February 5, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies first baseman
Bryce Harper had a great 2025 season, but it didn't quite live up to the standards he set in previous years. He finished his age-32 campaign with a .261/.357/.487 slash line, contributing his lowest slugging percentage and OPS marks since 2016. He slugged 27 home runs, walked 12.1% of the time, posted a 20.9% strikeout rate, and finished with 131 wRC+. Harper ultimately compiled 3.5 fWAR, which is half a win below his career average. He also played 132 games, and he has been held to fewer than 145 games in each of the last six seasons. In order to achieve top-tier fantasy status, he'll need to improve his OPS while staying healthy for the full year. As it stands, he ranks as the #4 first baseman and #31 hitter in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
February 5, 2026
Chicago Bears offensive guard Joe Thuney was named the 2025 Protector of the Year on Thursday night, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. It's the first award of its kind. Thuney made an immediate impact for Chicago after the team acquired him in March of last year from the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a fourth-round pick in this year's NFL Draft. The 33-year-old veteran then signed a two-year, $35 million contract with the Bears in May. The biggest surprise may have been the fact that a left guard, and not a left tackle, won the inaugural Protector of the Year award. Thuney played a key role in helping the Bears win the NFC North division while also helping the team advance to the Divisional Round of the postseason in quarterback
Caleb Williams' second year in the league. The Bears' offensive line allowed the third-fewest sacks (24) in the NFL in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
February 5, 2026
San Francisco 49ers running back
Christian McCaffrey was named the 2025 Comeback Player of the Year on Thursday night, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. McCaffrey was limited to only four games in 2024 due to Achilles and knee issues, but he played in all 17 regular-season games in 2025 and led the 49ers in both rushing (1,202) and receiving yards (924). The four-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro handled a career-high 311 carries and scored 10 rushing touchdowns while also catching 102 passes on 129 targets with an additional seven trips to the end zone as a receiver. The Offensive Player of the Year in 2023 was the RB1 in half-PPR fantasy scoring this year after he slipped to the late first round of many drafts following his injury-plagued 2024 campaign. CMC is entering his age-30 campaign and has a lengthy injury history, but it's simply too hard to ignore his game-changing dual-threat abilities out of the backfield as the engine of San Fran's offense.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Matt Barrows
February 5, 2026
Denver Broncos outside linebacker Nik Bonitto (wrist) had a cleanup surgery on his wrist this week, multiple sources told Luca Evans of The Denver Post. Bonitto injured his wrist in the Week 2 loss to the Indianapolis Colts after slamming the ground in frustration, and he played the rest of the year with a club on his right hand. The procedure was a simple clean-up and shouldn't affect his preparation for the 2026 campaign. The 26-year-old had surgery to remove a bone spur in his foot in the preseason, and he admittedly was beat up during the 2025 season. Bonitto still managed to play in every game in his fourth year in the league and made the Pro Bowl for the second straight season, recording 46 tackles (31 solo), a career-high 14 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, 28 QB hits, and two forced fumbles in 17 regular-season contests. The former second-round pick will enter the 2026 campaign as one of the best pass-rushers in the NFL, with 17.5 sacks the last two years.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Denver Post - Luca Evans
February 5, 2026
Milwaukee Bucks forward/center
Bobby Portis (hip) is considered questionable for Friday's tilt against the Indiana Pacers. He is bothered by a hip problem, which may keep Portis sidelined for a third consecutive game. After Portis exited the lineup,
Amir Coffey had a pair of outings as a starter. Coffey is no longer on the team, opening an opportunity for
Jericho Sims and
Pete Nance. Both played well as reserves in Wednesday's overtime win against the New Orleans Pelicans.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
February 5, 2026
Carolina Panthers first-round wide receiver
Tetairoa McMillan was named the 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year on Thursday night, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. McMillan got to work right away after Carolina took him eighth overall in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Arizona. The 22-year-old operated as quarterback
