March 5, 2026
The New York Giants re-signed wide receiver/special-teamer
Gunner Olszewski to an undisclosed one-year deal on Thursday, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Olszewski is mostly used as a punt/kick returner on special teams, as his 10 catches (13 targets) on offense for 145 yards and one touchdown in 16 games were a career high in his sixth year in the NFL. On special teams, the 29-year-old returned 26 kickoffs for 682 yards and 24 punts for 216 yards. The former undrafted free agent out of Bemidji State has a grand total of 25 receptions for 325 yards and two touchdowns on 33 targets as a receiver in 81 regular-season games (five starts). Olszewski is highly unlikely to make an impact on offense for the G-Men in 2026, making him avoidable in all fantasy football leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
March 5, 2026
Phoenix Suns center
Oso Ighodaro has been named a starter for Thursday's matchup with the Chicago Bulls. He will replace
Mark Williams (foot) in the first unit. Williams has been ruled out for 2-3 weeks, meaning this should be the first of several consecutive starts for Ighodaro. In his previous seven starts this season, Ighodaro has averaged 6.3 points and 5.7 rebounds in 23.8 minutes. However, earlier this week, Ighodaro demonstrated he is capable of much more by contributing to a 114-103 victory over Sacramento with a 14-point, 14-rebound double-double.
--Taavi PailkSource: Phoenix Suns
March 5, 2026
The Los Angeles Rams and tight end
Tyler Higbee agreed to a two-year, $8 million deal on Thursday, agent Erik Burkhardt told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Higbee has struggled to stay healthy the last two years, playing in a combined 13 regular-season games, but the 33-year-old veteran will return to L.A. In 10 regular-season contests last year, he caught 25 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns on 36 targets. The 10-year-old veteran has never topped 734 receiving yards or five touchdowns in a single season since being taken in the fourth round by the Rams in 2016 out of Western Kentucky, and that's unlikely to happen in his 11th season in 2026. Higbee has plenty of chemistry with quarterback
Matthew Stafford, but the Rams will likely continue to run a lot of two-tight-end sets that also include
Colby Parkinson and
Terrance Ferguson. Higbee will have a limited ceiling and low floor while sharing targets with Parkinson and Ferguson again next season.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
March 5, 2026
Chicago Bulls guard
Collin Sexton and forward
Leonard Miller will join the first unit for Thursday's tilt against the Phoenix Suns. The two will replace
Josh Giddey (ankle) and
Matas Buzelis (ankle), respectively. While Sexton has plenty of prior experience as a starter, Miller will make his first career start. He has earned the opportunity by averaging 11.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.3 steals off the bench across the last three games.
Tre Jones,
Isaac Okoro, and
Guerschon Yabusele are also in the starting lineup against the Suns.
--Taavi PailkSource: Chicago Bulls
March 5, 2026
The New York Jets re-signed tight end
Jelani Woods to an undisclosed deal on Thursday, according to Eric Allen of NewYorkJets.com. Woods was initially claimed off waivers from the Indianapolis Colts last August. The 27-year-old played 60 offensive snaps and 12 special teams snaps over four games with the Jets in 2025, catching just one of three targets for four yards. He missed the 2023 and 2024 seasons with Indy due to hamstring and turf-toe injuries. Woods was the 73rd overall pick in the third round by the Colts in 2022 out of the University of Virginia. He caught 25 of his 40 targets for 312 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games (two starts) in his rookie year before the injuries hit. At best, Woods will enter the 2026 campaign in New York as the TE3 behind
Mason Taylor and
Jeremy Ruckert. He's off the fantasy radar in all formats.
