March 19, 2026

The Pittsburgh Pirates announced on Thursday that right-hander Paul Skenes will start on Opening Day on Thursday, March 26, on the road at Citi Field against the New York Mets. It's not the easiest of opening matchups, but fantasy managers should never be benching the mighty Skenes. The 23-year-old former first overall pick out of LSU in 2023 made a quick rise to the big leagues and has quickly established himself as one of the most dominant arms in the game in just two MLB seasons. He's been an All-Star in both of his big-league campaigns, won the National League Rookie of the Year in 2024, and the first of likely many Cy Young awards in 2025. Skenes has gone 21-13 with a 1.96 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 386:74 K:BB in 320 2/3 innings over his 55 starts for the Bucs. He looked great pitching for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic and will look to get his year started on the right foot in New York next week.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Pittsburgh Pirates

March 19, 2026

Cleveland Guardians first baseman/outfielder CJ Kayfus has been competing for a spot on the team's big league roster this spring, but could be the odd man out when it comes to final roster cuts. The left-handed slugger played some first base down the stretch for the Guardians in 2025, but with the team's signing of Rhys Hoskins, who is currently projected to be the starter there, outfield may be the only path to playing time for Kayfus. It may come down to the health of outfielder George Valera's calf, who has not played in a spring game since March 9. If Valera, who only began running activities on Tuesday, isn't ready to go for Opening Day, Kayfus could end up being the starting right fielder when the regular season begins. The former third-round draft pick collected 15 extra-base hits during his 44-game debut last year, hitting .220 with a .415 SLG. While he may be a decent source of power, a history of high strikeout rates (27.5 percent in '25) may limit his fantasy potential. Until the 24-year-old is confirmed to be on the big league roster and is producing at the plate, he's best left to the waiver wire in all but the deepest of leagues.--Jarod Rupp
Source: MiLB.com

March 19, 2026

Thankfully for fantasy managers, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert's playoff woes don't count. Herbert was named a Pro Bowler for the second time in his career in 2025, but he looked bad again in an ugly playoff loss to the New England Patriots. During the regular season, the 28-year-old completed 66.4% of his passes for 3,727 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions in 16 games to finish as the QB10 in overall fantasy points. He added a career-high 83 rushing attempts for 498 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. The fact that L.A.'s offensive line was so banged up and ineffective led to Herbert taking off and running more than he ever has in his career. It helped him stay in the top-12 overall fantasy QBs. With a healthier offensive line in 2026 and with new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel leading the offense, Herbert should be in better hands. He might even return to the 4,000-yard passing mark, which he hasn't reached since his third year in the league in 2022. Herbert's dynasty and redraft stock is on the rise, making him at least a low-end QB1 target in drafts later this year.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Pro Football Reference

March 19, 2026

Philadelphia Eagles running back Tank Bigsby began the 2025 season with the Jacksonville Jaguars but was traded to the Eagles after just one game played. In 16 games (one start) with Philly, Bigsby served as the direct backup to star Saquon Barkley, seeing 58 rushing attempts for 344 yards and two touchdowns while adding three catches for 32 yards through the air. In his lone start in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Washington Commanders, the 24-year-old averaged 4.7 yards per carry for 75 rushing yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, adding a 31-yard catch to his tally. The former third-round pick in 2023 by the Jaguars out of Auburn has averaged a healthy 4.5 yards per carry in his three years in the NFL on 281 rushing attempts, and he's also found the end zone 11 times on the ground in 50 games (two starts). Bigsby isn't going to have much value on a week-to-week basis in 2026 outside of being a handcuff for those who roster Barkley, but he'll be a valuable RB stash in dynasty/keeper leagues. If Barkley were to miss time with an injury, Bigsby would immediately become a must-start fantasy RB.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Pro Football Reference

