March 13, 2026
Los Angeles Lakers forward/center
Maxi Kleber (back) is expected to remain sidelined as he continues recovering from a lumbar issue, extending a recent stretch of missed games. Kleber has logged limited minutes when available this season, leaving little direct fantasy fallout from his absence.
Jarred Vanderbilt should continue handling the backup frontcourt role, while
Drew Timme could mix in for spot minutes when the Lakers go deeper into the rotation.
Deandre Ayton's role remains unchanged as the starting center. Given Kleber's minimal workload, he can remain on waiver wires in most formats, with Vanderbilt only holding deep-league streaming appeal for rebounds and defensive stats.
--Brian DailisanSource: Dave McMenamin
March 13, 2026
Utah Jazz guard/forward
John Konchar (calf) will sit out Friday's game against Portland, marking his second straight absence as he continues to deal with a left calf strain. His role has been modest, but the missed time helps solidify minutes for Utah's younger wings.
Brice Sensabaugh capitalized on the last game with 29 points, six three-pointers, five rebounds, and five assists in 30 minutes, while rookie
Ace Bailey added 21 points and five three-pointers in 36 minutes. Both should remain fantasy-relevant even when Konchar is active, given Utah's thin rotation, though his absence does open the door for slightly larger roles and more secure minutes.
--Brian DailisanSource: NBA Injury Report
March 13, 2026
Utah Jazz forward
Lauri Markkanen (hip) will remain sidelined for Friday's matchup against Portland as he continues working through a lingering issue with no clear return date. His continued absence keeps Utah's younger frontcourt firmly in play for fantasy managers. Rookie
Ace Bailey turned in 21 points with five three-pointers, four rebounds, two assists, and one steal in 36 minutes last game, while
Cody Williams logged 10 points and five assists in a team-high 38 minutes.
Kyle Filipowski added 15 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and one block. All three remain viable streamers while Markkanen stays out.
--Brian DailisanSource: NBA Injury Report
March 13, 2026
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon factored in four goals during Thursday's 5-1 win over the Seattle Kraken. After being tossed from Tuesday's loss to Edmonton, MacKinnon responded with one goal and three assists. He already had three points before the first intermission, tying Alex Ovechkin for the fourth most three-point periods among active players. This was the 24th time MacKinnon had as many as three points in a single period. The Avalanche superstar is in a battle for the Art Ross and Rocket Richard Trophies. He has netted a league-high 44 goals in 63 appearances and is second in scoring with 108 points, just two behind Edmonton's Connor McDavid. MacKinnon has finished seven of his last 11 outings with multiple points.
--Taavi PailkSource: Hockey Reference
March 13, 2026
Milwaukee Bucks forward/center
Ousmane Dieng (illness) did not return to Thursday's loss to Miami after logging 14 minutes, finishing without a point while missing two shots as the team opted for caution. The absence appears temporary, but his recent stretch of 10.4 points, 2.0 three-pointers, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.0 assists across his previous five games had made him a viable deep-league streamer.
Ryan Rollins could remain the primary beneficiary after producing 16 points, two three-pointers, five rebounds, and 10 assists in 33 minutes.
Kyle Kuzma and
Bobby Portis may also see slight usage bumps if Dieng misses additional time.
--Brian DailisanSource: Eric Nehm
March 13, 2026
New York Rangers winger Alexis Lafreniere continued his scoring tear with a goal and an assist in Thursday's 6-3 road victory over the Winnipeg Jets. Lafreniere scored New York's second goal and assisted Gabriel Perreault on the game-winning tally. After the Olympic break, Lafreniere has received increased opportunities, and he has responded with six goals and five assists in his last six games. He has lit the lamp in three consecutive contests, taking his season total to 44 points (19 goals, 25 assists) in 65 games. In his current form, Lafreniere could be a decisive factor for many fantasy teams on their way to glory.