--Keith HernandezSource: NewYorkJets.com - Eric Allen
March 5, 2026
New York Knicks center
Mitchell Robinson (ankle) has been removed from the injury report ahead of Friday's game against the Denver Nuggets. The seven-footer has been rested regularly during back-to-back sets, and that was the case again when the Knicks hosted the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday. Robinson's return will bump
Ariel Hukporti down in the depth chart. On Friday night, Robinson will play a crucial role in the Knicks' effort to contain
Nikola Jokic. The 27-year-old has averaged 5.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks across his last six outings.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 5, 2026
There were reports earlier on Thursday suggesting that the Chicago Bears might be in play to acquire All-Pro pass-rusher Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders, but ESPN's Adam Schefter doesn't see the Bears in the driver's seat for a deal right now, and he also isn't convinced that Crosby will actually be dealt. Schefter added that the Bears have no ties to Cincinnati Bengals impending free-agent defensive end Trey Hendrickson (hip, pelvis) as they look to improve their pass rush. Instead of trading for Crosby or going after Hendrickson, Chicago could go after centers Tyler Biadasz or Lloyd Cushenberry to help replace Drew Dalman, who surprisingly retired this week. Crosby has been rumored to be a trade candidate since he was unhappy with the Raiders shutting him down for the final two games of the 2025 season due to a knee injury. He hasn't publicly requested a trade, though, and the Raiders may only move him if they receive two first-round picks and a young impact player in return.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
March 5, 2026
New York Knicks guard/forward
Josh Hart (back) is listed as questionable for a meeting with the Denver Nuggets on Friday night. The versatile veteran suffered a back contusion in Wednesday's loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. This doesn't seem to be a significant enough issue to keep Hart off the court. However, if he misses time, New York will look for more production from
Jose Alvarado and
Landry Shamet.
Jordan Clarkson might also rejoin the rotation.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 5, 2026
Denver Nuggets forward
Cameron Johnson (ankle) won't play on Thursday against the Los Angeles Lakers, ESPN's Dave McMenamin reports. There was hope that Johnson's absence due to an ankle injury would be limited to one game after the team listed him as questionable on the initial injury report. Johnson's next opportunity to return will be Friday night against the New York Knicks. With Johnson out on Monday against Utah, Denver experimented with
Jonas Valanciunas in the starting lineup next to
Nikola Jokic. Meanwhile,
Tim Hardaway Jr. and
Bruce Brown both saw 30-plus minutes off the bench. The two will probably continue to have a heavier workload on Thursday night.
--Taavi PailkSource: Dave McMenamin
March 5, 2026
Portland Trail Blazers forward
Kris Murray (illness) is considered questionable for Friday's tilt against the Houston Rockets. He's battling an illness and could be absent for a second consecutive game. Murray has recently been
Deni Avdija's (back) replacement in the starting unit. With both players on the shelf,
Scoot Henderson started Wednesday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies, finishing with eight points, one rebound, three assists, and one steal in 24 minutes. His night was hampered by 3-for-11 shooting.
Vit Krejci and
Sidy Cissoko are also candidates for larger roles if Murray and Avdija don't return on Friday night.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 5, 2026
Portland Trail Blazers forward
Deni Avdija (back) has been tagged as doubtful for Friday's matchup with the Houston Rockets. A lower back injury is likely to keep him sidelined for a sixth consecutive game. With
Kris Murray (illness) also on the injury report,
Scoot Henderson and
Vit Krejci may continue to see increased minutes. Meanwhile,
Jrue Holiday and
Jerami Grant, who combined for 65 points in Wednesday's 122-114 win over Memphis, are expected to keep leading the offense.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 5, 2026
Los Angeles Lakers forward/center
Maxi Kleber (back) will miss the first game of a back-to-back on Thursday against the Denver Nuggets. He was listed as questionable on the initial injury report due to back soreness. Kleber was also considered questionable for Tuesday's meeting with New Orleans before getting the green light to play. Yet Lakers head coach JJ Redick elected not to use Kleber in that game. It wasn't surprising, as Kleber doesn't have a consistent role with the Lakers. Even if the German veteran returns to the lineup on Friday against the Indiana Pacers, he might receive another DNP-CD.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 5, 2026
Chicago Bulls forward
Matas Buzelis (ankle) will miss his first game of the season on Thursday night against the Phoenix Suns. The 21-year-old hurt his right ankle on Tuesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder and was initially listed as questionable for Thursday's action. Buzelis' absence opens the door for greater involvement from
Leonard Miller and
Nick Richards. Of the two players, Richards -- fresh off a 12-point, 13-rebound double-double -- offers more fantasy upside.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 5, 2026
Chicago Bulls point guard
Josh Giddey (ankle) won't play on Thursday against the Phoenix Suns. He was initially listed as questionable for the contest after Giddey rolled his right ankle in Tuesday's loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Chicago's backcourt has been hit by several injuries, forcing
Tre Jones,
Collin Sexton, and
Rob Dillingham to step up. With Giddey out, Sexton is the prime candidate to join Jones in the starting lineup on Thursday.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 5, 2026
Phoenix Suns center
Mark Williams (foot) will be re-evaluated in 2-3 weeks, Shane Young of the Suns' official site reports. The big man has been diagnosed with a stress reaction in the third metatarsal of his left foot. Williams will miss his first game of 2026 on Thursday against Chicago and won't make a quick return to action.