March 19, 2026

Arizona Diamondbacks outfield prospect Ryan Waldschmidt will begin the 2026 campaign at Triple-A Reno, according to Sam Dykstra of MLB.com. The D-backs' top-ranked prospect was invited to big league camp this year and held his own, going 10-for-39 (.256) with a home run, a stolen base, and producing some eye-opening exit velocities on his batted balls. The former first-round draft pick impressed in 2025, playing half of the season at High-A and the other half at Double-A with strong results at both stops, culminating in a .289/.419/.473 slash line with 18 home runs and 29 steals in 134 games. The 23-year-old could make his major league debut early this season if he hits the ground running in Reno, and with an intriguing contact/power/speed skillset, the right-handed slugger could become one of the higher-priority stash candidates in deeper leagues early on.--Jarod Rupp
Source: Sam Dykstra - MLB.com

March 19, 2026

Boston Red Sox pitching prospect Connelly Early made his final case for an Opening Day roster spot on Wednesday, tossing five shutout innings against the Yankees in his fifth Grapefruit League appearance, allowing just one hit and two walks while striking out seven. He was also charged with a wild pitch and hit a batter in the outing. Despite the latter results of the performance, Boston's third-ranked prospect has impressed this spring, allowing three earned runs in 17 innings of work (1.59 ERA) while recording a 0.94 WHIP and a 16:5 K:BB. The left-hander made his MLB debut in 2025 and saw similar success, posting a 2.33 ERA (2.35 xFIP) and a 1.09 WHIP with a 29:4 K:BB over 19 1/3 innings pitched. The competition for Boston's fifth starter role has been stiff, with LHP Payton Tolle and offseason acquisition RHP Johan Oviedo both showing well this spring, too, and it remains to be seen who will win the job. Oviedo may have the slightest of edges in the race, and may get the nod simply due to his MLB experience compared to the other two, but whether it is on Opening Day or sometime later, Early will be pitching with the big league club this season and is a worthy stash candidate in the meantime. For managers who haven't drafted yet, the 6-foot-3 southpaw can be had at the end of most fantasy drafts with an ADP around 300, but could certainly outproduce that if he gets a chance early on in 2026.--Jarod Rupp
Source: ESPN

March 19, 2026

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani looked to be in midseason form when he made his Cactus League pitching debut on Wednesday against the San Francisco Giants. Ohtani allowed just one hit, walked two, and struck out four in 4 1/3 scoreless innings. His fastball touched 99 mph on the radar gun, and he threw 34 of his 61 pitches for strikes. "The stuff was really good. It's going to get more crisp as he gets out there and gets regular pitching," manager Dave Roberts said. It was an even more impressive performance for the four-time MVP, considering temperatures pushed 100 degrees at Camelback Ranch. It was Ohtani's first time on the mound in a competitive setting since Game 7 of the World Series against Toronto on Nov. 1. The Dodgers plan on Ohtani being a part of their rotation all year, although his innings will be limited early on. He returned to pitching midway through the 2025 season after recovering from elbow surgery, and he had a 2.87 ERA in 14 regular-season starts before going 2-1 with a 4.43 ERA in the playoffs. The 31-year-old Japanese star has high-end SP1 upside overall in 2026 as a pitcher.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Associated Press

March 19, 2026

The Philadelphia Eagles announced on Thursday that they agreed to terms on an undisclosed one-year deal with free-agent running back Dameon Pierce. The 26-year-old was originally drafted in the fourth round (107th overall) by the Houston Texans in 2022 out of the University of Florida. He had 1,648 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns on 405 rushing attempts in his first three years in the league with Houston before spending 2025 with Houston and the Kansas City Chiefs. Pierce saw only 14 rushing attempts last year for 36 yards. He has not been able to replicate his rookie season in 2022, when he ran for 939 yards and four touchdowns on a career-high 220 rushing attempts. In Philly, Pierce will compete for the RB3 duties with Will Shipley, behind starter Saquon Barkley and Tank Bigsby. For now, he remains off the fantasy radar in all formats.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Philadelphia Eagles

