February 22, 2026
Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron will start in the 13th position for Sunday's Autotrader 400 at EchoPark Speedway after qualifying was cancelled due to weather. Since the Atlanta track was reconfigured in 2022, Byron has maintained a perfect streak of starting every race at the site in the top 20. In eight races since 2022 at Atlanta, Byron has four top-20 finishes, including two victories. Byron is one of only three drivers since 2022 to have won twice at EchoPark Speedway. The No. 24 Chevrolet driver finished 12th after starting 39th in last week's Daytona 500. Although Byron does not offer as much upside as some based on his starting position, his history shows that he is capable of scoring a top finish and competing for wins. Byron is usable in all DFS formats, but is especially preferred for tournaments as a pivot option who could pay off.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: racing-reference.info
February 22, 2026
Baltimore Orioles third baseman
Jordan Westburg (elbow) will begin the 2026 campaign on the injured list. Westburg is dealing with a partially torn UCL and will be sidelined through April. The 27-year-old is uncertain about his timetable and when he'll be able to get back to playing baseball. Westburg won't have Tommy John surgery and instead will opt for platelet-rich plasma injections. The Orioles are hopeful the PRP injections will be enough to solve the problem. This is basically going to be a waiting game to see how Westburg responds to the injections. He is going to be out through April and it wouldn't be shocking to see Westburg miss more time than that. In the meantime,
Coby Mayo figures to see the bulk of the playing time at third base, while
Blaze Alexander could be mixed in as well.
--Andy WebbSource: Roch Kubatko
February 22, 2026
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver
Rondale Moore has passed away at 25 years old, according to Ahmad Hicks of FOX9. His death is under investigation, but law enforcement officials said they found Moore in a garage with a suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound. Moore entered the NFL as a second-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2021. He made an immediate impact as a rookie, catching 54 passes for 435 yards and a touchdown. He posted similar numbers over his next two years in Arizona. He was traded to the Atlanta Falcons prior to the 2024 season, but ultimately missed the entire year due to a knee injury that he suffered in training camp. One year later, during a preseason game with the Vikings, he suffered another season-ending knee injury, forcing him out for the entire 2025 campaign. He was scheduled to enter unrestricted free agency next month.
--Andersen PickardSource: Ahmad Hicks
February 22, 2026
Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin is starting 29th for the Autotrader 400 at EchoPark Speedway after qualifying was cancelled by weather. This marks the fourth consecutive race where Hamlin will start outside of the top 25 at the Atlanta track since 2022. In the eight previous races at Atlanta, Hamlin has three top-15 finishes and an average finish of 19.8. Last week in the Daytona 500, Hamlin led three laps and placed 31st after a crash left him with damage, eventually leading him to finish two laps down. Hamlin has plenty of upside from his starting position for this week's race since he starts towards the back. Although Hamlin does not have the strongest finishing history, he is usable and worth consideration for all lineup formats based on his large potential ceiling.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: racing-reference.info
February 22, 2026
RFK Racing's Brad Keselowski will start in fifth for Sunday's race at EchoPark Speedway, the Autotrader 400. This will be Keselowski's fourth top-10 start at the Atlanta track since 2022. In his last eight races at Atlanta, the No. 6 Ford driver has six top-20 finishes with only three inside the top 10, and an average finish of 16.4. Keselowski was also the runner-up in the last Atlanta race, where he also led 46 laps. In last week's Daytona race, the Daytona 500, Keselowski finished in fifth position. Keselowski offers little upside for DFS based on his starting position this week, making him difficult to recommend outside of tournament lineups. Although he will likely have a fast car and has some potential to compete for the win, Keselowski is a risk to roster in DFS on Sunday.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: racing-reference.info
February 22, 2026
