March 18, 2026
Aaron Rai missed his first cut of the year at THE PLAYERS, though he had recorded T28 and T23 finishes in his two prior events. He looks to get back on track at the Valspar Championship, where he missed the cut in his only start here in 2024. Success at Innisbrook typically hinges on accuracy over raw power, along with strong approach play and putting. Rai sits 105th in total strokes gained (-0.421 per round), 73rd on approach (+0.100), and 12th in driving accuracy. He hasn't been as strong with the flat stick, losing strokes putting in three of five events, including over 6.4 strokes at Pebble, and sits 90th on tour. While he has not shown the elite ball-striking that we saw from him last year, the weaker field at the Valspar presents a bounce-back opportunity. At $7,900 on DraftKings, Rai offers a solid floor with his accuracy and iron play, though upside remains limited until he starts rolling the rock more consistently.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
March 18, 2026
Columbus Blue Jackets forward Charlie Coyle played the leading role in Tuesday's 5-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, scoring the game-winning goal and delivering three assists. He matched his career high with the four-point effort. Two points, including his goal, came on the power play. This was already Coyle's third four-point game of the season, which ties a single-season franchise record. He's been an excellent fit for the Blue Jackets, and Coyle might reach his new scoring record at 34 years old. The veteran is currently five points shy of tying his all-time best, with 55 points (17 goals, 38 assists) in 67 games.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
March 18, 2026
Johnny Keefer has been solid so far in his first full year on tour, making four of six cuts and finishing as high as T27 at the AMEX. He now turns to the Valspar Championship, where he is making his Innisbrook debut. Success here typically hinges on accuracy over raw power, along with strong approach play and putting. Keefer ranks 81st in total strokes gained (+0.010 per round), 34th on approach (+0.348), seventh off the tee, and 19th in total driving. Where he has struggled is in his short game, ranking just 159th around the green and 146th putting. Keefer also sits second in greens in regulation percentage (74.17%), so if he can put together a neutral short game week, he offers strong upside at just $7,100 on DraftKings.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
March 18, 2026
Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov was unstoppable on Tuesday night against the Seattle Kraken, scoring a hat trick and adding two assists in a 6-2 road win. Playing alongside him on the top line, Brandon Hagel finished with four points (one goal, three assists), and Anthony Cirelli had three points (one goal, two assists). This was Kucherov's second five-point effort of the season and the ninth of his career. Jari Kurri (16) and Peter Stastny (12) are the only players born outside North America to record more five-point games in NHL history. At the same time, Kucherov became only the seventh player to post four straight 110-point seasons. The former MVP has totaled 111 points (37 goals, 74 assists) in 62 appearances as he continues to chase his third consecutive Art Ross Trophy.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
March 18, 2026
Pittsburgh Penguins center Blake Lizotte (upper body) will be re-evaluated in four weeks, the team announced. He was unavailable for Monday's matchup with Colorado, and it looks like Lizotte will miss the rest of the regular season. Lizotte has played well in a bottom-six role for the Penguins, recording 19 points (seven goals, 12 assists), 49 shots, 35 blocks, 49 hits, and a plus-six rating in 55 appearances. After recovering from an upper-body injury, Justin Brazeau took Lizotte's spot in the lineup on Monday.
--Taavi PailkSource: Pittsburgh Penguins PR
March 18, 2026
Billy Horschel put together his best result of the season at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, finishing T13 while gaining over 7.1 strokes with the putter. He will look to carry that momentum into the Valspar Championship, where he has recorded finishes of T12 and T4 over the past two seasons. Success at Innisbrook typically hinges on accuracy over raw power, along with strong approach play with mid and long irons. Horschel ranks 109th in total strokes gained (-0.504 per round), 102nd on approach (-0.170), and 131st in driving accuracy. He also sits in just the 40th percentile in proximity from 150-200 yards, a range that accounted for 41.2% of approach shots here last year. At $7,200 on DraftKings, he offers some upside at a course where he has had success, but still carries significant risk given his inconsistent play this season.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
March 18, 2026
Ottawa Senators defenseman Nick Jensen (knee) will be sidelined for six weeks due to meniscus surgery, Post Media's Bruce Garrioch reports. The 10-year veteran has been out for two games, and unfortunately, he might not get a chance to return to the ice this campaign. His six-week recovery timeline means that the regular season is certainly over for Jensen. He finishes his second year as a Senator with 17 points (four goals, 13 assists), 36 shots, 66 blocks, 38 hits, and a minus-two rating in 61 games. Dennis Gilbert has played instead of Jensen in recent games, but he may be bumped out of the lineup when Jake Sanderson (upper body) returns. Sanderson is expected to resume skating next week.
