. This will be the fourth time in Gibbs' Cup career that he will start a Talladega race inside the top 10. In seven previous races at the site, Gibbs has only one top-10 finish, which came in his last appearance in the Cup Series at the Alabama track in October 2025. With nine races completed this season, Gibbs has one win, seven top-10 finishes, an average finish of 10.3, and is sitting fourth in the regular-season standings. The No. 54 Toyota driver is one of the riskier DFS options of the week, as his starting position does not provide much upside. Gibbs' track history also is not the most favorable for Talladega, in particular, making it difficult to recommend him outside of tournament games.
Source: DriverAverages.com
Source: DriverAverages.com
Arturs Silovs Steps in and Saves Pittsburgh on Saturday
Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs was asked to start an elimination game. All the Penguins goaltender did was make 28 saves on 30 shots in a 4-2 win. Pittsburgh will now play on Monday at home and have a little life in the Battle of Pennsylvania. Silovs made several key saves while Pittsburgh was short-handed. Dan Muse said it best: "When his name was called, he was ready. Great by him." The goaltender is the last line of defense on the penalty kill and even short-handed. Silovs stopped all seven shots in those situations. The Latvian goaltender had not played in 11 days but came through in the clutch on Saturday night.
Source: Pens Inside Scoop
Source: Pens Inside Scoop
Sidney Crosby Helps Lead Pittsburgh to Road Win Over Philadelphia
Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby did not want to go home for good after Saturday. Crosby scored a power-play goal early, but it was the assist he added during the third period that was vital. The Penguins center kicked the puck off the end boards to Kris Letang, who beat Dan Vladar. That increased the Penguins' lead to 3-1 and proved to be the game-winning goal. Crosby opened the scoring, had three shots on goal, and blocked two shots in 18:54 of ice time. It was his 39th career postseason goal on the road as well (sixth all-time). Crosby was the lead cog in a team effort that helped shut down the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday night.
Source: Seth Rorabaugh
Source: Seth Rorabaugh
Brock Faber a Huge Factor in Minnesota's Overtime Victory
Defenseman Brock Faber has enjoyed some season for the Minnesota Wild, but he's had an even better Round 1. Faber scored again on Saturday. The defenseman added an assist as well on the tying goal by Marcus Foligno. Faber had five shots on goal, four blocked shots, and two hits. This gives Faber a total of five points (three goals) in four contests. He has even outshone Quinn Hughes (four assists, plus-seven) a bit. Faber is also a plus-seven in the series and played 74:43 of ice time in the last two games. The young defenseman continues to be a huge factor in one of the best matchups of Round 1.
Source: Minnesota Wild PR
Source: Minnesota Wild PR
Matt Boldy Evens Series Between Minnesota and Dallas in Big Way
Forward Matt Boldy converted with less than a half-minute remaining in the first overtime on Saturday to even the series between the Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars. Boldy has at least four shots on net in each of the first four games of the series. Boldy also delivered three hits and blocked a shot in Game 4. The left winger even had a goal disallowed earlier in overtime. He was active and involved well before the tip of the Jared Spurgeon shot that sent Minnesota fans into a frenzy. Boldy has five points and three goals in the series, but it was his third goal that guaranteed at least a Game 6 back in Minnesota.
Source: Ryan Bowlin
Source: Ryan Bowlin
Frederik Andersen a Game-Changer as Carolina Closes Out Ottawa
Goaltender Frederik Andersen allowed five goals in four games for the Carolina Hurricanes in Round 1. That included a shutout while recording 25 saves on 27 shots in the clincher on Saturday. The Danish goaltender may be 36, but he played like he was 26. Despite nine power-play chances, Ottawa only scored once as Andersen made several high-danger saves on the penalty kill. Andersen, as Sean Walker said, "was the real difference in this series." The goaltender posted a .955 save percentage and a 1.10 goals-against average in the series as Carolina awaits its next opponent.
Source: Walt Ruff
Source: Walt Ruff
Logan Stankoven Scores Yet Again as Carolina Sweeps Ottawa
Center Logan Stankoven did it again on Saturday as the Carolina Hurricanes eliminated the Ottawa Senators via a 4-2 Game 4 win. Stankoven scored a critical power-play goal early in the third period. The Carolina center scored a goal in every game of the series as the Hurricanes advanced to Round 2. The second line, which includes Taylor Hall and Jackson Blake, combined for 16 points. Stankoven also had three shots on goal, which gave him a total of 18 points in the series. Sebastian Aho was credited with the game-winning tally via the first of his two empty-net goals. However, it was Stankoven who again did not miss when opportunity presented itself.
