May 3, 2026

William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports qualified 15th for this week's Wurth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway. Byron last qualified outside of the top 10 at Texas in the 2023 race at the site. In 11 Cup races at Texas, Byron has one win and six top-10 finishes with an average finish of 11.4, which ranks second-best of all active Cup drivers. In 10 races completed so far this year, Byron has five top-10 finishes with an average finish of 14.8. In practice for this week's race, Byron ranked first in 10 consecutive lap averages and second in 15 consecutive lap averages. Considering how Texas is one of his better tracks with fast enough speeds to compete for the win in practice, Byron is an excellent choice to roster in all DFS formats.--Sean Engel - RotoBaller
Source: DriverAverages.com

May 3, 2026

Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac (knee) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's Game 7 against the Detroit Pistons. Isaac will miss the entirety of this series while he continues to deal with a sprained left knee. Isaac hasn't played since mid-March, and it's unclear if he'll be ready for the next round, if Orlando advances. His continued absence from the rotation won't make much of an impact. Jamal Cain and Tristan de Silva will continue to see an uptick in playing time without Isaac available.--Andy Webb
Source: NBA Injury Report

May 3, 2026

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones (elbow) has not pitched in an MLB game since September 2024 due to an elbow injury. However, the 24-year-old began a rehab assignment with Single-A Bradenton on Wednesday, throwing three perfect innings with five strikeouts. Given how long Jones has been out, he'll likely need an extended run of rehab outings before he's ready to return to the big leagues. Still, Jones could be on track to make his 2026 debut before the end of May. Across 121 2/3 innings (22 starts) in 2024, Jones posted a 6-8 record with a 4.14 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 132 strikeouts. Jones offers significant strikeout upside once healthy, so fantasy managers may want to consider stashing him off the waiver wire ahead of his eventual return.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

May 3, 2026

Team Penske's Joey Logano will start in the 23rd position for Sunday's Wurth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway after qualifying. This marks the fourth consecutive Texas race where Logano will start 20th or worse in the Cup Series. In 30 Cup starts at Texas, Logano has two wins, 22 top-20 finishes, and an average finish of 13.3. After 10 Cup races completed so far this year, Logano has six top-20 finishes and an average finish of 19.4. In practice, Logano ranked seventh in 10 consecutive lap averages and ninth in 15 consecutive lap averages. Due to his upside from his starting position combined with his practice speeds, Logano is worth rostering in all DFS formats for this week's race at Texas.--Sean Engel - RotoBaller
Source: DriverAverages.com

May 3, 2026

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Joe Ryan (elbow) was forced to exit early from his start on Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays due to elbow soreness, per Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Ryan faced just two batters before being removed from the game, recording a walk and a strikeout. While the exact nature of Ryan's injury is not yet clear, any elbow issue for a pitcher is obviously a major cause for concern. Entering play on Sunday, Ryan had posted a 2-3 record with a 3.76 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 39 strikeouts across 38 1/3 innings (seven starts). Any absence for Ryan would be a significant blow for both fantasy managers and the Twins. Should Ryan miss time, Minnesota right-hander Zebby Matthews could be in line for a promotion from Triple-A to the big league rotation.--Will Brady
Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press - Betsy Helfand

May 3, 2026

Chase Briscoe of Joe Gibbs Racing is starting Sunday's Wurth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway from the fifth position after qualifying. Briscoe matches the best qualifying result of his career from the 2024 race at Texas for this week's race. In seven previous races at the site, Briscoe has four top-10 finishes in three of the past four Texas Cup races. Through 10 races so far this season, Briscoe has four top-10 finishes and an average finish of 18.3. In practice for this week's race, Briscoe ranked among the top five fastest in the 15 through 30 consecutive lap average categories. Based on his great track history, top-notch equipment, and practice speeds, Briscoe is an underrated driver capable of competing for the win this week.--Sean Engel - RotoBaller
Source: DriverAverages.com

