January 28, 2026
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver
Jake Bobo (hand) drew a limited tag on Wednesday's estimated injury report, according to The Athletic's Michael-Shawn Dugar. Bobo is dealing with a hand injury, but he'll have an extra week to rest before the Super Bowl kicks off against the New England Patriots on Sunday, Feb. 8. The 27-year-old pass-catcher caught his first touchdown of the year in the NFC Championship win over the division-rival Los Angeles Rams on Sunday on a 17-yard reception in the third quarter. Bobo should be fine to play in the big game in a couple of weeks, but you shouldn't be expecting much from a player who only had two catches for 20 yards during 11 regular-season games for Seattle. In the NFC Championship, he played only 13 offensive snaps. Bobo is a long shot to find the end zone in back-to-back weeks.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Michael-Shawn Dugar
January 28, 2026
Seattle Seahawks quarterback
Sam Darnold (oblique) was listed as a limited participant on the team's Wednesday practice estimation, according to Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic. Darnold suffered a left-oblique injury in practice leading up to the Divisional Round win over the San Francisco 49ers, but he ended up playing. The 28-year-old wasn't really needed in the 41-6 blowout win, but he bounced back for fantasy managers in the NFC Championship victory over the Los Angeles Rams to throw for a season-high 346 yards and three touchdowns on 25-for-36 passing. Darnold has plenty of time to rest his oblique before the Super Bowl showdown against the New England Patriots on Sunday, Feb. 8. Seattle is the favorite over New England, and Darnold's oblique injury shouldn't be an issue at all as he looks for his first Super Bowl ring.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Michael-Shawn Dugar
January 28, 2026
New England Patriots wide receiver
Mack Hollins (abdomen), who was activated from Injured Reserve last week, was listed as limited on Wednesday's estimated injury report, according to Patriots.com. The Patriots are bringing Hollins along slowly following his IR stint, but he should have no problem suiting up for the Super Bowl versus the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Feb. 8. The 32-year-old wideout returned in the AFC Championship against the Denver Broncos on Sunday for the first time since getting injured in Week 16, and he caught both of his targets for a team-leading 51 yards. Offense was hard to come by on a snowy afternoon in the elevation in Denver, as quarterback
Drake Maye threw for under 100 yards. Hollins had 550 receiving yards and only two touchdowns on 46 receptions during the regular season. He'll be a boom/bust deep threat for Maye in the Super Bowl against a very good Seattle secondary.
--Keith HernandezSource: Patriots.com
January 28, 2026
New England Patriots quarterback
Drake Maye (shoulder) was listed as a limited participant on the team's estimated injury report on Wednesday, according to the team's official website. Maye appeared to injure his right (throwing) shoulder in the AFC Championship game win over the Denver Broncos, but all signs point to him being fine to play in the Super Bowl against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Feb. 8. Head coach Mike Vrabel downplayed the injury, and the 23-year-old second-year signal-caller will have an extra week to heal up. Maye, who is in the MVP conversation in just his second year in the NFL, has not been as good in his first three playoff games as he was during the regular season, when he threw for 4,394 yards, 31 touchdowns, and eight picks in 17 games. His completion percentage is down from a league-best 72% to 55.8% in the playoffs, and he's also fumbled six times (three lost) and taken a league-high 15 sacks. Maye should be healthy enough to play on Super Sunday, but he'll be facing another difficult test against a strong Seahawks defense.
