March 27, 2026
Dallas Stars center Sam Steel (undisclosed) didn't finish Thursday's 2-1 loss to the New York Islanders, Mike Heika of the Stars' official site reports. He exited the action in the third period due to an undisclosed injury. Steel's ice time has increased throughout the season due to injuries, and it's helped him to record a career-high 33 points (12 goals, 21 assists) in 72 games. But he may now be sidelined himself. Fortunately for Dallas, Mikko Rantanen (lower body) is close to returning and will practice on Friday. Meanwhile, Michael Bunting, who was a healthy scratch on Thursday, is an option to rejoin the lineup for this weekend's back-to-back against Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
--Taavi PailkSource: Mike Heika
March 27, 2026
Alabama quarterback
Ty Simpson finished his collegiate career with a limited body of work, but his athleticism, pocket presence, and leadership ability have been enough to impress several teams. He has spent most of the pre-draft process as the consensus number two quarterback in the class, with the biggest question being how much later than presumed number one overall pick
Fernando Mendoza he will slide. With the NFL Draft less than a month away, Simpson has regularly found himself mocked in the back half of the first round. Three of his most common landing spots have been with the Rams, Jets, and Steelers, with whom he could be thrust into his earliest starting role, depending on how the
Aaron Rodgers saga plays out. If Simpson does earn first-round NFL capital, he will likely slot into the late first round of dynasty rookie drafts as well.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
March 27, 2026
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Damon Severson suffered an upper-body injury in Thursday's 2-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports. Severson scored the Blue Jackets' only goal of the game in the first period but left the action in the third. The 31-year-old has been very productive lately, recording three goals and two assists over the last five games. He has posted 32 points (eight goals, 24 assists) in 71 games for the season. Egor Zamula or Jake Christiansen will get a chance to play if Severson misses additional time, while Denton Mateychuk could be his replacement on the second power-play unit.
--Taavi PailkSource: Jeff Svoboda
March 27, 2026
Joe Pyfer will look to extend his win streak when he takes on former two-time middleweight champion Israel Adesanya in the main event of UFC Seattle on Saturday. Pyfer was last seen competing in October at UFC 320, where he submitted Abus Magomedov in the second round via rear-naked choke. Since signing with the UFC, Pyfer has gone 6-1, with his only loss being to Jack Hermansson in 2024. DraftKings sees Erosa as the underdog with a salary of $7,700.
--Alen KurbasicSource: UFC
March 27, 2026
San Jose Sharks goaltender Yaroslav Askarov suffered an upper-body injury in Thursday's 2-1 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues. The 23-year-old was making his return from a lower-body injury but had to leave the game midway through the second period. Askarov was involved in a collission in the crease and appeared to have hurt his neck. He stopped all 11 SOG he faced. Askarov's replacement, Alex Nedeljkovic, allowed two goals on 12 SOG. If Askarov is forced to miss time again, the Sharks will likely bring back Laurent Brossoit from the minors to serve as Nedeljkovic's backup.
--Taavi PailkSource: San Jose Sharks PR
March 27, 2026
Former two-time middleweight champion Israel Adesanya will aim to get back in the win column when he takes on Joe Pyfer in the main event of UFC Seattle on Saturday. This fight is extremely imortant for Adesanya who is looking to snap the first three-fight losing streak of his career. Adesanya was last seen in the Octagon in February 2025 at UFC Riyadh where he suffered a second-round TKO loss to Nassourdine Imavov. DraftKings sees Adesanya as the favorite with a salary of $8,500.
