March 15, 2026
Boston Red Sox infielder
Marcelo Mayer (knee) was scratched from the lineup ahead of Sunday's Grapefruit League contest against the Minnesota Twins. According to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com, Mayer is experiencing left knee soreness. While it's hard to gauge the severity of injuries from a potentially precautionary lineup change in spring training, this situation requires extra attention because of Mayer's injury history. He's had four significant injured list stints in the last three years, including a months-long absence that sidelined him from July 2025 through the end of the regular season. The former first-round pick has been competing for a spot on Boston's Opening Day roster, with manager Alex Cora publicly acknowledging Mayer isn't a lock to make the team. A knee injury certainly won't help his chances, especially if it's significant enough to sideline him for multiple games. At this point, it's looking more likely that
Isiah Kiner-Falefa could be the Red Sox' Opening Day second baseman with Mayer and
Romy Gonzalez (shoulder) injured.
--Andersen PickardSource: Christopher Smith
March 15, 2026
Los Angeles Angels shortstop
Zach Neto (hand) has been diagnosed with a small sprain in his left hand, according to Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register. Fletcher reports that tests came back negative on Neto's hand, which means he avoided a fracture, and he expects to return to the Halos' lineup within a few days. All in all, this is good news for the Angels and Neto, as it appears the 25-year-old infielder avoided a serious injury. He should be good to go for Opening Day, which is less than two weeks away. Having Neto healthy is pivotal for the Angels and fantasy managers, as he was a prime contributor last year with a .257/.319/.474 slash line, 26 home runs, and 116 wRC+. He currently ranks #4 among shortstops in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for the 2026 season.
--Andersen PickardSource: Jeff Fletcher
March 15, 2026
Detroit Pistons guard/forward
Ausar Thompson (ankle) has been cleared to return to the lineup on Sunday against the Toronto Raptors. He has missed five games due to a right ankle injury. Detroit has used
Marcus Sasser as Thompson's replacement in the starting unit, and he is poised to drop back to the bench. As a reserve, Sasser doesn't have any fantasy value, averaging 4.8 points and 1.8 assists off the bench this season. Thompson is having a career year with the Pistons, posting 10.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.9 steals per game.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 15, 2026
University of Nebraska running back
Emmett Johnson dominated college competition as a redshirt junior in 2025, collecting 1,451 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 251 carries across 12 games. Johnson contributed as a receiver out of the backfield as well, hauling in 46 receptions for 370 yards and three scores. Despite the standout college production, Johnson is not considered to be an elite NFL athlete at the running back position, limiting his high-end upside. Still, Johnson should come off the board on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft and has a chance to make an impact in an NFL backfield right away as a rookie. If Johnson can overcome some of his athleticism concerns, he has the well-rounded skill profile to become a three-down workhorse at the next level. While he's unlikely to take over as a team's lead rusher in the short term, Johnson could be worth targeting for dynasty managers in 2026. RotoBaller currently ranks Johnson as the RB44 in dynasty formats, right between fellow 2026 draft prospect Jonah Coleman and veteran Minnesota Vikings back
Aaron Jones Sr.--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 15, 2026
The Miami Marlins are targeting next weekend for third baseman
Graham Pauley (arm) to resume playing the infield, according to Christina De Nicola of MLB.com. When he gets back onto the field, he'll return to his natural position at third base, where he played 52 big-league games last year. Pauley slashed just .224/.311/.366 with 90 wRC+ in 2025, but he delivered above-average contributions on defense (6 OAA and 5 FRV), suggesting he's in line to earn substantial reps at third base during the 2026 regular season. It's unclear if Pauley's arm injury, which he's been dealing with since February, will end up jeopardizing his shot at appearing on the Opening Day roster. Miami is fortunate to have depth at the position in case Pauley misses extended time. Replacement options include projected starting third baseman
Connor Norby or
Javier Sanoja.