March 19, 2026

Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar will miss the entire 2026 season after his appeal of a positive performance-enhancing drug test was resolved, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. Profar will serve a 162-game suspension for testing positive a second time and will be ineligible to play in the postseason if the Braves qualify. Atlanta gave the 33-year-old veteran a three-year, $42 million contract in January of 2025 after his career year in 2024 with the San Diego Padres, when he slashed .280/.380/.459 with an .839 OPS, 24 home runs, 85 RBI, 94 runs scored, and 10 steals in 158 regular-season games. He was suspended for 80 games last year and finished with a .245 average, 14 homers, 49 RBI, 56 runs, and nine steals in 80 games played. With Profar now out for the entire 2026 season, the Braves figure to open the year with a platoon in left field between Mike Yastrzemski and Eli White.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan

March 19, 2026

Caleb Durbin will be the Boston Red Sox's starting third baseman on Opening Day this year, manager Alex Cora confirmed. The Red Sox acquired Durbin from the Milwaukee Brewers just before spring training, and now he will fill in at the hot corner after the team failed to re-sign Alex Bregman in the offseason. The 25-year-old has been sharing time at third this spring with Marcelo Mayer, who is the leading candidate to start the year at second base. Durbin has been impressive on both sides of the ball during Grapefruit League play, hitting .394 with seven RBI and three stolen bases in 33 at-bats through Tuesday. He hit .256 with 11 home runs and 53 RBI in 2025 in Milwaukee and finished third in National League Rookie of the Year voting. With a locked-in starting role and a better offensive environment at Fenway Park, Durbin is a nice late-round target in fantasy leagues that should provide a solid batting average floor and the potential for 20 stolen bases. He's ranked as the No. 16 third baseman at RotoBaller.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com

March 19, 2026

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden had a very frustrating rookie season. Despite being a first-round pick, he caught just 29 passes for 361 yards and zero touchdowns. He played 14 games but finished as just the WR89 in PPR leagues. Dynasty managers are rightfully concerned, but it's too early to completely hit the panic button. Year 2 is a common time for receivers to break out, so managers should be patient and allow Golden more time to take a step forward. Plus, he's expected to step into a larger role next season. Green Bay watched Romeo Doubs depart in free agency, leaving Golden in the mix to start alongside Christian Watson and Jayden Reed. In the NFL playoffs, the speedy receiver showed flashes of being able to handle more opportunities. During the Packers' Wild Card loss, he caught four of five targets for 84 yards and a touchdown. Managers shouldn't necessarily buy low at his slightly reduced price tag, but it's also far too early to panic sell. He's purely in the "hold" range in dynasty leagues for now.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

March 19, 2026

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins has taken a step forward in fantasy football every year, and he now finds himself in the high-end WR2 tier heading into the 2026 season. Outside of an injury-shortened 2023 campaign, Higgins' overall fantasy finish has improved every year since he was drafted. He was the WR15 in PPR leagues this past season, catching 59 passes for 846 yards and a career-high 11 touchdowns. Higgins was able to produce at such a high level despite missing two games and spending plenty of time catching passes from Jake Browning and Joe Flacco. With Higgins and Joe Burrow both healthy heading into 2026, the former second-round pick has legitimate top-12 receiver upside in fantasy football. The Bengals' offense has shown that it can support high-end fantasy production from Higgins, Ja'Marr Chase, and Chase Brown on any given week, as long as Burrow is healthy. Therefore, he's worth drafting as a high-end WR2 in redraft formats and is appropriately priced in dynasty leagues.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

