March 28, 2026
After failing to record a catch over his first two NFL seasons, San Francisco 49ers tight end
Jake Tonges emerged as a quality contributor in 2025. Across 17 games, the 26-year-old hauled in 34 receptions for 293 yards and five touchdowns on 46 targets. Tonges' performance was enough to earn him a new two-year contract worth $8 million from San Francisco in free agency. The majority of his production in 2025 came when fellow 49ers tight
George Kittle (Achilles) was sidelined by injury between Week 2 and Week 6. However, Tonges may have another chance to work as the 49ers' lead tight end to open 2026, as Kittle is currently recovering from a torn Achilles tendon that he suffered in the playoffs and is likely to miss time next season. Tonges could be a solid sleeper tight end option for fantasy managers to target heading into 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 28, 2026
Across 11 games as a junior at USC in 2025, wide receiver
Ja'Kobi Lane recorded 49 receptions for 745 yards and four touchdowns. The 21-year-old now appears likely to hear his name called at some point in the middle round of the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft in April. At 6'4" with a 40-inch vertical jump, Lane profiles as a big-bodied, ball-winning outside receiver. While he logged just four touchdown grabs in 2025, he showed his red zone prowess in 2024 by hauling in 12 touchdown catches in 13 games. However, Lane has some issues consistently creating separation against press coverage and is not the most shifty wideout in the short and intermediate areas of the field. As a result, Lane may have trouble providing consistent fantasy production in PPR-scoring formats, especially early in his career. Still, Lane has some upside as a downfield threat and is worthy of roster consideration in dynasty formats. RotoBaller currently ranks Lane as the 85th-best wide receiver for dynasty leagues.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
March 28, 2026
Washington Commanders tight end
Chig Okonkwo could immediately contribute as an appealing fantasy option during his first year with the team. Okonkwo spent his first four seasons with the Tennessee Titans, occupying a modest role in the offense. He consistently finished as the TE21 in PPR leagues each of the last three years. With that being said, in terms of pure stats, 2025 was his best season as he caught 56 of his 79 targets for 560 yards, all career-highs. The Maryland product contributed to the best of his ability in a relatively uninspiring Titans offense. While the Commanders' offense admittedly has some work to do, as well, the presence of quarterback
Jayden Daniels and the new-look offensive system under coordinator
David Blough could bode well for Okonkwo as he looks to take a major leap. Fantasy managers would love to see him step in and fill the role of
Zach Ertz, who finished as the overall TE7 with 654 yards and seven touchdowns as the Commanders' primary tight end in 2024. If Okonkwo can have that level of involvement around the goal line, there's no question that he can be a top-12 fantasy tight end year in and year out. If Daniels stays healthy and the offense operates efficiently in 2026, Okonkwo could end up being one of the biggest steals on fantasy draft night.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
March 28, 2026
Minnesota Vikings running back
Aaron Jones Sr. could find himself in a familiar role next season. The Vikings re-signed Jones to share the backfield with
Jordan Mason, creating a similar dynamic to last year. The 31-year-old was a low-end RB2 when healthy, but he missed five full games due to injury and exited others early. As a result, he finished the regular season with a modest 548 rushing yards, 199 receiving yards, and three total touchdowns. The Vikings have gradually gotten Mason more involved, while Jones' age and injuries have resulted in him handling fewer touches. He's still going to get rushing yards, receiving yards, and touchdowns -- just not nearly as much as during the peak of his career. The good news for Jones is that his return indicates it should just be him and Mason in the backfield, and the Vikings won't make any splashes at the running back position in free agency or the draft. Still, Jones' days as an every-down back and fantasy RB1 are over. He's falling to the RB3/flex tier for 2026.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
March 28, 2026
Milwaukee Brewers first baseman
Andrew Vaughn (hand) is battling a hand injury, per Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. McCalvy reports that Vaughn's injury is prompting Milwaukee to promote catching prospect Jefferson Quero to provide the team the flexibility to use normal backup catcher
Gary Sanchez at first base. Vaughn appears likely to be placed on the injured list, but it's not entirely clear how much time Milwaukee expects him to miss. The 27-year-old started Milwaukee's opener on Thursday against the Chicago White Sox at first base and batted cleanup. Vaughn closed the 2025 season on a tear, hitting .308/.375/.493 with nine home runs, 46 RBI, and 26 runs scored across 254 plate appearances with Milwaukee. If he's forced to miss time, Sanchez and left-handed hitting outfielder/first baseman
Jake Bauers could be the leading candidates to cover first base for the Brewers.