Bryce Young's top target from the get-go and finished his rookie campaign with 70 receptions on 122 targets for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns in 17 regular-season games. He also caught five of his seven targets for 81 yards in the Wild-Card loss to the Los Angeles Rams in his first career playoff game. McMillan's strong chemistry with Young bodes well for his future, and he'll head into Year 2 in 2026 with clear WR1 potential, although the lack of passing volume in Carolina's offense could be an issue.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
February 5, 2026
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett became the second player in NFL history to unanimously win the Defensive Player of the Year award on Thursday night, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. J.J. Watt was the only other defensive player to do so back in 2014 with the Houston Texans. The 30-year-old seven-time Pro Bowler and five-time first-team All-Pro was a man among boys in terms of rushing the passer in 2025 in his ninth year in the NFL. Garrett set the NFL's single-season sack record with 23 in 17 games for the Browns. In addition to becoming the second player to ever win the award unanimously, Garrett also won the award for the second time in his career, with the first coming in 2023, when he had 14 sacks in 16 games. The former first overall pick in 2017 out of Texas A&M now has a whopping 125.5 sacks in 134 regular-season games played.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
February 5, 2026
Boston Celtics center
Nikola Vucevic is not on the injury report for Friday's clash against the Miami Heat, indicating that he will make his team debut. Vucevic's arrival in Beantown is bad news for
Neemias Queta, who has been Boston's starting center this season. As a strong rebounder, Quete will still have a role to play on the team, but his minutes are set to drop. This season, Vucevic has not enjoyed his time against
Bam Adebayo and the Heat, posting only 11.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while shooting 34.2 percent from the field across three games.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
February 5, 2026
Seattle Seahawks quarterback
Sam Darnold (oblique) was a full participant in practice on Thursday, according to Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic. Darnold was upgraded after being listed as limited on Wednesday's injury report. The 28-year-old signal-caller injured his left oblique in practice just days before the team's Divisional Round win over the San Francisco 49ers. He attempted only 17 passes in the 41-6 blowout win over the Niners, but Darnold bounced back for fantasy managers in the 31-27 win over the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship, going 25-for-36 for a season-high 346 yards and three touchdowns. Darnold won't have an easy test against the New England Patriots' defense in Super Bowl LX this Sunday, but he should be able to move the ball enough to put Seattle in position to win the game. Fantasy managers should not be worried at all about his oblique affecting his performance.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Michael-Shawn Dugar
February 5, 2026
Philadelphia 76ers center
Joel Embiid (knee) will play against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night. He will start the contest after the team initially listed Embiid as questionable for the matchup. The former MVP will return from a one-game absence, having sat out the second leg of a back-to-back on Tuesday against Golden State. Recently, Embiid has been on a roll, averaging 32.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 5.3 assists across his last eight appearances. With Embiid back,
Andre Drummond will return to a reserve role.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
February 5, 2026
Indiana Pacers guard
Andrew Nembhard (back) is not on the injury report for Friday's contest against the Milwaukee Bucks. Indiana rested several regulars, including Nembhard, when the team wrapped up a back-to-back set on Tuesday night against the Utah Jazz. Nembhard has been inconsistent in recent outings and was quiet on Monday against Houston, finishing with seven points and eight assists. He has a significantly better matchup on Friday against a team ranked eighth from the bottom in defensive efficiency. With
T.J. McConnell (knee) also back on Friday,
Kam Jones and
Quenton Jackson must settle for lesser roles.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
February 5, 2026
The New York Yankees announced on Thursday that they extended a non-roster invitation to infield prospect
