December 9, 2025
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Dennis Hildeby stopped all 29 shots against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday to record his first career shutout in a 2-0 victory. With Joseph Woll (lower body) and Anthony Stolarz (upper body) sidelined, Hildeby made his fifth start of the campaign and improved to 2-2-2. The 24-year-old Swedish native boasts a 2.16 goals-against average and a .936 save percentage. He currently looks like a great option between the sticks for fantasy managers. Next up, Hildeby will face the San Jose Sharks on Thursday if neither Woll nor Stolarz returns.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
December 9, 2025
Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Dakota Mermis (lower body) will be evaluated on Tuesday after he was injured in Monday's win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Mermis was forced to exit the game early in the third period due to a knee-on-knee hit from Lightning forward Gage Goncalves, who received a major penalty and a game misconduct. The 31-year-old was reinserted into the lineup on Monday after he served as a healthy scratch for three games. Now, he might have to miss time due to injury. Mermis has recorded one goal, five shots, nine blocks, and eight hits in 11 outings with the Maple Leafs this season. Philippe Myers, who made way for Mermis in the lineup on Monday, is likely to replace him if he misses time.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
December 9, 2025
Minnesota Wild defenseman Jacob Middleton (undisclosed) was injured in Monday's victory over the Seattle Kraken. He left the contest in the third period due to an undisclosed injury. Before his exit, Middleton recorded an assist on Minnesota's first goal. This gives Middleton six assists for the season. He has yet to score a goal with 21 attempts on the net. Last season, Middleton produced a career-high eight goals. In 2025-26, the veteran rearguard has also recorded 46 blocks and 45 hits in 27 appearances. Minnesota played with seven defensemen on Monday night, so a forward might come into the lineup as Middleton's replacement if he can't play in Thursday's contest against the Dallas Stars.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 9, 2025
Minnesota Wild right wing Mats Zuccarello (undisclosed) exited Monday's 4-1 win over the Seattle Kraken after logging only 5:32 of ice time. He was knocked out of the lineup by a big hit from Kraken defenseman Vince Dunn. The Norwegian veteran was making his 15th appearance of the season after he missed the start of the campaign with a lower-body injury. Zuccarello has been sharp on the first line, contributing two goals and 12 assists. Vladimir Tarasenko, who has notched 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 23 outings, may join the top six if Zuccarello has to spend some time on the sidelines.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
December 9, 2025
Toronto Raptors point guard
Jamal Shead (quadriceps) is considered questionable for a meeting with the New York Knicks in the NBA Cup on Tuesday. He could miss his first game of the season due to a right quadriceps contusion. With
RJ Barrett (knee) on the shelf, Shead has regularly logged 20-plus minutes on the floor. In Sunday's loss to the Boston Celtics, Shead even started the second half after Ja'Kobe Walter struggled. If Shead exits the lineup, players like Walter and
Ochai Agbaji will have an opportunity to take on a larger workload. However, neither player has offered consistent fantasy production in 2025-26.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
December 9, 2025
Miami Heat guard
Dru Smith (hip) is listed as questionable for Tuesday's NBA Cup clash against the Orlando Magic. He didn't practice on Monday and could miss the big matchup due to a left hip contusion. Smith was a starter for Miami last time out against the Sacramento Kings. However, with
Tyler Herro (toe) and
Davion Mitchell (groin) on track to return to the lineup on Tuesday, Smith's role will be very different if he gets cleared for action.
Pelle Larsson (hip), who is also expected to return on Tuesday, could play a few extra minutes in Smith's absence.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
December 9, 2025
Miami Heat guard/forward
Pelle Larsson (hip) practiced on Monday and is listed as probable for Tuesday's NBA Cup matchup against the Orlando Magic. He was unavailable on Saturday against the Sacramento Kings due to a hip problem. Larsson's fantasy value has plummeted in recent weeks as Miami has returned to full health. Since
Tyler Herro's season debut on Nov. 24, Larsson has been limited to 5.5 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 20.6 minutes per game. Across his last two outings, Larsson has shot just 1-for-9 from the field, scoring four points. Currently, the Swedish youngster isn't a good fantasy option.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
December 9, 2025
Miami Heat point guard
Davion Mitchell (groin) looks set to return to the lineup for Tuesday's NBA Cup game against the Orlando Magic, as the team has listed him as probable on the injury report. Due to right groin tightness, Mitchell was unavailable on Saturday against the Sacramento Kings. With him out,
Dru Smith (hip) made his first start of the season. The 27-year-old had a minimal impact and will return to the bench on Tuesday if he can play. Smith is considered questionable for the matchup. Mitchell has logged three double-doubles as Miami's starting point guard in 2025-26, averaging 9.7 points and 7.8 assists. He could make a big impact in Tuesday's game, as Orlando allows the eighth-most fantasy points per game to point guards this season.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
December 9, 2025
Miami Heat guard
Tyler Herro (toe) is listed as probable for Tuesday's NBA Cup quarterfinal against the Orlando Magic. He has sat out a pair of games due to a right big toe contusion, but Herro appears to be on track to return to action on Tuesday night. The 2025 All-Star practiced fully on Monday.
