January 21, 2026
Scottie Scheffler will make his debut appearance for the 2026 season at this week's American Express in La Quinta, California. Scheffler missed last year's edition due to unfortunate injury where he cut his hand open while cooking dinner. However, in 2024 Scheffler finished tied for 17th. Scheffler had an outstanding 2025 season with six wins including two major championships. He'll look to springboard his 2026 season with a strong showing this week. Over the past 12 months, Scheffler ranks in the 48th percentile in greens in regulation percentage from approach shots 50-100 yards in the fairway. This is important because at last year's American Express over 15% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
January 21, 2026
Robert MacIntyre finished tied for fourth at last week's Sony Open in Hawaii and showed that his form hasn't dipped after finishing the 2025 season strongly. MacIntyre will look to continue his hot streak at this week's American Express in La Quinta, California. The last time MacIntyre played in this event was in 2024 where he missed the cut. MacIntyre hasn't finished worse than tied for 12th in his previous five starts dating back to the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship last October where he emerged as the eventual winner. Over the past 12 months, MacIntyre ranks in the 89th percentile in greens in regulation percentage from approach shots 50-100 yards in the fairway. This is worth mentioning because at last year's American Express over 15% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
January 21, 2026
Brian Harman finished tied for 61st at last week's Sony Open in Hawaii and will look to bounce back at this week's American Express in La Quinta, California. At last year's American Express, Harman gained 1.76 strokes putting but lost 0.12 strokes on approach which ultimately led to him missing the cut. Last week, at the Sony Open in Hawaii, Harman gained strokes putting but lost strokes on approach and he'll need to get his approach play dialed in if he wants to be near the top of the leaderboard come Sunday. Over the past 12 months, Harman ranks in the 89th percentile in greens in regulation percentage from approach shots 50-100 yards in the fairway. This is important because at last year's American Express over 15% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
January 21, 2026
Ben Griffin finished tied for 19th at last week's Sony Open in Hawaii and doesn't appear to have missed a beat following his strong finish to the 2025 season. Griffin ended the 2025 season by winning the World Wide Technology Championship last November. In addition to his win at the World Wide Technology Championship, he rattled off five top-15 finishes in his last seven starts to close out the 2025 season. Over the past 12 months, Griffin ranks in the 50th percentile in greens in regulation percentage from approach shots 50-100 yards in the fairway. This is worth pointing out because at last year's American Express over 15% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
January 21, 2026
Matt Fitzpatrick heads into this week's American Express in La Quinta, California fresh off the heels of winning the DP World Tour Championship last November. The win marked his eighth top-10 finish in his last 12 starts dating back to the Rocket Classic last June. This week will be Fitzpatrick's first PGA Tour appearance in 2026 and he is in outstanding form. Over the past 12 months, Fitzpatrick ranks in the 79th percentile in greens in regulation percentage from approach shots 50-100 yards in the fairway. This is important because at last year's American Express over 15% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
January 21, 2026
Patrick Cantlay is one of several top golfers in a surprisingly strong field at this week's American Express in La Quinta, California. Cantlay's last appearance was in September at the Procore Championship where he finished T30. At last year's American Express, Cantlay finished tied for fifth and will look to best that finish and jump start his 2026 season. Over the past 12 months, Cantlay ranks in the 95th percentile in greens in regulation percentage from approach shots 50-100 yards in the fairway. This is worth pointing out because at last year's American Express over 15% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
January 21, 2026
Blades Brown will make his first PGA Tour appearance of 2026 at this week's American Express in La quinta, California. Brown missed the cut at his first Korn Ferry Tour appearance of the year at The Bahamas Golf Classic. Brown made his first PGA Tour appearance in 2025 at this same event and missed the cut. Over the past 12 months, Brown ranks in the 55th percentile in greens in regulation percentage from approach shots 50-100 yards in the fairway. This is important to mention because at last year's American Express over 15% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
January 21, 2026
Miami Marlins catching prospect
Joe Mack is a name to keep a close eye on during spring training. Mack is currently considered the No. 4-ranked prospect in the Miami system and No. 70 overall on MLB.com. The 23-year-old began the 2025 campaign with Double-A but needed only another 13 games there to prove he was ready to join Triple-A Jacksonville. During his first taste of action with the top club in the minor leagues, Mack held a .250/.320/.459 line with 18 doubles and 18 home runs. Through 99 games, Mack swiped eight bags but carried a 115:35 K:BB. He was used primarily behind the dish, as he logged 83 of his 112 total games behind the plate. Given that
Agustin Ramirez struggled as a catcher during his first stint in the major leagues and was nearly deployed just as often as a DH, Mack could be a strong candidate to be the team's primary catcher early in 2026.
