February 25, 2026
Boston Red Sox infielder/outfielder
Romy Gonzalez (shoulder) does not see himself being ready for Opening Day, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. Gonzalez expressed that his ramp-up would be "too quick" if he tried to be ready for Opening Day. Last season, Gonzalez appeared in a career-high 96 games at the MLB level and looked rather comfortable, posting a .305/.345/.483 slash line with nine home runs and six stolen bases. Under the hood, Gonzalez generated a strong .344 xwOBA with an elite .276 xBA, a 12.6% barrel rate, and a 57.3% hard-hit rate. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as he works his way back from shoulder inflammation. While he remains sidelined,
Marcelo Mayer could carve out a larger role in the infield.
--Andy SmithSource: Christopher Smith
February 25, 2026
Kansas City Royals outfielder
Jac Caglianone launched his first home run of spring training during Tuesday's contest against the Cincinnati Reds. The former top prospect hit a 460-foot long shot off Reds left-handed pitcher
Brandon Williamson. Per Statcast, Caglianone hit the ball 115.2 mph. Caglianone made his MLB debut last summer but was unable to find much consistency during his first taste of the major leagues. Through 62 games, Caglianone held a .157/.237/.295 line with six doubles, seven home runs, and a modest 52:18 K:BB. However, in the minor leagues, the former Florida standout flashed immense upside, holding a .337/.408/.617 line with 20 home runs in a 66-game stint. Given his elite raw power, Caglianone is a prime post-hype breakout candidate heading into the 2026 season, as he should see an everyday role in the Kansas City lineup.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
February 25, 2026
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher
Joe Ryan (back) was able to play catch from 90 feet on Tuesday, according to Matthew Leach of MLB.com. The right-hander underwent an MRI over the weekend after feeling soreness in his lower back. However, it appears Ryan is not facing a serious injury, as he has already resumed baseball activities. Managers should keep an eye on his status, as he may be cleared to return to the mound in the coming days. Last season, Ryan logged a career-high 171 innings to the tune of a 3.42 ERA with a stellar 1.04 WHIP. He struck out 194 hitters while posting an elite 5.7% walk rate, which placed him within the 87th percentile among qualified pitchers. The 29-year-old remains a top target when looking to improve your WHIP ratio, given his stellar command. He carries solid SP2 upside in all formats in 2026.
--Andy SmithSource: Matthew Leach
February 25, 2026
Detroit Tigers right-handed pitcher
Jackson Jobe (elbow) is set to play catch up to 105 feet three times this week, according to MLB.com. The former top pitching prospect is still working his way back from the Tommy John surgery he underwent last June. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progress, but he still has a long way to go before he is cleared to return to the mound. Before undergoing surgery last season, the former No. 3 overall pick logged 49 innings in Detroit while posting a 4.22 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. During this stint, Jobe struck out only 39 hitters and held a high 12.4% walk rate. In 2024, Jobe flashed high upside in the minor leagues, logging 91 2/3 innings to the tune of a 2.36 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and a 96:45 K:BB. Given his current trajectory, Jobe may contend for a late-season return.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
February 25, 2026
Seamus Power has enjoyed a solid start to the 2026 campaign. The Irish golfer has made all three cuts in the United States. Power nearly ended up inside the Top 10 at the Farmers Insurance Open (T-11). He is average to below average in most metrics but the putter has been hot. Power, overall, has gained a whopping 1.048 strokes when it comes to putting (13th). While the golfer scrambles pretty well, Power needs to be closer when it comes to proximity where he ranks outside the Top 100 around the green and approach to the green. Power will likely be a DFS choice to monitor as Thursday approaches especially if he gets close early and often.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
February 25, 2026
Detroit Tigers catcher
Dillon Dingler (elbow) is working through a return-to-play throwing progression this week and is quickly approaching his return. The backstop is expected to be a full-go for Opening Day. Dingler had a delayed start to the offseason after undergoing arthroscopic surgery in January. Managers should continue to monitor the 27-year-old's status, but he appears well-positioned to avoid a delayed start to the regular season. Last summer, Dingler spent the entire campaign in the majors and did not disappoint, posting a .278/.327/.425 line with 21 doubles and 13 home runs. Under the hood, Dingler generated an elite .290 xBA with a 42.3% LA sweet-spot%, which placed him in the 98th percentile among qualified hitters. When active, managers should expect Dingler to carry solid No. 2 catcher upside, as he should see most of the starting opportunities in Detroit.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