--Andersen PickardSource: Christina De Nicola
March 15, 2026
Oklahoma City Thunder center
Isaiah Hartenstein (calf) will return to action on Sunday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He has been out for three games due to a left calf contusion. Hartenstein will rejoin the starting lineup, bumping
Cason Wallace to the second unit. Wallace will remain an important contributor in the rotation, but his fantasy value takes a hit with Hartenstein's return. In his previous three meetings with the Timberwolves this season, Hartenstein has averaged 9.0 points and 7.3 rebounds in 24.7 minutes.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 15, 2026
Miami Marlins infield prospect
Maximo Acosta (oblique) has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 left oblique strain and will miss three to four weeks, according to Christina De Nicola of MLB.com. Acosta is a former international prospect who ranked #25 among Marlins prospects in FanGraphs' mid-2025 farm system report. He ended up making his MLB debut before the end of the season, slashing .204/.295/.389 with three home runs, a 9.8% walk rate, a 27.9% strikeout rate, and 91 wRC+ across 19 games. The results at the plate weren't great by any means, but they also weren't necessarily uncharacteristic for a glove-first rookie who was called up midseason. Of course, any chance that Acosta had of making the 2026 Opening Day roster is now down the drain due to his oblique injury. He'll open the year on the injured list, and it'll be tougher for the Marlins to justify sending him right back to the majors when he's healthy.
--Andersen PickardSource: Christina De Nicola
March 15, 2026
With the 2026 NFL Draft right around the corner, Arizona State wide receiver
Jordyn Tyson is expected to come off the board in the latter half of the first round. While Tyson's numbers dipped in his senior season with the Sun Devils, he still racked up 711 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on 61 receptions across nine games in 2025. Tyson recorded 18 touchdown grabs over his final 21 games in college and is known as a high-end contested catch threat. Depending on where he ends up, Tyson could be an immediately impactful fantasy wide receiver in 2026, and he carries significant long-term upside as well. RotoBaller currently ranks Tyson as the WR33 for dynasty formats, right between Jacksonville Jaguars wideout
Parker Washington and fellow 2026 draft prospect
Makai Lemon.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 15, 2026
Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward
Anthony Edwards (knee) will play on Sunday against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He's dealing with a sore right knee but has shaken off a questionable tag. After his poor performance in Tuesday's loss to the Lakers, Edwards has bounced back in style, scoring 78 points across two games. The Timberwolves star has put up 27.7 points per game against the Thunder this season, adding 8.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.0 blocks.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 15, 2026
Across 17 games as a rookie in 2025, Miami Dolphins running back
Ollie Gordon II recorded 70 carries for 199 yards and three touchdowns. While Gordon II flashed upside at different points throughout the season, he was ultimately blocked off from playing time by superstar Dolphins back
De'Von Achane. Gordon II also lost some playing time down the stretch to Miami running back
Jaylen Wright, who finished the year with the same number of carries (70) as Gordon II. The Dolphins will have a new coaching staff in place for the 2026 season, which brings some uncertainty to the backfield playing time situation. Still, barring a trade, Gordon II will undoubtedly be stuck behind Achane and may ultimately end up third on his team's running back depth chart. Gordon II retains some dynasty value after 2025, but it's difficult to project a year two breakout without a drastic change to the situation around him in Miami.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 15, 2026
Los Angeles Angels infielder
Adam Frazier appears to be the favorite to start at second base on Opening Day, according to Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register. Fletcher wrote that Frazier is "probably the leader" in the mix for the job after
Christian Moore and
Kyren Paris were optioned to Triple-A. Other names in the hunt include
Oswald Peraza,
Nick Madrigal, and Vaughn Grisson. However, Frazier is the leader in the pack amid an impressive spring in which he's slashing .368/.478/.474 with a 8.7% walk rate, a 13.0% strikeout rate, and 159 wRC+. It's a significant accomplishment for the veteran infielder, who originally faced an uphill battle to even make the team after attending camp as a non-roster invite. Now, he's in line to start on Opening Day and will need to be added to both the 26-man and 40-man rosters in the next two weeks. Despite Frazier's newfound starting role, he's not a reliable option in fantasy baseball leagues.
