May 22, 2026, 11:13 AM ET

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Brenen Thompson is a very appealing name for managers in dynasty fantasy football leagues. While the Chargers have a somewhat crowded, young receiver room, there's an opportunity for Thompson to carve out a role in his rookie year and serve as a key receiving threat long-term. Thompson offers blazing speed and the ability to stretch the field for the Chargers. Head coach Jim Harbaugh compared the rookie to Tyreek Hill, which is very exciting when you consider that the Chargers' current offensive coordinator, Mike McDaniel, was Hill's head coach in Miami. We're not necessarily saying that Thompson will replicate Hill's back-to-back WR2 finishes from 2022 and 2023, but rather, we're encouraged by what seems like a real commitment to targeting Thompson downfield quite often. Even if it takes him a little while to adjust to the NFL in his rookie season, his ability to speed by defenders makes him a perfect fit for a pass-heavy system led by strong-armed quarterback Justin Herbert. Given his long-term upside as a WR3/flex or better, he's a steal at his current ranking as the WR94 in dynasty leagues. Dynasty managers are strongly encouraged to take a flier on Thompson in the late second or early third round of 2026 rookie drafts.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

May 22, 2026, 11:08 AM ET

The Minnesota Twins are calling up outfield prospect Gabriel Gonzalez to the majors on Friday, according to Milb Central. Gonzalez is considered the Twins' No. 7 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and he'll come up from Triple-A St. Paul to temporarily take the roster spot of infielder Tristan Gray, who is on paternity leave. The 22-year-old Venezuelan outfielder gets his first big-league call-up despite hitting just .216 (38-for-176) with a .294 on-base percentage, .392 slugging percentage, .686 OPS, eight home runs, 21 RBI, and 27 runs scored in 44 games across 197 plate appearances with the Saints this year. Gonzalez has walked 18 times and struck out 39 times. The 5-foot-10, 165-pounder has plenty of improvement to do as far as his plate discipline goes, needing to cut back on his chase rate at the plate. Fantasy managers should ignore Gonzalez for now, even in AL-only leagues, since there is a good chance he'll be sent back to St. Paul in a few days when Gray returns from paternity leave.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Milb Central

May 22, 2026, 11:07 AM ET

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor was playing at an elite level for most of last year, but his production took a hit after quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles) suffered a season-ending injury. Taylor ranked as the RB1 in PPR leagues from Week 1 to Week 10, and it wasn't particularly close; he was a full 25.1 points ahead of the RB2 during that span, Christian McCaffrey, and a full 89.9 points ahead of the RB4, Jahmyr Gibbs. We could see Taylor return to that level in 2026, as Jones is projected to be healthy for Week 1. Additionally, the Colts might adopt more of a run-heavy approach in 2026 after trading away Michael Pittman Jr. The good news for Taylor is that the Colts didn't bring in any major competition, so the backfield should belong to him once again. If he can stay healthy, he projects to average 20+ touches per game. There's both short-term and long-term appeal, as Taylor is still just 27 years old and ranks as the overall RB6 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

May 22, 2026, 10:55 AM ET

Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Quinn Priester (shoulder) was hit around again during his minor-league rehab outing on Thursday with Triple-A Nashville, giving up five earned runs on five hits while walking three and striking out two in three innings of work to take his third loss in the minors for Nashville. In his previous rehab appearance at High-A Wisconsin last weekend, Priester surrendered seven runs in just 1 1/3 innings pitched. Although he was a bit better on Thursday, his velocity was still down a few ticks as he tries to work his way back from thoracic outlet symptoms in his hand and shoulder. It's unclear how many more rehab starts Priester will need before potentially coming off the 15-day injured list for his 2026 season debut with the Brewers, but right now, he doesn't appear to be close to being major-league-ready. The 25-year-old former first-rounder by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2019 had his best year in the big leagues in 2025 in his first year in Milwaukee, but he doesn't appear to be the same pitcher right now. Priester is rostered in only 17% of Yahoo leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Milb.com

