March 20, 2026

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud was taken second overall out of Ohio State in 2023 and immediately delivered for Houston, throwing for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, and only five interceptions in 15 games in his first year in the NFL to win Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. Stroud has regressed the last two seasons, though, and he had only 3,041 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in 14 regular-season starts in 2025. The good news was that the 24-year-old took only 23 sacks after being sacked 52 times in 2024. Everything fell apart in two games in the playoffs for Stroud, as he turned the ball over seven times in games against the Steelers and Patriots. The Texans are adamant that Stroud is their QB despite trade rumors this offseason, and he'll be in his second season with offensive coordinator Nick Caley. Stroud has enough weapons around him to recover from the last two disappointing seasons, but fantasy managers will want to keep him in the QB2 tier with upside when drafting this fall.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Pro Football Reference

March 20, 2026

San Francisco Giants first base prospect Bryce Eldridge won't make the 2026 Opening Day roster, but the team expects him to contribute in the majors later this season, according to Justice delos Santos of The Mercury News. Eldridge got a small taste of big-league action last year, slashing .107/.297/.179 with an 18.9% walk rate and 35.1% strikeout rate. He has posted similarly high walk and strikeout rates this spring while slashing .225/.380/.450 with one home run, six RBI, and 118 wRC+. The Giants evidently have no interest in rushing Eldridge into a full-time role before he's ready, so he'll start the year at Triple-A and continue to develop there until the Giants are ready to call him up again. Upon returning to the majors, he'd presumably split time between first base and designated hitter.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Justice delos Santos

March 20, 2026

Cleveland Guardians infielder Brayan Rocchio is projected to open the 2026 regular season next week as the team's starter at second base, according to Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal. Rocchio, who was previously the team's regular shortstop, will form a double-play combination with shortstop Gabriel Arias. The 25-year-old switch-hitting Venezuelan has never hit much in the big leagues and doesn't really have notable speed, either, so it's unlikely he'll suddenly become a fantasy asset in mixed leagues in 2026 despite a strong finish to last year and a strong spring training. Rocchio came into Friday hitting .313 (10-for-32) with a homer, four RBI, three runs, and two steals in 12 Cactus League games. In his three big-league seasons, he's slashed just .222/.293/.327 with a .620 OPS, 13 homers, 88 RBI, 93 runs, and 18 stolen bases in 281 total games. If Rocchio falls into a deep slump at some point during the year, his job could be in danger at the keystone in Cleveland.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Akron Beacon Journal - Ryan Lewis

March 20, 2026

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Nick Pivetta had the best season of his career in 2025, but an ugly start to spring training has raised some questions about his reliability going forward. While it's dangerous to put too much stock into spring performances due to matchup and sample size factors, fantasy managers are starting to notice that Pivetta has surrendered seven runs, 11 hits, and five walks over eight innings (three starts) this spring. He has allowed two home runs along the way, and he has a modest six strikeouts to his name. Extrapolated over a regular season, these numbers would represent major regression from his 2025 stat line, which included a 3.49 FIP, 9.41 K/9, 2.48 BB/9, and 1.09 HR/9. We'd expect his 2026 stats to look more like the 2025 season than 2026 spring training, but managers should still temper expectations slightly, especially since the idea of Pivetta regressing was mentioned quite often throughout the offseason. As it stands, the veteran ranks #24 among starters in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

March 20, 2026

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Sonny Gray will open the 2026 season as the No. 2 option in the rotation, manager Alex Cora told Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. While it initially seemed like Boston would roll out Garrett Crochet and Ranger Suarez as its first two starters, Cora is inserting Gray between them to open the year with a staggered pattern of lefty, righty, lefty. While this decision is driven by handedness, that's not to say that Gray isn't deserving of a spot in the front half of the rotation. He posted an impressive 3.07 xFIP with 10.01 K/9 and 1.89 BB/9 in the Cardinals' rotation last year, and he now joins a revamped pitching staff in Boston. Cora's announcement puts Gray in line to make his Red Sox regular-season debut on Saturday, March 28, against one of his former teams, the Cincinnati Reds.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Christopher Smith

