April 16, 2026

Ottawa Senators forward Claude Giroux contributed two assists as the team won this season's final Battle of Ontario 3-1 against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday night. Giroux picked up a power-play assist when Drake Batherson scored in the first period and had his second helper on Dylan Cozens' empty-net goal late in the third. The veteran forward played a key role in this victory, but he will be frustrated not to have reached 50 points for the season. Giroux fell one point short of the plateau, finishing with 14 goals and 35 assists in 82 contests. A late-season six-game scoring drought proved costly for him. The good news for Giroux is that he found his offensive stride in the closing games of the regular season, giving him momentum heading into the playoffs.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

April 16, 2026

Athletics relief pitcher Joel Kuhnel got a four-out save on Wednesday night, picking up two strikeouts and retiring all four Rangers he faced to secure his third save of the year. The 31-year-old righty has given up just one hit and no runs in 4 2/3 innings this season and is a very solid option at the end of the game for the A's. With such a strong start to the year, he's a great addition from the waiver wire if you are searching for saves, even though there's no apparent reason the journeyman has been so effective after joining the team on a minor-league contract. He has been so effective, though, that he's a great grab for as long as he keeps the closer role for the Athletics.--Zach Thompson
Source: ESPN

April 16, 2026

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan finished his first professional season as the fantasy WR15 on his way to being named Offensive Rookie of the Year, and his arrow is realistically still pointing up. While it took him six weeks to score his first NFL touchdown, with only two receiving touchdowns through Week 10, he eventually found a knack for it, scoring five times over his final seven games. McMillan led the Panthers with a 26.3% target share, with an even more impressive 32.4% share of all first-down targets. While he could benefit from an improvement to the quality of targets, it's unlikely that anyone currently on the roster poses a serious threat to eat into his workload in year two. The Panthers have spent their last two first-round picks on the wide receiver position, and even with general manager Dan Morgan recently insinuating a third straight swing would not be out of the question, it seems improbable with several more glaring needs on the defensive side of the ball. McMillan is RotoBaller's WR9 in dynasty rankings, and he could be one of the safest young assets to build around.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 16, 2026

Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Abner Uribe stepped into a ninth-inning role on Wednesday night and pitched a perfect inning to secure his team's 2-1 win over the Blue Jays. Uribe retired the Jays in order with a strikeout to earn his first save of the season, and his velocity was back to where it was last season. Uribe's velocity had been down, and he gave up four runs in 6 1/3 innings in his first seven appearances before stepping up on Wednesday. The Brewers have been contemplating a closer change with Uribe and Trevor Megill both struggling, and Uribe delivered in this contest. He could secure the role going forward with more outings like this one, and if he does, he'll be a great closer option in all formats. If he's available in your league, he's a great pickup if you're searching for saves.--Zach Thompson
Source: ESPN

April 16, 2026

New York Rangers left wing Tye Kartye had his first career three-point game in Wednesday's matchup with the Tampa Bay Lightning, contributing two goals and one assist in a 4-2 road win. He scored the first two goals of the game, striking early in the first and second periods. The 24-year-old finished the campaign with a career-high 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists) in 64 games. 14 of his points, including five goals, came in 24 outings since the Rangers claimed him off waivers in late February. Kartye was a good fit for the Rangers and remains under contract for one more campaign after agreeing to a two-year, $2.5 million deal with the Seattle Kraken last offseason.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

April 16, 2026

After finishing as the TE5 or better in three of four seasons from 2020 through 2023, Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson has seen a steep decline in production, with his 5.8 fantasy points per game in 2025 the lowest output since his rookie season. Perhaps reassuringly, all of Minnesota's pass catchers shared a similar story in 2025, hampered by some of the worst quarterback play in the league, with J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer combining to throw only 17 touchdown passes on fewer than 3,200 yards. The Vikings have since signed Kyler Murray to a one-year deal, and his past affinity for involving his tight ends has contributed to four combined top-10 seasons from Zach Ertz and Trey McBride. The soon-to-be-29-year-old Hockenson avoided an influx of target competition when Minnesota opted to stand pat at the position in free agency. If he can survive what looks to be a deep tight end draft class, a later career resurgence isn't out of the question with him still slated to be a primary target-earner behind only Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 16, 2026