--Will BradySource: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
March 28, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers closer
Edwin Diaz converted his first save chance with his new team on Friday night in the Dodgers' 5-4 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Diaz allowed a walk but struck out two without allowing a hit in a scoreless ninth inning. The 32-year-old signed a three-year, $69 million contract with Los Angeles this past winter after a six-season run with the New York Mets. Across 66 1/3 innings with New York in 2025, Diaz recorded a 1.63 ERA and a 0.87 WHIP with 98 strikeouts, six wins, and 28 saves. He's recorded a strikeout rate of at least 38% in six out of the last seven seasons where he's pitched. When healthy, Diaz is arguably the best closer in baseball and should get plenty of save chances while pitching for the Dodgers in 2026.
--Will BradySource: MLB.com
March 28, 2026
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder
Oneil Cruz is not in the starting lineup for his team's matchup with the New York Mets and left-handed starting pitcher
David Peterson on Saturday. Switch-hitter
Jake Mangum will take Cruz's spot in center field and bat ninth. Cruz's 2026 season got off to a rough start in Pittsburgh's opener against the Mets on Thursday, as he struck out three times in five plate appearances and misplayed a ball in center field that led to multiple runs for New York. The 27-year-old owns a slash line of .172/.247/.313 with a 38.4% strikeout rate in 401 career plate appearances against left-handed pitching. It appears that Pittsburgh is planning to deploy Cruz in a true big-side platoon role in center field, at least to begin 2026. Cruz's power/speed profile makes him a high-upside fantasy outfielder, but his ability to rack up counting stats is limited by his lack of everyday playing time.
--Will BradySource: MLB.com
March 28, 2026
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
Brandon Aiyuk's time in the Bay Area is likely over, but he could still be a low-cost target in dynasty leagues as he embarks on the next chapter of his career. All signs point to the 49ers designating Aiyuk as a post-June 1 release, putting an end to all the turmoil and drama that marred his first six years in the NFL. The 28-year-old played seven games in 2024 and zero in 2025, due to injury and personal issues with the organization. Hitting free agency will allow Aiyuk to have a fresh start, and he could perhaps return to his pre-2024 form. He was a top-15 fantasy receiver (PPR) in both 2022 and 2023, totaling more than 2,350 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns across those two years. The Arizona State product has shown that he has the talent to produce significant fantasy value, but now, he just needs to stay healthy and on good terms with his future team. Aiyuk's eventual landing spot remains unknown, but it's worth noting that he has been heavily linked to the Washington Commanders. He was teammates with quarterback
Jayden Daniels in college, and Commanders general manager Adam Peters was part of the 49ers front office that drafted Aiyuk back in 2020.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
March 28, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays third baseman
Kazuma Okamoto has been moved up to the cleanup spot in his team's lineup for Toronto's matchup on Saturday against the Athletics and left-handed starting pitcher
Jeffrey Springs. Okamoto batted seventh for the Blue Jays' opener on Friday with the A's throwing right-handed starting pitcher
Luis Severino. Okamoto performed well in his MLB debut, going two-for-three with a walk and two runs scored. The 29-year-old is expected to play a key role as the Blue Jays' everyday third baseman in 2026 after the team brought him over from Japan on a four-year, $60 million contract. Okamoto's prominent spot in the lineup against left-handers should help him rack up counting stats for fantasy managers, and could be an indicator of his potential to move up in the lineup against righties if he proves he can handle MLB pitching.