--Keith HernandezSource: Patriots.com
January 28, 2026
Denver Broncos quarterback
Bo Nix (ankle) said he will be back to training in four to six weeks after a quick surgery on a simple bone break in his right ankle that he suffered in the Divisional Round win over the Buffalo Bills, according to Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post. The Broncos really missed Nix in their 10-7 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship. Nix won't end up missing any time in the offseason, though, so he should be fully healed in time for organized team activities this spring. In his second full season in the NFL, the 25-year-old Oregon product completed 63.4% of his pass attempts for 3,931 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 17 starts. Nix led the league with 612 pass attempts and also seven game-winning drives. He added 356 rushing yards and five scores on 83 rushing attempts. Nix was the overall QB7 for fantasy managers and will be in play as a midrange QB1 target in 2026 as he heads into his third NFL season.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Denver Post - Parker Gabriel
January 28, 2026
Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar (lower body) was activated from Injured Reserve and will start Wednesday's contest against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Czechia netminder has been out for six games while dealing with a lower-body injury. Across 28 prior starts this season, Vladar has posted a good 16-7-4 record. While he hasn't yet registered a single shutout, the 28-year-old has limited opponents to 2.46 goals while producing a .905 save percentage. The Blue Jackets are on a 6-1-0 run and scored eight goals in their last outing, making this a tough game for Vladar's return to the net.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
January 28, 2026
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Denton Mateychuk (upper body) will rejoin the lineup on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Flyers. He has been out for six games due to an upper-body injury. Jake Christiansen will make way for Mateychuk in the lineup. It's been a good sophomore campaign for Mateychuk, as the 21-year-old has tallied 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists) in 44 outings while blocking 63 shots. He will join Ivan Provorov on the second defensive pairing, and the two will be part of the second power-play unit as well. Forward Miles Wood (upper body) will also re-enter the Blue Jackets lineup on Wednesday after missing 12 games, giving the in-form team a further boost.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 28, 2026
Because he missed almost the entire second half of the 2025 season due to a left rotator-cuff strain, Kansas City Royals left-hander
Kris Bubic (shoulder) is the No. 62-ranked starting fantasy pitcher at RotoBaller going into 2026. It's unclear if Bubic will be ready for the start of the regular season, but he was cleared to start throwing in November. Before his shoulder injury last year, the 28-year-old southpaw was in the midst of a breakout campaign, going 8-7 with a 2.55 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 116:39 K:BB in 20 starts over 116 innings pitched. Bubic only threw 30 1/3 innings in relief for KC in 2024, and his arm simply couldn't handle the volume increase. He doesn't have high-end velocity, but Bubic makes up for it with a diverse arsenal and excellent location that he uses to keep hitters off balance. If he's ready for the start of the 2026 season, Bubic could be a nice late-round value pick in fantasy drafts.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
January 28, 2026
Ottawa Senators center Stephen Halliday (upper body) won't play in Wednesday's matchup against the Colorado Avalanche. The 23-year-old had a fantastic game on Sunday against the Vegas Golden Knights with two goals and one assist, but Halliday also sustained an upper-body injury during the contest. He is considered day-to-day, with Halliday's first chance to return coming on Saturday night against the New Jersey Devils. Xavier Bourgault is expected to replace Halliday in the lineup after he was recalled from the minors. Having been almost a point-per-game performer in the AHL this season, Bourgault will get an opportunity to play in the NHL for just the second time in his career.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 28, 2026
Colorado Avalanche forward Ross Colton (lower body) will miss a third consecutive game on Wednesday night against the Ottawa Senators. He suffered a lower-body injury a week ago and is considered day-to-day. Colorado has been hopeful that Colton will return at some point during the team's current four-game road trip. There are two more stops on the trip: Thursday in Montreal and Saturday in Detroit. With Colton and Gabriel Landeskog (upper body) on the shelf, Victor Olofsson has received an opportunity on the first line. Meanwhile, Taylor Makar has slotted into the third line.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 28, 2026
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews (upper body) will sit out an 11th consecutive game on Wednesday against the Ottawa Senators. He remains day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Toews' next chance to return will be on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens. With him out, Sam Malinski has been accompanying Cale Makar on the first defensive pairing. The Cornell University product, who signed a four-year extension earlier this week, has also seen some power-play time. However, Malinski has been in an offensive slump this month, making it on the score sheet just twice in 11 appearances. Overall, he has notched a career-high 24 points (three goals, 21 assists) in 50 outings.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 28, 2026
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback
Baker Mayfield will have a third different offensive coordinator in Zac Robinson in 2026 in his third year with the organization. Mayfield had his least productive year in Tampa in 2025, although a midseason left-shoulder injury may have been to blame. The 30-year-old veteran had 3,693 passing yards, 26 touchdown passes, 11 interceptions, and a 63.2 completion percentage in 17 starts. He added 55 carries for 382 yards and a touchdown on the ground to finish as the QB12 in fantasy scoring. Mayfield's passing yards, completion percentage, and touchdowns were his fewest in his three years in Tampa. The two-time Pro Bowler plays with as much passion at the QB position as anyone else in the league, but his reckless playing style leaves him open to injury. Mayfield will have plenty of weapons again in 2026 to make him worth consideration as a low-end QB1/high-end QB2 in fantasy football.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 28, 2026
