Category: Sport

Lindsey Vonn has a torn ACL. Lindsey Vonn is still going to compete in the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics. Those two sentences seem at odds with each other, but they are both true.

Vonn, who tore her ACL during a fall Friday, announced Tuesday that she still plans to compete at the Olympics despite the injury. She plans to wear a knee brace when she participates in the women’s downhill Sunday.

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Given the severity and nature of the injury, Vonn’s desire to try and compete on a shredded knee feels like it shouldn’t be possible. A torn ACL typically results in about a year of rehab, and that’s if both surgery and recovery go well. Some athletes have missed even more time trying to return from one of sport’s most devastating injuries.

But a select few have actually pushed through the pain and competed despite torn ACLs. Those athletes typically don’t last long before they need to undergo surgery, but what Vonn is attempting has been done in the past.

Here is a list of players who have managed to keep playing through a torn ACL:

NFL

Garrison Hearst, Arizona Cardinals, 1993

It’s unclear whether Garrison Hearst played on a torn ACL in college. The injury was discovered during the 1993 NFL scouting combine, though Hearst claimed he had not experienced knee pain during his time at Georgia. Hearst opted to not immediately undergo surgery, and was selected by the Arizona Cardinals with the No. 3 overall pick that year. Hearst then reportedly sustained another injury to the same knee during his rookie season in the NFL and underwent surgery after just six games. The exact nature of that surgery is not known, but Hearst may have played a few games in the NFL with a torn ACL.

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Philip Rivers, San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers quarterback, 2008

Former Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers’ toughness is not in question. The long-time vet — who improbably returned to the NFL in 2025 — is tied for third with 243 consecutive starts in the NFL. While this particular instance didn’t count toward that streak, it proves his willingness to gut out injuries. In 2008, Rivers played the AFC championship game six days after tearing his ACL and meniscus in his right knee. The Chargers lost the contest 21-12. Rivers finished the game 19 for 37, with 211 passing yards and two interceptions.

Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, 2017

In the midst of a possible MVP season, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz sustained a torn ACL. The injury occurred during the team’s Week 14 win over the Los Angeles Rams. Wentz injured his knee during a third-quarter touchdown run that was called back due to a penalty. He attempted two more passes on the drive, completing a 2-yard touchdown to Alshon Jeffery to finish the drive. Wentz, however, was replaced by Nick Foles the next time the Eagles’ offense took the field. Wentz then underwent season-ending surgery, missing the rest of the regular season and playoffs.

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NHL

Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks center, 2017

With the San Jose Sharks tied 1-1 with the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the 2017 playoffs, Joe Thornton returned from a torn ACL and MCL to play in the final four games of the series. He managed two assists over those four games, though couldn’t lead the Sharks to a win in the series. After the extent of Thornton’s injuries were revealed, then-Sharks coach Peter DeBoer called it “as courageous an effort … as I’ve ever seen.”

Kyle Palmieri, New York Islanders forward, 2025

With the Islanders trailing the Philadelphia Flyers 3-0 in a November game, forward Kyle Palmieri took an ugly hit into the boards, tearing his ACL. Play wasn’t stopped, however, as Palmieri somehow got up and gingerly made his way back to the team’s bench. On the way there, he stole the puck from Flyers defenseman Emil Andrae. Palmieri then passed it to Jonathan Drouin, who passed it to Emil Heineman, who scored the first goal of the game for the Islanders. Palmieri was credited with an assist as he left the ice to go get his knee examined.

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NBA

Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics guard, 2013

During a January game against the Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo tore his ACL … and stayed in the game for 12 more minutes. While it’s unclear exactly when Rondo sustained the injury, it’s believed it happened during a drive to the basket in the fourth quarter. Rondo remained in the contest after that and even intended to play in the team’s next game before team doctors examined his knee 24 minutes before tip-off. Rondo originally believed he was dealing with a hamstring issue, and had intended to continue playing through what was actually a torn ACL.

Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors guard, 2019

During Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors, Golden State Warriors sharpshooter Klay Thompson tore his ACL on a foul late in the third quarter. Thompson initially started to leave the game, but returned to the court to shoot his free throws. Thompson knew he wouldn’t be allowed to return to the game had another player taken those shots, so he took them himself. Thompson made both shots before leaving the contest. He was unable to return to the contest, which the Warriors lost.

