March 24, 2026
Detroit Lions tight end
Sam LaPorta entered the league with a bang, finishing his 2023 rookie season as the TE1 and working his way to the top of most dynasty value charts. After a disappointing sophomore season and a 2025 campaign ended by a back injury after only nine games, his value sits as low as it has since he's taken a snap in the NFL. The Lions have made a change to their coaching staff for 2026, bringing Drew Petzing in from Arizona to serve as their new offensive coordinator. While the target competition in Detroit is much stiffer than what Petzing left behind in the desert, his tight end-friendly system was a not-insubstantial factor in
Trey McBride's breakout, spraying his dominant fourth-year player with 302 targets over the past two seasons, including 163 for a record-breaking TE1 finish in 2025. LaPorta has already proven his ability to feast off a high-volume attack, and with his value still suppressed by injury, he's a high-upside buy-low candidate heading into his fourth season.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
March 24, 2026
Cleveland Guardians outfielder
Chase DeLauter is having an outstanding spring training and makes a great pickup from the waiver wire or an awesome last-round snag. The 24-year-old lefty hasn't played a regular-season game but made his MLB debut in the playoffs last year. He hit .278 in 34 games at Triple-A with five homers and a .384 wOBA. This spring, DeLauter went 17-for-37 (.459) in his first 14 games with five doubles, three homers, six walks, and just four strikeouts. DeLauter's rise through the minors has been beset by injuries, but when he's healthy, he has proven to be an MLB-ready bat. If you need outfield depth, he makes a great pickup late in drafts and could be one of the hottest names on the waiver wire if he's starting and hitting high in the batting order as expected. If he stays healthy (a huge if so far in his career), he has a great shot at a breakthrough season.
--Zach ThompsonSource: RotoBAller
March 24, 2026
Cleveland Guardians catcher
Austin Hedges (hand) was forced to leave Monday night's game after taking a fastball off the back of his right hand. The 33-year-old veteran was visibly upset and will undergo further testing on Tuesday to determine the extent of the injury. Hedges was set to split time behind the plate with
Bo Naylor for the Guardians, but if he misses time,
David Fry could get more time at catcher, or the team could bring back
Jonathan Rodriguez or
Petey Halpin. While Hedges is not typically a strong enough offensive contributor for fantasy baseball teams, Naylor and Fry's playing time would be impacted by his absence, so keep an eye out for an update on Hedges' status for Opening Day.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Mason Horodyski
March 24, 2026
Cleveland Cavaliers guard/forward
Jaylon Tyson (toe) won't play on Tuesday against the Orlando Magic. He will miss a second consecutive game due to a bone bruise on his left big toe. While Tyson has played a significant role with the Cavaliers this season, the team can handle his absence well now that
Max Strus has entered the rotation. The veteran sniper has averaged 8.8 points and 7.0 rebounds across his first four appearances of the season.
Keon Ellis, who has recently made a positive impact, will also help cover for Tyson's absence.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 24, 2026
Since being drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, tight end
Noah Gray has been a popular dynasty stash in the hopes that he would one day assume at least part of
Travis Kelce's volume-rich role in Andy Reid and
Patrick Mahomes' offense. With Kelce and the Chiefs agreeing to a three-year, $54.7 million extension on Monday, it would appear that Gray is entering year six in relatively charted territory. Kelce will be almost 37 years old at the start of the 2026 season, so Gray still carries some value as the rare tight end handcuff, but the future Hall of Famer has been incredibly durable throughout his career, missing only six games over his past 11 seasons despite working through a handful of injuries. Gray has 1,255 receiving yards and nine touchdowns over his five-year career, but he has not cracked lineups as a weekly TE1 since Week 15 of 2024.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
March 24, 2026
Boston Red Sox third baseman
Caleb Durbin is expected to open the season in an everyday role with plenty of potential, and he can be a great way to add some infield depth late in your fantasy draft or even off the waiver wire if he slips through your draft. Durbin shipped up to Boston this offseason after the Red Sox snagged him in a trade from the Brewers. Last year, Drubin slashed .256/.334.387 with 11 home runs and 53 RBI in 136 games on his way to finishing third in National League Rookie of the Year voting. He has looked excellent at the plate and in the field this spring, hitting .356 in 17 games with three stolen bases and a .431 wOBA. Since he'll be an everyday player and likely hit in a good spot in Boston's batting order, he has a solid batting average floor and good speed potential. He's ranked as the No. 16 3B at RotoBaller and brings nice flexibility with 2B eligibility in some formats as well. If you need infield help at the end of your draft, he's a great option to consider.