May 22, 2026, 10:41 AM ET

Athletics right-hander Luis Severino had a get-right matchup on tap on Thursday night against the floundering last-place Los Angeles Angels, and he took advantage of it. Although Severino came away with a no-decision in the team's 3-2 win, he had a strong performance on the mound, allowing only two earned runs and three hits (one homer) while walking none and striking out a season-high 10 for a quality start to lower his season ERA to 4.23. The 32-year-old veteran hurler induced 18 swings and misses on the night at Angels Stadium and reached seven innings for just the second time this year. The only runs that Severino allowed came on a two-run home run to Nolan Schanuel in the first frame. It was a nice bounce-back performance after he gave up a season-high five earned runs and 10 hits in six innings his last time out on May 16 against the San Francisco Giants. Severino now has three quality starts in 2026 and has given up two or fewer runs in five of his last six starts. His next matchup is scheduled to come against the division-rival Seattle Mariners, who rank 20th in MLB in OPS (.694).--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

May 22, 2026, 10:34 AM ET

Miami Marlins outfielder Kyle Stowers extended his hitting streak to five games in Thursday's 9-3 loss to the division-rival Atlanta Braves by going 2-for-4 with two solo home runs to boost his season average to .228 and his OPS to .694. It was Stowers' first multi-homer game of the 2026 campaign after he did it an astonishing five times during his breakout 2025 season. The 28-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder has gone 6-for-18 (.333) with two homers, a double, five RBI, and five runs scored during his current five-game hitting streak, and fantasy managers are really hoping that this is the start of Stowers hitting more like he did last season. So far in his second full season in Miami, the former second-rounder of the Baltimore Orioles in 2019 out of Stanford has struggled to a .228/.328/.366 slash line with a .694 OPS, only three home runs, eight RBI, 15 runs scored, and a stolen base in his 101 at-bats.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

May 22, 2026, 10:26 AM ET

Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II had his third straight multi-hit game on Thursday in the team's 9-3 win over the division-rival Miami Marlins, going 2-for-5 at the plate with two home runs, three RBI, and a strikeout to raise his season average to .298 and his OPS to .848. It was Harris' eighth career multi-home run game, and his second already this season. In 18 games and 68 plate appearances so far in May, he has gone 18-for-67 (.269) with five home runs, a double, nine RBI, 11 runs scored, and a stolen base. Fantasy managers have to love what they've seen from the 25-year-old former third-rounder in 2019 after he had his first 20-20 campaign with a career-high 86 RBI in 160 games played in 2025 in his fourth year in the big leagues. Harris had a career-worst .678 OPS last year despite hit 20-20 season, but so far in 2026, he has an .848 OPS with 11 total home runs, 29 RBI, 22 runs scored, and three steals in 48 games played across 176 plate appearances. Keep riding him during his current hot streak as the team goes into a series this weekend against the division-rival Washington Nationals.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

May 22, 2026, 10:13 AM ET

Seattle Mariners pitching prospect Kade Anderson remains an elite option to stash among pitchers despite his recent five-run showing. On May 15, Anderson's near-perfect start to his professional career came to a halt as he allowed a season-worst five runs and six hits to Northwest Arkansas. However, prior to this showing, the former LSU superstar was on an incredible pace at Double-A and was making a case to join the majors much sooner than anticipated. Over his first 30 frames, the lefty struck out 47 hitters while walking five batters with a dominant 0.60 ERA and a 0.67 WHIP. However, the only concern for Anderson's redraft value is his path to the majors. While his upside remains high, he has a difficult path to joining the MLB roster, pitching on a deep Seattle team that already has six proven starters on the MLB roster. Since he will likely have to wait for multiple injuries to earn the call, he is best left for 12-team leagues that have several N/A spots.--Andy Smith
Source: MiLB.com

May 22, 2026, 10:11 AM ET

Milwaukee Brewers outfield prospect Luis Lara has continued to swing a hot bat at Triple-A Nashville and is emerging as a top hitting prospect to stash. Over his last 17 games at Triple-A (since May 1), Lara has posted an impressive .385/.494/.492 line with a .986 OPS. During this stretch, the young outfielder has launched two home runs, hit two doubles, and swiped five bases. Overall, though his first 46 games with the top club in the Milwaukee pipeline, Lara has carried a .339/.446/.509 line with a .955 OPS. His power is worth nothing as his seven long balls have already surpassed his 2025 total of two home runs. Seeing him not only produce at a higher level but also showcase his elite raw power has put him among the top prospects to stash ahead of Week 9.--Andy Smith
Source: MiLB.com