George Lombard Jr. for major-league spring training. Lombard, who is MLB Pipeline's No. 32 overall prospect going into the 2026 season, played in 132 games at High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset last year and batted .235/.367/.381 with a .748 OPS, nine home runs, 49 RBI, 90 runs scored, and 35 stolen bases in 580 plate appearances. The 20-year-old hit just .215 (84-for-391) with eight homers, 36 RBI, 68 runs, and 24 steals in 108 games at Somerset, but he was the third-youngest qualified hitter at Double-A. Lombard has a fly-ball swing, but he has yet to develop much power and has struggled to get on base regularly against older competition. The former first-rounder still has some developing to do, but he makes for a nice dynasty stash as a future shortstop with above-average speed and potential plus power as well.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Yankees
February 5, 2026
Indiana Pacers forward
Pascal Siakam (rest) will hop back into the lineup on Friday against the Milwaukee Bucks. The team has removed him from the injury report after Siakam sat out the second leg of a back-to-back on Tuesday against Utah for rest. Siakam's return will push
Jarace Walker to the bench, though he should still have a prominent role in the rotation. In two meetings with the Bucks this season, Siakam has averaged 23.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 2.0 steals. He's in a good spot to improve his numbers on Friday, as Milwaukee remains without
Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) and might be without
Bobby Portis (hip), who is listed as questionable on the injury report.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
February 5, 2026
The Minnesota Twins signed free-agent catcher
David Banuelos to a minor-league deal on Thursday that includes an invitation to big-league camp, according to Darren Wolfson. Banuelos was in the Twins' system from 2018 to 2022. The 29-year-old backstop was originally a fifth-round selection in 2017 out of California State Long Beach by the Seattle Mariners. He made his major-league debut in 2024 with the Baltimore Orioles, but he has just three plate appearances at the big-league level over the last two years. At Triple-A Norfolk in 2025, Banuelos hit only .107 with a home run, two RBI, and four runs scored in 21 games played. Banuelos will almost certainly open the 2026 campaign at Triple-A St. Paul as catching depth behind
Ryan Jeffers,
Victor Caratini, and
Alex Jackson.
--Keith HernandezSource: Darren Wolfson
February 5, 2026
Memphis Grizzlies guard
Ty Jerome (calf) won't suit up on Friday against the Portland Trail Blazers. Memphis will begin a back-to-back on Friday night, and Jerome will exit the lineup after making his first three appearances of the season. He has looked very impressive in his first few outings, averaging 22.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 1.0 steals in just 20.3 minutes per game.
Cam Spencer and
Javon Small are set to fill the point guard minutes on Friday night.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
February 5, 2026
Portland Trail Blazers forward
Deni Avdija (back) is questionable for Friday's encounter with the Memphis Grizzlies. Avdija practiced on Thursday, but Sean Highkin of Rip City Radio 620 Portland reported that he is unlikely to play on Friday night. However, Avdija hasn't been officially ruled out, leaving hope that he can return to the court. Due to a lingering back issue, Avdija has played in only four of the last 11 games.
Jerami Grant and
Sidy Cissoko see increased usage in Avdija's absence, while the returning
Scoot Henderson (hamstring) will also help fill the void.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
February 5, 2026
The Colorado Rockies announced on Thursday that outfield prospect
Cole Carrigg has received a non-roster invitation to 2026 major-league spring training. The 23-year-old former second-round pick out of San Diego State University in 2023 will get an invite after slashing .237/.316/.394 with a .711 OPS, 15 home runs, 64 RBI, 81 runs scored, and 46 stolen bases in 123 games played last year with Double-A Hartford. Carrigg's speed and defense are his primary calling cards, but the Rockies are already set in center field with
Brenton Doyle. He has stolen 99 bases in the last two seasons, but he also saw his strikeout rate jump from 19% at High-A Spokane to 27% last year at Hartford. Hitter-friendly Coors Field should help mask some of Carrigg's deficiencies as a hitter when he makes it to the big leagues, though, and his speed and defense will certainly play.
--Keith HernandezSource: Rockies Club Information
February 5, 2026
Golden State Warriors guard
De'Anthony Melton (knee) will be active on Thursday night against the Phoenix Suns, Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area reports. He was initially considered questionable for the game due to a sore left knee. Melton has enjoyed a productive campaign as a reserve guard in San Francisco, averaging 13.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.6 steals across his last eight outings. With
Stephen Curry (knee) out, Melton can make an even larger impact.