--Zach ThompsonSource: RotoBaller
March 24, 2026
Cleveland Cavaliers center
Jarrett Allen (knee) won't be available for a ninth consecutive game on Tuesday against the Orlando Magic. The big man landed on the shelf with right knee tendinitis at the start of the month and isn't in the lineup for the first leg of a back-to-back on Tuesday.
Evan Mobley will continue to start at center, with
Thomas Bryant providing cover off the bench. The bench role limits Bryant's fantasy value, but he was close to a double-double in Saturday's win over New Orleans, finishing with 11 points, eight rebounds, one assist, and one block in 15 minutes.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 24, 2026
Orlando Magic guard
Anthony Black (abdomen) has been ruled out for Tuesday's Eastern Conference clash against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He suffered an abdominal strain earlier this month and will be unavailable for a 10th consecutive game. In his absence,
Tristan da Silva will continue to start, and he will enter Tuesday's game with positive momentum. Da Silva finished as Orlando's second-highest scorer in Monday's 128-126 loss to Indiana, posting 21 points on 9-for-16 shooting. He has averaged 11.7 points and 4.3 rebounds as a starter this season.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 24, 2026
Orlando Magic guard
Jalen Suggs (illness) will remain sidelined on Tuesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Due to illness, Suggs was unable to play on Monday night versus Indiana, and the team has also quickly ruled him out for the second game of a back-to-back.
Jevon Carter filled in for Suggs in the starting lineup against Indiana but was a massive disappointment. After scoring at least 10 points in four consecutive games, Carter managed just two points. To make things worse, he didn't register a single assist in 24 minutes. On Tuesday, Carter faces a much tougher matchup, making him a risky choice for fantasy managers.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 24, 2026
Charlotte Hornets guard/forward
Kon Knueppel (back) is considered probable for Tuesday's matchup with the Sacramento Kings. The 20-year-old rookie is dealing with a lower back issue, but it doesn't seem to be very serious. Knueppel has sat out just one game during his first NBA season, averaging 19.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. He will look to rebound from a poor performance on Tuesday, having tallied only nine points on 3-for-9 shooting in Saturday's win over Memphis.
--Taavi PailkSource: NBA Injury Report
March 24, 2026
Sacramento Kings guard/forward
Nique Clifford (foot) will be re-evaluated in one week, Kevin John of ABC10 reports. He has been diagnosed with a mild midfoot sprain. Clifford will exit the lineup on Tuesday against the Charlotte Hornets, leaving the Kings without yet another starter. With him unavailable,
Malik Monk and
Devin Carter are poised for bigger roles in the backcourt.
Daeqwon Plowden (foot) will also help cover for Clifford's absence. He is expected to return to the lineup after being handed a probable tag on the injury report.
--Taavi PailkSource: Kevin John
March 24, 2026
Golden State Warriors guard/forward
Moses Moody suffered a non-contact left knee injury in Monday's 137-131 overtime win against the Dallas Mavericks. He needed to be stretchered off the floor after being hurt with 1:13 left in overtime. This was Moody's first appearance in three weeks, having recovered from a wrist injury. The 23-year-old scored a team-high 23 points and had three rebounds, three assists, three steals, and two blocks. Moody is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Tuesday. Unfortunately, it looks like his season is over. If that's the case, the Warriors are likely to bring
Gui Santos back into the first unit.