--Taavi PailkSource: Hockey Reference
March 13, 2026
Orlando Magic forward
Jonathan Isaac (knee) is expected to miss time after suffering a knee sprain Thursday, though his absence carries minimal fantasy impact given his limited role and workload this season. Isaac logged in just one minute before exiting and has averaged modest minutes when active, leaving little statistical void. Deep reserves
Noah Penda and
Goga Bitadze could see slight bumps in emergency minutes, with Penda posting four points, three rebounds, two assists, and one steal in 14 minutes last game. Bitadze remains a fringe option.
Paolo Banchero and
Wendell Carter Jr. should continue handling most frontcourt usage.
--Brian DailisanSource: Orlando Magic Daily
March 13, 2026
New York Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov (knee) has been ruled out for the rest of the season, Stefen Rosner of NHL.com reports. The 37-year-old Russian hasn't seen any action since undergoing knee surgery in December 2024. Varlamov has one more year left on a contract, which carries a $2.75 million cap hit. He has posted a 76-63-21 record with the Islanders and ranks 49th all-time with 289 career wins. Time will tell whether Varlamov will get an opportunity to add to his total in New York or elsewhere. With Varlamov unavailable, David Rittich has gone 13-9-3 as Ilya Sorokin's backup this season.
--Taavi PailkSource: Stefen Rosner
March 13, 2026
Memphis Grizzlies guard
Scotty Pippen Jr. (toe) will miss the rest of the season after opting for surgery to address a lingering big toe issue that already sidelined him in recent games. The 25-year-old appeared in just 10 contests, averaging 11.4 points, 2.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.9 steals in 21.2 minutes. His absence should open more opportunities for
Javon Small, who posted 19 points and nine assists in 28 minutes last game, though his fantasy appeal depends on the health of
Ty Jerome (calf),
Walter Clayton Jr. (ankle), and
Cam Spencer (back). Small profiles as a speculative add in deeper formats.
--Brian DailisanSource: Grizzlies PR
March 13, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect
Mike Sirota is worth closely monitoring in the lower levels of the minor leagues. Sirota has only appeared in two spring training games but has gone 1-for-2 with a home run. He joined the Dodgers in the trade that sent infielder
Gavin Lux to the Cincinnati Reds. He initially joined the Reds in the third round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of Northeastern. Last summer, Sirota made his professional debut and played time in the lower levels. At Low-A, he posted an elite .354/.443/.687 line with seven long balls over just 24 games. He then moved up to High-A, where he launched six home runs over a 35-game stint while carrying a .316/.458/.556 line. Given the production he showed last season, he could make a case for an early promotion to Double-A.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
March 13, 2026
Seattle Mariners outfield prospect
Brennen Davis has been one of the top hitters in all of spring training and is making a strong case to spend most of the upcoming season in the major leagues. Davis, a former top prospect, saw most of his early minor-league career limited due to injuries. Through 13 spring games, Davis has launched four home runs while carrying a .344/.447/.884 slash line. In 2025, he spent his campaign in the Yankee system with Double-A and Triple-A. He would appear in 36 games at the top level of the minor leagues and hold his own, posting a .248/.324/.576 liner with a .900 OPS. During this stint, Davis launched 12 long balls. While he is unlikely to break camp with the MLB roster, he could contend for a promotion much sooner than expected. Given the power he has shown, he is worth following in deeper 12+ team five-outfielder formats.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
March 13, 2026
New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov (shoulder) may be available for the team during the postseason, Stefen Rosner of NHL.com reports. Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche said Romanov could be back for the start of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Russian rearguard has been out since mid-November due to shoulder surgery. Before injuring his right shoulder, Romanov recorded one assist, 17 shots, 31 blocks, and 31 hits in 15 appearances. His physical presence could be a real asset for the Islanders during the postseason. In the meantime, Matthew Schaefer, Ryan Pulock, and Adam Pelech will continue to lead the blue line.
