March 2, 2026
There isn't much to say about what happened to Shane Lowry on Sunday at the Cognizant Classic. It was a bit unbelievable to watch in the moment, undoubtedly more so to be living it. The only thing the 38-year-old can do is move forward, and the look ahead to another week is the one constant (whether good or bad) that players can count on. He comes to Bay Hill having finished solo third and solo seventh in the last two years. Regardless of what happened in the Palm Beaches, Lowry is still an elite long iron player, ranking in the 95th percentile in strokes gained per approach shot over 200 yards (+0.127). His accuracy off the tee always gives him a chance around Arnie's place. The putter has also cooperated since coming to the States, averaging +0.733 strokes gained on the greens. Obviously, it's hard to know his headplace since leaving PGA National, but the stats give him as good a chance as any this week.
--Todd McGillSource: Data Golf
March 2, 2026
San Diego Padres All-Star outfielder
Fernando Tatis Jr. is expected to hit either third or fourth in the team's batting order this year, according to Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune. Tatis primarily hit leadoff for the Friars in 2025, so this is a notable development as he enters his seventh year in the big leagues. Shortstop
Xander Bogaerts is expected to move to the leadoff role this season. The 27-year-old Tatis will have more RBI opportunities in the heart of the order, but he'll also have fewer plate appearances and will most likely score fewer runs. Tatis hit .268/.368/.446 with an .814 OPS, 25 home runs, 71 RBI, 111 runs scored, and 32 stolen bases in 691 plate appearances over 155 regular-season games. He's probably not going to return to the 40-homer mark as he did before his PED suspension, but he remains a solid power/speed asset as a top-10 fantasy outfielder, especially if he can continue to show the improved plate discipline he had in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: The San Diego Union-Tribune - Kevin Acee
March 2, 2026
USC wide receiver
Makai Lemon is one of the most talented prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft, but character concerns could result in him falling down draft boards. Former NFL player Breiden Fehoko posted on X that he "talked to a scout just now who said he didn't know what Makai Lemon's motive was behind his combine interviews but whoever advised the kid needs to be fired. 'Absolutely bombed it.'" We can only put so much stock into an unconfirmed report from a non-established source, but it's worth noting that Fehoko's claims were echoed by some other media personalities in attendance at the Scouting Combine. It's unfortunate for the young prospect, who could be the first wide receiver off the board after posting 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns last year. Time will tell whether the pure talent allows scouts to overlook potential character concerns or if the developments of the past week will impact his draft stock.
--Andersen PickardSource: Breiden Fehoko
March 2, 2026
Miami Marlins outfielder
Kyle Stowers (hamstring) took 30 swings and played catch in camp on Sunday, according to Christina De Nicola. Stowers will take some live at-bats in the next few days and will also start a running progression soon as he continues to recover from a mild right-hamstring strain. The 28-year-old left-handed hitter is expected to be back in Grapefruit League action in one to two weeks, and he should be ready for Opening Day at the end of the month, barring a setback. Stowers is a rising fantasy outfielder -- he's ranked at No. 33 at RotoBaller -- after a breakout 2025 campaign in his first full season in Miami. He was the team's lone All-Star representative and finished his fourth MLB season with a .288/.368/.544 slash line, .912 OPS, 25 homers, 73 RBI, 61 runs, and five stolen bases in 457 plate appearances and 117 games. Stowers' batted-ball metrics are promising, but injuries could be an issue.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Christina De Nicola
March 2, 2026
Indiana quarterback and top NFL Draft prospect
Fernando Mendoza continues to generate plenty of buzz. Even though the reigning national champion didn't work out at the Scouting Combine, he still attended for team interviews and media availability. With the draft less than two months away, it appears that Mendoza remains the consensus No. 1 pick in most NFL mock drafts. However, there's a bit of a discrepancy between NFL mock drafts and fantasy football mock drafts. In superflex dynasty leagues, managers will have to make a tougher decision between Mendoza or Notre Dame running back
Jeremiyah Love at the 1.01 selection. Mendoza won the Heisman Trophy with 3,535 passing yards, 41 passing touchdowns, 276 rushing yards, seven rushing touchdowns, and six interceptions. He was elite, but his projected NFL landing spot -- the Las Vegas Raiders -- is less than ideal. The alternative is Love, who had 1,652 scrimmage yards and 21 touchdowns. Those are impressive numbers considering that he shared some of his snap share with
Jadarian Price and also dealt with adversity after Notre Dame made a midseason coaching change. The decision of which player to draft at 1.01 will likely come down to managers' positional needs and Love's landing spot. For what it's worth, RotoBaller's latest rookie superflex rankings have Love at #1 and Mendoza at #2.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
March 2, 2026
Notre Dame running back