Gary Payton II and
Will Richard are also candidates for larger roles.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
March 24, 2026
Luke Clanton has not had the best start to 2026. The young American golfer has made only one cut in six events on the PGA Tour. Worse, he is driving the ball poorly at 296.6 yards with an accuracy of only 57.22%. His Par 5 birdie scoring ranks 151st at 41.3%. That raises so many red flags at a course like Memorial Park. Add in some potentially breezy weather and Clanton might be a better wager to miss the cut again compared to anything else. His scoring average is 72.33 in opening rounds which all but cements the potential for a poor start. That ranks barely inside the Top 150 (149th). Fading Clanton to monitor his form is prudent.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
March 24, 2026
Sam Stevens did not have the best time on the Florida swing. The American golfer missed the cut at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Stevens did not fare much better at THE PLAYERS Championship adding to his streak of 72 or worse. Currently, this stands at six rounds. The expectation is that Stevens winds up under par after Round 1 in Houston. He finished T-18 at this event in 2025. Avoiding slow starts is vital as he has been bogged down in his past three events (72-74-74). One mitigating worry is his Par 5 birdie or better rate which is only 44.23% which ranks 128th. Other than that, Stevens is a player that could appear on some Top 20 betting radars this weekend.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
March 24, 2026
Keith Mitchell did not have the best time at THE PLAYERS Championship. The American golfer was in decent position for the weekend but a final round 76 dropped him all the way to T-46. The good news for Mitchell is that Houston does suit some of his strengths including driving distance (311.2 yards - 29th). Memorial Park does not require accuracy so much as other courses (55.36% - 124th). Scoring average and birdie average are both inside the Top 50. One concern is the middle rounds when it comes to putts per round at 30.13 and 29.25 respectively. If Mitchell manages his putts and makes a few, he could be a decent DFS choice for the Houston Open.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
March 24, 2026
Will Zalatoris has not played on the PGA Tour since late January. The American golfer suffered an ankle injury which has kept him out for almost two months. Zalatoris has had quite an unfortunate time with injury and surgery (back). He did finish T-18 at The American Express before a 75 caused him to miss the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open. Before surgery last year, Zalatoris had numerous issues with putting losing at least one stroke or more in five of his final eight events of 2025. It will be intriguing to see where Zalatoris is with his recovery. He has not qualified for The Masters yet so the urgency to perform well this week will be elevated.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
March 24, 2026
Wyndham Clark was in contention for one event in 2026. The American golfer was inside the Top 10 at The American Express before a 72 derailed his weekend. Clark does drive the ball well at 310.3 yards which ranks 35th. Overall putting has been troubling as Clark has lost strokes to putting in four straight events including the Valspar where he missed the cut. He averages 29 putts per round in the opening round of events which is not great either. If anyone needs to get off to a good start, it is Clark. Memorial Park expects to feature breezy weather with no rain chances so that may help Clark from a DFS perspective.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
March 24, 2026
Shane Lowry had the Cognizant Classic all but won until he did not. The Irish golfer collapsed on the back nine that Sunday and finished tied for second. Since then, he missed back-to-back cuts and has not looked the same losing 1.75 strokes overall at the Arnold Palmer and THE PLAYERS Championship. The last time Lowry played in Houston was 2022 where he missed the cut but in 2021, he finished T-11. Lowry has been accurate with his drives at 63.39% (30th) but only driving an average of 295.8 yards (141st). The latter is a problem at the Memorial Park Golf Course. Lowry may not be a viable option this week in Houston as he tries to get his game back in form in time for The Masters.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
March 24, 2026
Kurt Kitayama missed the cut at THE PLAYERS Championship. The American golfer took the following week off to focus on the Houston Open. This is a course that sets up well as Kitayama has played well in 2026. He has one runner-up and three Top 25 results. Kitayama drives the ball pretty well (307.8 yards - 47th). His accuracy rate is 60.86% which ranks 59th. Putting has been a little more hit and miss at 29.16 putts per round (120th). Do not look at THE PLAYERS where Kitayama lost 2.57 strokes. While the golfer may be a fade for betting, he could be a reasonable DFS choice this week.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
