January 9, 2026
Dallas Mavericks point guard
Brandon Williams (illness) won't be available on Saturday against the Chicago Bulls. An illness limited Williams to nine minutes on Thursday against the Utah Jazz, and he will now sit out the entire game on Saturday to give his body a chance to recover. With Williams out,
Ryan Nembhard and
Klay Thompson are likely to be more involved in the rotation on Saturday night. Thompson matched his season high with 23 points on Thursday, entering the weekend with positive momentum.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 9, 2026
The Denver Broncos coaching staff talked up tight end
Evan Engram during training camp, but he didn't end up making a huge impact on offense in his first year in Denver. Engram finished the regular season with 50 catches on 76 targets for 461 yards and only one touchdown, although he did stay healthy and play in 16 games. His limited usage on offense in 2025 merely makes him a TE sleeper in fantasy football playoff leagues when the Broncos begin their playoff run in the Divisional Round. The 31-year-old veteran did see exactly four targets in the final three regular-season games, but it amounted to 102 total yards and no touchdowns. The Broncos are going to need Engram to step up and produce more in the passing attack if they are going to make a run to the Super Bowl. Engram was the TE29 in half-PPR points this year, averaging only 4.9 points per game.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 9, 2026
Dallas Mavericks forward
P.J. Washington (ankle) will be absent for a third consecutive game on Saturday against the Chicago Bulls. He has landed on the shelf with a right ankle sprain and will get his next opportunity to return on Monday night in a meeting with the Brooklyn Nets.
Naji Marshall is likely to keep his starting spot on Saturday and deserves fantasy attention. He is averaging 16.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.1 steals in a starting role this campaign.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 9, 2026
Los Angeles Lakers forward
LeBron James (foot/sciatica) will play on Friday night against the Milwaukee Bucks. The NBA's all-time leading scorer has received a couple of upgrades throughout the day and has now officially been listed as available for the game. James will return from a one-game absence, and as a result,
Jarred Vanderbilt must likely settle for a bench role on Friday night.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 9, 2026
Indiana Pacers guard
Andrew Nembhard (back) is in danger of missing a second consecutive game, as the team listed him as questionable for Saturday's game against the Miami Heat. Nembhard couldn't play on Thursday versus the Charlotte Hornets due to a sore lower back.
Quenton Jackson started in his place, while
T.J. McConnell and
Ben Sheppard saw more action off the bench. McConnell had by far the best game of the trio, producing 23 points with four rebounds, eight assists, and four steals. If Nembhard remains out on Saturday, McConnell will be an appealing fantasy target in a matchup against a team that gives up the fifth-most fantasy points to point guards.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 9, 2026
Utah Jazz center
Jusuf Nurkic (toe) is considered questionable for a meeting with the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday. The Bosnian big man could miss a second consecutive game with a toe injury.
Kevin Love, who had 10 points and 10 rebounds in Thursday's win over the Dallas Mavericks, is looking at a second straight start if Nurkic isn't healthy enough to return.
