Miro Heiskanen Uncertain for Playoffs
Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen (lower body) could be unavailable for the start of the playoffs for the second consecutive year. The star rearguard sustained a lower-body injury in Thursday's win over Minnesota. After the game, Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan told reporters he doesn't yet know Heiskanen's playoff status. Heiskanen is considered unlikely to play on Saturday against the New York Rangers. Overall, Dallas has three regular-season games remaining. During a career year, Heiskanen has been the NHL's ninth-highest scoring defenseman. He has tallied 63 points (nine goals, 54 assists) in 77 games. Thomas Harley will have an increased workload with Heiskanen on the shelf, giving him more fantasy value.
Source: Sportsnet
Source: Sportsnet
Brandon Hagel Expected to Return Before End of Regular Season
Tampa Bay Lightning winger Brandon Hagel (lower body) is expected to be back in the lineup before the end of the regular season, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Hagel was unavailable for a fifth consecutive game on Thursday against Montreal as he continues to work his way back from a lower-body injury. The 27-year-old has had an outstanding year with 73 points (35 goals, 38 assists) and a plus-33 rating in 69 games. Hagel's absence has given Gage Goncalves an expanded role. He has played well, contributing three assists over the past five games.
Source: Eduardo A. Encina
Source: Eduardo A. Encina
Roman Josi Nursing Upper-Body Injury
Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi was a late scratch on Thursday against the Utah Mammoth due to an upper-body injury. The Predators captain took part in the pregame warmups but wasn't healthy enough to play. Nashville announced that Josi is considered day-to-day. Losing Josi is a tough blow for the Predators, who are one point away from a playoff spot after losing Thursday's game 4-1. Josi has logged points in each of his last four appearances, improving his total for the season to 54 points (13 goals, 41 assists) in 66 games. Jordan Oesterle replaced him in the lineup against Utah, while Ryan Ufko led all Predators defensemen in power-play time with 2:20.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Trey Murphy III Unavailable Against Celtics
New Orleans Pelicans guard/forward Trey Murphy III (ankle) won't be in the lineup on Friday against the Boston Celtics. He is dealing with a right ankle sprain and is skipping a third consecutive contest. Zion Williamson (knee) and Dejounte Murray (hand) are also out, so the trio of Jeremiah Fears, Jordan Poole, and Micah Peavy should lead the offense on Friday. All three performed well when they started together in Tuesday's win over Utah, combining for 94 of the team's 156 points.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Dejounte Murray Remains Out Friday
New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray (hand) will miss a fourth consecutive game on Friday against the Boston Celtics. It's also looking unlikely that he will play in the season finale on Sunday after picking up a hand injury. Jeremiah Fears has been on a tear since Murray departed the lineup and should be one of the stars of the show again on Friday night. The 19-year-old posted a franchise rookie record with 40 points in Tuesday's win over Utah and has averaged 29.0 points over the last three games, along with 5.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.7 steals.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Zion Williamson Won't Suit Up Friday
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (knee) is listed as out for Friday's meeting with the Boston Celtics. The Pelicans are giving their fringe players a chance to impress late in the season, and they didn't play Williamson on Tuesday against Utah, even though he was in the lineup. Now, he will be inactive altogether, along with Yves Missi (hand). That should secure a significant role for Kevon Looney, who tallied seven points, 12 boards, six assists, and two steals in Tuesday's 156-137 win. Derik Queen will also have a clearer path to playing time in the frontcourt. He racked up 17 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and two blocks against Utah.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Jalen Williams Out on Friday
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (hamstring) will sit out Friday's contest against the Denver Nuggets. He has joined a long list of absentees as the Thunder face two dead-rubber games to end the regular season. Luguentz Dort is set to be the only regular starter in the lineup. Jared McCain, Nikola Topic, and Aaron Wiggins are all expected to step into larger roles. On paper, this is a tough matchup. But the Nuggets could also send out a weakened squad, with Nikola Jokic (wrist), Jamal Murray (shoulder), and Aaron Gordon (hamstring) carrying questionable tags.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Jarrett Allen Won't Play Against Hawks
Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (knee) will miss Friday's game against the Atlanta Hawks. After returning from a knee injury, Allen has played in four of the last five games. But Cleveland is locked into the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference, so Allen will take Friday night off to be fresher for the postseason. Thomas Bryant (calf) isn't available as well, meaning Evan Mobley could see a lot of time as a center again. In this situation, it's also likely Larry Nance Jr. will re-enter the rotation.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Donovan Mitchell Skips Friday's Action
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (ankle) won't suit up on Friday against the Atlanta Hawks. The Cavaliers will be without their top scorer for the second time in three games. This looks like a maintenance day for Mitchell, who is managing a right ankle injury. Both Keon Ellis and Max Strus are in the mix to step into the starting lineup in Mitchell's absence. Meanwhile, Dennis Schroder could also have a more important role, especially with Sam Merrill (hamstring) joining Mitchell on the sidelines.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Victor Wembanyama Questionable Friday