--Taavi PailkSource: Dalton Johnson
February 5, 2026
The Colorado Rockies announced on Thursday that they gave first base prospect
Charlie Condon a non-roster invitation to 2026 major-league spring training. Condon, the No. 70 overall prospect at MLB Pipeline, will have a shot to win an Opening Day roster spot if he excels in spring training, especially since the Rockies no longer have either
Michael Toglia or
Warming Bernabel competing at first base. The former third overall pick out of Georgia hit .268/.376/.444 with 14 home runs, 58 RBI, and 59 runs scored in 99 games at the Rookie level, High-A Spokane, and Double-A Hartford last year. Condon played third base and outfield in college, but he is expected to move forward exclusively as a power-hitting first baseman, and he should make his MLB debut at some point in 2026. He may never live up to his draft pedigree, but at hitter-friendly Coors Field, Condon and his 6-foot-6 frame should project for plenty of power at the very least.
--Keith HernandezSource: Rockies Club Information
February 5, 2026
Detroit Pistons center
Jalen Duren (knee) won't return to Thursday's game against the Washington Wizards. He managed only four points and three rebounds in 13 minutes during the first half before being ruled out for the rest of the contest due to right knee soreness.
Ron Holland II started the second half in Duren's place.
Paul Reed will help fill the center minutes behind
Isaiah Stewart. Hopefully, this isn't a serious injury for Duren, as he's been having a great year. Across 42 outings, Duren has averaged 18.0 points and 10.7 rebounds.
--Taavi PailkSource: Detroit Pistons PR
February 5, 2026
Indicted Cleveland Guardians pitcher
Emmanuel Clase is accused of throwing suspicious pitches to benefit bettors in at least 48 games over two years, according to a court document that was filed on Thursday. Federal prosecutors listed nine games in which Clase allegedly threw rigged pitches in the indictment unsealed in November. Major League Baseball said it is cooperating with federal prosecutors and declined further comment. Pitcher
Luis L. Ortiz's attorney asked for his client's case to be severed from Clase's, arguing that Ortiz and Clase have "markedly different levels of culpability." Prosecutors accused Ortiz of rigging pitches in two games in June of last year. Clase appeared in 197 regular-season games from 2023 to July of 2025, when he was put on non-disciplinary leave by the league. It's still a bit hard to fathom for Clase, who was one of the best closers in the game. If found guilty, he will never pitch again.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - David Purdum
February 5, 2026
Los Angeles Clippers point guard
Darius Garland (toe) won't be ready to make his team debut on Friday against the Sacramento Kings. Garland has landed in L.A. nursing a toe injury, and it remains uncertain when he will be available for action. With Garland out of the mix,
Kris Dunn and
Kobe Sanders have more fantasy appeal, but the two are hard to trust due to their inconsistent performances. After a couple of strong outings, Sanders produced a four-point dud as a starter in Wednesday's loss to Cleveland. Meanwhile, Dunn has been limited to 5.3 points, 5.0 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game over his last four appearances.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
February 5, 2026
Sacramento Kings forward/center
Domantas Sabonis (back) is listed as questionable for Friday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers. The Lithuanian star returned from a back problem in Wednesday's loss to Memphis, but the team hasn't removed him from the injury report. Sabonis had 24 points and 15 rebounds in 24 minutes against the Grizzlies. If he can't play on Friday night,
Maxime Raynaud and
Dylan Cardwell will see additional action against a Clippers frontcourt that no longer has
Ivica Zubac, making it an easier matchup for Sacramento's bigs.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
February 5, 2026
Houston Rockets guard/forward
Tari Eason (lower leg) has been downgraded to out for Thursday's matchup against Charlotte as the team manages him on the second night of a back-to-back. Eason's absence pushes
Josh Okogie into a starting role, though his fantasy impact projects as minimal. Okogie is posting 5.4 points and 2.9 rebounds across 20.0 minutes on the season, keeping his appeal limited to deep formats. Eason remains a hold when active due to his defensive contributions, while Houston's rotation sees only marginal fantasy movement with this change.