--Andersen PickardSource: Jeff Fletcher
March 15, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman
Pavin Smith (forearm) was scratched from Friday's lineup with left forearm tightness. Manager Torey Lovullo said that Smith will be shut down for a couple of days, but he won't require any imaging, and he should return to the lineup by Wednesday. The 30-year-old is looking to take on a bigger role in 2026 after he posted a solid .258/.362/.434 slash line with 123 wRC+ last year. Unfortunately, his defense is significantly below average, so he's essentially cornered into playing designated hitter and earning some first base reps when
Carlos Santana isn't in the lineup. Specifically, we expect Smith to start against right-handed pitchers, while he sits out most games against southpaws. Since he could be headed for fewer than 100 games once again this year, he ranks all the way down at #56 among first basemen in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings.
--Andersen PickardSource: Bailey Leasure
March 15, 2026
Los Angeles Rams tight end
Colby Parkinson put together the most productive year of his career in 2025, recording 43 receptions for 408 yards and eight touchdowns on 56 targets across 15 games played. Parkinson's spike in red zone production was perhaps the most surprising aspect of his season, as he entered 2025 with just five total touchdown grabs across 69 career NFL games. Still, Parkinson's fantasy upside is limited by a few factors. For one, he averaged fewer than four targets per game in 2025 and has never averaged more than 2.9 receptions per game in any of his six NFL seasons. Secondly, the Rams have one of the deepest tight end rooms in the NFL between Parkinson,
Terrance Ferguson,
Tyler Higbee, and
Davis Allen. Playing in the high-powered Rams offense gives Parkinson a chance to spike a high-touchdown rate season as he did in 2025. However, the 27-year-old's long-term dynasty value remains limited.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 15, 2026
St. Louis Cardinals right-hander
Hunter Dobbins (knee) will start the 2026 season on the injured list, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Dobbins threw five solid innings on the back fields in camp on Saturday, but he's recovering from ACL surgery last July and still has not been cleared to field his position. Dobbins' role when he's ready to come off the IL will depend on his performance and the Cardinals' need. Goold writes that Dobbins will be a starter at either Triple-A Memphis or with the Cardinals. The 26-year-old former eighth-round pick by the Boston Red Sox in 2021 out of Texas Tech made his big-league debut in Boston last year before his knee injury and went 4-1 with a 4.13 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 45:17 K: BB in 61 innings over 13 outings (11 starts). The Cards acquired him in the deal that sent
Willson Contreras to Boston. Dobbins is more suited towards being a dynasty or NL-only stash as he heads into his first season in the National League.
--Keith HernandezSource: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
March 15, 2026
Seattle Mariners shortstop
J.P. Crawford (shoulder) is out of the Cactus League lineup again on Sunday against the Cincinnati Reds as he continues to deal with shoulder soreness, according to Shannon Drayer. The Mariners are taking the opportunity to give Crawford multiple days off with an off day coming on Monday. The team will see how he's feeling on Tuesday. It's an injury that the 31-year-old has been battling since early in spring training, and he even took a few weeks off earlier in camp to try to rest his shoulder. But after returning to Cactus League action in March, the issue hasn't gone away. It doesn't sound like the Mariners are too concerned about Crawford's shoulder, but it's definitely something to watch with Opening Day less than two full weeks away. Crawford hit .265/.352/.370 with a .722 OPS, 12 homers, 58 RBI, 69 runs scored, and a career-high eight steals in 157 games last year in his ninth year in the big leagues. He's a better real-life shortstop than a fantasy one with minimal power and speed upside. Crawford has double-digit homers in just two of his nine MLB seasons and has never had double-digit stolen bases.
