May 12, 2026, 11:47 AM ET

Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Bubba Chandler has plenty of long-term upside, but so far in his first full season in the big leagues, he has struggled to control the baseball, allowing a league-high 27 free passes in his 39 innings over his first eight starts in 2026. Chandler has gone 1-4 in the early going with a 4.62 ERA (5.53 FIP) and 1.46 WHIP with 34 strikeouts. The 23-year-old former third-round pick in 2021 walked 13 batters in three starts from April 23 to May 5. In his most recent outing, though, Chandler went five innings against the punchless San Francisco Giants, giving up two earned runs on five hits while walking just one and striking out three for a no-decision. It was encouraging that he only walked one batter his last time out, but until he can show us that he can command his arsenal more consistently, Chandler is going to be a volatile fantasy starter. His next start will come against the underperforming Philadelphia Phillies at home. Start Chandler at your own risk.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Baseball Reference

May 12, 2026, 11:35 AM ET

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto's heavy workload during the team's World Series run last fall, in just his second year in the big leagues, doesn't appear to have affected him so far in 2026. Through his first seven starts for L.A. in 2026, Yamamoto has gone 3-2 with a 3.09 ERA (3.53 FIP) and 1.01 WHIP with 40 strikeouts and just 10 walks in 43 2/3 innings pitched. The 27-year-old Japanese native held the struggling Houston Astros to three earned runs in six innings while walking one and striking out a season-high eight in his last time out on May 4. Yamamoto has yet to allow more than three earned runs in any of his outings this season while going at least five innings in all seven of his starts. Fantasy managers need to continue to throw him out there in their starting lineups every time he toes the rubber. Yamamoto has another great matchup on tap for Tuesday in L.A. against the visiting San Francisco Giants, who have the second-worst team OPS (.655) in the big leagues. In his first meeting with the Giants on April 21, Yamamoto allowed three earned runs on six hits while walking two and fanning seven in seven innings.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Baseball Reference

May 12, 2026, 11:34 AM ET

New York Jets wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. has long-term upside in dynasty fantasy football, but managers should prepare for the possibility that he doesn't break out right away as a rookie. The Jets are expected to experience some growing pains this season with Geno Smith at quarterback. Smith had a miserable season in Las Vegas last year, and we question whether he'll be able to support a fantasy-relevant season from Omar Cooper Jr. when he already has Garrett Wilson as his WR1. With that being said, Cooper has proven himself as a winning receiver since he played for the national champion Indiana Hoosiers. He also has long-term appeal in dynasty leagues, because it seems like a foregone conclusion that the Jets will spend a top pick on a quarterback next year. A talented, young quarterback could be exactly what Cooper needs to emerge as a reliable fantasy option, even if Wilson remains the top target. As a result, Cooper is the WR5 in RotoBaller's rookie rankings and the WR37 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

May 12, 2026, 11:25 AM ET

After a three-start stretch where he didn't allow more than two earned runs, Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Jesus Luzardo fell apart again in his latest outing on Friday against the Colorado Rockies, allowing six earned runs on six hits (one homer) while walking three and striking out six in a season-low three innings of work. The 28-year-old southpaw is now 3-3 on the year with a bloated 5.98 ERA (2.96 FIP) and 1.39 WHIP with 57 strikeouts and 12 walks in 43 2/3 innings over his eight starts for Philly. He has failed to go five innings in three of his eight starts and has allowed five-plus runs in four of his outings so far. At this point, fantasy managers may not know what to do with him. Opponents are currently hitting .278 against him, but Luzardo holds an expected average of just .236, while the difference in his wOBA (.334) and xwOBA (.286) also shows that he's been hit with some pretty bad luck early on. Luzardo also ranks in the 91st percentile in strikeout rate and 82nd percentile in walk rate. He's a prime buy-low candidate, and he could easily dominate his next time out against the struggling Boston Red Sox.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Baseball Reference

May 12, 2026, 11:21 AM ET

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Jordyn Tyson was a top prospect in this year's NFL Draft, and his landing spot could be conducive to a top-12 finish in fantasy football. Tyson ended up with the Saints, where he should start every game opposite Chris Olave. New Orleans' offense is trending in the right direction under offensive-minded head coach Kellen Moore. Quarterback Tyler Shough had a fantastic rookie season, Travis Etienne Jr. was added to the backfield, and Tyson and Olave could end up being the best wide receiver duo in the NFC South. We're not too worried about target share, either, as Shough averaged 35 pass attempts per game following the bye week last year, and that number could increase in 2026. Tyson may initially produce slightly less than Olave, but we wouldn't be surprised to see an even split (or even see Tyson win the top role) by season's end, especially given Olave's concussion history. All in all, Tyson will push to be the top-scoring receiver in the 2026 rookie class, both short-term and long-term. His biggest competition is presumably Carnell Tate, the Titans' first-round pick, who may initially face some growing pains as Cameron Ward continues to develop.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

