January 20, 2026
Former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel is expected to become the Los Angeles Chargers' offensive coordinator, barring a change of heart, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. McDaniel has informed other teams that he's out of the running, and he's scheduled to have dinner with the Chargers on Tuesday night. In L.A., McDaniel will be replacing Greg Roman. It will be quite the scheme change for the Bolts, going from a run-first offensive mind in Roman to McDaniel, who runs a version of Kyle Shanahan's offense in San Francisco. McDaniel went 35-33 with two playoff appearances in his four seasons in Miami, and he'll now join a Chargers team that has two 11-win seasons under head coach Jim Harbaugh. The addition of McDaniel in L.A. should be good news for both quarterback
Justin Herbert and young running back
Omarion Hampton heading into next season.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
January 20, 2026
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver
Jaxon Smith-Njigba and the Seahawks will face a familiar foe in the NFC Championship game this weekend in the division-rival Los Angeles Rams. Smith-Njigba led the NFL with 1,793 yards and scored the third-most touchdowns (10) among wideouts on 119 receptions. He's proven in his second year in the league that he's one of the best receivers in the NFL, and he'll have a chance to go off for the third straight time this year against a Rams defense that has surrendered the most half-PPR fantasy points to the position in the last five weeks. In the first meeting against L.A. in a Week 11 loss, JSN had a season-high nine catches for 105 yards on 12 targets. In the rematch in the overtime win in Week 16, Smith-Njigba caught eight of 13 targets for 96 yards and a touchdown. In what could be a shootout, Smith-Njigba is one of the highest-upside receivers in fantasy this week.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 20, 2026
Los Angeles Rams rookie tight end
Terrance Ferguson scored his second and third touchdowns in back-to-back weeks at the end of the regular season before
Tyler Higbee returned from Injured Reserve. Then Ferguson injured his hamstring, which caused him to miss the Week 18 regular-season finale and the Wild-Card win over the Philadelphia Eagles. In the 22-year-old's return in the Divisional Round win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Ferguson caught just one of a season-high five targets for 19 yards. There's plenty to like about Ferguson's long-term outlook, but right now, he's just too hard to trust when he's fighting for targets alongside
Colby Parkinson and Higbee. During the regular season, Ferguson had a total of just 11 receptions for 231 yards and three touchdowns on 25 targets. The matchup against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship game this weekend is a decent one, but Ferguson is unlikely to return value unless he scores.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 20, 2026
Los Angeles Rams tight end
Colby Parkinson is emerging as the team's best TE option in fantasy football playoff leagues despite fellow TEs
Tyler Higbee and rookie
Terrance Ferguson being involved. In the Divisional Round victory over the Chicago Bears, Parkinson caught three of his seven targets for 56 yards. The 27-year-old tied Pro Bowl receiver
Puka Nacua for the team lead in receiving yards in snowy conditions. The fact that the Rams are involving three pass-catching tight ends makes Parkinson a bit more volatile in fantasy, but it should be comforting to know that he has had exactly seven targets in four of the last six games. He also scored a combined three touchdowns in the two games before this past Sunday's overtime win over the Bears. Parkinson has notable upside going into the NFC Championship matchup against a Seahawks defense that allowed the 11th-most half-PPR fantasy points to the position in 17 regular-season games.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 20, 2026
The Texas Rangers announced on Tuesday that they have signed free-agent right-hander
Josh Sborz to a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to major-league spring training. Sborz returns to the organization he has spent the past five seasons with. The 32-year-old relief pitcher missed the entire 2025 season while recovering from shoulder surgery. Over his six-year major league career, Sborz has posted a 4.96 ERA (3.94 FIP), a 1.33 WHIP, and 193 strikeouts across 163 1/3 innings. From a fantasy perspective, it's unlikely Sborz breaks camp with the big league club, and even if he does, he is not expected to be fantasy relevant. Although the Rangers' bullpen roles aren't crystal clear, most drafters expect
Robert Garcia to open the 2026 season as the primary closer, with
Chris Martin and
Cole Winn also in the mix.
--Marty TallmanSource: Texas Rangers X Account
January 20, 2026
Miami Heat center
Kel'el Ware (hamstring) won't play on Tuesday versus Sacramento. He carried a questionable tag throughout the day. However, the 21-year-old will miss his first contest of the 2025 campaign because of hamstring tightness. Ware hasn't seen much action of late, averaging 20 minutes in January. Still, his absence should allow
Nikola Jovic to see more action in a favorable matchup with the Kings.
