January 28, 2026
Miami Heat guard/forward
Norman Powell (back) is considered questionable for Wednesday's game against the Orlando Magic. Powell has recently played through a back issue, but he may eventually need to take some time off to recover. With
Tyler Herro (ribs) out, Miami relies heavily on Powell on the offensive end. If he can't play on Wednesday, there would be additional playing time available for
Pelle Larsson,
Jaime Jaquez Jr., and
Simone Fontecchio. Although Larsson has enjoyed a couple of very good performances lately, Jaquez Jr. has more fantasy potential.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 28, 2026
Miami Heat guard
Tyler Herro (ribs) won't play against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday, missing his seventh straight game. The Heat have two back-to-backs scheduled this week, meaning Herro could miss several more games. Miami is currently dealing with other injury issues as well, giving
Pelle Larsson,
Dru Smith,
Jaime Jaquez Jr., and
Kasparas Jakucionis additional playing opportunities. The team has a good fantasy matchup on Wednesday against a mediocre defensive team.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
January 28, 2026
According to Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic, the San Francisco Giants recently made an aggressive push to acquire Washington Nationals shortstop
CJ Abrams. According to sources, the Giants made it clear they would offer top prospect Josuar Gonzalez as part of a package to acquire Abrams. Additionally, top pitching prospects
Carson Whisenhunt and Jacob Bresnahan were likely to be moved to Washington if they reached an agreement. The Nationals recently traded top pitcher
MacKenzie Gore to the Texas Rangers and have expressed willingness to shop Abrams as well. While the Giants were unsuccessful in this offer, they remain focused on improving their infield before spring training. The Giants have also been linked to St. Louis Cardinals infielder
Brendan Donovan throughout the offseason. If the Giants were to fall short in these trade talks,
Casey Schmitt would likely open the season as the starting second baseman, while Willy Adams would cover shortstop.
--Andy SmithSource: Andrew Baggarly
January 28, 2026
Andrew Putnam nearly won The American Express last week. The American golfer ended up T-2 after an opening round 72. While Scottie Scheffler did his thing and surgically took the field apart, Putnam did have the round of the week with a 60 on Friday. He was a whopping 10 under par during a 10 hole stretch. It was something to watch. Also, this buoyed Putnam to a big paycheck and huge result. There is one brick wall in the way and that is Torrey Pines. Putnam had consecutive solid starts then sputtered ending up over par last year and in 2018. Getting off the tee is something Putnam does not excel in ranking 173rd losing 0.69 strokes. Worse, Torrey Pines is one of those courses where errant shots can ruin a round. Putnam is another golfer to probably fade.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
January 28, 2026
Denver Nuggets center
Nikola Jokic (knee) will be re-evaluated in one week, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. "The Denver Nuggets will re-evaluate Nikola Jokic in about a week," Charania said on Tuesday's episode of NBA Today. "He is making great progress; he's in the ramp-up phase of his return to play process." After injuring his left knee on Dec. 29, Jokic returned to on-court activities two weeks ago. The three-time MVP has missed 15 games.
Jonas Valanciunas, who notched 16 points and 16 rebounds in Tuesday's loss to the Detroit Pistons, will continue to start at center until Jokic returns.
--Taavi PailkSource: Shams Charania
January 28, 2026
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, free agent infielder
Luis Arraez is not seeing a large market. While Arraez is one of the game's top contact hitters, his struggles on the defensive side of the game have prevented him from securing a contract. Rosenthal noted on The Foul Territory podcast that he expects the 28-year-old to sign a "prove-it" type deal shortly before spring training. In 2025, Arraez appeared in 154 games for the Padres and served as their primary first baseman, while also seeing occasional starts at second base and DH. He posted a .293/.327/.392 line with 30 doubles, eight home runs, and 11 stolen bases. However, he placed in the fourth percentile in Outs Above Average and the 28th percentile in arm strength. Managers should monitor his status, as he would remain a top batting-average contributor in rotisserie leagues but offer minimal power upside.