Jadarian Price put together an impressive performance at the Scouting Combine ahead of next month's NFL Draft. He finished with 21 reps in the bench press, which ranked fourth-most among running back prospects, and his 4.36-second 40-yard dash time ranked second. These results follow an impressive NCAA season that saw Price post 674 rushing yards, 87 receiving yards, and 13 total touchdowns. He has a nose for the end zone and averaged 6.0 yards per carry, showcasing a blend of scoring and yardage efficiency that should set him up for success in the NFL and in fantasy football. A potential second-round pick in the NFL Draft, Price ranks as the #31 running back in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for 2026.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
March 2, 2026
Louisville wide receiver
Chris Bell (knee) said last Friday that he is on track in his recovery from a torn ACL that he suffered on Nov. 22 of last year, and he should be able to take part in training camp this summer, according to Jeff Legwold of ESPN. Bell went through medical evaluations at last week's NFL scouting combine but didn't take part in any workouts and is not expected to have a pro-day workout before April's NFL draft. He said he's been cleared by Dallas Cowboys team physician Dr. Dan Cooper, who performed Bell's surgery. Mel Kiper Jr.'s No. 11 WR in this year's draft class will begin running this week. Despite coming off a torn ACL, the 6-foot-2, 222-pounder could come off the board in the second round of this year's NFL draft because of his size and speed combination. Bell tallied 72 taches for 917 yards and six touchdowns in 2025 in his final season at Louisville.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Legwold
March 2, 2026
Matt Fitzpatrick finished tied for 24th at the Genesis Invitational two weeks ago and will now prepare for this week's Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Orlando, Florida. Fitzpatrick now has three straight top-25 finishes and will look to rely on his strong approach play this week. He's gained strokes on approach in all four of his starts this season and has only lost strokes off the tee in one of those starts. Over the past 12 months, Fitzpatrick ranks in the 38th percentile in greens in regulation percentage on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway. This is worth mentioning because, at last year's Arnold Palmer Invitational, over 37% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
March 2, 2026
Keegan Bradley missed the cut at the Genesis Invitational two weeks ago and will need to find his approach game to compete at Bay Hill. Bradley has lost strokes on approach in three of his four starts this season. Bradley finished tied for fifth at Bay Hill in 2025 and tied for 36th in 2024. Over the past 12 months, Bradley ranks in the 44th percentile in greens in regulation percentage on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway. This is worth noting because, at last year's Arnold Palmer Invitational, over 37% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
March 2, 2026
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder
Cedric Mullins went deep for the first time in spring training on Friday in a Grapefruit League game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Mullins went 2-for-2 with two RBI. He entered Monday's action hitting .250 (2-for-8) with a homer, two RBI, and two runs scored in his first four spring games with Tampa. The 31-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder is coming off a disappointing 2025 season spent with the Baltimore Orioles and New York Mets. Mullins hit .216/.299/.391 with a .690 OPS, 17 home runs, 59 RBI, 58 runs scored, and 22 stolen bases in 498 plate appearances over 133 games played. He's probably no longer a threat for 30 homers and 30 stolen bases, but he did have 15 homers and 49 RBI in just 91 games for Baltimore before being traded to New York last year. Mullins isn't going to be a help in batting average, but he can help with counting stats as outfield depth as Tampa's starting center fielder.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
March 2, 2026
Kansas City Royals first baseman/outfielder
Jac Caglianone struggled in his first taste of the big leagues last year, but he came into Monday hitting .400 (6-for-15) with a home run, four RBI, six runs scored, five walks, and three strikeouts in his first six Cactus League games in spring training. His homer last Tuesday was a 460-foot blast that had an exit velocity of 115.2 mph. We all know that Cags has elite power upside from the left side of the plate, although he slashed just .157/.237/.295 with a .532 OPS, seven home runs, 18 RBI, and a 52:18 K: BB in 232 plate appearances over 62 games with the Royals in 2025. Caglianone hit well under .200 against left-handed pitchers. The 23-year-old former first-rounder out of the University of Florida still has tons of projectable upside, but he'll need to improve against lefties and make more contact going into his first full MLB campaign in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
March 2, 2026
Houston Astros infielder
Isaac Paredes went 1-for-2 with a walk and a solo home run in his Grapefruit League debut on Saturday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Paredes missed a huge chunk of last season due to a severe hamstring injury, so the Astros chose to slow-play him in spring training. The 27-year-old is past his hamstring injury now, but playing time is a real concern for him going into the 2026 season if he remains in Houston.