--Will BradySource: MLB.com
March 28, 2026
New England Patriots wide receiver
Romeo Doubs will have an opportunity to emerge as
Drake Maye's favorite target during the 2026 season. Doubs signed a multi-year contract this offseason to replace
Stefon Diggs as the presumptive No. 1 receiver in New England. However, that role isn't guaranteed, especially given the growth we saw from
Kayshon Boutte,
Mack Hollins,
Kyle Williams, and
Hunter Henry. Doubs will need to hold onto his No. 1 role throughout camp and the preseason to warrant consideration as a weekly fantasy starter. If that happens, he'd likely rank as a high-end WR3/flex in redraft leagues. He's unlikely to offer quite as much fantasy value as Diggs, who was inconsistent week over week but still finished as the overall WR17 in PPR formats. Managers should also be cognizant of the fact that New England might not be done making moves. A Diggs return remains possible, and the Patriots have been heavily linked to a trade for
A.J. Brown.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
March 28, 2026
Indianapolis Colts quarterback
Daniel Jones (Achilles) continues to work his way back from injury. He recently signed a two-year extension to keep him in Indianapolis through 2027, but he's not a lock to start Week 1 this upcoming season. Depending on how his recovery goes, Jones could miss the early portion of the season, leaving
Riley Leonard in line to start. Managers likely won't have much clarity on his timeline until the middle or end of the summer, leaving plenty of questions about his fantasy value for 2026. When healthy last year, Jones was a legitimate QB1 in fantasy football. He ranked as the overall QB9 before getting injured, averaging 253.4 passing yards, 13.3 rushing yards, and 2.0 total touchdowns per game. Jones' ADP might end up pricing him as a top-10 quarterback, meaning you'll have no choice but to draft him as a QB1. If that happens, spending a draft pick on a decent QB2 is imperative, since you might be without Jones for the first few weeks of the season. When he does return, though, he should offer consistent production as a weekly fantasy starter.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
March 28, 2026
Texas Rangers ace
Jacob deGrom (neck) has been scratched from his scheduled start on Saturday against the Philadelphia Phillies due to neck stiffness. Left-hander
Jacob Latz will make the start in deGrom's place. After failing to reach 100 innings pitched in four consecutive seasons from 2021 through 2024 due to multiple different arm injuries, deGrom finally put together a healthy campaign in 2025. Across 172 2/3 innings (30 starts), the 37-year-old recorded a 12-8 record with a 2.97 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and 185 strikeouts. On the bright side, deGrom's current issue is not arm-related, and he may simply need to be pushed back a few days before he can make his first start of 2026. However, any injury issue for deGrom is a concern for fantasy managers, given his extensive track record of missed time in recent years. Texas wraps up its series with the Phillies on Sunday before heading to Baltimore for a three-game set with the Orioles that begins on Monday evening.
--Will BradySource: Texas Rangers PR
March 28, 2026
Washington Nationals shortstop
CJ Abrams is currently away from the team due to the passing of a family member, per Mark Zuckerman of Nats Journal. Nationals infielder
Nasim Nunez will fill in for Abrams at shortstop for the team's game on Saturday against the Chicago Cubs, with infielder
Jorbit Vivas taking Nunez's regular spot at second base. Abrams went one-for-four with two RBI in Washington's Opening Day win on Thursday against the Cubs. It's not entirely clear how long Abrams will be away from the team, but it's unlikely to be an extended absence. The Nationals wrap up their series in Chicago on Sunday before traveling to Philadelphia for a three-game series that begins on Monday night.
--Will BradySource: Nats Journal - Mark Zuckerman
March 28, 2026
The Milwaukee Brewers are calling up catching prospect
Jeferson Quero from Triple-A Nashville on Saturday, a source told Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtra Base. Quero, the team's No. 8 prospect per MLB Pipeline, will give the Brewers more catching depth behind
William Contreras and
Gary Sanchez. The 23-year-old Venezuelan backstop will be making his big-league debut whenever he gets into a game, but right now, his path to playing time appears blocked in Milwaukee. Quero dealt with hamstring and shoulder injuries in the minors in 2025 and was limited to 250 plate appearances, hitting .255/.336/.412 with 11 home runs, 57 RBI, and 42 runs scored in 69 games on the farm. It's a questionable early-season call-up unless one of Contreras or Sanchez is currently dealing with an injury that we are unaware of. Quero is considered one of baseball's best defensive catching prospects, although he's not on MLB Pipeline's list of top-10 catching prospects overall.