May 12, 2026, 11:15 AM ET

Cleveland Guardians right-handed reliever Cade Smith hasn't been perfect, but he has quickly become one of the best options for saves in fantasy baseball in 2026. The 27-year-old Canadian pitcher is currently tied for the American League lead in saves with 11 and has gone 2-0 with a 3.44 ERA (1.86 FIP), 1.25 WHIP, and 24:4 K:BB in 18 1/3 innings pitched for the Guards. He gave up a run in his last appearance on Friday against the Minnesota Twins, but Smith still managed to hold on for the save in his inning of work, and he's been successful in each of his last eight save opportunities, allowing two earned runs on 10 hits while walking one and striking out 13 in 9 1/3 innings. Under the hood, Smith is in the 93rd percentile in strikeout rate, the 91st percentile in walk rate, and the 92nd percentile in whiff rate while posting an 11.8 K/9 in his third year in the big leagues. There's a reason why he's rostered in 98% of Yahoo leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Baseball Reference

May 12, 2026, 11:11 AM ET

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins wasn't the flashiest name last season, but he still managed to finish as the WR8 in PPR leagues. That was the best mark of his career, and it was the second time that he finished among the top 12 receivers in the last three years. He had 71 catches, 1,117 yards, and six touchdowns, and he presumably would have ranked even higher if he hadn't missed two games due to injury. Collins managed to produce at a high level despite the inconsistent quarterback play of C.J. Stroud, who had a shaky third season. If Stroud doesn't bounce back in 2026 and beyond, it's encouraging to know that Collins can still be a top-12 receiver with iffy quarterback play. However, if Stroud does have a big year, then Collins has legitimate top-five upside in both redraft and dynasty leagues. He's a firm "hold" for now, and he ranks as RotoBaller's dynasty WR11 at the moment.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

May 12, 2026, 11:04 AM ET

Chicago White Sox catcher Kyle Teel (hamstring) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday night, according to Milb Central. Teel has been cleared to resume playing in games after he ran the bases over the weekend. The 24-year-old has been recovering from a Grade 2 right-hamstring strain that put him on the 10-day injured list before the start of the 2026 regular season. Barring a setback on his rehab assignment, he could make his season debut for the Pale Hose by this weekend or early next week. He's only rostered in 10% of Yahoo leagues at the moment, but fantasy managers looking for an upgrade at catcher should be interested in the former Virginia product. Teel was originally a first-round pick by the Boston Red Sox in 2023 before being traded to Chicago. In his first year in the big leagues in 2025, he hit a very respectable .273 (69-for-253) with eight homers, 35 RBI, 38 runs, and three steals in 78 games played. Teel should do most of the catching for the White Sox when he's reinstated from the IL.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Milb Central

May 12, 2026, 10:55 AM ET

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is hitting an even .300 (45-for-150) on the year, but he has cooled off considerably in May, going 5-for-37 (.135) with no extra-base hits, two RBI, five runs scored, four walks, and five strikeouts across 10 games and 41 plate appearances. With his recent slump, Guerrero's hard-hit rate now sits in the 63rd percentile, although his xwOBA is in the 87th percentile. Even the best hitters in baseball go through rough patches, and it appears that Vladdy is one of them right now. The good news for fantasy managers is that his expected batting average sits at .312, and his expected slugging percentage is at .453 -- he's currently slugging just .387 with two home runs, 17 RBI, and 23 runs scored on the season. The five-time All-Star shouldn't be expected to approach the career-high mark of 48 homers he hit back in 2021, but he's still projected to reach the 20-homer mark in 2026 while hitting around .300. It wouldn't hurt to test out the Vlad manager in your league to see if you can't pick him up for pennies on the dollar during his current skid.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Baseball Reference