Carlos Correa is the team's primary third baseman, and
Jose Altuve is moving back to second base on a more permanent basis, leaving Paredes as a man without an everyday position. Paredes' power from the right side of the plate is real, especially in Houston, and he has delivered 90 home runs in the last four seasons for fantasy managers. His homer on Saturday came off Bucs right-hander
Bubba Chandler. Unless a trade or injury for the Astros clears up regular playing time for him, Paredes will merely be a depth option for power at a corner-infield spot.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
March 2, 2026
San Francisco Giants right-hander
Logan Webb will start for Team USA against Team Brazil in the opener of the World Baseball Classic on Friday, according to USA Today Sports' Bob Nightengale. Webb will be followed in Team USA's starting rotation by the Detroit Tigers'
Tarik Skubal (against Great Britain), Pittsburgh Pirates'
Paul Skenes (against Mexico), and New York Mets'
Nolan McLean (against Italy). Webb, 29, is already 2-0 in Cactus League play after giving up an earned run on two hits while striking out three and hitting one batter in three innings against the San Diego Padres on Sunday. He's expected to be available to throw 60 to 65 pitches in his outing for the USA on Friday. Webb, an All-Star each of the last two years, went 15-11 last year with a 3.22 ERA and 1.24 WHIP. He led the league in games started (34), innings (207), hits allowed (210), strikeouts (224), and batters faced (856).
--Keith HernandezSource: USA Today Sports - Bob Nightengale
March 2, 2026
Detroit Tigers two-time Cy Young winner
Tarik Skubal is expected to throw around 55 pitches for Team USA against Team Great Britain in the second game of the World Baseball Classic before returning to Lakeland, Fla., to rejoin the Tigers in camp, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports. Skubal is coming off another heavy workload last year, so he'll only pitch in one game in the WBC before heading back to spring training. The 29-year-old left-hander will be the No. 1 pitcher off the board in fantasy drafts after a second straight dominant year as the Tigers' ace, going 13-6 with a league-best 2.21 ERA and league-best 0.89 WHIP with 241 strikeouts and only 33 walks in 195 1/3 innings over 31 regular-season starts. He picked up where he left off in his first Grapefruit League start against the Twins, in which he allowed two hits over two scoreless innings while striking out four.
--Keith HernandezSource: USA TODAY Sports - Bob Nightengale
March 2, 2026
Colorado Rockies starting pitcher
Kyle Freeland (back) is scheduled to make his spring debut in an exhibition game against Team USA on Wednesday. This will be the first appearance of the spring for Freeland, who has been slowed by a lingering back issue. He was able to throw a few bullpen sessions without any issues, so it appears the back injury is behind him. This isn't expected to be a long outing, but Freeland has time to build up his stamina ahead of Opening Day. The southpaw posted a 4.98 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, and a 124/38 K/BB ratio across 31 starts with the Rockies last season. Freeland could offer some streaming appeal, but pitching is Coors Field is never a favorable situation for pitchers.
--Andy WebbSource: Thomas Harding
March 2, 2026
Dallas Mavericks forward/center
P.J. Washington (ankle) is questionable for Tuesday's game against the Hornets after sitting out the team's last three contests due to a left ankle sprain. Dallas remains shorthanded, so Washington's status carries real fantasy weight. If he sits,
Max Christie and
Khris Middleton would see added opportunity. Christie delivered 14 points, seven rebounds, four triples, and two steals in 35 minutes last game, making him the preferred streamer. Middleton logged modest production in 25 minutes and remains a deeper-league option with a limited ceiling.
--Brian DailisanSource: NBA Injury Report
March 2, 2026
Kansas City Royals outfielder
Dairon Blanco has been designated for assignment by the organization on Monday. Blanco gets booted off the roster with the Royals needing to free up a 40-man roster spot with the
Starling Marte signing becoming official on Monday. The 32-year-old only played in nine games with the Royals last season, but his speed is something that could make him an attractive option for other organizations. Blanco has stolen 59 bases across 285 plate appearances in parts of four seasons with the Royals. He could draw interest on waivers as possible outfield depth.