March 20, 2026

Minnesota Twins outfielder Austin Martin (concussion) "went through a workout and actually did some baseball activities" on Thursday, manager Derek Shelton told Matthew Leach of MLB.com. Martin suffered a concussion during the Twins' spring training game on Monday, so it's encouraging that he was able to resume some activities within just a few days. Presumably, this recovery timeline at least leaves the door open for Martin to play on Opening Day. The 26-year-old former top prospect is looking to build on a strong 2025 stat line that saw him slash .282/.374/.365 with 11 stolen bases, a 12.2% walk rate, a 17.1% strikeout rate, and 113 wRC+ across 50 games in the majors. This year, he projects to platoon with left-handed-hitting outfielder Trevor Larnach in left field.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Matthew Leach

March 20, 2026

New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (back) is feeling "better" after exiting Thursday's spring training contest with back tightness, manager Carlos Mendoza told Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Alvarez is expected to return to the lineup on Saturday if he's still feeling good at that point. All in all, it appears the Mets avoided any serious injury news with their primary backstop. He dealt with four different injuries in 2025 alone, so New York's brass and fanbase will be glad to hear that this latest ailment isn't too concerning. Having Alvarez available is key for the Mets, both at the plate and in the field. He slashed .256/.339/.447 with 11 home runs and 124 wRC+ last year, and he has 9.0 career FRV despite finishing with -6.0 last year. He currently ranks as the #12 catcher in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Anthony DiComo

March 20, 2026

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson was already an undisputed high-end RB1, but his tremendous fantasy value is growing even larger following the team's offseason moves. The Falcons' new regime, led by head coach Kevin Stefanski and president of football Matt Ryan, allowed Tyler Allgeier to depart for Arizona in free agency, leaving Robinson as the only relevant name in Atlanta's backfield. That's an unfamiliar sight for Robinson, who had spent the first three years of his NFL career losing some touches to Allgeier. We can't rule out Atlanta bringing in another running back via free agency or the draft, but for now, Robinson has the backfield all to himself. That bodes well for the 24-year-old's chances to build upon an incredible 2025 in which he tallied 1,478 rushing yards, 820 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns. If he can recoup even half of the eight touchdowns that Allgeier vultured from him, Robinson could be the favorite to finish 2026 as the overall RB1 in all fantasy formats.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

March 20, 2026

Free agent running back Najee Harris (Achilles) remains unsigned as of March 20. The veteran running back spent most of his one-year deal with the Los Angeles Chargers on injured reserve, and it's possible that teams are being cautious with Harris' free agency due to the injury (or, at least, they don't feel any need to rush a signing). The former first-round pick had a spotless injury history through four years in Pittsburgh, but a fluke preseason fireworks incident involving his eye, followed by a Week 3 Achilles tear, really derailed his fantasy value in 2025. He finished the year with 61 rushing yards and 25 receiving yards across three games, snapping his four-year streak of 1,000-plus rushing yards. Given his age (27) and injury history, Harris is no longer in the mix for a starting running back job. Instead, he'll likely sign somewhere that offers him meaningful snaps in a No. 2 running back role. If he's available to pick up in dynasty leagues and you have a roster spot, it wouldn't hurt to take a chance on Harris. He could end up being a valuable handcuff in 2026, and there's even a slim chance that he could have standalone value as a low-end RB3/flex depending on his landing spot.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

March 20, 2026

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (Achilles) is working his way back from injury, and his medical status has started to impact his price tag in both dynasty and redraft leagues. Kittle isn't expected to miss too much time in 2026; he'll likely be sidelined for the first four weeks or so. Still, that short-term absence is already lowering his ADP in redraft leagues, and the overall recovery process is slightly reducing his price in dynasty leagues. Dynasty managers want to trade for Kittle knowing that they're getting a healthy top-tier TE1, and while Kittle fit that description before his injury, there's always a little risk and concern associated with a player coming back from an Achilles tear. Factors baked into a slightly reduced price tag include potential injury setbacks, Kittle being less than 100% when healthy, and the risk of re-injury. While Kittle is a borderline top-three tight end when healthy, his injury is already starting to influence his pricing this offseason. He's a typical "hold" in most dynasty leagues for now.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