--Andy SmithSource: Ken Rosenthal
January 28, 2026
Matthieu Pavon was the 2024 winner of the Farmers Insurance Open. The French golfer played 26 PGA events in 2025 and managed not to finish inside the Top 25 once. That is correct. Even after a two month break, Pavon missed two cuts in four Fall events. As a result, Pavon dropped further to 260 in the OWGR (World Rankings). The golfer's odds are now bleak at DraftKings (a whopping +34000). What about last year at this event? Pavon blew up with an 80 during the second round to miss the cut. His biggest problem early in 2025 were these rounds that just melted down. There was that 83 at the Arnold Palmer, the 78-76 at the Masters, and the 80 at the RBC Canadian. If Pavon misses a few putts early, the warning bells could go off again this week.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
January 28, 2026
Houston Astros third baseman/outfielder
Cam Smith is not guaranteed a spot on the major league roster to begin the 2026 season. Chandler Rome of The Athletic notes that the team's general manager, Dana Brown, has made it clear that Smith will have to "prove himself" in camp to make the Opening Day roster. The Astors acquired Smith from the Chicago Cubs last offseason in exchange for
Kyle Tucker. Smith was selected by the Cubs in the opening round of the 2024 MLB Draft with the 14th overall pick out of Florida State. Smith was given a lead role in the Houston offense in all of 2025 but posted an underwhelming .236/.312/.358 line with 21 doubles, nine home runs, and eight stolen bases across 134 games. If Smith were to miss out on a roster spot, top prospect
Brice Matthews would likely see more opportunities in the outfield.
--Andy SmithSource: Chandler Rome
January 28, 2026
According to Jon Heyman of The New York Post, a trade involving Detroit Tigers ace
Tarik Skubal remains slim in the final stages of the offseason. Skubal, who is in the final year of his contract, has had his name in many trade discussions this winter. However, Detroit's asking price has been quite high, and no suitor has matched it. According to reports, the Tigers asked the New York Mets for five of their top prospects in return for the left-hander. The Mets would then pivot to acquire Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher
Freddy Peralta for only two of their top prospects. Skubal has won the AL Cy Young in back-to-back seasons and remains an elite SP1 for all fantasy formats heading into 2026. Last summer, Skubal posted a dominant 2.21 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, with a 241:33 K:BB across 195 1/3 innings.
--Andy SmithSource: Jon Heyman
January 28, 2026
New York Mets manager
Carlos Mendoza suggested that infielder
Jorge Polanco could open the season as the team's primary cleanup hitter. When discussing his initial plans for the top of the New York Mets lineup with Jon Heyman of The New York Post, Mendoa noted that
Francisco Lindor would likely remain the leadoff hitter with
Juan Soto and
Bo Bichette sitting behind him as the No. 2 and No. 3 hitters. Polanco was then suggested as the primary cleanup hitter with second baseman
Marcus Semien listed as the No. 5 option. Mendoza noted that having two switch-hitters on the roster (Polanco and Lindor) gives him a lot of versatility when constructing lineups. Polanco is coming off a resurgent season in which he posted a .265/.326/.495 line with 30 doubles and 16 home runs. If he were to bat in the cleanup spot behind the three All-Stars, Polanco could surpass his previous career-high of 98 RBI, which he tallied back in 2021.
--Andy SmithSource: Jon Heyman
January 28, 2026
San Francisco Giants infielder
Casey Schmitt (wrist) was cleared to begin a hitting progression last week, according to Maria Guardado of MLB.com. Schmitt has been on the shelf since undergoing wrist surgery early in the offseason. The infielder noted that he hopes to be a full-go for spring training. Schmitt sustained this injury on June 25 but was able to play through it during the entire second half. Across 95 games, the former 49th overall pick held a .237/.305/.401 line with a .706 OPS. He hit 12 home runs and added 15 doubles. Under the hood, Schmitt generated a modest .328 xwOBA with a slightly higher .256 xBA. Managers should expect the 26-year-old to open the regular season serving as the team's primary second baseman.