--Brian DailisanSource: Lachard Binkley
February 5, 2026
San Antonio Spurs center
Luke Kornet (adductor, ankle) won't suit up on Thursday against the Dallas Mavericks, while forward/center
Kelly Olynyk (foot) has been cleared to play. Kornet has been banged up lately and will get some rest after his big 15-rebound performance in Wednesday's win over Oklahoma City. Olynyk will take over Kornet's duties as a reserve big behind
Victor Wembanyama. He was initially listed as questionable for Thursday's game. Even when healthy, Olynyk hasn't played for the Spurs lately, so this will be an opportunity for the veteran to impress. However, he is unlikely to make a fantasy impact.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
February 5, 2026
Minnesota Timberwolves power forward
Julius Randle (thumb) remains on the injury report ahead of Friday's matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans. He's been dealing with a sore left thumb recently, though it hasn't yet kept Randle off the floor. However, the injury to his shooting hand has reduced Randle's scoring efficiency. Over the last two games, Randle has shot 12-for-32 from the field (37.5 percent).
Naz Reid and
Jaylen Clark could get more work if Randle has to exit the lineup.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
February 5, 2026
New York Knicks forward
OG Anunoby (toe) is listed as probable for Friday's contest against the Detroit Pistons. Anunoby has a sore right toe but is expected to play in the matchup between the Eastern Conference's top two teams. Anunoby had a quiet five-point outing when the Knicks faced Detroit a month ago in this season's first meeting. Given his recent form, Anunoby is poised for a much stronger showing on Friday. He has averaged 19.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.8 steals across his last eight outings.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
February 5, 2026
Dallas Mavericks forward/center
Marvin Bagley III has been ruled out for Thursday's game against San Antonio, as Dallas has yet to finalize its trade-related transactions. Bagley remains unavailable while paperwork is completed, delaying his Mavericks debut until at least Saturday. He averaged 10.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 19.2 minutes with Washington, mostly in a reserve role. For now,
Daniel Gafford remains the clear fantasy priority in the frontcourt, though Bagley could emerge as a deeper-league points and rebounds option once active, especially if injuries thin the rotation.
--Brian DailisanSource: Grant Afseth
February 5, 2026
San Antonio Spurs guard
Dylan Harper (ankle) has been cleared to play on Thursday against the Dallas Mavericks, Jared Weiss of The Athletic reports. He is rejoining the lineup after missing one game with a right ankle sprain. Harper was initially listed as questionable for Thursday's tilt. While Harper has had an up-and-down rookie campaign, he was riding positive momentum before his injury. Over his last three appearances, Harper has averaged 17.0 points per game. Keeping the hot spell going could prove tricky, given that Dallas has a top-10 defensive rating.
--Taavi PailkSource: Jared Weiss
February 5, 2026
Former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden's attorneys will seek testimony from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and at least four current and former NFL owners in his lawsuit over whether the league leaked the emails that forced his departure as the Raiders' coach, according to a court filing this week. Gruden resigned in October of 2021 after the publication of emails he sent years earlier that included racist, misogynistic, and anti-gay language. Gruden's lawsuit accuses the league and Goodell of a "malicious and orchestrated campaign" to destroy his career. To this point, there have been no settlement talks. Gruden was an on-air analyst for ESPN from 2011 to 2018 when the emails were sent. In its filings to seek dismissal of Gruden's lawsuit, the NFL has said Gruden's case "hinges solely on unsupported allegations that fail as a matter of law or fall far short of stating a claim and should have been promptly dismissed when the NFL Parties first so moved."
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Don Van Natta Jr.
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