Golf

Tiger Woods, 2007

At some point in 2007, Tiger Woods ruptured his ACL while running at home. Instead of immediately having surgery, Woods opted to play through the injury. He won five of his next six events, including the 2008 U.S. Open, before eventually having his ACL repaired in 2008.

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NCAA

Robert Griffin III, Baylor quarterback, 2009

During a 68-13 win over Northwestern State, Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III threw three touchdowns in the first half after sustaining a torn ACL in the victory. Griffin, who was injured on the team’s first drive, remained in the contest until halftime, believing he had hyperextended his knee. An MRI later revealed he tore his ACL. Griffin missed the rest of the season due to the injury.

MJ Metz, Duke designated hitter, 2023

During the regional round of the NCAA baseball tournament, Duke graduate transfer MJ Metz played four games on a torn ACL. He performed incredibly well, going 8-for-18 with four home runs and eight RBI despite the injury. Metz served as the team’s designated hitter and played with a brace to stabilize his knee. He appeared in three more games in the super regional round, going 4-for-11 to finish out the year.

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Kurtis Rourke, Indiana quarterback, 2024

Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke played his final NCAA season with a torn ACL, his agent revealed last January. Rourke managed 29 touchdowns against five interceptions with Indiana, leading the team to an 11-2 record. He underwent surgery to repair the injury last January and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the seventh round of the NFL Draft that April. He spent his rookie season on injured reserve.

Athletes who played without ACLs

While it’s not exactly the same, there have been cases of some athletes having successful professional careers despite not having ACLs. Pittsburgh Steelers wideout Hines Ward has openly talked about that phenomenon, saying he found out he didn’t have an ACL ahead of the 1998 NFL Draft.

He’s not the only NFL player with that story. Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears has played three seasons in the NFL without an ACL in one of his knees.

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In the NBA, former San Antonio Spurs forward DeJuan Blair played seven seasons in the league despite not having either of his ACLs. Blair reportedly had two surgeries in high school that eventually resulted in him no longer having ACLs in his knees.

UFC and WWE star Ronda Rousey said in October that she does not have an ACL in her right knee. She said she first discovered she had no ACL in her right knee after undergoing an MRI at age 16. She went on to win a bronze medal in judo at the 2008 Olympics and became one of the most decorated fighters in UFC history.

Led by a second-year quarterback and a remodeled defense, the New England Patriots went from worst to first in the AFC East. Now they’re up against an NFC West power, a Super Bowl favorite that’s equipped with a league-leading unit that oozes with greatness.

The Patriots have been here before. Back in the 2001 season, when their two-decade dynasty started, with Tom Brady at QB and Bill Belichick as head coach in Super Bowl XXXVI against the St. Louis Rams.

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So just how similar is this year’s Patriots team to the one that helped redefine the franchise? More than you might think. Let’s have some fun.

Quarterback: Tom Brady vs. Drake Maye

Although Brady and Drake Maye both piloted the Patriots to the Super Bowl in Year 2, their journeys to that point were wildly different. New England selected a dual-threat Maye with the No. 3 overall draft pick in 2024, whereas a conventionally unathletic Brady famously fell to pick No. 199 in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. Brady completed one pass as a rookie while backing up Drew Bledsoe. Maye, on the other hand, was thrust into the Patriots’ QB1 role about a month into his inaugural season in the league.

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It wasn’t until Week 2 of the 2001 season that Brady got his shot. He took over late in the fourth quarter after Bledsoe got rocked by New York Jets linebacker Mo Lewis. Brady made the Pro Bowl that season, throwing for at least three touchdowns without a pick in three different outings and engineering game-winning drives in three others. His 2001 numbers paled in comparison to the ones Maye stacked during the 2025 campaign, though. Benefiting from a franchise reset, Maye established himself as an NFL MVP candidate, tossing 31 touchdowns and completing a league-high 72% of his attempts.