--Andy SmithSource: Maria Guardado
January 28, 2026
Luke List had an eventful 2025 with only making the cut in 13 out of 28 events. The American golfer has won twice on the PGA Tour including a playoff win at the 2022 Farmers Insurance Open. List stormed up the leaderboard with a final round 66 then beat Will Zalatoris in a playoff. Since then, the golfer has mostly struggled. Every year has gotten worse including an implosion in 2025 featuring a final round 81. If his putter and approaches go awry, then look out. In 2025, he lost a combined 0.527 strokes to the average ranking outside the Top 125 in both metrics. List will need birdies to offset some of the inevitable mistakes which makes him less stable for a betting pick or DFS possibility.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
January 28, 2026
Jake Knapp is among the Top 15 betting choices for this week at the Farmers Insurance Open. The American golfer does have one PGA win and yet he is only given a 50.44% chance of making the cut at Torrey Pines this weekend. He finished strong at the Sony Open closing with a 66. It has been a mixed bag for Knapp the last two times in the San Diego area. The courses played different too. He finished third in 2024 but 32nd in 2023. Simply, one big difference was the conditions. Add in the fact that Knapp could make putts last year but was 13% less accurate compared to the average and that is troublesome. Knapp frequently does not drive the ball far. Six of his first nine events in 2025 featured well below average driving distance. That will create a challenge even with solid putting numbers.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
January 28, 2026
Rasmus Hojgaard has found glory five times internationally. The Danish golfer has not done so on the PGA Tour. He did start off well at The American Express but consecutive rounds of 70 kept him outside the Top 40. Torrey Pines does not yield as many birdies. However, one has to take advantage of the opportunities given. With the North-South rotation, Hojgaard may not want to watch last year's video. When The Genesis Invitational was moved due to the wildfires, the golfer opened with an 82 then followed up with a 77. He has never played the North course. It may be a week where fading Hojgaard as a DFS or betting choice might prove prudent. Even if he performs well, sometimes watching is better.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
January 28, 2026
Christiaan Bezuidenhout played well last week. The South African golfer finished outside the Top 30 but was in the 60's for all four rounds. It becomes tough when all these crazy birdie numbers pop up. He bookended 68's sandwiched by a 67 and 69. Torrey Pines may be different. Bezuidenhout missed the cut in 2024 and did not play the event in 2025. Also, he has never won on the PGA Tour. All five of his wins are from the international circuit and none since 2020. Yes, the South African has three Top 10 results in each of the past two seasons. However, he has never shot below a 69 at either Torrey Pines course. The belief is to be a decent betting option that Bezuidenhout may need to do that a few times this weekend.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
January 28, 2026
Coming off a major breakout campaign in 2025, J.J. Spaun opened the year with a solid start, finishing T40 at the Sony Open two weeks ago. He'll look to carry that form into the Farmers Insurance Open, where his history is mixed, with four missed cuts and three top-25 finishes across nine appearances. Spaun's success here has typically hinged on strong approach play, an area he excelled in last season, ranking fifth in strokes gained on approach (+0.738 per round). He was also 62nd in driving distance, 41st in strokes gained off the tee (+0.291), and 121st in proximity from 200+ yards, a range that accounted for over 33% of all approach shots here last year. At $9,400 on DraftKings, Spaun offers a solid floor for fantasy managers looking for a safer option in this price range.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
January 28, 2026
After a strong 2025 campaign that included six top-10 finishes and a victory, Andrew Novak started The American Express with an opening round 64 but ultimately missed the cut by one stroke. He'll look to rebound at the Farmers Insurance Open, where he finished third in 2025 and also notched a T13 at the 2025 Genesis Invitational, both at Torrey Pines. Success at this course typically hinges on off-the-tee distance and long-iron approach shots. Last year, Novak ranked 102nd off the tee (+0.042) and 113th on approach (-0.036), but he makes up for it with his short game, ranking 43rd around the green and 49th in strokes gained putting. At $7,200 on DraftKings, Novak's upside is dependent on a solid week of ball striking to complement his strong short game.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
January 27, 2026
Denver Broncos passing-game coordinator and quarterbacks coach
Davis Webb is receiving some serious interest around the NFL this cycle for not only head-coaching jobs, but also offensive-coordinator positions. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that after Webb interviewed this week for the Las Vegas Raiders' and Buffalo Bills' head-coaching jobs, he received interview requests for offensive-coordinator jobs with the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants, and Baltimore Ravens. The former backup QB is a hot, rising name in the coaching ranks after the work he's done with
Bo Nix in Denver. The Broncos appear intent on not letting Webb leave, though, after firing offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi on Tuesday. The expectation is that head coach Sean Payton will try to promote Davis to OC to keep his bright offensive mind around.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