March 24, 2026
Jake Knapp had five straight Top 25 results to start off 2026. The American golfer missed the cut at THE PLAYERS Championship but is poised to rebound at the Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston. This course rewards long drives and scoring well on Par 5's. Knapp ranks 8th in driving distance at 317 yards and second in strokes gained to putting at 1.291. He carries a one-putt percentage of 45.71% which also ranks 8th. From a DFS and betting standpoint, Knapp becomes a really good bet especially for first round lead wagers. One final reason why is that scoring average of 68.23 which leads the entire PGA Tour.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
March 24, 2026
Tony Finau finished tied for 18th at last week's Valspar Championship, and that was followed by a tied for 70th finish at the PLAYERS Championship. Finau will now turn his focus to preparing for this week's Texas Children's Houston Open held at Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston, Texas. Finau has rebounded nicely from his disappointing 2025 season. He has three top-25 finishes in eight starts this season, but has also missed the cut three times. Over the past 12 months, Finau ranks in the 74th percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway. This is worth pointing out because at last year's Texas Children's Houston Open over 36% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
March 24, 2026
Scottie Scheffler finished tied for 22nd at the PLAYERS Championship two weeks ago, following a tied for 24th finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Scheffler will now turn his focus to preparing for this week's Texas Children's Houston Open held at Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston, Texas. Scheffler has secured six straight top-25 finishes in six starts this season. He finished tied for second at last year's Texas Children's Houston Open. Over the past 12 months, Scheffler ranks in the 98th percentile in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 150-200 yards in the fairway. This is important because at last year's Texas Children's Houston Open over 36% of approach shots came from this distance.
--Ian Christenson - RotoBallerSource: Data Golf
March 24, 2026
After back-to-back missed cuts in his two prior events, Sam Burns bounced back in a big way at THE PLAYERS, finishing T13. He looks to build on that performance at the Texas Children's Houston Open, where he has recorded two T7 finishes, a missed cut, and a withdrawal in four appearances. Success here does not require precision off the tee, which benefits Burns, who ranks 116th in driving accuracy and 26th in distance. His biggest issue this season has been ball striking, sitting 105th on approach (-0.138 strokes per round) and 102nd tee to green (-0.260). Burns' putter had not been up to his usual standard to start the year, but gaining over 7.6 strokes with the flat stick at TPC Sawgrass catapulted him into 14th on Tour. This type of course, where power is rewarded over accuracy and contenders are often separated by elite putting, sets up well for him. He can be confidently started at $9,700 on DraftKings.
--Dakota Legg - RotoBallerSource: PGA Tour
March 23, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher
Will Smith will hit cleanup against left-handed starting pitchers to open the 2026 regular season, manager Dave Roberts told Jack Harris of the California Post. The Dodgers rolled out this wrinkle to their lineup during Monday's spring training contest against the Los Angeles Angels, and it sounds like it will stick for at least the first part of the season. As a result,
Freddie Freeman dropped to the fifth spot in the lineup. Presumably, the motivating factor is to get more balance at the top of the order. With
Kyle Tucker on the team, three of the Dodgers' first four batters were projected to be left-handed hitters. Swapping Smith and Freeman allows for just two lefties among the first four batters. Jumping to cleanup against southpaws should lead to additional RBI opportunities for the veteran backstop, who already ranks #9 among catchers in RotoBaller's fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.
--Andersen PickardSource: Jack Harris
March 23, 2026
Detroit Tigers catcher
Jake Rogers (concussion) has cleared concussion protocol and will be on the 26-man roster for Opening Day, manager A.J. Hinch told Evan Petzold of Detroit Free Press. Hinch noted that Rogers caught a couple of bullpens and hit in the cage on Monday, and he'll catch a portion of Tuesday's spring training contest against the Colorado Rockies. Rogers is nestled into the backup role in Detroit after a couple of frustrating seasons at the plate. Across 49 games in 2025, he slashed just .187/.277/.333 with a 27.5% strikeout rate and 70 wRC+. The vast majority of his contributions come on defense, where he has posted 11 FRV and 14.6 FRM over the last two years. He'll only start games this year when
Dillon Dingler gets the day off.
