April 8, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver
Ja'Marr Chase had a terrific season in 2025 from a fantasy football perspective, ranking as the overall WR4 with 125 catches, 1,412 yards, and eight touchdowns. It was a step back from his overall WR1 finish in 2024, but at least he can still say that he was a top-12 fantasy receiver through each of his first five seasons in the NFL. What made Chase's 2025 stats even more impressive was the fact that he spent more than half of his games without
Joe Burrow, instead catching passes from
Jake Browning and
Joe Flacco. If Browning and Flacco can support a top-five finish, then Burrow will certainly have no trouble doing it, too. The 29-year-old quarterback is healthy once again, which bodes well for Chase's potential to reclaim his spot as the top-scoring receiver in fantasy football.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
April 8, 2026
Dallas Cowboys running back
Javonte Williams had the backfield to himself for most of the 2025 season, and we could see a similar dynamic in 2026. The Cowboys re-signed Williams to keep him in tow as their primary ball-carrier. He's coming off a breakout campaign in which he finished as the overall RB12 with 1,201 rushing yards, 35 catches, 137 receiving yards, and a career-high 13 total touchdowns. That type of production typically earns a big role the following year, and Williams should continue to thrive with consistent volume. It's great news that the Cowboys' lead back faces minimal competition within his position group.
Jaydon Blue, the current favorite to back up Williams, was a healthy scratch more often than not, playing in just five games. The Cowboys have a willingness to get running backs more involved in Year 2 after a patient rookie season, but Blue might need a little more time than that. As a result, Williams' track record as a low-end RB1 is simply too hard to ignore.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
April 8, 2026
Tyrrell Hatton has been up and down on LIV to start the year, with two top-10s and three finishes of T38 or worse through five events. He now turns to The Masters, where he has three top-20 results and two missed cuts in nine starts. His best performances here have come when he gained strokes on approach and around the greens. This year, Hatton is losing -0.27 strokes around the green but gaining +0.29 on approach. He is also in the 84th percentile in proximity from 150-200 yards, a range that accounted for 38.7% of approach shots here last year. Hatton's track record at major tournaments speaks for itself, with 16 top-25 finishes, including seven top-10s, across all his starts. He's a solid floor option who offers a strong chance to make the cut and potential top-10 upside if his short game cooperates.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: DataGolf
April 8, 2026
Through his first three starts this season, Justin Thomas has posted a missed cut, a T8, and most recently, a T30 at the Valspar. He now turns to the Masters, where he has six top-25 finishes, including a fourth place in 2020, with just two missed cuts in 10 trips. His best results at Augusta have coincided with strong putting and approach play, areas where Thomas hasn't found consistency yet this year. He has lost -0.155 strokes per round on approach and -0.023 on the greens, though his around-the-green play has been solid, gaining +0.605. He is also in just the 27th percentile in proximity from 150-200 yards, a range that made up 38.7% of approach shots here last year. When in form, Thomas has everything needed to contend, but after missing time to start this season, he's a high-risk, high-reward option at $8,300 on DraftKings.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
April 8, 2026
Washington Commanders wide receiver
Terry McLaurin continues to face minimal competition for volume ahead of the 2026 season. McLaurin finished last year with 38 catches, 582 yards, and three touchdowns across 10 games. Missing seven weeks hurt his fantasy stock, but he made the most of his opportunities when on the field, especially in a low-volume passing offense. Moving forward, the offensive scheme should be McLaurin's only concern. The next receivers on the Commanders' depth chart are
Van Jefferson,
Treylon Burks, and
Luke McCaffrey, so it's not like McLaurin needs to panic about his job. In fact, managers might see him as a buy-low target in dynasty leagues since the Commanders' revamped passing offense could funnel through him. All in all, he's a high-end WR2 with WR1 upside in redraft leagues, and he could be an intriguing buy-low candidate in dynasty formats, given his bounce-back potential.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
April 8, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback
Justin Herbert is coming off his best fantasy season since 2021, and there's a real chance that he could continue to trend upward going forward. Herbert was the overall QB10 in fantasy football last season, tallying 26 passing touchdowns but throwing 13 interceptions. It was his highest interception since, ironically, that aforementioned 2021 campaign. Managers should be optimistic about the future outlook of the first-round pick, given the state of the offense. For starters, the Chargers hired offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, a potential play-calling mastermind who can maximize the potential of his players. The Chargers also made a concerted effort to bolster their league-worst offensive line. Now, Herbert will have Cole Strange and Tyler Biadasz in front of him, and he should also get star tackles Rashawn Slater (knee) and Joe Alt (ankle) back from injury. The only glaring subtraction is wide receiver
Keenan Allen, but Herbert should still have plenty of reliable targets in
Ladd McConkey,
Quentin Johnston, and
Oronde Gadsden III. With a solidified offense around him, Herbert can be a top-10 fantasy quarterback with top-five upside in 2026 and beyond. He's an intriguing target in dynasty leagues this offseason.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
