April 3, 2026
Sacramento Kings guard
Malik Monk (personal) has been listed as out for Friday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans. On the initial injury report, Monk was listed as questionable due to a right shoulder injury that has been bothering him lately. However, he has been ultimately ruled out for Friday's game for personal reasons.
Devin Carter,
Killian Hayes, and
Daeqwon Plowden may all receive more playing time due to Monk's absence. His exit from the lineup also creates more offensive opportunities for
Nique Clifford, though he has gone cold recently.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
April 3, 2026
Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward
Anthony Edwards (knee, illness) will play on Friday against the Philadelphia 76ers. Edwards returned from a knee issue at the start of the week, but he has been battling an illness and didn't play on Thursday night against Detroit. His absence against the Pistons means that Edwards isn't eligible for any postseason awards now because he won't be able to reach the 65-game minimum threshold. This may be a motivating factor for him in Friday's game.
Mike Conley will relinquish his starting spot to Edwards, while
Ayo Dosunmu and
Bones Hyland will also have smaller roles.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
April 3, 2026
New Orleans Pelicans guard
Dejounte Murray (Achilles) will sit out the second leg of a back-to-back on Friday night against the Sacramento Kings. He hasn't yet played in both games of a back-to-back set since returning from a torn Achilles in February.
Jeremiah Fears, who scored 21 points in 26 minutes off the bench on Thursday against Portland, is expected to have a larger role without Murray. There's also a possibility that we will see
Jordan Poole back in the rotation on Friday night.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
April 3, 2026
Denver Nuggets forward
Peyton Watson (hamstring) is considered week-to-week, Bennett Durando of The Denver Post reports. Watson suffered a new hamstring injury in Wednesday's win over Utah. He returned from a right hamstring strain just two weeks ago. The 23-year-old looked good in his first few games back, but unfortunately, Watson re-injured his right hamstring on Wednesday night.
Julian Strawther could now have a bigger role off the bench during the final few regular-season games, while starting forwards
Aaron Gordon and
Cameron Johnson may also see an uptick in minutes.
--Taavi PailkSource: Bennett Durando
April 3, 2026
Golden State Warriors point guard
Stephen Curry (knee) is expected to rejoin the lineup on Sunday against the Houston Rockets, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. The two-time MVP has sat out 27 games due to a right knee problem. Curry has been scrimmaging this week, with Warriors head coach Steve Kerr saying that he has "looked good." Given he hasn't played since Jan. 30, it's likely Curry will have a minutes restriction when he returns to the court. Curry's return will impact the offensive roles of
Gui Santos and
Brandin Podziemski, while
Pat Spencer and LJ Cryer will see a decrease in playing time.
--Taavi PailkSource: Shams Charania
April 3, 2026
Chicago Cubs right-handed pitcher
Cade Horton (forearm) exited Friday's start with forearm tightness, according to Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports. Horton removed himself from Friday's contest in the second inning after experiencing pain in his right forearm. Before exiting, Horton logged one inning of work with one walk, no hits, and no runs. In his season debut, Horton tossed 6 1/3 innings of two-run ball with four hits and four punchouts en route to picking up the victory over the Washington Nationals. Fantasy managers should continue to keep a close eye on his stats, as the team will likely provide an update after Friday's contest. With Horton potentially in danger of missing time on the bump, managers should expect
Colin Rea or
Ben Brown to compete for opportunities in the rotation.
--Andy SmithSource: Taylor McGregor
April 3, 2026
The Kansas City Royals announced on Friday that they placed left-hander
Bailey Falter (elbow) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to April 2) with left-elbow inflammation and recalled right-hander
Luinder Avila from Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move. It could help explain why Falter allowed three runs in just one-third of an inning during his outing in relief against the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday. He's allowed five earned runs on eight hits (one homer) while walking two and striking out four in just 3 1/3 innings in his first two appearances out of KC's bullpen in 2026. It's unclear if Falter will be eligible to return from the IL when he's eligible in mid-April. The 28-year-old southpaw isn't much to look at for fantasy baseball purposes, even if he were to rejoin the Royals' starting rotation at some point this year. Falter finished in the bottom 20th percentile in 2025 in whiff rate, strikeout rate, xERA, xBA, and ground-ball rate.