May 3, 2026

Joe Gibbs Racing's Ty Gibbs will start 10th for Sunday's Wurth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway. This will be the fourth consecutive race in his Cup career where Gibbs will start inside the top 10 at Texas. In four previous races at Texas, Gibbs has had a best finish of 13th and led only five laps total. With 10 races completed so far in the 2026 season, Gibbs is sitting fifth in the regular season standings with one win, seven top-10 finishes, and an average finish of 12.7. In practice for this week's race, Gibbs ranked 18th in overall lap averages and 22nd in 15 consecutive lap averages. Although Gibbs does not have the strongest track history at Texas, he has been remarkably consistent this season, regardless of track type. Fantasy players should consider Gibbs as a potentially sneaky DFS option to compete for a top-10 finish based on his season-wide performance and top-notch equipment from JGR, which has led more laps on 1.5-mile Intermediate ovals than any other team this season.--Sean Engel - RotoBaller
Source: DriverAverages.com

May 3, 2026

Boston Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet (shoulder) played catch on Sunday for the first time after a brief no-throw period, according to Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. The early signs continue to be positive for Crochet, but the Red Sox continue to preach caution/patience with the All-Star hurler. The good news for Crochet started when an MRI exam on his left shoulder didn't show anything other than inflammation, although he couldn't avoid a trip to the 15-day injured list. The 26-year-old southpaw probably won't have an extended absence, although fantasy managers also shouldn't expect him to be ready to rejoin Boston's starting rotation when his 15 days are up on May 12. Shoulder issues could be the reason why the two-time All-Star hasn't looked quite like himself early in the 2026 season. Crochet is 3-3 with a 6.30 ERA (4.35 FIP) and 1.47 WHIP with 37 strikeouts and 11 walks in 30 innings over his six starts. Rookie left-hander Jake Bennett got the first shot to replace Crochet in the team's starting rotation, and he delivered with a win and just one earned run allowed with three K's in five innings on Friday against the Astros. Crochet should not be dropped in any leagues while he rebuilds strength in his left shoulder.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Boston Globe - Tim Healey

May 3, 2026

Daniel Suarez of Spire Motorsports is starting second for the Wurth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway. This is the first front row start of Suarez's Cup career at Texas. In 13 Cup races, Suarez has six top-10 finishes and an average finish of 14.7 in 13 Cup races. Through 10 races so far this year, Suarez has two top-10 finishes and an average finish of 16.1. In practice for this week's race, Suarez ranked 22nd in overall lap averages and 14th in 10 consecutive lap averages. Despite a new career-best starting position and solid track history at Texas, Suarez is difficult to recommend for this week's race in DFS since he carries little upside. The No. 7 driver is only playable in tournament games, as he is likely to lose positions from Place Differential over others with better equipment who are more likely to compete for the win.--Sean Engel - RotoBaller
Source: DriverAverages.com

May 3, 2026

The Chicago Cubs reinstated right-handed closer Daniel Palencia (lat) from the 15-day injured list and designated pitcher Yacksel Rios for assignment in a corresponding move on Sunday before their series finale against the D-backs, according to Taylor McGregor of the Marquee Sports Network. Palencia was initially expected to return for the series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday, but instead, the Cubs sent him on a short minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa. The 26-year-old Venezuelan hurler threw two-thirds of an inning with Iowa on Friday and is now back in Chicago's big-league bullpen. The Cubs could decide to ease Palencia back in after he recovered from a lat strain, but there's no question that he will be the team's primary closer now that he's healthy. Before his injury, Palencia had one save and five strikeouts in five shutout innings, and he had a career-high 22 saves for the team in 2025. Pick him up immediately if he's available in your fantasy league. He's rostered in 82% of Yahoo leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Marquee Sports Network - Taylor McGregor