QB verdict: Very different

Brady’s ascent from sixth-round backup to Super Bowl champion during the 2001 season remains one of the best, and most unlikely, stories in sports history. Maye’s second-year success is significant; however, he was a one-time Alabama commit and a top-10 Heisman Trophy vote-getter at UNC before going top-three in the draft as a high-upside prospect. No QB’s stardom is guaranteed in the NFL, but Maye’s was far more predictable than Brady’s.

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[Get more Patriots news: New England team feed]

Coach: Bill Belichick vs. Mike Vrabel

The 2001 season marked the second year of Bill Belichick’s head-coaching tenure in New England, and his sixth season leading an NFL team, having also coached the Cleveland Browns. Belichick’s Patriots went 5-11 in 2000. They dropped to 0-2 in 2001 after falling to a Jets franchise he was supposed to coach but instead resigned from around 20 months earlier. Ultimately, Brady saved the day at quarterback, and Belichick’s defense gelled.

Mike Vrabel helped the latter come to fruition. A former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker, he was one of several new faces in New England that year. Now he’s coaching the franchise with whom he won three Super Bowls during the first half of the Patriots’ reign. While Belichick reportedly worried about his job security at the beginning of the 2001 season, Vrabel entered the 2025 campaign with immense head-coaching credibility. He had already coached the Tennessee Titans to four winning seasons and an AFC championship game appearance. A stark contrast from an upbeat Pete Carroll, Belichick was demanding on the field and brooding in front of the media as he installed the “Patriot Way.” This season, Vrabel has struck a balance: He’s authoritative yet personable as a defensive-minded CEO head coach.

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Coach verdict: Different

Vrabel authored a remarkable turnaround in 2025 that rivals Belichick’s in 2001, except with a more emotive disposition and in his first year on the job. Even though Belichick and Vrabel are both detail-oriented coaches who revamped New England’s defense, their varying head-coaching résumés prior to these Super Bowl seasons and leadership nuances justify the distinction.

Team building: 2001 Patriots vs. 2025 Patriots

The Patriots’ preseason over/under win total was 6.5 in 2001. At the time, they were three years removed from their last postseason appearance and five years removed from reaching their last Super Bowl.

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In 2025, New England’s over/under was 8.5. It had been four years since the Patriots had last made the playoffs and seven years since their most recent Super Bowl appearance. Both teams were coming off back-to-back last-place finishes in the AFC East.

In each instance, New England’s jump in performance was preceded by seismic roster turnover. Ahead of the 2001 campaign, the Patriots set a franchise record for offseason moves. Coming into the 2025 season, they spent heavily in free agency and returned just 48.4% of players from the previous season, the lowest retention rate of any NFL team this time around, according to Over the Cap.

Team building verdict: Very similar

Major resets were necessary for a pair of Patriots squads looking to ditch the stench of losing. Just like the 2001 Patriots, the 2025 Patriots had a second-year quarterback (Brady/Maye), a rookie left tackle (Matt Light/Will Campbell), a veteran wideout leading the team in receiving (Troy Brown/Stefon Diggs), a hard-nosed linebacker who played for the Steelers early in his career (Vrabel/Robert Spillane) and a Pro Bowl cornerback (Ty Law/Christian Gonzalez).

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They leaped from 17th to sixth in scoring defense from 2000 to 2001, and then from 22nd to fourth in that same category from 2024 to 2025. Those units were paramount in the teams’ postseason surges, never allowing more than 17 points.

Oh, and New England navigated a blizzard both times. But this year’s AFC championship didn’t have the controversy the “Tuck Rule” fueled during the divisional round 24 years ago.

Super Bowl opponent: 2001 Rams vs. 2025 Seahawks

The 2001 Patriots found themselves matched up with “The Greatest Show on Turf” St. Louis Rams, one of the most potent offenses in NFL history. Quarterbacked by two-time NFL MVP Kurt Warner, the high-flying Rams ranked first in points per game (31.4), yards per play (6.6) and third-down conversion rate (50%). Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce starred at receiver. Marshall Faulk ran routes like them, but he doubled as an explosive running back.

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The 2025 Patriots are dealing with a comparable threat on the other side of the ball. The Seattle Seahawks’ defense gave up the fewest points per game (17.2), second-fewest yards per play (4.6) and the lowest third-down conversion rate (32.1%) of any NFL team this season. “The Dark Side” is giving last decade’s “Legion of Boom” a run for its money as one of the more terrifying defenses in recent memory. Leonard Williams, DeMarcus Lawrence and Byron Murphy II headline a suffocating front that affords Seattle the option to stay in two-high safety looks.