May 12, 2026, 10:35 AM ET

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he plans to give two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani a day off from hitting either on Wednesday (when he pitches) against the division-rival San Francisco Giants, or in Thursday's series finale, according to Maddie Lee of The Los Angeles Times. "I think he's just trying to swing out of it," Roberts said, referring to Ohtani's struggles at the plate lately. The four-time MVP took on-field batting practice before Monday's loss to San Fran, which is only the third time he's taken pre-game BP on the field this year. After hitting 50-plus home runs and stealing 79 bases combined in his first two years with the Blue, the 31-year-old Japanese superstar hasn't produced up to his standards offensively in his first 38 games of 2026, slashing .233/.363/.404 with a .767 OPS, six home runs, 16 RBI, five steals, and 25 runs scored across 180 plate appearances. Ohtani has especially struggled since the calendar flipped to May, going 4-for-36 (.111) with no homers, three RBI, four runs, and a steal in 10 games this month.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Los Angeles Times - Maddie Lee

May 12, 2026, 10:01 AM ET

Los Angeles Lakers point guard Luka Doncic (hamstring) wasn't close to returning before the team's season ended on Monday night. "I know some people wanted me (to come) back, but obviously I wasn't close to clearing," Doncic said. "If I could be out there, I would be, 100%. Everybody in that room knows this is really tough. This is the best time to play basketball." Doncic missed the Lakers' entire postseason campaign after suffering a Grade 2 hamstring strain on April 2. He said he is running and shooting but hasn't progressed to contact work in practice. Losing Doncic for the playoffs was a massive blow to the Lakers. During his first full season in Los Angeles, Doncic averaged a league-high 33.5 points, along with 7.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.6 steals. Having turned only 27 earlier this year, he is set to remain a fantasy stalwart for the foreseeable future.--Taavi Pailk
Source: Associated Press

May 12, 2026, 10:00 AM ET

Despite playing in only two playoff games as a rookie in 2025, Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland's 25 postseason targets trailed only Puka Nacua, while only Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba amassed more receiving yards. Standing out from a loaded group of pass catchers when the games mattered most certainly drew the attention of dynasty managers, and with the Bears thinning their pass-catching ranks this offseason by trading away veteran DJ Moore, Loveland has become one of the most sought-after assets in fantasy. Loveland's 25 targets against the Packers and Rams were more than All-Pro Trey McBride saw over any two-game stretch in a year in which he broke the tight end reception record. While accuracy issues from quarterback Caleb Williams limited the impact of some of that raw volume, the former first overall pick is expected to take another step forward in his second season in Ben Johnson's offense, potentially elevating the entire Chicago offense. With the passing game expected to run through Loveland, Rome Odunze, and Luther Burden III, the second-year tight end has risen to RotoBaller's dynasty TE3, and at only 22 years old, he is already knocking on the door of the fantasy elite.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 12, 2026, 9:58 AM ET

New York Mets starting pitcher Nolan McLean has only one win this season, but his numbers have been strong across the board despite his lack of run support. McLean has made eight starts this season, matching his total from last year after his promotion. He has an even higher strikeout rate (32.6%) than last year, with a lower WHIP (0.90) and FIP (2.39). His ERA is slightly higher than last season at 2.78, but the 24-year-old righty continues to progress across the rest of his metrics and should continue to grow into his ace potential as the year goes on. He has allowed three earned runs or fewer in every start this season and can continue to be a strong starting pitcher to anchor your fantasy rotation moving forward, despite his lack of consistent run support on an underperforming Mets team.--Zach Thompson
Source: RotoBaller

May 12, 2026, 9:53 AM ET

University of Louisville running back Isaac Brown decided to return to the Cardinals program after initially considering entering the transfer portal, a big win for Jeff Brohm. Brown is undoubtedly one of the top ball carriers in the country, and his production proves it. On just 101 rushing attempts during last year's injury-plagued sophomore season, Brown tallied 884 yards and seven touchdowns. His 8.8-yard rushing average ranked No. 1 nationally among players with at least 100 carries. He posted nearly 1,200 rushing yards as a freshman in 2024 and was clearly well on his way to doing so if he had a full season in 2025. With the inexperienced Ohio State quarterback transfer Lincoln Kienholz under center for the Cardinals in 2026, expect Brown to be the engine of Louisville's offense. With 1,148 rushing yards as a junior, he could move into second all-time in career rushing yards by a Cardinal, trailing only Lamar Jackson.--Jackson Sparks - RotoBaller
Source: ESPN

