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
January 9, 2026
Oklahoma City Thunder guard
Cason Wallace (toe) is listed as out for Friday night's game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Wallace is set to miss his first game since October 23rd due to a sore left toe. The 22-year-old guard has averaged 7.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 27 minutes. Wallace also leads the NBA in steals (2.2 per game) and has started in 30 of 37 games this season. With Wallace,
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (ankle), and
Chet Holmgren (shin) out on Friday, and
Alex Caruso (back) questionable, the Thunder will look for
Aaron Wiggins and
Isaiah Joe to step up, while
Jalen Williams will have to be relied on heavily against the Grizzlies. With the Thunder back in action on Sunday, Wallace and the others will look to return against the Miami Heat.
--Nathan HarveySource: Brandon Rahbar
January 9, 2026
According to Matt Gelb and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Philadelphia Phillies have shown interest in Minnesota Twins backup catcher
Ryan Jeffers on the trade market. The Phillies are currently in discussions to re-sign catcher
J.T. Realmuto, but have been unable to agree on a contract. Additionally, Gelb and Rosenthal noted that they could also look to sign free agent
Victor Caratini if they cannot reach an agreement with Realmuto. Jeffers has spent his entire six-year MLB career with the Twins. Last season, Jeffers posted a .266/.356/.397 line with 26 doubles and nine long balls. In 2024, Jeffers hit a career-best 21 home runs. Jeffers could be worth a look in deeper two-catcher leagues if he were to sign in Philadelphia, as he would be joining a deeper lineup, which could boost his counting stats.
--Andy SmithSource: Matt Gelb and Ken Rosenthal
January 9, 2026
Washington Wizards forward
Khris Middleton (knee) is ready to play ahead of Friday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans. Middleton sat out of Wednesday's game, which isn't shocking considering it was the second leg of a back-to-back set. The veteran forward is back in the starting five ahead of Friday's tip-off. This season, Middleton is averaging 9.8 points, 3.2 assists, and 4.1 rebounds across 24.4 minutes per game this season. Middleton is going to have his rest games, but is consistent enough to be trusted as a low-end streaming option.
--Andy WebbSource: Washington Wizards
January 9, 2026
Washington Wizards guard
Kyshawn George (hip) is active and in the starting five ahead of Friday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans. George is back after missing seven games due to a left hip flexor strain. There is no word on George being limited, so fantasy managers should expect him to be a full-go. Before going down, George was averaging 13.1 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.8 rebounds over his previous 12 games.
Tre Johnson will head back to the bench and will lose streaming appeal with George back in the mix.
--Andy WebbSource: George Finberg
January 9, 2026
Free agent catcher
Victor Caratini could be an option for the Philadelphia Phillies, according to Ken Rosenthal and Matt Gelb of The Athletic. The Phillies are currently in discussions to re-sign long-time backup
J.T. Realmuto, but if they are unable to reach an agreement, they could look to sign Caratini. Last season, Caratini appeared in 114 games for the Houston Astros and posted a .259/.324/.404 line with 14 doubles, 12 home runs, and one stolen base. Under the hood, he placed in the 59th percentile in xwOBA and xBA. Rosenthal and Gelb noted that if Caratini were to sign with the Phillies, he would likely operate in a timeshare with
Rafael Marchan, which would likely limit both of their fantasy values. Caratini projects to be a serviceable low-end C2 in two-catcher leagues in 2026.
--Andy SmithSource: Matt Gelb and Ken Rosenthal
January 9, 2026
Memphis Grizzlies shooting guard
Vince Williams Jr. (knee) is available to play Friday against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Williams returned Monday, playing 22 minutes and recording 15 points, six rebounds, and five assists. After missing the second half of Tuesday's back-to-back, Williams is set to play and have a big role against the defending champions. With
Ja Morant (calf),
Scotty Pippen Jr. (toe),
Ty Jerome (calf), and
John Konchar (thumb) all out, and rookie
Cedric Coward (ankle) listed as a game-time decision, Williams may have to handle a heavy workload despite just returning from injury. Fantasy managers can rely on the 25-year-old guard to provide some value against the Thunder, who have been struggling as of late.
--Nathan HarveySource: Jonah Dylan
January 9, 2026
Philadelphia 76ers center
Joel Embiid (knee) will play on Friday against the Orlando Magic. Embiid continues to manage his left knee and was initially listed as questionable on the injury report, but he is ready to make his sixth consecutive appearance. We have seen a vintage Embiid lately, as teams have struggled to contain the former MVP. Most recently, he notched 28 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and two blocks in just 25 minutes in a blowout victory against the Washington Wizards.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 9, 2026
Los Angeles Clippers forward
Kawhi Leonard (ankle) is available to play ahead of Friday's game against the Brooklyn Nets. Leonard was questionable coming into this game after tweaking his ankle on Wednesday. It wasn't significant enough to hold Leonard out of action, so he'll suit up for the first game of this back-to-back set. Over his last 10 games, Leonard is averaging 32.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 4.2 assists across 37.1 minutes per game. Fantasy managers should double-check their lineups and make sure Leonard is active ahead of tip-off.