January 27, 2026
Denny McCarthy had a solid 2025 with 10 top-25 finishes and has carried some of that form into 2026, posting five sub-70 rounds through two starts. He'll look to continue that at the Farmers Insurance Open, though his history at Torrey Pines is mixed, with two missed cuts, two results of T64 or worse, and a T5 at the 2025 Genesis Invitational. Last year, he ranked 147th off the tee (-0.258), 62nd on approach (+0.202), and fourth in strokes gained putting (+0.679). Through two events this season, he's 37th off the tee (+0.528) and 52nd in proximity from 200+ yards, a range that accounted for over 33% of approach shots here last year. At $7,500 on DraftKings, McCarthy is a wild card with upside if his improved approach and off the tee game hold up.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
January 27, 2026
After a 2025 season that fell short of expectations, Max Homa has seemingly found a resurgence as of late, recording four finishes of T27 or better in his last five events. He'll look to continue that at the Farmers Insurance Open, where he has four top-19 finishes in his last six trips, including a 2023 win. Homa has also thrived in California, with four of his six career PGA Tour victories coming in his home state. His 2023 victory at Torrey Pines was driven by strong approach play, gaining +2.74 strokes per round, an area he struggled with last season when he ranked just 155th on Tour. Through one event in 2026, he's 12th on approach, fifth in total strokes gained, and 21st in driving distance, all areas that correlate to success at Torrey Pines. All signs point to Homa having the bounce-back season many had hoped for, and his upside is well worth his price tag of $8,300 on DraftKings.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
January 27, 2026
Baltimore Orioles infielder
Jordan Westburg was an All-Star in his second MLB season in 2024, when he hit .264/.312/.481 with a .792 OPS and career-highs in home runs (18) and RBI (63) in 107 games played. Westburgh took a slight step back in 2025 and played in just 85 games. The 26-year-old former first-rounder in 2020 out of Mississippi State slashed .265/.313/.457 with a .770 OPS, 17 home runs, 41 RBI, and 59 runs scored for the O's. Most of the disappointment came in the form of injuries -- he missed six-plus weeks with a hamstring injury and a month with a right-ankle sprain. Westburg is probably only eligible at third base in most fantasy baseball leagues going into 2026, but his high contact rates and power stroke still give him upside in Baltimore if he can avoid injuries. If you wait at the position, Westburg is a decent low-end starting third baseman with the clear potential for 20-plus home runs over a full season.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
January 27, 2026
Tampa Bay Rays speedy outfielder
Chandler Simpson made his major-league debut in 2025 and didn't disappoint with his wheels, stealing 44 bases in 109 games. Simpson also hit an impressive .295 (122-for-414), but outside of his speed and high average, there was a lot to pick apart. The 25-year-old former second-rounder was caught stealing a league-high 12 times, had zero home runs, and only drove in 26 runs while hitting at the bottom of the batting order. Simpson's lack of power is a major drawback, and his subpar defense puts him at risk of losing playing time if he's not hitting and getting on base regularly. On the plus side, Simpson hit over .300 against both fastballs and breaking pitches in his first year in the big leagues. If you draft Simpson specifically for his speed, you'll need to get your power elsewhere. Heading into his sophomore season, RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 39 fantasy outfielder.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
January 27, 2026
Since winning the Cognizant Classic in March of last year, Joe Highsmith has not been able to find any form, missing 17 cuts in his last 27 starts. His history at Torrey Pines is limited, with just three events played, resulting in two missed cuts and a T33 finish, which came at the 2024 Farmers. Success here typically hinges on distance off the tee and approach with long irons, areas where Highsmith has struggled. In 2025, he ranked just 117th in driving distance, 160th in strokes gained on approach (-0.362 per round), and 107th in proximity from 200+ yards, a distance that accounted for over 33% of approach shots last year. At $6,300 on DraftKings, Highsmith can safely be left out of fantasy lineups until any sign of a turnaround appears.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
January 27, 2026
Atlanta Braves second baseman
Ozzie Albies has been a disappointment for fantasy managers each of the last two years. He played in only 99 games in 2024 due to injury, but Albies was even worse in 2025 despite playing in 157 contests. The 29-year-old switch-hitting infielder slashed .240/.306/.365 with a career-worst .671 OPS, 16 home runs, 74 RBI, 74 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases in 667 plate appearances in his ninth year in the big leagues. It was one of Albies' worst seasons, and it ended on a sour note with a fractured hamate bone in his hand. There's reason for hope, though, as Albies reached the 30-homer mark in his previous two full seasons, and he should be fully recovered from his left-hand injury in time for Opening Day. Albies has dropped to No. 11 in RotoBaller's 2B rankings for 2026. Reasons to not be optimistic include his underwhelming hard-hit rate (30.7%), barrel rate (4.9%), and average exit velocity (87.5 mph) from last year.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
