January 17, 2026
Atlanta Hawks guard/forward
Dyson Daniels (ankle) won't be in the lineup on Saturday against the Boston Celtics. He's dealing with a right ankle sprain and has been downgraded from questionable to out. Daniels' absence from the lineup may give
CJ McCollum a starting role.
Luke Kennard is another option to start, while
Vit Krejci could be more involved in the rotation due to Daniels' absence. Daniels will have his first chance to return on Monday versus the Milwaukee Bucks.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 17, 2026
New York Knicks guard/forward
Josh Hart (ankle) won't suit up on Saturday against the Phoenix Suns. Hart was a late addition to the injury report due to right ankle soreness, and the Knicks have downgraded him from questionable to out.
Jalen Brunson (ankle) also won't be playing, leaving the team without two starters.
Miles McBride is set to fill in for Brunson, while
Mitchell Robinson could be Hart's replacement in the first unit. At the same time,
Jordan Clarkson,
Tyler Kolek, and
Landry Shamet might see more time on the court.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 17, 2026
New York Knicks point guard
Jalen Brunson (ankle) has been ruled out for Saturday's matchup against the Phoenix Suns. The Knicks initially listed him as questionable due to a right ankle sprain. Brunson will miss a second consecutive game, with his absence giving
Miles McBride another opportunity to start. On Thursday night against the Golden State Warriors, McBride excelled in a starting role, shooting 6-for-12 from downtown to finish with 25 points and six assists.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 17, 2026
Carolina Hurricanes left wing William Carrier (lower body) will remain on the shelf on Saturday against the New Jersey Devils, Mike Morreale of NHL.com reports. The veteran power forward is struggling to shake off a lower-body injury, missing a fourth consecutive game. In 38 appearances this season, Carrier has recorded 10 points (five goals, five assists), 45 shots, and a team-high 91 hits. Jesperi Kotkaniemi has returned to the lineup during Carrier's absence and contributed one assist in Thursday's 9-1 victory over the Florida Panthers. Carrier's next chance to return will be on Monday against the Buffalo Sabres.
--Taavi PailkSource: Mike Morreale
January 17, 2026
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (lower body) is expected to remain out of Saturday's game against the New Jersey Devils, Mike Morreale of NHL.com reports. The veteran blue-liner has been dealing with an illness this week and missed Friday's blowout win over the Florida Panthers due to a lower-body injury. Jaccob Slavin rejoined the lineup on Friday, going plus-one in 17:56 of ice time but not registering any other significant stats. At the same time, Alexander Nikishin had a big game as Gostisbehere's replacement on the first power-play unit, finishing with a goal and an assist. On Saturday, Nikishin will be in a prime spot to make a big impact again, as New Jersey holds a 76.7 percent power play.
--Taavi PailkSource: Mike Morreale
January 17, 2026
Montreal Canadiens center Jake Evans (lower body) was activated from Injured Reserve and is poised to re-enter the lineup on Saturday night against the Ottawa Senators. Evans has been out since Dec. 20 due to a lower-body injury. To make room for Evans in the lineup, Montreal is projected to scratch Joe Veleno for Saturday's contest. In 34 outings this season, Evans has notched 10 points (five goals, five assists) while delivering 44 hits. He lacks fantasy appeal as a fourth-line grinder
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 17, 2026
Chicago Blackhawks winger Teuvo Teravainen (upper body) will be sidelined for a second straight game on Saturday against the Boston Bruins. The Finnish veteran is dealing with an upper-body injury and doesn't have a return timeline. Teravainen is tied for fourth on Chicago's scoring charts, notching 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) in 45 games. Fortunately for the Blackhawks, Connor Bedard recently returned from a shoulder injury and will spearhead the attack on Saturday night, flanked by Ryan Greene and Andre Burakovsky on the first line.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 17, 2026
Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander (lower body) will be absent from the lineup on Saturday against the Winnipeg Jets. Nylander aggravated a lower-body injury this week and may have to skip multiple games. "Right now, I don't expect him in today for sure, Monday (against the Minnesota Wild) probably not. I don't know how long it's going to be," Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said. Matthew Knies is expected to slot into Nylander's spot on the second line against Winnipeg. Knies ended a season-worst four-game point drought with two assists in Thursday's overtime loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 17, 2026
Denver Broncos rookie wide receiver
Pat Bryant (concussion) won't return in Saturday's AFC Divisional Round game against the Buffalo Bills after being diagnosed with a concussion. Bryant took a hit during the team's opening drive and was quickly diagnosed with a concussion by the team's medical staff. The 23-year-old finishes Saturday's playoff game with three catches for 32 yards before exiting.
