Jaxson Hayes Available Saturday Night
Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (foot) will return to action on Saturday against the Houston Rockets. The former Texas Longhorn didn't play in the last four regular-season games due to a foot injury, but the Lakers haven't included him on the injury report ahead of their playoff opener. Hayes finished the regular season strong, averaging 14.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks in his last seven appearances. It would be a major boost for the injury-hit Lakers if they could get the same level of production from Hayes in the playoffs. Hayes' role during the regular-season series against Houston was minimal, as he contributed 0.5 points and 1.5 rebounds in 12.5 minutes per game over two contests.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Grayson Allen Will Play Against Warriors
Phoenix Suns guard/forward Grayson Allen (hamstring) will be in action on Friday against the Golden State Warriors. The team has listed Allen as available after initially tagging him as questionable. Allen has been dealing with a hamstring injury and sat out two of the last three regular-season games. The 30-year-old will add some offensive oomph to the Suns. Allen has played well against the Warriors this season, posting averages of 18.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.0 steals across two games. He has netted 40.9 percent of his triples in this matchup. With Allen back in the fold, Jordan Goodwin and Royce O'Neale may see their workload decrease.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Kristaps Porzingis Cleared for Friday's Game
Golden State Warriors forward/center Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) will play on Friday night against the Phoenix Suns. He came away from Wednesday's win over the Clippers with an ankle injury and was initially listed as questionable for Friday's tilt. But the team has upgraded Porzingis' status to available ahead of tip-off. Porzingis had a strong all-around performance on Wednesday, and Golden State's chances to reach the playoffs will be good if he can maintain his momentum. In 28 minutes, Porzingis notched 20 points, five rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and one steal against the Clippers.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Kevin Durant Iffy for Saturday's Game 1
Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (knee) is considered questionable for Saturday's tilt against the Los Angeles Lakers. The veteran star is bothered by a right knee contusion ahead of his 14th postseason campaign. This doesn't seem like a very serious issue, but if Durant misses the game, guys like Tari Eason and Josh Okogie are likely to get a lot more burn. In this situation, there will also be a lot of extra offensive usage to be shared across the team, with Alperen Sengun set to be the head honcho.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Mark Williams Won't Play Friday Night
Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams (foot) has been ruled out for Friday's decisive Play-In Tournament matchup against the Golden State Warriors. After missing two of the last three regular-season games, Williams logged 22 minutes in Tuesday's play-in loss to Portland, but his foot flared up during the contest. Phoenix initially listed Williams as questionable for Friday before ruling him out. Oso Ighodaro is expected to slide into the first unit to replace Williams. Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming will also move up on the depth chart. Ighodaro started 24 games during the regular season, averaging 8.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.1 assists.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Spencer Jones is Questionable for Game 1 on Saturday
Denver Nuggets forward Spencer Jones (hamstring) is listed as questionable ahead of Saturday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Fellow teammate Peyton Watson (hamstring) has already been ruled out for Game 1, but Jones has a chance to play through his injury. The absence of Watson could potentially mean a bigger role for Jones, assuming he's able to play. It's worth noting that Jones hasn't played since late March. When healthy, Jones was averaging 22.1 minutes per game, but the Nuggets might not push him too hard considering he hasn't played in a few weeks. If they both sit out, Cameron Johnson and Aaron Gordon would likely play heavy minutes with Tim Hardaway Jr. possibly seeing more of a role as well.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Peyton Watson is Ruled Out for Game 1 on Saturday
Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson (hamstring) has been ruled out ahead of Saturday's Game 1 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Watson missed the final five games of the regular season due to a lingering hamstring issue. He has been limited to non-contact work in practice. With that being said, Watson hasn't made enough progress to get back on the court yet. Cameron Johnson should start with Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown seeing expanded roles off the bench. Johnson could be an interesting DFS option without Watson available for at least the first game of this series.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Edwin Uceta Having More Shoulder Issues, "Shut Down for a Few Days"
Tampa Bay Rays right-handed reliever Edwin Uceta (shoulder) is having more shoulder issues, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. "He's sore in the back of his shoulder," manager Kevin Cash said. As a result, Uceta will be shut down for at least a few days and will head back to Tampa to visit with a doctor. The news comes after his rough outing at Triple-A Durham during his minor-league rehab assignment on Thursday, when he allowed two earned runs on five hits allowed in 1 1/3 innings pitched. The 28-year-old Dominican was getting close to making his 2026 season debut, but that will be pushed back a bit now. Griffin Jax got the first opportunity to lock down save duties for the Rays to begin the year with Uceta on the 15-day injured list, but he quickly failed and was replaced with Bryan Baker, who has two saves this week and four total on the year. Uceta is still worth stashing in fantasy baseball leagues as the favorite for saves in Tampa when he's fully healthy.