March 20, 2026

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams has finally started to deliver high-end results in fantasy football, and it's happening somewhat consistently. One of the biggest flaws with Williams early in his career (outside of a pair of suspensions) was that he had upside but couldn't be trusted on any given Sunday. In other words, he was a boom-or-bust receiver with no way to predict when he would break out. That started to change in 2024, as he flashed more reliability, and he truly took his consistency to the next level in 2025. In 10 games following the Lions' Week 8 bye, Williams scored 12+ fantasy points on eight occasions. He had just two games with fewer than four catches during that span, and he finished the season as the overall WR12 in PPR leagues. Ranking among the top 12 is impressive in itself, but it's even more fascinating when you consider that Williams had been a little streaky to start the year. If he can replicate the back half of his 2025 season over the entire 2026 season, we're looking at a potential top-five fantasy receiver. With that in mind, we wouldn't fault dynasty managers for sending out trade offers for Williams. His price is pretty high already, but there might still be an opportunity to get him for cheaper than what he'll be worth after the 2026 season. And for what it's worth, we're not concerned about his role alongside Amon-Ra St. Brown. The two have repeatedly shown that they can co-exist. They both played 17 games in 2025, and they still both managed to finish as top-12 fantasy receivers. There are more than enough targets to go around in Detroit to support big years from the Lions' two primary pass-catchers.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

March 20, 2026

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington finds himself in a very crowded position group. However, he has likely done enough to defray any concerns about his volume going forward. Washington opened 2025 as the clear-cut No. 3 receiver behind Travis Hunter and Brian Thomas Jr., and he continued to face heavy competition when Hunter tore his ACL and the Jaguars brought in Jakobi Meyers. Still, Washington ended up breaking out with a career-high 58 catches, 847 yards, and five touchdowns. Not only did he lead the Jaguars in receiving yards and touchdowns, but at WR27 overall, he was also the team's highest-scoring fantasy receiver. Given his consistency over the back half of the season in a crowded position group, we can confidently say that Washington's third-year breakout was not a fluke. He should remain one of Lawrence's favorite targets even with Hunter, Meyers, and Thomas all present next year. That may result in an occasional dud game from Washington, but for the most part, we expect him to be a reliable fantasy contributor in a Jacksonville offense with plenty of targets to go around. We would advise against selling high on Washington in dynasty leagues, because his fantasy relevance is just getting started. He remains a high-end WR3/flex option for 2026 fantasy football.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

March 20, 2026

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins has emerged as a low-end WR1 in fantasy football, but he still continues to fall a little short of his true ceiling. Collins has played five NFL seasons so far, and he has yet to play all 17 games in a single campaign. Injuries limited him to 15 contests in 2025, resulting in a final stat line of 71 catches, 1,117 yards, and six touchdowns. These numbers were good enough to rank as the overall WR8, giving him a top-12 receiver finish for the second time in three years. Collins has missed an average of 3.8 games per season, which is valuable playing time that could have otherwise been used to accumulate fantasy points. His fantasy output itself is impressive given the inconsistency we saw from quarterback C.J. Stroud in 2025, but managers would now like to see Collins stay healthy for a full season so that he doesn't force them to find a replacement option at random points throughout the season.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

March 20, 2026

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Brady Singer (finger) exited early during Wednesday's Cactus League outing versus the Colorado Rockies. Singer threw 3 2/3 scoreless innings with three strikeouts before a blister forced him to exit the game. Afterwards, Singer said that he didn't want to make the issue worse, so he left out of precaution. He continued by saying, the blister is almost gone, and he'll be ready for his next start. The 29-year-old sounds confident that this blister won't force him to miss any action. His first start of the regular season won't come until March 29, so he should be ready by then. Last season, Singer posted a 4.03 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 163:60 K/BB ratio across 32 starts. He's pitching his home games in hitter-friendly Cincinnati, which won't help his fantasy value. Singer is more of a deep league option to start the season.--Andy Webb
Source: mlb.com

March 20, 2026

Minnesota Twins outfielder Trevor Larnach (side) is back in the starting lineup for Friday's Spring Training contest against the Toronto Blue Jays. Larnach has been sidelined since being scratched on Sunday due to left side soreness. Barring any setbacks, Larnach should be ready to go for Opening Day. He should be a lock to make the roster after slashing .250/323/.404 with 17 home runs and 60 RBI across 142 games last season. He could help fantasy managers in deep leagues, but isn't someone that needs to be rostered in most formats right away.--Andy Webb
Source: mlb.com