March 19, 2026

After spending the first seven seasons of his MLB career with the New York Mets, power-hitting first baseman Pete Alonso signed a five-year contract this past winter with the Baltimore Orioles. The 31-year-old slugger has long been one of the most reliable sluggers in baseball, recording at least 34 home runs in every year of his career outside of the shortened 2020 season. Alonso has also been exceptionally durable throughout his time in the big leagues, recording at least 630 plate appearances in five consecutive campaigns. Across 709 trips to the plate with the Mets in 2025, Alonso slashed .272/.347/.524 with 38 home runs, 126 RBI, 87 runs scored, and one stolen base. Alonso has experienced fluctuations in his batting average over the course of his career, hitting .240 in 2024 and .217 in 2023. Still, he's kept his strikeout rate under 25% in five consecutive seasons and might be the most bankable source of power and run production in all of fantasy baseball. Alonso profiles as an elite first base option for fantasy managers heading into 2026.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

March 19, 2026

Philadelphia Phillies veteran infielder/outfielder Dylan Moore (foot) is triggering the opt-out clause in his contract, league sources told Will Sammon of The Athletic. The Phillies will now have 48 hours to add Moore to their 40-man roster. Otherwise, he'll become a free agent on Saturday. Teams with injury concerns like the Houston Astros, New York Mets, and Baltimore Orioles could show interest in Moore. The 33-year-old left Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Atlanta Braves after fouling a ball off his foot, but he avoided any structural damage and should be fine in time for Opening Day next week. The former seventh-round pick by the Texas Rangers in 2015 out of the University of Central Florida hit just .201/.267/.374 with 11 homers, 25 RBI, and 14 stolen bases in 106 games with the Mariners and Rangers last year, but he has plenty of versatility around the diamond and speed to spare on the base paths. Moore stole a career-high 32 bases in 2024 in Seattle and has 118 steals in his seven big-league seasons.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Will Sammon

March 19, 2026

After spending the first eight seasons of his MLB career with the Houston Astros, starting pitcher Framber Valdez signed a three-year, $115 million contract with the Detroit Tigers over the winter. The 32-year-old established himself as one of the most reliable southpaws in baseball during his time with Houston. Dating back to 2022, Valdez has recorded four consecutive seasons with at least 176 innings pitched, 169 strikeouts, and an ERA under 3.70. Across 192 innings (31 starts) in 2025, Valdez posted a 13-11 record with a 3.66 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 187 strikeouts. The veteran routinely posts one of the highest ground ball rates among MLB starters, which helps him limit home runs but can lead to a slightly elevated WHIP. Valdez also relies on workload volume to rack up strikeouts, as he posted a middling 23.3% strikeout rate in 2025. Still, Valdez has established a bankable production floor and will also now be making his home starts in a pitcher-friendly environment in Detroit. Valdez profiles as a steady fantasy SP2 heading into 2026.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

March 19, 2026

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that starting pitcher Shane Bieber (forearm) is "progressing well" and could return to throwing off a mound "fairly soon," per Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet. Bieber made his return from April 2024 Tommy John surgery in late August 2025, but dealt with forearm fatigue during Toronto's postseason run that will delay his start to 2026. With Bieber, Jose Berrios (elbow), and Trey Yesavage (shoulder) all set to open the year on the Injured List, Toronto's starting pitching depth will be tested early on. Bieber pitched well across 40 1/3 innings (seven starts) for the Blue Jays in 2025, recording a 4-2 record with a 3.57 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 37 strikeouts. He should provide fantasy-relevant production when healthy in 2026, but his ability to stay on the mound for any extended stretch of time has to be considered a major question mark.--Will Brady
Source: Sportsnet - Arden Zwelling

March 19, 2026

Denver Broncos wide receiver Evan Engram was already coming off a very frustrating 2025 season, and now, he could face even greater competition for targets in 2026. The Broncos made a stunning offseason trade to acquire Jaylen Waddle, giving Bo Nix a star-studded pass-catching unit that includes Waddle, Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin, Pat Bryant, and Engram. While Engram is the outlier on that list as the lone tight end, that doesn't mean he's guaranteed to have a substantial role. As the Broncos' No. 1 tight end in 2025, he was held to just 50 catches, 461 yards, and one touchdown. He finished as the overall TE29 in PPR leagues despite playing 16 games. Unless the Broncos plan to overhaul their offensive scheme this offseason, it seems unlikely that Engram will be due for increased production next year. In fact, his pass-catching volume could be scaled back even further as Waddle joins the mix and Franklin and Bryant both ascend into larger roles. Engram might have a little name value that could get you a late-round draft pick in a trade, but otherwise, it'll be tough to find any takers for him in dynasty leagues this offseason.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