January 27, 2026
Wyndham Clark was in contention for much of the week at The American Express before a final-round 72 dropped him to a T13 finish. He'll look to carry that form to Torrey Pines, where he has seven career starts, with his best result being T31 at the Genesis Invitational last year. Success here typically hinges on distance off the tee and strong long-iron approach play. In 2025, Clark ranked 154th in strokes gained on approach (-0.284 per round) and 107th in proximity from 200+ yards, a distance that accounted for over 33% of approach shots here last season. His upside comes off the tee, where he ranked 25th in driving distance. Clark is expected to be a bounce-back candidate entering 2026 after a disappointing 2025, but his long-iron play remains a concern this week.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
January 27, 2026
Houston Astros left-handed closer
Josh Hader (shoulder) was among the most dominant closers in baseball again in 2025, but he will carry more risk into 2026 after his season was cut short by a left-shoulder strain. The 31-year-old veteran southpaw said recently that he feels back to normal, but until we see that he's at full strength during spring training, Hader will carry extra risk in fantasy baseball. When he was on the mound last year, Hader was still dominant as ever, ranking fifth with a 29.1 K-BB percentage. Hader leaned heavily on his wipeout slider and produced an absurd 55.2% whiff rate with the pitch. The six-time All-Star had a nice 2.05 ERA and 0.85 WHIP with 28 saves, 76 strikeouts, and 16 walks in 52 2/3 innings. Hader's price tag on draft day might be a little deflated due to his shoulder injury, but if it proves to be a thing of the past, he could wind up being a massive value.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
January 27, 2026
Tony Finau has been riding the struggle bus to start the 2026 season, missing the cut in both the Sony Open and The American Express. In these two starts, he has lost strokes off the tee (-0.256 per round), on approach (-1.043), and ranks just 113th in driving distance, all areas important for success at the Farmers Insurance Open. Despite that, Finau's history at this event is reason enough to believe he can turn it around. In 11 starts at the Farmers, he has missed the cut only twice and recorded nine top-25 finishes, including six top-10s. After a disappointing 2025 season, his current form is approaching rock bottom, but this event has proven to be one where he can suddenly click. At $7,000 on DraftKings, he remains a high-risk, high-reward play.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
January 27, 2026
In his first full season in the Bronx, New York Yankees second baseman
Jazz Chisholm Jr. earned his second career All-Star nod and finished the year by slashing .242/.332/.481 with an .813 OPS and career-highs in home runs (31) and RBI (80). He also had 31 stolen bases and a career-high 75 runs scored in 130 regular-season games. In what will be a contract year if he doesn't reach a long-term extension with the Bombers, the 27-year-old infielder could have another strong season in pinstripes. Chisholm's power/speed combination is rare for a player who qualifies at the keystone, and it helps mask some of his liabilities. The former Miami Marlins second baseman is streaky, has a lengthy injury history, and has struck out almost 28% of the time in his six-year big-league career. Fantasy managers are mostly comfortable with sacrificing some average at the 2B position for Chisholm's power/speed upside, especially with the short right-field porch at Yankee Stadium.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
January 27, 2026
Chicago Cubs outfielder
Seiya Suzuki had a career-worst .245 batting average in his fourth year in the big leagues with the Cubs in 2025, but he also set career-highs in home runs (32), RBI (103), and runs scored (75) while stealing five bases in a career-high 151 regular-season games. Suzuki's career-best numbers in homers and RBI were attributed to the fact that he pulled the ball more and put the ball in the air more often than in his previous three campaigns after coming over from Japan. The 31-year-old veteran's counting stats were also aided by the fact that he didn't go on the injured list for the first time in his MLB career. Reaching the 30-homer mark for a second straight season in a contract year is certainly attainable for Suzuki, and he should once again have plenty of chances to drive in runs in the middle of Chicago's batting order. Fantasy managers should consider Suzuki just inside the top-25 outfielders for 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
January 27, 2026
Houston Astros right-hander
Hunter Brown broke out as an All-Star in 2025 in his fourth year in the big leagues, going 12-9 with a 2.43 ERA (3.14 FIP), 1.02 WHIP, and 206:57 K:BB in 31 starts over 185 1/3 innings pitched. The 27-year-old was essentially Houston's ace. The former fifth-round selection out of Wayne State has come a long way since he had a 5.09 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 155 2/3 innings in 2023 in his first year in the big leagues. Brown reached the illustrious 200-strikeout mark for the first time in his career, and opposing hitters batted a tick over .200 against him. Brown has the arsenal (six pitches) to keep batters off balance and continue to be successful in 2026, but fantasy managers shouldn't necessarily expect another ERA under 3.00. Keeping the ball in the yard was a big reason for his success last year, as he allowed just 0.8 home runs per nine innings. RotoBaller has Brown ranked as the No. 8 starting pitcher.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
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