March 20, 2026

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls (oblique) will open the 2026 season on the Injured List. According to Marc Topkin, Walls is going to miss a minimum of 3-4 weeks due to this oblique issue. This would give Walls a timetable to return around late April or early May. His absence should mean that Carson Williams gets a chance to cement himself as the everyday shortstop. The 22-year-old got a taste of the MLB last season, playing 32 games with the Rays. He struggled with a .172/.219/.354 slash line, but the Rays are hopeful that the top prospect has made the correct adjustments. Walls could overtake the shortstop job once healthy due to his elite defensive skills, but his struggles at the plate make him difficult to roster in basically any fantasy format.--Andy Webb
Source: Marc Topkin

March 20, 2026

Seattle Mariners outfielder Rob Refsnyder (elbow) was forced to make an early exit from Thursday's Cactus League matchup against the Athletics. Refsnyder was forced to exit in the sixth inning after getting hit by a pitch on the left elbow. The organization hasn't given an update on his status, so fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day for now. The 34-year-old signed a one-year, $6.25 million deal with the Mariners over the offseason. He crushes left-handed pitching, so the expectation is that he'll be a platoon bat in the outfield and at designated hitter. His struggles against right-handed pitching make him difficult to trust as a long-term option and more of a streaming choice.--Andy Webb
Source: Tim Booth

March 20, 2026

Toronto Raptors forward/center Collin Murray-Boyles (thumb) is listed as doubtful for Friday's game against the Nuggets and appears likely to miss another contest due to his lingering sprain. His continued absence should keep Jakob Poeltl locked into steady frontcourt minutes after he produced 17 points, eight rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block in 21 minutes last game. Sandro Mamukelashvili chipped in 17 points, four rebounds, and five assists in 22 minutes and could be a deep-league streaming option for scoring. Jamison Battle could also see rotation minutes, though most fantasy managers can look elsewhere during the playoffs.--Brian Dailisan
Source: NBA Injury Report

March 20, 2026

Athletics outfielder Tyler Soderstrom (knee) was forced to make an early exit from Thursday's Spring Training contest against the Seattle Mariners. Soderstrom was pulled out of the game as a precaution after getting hit by a pitch in the knee. According to Martin Gallegos, Soderstrom is going to be fine going forward, so fantasy managers don't have anything to worry about. It's possible that the A's hold him out for a few days, but this shouldn't be a long-term issue. The 24-year-old looks to continue his success in 2026 after posting a strong season at the plate in 2025. Soderstrom slashed .276/.346/.474 with 25 home runs and 93 RBI across 145 games. He's currently sitting around 83.7 ADP, which seems fair given his success last year and his overall upside.--Andy Webb
Source: Martin Gallegos

March 20, 2026

Atlanta Hawks forward Jonathan Kuminga (knee) will sit out Friday's game against Houston for injury management on the first night of a back-to-back, though he could return Saturday against Golden State. His absence could mean a few extra minutes for Zaccharie Risacher and Corey Kispert, but neither is a trustworthy fantasy option during the playoffs. Risacher recently posted five points, six rebounds, one steal, and one block in 16 minutes, while Kispert added 10 points in 13 minutes. Mouhamed Gueye could also enter the rotation but remains off the fantasy radar, with most usage staying with Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.--Brian Dailisan
Source: NBA Injury Report

March 20, 2026

Denver Nuggets forward/center Aaron Gordon (hamstring) is off the injury report and expected to return Friday against the Raptors after sitting out Wednesday for injury management on the second night of a back-to-back. He should slide right back into his usual frontcourt role, especially with Peyton Watson (hamstring) still out. Spencer Jones will likely move back to the bench once Gordon returns. Gordon should continue to offer steady rebounds and defensive production, though managers should still expect occasional rest games when Denver has back-to-back matchups.--Brian Dailisan
Source: NBA Injury Report

March 20, 2026

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was one of the top performers in Thursday's Stanley Cup Finals rematch against the Edmonton Oilers, posting his fourth shutout of the season with 21 saves in a 4-0 win. He became the third goalie with at least 20 shutouts for Florida. This was Bobrovsky's third win in four starts, bringing his record to 25-20-1. While the Russian netminder has a chance to record his third consecutive 30-win campaign, his performance levels have dipped in 2025-26. Bobrovsky has a career-worst save percentage at .879 and holds a 3.00 goals-against average.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

March 20, 2026

Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson (hamstring) will remain out Friday against Toronto as he continues recovering from a strain that has kept him sidelined since early February. His absence should continue to push Aaron Gordon into a larger frontcourt role. Spencer Jones and Julian Strawther may also pick up extra minutes off the bench, though neither has been consistent enough to trust outside very deep leagues. Watson can stay on waiver wires for now until he shows he is healthy enough to earn back a steady spot in the rotation.--Brian Dailisan
Source: NBA Injury Report