May 3, 2026

Kyle Busch of Richard Childress Racing will start in the sixth position for this week's Wurth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway. This will be the first race of the 2026 season where Busch will have a new crew chief, Andy Street, who last worked with Busch and RCR in the last five races of the 2025 season. In 35 total Cup Series races at Texas, Busch has four wins, 19 top-10 finishes, and is the only driver in the field with over 1,000 laps led throughout their Cup career (1,069) at the site. After 10 races this season, Busch has one top-10 finish, an average finish of 22.1, and sits 27th in the regular-season standings. In practice for this week's race, Busch ranked 17th in overall lap averages and as high as 11th in 20 consecutive lap averages. Although Busch has solid track history at Texas, his high starting position makes him only worth recommending for tournament lineups, as he is a risk for DFS otherwise.--Sean Engel - RotoBaller
Source: DriverAverages.com

May 3, 2026

The Atlanta Braves announced on Sunday that they placed star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring. In a corresponding move, the team added outfielder Jose Azocar to the major-league roster. Acuna was pulled from Saturday's win over the Colorado Rockies early at Coors Field with left-hamstring tightness. The 28-year-old former MVP and five-time All-Star pulled up lame while running to first base and was removed from the game after manager Walt Weiss and a trainer came to check on him. It's unclear how long Acuna will be out, but regardless, it's a major blow to the Braves and for fantasy managers. In Acuna's absence, both Eli White and Mauricio Dubon could see more playing time in the outfield in Atlanta. Dubon is the more attractive fantasy option, but only in deeper leagues for the added playing time. Acuna heads to the IL with a .252/.362/.378 slash line, .740 OPS, two home runs, nine RBI, seven stolen bases, and 17 runs scored in 34 games. The numbers don't stand out, especially for Acuna's high standards, but the five-category contributor is an obvious must-stash while he recovers.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Atlanta Braves

May 3, 2026

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (finger) is expected to be activated from the 15-day injured list to make his 2026 season debut on Friday at home at Great American Ballpark against the Houston Astros, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer. The 28-year-old southpaw convinced the Reds that he is ready to rejoin the big-league starting rotation after he gave up two earned runs while walking two and striking out six in 4 1/3 innings for Triple-A Louisville on Saturday in his third minor-league rehab start. Lodolo has been on the IL since Opening Day due to a recurring blister issue on his left index finger, but he looks to have put it behind him. The former seventh overall pick in 2019 out of TCU looked great in his three rehab starts, allowing just two earned runs while walking two and fanning 17 in 12 innings of work with Louisville, Single-A Dayton, and High-A Dayton. For his high-strikeout upside, Lodolo deserves to be rostered everywhere. He will be a more dicey fantasy play in his season debut on Friday against Houston, but he should be rostered in most fantasy leagues with his return on the horizon. Lodolo is rostered in 88% of Yahoo leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Gordon Wittenmyer

May 3, 2026

Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Logan Henderson was recalled from Triple-A Nashville on Sunday and will start the team's series finale against the Washington Nationals, according to Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Henderson will fill the team's starting rotation spot vacated by veteran right-hander Brandon Woodruff (shoulder), at least temporarily. The 24-year-old made a start during the team's doubleheader against the Kansas City Royals back on April 4 and struggled, allowing two earned runs on three hits while walking one and striking out three in just two innings of work. Henderson otherwise spent the first month of the 2026 campaign at Nashville, where he allowed only two earned runs on 12 hits while walking nine and striking out 26 in 17 2/3 frames over five outings (three starts). With Henderson potentially sticking in the Brewers' rotation for the foreseeable future if he handles himself well, he's worth consideration as a waiver-wire pickup for fantasy managers in need of starting arms. Henderson is only rostered in 17% of Yahoo leagues. In his five starts in his first taste of the majors in 2025, Henderson had a sparkling 1.78 ERA and 0.99 WHIP with 33 K's and only eight walks in his five starts.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Todd Rosiak