Oso Ighodaro has put together a nice stretch recently and could make even more noise as Williams' replacement in the first unit. At the same time,
Khaman Maluach is likely to enter the rotation as a backup big.
--Taavi PailkSource: Shane Young
March 5, 2026
Toronto Raptors guard/forward
Brandon Ingram (thumb) will be in the lineup on Thursday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He was initially considered questionable for the game due to a left thumb sprain. Since Ingram is a right-handed shooter, the injury is unlikely to significantly affect his play. Ingram notched 31 points on Tuesday against the New York Knicks and has upped his game since the All-Star break, averaging 23.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.2 assists.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 5, 2026
Houston Rockets forward/center
Jabari Smith Jr. (ankle) will be back in action on Thursday against the Golden State Warriors. He has been cleared to return after sitting out two games with a right ankle sprain. Smith Jr.'s return will hurt
Reed Sheppard, who performed well in two outings as his replacement in the starting lineup. Smith Jr. is coming off his best month of the season, having averaged 17.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in February.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 5, 2026
According to Lachard Binkley of SI.com, Houston Rockets forward
Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) won't suit up Thursday against the Golden State Warriors. The 32-year-old will sit out the first half of back-to-back games due to left ankle injury management. He will likely be good to go for Friday's matchup with Portland. With Finney-Smith on the shelf,
Josh Okogie will likely take on a heavier workload than usual during tonight's clash in Houston.
--Andrew LennoxSource: Lachard Binkley
March 5, 2026
Los Angeles Clippers point guard
Darius Garland (toe) has been listed as out for Friday's matchup with the San Antonio Spurs. Garland returned from a seven-week absence on Monday against the Golden State Warriors, and he won't be utilized during the first leg of a back-to-back on Friday night to prevent overworking him so soon after his toe injury. We will likely see him back on the court against the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday. With Garland out,
Kawhi Leonard and
Kris Dunn will take on additional playmaking duties. Meanwhile,
Bennedict Mathurin and
Kobe Sanders could see more time on the floor.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 5, 2026
According to Varun Shankar of the Houston Chronicle, Houston Rockets guard/forward
Amen Thompson (ankle) is available to play Thursday against the Golden State Warriors. Thompson sprained his right ankle during Monday's win over the Washington Wizards. However, after a few days of rest, the 23-year-old has been cleared to suit up for tonight's contest. Fantasy managers should expect Thompson to make an impact against the Warriors, as he has been on an impressive run over his last five games, recording three double-doubles.
--Andrew LennoxSource: Varun Shankar
March 5, 2026
Washington Wizards forward
Anthony Gill (illness) has been upgraded from questionable to available for Thursday's contest against the Utah Jazz. The 33-year-old has missed a couple of games due to illness. After riding the bench for most of the campaign, Gill has become an important part of the Wizards' rotation lately. He has averaged 28.0 minutes per game across his last six outings, posting 9.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. If he maintains a similar workload on Thursday, Gill could be more productive against the NBA's worst defense.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 5, 2026
Houston Rockets center
Alperen Sengun (illness) is available to suit up against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday. Sengun will play in his 26th consecutive game tonight despite feeling under the weather. Fantasy managers should expect the 23-year-old Turkish big man to continue to produce, as he posted 32 points, 13 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block across 38 minutes during Monday's 123-118 win over the Wizards.