--Taavi PailkSource: Stefen Rosner
March 13, 2026
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Declan Carlile (undisclosed) exited Thursday's win over the Detroit Red Wings in the third period, Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site reports. With Erik Cernak (undisclosed), Max Crozier (abdomen), and Emil Lilleberg (face) out of action, Carlile was in the lineup for a second consecutive game, but he might now also miss time after suffering an undisclosed injury. Carlile has made 38 appearances this season, mainly contributing on the defensive end. He has recorded three points (one goal, two assists), 29 shots, 30 blocks, 46 hits, and a plus-five rating. Steven Santini will step in for Carlile if needed on Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes.
--Taavi PailkSource: Benjamin Pierce
March 13, 2026
St. Louis Cardinals left-handed pitching prospect
Quinn Mathews was reassigned to minor league camp earlier this week. The left-handed prospect was in consideration to break camp with the MLB roster, but given the time he missed last season due to a shoulder injury and inconsistent production, he was likely ticketed for Triple-A. At camp, Mathews struck out 12 hitters over seven innings but carried a 5.14 ERA with a 1.29 WHIP. Fantasy managers should monitor his progress at Triple-A early in the season as he could make a case for a first-half promotion. Before his struggles in 2025, Mathews was looking like a budding ace in 2024, when he logged 143 1/3 innings across the entire system with a 2.76 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and a 202:49 K:BB. Given his strikeout upside, he could have sleeper appeal when he earns the call in deeper leagues.
--Andy SmithSource: St. Louis Cardinals
March 13, 2026
New York Yankees right-handed pitching prospect
Carlos Lagrange has been one of the most dominant pitchers in all of spring training and has made a strong case to earn a spot on the MLB roster. Through 9 2/3 innings, Lagrange has posted a near-perfect 0.93 ERA with a 0.72 WHIP. During this stint, Lagrange has totaled nine punchouts while serving up only three free passes. Given that the Yankees will be without
Carlos Rodon (elbow) and
Gerrit Cole (elbow) to begin the season, Lagrange could either find a role at the back of the rotation or in a long relief role in the bullpen. In 2025, the No. 79-ranked prospect on MLB.com began his season at Double-A, but would finish at Triple-A, where he logged 31 2/3 innings with a 3.22 ERA and 104 punchouts. He is a name to closely monitor over the final weeks of spring training, as he could have sneaky early-season upside.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
March 13, 2026
Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Wyatt Kaiser (upper body) may have to miss some time again after being hurt in Thursday's overtime win against the Utah Mammoth. Kaiser, who recently missed four games due to a lower-body injury, suffered an upper-body injury on Thursday when he was involved in a collision with Mammoth forward Michael Carcone late in the third period. The 23-year-old has tallied 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 61 games this season, adding 60 shots, 53 blocks, and 37 hits. If Kaiser isn't available on Saturday night against Vegas, Ethan Del Mastro will get a chance to make his fifth appearance of the season. In his few outings, Del Mastro hasn't tallied any points but has racked up defensive stats.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
March 13, 2026
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson (upper body) is joining the team in Philadelphia for Saturday's clash against the Flyers, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports. The veteran suffered an upper-body injury on Monday against the Los Angeles Kings and was expected to miss Columbus' three-game road trip. Instead, it seems like Gudbranson could be an option for the final game of the trip. Gudbranson has registered three points (one goal, two assists), 19 shots, 29 blocks, and 27 hits across 21 appearances this season. Jake Christiansen has played in back-to-back games but will depart the lineup when Gudbranson is ready to return.
--Taavi PailkSource: Aaron Portzline
March 13, 2026
Los Angeles Angels right-handed pitching prospect
George Klassen is a candidate to claim the final spot in the starting rotation, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. While veteran pitcher
Alek Manoah opened camp as the favorite, his struggles in camp have opened the door for Klassen or
Jack Kochanowicz to slide into a starting role. Klassen has logged eight innings over three appearances and struck out nine batters while carrying a 2.25 ERA with a 1.00 WHIP. Last summer, the former sixth-round selection from the 2023 MLB Draft spent the majority of his campaign with Double-A and tossed 102 2/3 innings with a 5.35 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. He made a one-game appearance at Triple-A and logged six innings with two earned runs. Despite his lack of Triple-A experience, Klassen could hold late-round sleeper appeal in deeper formats if he were to earn a starting job.