Verdict: Fairly similar

The 2001 Rams actually ranked seventh in scoring defense, and the 2025 Seahawks are third in scoring offense with the NFL’s leading receiver. These Super Bowl teams aren’t one-trick ponies, but they’re best known for their dominance on offense (Rams) and defense (Seahawks).

Expectations: 2001 Patriots vs. 2025 Patriots

The Patriots were 14-point underdogs against the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI in February 2002. They’re currently just 4.5-point underdogs versus the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX. After all, before the season started, the Seahawks were also a long shot to win the big game. That said, critics have discounted this season’s Patriots and their weak regular-season schedule for months.

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Verdict: Similar

Brady didn’t put up earth-shattering playoff stats as a burgeoning quarterback in his second season. Maye hasn’t, either. They both dealt with the elements, and even injury. Remember, Brady left the 2001 season AFC title game in Pittsburgh with an ankle issue. The Super Bowl wouldn’t be in the cards for this season’s Patriots without their defense. The same was true for them back then. Will a feel-good New England team, and especially its young QB, have enough against an NFC West titan? Doubt is plentiful, as was the case before. Maybe the Patriots will like it that way.

LIV Golf is finally getting Official World Golf Ranking points this season.

The OWGR announced on Tuesday that it has granted world ranking points to LIV Golf events for the 2026 season, something the Saudi Arabian-backed league has been fighting for since its inception.

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However, only the top 10 finishers in LIV Golf individual stroke play events will actually receive points. LIV Golf events will be based on the OWGR’s “small field tournaments” classification. Players who finish outside of the top 10 will not receive any points.

“This has been an incredibly complex and challenging process and one which we have devoted a huge amount of time and energy to resolving in the seven months since LIV Golf submitted their application,” OWGR chairman Trevor Immelman said in a statement. “We fully recognised the need to rank the top men’s players in the world but at the same time had to find a way of doing so that was equitable to the thousands of other players competing on other tours that operate with established meritocratic pathways.

“We believe we have found a solution that achieves these twin aims and enables the best-performing players at LIV Golf events to receive OWGR points. I would like to acknowledge the substantial and constructive efforts made by Scott O’Neil and the team at LIV Golf. We look forward to working with them on implementing this approach with immediate effect for the 2026 LIV Golf season.”

By comparison, all players who make the cut in a PGA Tour event receive OWGR points. Justin Rose, for example, earned just shy of 57 points for his win at the Farmers Insurance Open last week. That jumped him to No. 3 in the world, behind only Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. Kensei Hirata, who finished 74th and was last among those who made it to the weekend, still earned 0.54685 points.

The OWGR released a projected breakdown for LIV Golf’s season opener in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The winner will receive just more than 23 points, while the 10th place finisher will earn about 2.76 points. LIV Golf events will earn about the same as opposite-field Tour events — like the Puerto Rico Open, which is played the same week as the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

“We respect today’s decision by the Official World Golf Ranking governing board and the considerable time the board and chairman Immelman committed to the process,” the Tour said in a brief statement.

The lack of OWGR points has hurt LIV Golf significantly since it first launched in 2022, and it has failed to get them in recent years both due to its 54-hole format, its closed-field format, the lack of a traditional cut and more. Those points are a major metric that tournaments, including the four major championships, use to build out their fields. The Masters, for example, invites the top 50 in the OWGR into its field at Augusta National if they haven’t qualified already some other way.

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[Check out all of Yahoo Sports’ golf content here in our golf hub]

Since LIV Golf members haven’t been earning points and have been plummeting in the world rankings, many have struggled to qualify for non-LIV Golf events. Former No. 1 Dustin Johnson, for example, is currently No. 662 in the world rankings. Brooks Koepka, who returned to the Tour last week under the new “Returning Members Program,” is ranked No. 252. Even Bryson DeChambeau, who has arguably faired the best at the majors since joining LIV Golf, is at No. 33.