San Antonio Spurs forward/center Victor Wembanyama (ribs) is listed as questionable for Friday's contest against the Dallas Mavericks. The MVP candidate is nursing a left rib contusion and could be absent for a second consecutive game. Wembanyama must appear in at least one of the Spurs' remaining two games to be eligible for NBA awards. However, even if he's in the lineup, Wembanyama's workload could be limited because the team has nothing left to play for. Luke Kornet, who recorded 10 points, five rebounds, six assists, two steals, and one block on Wednesday against Portland, is likely to maintain an expanded role.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Moritz Seider has Five-Point Game on Thursday
Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider scored one goal and assisted four times in a 6-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday. He became the first defenseman this year to reach five points in a single game, and the first person since Quinn Hughes achieved the feat in December of 2024. Seider now has 10 goals, 60 points, and a plus-21 rating in 79 games played this year and has a chance to win the Norris trophy.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Xavier Legette Trending Down Ahead of Year 3
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette has not lived up to his hype as a first-round pick, and he could continue to trend in the wrong direction for fantasy football in 2026. Legette has ranked outside the top 60 fantasy receivers in each of his two NFL seasons. Last year, he ranked as the WR71 with 35 catches, 363 yards, and three touchdowns. He missed two games, so even if you extrapolate his stats over a full 17-game season, it was still a putrid year for the 25-year-old. Outside of his first-round capital, Legette doesn't have much working in his favor. Most notably, he sits behind both Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker on the depth chart. It'll be tough for him to carve out consistent volume as the No. 3 receiver in a balanced offense like Carolina's. Outside of an injury to McMillan or Coker, we don't envision a path to meaningful fantasy production for Legette next year. He can be dropped in most dynasty formats or stashed on the bench in the deepest of leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rashod Bateman a Cut Candidate in All Dynasty Leagues?
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman has been extremely underwhelming in fantasy football throughout his five-year career. Despite having high draft capital as a former first-round pick, Bateman has never finished higher than WR40 in fantasy football. He has finished as WR69 or worse in four of his five pro seasons. Most recently, in 2025, Bateman was held to just 19 catches, 224 yards, and two touchdowns. Sure, he missed four games due to injury, but the per-game averages are still putrid. Plus, fantasy managers don't want receivers who struggle to produce and can't stay healthy. The only good news about Bateman's situation is that the Ravens made a coaching change this offseason, replacing John Harbaugh with Jesse Minter. Still, there's not enough optimism behind Minter to justify getting back on board the Bateman hype train. After five years of disappointment, managers can drop Bateman in all dynasty leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Can Ja'Tavion Sanders Break Through in the Panthers' Offense?
Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders has struggled to emerge as a relevant fantasy option through his first two seasons in the NFL. He showed some upside near the end of his rookie campaign in 2024, but he has yet to finish higher than TE36 in PPR leagues. It's not for a lack of talent, as Sanders was an early fourth-round pick and has flashed impressive receiving skills. However, Carolina's offense doesn't seem to prioritize getting the ball to its tight ends. In fact, we haven't really seen the Panthers have a legitimate fantasy threat at tight end since Greg Olsen in 2016. It's unlikely that will change next season, but there is hope. Head coach Dave Canales recently turned offensive play-calling duties over to offensive coordinator Brad Idzik, so perhaps that will lead to more tight end targets for Sanders. Still, we wouldn't bet on an immediate breakout for the 23-year-old. Rostering Sanders will require patience, and he's more of a hold than a buy or sell in dynasty leagues at the moment.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Cole Caufield Reaches 50 Goals
Montreal Canadiens right winger Cole Caufield scored his 50th goal of the season in a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday. He becomes the first Montreal player since Stephane Richer in 1989-90 to score 50 goals in a season, and just the second this year after Nathan Mackinnon. Caufield now has 50 goals, 87 points, and a plus-30 rating in 78 games played this season.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Eric Orze Earns First Save on Thursday
Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Eric Orze was tasked with closing the door versus the Detroit Tigers on Thursday. The Twins didn't have many options with Kody Funderburk, Justin Topa, and Cole Sands all pitching in three of the last four days. Twins' manager Derek Shelton decided to lean on Orze, and it worked out great for him on Thursday. Orze tossed a scoreless ninth inning with one strikeout to earn his first save of the season. The 28-year-old holds a strong 1.59 ERA across his first five appearances this season. The Twins have used five different pitchers to record a save this season. Orze will likely be in the mix again, but it's going to be tough for fantasy managers to trust him as a reliable source of saves.