--Dennis ClausenSource: NBA Injury Report
January 20, 2026
New England Patriots running back
Rhamondre Stevenson hasn't scored a touchdown in two playoff games this year, but he has recorded 209 scrimmage yards on 33 touches. Stevenson had 16 rushing attempts for 70 yards and also caught all four of his targets for 11 yards in the Divisional Round win over the Houston Texans. The 27-year-old's 16 carries were the second-most he's had all year, with rookie
TreVeyon Henderson carrying the ball 12 times for only 25 yards. Fantasy managers should expect Stevenson to have another big role in the AFC Championship clash this Sunday against the Denver Broncos. His role makes him a top-three fantasy RB in playoff leagues, but the sledding could be tough on the road against a Broncos defense that allowed the fewest half-PPR points per game during the regular season.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 20, 2026
Denver Broncos rookie running back
RJ Harvey had a disappointing showing on the ground in the Divisional Round win over the Buffalo Bills, carrying the ball six times for only 20 yards. Harvey helped his fantasy managers in PPR leagues by catching five of a season-high six targets for 46 yards through the air, though. Against a weaker Buffalo run defense, it was a disappointing performance for Harvey, who saw his lowest carry total since Week 10. Things won't get any easier for the second-rounder going into a tough AFC Championship matchup against the visiting New England Patriots. Although Denver may put more of an emphasis on trying to get their ground game going now that starting quarterback
Bo Nix (ankle) is out the rest of the way, it doesn't mean that Harvey will have success against a Patriots defense that allowed the fourth-fewest half-PPR points per game to RBs this year, including only eight rushing TDs.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 20, 2026
Los Angeles Rams running back
Kyren Williams did most of the heavy lifting in the team's thrilling overtime victory over the Chicago Bears in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, carrying the ball 21 times for 87 yards and two touchdowns while adding four catches for 30 yards on five targets. Meanwhile, backfield mate
Blake Corum had only six carries for 19 yards. Williams isn't heading into the most ideal matchup in the NFC Championship game on Sunday against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks, but he'll still be a top-three fantasy RB on volume alone in a high-flying offense. Williams could be a letdown against a Seahawks defense that allowed the second-fewest half-PPR points per game to the RB position during the regular season, including a league-low five rushing TDs. And if Corum gets more involved like he was at the end of the regular season, it would lower Williams' floor more.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 20, 2026
Those following the Will Zalatoris story arc have been privy to the back-and-forth he's experienced over the last few years from a health standpoint. Even the years between back problems have been reluctant to embrace. However, hearing him discuss things ahead of this week's American Express, it sounds like things may actually be on the path back to normalcy. Interestingly, the 29-year-old has managed to play in this event every year since 2022, even with the struggles. Most of his success at the three-course rotation found at this event is in the ball striking side of things, where he's averaged +0.882 strokes on approach and +0.590 off the tee over his four previous starts. Zalatoris will come with a looming sense of dread for quite a while, given his now muddied longevity, but it would be a crime to forget the raw talent this man possesses. If you find yourself in a position to use him in DFS lineups, he's worth giving an opportunity to.
--Todd McGillSource: Data Golf
January 20, 2026
The Green Bay Packers are scheduled to interview former Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon for their defensive-coordinator job this week, sources told Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. The Dallas Cowboys interviewed Gannon for the same position on Tuesday, and he has interest in other DC jobs around the league after being fired by the Cardinals at the end of the 2025 season. Before joining Arizona, Gannon was the DC with the Philadelphia Eagles for two years under head coach Nick Sirianni. The Packers are looking to replace Jeff Hafley, who left to become the head coach for the Miami Dolphins. Hafley leaves Green Bay's defense in a good position, and All-Pro pass-rusher Micah Parsons (knee) will provide a huge boost whenever he's ready to return from a torn ACL. In his three seasons as the Cardinals' head coach, Gannon went 15-36, including 3-14 in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
January 20, 2026
2025 reminded golf fans of the presence of Justin Rose in professional golf after the 45-year-old re-emerged as a name to watch for every week he tees it up. Over his final eight starts, he accumulated two top 25s, one top 10, and a victory at the St. Jude event in Memphis. His ability to compete week in and week out has diminished with age, but he's still more than capable of contending any given week. At a venue like what's on deck this week in the Coachella Valley, where approach and short game statistics mean more than power off the tee, Rose is more than capable of hanging around. The Englishman hasn't played at PGA West since 2023, finishing in a tie for 23rd. While he hasn't had a meaningful event here since 2007, he has all the makings of a player who could post some solid scores this week.
--Todd McGillSource: PGA Tour
January 20, 2026
Houston Texans cornerback Jaylin Smith (knee) had season-ending knee surgery, but he has made steady progress in his recovery and is on track to play next season, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 Sports. Smith, who was a third-round pick by Houston last April, was placed on Injured Reserve in early November. The 22-year-old defensive back also missed four games in his first NFL season with a hamstring injury, so he finished with only six tackles (three solo) and a fumble recovery in his four games played. When he was on the field, though, Smith played well as the team's third cornerback behind Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter. It's unclear yet if Smith will be ready for the Week 1 season opener, but he should be available at some point in 2026. The Texans will be hoping he'll be on the field more as he looks to develop in Year 2.
--Keith HernandezSource: KPRC2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
January 20, 2026
Dallas Stars winger Mikko Rantanen (illness) will miss Tuesday's game against the Boston Bruins. He was a late scratch for the contest due to illness. With Rantanen out, the Stars lose their top scorer. The Finnish star has tallied 63 points (19 goals, 44 assists) in 48 appearances, putting him sixth in the league among all scorers. Sam Steel will take Rantanen's spot on the first line against Boston. Rantanen's first chance to return will be a meeting with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday.
--Taavi PailkSource: Dallas Stars
January 20, 2026
Boston Bruins defenseman Andrew Peeke (lower body) will play on Tuesday against the Dallas Stars, Jim McBride of The Boston Globe reports. He was initially considered a game-time decision. Peeke sustained a lower-body injury in a matchup against the Seattle Kraken last week but recovered quickly, missing only one game. Boston will be happy to have Peeke back after losing Henri Jokiharju (personal) for Tuesday's game. However, the 27-year-old offers very little fantasy value. In 48 outings this season, Peeke has registered nine points (four goals, five assists), 54 shots, 92 blocks, and 58 hits.
--Taavi PailkSource: Jim McBride
January 20, 2026
The Green Bay Packers released cornerback Trevon Diggs on Tuesday, according to general manager Brian Gutekunst. Diggs was waived by the Dallas Cowboys during the 2025 season before the Packers scooped him up in late December. The 27-year-old former second-rounder played 33 defensive snaps in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Minnesota Vikings in his only regular-season game for the Packers. In the Wild-Card loss to the Chicago Bears, Diggs played just one snap. In nine total games in 2025, he had 27 tackles (20 solo) and no interceptions. There is a chance that the Packers restructure Diggs' contract and bring him back this offseason. After recording a career-high 11 interceptions (two returned for touchdowns) with the Cowboys in his second season in 2021, Diggs has just six interceptions since and has struggled with injuries.
--Keith HernandezSource: Packers.com
January 20, 2026
Philadelphia Flyers center Rodrigo Abols (lower body) will be out for "months," Kevin Kurz of The Athletic reports. Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet refused to rule Abols out for the rest of the season, but it's clear that he faces a long spell on the sidelines. Across 42 outings this season, Abols has logged 10 points (three goals, seven assists), 43 shots, and 49 hits. On Monday, it was announced that Abols will be replaced on Team Latvia for the Olympics by Rihards Bukarts. In Philadelphia, Lane Pederson replaced Abols in the lineup on Monday night against the Vegas Golden Knights.
--Taavi PailkSource: Kevin Kurz
January 20, 2026
Former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel informed the Cleveland Browns that he's withdrawing from their head-coaching search ahead of a scheduled in-person interview on Wednesday, sources told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. McDaniel is still a candidate for the head-coaching jobs for the Baltimore Ravens and Las Vegas Raiders, and he also has an interview for the Los Angeles Chargers' offensive-coordinator job on Tuesday. He has multiple offensive-coordinator offers and could still land a head-coaching job after the Miami Dolphins fired him at the end of the 2025 season. If McDaniel doesn't get a head-coaching job this cycle, he'll have a couple of intriguing OC offers to choose from, the most attractive of which could be with the Philadelphia Eagles. With McDaniel out of the running in Cleveland, the Browns could be down to Todd Monken, Jesse Minter, Grant Udinski, and Nate Scheelhaase.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
January 20, 2026
It was a solid start to the 2026 season for Harry Hall after finishing T6 last week at Waialae. It was a complete week from a strokes gained perspective, with his +2.13 strokes gained total average being pretty evenly distributed among the four individual metrics. He'll now travel to PGA West to make his fifth career start at the AMEX. His appearance last season was his best outing with a T21 finish. For a player who suffers most from what he does off the tee, this is a course that is prime for his skill set. Hall is a strong candidate to be a part of the action come Sunday. If you took the chance on him last week, there's no reason to turn away from him here.
--Todd McGillSource: Data Golf
January 20, 2026
According to The Athletic's Colton Pouncy, blending new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing's scheme with what the Detroit Lions already do on offense could make tight end
Sam LaPorta an "even bigger priority in the passing game" in 2026. Former tight ends coach and current head coach Dan Campbell already clearly values the position. Before having season-ending back surgery, LaPorta was having a Pro Bowl season, catching 40 of his 49 targets for 489 yards and three touchdowns in nine starts. Petzing spent two seasons as the tight ends coach with the Cleveland Browns, and he prioritized the TE position in Arizona, with
Trey McBride being one of the best players at his position in the NFL. Petzing isn't expected to run as much 12 personnel (two TEs) in Detroit, given the investments made at the position, but LaPorta could be in for a nice bounce-back year in 2026 if he's healthy.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Colton Pouncy
January 20, 2026
New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes (undisclosed) won't play on Tuesday night against the Edmonton Oilers. He was injured in Monday's overtime win against the Calgary Flames. Early reports suggest that Hughes will miss some time, although the team doesn't yet know the full extent of his injury. Hughes has been on track for his third consecutive 40-point campaign in 2025-26, recording five goals and 21 assists in 49 contests. Johnathan Kovacevic is expected to replace Hughes in the lineup on Tuesday night. He has a limited offensive arsenal and isn't a viable fantasy option.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 20, 2026
New England Patriots wide receiver
Stefon Diggs recorded his first touchdown of the postseason in his team's Divisional Round win over the Houston Texans. However, the 32-year-old has posted underwhelming production overall so far this playoffs, hauling in six catches for 56 yards and a score on 11 targets across two games played. Diggs has also remained limited from a playing time perspective, playing 63% of New England's offensive snaps in the Wild Card Round against the Los Angeles Chargers and just 55% of the offensive snaps against Houston. While Diggs should get his chances in the AFC Championship Game, he may continue to struggle with efficiency. Denver finished the regular season ranked second among NFL defenses in yards per pass attempt allowed (6.1). The Broncos might also deploy All-Pro cornerback Pat Surtain II on Diggs, which could be problematic for the veteran wideout. Fantasy managers may want to be cautious with Diggs in the AFC Championship Game.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 20, 2026
Minnesota Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin (lower body) will not play for Team Sweden at the 2026 Olympics, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports. He will miss a fourth consecutive game on Tuesday night against the Montreal Canadiens and won't rejoin the lineup until after the 2026 Olympic Games. It's a bad blow for the Swedes and the Wild. Brodin has made 42 appearances this season, recording 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) and 91 blocks. The Wild defense is currently also without Zach Bogosian (undisclosed), but he could be an option for the team later this week. In the meantime, David Jiricek will eat up minutes on the third defensive pairing with Daemon Hunt.
--Taavi PailkSource: Michael Russo
January 20, 2026
Longtime MLB outfielders
Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones were elected to the baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday. Beltran spent four years on the ballot, and he fell only a few percentage points shy of election last year. He spent 20 years in the majors, making nine All-Star appearances and winning Rookie of the Year. Through 2,586 career games, he slashed .279/.350/.486 with 435 home runs and 312 stolen bases. In addition to being a standout player on the field, the former World Series champion was regarded for his leadership among teammates in the clubhouse. Joining Beltran in the 2026 class is Jones, who won 10 consecutive Gold Glove awards during the peak of his 17-year career. He made five All-Star Games and led all of MLB with 51 home runs in 2005. Over 2,196 big-league games, he slashed .254/.337/.486 with 434 home runs and 67.0 fWAR. Both players will be inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame, alongside Era Committee electee Jeff Kent, on July 26.
--Andersen PickardSource: Jeff Passan
January 20, 2026
It was a delightful end to the season for Rickie Fowler, who racked up T6 and T7 finishes in Memphis and at the BMW Championship before ultimately missing out on the Tour Championship. He caught fire with his irons for those two events, earning an average of +1.105 strokes on approach over those eight rounds. Zooming out further, it was his driver and putter that were the larger overall contributors, averaging +0.680 strokes gained off the tee and +0.498 on the greens over his closing six events. Knowing which player we'll get this week at PGA West is difficult after a four-month shutdown. But chasing after his trending golf game before hanging things up is fool's gold after that length of time. Still, he's a decent flyer option for risky lineups.
--Todd McGillSource: Data Golf
January 20, 2026
New England Patriots rookie running back
TreVeyon Henderson emerged as an electric playmaker during the 2025 regular season. However, the 23-year-old has struggled so far across his first two playoff appearances, recording just 39 scrimmage yards on 23 touches. Henderson has clearly been outplayed so far by fellow Patriots back
Rhamondre Stevenson, who has racked up 209 scrimmage yards on 26 touches so far this postseason. New England has also moved away from Henderson from a playing time perspective, as he's played at least 14 fewer snaps than Stevenson in each of the team's last two contests. Both Patriots backs will face a tough matchup in the AFC Championship Game against the Denver Broncos, who finished the regular season ranked second among NFL defenses in total rushing yards allowed (1,548) and tied for fourth in rushing touchdowns allowed (11). Based on both the matchup and recent usage trends, Henderson profiles as a tough running back for fantasy managers to trust against Denver.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 20, 2026
Montreal Canadiens winger Alexandre Texier (lower body) will miss Tuesday's clash against the Minnesota Wild. The team has ruled him out due to a lower-body injury. Texier is considered day-to-day. The French forward has made a big impact with the Canadiens this season, amassing 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in 27 games. While losing Texier is a blow for Montreal, the team will get Kirby Dach (foot) back into the lineup against Minnesota. He will replace Texier on the first line. Texier's first chance to return will be on Thursday night against the Buffalo Sabres.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 20, 2026
The Washington Nationals have claimed catcher
Mickey Gasper off waivers from the Minnesota Twins, according to an announcement from the organization. In a corresponding move, the Nationals designated right-handed pitcher
Andry Lara for assignment. Gasper was the Yankees' 27th-round pick in 2018, but he made his MLB debut with the Red Sox in 2024 by way of the Rule 5 draft. He spent last season with the Twins, splitting time between the majors and Triple-A. At the big-league level, he posted a disappointing .158/.257/.232 slash line with a 9.1% walk rate, 18.2% strikeout rate, and a 42 wRC+. He produced -3.4 fWAR on defense, making appearances at catcher, first base, second base, and left field. Gasper primarily played behind the dish with Minnesota, but we could see him move around more with the Nats, who already have catchers
Keibert Ruiz and
Riley Adams in the majors. With that being said, Gasper has two option years remaining, so Washington can shuttle him freely between the majors and minors this season. It's not guaranteed that he'll remain on the 40-man roster by Opening Day, but his connection to the Nats' front office is noteworthy. Several members of the Nationals' brain trust, including president of baseball operations Paul Toboni, worked for the Red Sox' front office when Boston acquired Gasper two years ago.
--Andersen PickardSource: Washington Nationals
January 20, 2026
Montreal Canadiens center Kirby Dach (foot) was activated from long-term Injured Reserve and will return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild. Dach has missed over two months due to a broken foot. He was initially expected to miss 4-6 weeks. This season, Dach has been limited to 15 games, producing five goals and two assists. He will be in a great spot to make an immediate impact on Tuesday night, joining forces with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield on the first line. Dach is also expected to be part of the second power-play unit.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
January 20, 2026
Denver Broncos wide receiver
Courtland Sutton posted a modest performance in his team's Divisional Round win over the Buffalo Bills, hauling in four receptions for 53 yards. Sutton functioned as Denver's WR1, earning a team-high nine targets. He could be in line for another sizable target share in the AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots, particularly with fellow Broncos wide receiver
Pat Bryant (concussion) questionable to play after suffering a concussion against the Bills. However, the Denver pass game will be without starting quarterback
Bo Nix (ankle), who will miss the remainder of the postseason after breaking a bone in his ankle late in the game against Buffalo. As a result, Sutton will be catching passes from Broncos backup quarterback
Jarrett Stidham, who has thrown for 1,422 yards, eight touchdowns, and eight interceptions across 20 career NFL games (four starts). While Sutton should remain heavily featured against New England, he may struggle against the tough Patriots defense while working with a backup quarterback.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
RADIO
