January 21, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers star outfielder
Kyle Tucker is expected to bat second or third during the 2026 season, according to manager Dave Roberts. Tucker inked a massive four-year, $240 million contract last week, penciling him into an everyday role with the reigning World Series champions. The 29-year-old is coming off a slightly down year by his standards, but he still put together a .266/.377/.464 slash line with 22 home runs, 25 stolen bases, a 14.6% walk rate, a 14.7% strikeout rate, and a 136 wRC+ in his lone season as a Cub. He has produced at least 4.2 fWAR in each of his last five seasons and will now have an opportunity to extend that streak in a star-studded Dodgers lineup.
Shohei Ohtani projects as Los Angeles' leadoff hitter, leaving Tucker and
Mookie Betts in the second or third spots. Tucker ranks as the #9 hitter and #5 outfielder in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings for 2026.
--Andersen PickardSource: Katie Woo
January 21, 2026
League sources emphasized on Monday that Houston Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley is expected to return for a second season, according to KPRC2 Sports' Aaron Wilson. If the Texans had chosen to move on from Caley, it would have meant three offensive coordinators heading into head coach DeMeco Ryans' fourth year. "I would anticipate Nick being here next year," general manager Nick Caserio said. "All of us are just trying to improve and do what we can to make the team and the organization better. I think Nick has grown a lot." Although the Texans' offense got off to a rough start and looked bad in two playoff games, progress was made in 2025 as Caley gained a comfort level and built rapport with players. Houston had a 10-game winning streak and finished 13th in scoring offense, 18th in total offense, 14th in passing offense, and 22nd in rushing offense. The move to retain Caley should be good news for quarterback
C.J. Stroud, who has regressed in two years since his marvelous rookie campaign.
--Keith HernandezSource: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
January 21, 2026
Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio said on Wednesday that tight end
Dalton Schultz (calf) is "going to be OK" after getting hurt in the Divisional Round loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday, according to Sam Warren of the Houston Chronicle. Caserio also added that tight end
Cade Stover (knee) "avoided serious injury" and should be ready for the offseason program. Before getting hurt on Sunday, Schultz caught both of his targets for 47 yards and was on his way to a big game. Unfortunately, the 29-year-old never returned. He wrapped up his third season in Houston and eighth NFL season overall with a career-high 82 receptions on 106 targets for 777 yards and three touchdowns in 17 regular-season games. Schultz was the TE11 in half-PPR scoring, but for him to become a legitimate TE1 in fantasy, quarterback
C.J. Stroud must improve as a passer.
--Keith HernandezSource: Houston Chronicle - Sam Warren
January 21, 2026
Notre Dame tight end Eli Raridon was the full-time starter in South Bend for the first season of his career in 2025, and he tallied solid numbers on limited volume in 12 games. Overall, the 21-year-old secured 32 receptions for 482 yards, good for 15.1 yards per reception. For much of his career, he was stuck behind NFL tight ends
Mitchell Evans and
Michael Mayer, but he made the most of his one season to showcase his abilities to NFL teams. Raridon has real speed at the position, making him a vertical threat at the NFL level. He's also a willing and capable blocker, but he'll need more work in that area to become a consistent contributor in the early stages of his pro career. He projects as a fourth-round pick early in the process, but the athletic testing has caused tight ends to shoot up or down draft boards for many years.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Sports Reference CFB
January 21, 2026
Losing out on free-agent infielder
Bo Bichette -- he eventually signed a three-year, $126 million deal with the division-rival New York Mets -- was a "gut punch" for the Philadelphia Phillies, according to president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. The Phillies thought they "were very close to having a deal done" and were willing to rearrange their roster in a significant way to accommodate Bichette. The Phillies actually called catcher
J.T. Realmuto's agent to tell him the team was going in another direction. Philly offered Bichette a seven-year deal in the range of $190 million to $200 million. After re-signing Realmuto for three years and $45 million, the Phillies are not expected to pursue any other multi-year deals with free agents. In New York, Bichette is expected to play third base, a position he has never played before.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Matt Gelb
January 21, 2026
Seattle Seahawks running back
George Holani (hamstring), who was activated from Injured Reserve on Wednesday, is in "great shape" and could play in Sunday's NFC Championship game against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams, according to head coach Mike Macdonald. It's excellent timing for the Seahawks, who lost
Zach Charbonnet (knee) to a torn ACL in the Divisional Round win over the San Francisco 49ers.