May 22, 2026, 10:10 AM ET

Los Angeles Dodgers pitching prospect River Ryan is coming off his best showing at Triple-A and is now firmly in must-stash territory ahead of Week 9 of the fantasy baseball season. Given that Blake Snell recently joined Tyler Glasnow on the injured list, the MLB roster is in need of pitching depth. Even though Ryan missed nearly a month of action due to an injury at Triple-A, he has since returned to action and is showing high-end upside. He returned from the IL on May 15 and logged four innings of one-run ball with a 4:1 K:BB. However, on Thursday night, he looked far more comfortable, tossing five shutout frames with only two hits, no walks, and a season-high seven punchouts. He made his MLB debut in the 2024 season and looked quite comfortable, posting a 1.33 ERA over his first 20 1/3 innings. Given that the Dodgers lack much pitching depth, Ryan appears to be knocking on the big-league doorstep, making him an elite stash option in all standard leagues this weekend.--Andy Smith
Source: MiLB.com

May 22, 2026, 10:09 AM ET

Detroit Tigers outfield prospect Max Clark was in consideration to break camp with the MLB roster, but ultimately fell short in the competition. Despite not taking a single Triple-A at-bat prior to the 2026 season, he nearly broke camp with fellow top prospect Kevin McGonigle. While the infielder has taken much of the headlines in Detroit, Clark possesses just as much upside and could become an eventual league-winner once he is promoted. Through his first 42 games at the Triple-A level, Clark has posted a .267/.337/.336 line with just one home run, 12 doubles, and 10 stolen bases. Over his last 10, he has gone hitless in just one contest but has only tallied three extra-base hits. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor the power output. Once he begins to tap into his raw power, he could be fast-tracked to the MLB roster. Given his potential to contribute to all five categories, he remains an elite stash target in all formats.--Andy Smith
Source: MiLB.com

May 22, 2026, 10:08 AM ET

The New York Giants are unsure of when wide receiver Malik Nabers will be able to return from what head coach John Harbaugh told reporters on Thursday was "not a simple knee" injury. Nabers tore the ACL in his right knee in a Week 4 win over the Chargers and underwent a second surgery, described as a cleanup procedure, in the spring of 2026. He did not participate in the team's organized practice on Thursday, and while Harbaugh went on to say that Nabers was doing his job to return as soon as possible, the optimism that he might be ready for the start of training camp seems to have faded. Nabers broke the team's single-season reception record with 109 grabs as a rookie in 2024, and while he and 2025 first-round pick Jaxson Dart were unable to get through even a single full game together, the future of the Giants' offense remains bright if Nabers can eventually return to anything resembling that record-breaking form. Still only 22 years old, Nabers is RotoBaller's dynasty WR5, though when fully healthy, he'll have a realistic chance of claiming the top spot in the rankings.--Patrick McGrath
Source: Adam Schefter

May 22, 2026, 10:06 AM ET

Milwaukee Brewers infield prospect Cooper Pratt is currently ranked as MLB.com's No. 66 overall prospect and could make his MLB debut in the second half. Even though he will likely have to compete with fellow Triple-A prospect Jett Williams for a role on the MLB roster, Pratt could be called upon to reach the major leagues first. Pratt joined the Brewers in the sixth round of the 2023 MLB Draft and has quickly progressed through their system. During the 2025 campaign, the infielder spent his entire season with Double-A and posted a .238/.343/.348 line with a .691 OPS. During these 120 games, Pratt had 22 doubles, eight home runs, and swiped 31 bases. So far, during his first 39 games at Triple-A, Pratt has held a similar .228 AVG but has continued to show high-end speed, stealing 11 bags and adding another five long balls. If Pratt can continue to make consistent contact at the plate, he could surpass Williams and debut first. For now, he is a viable stash target in deeper 12+ team leagues looking for speed upside.--Andy Smith
Source: MiLB.com

May 22, 2026, 10:04 AM ET

Minnesota Twins infield prospect Kaelen Culpepper has continued to swing a hot bat at Triple-A St. Paul and enters Week 9 as one of the top overall prospects to stash in fantasy. With Royce Lewis now in the minor leagues, Culpepper stands as one of the top options in the system to join the MLB roster. Through the first 42 games with Triple-A this summer, Culpepper has held a .250/.355/.459 line with an .814 OPS. During this stretch, Culpepper has launched nine home runs and swiped nine bags. However, over his last 16 games (since May 1), the former Kansas State standout has been even more impressive at the plate, posting a .277 AVG and a stellar .953 OPS. If he maintains this pace, Culpepper should be poised to earn the call to the majors in the near future. His five-category potential and clear path to MLB at-bats push him to the top of the stash rankings ahead of Week 9.--Andy Smith
Source: MiLB.com