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Owen Power recorded two assists in Wednesday's regular-season ending 4-3 shootout loss against the Dallas Stars. With Rasmus Dahlin (rest) and Mattias Samuelsson (rest) sitting out the game, Power had more responsibilities on the blue line and helped Buffalo score two even-strength goals. Unfortunately for Power, this wasn't enough for him to reach 30 points for a fourth consecutive season. The 2021 first-overall pick ended the campaign with 29 points (eight goals, 21 assists), 120 SOG, 95 blocks, and a plus-nine rating in 81 outings. Power hasn't met his usual standards in 2025-26, but he will enter the playoffs with some momentum, having posted assists in back-to-back games. --Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

April 16, 2026

Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Jordan Romano let another game slip away in New York on Wednesday night. He came on in the ninth inning with a one-run lead and gave up two runs on two hits and a walk, while recording just one out. Romano gave up a walk-off double to Jose Caballero, taking his second blown save of the three-game series against the Yankees. Before the double, though, Romano's defense let him down when a routine pop-up dropped between Zach Neto and Oswald Peraza to start the meltdown. The 32-year-old had been perfect in four save opportunities before this series, and it will be interesting to see if he gets another chance or if the team goes another direction. Kirby Yates (knee) is nearing a return and could be part of the solution if Romano continues to struggle.--Zach Thompson
Source: ESPN

April 16, 2026

After arriving on the scene as the QB5 in his first year as a full-time starter in 2023, Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love has ended back-to-back seasons in the middle of the fantasy pack. While lingering early-season injuries were thought to affect his play in 2024, he remained relatively healthy until an end-of-season concussion in 2025, finishing respectively as the QB17 and QB15 with strikingly similar numbers across both years. In 2025, his path to the middle was relatively straight. He finished four different weeks as a top-10 fantasy quarterback, tying for 15th in that regard and providing a mostly healthy floor by keeping the ball out of harm's way. He was one of 11 players with two finishes as the QB2 or better, but he also finished with fewer than 10 fantasy points at a rate slightly higher than the top-24 players at the position. With Green Bay saying goodbye to two of its leading receivers from 2025 and expecting a return to health from Josh Jacobs, the team will likely skew run-heavy enough to again cap Love's fantasy ceiling. Tucker Kraft should also be back and healthy early in the season, and the team is expecting significant growth from last year's first round pick, Matthew Golden, so there are legitimate reasons to believe the 27-year-old Love could return to his 2023 form, but the safer presumption is that he's closer to what he's shown over the past two seasons: a strong QB2 in superflex leagues who is just as likely to win you a week as he is to cost you.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 16, 2026

Dallas Stars defenseman Esa Lindell registered one goal and one assist as the team wrapped up the regular season with a 4-3 shootout victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday. Lindell assisted Mavrick Bourque during even-strength play in the first period and potted a power-play goal in the second. This was LIndell's second multi-point effort in four games. With Miro Heiskanen (lower body) absent from the blue line, Lindell has seen increased power-play time late in the season. Heiskanen is iffy for the start of the postseason, so Lindell could continue to have an expanded role for a few more games. He finished the regular season with a career-high-matching 32 points (six goals, 26 assists), 83 shots, 179 blocks, and a team-best plus-30 rating in 82 games.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

April 16, 2026

Houston Astros relief pitcher Enyel De Los Santos worked a perfect ninth in his team's 3-1 win on Wednesday night. He picked up a pair of strikeouts against pinch-hitter Brett Sullivan and Brenton Doyle to preserve the win for Spencer Arrighetti. De Los Santos earned his second save of the season and has allowed only one run on four hits across 6 2/3 innings with six strikeouts. Josh Hader (biceps) is working his way back, but since he is likely at least a month away, De Los Santos will likely remain in the mix for a few saves along with. Bryan Abreu over the next few weeks. In deep or AL-only leagues, De Los Santos is definitely worth owning if you're searching for saves, although his long-term outlook is in more of a setup role.--Zach Thompson
Source: ESPN

April 16, 2026

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Reilly Smith factored in three goals during Wednesday's 4-1 win over the Seattle Kraken, lighting the lamp twice and delivering one assist. He helped out Shea Theodore on the game-tying marker and notched a pair of goals himself late in the game. Smith recently had a three-game stint as a healthy scratch, and it appears to have helped him regain form ahead of the postseason. Over the last two games, Smith has recorded three goals and one assist. He finished the regular season with 26 points (16 goals, 10 assists) in 69 games, his lowest scoring total in five years. It's been a disappointing year for Smith, but he will have a chance to post his first three-game goal streak since December 2022 in Vegas' playoff opener.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