Bubba Wallace of 23XI Racing will start in the ninth position for this week's race at EchoPark Speedway, the Autotrader 400. This will be the first time that Wallace will start in the top 10 at the Atlanta track since it was reconfigured in 2022. In eight races since 2022 at Atlanta, Wallace has four top-15 finishes, including two inside the top 10, and an average finish of 18.0. Last week at the Daytona 500, Wallace won the second stage and led the most laps (40) before finishing in 10th place. The No. 23 Toyota driver does not carry much upside for this week's race, and despite his favorable history of finishes at drafting tracks, he is only recommended for use in tournament lineups in DFS.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: racing-reference.info
February 22, 2026
Team Penske driver Austin Cindric is starting in 30th place for the Autotrader 400 at EchoPark Speedway after qualifying was cancelled due to the weather. This will be the first time in his Cup career that Cindric will start a race at the Atlanta track outside of the top 20. In eight previous races at the site, Cindric has five finishes of 12th or better with an average finish of 17.3 and led in seven different events. Last week at Daytona for the Daytona 500, Cindric led five laps and finished 34th, seven laps down after he was damaged in a crash. With Cindric starting towards the back of the pack, he has plenty of upside, and Penske tends to be one of the fastest teams on drafting tracks. Look for Cindric to be one of the higher-end scorers for DFS this week, making him a great option for all formats.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: racing-reference.info
February 22, 2026
Trackhouse Racing's Ross Chastain will start in the 21st position for the Autotrader 400 at EchoPark Speedway after qualifying was cancelled due to weather. This will be the seventh consecutive race at the site where Chastain will start outside of the top 10 since 2022. In the last eight Atlanta races, Chastain has six finishes of 13th or better with an average finish of 14.1. Four of those finishes were top-10 finishes for Chastain in that span. He also participated in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Atlanta, where he finished in sixth position after leading at the white flag. The No. 1 Chevrolet driver also finished 20th and led 12 laps last week in the Daytona 500. For this week's race at Atlanta, Chastain has solid upside and favorable track history. Fantasy players should highly consider Chastain for all formats, especially as he can be a sneaky option who can pay off well for DFS.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: racing-reference.info
February 22, 2026
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will start in the third position for this week's Autotrader 400 at EchoPark Speedway after qualifying was cancelled due to weather. Since 2022, when Atlanta Motor Speedway was reconfigured, Stenhouse has never previously started in the top 10. In the last eight races at EchoPark, Stenhouse has four top-10 finishes, which were all earned in his last five appearances. Stenhouse has also placed in the top 20 in each of his last six Atlanta races. He also finished as the runner-up last week in the Daytona 500. Despite his history of positive finishes at Atlanta, Stenhouse's high starting position leaves him almost no upside for DFS. Stenhouse is only worth consideration for tournament lineups, and even then, there are other alternatives with more upside and cap flexibility available.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: racing-reference.info
February 22, 2026
After qualifying was cancelled, Alex Bowman of Hendrick Motorsports was given a starting position of 36th for the Autotrader 400 at EchoPark Speedway. Since 2022, this will be Bowman's lowest starting position at the site. In eight prior races at Atlanta, Bowman has four top-15 finishes with three of them inside the top 10. Two of Bowman's last three appearances at the site ended with top-5 finishes. Last week at Daytona for the Daytona 500, Bowman ended the race in 40th after crashing. With his starting position towards the very end of the field, Bowman is one of the safest DFS options available for this week's race. Despite his boom-or-bust results at Atlanta, the upside makes Bowman worthy of consideration for all DFS formats.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: racing-reference.info
February 22, 2026
Chicago Bulls guard
Anfernee Simons (wrist) did not return to Saturday's game against Detroit after injuring his left wrist in the second quarter. He finished with 4 points on 2-of-6 shooting and two rebounds in 13 minutes off the bench, and his availability for Sunday against New York is now in question. If Simons sits,
Tre Jones and
Collin Sexton would be in line for expanded roles, especially if
Josh Giddey is rested on the back end of the back-to-back. Jones posted seven points and six assists in 26 minutes Saturday, while Sexton's production remains scoring-dependent. Jones is the steadier short-term add for assists and steals.