--Andersen PickardSource: Evan Petzold
March 23, 2026
Houston Astros infielder
Jeremy Pena (finger) will play shortstop during Tuesday's exhibition game against the Triple-A Space Cowboys, manager Joe Espada told Chandler Rome of The Athletic. There had been speculation that Pena might play on Tuesday, but the skipper now confirmed the rumors and also noted that the 28-year-old will grab a glove and play the field. Pena is working his way back from a right ring finger fracture that he suffered while working out for the Dominican Republic ahead of the World Baseball Classic. It seems unlikely that Pena will open the season on the injured list, but the Astros are certainly taking the decision down to the wire. If he does miss any time,
Carlos Correa would shift to shortstop and
Isaac Paredes would patrol the hot corner. Pena is looking to build on a career-best 2025 campaign in which he slashed .304/.363/.477 with 17 home runs, 20 stolen bases, a 6.4% walk rate, a 17.1% strikeout rate, and 135 wRC+. He currently ranks #16 among shortstops in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.
--Andersen PickardSource: Chandler Rome
March 23, 2026
Texas Rangers left-handed pitcher
Jordan Montgomery (elbow) will throw his fifth bullpen session on Tuesday, according to Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News. The session will include approximately 30 pitches, and if all goes well, he could progress to the equivalent of two-inning sessions in the near future. Montgomery is working his way back from Tommy John surgery, and he's not expected to pitch in an MLB game until the middle of the 2026 season. Given that he's already had two UCL reconstruction surgeries, it seems unlikely that he'll get back to his 2023 form, which included a 3.20 ERA and 4.2 fWAR. However, the Rangers still believe he can be a low-risk starter in the back of their rotation, which is why they signed him to a one-year, $1.25 million deal in the middle of his rehab process.
--Andersen PickardSource: Evan Grant
March 23, 2026
San Diego Padres relief pitcher
Jason Adam (quad) will open the season on the 15-day injured list, according to Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune. Adam has been recovering from a September surgery that repaired a ruptured tendon in his quad. While he has been facing batters for weeks, he didn't make his Cactus League debut until last Friday. As a result of his delayed return to action, he's going to open the year on the injured list. His placement on the IL will be backdated to March 22, allowing him to return no earlier than April 6. Getting Adam back and healthy is key for the Padres, as the veteran reliever pitched to an impressive 1.93 ERA with 9.64 K/9 and 3.44 BB/9 across 65.1 innings of relief work last year.
Ron Marinaccio and
Bradgley Rodriguez are both expected to make the Opening Day roster since Adam is not quite ready to go.
--Andersen PickardSource: Kevin Acee
March 23, 2026
Houston Astros starting pitcher
Lance McCullers Jr. has made the Opening Day rotation, according to Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle. McCullers has been with the Astros since he made his MLB debut in 2015, but he didn't pitch at all in 2023 or 2024. He returned to action last year, making 16 appearances (13 starts) in the majors with a shaky 5.77 FIP, 6.34 BB/9, and 1.63 HR/9. He struck out batters at a modest clip of 9.92 K/9, but his ground ball rate dropped to a new career-low mark of 46.4%. His job was far from guaranteed coming out of spring training, but ultimately, it appears that he has won the No. 5 starter role. With that being said, he'll need to pitch well -- or, at least, better than last year -- to survive a full season in the rotation. He showed flashes of improvement this spring with a 3.38 ERA, as well as reduced walk and home run rates. However, he racked up just 5.63 K/9 and a 40.9% ground ball rate, albeit over a small sample size.
--Andersen PickardSource: Matt Kawahara
March 23, 2026
The Chicago Cubs and star outfielder
Pete Crow-Armstrong are working to finalize a multi-year extension that would keep him in Chicago long-term, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.com. Terms of the deal haven't been disclosed yet, and while the two sides are approaching an agreement, nothing has been finalized at this point. Still, it's a very encouraging development for all parties involved, including Cubs fans and fantasy baseball managers. Crow-Armstrong is coming off a spectacular 30-30 season in which he slashed .247/.287/.481 with 31 home runs, 35 stolen bases, and 109 wRC+. He was also highly productive defensively, posting 21 OAA and 21 FRV in center field. There are some holes in his game -- last year's 4.5% walk rate is far from optimal -- but overall, at just 23 years old, he has already blossomed into a superstar outfielder with a very bright future ahead of him.
--Andersen PickardSource: Jeff Passan
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