UPDATE: Crawford is expected to be back in the spring lineup on Tuesday.--Keith HernandezSource: Shannon Drayer
March 15, 2026
Cleveland Guardians right-handed reliever
Cade Smith threw another scoreless inning in his Cactus League outing on Thursday against the Milwaukee Brewers and has not allowed a run or a hit with no walks and four strikeouts in his three innings of work in spring training. Smith needed just seven pitches to retire the side in the fifth inning on Thursday. With
Emmanuel Clase now out of the picture in Cleveland for the closing role, Smith is the Guardians' go-to guy in the ninth inning, and he's quickly become a top-five closing target for fantasy managers. The 26-year-old Canadian hurler went 8-5 last year with a 2.93 ERA (1.95 FIP), 1.00 WHIP, a career-high 16 saves, 104 strikeouts, and 19 walks in 73 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. Smith was one of only five relief pitchers to have 100-plus strikeouts in 2025. He's one of the best emerging high-leverage bullpen arms in baseball.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
March 15, 2026
Houston Astros first baseman
Christian Walker hit his first Grapefruit League home run on Friday against the St. Louis Cardinals, but overall, he's been swinging a cold bat this spring. Going into Sunday's action, Walker has gone 3-for-23 (.130) with one home run, two RBI, two runs scored, three walks, and six strikeouts in the small sample size of nine games played. Walker's name came up in trade rumors in the offseason, but he remains in Houston and will open the 2026 regular season as their starting first baseman. The 34-year-old veteran right-handed slugger slashed .238/.297/.421 with a .717 OPS, 27 home runs, 88 RBI, 72 runs scored, and two steals in 640 plate appearances over 154 games in 2025 in his first year with the Astros. If he stays healthy, Walker should be a reliable mid-round contributor at first base in fantasy while hitting in the heart of Houston's batting order. He's had at least 26 homers and 84 RBI in each of the last four years. RotoBaller has Walker ranked as the No. 22 fantasy first baseman.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
March 15, 2026
Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss might have outfielder
Michael Harris II run more frequently in 2026 after the addition of new baserunning guru Antoan Richardson, according to MLB.com's Mark Bowman. Harris finished last season with exactly 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases despite entering the All-Star break with the lowest OPS in the league. "Antoan knows how important baserunning is to me," Weiss said. "It's really important to him, and he's made it important to the players." Richardson helped
Juan Soto steal 38 bases last year, and the Braves could be much more aggressive on the base paths as a collective unit. The 25-year-old Harris has 79th percentile speed and figures to set a new career-high in steals in 2025 after stealing exactly 20 bags in three of his four MLB campaigns. Harris hit a career-low .249 last year, but his power/speed combination in a strong lineup makes him a low-end No. 2/high-end No. 3 fantasy outfielder as he heads into his fifth year in the majors in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
March 15, 2026
After last week's disappointing second-place finish at Phoenix (after dominating for most of the race), Christopher Bell has picked up where he left off and the No. 20 team has brought another hot rod to the track this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In practice on Saturday, Christopher Bell was the quickest, and then he went out and posted the fastest lap time in qualifying as well. That means Bell and the No. 20 Toyota will lead the field to the green for this year's Pennzoil 400. The last time Bell started on the pole at this race track, he led 155 laps en route to a second-place finish. Most likely, the main dominator for Sunday's Pennzoil 400 is going to be either Christopher Bell or his teammate, Denny Hamlin. They're both solid DFS picks for this race.
--Jordan McAbeeSource: ifantasyrace
March 15, 2026
The Cincinnati Bengals announced on Saturday that they signed free-agent journeyman quarterback
Josh Johnson to an undisclosed deal. Johnson will continue his NFL career into his 11th season, and this will be his second stint with Cincinnati, as he also played for them back in 2013. The 39-year-old veteran has suited up for seven different teams in his career. He was with the Washington Commanders in 2025, going 34-for-54 for 372 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions in five games (two starts). The Bengals needed some more quarterback depth going into the 2026 season after
Jake Browning signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in free agency. As things currently stand, Johnson figures to compete with
Sean Clifford for backup duties behind starter
Joe Burrow. In his 10 NFL seasons, Johnson has completed only 58.7% of his 412 pass attempts for 2,669 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions.