--Andy SmithSource: Rhett Bollinger
March 13, 2026
Milwaukee Brewers infield prospect
Jett Williams (quadriceps) went 1-for-1 with a double and a walk in his return on Thursday afternoon. Williams has been held out of action for just over two weeks due to this quadriceps injury. However, the young infielder wasted little time making an impact, knocking a double in his first game back. While the missed time will likely prevent him from cracking the Opening Day roster, he should remain in the mix for an early-season promotion. The 22-year-old was the top prospect included in the deal that sent right-handed pitcher
Freddy Peralta to the Mets earlier in the winter. Last season, Williams spent most of his time at Double-A, where he held a .281/.390/.477 line with 10 HRs and 32 SBs. He then moved up to Triple-A, where he took a step back, posting a modest .209 AVG. Fantasy managers should expect the young Infielder to begin the regular season at Triple-A and push for a first-half MLB promotion.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
March 13, 2026
New England Patriots quarterback
Drake Maye enjoyed plenty of success in 2025, including finishing as the MVP runner-up, ranking as the QB2 in fantasy scoring, and making it to the Super Bowl. It was a remarkable second season for the former first-round pick, and he'll look to follow it up with an equally dominant campaign in 2026. The biggest question mark for Maye is whether he'll have a receiving group capable of supporting his hefty upside.
Stefon Diggs wasn't an elite receiver by any means last season, but he still carried the position group and offered plenty of reliability with big-play upside. However, Diggs was released, and the Patriots downgraded at wide receiver by signing
Romeo Doubs to take his place. Making a splash at wide receiver -- like trading for
A.J. Brown or even bringing back Diggs on a different deal -- would be great for Maye's fantasy aspirations. However, with his current receiving room, he may have trouble topping last season's 4,394 passing yards and 31 passing touchdowns.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
March 13, 2026
New York Jets wide receiver
Garrett Wilson has dealt with some poor quarterback play throughout his NFL career, and that might not change in 2026. New York recently struck a deal to acquire quarterback
Geno Smith, taking on the final year of his hefty contract in exchange for a late-round pick. It's a move that signals the Jets want to have better quarterback play than last year, but still don't plan to be very competitive next season. Smith wasn't able to support very promising fantasy results from his receivers in 2025, as
Jakobi Meyers was traded midseason and Vegas' top-scoring fantasy receiver was
Tre Tucker (WR38). Make no mistake, Wilson should still be a fantasy WR2 when healthy; he was the WR15 in terms of fantasy points per game last year, but he missed more than half the season. He was also the overall WR10 with over 100 catches back in 2024, but that was with
Aaron Rodgers as his quarterback. The bottom line is that Wilson will deliver fantasy-relevant results regardless of the quarterback situation, but his true ceiling will continue to be limited as the Jets roll out quarterbacks like
Justin Fields,
Tyrod Taylor, and now, Smith. He's best viewed in the WR16-WR24 range for 2026.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
March 13, 2026
Miami Dolphins wide receiver
Jaylen Waddle finds himself in the middle of an evolving offense, and not in a good way. The Dolphins endured an ugly season of quarterback play from
Tua Tagovailoa, and they replaced the former first-round pick with
Malik Willis, who flashed upside in Green Bay but will likely start to get figured out by opposing defenses now that he's a full-time starter. Plus, Willis' top trait has been his mobility and physical running style, leaving some questions about his passing. All in all, that's not great news for Waddle. On the bright side, though, the former first-round receiver is headed for significant volume once again. Much like most of the 2025 regular season, Waddle will enter the 2026 season without
Tyreek Hill in Miami's receiving room. Waddle is the No. 1 wide receiver in Miami, and between
Tutu Atwell and
Malik Washington, there's not much competition. Therefore, even though we're not sold on this offense in 2026, Waddle should still have a productive fantasy season while commanding a heavy target share every week. That type of role resulted in a modest stat line of 64 catches, 910 yards, and six touchdowns last season. We wouldn't be surprised to see him push for 75 catches, 1,000 yards, and another six-plus scores in 2026, keeping him in the mix as a mid-to-low WR2 for fantasy football purposes.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
March 13, 2026
Carolina Panthers running back
Jonathon Brooks (knee) could be an appealing buy-low candidate in dynasty leagues as he works his way back from injury. Brooks missed the entire 2025 regular season due to a torn ACL that he suffered in 2024. Injuries have limited the once-promising running back to just three games through two NFL seasons. The former Texas product showed some promise when healthy, though. In Week 13 of the 2024 season, when the Panthers were still getting him up to speed, he handled six carries and also caught three passes for 23 receiving yards. Brooks should be healthy for training camp in 2026, and he could ascend into a significant role right away.