“We acknowledge this long‑overdue moment of recognition, which affirms the fundamental principle that performance on the course should matter, regardless of where the competition takes place,” LIV Golf said in a statement. “However, this outcome is unprecedented. Under these rules, a player finishing 11th in a LIV Golf event is treated the same as a player finishing 57th. Limiting points to only the top 10 finishers disproportionately harms players who consistently perform at a high level but finish just outside that threshold, as well as emerging talent working to establish themselves on the world stage—precisely the players a fair and meritocratic ranking system is designed to recognize.

“No other competitive tour or league in OWGR history has been subjected to such a restriction. We expect this is merely a first step toward a structure that fully and fairly serves the players, the fans, and the future of the sport. We entered this process in good faith and will continue to advocate for a ranking system that reflects performance over affiliation. The game deserves transparency. The fans deserve credibility. And the players deserve a system that treats them equally.”

While the arrival of OWGR points gives LIV Golf more legitimacy as it enters its fifth season, the minimal points the league is being offered is going to make it difficult for the best golfers to climb back into contention with the rest of the sport.

The High Score 100 — the top 100 players in Yahoo’s newest fantasy basketball format — is a running reflection of year-to-date performance and trending production. Each weekly update captures who’s actually delivering value and who’s fading.

[High Score is a new way to play Fantasy Basketball on Yahoo with simple rosters and scoring. It’s not too late to create or join a league]

Here’s a breakdown of the biggest risers and fallers through the 15th week of fantasy basketball — with the complete High Score 100 at the bottom of the article. I’ll be updating my rankings every Tuesday throughout the fantasy basketball season.

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📈 Risers — 3 players shooting up ranks, but will the deadline spoil things?

Andrew Nembhard — G, Indiana Pacers: 57th overall (⬆️ 14)

Nembhard enters February playing his best ball of the season. He averaged 18.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 9.2 assists per game while shooting 49% from the field. He’s been a top-60 player in High Score all year. Lately though, he’s been even better, ranking 30th over the past month, posting 43 fantasy points per game. The Pacers could be sellers at the deadline, but Nembhard has established himself as a key part of Indy’s future.

I have some concerns about him being load-managed as the season progresses, but it’s probably more likely to occur with 31-year-old Pascal Siakam. Still, Nembhard has been a reliable and consistent point guard all season and fantasy managers can expect him to be a steady top-50, top-60ish player across formats.

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Bam Adebayo — FC, Miami Heat: 54th overall (⬆️ 12)

I was hard on Bam a few weeks ago. He landed on my fallers list in Weeks 12 and 13, but he’s finally turning things around. Adebayo is riding a streak of eight straight games with 20+ points, recording a double-double in five of those games. He’s been a top-25 asset in High Score over the past two weeks, averaging 45 fantasy points per game.

With Miami dealing with so many backcourt injuries, Bam has been more aggressive offensively. He’s scoring more because he’s putting up at least four more shots per game in his last 10 outings, while also racking up more steals and assists than in previous months.

I expect Bam to continue powering the Heat, but who knows what could happen if Miami becomes a serious contender in the Giannis sweepstakes.

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Paolo Banchero — FC, Orlando Magic: 29th overall (⬆️ 8)

Feels like no one is appreciating what Banchero has been doing lately. It’s probably because the Magic are underachieving, but fantasy-wise, Banchero’s been in beast mode. In his past six contests, Banchero’s averaging 26 points, 9 boards and 4 dimes, totaling 47 fantasy points per game.

He’s been very efficient by his standards, shooting 51% from the field, 50% from 3 and 77% from the line. That efficiency helped him climb to 21st in High Score over that span. He’s been getting to the line at will, getting up at least 10 free throw attempts in five straight games. A top-30 finish is well within reach if the Magic stay quiet at the deadline.

📉 Fallers — Bye-bye, Paul George

Paul George — FC, Philadelphia 76ers: Unranked (⬇️ 14)

PG’s off the board entirely. The NBA handed him a 25-game suspension on Jan. 31 for violating the anti-drug policy, and he won’t be eligible to return until late March — when Philly has just 10 games left in the regular season.

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No production, no ranking. Simple as that. Even when George comes back, there’s not enough runway to crack back into the High Score 100. Fantasy managers who were holding should cut bait and stream that roster spot. The season’s essentially over for him.