--Taavi PailkSource: Bruce Garrioch
March 18, 2026
Atlanta Hawks forward
Jonathan Kuminga (knee) is questionable for Wednesday's action against the Dallas Mavericks. The 23-year-old is dealing with a knee problem, but he managed to return to action Monday night against Orlando. However, Kuminga had only seven points on 2-for-7 shooting. Over his last two appearances, Kuminga has shot 18.2 percent from the field and hasn't made a positive impact since beginning his Hawks career with a strong three-game stretch. If Kuminga can't play on Wednesday, the rest of the bench will absorb his minutes, but no one stands out as a strong fantasy contributor.
Jock Landale was the only other reserve to play more than 10 minutes on Monday, so Hawks head coach Quin Snyder doesn't seem to trust his second unit much.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 18, 2026
Ben Griffin has not been at his best to start the season, with four straight finishes of T37 or worse, including back-to-back missed cuts. He looks to turn things around at the Valspar Championship, where he has results of T45, T17, and a missed cut. Success at Innisbrook typically hinges on accuracy over raw power, along with strong approach play using mid and long irons. Griffin ranks 74th in total strokes gained (+0.134 per round), 114th on approach (-0.266), and 26th in driving accuracy. He has also been solid around the green (11th) and with the putter (46th). However, struggles off the tee (131st) and on approach, including just the 19th percentile in proximity from 150-200 yards, have held him back. That range accounted for over 41% of approach shots here last year. The Valspar presents a solid bounce-back spot, but at $9,200 on DraftKings, fantasy managers should weigh their options carefully.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
March 18, 2026
Memphis Grizzlies forward
GG Jackson II (foot) will return from a two-game absence on Wednesday against the Denver Nuggets. The team has removed Jackson II from the injury report after he missed some time due to a sore right foot. Jackson II's return will push
Rayan Rupert back to the bench. After a tough night against Chicago on Monday, Rupert's fantasy value takes a further hit with a return to bench duties. Jackson II has been a solid option for fantasy managers since the All-Star break, averaging 17.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 18, 2026
Corey Conners put together an impressive performance at THE PLAYERS, gaining over six strokes on approach and finishing T13. He looks to carry that momentum into the Valspar Championship, where he has posted finishes of T16, T21, and T8 in three appearances. Ball-striking is emphasized at Innisbrook, along with accuracy off the tee and strong putting. Conners ranks 85th in total strokes gained (-0.060 per round), 26th on approach (+0.498), and fourth in driving accuracy. He has also been solid from key ranges, sitting in the 83rd percentile in proximity from 150-200 yards, a distance that accounted for 41.2% of all approach shots here last year. His biggest weakness has been on the greens, where he has lost -0.593 strokes per round putting, 147th on tour. Despite this, Conners offers winning upside with his ball-striking and should be strongly considered by fantasy managers at $9,000 on DraftKings.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
March 18, 2026
Memphis Grizzlies point guard
Ty Jerome (shoulder) has been removed from the injury report, indicating he is available for action on Wednesday night against the Denver Nuggets. Jerome has been in and out of the lineup since the All-Star break and missed Monday's loss to Chicago due to a shoulder contusion. Even when available, Jerome has averaged only 22.2 minutes per game. Nevertheless, he offers plenty of fantasy value, posting averages of 20.1 points, 5.4 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. As a result of Jerome's return,
Rayan Rupert and
Jahmai Mashack (ankle) will have significantly smaller roles.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 18, 2026
Utah Jazz guard/forward
Ace Bailey (concussion) is questionable for Wednesday's meeting with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He sustained a concussion last week and could sit out a second straight game. With nothing left to play for the Jazz, Bailey was gearing up for a big finish to the season, but the concussion has been a setback for him. Bailey's absence on Wednesday night could lead to another start for
Andersson Garcia, who posted three points, 11 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block in 43 minutes on Sunday against Sacramento.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 18, 2026
Utah Jazz guard
Isaiah Collier (knee) is not on the injury report ahead of Wednesday's clash against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The 21-year-old sophomore hurt his right knee on Sunday against Sacramento and didn't finish the contest. Fortunately, Collier avoided a serious injury and should make his 19th start of the campaign in Wednesday's contest. As a starter, he is averaging 15.7 points, 8.4 assists, and 1.5 steals this season. Collier draws a favorable matchup on Wednesday night, as Minnesota ranks 11th in fantasy points allowed to point guards.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 18, 2026
Los Angeles Clippers point guard
Darius Garland (toe) is listed as questionable for Wednesday's matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans. The former Cavalier produced a 25-point, 10-assist double-double in Monday's loss to San Antonio, but he continues to manage a toe injury and appears likely to sit out one game during the team's upcoming back-to-back set.