Kel'el Ware has started back-to-back games during Herro's absence and will presumably drop back to the second unit for Tuesday's action. This may actually be good news for his fantasy prospects, as Ware recorded a 22-point, 10-rebound double-double in his last appearance off the bench. As a starter, he managed nine points and 14 boards across the past two games.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
December 9, 2025
Toronto Raptors guard/forward
RJ Barrett (knee) will be out for at least one more week, the team announced Monday. He is recovering from a right knee sprain and will need at least a week off after receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection. Barrett will miss a ninth consecutive game on Tuesday night against the New York Knicks. During his absence, Ja'Kobe Walter has run with the starters. He has not performed well, even failing to make a single field goal over the past two games. In Sunday's loss to the Boston Celtics,
Jamal Shead (quadriceps) started the second half instead of Walter. On Tuesday, Shead could be in the first unit right from the start, but he is currently considered questionable for the game with a quadriceps contusion.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
December 9, 2025
New York Knicks forward/center
Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) is considered questionable for Tuesday's NBA Cup quarterfinal against the Toronto Raptors. The big man is dealing with tightness in his left calf. Towns practiced on Monday, which is a good sign that he might be ready to return from a one-game absence. Assuming Towns remains out, the Knicks will lean on
Mitchell Robinson and
Ariel Hukporti at the center position. Robinson returned to the starting lineup on Sunday against the Orlando Magic, grabbing a game-high 13 rebounds in 25 minutes. He also contributed well on the defensive end. Hukporti had six points, seven rebounds, and three blocks off the bench in 23 minutes.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
December 9, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback
Justin Herbert battled through a broken left hand during Monday night's 22-19 overtime win over the Philadelphia Eagles. He completed 12 of 26 passes for 139 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and a lost fumble while adding 10 carries for a team-leading 66 yards on the ground. The star quarterback was under siege all night, finishing with a 68.3% pressure rate and a career-high seven sacks. It was the sixth-highest pressure rate in a game over the last 10 seasons, per Next Gen Stats. Herbert scrambled more than usual with the constant pressure and recorded his most rushing yards in a game this season. However, he struggled as a passer, and this game was just the third of his career with a completion percentage of 50% or below. Herbert will take some time this week to rest his hand and gear up for another tough matchup in a divisional clash with the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 15.
--Kyle McCarthySource: ESPN.com
December 9, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers running back
Kimani Vidal recorded 14 carries for 44 yards while adding one catch for a team-leading 60 receiving yards on three targets in Monday's overtime win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Vidal still narrowly led the Chargers in carries over rookie
Omarion Hampton, who handled 13 carries for 56 yards in his first game since Week 5. On the Chargers' first third down of the game, Vidal slipped out of the backfield for a checkdown from quarterback
Justin Herbert and burst down the sideline for a 60-yard gain. It marked the longest play of the second-year back's career, and he continues to make the most of his opportunities. Since Vidal took over in Week 6 after Hampton's injury, he's totaled 131 carries for 569 yards and three touchdowns with 13 receptions (19 targets) for 102 yards and another score as a receiver, ranking as the RB13 in total PPR points in that time. The 24-year-old running back's role will decrease with Hampton back, but he should continue to stay involved as an important piece of the Chargers' offense.
--Kyle McCarthySource: ESPN.com
December 9, 2025
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver
A.J. Brown hauled in six of his 13 targets for 100 yards in Monday night's overtime loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Brown has now posted four straight games with double-digit targets and has topped 100 yards in three consecutive outings after having only one double-digit target game and two 100-yard performances over his first nine games. The star wideout could have had an even bigger day, but he just narrowly missed on a few deep throws from quarterback
Jalen Hurts. Brown did, however, drop a pass that led to one of four interceptions for Hurts on the night. The Eagles' WR1 still looks like his dominant self when he's targeted, even with the Eagles' collective struggles on offense. He'll continue to profile as a high-end fantasy option in Week 15 in a plus matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.