--Andy SmithSource: RotoBaller
January 21, 2026
Cleveland Guardians outfield prospect
Chase DeLauter has flashed immense potential in the minors but has struggled to stay on the field, pushing back his MLB debut. Last summer, DeLauter actually joined the club for their postseason run and appeared in two games. Given that he is set to enter spring training with a clean bill of health, DeLauter seems positioned not only to make the MLB roster but also to claim the starting job in center field. Earlier in 2025, DeLauter held an impressive .278/.383/.476 line with eight doubles, five home runs, and a 23:22 K:BB across 34 games at Triple-A. While he has not reached the 50-game mark in each of his last two minor league seasons, when on the field, DeLauter has been very productive. Managers should monitor his status in spring training as he could become a top-sleeper pick in five-outfielder formats if he is penciled into their Opening Day lineup.
--Andy SmithSource: RotoBaller
January 21, 2026
Tampa Bay Rays top infield prospect
Carson Williams made his MLB debut late in the season and appears to be the favorite to land the starting shortstop job out of spring training. During his first 32-game stint with Tampa Bay, the former 28th overall pick (from the 2021 MLB Draft) posted a .172/.219/.354 line but showed solid power upside, launching five home runs. However, his hefty 41.5% K% tainted his production. Earlier in the season, Williams spent the entire campaign with Triple-A Durham, where he posted a .213/.318/.447 line with a .765 OPS. He hit 23 home runs and swiped 22 bases. While his strikeout rate will hinder his upside in points leagues, Williams has shown a solid power and speed skill set that could translate to deeper category formats. He is worth monitoring in spring training as he could be a viable late-round depth middle infielder in 15+ team formats.
--Andy SmithSource: RotoBaller
January 21, 2026
Kevin Roy played well last week at the Sony Open. The American golfer finished T-13 and carries some confidence heading into The American Express. Course rotation did not bother him last year as he finished T-18 at the event. The 2023 event saw him miss the cut but he simply did not convert enough birdie opportunities. Roy often putts well in clusters. He gained 1.45 strokes last week in the metric. Roy warmed up at the event last year after an opening round 71. The only problem is this stacked field. Can he afford to do that again? Roy may be one to watch for in those Top 20 wagers and DFS from a birdie standpoint. When he gets hot, Roy gets hot.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
January 21, 2026
Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey left his fingerprints all over Tuesday's matchup against the St. Louis Blues, scoring a goal and delivering two assists in a 3-1 victory. The talented blue-liner earned two points on the power play, including his goal. Morrissey became the second defenseman in franchise history to light the lamp at least 90 times, joining Dustin Byfuglien (122). He's had 10 goals and 42 points in 48 games this season, providing good fantasy value despite playing on a struggling team. Morrissey currently shares sixth place in scoring among defensemen.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 21, 2026
Min Woo Lee broke through with a victory in Texas last season. The Australian golfer finished the year well with three Top 12 results in his final four events. With how volatile the PGA Tour can be, Lee is trying to become more consistent. At 27, he is still young but there is one tell-tale stat for him -- putting. When he gains a sizable amount of strokes, Lee contends. If he does not, there is trouble. The only event in 2025 where he failed to make the weekend with a positive putting metric was the Arnold Palmer. He gained 1.06 strokes to putting but his approach shots were horrendous causing him to lose 3.37 strokes and position. The key for Lee is working on avoiding those mistakes in 2026 while this week he works out the rust.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
January 21, 2026
The Washington Nationals acquired top catching prospect