April 16, 2026

Seattle Kraken forward Shane Wright (upper body) scored the team's only goal in Wednesday's 4-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. He gave Seattle a lead early in the second period, but the Golden Knights eventually picked the visitors apart. Wright had missed the previous eight games due to an upper-body injury. The 22-year-old has one more matchup to go in 2025-26, facing Colorado on Thursday night. Wright has tallied 27 points (12 goals, 15 assists) in 73 outings. This marks a significant step back for him after collecting 44 points a year ago. Heading into the final year of his entry-level contract, Wright should have plenty of motivation to turn things around next season.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

April 16, 2026

Los Angeles Clippers guard/forward Bennedict Mathurin was the team's leading scorer with 23 points in Wednesday's season-ending 126-121 loss to the Golden State Warriors. The former Pacer was red-hot from downtown, going 5-for-6, and had a 7-for-11 overall record from the field. Mathruin made all four free-throw attempts, adding three rebounds, two assists, and three steals to his line in 30 minutes off the bench. After he was traded by Indiana midseason, Mathurin went from a regular starter to a bench contributor. But he had some outstanding performances in his new role, showing that it might suit him going forward. Overall, Mathurin's numbers didn't change much in L.A. compared to his time with the Pacers, as he posted averages of 17.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 26 games. With Kawhi Leonard's future up in the air, Mathurin might have a bigger role next season with the Clippers, which would boost his fantasy value.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

April 16, 2026

Golden State Warriors forward/center Kristaps Porzingis made a big impact in Wednesday's 126-121 Play-In Tournament win over the Los Angeles Clippers, tallying 20 points, five rebounds, five assists, one steal, and two blocks in 28 minutes. He missed only four of his 12 attempts from the field and was 3-for-6 with the three-ball. Porzingis had a tough time in his final four regular-season outings, going 1-for-15 from behind the arc. His improvement in Wednesday's matchup will be encouraging for the Warriors ahead of Friday's play-in game against Phoenix and a potential playoff run.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

April 16, 2026

Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry starred in Wednesday's 126-121 Play-In Tournament victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, leading all scorers with 35 points. He had eight points inside the final eight minutes of play, helping Golden State overturn a 103-99 deficit. Curry's seventh triple of the game put the Warriors 120-117 up with less than a minute remaining. Curry went 7-for-12 from outside and had a 12-for-23 overall record from the field. He produced four assists, and picked up one rebound and one steal. Curry's crew will now square off with the Phoenix Suns on Friday night for a spot in the 2026 playoffs. During the regular season, the two-time MVP averaged 23.7 points in this matchup, as Phoenix limited him to 34.4 percent efficiency from behind the arc.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

April 16, 2026

Orlando Magic guard/forward Desmond Bane led the team's offense in Wednesday's Play-In Tournament game against the Philadelphia 76ers, scoring a game-high 34 points in a 109-97 loss. He already had 19 points by halftime, more than Paolo Banchero (18) managed in the entire game. Bane was highly efficient from the field, finishing 10-for-16 with his attempts, including 4-for-6 from downtown. He also did an excellent job getting to the line, missing only one of 11 free-throw attempts. Across a team-high 40 minutes, Bane notched three rebounds, three assists, and one steal, but also committed five turnovers. The Magic now face Charlotte in a do-or-die matchup on Friday night. Bane averaged 17.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists against the Hornets in four regular-season meetings.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

April 16, 2026

Philadelphia 76ers point guard Tyrese Maxey scored a team-high 31 points in Wednesday's playoff-clinching 109-97 victory over the Orlando Magic. Maxey averaged a career-high 28.3 points per game during the regular season and had plenty of firepower left for the first postseason game. He made three triples on nine attempts and finished 11-for-25 overall from the field. Maxey's efforts included two rebounds, six assists, one steal, and one block in 42 minutes. With Joel Embiid (abdomen) dealing with yet another health issue, Maxey will once again carry a heavy workload during the postseason. He averaged a whopping 44.6 minutes per game the last time Philadelphia reached the playoffs in 2024.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