--Alen KurbasicSource: UFC
March 27, 2026
Washington Nationals starting pitcher
Cade Cavalli got the Opening Day nod versus the Chicago Cubs on Thursday. The right-hander didn't work deep into the game as he only threw 3.2 innings before getting pulled at 75 pitches. He allowed three runs (two earned), on three hits, with three walks, and five strikeouts in the no-decision. The former first-round pick registered a 4.25 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and a 40:15 K/BB ratio across 10 starts last season. Cavalli showed some promising signs here, but he will have a tough challenge against the Philadelphia Phillies during his next time out. Fantasy managers should keep their eye on Cavalli right now.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
March 27, 2026
Florida Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues broke a finger in Thursday's loss to the Minnesota Wild and is likely done for the season. Panthers head coach Paul Maurice noted after the game that Rodrigues is looking at a 4-6-week recovery period. Florida finishes the regular season on April 15 and is unlikely to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Across 69 games, Rodrigues managed 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists) in 2025-26. He adds to the long list of injuries for the Panthers. Players like Jesper Boqvist and Vinnie Hinostroza are expected to take on bigger roles for the rest of the season.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
March 27, 2026
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder
Alec Burleson came ready to hit during Thursday's Opening Day matchup against the Tampa Bay Rays. Burleson went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk during the 9-7 victory. The Cardinals moved on from multiple key hitters this offseason, which allowed for Burleson to move into the three-hole on Thursday. Given the results, Burleson figures to stick in the spot for now. The 27-year-old should offer good upside as the three-hole hitter, even in this lackluster Cardinals' lineup. Last season, Burleson slashed .290/.343/.459 with 18 home runs and 69 RBI in 139 games. There's enough upside with his bat to warrant rostering Burleson in most fantasy formats.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
March 27, 2026
Maycee Barber will look to extend her win streak when she faces off against former women's flyweight champion Alexa Grasso in the co-main event of UFC Seattle on Saturday. Barber and Grasso met in 2021 at UFC 258, where Grasso earned a unanimous decision victory. Since then, Barber has got back on track, winning seven consecutive fights. Barber was last seen in action in December at UFC 323, where she defeated Karine Silva via unanimous decision. DraftKings sees Barber as the favorite with a salary of $8,800.
--Alen KurbasicSource: UFC
March 27, 2026
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher
Jose Soriano was tough to hit during Thursday's Opening Day nod against the Houston Astros. Soriano threw six scoreless innings, allowing two hits, four walks, and striking out seven batters in the win. It was an impressive outing for Soriano, who allowed one hit through his first five innings of work. The lack of command is a concern going forward, but Soriano was able to work around the damage on Thursday. He did get 19 swings and misses on Thursday, which registered an elite CSW of 36 percent. The upside makes Soriano worth a look as a waiver wire pickup. His next outing will come on Tuesday versus the Chicago Cubs.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
March 27, 2026
Atlanta Braves right-handed pitching prospect
JR Ritchie should contend for an early MLB debut during the 2026 campaign. Ritchie was sharp in spring training, logging 12 innings to the tune of a 2.25 ERA, 0.58 WHIP, and a 14:5 K:BB. However, even with
Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow),
Spencer Strider (oblique), and
Hurston Waldrep (elbow) all beginning the season on the IL, the Braves opted to send Ritchie back to Triple-A for further development. Instead, fellow emerging arm
Didier Fuentes earned a spot on the Opening Day roster. However, given Atlanta's lack of pitching depth, Ritchie may get the call to the major leagues in the near future. Last summer, the former 35th overall selection made his Triple-A debut and logged 59 2/3 innings to the tune of a 3.02 ERA and a strong 1.09 WHIP. Managers should pay close attention to this early production at Triple-A, as he could earn the call in the coming weeks. For now, he is a viable stash option in deeper 12+ team leagues.
--Andy SmithSource: RotoBaller
March 27, 2026
Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby suffered a lower-body injury in Thursday's shootout win against the Ottawa Senators. He took only one shift in the second period. Penguins head coach Dan Muse didn't have an update on Crosby after the game. Crosby has posted a team-high 64 points (28 goals, 36 assists) in 61 games. this season Pittsburgh was already without Evgeni Malkin (upper body) for a second consecutive game on Thursday. Malkin is considered day-to-day and could be available to replace Crosby in the lineup if needed on Saturday against Dallas. Should both star centers miss the game, the Penguins would likely look to Kevin Hayes to fill the void.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
March 27, 2026
Former women's flyweight champion Alexa Grasso will look to get back in the win column when she faces off against Maycee Barber in the co-main event of UFC Seattle on Saturday. It's a rematch from a 2021 fight where Grasso defeated Barber by unanimous decision. Grasso was last seen in action in May 2025 at UFC 315, where she suffered a unanimous decision loss to Natalia Silva. DraftKings sees Grasso as the underdog with a salary of $7,400.