Kenneth Walker III should see an elevated backfield role this weekend, regardless of whether Holani returns to the fold after landing on IR back in late November. If the 26-year-old isn't ready to return for the NFC Championship, the Seahawks will choose between
Velus Jones Jr. or
Cam Akers as the RB2 behind Walker. Before his injury, Holani had 22 carries for 73 yards and one touchdown in 11 games, adding two catches for 15 yards.
UPDATE: Holani was a full participant in practice on Wednesday.--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Michael-Shawn Dugar
January 21, 2026
Ohio State tight end Max Klare has officially declared for the 2026 NFL Draft, and many view him as the second-best tight end in the class, behind Oregon's Kenyon Sadiq. The 22-year-old joined the Buckeyes after three seasons with Purdue, and although he didn't have a monster season, he did enough to keep him in the running for TE2 status in the shallow upcoming tight end class. After a 685-yard season at Purdue in 2024, he tallied 43 receptions for 448 yards and two touchdowns in his lone season in Columbus. His counting stats were not notable, but he shared a field with Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate while catching passes from first-year starter Julian Sayin, which is important context. Klare is an explosive athlete with great blocking skills, and the NFL's shift toward more two-and-three tight end sets will give him the ability to be a valuable asset at the next level. He's likely to be a Round 2 or 3 pick in April's draft.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Sports Reference CFB
January 21, 2026
Seattle Seahawks quarterback
Sam Darnold (oblique) "continues to get better" but will be limited in practice this week as he deals with a left-oblique injury that he suffered in practice last Thursday, according to head coach Mike Macdonald. Darnold won't throw every pass in practice, but the plan is still for him to start on Sunday in the NFC Championship against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams. The 28-year-old went 12-for-17 passing for 124 yards and a touchdown in the 40-6 blowout win over the Niners. Darnold could draw another questionable tag going into the weekend, but all signs point to him suiting up as he attempts to lead the Seahawks to the Super Bowl. We expect Darnold to have to throw the ball much more against the Rams, which will give him a higher fantasy ceiling. In two games against L.A. this year, Darnold went 51-for-78 for 549 yards, two touchdowns, and six picks.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Michael-Shawn Dugar
January 21, 2026
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch had nothing but good things to say about wide receiver
Jauan Jennings, and the team is interested in re-signing him after he becomes an unrestricted free agent in March. "Always plays with passion we can count on. We can move him around the way he blocks. He plays the right way. It frustrated other people. We'd love to have him back. We'll work to get that accomplished," Lynch said. Jennings caught just two passes for 23 yards in the Divisional Round loss to the Seattle Seahawks and didn't score in any of his final three games, but he was a big contributor in the regular season, especially when tight end
George Kittle and receiver
Ricky Pearsall missed time with injuries. The 28-year-old caught 55 of 90 targets for 643 yards and a career-high nine TDs in 15 regular-season games. If Jennings returns in 2026, he'll be a trusted target for quarterback
Brock Purdy.
--Keith HernandezSource: Bay Area News Group - Cam Inman
January 21, 2026
Both San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch seem intent on keeping quarterback
Mac Jones around going into next season as the backup for
Brock Purdy, according to Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group. "We're not into getting rid of good players. I'd be surprised if he's not here next year," Shanahan said. "Mac made this place better and picked us up in a huge way ... Can't say enough about his play but also his leadership," Lynch said. The 27-year-old kept the 49ers afloat in 2025 with Purdy missing a chunk of time due to a turf-toe injury. He was in the first year of a two-year, $8.4 million contract, and all signs point to Jones returning in 2026 as one of the better backup QBs in the league. As a starter for the Niners this year, Jones went 5-3 while completing 69.6% of his passes for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions.