--Kyle McCarthySource: ESPN.com
December 9, 2025
Los Angeles Chargers rookie running back
Omarion Hampton recorded 13 carries for 56 yards with two receptions (two targets) for 11 yards and a touchdown in Monday night's overtime win over the Philadelphia Eagles. In Hampton's first game since fracturing his left ankle in Week 5, he caught a touchdown on the opening drive and looked good overall as a runner. The rookie first-rounder split touches with
Kimani Vidal, as expected, and Vidal narrowly edged him out with 14 carries for 44 yards to go with one reception for 60 yards on three targets. Hampton's workload should gradually grow as he gets further removed from his ankle injury. He looks primed to come back and immediately be an impactful player for fantasy managers as the fantasy playoffs begin in Week 15. Hampton should at least have RB2 upside in a divisional rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs.
--Kyle McCarthySource: ESPN.com
December 9, 2025
Philadelphia Eagles running back
Saquon Barkley handled 20 carries for 122 yards and a touchdown while adding zero catches on two targets in Monday night's 22-19 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Barkley scored the only touchdown of the night for the Eagles on a 52-yard run to begin the fourth quarter. The star running back notched his second 100-yard outing and second-longest run of the season on Monday night, with both previous marks coming back in Week 8 against his former team, the New York Giants. The 28-year-old has been disappointing for fantasy managers who spent an early first-round pick on him, but he'll look to build on this performance for the rest of the season with several favorable matchups on deck. Next up will be a home date in Week 15 versus the Las Vegas Raiders.
--Kyle McCarthySource: ESPN.com
December 9, 2025
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver
Andre Baccellia had one catch for three yards on three targets in Sunday's 45-17 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 14. The 28-year-old saw a season high in targets and snap share, but he was unable to sniff any fantasy relevance. Baccellia saw more playing time on Sunday with both receivers
Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel) and
Greg Dortch (chest) inactive due to injury. Dortch has since been placed on Injured Reserve and is unlikely to return this year. Even if Harrison cannot suit up next week, Baccellia should remain off the fantasy radar in most fantasy leagues. In Week 15, Arizona will face the Houston Texans, who boast the best defense in the league.
--Wyatt McClintockSource: ESPN
December 9, 2025
The Tampa Bay Rays have reached an undisclosed two-year deal with free-agent left-hander
Steven Matz on Monday night, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Matz has pitched parts of 11 seasons in the big leagues with the New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, St. Louis Cardinals, and Boston Red Sox. The veteran southpaw has a career record of 60-62 with a 4.19 ERA. The 34-year-old veteran spent the 2025 campaign with the Cardinals and Red Sox, going a combined 5-2 with a 3.05 ERA (3.46 FIP), 1.09 WHIP, and 59:11 K:BB ratio in 53 appearances (two starts) over 76 2/3 innings pitched. Matz saved the first two games of his career this year and is expected to continue being used in a relief role in Tampa, potentially in high-leverage situations. Unless Matz is used as the Rays' primary closer, which is unlikely, he'll mostly be a non-factor in fantasy with a career 21.9% strikeout rate.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Times - Jon Heyman
December 8, 2025
Arizona Cardinals running back
Bam Knight had seven carries for 16 yards in Sunday's 45-17 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 14. Knight also had three catches for 18 yards on six targets. The 24-year-old was kept out of the end zone for the first time since Week 10, snapping a three-game touchdown streak. The Cardinals' offense quickly abandoned the run game to try to keep up on the scoreboard and finished the game with 44 passing attempts to only 14 rushing attempts. Knight continues to live off his touchdown production this year and has yet to produce over eight fantasy points in a game without scoring a touchdown in half-PPR formats. Heading into Week 15, Knight's role in the offense will be cloudy with the possible return of
Trey Benson (knee) from Injured Reserve. The team initially opened Benson's 21-day activation window leading into Week 12, but they have yet to activate him. Benson will have to be activated before Arizona's Week 15 matchup against the Houston Texans to avoid reverting to season-ending IR.