Kawhi Leonard (ankle) is also questionable for Wednesday's game, and
Bennedict Mathurin (toe) is out, so the rest of the group may need to step up on the offensive end.
John Collins,
Derrick Jones Jr., and
Kris Dunn could all get extra touches.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 18, 2026
Los Angeles Clippers forward
Kawhi Leonard (ankle) is questionable for Wednesday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans. He sprained his left ankle in Saturday's loss to Sacramento and wasn't available for Monday's matchup with San Antonio. The team announced that Leonard is considered day-to-day. Leonard apparently isn't dealing with a severe sprain, but his absence might extend beyond just one game. On Monday night,
John Collins took Leonard's spot in the starting lineup, finishing with 11 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and one steal.
Jordan Miller, who tallied 22 points, nine rebounds, and three assists off the bench, also benefits from Leonard's absence.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 18, 2026
Seattle Mariners infielder
Cole Young has begun to flash high-end power in spring training and appears to be the favorite to be the team's Opening Day second baseman. Across 15 spring games, Young has held a .273/.343/.614 slash line with four home runs and three stolen bases. Young is in competition with fellow young infielder
Colt Emerson, who is considered the team's top-ranked prospect. While Young does have MLB experience, which gives him a slight edge, Emerson has also enjoyed a strong showing in camp. Last summer, Young made his MLB debut and held a .211/.302/.305 line with a low .607 OPS over a 77-game stint. While he only had four home runs and stole one base last season, Young appears to be taking the next step in his development in camp. If he earns the starting second base job, he is worth a late-round flyer in deeper formats as a middle infielder with upside.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
March 18, 2026
Chicago White Sox infield prospect
William Bergolla Jr. will begin the 2026 regular season but make his Triple-A debut. Bergolla spent his entire 2025 season in Double-A and showed enough progress in camp to reach the top level of the minor leagues. Last summer, the team's No. 11-ranked prospect would log 125 games with Double-A Birmingham and hold a .286/.342/.333 line with no home runs. However, he would flash elite upside on the basepaths, swiping 40 bags and chipping in 19 doubles. In the previous campaign, Bergolla spent 89 games at the High-A level and posted a strong .300/.359/.381 line with 27 stolen bases. While he is not an option for power, managers in deeper redraft leagues should monitor his progression as he could be a high-end source for stolen bases later in the second half.
--Andy SmithSource: Brooke Fletcher
March 18, 2026
Chicago White Sox top prospect
Braden Montgomery will begin the 2026 regular season at Double-A. Montgomery is considered the team's No. 1 prospect on MLB.com and the No. 36 overall prospect in the sport. Montgomery joined the White Sox in the trade that sent
Garrett Crochet to the Red Sox last offseason. He was initially the 12th overall pick in the 2024 class out of Texas A&M. Last summer, Montgomery spent most of his time at High-A before moving up to Double-A later in the second half. At High-A, the outfielder would hold a .260/.348/.445 line with eight home runs and five stolen bases. With Double-A (34 games), Montgomery would look quite comfortable, holding a .272/.364/.416 line but would only hit one round-tripper. If Montgomery can tap into his power early in the season, he should remain on track to join Triple-A later in the first half.
--Andy SmithSource: Brooke Fletcher
March 18, 2026
Chicago White Sox left-handed pitching prospect
Hagen Smith will be starting the 2026 regular season with Triple-A Charlotte. Smith was in the mix to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster but will instead begin the campaign by making his Triple-A debut. Smith spent the entire 2025 campaign with Double-A Birmingham. Through 75 2/3 innings at this level, Smith held a 3.57 ERA with a 1.30 WHIP. The southpaw struck out an impressive 108 hitters but struggled to command his pitches, allowing a high 58 free passes. In 2024, Smith made his professional debut with High-A and tossed only 7 2/3 innings with a 7:2 K:BB. Given how quickly Smith has progressed through the minor leagues, the former fifth overall pick from the 2024 MLB Draft remains on track for an early promotion to the major leagues.