--Andy WebbSource: Law Murray
January 9, 2026
According to Ari Alexander of 7News, the New York Yankees have claimed right-handed pitcher
Kaleb Ort off waivers from the Houston Astros. The Astros designated the relief pitcher for assignment earlier in January and will compete for a spot on the Yankees' Opening Day roster. Ort struggled during the 2025 campaign, logging 46 innings to the tune of a 4.89 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. However, during the 2024 season, Ort was one of the most reliable relievers in the Houston bullpen. Through 24 2/3 innings, the 33-year-old posted an impressive 2.55 ERA with a near-perfect 0.81 WHIP. During this campaign, he tallied 26 punchouts and added three holds. Managers in deeper holds leagues should monitor his status during spring training, as he could carve out a high-leverage role in the Bronx.
--Andy SmithSource: Ari Alexander
January 9, 2026
New Orleans Pelicans guard/forward
Trey Murphy III (back) will return from a one-game absence on Friday versus the Washington Wizards. He's been dealing with lower back spasms, but the team upgraded Murphy III's status from questionable to available. Murphy III began the week with a career night against the Los Angeles Lakers, scoring 42 points on Tuesday night. He could cook up something special again on Friday, as Washington has the second-worst defensive rating in the league.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 9, 2026
Former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel is scheduled to interview for the Tennessee Titans' head-coaching job next Wednesday, sources told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. McDaniel has generated significant interest around the league since the Dolphins fired him on Thursday after posting a 35-33 record and two playoff trips in his four seasons at the helm in Miami. He is not only generating interest for head-coaching jobs around the league, but also openings at offensive coordinator. The Lions are one team interested in McDaniel as a coordinator. The Cleveland Browns are another team reportedly interested in talking to McDaniel about their head-coaching position. If McDaniel is hired by the Titans, it would be good news for the development of quarterback
Cameron Ward, who struggled in his first year in the NFL after being taken first overall by Tennessee last April.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
January 9, 2026
Orlando Magic forward
Tristan da Silva (back) is ruled out ahead of Friday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers. This comes as a surprise, given da Silva looked fine during Wednesday's game. He finished with 14 points, three rebounds, and two assists across 24 minutes of action. His absence should free up playing time for
Tyus Jones and
Jett Howard in the rotation.
Jalen Suggs (knee) is also sidelined, so Jones will probably see heavy minutes. He's the better streaming choice between the two players for Friday's slate.
--Andy WebbSource: Orlando Magic
January 9, 2026
Brooklyn Nets forward
Michael Porter Jr. (knee) will play against the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday. The team upgraded his status on the injury report from probable to available. The 27-year-old has shaken off knee soreness and will continue to lead Brooklyn's offense on Friday. Porter Jr. averaged 28.3 points in December and has been even more productive in his first few outings in January, notching 30.5 points per game. Since the Clippers have the fifth-worst defensive rating in the NBA, Porter Jr. could be in line for another prolific scoring performance on Friday night.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 9, 2026
The Washington Nationals claimed left-handed pitcher
Paxton Schultz off waivers on Friday from the Toronto Blue Jays. The southpaw was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays earlier this week. The 28-year-old made his MLB debut with the Blue Jays last summer and logged 24 2/3 innings to the tune of a 4.38 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. Across this stint, the left-hander Schultz struck out 28 hitters and served up eight free passes. While his ratios seem high on the surface, he generated a promising 3.77 xERA with an above-average .219 xBA, suggesting he could enjoy a strong sophomore season in the big leagues. Through 203 1/3 career frames at the Triple-A level, Schultz has posted a 4.47 ERA with a 1.41 WHIP. Managers should expect Schultz to compete for a role in the Washington bullpen during Spring Training.
--Andy SmithSource: Toronto Blue Jays
January 9, 2026
The Baltimore Ravens announced on Friday that they completed an interview with former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski for their head-coaching position. The Ravens are casting a wide net for their next head coach following the firing of John Harbaugh earlier this week after 18 years with the organization. Stefanski has been a hot head-coaching candidate this cycle after the Browns fired him on Monday. He has already met with the New York Giants and is expected to interview with the Atlanta Falcons, Las Vegas Raiders, and Tennessee Titans as well. Stefanski spent the first 14 years of his NFL career on the Minnesota Vikings' coaching staff before joining the Browns in 2019. He finished 45-56 during the regular season in his six years as Cleveland's head coach, leading the team to its first playoff appearance in 18 years and first playoff victory in 26 years.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baltimore Ravens
January 9, 2026
Los Angeles Lakers forward
LeBron James (foot/sciatica) is now considered probable for Friday's action against the Milwaukee Bucks. The team initially listed him as questionable on the injury report. The fact that James was upgraded to probable indicates he is likely to return to the lineup after a one-game absence. While James has ridden the backseat for most of the campaign, he has started 2026 in dominant fashion. Across three January appearances, the veteran star has produced 29.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per game. It's been a remarkable run, given that James turned 41 on Dec. 30.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
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