May 22, 2026, 10:02 AM ET

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen on May 26, which will be the first time throwing off the mound since he underwent elbow surgery in mid-March to remove bone chips from his right elbow. Although the timeline to return in July is speculative based on his throwing progression, Greene has so much upside that, if your roster configuration can afford to grab him now, he could be a league-winner down the stretch, especially for teams comfortably at the top of their standings. Coming into the season, Greene was a consensus top-20 starting pitcher, and is coming off back-to-back seasons with a sub-3 ERA and north of 27.7 percent strikeout rate. Greene, who is 26 years old, should be entering his prime, but has been repeatedly slowed by injuries throughout his career. Once he returns, he will immediately be slotted at the top of the Reds' rotation to go along with young star Chase Burns and Nick Lodolo.--Nicho Roessler
Source: Baseball Savant

May 22, 2026, 9:54 AM ET

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Bryan Baker has been great in 2026, with a 2.66 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 24 strikeouts in 20 1/3 innings pitched. He picked up his 13th save of the season on Tuesday against Baltimore and is now third in MLB with 16 save opportunities and 13 saves on the season, trailing only Mason Miller and Cade Smith in both. Not only has Baker looked solid on the surface, but his 2.53 xERA, .187 xBA, and 85.9 mph average exit velo all rank in the 90th percentile or better, and he has great swing and miss stuff, which is evident by his 29.3 percent strikeout rate. He has proven to be Kevin Cash's top option to close out games. Because it is the Rays, fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if Baker, every so often, is used in the 7th or 8th inning in a high-leverage situation, but overall, they should feel comfortable knowing they have a top 5 closer given the current state of closers in 2026.--Nicho Roessler
Source: Baseball Savant

May 22, 2026, 9:50 AM ET

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba finished as the fantasy WR2 in half-PPR formats on his way to winning the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year Award in 2025. At only 24 years old, he has climbed all the way to WR2 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings. While it's entirely possible that 2025 could mark Smith-Njigba's fantasy peak, he is comfortably in his prime as one of the most dynamic wide receivers in the league. While he could obviously fetch a handsome return via trade, Smith-Njigba is a dynasty asset worth holding onto by any manager with even a sliver of hope for contention in the near future. The Seahawks deployed 11 personnel at the 29th-lowest rate in the league in 2025, and while offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has since taken the top job in Las Vegas, he's been replaced by former 49ers tight ends coach Brian Fleury, who saw San Francisco rank 28th in that same category. For Smith-Njigba, this means continued usage in two, and even one-receiver sets, giving him a chance to match his 38.3% first-read target share from 2025, second only to the Rams' Puka Nacua. While only one receiver (Tyreek Hill) has turned in back-to-back top two fantasy finishes since 2018, Smith-Njigba will at least have a chance of joining that list. Even if 2025 does prove to represent his ceiling, in an environment built to see him succeed, his floor is still realistically in the WR1 range.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 22, 2026, 9:45 AM ET

Milwaukee Brewers right-handed pitcher Logan Henderson continues to prove to the fantasy community and to the Brewers that he belongs in the Brewers' rotation after another strong outing on May 16 against the Twins, where he threw five innings, allowed one earned run, six hits, one walk, and struck out seven batters. In his MLB career, which has been the last two seasons, Henderson now owns a 2.49 ERA and 1.02 WHIP with a 56/11 K/BB ratio in 43 1/3 innings pitched (nine starts). His control is elite (4.2 percent walk rate), he limits hard contact (28.9 percent), and has a good strikeout rate (32.4 percent). He is a must-add off the waiver wire if he's still out there, as even with the return of Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) and Quinn Priester (shoulder) nearing, he should remain in the rotation.--Nicho Roessler
Source: Baseball Savant