--Alen KurbasicSource: UFC
March 27, 2026
Boston Red Sox left-handed pitching prospect
Payton Tolle is worth stashing ahead of his return to the major leagues. Tolle joined the Red Sox with the 50th selection in the 2024 MLB Draft and quickly progressed through the minor leagues last summer. He opened the 2025 campaign with High-A, but was able to debut in Boston late in the second half. Across 76 2/3 innings shared between High-A and Double-A, Tolle posted a strong 2.93 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, with a 116:21 K:BB. During a short 16 1/3-inning stint with Triple-A, Tolle struck out 17 hitters before joining the major league roster. However, Tolle would take a step back in his first taste of MLB action, posting a high 6.06 ERA over 16 1/3 innings of work. In camp, Tolle fell short of the final starting role and was optioned to Triple-A. Despite this, he may only need a short taste at the top level before returning to the majors. Given the high-end strikeout upside he flashed last summer, Tolle is a top early-season pitcher to stash in all 12+ team leagues.
--Andy SmithSource: RotoBaller
March 27, 2026
Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher
Cade Smith was tasked with shutting the door on Opening Day. Smith was called upon with a two-run lead in the ninth inning of Thursday's game versus the Seattle Mariners. He retired the side on 13 pitches while striking out one batter to earn his first save of the season. Smith took over the closer role last season following the departure of
Emmanuel Clase due to legal troubles. The right-hander recorded a career-high 16 saves during the 2025 campaign. He should easily surpass that number as the clear-cut favorite for saves in Cleveland.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb.com
March 27, 2026
Chicago White Sox first baseman
Munetaka Murakami went 1-for-2 with a home run and two walks during his MLB debut on Thursday afternoon. The White Sox took a tough 14-2 loss to the reigning NL Central Champion Milwaukee Brewers, but Murakami was one of the few bright spots on the roster. The 26-year-old slugger would hit his first MLB long ball in the ninth frame. Murakami has spent his entire professional career overseas in the NPB before joining the White Sox this winter. Last season, Murakami hit .244 but continued to flash high-end power, launching 33 home runs and posting a .379 OPB. In 2022, Murakami enjoyed the best season of his professional career, launching 56 home runs with a .318/.458/.710 line. While his batting average may remain low, Murakami possesses high-end raw power and should contend for a 30-HR campaign with an everyday role in the Chicago starting nine.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
March 27, 2026
Seattle Mariners outfielder
Dominic Canzone came ready to play on Opening Day. He went 2-for-4 with a pair of solo home runs during Thursday's loss to the Cleveland Guardians. Canzone took right-hander
Tanner Bibee deep in the second inning and blasted a 444-foot homer off
Shawn Armstrong in the seventh inning. He started at designated hitter on Thursday, but Canzone figures to see playing time in the outfield as well. The 28-year-old slashed .300/.358/.481 with 11 home runs and 32 RBI across 82 games last season. His hot start to the season makes him worth snagging off waivers right now.
--Andy WebbSource: mlb
March 27, 2026
Niko Price will look to return to the win column when he takes on Michael Chiesa on the main card of UFC Seattle on Saturday. Chiesa was originally scheduled to take on Carlston Harris, but Harris was forced to withdraw due to visa issues. Price was offered to fight Chiesa, and he accepted the fight on short notice. Price is in dire need of a win as he's only won one fight out of his last six. He was last seen in the Octagon in February at UFC Vegas 113, where he suffered a first-round knockout loss to Nikolay Veretennikov. DraftKings sees Price as a massive underdog with a salary of $6,700.