--Keith HernandezSource: Kansas City Royals
April 3, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies reliever
Orion Kerkering (hamstring) will make one more appearance at Triple-A Lehigh Valley this Saturday and is expected to rejoin the club during their series in San Francisco that starts on Monday, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic. The right-hander could be activated either Monday or Tuesday. The 24-year-old is working his way back from a hamstring strain that limited him to just one inning pitched during Grapefruit League action. The 6-foot-2 hurler had a decent 3.30 ERA last season for the Phils, but a 10.2 percent walk rate caused an inflated 1.37 WHIP and a depressed 14.3 percent K-BB%, compared to a 22.2 percent K-BB% in 2024. He's probably good for a strikeout per inning, so if he returns to 2024 form, the former fifth-rounder could be a ratio-booster for fantasy; otherwise, his value really lies in leagues where holds are rewarded, as he collected 19 of those last season for Philadelphia, along with four saves.
--Jarod RuppSource: Matt Gelb
April 3, 2026
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher
Zach Eflin (elbow) is seeking a second opinion on his right elbow and will fly to Dallas to consult Dr. Keith Meister, per Jake Rill of MLB.com. Eflin was removed from his first start of the season with elbow discomfort, and apparently, the results of initial tests were not encouraging. The veteran has been placed on the 15-day injured list, but fantasy managers will want to plan accordingly in the event this turns into a longer-term injury. The O's could turn to
Dean Kremer at Triple-A Norfolk to fill his spot in the rotation, who pitched 171 2/3 innings for Baltimore last season and won 11 games, although a 4.19 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 13.7 percent K-BB% aren't very appealing for fantasy purposes.
--Jarod RuppSource: Jake Rill
April 3, 2026
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher
Ryan Pepiot (hip) is throwing a bullpen session on Friday as he continues to work his way back from right hip inflammation that sidelined him to begin the season. The right-hander is eligible to come off the injured list on Monday when the team has its first home game of the season against the Cubs, and the 28-year-old could make his season debut for that start, assuming he does not encounter any setbacks. The former third-round draft pick pitched well for the Rays in 2025, posting a 3.86 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and a 15.6 percent K-BB% in 31 starts (167 2/3 innings). The 6-foot-3 hurler looked good in spring action, too, yielding just one earned run in 10 innings of work while recording seven strikeouts, although nine walks were something to keep an eye on.
--Jarod RuppSource: Ryan Bass
April 3, 2026
Los Angeles Rams running back
Kyren Williams had another terrific season in 2025, ranking as a top-10 fantasy running back for the third year in a row. He contributed over 1,500 scrimmage yards and 13 touchdowns, and he also appeared in all 17 games for the first time in his four-year career. Williams has cemented himself as the lead running back in Los Angeles. While the Rams did get
Blake Corum more involved last year, that exercise was more intended to manage Williams' workload so he stayed healthy for the full year. There's no threat of Corum stealing his job. This level of RB1 consistency is rare in fantasy football, and it could point to Williams being a top-five running back in the future. Yet, he is currently being drafted at an ADP of 54 in dynasty startups, which ranks him as the RB18 in dynasty formats. Therein lies a terrific opportunity for dynasty managers to buy low on Williams. If he's valued as the 18th-best running back but has consistently ranked within the top 10, then most managers should be pouncing at the opportunity to buy low on Williams this offseason.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
April 3, 2026
Washington Commanders tight end
Ben Sinnott patiently waited behind
Zach Ertz throughout his first two years in the NFL. Even though Ertz is now a free agent, Sinnott isn't going to get his opportunity to break out quite yet. The Commanders signed
Chig Okonkwo to be their No. 1 tight end last month, leaving Sinnott as a minimal receiving threat in the No. 2 role. As the No. 2 tight end last year, Sinnott was held to just 11 catches, 114 yards, and one touchdown -- and most of that production came after Ertz went down with a torn ACL. Sinnott lacks standalone value behind Okonkwo and might not even get onto the fantasy radar if Okonkwo misses time. Managers are starting to get pessimistic that Sinnott will ever amount to anything in fantasy football, despite him being a second-round draft pick. There could be a glimmer of hope for dynasty managers if Sinnott ends up on a different team, but he's not projected to hit free agency until after the 2027 season.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
April 3, 2026
Seattle Seahawks quarterback
Sam Darnold has been a top-13 fantasy option in each of the last two seasons. In 2025, the Super Bowl champion racked up 4,048 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. Darnold has not missed a game in back-to-back seasons (2024 with the Vikings and 2025 with the Seahawks). In fantasy football, he has benefited from the presence of
Justin Jefferson or
Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the last two years, respectively. Under contract through 2027, Darnold will now have at least two more years of Smith-Njigba at his disposal, keeping him in the low-end QB1 or high-end QB2 range. Most dynasty managers will find themselves in a position to hold Darnold this offseason. Selling high is an option, but the lack of name value or rushing upside will probably result in trade offers that don't quite live up to his value. Therefore, he's worth holding, since he still offers low-end QB1 appeal even if other managers won't offer QB1 value in trades.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
April 3, 2026
Cleveland Browns wide receiver
Jerry Jeudy is coming off a frustrating 2025 season in which he caught just 50 passes for 602 yards and two touchdowns. Despite being healthy for all 17 games as the Browns' No. 1 receiver, he finished as just the WR52 in PPR leagues. Part of the blame can be attributed to the poor quarterback play of
Shedeur Sanders and
Dillon Gabriel, but we still would have expected Jeudy to see enough volume to consistently get on the fantasy radar. This is nothing new for Jeudy, unfortunately. The former first-round pick has ranked as the WR47 or lower in five of his NFL seasons. He has just two top-45 finishes. We can expect more of the same in 2026 as Jeudy returns to an offense led by either Sanders or
Deshaun Watson. Managers can't justify dropping him in dynasty leagues as long as he's the Browns' No. 1 receiver, but he's certainly not worth starting in fantasy lineups. He's worth holding for now in hopes that you can trade him after a flukey big week.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
April 3, 2026
Houston Astros closer
Josh Hader (biceps) touched 90 mph in his latest bullpen session, something the 31-year-old said he's never done before in a bullpen. It's definitely an encouraging sign as the southpaw works his way back from a bicep injury. The Astros are taking it slow with him, but the 6-foot-3 hurler remains on track for a return sometime in May. Although he dealt with a shoulder injury last season, he was his usual dominant self when he was on the mound, pitching to a 2.05 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, and a 29.1 percent K-BB% while notching 28 saves for Houston in 52 2/3 innings pitched. The veteran should be stashed away in all leagues until his return. In the meantime, the six-time All-Star's replacement has been
Bryan Abreu, who has been shaky at best, allowing at least one run in each of his three appearances thus far, with a 2.57 WHIP, although he does have six strikeouts in just 2 1/3 IP.
--Jarod RuppSource: Luis Ortiz
April 3, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback
Justin Fields can be a temporary solution for the team and fantasy managers as
Patrick Mahomes (knee) recovers from his ACL tear. Fields was solid through nine games with the New York Jets last season, amassing 11 total touchdowns, one interception, and three lost fumbles. As the Jets moved on to
Geno Smith as their quarterback, it was clear that they had no place for Fields. Thus, he was dealt to Kansas City, where he might start Week 1 if Mahomes isn't cleared to play. Fields' rushing upside should be put to good use in a Chiefs offense led by Andy Reid and Eric Bieniemy. Bieniemy was the offensive coordinator behind Mahomes' 358 rushing yards in 2022 and
Sam Howell's 263 rushing yards in 2023. Over those two seasons, Mahomes and Howell combined for nine rushing touchdowns. Fields isn't a full-season option in fantasy football, but he has QB1 upside for the first few weeks if Mahomes isn't ready. He's worth a late-round pick for managers who wait until the later rounds to select their primary quarterback.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
April 3, 2026
Chicago White Sox catcher
Kyle Teel (hamstring) had a positive report on his right-hamstring injury, according to Scott Merking of MLB.com. "I feel much better this week, honestly. It's going well. I would say that, like I still don't know exactly when on the timeline I'll be back," Teel said. "From the way I've been feeling, it's been a steady incline. From what everyone who has hamstring injuries tells me, there's going to be a day where it just feels really, really good. That's when you make that big jump. I feel like I'm coming up on that day really soon." The 24-year-old backstop was diagnosed with a Grade 2 right-hamstring strain in mid-March in spring training while playing for Team Italy during the World Baseball Classic, which is why he's on the shelf to begin the 2026 regular season. When healthy, Teel is expected to be Chicago's primary catcher. Until then,
Edgar Quero and
Reese McGuire will continue to split the catching duties for the Pale Hose.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Scott Merkin
April 3, 2026
FOX 19's Charlie Goldsmith reports that Cincinnati Reds left-hander
Nick Lodolo (finger) will meet the team on their road trip in Texas, at which point they will discuss his blister issues and the next step in his rehab. Lodolo started the 2026 regular season on the 15-day injured list with a blister on his left index finger, and he had to leave his minor-league rehab start early with Single-A Dayton in the third inning on Tuesday. Because of the setback, the 28-year-old southpaw will have a longer stay on the IL to begin the season. The good news is that Lodolo struck out four of the eight batters he faced in his rehab outing on Tuesday, throwing 40 pitches in the process. Depending on how Lodolo's finger recovers, he could still have a chance to make his season debut for the Reds before the end of April. Because of his strikeout upside, Lodolo should be stashed in all fantasy formats while he recovers.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX 19 - Charlie Goldsmith