--Keith HernandezSource: ElExtraBase - Daniel Alvarez-Montes
March 28, 2026
Miami Marlins right-handed closer
Pete Fairbanks was successful in his first save opportunity on Opening Day on Friday, locking down the team's 2-1 victory over the visiting Colorado Rockies. In his inning of work, Fairbanks allowed a hit and struck out one batter to pick up his first win of the 2026 season with his new squad. The 32-year-old veteran signed a one-year, $13 million deal with the Fish over the winter to be their closer for this season, and if he can stay healthy, he'll have a good shot at his first career 30-save campaign in the big leagues. Fairbanks is in his eighth season in MLB and has 91 career saves with the Texas Rangers and Tampa Bay Rays. He had a 2.83 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, a career-high 27 saves, 59 strikeouts, and 18 walks in 60 1/3 innings in 2025 in his final year in Tampa. Despite being in Miami, Fairbanks should be a pretty stable fantasy closer, as he's had at least 20 saves in each of the last three seasons.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
March 28, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays infielder
Andres Gimenez was the hero for the Blue Jays on Friday in their 3-2 Opening Day win over the visiting Athletics on Friday, driving home the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning. Gimenez finished the game 2-for-3 with a two-run triple, an RBI single, and a walk out of the nine-hole. The 27-year-old, who is now playing shortstop for the Blue Jays with
Bo Bichette no longer in town, has been riding high of late, also helping Team Venezuela win the World Baseball Classic this spring. Gimenez was an All-Star back in 2022 with the Cleveland Guardians and had 70 total stolen bases from 2022 to 2024, but he's still mostly useful to Toronto for his defensive prowess up the middle. He has a .254/.317/.383 career slash line in 670 career games, and has never reached the 20-home run mark. Offensive performances like Friday night will probably be few and far between for Gimenez, but his speed can be useful in deeper leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
March 28, 2026
Cleveland Guardians outfield prospect
Chase DeLauter is now up to three home runs on the year after just the first two games of the season after he homered again in the team's 5-1 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Friday night. DeLauter, batting in the two-hole for Cleveland, went 1-for-4 on the night with a solo home run and a strikeout. In his first two games of the 2026 season, the 24-year-old left-handed slugger has gone 4-for-9 with three home runs (all solo jobs). It's been nice to see from the former 16th overall pick in 2022 out of James Madison University in his first taste of major-league pitching. He also looked good at the plate this spring, batting .459/.535/.838 with a 1.373 OPS, three homers, five doubles, 10 RBI, 10 runs scored, six walks, and four strikeouts in 14 Cactus League games. Durability has been an issue for DeLauter in the minors, but for now, fantasy managers need to swoop him up where he's available, as he's looking like a potential early favorite for American League Rookie of the Year if he can stay on the field for Cleveland.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
March 28, 2026
Los Angeles Angels right-handed reliever
Jordan Romano is emerging as the team's primary closer with all of
Kirby Yates (knee),
Ben Joyce (shoulder), and
Robert Stephenson (elbow) on the injured list to begin the 2026 season. Romano picked up his first save of the year in Thursday's 3-0 Opening Day win over the Houston Astros, and although it wasn't a save situation, he pitched in the ninth inning for a second straight day in Friday's 6-2 victory. He had a clean inning of work to finish off the victory, striking out two batters. Romano had a rough couple of seasons the last few years, but he topped out at 95.7 mph on Friday and is looking more like the version of himself that had 36 saves in back-to-back years with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2022 and 2023. Veteran left-hander
Drew Pomeranz could also see some save chances for the Halos early in the year with the back end of the bullpen banged up, but for now, Romano is the arm to roster for fantasy managers in need of saves.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
March 28, 2026
St. Louis Cardinals catcher
Ivan Herrera (knee) will bat second and play catcher for Saturday's contest against the Tampa Bay Rays. Herrera was the designated hitter for the Cardinals' regular-season opener on Thursday, but it appears that he's now healthy enough to get back into the defensive alignment. The 25-year-old is looking to build off a breakout 2025 campaign in which he slashed .284/.373/.464 with 19 home runs, 66 RBI, a 9.5% walk rate, an 18.6% strikeout rate, and 137 wRC+. He went 0-for-4 on Opening Day, but it's far too early to panic. He still has tremendous upside given his production at the plate and near-league-average defense. As it stands, he ranks #10 among catchers in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.