May 12, 2026, 9:52 AM ET

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James has yet to make plans for his future after his 23rd NBA campaign ended with a 115-110 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday, ESPN's Dave McMenamin reports. "I think you guys asked me about [retirement], and I've answered questions. I don't think I've come out and been like, 'Oh, retirement is coming,'" James said postgame. "With my future, I don't know, honestly. It's, obviously it's still fresh from, obviously losing [the series]. And I don't know. I don't know what the future holds for me." James, who turned 41 in December, was the Lakers' highest-paid player this term, earning $52.6 million. He doesn't have a contract or a contract option for next season. In 2025-26, James proved he can still be a highly impactful player, averaging 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 1.2 steals.--Taavi Pailk
Source: Dave McMenamin

May 12, 2026, 9:48 AM ET

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers finished the 2025 season with career highs of 86 receptions and 1,211 yards, while his five touchdown grabs matched the previous high mark from his rookie campaign, good enough to land him as the WR7 in Half-PPR formats. With quarterback Lamar Jackson missing four games and hampered in several others, Baltimore's passing offense ranked in the bottom five of the league, but a weak receiver room allowed Flowers to rack up a 30% target share. The Ravens have experienced some offseason shakeups that make Flowers' continued success more challenging to predict, but the path still exists for the 25-year-old former first-round pick to continue rising in dynasty rankings. Baltimore spent third and fourth-round picks to strengthen the receiver room with USC's Ja'Kobi Lane and Indiana's Elijah Sarratt, but new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle has stated a clear goal of making the offense more explosive in 2026. With Jackson topping 4,100 passing yards as recently as 2024, Flowers has the opportunity to match his raw production from last season even if his target share takes a hit. At RotoBaller's WR26, Flowers is potentially still undervalued as the clear WR1 in an offense led by a perennial MVP-contender.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 12, 2026, 9:45 AM ET

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell wrapped up the second-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers with a 28-point effort in Monday's 115-110 win. The 23-year-old sophomore had the best postseason scoring performance of his young career and also made a mark defensively, recording four steals. He had an outstanding 12-for-19 record from the field, though Mitchell made only one of four three-point attempts. He grabbed three rebounds and delivered four assists. The defending champions lost Jalen Williams (hamstring) in Round 1, but thanks to Mitchell's emergence, the team has done just fine without him. Since taking over Williams' spot in the starting lineup, Mitchell has averaged 21.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.2 steals per game.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

May 12, 2026, 9:43 AM ET

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Kevin Gausman had a rough outing at home on Monday night, giving up seven runs (six earned) to the Rays on 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings. He took the loss to fall to 2-3 on the season with a 3.86 ERA and 3.29 FIP. The 35-year-old righty reached a notable milestone by recording his 2,000th career strikeout, but it wasn't a strong outing overall. He has allowed 13 runs on 20 hits in 16 1/3 innings over his last three starts, with three home runs against him. He'll look to get back on track on Sunday with a road matchup in Detroit against the Tigers. He's a fringe starting pitcher option in standard-sized leagues at this point, but he has proven in the past few years that he can find his rhythm even after tough stretches like this one.--Zach Thompson
Source: ESPN

May 12, 2026, 9:41 AM ET

South Carolina wide receiver Nyck Harbor has become more of a factor in each of his three years with the program, catching more passes for more yards and more touchdowns each season. Last year, he set career highs in receptions (30), receiving yards (618), receiving touchdowns (six), and yards per reception (20.6). Despite standing at 6'5" and weighing north of 230 pounds, Harbor possesses game-changing, sprinter speed, and he could be in line for more volume and explosives with new offensive coordinator Kendal Briles in Columbia for his senior campaign. Harbor is a freak athlete, but he hasn't turned into a polished NFL-type wideout yet. With a big season in 2026, he could raise his 2027 NFL Draft stock significantly, similarly to how former Gamecock Xavier Legette did in his last season on campus.--Jackson Sparks - RotoBaller
Source: ESPN