Source: mlb.com
Source: mlb.com
Drew Rasmussen Could Return on Saturday
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen (personal) could make his return to the mound on Saturday, according to Marc Topkin. There was hope that Rasmussen could pitch on Friday, but it sounds like the earliest that he'll be back is on Saturday. The right-hander is currently on the paternity leave list, but should be activated in the near future. In the meantime, the Rays will turn to left-hander Steven Matz for the series opener against the New York Yankees on Friday. Fantasy managers should check back for an update, but it sounds like Rasmussen should be ready to go this weekend.
Source: Marc Topkin
Source: Marc Topkin
Can Jayden Reed Bounce Back as a WR3/Flex in 2026?
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed had an underwhelming campaign in 2025. Between his reduced role and 10-week injury absence, he finished the season with just 19 catches for 207 yards and one touchdown across seven games. The injury definitely contributed to his down season, but even when he was healthy, he averaged just 2.7 catches, 29.6 yards, and 0.1 touchdowns per game. Reed had totaled more than 1,600 yards and 12 touchdowns across his first two seasons in 2023 and 2024, so fantasy managers will hope he can get back to that level of performance in 2026. The good news for Reed is that Romeo Doubs Jr. departed in free agency, leaving behind 85 vacated targets. The bad news is that a large portion of that volume could go to Matthew Golden, who is trending up ahead of a potential Year 2 breakout. Reed is not a lock to replicate his top-30 fantasy finishes from his first two pro seasons, but at a minimum, he'll be a decent volume-based flex if he can stay healthy next season. As a result, he's an intriguing buy-low candidate in dynasty leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Travis Hunter to be Full-Time Cornerback, Part-Time Wide Receiver in 2026
Jacksonville Jaguars two-way player Travis Hunter (knee) should be a full participant by training camp, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Hunter suffered a torn LCL during practice in October and missed the entire second half of the 2025 campaign. When he returns to the field, he'll be a full-time cornerback and part-time receiver. While Hunter was heavily involved as a receiver before getting injured in his rookie season, this latest update falls in line with the general consensus from before the 2025 NFL Draft that Hunter offered the most value on defense. It seems highly unlikely that Hunter will match last year's average of 6.4 targets per game. Not only is he going to play fewer offensive snaps, but he also faces plenty of competition for targets with Brian Thomas Jr., Jakobi Meyers, and Parker Washington all in the mix. Hunter currently ranks #74 overall in RotoBaller's early fantasy football rankings for the 2026 season.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
Mick Abel Regains Spring Training Form in Dominant Outing
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Mick Abel was able to bounce back in a big way against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday. The right-hander tossed six shutout innings, allowing four hits, three walks, and struck out six batters in the no-decision. He exited the game with a one-run lead, but the Twins' bullpen quickly blew that. Despite losing his first potential win, this was the best outing of the season for the young right-hander. Abel will carry a 6.08 ERA with a 13:10 K/BB ratio into his next start versus the Boston Red Sox. He's worth a look in at least mixed leagues ahead of that start.
Source: mlb.com
Source: mlb.com
Hogan Harris Secures First Save, Adds to Bullpen Committee
Athletics relief pitcher Hogan Harris was called upon to hold a one-run lead versus the New York Yankees on Thursday. A's manager Mark Kotsay decided to play the matchups with a trio of left-handed batters coming up for the Yankees. Harris retired all three batters to record his first save of the season. Harris only has five career saves, but he could be gaining more trust as a late-inning option. The A's have turned to three different pitchers to record saves for them this season. It looks like Harris could be another option for them if the opposing team has a heavy dose of left-handed batters.
Source: mlb.com
Source: mlb.com
Anthony Edwards Considered Questionable for Friday
Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Anthony Edwards (knee) is listed as questionable for Friday's game against the Houston Rockets. He has been dealing with a nagging knee injury since mid-March, sitting out 10 of Minnesota's last 12 games, including the last two. Mike Conley has started during Edwards' absence, but he dropped out of the rotation on Wednesday against Orlando when Jaden McDaniels returned from a knee injury. Ayo Dosunmu (calf) and Bones Hyland (hip) have benefited from Edwards' absence as well, but both are also questionable for Friday's action. Terrence Shannon Jr. erupted for a career-high 33 points on Wednesday and could get another chance to shine against Houston. Jaylen Clark will also have a more prominent role if Edwards, Dosunmu, and Hynes miss the game.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Jeffrey Springs Flirts With No-Hitter, Worth a Waiver-Wire Pickup?