--Alen KurbasicSource: UFC
March 27, 2026
Cincinnati Reds first base prospect
Sal Stewart went 3-for-4 on Opening Day with two doubles. Despite facing Boston Red Sox ace
Garrett Crochet, Stewart filled the statsheet, hitting a double in his first at-bat against the Cy Young contender. Later in the contest, he would tally another hit off Crochet (a single) and would add his second double in the eighth inning. Stewart made his MLB debut late in the 2025 season and flashed high-end power during this short 18-game stint, hitting five round-trippers. During spring training, Stewart looked just as comfortable, carrying a .327/.450/.592 line with three home runs and four stolen bases over a 20-game sample. Fantasy managers should expect Stewart to remain a key part of the starting nine, seeing time at first, second, and third base. He remains a high-end corner infielder with five-category upside going forward.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
March 27, 2026
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher
Paul Skenes is arguably the best pitcher in baseball and has been a hot topic in trade rumors. The New York Yankees reportedly offered four prospects for Skenes during the offseason. It wasn't enough as the Pirates didn't even listen to the offer, according to Jon Heyman. The 23-year-old star pitcher isn't a free agent until 2030, so there's no urgency for the Pirates to move the right-hander. The organization made multiple moves this offseason to add offense in an attempt to build a better team around Skenes. It's not shocking that they weren't willing to trade him with the organization actively trying to be competitive right now. The Pirates didn't even entertain an offer of four prospects, so it's unclear what they'd even consider for Skenes.
--Andy WebbSource: Jon Heyman
March 27, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies outfield prospect
Justin Crawford went 2-for-4 in his MLB debut. The team's No. 1 outfield prospect knocked two singles and scored a run off an
Alec Bohm home run. Crawford broke camp as the team's starting center fielder and appears to be transitioning well to the major leagues. In camp, the former first-round selection held a .250/.291/.346 line with three stolen bases. Last summer, Crawford spent the entire campaign at Triple-A Lehigh Valley and performed at a high level, carrying a .334/.411/.452 line with 23 doubles, seven home runs, and 46 stolen bases. Fantasy managers should continue to view Crawford as a solid No. 4/No. 5 outfielder in standard category leagues, given his high-end contact skills and elite speed. He should remain penciled in as the team's center fielder for the foreseeable future.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
March 27, 2026
Michael Chiesa is scheduled to face off against Niko Price on the main card of UFC Seattle on Saturday. This will be the final UFC bout for Chiesa, as he's set to retire in the Octagon in front of a home crowd. Chiesa was originally scheduled to face Carlston Harris, but Harris withdrew due to visa issues. "Maverick" was last seen in action in June at UFC Atlanta, where he defeated Court McGee via unanimous decision. DraftKings sees Chiesa as a massive favorite with a salary of $9,500.
--Alen KurbasicSource: UFC
March 27, 2026
Cleveland Guardians top outfield prospect
Chase DeLauter went 3-for-5 with two home runs during his MLB debut on Thursday evening. DeLauter wasted little time making an impact as he hit a solo shot off Seattle ace
Logan Gilbert in the opening frame. Later in the ninth inning, DeLauter would hit his second long ball of the game (also a solo blast), this time off Seattle reliever
Cooper Criswell. DeLuater turned in a dominant showing in spring training, posting a .459/.535/.838 slash line with three home runs and a 4:6 K:BB, which earned him a starting role on the roster. Given his incredible regular-season debut, DeLauter should remain a staple in the Cleveland lineup for the foreseeable future. He is a top waiver-wire target heading into Week 2.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
March 27, 2026
Lerryan Douglas is set to make his promotional debut when he takes on Julian Erosa on the main card of UFC Seattle on Saturday. Douglas earned his UFC contract in his last fight in September at Dana White's Contender Series by beating Cam Teague via first-round knockout. He is currently on a five-fight winning streak, and he enters this contest with a professional record of 13-5. DraftKings sees Douglas as the favorite with a salary of $9,000.