May 12, 2026, 9:37 AM ET

Jacksonville Jaguars running back LeQuint Allen Jr. was on the field a surprising amount for a seventh-round rookie, with his superior pass blocking leading to more offensive snaps than his fourth-round teammate Bhayshul Tuten. While his opportunities were still limited, touching the ball only 33 times in year one, the path to a larger workload is there for 2026. With the Jaguars saying goodbye to Travis Etienne Jr. in free agency, the backfield is set to be turned over to the two youngsters and free agent acquisition Chris Rodriguez Jr. Having seen more than 160 targets across his last three seasons in Jacksonville, Etienne's absence creates a major vacuum in the passing game, and while Allen made only 10 catches as a rookie, that's four more than Rodriguez has accumulated in his three-year career. After leaving Syracuse as arguably the most accomplished receiving back in a loaded 2025 draft class, Allen could handle the primary pass-catching duties in what profiles to be a high-powered Liam Coen offense. At RotoBaller's dynasty RB90, he's seen his value steadily rise throughout the offseason, but given the fantasy-friendly opportunity that could be in front of him, it's possible Allen is still being severely undervalued.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 12, 2026, 9:36 AM ET

Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a game-high 35 points as the defending champions completed their second-round sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers with a 115-110 road win on Monday night. He also had one rebound, eight assists, and one steal, finishing 11-for-22 from the field and 12-for-15 at the free-throw line. This was by far Gilgeous-Alexander's best game of the series, but it's scary that the Thunder didn't need the reigning MVP to be at his best to extend their postseason-opening winning streak to eight games. Mark Daigneault's team is looking unstoppable, though the Thunder could face difficulties in the Conference Finals if they meet San Antonio -- they have lost four of five meetings with the Spurs this season, including the NBA Cup semifinal.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

May 12, 2026, 9:32 AM ET

Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Anthony Nunez earned his second save of the season on Monday night in his team's 3-2 victory over the Yankees. With Rico Garcia taking on the heart of New York's batting order in the eighth inning, Nunez came on in the ninth and locked down the victory with one strikeout and one hit against him. He gave up a single to Paul Goldschmidt with two outs, but pinch-runner Jose Caballero was thrown out attempting to steal second base to end the game. Nunez has a 4.05 ERA and 4.57 FIP in his 20 innings this season with a win, two saves, and six holds. He hasn't been quite as dominant as Garcia, but the two high-leverage options will likely continue to split the closer workload for Baltimore until Ryan Helsley (elbow) is ready to return from the injured list. If you need saves in a deep league, Nunez is an option to consider, although Garcia is still the preferred pickup if he's available.--Zach Thompson
Source: ESPN

May 12, 2026, 9:29 AM ET

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish and USC Trojans football programs have squared off 96 times since 1926, with the latest meeting in the 2026 season. This is one of the best rivalries in college football, but as of now, there are no scheduled matchups in the future. According to Ryan Kartje of the Los Angeles Times, the two schools have recently begun active discussions for resuming the rivalry. Kartje said it's possible the two schools still won't meet until the 2030 season, given their current scheduling agreements with other programs, but the negotiations have begun to restore the must-see game at some point in the future. Based on what we know, Notre Dame wants to keep the game later in the season, while USC wants the game early in the year. That appears to be the main point of contention, and why the series was not renewed earlier.--Jackson Sparks - RotoBaller
Source: Ryan Kartje - The Athletic

May 12, 2026, 9:27 AM ET

Detroit Pistons point guard Cade Cunningham couldn't get going in Monday's Game 4 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, finishing a 112-103 loss with 19 points, three rebounds, six assists, one steal, and five turnovers. He had a solid 2-for-5 record from deep but went 7-for-16 overall from the field. The 19-point effort marks Cunningham's postseason career low. Cunningham posted a triple-double in Game 3, but he had a tough time on the road, going 39.5% from the field. In Game 5, Cunningham will be back at home, where he has recorded a 50.0 field-goal percentage.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

May 12, 2026, 9:25 AM ET

Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Paul Sewald remains a very solid option at the end of the game, as he picked up his ninth save of the year on Monday night against the Rangers. Sewald entered a 1-0 game and worked a hitless ninth inning, allowing just one baserunner on a hit-by-pitch. The 35-year-old righty has converted all nine of his save opportunities this season, allowing five earned runs on six hits in 14 2/3 innings for a 3.07 ERA and 4.34 FIP. While he isn't the most dominant option in the league, Sewald consistently sees opportunities as the primary ninth-inning option for Arizona. He has nine saves in Arizona's 20 wins this season, and that total ties him for seventh-most in the majors. If he's available on the waiver wire in a league where you need saves, he's definitely worth a look, given his safe floor.--Zach Thompson
Source: ESPN