Athletics starting pitcher Jeffrey Springs looked untouchable on the mound during Thursday's outing against the New York Yankees. Springs made it through six innings without allowing a hit. Unfortunately for him, Ben Rice smacked a single in the seventh inning to ruin the no-hit bid. Springs would finish his day going seven shutout innings, allowing one hit, and striking out six batters. The southpaw now holds a 1.47 ERA with 15 strikeouts across 18.1 innings of work this season. His next scheduled outing is against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday. Springs has looked strong against some tough lineups to begin the season. The 33-year-old is worth a look as a streaming option ahead of his next matchup.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Devin Booker Will Sit Out Friday's Game
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (ankle) has been listed as out for Friday's contest against the Los Angeles Lakers. Phoenix will give its star man some time off to manage an ankle injury after locking into the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference. Booker's recent form will have the Suns fans excited for the postseason, as he has notched 30-plus points in five of the last six games. On Friday, the Suns might also be without Jalen Green (knee), who is listed as questionable on the injury report. Collin Gillespie is set to move back into the starting unit, while Grayson Allen (quadriceps), who is ready to return from a one-game absence, should also have a leading role in Friday's game.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Nikola Jokic Questionable for Friday
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (wrist) is considered questionable for Friday's tilt against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The three-time MVP has been added to the injury report with a right wrist injury. Jokic's absence from the lineup would give Jonas Valanciunas a big opportunity to stand out as the starting center. The Lithuanian veteran has posted averages of 14.8 points and 9.8 rebounds per game as a starter this season. He could feast against a Thunder frontcourt that won't have the services of Chet Holmgren (back) and Isaiah Hartenstein (calf).
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Won't Face Nuggets Friday
Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (oblique) has been ruled out for Friday's clash against the Denver Nuggets. Oklahoma City has just secured the top seed in the Western Conference and will give the reigning MVP some rest after a back-to-back set. The defending champions will be without many regulars on Friday night, so Jared McCain should get an opportunity to eat up as many minutes as he can handle in the backcourt, along with Nikola Topic. Both players could be part of the starting lineup.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Stephen Curry Set to Play Friday
Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (knee) is expected to return to the lineup on Friday against the Sacramento Kings, Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reports. Golden State will begin a back-to-back on Thursday night against the Lakers, and Curry has been ruled out for that game. However, Steve Kerr told reporters at his pre-game press conference that Curry will be available for Friday's action. The team also hopes to have Kristaps Porzingis (illness, knee) and Al Horford (calf) back in the mix against the Kings. Since returning from a knee injury, Curry has made two bench appearances, averaging 23.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.0 steals in 25.5 minutes.
Source: Brett Siegel
Source: Brett Siegel
L.J. Cryer Back in Action Thursday Night
Golden State Warriors point guard L.J. Cryer (illness) has been cleared to return to the lineup on Thursday against the Los Angeles Lakers. He is available after missing two games due to illness. Cryer is expected to see an increased workload on Thursday night, with Stephen Curry (knee) sitting out this one. The 24-year-old has flashed potential recently, scoring double-digit points in six of his last eight appearances. Still, it's hard to trust a player whose recent work also includes a couple of zero-point efforts.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Charles Bassey Available Against Lakers
Golden State Warriors center Charles Bassey (ankle) will play on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Lakers. He has been cleared to play despite a left ankle sprain. Golden State listed Bassey as questionable on the initial injury report, then upgraded him to probable earlier on Thursday. Kristaps Porzingis (illness, knee), Al Horford (calf), and Quinten Post (foot) are all out against the Lakers, so Bassey should play a significant role. He had a solid 14-point, 12-rebound outing on Tuesday night against Sacramento and could be a double-double threat again.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Gui Santos Won't Play Thursday
Golden State Warriors forward Gui Santos (pelvis) will miss a second consecutive game on Thursday against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Warriors have downgraded Santos' status from questionable to out. He is dealing with a right pelvic contusion, and it's unclear whether we will see Santos again during the regular season. Golden State will have two more games to go after Thursday night, facing Sacramento on Friday and the Clippers on Sunday. With Santos, Stephen Curry (knee), and Kristaps Porzingis (illness, knee) sidelined against the Lakers, Brandin Podziemski, De'Anthony Melton, and Pat Spencer are expected to shoulder most of the offensive load.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
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