New York Islanders right wing Simon Holmstrom (illness) was on the ice on Wednesday morning and is expected to play against the New York Rangers. The Swedish forward wasn't in the lineup on Monday versus the Philadelphia Flyers due to illness. Holmstrom has finished five of his last six appearances without a point. Still, he's been a solid contributor for the Islanders, tallying 12 goals and 12 assists in 50 outings. Max Shabanov is set to be a healthy scratch against the Rangers, with Holmstrom joining Anders Lee and Jean-Gabriel Pageau on the third line.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 28, 2026
Many fantasy managers were worried about Detroit Lions quarterback
Jared Goff going into the 2025 season since he'd be without offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. The Lions took a slight step back offensively with Johnson gone and failed to make the playoffs, but it was still a successful fantasy campaign for Goff, who completed 68% of his passes for 4,564 yards, 34 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions in 17 starts. It was Goff's fourth straight season playing in all 17 games and his fourth straight year with over 4,000 passing yards. The 31-year-old veteran signal-caller has had at least 30 touchdown passes in each of the last three years and in four of his 10 NFL seasons. Goff was the QB6 in fantasy scoring, and should have QB1 upside again in 2026 with Drew Petzing as the new OC. Petzing had a pass-happy approach in Arizona and could be a great fit for Goff.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 28, 2026
New York Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock (upper body) is considered a game-time decision for Wednesday's Battle of New York against the Rangers. The veteran has been sidelined for two games due to an upper-body injury. Pulock adds a lot to the Islanders' blue line, recording 21 points (two goals, 19 assists) and a team-high 92 blocks in 50 appearances this season. If he's deemed healthy to play, Pulock will likely replace Adam Boqvist in the lineup and join Carson Soucy on the third defensive pairing. Soucy is ready to make his Islanders debut after being traded by the Rangers on Monday.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 28, 2026
The Milwaukee Brewers signed free-agent catcher
Reese McGuire to a minor-league contract on Wednesday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. McGuire will stay in the National League Central in 2026 after slashing .226/.245/.444 with a .688 OPS, career-high nine home runs, and 24 RBI in 44 games with the Chicago Cubs. The 30-year-old backstop hasn't exactly panned out in his eight big-league seasons after the Pittsburgh Pirates took him in the first round (14th overall) back in 2013 out of high school. In 399 career games at the major-league level, the left-handed hitter has a .248/.293/.374 slash line with 25 homers, 106 RBI, and 110 runs scored. McGuire should be expected to serve as Milwaukee's backup catcher behind All-Star
William Contreras, giving him little fantasy appeal.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
January 28, 2026
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers talked with former Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott to check about joining head coach Todd Bowles' staff, but he's expected to take this year off and reassess his options in 2027, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. McDermott overlapped with Bucs general manager Jason Licht during their time from 2003 to 2007 with the Philadelphia Eagles, and McDermott interviewed for Tampa's head-coaching job back in 2016. Buffalo surprisingly fired McDermott after nine years with the organization. He led the franchise to eight playoff wins during that time, but he was never able to get over the hump in the postseason and lead them to a Super Bowl appearance. Given his success with the Bills, McDermott should be one of the best head-coaching candidates in 2027 for the next coaching carousel.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX Sports - Greg Auman
January 28, 2026
Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Christian Watson was in the top 50 receivers in half-PPR points in 2025 despite missing the first seven games of the season while recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered late in the 2024 campaign. In 10 regular-season games played, Watson caught 35 of his 55 targets for 611 receiving yards and six touchdowns. The 26-year-old also scored a touchdown in the Wild-Card loss to the Chicago Bears. He finished second on the team behind
Romeo Doubs in catches, targets, and yards. Watson was one of quarterback
Jordan Love's go-to targets down the stretch. Green Bay has a crowded group of wideouts, and tight end
Tucker Kraft (knee) will be back at some point next year, but when healthy, Watson, a former second-rounder, still has plenty of fantasy upside. Watson has 2,264 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns in his four NFL seasons, but he's yet to play a full season due to injuries.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 28, 2026
The Jacksonville Jaguars made a statement when they traded running back
Tank Bigsby to the Philadelphia Eagles early in the 2025 season, which moved rookie fourth-rounder
Bhayshul Tuten to the RB2 role behind
Travis Etienne Jr. Fantasy managers with stock in Tuten were probably hoping he'd have a bigger role than he did in his first year in the NFL, but the good news is that Etienne is headed for free agency and could be gone in 2026. The 22-year-old Tuten handled 83 carries for 307 yards and five touchdowns on the ground in his first 15 NFL games and added 10 catches for 79 yards and two more TDs. Tuten should have an expanded role, regardless of whether Etienne re-signs, but if Etienne leaves, Tuten will see a huge boost in his fantasy value for a rising Jags team that will return their entire coaching staff. With more volume, Tuten has the potential to be dangerous given his high-end speed and big-play abilities out of the backfield.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 28, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver
Ja'Marr Chase wasn't as dominant in 2025 as he was in 2024, when he led the NFL in catches (127), targets (175), receiving yards (1,708), touchdowns (17), and yards per game (100.5). Chase had a league-high 185 targets, 125 catches, 1,412 yards, and eight touchdowns in his 16 games played in his fifth year in the league in 2025. Despite the step back, the 25-year-old wideout remains one of the best all-around receivers in the game. Chase was the WR4 in half-PPR scoring, behind only
