March 8, 2026
Cleveland Cavaliers guard/forward
Jaylon Tyson (neck) is available to play ahead of Sunday's game against the Boston Celtics. Tyson will shed the questionable tag and suit up for Sunday's game without missing any action. He has been in the starting five over the last four games with
Donovan Mitchell (groin) sidelined. During that span, Tyson averaged 15.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists over 34.0 minutes per game. His spike in fantasy value will come to an end on Sunday with Mitchell returning to the starting five. Tyson is expected to head back to the bench, where he'll see reduced value. The second-year guard is still productive enough to warrant rostering in deep leagues at the minimum.
--Andy WebbSource: NBA Injury Report
March 8, 2026
Cleveland Cavaliers guard
Donovan Mitchell (groin) is back in action ahead of Sunday's game against the Boston Celtics. Mitchell is cleared to return after missing the last four games due to a lingering groin injury. There is no word on a minutes limit, so fantasy managers should expect Mitchell to be a full-go for this one. His return to the starting five will mean reduced roles for
Sam Merrill and
Jaylon Tyson. Mitchell has been an elite fantasy contributor, so fantasy managers better get him active in their lineups ahead of Sunday's early tip-off.
--Andy WebbSource: NBA Injury Report
March 8, 2026
Barring a last-minute deal with the Indianapolis Colts, wide receiver
Alec Pierce is set to reach free agency when the NFL's legal tampering window opens on Monday, and according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, he could fetch at least $27 million on the open market. The top option in an otherwise underwhelming free-agent class, Pierce is likely to draw interest from the Patriots, Commanders, and Titans, driving his price up. One of the premier downfield threats in the league, Pierce made a career-high 47 catches for 1,003 yards in 2025. Turning 26 in early May, he hits free agency at the perfect point in his career and will receive nothing less than a top-of-market deal.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Jeremy Fowler
March 8, 2026
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Emil Lilleberg (face) is expected to miss approximately two weeks due to a facial fracture, the team announced. He sustained the injury during Wednesday's practice and will be unavailable for a third straight game on Sunday against the Buffalo Sabres. Lilleberg has appeared in 35 games for the Lightning this season, recording six points (two goals, four assists), 28 shots, 33 blocks, 60 hits, and a plus-10 rating. Declan Carlile has seen action on the blue line during Lilleberg's absence, but he isn't a recommended fantasy pickup.
--Taavi PailkSource: Tampa Bay Lightning
March 8, 2026
Wide receiver
Romeo Doubs is set to hit free agency for the first time in his career after talks with the Green Bay Packers were unable to result in a new deal, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Amidst an underwhelming free agent class topped by the soon-to-be 26-year-old
Alec Pierce, the market for Doubs is expected to be robust. He has averaged over 50 receptions for almost 700 yards and six touchdowns over the past three seasons and profiles as a WR2 or 3 on most offenses, utilized primarily along the boundary over the course of his four-year career. While he has struggled with untimely drops, his 5.2% drop rate in 2025 was the lowest of his career, while 66.3% reception rate marked a personal best.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Jeremy Fowler
March 8, 2026
Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Spencer Knight (illness) didn't travel with the team for Sunday's contest against the Dallas Stars. Knight is battling an illness and was also unavailable for Friday night's action against the Vancouver Canucks. The team hopes Knight will feel better by Monday and be able to play in a matchup with the Utah Mammoth. The 24-year-old goalie has lost his last four starts but has performed well overall this season. Despite holding a losing record at 16-18-8, Knight has registered a 2.63 goals-against average, a .908 save percentage, and three shutouts. Arvid Soderblom and Drew Commesso are the options to start in Sunday's difficult matchup against the Stars, who have gone 10-0-1 across their last 11 games.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
March 8, 2026
New England Patriots quarterback
Drake Maye finished his sophomore season with 4,394 yards and 31 touchdowns, tacking on an additional 450 yards and four scores on the ground on his way to finishing second in a historically close MVP race. However, his performance dipped substantially during a four-game postseason run against a murderer's row of defenses. Heading into year three, he will be without his leading receiver from 2025, following the recent release of 11-year veteran
Stefon Diggs. The Patriots have been tied to several of the top names on the receiver trade and free-agent markets, but unless they can add a notable player to the room, the current group could struggle against upper-echelon defenses. With a first-place schedule and a larger target on his back, Maye has a tough road ahead to repeating his 2025 success.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
March 8, 2026
Anaheim Ducks defenseman John Carlson (lower body) is not available to make his team debut on Sunday against the St. Louis Blues, Derek Lee of The Hockey News reports. The Ducks acquired Carlson from Washington on Thursday night, and he practiced with the team for the first time on Saturday. However, Carlson is still nursing a lower-body injury he sustained before the Olympic break and won't be rushed into action. His next chance to return will be on Tuesday against the Winnipeg Jets. On Sunday, the Ducks' defense will continue to lean heavily on Jackson LaCombe and Jacob Trouba.