--Brian DailisanSource: Chicago Bulls
February 22, 2026
Golden State Warriors forward/center
Kristaps Porzingis (Achilles) is listed as probable for Sunday's game against Denver and is expected to come off the bench again with increased minutes. The 30-year-old made his team debut Thursday, finishing with 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting, two threes, one rebound, one assist, and one block in 17 minutes. If his minutes tick up, he becomes even more secure in standard leagues, especially with
Stephen Curry (knee) out. There's obvious injury risk baked in with Porzingis, so he comes with volatility, but a 29.0 percent usage rate shows the upside is real when he's on the floor.
Draymond Green and
Al Horford could see slight role shifts as the rotation settles.
--Brian DailisanSource: NBA Injury Report
February 22, 2026
Portland Trail Blazers guard/forward
Shaedon Sharpe (calf) remains out for Sunday's game against Phoenix, marking his sixth consecutive absence as the team continues to err on the side of caution. The backcourt minutes are still up in the air.
Vit Krejci scored 11 points with two threes in 17 minutes last game,
Matisse Thybulle added five points and three steals in 13 minutes, and
Sidy Cissoko chipped in two steals and two blocks in 16 minutes. All three are fringe, risky streaming options in deeper formats.
--Brian DailisanSource: NBA Injury Report
February 22, 2026
Los Angeles Clippers forward/center
John Collins (head) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Orlando after sustaining a head laceration and neck soreness in Friday's loss to the Lakers. His next chance to suit up comes Thursday. In his absence,
Bennedict Mathurin should continue handling elevated usage after posting 26 points and seven rebounds in 32 minutes last game.
Nicolas Batum saw 15 minutes with three rebounds, two assists, and one steal, but remains a low-upside option. Mathurin is the preferred short-term play, while Batum and
Kobe Sanders are fringe, deeper-league considerations.
Kawhi Leonard's (ankle) status could further shape wing minutes.
--Brian DailisanSource: NBA Injury Report
February 22, 2026
Indiana Pacers guard/forward
Aaron Nesmith (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Dallas as he continues to recover from a right ankle sprain. This will be his second straight absence, leaving wing minutes available but without a clear fantasy winner.
Ben Sheppard logged 20 minutes in the last game and finished with eight points, five rebounds, three assists, and one steal, while
Kobe Brown played 33 minutes and posted 12 points, five rebounds, two threes, and two steals. Both remain fringe and risky options for streaming in deeper formats.
Pascal Siakam and
Jarace Walker should continue to absorb stable usage.
--Brian DailisanSource: NBA Injury Report
February 22, 2026
Indiana Pacers center
Ivica Zubac (ankle) is out for Sunday's game against Dallas as he continues to recover from a sprained ankle. With the Pacers managing multiple rotation injuries, there is little incentive to rush him back.
Jay Huff should remain in the starting lineup after erupting for 22 points with five threes in 16 minutes last game, and he previously logged 15 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks in 21 minutes. Huff is a clear streamer in standard formats, while
Micah Potter profiles as a deep-league add after posting 18 points and four threes.
Jarace Walker also gains frontcourt stability minutes.
--Brian DailisanSource: NBA Injury Report
February 22, 2026
Minnesota Timberwolves center
Rudy Gobert will miss Sunday's game against Philadelphia after the league handed him a one-game ban for exceeding the regular-season flagrant foul threshold following Friday's win over Dallas. The 33-year-old averages 32 minutes with a 13.4 percent usage rate, so the fantasy swing comes from his absence, not volume.
Naz Reid is the clear beneficiary after posting 21 points, seven rebounds, four threes, four assists, one steal, and two blocks in 31 minutes last game. Reid profiles as a strong short-term start, while
Joan Beringer is only a deep-league dart.
Julius Randle and
Anthony Edwards should see marginal rebounding and usage bumps.
--Brian DailisanSource: NBA Injury Report
February 21, 2026
Phoenix Suns guard
Devin Booker (hip) will be sidelined for at least one week as a result of the right hip strain he suffered in Thursday's loss to the San Antonio Spurs. The 29-year-old has struggled to stay healthy of late, most recently missing seven contests because of a sprained right ankle. Unfortunately, the latest update means he will miss even more time moving forward. With
Dillon Brooks (hand) out indefinitely, the Suns will need to lean on
Grayson Allen,
Collin Gillespie, and
Jalen Green.
