19 hours agoFormer Green Bay Packers tight end Josiah Deguara signed an undisclosed one-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday, according to a source. Deguara will head to the AFC after spending the first four years of his NFL career playing for the Packers. Green Bay took him in the third round (94th overall) in 2020 out of Cincinnati. In his four years with the team, he recorded 47 catches on 58 targets for 436 yards and only two touchdowns in 50 games played (10 starts). In 15 regular-season games (four starts) in 2023, the 27-year-old caught just eight passes for 65 yards and no scores. Deguara will mostly be useful to the Jaguars for his blocking skills on offense and on special teams, so fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to make an impact catching the ball behind Evan Engram, the team's top pass-catching tight end.Source: Bleacher Report - Jordan Schultz
19 hours agoFirst baseman Mike Ford officially signed a deal with the Cincinnati Reds after agreeing to a minor-league deal earlier this offseason. Ford is slotted to be in a bench role while Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Jeimer Candelario hold down first and third base, respectively. The veteran could slot into the lineup to provide injury relief throughout the season, but he is not expected to be a major fantasy contributor.Source: Jon Heyman
19 hours agoMinnesota Twins second baseman Edouard Julien will have to wait to make his 2024 debut as Kyle Farmer will man second base. The left-handed bat looks to be on the strong side of a platoon role for now as the Twins are facing southpaw Cole Ragans today. However, with the talent that Julien flashed last season, he may be able to play himself out of it as the season progresses.Source: Twitter
19 hours agoMiami Heat forward Duncan Robinson (back) has been ruled out for Friday's meeting with the Portland Trail Blazers. Left facet syndrome will cost Robinson a fifth game in a row, with the catch-and-shoot wing's next chance to return coming in Sunday's clash with the Washington Wizards. 2022 first-rounder Nikola Jovic has seen the most noticeable increase in playing time during Robinson's absence, logging 25.4 minutes per contest over his past four games (all starts) with averages of 10.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 2.5 threes. He's a barely-there streamer during the fantasy semifinals against a Portland squad yielding the fifth-fewest treys per game (11.7).Source: Miami Heat on X
19 hours agoPittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds (back) was dealing with back discomfort earlier in the week but is confirmed to be starting in the Opening Day lineup on Thursday against the Miami Marlins and left-hander Jesus Luzardo, batting in the two-hole. The switch-hitter was held out of the final three games of spring training. Reynolds will look to have another successful fantasy season, as he hit 27 home runs with a .263 batting average last year.Source: Twitter
19 hours agoThe Los Angeles Rams re-signed linebacker Michael Hoecht to an undisclosed deal earlier this week. Hoecht didn't receive any offers from other teams this offseason after the Rams placed a right-of-first-refusal tender on him. The 26-year-old entered the NFL in 2021 with the Rams as an undrafted free agent out of Brown University and he has 124 tackles (74 solo), 10.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, 20 QB hits and two forced fumbles in 51 games (26 starts) in his three seasons in the league. Last year he started in all 17 regular-season games for LA and recorded a career-high 81 tackles (45 solo), a career-high six sacks, seven tackles for loss, 11 QB hits and a forced fumble.Source: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
19 hours agoPittsburgh Pirates outfielder Connor Joe will man right field and will be leading off for the Pirates Opening Day game on Thursday against the Miami Marlins. Joe will get the call as the Pirates face southpaw Jesus Luzardo. If the 31-year-old can get off to a hot start, he could be the everyday leadoff man against left-handed pitchers this year.Source: Pittsburgh Pirates
19 hours agoMiami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (illness) is probable for Friday's tilt versus the Portland Trail Blazers. Butler was expected to play through his illness in Tuesday's win over the Cleveland Cavaliers before being surprisingly ruled out, but the Miami Herald's Anthony Chiang also reports the 34-year-old two-way superstar was a limited participant in Thursday's practice. Over 13 games since the All-Star Break, Butler is collecting a strong 21.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.9 three-pointers per contest. His return for the Heat would send first-round rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. to Miami's bench, and Butler would be a must-start season-long fantasy option in a soft matchup with the 19-54 Blazers on Friday.Source: Anthony Chiang - Miami Herald
19 hours agoThe Kansas City Chiefs will sign rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit to an undisclosed deal on Friday, according to sources. After working out and impressing the Chiefs' coaching staff earlier this week, the two sides have agreed to terms. Rees-Zammit will be playing running back/wide receiver as he attempts to make Kansas City's roster this summer. The 23-year-old played in the NFL's player pathway program earlier this year and also visited with the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets and Denver Broncos before the Chiefs agreed to sign him. Rees-Zammit, who has played rugby in Wales, England, is an interesting addition for the Super Bowl champions, but he's probably a long shot to have any real kind of notable role if he actually makes the 53-man roster out of camp.Source: Bleacher Report - Jordan Schultz
20 hours agoAtlanta Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu (toe) has been ruled out for Thursday's contest against the Boston Celtics. Sidelined for a fourth straight game with a sprained left big toe, the 23-year-old paint presence looks to return in Saturday's matchup versus the Milwaukee Bucks. Starting center Clint Capela has posted three consecutive double-doubles in Okongwu's absence, while backup big man Bruno Fernando has received more run from Atlanta's second unit. Fernando is averaging 15.0 points on 76.0% shooting from the field, 6.0 boards, and 2.0 combined steals plus blocks in 21.9 minutes over his last three outings for the 33-39 Hawks, but he'll take on a Celtics team allowing the third-fewest FanDuel points to opposing centers.Source: Brad Rowland - Locked On Podcast Network
20 hours agoAtlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray (back) is questionable for Thursday's game against the Boston Celtics. Murray was iffy for Wednesday's win over the Portland Trail Blazers with lower back soreness, and his status remains up in the air on the second night of Atlanta's back-to-back. Bogdan Bogdanovic would play more as a point forward if the star guard sits out on Thursday, while 2020 second-rounder Vit Krejci would handle the bulk of the ball-handling duties in this case. Krejci has started the last five games for the Hawks and averaged 10.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.0 three-pointers in 31.9 minutes, but Boston ranks first in the Eastern Conference in opponent field-goal percentage (45.4%).Source: Brad Rowland - Locked On Podcast Network
20 hours agoMinnesota Twins infielder Kyle Farmer, not Edouard Julien, is starting at second base and batting seventh on Opening Day on Thursday with the team facing left-hander Cole Ragans and the Kansas City Royals. In addition to Julien starting on the bench, which was common last year against lefties, too, Alex Kirilloff and Matt Waller will also grab pine on Opening Day. Farmer hit .290/.352/.430 against left-handers last year in 128 plate appearances, but it came with only two home runs and 16 RBI. In total in 120 games in his first year in Minnesota last year, Farmer slashed .256/.317/.408 with 11 home runs and 46 RBI in 369 trips to the plate. He'll be a low-upside DFS sleeper in fantasy lineups to kick the 2024 season off.Source: MLB.com
21 hours agoThe Toronto Blue Jays don't expect to be without closer Jordan Romano (elbow) for an extended period as he recovers from right-elbow inflammation that sidelined him for the final couple weeks of spring training. Once he's cleared to start throwing off a mound, Romano is expected to make a quick transition back to the majors after opening the year on the injured list, along with fellow reliever Erik Swanson (forearm). More patience will be required for Swanson. In their absences, Chad Green and Yimi Garcia are expected to split the Blue Jays' closing duties until Romano returns. Romano will be eligible to come off the IL on April 9, so fantasy managers need to keep him stashed in all formats and hope for a quick return.Source: Toronto Star - Gregor Chisholm
21 hours agoThe New York Yankees officially placed right-hander Gerrit Cole (elbow) on the 60-day injured list on Thursday with right-elbow inflammation. Cole has avoided structural damage in his right elbow, but he's still expected to miss at least one to two months. It remains to be seen if last year's American League Cy Young winner will be able to start a throwing program in a couple of weeks as he slowly begins to build his arm back up. The 33-year-old needs to be stashed in an IL spot in all fantasy leagues because he's one of the very best arms in all of baseball when he's healthy, but there's really no telling how much he'll pitch in 2024 or how effective he'll be if he does. And of course the Yankees aren't going to rush their ace back too soon.Source: Yankees PR Department
21 hours agoCincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz will hit sixth on Thursday on Opening Day versus the Washington Nationals and right-hander Josiah Gray. Cruz had been hitting mostly second for the Reds in spring training action, but outfielder Will Benson will be slotted there for the first regular season game in 2024. It's not exactly what De La Cruz's fantasy managers were hoping for, but it's also just Game 1 of 162 this year. For DFS purposes on Thursday, it makes the intriguing 22-year-old shortstop less attractive towards the bottom of the lineup. De La Cruz's tantalizing power/speed combination makes him one of the top young position-player prospects in baseball, at a premium position no less. With a hot streak at the plate, he could easily supplant Benson in the two-hole for the Reds sooner than later.Source: MLB.com
21 hours agoThe San Francisco Giants optioned shortstop Marco Luciano and catcher Blake Sabol to Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday. Many folks expected Luciano to open the year as San Fran's starting shortstop, but instead he'll open the year in the minors after missing some time with an injury in spring training. Veteran Nick Ahmed will open the 2024 season as the Giants' starter at the 6. The 22-year-old Luciano should still be considered the team's best long-term option at shortstop, but it remains to be seen when they'll deem him ready to return to the majors. Sabol, 26, is currently the Giants' No. 3 catcher behind Patrick Bailey and Joey Bart, so he'll bide his time on the farm until the team needs another catcher at the big-league level.Source: The Athletic - Melissa Lockard
21 hours agoThe Minnesota Twins placed right-handers Anthony DeSclafani (elbow) and Josh Winder (shoulder) on the 60-day injured list on Thursday. The Twins also put right-handers Jhoan Duran (oblique), Josh Staumont (calf), Justin Topa (knee) and Zack Weiss (shoulder) and left-hander Caleb Thielbar (hamstring) on the 15-day IL to open the year. DeSclafani is dealing with a right-elbow strain and won't be an option for the back end of Minnesota's starting rotation for at least the first two months of the 2024 season. The 33-year-old was acquired in an offseason trade from the Seattle Mariners in January. He went 4-8 with a 4.88 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with 20 walks and 79 strikeouts in 99 2/3 innings for the San Francisco Giants in 2023. Fantasy managers in mixed leagues can leave him to the waiver wire.Source: Minnesota Twins
21 hours agoLos Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon is hitting leadoff for the Angels on Opening Day on Thursday against the Baltimore Orioles and right-hander Corbin Burnes. Manager Ron Washington experimented with using Rendon in the top spot in the batting order in spring training, and now he'll be there for the first game that counts in 2024. The 33-year-old gets the nod to start for the Halos for lack of better options, really. Rendon doesn't have much speed but does possess good plate discipline with an 11 percent career walk rate, so the Angels will be hoping he can set the table for Mike Trout and company. Rendon could boost his counting stats if he sticks at leadoff all year, but he should really only be concerned about staying healthy, as he has played in a total of 148 games in the last three years.Source: Los Angeles Angels
21 hours agoThe Los Angeles Angels officially placed right-hander Robert Stephenson (shoulder) and infielder Michael Stefanic (quadriceps) on the injured list on Thursday. Stephenson isn't ready for Opening Day on March 28 in Baltimore against the Orioles due to right-shoulder inflammation he dealt with in spring training. While it's not a serious issue, the 31-year-old is going to miss a bit of time to open his first year in Anaheim. When healthy, Stephenson will be in play in fantasy leagues that count holds as the primary late-inning setup man to closer Carlos Estevez. And if Estevez struggles at all in 2024 and is removed from the ninth-inning job, Stephenson would be the first one in line to replace him for saves.Source: Orange County Register - Jeff Fletcher
21 hours agoThe Tampa Bay Rays have placed shortstop Wander Franco on administrative leave through June 1 under an agreement between the MLB and the MLB Players Association. Franco has been away from the team since last August, when his relationship with a minor first surfaced. There is no administrative leave in the offseason, which is why Thursday's Opening Day is when this move took place, and it also takes the former All-Star off of the 40-man roster, although he is still being paid while on leave. On June 1, the two parties will meet again to decide whether to extend his leave or place him on the restricted list, depending on the results of the investigation in the Dominican Republic. It's presumed that once that investigation is complete, MLB will conduct its own investigation, and Franco will likely be suspended.Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
22 hours agoFlorida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad (lower body) has been cleared to return to the lineup on Thursday versus the Islanders. He will be back in action after missing seven games with a lower-body injury. Ekblad sits on 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) through 47 games while boasting 78 hits and 55 blocks. He's set to resume his normal duties on the first defensive pairing and the second power-play unit.Source: Elliotte Friedman
22 hours agoThe Cincinnati Reds announced their starting lineup for Opening Day on Thursday in Cincinnati against the Nationals, with outfielder Will Benson penciled into the second spot in the order. Benson gets the start in centerfield after the projected Opening Day starter T.J. Friedl fractured his wrist in a spring game and was officially placed on the 10-day IL on Wednesday. Benson is intriguing for fantasy purposes, as while he's in there he brings a solid power-speed profile to the table, with the six-foot-five-inch lefty hitting 11 home runs and stealing 19 bases last season in just 329 PA. Benson will face the Nationals' RHP Josiah Gray whom he is 2-for-3 off of in his career, including a double and a strikeout.Source: MLB.com
22 hours agoTampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov set a new career high with his 42nd goal of the season in Wednesday's 3-1 win over Boston. He had the honor of icing the game with an empty-netter. Kucherov's previous best of 41 goals had stood since his MVP campaign in 2018-19. Tampa's star could very well add another Hart Memorial Trophy to his collection this season as he leads the league in scoring with 124 points in 71 games. He has 10 games remaining to also break his current overall scoring record of 128 points.Source: ESPN
22 hours agoOttawa Senators center Shane Pinto had a career night against Buffalo on Wednesday, producing four points in a 6-2 win. He had three assists in the opening frame and completed his work with an empty-net goal with 3:17 left to play in regulation. The 23-year-old posted more points on Wednesday than he had managed in his previous nine appearances. However, Pinto has still enjoyed a solid campaign with 25 points (eight goals, 17 assists) in 30 games.Source: ESPN
22 hours agoBaltimore Orioles starting pitcher Corbin Burnes will go up against the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday in Baltimore. It will be his first Opening Day start for the Orioles and he'll match up against the Angels' LHP Patrick Sandoval. Burnes allowed five home runs in five spring games and finished with a 6.75 ERA, although he walked just two while striking out 13 in 16 IP. The Angel batters will see a mix of cut fastball (55%), curve (17%), changeup (11%), slider (9%), and sinker (8%) from the 3x All-Star, with the cutter clocking at 94.4 mph last season and the curveball being his most effective put-away pitch (26.3% Put Away%, 53.1% K%). Having pitched in the National League for all of his career to this point, the 29-year-old hasn't faced the Angels much, but for what it's worth, he's faced superstar Mike Trout three times in his career with Trout going 1-for-2 with a sacrifice fly off of the righty.Source: MLB.com
22 hours agoColorado Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin is nursing a lower-body injury, making him questionable to face the Rangers on Thursday. The Russian forward might be forced to come out of the lineup after playing in eight consecutive games following a return from personal leave of absence. Nichushkin has been on fire when in the lineup, posting 26 goals and 50 points across 48 games this season. Zach Parise might move into the top six to replace Nichushkin on Thursday, which would give the veteran added fantasy value.Source: Ewan Rawal
22 hours agoColorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard is battling an illness, leaving him with a question mark for Thursday's matchup against the Rangers. The 25-year-old has made 51 appearances with the Avalanche this season, contributing three goals and 15 assists with 66 shots on net. Defensively, Girard has tallied 92 blocks and 68 hits while averaging close to 20 minutes of ice time. Caleb Jones will be Girard's likely replacement in the lineup on Thursday if he can't shake off the illness. Forward Joel Kiviranta is also feeling under the weather, so Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar might be forced into more than one change in his lineup.Source: Ewan Rawal
22 hours agoFree-agent running back J.K. Dobbins (Achilles) is scheduled to visit with the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The former Baltimore Raven suffered a torn Achilles early in the 2023 campaign, but he was cleared for football activities this week, so he will likely start drawing more interest on the free-agent market. Originally a second-round pick by Baltimore in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Ohio State, Dobbins posted 805 rushing yards and nine scores on just 134 attempts (6.0 YPC) as a rookie, but he missed the entire 2021 campaign with a torn ACL. He averaged 5.7 yards per carry in 2022 and saw his 2023 season end after just eight rushing attempts with an Achilles injury. Given his injury woes early in his career, it's fair to be concerned about his future production. Regardless of his landing spot, he's likely to be eased into action, meaning his fantasy upside is capped early in 2024.Source: Adam Schefter
22 hours agoSt. Louis Blues center Oskar Sundqvist has been ruled out for the rest of the 2023-24 NHL season with a torn ACL in his right knee. Sundqvist is heading for surgery after hurting his knee in Monday's 2-1 overtime loss against Vegas. The team announced that he will be re-evaluated in six months. Sundqvist, a two-time Stanley Cup champion, completed his seventh full season in the NHL with 21 points (six goals, 15 assists) in 71 games. He will become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.Source: ESPN
22 hours agoWashington Capitals defenseman Ethan Bear has entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. The 26-year-old will be out of action indefinitely. Bear, who signed a two-year, $4.125 million contract with the Capitals in late December, last featured for the team on March 13. He has made 24 total appearances, recording one goal and four points with 24 shots on goal, 16 hits, and 31 blocks. Bear is already the fifth player to enter the assistance program this season, following his former Washington teammate Evgeny Kuznetsov, Columbus' Patrik Laine, and Colorado's duo of Samuel Girard and Valeri Nichushkin.Source: ESPN