--Andy SmithSource: Brooke Fletcher
March 18, 2026
According to Sonja Chen of MLB.com, Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed pitching prospect
River Ryan is trending towards opening the season at Triple-A Oklahoma City, not in the MLB rotation. Ryan is currently in consideration for one of the final spots in the starting rotation with
Blake Snell (shoulder) and
Gavin Stone (shoulder) both on the shelf. However, it appears Ryan is behind both
Emmet Sheehan and
Justin Wrobleski in the competition, given their prior major-league experience. Additionally, the Dodgers see Ryan as a full-time starter and want to ensure he remains in that role with either club and not demoted to a swingman role. This spring, Ryan has been one of the most impressive pitchers on the roster, logging 9 2/3 innings to the tune of a 1.86 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and a 12:4 K:BB. He would be viewed as a solid stash candidate once demoted to Triple-A.
--Andy SmithSource: Sonja Chen
March 18, 2026
Cincinnati Reds right-handed pitching prospect
Rhett Lowder has officially made the Opening Day roster. The young right-hander was on the brink of the roster bubble for most of camp but was able to claim a role on the MLB roster. However, it has yet to be determined if the former seventh overall pick will have a spot in the starting rotation. Alongside Lowder, young pitchers
Chase Burns and
Brandon Williamson also made the Opening Day roster. However, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer noted that only two of them will occupy a rotation spot while the other serves as a long relief option. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status over the next week. Even though his role is unknown, Lowder has solid sleeper appeal in deeper leagues, given that he has posted an impressive 1.17 ERA with a 1.27 WHIP over his first 30 2/3 innings in the majors.
--Andy SmithSource: Gordon Wittenmyer
March 17, 2026
San Francisco Giants shortstop
Willy Adames is struggling at the plate in spring training, going 4-for-37 (.108) with a homer, five RBI, two runs scored, a stolen base, two walks, and 13 strikeouts in 40 plate appearances over 13 Cactus League games. Adames was looking like a major bust in his first year in San Fran in 2025 in the first half of the season before ultimately bouncing back in the second half. The 30-year-old Dominican infielder hit a career-low .225 (133-for-591), but he did reach the 30-homer mark for the third time in the last four years and the fourth time in his career, adding 87 RBI, 94 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases in 686 plate appearances over 160 games played. Adames had a 30-20 season in 2024 in his final year in Milwaukee, but his overall upside could be capped while playing at pitcher-friendly Oracle Park. Still, Adames should provide a solid counting-stat floor as a low-end starting fantasy shortstop in mixed leagues, at worst.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
March 17, 2026
Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss may have second baseman
Ozzie Albies run more frequently in 2026, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. He adds that Albies "seems capable" of stealing 20 bases for the first time since the 2021 season. The three-time All-Star hit .240/.306/.365 with a career-low .671 OPS, 16 home runs, 74 RBI, 74 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases in 667 plate appearances and 157 games played for the Braves in 2025 in his ninth year in the big leagues. In general, the Braves are expected to be much more aggressive on the base paths in Weiss' first year as the skipper. Albies has two 30-homer campaigns on his ledger, but he's combined to hit just 26 long balls in the last two seasons. Despite the last two years of disappointing production, Albies profiles as a top-12 fantasy second baseman because he still has 20-20 potential at the keystone. In six Grapefruit League games this spring, Albies has gone 4-for-16 (.250) with no homers, four RBI, and three runs scored.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
March 17, 2026
New York Yankees outfielder
Trent Grisham had a career year in 2025 in the Bronx in his second year in pinstripes, slashing .235/.348/.464 with an .811 OPS, 34 home runs, 74 RBI, 87 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 581 plate appearances and 143 regular-season games played. Although it's a small sample size this spring, the 29-year-old left-handed hitter has gone 4-for-30 (.133) with no homers, three RBI, three runs scored, three walks, and nine strikeouts in 33 plate appearances in 12 Grapefruit League games. Grisham has earned some rope as a regular in the Yankees' everyday lineup in 2026, but he's going to have to continue to play well to hold off
Jasson Dominguez, who has swung a hot bat this spring. The former 15th overall pick by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2015 hit under .200 with nine homers in just 76 games in his first year in New York in 2024, so there is some volatility and skepticism that Grisham can repeat his strong season in 2026. For his power alone in a strong lineup, though, Grisham is worth a late-round pick as outfield depth in mixed fantasy leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
March 17, 2026
New York Yankees second baseman