--Taavi PailkSource: Derek Lee
March 8, 2026
Carolina Panthers wide receiver
Tetairoa McMillan finished as the WR15 in Half-PPR formats on his way to winning Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2025. With offensive coordinator Brad Idzik returning for his third season and set to take over play-calling duties from head coach Dave Canales, the stability is in place for him to take the next step in year two. While quarterback
Bryce Young has yet to top 3,100 yards in his three-year career, McMillan was on the receiving end of nearly a third of the Panthers' 2025 passing offense, on the strength of a 26.3% target share. Following a surprise playoff appearance, Carolina holds the 19th pick in the NFL Draft, which could put them out of range to add another difference-making receiver in 2026. While the team did place the exclusive rights free agent tender on
Jalen Coker, McMillan should again clear the top of the depth chart, putting him in line for his first potential WR1 finish.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
March 8, 2026
Calgary Flames defenseman Zach Whitecloud (upper body) made an early exit against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night. He was involved in a collision with Hurricanes forward Nikolaj Ehlers
in the first period, and Whitecloud was ruled out for the rest of the game with an upper-body injury. Due to his limited offensive arsenal, Whitecloud doesn't really have fantasy value, but he's been an important part of the Flames' defense since arriving from Vegas in January. Across 14 outings, Whitecloud has averaged 22:03 of ice time, recording four assists, 17 shots, 28 blocks, and 25 hits. The team also lost Joel Hanley (illness) before Saturday's game and may have to make a roster move ahead of Monday's contest against the Washington Capitals.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
March 8, 2026
All-Pro edge rusher Khalil Mack has agreed to a one-year, fully guaranteed $18 million deal to return to the Los Angeles Chargers, taking one of the top potential free agents off the market, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. A Pro Bowler in his first three years with the team, Mack now enters his fifth season with the Bolts, his longest stay with one team as he enters year 13 of his brilliant career. While his pass-rush numbers have fallen precipitously since his career-high 17-sack campaign in 2023, the former fifth overall pick is still one of the league's most dominant edge-setters. Mack's 113 career sacks put him just outside the top 25 in NFL history, and he is likely to wear a gold jacket whenever he decides to walk away from the game.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Jeremy Fowler
March 8, 2026
Seattle Kraken forward Jaden Schwartz (face) didn't complete Saturday's matchup with the Ottawa Senators. During the first period, he was involved in a scary incident when Senators forward Nick Cousins lost his balance and his skate blade struck Schwartz's face. Schwartz left the ice with a bloodied towel on his nose. The veteran forward has had a solid but unspectacular campaign in Seattle, recording 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists) in 42 outings. If he isn't ready to play in Tuesday's matchup with the Nashville Predators, Seattle could bring Frederick Gaudreau (illness) or Bobby McMann (not injury-related) into the lineup.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
March 8, 2026
Tight end
T.J. Hockenson and the Minnesota Vikings have agreed to a restructured contract that lowers his 2026 cap hit by $5 million, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Following back-to-back top-five fantasy finishes in his first two seasons in Minnesota, Hockenson has struggled through injuries and inconsistent quarterback play over the past two years, finishing as the TE26 in 2025 while failing to top 450 receiving yards. He is currently being valued as a low-end TE2 in dynasty startups, making him a sneaky buy candidate, as the Vikings have made no secret of their desire to add quarterback competition or an entirely new starter when the league year opens on Wednesday.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Tom Pelissero
March 8, 2026
Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson (upper body) could be forced to miss time after being injured in Saturday's 7-4 win over the Seattle Kraken. He appeared to have hurt his shoulder on a hit from Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour. Sanderson hasn't earned any points in three outings, but it has been a fruitful campaign for him. Across 62 games, Sanderson has recorded 48 points (11 goals, 37 assists), 133 shots, 116 blocks, and a plus-nine rating. His outstanding form earned him a spot on Team USA's Olympic gold-winning roster. If Sanderson misses time, Thomas Chabot will take on a larger role in Ottawa's defense, while Nikolas Matinpalo (undisclosed) could fill the void in the lineup if he has recovered from his injury.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