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
Moussa Diabate is Available on Friday
Charlotte Hornets center Moussa Diabate (hip) is available to play ahead of Friday's Play-In game against the Orlando Magic. Diabate will shake the questionable tag and suit up for this elimination contest. The big man finished with eight points and 14 rebounds during the first Play-In victory over the Miami Heat. He played 36 minutes during that game and figures to have a similar role during Friday's game. DFS players should take a look at Diabte as a possible double-double threat against the Magic. Ryan Kalkbrenner and Grant Williams will see backup minutes behind him, but they won't be as appealing DFS options.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Ayo Dosunmu is Available for Saturday's Game
Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Ayo Dosunmu (calf) has been removed from the injury report ahead of Saturday's playoff contest against the Denver Nuggets. Dosunmu missed the regular season finale due to a calf issue, but he appears to be fine now. The Wolves are glad to have Dosunmu back for the beginning of this series. Over the last 10 games, Dosunmu is averaging 18.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. It's unclear if he'll start or come off the bench, but regardless, Dosunmu should play an important role for the Wolves during the postseason.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Kutter Crawford Going for More Imaging
Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that right-hander Kutter Crawford (wrist, forearm) is still sore and will probably have more tests done, according to Chris Henrique of the Boston Sports Journal. Crawford was pulled from his minor-league rehab assignment on Wednesday with a sore wrist/forearm. It's obviously not good news for the starting pitcher, especially after he missed all of last year after having right-wrist surgery. The 30-year-old former 16th-round pick out of Florida Gulf Coast University in 2017 lost a league-high 16 games in his last season with the BoSox in 2024, also posting a 4.36 ERA (4.65 FIP) and 1.12 WHIP with 175 strikeouts and 51 walks in 183 2/3 innings over his 33 starts. Crawford also led the league in home runs allowed (34). Even if Crawford manages to avoid another surgery, his return doesn't look to be close at all. You can continue to ignore him in mixed fantasy leagues.
Source: Boston Sports Journal - Chris Henrique
Source: Boston Sports Journal - Chris Henrique
Freddy Fermin Still Absent for Friars
San Diego Padres catcher Freddy Fermin (head) is out once again for Friday's series opener in Anaheim against the Los Angeles Angels, according to MLB.com. Luis Campusano will catch for right-hander Matt Waldron, who is making his 2026 season debut, and hit ninth for the Friars against Angels right-hander Jose Soriano. Fermin was removed from Wednesday's win over the Seattle Mariners with a head injury after he was hit by a foul tip in his catcher's mask. This will be his second straight missed game, although Fermin is believed to have cleared the league's concussion protocol since he was active off the bench on Thursday in the series finale against the M's. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Saturday to see if Fermin is back in action. Campusano is hitting .310 (9-for-29) with a homer, six RBI, and five runs scored so far this year, but his lineup placement makes him a poor DFS option. He's faced Soriano twice in his career and has one hit with a 1.000 OPS.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Andrew Kittredge Resuming his Rehab Assignment
Baltimore Orioles right-handed reliever Andrew Kittredge (shoulder, personal) is resuming his minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk after going on paternity leave recently, according to Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports. Right-shoulder inflammation was responsible for putting Kittredge on the 15-day injured list before Opening Day, but if he continues to progress on his rehab assignment, he could be reinstated to make his 2026 season debut at the end of April or in early May. In his three rehab outings for Norfolk, the 36-year-old veteran has given up a run on three hits while walking one and striking out five in 2 2/3 innings pitched. Ryan Helsley has worked out well so far as Baltimore's ninth-inning man, so when Kittredge is ready to return, he'll be in more of a late-inning setup role for the O's. Kittredge has 21 career saves in nine MLB seasons, but he'll be more of an asset in holds leagues when he's back in Baltimore.