March 20, 2026

Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward Gary Trent Jr. (adductor) will not return to Thursday's game against the Jazz after finishing with four points, one rebound, and one assist in 17 minutes. Trent had just returned from two straight DNP-CDs and remains outside the fantasy radar with Milwaukee tightening its rotation. Ryan Rollins and AJ Green continue to handle steady backcourt minutes, while Kevin Porter Jr. (knee) should maintain a large offensive role when active. Cam Thomas remains a situational option when depth is thin, leaving little reason to roster Trent during the fantasy playoffs.--Brian Dailisan
Source: Milwaukee Bucks

March 20, 2026

Edmonton Oilers forward Trent Frederic (undisclosed) didn't play in the third period of Thursday's 4-0 loss to the Florida Panthers. He recorded one shot and two hits across 9:03 of action before his early exit. There was no update on him after the game. Frederic ranks second on his team with 170 hits and has tallied six points (four goals, two assists) in 67 appearances. Edmonton will return to action on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning and is likely to insert Roby Jarventie into the lineup if Frederic can't play. Jarventie had 36 points (17 goals, 19 assists) in 52 AHL appearances before being called up by the big club this week.--Taavi Pailk
Source: NHL.com

March 20, 2026

Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk (shoulder) will not return to Thursday's game against the 76ers after suffering a shoulder injury in the first half, adding to Sacramento's growing list of absences during the fantasy playoffs. Monk finished with four points, five assists, and one rebound in 16 minutes after recently returning from a four-game ankle absence. Daeqwon Plowden could stay on the deep-league streaming radar after putting up 20 points with four three-pointers in 32 minutes as a starter. Nique Clifford (hamstring) may also see added usage if healthy, while Russell Westbrook and DeMar DeRozan should continue handling most of the offensive workload.--Brian Dailisan
Source: Sacramento Kings

March 20, 2026

Detroit Red Wings forward Mason Appleton (undisclosed) left Thursday's 3-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens late in the second period. He needed to be helped off the ice after being involved in a collision in the corner. Appleton logged 14:30 of ice time and recorded two shots and four hits. The 30-year-old has registered 13 points (five goals, eight assists), 57 shots, and 76 hits in 59 outings for the season. Detroit will mainly miss Appleton's physical presence if he's unavailable Saturday against the Boston Bruins. The team has John Leonard available as an extra forward to replace Appleton in the lineup.--Taavi Pailk
Source: NHL.com

March 20, 2026

Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (hip) will be re-evaluated in two weeks and remains a strong shutdown candidate with the team prioritizing development down the stretch. His absence opens up minutes, but Utah's rotation has been unpredictable, making it tough to trust anyone outside deeper leagues. Andersson Garcia finished with seven points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and three steals in 48 minutes Wednesday and is worth a look for defensive stats. Blake Hinson also chipped in 14 points with four three-pointers in 20 minutes and could be a scoring streamer. Cody Williams and Kyle Filipowski should continue seeing expanded roles.--Brian Dailisan
Source: Ben Anderson

March 20, 2026

San Jose Sharks winger Tyler Toffoli sustained a lower-body injury in Thursday's 5-0 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, Max Miller of NHL.com reports. He took only five shifts in the game, logging 3:41 of ice time. Toffoli has been ever-present in the Sharks' lineup this season and must shake off his injury by Saturday to avoid missing his first game of the season. The veteran forward is on pace for a second consecutive 50-point season, amassing 18 goals and 26 assists in 67 games. Philipp Kurashev and Ryan Reaves are the options to step in for Toffoli if he has to miss time.--Taavi Pailk
Source: Max Miller

March 20, 2026

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (illness) was limited to 4:44 of ice time in Thursday's 6-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks. The Lightning captain exited the contest after the first period due to illness. Darren Raddysh once again had to step up on the blue line and produced a goal and an assist. Hedman has made only 33 appearances this season, sitting out a significant portion of the campaign due to elbow surgery. He has recorded 17 points (one goal, 16 assists), 50 shots, and 44 blocks. If Hedman misses additional time, Steven Santini will step into the lineup on Saturday night against the Edmonton Oilers.--Taavi Pailk
Source: Sportsnet