--Alen KurbasicSource: UFC
March 27, 2026
Julian Erosa will look to get back in the win column when he faces off against Lerryan Douglas on the main card of UFC Seattle on Saturday. Erosa was last seen in action in May at UFC Vegas 106, where he suffered a unanimous decision loss to Melquizael Costa. Prior to that loss, Erosa was on a three-fight winning streak, having beaten Ricardo Ramos, Christian Rodriguez and Darren Elkins. DraftKings sees Erosa as the underdog with a salary of $7,200.
--Alen KurbasicSource: UFC
March 27, 2026
Cleveland Guardians right-hander
Tanner Bibee (shoulder) left Thursday night's Opening Day start on the road against the Seattle Mariners with trainer Jeff Desjardins before throwing a pitch in the bottom of the sixth inning with right-shoulder inflammation, according to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. Before leaving, Bibee had allowed three earned runs on four hits (three solo homers allowed) while walking two and striking out seven in five innings of work. The 27-year-old could go for imaging on Friday to determine the severity of his shoulder injury. Expect the Guardians to proceed with caution with their star pitcher early in the season, which means fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if Bibee goes on the injured list. Bibee posted a 3.61 ERA (3.83 FIP), 1.17 WHIP, 23.8% strikeout rate, and a 7.0% walk rate in 498 innings over 87 starts in his first three years in Cleveland. He came into the 2026 season just inside RotoBaller's top-50 fantasy starting pitcher rankings. Bibee will need to be stashed in all fantasy formats if he ends up going on the injured list.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Tim Stebbins
March 26, 2026
The Arizona Cardinals are setting up to be a run-heavy offense in 2026 under new head coach Mike LaFleur. Running backs
James Conner (foot) and
Trey Benson (knee) will both be returning from season-ending injuries early in 2025, and the team also signed former Atlanta Falcons RB
Tyler Allgeier to a two-year, $12.25 million contract in free agency. The 25-year-old Allgeier could never truly reach his ceiling in Atlanta while working behind stud RB1
Bijan Robinson, and now he could be part of a three-headed RB attack in the desert, depending on the health of both Conner and Benson. Allgeier had a 1,000-yard rushing season in his rookie campaign in 2022 on 210 carries and then regressed each season after that in terms of yardage, although he did have a career-high eight TDs in 17 games in 2025. He's been durable in his four NFL seasons, missing just one game. Allgeier should at the very least be in play as a touchdown-dependent RB3/flex (like he was in Atlanta), but he'll have clear RB2 upside if he emerges as Arizona's backfield leader.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
March 26, 2026
Tampa Bay Buccaneers new running back
Kenneth Gainwell broke out in 2025 in his fifth year in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers, carrying the ball 114 times for 537 yards (4.7 yards per carry) and five rushing touchdowns. But where he made his mark was in the short passing game for the Steelers, catching 73 passes (fourth-most among RBs) on 85 targets for 486 yards (fifth-most among RBs) and three additional touchdowns in 17 regular-season games. The 27-year-old signed a two-year, $14 million contract with the Buccaneers in free agency and will essentially replace
Rachaad White, who is now in Washington, as the No. 2 back in Tampa behind early-down RB
Bucky Irving. He's an ideal complement to Irving in the backfield, but Irving should continue to catch his fair share of passes, too, if he remains healthy. Gainwell should have a solid PPR floor in his new home as the team's pass-catching back, but fantasy managers should prepare for regression from what could very easily end up being his career year in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
March 26, 2026
Washington Wizards guard/forward
Bilal Coulibaly (heel) is questionable for Friday's game against the Warriors after continuing to deal with a lingering heel issue. If he sits,
Jamir Watkins and
Leaky Black could see expanded roles. Black is coming off an 11-point performance with seven rebounds, three assists, three steals, and three blocks in 40 minutes, making him an intriguing deep-league streamer for defensive stats. Watkins added eight points, six rebounds, and three steals off the bench and could also see enough run to warrant consideration in deeper formats if Coulibaly is unavailable.
--Brian DailisanSource: NBA Injury Report
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