February 25, 2026
Haotong Li is back from a few weeks off and a missed cut at the WM Phoenix Open. The Chinese golfer was playing pretty well before then. He was in contention for The American Express (T-8) and even the Farmers Insurance Open (T-11). Li's only concern may be his putter heading into this week at the Palm Beaches. One putt percentage ranks 146th (35.71%) and putts per round is high at 29.79 (143rd). At two birdie rich events this season, Li lost more than a stroke in Hawaii and Scottsdale. The bad news for Li is that scores have been trending closer to 20 under par in recent years. Li from a DFS perspective is a golfer to fade here.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
February 25, 2026
Stephan Jaeger has played well enough in 2026. The German golfer has made three of four cuts and even has a T-5 from the Farmers Insurance Open. Unfortunately, trends have shown a little decline the past two events. Jaeger barely made the cut at Pebble Beach a couple of weeks ago. Jaegar ranks 33rd in strokes gained to putting at 0.54 but his errant shots approaching the green (129th at -0.485) has been problematic. Birdie average has been solid at 4.87 which ranks 23rd. If Jaegar can heat up, he could be a viable DFS choice this week. The key will be improving his driving accuracy which is only 51.9% (151st). Any errant drives will be more costly.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
February 25, 2026
Memphis Grizzlies guard
Ty Jerome (illness) is poised to return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Golden State Warriors. The team has not included him on the injury report. Jerome was unavailable for Monday's matchup with Sacramento due to illness. Since making his season debut in late January, Jerome has averaged 19.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.3 steals in just 20.6 minutes per game. His efforts include a 19-point, seven-assist effort against the Warriors, who have the seventh-worst defensive record in the league against point guards.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
February 25, 2026
Nico Echavarria has made one cut in five events this 2026 season. The golfer from Colombia finished T-8 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Unfortunately, he has missed the cut in every other event. Even at The Genesis Invitational, Echavarria opened with a 74 and just could not recover enough. His form is slightly improving but with so many red metrics, Echavarria is likely not a good betting or DFS option in Florida. The Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches is far from an easy event. Two of the past three years, Echavarria has missed the cut in this event. He finished T-21 in 2024, however. Again, volatility will be high here.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
February 25, 2026
Houston Rockets guard/forward
Amen Thompson (quadriceps) has been ruled out for Wednesday's clash against the Sacramento Kings. He will miss a fantastic fantasy matchup with a sore left quadriceps. The Rockets are likely to use
Reed Sheppard as Thompson's replacement in the starting lineup. Sheppard has already built some momentum coming off the bench and would be an even more appealing fantasy option as a member of the first unit. The 21-year-old has averaged 13.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.3 steals in eight starts this season.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
February 25, 2026
Denver Nuggets point guard
Jamal Murray (hamstring) is listed as probable for Wednesday's tilt against the Boston Celtics. Murray is experiencing tightness in his right hamstring, but the issue likely isn't serious enough to keep him off the floor. The Canadian star has missed only five games all season and is riding a four-game 20-point streak. Murray had a big 22-point, 17-assist double-double when Denver and Boston locked horns for the first time this season. Typically, point guards don't have a lot of joy against the Celtics, who allow the sixth-fewest fantasy points in the league to the position.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
February 25, 2026
Dallas Mavericks forward
Khris Middleton (shoulder) didn't play in the second half of Tuesday's victory over the Brooklyn Nets. After colliding with Nets center
Nicolas Claxton in the second quarter, Middleton was ruled out for the second half with a right shoulder stinger. The veteran forward finished with six points, five rebounds, one assist, and one steal in 12 minutes. It was an unfortunate blow for Middleton, who has been playing well lately. He entered Tuesday's game averaging 16.0 points and 4.8 rebounds across his last four appearances.