Jordan Goodwin, who had 17 points from off the bench in Saturday's double-overtime win over Orlando, should see even more work and scoring opportunities, at least until Booker is cleared to return.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Shams Charania
February 21, 2026
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Phoenix Suns forward
Dillon Brooks sustained a broken left hand in Saturday's double-overtime win over the Magic. He is projected to be out "for an extended period of time," although he will meet with physicians on Sunday to "determine an exact timetable." The 30-year-old has played exceptionally well this season, averaging a career-high 21.2 points with 3.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.1 steals. With
Devin Booker (hip) out at least a week, losing Brooks is a tough blow to the Suns, a team looking to remain in the Play-In conversation. At any rate, fantasy managers can expect
Collin Gillespie,
Jalen Green, and
Grayson Allen to lead the offense, at least until Booker is back in the mix.
Jordan Goodwin, amassing 17 points versus Orlando, should also gain attention from fantasy managers.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Shams Charania
February 21, 2026
Boston Red Sox relief pitcher
Tyler Samaniego (back) wasn't able to make his scheduled appearance during Saturday's Grapefruit game versus the Minnesota Twins. According to manager Alex Cora, Samaniego is currently viewed as day-to-day with back tightness. Cora said that Samaniego should be able to pitch again in a few days. The 27-year-old posted a 3.99 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and a 44/11 K/BB ratio across 30 appearances in the minors with the Pittsburgh Pirates last season. He'll attempt to make the big league roster in camp, but will likely head to Triple-A to begin the season. Samaniego should have a decent chance at making his big league debut sometime during the 2026 season.
--Andy WebbSource: Tim Healey
February 21, 2026
New York Yankees starting pitcher
Cam Schlittler (back) progressed to throwing a bullpen session on Saturday. Schlittler has thrown two bullpen sessions and should progress to facing live hitters soon. Schlittler has been slowly ramping up activities after missing time early in camp due to back inflammation. He hasn't experienced any setbacks and should get back up to full speed soon. The 25-year-old is coming off a strong rookie campaign in 2025. He registered a 2.96 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and an 84/31 K/BB ratio across 14 starts with the Yankees.
--Andy WebbSource: Brendan Kuty
February 21, 2026
Texas Rangers infielder
Cody Freeman (back) is going to be sidelined for 4-6 weeks after being diagnosed with a lower back fracture, according to Kennedi Landry. Rangers' manager Skip Schumaker told reporters that Freeman will be shut down for at least a month before starting baseball activities. The 25-year-old was expected to claim a bench spot to open the season, but that doesn't seem to be possible now. Freeman slashed .228/.258/342 with three home runs and 15 RBI in 36 games with the Rangers last season. He put together impressive numbers at Triple-A Round Rock in 2025. Freeman appears to be ready for the next level, so hopefully he'll be able to get healthy and help the Rangers at some point in 2026.
--Andy WebbSource: Kennedi Landry
February 21, 2026
According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Dallas Cowboys are signing running back
Javonte Williams to a three-year, $24 million extension. Williams was set to become a free agent after signing a one-year deal with the Cowboys last offseason, but will now look to remain in Dallas for the next three seasons. With the Cowboys, Williams turned in a career season, totaling 1,201 yards with 11 rushing scores, both of which set career-highs. Through the air, Williams brought in 35 passes for another 137 yards and two touchdowns. He posted a stellar 4.8 YPC, a massive jump from the 3.7 YPC he averaged during the 2024 season with the Denver Broncos. Fantasy managers should expect Williams to maintain high-end RB2 upside playing in one of the most potent offensive units in the sport, which will continue to provide him with elite scoring opportunities.