--Andy WebbSource: Kansas City Royals
March 2, 2026
Brooklyn Nets guard
Egor Demin (foot) will miss Tuesday's game against Miami, sidelined for a second straight contest while managing a left plantar fascia issue. His next chance to return comes Thursday in a rematch with the Heat.
Nolan Traore should continue handling expanded responsibility after posting 17 points, two assists, one rebound, one triple, and one steal in 30 minutes last game.
Terance Mann and
Ziaire Williams saw minutes but failed to deliver usable fantasy lines. Traore is the preferred short-term streamer, while the rest remain fringe options.
--Brian DailisanSource: Collin Helwig
March 2, 2026
Brooklyn Nets center
Nicolas Claxton (thumb) is probable heading into Tuesday's meeting with Miami. He's been dealing with a pinky issue for most of the campaign. Yet, the 26-year-old is on the injury report because of a right thumb sprain. Claxton has had a decent season, averaging 12.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks. However, he's seen a drastic reduction in minutes since the start of the year. With that said, Claxton is still a reliable fantasy performer, although he is expected to continue surrendering minutes to
Day'Ron Sharpe moving ahead.
--Dennis ClausenSource: NBA Injury Report
March 2, 2026
Charlotte Hornets guard
Coby White (calf) has been ruled out for Tuesday's game against the Mavericks for left calf injury management, the first leg of a back-to-back set before Wednesday's matchup in Boston. White is averaging 18 minutes per game with a 34 percent usage rate in a reserve role, but his absence does not open up viable streaming value.
Tre Mann,
Josh Green, and
Sion James are expected to absorb extra minutes, yet none produced meaningful lines last game.
LaMelo Ball and
Brandon Miller should continue dominating usage.
--Brian DailisanSource: NBA Injury Report
March 2, 2026
Texas Rangers starting pitcher
Jacob deGrom will officially make his spring debut against Team Brazil in an exhibition game on Wednesday. Over the weekend, Rangers manager Skip Schumaker told reporters that deGrom was getting close to making his spring debut. It appears the right-hander is ready to go after a 30-pitch bullpen session last week. The 37-year-old managed to stay healthy last season and posted his first 30-start season since the 2019 campaign. When healthy, deGrom is a top-10 starting pitcher in the league, but his injury history is concerning.
--Andy WebbSource: Kennedi Landry
March 2, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher
Kyle Hurt isn't being considered for a starting rotation spot, according to Bill Plunkett. Manager Dave Roberts said on Monday that Hurt is competing for a bullpen spot. Hurt came into the league as a starting pitcher, but he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2024. He has been working as a reliever since then, and that'll probably be his easiest path to making it to the big league roster. The Dodgers already have a handful of pitchers competing for the final two spots in the starting rotation. Hurt only pitched in seven games at Triple-A Oklahoma City last season. The Dodgers will likely want to see more of him as a reliever at the minor league level before promoting him, but we'll see if he can impress them in camp.
--Andy WebbSource: Bill Plunkett
March 2, 2026
Toronto Raptors forward/center
Collin Murray-Boyles (thumb) will miss Tuesday's game against the Knicks, sidelined for a second straight contest due to a left thumb sprain. His next opportunity to return comes Thursday versus Minnesota. In his absence,
Jakob Poeltl should continue handling increased frontcourt responsibility after posting 18 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, three steals, and one block in 26 minutes last game.
Sandro Mamukelashvili logged seven points and three rebounds in 16 minutes but remains a deeper-league option. Poeltl is the clear fantasy beneficiary, especially in category formats.
--Brian DailisanSource: Michael Grange
March 2, 2026
Dallas Mavericks forward
Naji Marshall (finger) won't play on Tuesday in Charlotte. He injured his finger during Friday's loss to the Memphis Grizzlies and wasn't available for Sunday's meeting with OKC. Marshall was playing well before the injury, averaging 19.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.2 steals in the month of February. Fantasy managers will be need to wait and see if he can return on Thursday against Orlando. While he's out,
Brandon Williams,
Khris Middleton,
Max Christie should get extra scoring opportunities, that is unless
Cooper Flagg (foot) and
P.J. Washington (ankle) are active.