Source: MASN Sports - Roch Kubatko
Source: MASN Sports - Roch Kubatko
Anthony Edwards Questionable for Saturday's Action
Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Anthony Edwards (knee) is questionable for Saturday's Game 1 against the Denver Nuggets. Due to a knee issue, Edwards played in only three of the last 14 regular-season games, and it looks like he still hasn't fully recovered. Minnesota would be in serious trouble against the Nuggets if Edwards can't play. Mike Conley, Ayo Dosunmu, and Bones Hyland all benefited from Edwards' ongoing health issues late in the regular season and could now also get extra work during the playoffs.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Kyle Harrison Expected to Start Against Tigers Next Week
Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Kyle Harrison (knee, wrist) is expected to make his next start during the series against the Detroit Tigers, which starts next Tuesday, according to Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Harrison suffered a collision while attempting to cover first base in his last outing on Saturday against the Washington Nationals, so he's a little beat up, but it's nothing serious and won't send him to the 15-day injured list. Pitching prospect Coleman Crow will make his big-league debut in place of Harrison on Friday against the Miami Marlins. Harrison looked reinvented by the Brew Crew in his first three starts of 2026, posting a 3.07 ERA and 1.09 WHIP with 15 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings pitched, but he'll be more risky for fantasy managers coming off his two injuries and in a matchup in Detroit. The Tigers currently rank 12th in the big leagues in team OPS (.711).
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Curt Hogg
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Curt Hogg
Jackson Chourio Takes Swings on Friday
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio (hand) progressed to taking swings for the first time in his rehab on Friday, according to Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Chourio is recovering slowly from surgery to fix a broken left hamate bone in his hand, but Friday's step is definitely notable as he tries to work his way back for his 2026 season debut. It was a surprise out of nowhere, right before Opening Day late last month that the Brewers announced the 22-year-old Venezuelan was dealing with a broken hamate bone. Chourio is an absolute must-stash in all fantasy baseball formats, with his season debut hopefully coming in early May. He's one of the best young, power/speed threats in fantasy after slashing .272/.317/.463 with a .781 OPS, 42 home runs, 157 RBI, 43 stolen bases, and 168 runs scored in 279 games in his first two major-league seasons.
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Curt Hogg
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Curt Hogg
Jonathan Isaac Remains Out Friday
Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac (knee) will miss Friday's Play-In Tournament Game against the Charlotte Hornets. The team has downgraded his status from questionable to out. Isaac is struggling to overcome a left knee sprain, having last played on March 12. That said, the Magic can cope just fine with his absence. During the regular season, Isaac averaged only 2.6 points and 2.5 rebounds in 10.0 minutes per game.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Jeremiyah Love Considered the Top Overall Talent in 2026 NFL Draft?
Multiple people around the NFL that ESPN's Jordan Raanan has spoken to in the past few days said that Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love was their "top-graded player." The question now is where NFL teams place Love on their draft board given the position he plays and their individual needs. Running backs haven't typically been top-10 picks in the first round of the draft, but Love could just be special enough to go within the top five picks in 2026. The Arizona Cardinals, who don't really have a huge need at the position, have been rumored to be considering the Fighting Irish alum with the No. 3 overall pick, and both the Tennessee Titans (No. 4) and New York Giants (No. 5) would make sense as landing spots in this year's draft. It's hard to imagine Love making it past the G-Men at fifth overall. In fantasy, even in single-year leagues, Love should be in play as an early-round consideration. In his junior season at Notre Dame, Love had 1,652 scrimmage yards and a whopping 21 total touchdowns in just 12 games played.