Rico Dowdle departed the Panthers in free agency, leaving Brooks and
Trevor Etienne in competition for a larger workload alongside
Chuba Hubbard. While Hubbard has an early leg up on the competition, we would not be surprised to see both Brooks and Etienne get a fair crack at the job. Brooks could have low-end RB3/flex appeal if he locks up the backup running back role, and earning the starting job could put him in RB2 territory. 2025 showed that Chuba Hubbard isn't an every-down back, so Brooks would likely handle a sizable workload even if he split touches with Hubbard.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
March 13, 2026
New York Giants wide receiver
Malik Nabers (knee) finds himself alone atop the depth chart heading into the 2026 NFL season. Nabers is working his way back from a torn ACL, and when he returns, he won't face much competition for targets.
Wan'Dale Robinson walked in free agency, and the Giants responded by signing
Calvin Austin III, who had a very underwhelming season in Pittsburgh. New York does still have
Darius Slayton, and while he's been known to deliver some solid performances from time to time, he lacks the consistent type of production that we saw from Robinson. Unless the Giants make an unforeseen wide receiver signing or trade (or prioritize the position in the draft), we should expect Nabers to be
Jaxson Dart's primary target more often than not in 2026. Even coming back from injury, he has top-three wide receiver upside in fantasy football.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
March 13, 2026
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Josh Downs is a candidate to get more involved on offense after the team traded away
Michael Pittman Jr. earlier this week. Pittman's departure for Pittsburgh leaves Downs and the newly-extended
Alec Pierce as Indianapolis' top two wide receivers. Pierce's $116 million deal indicates that he's the new No. 1 receiver on the Colts, but there's still plenty of room for Downs to exist and contribute. The 24-year-old had 58 catches, 566 yards, and four touchdowns last year. Those were subpar numbers, but part of the blame can be placed on the state of the Colts' offense during the back half of the season with
Philip Rivers at quarterback. With
Daniel Jones (Achilles) returning and Pittman shipped away, Downs will have a chance to return to his 2024 form, when he was the Colts' No. 2 receiver and finished as the overall WR35 in PPR leagues. A top-36 finish is well within reach for Downs in 2026, making him a potential buy-low dynasty option this offseason.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
March 13, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander
Yoshinobu Yamamoto will remain with Team Japan as long as they are still alive in the World Baseball Classic, according to Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register. Yoshinobu is not scheduled to pitch again in the WBC after the quarterfinals this Saturday versus Venezuela. In his first outing for Japan, last year's World Series MVP threw 2 2/3 shutout innings to earn the win in the group stage against Chinese Taipei. Before leaving spring training for the WBC, he had allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits (one homer) while walking none and fanning seven in 4 2/3 innings in two Cactus League starts. Yamamoto was a first-time All-Star in 2025, going 12-8 with a 2.49 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 201 strikeouts, and 59 walks in 173 2/3 innings over 30 regular-season starts. He kept it going in the postseason and was downright dominant to win a second World Series ring in as many years with L.A. The Japanese hurler is ranked as the No. 5 fantasy starting pitcher at RotoBaller.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Orange County Register - Bill Plunkett
March 12, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar
Shohei Ohtani threw a four-inning live batting practice session on Thursday against Samurai Japan hitters during a workout ahead of the World Baseball Classic quarterfinal against Venezuela on Saturday, according to David Adler of MLB.com. Ohtani threw 59 pitches during the workout and had seven strikeouts while facing 18 batters. It's part of the 31-year-old four-time MVP's process to be ready to pitch for the Dodgers when the regular season starts on March 26. He is only serving as a hitter in the WBC for Japan, though, and will not pitch in the tourney. The Dodgers are being cautious with Ohtani after he returned in 2025 from right-elbow surgery and then pitched through a long postseason in the fall. Ohtani is expected to be a full-time starter for L.A. for all of 2026, but he could have limited pitch counts early on. Despite a potential overall innings limit, Ohtani offers elite starting pitching upside in fantasy.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - David Adler
March 12, 2026
Chicago Cubs right-hander
Edward Cabrera has been throwing his four-seam fastball around 30% of the time in spring training as he heads into his first season with the Cubs, according to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com. Cabrera used the fastball oly 13% of the time in 2025 with the Miami Marlins, reducing its usage from 27.7% in 2024. "I want to see how they play off each other. If there are opportunities for us to help him play up the fastball by using it in certain situations or following certain sequences, then I want to try to help him find that," pitching coach Tommy Hottovy said. Cabrera has a signature changeup that he throws often, but the Cubs want him to use his heater more to make both offerings more effective. The 27-year-old's fantasy stock is on the rise in 2026 with a better team after he had a 3.53 ERA and 150 strikeouts in 137 2/3 innings for the Fish in 2025. Cabrera offers plenty of upside as a No. 3 or No. 4 fantasy starting pitcher.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Jordan Bastian
March 12, 2026
The Boston Red Sox announced on Thursday that infielder/outfielder
Romy Gonzalez (shoulder) had a successful left-shoulder arthroscopic debridement on Thursday. The procedure was performed by Dr. Jeffrey R. Dugas in Alabama. The Red Sox also placed Gonzalez on the 60-day injured list on Thursday, which means he will miss at least the first two months of the 2026 season. The 29-year-old had yet to make an appearance in spring training due to shoulder inflammation. In his second year in Boston in 2025, Gonzalez only had 341 plate appearances, but he was effective, slashing .305/.343/.483 with an .826 OPS, career-high nine home runs, 53 RBI, and six stolen bases in 96 games played. Gonzalez's batted-ball metrics backed up the strong season. His 2026 fantasy value obviously takes a hit because of his shoulder injury, but when back to full health, Gonzalez figures to compete for a platoon role in Beantown, primarily as a lefty killer.
--Keith HernandezSource: Boston Red Sox
March 12, 2026
New York Mets left-hander
Sean Manaea doesn't have an explanation for his lower velocity in spring training -- it was in the 89-90 mph range on Thursday -- but he's not concerned about it at this point, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Manaea said he will ideally get up to 92-93 mph once the adrenaline of the regular season hits. The 34-year-old veteran southpaw allowed three runs on six hits while walking one and striking out four in 2 2/3 innings in his Grapefruit League start on Thursday against the St. Louis Cardinals. Manaea isn't the only pitcher dealing with lower velocity in spring training, and it's not always something to be concerned with. To bounce back in 2026 for the Mets, Manaea needs to stay healthy. He battled elbow and oblique injuries last year and struggled to a 5.64 ERA after having a late-career breakout in 2024. Manaea is a risk/reward late-round target for fantasy managers.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
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