April 16, 2026

Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball has been fined $60,000 for his actions involving Tuesday's play-in game against the Miami Heat, ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk reports. Ball was fined $35,000 "for making unnecessary and reckless contact" with Miami's Bam Adebayo. The Hornets star was not called for a foul during the game, but he was assessed a flagrant foul 2 after the league reviewed the incident, which forced Adebayo to leave the game early with a lower back injury. Additionally, the NBA fined Ball $25,000 for using profane language in a TV interview after the game. Charlotte will be happy to know that Ball was only fined for the Adebayo incident and didn't receive a suspension. The team will hope to see him lead the Hornets into the playoffs for the first time since 2016 with a victory over Orlando on Friday.--Taavi Pailk
Source: Ohm Youngmisuk

April 15, 2026

Across his first 77 plate appearances of 2026, Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero is hitting .234/.351/.406 with three home runs, six RBI, and nine runs scored. Fresh off a 45-homer season as a 21-year-old in 2025, Caminero hasn't been quite as dynamic early on this year. Still, Caminero's 19.5% strikeout rate is right in line with the 19.1% mark he posted last season. Opposing pitchers are being extra cautious this year with Caminero, as his 15.6% walk rate is nearly 10 percentage points higher than his 6.3% rate from 2025. Caminero has consistently shown the ability to make hard contact throughout his MLB career to this point, which should help him regain his power stroke over a larger sample size of at-bats. Fantasy managers should be patient with Caminero through the early portion of the season.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

April 15, 2026

Across his first 85 plate appearances of 2026, Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. is hitting .247/.341/.384 with one home run, five RBI, six runs scored, and four stolen bases. While Acuna Jr. hasn't quite gotten his power stroke going yet, his 16.4% barrel rate suggests that it's only a matter of time before his fly balls start leaving the yard with more regularity. Acuna Jr.'s four stolen bases are also a positive sign for fantasy managers. The 28-year-old recorded just nine steals in 95 games while returning from a torn ACL in 2025, but the early push in 2026 could be a sign he has more confidence in his surgically repaired knee. While Acuna Jr.'s top-line numbers haven't been quite what fantasy managers might have hoped for so far, it's too early to panic.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

April 15, 2026

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (elbow) is scheduled to make a rehab start with Double-A Somerset on Friday, per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. The return to live game action represents a big step in Cole's recovery from Tommy John surgery, which caused him to miss the entire 2025 season. Across 95 innings (17 starts) in 2024, Cole posted an 8-5 record with a 3.41 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 99 strikeouts. The 35-year-old should not be expected to be the pitcher he once was at his peak, but Cole still carries clear fantasy upside once healthy. Given the long layoff, Cole will almost certainly need to make multiple rehab starts in the minor leagues. Still, he could be tracking towards an MLB return in May, barring any setbacks.--Will Brady
Source: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch

April 15, 2026

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Landen Roupp has gotten off to a strong start to his 2026 season. Across 16 2/3 innings pitched (three starts), the 27-year-old owns a 2-1 record with a 3.24 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 18 strikeouts. Roupp emerged as a capable option for the Giants in 2025, recording a 3.80 ERA across 106 2/3 innings (22 starts). However, he posted an underwhelming 21.4% strikeout rate and a brutal 1.48 WHIP. Early in 2026, Roupp has upped his strikeout rate to 26.1% and has issued just five walks. If his current strand rate of 57.9% regresses closer to his career mark of 71.6%, Roupp could actually be in line to improve on his current 3.24 ERA. Based on the improvements he has shown so far this season, Roupp could be an intriguing target on the waiver wire for fantasy managers. His next start is scheduled for Thursday in Cincinnati against the Reds.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

April 15, 2026

New York Mets infielder Jorge Polanco (Achilles) is not in the lineup for his team's matchup on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers due to continued issues with Achilles bursitis, per Mike Puma of the New York Post. Puma reports that the team plans to re-evaluate him on Friday, and that Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said a trip to the injured list is on the table for Polanco. Polanco is off to a rough start to his first year in New York, hitting .179/.246/.286 with one home run, two RBI, and three runs scored across 61 plate appearances. Polanco has been in and out of the lineup due to this Achilles issue for over a week now, so an injured list stint could be the best thing for him long term. Mets outfielder MJ Melendez got the start at designated hitter in place of Polanco on Wednesday, and could be in line for more playing time if Polanco is sidelined for an extended stretch.--Will Brady
Source: New York Post - Mike Puma