--Wyatt McClintockSource: ESPN
December 8, 2025
Arizona Cardinals running back
Michael Carter had three carries for 13 yards in Sunday's 45-17 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 14. Carter also had two catches for 18 yards on four targets. The 26-year-old was unable to get involved in the passing game despite the Cardinals' offense dropping back to pass 44 times on Sunday. Carter also saw fewer targets than fellow running back
Bam Knight, who had six targets on Sunday. Carter's fantasy value will be left up in the air with
Trey Benson (knee) potentially coming off Injured Reserve and
Emari Demercado (ankle) potentially returning in Week 15. If Benson or Demercado returns, Carter will fall to RB3 duties in the Cardinals' offense. Even if both Benson and Demercado miss another week, Carter can't be trusted as a flex play in 12-team fantasy formats.
--Wyatt McClintockSource: ESPN
December 8, 2025
Arizona Cardinals tight end
Trey McBride cooled off in the Week 14 loss against the Los Angeles Rams, recording five catches for 58 yards on nine targets. Despite an off game relative to his high standards, McBride still finished inside the top 15 in Week 14 for tight ends in PPR formats. Sunday marked only the third time McBride had fewer than eight catches since
Jacoby Brissett took over at quarterback. The 26-year-old has now hauled in 88 passes for 937 yards and eight touchdowns on 127 targets across 13 games this season. As long as McBride remains healthy, he profiles as the top tight end in fantasy football. Arizona will face one of the best defenses the NFL has to offer in a difficult Week 15 matchup at the Houston Texans, but McBride should remain in all starting fantasy lineups.
--Wyatt McClintockSource: ESPN
December 8, 2025
The Houston Astros have shown interest in trading for Tampa Bay Rays right-hander and Houston native
Shane Baz, multiple league sources told Chandler Rome and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. However, a deal isn't believed to be close, and some league sources think Baz being moved is unlikely. In his first trip through salary arbitration, Baz is projected to make $3.1 million this winter, and the 26-year-old has three more years of club control. It makes perfect sense for an Astros team that is looking to acquire young, controllable starting pitching. Houston has been wary of paying high prices for free-agent starters and prefers to go the trade route to help replace lefty
Framber Valdez, who is expected to leave in free agency. If Baz is traded to Houston, center fielder
Jake Meyers could be part of the package heading back to Tampa. In Baz's first full season post Tommy John surgery, he had a 4.87 ERA in 166 1/3 innings. If Baz can improve his command and limit the home runs against righties, he could take the next step in 2026 with the move back indoors in Tampa.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome and Ken Rosenthal
December 8, 2025
Free-agent reliever
Robert Suarez is drawing interest from the Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, and others, according to Robert Murray of FanSided.com. Suarez, one of the top relief arms on the open market this offseason, is projected to land a three-year, $48 million deal. Not only has Suarez been one of the most dominant closers in the game, but he's thrown at least 65 innings in each of the last two seasons while recording 76 saves in that span, including a league-best 40 saves for the San Diego Padres in 2025. After
Jeff Hoffman blew the save in Game 7 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto is looking for upgrades to the back end of its bullpen. The Blue Jays were rumored to be interested in
Emilio Pagan before he re-signed a two-year deal with the Reds. The Dodgers had well-documented relief issues last season, too, and could pluck a late-inning arm away from SD for a second straight season.