--Keith HernandezSource: Bay Area News Group - Cam Inman
January 21, 2026
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said on Wednesday that "it's safe to say" that wide receiver
Brandon Aiyuk (knee), who missed the entire 2025 season, has "played his last snap as a Niner," according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. The 27-year-old has been trying to get the 49ers to release him for a while, and it was essentially a done deal when the team voided guarantees in his contract. An official transaction releasing Aiyuk will probably come in the weeks following the Super Bowl. The former 25th overall pick in 2020 out of Arizona State had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2022 and 2023 before signing an extension with the team before the 2024 campaign. Aiyuk wasn't living up to expectations that year before tearing his ACL and MCL in Week 7. In addition to concerns about whether he can return to his pre-injury form, Aiyuk's fantasy value going forward will depend largely on where he ends up.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Nick Wagoner
January 21, 2026
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver
Jordan Whittington was the wideout most frequently on the field with
Puka Nacua and
Davante Adams in three-receiver sets in Sunday's Divisional Round win over the Bears. However, his two targets in the overtime win were only the seventh most on his own team, and he was largely a non-factor after missing the Divisional Round with a knee injury. With the Rams frequently favoring two or three tight end alignments, Whittington is not a player that needs to be rostered in fantasy playoff leagues. With four teams left in action, he is RotoBaller's WR14 for the Conference Championship Round.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
January 21, 2026
Denver Broncos wide receiver
Marvin Mims Jr. saw season highs in offensive snaps, targets, receptions, yards, and touchdowns in the team's Divisional Round win over the Bills. Denver seemed to come out of the gates with a clear gameplan, feeding rookie
Pat Bryant (concussion) on the first three passing plays of the game. However, when Bryant was knocked from the game with an early concussion, it was Mims who became the focal point of the team's passing attack, finishing the game with a team-leading 93 yards on his eight receptions. Managers participating in playoff fantasy leagues will need to monitor Bryant's status as he works through the league's concussion protocol. If he is unable to suit up against the Patriots in Sunday's AFC Championship matchup, Mims could become a necessary outlet for quarterback
Jarrett Stidham, who prepares to make his first start in over two years.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
January 21, 2026
Los Angeles Rams tight end
Tyler Higbee was on the field for 39 offensive snaps in the team's Wild Card win over the Panthers, catching two of his three targets for 45 yards. However, with rookie
Terrance Ferguson (hamstring) back from a two-week absence, Higbee took only eight snaps in Sunday's Divisional Round win over the Bears. Behind Ferguson,
Colby Parkinson, and
Davis Allen in terms of snap share, Higbee saw only one target in the overtime win, which he caught for 27 yards. With the Rams' tight end room back at full health, Higbee becomes an unreliable play in the Conference Championship round of fantasy playoff leagues.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
January 21, 2026
Los Angeles running back
Blake Corum, who had carved out a healthy role in the Rams' backfield in the second half of the season, saw only six total opportunities to
Kyren Williams' 26 in the team's Divisional Round win over the Bears. The narrative heading into the playoffs had been that Los Angeles was saving Williams for the games that mattered most, but a Wild Card win over the Panthers, which saw him out-touch Corum by a much thinner 15 to 13 margin, added uncertainty to how the backfield would be split moving forward. In an overtime win on Sunday that rarely saw Williams come off the field, the Rams may have provided some clarity. Corum is RotoBaller's RB6 for Championship Weekend, while Williams is RB2 for fantasy playoff leagues.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
January 21, 2026
Denver running back
Jaleel McLaughlin totaled 21 yards on four touches in the Broncos' overtime win over the Bills in the Divisional Round. With the team opening the practice window of
J.K. Dobbins (foot) ahead of the AFC Championship Game, McLaughlin may see even fewer touches against a Patriots defense that has been dominant against the run through two playoff games. Outside of quarterback scrambles, New England has allowed a total of 74 rushing yards through two games. Regardless of whether Dobbins can return from his Week 10 foot injury, McLaughlin and rookie
RJ Harvey already face a daunting task, and an additional mouth to feed could serve to remove McLaughlin from the gameplan entirely.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
January 21, 2026
The Arizona Cardinals are bringing in Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile for a second, in-person interview for their head-coaching job on Thursday, sources told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. The Jaguars' emergence in 2025 was spurred mostly by the defensive unit, which ranked first against the run. Campanile could be the favorite to take over in the desert after the team fired Jonathan Gannon. In addition to the Cardinals, Campanile interviewed for the head-coaching job with the Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins. In addition to being first against the run under Campanile this year, the Jaguars' defense was second in takeaways and allowed the third-lowest rushing success rate and 11th-lowest drop-back success rate. If he were to be hired in Arizona, figuring out the quarterback situation would be at the top of his list of priorities.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
January 21, 2026
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said that the team won't open the 21-day practice window for wide receiver
Mack Hollins (abdomen) on Wednesday, according to Evan Lazar of Patriots.com. Hollins has been on Injured Reserve since Dec. 27 with an abdominal issue, and he won't return for the AFC Championship this weekend against the hosting Denver Broncos. If New England wins and advances to the Super Bowl, they'll have a week off before the big game, so maybe then Hollins would have a shot to return from IR. In 15 regular-season games in his first year with the Pats before his injury, Hollins caught 46 of his 65 targets for 550 yards and two touchdowns. The Patriots will move forward this Sunday with a WR group that includes
Stefon Diggs,
Kayshon Boutte, rookies
Kyle Williams and
Efton Chism III, and
DeMario Douglas.