--Dennis ClausenSource: NBA Injury Report
March 2, 2026
Cleveland Cavaliers guard
Donovan Mitchell (groin) will miss Tuesday's matchup against the Pistons, marking his fourth straight absence due to a right groin strain. His next chance to return will come Sunday against Boston.
James Harden is expected to shoulder more of the offensive load, making him the primary fantasy beneficiary.
Sam Merrill and
Jaylon Tyson should see steady minutes, but both remain fringe streaming options. Merrill logged 15 points with four triples in 27 minutes last game, while Tyson added nine points in 28 minutes.
--Brian DailisanSource: NBA Injury Report
March 2, 2026
Dallas Mavericks guard/forward
Cooper Flagg (foot) is doubtful for Tuesday's meeting with Charlotte. It appears there's a chance he'll be back for this one. However, fantasy managers should anticipate another absence. The former Duke Blue Devil has been sidelined for seven games because of a midfoot sprain. Although the Mavs aren't really playing for much, Flagg is looking to take home the Rookie of the Year award, so he has plenty of motivation to return. With that in mind,
Max Christie,
Khris Middleton, and
Brandon Williams are projected to be the team's top performers, assuming
P.J. Washington (ankle) isn't available and Flagg gets ruled out.
--Dennis ClausenSource: NBA Injury Report
March 2, 2026
Detroit Tigers relief pitcher
Beau Brieske (ribs) was forced to make an early exit from Monday's Grapefruit League contest against the Atlanta Braves. Brieske was pulled after three pitches due to right ribcage tightness. This was his first appearance of the spring after being sidelined due to back spasms earlier in camp. The Tigers will have Brieske undergo further testing, so his timetable to return is unclear at the moment. The right-hander is looking to bounce back after posting an ugly 6.55 ERA across 22 games (one start) with the Tigers last season. He'll likely settle into a middle relief role, assuming he cracks the 26-man roster to begin the season.
--Andy WebbSource: Evan Petzold
March 2, 2026
According to Clemente Almanza of USA Today, Oklahoma City Thunder guard
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdomen) won't suit up for Tuesday's matchup with the Chicago Bulls due to abdominal strain management. The Thunder are exercising caution and will hold him out for the first leg of their back-to-back set. After missing nine consecutive games, Gilgeous-Alexander has returned in strong form, scoring at least 30 points in each of his two appearances since coming back. He is expected to return on Wednesday against the Knicks. With SGA sidelined on Tuesday,
Cason Wallace,
Isaiah Joe, and
Jared McCain should see increased opportunities in the backcourt.
--Andrew LennoxSource: Clemente Almanza
March 2, 2026
The Seattle Seahawks tendered exclusive-rights free-agent running back
George Holani to a one-year, league-minimum deal on Monday, according to John Boyle of Seahawks.com. The team did the same with safety Ty Okada. Neither player will be able to negotiate with other teams and will return to Seattle in 2026. Holani, 26, only carried the ball 22 times for 73 yards and one touchdown while catching both of his targets for 15 yards in 11 regular-season games in 2025 in his second year in the NFL. The former undrafted free agent out of Boise State could have a much bigger complementary role in 2026, though, with Super Bowl LX MVP
Kenneth Walker III set to hit the open market and with
Zach Charbonnet (knee) potentially unavailable for the start of the regular season after tearing his ACL in the playoffs. In addition to being valuable RB depth for the Seahawks, Holani should also be an asset in the return game on special teams next year.
--Keith HernandezSource: Seahawks.com - John Boyle
March 2, 2026
The Pittsburgh Steelers are telling teams, at least right now, that tight end
Pat Freiermuth is "not available," according to Mike DeFabo of The Athletic. According to a league source, at least six teams would be interested in "exploring the idea of acquiring" Freiermuth. Fellow TE
Jonnu Smith's situation "seems a bit more fluid." General manager Omar Khan said the Steelers are in a fine salary cap situation to "keep both," but they are also in the process of understanding what a change in their offensive philosophy will "mean for personnel." Freiermuth and Smith essentially canceled each other out in fantasy football, with neither TE being in the top 20 in overall half-PPR points at season's end. After a career year in Miami in 2025, Smith had just 38 catches for 222 yards and two TDs, while Freiermuth took a step back, too, with a 41-486-4 line. The Steelers trading Smith out of town would be good news for both Freiermuth's and Smith's fantasy value heading into 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Mike DeFabo
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