April 3, 2026
The Colorado Rockies activated outfielder
Mickey Moniak (finger) from the 10-day injured list on Friday, and he will hit third in the team's home opener at Coors Field against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies and right-hander
Aaron Nola, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Moniak is hitting third in the batting order. The 27-year-old will be making his 2026 season debut after suffering a right ring finger sprain just before the start of the regular season. The former first overall pick by the Phillies in 2016 had a breakout season in 2025 with the Rockies, slashing .270/.306/.518 with an .824 OPS, 24 home runs, 68 RBI, 62 runs scored, and nine stolen bases in 461 plate appearances over 135 games played. He definitely receives a boost in hitter-friendly Coors Field in the high altitude in Denver, and he should be a lineup regular for Colorado against right-handed pitchers. Moniak has never faced Nola in his six-year major-league career.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Matt Gelb
April 3, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays right-handed pitching prospect
Trey Yesavage (shoulder) is scheduled to throw three innings for Single-A Dunedin on Friday, according to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet. Manager John Schneider estimated that Yesavage would be back in the majors first, followed by right-handers
Jose Berrios (elbow) and
Shane Bieber (elbow, forearm). The Blue Jays proceeded cautiously with the 22-year-old in spring training after he made a quick rise all the way to the big leagues at the tail end of last season. He put his high-end arsenal on display in the postseason, too, even striking out 12 Los Angeles Dodgers batters in the World Series. Yesavage didn't pitch in any Grapefruit League games before being shut down with a right-shoulder impingement that isn't considered serious. Barring a setback, he should be ready to rejoin the Jays' rotation before the end of April, but his fantasy upside will likely be limited initially as Toronto eases him back and limits his innings.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sportsnet.ca - Ben Nicholson-Smith
April 3, 2026
Washington Nationals outfielder
James Wood admitted that he dealt with nagging knee and quadriceps injuries in 2025, which helps explain why he cooled off so much in the second half, according to Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic. Wood initially dealt with left-quad tendinitis in spring training last year before recovering and playing well in the first half of the season. "It was just kind of more of a nagging thing. One series I'd feel great, and the next, not so great. So it was just kind of a series-by-series, or week-by-week thing," Wood said. The young left-handed slugger came into the 2026 season fully healthy, but he's hitting .111 with a homer, 12 strikeouts, and a .496 OPS in the early going this year. The difference this year is that Wood believes he's better equipped to handle slumps, and he's not worried about the lower-body injuries that plagued him a year ago. There's no reason to go into panic mode on the 23-year-old just yet.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Spencer Nusbaum
April 3, 2026
The Tampa Bay Rays announced on Friday that they placed left-hander
Garrett Cleavinger (calf) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to March 31) with right-calf tightness and recalled right-hander
Hunter Bigge from Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move. Cleavinger's calf injury could help explain his rough start to the 2026 campaign. The 31-year-old veteran has allowed two earned runs on three hits while walking four and striking out three in just 2 1/3 innings of work over his first three appearances out of the bullpen in Tampa. It remains to be seen how long Cleavinger will be out, but he should have a good chance of returning before the end of April, barring a setback. He entered the season with a chance to have save opportunities, but his poor start and now his injury have hurt his chances in that regard. Cleavinger had a nice 2.35 ERA last year and has eight saves for the Rays over the past two seasons.
--Keith HernandezSource: Rays Communications
April 3, 2026
New York Yankees left-hander
Carlos Rodon (elbow, hamstring) said that he is hoping to throw off a mound on Saturday, and that his next outing will likely be in a controlled environment like a live batting practice session, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. Rodon hopes to start a minor-league rehab assignment after that if all goes according to plan. The 33-year-old had offseason surgery on his left elbow and recently suffered a minor setback due to right-hamstring tightness. It's not a serious issue, though, and he could be ready to make his 2026 season debut before the end of April if he can avoid another setback once he begins pitching in minor-league games. When healthy, Rodon has the potential to be a top-of-the-rotation arm for fantasy managers on one of the best teams in baseball, so he should be stashed in an IL spot everywhere. He was an All-Star for the third time in his career in 2025, going 18-9 with a 3.09 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 203:73 K:BB in his 33 starts (195 1/3 innings pitched).