--Keith HernandezSource: Patriots.com - Evan Lazar
January 21, 2026
The Seattle Seahawks activated running back
George Holani (hamstring) from Injured Reserve on Wednesday, according to John Boyle of Seahawks.com. Now that Holani is back and ready to rejoin the team at practice, he'll be an option to play in the NFC Championship game this Sunday against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams. Holani opened the year as the team's RB3 behind
Kenneth Walker III and
Zach Charbonnet (knee) and as a key special teams player, but he injured his hamstring in the Week 12 win over the Tennessee Titans and has been sidelined since. Before his injury, Holani had 22 carries for 73 yards and a touchdown and added two catches for 15 yards. Seattle needs RB depth after Charbonnet tore his ACL in the Divisional Round win over the 49ers, but there's no guarantee that Holani would take on a notable role behind Walker this weekend if he's active, given the long layoff while on IR.
--Keith HernandezSource: Seahawks.com - John Boyle
January 21, 2026
The loss of Seattle Seahawks running back
Zach Charbonnet (knee), who tore his ACL in the Divisional Round win over the San Francisco 49ers, is a significant one, but ESPN's Brady Henderson writes that it shouldn't matter if
Kenneth Walker III "continues his recent tear." Walker had 19 carries for 116 yards and three touchdowns last Saturday in the win over the 49ers, and he finished with 100 yards in the big Week 16 win over the division-rival Los Angeles Rams. In the regular-season finale against San Fran, he had 97 yards to put him over 1,000 rushing yards on the season. "I thought this was the most decisive he's ran up to this point, and as expected, you just keep getting better and keep finding ways to improve, especially in the run game. He's done a great job," head coach Mike Macdonald said. With Charbonnet now out, Walker's volume should increase, making him a top-three fantasy RB in the NFC Championship against the Rams.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Brady Henderson
January 21, 2026
The New York Yankees have re-signed outfielder
Cody Bellinger to a five-year, $162.5 million contract that includes opt-outs after the second and third seasons. According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the deal includes a full no-trade clause and a $20 million signing bonus. Bellinger was viewed as the top remaining bat on the open market following the signing of
Kyle Tucker. The Yankees have been linked to Bellinger all winter, along with the New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays. Bellinger enjoyed an impressive debut campaign in the Bronx last season and will now look to spend the foreseeable future with the Yankees. In 2025, Bellinger launched 29 home runs and swiped 13 bags. He held a .272/.334/.480 line with an .814 OPS. His home run total was his highest since his 47-HR campaign back in 2019. While he only generated a low .327 xwOBA, his left-handed swing is built for Yankee Stadium, which raises his ceiling. The 30-year-old carries high-end OF2 upside in all formats as he should push for 20+ home runs, double-digit steals, and high-end counting stats batting alongside
Aaron Judge and
Jazz Chisholm Jr.--Andy SmithSource: Jeff Passan
January 21, 2026
Adam Scott put together four solid rounds at the Sony Open, shooting 67-70-70-68 to finish T40. He will look to carry some momentum into The American Express, where he has yet to compete in his career. Success at this multi-course event typically hinges on putting and precision with short irons and wedges. In 2025, Scott ranked 122nd in strokes gained putting (-0.100 per round), 66th on approach (+0.170), and 70th in birdie or better conversion percentage. At the Sony Open, he lost strokes with both putting and around the green, though he excelled off the tee, hitting 46 of 56 fairways and finishing as the most accurate driver in the event. His struggles on the greens continue to hold him back, and in a week often decided on putting, it may be tough for him to keep up. At $7,900 on DraftKings, fantasy managers will be hoping he can improve with the flat stick to provide strong value.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
January 21, 2026
Billy Horschel made the cut at the Sony Open but struggled over the weekend, shooting 74-71 on Saturday and Sunday to finish 74th. He will look to rebound at The American Express, where he has nine career starts, three top-25 finishes, and five missed cuts. Success here typically hinges on putting and precision on approach and with wedges. Horschel has historically excelled in these areas, though he was just 81st in strokes gained around the green and 78th in putting last week. Expect some bounce-back, but his inconsistency over 2025 and into 2026 makes him a risky fantasy option, even at only $6,800 on DraftKings.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
January 21, 2026
Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane said that quarterback
Josh Allen (foot) might need surgery on his right foot, but if he does, he should be ready for organized team activities in the spring, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Allen initially injured his foot in Week 16, but he played through soreness the rest of the year before being eliminated by the Denver Broncos in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. The 29-year-old former MVP also battled a left-knee injury and a right-finger injury in the postseason. Either way, Allen should be completely fine for the start of training camp this summer and the start of the 2026 regular season in the fall. He once again led all QBs in fantasy points during the regular season in 2025 with 3,668 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in 17 games, adding 579 rushing yards and a league-high 14 TDs. Even with head coach Sean McDermott gone, Allen should be the first QB off the board in fantasy football drafts this fall.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