Source: ESPN New York - Jordan Raanan
Source: ESPN New York - Jordan Raanan
Jarrett Allen Removed From Injury Report Ahead of Playoffs
Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (knee) will suit up for Game 1 against the Toronto Raptors on Saturday. Allen returned from a right knee injury late in the regular season, but the team elected to keep him out of the final two games. Evan Mobley (calf), who was rested for the regular-season finale, will also be back. Cleveland's twin towers face a big battle against Jakob Poeltl, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Collin Murray-Boyles. Allen faced the Raptors only once during the regular season and struggled, settling for six points and eight rebounds in a 126-113 loss on Nov. 13.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Donovan Mitchell Good to Go for Playoff Opener
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (ankle) has been removed from the injury report ahead of Saturday's Game 1 against the Toronto Raptors. The seven-time All-Star sat out Cleveland's last two regular-season games to manage an ankle injury. Mitchell has built a reputation as an outstanding postseason performer, averaging 28.3 points through 63 career playoff games. However, things might not go smoothly for him in the first-round series, as Toronto did a good job defensively against him during the regular season. In two games against the Raptors, Mitchell made only 34.2 percent of his field-goal attempts, averaging 24.0 points.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Mitchell Robinson Ready for Game 1 Against Hawks
New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (ankle) will be in the lineup on Saturday against the Atlanta Hawks. He didn't play in New York's final two regular-season games to manage an ankle injury. Robinson has done a good job as a backup big man all season, and Atlanta knows firsthand how effective he can be. The 28-year-old made two appearances against the Hawks during the regular season, notching 7.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, and 2.0 steals in 19.0 minutes per game.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
OG Anunoby Cleared to Play Saturday
New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (ankle) will play in Game 1 against the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday. He hurt his left ankle during the final week of the regular season and sat out Sunday's loss to Charlotte. Fortunately, Anunoby won't have to miss the postseason opener, as the team hasn't included his name on the injury report. In three regular-season clashes, Anunoby posted two double-doubles against the Hawks, averaging 18.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.0 blocks, and 1.7 steals. This matchup seems to suit Anunoby, and he could be one of the stars of the series.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Jalen Brunson Available for Game 1 Saturday
New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson (ankle) will be active on Saturday in Game 1 against the Atlanta Hawks. The star guard has managed an ankle injury late in the season and didn't play in Sunday's loss to the Charlotte Hornets, but the team has removed him from the injury report ahead of the playoff opener. During the regular season, Brunson struggled to make three-pointers against the Hawks but was still productive on offense, averaging 29.3 points and 7.7 assists across three meetings. The three-time All-Star has regularly elevated his game in the postseason, and the Knicks will go as far as he takes them in the playoffs.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Thomas Bryant Won't Play Saturday
Cleveland Cavaliers center Thomas Bryant (calf) will remain out on Saturday against the Toronto Raptors. He suffered a left calf strain late during the regular season and won't be in the lineup for a fifth consecutive game. Bryant has practiced in a limited capacity this week, so it's possible he can return later in the series. With Bryant unavailable, Larry Nance Jr. returned to the rotation for the final few regular-season games, but he isn't expected to see much action in the playoffs.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Immanuel Quickley Questionable for Game 1
Toronto Raptors point guard Immanuel Quickley (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Saturday's playoff opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He exited Toronto's regular-season finale early due to a tight right hamstring. The team considers him day-to-day. If Quickley isn't available on Saturday, Jamal Shead and Ja'Kobe Walter will compete for a starting role. Between the two, Shead has been more productive as a starter, recording averages of 11.5 points, 7.5 assists, and 1.3 steals this season.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Kristaps Porzingis Expected to Play Friday
Golden State Warriors forward/center Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) is expected to play on Friday against the Phoenix Suns, ESPN's Anthony Slater reports. The Latvian veteran remains questionable on the injury report, but he appears ready to play through right ankle soreness. After struggling late during the regular season, Porzingis opened the Play-In Tournament with a strong performance on Wednesday, notching 20 points, five rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and one steal in 28 minutes against the Clippers. Due to his ankle issue, Porzingis might have a lighter workload on Friday night, leaving more playing time for Al Horford and Gui Santos.