March 19, 2026

The Washington Nationals announced on Thursday that they optioned right-hander Josiah Gray to Triple-A Rochester. The Nationals are going to give Gray a little more time to ease himself back in after he spent all of 2025 rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. The 28-year-old was a first-time All-Star in 2023 for the Nats, but he made just two starts in 2024 before being shut down with right-elbow trouble. He has allowed only one earned run while walking one and striking out five in 4 2/3 innings over two Grapefruit League starts this spring, but the Nationals will be able to control his workload a bit better with him at Rochester to begin the season. Gray should be in Washington's starting rotation at some point in 2026, but fantasy managers in deep-mixed leagues can take a wait-and-see approach. In his four years in the majors, Gray has a 4.84 ERA (5.50 FIP), 1.42 WHIP, and 382:184 K:BB in 386 2/3 innings over 74 outings (73 starts).--Keith Hernandez
Source: Nationals Communications

March 19, 2026

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey had an underwhelming second season in the NFL. Rather than building on an exceptional rookie campaign, he took a step backward with 66 catches, 789 yards, and six touchdowns. He ranked as the WR30 overall in PPR leagues, dropping more than a dozen spots from his 2024 ranking as WR13. The exact reason for McConkey's regression is unclear, but we'd imagine the Chargers' league-worst offensive line played a role. McConkey excels in running medium routes downfield, getting open, and making plays, but if the big men up front didn't allow enough time for that to develop, the receiver would either get uncatchable targets or no targets at all. Los Angeles fortified its trenches this offseason with Tyler Biadasz and Cole Strange, and they also freed up an additional 122 targets by letting Keenan Allen walk in free agency. These two factors -- as well as the hiring of smart-minded offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel -- could be exactly what McConkey needs to get back into the low-end WR1 or high-end WR2 conversation in 2026.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

March 19, 2026

MLB.com's Ian Browne writes that it is "hard to see" how Boston Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida fits into the team's outfield rotation on a regular basis in 2026. Boston has five projected outfielders entering the regular season in Yoshida, Roman Anthony, Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Wilyer Abreu. Anthony, an emerging star in baseball, will play every day and will spend a lot of time in left field while also occasionally seeing time as the designated hitter and in right field when Abreu needs a day off. Duran will rotate between left, center, and DH. When Rafaela and Abreu play, they will always be in center and right field, respectively. It makes the 32-year-old Yoshida a trade candidate with a week to go until Opening Day. His fantasy value is way down after he hit only four home runs and drove in 26 while slashing .266/.307/.388 in just 55 games in 2025 due to injuries. Even if the contact-oriented Yoshida is healthy, he might not see enough at-bats in Beantown to warrant attention in mixed fantasy leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com - Ian Browne

March 19, 2026

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls (oblique) is set to open 2026 on the Injured List due to an oblique issue, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. With Walls sidelined, Topkin reports that top Rays prospect Carson Williams is "likely" to be the team's Opening Day starter at shortstop. Across 317 plate appearances in 2025, the glove-first Walls hit .220/.280/.319 with four home runs, 38 RBI, 36 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases. The 29-year-old is a career .195/.286/.298 hitter across 1,560 MLB plate appearances, rendering him largely unusable in the majority of fantasy formats. Walls' strong defensive metrics could lead to him regaining Tampa Bay's starting shortstop role once healthy. However, Williams appears likely to get an extended run of everyday playing time and could be a player for fantasy managers to target as a cheap source of power and speed.--Will Brady
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin

March 19, 2026

Chicago White Sox pitchers Erick Fedde and Sean Burke have been named to the team's Opening Day starting rotation by manager Will Venable, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. Shane Smith, Anthony Kay, and Davis Martin will round out Chicago's rotation to begin the 2026 regular season. Fedde and Burke will be options for fantasy managers in AL-only leagues and won't provide much upside. Fedde, 33, spent time with the St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves, and Milwaukee Brewers in 2025 and was very inconsistent, posting a 5.49 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, and 83:67 K:BB in 141 innings over 32 outings (24 starts). With a career 4.94 ERA and 6.9 K/9, there's not much to like about Fedde's profile. Burke, 26, has a 3.87 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, and 155:70 K:BB over 153 1/3 innings and 32 outings (25 starts) the last two years in Chicago. He actually made the Opening Day start in 2025, but issues with home runs and poor control made him inconsistent overall. That has carried into spring training this year.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com - Mark Feinsand

March 19, 2026

Dallas Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue had a very underwhelming rookie season in the NFL. A healthy scratch more often than not, Blue finished his first pro campaign with just 134 scrimmage yards and one touchdown across five games. The bulk of his production came from a single game in Week 18, when he had 16 carries for 64 yards and a touchdown. While it was understandably difficult for managers to watch Dallas essentially feed just one running back (Javonte Williams) all year, Blue is still a strong handcuff and an important part of the dynasty fantasy football conversation. Williams will lead the backfield again in 2026, but Blue's strong Week 18 and the Cowboys' lack of other running back moves indicate that the Texas product is slated for the backup role. Blue won't have standalone value every week, but he'll be a top-10 running back handcuff, presumably ranking as an RB2 if Williams were to miss time. As a result, Blue is an intriguing buy-low option in dynasty leagues this offseason, especially for managers who already have Williams on their roster.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

March 19, 2026

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop and top prospect Carson Williams "seems likely" to be the team's Opening Day starting shortstop, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Williams was optioned to Minor League camp on Tuesday, but the news that presumed Rays starting shortstop Taylor Walls (oblique) will open the year on the Injured List due to an oblique issue has apparently necessitated a change in plans. Williams made his MLB debut in 2025 and struggled mightily, slashing .172/.219/.354 with five home runs, 12 RBI, 11 runs scored, and two stolen bases across 106 plate appearances. The 22-year-old struck out in 41.5% of his big-league plate appearances and wasn't much better at Triple-A, where he logged a 34.1% strikeout rate. However, Williams also racked up 23 home runs and 22 stolen bases across his 451 Minor League plate appearances in 2025. If he can limit his swing-and-miss to a more manageable level, Williams carries clear power/speed upside for fantasy managers. However, his profile comes with considerable downside risk in the batting average category.--Will Brady
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin

March 19, 2026

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Trey Yesavage (shoulder) will open the season on the Injured List due to a right shoulder impingement, per Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. Toronto had been slow-playing Yesavage in Spring Training in an effort to manage his innings workload, but it appears as though the young right-hander will now require an injury-related shutdown. The 22-year-old made his MLB debut in 2025 and was a key contributor in the Blue Jays' run to the World Series, pitching to a 3.58 ERA and 1.05 WHIP with 39 strikeouts across 27 2/3 postseason innings. It's not yet clear how much time Yesavage should be expected to miss, but losing him for any stretch is a blow to Toronto's rotation. From a fantasy perspective, Yesavage's workload uncertainty makes him difficult for managers to rely on. Veteran left-hander Eric Lauer could be called upon to fill Yesavage's spot in the Blue Jays rotation to open 2026.--Will Brady
Source: MLB.com - Keegan Matheson