--Keith HernandezSource: Cincinnati Bengals
March 15, 2026
Don't be surprised if Denny Hamlin contends for another win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver is a two-time winner in Sin City, and is also the most recent winner, as the No. 11 Toyota went to victory lane last October despite only leading nine laps after starting on the pole. Hamlin's other Las Vegas win came back in the 2021 fall race. In addition to those two wins, Hamlin's track record at Vegas is solid, with results of 11th or better in nine of the last 11 races, five of which were also top-five finishes. The No. 11 Toyoya was also a standout in practice on Saturday, posting the fastest 10-lap average while ranking second-best in 30-lap average. Barring any major issues during the race on Sunday afternoon, you can expect Denny Hamlin to contend for the race win at Las Vegas yet again.
--Jordan McAbeeSource: NASCAR.com
March 15, 2026
One of the surprises in qualifying at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend was Chase Briscoe, who was one of the best at getting a good starting spot in the Cup Series last season. However, Briscoe disappointed a bit this weekend, and he will start back in 18th for Sunday afternoon's Pennzoil 400. What made it even more surprising is that Briscoe's teammates (Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin, and Ty Gibbs) qualified first, second, and third for this race. However, as the old mantra says, it's not where you start, it's where you finish, and Briscoe should be just fine on race day. He finished fourth here at Las Vegas last fall, and over the last four high-speed 1.5-mile tracks overall, he has ended up inside the top five each time. At just $9,200 on DraftKings and with the Place Differential upside he has, Chase Briscoe is a great DFS play on Sunday.
--Jordan McAbeeSource: On3
March 15, 2026
Former Chicago Bears All-Pro wide receiver/returner
Devin Duvernay is signing with the Arizona Cardinals on a one-year, $2.5 million deal on Sunday, according to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Duvernay was a Pro Bowler in 2021 and 2022 with the Baltimore Ravens as a kick returner, and that's where most of his production will likely come as he heads to the desert. The 28-year-old former third-round pick by the Ravens in 2020 out of the University of Texas only caught two passes on five targets for 26 yards in 17 regular-season games for the Bears last season. On special teams, though, he returned 40 kickoffs for 1,069 yards and returned 21 punts for 231 yards. In his six years in the NFL, Duvernay's best year on offense was in 2022 with Baltimore, when he caught 37 passes for 407 yards and three touchdowns on 49 targets in 14 games. Duvernay is highly unlikely to become a fantasy asset as a receiver next season in Arizona.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX Sports - Jordan Schultz
March 15, 2026
It's rare to use the phrase "flying under the radar" in the same sentence as Chase Elliott, but here we are. With so many eyes on the favorites (like Kyle Larson) and the Toyotas at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend, paired with the fact that Chase Elliott wasn't overly fast in practice and qualified midpack in 15th, NASCAR's most popular driver is kind of flying under the radar. But should he be? The No. 9 Chevrolet had the fifth-best average finish on this track type in 2025 along with the fifth-best average driver rating, plus Chase went to victory lane at Kansas last year, which is the sister track to Vegas. As far as DFS goes, Elliott is a viable option at $9,000 on DraftKings since his 15th-place starting spot gives him some Place Differential upside. The concerning thing, however, is the fact that Elliott has just one top-10 finish here at Las Vegas over his last six starts. Maybe him flying under the radar this weekend isn't a fluke.