Source: Anthony Slater
Source: Anthony Slater
Joel Embiid Officially Out for Game 1 Against Celtics
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (abdomen) has been officially ruled out for Sunday's Game 1 against the Boston Celtics, The Athletic's Tony Jones reports. "I'm just worried about Sunday, and I know he's not playing in that one. So I'm just trying to put together a great game plan for Sunday," 76ers head coach Nick Nurse told reporters on Friday. Embiid hasn't played since April 6, missing the last three regular-season games and one Play-In Tournament game after undergoing an appendectomy. Adem Bona finished the regular season as Philadelphia's starting center, while Andre Drummond also had an expanded role.
Source: Tony Jones
Source: Tony Jones
Richard Fitts Undergoes Season-Ending Lat Surgery
St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Richard Fitts (lat) underwent season-ending surgery to address the right-lat strain that put him on the injured list in the minor leagues recently, president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom told Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Fitts is expected to be fine in the long-term, but he'll obviously miss the rest of this year and can be dropped in any single-year fantasy leagues. The 26-year-old made his MLB debut with the Boston Red Sox in 2024 and went 2-5 with a 3.97 ERA (5.02 FIP) and 1.29 WHIP with 49 strikeouts and 23 walks in 65 2/3 innings in 15 appearances (14 starts) in 2024 and 2025 in Beantown. Depending on how Fitts' rehab goes, there's the potential for him to be delayed early in the 2027 season, too. He came to St. Louis in the trade that sent veteran righty Sonny Gray to Boston. Fitts, who probably needs to add to his fastball/slider arsenal, is probably a back-end starter for St. Louis down the road, at best.
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Daniel Guerrero
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Daniel Guerrero
Aaron Jones Sr.'s Role in Minnesota Could Continue to Decrease in 2026
After topping 1,500 scrimmage yards in 2024, Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones Sr. struggled through a down year in 2025. The 31-year-old missed five games due to injury and finished the year with just 747 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns on 160 touches. While Jones Sr. was still Minnesota's nominal starter in the games he was healthy for, the team largely split carries between him and Jordan Mason. At this point in their respective careers, Mason profiles as a more reliable short-yardage back, which could leave Jones Sr. limited to third-down and pass-catching duties. Jones Sr.'s production should benefit from the Vikings' offense having more overall stability in 2026 after the signing of veteran quarterback Kyler Murray. Still, Jones Sr.'s dynasty value is firmly trending in the wrong direction, given his age and the split backfield in Minnesota.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Return From Injured List Imminent for Kyle Stowers?
Miami Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said that outfielder Kyle Stowers (hamstring) will play on his minor-league rehab assignment on Friday night, according to Craig Mish of Sports Grid. The team's medical staff will talk with Stowers after the game to see how he feels, but it sounds like his return could be imminent if all goes well. Stowers, who was Miami's lone All-Star representative in 2025, has yet to play in 2026 due to a right-hamstring strain that he suffered late in spring training in March. The 28-year-old left-handed slugger has just two hits in 15 at-bats with six strikeouts and no walks in his three rehab games to this point, but fantasy managers shouldn't really be concerned with that. When reinstated from the IL, Stowers will operate as the Marlins' starting left fielder. If he's somehow available on your league's waiver wire, scoop him up immediately. Stowers hit .288/.368/.544 with a .912 OPS, 25 home runs, 73 RBI, 61 runs scored, and five stolen bases in 117 games last year in his first full season in the majors.
Source: Sports Grid - Craig Mish
Source: Sports Grid - Craig Mish
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