Caleb Martin started the second half in Middleton's place but made little impact, tallying three points, five rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
--Taavi PailkSource: The Dallas Morning News
February 25, 2026
Dallas Mavericks forward/center
P.J. Washington (ankle) was injured late in Tuesday's win over the Brooklyn Nets. He appeared to have sprained his left ankle, limping off the court with a little over a minute remaining in the fourth quarter. Washington scored an efficient 13 points and tallied four rebounds, two assists, and one block. Dallas also lost
Khris Middleton (shoulder) during Tuesday's contest. As a result, the rotation could have a very different look on Thursday night against the Sacramento Kings.
Caleb Martin may get a chance to start, with
Klay Thompson potentially more involved as well.
--Taavi PailkSource: The Dallas Morning News
February 25, 2026
St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect
Nathan Church went deep in his spring debut over the weekend and is a name to follow amid the team's current outfield depth. With starting left fielder
Lars Nootbaar (heel) expected to miss the start of the season, Church could claim a starting role with a productive showing in camp. Last summer, the 25-year-old made his MLB debut but did not find much success over his first stint, holding a .179/.254/.250 line with a double and a home run across 27 games. However, at Triple-A, Church showcased his five-category profile, which makes him an intriguing sleeper for deeper formats in 2026. Through his lone 53-game stint at Triple-A, Church posted an impressive .335/.400/.521 line with seven home runs and nine stolen bases. If he continues to hit for power in camp, he could be worth a late-round pick in deep 15-team formats.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
February 25, 2026
Toronto Raptors guard/forward
Scottie Barnes (quadriceps) was injured late during Tuesday's loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, TSN's Josh Lewenberg reports. The two-time All-Star sustained a right quadriceps contusion, leaving him questionable for Wednesday's clash against the San Antonio Spurs. On Tuesday, Barnes was back in action after missing one game for personal reasons. He struggled on the offensive end but made a huge impact defensively. In 32 minutes, Barnes amassed 15 points, three rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and four blocks. Ja'Kobe Walter, who tallied 17 points in Tuesday's loss, was Barnes' replacement in the first unit on Sunday against Milwaukee and could run with the starters again on Wednesday night if Barnes can't play.
--Taavi PailkSource: Josh Lewenberg
February 25, 2026
Houston Astros right-handed pitching prospect
AJ Blubaugh is in competition for the final rotation spot, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. The team's No. 13-ranked prospect on MLB.com will be competing alongside the favorites,
Spencer Arrighetti and
Lance McCullers Jr.; however, Rome has noted that Blubaugh,
Peter Lambert, and
Ryan Weiss have begun to "open eyes." Blubaugh made his MLB debut last summer and looked quite impressive, logging 32 innings with a 1.69 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP. During this stint, Blubaugh was deployed both as a starter and a reliever, tallying 35 punchouts while posting a modest 9.6% BB%. However, his elite .184 xBA helped keep runners off base. He is a name to monitor in camp as he could push McCullers or Arrighetti, given their struggles last season and lengthy injury histories.
--Andy SmithSource: Chandler Rome
February 25, 2026
Atlanta Hawks forward
Jalen Johnson suffered a left hip flexor injury in Tuesday's matchup with the Washington Wizards. He played only six minutes, finishing with five points, three rebounds, and two steals. Johnson's early exit gave
Jonathan Kuminga a chance to shine. He had 27 points in 24 minutes during his Hawks debut.