Troy Franklin,
Marvin Mims Jr., and Lil' Jordan Humphrey should see an uptick in targets with Bryant sidelined. The Broncos' rookie wideout will likely enter the league's concussion protocol and will have to clear it next week in order to have a chance to suit up for the AFC Championship game if Denver advances.
--Brad Camara - RotoBallerSource: Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network
January 17, 2026
Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (lower body) could return from a six-game absence on Saturday against the Florida Panthers. The power forward rejoined practice earlier this week and participated in an optional morning skate on Saturday. Wilson is having a career year in 2025-26, sitting on a team-high 42 points (22 goals, 20 assists) through 41 appearances. Wilson's return on Saturday would probably bump Ethen Frank from the first line. However, Frank may still see increased usage due to Justin Sourdif's (upper body) continued absence.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 17, 2026
Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson (thigh) will miss 3-5 weeks after undergoing a procedure on Friday to treat a Morel-Lavallee lesion in his left thigh. Carlsson has missed two games due to the injury. The young Swedish star now faces a race against time to get healthy for the Olympics. Sweden begins its tournament on Feb. 11. Meanwhile, it's clear Carlsson won't play for the Ducks until after the Olympics. Carlsson has had a special campaign in 2025-26, recording a team-high 44 points (18 goals, 26 assists) in 44 games. In his absence, Mason McTavish has taken on first-line center duties, with Mikael Granlund jumping to the second line.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 17, 2026
Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (personal) has taken a leave of absence and won't play on Saturday night against the Vancouver Canucks. The German superstar has returned to his native country due to a family illness. Edmonton expects to have him back next week. Draisaitl is having another phenomenal season, posting 67 points (25 goals, 42 assists) in 48 games. Andrew Mangiapane is expected to re-enter the lineup on Saturday, with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins taking over the second-line center role. Meanwhile, Vasily Podkolzin will replace Nugent-Hopkins on the first line. The Russian forward will have additional fantasy value as Connor McDavid's partner.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 17, 2026
Indiana Pacers forward
Pascal Siakam (rest) won't play against the Pistons. He had 27 points, six rebounds, five assists, and one block in Friday's win over the New Orleans Pelicans. The veteran will sit this one out to rest, so fantasy managers can expect to have him back in the lineup for Monday's game in Philadelphia. In the meantime,
Jarace Walker is the favorite to replace him in the rotation and could be more productive than usual, considering the team won't have
T.J. McConnell (knee),
Andrew Nembhard (back), and
Aaron Nesmith (rest).
--Dennis ClausenSource: NBA Injury Report
January 17, 2026
Indiana Pacers guard
Andrew Nembhard (back) and forward
Aaron Nesmith (rest) won't play on Saturday against Detroit. The duo each logged over 30 minutes in Friday's win over the New Orleans Pelicans, combining for 31 points. However, they will both take the night off to rest.
Pascal Siakam (rest) and
T.J. McConnell (knee) also won't suit up, so the Pacers might get extra production from players like
Quenton Jackson,
Ben Sheppard, and
Jarace Walker in a difficult matchup with the Pistons, one of the best defensive squads in the NBA.
Jay Huff could also thrive after coming off a 29-point, nine-rebound, two-block, two-steal effort.
--Dennis ClausenSource: NBA Injury Report
January 17, 2026
Dallas Mavericks center
Daniel Gafford (ankle) won't play on Saturday versus Utah. It will be his second-straight absence. As a result,
Dwight Powell is in line to make another start. The 34-year-old got the start when these clubs met on Thursday, finishing with six points, seven boards, two steals, and two blocks.
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl should also continue to get some work after amassing 12 points, seven rebounds, and two steals from off the bench.
--Dennis ClausenSource: NBA Injury Report
January 17, 2026
Dallas Mavericks guard/forward
Cooper Flagg (ankle) won't play on Saturday versus the Utah Jazz. It will be the former Duke Blue Devil's second absence since injuring his ankle during Wednesday's loss to the Chicago Bulls. With Flagg,
Anthony Davis (finger),
Daniel Gafford (ankle), and
D'Angelo Russell (illness) all out, the Mavs should get increased production from
Naji Marshall,
Klay Thompson, and
Max Christie (illness), who is available after missing the last two games, in a meeting with a Jazz team that has struggled defensively all season.
--Dennis ClausenSource: NBA Injury Report
January 17, 2026
Buffalo quarterback
Josh Allen (foot) is battling three separate ailments, and he will not be at 100% when the Bills take on the Denver Broncos to open the Divisional Round on Saturday. Still, he is not expected to have any limitations, according to NFL reporter Cameron Wolfe. Allen visited the blue medical tent multiple times during the team's Wild Card win over the Jaguars, but he did not miss a snap. With the Bills' offense dealing with numerous injuries and Buffalo forced to take an unfamiliar path through the playoffs with their second straight road game, Allen, who is RotoBaller's QB1 in fantasy playoff leagues, will once again be asked to put the team on his shoulders on Saturday.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Cameron Wolfe
January 17, 2026
John Harbaugh and the New York Giants have officially finalized a five-year deal to make him the team's newest head coach and the first domino to fall in this year's coaching cycle. Harbaugh had been fired from the same position with the Baltimore Ravens after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2021, and he now takes over a Giants roster that many believe has the most pieces already in place to make a quick turnaround among all the teams in search of a new head coach. First-year quarterback
Jaxson Dart went 4-8 in a rookie season defined as much by his flashy playmaking abilities as his risk-taking playstyle and the associated injuries, while 2024 Pro Bowl wide receiver
Malik Nabers (knee) is expected to return at some point in 2026 following a devastating knee injury.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Ian Rapoport
January 17, 2026
Denver Broncos wide receiver
Courtland Sutton, making his 2026 playoff debut on Saturday, will face a Bills defensive unit missing three of their starters, including Jordan Poyer and Maxwell Hairston in the secondary. A similarly banged-up Buffalo defense saw Jacksonville wide receiver
Parker Washington put up 107 yards and a touchdown in a back-and-forth Wild Card matchup, and Sutton could be in line for a strong showing of his own. Sutton led his team in receptions, yards, and touchdowns, with four of his seven scores coming against teams in the 2026 playoff field. He is RotoBaller's WR4 for the week, but his ceiling is as high as nearly any receiver in the Divisional Round.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
January 17, 2026
Denver Broncos rookie running back
RJ Harvey makes his playoff debut on Saturday against a Bills defense that ranked 26th in the NFL against fantasy running backs in the regular season. Down the stretch, in particular, Buffalo's defense was viewed as a run funnel, with teams finding more success on the ground than through the air, and in last week's Wild Card win over the Jaguars, Buffalo allowed 154 yards on only 23 carries. Since taking over for
J.K. Dobbins (foot) as Denver's RB1 following a Week 10 foot injury, Harvey has scored six touchdowns in his last seven games, and he is RotoBaller's RB4 for the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
January 17, 2026
Buffalo Bills running back
Ty Johnson (ankle) will be inactive when the Bills face the Broncos to kick off the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs on Saturday. Johnson, who missed the team's Wild Card win over the Jaguars with an ankle injury, was able to return to practice on Thursday in a limited capacity, but he'll miss at least one more game. Johnson has seen most of his work this season in the passing game, totaling 263 yards and two scores on his 24 receptions, but without him, the Bills' already depleted receiving core may struggle to find space against Denver's top-three passing defense. The Bills are expected to have
Curtis Samuel (elbow) back for the first time since Week 11, but in the win against the Jaguars,
Khalil Shakir led the team with 12 receptions, while no other Bills player topped three catches.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Tracy Wolfson
January 17, 2026
Buffalo Bills wide receiver
Curtis Samuel (elbow), who was officially activated from Injured Reserve on Friday, will be active for the Divisional Round on Saturday against the hosting Denver Broncos, according to NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe. Samuel was listed as questionable on the final injury report on Thursday. The 29-year-old will be active for the first time since Week 11 due to an elbow injury. Even without
Gabe Davis (knee) and
Tyrell Shavers (knee), though, Samuel will probably be limited in what he can do after such a long layoff, making him avoidable in fantasy football playoff leagues. During the regular season in just six games played for Buffalo, Samuel caught just seven of his nine targets for 81 yards and one touchdown. He never played more than 50% of the offensive snaps in a single game.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Cameron Wolfe
January 17, 2026
Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver (biceps, knee) won't be 100% for the Divisional Round game on Saturday against the Denver Broncos and will play limited reps, but the Bills think "a rusty Ed is better than most," according to Cameron Wolfe of the NFL Network. Oliver could also be wearing a brace on his surgically repaired knee. The 28-year-old interior defensive lineman hasn't played since tearing his biceps muscle back in Week 8, and he also had cleanup surgery on his knee in December. Oliver will be more of a rotational interior D-lineman on Saturday in Denver, but the Bills are hoping his return is a much-needed boost for a banged-up defense that will be without cornerback Maxwell Hairston and safety Jordan Poyer for the Divisional Round. In only three games in 2025 before his injury, Oliver had 12 tackles, three sacks, and seven tackles for loss.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Cameron Wolfe
January 17, 2026
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback
Aaron Rodgers, who will be a free agent in March, is not expected to return to the team next season, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. After the Steelers lost to the Houston Texans on Monday night in the Wild-Card round, long-time head coach Mike Tomlin resigned after 19 years with the organization. It essentially ensures that Rodgers won't return to the Steel City if he decides to play one more season, but the future Hall of Famer may have thrown his last pass in the NFL. The 42-year-old completed 65.7% of his pass attempts in Pittsburgh in 2025 for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions while adding 61 rushing yards and one TD on the ground. If Rodgers' career comes to an end, he'll finish with 66,274 passing yards and 527 touchdown passes in 264 regular-season games across 21 NFL seasons.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
January 17, 2026
Boston Celtics guard
Payton Pritchard (ankle) is listed as doubtful for Saturday's matchup against Atlanta after being limited to a season-low workload Thursday and now dealing with left ankle soreness. He has been a steady fantasy contributor this season, averaging 16.6 points, 5.4 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.5 three-pointers, making any absence notable across formats. If Pritchard sits,
Anfernee Simons is positioned for a larger role after erupting for 39 points last game, with added usage and shot volume boosting his ceiling. Pritchard managers should closely monitor the status, while Simons profiles as a high-upside replacement play.
--Brian DailisanSource: NBA Injury Report
January 17, 2026
The Cincinnati Reds offered star shortstop
Elly De La Cruz a contract extension last spring that would have been the largest contract in franchise history, according to MLB.com's Manny Randhawa, but De La Cruz declined the offer. The largest current contract in Reds history is
Joey Votto's 10-year, $225 million deal in 2012. De La Cruz became the fifth player in MLB history to hit at least 20 home runs (25) and steal at least 60 bases (67) in a single season in 2024. The 6-foot-5, 200-pounder took a step back offensively in 2025, though, hitting 22 home runs and stealing 37 bases in 162 games played. However, a left-quad injury that he played with during the second half of the season may have been to blame. Despite his defensive shortcomings, De La Cruz is an elite athlete who could definitely bounce back offensively in 2026 with better health.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Manny Randhawa
January 17, 2026
Dallas Mavericks guard/forward
Max Christie (illness) is probable for Saturday's game against Utah after missing two contests, setting up a return to a prominent role. Christie has been productive over his last nine games, averaging 15.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.4 three-pointers in 31.7 minutes, production that has held with
Anthony Davis (finger) sidelined. His return could squeeze
Brandon Williams, who started the past two games and played well, back into a bench role. Christie profiles as a strong hold in season-long leagues, with stable minutes and usage supporting streamer value if Dallas manages his workload cautiously.
--Brian DailisanSource: NBA Injury Report
January 17, 2026
The Miami Dolphins are scheduling in-person head-coaching interviews for early this week and will talk with Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley for the second time, sources tell ESPN's Adam Schefter. Hafley has a head-coaching interview with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday and is also drawing interest for the same position with the Las Vegas Raiders, Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals, and Atlanta Falcons. The 46-year-old has a relationship with new Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan from their time together in Green Bay, and he's a highly respected defensive mind, having led strong Packers' defenses in each of the last two seasons. Before he joined the Packers' coaching staff, Hafley was the head coach at Boston College for four seasons. In Miami, he'd be replacing Mike McDaniel.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
January 17, 2026
Dallas Mavericks center
Daniel Gafford (ankle) is doubtful for Saturday's matchup against Utah, putting him on track to miss a second straight game with a right ankle sprain. His absence keeps the center rotation thin and points to another start for
Dwight Powell, while
Moussa Cisse (G League) is in line for extended minutes if available. Cisse delivered a strong double-double last game with 10 points, 13 rebounds, and three blocks in 23 minutes, but his role has been volatile across recent outings. He profiles as a high-variance deep-league streamer, while Powell offers steadier minutes with limited upside.
--Brian DailisanSource: NBA Injury Report
January 17, 2026
The Green Bay Packers are working on contract extensions for both head coach Matt LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst, each of whom is headed into the final year of his current deal, league sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Sources say they would be surprised if the Packers don't work out extensions with both LaFleur and Gutekunst. President Ed Policy said last June that he would prefer not to have a lame-duck coach. Under LaFleur the last seven seasons, the Packers have gone 76-40-1 in the regular season and have made the playoffs six times. However, they haven't reached the Super Bowl and haven't been to a conference championship game since 2020, the second of back-to-back appearances in LaFleur's first two years at the helm. Gutekunst has worked in Green Bay since 1999 and has been the GM since 2019.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
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