Harry Ford from the Seattle Mariners earlier in the offseason in exchange for reliever Jose Ferrer. Ford was considered one of the top catching prospects in the sport as he was progressing through the Seattle system. However, playing in a club with superstar
Cal Raleigh was going to prevent Ford from seeing consistent at-bats. As a result, the Mariners opted to move him to Washington, where he could immediately take on a starting role in 2026. Outside of a small eight-game taste of the majors, Ford spent the majority of the 2025 campaign with Triple-A. Across 87 games, Ford posted a .283/.408/.460 line with 18 doubles, 16 home runs, seven stolen bases, and a strong 88:77 K:BB. Given
Keibert Ruiz's immense struggles last season, Ford could claim the starting role in spring training. He is named to closely monitor in two-catcher leagues.
--Andy SmithSource: RotoBaller
January 21, 2026
Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen had a hat trick of assists in Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Boston Bruins. He began his night at the office with a power-play assist and set up two goals during even-strength play. This was Heiskanen's ninth career three-assist game with the Stars, and only three defensemen have managed more. Last week, Heiskanen missed a pair of games for personal reasons and recorded a minus-three rating when he returned to action in Sunday's 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. He produced an impressive bounce-back effort on Tuesday, tying Ottawa's Jake Sanderson for eighth among defensemen in scoring. Heiskanen has posted 39 points (seven goals, 32 assists) in 48 games.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 21, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies shortstop prospect
Aidan Miller has seen his prospect stock rise in 2025 and could be ticketed for his MLB debut during the second half of the 2026 season. In 2025, Miller opened the season with Double-A and looked quite comfortable there, posting a solid .259/.382/.427 line with 25 doubles, 13 home runs, and 59 stolen bases. His stolen base total was a massive increase from the 23 he stole in the 2024 campaign across the lower levels of the system. This strong play earned him a brief eight-game stint with Triple-A. During this small taste, the former 27th overall pick held a .333/.514/.519 line with one home run and an eye-catching seven stolen bases. Given his elite play last summer, Miller appears ticketed to begin the season with Lehigh Valley. If he continues this trajectory, a second-half debut would be in play.
--Andy SmithSource: RotoBaller
January 21, 2026
Tampa Bay Lightning winger Brandon Hagel contributed two goals and one assist during Tuesday's 4-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks. He tied the game at one late in the first period and wrapped up the scoring with an empty-net goal. In between his two strikes, Hagel helped Anthony Cirelli record the game-winning tally. Hagel has been among the hottest forwards in the league as of late, producing 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) over a 10-game stretch. The run includes four multi-point efforts. With upcoming games against the defensively weak Chicago and Columbus, Hagel is well-positioned to continue his hot spell this week. The 27-year-old leads Tampa Bay with 25 goals and has tallied 46 points across 43 appearances.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 21, 2026
New York Mets infield prospect
Jett Williams is expected to begin the 2026 regular season with Triple-A Syracuse. Last season, the team's No. 3 prospect according to MLB Pipeline took a step forward at Double-A, earning him a midseason promotion to Triple-A. With Double-A, the former 14th overall pick from the 2022 MLB Draft posted a strong .281/.390/.477 line with 29 doubles, 10 home runs, and 32 stolen bases. However, during his first look at the top level of the minor leagues, Williams took a step back, posting a much lower .209/.285/.433 line across a 34-game stint. He hit seven home runs but swiped only two bases. Additionally, given that the Mets brought in infielder
Bo Bichette, Williams will face even more competition for a role early in the season. Managers should expect Williams to begin the season with Syracuse and push for a midseason debut if he can enjoy a productive start.