Puka Nacua,
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and
Amon-Ra St. Brown. He has been a Pro Bowler in all five of his NFL seasons, as well as being named a first-team All-Pro in the last two years. The former fifth overall pick out of LSU is showing no signs of slowing down and has excellent chemistry with quarterback
Joe Burrow. Chase already has a staggering 6,837 receiving yards and 54 touchdowns in his 78 games played for the Bengals.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 28, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Quentin Johnston took his fantasy managers on a rollercoaster ride in his third year in the league in 2025. The former first-rounder had five touchdown catches in the first four weeks of the season before cooling off and being extremely boom or bust the rest of the way. The 24-year-old was third on the team with 735 receiving yards, which was a new career high for Johnston. He had 51 catches on 84 targets and also scored eight total touchdowns for the second straight season in 14 regular-season contests. Even if it wasn't much of a step forward for Johnston in Year 3, it was encouraging that he showed more chemistry with quarterback
Justin Herbert. The Chargers' entire offense could look much different under new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel in 2026, but it could help Johnston be more consistent as a downfield threat.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 28, 2026
In his third season in the NFL, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver
Parker Washington had a career year, setting new highs across the board in catches (58), targets (95), receiving yards (847), and touchdowns (five) in 16 regular-season games. All of those marks also led the team in 2025. Washington finished strong as well, hauling in seven of his 12 targets for 107 yards and a touchdown in the Wild-Card playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills. The 23-year-old pass-catcher developed a strong relationship with quarterback
Trevor Lawrence, who had his best season as a pro under first-year head coach Liam Coen.
Jakobi Meyers and
Brian Thomas Jr. will eat into Washington's targets, but he arguably made a case to open the 2026 campaign as the team's WR1. The former sixth-rounder was the WR31 in half-PPR scoring and had 100 receiving yards in three of the final four games. Washington is on the rise.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 28, 2026
New York Jets running back
Breece Hall quietly recorded his first 1,000-yard season in another forgettable year for the Jets in 2025. Hall had a career-high 243 rushing attempts for 1,065 yards and four touchdowns in 16 starts, adding 36 receptions for 350 yards and another score on 48 targets in the passing game. He finished as the RB19 in half-PPR scoring, averaging 11.8 points per game for fantasy managers. The Jets' offense was miserable in head coach Aaron Glenn's first season at the helm, so it was pretty impressive that Hall reached the 1,000-yard mark. Hall has 3,398 rushing yards in his four NFL seasons, but he has yet to surpass five touchdowns in a single season. New York is believed to be open to re-signing Hall in free agency this offseason, but Hall could have other ideas, and he should have a robust market. Hall's 2026 fantasy value could improve, depending on where he lands.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 28, 2026
Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Romeo Doubs surprisingly led the team in receptions (55), targets (85), and receiving yards (724) in 2025 while tying for the team lead in receiving touchdowns (six). Doubs' 724 receiving yards were a new season high in his fourth year in the league. The 25-year-old also finished strong, catching eight of his 11 targets for 124 yards and a touchdown in the Wild-Card playoff loss to the Chicago Bears. Doubs had a career high of 12 catches that went 20-plus yards in 2025. It helped that both
Christian Watson and
Jayden Reed missed substantial time with injuries, which allowed Doubs to maintain a steady target share throughout the season. Tight end
Tucker Kraft (knee) also suffered a season-ending torn ACL. Doubs' numbers probably wouldn't have looked as great if everyone were healthy. Still, he's proven to be a reliable receiver with 2,424 yards and 21 TDs in his four seasons. The best bet for his 2026 fantasy value is for him to sign with another team and get away from Green Bay's crowded WR picture.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 28, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback
Gardner Minshew (knee) didn't tear his ACL as initially feared, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Minshew suffered only a bone bruise and did not require surgery. The veteran signal-caller avoided any long-term damage to his knee and is already back to full strength as he heads into free agency in 2026. Minshew was forced into action late in the season after
Patrick Mahomes (knee) tore his ACL in Week 15. In his first start of the season in Week 16 against the Tennessee Titans, Minshew injured his left knee and missed the final few games of the year. The 29-year-old was initially believed to have a torn ACL before the Chiefs said he had a non-displaced tibial plateau fracture. This news might make it more likely that Minshew returns to KC as QB insurance for Mahomes again. In four appearances in 2025, Minshew went 6-for-13 for 37 yards with one interception.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
January 28, 2026
Atlanta Falcons quarterback
Michael Penix Jr. (knee) is already doing squats and said he thinks he'll be ready to go by April. Penix had successful surgery to fix a partially torn ACL in his left knee in late November and was expected to be facing a nine-month recovery. It's great news that the 25-year-old is doing well in his recovery, but even if he's ready for the start of the 2026 regular season this fall, it's hard to look past the fact that he's now had three reconstructive knee surgeries and two season-ending shoulder injuries. The Falcons will most likely be doing something to give them a fallback option in case Penix's injury woes continue, especially if they don't retain
Kirk Cousins. The 25-year-old was up and down in his second NFL season in 2025 before injuring his knee, completing 60.1% of his passes for 1,982 yards, nine touchdowns, and three interceptions in only nine starts. Penix will head into Year 3 with only 12 starts under his belt.