March 19, 2026

The Athletic's Daniel Popper believes Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden will play in a role that "maximizes his receiving skill set" under new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel in 2026. The Chargers signed tight end Charlie Kolar, who is an elite run blocker and an "ideal fit" in McDaniel's movement offense. He also has upside as a pass-catcher, but Gadsden will be the Bolts' clear top pass-catching TE after he impressed in his first year in the NFL in 2025 with 49 catches on 69 targets for 664 yards and three touchdowns in 15 regular-season games (seven starts). His numbers were good enough to make him the TE16 in half-PPR scoring as a rookie. Gadsden also ranked 14th at his position in yards per route run. He's an ascending player with a good fit in the offensive scheme as he heads into his second year in the league. For fantasy managers who wait at the TE position, Gadsden is a great late-round target with upside.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Daniel Popper

March 19, 2026

The Athletic's Daniel Popper writes that new Los Angeles Chargers running back Keaton Mitchell's "acceleration and threatening speed to the edge will thrive" in new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel's scheme in 2026. The Bolts drafted Omarion Hampton in the first round last year, but the 24-year-old Mitchell runs with explosiveness and has been compared to Miami's De'Von Achane, whom McDaniel coached with the Dolphins. Mitchell has averaged a healthy 6.3 yards per carry in his three years in the NFL with Baltimore, but injuries have kept him from reaching his true potential, as his 13 games played in 2025 were a career-high. In his 26 NFL games (two starts), Mitchell has 767 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 121 carries, adding 19 receptions for 184 more yards on 24 targets. Mitchell will be a handcuff for Hampton at the very least, but he could also absolutely carve out standalone value as an RB3/flex in fantasy in 2026 if he can stay on the field in L.A.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Daniel Popper

March 19, 2026

The Philadelphia Eagles reworked kicker Jake Elliott's contract for the 2026 season, according to OverTheCap. Elliott accepted a $1 million pay decrease from $6 million to $5 million, but the Eagles guaranteed the $5 million, which is a clear sign that Elliott will remain their kicker this year after a disappointing 2025, according to Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports. Elliott's previous salary cap hit was due to be $4.893 million, and his new cap hit will be $4.65 million. If Elliott were cut after June 1, there would be no further cap savings. He remains under contract through the 2028 season. The 31-year-old veteran made just 20 of 27 field goals last year and was 4-for-8 from 50-plus yards out. In the last two seasons, Elliott is 5-for-15 from 50-plus yards, giving him the worst percentage in the NFL among 35 kickers with at least five attempts. If Elliott continues to struggle, especially from long range, the Eagles could have a shorter leash with him in 2026, making him a more volatile kicking option in 12-team fantasy football leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: NBC Sports Philadelphia - Dave Zangaro

March 19, 2026

The Minnesota Vikings are adding quarterback depth on Thursday by re-signing veteran Carson Wentz to an undisclosed one-year deal, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Despite dealing with a significant shoulder injury last year, Wentz started five games for Minnesota in 2025 and kept the team alive. He will now return to the Vikes in a QB room that now includes former Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray, J.J. McCarthy, and Max Brosmer. The 33-year-old completed 65.1% of his pass attempts in his five starts last year, throwing for 1,216 yards, six touchdowns, and five interceptions while filling in for the injured McCarthy. It was an uphill battle for Wentz despite plenty of receiving options, and he will head into his 11th year in the NFL as the QB3 for the Vikings. Wentz underwent season-ending surgery on his left (non-throwing) shoulder in late October, but he's expected to be a full participant in the team's offseason program.--Keith Hernandez
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport

March 19, 2026

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Matt Strahm (leg) was diagnosed with a leg contusion and is considered day-to-day after being struck by a line drive against the Rangers. He was removed as a precaution, but the injury doesn't look like it will impact his availability for Opening Day. Strahm was acquired by the Royals from the Phillies, where the 34-year-old has spent the last three seasons. He is expected to fill a high-leverage role in the Royals' bullpen, and he is worth a look in leagues that count holds as a category. He isn't expected to compete for saves, though, while Carlos Estevez is healthy, which limits his value in standard mixed leagues.--Zach Thompson
Source: Anne Rogers