Norman Powell — G/FC, Miami Heat: 63rd overall (⬇️ 9)

I like Norm, but he’s been struggling. He hasn’t had a 40-fantasy point game since Jan. 17 and in his last six games, he’s averaging less than 30 fantasy points per game. That ranks 118th over the past 14 days.

He’s been on the injury report with a back injury more than we’d like to see recently, so he’s a player who will likely benefit from some time off around the All-Star break.

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Ivica Zubac — FC, Los Angeles Clippers: 90th overall (⬇️ 6)

Zubac does two things really well: rebound and score around the rim. The problem is that’s basically all he does, and recently, even those numbers have dipped. He averaged 12.3 points and 10.2 rebounds in 28 minutes per game in January.

In High Score, you need more than just points and boards to separate yourself, especially at the center position. Zubac isn’t giving you many assists or stocks and when his scoring and rebounding drop even slightly, there’s nothing else propping up his fantasy value.

He’s been averaging just 28.7 fantasy points over the past two weeks and his performance has dropped him to 91st overall on the season. Let’s hope James Harden doesn’t get traded from the Clippers, because their two-man game has been pretty symbiotic.

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Complete High Score 100 rankings

The High Score 100 is a running reflection of year-to-date performance and trending production.

The Memphis Grizzlies are trading Jaren Jackson Jr. and three other players to the Utah Jazz for four players and three future first-round draft picks, ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported.

In addition to Jackson, the Jazz will receive John Konchar, Jock Landale and Vince Williams Jr., while the Grizzlies’ return is Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang and three future first-round draft picks.

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With the trade, the Grizzlies now have 12 first-round picks in the next seven years, a number exceeded by only the Brooklyn Nets and Oklahoma City Thunder. Utah will trade its most favorable 2027 first-round pick (the Jazz also have picks from the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves), the Lakers’ 2027 first-round pick and the Suns’ 2031 first-round pick to the Grizzlies, per reports.

In moving on from Jackson, the Grizzlies have also created a massive trade exception of $28.8 million for the team. That’s the largest trade exception in NBA history, according to Bobby Marks of ESPN. Jackson is making $23.4 million this season.

Jackson, 26, is a two-time NBA All-Star and a former Defensive Player of the Year. He is averaging 19.2 points — his fewest in the past three seasons — while making 35.9 percent of his 3-pointers this season.

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The Grizzlies had been fielding offers for point guard Ja Morant, but the market for Jackson was unsurprisingly more robust. Jackson’s trade figures to be the first step in a potential massive rebuild for the franchise. This year’s NBA Draft is expected to be strong, and Memphis figures to only solidify its lottery standing with Jackson no longer on the roster.

Utah could now choose to build around Jackson, Keyonte George and Lauri Markkanen with more moves possible ahead of Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET trade deadline.

Subscribe to The Dunker Spot on your favorite podcast app:

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We’re a couple of days away from the NBA trade deadline, and things
are heating up. Could James Harden (and Darius Garland) be on the
move? The guys discuss the latest there, as well as give their initial
thoughts on the three-team trade involving the Cavs, Kings, and Bulls.

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From there, the guys discuss the biggest (or most interesting)
defensive trends and tactics across the league. Among the things
brought up: a rise of full-court pressure, increased willingness to
send help (or switch!) from the strong side corner, and funky zone
defenses from teams like the Lakers and Timberwolves

Finally, they close by recapping the weekend slate of Unrivaled
games, including a historic outing in Philadelphia. They discuss the record-breaking attendance and what it means, salute the shot making
of Marina Mabrey, and bounce around with some general team thoughts.

If you ever have NBA or WNBA questions, email us at dunkerspot@yahoo.com. 4:07 — Is a James Harden/Darius Garland swap happening?

4:07 — Is a James Harden/Darius Garland swap happening?
16:57 — Cavs/Kings/Bulls trade discussion
39:30 — All-Star reaction
41:48 — Defensive trends across the league
01:08:48 — Unrivaled recap

🖥️ Watch this full episode on the Yahoo Sports NBA YouTube channel

Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at yahoosports.tv

The 2026 NFL Draft is still several months away, but this is the ideal time of year to get caught up on the prospects who will make an impact on the fantasy football landscape for redraft and dynasty leagues.