May 3, 2026

It should come as no surprise to anyone, but Tyler Reddick is one of the favorites to win this weekend's Würth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway. Reddick already has five wins this season, including victories at both Kansas and Darlington, other intermediate race tracks. At Texas, Reddick has been one of the best in the Next Gen era despite some misleading results. Last year at this track, he finished second in both Stages but ending up finishing 21st after spinning out on lap 254 while running sixth. In 2024, he finished fourth here at Texas, and he won the fall race here in 2022. This weekend, Reddick qualified eighth for Sunday afternoon's race and looked strong in practice, ranking fastest in 20-lap average during the session. At $10,700 on DraftKings, Reddick makes for an excellent DFS pick this weekend, combining some Place Differential upside with race-winning potential as well. --Jordan McAbee
Source: FOX Sports

May 3, 2026

Keep an eye on Chase Elliott in this weekend's Würth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway. The Hendrick Motorsports driver is a recent winner here (in 2024) and looked stout in practice this weekend, ranked fastest in 25-lap average during the session. Chase was reportedly very happy with his car, and the speed backed that up. Looking at other intermediate tracks this season, Elliott nearly stole a win at Las Vegas and had top-five speed at Kansas before fading late. On Sunday, the No. 9 Chevrolet will roll off the starting grid from 14th-place, making Chase Elliott ($9,500 on DraftKings) an excellent DFS play with Place Differential upside as well as race-winning upside. In the Next Gen era, Chase has the fourth-best speed ranking at Texas specifically.--Jordan McAbee
Source: ifantasyrace

May 3, 2026

After grabbing his first-ever Cup Series win at Talladega Superspeedway last weekend, Carson Hocever continued the good vibes this Saturday, ending up fastest in qualifying at Texas Motor Speedway--just like he did last season. Hocevar will now lead the field to the green flag for Sunday afternoon's Würth 400. Last year, Hocevar led 22 laps and finished sixth in both Stages before ultimately falling back to 24th after an untimely caution and him getting caught up in a wreck. Looking at this weekend, though, Hocevar should have the potential for another top-10 finish at Texas, just like he accomplished here in 2024. As far as DFS goes, Carson is a high-risk option due to his starting spot, but if he can dominate a portion of this race and get a good finish, it'll be easier to hit value with his $8,500 DraftKings salary. --Jordan McAbee
Source: ifantasyrace

May 3, 2026

Bubba Wallace had an eventful Saturday afternoon at Texas Motor Speedway, as the 23XI Racing driver showed good speed (he was fifth-fastest in practice), but mid-way through the session he ended up spinning out and hitting the wall, destroying his race car in the process. The No. 23 team pulled out the backup car and Bubba wasn't able to qualify, giving him a 37th-place starting spot on Sunday (out of 38 total cars in the field). While this situation isn't great for Bubba, it is great for DFS players, as he now has very high Place Differental upside. Bubba has two top-seven finishes in the last three Texas races, including a career-best third-place finish here in 2023 after starting on the pole. He's a very safe DFS play this weekend with high scoring upside.--Jordan McAbee
Source: NASCAR.com

May 3, 2026

Fresh off of his runner-up finish at Talladega, Chris Buescher will be looking to continue the strong runs at his home race track of Texas Motor Speedway this weekend. The No. 17 Ford has been stout at the intermediate race tracks this season, as this team has top-10 finishes at Kansas, Darlington, and Las Vegas, and there's no reason to think that Buescher won't be able to contend once again in this weekend's Würth 400. Although he hasn't had a top-10 finish at this track since the 2022 season, Buescher does have three top-five Stage results over the last six at this track, and he looks to have potential top-five speed again this weekend. In practice on Saturday, the No. 17 Ford ranked second-fastest in 20-lap average and third-best in 25-lap average. As far as DFS goes, Buescher will start from third-place on Sunday, which makes him a difficult driver to be confident about due to his mid-range salary ($8,100) and limited Place Differential upside. If you believe Buescher will dominate a portion of this race, though, he could be a good tournament pivot on DraftKings.--Jordan McAbee
Source: NASCAR.com