--Andrew LennoxSource: Varun Shankar
March 5, 2026
Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward
Anthony Edwards (foot) will play on Thursday night against the Toronto Raptors. There was concern that Edwards might miss the game after he was a late addition to the injury report. Now, he has received the green light to make his 16th consecutive appearance. Edwards has produced two 40-point efforts in his last five games, averaging 31.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.2 steals during that span.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 5, 2026
Dallas Mavericks guard/forward
Klay Thompson (adductor) will be active against the Orlando Magic on Thursday. The team will welcome the veteran back to the lineup after Thompson skipped Tuesday's loss to Charlotte with a right adductor contusion. Thompson is averaging a career-low 11.5 points per game this season, and as a three-point specialist, he faces a very tricky matchup on Thursday night, with Orlando giving up the fewest three-point attempts in the league at 32.9 per game.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 5, 2026
Dallas Mavericks point guard
Brandon Williams (quadriceps) won't take the court on Thursday against the Orlando Magic. The team downgraded him from probable to questionable during the day and has now officially ruled Williams out. In Williams' absence,
Ryan Nembhard might take on a few extra shifts against Orlando, but the return of
Cooper Flagg (foot),
Naji Marshall (finger), and
Klay Thompson (adductor) will also influence the rotation. It's possible Williams' absence will be limited to one game, as Dallas will complete a back-to-back on Friday against the Boston Celtics.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 5, 2026
Minnesota Timberwolves shooting guard
Jaylen Clark (illness) is set to suit up against Toronto on Thursday. Clark was previously listed as questionable due to an illness, but he's since been cleared for action versus the Raptors. The 24-year-old isn't expected to make an impact in fantasy this evening as he's only averaging 3.8 points in 13.3 minutes across 54 games this season.
--Andrew LennoxSource: Timberwolves PR
March 5, 2026
Dallas Mavericks forward
Naji Marshall (finger) will suit up on Thursday against the Orlando Magic. The team has upgraded Marshall from probable to available. Marshall has missed two games with a finger injury.
Cooper Flagg (foot) will also return for the Mavericks, so the offense will look very different compared to the past few games. Marshall has been one of Dallas's main offensive catalysts this season, posting a career-high 15.4 points per game. He is also averaging career-highs in rebounding (4.9), assists (3.1), and steals (1.1).
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 5, 2026
Golden State Warriors guard/forward
Gary Payton II (ankle) won't play Thursday against Houston. He will miss his second consecutive game due to a left ankle injury. The 33-year-old contributes primarily on the defensive end for the Warriors and doesn't carry significant fantasy value. With Payton II sidelined,
Nate Williams and
Gui Santos could see expanded roles, as
Will Richard (ankle) and
Moses Moody (wrist) are also out.
--Andrew LennoxSource: NBA Injury Report
March 5, 2026
Orlando Magic forward
Jonathan Isaac (knee) will be in street clothes on Thursday night against the Dallas Mavericks. He was a late addition to the injury report due to left knee soreness, and the team has downgraded Isaac's status from questionable to out. Since Isaac played only four minutes in Tuesday's victory over Washington, his absence is unlikely to impact the Magic. The team is also getting some reinforcements on Thursday night, as both
Anthony Black (quadriceps) and
Wendell Carter Jr. (ankle) are set to return to the lineup.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 5, 2026
Orlando Magic center
Wendell Carter Jr. (ankle) will return from a one-game absence on Thursday against the Dallas Mavericks. He has been cleared to play after sitting out one game due to a sore left ankle. With Carter Jr. unavailable,
Goga Bitadze started Tuesday's contest against Washington and will be bumped back to the bench for Thursday's action. Still, both big men could have fun against the Mavericks, who are allowing the fourth-most fantasy points in the league to opposing centers.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
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