Zaccharie Risacher also benefits from Johnson's absence. The French sophomore went close to a double-double on Tuesday night. It's unclear whether Johnson can suit up on Thursday when the Hawks have a rematch against Washington.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
February 25, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks outfield prospect
Ryan Waldschmidt has already begun to showcase his power upside as he looks to claim a spot on the Opening Day roster. Through his first three games (10 at-bats), the team's top hitting prospect has hit a double and gone deep while posting an .873 OPS. The Kentucky product has also begun to see time in the center field in addition to his time in left field, further suggesting the Diamondbacks are attempting to find an early-season role for him. Currently, they are without two starting outfielders as
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (knee) will not be ready for the beginning of the season, and
Corbin Carroll (hand) is targeting an Opening Day return, but any minor setback would push him past this target date. Last season, Waldschmidt spent his time at High-A and Double-A and posted an overall .289/.419/.473 line with 18 home runs and 29 stolen bases. Even though he has never played a game at Triple-A, he is in a prime position to break camp with the MLB roster, given their numerous injuries.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
February 25, 2026
Chicago Cubs first base prospect
Jonathon Long (elbow) took some swings on Tuesday, according to Meghan Montemurro of The Chicago Tribune. Long suffered this injury during a spring training contest over the week but appears to be progressing rather well. Cubs manager Craig Counsell also noted that is "soreness is dissipating." Montemurro also noted that while Long was expected to depart on Tuesday for the World Baseball Classic, he will instead depart the team on Friday to ensure he is fully healed. Last season, the former ninth-round pick spent the entire campaign with Triple-A Iowa and held a strong .304/.404/.479 slash line with 23 doubles, 20 home runs, and a 116:79 K:BB. If he continues this level of play, Long should be in the mix for a promotion within the first half.
--Andy SmithSource: Meghan Montemurro
February 25, 2026
Atlanta Braves right-handed pitching prospect
JR Ritchie tossed two shutout frames in his spring training debut and continues to make a strong case for an early 2026 promotion. He entered the game after Atlanta southpaw
Chris Sale logged two innings himself. Ritchie would not surrender a hit and would hold a 1:1 K:BB over this brief appearance. Managers should continue to keep a close eye on his development in spring training, as he could be in the mix for an early promotion, given the numerous injuries to the Atlanta starting rotation. Last summer, the 22-year-old began the campaign with High-A but was able to reach Triple-A in the second half. At Triple-A, Ritchie logged 59 2/3 innings with an impressive 3.02 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and a 67:21 K:BB. If he continues this trajectory, he would be worth viewing as a top early-season stash candidate.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
February 25, 2026
Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed pitching prospect
Bubba Chandler struggled in his spring debut on Monday afternoon against the New York Yankees. Across 1 1/3 innings, the top prospect allowed four earned runs with a high four free passes. He did not allow a hit and added two strikeouts. Chandler's command was a major issue during the 2025 season, and it appears to be resurfacing. Last season, the 23-year-old was expected to nearly break camp with the Pirates but would not earn the call until August. At Triple-A, Chandler carried a modest 4.05 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, with a 121:53 K:BB across 100 innings. However, in the majors, he looked far more comfortable, posting 31:4 K:BB over 31 1/3 innings. Chandler remains a top breakout candidate, but given his uneven command, he holds some risk in drafts.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
February 25, 2026
Patrick Fishburn has gotten off to a rough start in 2026, missing the cut in both of his first two events. He'll try to turn things around at the Cognizant Classic, where he has a missed cut and a T48 in two prior appearances. PGA National typically rewards strong ball striking and solid play on the greens, two areas that have been a struggle for Fishburn early this season. He ranks 170th in total strokes gained (-3.103 per round), including 154th on approach (-0.990) and 110th putting (-0.286). He also sits 131st in proximity from 150-175 yards (31'1"), a distance that had the most approach shots here last season. Given his current form, Fishburn is difficult to trust for fantasy lineups until he shows any signs of improvement.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
February 25, 2026
After starting the year on the Korn Ferry Tour, Blades Brown made a strong impression in his first PGA Tour start of the season, opening with rounds of 67-60-68 at The American Express before fading Sunday to finish T18. He now tees it up at the Cognizant Classic for his tournament debut. Through two measured rounds, Brown has lost 0.615 strokes per round overall, including -0.285 on approach and -0.267 putting. His greens-in-regulation rate sits at an impressive 86.11%, though with the small sample size, this should be taken with a grain of salt. With limited TOUR data and a sporatic schedule for the 18-year-old, it is tough to know when the next big result will come. At $6,800 on DraftKings, he profiles as a clear high-risk, high-reward option.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