--Keith HernandezSource: FanSided.com - Robert Murray
December 8, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he plans to use two-way superstar
Shohei Ohtani as a regular starting pitcher next year, although the Dodgers could be creative early in the season with their starting depth to maximize rest days, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic. It won't necessarily be a traditional six-man rotation early on for the Dodgers, but
Roki Sasaki, who stepped up in the back end of the bullpen during the postseason, will return as a starter in 2026. In addition to Sasaki, the Dodgers will have Ohtani,
Yoshinobu Yamamoto,
Blake Snell, and
Tyler Glasnow. Right-hander
Emmet Sheehan could make starts early on as well. Ohtani didn't debut on the mound in 2025 until June after having arm surgery. The four-time MVP (three straight) was brought along slowly and eventually finished with a 2.87 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 62 K's, and only nine walks in 14 starts (47 innings). Ohtani might have a higher ceiling as a hitter, but his strikeout upside as a pitcher for his first full season as a two-way player in L.A. isn't too shabby either.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Katie Woo
December 8, 2025
Although Baltimore Ravens tight end
Isaiah Likely has had a pair of high-profile near-touchdowns over the past two weeks, the 25-year-old is also quietly emerging as a more consistent feature in his team's passing game. Across his last two outings, Likely has recorded nine catches for 120 yards and a touchdown on 12 targets. Baltimore continues to split tight end snaps between Likely and veteran
Mark Andrews, which limits the upside for both players. Still, Likely has proven to be a relatively capable target-earner in a part-time role. In Week 15, the Ravens have a highly favorable matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals' defense has struggled to contain tight ends this season, and Likely torched them for 95 receiving yards on five catches in Week 13. In deep leagues, Likely could be a solid tight end streamer for fantasy managers in Week 15.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 8, 2025
Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said on Monday that he would like for outfielder
Yordan Alvarez to "spend most of his season" as the designated hitter next year, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. This wouldn't be a huge surprise, considering Alvarez played in only 48 games in 2025 due to injuries. The 28-year-old left-handed slugger made only 15 starts in left field last year and 32 as the DH. The three-time All-Star and former American League Rookie of the Year is expected to be ready for the start of spring training despite having his season cut short by a severe left-ankle sprain. Alvarez had four straight 30-plus homer seasons from 2021-24 while also driving in at least 86 runs in each of those seasons. He missed most of 2025 with a hand fracture. The Cuban native still has elite discipline, but he had a career-worst .797 OPS and only six homers. Alvarez is still on the right side of 30 and has high-end plate skills. Fantasy managers who are willing to take on a little more injury risk could be rewarded handsomely if Alvarez can put his 2025 injury woes behind him.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
December 8, 2025
Cincinnati Bengals tight end
Mike Gesicki had his best game of the season in Week 14 against the Buffalo Bills, recording six catches for 82 yards and a touchdown on six targets. The 30-year-old's involvement in the Cincinnati passing game has been trending up in recent weeks, as he's earned 16 targets across his last three games played. Gesicki could move even further up the pecking order in Week 15 against the Baltimore Ravens with Bengals wide receiver
Tee Higgins (concussion) back in concussion protocol. Higgins played in Week 14 after missing Week 13 due to a head injury, but he re-entered the league's concussion protocol on Monday. If Higgins is sidelined, Gesicki could be a solid streaming option for fantasy managers at the tight end position in Week 15. He should be a waiver-wire target in all leagues with 14 or more teams.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 8, 2025
Free-agent first baseman
Pete Alonso is expected to drive from his Tampa home to the winter meetings in Orlando, Fla., to meet in person with interested teams, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post. The Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles are among the teams that Alonso is scheduled to meet with. The New York Mets are open to considering re-signing the Polar Bear, but they aren't going to break the bank for him. Alonso was a free agent last year, too, but he ended up re-signing to a two-year, $54 million contract. The right-handed power-hitting first baseman opted out of the final year of the deal to become a free agent again this winter. If the Mets and Alonso don't reunite again, they could turn to lefty slugger
Kyle Schwarber or Japanese corner infielder Munetaka Murakami. The 31-year-old Alonso isn't great defensively, but he's an elite power bat with at least 34 home runs in all six full seasons in the majors since he debuted in 2019.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Post - Mike Puma
December 8, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars running back
Bhayshul Tuten had an underwhelming game in Week 14, recording just two carries for five yards against the Indianapolis Colts. Tuten briefly exited the game and was evaluated for a concussion before being cleared to return. Still, the injury scare could be a reason why his workload was limited against the Colts. Tuten's upside is limited by the presence of veteran Jaguars back
Travis Etienne Jr., who remains the clear RB1 in Jacksonville. However, Tuten has flashed upside this season, recording 277 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 77 carries across 13 games. If Etienne Jr. were to miss time due to injury, Tuten would be in line for a significant role increase. Heading into his Week 15 matchup against the New York Jets, Tuten should be rostered as a high-end handcuff option in all fantasy leagues with 12 or more teams.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 8, 2025
The Washington Nationals are getting pushed aggressively on shortstop
CJ Abrams this offseason, people familiar with their talks told Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. According to league sources, the Nationals are open to talks on Abrams, but "the bar is high." The 25-year-old is attractive to teams around the league, given the lack of shortstops available on the open market. He's expected to make $5.6 million next year with two more years of arbitration eligibility before becoming a free agent. Beyond
Bo Bichette and
Ha-Seong Kim, there is a significant drop-off in talent. Additionally, Abrams is coming off his best offensive season with a .748 OPS, 19 home runs, and 31 stolen bases. Regardless of where Abrams is playing in 2026, the young shortstop is one of the more attractive young power/speed options at the shortstop position for fantasy drafts next spring.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal
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