May 3, 2026

Austin Dillon only made it a couple of laps in practice at Texas Motor Speedway this weekend before he realized something didn't seem right with his race car. On lap three, he figured it out: the engine was blowing up. Because of the failure, Dillon wasn't able to post a lap in qualifying for the race, and he will now start dead last (38th) for this weekend's Würth 400. While this setback isn't ideal, it's not completely damning. Additionally, Austin Dillon is now a very safe DFS pick for this weekend's race, as he has sky-high Place Differential upside at a very affordable salary on DraftKings ($6,500). In cash games, Austin Dillon is a must-play, and you should even have a good amount of exposure to him in large-field tournaments as well.--Jordan McAbee
Source: Motorsport

May 3, 2026

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb finished 2023 with one of the highest-scoring fantasy seasons of all time, rightfully peaking as the WR1 in consensus dynasty rankings. Since then, injuries to both himself and his quarterback have seen him fall to RotoBaller's WR7. After Dak Prescott missed nine games in 2024 with a serious hamstring injury, Lamb missed three starts of his own in 2025 while dealing with a high ankle sprain, but the biggest factor in Lamb's declining value is undoubtedly the breakout of George Pickens, who promptly finished as the WR5 on the strength of 1,429 receiving yards and nine touchdowns after Dallas sent third and fifth-round picks to acquire him from the Steelers. The recent pageantry around Pickens' signing of his franchise tag suggests there may be some uncertainty about his future with the Cowboys, but even if the sides can eventually work out a long-term deal, Lamb will continue to be the first option in Dallas. In games where both players took at least 50 offensive snaps in 2025, Lamb out-earned Pickens by 2.6 targets per contest. At 27 years old, and having topped 1,000 yards from scrimmage in each of his first six seasons, Lamb is still one of the most reliable players in the game, and when things go right, as they did in 2023, he's capable of winning leagues.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 3, 2026

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Connor Prielipp has been a consistent option for the team over the last few weeks. Prielipp took the mound for his third start of the season against the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday. He tossed five innings, allowing three earned runs on two hits while striking out four batters. The rookie southpaw owns a 3.86 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and a 15/5 K/BB ratio across three starts. He has held his opponents to under three earned runs in each of his first three starts. Prielipp could be worth a look in deep leagues for as long as he sticks on the big league roster.--Andy Webb
Source: Baseball Reference

May 3, 2026

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson has posted fantasy finishes of RB9, RB4, and RB3 through his first three seasons, and it's possible he's yet to reach his true ceiling. As a rookie under head coach Arthur Smith, Robinson ceded meaningful touches to a capable backup in Tyler Allgeier. In years two and three, under the defensive-minded Raheem Morris, Robinson's usage spiked, particularly in the passing game, but Allgeier still averaged 153.5 touches. With Allgeier out the door in free agency, he's been replaced by Brian Robinson Jr., who handled only 92 carries in 2025 as the primary backup to Christian McCaffrey. And with new head coach Kevin Stefanski coming from Cleveland, where Nick Chubb would routinely see 25 opportunities per game in his prime, things could be shaping up for the incumbent Robinson to take yet another leap on his superstar trajectory. At RotoBaller's dynasty RB1, he's nearly impossible to acquire via trade, but managers lucky enough to roster the 24-year-old Robinson should still enjoy several more seasons of league-winning production.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 3, 2026

Boston Celtics guard Derrick White recorded 26 points, six rebounds, four assists, and three blocks in 45 minutes during Saturday's Game 7 loss to Philadelphia. He knocked down five three-pointers but needed 26 shots to reach his total, showing the same efficiency issues that have popped up at times. Still, he found ways to contribute with defense and playmaking, keeping his overall impact intact. Jaylen Brown led the scoring, while Payton Pritchard took on more ball-handling responsibilities. Boston now heads into the offseason with White's role secure, though improved shooting would raise his ceiling next season.--Brian Dailisan
Source: NBA