February 25, 2026
Michael Thorbjornsen opened Pebble Beach with a four-under 68 on Thursday but unraveled on the greens, finishing dead last in putting and losing more than 10.3 strokes with the flat stick on his way to a T78 finish. He'll look to bounce back at the Cognizant Classic, where he finished T39 last year. Thorbjornsen currently ranks 120th in total strokes gained (-0.710 per round), 106th on approach (-0.174) and 154th in putting (-0.866), though much of that is driven by his difficult week at Pebble. One encouraging sign is his proximity from 150-175 yards, where he ranks 16th (23'4") in a distance that accounted for the most approach shots here last season. After back-to-back strong finishes (T3, T18) prior to Pebble, a bounce-back from the 24-year-old would not be a surprise. If the putter improves even slightly, Thorbjornsen offers solid upside at $9,200 on DraftKings.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
February 24, 2026
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales announced on Tuesday that offensive coordinator Brad Idzik will call offensive plays in 2026, according to Cameron Wolfe of the NFL Network. The 34-year-old will have more on his plate next season after having a big role in the team's offensive game-planning last year. It's a shift in strategy, as Canales was saying at the end of the 2025 season that he would remain the play-caller. Canales made the switch to allow him to broaden his ability to coach all aspects of the team instead of being too focused on the offense during games. Having veteran coach Darrell Bevell on the staff as an associate head coach and offensive assistant will help first-time coordinator Idzik. It remains to be seen how the change will affect quarterback
Bryce Young and the rest of the offense moving forward.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Cameron Wolfe
February 24, 2026
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton said that offensive coordinator
Davis Webb will be the team's offensive play-caller in 2026, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. It's an interesting and notable move for Denver's offense and for Payton, who has always called the offensive plays as a head coach in the NFL. Webb, 31, is a former backup quarterback in the NFL and was a head-coaching candidate for a few teams this offseason before the Broncos fired former OC Joe Lombardi and promoted Webb, who was formerly the QBs coach. If the Broncos' offense goes backwards under Webb, Payton can always take back over. If Webb has a very tight relationship with QB
Bo Nix (ankle), this could ultimately be a good thing for the Broncos' offense moving forward. One of the top priorities for Webb in his first year as the OC will be to fix a running game that has been subpar the last two years.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
February 24, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers right guard Mekhi Becton is a cut candidate this offseason, according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic. The Chargers can save close to $10 million if they move on from Becton, according to Over the Cap. "I'm not going to talk about that right now," general manager Joe Hortiz said when asked if Becton is guaranteed to be on the roster in 2026. The 26-year-old signed a two-year, $20 million deal with the Bolts in March of 2025, but he battled injuries and played less than 60% of the offensive snaps in 15 regular-season contests. He did not live up to expectations in L.A. when he was on the field. Injuries have been an issue for Becton since he entered the NFL in 2020 as the 11th overall pick by the New York Jets. He was originally drafted as a left tackle, but he has moved to right guard over the last few years. Becton's size (6-foot-7, 363 pounds) is imposing for defensive linemen, so he'll attract interest on the open market if he's cut.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Daniel Popper
February 24, 2026
New England Patriots left tackle Will Campbell (knee) isn't expected to need offseason knee surgery, sources close to the 22-year-old told Mike Reiss of ESPN. Campbell suffered a torn right MCL on Nov. 23, and it negatively affected his performance in the postseason and the Super Bowl LX loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Barring a setback this offseason, Campbell is "in position to be a full participant in the team's voluntary offseason program that begins in mid-April." Despite his struggles to close out his rookie season, the Pats will stick with Campbell as quarterback
Drake Maye's blind-side protector in 2026. "He's technically sound. He's adding more and more different pass sets to his tool bag that he can use to combat different rushes. And again, he's 22 years old, and we expect some improvement out of him as well," vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf said.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN Boston - Mike Reiss
February 24, 2026
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker announced on his Instagram account on Tuesday that he will return for an 11th NFL season in 2026 after contemplating retirement, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. The 32-year-old veteran has missed some time due to injuries in recent seasons, but the former 16th overall pick in 2016 out of Ohio State is still a well-above-average left tackle who was named to his first Pro Bowl in 2024. The news of Decker returning for another season is a win for Detroit's entire offensive line, most importantly for quarterback
Jared Goff. Decker has started all 140 games that he's played in with the Lions over his 10 seasons in Motown.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
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