April 8, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver
Tee Higgins continues to trend up across fantasy football. He posted a career-best WR15 finish in 2025, catching 59 passes for 846 yards and 11 touchdowns. The reception and yardage totals weren't amazing, but his tendency to find the end zone allowed him to solidify himself as a high-end WR1 on a consistent basis. Higgins had such a productive season despite playing without quarterback
Joe Burrow for more than half of his games. As Burrow missed more time due to injury, Higgins was forced to catch passes from a combination of
Jake Browning and
Joe Flacco. It wasn't the greatest quarterback play, but the 27-year-old still contributed, oftentimes bailing out his quarterbacks with spectacular catches down the field. Higgins has proven capable of handling a more versatile route tree, and we're intrigued about his ability to continue posting double-digit targets while seeing a bump in catches and yards with Burrow fully healthy. Given that Higgins has top-12 upside going forward, he's an intriguing offseason trade target in dynasty leagues.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
April 8, 2026
Sungjae Im missed back-to-back cuts since returning from a wrist injury, but has since posted a T4 and a T60. He now turns to The Masters looking to get things rolling. In six starts at Augusta, Im has been boom-or-bust, with three finishes inside the top eight and two missed cuts. His biggest key to success here has been his short game, gaining over 24.1 strokes combined around the green and on the greens in his three best trips, while losing more than -3.4 strokes in his missed cuts. This year, the short game has once again done the heavy lifting, as he has lost strokes across the bag aside from putting and around the green play. Im will clearly need to lean on that strength to contend, but concerns around ball striking and health suggest this could tilt more toward bust than boom.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
April 8, 2026
Nicolai Hojgaard recorded his fourth top-six finish of the season at the Texas Children's Houston Open, ultimately finishing as runner-up. He looks to carry that momentum into The Masters, where his previous results include a T16 and a missed cut. Augusta National demands a fully rounded game, especially strong approach play, distance, and avoiding big mistakes. Hojgaard has excelled in these areas, ranking ninth in total strokes gained (+1.568 per round), 12th on approach (+0.712), ninth in driving distance, and 19th in bogey avoidance. The only concern is his major tournament history, with just three top-25 finishes and eight results of T50 or worse in 12 starts. Still, Hojgaard has rarely been in better form, and at $7,500 on DraftKings, he presents very high upside at this price.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
April 8, 2026
Si Woo Kim continued his strong season at the Valero Texas Open, recording his sixth result of T13 or better through his first nine events. He now turns to The Masters, where he's made seven of eight cuts, with a best finish of T12 in 2021. Augusta rewards elite approach play, distance off the tee, and avoiding big mistakes, areas where Kim has shown some strength. He ranks fourth in strokes gained tee to green (+1.626), third on approach (+0.912), and first in driving accuracy. Despite also sitting ninth in bogey avoidance, the putter has held him back, ranking 132nd, and he lacks elite length at 122nd in driving distance. Kim is also first in proximity from 150-200 yards, a range that accounted for over 38% of approach shots here last year. His elite iron play will always provide high upside here, and as long as he remains disciplined with his aggressive pin-seeking style, Kim presents a very strong option this week.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
April 8, 2026
Chris Gotterup has climbed to 11th in the Official World Golf Ranking with two wins and three other top-20 finishes to start the year. He now makes his Masters tournament debut, where a fully rounded game is key, especially approach play, distance, and avoiding big mistakes. Gotterup ranks 16th in total strokes gained (+1.335), 30th on approach (+0.436), and fourth in driving distance. His putting has been average, sitting 80th overall, and 42nd in three-putt avoidance. Additionally, he sits in the 81st percentile from 150-200 yards, a range that made up nearly 39% of approaches here last year. Although Augusta debuts are tough, Gotterup has the tools to compete, and the putter will likely determine how far he goes.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
April 8, 2026
Since announcing his departure from LIV, Patrick Reed has been crushing it on the DP World Tour, with two victories, a runner-up, and a T10 in his first six events. The 2018 Masters Champion looks to carry that form to Augusta National, where he's finished T4, T12, and third over the last three years. He's been dominating the DP World Tour, ranking first in total strokes gained (+2.40 per round), second on approach (+1.57), and 14th around the green (+0.38). Reed has also figured out how to putt at Augusta, gaining over 3.5 strokes in four of his last six trips. He is well-rounded, playing with confidence, and in fantastic form. Do not be surprised to see Reed near the top of the leaderboard come Sunday.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: DP World Tour
April 7, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies third baseman
Alec Bohm (groin) came out of Monday night's game against the San Francisco Giants with groin tightness, which is why he was out of Tuesday's starting lineup, according to Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Manager Rob Thomson said that Bohm should be fine for Wednesday's contest against the Giants.
Edmundo Sosa got the start at the hot corner on Tuesday in place of Bohm. The 29-year-old Bohm has gotten off to a slow start in 2026 in his seventh year in the majors, going 8-for-39 (.205) with a homer, a double, eight RBI, and three runs scored in 44 plate appearances over 10 games. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Wednesday to see if Bohm is officially back in action for a scheduled matchup against Giants right-hander
Tyler Mahle. If Bohm continues to struggle at the plate this year, the Phillies could decide to call up prospect
Aidan Miller (back) and have him push Bohm for playing time.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Philadelphia Inquirer - Lochlahn March
April 7, 2026
Atlanta Braves catcher
Sean Murphy (hip) is expected to begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday, according to Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Murphy didn't play at all during spring training after having offseason hip surgery, so the 31-year-old veteran's rehab assignment won't be a short one. The Braves also don't have to rush him back with both
Drake Baldwin and
Jonah Heim both fully capable of handling catching duties at the big-league level in the meantime. When Murphy is fully cleared to rejoin the big-league roster, he figures to see plenty of at-bats between catcher and designated hitter, although he could be eased back into action. The former third-rounder by the A's in 2016 out of Wright State has well above-average pop for a catcher, having hit 56 homers from 2021 to 2023. However, he's coming off major hip surgery and has just 26 long balls in the last two seasons while playing fewer than 100 games. Durability has become a major question mark for Murphy.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Chad Bishop
April 7, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays veteran left-hander Patrick Corbin will be recalled from Single-A Dunedin on Wednesday and is tentatively scheduled to start on Friday against the Minnesota Twins, manager John Schneider told Hazel Mae of Sportsnet. In his lone minor-league start with Dunedin over the weekend, the 36-year-old southpaw looked great, allowing an unearned run with nine strikeouts in five innings of work. That was against lower-lever minor-league bats, though, so fantasy managers will want to temper expectations in his first start back in the big leagues, even in a favorable matchup against the Twins. The two-time All-Star has made 30 starts in eight straight seasons, but outside of durability, there's plenty of volatility in his left arm, especially in the tough American League East and in hitter-friendly Rogers Centre. Corbin has not had an ERA below 4.00 since 2019 with the Washington Nationals, and his below-average career strikeout rate will leave him little room for error. However, with
Cody Ponce (knee),
Jose Berrios (elbow),
Shane Bieber (elbow, forearm), and
Trey Yesavage (shoulder) all on the shelf, Corbin could have a runway to stick in the Jays' starting rotation for a while if he pitches well.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sportsnet - Hazel Mae
April 7, 2026
Jon Rahm has been dominant on LIV to begin the year, recording three runner-up finishes, a fifth-place finish, and a win through his first five events. He looks to keep it rolling as he makes his tenth start at Augusta National. The 2023 Masters champion has just one finish outside the top 27 here, which came in 2024 shortly after his move away from the PGA Tour. This season, Rahm leads LIV in total strokes gained (+2.84 per round) and on approach (+1.07), ranks second off the tee (+0.84), and sits fifth in putting (+0.61). He has already proven he can win here, and there may not be a more in-form player in the world right now. Rahm enters as a serious contender to claim his second green jacket.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: DataGolf
April 7, 2026
Boston Bruins center Morgan Geekie scored three goals, but it was not enough to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes as Boston lost 6-5 in overtime on Tuesday. He was on a big goal drought before Tuesday, having not scored a goal since March 5 -- 17 straight contests. Despite this drought, Geekie is having a career year with 37 goals, 66 points, and 22 penalty minutes.
--Marko23Source: NHL.com
April 7, 2026
San Diego Padres right-hander
Joe Musgrove (elbow), who began the 2026 regular season on the 15-day injured list while recovering from Tommy John surgery that he had in 2024, still is not throwing off a mound, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune. "To get major-league hitters out, your (expletive) has got to be good, and you've got to be confident," Musgrove said. "And I just don't have that right now. I'm not far off." The next step will be to get back on a mound, and eventually he'll resume facing hitters before going on a minor-league rehab assignment. The 33-year-old last threw off a mound on March 4 in an exhibition game in spring training against Great Britain, but he was pulled back from his rehab after that after not responding like he wanted to. The Padres are going to slow-play this one given Musgrove's extensive absence, and we might not see Musgrove make his 2026 debut at this rate until June or July.
--Keith HernandezSource: The San Diego Union-Tribune
April 7, 2026
Minnesota Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek scored one goal and added two assists in a 5-2 win over the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday. The Swedish forward has now extended his point streak to four straight games. Ek has 19 goals and 32 assists in 69 games played and is tied for third place on the Wild with 51 points this season.
--Marko23Source: NHL.com
April 7, 2026
Texas Rangers right-hander
Jacob deGrom's (knee) MRI results showed no structural damage in his right knee, according to Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News. It was an old injury that flared up. deGrom is scheduled to throw his normal between-starts bullpen to test it out, but the team isn't expecting him to miss a start. Fantasy managers can breathe a sigh of relief that the oft-injured 37-year-old veteran will avoid a trip to the injured list early in the 2026 season. deGrom was pulled from his start on Monday night against the Seattle Mariners as a precaution when he felt tenderness in his knee. The two-time Cy Young winner is typically a must-start in fantasy, but you may want to think twice about that in his next scheduled outing coming off injury against the defending World Series-champion Los Angeles Dodgers on the road. deGrom has so far allowed four earned runs on seven hits (two homers) while walking one and striking out 13 in 9 2/3 innings over his two starts.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Dallas Morning News - Evan Grant
April 7, 2026
Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher
Gregory Soto delivered a strong outing against the San Diego Padres on Tuesday, pitching a scoreless inning with a strikeout without allowing a baserunner. Across 7 1/3 innings (seven games) so far in 2026, the 31-year-old has allowed just two hits, three walks, and one earned run while recording 13 strikeouts and a save. Soto has yet to establish himself as the full-time closer in Pittsburgh, and with the Pirates holding a one-run lead on Tuesday, he entered the game in the eighth inning. However, Soto's main competition for the ninth-inning role in Pittsburgh might be veteran right-hander
Dennis Santana, who owns just 20 saves and a middling 22.1% strikeout rate for his career. By comparison, Soto has 57 career saves and struck out 25.1% of the batters he faced in 2025. For fantasy managers in need of saves, Soto could be a player worth targeting on the waiver wire.
--Will BradySource: MLB.com
April 7, 2026
New York Mets closer
Devin Williams delivered another scoreless outing in his team's 4-3 extra-inning win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday, allowing two hits but also picking up two strikeouts in one inning of work. The 31-year-old has gotten off to a strong start to his Mets career, as he's thrown five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and two saves across his first five appearances with the team. Williams had a down year in 2025 while pitching for the New York Yankees, posting a 4.79 ERA across 62 innings and losing the closer role by the middle of the season. Still, even amidst his struggles, Williams posted a 34.7% strikeout rate and held opponents to a .196 batting average. Before 2025, Williams had logged three consecutive campaigns with an ERA under 2.00. Early on in 2026, Williams appears to have re-joined the ranks of high-end fantasy closers.
--Will BradySource: MLB.com
April 7, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies catcher
J.T. Realmuto (foot) was forced to exit early from his team's matchup with the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday after being struck by a foul ball and has been diagnosed with a bruised right foot, per Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. While the injury was serious enough to prevent Realmuto from finishing the game, it appears as though the team's initial examination has ruled out broken bones. The 35-year-old catcher is off to a strong start to the 2026 season, hitting .240/.406/.400 with one home run, one RBI, and four runs scored across his first 32 plate appearances. In a small sample size, he's posted a 52.6% hard-hit rate, which would be the best mark of his career. Phillies backup catcher
Rafael Marchan took over for Realmuto against San Francisco and would be the favorite to see the majority of playing time behind the plate for Philadelphia if Realmuto is forced to miss additional time.
--Will BradySource: MLB.com - Todd Zolecki
April 7, 2026
Portland Trail Blazers guard
Shaedon Sharpe (fibula) has been upgraded to doubtful on the injury report before Wednesday's action against the San Antonio Spurs. A stress reaction in his left fibula has kept Sharpe out for two months, but his doubtful designation suggests he could potentially return before the regular season wraps up. The Trail Blazers' next game is Friday against the Clippers, and they will finish things off by hosting Sacramento on Sunday. Sharpe has played very well when healthy this season, averaging a career-high 21.4 points, along with 4.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.4 steals.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
April 7, 2026
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher
Noah Cameron delivered a quality performance in his team's 2-1 loss to the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday, allowing one earned run, one walk, and six hits while striking out five across 5 2/3 innings of work. The 26-year-old is off to a strong start to the 2026 season, as he's allowed just two earned runs and two walks and racked up 10 strikeouts across 10 2/3 innings (two starts). Cameron made his MLB debut for the Royals in 2025 and pitched well, logging a 2.99 ERA and 1.10 WHIP across 138 1/3 innings. Still, he posted a subpar 20.5% strikeout rate, and his 84% strand rate made him a prime regression candidate. Thus far in 2026, Cameron has backed up his rookie season production, albeit in a small sample size. His next start is scheduled for Sunday against the Chicago White Sox, so fantasy managers in leagues with weekly pickups will get another chance to see Cameron before he hits the waiver wire.
--Will BradySource: MLB.com
April 7, 2026
New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, who is unhappy with his current contract and has demanded a trade, is expected to demand $30 million annually, a source told Connor Hughes of SNY. The Giants gave Lawrence a four-year, $90 million extension in 2023 that made him one of the five highest-paid defensive tackles in the league. But at $20 million per year, he's now the 12th-highest-paid interior defensive lineman. The decline in Lawrence's production in 2025 (only half a sack) will likely prevent him from resetting the market at the position, but he's still going to ask for plenty. Another front-office source could see Lawrence demanding as much as $35 million a year on a new deal because of the salary cap increase this year. Most external sources expect the two sides to work something out, possibly before the NFL draft starts on April 23, but head coach John Harbaugh also said that "no one is untradable."
--Keith HernandezSource: SNY - Connor Hughes
April 7, 2026
San Antonio Spurs guard
Stephon Castle (knee) is unlikely to play on Wednesday against the Portland Trail Blazers, as the team has listed him as doubtful on the injury report. Castle bagged a triple-double in Monday's win over Philadelphia, but he also hurt his right knee in the contest.
Dylan Harper would get a big boost from Castle's absence on Wednesday.
Victor Wembanyama (ribs) is also considered doubtful, so players like Harper,
De'Aaron Fox,
Devin Vassell, and
Keldon Johnson could be a lot more involved in the offense.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
April 7, 2026
The Houston Texans acquired linebacker Marte Mapu from the New England Patriots on Tuesday, a source told Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. The two teams are also swapping late-round picks in the 2027 NFL draft. Mapu will head to the AFC South division after spending his first three years of his NFL career in New England, totaling 89 tackles (53 solo), half a sack, three interceptions, 12 pass breakups, and five forced fumbles in 44 games (10 starts). The 26-year-old former third-rounder in 2023 out of Sacramento State had 25 tackles (18 solo), one interception, five pass breakups, and a forced fumble in 17 regular-season games (zero starts) in 2025. Mapu will most likely fill a role on special teams in Houston and can be ignored in IDP fantasy football leagues in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: Houston Chronicle - Jonathan M. Alexander
April 7, 2026
Kansas City Royals catcher
Carter Jensen was the lone offensive bright spot in his team's 2-1 loss to the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday, as he went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run. The 22-year-old has now gone deep in back-to-back games and has three home runs in 31 plate appearances this season. Jensen also owns an impressive 53.3% hard-hit rate, backing up the 58.3% hard-hit rate he posted across a 60-plate appearance sample size in 2025. Perhaps most importantly, Jensen could be working his way towards everyday playing time in Kansas City. The presence of veteran Royals catcher
Salvador Perez blocks Jensen from the full-time starting role behind the plate, but the Royals should have enough at-bats available at designated hitter to give both players regular playing time. Jensen will be a popular waiver-wire target across all formats if he can continue his recent hot streak at the plate.
--Will BradySource: MLB.com
April 7, 2026
Los Angeles Lakers center
Jaxson Hayes (foot) won't play on Tuesday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Lakers have lost another body from the rotation, as Hayes popped up on the injury report an hour before tip-off. The big man is experiencing soreness in his left foot. With Hayes unavailable, starting center
Deandre Ayton could be in for a very busy night.
Maxi Kleber and
Drew Timme will get an opportunity to log more minutes off the bench.
Jarred Vanderbilt and
Rui Hachimura could also see some time at center. Unfortunately for Ayton & Co., this is a brutal matchup against a team that allows the fewest points per game to centers this season.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
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