--Andy SmithSource: RotoBaller
January 21, 2026
Nashville Predators center Ryan O'Reilly finished Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres with two goals and one assist. Nashville fell four goals behind before attempting a comeback, with O'Reilly leading the charge. This was O'Reilly's fifth consecutive appearance with at least one point. He has had only one longer point streak this season. Following a rough start, it has turned out to be a good campaign for O'Reilly, who is on pace for a career-high 79 points. After 49 outings, the 17-year-old veteran sits on 18 goals and 29 assists.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 21, 2026
Max Homa fell off in a big way in 2025. The American golfer has won on the PGA Tour six times. However, 2025 saw just five Top 25 results and a slew of missed cuts from February into April. Five consecutive events featured opening rounds that were brutal (the 81 at the Arnold Palmer included). Some speculation suggested that Homa was not 100% for the first half of 2025. Whatever it was did seem to correct itself over the Fall part of the season. Homa finished in the Top 20 in three of his final four events. These did not feature the competition he will see this week. However, Homa also has not competed at The American Express since 2021. It might be a week to examine what he does before placing him into your DFS or betting rotation.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
January 21, 2026
Buffalo Sabres forward Konsta Helenius had a memorable night against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday, finishing a 5-3 victory with a goal and two assists. Playing in his second career game, Helenius notched his first points, becoming the seventh Finnish teenager in NHL history to record a three-point game. Buffalo recently recalled Helenius from the minors after placing Josh Norris (upper body) on Injured Reserve. Norris is considered week-to-week, so Helenius might stick with the big club for a while. The 19-year-old filled a third-line role on Tuesday, skating with Noah Ostlund and Josh Doan.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 21, 2026
Tony Finau is now facing what a steady player fears the most. The American golfer is now 36 and only had one Top 10 result in 2025. He dropped to 94th in the World Rankings and 83rd during the Fall Swing. The struggles continued in Hawaii last week as he missed the cut at the Sony Open. Finau had contended in three of the past four events in Southern California. However, 2025 saw him miss the cut behind a disastrous 74 in the third round. This seemed like a theme throughout last season. Finau missed approaches like crazy in Hawaii losing 2.16 strokes. Besides inconsistent putting, this appeared to be a new problem. Finau may need time to work out the rust and kinks in his game this 2026.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
January 21, 2026
Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli (undisclosed) took only one third-period shift in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the San Jose Sharks. He appeared injured after teammate Brandon Hagel's shot hit him. "I don't know. I don't want to say anything," Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said postgame about Cirelli's status. "He's a tough kid, so I'm hoping he'll be OK ... We'll see tomorrow." Before exiting, Cirelli had a goal and an assist in Tuesday's game. He has notched 30 points (13 goals, 17 assists) in 44 games this season, earning him a spot on Team Canada for the Olympics. A serious injury would ruin Cirelli's Olympic dream and also be a blow to the Lightning.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
January 21, 2026
Cam Davis could not overcome the tee shots last week in Hawaii. The Australian golfer compounded his problems by losing 1.23 strokes to putting. That results in a two-day stay at the Sony Open. Davis is totally feast or famine in Southern California. He finished 18th in 2025 and 3rd in 2022. However, Davis missed the cut in 2022 and 2023. It was one round that derailed him each year. The key for the Aussie is avoiding trouble. Last week, Davis started off with a 68 then came unglued in Round 2 with a 74. Honestly, the round could have been even worse. Again, four rounds of balanced play is vital for Davis. Anything less makes him avoidable for Daily Fantasy.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
January 21, 2026
Free-agent outfielder
Austin Hays has several suitors in the open market, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Heyman noted that the New York Yankees, New York Mets, and St. Louis Cardinals have also expressed interest in the veteran outfielder. However, with the Mets trading for outfielder
Luis Robert Jr. on Tuesday evening, they may not continue their pursuit of Hays. The Yankees have been linked to star outfielder
Cody Bellinger throughout the winter but have yet to come to an agreement. Hays spent the 2025 season with the Reds and held a .255/.325/.453 line with 15 home runs and seven stolen bases. Under the hood, he generated a below-average .300 xwOBA with a modest 38.4% hard-hit rate, suggesting he could face some regression in 2026. Hays projects to hold a platoon role in 2026, making him best left for deeper fantasy formats.