March 8, 2026
Team Penske's Ryan Blaney will start fifth for this week's Straight Talk Wireless 500 at Phoenix Raceway. Blaney will start in the top five for the second consecutive race at Phoenix and matches his starting position from last Fall's race at the site. In 20 Cup starts at Phoenix, Blaney has one win, 14 top-10 finishes, including 10 inside the top five. Eight of the last nine Phoenix Races ended with a top-5 result for Blaney, and he is the track's most recent Cup winner. In practice, Blaney ranked eighth in overall lap averages, seventh in 10 consecutive lap averages, fifth in 15 consecutive lap averages, and second in 20 consecutive lap averages. Although he does not provide much upside from his starting position, Blaney has been one of the top overall drivers at Phoenix in the past couple of years. The No. 12 Ford driver's practice speeds also indicate that he is likely to be fast enough to compete for the win this week.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: DriverAverages.com
March 8, 2026
Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing will start 11th for the Straight Talk Wireless 500 at Phoenix Raceway. The No. 11 Toyota driver will now start in the top 15 for the fifth consecutive Cup race at the Arizona track. In 40 previous races at Phoenix, Hamlin has 24 top-10 finishes, 1,147 laps led (second-most of active drivers), and an average finish of 10.5, which ranks second among all active drivers. Hamlin also placed 11th or better in each of the last five Cup events at Phoenix. In practice for this week's race, Hamlin ranked 32nd in overall lap averages and as high as 17th in 20 consecutive lap averages. Despite the underwhelming practice speeds, Hamlin's track history is too great to ignore at Phoenix, especially when he was the most dominant driver in the track's last race. Fantasy players should highly consider Hamlin as a top option for DFS, with some minor upside offered by his starting position this week.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: DriverAverages.com
March 8, 2026
Joe Gibbs Racing driver Christopher Bell is starting in 12th place at Phoenix Raceway for the Straight Talk Wireless 500 after qualifying. This will be the third consecutive Phoenix Cup race where Bell will start outside of the top 10. In 12 Cup races at the Arizona track, Bell has two wins, seven top-10 finishes, and an average finish of 12.9. The No. 20 Toyota driver has won the last two March Phoenix races and finished in the top five in three of the last four Cup events at the site. In practice, Bell ranked 20th in overall lap averages and was among the top 10 fastest in 10-20 consecutive lap averages. Phoenix is one of Bell's better tracks statistically, and with favorable upside, he is worth rostering in all formats as he is likely to place in the top 10, as indicated by practice speeds.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: DriverAverages.com
March 8, 2026
Chase Briscoe of Joe Gibbs Racing will start in the 20th position for this week's Cup race at Phoenix Raceway, the Straight Talk Wireless 500. It will be the sixth time in his Cup Series career that Briscoe will start 20th or worse in a Cup race at Phoenix. In 10 prior races at the site, Briscoe has one win and five top-20 finishes, which were all scored within his last eight appearances. Briscoe also led three laps and placed in the top 10 at the end of the first two stages in last Fall's Phoenix race. In practice for this week's race, Briscoe ranked 18th in overall lap averages but displayed top-10 speeds in all other categories, including fourth in five consecutive lap averages and third in 10, 25, and 30 consecutive lap averages. Briscoe has highly favorable upside with a car easily capable of placing inside the top 10. As a result, Briscoe is highly recommended to start in all DFS formats as he is likely to move up through the field.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: DriverAverages.com
March 8, 2026
Joey Logano of Team Penske will start in the pole position after qualifying first for the Straight Talk Wireless 500 at Phoenix Raceway. This will be the third time in his Cup career that Logano will start a race at Phoenix from the pole, with his last one coming in November 2022. In 34 races at the Arizona track, Logano has four wins (most of active drivers), 18 top-10 finishes, and 1,093 laps led, which is the third-most of active drivers. The No. 22 Ford driver has two top-5 finishes in the last three Cup events at Phoenix. In practice for this week's race, Logano ranked 12th in overall lap averages, 10th in 15 consecutive lap averages, and eighth in 20 consecutive lap averages. With strong track history at Phoenix and solid practice speeds, Logano is a potential dominator who can compete for the win this week.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: DriverAverages.com
March 8, 2026