January 21, 2026
Russell Henley started his 2026 season with a solid T19 at the Sony Open, shooting 67 or better in three of four rounds. A rough Friday derailed a higher finish, but he'll look to build on that at The American Express. Henley has historically struggled at this multi-course event, with four missed cuts and only one finish better than T49 in seven trips, though his elite ball-striking and putting should play well on what is typically a birdie-heavy week. At the Sony Open, he ranked sixth in strokes gained on approach, 31st in putting, and 10th in birdie or better percentage, with his only weak spot being off the tee, losing -0.532 strokes per round. A bounce-back can be expected in this area, as he ranked 12th in driving accuracy in 2025. At $9,600 on DraftKings, Henley is a strong consideration despite his past results here.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
January 21, 2026
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson said that he had a "really good" exit interview with wide receiver
DJ Moore and called him a key guy who helped the team get as far as they did this season, according to Jasson Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times. Johnson called Moore a "huge contributor." Moore certainly finished on a high note, scoring in both of the team's playoff games and finding the end zone five times in the final six contests. However, the 28-year-old finished the 2025 campaign with career lows in receptions (50) and receiving yards (682) while finding the end zone six times in 17 games played. He definitely stepped up when
Rome Odunze missed the final five regular-season games with a stress fracture in his foot, but for most of the year, he was hit or miss and extremely inconsistent for fantasy managers. Going into 2026, it could be more of the same for Moore, especially if Odunze gets over his foot ailment.
--Keith HernandezSource: Chicago Sun-Times - Jason Lieser
January 21, 2026
After an up-and-down 2025 season that included nine top-30 finishes in 17 starts, including four top 10's, Jason Day will look to start 2026 on the right note at The American Express. He has played this event four times with some success, including two top-20 finishes and a T3 last year. Success at this multi-course event typically hinges on putting and precision with wedges and short irons. Day ranked just 125th in strokes gained on approach (-0.113 per round) last year, but was a solid putter at 58th (+0.171). He also ranked 15th in proximity from 125-150 yards, a distance that could prove to be key at this event. If Day can put together a strong week ball-striking, his game should be well-positioned to contend again in the Coachella Valley.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
January 21, 2026
2025 was a step in the wrong direction for Wyndham Clark after his breakout season the year prior, when he recorded a win and eight top-10 finishes. He followed that up with just two top-10 results last year and struggled to find consistency. Clark will look to start 2026 on a better note at The American Express, an event where he has played seven times but finished inside the top 20 only twice. Success here often leans on solid short-iron play and putting, two areas where Clark struggled last season. He ranked 154th on approach at -0.284 strokes per round, 66th in putting at +0.142, and sat in just the 31st percentile in greens in regulation from 100 to 150 yards. At $7,600 on DraftKings, fantasy managers may be better off waiting to see signs of a turnaround before buying back into Clark.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
January 21, 2026
After a strong 2025 season that included six top-10 finishes and a Ryder Cup appearance, Sam Burns opens his 2026 campaign at The American Express looking to pick up where he left off. He has been consistently solid in the Coachella Valley, posting four top-20 finishes in six starts at this event, including T6 finishes in both 2020 and 2024. Burns' strengths line up well with this multi-course setup, where success often hinges on putting and converting birdie chances. Last season, he ranked first in strokes gained putting (+0.983 per round) and 16th in birdie-or-better conversion, a profile that sets up extremely well in what is typically a low-scoring birdie-fest. Given his history here and his elite performance on the greens, Burns sets up as a high-ceiling play at $9,800 on DraftKings.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
January 21, 2026
After a strong 2025 with 10 top-25 finishes, Akshay Bhatia will kick off his 2026 season at The American Express. He hasn't had much luck here before, missing the cut in 2020, 2021, and 2024, but the course setup should fit his game, which favors precision and putting over power alone. Last year, he ranked 14th in strokes gained on approach, 35th in putting, and 17th in birdie or better conversion. His biggest issue is off the tee, where he was just 103rd in strokes gained and 155th in total driving, but if he can keep it in play, he has a chance to finally turn things around here. Despite his history, at $7,800 on DraftKings, he's worth a long look in fantasy lineups.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
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