--Andy SmithSource: Jon Heyman
January 21, 2026
Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper (upper body) exited Tuesday's 4-3 win over the New York Rangers in the first period. He was injured when Rangers forward Jonny Brodzinski made contact with Kuemper's head late in the period. Kuemper allowed two goals on eight shots in the opening frame. He was replaced in the crease by Anton Forberg, who put in an outstanding performance. The Swedish veteran finished with 27 saves and a .964 save percentage. Kuemper, who holds a 12-9-9 record, has already missed time this season due to an upper-body injury. Another multi-week absence for him would also be a blow for Team Canada, which has named him to its Olympic roster.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 21, 2026
Eric Cole had one of those short weeks in Hawaii. The American golfer was erratic off the tee and with the putter last week. As a result, he missed the cut while losing more than two strokes combined from putting and driving. His distance and accuracy were off as he was 12 and 9% off from the field average in those metrics. Worse, a three course rotation starting with the Pete Dye course is troubling. The longest course at 7,210 yards, could cause Cole some more problems especially if his driver is off again early. Playing catch up with this field inspires less hope from a DFS standpoint.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
January 21, 2026
According to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com, the Boston Red Sox made "very little traction" with top free agent third baseman
Eugenio Suarez over the past week. The Red Sox heavily pursued third baseman
Alex Bregman before he signed a contract with the Cubs. With Bregman and infielder
Bo Bichette off the board, the Red Sox were expected to turn their attention to Suarez. However, it appears that both sides have made little progress toward a potential contract. Suarez turned in a massive bounce-back season in 2025, launching 49 home runs with a .228/.298/.526 line. This was a significant jump from the 30 home runs he hit the year prior. Currently, the Red Sox are expected to rely on young infielder
Marcelo Mayer at the hot corner if they are unable to agree to terms with Suarez.
--Andy SmithSource: Chris Cotillo
January 21, 2026
Brian Campbell did not enjoy the trade winds in Hawaii. The American golfer missed the cut at the Sony Open. His second round 67 was much better but it was not enough to undo the damage of an opening 74. Even with fewer birdies being yielded at Waialae, Campbell just could not crack through and make it to the weekend. The American Express is unique in that the cut is over the course of 54 holes. It gives Campbell a little extra time. The concern is he made less than half the weekends in 2025 (11/24). One of those events was The American Express but Campbell still finished outside the Top 50 (T-51). He is probably still a fade for DFS and wagering at this juncture.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
January 21, 2026
The Los Angeles Dodgers have continued to show serious interest in acquiring right-handed pitcher
Freddy Peralta from the Milwaukee Brewers. The Dodgers have had a productive offseason, bringing in top closer
Edwin Diaz and star outfielder
Kyle Tucker. However, they are still looking to improve their roster, especially their rotation. According to Kate Woo of The Athletic, the Dodgers are targeting Peralta to further protect their rotation, given the extensive injury history many of their pitchers have had. This past season,
Blake Snell,
Roki Sasaki, and
Tyler Glasnow all spent ample time on the injured list. Peralta enjoyed a strong showing in 2025, logging 176 2/3 innings with a 2.70 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and a 104:66 K:BB. If Peralta were to join Los Angeles, he could push either
Emmet Sheehan or Sasaki to a long relief role to open the season.
--Andy SmithSource: Katie Woo
RADIO