--Andersen PickardSource: MLB.com
March 28, 2026
Buffalo Bills quarterback
Josh Allen had a second straight season of under 4,000 passing yards in 2025, but he more than made up for it with his rushing prowess to finish as the QB1 in fantasy football. In 17 regular-season starts, the 29-year-old four-time Pro Bowler and former MVP threw for 3,668 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions while adding 112 rushing attempts for a league-high 579 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground. The next closest QB in rushing TDs,
Jalen Hurts, had only eight. Allen had surgery to fix a broken bone in his right foot in late January, but he should be all systems go in time for the start of the 2026 regular season this fall, and he should be the first quarterback off the board early in fantasy drafts. Allen's passing numbers leave plenty to be desired, but he could be more efficient through the air next season after the addition of receiver
DJ Moore, who was acquired from the Chicago Bears. Allen's rushing upside is what puts him above the rest of the QBs in the league. He has over 100 carries in all but one of his eight NFL seasons, and that was his rookie year in 2018, when he had 89 rushing attempts.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
March 28, 2026
Miami Marlins first baseman
Christopher Morel (oblique) has been placed on the injured list, according to Craig Mish of SportsGrid. In a corresponding move, first baseman
Deyvison De Los Santos was recalled from Triple-A. Morel has yet to make his 2026 regular-season debut, as he was scratched from the Opening Day lineup on Friday with a left oblique strain. The 26-year-old is coming off a lackluster year with the Rays in which he slashed .219/.289/.396 with an 8.2% walk rate, a 35.7% strikeout rate, and 90 wRC+ across 105 games in the majors. While Morel primarily played left field last year, he's the Marlins' projected first baseman for 2026. De Los Santos and
Liam Hicks should fill in at first base for the duration of his IL stint.
--Andersen PickardSource: Craig Mish
March 28, 2026
Detroit Lions quarterback
Jared Goff was unable to lead the Lions back to the postseason in 2025, but he did plenty to help his fantasy managers, throwing for 4,564 yards, 34 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions in 17 starts. The 31-year-old veteran has been the picture of consistency in his last four years in Detroit, throwing for over 4,000 yards each year and 30-plus touchdown passes in three of the four seasons. Goff has been a Pro Bowler in three of the last four years, as well as the Lions continue to employ a pass-happy approach on offense under head coach Dan Campbell. In fantasy football, Goff finished last season as the QB6 overall, and he should remain a safe bet to be a top-10 signal-caller again when all is said and done in 2026. Detroit's offensive line in front of him could be a question mark, but Goff still has elite weapons in the passing game in
Amon-Ra St. Brown,
Jameson Williams,
Isaac TeSlaa, and
Sam LaPorta (back), plus one of the best running backs in the league behind him in
Jahmyr Gibbs. New offensive coordinator Drew Petzing was with the Cardinals last year when they led the league in passing attempts, so expect Goff to continue to throw the football with regularity.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
March 28, 2026
Houston Astros relief pitcher
Bennett Sousa (oblique) has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 oblique strain, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. He was placed on the injured list but is not expected to miss more than the minimum 15 days. Sousa was a key part of the Astros' bullpen in 2025, posting a 2.72 FIP with 10.48 K/9, 2.66 BB/9, and 0.71 HR/9 over 50.2 innings of work. He also recorded four saves. Sousa didn't pitch in a 2026 regular-season game before landing on the IL, but he did throw three innings of one-run ball in spring training. Without consistent save opportunities, Sousa isn't on the fantasy radar. Still, Astros fans will patiently await his return to the bullpen, given how well he pitched last year.
--Andersen PickardSource: Chandler Rome
March 28, 2026
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher
Jackson Jobe (elbow) is expected to play catch from 120 feet on three different occasions this upcoming week, according to Evan Petzold of Detroit Free Press. The former No. 3 pick is making decent progress as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. He still has a long road ahead of him, though, as the Tigers previously said they hoped he could return in September. Jobe logged 10 starts before landing on the injured list last year. He had a 4.22 ERA, 5.18 FIP, 7.16 K/9, 4.96 BB/9, and 1.29 HR/9. This was a somewhat uninspiring stat line for the right-hander, given that he didn't rack up strikeouts, he struggled with walks, and he was unable to induce much weak contact (43.2% ground ball rate). Still, Jobe is an exciting arm with impressive velocity, so the Tigers would love to get him back just in time for the postseason.
--Andersen PickardSource: Evan Petzold
March 28, 2026
Former Arizona Cardinals quarterback
Kyler Murray injured his foot in Week 5 of the 2025 season and never played again after that, opening the door for veteran signal-caller
Jacoby Brissett to have the best year of his 10-year NFL career. The 33-year-old veteran played 14 games (12 starts) and completeed 64.9% of his pass attempts for 3,366 yards, 23 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He went just 1-11 as a starter for the lowly Cardinals, but there's no question that he elevated Arizona's offense from what Murray had shown in the first five games. In a pass-happy offense with the Cardinals often finding themselves down big early, Brissett racked up the passing attempts and aired the football out to finish as the QB15 in fantasy scoring. Murray is now gone, and although the Cardinals signed
Gardner Minshew at the position, the expectation is that Brissett will remain the starter in 2026. The Cardinals led the NFL in pass attempts last year, but under new head coach Mike LaFleur, the Cardinals should be a much more run-heavy offense, which means that fantasy managers probably won't be able to count on Brissett putting up similar numbers over a full season in his second year in the desert.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
March 28, 2026
The San Diego Padres have signed veteran relief pitcher
Jose Leclerc to a minor league contract, according to Jon Heyman of The New York Post. The 32-year-old hasn't pitched since last April, when he suffered a shoulder injury that eventually required surgery. Presumably now fully healthy, Leclerc will offer bullpen depth in the minor leagues. His veteran experience and track record make him a strong candidate for a promotion to the majors at some point this season. Across nine innings before his injury last year, the right-hander allowed six earned runs with five walks, eight strikeouts, and three home runs. He fared better over a larger sample size in 2024 with the Rangers, pitching to a 3.66 xFIP with 12.02 K/9, 4.32 BB/9, and 0.95 HR/9.
--Andersen PickardSource: Jon Heyman
March 28, 2026
Penn State running back Kaytron Allen, who is ranked as the No. 7 RB prospect in this year's draft class by ESPN, is a big back at 5-foot-11, 216 pounds. Allen led the Nittany Lions in rushing in each of the last three seasons and became the school's all-time leading rusher with a total of 4,180 rushing yards in his 54 games over four seasons. The 23-year-old saved his best for last, rushing for a career-high 1,303 yards and 15 touchdowns on 210 carries in 12 games in his senior season in 2025. Allen won't be a priority for fantasy managers in dynasty/keeper leagues later this year because of his lack of prowess on passing downs, though, as he never had more than 20 receptions in a single season at Penn State. He finished his four-year career in college with 70 catches for 490 yards and four touchdowns as a receiver. Still, Allen will be coveted by RB-needy teams for his physicality, size, and strength. Early on, Allen figures to be more of a short-yardage, goal-line back in the NFL.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sports Reference
March 28, 2026
The Boston Red Sox have re-signed infielder
Brendan Rodgers (shoulder) to a two-year minor league contract, according to Chris Hatfield of SoxProspects.com. Rodgers had been in camp with the Red Sox, but he was released this past week following shoulder surgery. Now, he's back in the organization on a new deal that will allow him to rehab in 2026 before returning as a healthy depth option in 2027. It's a low-risk move that could give the Red Sox a potential bench middle infielder next year. Rodgers hasn't been a productive hitter since 2024, which was his final year with the Rockies. However, he continues to offer a right-handed bat, veteran experience, solid glovework, and defensive versatility.
--Andersen PickardSource: Chris Hatfield
March 28, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher
Emmet Sheehan "had issues maintaining his stuff and command in spring," according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. The right-hander saw his velocity and stuff get worse deeper into games, and the team reportedly attributed it to "some mechanical stuff he was working through." The struggle to maintain velocity and stuff didn't stop at the end of spring training, though. Rather, the issue persisted into Sheehan's 2026 regular-season debut against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday. His fastball averaged 95.5 mph in the first inning, but that number dropped below 94.0 mph in the second and third innings, and it fell to 92.8 mph in the fourth. Sheehan still struck out six batters over 3.1 innings of work, but he was also roughed up to the tune of four runs, five hits, and two walks. The Dodgers and the right-hander will now have to continue working on fixing the mechanical issue before his next scheduled start on Friday, April 3, against the Washington Nationals.
--Andersen PickardSource: Fabian Ardaya
March 28, 2026
USC wide receiver
Makai Lemon was criticized for his bizarre interviews at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis in late February, but there's no question that he has the talent to be a top-15 selection in April's draft. The 21-year-old is a prototypical slot receiver who should be very productive at the next level, provided he stays healthy. Lemon broke out in his junior year in 2025 for the Trojans, catching 79 passes for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns in 12 games after scoring only three touchdowns in 21 games in his first two years at USC. Despite all of Lemon's potential shortcomings off the field, he's a fantastic receiving prospect going into this year's draft. However, there are questions about his ability to win outside, which could limit his playing time early on in his career in the NFL. Given his talent alone, Lemon could be a top-20 dynasty/keeper drafts in 2026. There's no question that Lemon will be a first-round at the end of April.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sports Reference
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