May 22, 2026, 9:37 AM ET

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley turned in one of the best fantasy seasons in recent memory in 2024, topping 2,000 rushing yards while garnering MVP consideration. Even with regression all but a foregone conclusion following the 482-touch campaign, his second season in Philadelphia was still considered a disappointment, with his rushing yards and touchdowns both dropping by more than 40%, resulting in an RB14 finish. Now, at 29 years old, Barkley has fallen to RB11 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings, making him an appealing trade candidate for contending managers. Philadelphia's new offensive coordinator, Sean Mannion, is unproven in the position, but with Kevin Patullo seeming to actively hold the team back during his one year on the job, the new-look Eagles offense has room to grow from its 24th-place finish a year ago. Philadelphia has the seventh-easiest schedule in 2026, according to win projections, offering Barkley the opportunity to regularly find himself in favorable situations. The depth chart behind him remains largely unchanged, and even while his raw volume was down in 2025, he still handled 76% of the team's running back touches. Barkley has never finished outside the top 15 at the position while missing fewer than four games, a sample size of six different seasons, so to get him priced near his floor now makes him a smart short-term trade target still capable of delivering multiple RB1 finishes.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 22, 2026, 9:32 AM ET

Athletics' right-handed reliever Mark Leiter Jr. picked up his fourth save of the season on Friday in extras, as the Athletics went on to win 3-2 in the 10th inning. Leiter got off to a rocky start, as Jo Adell hit a leadoff single and first, which resulted in first and third with no outs, but proceeded to strike out Josh Lowe and get Jorge Soler to ground into a double play. With his now fourth save, Leiter is tied with Joel Kuhnel and Hogan Harris for the most saves on the team. Jack Perkins has also been involved, as he has three saves of his own. The closer timeshare for the Athletics continues to evolve; however, Leiter has now thrown five consecutive scoreless outings and, during that same stretch, has allowed only three hits and punched out seven batters. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues desperate for saves may want to take a look at Leiter.--Nicho Roessler
Source: ESPN

May 22, 2026, 9:24 AM ET

Linebacker Jack Campbell and the Detroit Lions have agreed to a four-year, $81 million extension that makes him one of the highest-paid off-ball linebackers in the league and will keep the young All-Pro with the team through the 2030 season. A first-round pick in 2023, Campbell did not earn an every-down role until partway through his second season, but by year three, he'd become a mainstay at the center of Detroit's swarming defense. His 176 tackles, five sacks, and three forced fumbles in 2025 earned him his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections while making him one of the most valuable IDP assets in the game. At 25 years old, Campbell is RotoBaller's LB1, and this long-term security should be enough to keep him at or near that spot for the foreseeable future.--Patrick McGrath
Source: Ian Rapoport

May 22, 2026, 9:21 AM ET

Following Thursday night's game, the New York Yankees optioned their No. 6 overall prospect Spencer Jones to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. No corresponding move has been named yet, but it's possible the move was made to make room for Gerrit Cole (elbow) or Jose Caballero (finger), who are expected to be reinstated from the IL on Friday. Jones was called up to the Yankees on May 7 after Jasson Dominguez (shoulder) was injured. Jones went 4-for-24 with no extra base hits, two RBI, zero runs scored, and one stolen base over 10 contests since his debut, making his first stint fairly underwhelming. Most of his underlying data supported the struggle, as his plate discipline was very poor, with a 37.7 percent chase rate, 41.7 percent whiff rate, and 45.8 percent strikeout rate. The 25-year-old will look to improve on his game in Triple-A and will likely be called up again if not later this year, in the next year or two.--Nicho Roessler
Source: New York Yankees

May 22, 2026, 9:12 AM ET

Reigning MVP quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams have agreed to a one-year extension worth up to $60 million with incentives. Stafford can now earn up to $105 million over the next two seasons, as he is committed to the Rams through 2027. The 17-year veteran threw a career-high 46 touchdown passes in 2025 while topping 4,700 passing yards for only the fourth time in his Hall of Fame-worthy career. With Los Angeles all in on another Super Bowl push, the environment around Stafford should continue to support fantasy success, and with him entering his age-38 season, he is one of the lower-cost dynasty quarterbacks still capable of turning in consistent week-winning finishes. Stafford is RotoBaller's QB25, but that ranking is likely to rise, with one additional season of reassurance making a monumental difference at this stage in his dynasty career.--Patrick McGrath
Source: Adam Schefter

