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
March 15, 2026
Cleveland Cavaliers center
Jarrett Allen (knee) will miss his fifth straight game Sunday against the Mavericks as he continues to deal with right knee soreness. His absence keeps
Thomas Bryant in the backup center role, though he remains more of a fringe fantasy streamer despite posting 11 points, four rebounds, two steals, and two blocks in 22 minutes last game.
Evan Mobley should continue handling heavier frontcourt minutes and rebounding duties, boosting his fantasy ceiling, while
Donovan Mitchell and
James Harden (thumb) may also see slightly more usage with Cleveland leaning more on perimeter scoring.
--Brian DailisanSource: NBA Injury Report
March 15, 2026
Utah Jazz center
Kyle Filipowski (rest) will not play Sunday against the Kings in what appears to be a scheduled maintenance day. The second-year big had been a regular part of the rotation and rarely inactive this season. His absence could open minutes for
Oscar Tshiebwe, who produced eight points, five rebounds, one assist, and one steal in 20 minutes last game, while veteran
Kevin Love may also factor into the frontcourt mix. Both remain risky deep-league streamers due to uncertain roles.
Cody Williams and
Brice Sensabaugh could also see slight usage increases.
--Brian DailisanSource: NBA Injury Report
March 15, 2026
Los Angeles Clippers guard/forward
Kawhi Leonard (ankle) did not return to Saturday's game against the Kings after suffering a left ankle injury in the fourth quarter. He finished with 31 points, six rebounds, and two steals in 26 minutes before exiting. Leonard has been on a strong run lately, averaging 32.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.8 steals over his last five games, making any absence significant for fantasy managers. If he misses time,
Darius Garland and
Bennedict Mathurin could take on larger scoring roles, while
Kris Dunn may see more backcourt minutes.
--Brian DailisanSource: Joey Linn
March 15, 2026
Los Angeles Angels infielder
Nick Madrigal has been optioned to minor-league camp. Despite a strong performance in camp, Madrigal appears set to begin the season in Triple-A. He slashed .333/.391/.429 with three RBI in 23 plate appearances this spring. The former first-round pick hasn't played in the big leagues since the 2024 season with the Chicago Cubs. Madrigal is a solid contact hitter, but his lack of power and ability to draw walks hurts his overall value. He'll head to the minors alongside outfielders
Gustavo Campero and
Wade Meckler, who were also optioned this weekend.
--Andy WebbSource: Angels PR
March 15, 2026
Utah Jazz guard/forward
Ace Bailey (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Kings after entering the league's concussion protocol following a head injury Friday. With Utah not playing again until Wednesday, the rookie will have added recovery time.
Elijah Harkless could see more opportunity after recording 10 points, two three-pointers, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 30 minutes last game, while
Andersson Garcia added six points, three rebounds, and two steals in 29 minutes. Harkless and Garcia remain fringe streaming options due to uncertain roles, while
Brice Sensabaugh and
Isaiah Collier are better bets to absorb additional usage in Bailey's absence.
--Brian DailisanSource: NBA Injury Report
March 15, 2026
New York Mets shortstop
Francisco Lindor (hand) is in the starting lineup and will make his Grapefruit League debut against the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday. Lindor has made a remarkable recovery after having surgery to address a fractured hamate bone in his left hand in mid-February. He took batting practice on Friday and didn't have any issues, so he has officially been cleared for game action. Lindor will be in the leadoff spot and play shortstop during his spring debut. Barring any setbacks, Lindor should be ready on a full-time basis for Opening Day against the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 26. This is great news for Mets fans and fantasy managers who took the risk of selecting injured Lindor on draft day.
--Andy WebbSource: Anthony DiComo
March 15, 2026
Kansas City Royals outfielder
Jac Caglianone could be ready to take the next step in 2026. Caglianone got his first taste of big league action last season, but struggled to adjust. He slashed .157/.237/.295 with seven home runs and 18 RBI in 62 games in 2025. The 23-year-old appears to have made the proper adjustments as he's tearing the cover off the ball in camp. Through six games, Caglianone is slashing .455/581/.970 with one homer, four RBI, and five walks. Caglianone was also impressive during his four games in the World Baseball Classic. The former first-round pick came into the league with a ton of hype, and wasn't ready last season. Early in camp, it looks like he's made the right adjustments and is ready to crush big league pitching.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
March 15, 2026
Florida Panthers forwards Carter Verhaeghe (undisclosed) and Anton Lundell (undisclosed) will rejoin the lineup on Sunday against the Seattle Kraken, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports. Both players were held out of Thursday's 2-1 overtime victory against Columbus. With Sam Bennett (undisclosed) unavailable on Sunday, Lundell and Evan Rodrigues will serve as the top-six centers. Verhaeghe, who netted two goals in his last appearance against Detroit, is expected to link up with Rodrigues and Mackie Samoskevich. Lundell will partner with Eetu Luostarinen and Matthew Tkachuk.