--Jordan McAbeeSource: ifantasyrace
March 15, 2026
Golden State Warriors guard
De'Anthony Melton (knee) will sit out Sunday's game against the Knicks as part of injury management on the first night of a back-to-back. With Golden State missing multiple rotation pieces,
Pat Spencer,
Will Richard, and
Gary Payton II could all see enough minutes to draw fantasy interest. Payton finished with 12 points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 19 minutes last game, while Spencer added seven points and three assists in 19 minutes. Opportunities should be there, but all three profile as risky fantasy streamers due to uncertain roles.
--Brian DailisanSource: NBA Injury Report
March 15, 2026
In the Next Gen era, very few drivers have been as consistent as Ross Chastain at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In the eight races at this track with this car, Chastain has posted five top-five finishes and has just one result worse than 12th. It's safe to say that the track style of Las Vegas plays well into Chastain's hands. For this weekend's Pennzoil 400, the No. 1 Chevrolet will roll off the starting grid from 17th-place on Sunday. In practice, Chastain wasn't blazing fast, but he did post a respectable lap average, ranking 12th-best in 20-lap average for the day. Given his track history, though, you have to consider Ross for DFS lineups this weekend. He has solid Place Differential upside and comes at an affordable salary ($8,500 on DraftKings).
--Jordan McAbeeSource: Driver Averages
March 15, 2026
It has been a while since Ty Gibbs has been consistently in the conversation of, "will he finally get a win?" However, after contending at Phoenix last weekend, and having a great practice and qualifying session at Las Vegas this weekend, people are talking about Ty Gibbs again. In addition to qualifying third for this weekend's Pennzoil 400, Gibbs and his No. 54 Toyota were also blazing fast in practice, posting the fastest average lap time in the 20-, 25-, and 30-lap average categories. As far as track history goes, Ty does have a fifth-place finish to his credit here at Las Vegas (back in 2024), but all six of his other starts here have ended with him outside of the top 20 entirely. Obviously Gibbs has speed this weekend, but there's a big question mark on whether he will be able to bring home the finish.
--Jordan McAbeeSource: ifantasyrace
March 15, 2026
Golden State Warriors forward/center
Kristaps Porzingis (illness) will not play Sunday against the Knicks as the team continues to manage his recent health issues, with a possible return targeted for Monday. His absence, along with injuries to
Draymond Green (back) and
Al Horford (calf), leaves Golden State thin in the frontcourt.
Gui Santos could continue seeing heavy minutes after producing 17 points, three rebounds, eight assists, and one steal in 35 minutes last game, and with how he's trending lately, he looks like a solid fantasy option for the stretch run.
Quinten Post (ankle) may also see more run if available, though he remains a risky deep league option given the uncertain rotation.
--Brian DailisanSource: NBA Injury Report
March 15, 2026
All signs are pointing to Brad Keselowski being a great DFS pick on Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Although two of the three Roush-Fenway Keselowski Racing Fords were solid in qualifying on Saturday, Keselowski brought up the rear for the trio and will start back in 28th-place for the Pennzoil 400. That gives Brad very high Place Differential upside at a very affordable salary (just $6,900 on DraftKings). As far as track history goes, Las Vegas Motor Speedway has been good to Keselowski, and in the Next Gen era as of late, he has been rock solid, with four finishes of 13th or better over the last five Vegas contests. Just last fall, Keselowski started 34th and finished 10th here. Don't be surprised if he has a similar performance this weekend as well.
--Jordan McAbeeSource: Jayski
March 15, 2026
Milwaukee Bucks guard
Kevin Porter Jr. (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Pacers after suiting up Saturday against the Hawks, where he posted 18 points, seven assists, seven rebounds, two steals, and one block in 30 minutes. The Bucks appear to be managing his workload, with his next chance to play coming Tuesday against the Cavaliers.
Ryan Rollins should continue handling a larger role after delivering 22 points, eight assists, three rebounds, and four three-pointers in 31 minutes last game. Rollins has been playing well enough to remain a strong fantasy option entering the final stretch of the season.
--Brian DailisanSource: NBA Injury Report
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