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
April 3, 2026
The Boston Red Sox placed right-hander
Garrett Whitlock on paternity leave on Friday, according to Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic. Whitlock will be away from the Red Sox for up to three days as he leaves for the birth of his child. The 29-year-old has become a full-time reliever again after he made 23 starts for the BoSox from 2022 to 2024. In his three relief outings so far in 2026 as a late-inning setup man for Boston, Whitlock has thrown three scoreless innings while giving up two hits, walking two, and striking out four. He is the team's primary eighth-inning setup man in front of closer
Aroldis Chapman, and he should once again be a strong source of holds in fantasy formats that count the category. Whitlock settled into a relief role nicely in 2025 and had a career-high 31.1% strikeout rate in the late innings.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Jen McCaffrey
April 3, 2026
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop prospect
Konnor Griffin is batting seventh in his major-league debut on Friday against the visiting Baltimore Orioles and right-hander
Kyle Bradish, according to MLB.com. It didn't take long for the Pirates to call up the No. 1 overall prospect in baseball after he went 7-for-16 (.438) with three doubles, an RBI, four runs scored, and three stolen bases in five games on the farm with Triple-A Indianapolis. It's not a big surprise that Griffin is up in the big leagues this early. He hit just .171 (7-for-41) in 16 Grapefruit League games during spring training, but Griffin also had four home runs, nine RBI, and a stolen base. In addition to getting the early-season call-up, the 19-year-old is expected to land a nine-year, $140 million contract extension soon. If he wasn't already, Griffin should be rostered in all fantasy leagues and could make an immediate impact across all categories. If he gets off to a quick start, don't be surprised to see the Pirates move him up in the batting order sooner than later.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 3, 2026
Cleveland Guardians rookie outfielder
Chase DeLauter (foot) is back in the lineup for Friday's game against the visiting Chicago Cubs and right-hander
Cade Horton, according to MLB.com. DeLauter is serving as the Guardians' designated hitter and will bat second in the lineup. The 24-year-old fouled a ball off his foot in Tuesday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but X-rays came back negative, and he'll serve as the DH for the team's home opener on Friday. The former 16th overall pick in 2022 out of James Madison has been a hot early-season waiver-wire pickup because of his high upside and hot start in 2026. Through his first six major-league games, DeLauter has gone 6-for-22 (.273) with four home runs, five RBI, five runs scored, one walk, and seven strikeouts. Fantasy managers who have DeLauter rostered will want to get him back into their lineups this weekend.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 3, 2026
New York Yankees outfielder/designated hitter
Giancarlo Stanton is back in the starting lineup on Friday against the visiting Miami Marlins and right-hander
Eury Perez, serving as the DH and hitting fifth in the batting order, per MLB.com. Stanton will be back in action for the Yanks after getting a normal day off on Wednesday. The 36-year-old veteran will be rested occasionally to keep him healthy for the long haul. So far in his first five games of the 2026 season, Stanton has looked good at the plate, going 10-for-20 with a home run, two doubles, four RBI, and two runs scored. Fantasy managers will want to get Stanton back in their lineups against Perez, whom he's gone 2-for-4 against in his career with one RBI and a 1.250 OPS.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 3, 2026
Chris Duncan will look to extend his win streak when he takes on former title challenger Renato Moicano in the main event of UFC Vegas 115 on Saturday. Duncan was last seen in the Octagon in December at UFC 323, where he defeated Terrance McKinney with a first-round anaconda choke submission. Prior to that, he defeated Mateusz Rebecki via unanimous decision. Duncan is currently on a four-fight winning streak. DraftKings sees Duncan as the favorite with a salary of $8,800.
--Alen KurbasicSource: UFC
April 3, 2026
Detroit Tigers rookie infielder
Kevin McGonigle has been bumped up to leadoff for Friday's game against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals and right-hander
Michael McGreevy, according to MLB.com. Infielder
Colt Keith will take a seat on the bench for this one. McGonigle, who was considered the consensus No. 2 overall prospect in baseball coming into the season, made the big-league roster out of spring training and has looked mature beyond his years in his first 22 major-league at-bats, going 8-for-22 (.364) with five RBI, four runs scored, three walks, and three strikeouts in his first six games. McGonigle will be starting at third base on Friday for the fourth time, and he's also made three starts at shortstop, so fantasy managers should be able to get dual eligibility out of him in his rookie campaign. If McGonigle continues to perform like he has in the early going, he'll be an absolute steal for fantasy managers who landed him in single-year mixed leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 3, 2026
Former lightweight title challenger Renato Moicano will look to bounce back when he takes on Chris Duncan in the main event of UFC Vegas 115 on Saturday. At UFC 311, he stepped into the UFC 311 main event against Islam Makhachev at the last minute after Arman Tsarukyan injured his back; however, Moicano suffered a first-round submission loss. More recently, Moicano fought at UFC 317 and suffered a unanimous decision loss to Beneil Dariush. DraftKings sees Moicano as the underdog with a salary of $7,400.
--Alen KurbasicSource: UFC
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