Kyle Filipowski would also have a more meaningful role to play, especially with
Lauri Markkanen (rest) out of the lineup.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 9, 2026
Denver Broncos rookie wide receiver
Pat Bryant suffered a scary concussion in the Week 16 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars and didn't play in Week 17. Bryant returned in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Los Angeles Chargers, though, to catch four of his five targets for 31 yards. Although the first-year player out of Illinois wasn't in the top 50 receivers in half-PPR points per game during the regular season, he did have a pretty solid first year in the NFL, with 31 catches, 378 yards, and one touchdown on 49 targets in 15 games (seven starts). Bryant was more involved in the second half, too, being targeted at least five times in four of his last five games. Still, he averaged 2.1 receptions and 25.2 yards per game in a Broncos offense that spread the ball around in the passing game in 2025. Without knowing who the Broncos will face yet in the Divisional Round, Bryant is setting up as a low-floor, low-ceiling WR3/flex in fantasy playoff leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 9, 2026
Charlotte Hornets center
Ryan Kalkbrenner (elbow) is listed as probable for Saturday's contest against the Utah Jazz. This is a sign that the rookie big man is ready to end a 10-game absence. He departed the lineup before the holidays due to a left elbow sprain. Kalkbrenner's return would mark the end of
Moussa Diabate's run as a starter. Meanwhile,
PJ Hall could fall out of the rotation. Kalkbrenner has chosen a good spot for his return, as Utah has some of the weakest defensive numbers in the league against opposing centers.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 9, 2026
Denver Nuggets guard/forward
Bruce Brown (knee) has been upgraded from questionable to available for Friday's encounter with the Atlanta Hawks. The veteran swingman is ready to play despite dealing with inflammation in his right knee. Brown had a busy night as a starter on Monday against the Philadelphia 76ers, but he will come off the bench on Friday night, limiting his fantasy appeal.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 9, 2026
Denver Nuggets forward/center
Aaron Gordon (hamstring) is active against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday. Denver upgraded his status from probable to available ahead of tip-off. Gordon has averaged 16.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 22.5 minutes since returning from a hamstring injury. He has been used off the bench since his comeback, and Gordon will remain part of the second unit on Friday night.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 9, 2026
Denver Nuggets guard/forward
Christian Braun (ankle) will suit up for Friday's clash against the Atlanta Hawks. The team upgraded Braun's status from probable to available. This will be Braun's third game since his return from an ankle injury. His first couple of efforts since the injury have been underwhelming, as the 24-year-old has averaged 4.0 points and 3.5 rebounds. On Friday, Braun could have a more prominent role on offense, with
Jamal Murray (ankle, illness) joining
Nikola Jokic (knee) on the shelf.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 9, 2026
Denver Nuggets guard/forward
Spencer Jones (ankle, illness) will not play on Friday night against the Atlanta Hawks. He's dealing with inflammation in his right ankle and an illness. Jones has been a regular starter for Denver since late November. The team has several options to replace him in the starting unit, including
Aaron Gordon,
Tim Hardaway Jr., and
Bruce Brown (knee), who has shaken off a questionable tag.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 9, 2026
Denver Broncos wide receiver
Marvin Mims Jr. had a disappointing third year in the NFL, catching 37 of 51 targets for a career-low 322 yards and only one touchdown in 15 regular-season games. He added 12 rushing attempts for 78 yards and one touchdown. Last year, he caught only two more passes, but he went for 503 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 17 games. Mims, known as a big-play receiver, had just 8.7 yards per reception and 21.5 yards per game. He was a victim of quarterback
Bo Nix spreading the ball around in 2025, and the emergence of both
Troy Franklin and rookie
Pat Bryant as receiving threats behind WR1
Courtland Sutton. Mims' only receiving score of the year came way back on Sept. 14, and he eclipsed 50 receiving yards just two times all year. Regardless of who Denver faces in the Divisional Round of the postseason, Mims will be a low-upside WR3/flex option for fantasy managers in playoff leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 9, 2026
Denver Nuggets point guard
Jamal Murray (ankle, illness) has been ruled out for Friday's matchup against the Atlanta Hawks. The star guard was initially on the injury report as probable with a left ankle injury. However, he was downgraded to questionable earlier in the day due to illness, and the team has now ruled him out.
Jalen Pickett recently had a big game against the Philadelphia 76ers as Murray's replacement in the starting unit, and he will likely play a larger role again on Friday night.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 9, 2026
Minnesota Timberwolves power forward
Julius Randle (thumb) is considered questionable for Saturday's meeting with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The veteran is dealing with a sore thumb on his shooting hand. If he can't shake off the injury, Randle would be out for the first time this campaign. There is also a question mark hanging over
Anthony Edwards (foot), so Minnesota's attack could have a completely different look on Saturday. Randle's departure from the lineup would likely mean larger roles for
Naz Reid and
Jaylen Clark.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 9, 2026
Denver Broncos running back
Jaleel McLaughlin was only active for eight games in 2025 and didn't make his season debut until Week 6. It wasn't until after
J.K. Dobbins suffered a season-ending Lisfranc foot injury that McLaughlin started to really become a factor in Denver's backfield in Week 11. The 25-year-old finished his third year in the NFL with a career-low 37 carries for 187 yards (5.1 yards per tote) and one touchdown, adding four catches for 27 yards. Head coach Sean Payton continues to say that he'd like to get McLaughlin more work, but it has been rookie
RJ Harvey who has been the Broncos' clear lead back. To close out the regular season, McLaughlin had 13 carries for 81 yards on the ground while adding a 17-yard catch in two wins against the Chiefs and Chargers. The Broncos have a bye in the Wild-Card round of the playoffs this weekend, but at best, McLaughlin will be a touchdown-dependent RB3/flex option in playoff leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
January 9, 2026
Atlanta Hawks forward
Zaccharie Risacher (knee) won't play on Friday night against the Denver Nuggets. The team downgraded the French youngster from questionable to out, resulting in Risacher's fourth absence of the season. This opens the door for
Vit Krejci and
Luke Kennard to see increased minutes, with Kennard the more appealing fantasy option given his five-game double-digit scoring run.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 9, 2026
Atlanta Hawks forward/center
Kristaps Porzingis (Achilles) won't play on Friday night against the Denver Nuggets. The team has ruled him out after Porzingis was a late addition to the injury report due to a sore left Achilles. His exit from the lineup opens up additional minutes for
Mouhamed Gueye, who will operate as the backup center behind
Onyeka Okongwu. With no
Nikola Jokic (knee) for the Nuggets, it could be a field day for Atlanta's centers inside the paint.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 9, 2026
Utah Jazz forward
Lauri Markkanen (rest) won't play on Saturday against the Charlotte Hornets. The former All-Star has logged 40-plus minutes in three of the last four games, and the team has decided to give him some rest on Saturday. Without Markkanen,
Kyle Filipowski,
Cody Williams, and
Taylor Hendricks all have more playing opportunities. Filipowski has the best fantasy upside among them, but his inconsistency is a concern. On Saturday, Filipowski may also benefit from
Jusuf Nurkic's (toe) absence, as he is listed as questionable on the injury report.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 9, 2026
Detroit Pistons center
Jalen Duren (ankle) has been ruled out for Saturday's contest against the Los Angeles Clippers. He continues to nurse a right ankle sprain sustained during New Year's Day's game against the Miami Heat.
Isaiah Stewart's workload has significantly increased during Duren's absence. After initially struggling as a starter, Stewart finally came through for fantasy managers on Wednesday against the Chicago Bulls. The 24-year-old scored a career-high 31 points on 14-for-17 shooting. Stewart has a good chance to do more damage on Saturday against one of the league's weakest defensive squads.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 9, 2026
Oklahoma City Thunder forward
Alex Caruso (back) is available to play Friday night against the Memphis Grizzlies. Caruso has missed the last two games with a back injury but is set to return Friday. The veteran has averaged 6,9 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 18 minutes, all down from his 2024-25 averages. With key starters
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and
Chet Holmgren (shin) ruled out for Friday's contest against the Grizzlies, Caruso may have a larger role despite playing his first game this week. While he could play more minutes than usual, Caruso remains on the low end of fantasy relevance at this point.
--Nathan HarveySource: Clemente Almanza
January 9, 2026
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn and former offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury didn't share the same offensive vision for the future, multiple team and league sources told ESPN's John Keim. According to these sources, Quinn "wanted a different offensive identity" and spoke with his staff about "wanting a better run-pass balance." The Commanders finished ninth in number of rushes, but they ranked 25th in carries by running backs in 2025. Quarterback
Jayden Daniels developed a special relationship with Kingsbury, but he also has a strong relationship with former QBs coach
David Blough, who has been promoted to take Kingsbury's job. It was a disappointing 2025 for the entire organization, but perhaps more so for Daniels, who was limited to seven games with three different injuries. Washington's offense will seek more balance under Blough next year, but if Daniels is going to bounce back to how he played in his impressive rookie campaign, he's going to need to get healthy first.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - John Keim
January 9, 2026
Detroit Pistons point guard
Cade Cunningham (wrist) is questionable for Saturday's matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers. He missed his fourth game of the season on Wednesday night against the Chicago Bulls due to a wrist injury. In Cunningham's absence,
Jaden Ivey started the game, while
Daniss Jenkins stood out with a career-high 15 assists off the bench. Both guards will have additional fantasy value again on Saturday if Cunningham remains out of the lineup.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 9, 2026
Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward
Anthony Edwards (foot) is listed as questionable for Saturday's clash against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Even though he's been listed as questionable for a number of games recently due to a right foot injury, the Timberwolves star has managed to stay in the lineup. He also went head-to-head with the Cavaliers on Thursday, producing 25 points, seven rebounds, nine assists, one steal, and one block.
Bones Hyland would probably assume a more prominent role if Edwards takes some time off because of his injury.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 9, 2026
The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala reports that former NFL quarterback
David Blough is taking over as the Washington Commanders' offensive coordinator. Blough was a practice-squad QB for the Detroit Lions just two years ago, but he quickly transitioned to coaching as Washington's assistant quarterbacks coach and helped fill in when QBs coach Tavita Pritchard left for Stanford. Blough is a quick riser and a bright offensive talent, but he'll have big shoes to fill in his new role in D.C. after Kliff Kingsbury mutually agreed to part ways with the organization to pursue another head-coaching job. He has worked closely with young QB
Jayden Daniels and will need to continue to develop his relationship with him as Daniels heads into his third NFL season. During his playing career, Blough played for Kingsbury, Bears head coach Ben Johnson, and Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Nicki Jhabvala
January 9, 2026
The Los Angeles Dodgers have claimed infielder
Ryan Fitzgerald off waivers from the Minnesota Twins. Fitzgerald made his MLB debut with the Twins last summer. Through his first 24 games in the big leagues, Fitzgerald posted a .196/.302/.457 line with four home runs and one stolen base. He showed a strong eye at the plate, drawing walks at an elite 13.2% rate and striking out at a 15.2% rate. While he only swiped one bag, Fitzgerald showed above-average speed, placing in the 79th percentile in sprint speed. Through 59 games in Triple-A St. Paul last season, Fitzgerald posted a .277/.367/.469 line with 16 doubles, seven round-trippers, and five stolen bases. Managers should expect Fitzgerald to compete for a depth role on the MLB roster during Spring Training.
--Andy SmithSource: Alden Gonzalez
January 9, 2026
Memphis Grizzlies rookie guard
Cedric Coward (ankle) is listed as available to play Friday against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Coward has missed the previous two games with a left ankle sprain but is off the injury report and will return Friday. The rookie has been a lone bright spot for the Grizzlies this season, averaging 13.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in just under 27 minutes per game. With
Ja Morant (calf) and other key Memphis players ruled out Friday, Coward may have to step up despite missing the past two games. The ninth-overall pick should be in fantasy lineups tonight as the Grizzlies face a beat-up Thunder team.
--Nathan HarveySource: Memphis Grizzlies
January 9, 2026
Portland Trail Blazers guard
Jrue Holiday (calf) will remain on the shelf for Friday's tilt against the Houston Rockets. The team has downgraded Holiday on the injury report from doubtful to out. The veteran guard will miss his 27th straight game due to a right calf strain. Although Holiday will sit out again on Friday, he seems to be moving in the right direction. He was cleared for on-court activities last week and hadn't been listed as doubtful before. With Holiday sidelined,
Caleb Love will continue to have additional fantasy value on Friday night. He has notched 15.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game since the turn of the year.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 9, 2026
Memphis Grizzlies forward
John Konchar (thumb) has been ruled out for Friday's contest against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Konchar suffered a thumb injury that required surgery in early December. Although he was not quite ready to play on Friday, he should return soon. The seventh-year veteran has averaged 3.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 13 minutes per game. With Konchar and multiple key players for the Grizzlies out, expect
Cam Spencer and
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to see an uptick in minutes against the defending champions. Konchar will look to return to the lineup on Sunday when Memphis faces off against the Brooklyn Nets.
--Nathan HarveySource: Memphis Grizzlies
January 9, 2026
Los Angeles Lakers forward
Rui Hachimura (calf) will miss a sixth consecutive game on Friday against the Milwaukee Bucks. Although Hachimura was first listed as questionable and seemed close to returning, his status has now been downgraded to out.
Jake LaRavia has offered good fantasy value as Hachimura's replacement in the starting lineup. The Wake Forest product has averaged 15.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.0 steals over the past five games.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
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