May 3, 2026

Athletics outfielder Carlos Cortes has quickly gained fantasy value with his red-hot start to the season. Over the last two weeks, Cortes is 20-for-40 at the plate with three home runs and seven RBI. During that span, Cortes was just shy of top-30 value, which is quite impressive. The only downside is that Cortes is likely going to continue being a platoon bat going forward. That means he'll basically only start against right-handed pitching. Despite that, Cortes is still worth rostering in at least deep leagues at the moment. He brings enough upside with the bat to outweigh the fact that he's strictly a platoon bat.--Andy Webb
Source: Baseball Reference

May 3, 2026

Boston Celtics forward/center Neemias Queta recorded 17 points, 12 rebounds, and one assist in 33 minutes during Saturday's Game 7 loss to Philadelphia. He moved to a reserve role but still logged his highest minutes of the series, finishing an efficient 7-for-8 from the field while making his presence felt on the boards. Queta turned in multiple double-digit rebounding games in the series, showing steady interior impact. Boston now shifts into the offseason, where Queta's role and long-term spot in the frontcourt will be worth monitoring.--Brian Dailisan
Source: NBA

May 3, 2026

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington is one of only three wideouts still on the roster who caught a pass for the team in 2025. After a busy offseason of cuts, trades, and draft selections, the Dolphins' receiver room has undergone a massive overhaul, and Washington's place within it is very much up in the air. Washington's 46 receptions in 2025 amount to the second highest single season total among all current Dolphins pass catchers other than De'Von Achane, but Miami invested heavily to add new target competition, spending two thirds and a fifth-round pick on Caleb Douglas, Chris Bell, and Kevin Coleman Jr. Bell is still recovering from an ACL tear sustained in late November, and Douglas is widely considered to be one of the largest reaches of the draft, so ultimately, it could be the fifth-rounder Coleman who poses the most immediate threat to Washington's workload. After taking more than 90% of his collegiate snaps on the inside, Coleman projects as a slot-only player in the NFL, a role Washington has handled on nearly 50% of his professional snaps. Anytime ambiguity enters a position room, dynasty values tend to crater, and bargains can be found for managers willing to lean into the uncertainty. At RotoBaller's WR131, Washington could be an offseason steal if he's ultimately able to carve out a meaningful role in his third season with Miami.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 3, 2026

Boston Celtics guard/forward Jaylen Brown finished with 33 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and three blocks in 40 minutes during Saturday's Game 7 loss to Philadelphia. He took on a bigger scoring role with Jayson Tatum (knee) out, leading the team while still contributing across the board, though his 12-for-27 shooting shows it wasn't always efficient. His usage climbed throughout the series, but tough shot attempts and defensive pressure made it hard to stay consistent. Derrick White and Payton Pritchard were more involved, but Boston still relied heavily on Brown to create offense and carry the scoring load.--Brian Dailisan
Source: NBA

May 3, 2026

Former Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia recently signed a three-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens after going undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft, and with the team wrapping up rookie minicamp, new head coach Jesse Minter offered very little on the Heisman Trophy runner-up. Minter told reporters on Saturday, "He's in the door and it's like, 'Show us what you can do,'" adding, "And just like all the undrafted rookies, that's what I would say." With Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley firmly entrenched atop the depth chart. Pavia is competing with fellow undrafted free agent Joe Fagnano out of Connecticut for a third quarterback spot. At RotoBaller's dynasty QB51, Pavia is unlikely to ever become a meaningful fantasy contributor, but in such a shallow draft class, his playmaking upside makes him at least worth a dart throw in the final round of dynasty rookie drafts.--Patrick McGrath
Source: Adam Schefter

May 3, 2026

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Noah Schultz turned in another solid performance versus the San Diego Padres on Friday. The southpaw tossed six shutout innings, allowing two hits, three walks, and struck out two batters. Schultz has now allowed two earned runs or fewer in three of his first four career starts. The command still needs improvement, but Schultz has pitched well overall during his first few big league starts. His next start is projected to come against the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday. Schultz has been consistent enough over his last three starts that he warrants a look as a streaming option.--Andy Webb
Source: Baseball Reference