May 12, 2026, 9:24 AM ET

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders has had one of the strangest paths to begin an NFL career in recent memory, first falling to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft before making the Pro Bowl as a rookie despite throwing only seven touchdowns to 10 interceptions and completing fewer than 57% of his passes. With the Browns clearing house this offseason, Sanders will need to impress new head coach Todd Monken to reclaim the starting job with which he finished his rookie campaign. While Dillon Gabriel came off the board two rounds earlier than Sanders and was given the earlier crack at starting duties, and the team also spent a sixth-rounder in 2026 on developmental prospect Taylen Green, the early presumption is that the starting job will eventually go to either Sanders or veteran Deshaun Watson. Monken has stated that he would like to have a starter in place by the beginning of training camp. While some reports have suggested that Watson could have the initial edge, the former first-round pick of the Houston Texans has not thrown a pass in an NFL game since Week 7 of the 2024 season, and he is the only quarterback on the roster whose contract does not extend past 2026. At RotoBaller's QB34, Sanders should be viewed as a dynasty hold who could work his way back into a starting role or even see a bump to his value should the Browns opt to move him to another quarterback-needy team.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 12, 2026, 9:19 AM ET

Cal quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele's decision to return to the program following the coaching change from Justin Wilcox to Tosh Lupoi brings significant optimism that the team could be a contender in the ACC title race this season. Last year, as a true freshman, JKS completed over 64.2% of his passes for 3,454 yards, 18 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. The Golden Bears defeated two top-25 teams over their last four games, with Sagapolutele going over 320 passing yards in both upset wins. Momentum is building heading into 2026, and Sagapolutele is feeling it. "I'm very confident in our team," Sagapolutele said about Cal's chances at competing for an ACC title. "We have the guys to do it. We have the talent. It really just comes down to whether we want it enough, and I think we do." --Jackson Sparks - RotoBaller
Source: On3

May 12, 2026, 9:16 AM ET

Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Rico Garcia was excellent in his inning of work on Monday night in his team's 3-2 win over the Yankees. However, his fantasy managers will be disappointed that he was brought into the eighth inning instead of the ninth and earned a hold rather than a save. Garcia faced Ben Rice, Aaron Judge, and Cody Bellinger, retiring the heart of the Yankees' lineup in order with two strikeouts. He only needed nine pitches to get through the inning, but was replaced by Anthony Nunez for the ninth. Garcia has a stellar 0.47 ERA and 0.42 WHIP in his 19 innings this season, with 22 strikeouts and seven walks. He had two saves and a win in his previous three appearances and will continue to get high-leverage spots for the Orioles. He is definitely still a top option for saves in Baltimore, but this game is a reminder that he's still part of a committee. He's a solid short-term add while Ryan Helsley (elbow) is out, but he isn't the only primary ninth-inning option for the O's, which does slightly hurt his fantasy value.--Zach Thompson
Source: ESPN

May 12, 2026, 9:15 AM ET

Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden logged his 40th postseason double-double in Monday's 113-103 victory over the Detroit Pistons, scoring 24 points and handing out 11 assists. He also made a significant impact defensively, recording three steals and one block. Harden notched 15 of his points in the first half. The former MVP let Donovan Mitchell take over the offense after the break -- Mitchell tied an all-time postseason record with 39 second-half points. While Harden posted a strong line, he went only 5-for-14 from the field, missing all five two-point attempts. The Pistons have disrupted Harden's offensive rhythm, limiting him to a 39.3 field-goal percentage. Still, Harden has made big plays in recent games and remains vital to Cleveland's success.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

May 12, 2026, 9:12 AM ET

Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins ran with power and purpose in 2025 before a dislocated ankle and fractured fibula ended his rookie season. Even with the presumption of full health heading into year two, there were still concerns that his fantasy ceiling could be capped in a pedestrian Cleveland offense. With the Browns committing heavily to one side of the ball in the 2026 NFL Draft, many of those concerns have been assuaged, and Judkins has risen to RB12 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings. With the ninth overall pick, Cleveland made Utah's Spencer Fano the first offensive lineman off the board before spending its next two picks on receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston. With 2025 breakout tight end Harold Fannin Jr. already in the mix, the Browns have assembled the pieces of what could be a potent offense, putting Judkins in a far more favorable position if the team can overcome what again projects to be below-average quarterback play. Judkins ran for 827 yards as a rookie, but with defenses often keying on him, only 11.1% of that total came before contact. The additions made by Cleveland through the draft should help to open more space, and if the team can find a quarterback fix through one of the four players currently on the roster or in a loaded 2027 draft class, Judkins' hard-running consistency could soon make him a dynasty running back worth building around.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller