May 22, 2026, 10:08 AM ET

The New York Giants are unsure of when wide receiver Malik Nabers will be able to return from what head coach John Harbaugh told reporters on Thursday was "not a simple knee" injury. Nabers tore the ACL in his right knee in a Week 4 win over the Chargers and underwent a second surgery, described as a cleanup procedure, in the spring of 2026. He did not participate in the team's organized practice on Thursday, and while Harbaugh went on to say that Nabers was doing his job to return as soon as possible, the optimism that he might be ready for the start of training camp seems to have faded. Nabers broke the team's single-season reception record with 109 grabs as a rookie in 2024, and while he and 2025 first-round pick Jaxson Dart were unable to get through even a single full game together, the future of the Giants' offense remains bright if Nabers can eventually return to anything resembling that record-breaking form. Still only 22 years old, Nabers is RotoBaller's dynasty WR5, though when fully healthy, he'll have a realistic chance of claiming the top spot in the rankings.--Patrick McGrath
Source: Adam Schefter

May 22, 2026, 10:06 AM ET

Milwaukee Brewers infield prospect Cooper Pratt is currently ranked as MLB.com's No. 66 overall prospect and could make his MLB debut in the second half. Even though he will likely have to compete with fellow Triple-A prospect Jett Williams for a role on the MLB roster, Pratt could be called upon to reach the major leagues first. Pratt joined the Brewers in the sixth round of the 2023 MLB Draft and has quickly progressed through their system. During the 2025 campaign, the infielder spent his entire season with Double-A and posted a .238/.343/.348 line with a .691 OPS. During these 120 games, Pratt had 22 doubles, eight home runs, and swiped 31 bases. So far, during his first 39 games at Triple-A, Pratt has held a similar .228 AVG but has continued to show high-end speed, stealing 11 bags and adding another five long balls. If Pratt can continue to make consistent contact at the plate, he could surpass Williams and debut first. For now, he is a viable stash target in deeper 12+ team leagues looking for speed upside.--Andy Smith
Source: MiLB.com

May 22, 2026, 10:04 AM ET

Minnesota Twins infield prospect Kaelen Culpepper has continued to swing a hot bat at Triple-A St. Paul and enters Week 9 as one of the top overall prospects to stash in fantasy. With Royce Lewis now in the minor leagues, Culpepper stands as one of the top options in the system to join the MLB roster. Through the first 42 games with Triple-A this summer, Culpepper has held a .250/.355/.459 line with an .814 OPS. During this stretch, Culpepper has launched nine home runs and swiped nine bags. However, over his last 16 games (since May 1), the former Kansas State standout has been even more impressive at the plate, posting a .277 AVG and a stellar .953 OPS. If he maintains this pace, Culpepper should be poised to earn the call to the majors in the near future. His five-category potential and clear path to MLB at-bats push him to the top of the stash rankings ahead of Week 9.--Andy Smith
Source: MiLB.com

May 22, 2026, 10:02 AM ET

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen on May 26, which will be the first time throwing off the mound since he underwent elbow surgery in mid-March to remove bone chips from his right elbow. Although the timeline to return in July is speculative based on his throwing progression, Greene has so much upside that, if your roster configuration can afford to grab him now, he could be a league-winner down the stretch, especially for teams comfortably at the top of their standings. Coming into the season, Greene was a consensus top-20 starting pitcher, and is coming off back-to-back seasons with a sub-3 ERA and north of 27.7 percent strikeout rate. Greene, who is 26 years old, should be entering his prime, but has been repeatedly slowed by injuries throughout his career. Once he returns, he will immediately be slotted at the top of the Reds' rotation to go along with young star Chase Burns and Nick Lodolo.--Nicho Roessler
Source: Baseball Savant

May 22, 2026, 9:54 AM ET

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Bryan Baker has been great in 2026, with a 2.66 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 24 strikeouts in 20 1/3 innings pitched. He picked up his 13th save of the season on Tuesday against Baltimore and is now third in MLB with 16 save opportunities and 13 saves on the season, trailing only Mason Miller and Cade Smith in both. Not only has Baker looked solid on the surface, but his 2.53 xERA, .187 xBA, and 85.9 mph average exit velo all rank in the 90th percentile or better, and he has great swing and miss stuff, which is evident by his 29.3 percent strikeout rate. He has proven to be Kevin Cash's top option to close out games. Because it is the Rays, fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if Baker, every so often, is used in the 7th or 8th inning in a high-leverage situation, but overall, they should feel comfortable knowing they have a top 5 closer given the current state of closers in 2026.--Nicho Roessler
Source: Baseball Savant

May 22, 2026, 9:50 AM ET

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba finished as the fantasy WR2 in half-PPR formats on his way to winning the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year Award in 2025. At only 24 years old, he has climbed all the way to WR2 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings. While it's entirely possible that 2025 could mark Smith-Njigba's fantasy peak, he is comfortably in his prime as one of the most dynamic wide receivers in the league. While he could obviously fetch a handsome return via trade, Smith-Njigba is a dynasty asset worth holding onto by any manager with even a sliver of hope for contention in the near future. The Seahawks deployed 11 personnel at the 29th-lowest rate in the league in 2025, and while offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has since taken the top job in Las Vegas, he's been replaced by former 49ers tight ends coach Brian Fleury, who saw San Francisco rank 28th in that same category. For Smith-Njigba, this means continued usage in two, and even one-receiver sets, giving him a chance to match his 38.3% first-read target share from 2025, second only to the Rams' Puka Nacua. While only one receiver (Tyreek Hill) has turned in back-to-back top two fantasy finishes since 2018, Smith-Njigba will at least have a chance of joining that list. Even if 2025 does prove to represent his ceiling, in an environment built to see him succeed, his floor is still realistically in the WR1 range.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 22, 2026, 9:45 AM ET

Milwaukee Brewers right-handed pitcher Logan Henderson continues to prove to the fantasy community and to the Brewers that he belongs in the Brewers' rotation after another strong outing on May 16 against the Twins, where he threw five innings, allowed one earned run, six hits, one walk, and struck out seven batters. In his MLB career, which has been the last two seasons, Henderson now owns a 2.49 ERA and 1.02 WHIP with a 56/11 K/BB ratio in 43 1/3 innings pitched (nine starts). His control is elite (4.2 percent walk rate), he limits hard contact (28.9 percent), and has a good strikeout rate (32.4 percent). He is a must-add off the waiver wire if he's still out there, as even with the return of Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) and Quinn Priester (shoulder) nearing, he should remain in the rotation.--Nicho Roessler
Source: Baseball Savant

May 22, 2026, 9:37 AM ET

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley turned in one of the best fantasy seasons in recent memory in 2024, topping 2,000 rushing yards while garnering MVP consideration. Even with regression all but a foregone conclusion following the 482-touch campaign, his second season in Philadelphia was still considered a disappointment, with his rushing yards and touchdowns both dropping by more than 40%, resulting in an RB14 finish. Now, at 29 years old, Barkley has fallen to RB11 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings, making him an appealing trade candidate for contending managers. Philadelphia's new offensive coordinator, Sean Mannion, is unproven in the position, but with Kevin Patullo seeming to actively hold the team back during his one year on the job, the new-look Eagles offense has room to grow from its 24th-place finish a year ago. Philadelphia has the seventh-easiest schedule in 2026, according to win projections, offering Barkley the opportunity to regularly find himself in favorable situations. The depth chart behind him remains largely unchanged, and even while his raw volume was down in 2025, he still handled 76% of the team's running back touches. Barkley has never finished outside the top 15 at the position while missing fewer than four games, a sample size of six different seasons, so to get him priced near his floor now makes him a smart short-term trade target still capable of delivering multiple RB1 finishes.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 22, 2026, 9:32 AM ET

Athletics' right-handed reliever Mark Leiter Jr. picked up his fourth save of the season on Friday in extras, as the Athletics went on to win 3-2 in the 10th inning. Leiter got off to a rocky start, as Jo Adell hit a leadoff single and first, which resulted in first and third with no outs, but proceeded to strike out Josh Lowe and get Jorge Soler to ground into a double play. With his now fourth save, Leiter is tied with Joel Kuhnel and Hogan Harris for the most saves on the team. Jack Perkins has also been involved, as he has three saves of his own. The closer timeshare for the Athletics continues to evolve; however, Leiter has now thrown five consecutive scoreless outings and, during that same stretch, has allowed only three hits and punched out seven batters. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues desperate for saves may want to take a look at Leiter.--Nicho Roessler
Source: ESPN

May 22, 2026, 9:24 AM ET

Linebacker Jack Campbell and the Detroit Lions have agreed to a four-year, $81 million extension that makes him one of the highest-paid off-ball linebackers in the league and will keep the young All-Pro with the team through the 2030 season. A first-round pick in 2023, Campbell did not earn an every-down role until partway through his second season, but by year three, he'd become a mainstay at the center of Detroit's swarming defense. His 176 tackles, five sacks, and three forced fumbles in 2025 earned him his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections while making him one of the most valuable IDP assets in the game. At 25 years old, Campbell is RotoBaller's LB1, and this long-term security should be enough to keep him at or near that spot for the foreseeable future.--Patrick McGrath
Source: Ian Rapoport

May 22, 2026, 9:21 AM ET

Following Thursday night's game, the New York Yankees optioned their No. 6 overall prospect Spencer Jones to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. No corresponding move has been named yet, but it's possible the move was made to make room for Gerrit Cole (elbow) or Jose Caballero (finger), who are expected to be reinstated from the IL on Friday. Jones was called up to the Yankees on May 7 after Jasson Dominguez (shoulder) was injured. Jones went 4-for-24 with no extra base hits, two RBI, zero runs scored, and one stolen base over 10 contests since his debut, making his first stint fairly underwhelming. Most of his underlying data supported the struggle, as his plate discipline was very poor, with a 37.7 percent chase rate, 41.7 percent whiff rate, and 45.8 percent strikeout rate. The 25-year-old will look to improve on his game in Triple-A and will likely be called up again if not later this year, in the next year or two.--Nicho Roessler
Source: New York Yankees

May 22, 2026, 9:12 AM ET

Reigning MVP quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams have agreed to a one-year extension worth up to $60 million with incentives. Stafford can now earn up to $105 million over the next two seasons, as he is committed to the Rams through 2027. The 17-year veteran threw a career-high 46 touchdown passes in 2025 while topping 4,700 passing yards for only the fourth time in his Hall of Fame-worthy career. With Los Angeles all in on another Super Bowl push, the environment around Stafford should continue to support fantasy success, and with him entering his age-38 season, he is one of the lower-cost dynasty quarterbacks still capable of turning in consistent week-winning finishes. Stafford is RotoBaller's QB25, but that ranking is likely to rise, with one additional season of reassurance making a monumental difference at this stage in his dynasty career.--Patrick McGrath
Source: Adam Schefter

May 22, 2026, 9:00 AM ET

Cleveland Cavaliers forward/center Evan Mobley chipped in 14 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two blocks in Thursday's 109-93 Game 2 loss to the New York Knicks, knocking down two threes on 5-for-8 shooting. The 2024-25 Defensive Player of the Year stretched the floor and protected the rim, but his rebounding dropped off sharply from the 14 boards he grabbed in Game 1. Cleveland's frontcourt simply couldn't generate enough second-chance offense once an 18-0 Knicks third-quarter run flipped the game. Mobley remains a steady multi-category contributor whose blocks, boards, and improving outside touch give him a high fantasy floor even on a down scoring night. With the series shifting to Rocket Arena, expect his interior workload against Karl-Anthony Towns to climb in a near-elimination Game 3.--Brian Dailisan
Source: NBA

May 22, 2026, 8:51 AM ET

Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden tallied 18 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals, and three three-pointers in Thursday's 109-93 Game 2 loss to the New York Knicks. The 36-year-old shot 6-for-15 from the field and 3-for-3 at the line, but his low assist total was a problem on a night when Cleveland's offense stalled badly. The Cavaliers shot only 38.8 percent overall and 9-for-35 from three-point range, falling into a 2-0 series hole. Harden can still supply scoring and steals, but Cleveland needs more playmaking from him in Game 3.--Brian Dailisan
Source: NBA

May 22, 2026, 8:40 AM ET

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell paced his team with 26 points in Thursday's 109-93 Game 2 loss to the New York Knicks, sinking 8-of-9 at the free-throw line on a night the Cavs converted just 68.8 percent there as a group. The four-time All-Star shot 8-for-18 from the field with two threes, four rebounds, one assist, and one block, and his floater briefly cut the deficit to eight before an 18-0 Knicks third-quarter run buried Cleveland. "I thought our process was right tonight, so that gives me confidence going home," coach Kenny Atkinson said. Mitchell's volume and free-throw access keep his fantasy floor high regardless of efficiency, and a return to Rocket Arena down 2-0 sets up a likely usage spike. He poured in 48 points in a similar spot a year ago, so the ceiling for a Game 3 outburst is real.--Brian Dailisan
Source: NBA

May 22, 2026, 8:31 AM ET

New York Knicks forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns recorded 18 points, 13 rebounds, one assist, and three three-pointers in Thursday's 109-93 Game 2 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 30-year-old shot 7-for-12 from the field and 1-for-2 at the line, giving New York an efficient inside-out counter while Jalen Brunson shifted into facilitator mode. Towns also finished plus-18 over 36 minutes, a solid response after a quieter Game 1. With Josh Hart scoring 26 and Brunson handing out 14 assists, Towns did not need heavy usage to carry fantasy value through rebounds, efficiency, and floor spacing.--Brian Dailisan
Source: NBA

May 22, 2026, 8:26 AM ET

Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho delivered one assist in Thursday's 6-2 Game 1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference Finals. Coming off an 11-day break, the Hurricanes' top line showed no rust at the start of the game as Aho and Andrei Svechnikov set up Seth Jarvis for the opening goal. However, eight minutes later, the Hurricanes were already down 3-1 and couldn't avoid their first postseason loss of the year. Despite the team's dominance, Aho has not been very productive in the playoffs. He has five points (three goals, two assists) in nine games, going scoreless five times. Based on what we saw in Game 1, Carolina will be in major trouble in the series if the team's top centerman can't improve his offensive production.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

May 22, 2026, 8:24 AM ET

New York Knicks guard/forward Mikal Bridges scored 19 points on a tidy 9-for-12 from the field in Thursday's 109-93 Game 2 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, adding three rebounds, three assists, one steal, and a corner three that pushed the lead back to 13 in the fourth. The former Net rarely needed more than a clean look, converting at the kind of clip that justified the trade haul New York gave up for him. He didn't lean on volume from deep, taking just a handful of attempts after a season spent ironing out a shooting hitch that surfaced in the preseason. Bridges has settled into a steady two-way role behind Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart, and nights like this keep him a dependable source of points and steals without the boom-or-bust threes that drag his floor.--Brian Dailisan
Source: NBA

May 22, 2026, 8:17 AM ET

New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson tallied 19 points, three rebounds, 14 assists, and one three-pointer in Thursday's 109-93 Game 2 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 29-year-old shot 7-for-16 from the field and 4-for-4 at the line, trading his usual scoring-heavy profile for a playoff career-high assist total as Cleveland sent extra attention his way. Josh Hart turned those openings into 26 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns posted an 18-point, 13-rebound double-double. Through two games of the series, Brunson is averaging 28.5 points and 10.0 assists, giving him a useful floor even when the shot volume dips.--Brian Dailisan
Source: NBA

May 22, 2026, 8:16 AM ET

Carolina Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis scored only his second postseason goal of the year on Thursday, opening the scoring 33 seconds into Game 1 against the Montreal Canadiens. This is the third-fastest postseason goal in franchise history. Unfortunately for Jarvis and the Hurricanes, Montreal answered with four goals in the first period and won 6-2. While Carolina cruised into the Conference Finals with back-to-back sweeps, Jarvis has not had much fun in these playoffs. He has been limited to five points (two goals, three assists) in nine games. The Canadiens look ready to go toe-to-toe with Carolina, so Jarvis' improved play would be a welcome boost to the team.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

May 22, 2026, 8:11 AM ET

New York Knicks guard/forward Josh Hart scored a playoff career-high 26 points in Thursday's 109-93 Game 2 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, burning a defense that had been daring him to shoot. The 30-year-old went 10-for-21 from the field and a scorching 5-for-11 from deep, adding seven assists, four rebounds, and two steals. It was a sharp turnaround after Game 1, when Hart was benched down the stretch amid a 26.7 percent slump from three. Cleveland left him open by design again, and this time he made them pay. With Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and Karl-Anthony Towns all scoring in double figures, Hart's three-point variance is the swing factor in his line. The threes won't always fall like this, but the assists, boards, and steals keep his floor steady as New York heads to Cleveland up 2-0.--Brian Dailisan
Source: NBA

May 22, 2026, 8:10 AM ET

Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin had a nightmare in Thursday's Game 1 against the Montreal Canadiens, finishing a 6-2 home loss with a minus-four rating. He was on the ice for three of Montreal's four first-period goals. "Personally, I think I handed them the game," Slavin said postgame. "I've got to be better." This was only the second time the 11-year veteran finished a game at minus-three or worse. Slavin is widely regarded as one of the best defensive defensemen in the NHL and holds a plus-175 rating through 784 career regular-season games. He is plus-40 in 95 playoff outings. For this postseason, Slavin had an even rating before Thursday's game. He's averaged 2.11 blocks per game, but his offensive output has been limited to one assist in nine contests.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

May 22, 2026, 8:00 AM ET

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes kicked off the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals against the Carolina Hurricanes with a strong performance, recording 25 saves with a .926 save percentage in a 6-2 win. Seth Jarvis beat Dobes with just 33 seconds played in the first period, but he rebounded well from the early setback. Montreal's offense, which erupted for four first-period goals, also played a major role in the series opener. Dobes is now 9-6 this postseason -- only 10 rookie netminders have had more wins in a playoff year. The 24-year-old holds a 2.48 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

May 22, 2026, 7:51 AM ET

Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield posted his third multi-point game of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Thursday, tallying a goal and an assist in a 6-2 road win over the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes scored just 33 seconds into the game, but Caufield answered right back at the 1:00 mark. He later assisted Juraj Slafkovsky on Montreal's fifth goal in the third period. This game saw Caufield notch twice as many even-strength points as he had in all previous postseason games combined. The Hurricanes have allowed only two power-play goals in the playoffs, so Caufield's even-strength play will be critical for Montreal in the Conference Finals. After a huge 51-goal, 88-point regular season, Caufield has struggled to generate offense in the postseason. With 15 games played, he has contributed five goals and six assists.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

May 22, 2026, 7:42 AM ET

Montreal Canadiens winger Juraj Slafkovsky made his mark with two goals and one assist in a 6-2 Game 1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday. He set up Cole Caufield in the first period and produced two third-period goals, including an empty-netter. Finally, Slafkovsky didn't need the power play to make an impact. Entering Thursday's action, the 22-year-old had only one even-strength point this postseason. With Carolina's penalty kill at 95.2%, getting Slafkovsky to score at even strength is huge for Montreal. He has tallied six goals and six assists in 15 games during the team's playoff run.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

May 22, 2026, 7:36 AM ET

Montreal Canadiens center Nick Suzuki collected three assists in Thursday's big 6-2 road win in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Carolina Hurricanes. He had his first helper just a minute into the game and added two more in the final frame. This was a historic outing for Suzuki, who now holds the longest postseason-opening road point streak in franchise history at nine games. The Canadiens captain will have a chance to match the league record in Game 2. With Suzuki picking up points for fun on the road, he has taken over the postseason scoring lead on his team, bagging 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) in 15 games.--Taavi Pailk
Source: ESPN

May 21, 2026, 10:55 PM ET

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Bryan Torres is expected to get the call to the big leagues ahead of Friday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. Torres is set to join the Major League roster, with Nathan Church (lower body) heading to the Injured List. Torres is well deserving of a call-up after crushing the ball in Triple-A. The 28-year-old is slashing .336/.454/.477 with two home runs and 16 RBI this season in Triple-A. He has also stolen 10 bases, so he can do a little bit of everything. Torres is someone to keep an eye on in deep leagues, assuming he can translate the skills from Triple-A to The Show.--Andy Webb
Source: Jeff Jones

May 21, 2026, 10:48 PM ET

Colorado Rockies outfielder Brenton Doyle (oblique) was placed on the 10-day injured list on Thursday, retroactive to May 20. Doyle suffered a left oblique contusion while attempting to make a diving play during Tuesday's game. The Rockies tried to take it day-to-day, but Doyle will need an extended period of time to recover. In a corresponding move, infielder Chad Stevens has been recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque to take his place on the active roster. The expectation is that Mickey Moniak and Jake McCarthy will see increased playing time in center field while Doyle is sidelined.--Andy Webb
Source: Rockies PR

May 21, 2026, 10:41 PM ET

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Gage Wood has received the call-up to Double-A Reading. The right-hander is set to make his debut with Double-A on Friday. He earned the promotion after posting a 3.42 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and a 40:12 K:BB ratio across eight starts in Low-A Clearwater this season. Wood was the Phillies' first-round pick from the 2025 Draft and could be on the fast track to Philly. Given the Phillies' lack of viable pitching depth, Wood making his MLB debut this season shouldn't be ruled out. Fantasy managers in deep leagues should keep an eye on Wood as the season goes on. He could be a possible call-up candidate if he continues having this kind of success going forward.--Andy Webb
Source: Milb Central

May 21, 2026, 10:30 PM ET

Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Jeff Hoffman was tasked with shutting down the New York Yankees on Thursday. The right-hander was handed the ball with a two-run lead in the ninth inning. Hoffman has been working in a setup role since being pulled from the closer gig earlier in the season. The Jays gave him a chance to prove himself on Thursday, and Hoffman delivered. Hoffman tossed a scoreless inning, while striking out two batters to earn his fourth save of the season. The right-hander could slowly be earning his way back into the closer role going forward. He could be worth an add in deep leagues as he gains more trust in the Jays pen.--Andy Webb
Source: mlb