Chase Elliott of Hendrick Motorsports is starting 26th after qualifying for the Straight Talk Wireless 500 at Phoenix Raceway. The driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet qualified in the lowest starting position of his Cup career in a race at the Arizona track. In 19 races at Phoenix, Elliott has one win, 11 top-10 finishes, and an average finish of 12.1, which ranks fifth-best of all drivers in the field this week. Elliott has finished in the top 10 in each of his last three Phoenix races as well. In practice for this week's race, Elliott ranked 27th in overall lap averages, 20th in 15 consecutive lap averages, and 18th in 20 consecutive lap averages. Historically, Elliott has been great at Phoenix, but his practice speeds indicated only a top-20-capable car. Despite that, Elliott does have a high DFS ceiling and should be worth consideration for all formats as a result.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: DriverAverages.com
March 8, 2026
RFK Racing driver Chris Buescher will start in 17th for the Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Phoenix Raceway. Despite having a flat tire and some small damage, Buescher will start in the top 20 for the third consecutive race in a row at the Arizona track. In 20 races at Phoenix, Buescher has 13 top-20 finishes, including six consecutive top-15 finishes at the site going into this week's race. In practice for this week's race, Buescher ranked first in overall lap averages and sixth in both 10 and 15 consecutive lap averages. Buescher's practice speeds indicate that he has one of the fastest cars in the field and is highly capable of a top-10 finish. Fantasy players should not underestimate Buescher, especially considering his solid finish consistency at Phoenix.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: DriverAverages.com
March 8, 2026
In the early days of the Next Gen car, Ross Chastain was one of the best at Phoenix Raceway. He posted a pair of podium finishes here in 2022, and then went on to win the Championship race here in 2023. Since then, though, Ross has taken a step back on speed, as his driver rating hasn't been better than 93.1 over the last four races. This weekend, though, it looks like Chastain could be well on his way to getting back on track at Phoenix. In addition to qualifying sixth for Sunday's Straight Talk Wireless 500, Chastain also looked phenomenal in practice, ranking third or better in 10-, 15-, 20-, 25-, and 30-lap average. At his $8.8K salary on DraftKings, Chastain makes for a very attractive tournament option / leverage pick in DFS on Sunday.
--Jordan McAbeeSource: ifantasyrace
March 8, 2026
Josh Berry is an ace at racing short, flat tracks, and that should be on display this weekend at Phoenix Raceway. In the two races here last season, Berry walked away with fourth- and seventh-place finishes, and when you look over at New Hampshire (a very comparable race track), he has a pair of podium finishes over the last two years there. The Team Penske affiliation also helps Josh Berry have speed with his Ford Mustang Dark Horse, particularly on the long runs. With a qualifying effort of 10th-place for this weekend's Straight Talk Wireless 500, there's no doubt that Berry should be able to contend for another top-10 finish at Phoenix on Sunday. Could we be talking a potential race win, though? It's not likely, but it wouldn't be surprising. Berry ranked seventh-best at short, flat tracks last season.
--Jordan McAbeeSource: ifantasyrace
March 8, 2026
Brad Keselowski of RFK Racing will start in the 37th and final position after he failed to post a lap in qualifying. The No. 6 Ford driver skipped qualifying after his car was damaged in a crash during practice and will need to go to a backup car for the first time in his career at a Phoenix race. In 33 total starts at the site, Keselowski has 15 top-10 finishes, including a runner-up finish in his last appearance there, and an average finish of 13.9. In practice, Keselowski ranked 35th in overall lap averages and as high as 20th in 20 consecutive lap averages. Considering that Keselowski will be in a backup car and starting from the rear, no driver has more upside than Keselowski, making him an excellent option to consider for all DFS formats, especially in cash games.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: DriverAverages.com
March 8, 2026
Tyler Reddick spun his No. 45 Toyota in practice at Phoenix Raceway on Saturday afternoon, although it's important to note that the 23XI Racing driver didn't hit anything when doing so. Reddick was able to qualifying his race car later that day and will start from eighth-place for Sunday's Straight Talk Wireless 500. All eyes will be on Reddick as he looks to become the first-ever NASCAR driver to win the first four races of the season. Can it be done? Anything is possible, but Reddick has never truly been a standout performer at Phoenix Raceway. Still, he has three top-10 finishes in the last six races here and should be able to contend for another one this weekend. Before his spin in practice, Reddick ranked 12th-fastest in terms of 20-lap average.