Jazz Chisholm Jr. is a solid source of power and speed as a middle infielder going into the 2026 season after he clubbed a career-high 31 home runs and also stole 31 bases to reach the 30-30 mark for the first time in his career in 2025. The 28-year-old left-handed hitter made the All-Star squad for the second time in his career while slashing .242/.332/.481 with an .813 OPS, 80 RBI, and 75 runs scored in 531 plate appearances over 130 regular-season games in his first full year in the Bronx. Chisholm has a lengthy injury history, but his power/speed upside is unmatched at the second base position, making him RotoBaller's top-ranked second baseman, who also still has eligibility at the hot corner in some leagues. The six-year veteran has swung the bat well in spring training, too, going 4-for-14 (.286) with a homer, three RBI, and a steal in a small sample size of seven Grapefruit League games. He's a great fit in a strong Yankees lineup with a short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
March 17, 2026
New York Mets left-hander
Sean Manaea's velocity remained low in his Grapefruit League outing on Tuesday against the Miami Marlins, in which he threw four scoreless innings with no hits, no walks, and four strikeouts, according to Max Goodman of NJ.com. Manaea averaged just 88.3 mph and topped out at 89.9 mph while throwing 52 total pitches. The 88.3 mph is lower than his average fastball velocity in his first two starts of the spring and 3.4 mph slower than his average (91.7) during the regular-season in 2025. The 34-year-old veteran was unable to repeat his late-career resurgence in 2024 during the 2025 campaign, as he only made 15 appearances (12 starts) due to injuries and held a poor 5.64 ERA (4.39 FIP), 1.22 WHIP, and 75:12 K: BB in 60 2/3 innings pitched. Manaea doesn't seem concerned about his lack of velocity this spring and thinks he'll gain a couple of ticks on the radar gun once the regular season starts. Injuries and inconsistency make Manaea a late-round dart throw, at best, for starting depth in upcoming fantasy drafts.
--Keith HernandezSource: NJ.com - Max Goodman
March 17, 2026
Minnesota Twins right-hander
Bailey Ober's average fastball velocity was down even more in his Grapefruit League start on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Phillies, according to Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic. Ober averaged 89.9 mph in his first spring training start, then 88.8 mph in his second start, and now he's down to 88.2 mph. None of the 58 pitches that Ober threw on Tuesday cracked 90 mph, and he also failed to record a strikeout and generated just three swings and misses. The 30-year-old veteran only has three strikeouts in 8 2/3 innings pitched so far this spring, and his low velocity is a concerning trend that fantasy managers must pay attention to. In 2025, Ober barely averaged over 90 mph on his fastball and career-worst 5.10 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with 120 strikeouts and 31 walks in 146 1/3 innings over 27 starts. Ober missed some time with a hip injury in the second half, which could have contributed to him falling apart after a decent start. He's trending down ahead of the 2026 season and is currently ranked as RotoBaller's No. 97 starting pitcher in fantasy.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Aaron Gleeman
March 17, 2026
Boston Red Sox second baseman
Brendan Rodgers (shoulder) underwent right-shoulder labral revision surgery, which was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. Rodgers was back in camp on Tuesday in a brace. The 29-year-old was potentially looking at a platoon role at the keystone in 2026 in his first year in Boston, but he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury during a spring training game last month. The former third overall pick by the Colorado Rockies in 2015 spent the first six years of his MLB career in Colorado before hitting just .191/.266/.278 with two home runs, 11 RBI, and 12 runs scored in only 43 games for the Houston Astros in 2025. With Rodgers officially out for the entire 2026 campaign,
Marcelo Mayer (knee) will most likely see most of the playing time at second for the BoSox.
--Keith HernandezSource: MassLive.com - Chris Cotillo
March 17, 2026
Cleveland Guardians second baseman
Daniel Schneemann (ankle) got the start at third base and was in the eight-hole for Tuesday's Cactus League game against the Cincinnati Reds, according to MLB.com. Schneemann missed the last couple of spring contests while recovering from a mild ankle sprain. The 29-year-old now has a little less than two weeks to prepare for Opening Day in 2026 at the end of the month. As a super-utility player for Cleveland, Schneemann is mostly an option for infield depth in AL-only fantasy leagues. The left-handed-hitting infielder was mostly used against right-handed pitchers in his second year in the league in 2025, slashing just .206/.283/.354 with a .636 OPS, 12 home runs, 41 RBI, 48 runs scored, and nine stolen bases in 131 games and 422 plate appearances. Schneemann isn't going to bring much pop and will have inconsistent playing time. His greatest asset to fantasy managers will probably be his multi-position eligibility.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
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