--Taavi PailkSource: Jameson Olive
March 15, 2026
Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports will start in the fifth position for this week's Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the Pennzoil 400. Larson is the highest-qualifying Chevrolet driver in the field this week for Las Vegas. In 19 Cup races at the site, Larson has three wins, 14 top-10 finishes, an average finish of 9.0 (best of all drivers), and 819 laps led, which is the most of active drivers. He also won the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race at the site on Saturday. Through four races this year, Larson has two top-10 finishes, an average finish of 14.3, and sits 10th in the regular-season standings. In practice for this week's race, Larson ranked first in overall lap averages and ranked 17th in 15 consecutive lap averages. Considering how Vegas is one of Larson's top tracks, he can be a threat to win during any race at the site while he is still driving the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: DriverAverages.com
March 15, 2026
Los Angeles Angels pitcher
Reid Detmers appeared to have finally turned a corner when he became a full-time reliever last season. According to Jeff Passan, he wouldn't be shocked if Detmers leads the Angels in saves in 2026. Detmers was a struggling starter for the first four years of his career before shifting to the bullpen in 2025. He registered a 3.96 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and an 80/25 K/BB across 61 appearances last season. The Angels are giving him another chance in the rotation this spring. However, it's not going well with a 7.27 ERA across three starts. The best route for him could be as a late-inning reliever. Detmers recorded three saves last season, and it sounds like he could be the favorite for the closer role in 2026.
--Andy WebbSource: ESPN
March 15, 2026
Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (undisclosed) is expected to miss Sunday's clash against the Seattle Kraken and is considered day-to-day, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports. Bennett has been part of the Panthers' lineup in all 65 games this season, but he's dealing with an undisclosed injury and is set to miss his first action of the campaign. The 29-year-old has scored 24 goals and 50 points, sitting just two points away from setting a new career high. Fortunately for the Panthers, Anton Lundell (undisclosed) is on track to return from a one-game absence on Sunday, and his presence in the lineup will somewhat compensate for Bennett's absence.
--Taavi PailkSource: Jameson Olive
March 15, 2026
William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports will start ninth in the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Byron's starting position for this week's race continues a perfect streak of the No. 24 Chevrolet driver starting in the top 10 in every Vegas Cup race since October 2023. In 16 Cup races at the site in his career, Byron has one win, eight top-10 finishes, including five of the last six Cup events, and an average finish of 15.0. After the first four races of the season, Byron has one top-10 finish with an average finish of 15.0. In practice for this week's race, Byron ranked 14th in overall lap averages and displayed top-10 speeds in the 10-30 consecutive lap average categories, including second in 20 and 25 consecutive lap averages. Las Vegas is one of the better tracks in the Cup Series for Byron, and although he may not offer much upside, his car has shown to be fast enough to compete for a top-5 finish in pre-race events.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: DriverAverages.com
March 15, 2026
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher
Mick Abel has put together impressive numbers early in camp. Through four starts, Abel has a 1.35 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, and a 17/1 K/BB ratio. The 24-year-old is making a strong case to crack the 26-man roster to begin the season. Abel was part of the trade that sent closer
Jhoan Duran to Philadelphia last July. He posted an ugly 6.23 ERA with eight home runs allowed across 39.0 innings of work with the Phillies and Twins last season. The Twins have already lost starter
Pablo Lopez (elbow) for the entire 2026 season. They definitely need help in the rotation, and Abel could provide that if he keeps pitching like this. He's someone worth monitoring in deep league fantasy drafts.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
March 15, 2026
Florida Panthers forward Sam Reinhart (undisclosed) will not join the team for an upcoming four-game road trip, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports. According to Panthers head coach Paul Maurice, Reinhart is dealing with several health issues. The 30-year-old missed his first game of the season on Tuesday against Detroit. He returned to the lineup on Thursday night against Columbus, recording a goal and an assist, but the Panthers will have to cope without Reinhart again for at least four games. Reinhart leads Florida with 61 points (29 goals, 32 assists) in 64 games, so his absence creates a significant gap in the lineup.
--Taavi PailkSource: Jameson Olive
March 15, 2026
Ryan Blaney of Team Penske will start in the sixth position for the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This will be the first time that Blaney will start inside the top 10 at a Vegas Cup race since 2023. In 19 Cup starts at the site, Blaney has 10 top-10 finishes with an average finish of 15.2. Through the first four Cup races this season, Blaney has one win, three top-10 finishes, an average finish of 11.5, and is currently second in the regular-season standings. In practice for this week's Cup race at Las Vegas, Blaney ranked 25th in overall lap averages and 10 consecutive lap averages. Although his practice speeds were underwhelming, Blaney has displayed plenty of raw speed on 1.5-mile Intermediate tracks in recent years and should not be overlooked as a tournament option, especially after winning last week's race at Phoenix.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: DriverAverages.com
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