May 22, 2026, 9:00 AM ET

Cleveland Cavaliers forward/center Evan Mobley chipped in 14 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two blocks in Thursday's 109-93 Game 2 loss to the New York Knicks, knocking down two threes on 5-for-8 shooting. The 2024-25 Defensive Player of the Year stretched the floor and protected the rim, but his rebounding dropped off sharply from the 14 boards he grabbed in Game 1. Cleveland's frontcourt simply couldn't generate enough second-chance offense once an 18-0 Knicks third-quarter run flipped the game. Mobley remains a steady multi-category contributor whose blocks, boards, and improving outside touch give him a high fantasy floor even on a down scoring night. With the series shifting to Rocket Arena, expect his interior workload against Karl-Anthony Towns to climb in a near-elimination Game 3.--Brian Dailisan
Source: NBA

May 22, 2026, 8:51 AM ET

Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden tallied 18 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals, and three three-pointers in Thursday's 109-93 Game 2 loss to the New York Knicks. The 36-year-old shot 6-for-15 from the field and 3-for-3 at the line, but his low assist total was a problem on a night when Cleveland's offense stalled badly. The Cavaliers shot only 38.8 percent overall and 9-for-35 from three-point range, falling into a 2-0 series hole. Harden can still supply scoring and steals, but Cleveland needs more playmaking from him in Game 3.--Brian Dailisan
Source: NBA

May 22, 2026, 8:40 AM ET

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell paced his team with 26 points in Thursday's 109-93 Game 2 loss to the New York Knicks, sinking 8-of-9 at the free-throw line on a night the Cavs converted just 68.8 percent there as a group. The four-time All-Star shot 8-for-18 from the field with two threes, four rebounds, one assist, and one block, and his floater briefly cut the deficit to eight before an 18-0 Knicks third-quarter run buried Cleveland. "I thought our process was right tonight, so that gives me confidence going home," coach Kenny Atkinson said. Mitchell's volume and free-throw access keep his fantasy floor high regardless of efficiency, and a return to Rocket Arena down 2-0 sets up a likely usage spike. He poured in 48 points in a similar spot a year ago, so the ceiling for a Game 3 outburst is real.--Brian Dailisan
Source: NBA

May 22, 2026, 8:31 AM ET

New York Knicks forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns recorded 18 points, 13 rebounds, one assist, and three three-pointers in Thursday's 109-93 Game 2 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 30-year-old shot 7-for-12 from the field and 1-for-2 at the line, giving New York an efficient inside-out counter while Jalen Brunson shifted into facilitator mode. Towns also finished plus-18 over 36 minutes, a solid response after a quieter Game 1. With Josh Hart scoring 26 and Brunson handing out 14 assists, Towns did not need heavy usage to carry fantasy value through rebounds, efficiency, and floor spacing.--Brian Dailisan
Source: NBA

May 22, 2026, 8:26 AM ET

Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho delivered one assist in Thursday's 6-2 Game 1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference Finals. Coming off an 11-day break, the Hurricanes' top line showed no rust at the start of the game as Aho and Andrei Svechnikov set up Seth Jarvis for the opening goal. However, eight minutes later, the Hurricanes were already down 3-1 and couldn't avoid their first postseason loss of the year. Despite the team's dominance, Aho has not been very productive in the playoffs. He has five points (three goals, two assists) in nine games, going scoreless five times. Based on what we saw in Game 1, Carolina will be in major trouble in the series if the team's top centerman can't improve his offensive production.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

May 22, 2026, 8:24 AM ET

New York Knicks guard/forward Mikal Bridges scored 19 points on a tidy 9-for-12 from the field in Thursday's 109-93 Game 2 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, adding three rebounds, three assists, one steal, and a corner three that pushed the lead back to 13 in the fourth. The former Net rarely needed more than a clean look, converting at the kind of clip that justified the trade haul New York gave up for him. He didn't lean on volume from deep, taking just a handful of attempts after a season spent ironing out a shooting hitch that surfaced in the preseason. Bridges has settled into a steady two-way role behind Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart, and nights like this keep him a dependable source of points and steals without the boom-or-bust threes that drag his floor.--Brian Dailisan
Source: NBA

May 22, 2026, 8:17 AM ET

New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson tallied 19 points, three rebounds, 14 assists, and one three-pointer in Thursday's 109-93 Game 2 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 29-year-old shot 7-for-16 from the field and 4-for-4 at the line, trading his usual scoring-heavy profile for a playoff career-high assist total as Cleveland sent extra attention his way. Josh Hart turned those openings into 26 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns posted an 18-point, 13-rebound double-double. Through two games of the series, Brunson is averaging 28.5 points and 10.0 assists, giving him a useful floor even when the shot volume dips.--Brian Dailisan
Source: NBA