--Jordan McAbeeSource: NASCAR
March 8, 2026
Don't be surprised if William Byron is a contender in Sunday afternoon's Straight Talk Wireless 500, as the Hendrick Motorsports driver has been a constant threat at Phoenix Raceway in the Next Gen era. Looking at the last six races on this one-mile track, Willy B has one victory, four finishes of sixth or better, and has led 52 or more laps in four of those six races. This weekend, Byron will roll off the starting grid from ninth-place, which gives him some Place Differential upside in DFS contests as well as his race-winning potential. Byron wasn't a standout in practice this weekend, but his track history has to count for something here. Make sure you don't overlook William Byron ($10.7K on DraftKings) this weekend.
--Jordan McAbeeSource: Driver Averages
March 8, 2026
Don't overlook Kyle Larson in this weekend's Straight Talk Wireless 500. The Hendrick Motorsports driver qualified on the outside pole for Sunday's race, and has finished fourth or better in five of the last six races at Phoenix Raceway. Now, Larson only has one win here: a victory back in the 2021 Championship race, but the No. 5 Chevrolet has been one of the strongest at this track on an annual basis. As far as DraftKings playability goes for this race, Larson is a very interesting tournament/leverage option, as he's likely to be overlooked by DFS players. However, with his strong track record and solid starting position, there's a good chance that Larson could dominate a portion of this race this weekend--and contend for the win. Make sure you have some Yung Money exposure this weekend.
--Jordan McAbeeSource: Jayski
March 8, 2026
23XI Racing's Bubba Wallace is starting 28th after qualifying for the Straight Talk Wireless 500 at Phoenix Raceway. This will be Wallace's lowest starting position in a Phoenix Cup race since November 2024. In 16 races at the Arizona track, Wallace has eight top-20 finishes, with only three top-10s. The No. 23 Toyota driver has been great to start the 2026 season, as he placed 11th or better in the first three races of the year with two top-10s. In practice for Sunday's race, Wallace ranked 34th in overall lap averages, 17th in 15 consecutive lap averages, and 16th in 20 consecutive lap averages. Due to his underwhelming qualifying effort, Wallace will start deeper in the field with plenty of upside. Considering his equipment and practice speeds, fantasy players should consider Wallace playable in all DFS formats, but especially in cash games.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: DriverAverages.com
March 8, 2026
Anthony Alfredo will start 31st in this week's Straight Talk Wireless 500, taking place at Phoenix Raceway. Alfredo is filling in for Alex Bowman in the Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Chevrolet, who will not be racing after being diagnosed with vertigo earlier in the week. This week, Alfredo is making his first Cup Series appearance at Phoenix since 2021, when he raced there with Front Row Motorsports as a rookie driver. In two Cup starts at Phoenix, Alfredo's best finish is 34th, but he also has two top-10 finishes at the site in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, including a finish of 10th earlier in the weekend. In practice for Sunday's race, Alfredo displayed top-15 speeds in the 10-30 consecutive lap average categories, including fifth in 30 consecutive lap averages. Despite little Cup experience outside of drafting tracks, Alfredo will be in top-notch equipment and has already performed well in practice. Fantasy players should consider rostering Alfredo in DFS lineups this week, especially with his high upside offered by his starting position.
--Sean Engel - RotoBallerSource: DriverAverages.com
March 7, 2026
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 27 of 29 shots faced in a 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. This was a good bounce-back game for the Russian netminder, as he had lost three straight matches and allowed 12 goals in that span. Vasilevskiy now has a 28-10-3 record with a 2.25 goals against average and a .914 save percentage.
--Marko23Source: NHL.com
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