--Andy SmithSource: Ian Rapoport
February 21, 2026
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher
Logan Gilbert is scheduled to make his Spring Training debut versus the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday. It's still early in camp, which means Gilbert will likely only face a handful of batters. Reliever
Jose A. Ferrer is also scheduled to pitch on Monday, but the rest of the arms are unknown at the moment. Gilbert posted a strong 2025 campaign but was limited to 25 starts due to injuries. During that time, Gilbert posted a 3.44 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and a 173/31 K/BB ratio across 131.0 innings of work. He is one of the most consistent arms in the Mariners' rotation. The 28-year-old should be a trustworthy fantasy option heading into the 2026 campaign.
--Andy WebbSource: Ryan Divish
February 21, 2026
Chicago Cubs first baseman
Jonathon Long (elbow) was forced to make an early exit from Friday's Cactus League matchup versus the Texas Rangers. Long suffered a left elbow sprain while attempting to make a catch at first base. The timetable for his injury is unknown right now, but Long is expected to miss some time. The expectation is that Long will make his MLB debut at some point in 2026. Last season, Long slashed .305/.404/.479 with 20 home runs and 91 RBI in 140 games at Triple-A Iowa. The Cubs have
Michael Busch at first base, but Long could become a platoon partner at first base at some point. The 24-year-old figures to begin the season at Triple-A, but figures to see action in Chicago this season.
--Andy WebbSource: Maddie Lee
February 21, 2026
Memphis Grizzlies guard
Walter Clayton Jr. (calf) has been upgraded to available ahead of Saturday's game against the Miami Heat. Clayton is ready to go after missing the last three games due to a right calf contusion. It's unclear what kind of role he'll have in the rotation with
Ty Jerome and
Scotty Pippen Jr. both available for this game. This season, Clayton is averaging 6.9 points, 3.3 assists, and 2.0 rebounds across 18.3 minutes per game. He's not someone who needs to be rostered in all formats right now, but could gain traction in the second half of the season.
--Andy WebbSource: NBA Injury Report
February 21, 2026
Miami Heat guard
Dru Smith (calf) has been upgraded to available ahead of Saturday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Smith was uncertain coming into this game due to left calf soreness that limited him to three minutes on Friday. He was able to shed the questionable tag and will suit up for Saturday's game. That is good news for the Heat, with fellow guard
Davion Mitchell (illness) being ruled out for this game. The expectation is that Smith and
Kasparas Jakucionis will see increased playing time on Saturday. Smith has been a viable streaming option when he's able to log in 20-plus minutes on the court. It's unclear if he'll play that much on Saturday, but it's possible with Mitchell out and
Tyler Herro still limited.
--Andy WebbSource: NBA Injury Report
February 21, 2026
Miami Heat guard
Davion Mitchell (illness) has been ruled out ahead of Saturday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Mitchell was able to play through the illness on Friday, but will sit out the second night of this back-to-back set. He finished with seven points, seven assists, and five rebounds across 27 minutes of action on Friday. The Heat will have a significant void to fill in the rotation with
Tyler Herro still under a minutes limit.
Dru Smith and
Kasparas Jakucionis are likely going to see increased roles with Mitchell being ruled out. Herro is the best fantasy option among the guards, but Jakucionis could be a decent streaming option for Saturday's slate.
--Andy WebbSource: NBA Injury Report
February 21, 2026
Miami Heat forward
Nikola Jovic (back) is ruled out ahead of Saturday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Jovic has been downgraded to out after being listed as questionable earlier in the day. He's dealing with lower back tightness and will miss this game after playing only three minutes during Friday's contest. His absence should free up playing time for
Kel'el Ware and
Simone Fontecchio in the rotation. Between the two, Ware is the much better fantasy option for Saturday's slate.
--Andy WebbSource: NBA Injury Report
February 21, 2026
Miami Heat guard
Norman Powell (illness) is available to play ahead of Saturday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies. As expected, Powell will suit up after being listed as probable on the injury report. Powell returned to the court on Friday after missing the final two games before the All-Star break due to an illness. He finished with 15 points, two assists, and three rebounds across 25 minutes of action on Friday. His overall scoring might take a slight hit with
Tyler Herro back in the mix now. Fantasy managers should still feel comfortable starting Powell in season-long formats on Saturday.
--Andy WebbSource: NBA Injury Report
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