--Keith HernandezSource: Zach Klein
January 28, 2026
The New York Yankees acquired right-handed reliever
Angel Chivilli from the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday in exchange for minor-leaguer
T.J. Rumfield, according to Jack Curry of YES Network. It's a minor move that doesn't really move the needle at all in fantasy baseball. Chivilli, 23, has some raw talent as a potential future high-leverage reliever, but he wasn't very successful in two MLB seasons in Colorado the last two years. Chivilli has a 6.18 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, one save, 71 strikeouts, and 33 walks in 90 1/3 total innings of relief. Getting out of the thin air in Denver is definitely a plus for Chivilli, and now the Yankees will hope to get the most out of his right arm. He does a good job keeping the ball on the ground while also ranking in the 88th percentile in fastball velocity. Both Chivilli's slider and changeup generate plenty of whiffs.
--Keith HernandezSource: YES Network - Jack Curry
January 28, 2026
Texas Rangers outfielder
Evan Carter said that he wants to steal 30 bases during the 2026 MLB season. Carter told Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News that he has something to prove this year, and reaching the 30-steal mark is one of his goals. Back spasms and a right wrist fracture limited the former second-round pick to just eight games after August 1st last season, so contributing consistently and staying healthy will be key for his fantasy value in 2026. He finished his third MLB campaign with a .247/.336/.392 slash line, five home runs, 14 stolen bases, an 8.6% walk rate, an 18.6% strikeout rate, and 107 wRC+ across 63 games. Carter hasn't stolen 30 bases in a single campaign since being drafted, but he did tally at least 26 in each of his first three minor league seasons, so that's a reasonable goal. As it stands, he ranks as the #84 outfielder in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings for 2026.
--Andersen PickardSource: Shawn McFarland
January 28, 2026
Las Vegas Raiders tight end
Brock Bowers (knee) had a sophomore season to forget in 2025, as he only played in 12 games and ended the year on Injured Reserve. The 23-year-old former 13th overall pick in 2024 out of Georgia injured his knee in the Week 1 season opener and wasn't quite himself the rest of the year before eventually being shut down. Still, Bowers managed to finish as the TE10 in half-PPR scoring with 64 receptions for 680 yards and seven touchdowns. It was quite the disappointment for fantasy managers after Bowers had a 112-1,194-5 season in 17 games in his rookie campaign. Bowers is expected to be fully healthy for the start of the 2026 season, when he's expected to be working with Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza -- the projected first overall pick by Vegas. Even though the Raiders are expected to have a rookie QB, Bowers should be a high-end TE1 target yet again.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 28, 2026
The Minnesota Twins have acquired right-handed pitching prospect Jace Kaminska (elbow) and cash considerations from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for infielder
Edouard Julien and reliever
Pierson Ohl. The Rockies originally selected Kaminska as a 10th-round pick out of Nebraska in 2023. He flashed upside early in his minor league career before missing all of 2025 due to Tommy John surgery. Across 17 games (16 starts) at Single-A in 2024, he posted a 2.78 ERA and 3.13 FIP with 10.72 K/9, 1.24 BB/9, 0.62 HR/9, and a 45% ground ball rate. The 24-year-old has an average four-pitch repertoire, but his command and control should keep him in the mix for a starting role long-term. Realistically, he could pitch as high as Double-A in 2026, if he's healthy.
--Andersen PickardSource: Aaron Gleeman
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