April 15, 2026

New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said, "that's the goal," when asked by reporters whether outfielder Juan Soto (calf) would return during the team's next home stand. The Mets finish up their current road trip this weekend in Chicago before returning home next Tuesday for a three-game set against the Minnesota Twins. Soto is currently on the 10-day injured list as he recovers from a calf strain that he suffered on April 3. Across 34 plate appearances before getting hurt, the 27-year-old hit .355/.412/.516 with one home run, five RBI, and three runs scored. Once he's back in the lineup, Soto immediately profiles as a must-start fantasy outfielder. However, fantasy managers may want to prepare for limited aggressiveness on the base paths with Soto returning from a leg ailment. Soto was one of the more surprising sources of speed for fantasy managers in 2025 when he stole 38 bags.--Will Brady
Source: SNY

April 15, 2026

Cleveland Cavaliers center Thomas Bryant (calf) was a limited participant at Wednesday's practice, Danny Cunningham of Locked On Cavs reports. The 28-year-old big man was the only player with limitations during the practice session. Bryant injured his left calf late in the regular season, missing four games. He's in a race to get healthy for the start of the postseason, with Cleveland kicking off its first-round series against Toronto on Saturday. Serving as the backup center, Bryant notched 6.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in 12.2 minutes per game during the regular season. Cleveland could use Bryant's size against Jakob Poeltl, but he isn't expected to make a major impact in the series.--Taavi Pailk
Source: Danny Cunningham

April 15, 2026

Denver Nuggets guard/forward Spencer Jones (hamstring) was a limited participant at Wednesday's practice, Brendan Vogt of DNVR Sports reports. He took part only in the non-contact portions of the practice session. Jones sat out the final six regular-season games due to a right hamstring strain. It's uncertain whether he will be cleared to return to action for Saturday's Game 1 against Minnesota. Although Jones hasn't produced any outstanding numbers this season, he has done a solid job during his sophomore campaign, earning a starting spot in 37 of his 64 appearances. The 24-year-old averaged 5.5 points and 3.3 rebounds in 22.1 minutes per game during the regular season. Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown will play important roles off the bench against Minnesota if Jones and Peyton Watson (hamstring) remain out on Saturday.--Taavi Pailk
Source: Brendan Vogt

April 15, 2026

Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson (hamstring) practiced on Wednesday, but only in the non-contact portions, Brendan Vogt of DNVR Sports reports. Watson missed the last five regular-season games due to right hamstring tightness. He was labeled week-to-week at the start of the month. While Watson hasn't practiced fully, Nuggets head coach David Adelman still hopes he can play in Saturday's playoff opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Watson finished the regular season as Denver's fourth-highest scorer, putting up 14.6 points per game. Additionally, he tallied 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.1 blocks in 29.6 minutes. If he can't play on the weekend, the Nuggets will look to get more production from Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown.--Taavi Pailk
Source: Brendan Vogt

April 15, 2026

Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball is being investigated by the NBA for his trip of Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo (back) in Tuesday's Play-In Tournament game, ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk reports. The two collided in the second quarter, and Adebayo exited the game after the incident due to a lower-back injury. Sources have told ESPN's Shams Charania that the NBA has contacted both teams and will interview Ball. A ruling is expected before Friday's play-in game, in which the Hornets will face the loser of Wednesday's Philadelphia-Orlando matchup. It's possible the Ball play will be upgraded to a flagrant foul 1 or 2, but there likely won't be a suspension. Ball scored a game-winning layup in Tuesday's 127-126 overtime victory, finishing with 30 points, five rebounds, 10 assists, one steal, and one block.--Taavi Pailk
Source: Ohm Youngmisuk

April 15, 2026

Los Angeles Clippers center Isaiah Jackson (ankle) will play on Wednesday night against the Golden State Warriors. He was upgraded to probable earlier on Wednesday and is now listed as available. Jackson couldn't help the Clippers in the final eight regular-season games due to a right ankle sprain. He has made 17 appearances with the Clippers since arriving from Indiana, posting averages of 7.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 15.9 minutes. Jackson's playing time has been fairly limited due to Brook Lopez's presence, so he doesn't offer much fantasy value.--Taavi Pailk
Source: NBA Injury Report