Source: Victor Kaisar
Source: Victor Kaisar
Desmond Bane Nails Seven Triples En Route to 25 Points
Orlando Magic guard/forward Desmond Bane came alive in Saturday's 113-105 Game 3 win over the Detroit Pistons, scoring 25 points with a 7-for-9 effort from deep. He finished 9-for-18 overall from the field, nearly scoring more points than he had managed across the first two games of the series (27). On Saturday, Bane was also active on the glass, collecting seven rebounds, but he finished with zero assists. Defensively, the 27-year-old recorded one steal. Paolo Banchero once again struggled to score efficiently, which made Bane's contribution crucial on Saturday. He will look to replicate this effort in Monday's Game 4.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Cade Cunningham Finishes Loss With Nine Turnovers
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham struggled to handle the ball in Saturday's Game 3 against the Orlando Magic, committing nine turnovers in a 113-105 loss. The rest of the Pistons gave up the ball just seven times. It was a frustrating outing for Cunningham, whose scoring efficiency also left a lot to be desired. En route to a game-high 27 points, the two-time All-Star went 8-for-23 from the field, including 3-for-10 from behind the arc. Cunningham missed a second consecutive double-double by one assist and grabbed five rebounds. Despite his efforts, the Pistons are now trailing 2-1 in the series and clearly need to get more out of Jalen Duren, who has been limited to 9.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Drops 42 Points on Suns in Game 3
Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored at will in Saturday's Game 3 win over the Phoenix Suns, finishing with 42 points. He had the same amount of points as Devin Booker and Jalen Green combined, going an incredible 15-for-18 from the field and 11-for-12 at the foul line. The reigning MVP also played his part on offense with eight assists and tallied four rebounds and one steal. Even after losing Jalen Williams (hamstring), the defending champions look like a no-match for the Suns and will have a chance to sweep the series on Monday. Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 34.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 8.0 assists this postseason.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Karl-Anthony Towns Joins Exclusive List With Triple-Double
New York Knicks forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns posted a 20-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist triple-double in Saturday's 114-98 Game 4 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. Previously, only three players in Knicks history had finished a playoff game with a triple-double. Toews needed just 29 minutes of action to get there, making six of his 10 field-goal attempts and going 7-for-9 at the charity stripe. His offensive efforts included one make from downtown with two attempts. On the defensive end, Toews came up with two steals. The Knicks big man has been very effective in the first-round series, making an impact on both ends of the floor. He has averaged 21.0 points, 10.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.8 blocks, and 1.3 steals.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Julius Randle Tossed From Game 4
Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Julius Randle was ejected with 1.3 seconds remaining in Saturday's Game 4 victory over the Denver Nuggets. He was involved in a shoving match after Jaden McDaniels scored an uncontested layup when everyone had already stopped playing. This irked Nikola Jokic, who was also ejected for his role in the incident. Both players may face further disciplinary action, but a suspension is unlikely because no punches were thrown. Randle finished the night with 15 points, nine rebounds, and two assists in 32 minutes. The Nuggets limited him to a 6-for-16 effort from the field. Following injuries to Anthony Edwards (knee) and Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles), Randle could be asked to carry a heavier offensive load in Game 5 and beyond.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Nikola Jokic Ejected in Game 4 Loss
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic wasn't on the floor during the final buzzer in Saturday's Game 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves after he was ejected from the contest. The three-time MVP was involved in an altercation after Minnesota's Jaden McDaniels scored an uncontested transition layup with 1.3 seconds left in the fourth quarter. By then, the game was already decided, with Minnesota securing a 3-1 series lead with a big home win. "I don't regret it," Jokic said postgame. "Because he scored after everybody stopped playing." Jokic once again stuffed the stat sheet, but he called his performance in the series "average." He finished with 24 points, 15 rebounds, nine assists, three steals, and one block on Saturday. Minnesota has limited the star big man to below 40 percent efficiency from the field, but Jokic has still averaged 25.0 points per game, along with 14.5 rebounds, 7.8 assists, and 1.5 steals.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