With the main fantasy season complete, I’ve had time to go over game tape, collegiate production, interviews and more in order to project what this incoming crop of rookies will become at the next level.

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We’ll get more precise athletic testing numbers to work with at the NFL Combine in late February, before eventually finding out how NFL front offices value this class when draft day arrives in April.

Consider this a starting point in the pre-draft process, while understanding that landing spots will have an important impact on the fantasy value of each player. Once we know which organization they’ll be joining, it’ll reveal a larger part of the puzzle in terms of their opportunity, coaching, scheme and team culture.

For now, we’ll continue this series by focusing on the incoming running backs who have the best chance to become fantasy-relevant in the NFL.

Prospect Fantasy Outlooks

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Potential to be elite

• Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

Quarterback, tight end and running back all have a very clear top talent at each position this year — with little room for debate.

Love might be a tier or two below the truly elite RB prospects from past years like Bijan Robinson or Saquon Barkley, but he is the total package and a player who’s going to be an impact NFL starter right away.

The 20-year-old has the size, skill and athleticism to be a three-down workhorse at the next level. He displays good vision and patience, letting blocks develop in front of him, while also having the breakaway straight-line speed necessary to create big plays. I don’t know if we’ll see his spin move as often in the pros, but it was an effective move for him in college.

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He’s also a comfortable pass-catcher (56 receptions over the last two seasons) who’s dangerous out in space.

Operating behind an elite Notre Dame offensive line certainly helped his production, but Love has shown more than enough to warrant being selected in the first round of April’s draft. He might even hear his name called in the top 15.

Fantasy Outlook: In a weaker year for fantasy prospects, Love will be a highly coveted asset and the unquestioned 1.01 in dynasty rookie drafts. You can also expect him to go off the board in redraft leagues as a second-round pick who might sneak into the first depending on his landing spot. 

In a draft class filled with prospects who will need to develop in order to emerge as meaningful fantasy starters, Love is a set-it-and-forget-it RB1 with a path to being a high-end producer.  

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Dynasty rookie value (Superflex): 1.01

Stars in the making

• Jonah Coleman, Washington

• Nicholas Singleton, Penn State

While Coleman and Singleton aren’t quite as polished as Love, they both profile as NFL starters and potentially strong fantasy options.

Coleman stands out as an effective and efficient collegiate back who dealt with injuries that lowered his production this season. He deserves more hype, though. The 22-year-old is a smooth runner who has excellent short-area quickness and good power in his 5-foot-9, 228-pound frame.

Picture a pinball-style ball carrier with outstanding vision and quick feet, who’s a quality pass-catcher and never fumbles. Is that something you might be interested in?

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Singleton is equally impressive and may also come with an injury discount after fracturing his foot during Senior Bowl week. The injury comes with a four-month recovery, so that rules out the NFL Combine and his Pro Day, meaning you won’t hear as much about him in the lead-up to the draft.

However, prior to the injury, Singleton made a strong case to be considered as a potential three-down starter in the pros. He combines fluid movement and good vision with serious burst through the line. His speed is more in the straight-line variety, but he’s very quick once he gets going and can be a surprisingly explosive big-play threat for his size.

While Singleton is a capable pass-catcher, he’s not as quick in short areas, which makes him less dynamic in the receiving game. But he’s a strong pass protector, which should help keep him on the field — as long as he can stay healthy.

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Fantasy Outlook: There’s a lot of uncertainty about who the second back should be in this class behind Love. I originally had Singleton in that spot until he got hurt in January. Now, Coleman has been elevated since I expect the injury will impact Singleton’s pre-draft process and draft capital. 

Regardless, both players are exciting prospects who could turn into fantasy RB2 options in the near future. 

If you’re picking in the back half of the first round, these are two names you should be targeting. 

Dynasty rookie value (Superflex): Mid-to-late first round

Talented with question marks

• Jadarian Price, Notre Dame

• Mike Washington Jr., Arkansas

• Kaytron Allen, Penn State

This is a fun group to discuss because I can understand anyone who wants to bang the table for these four backs as upside prospects, even though they all have their flaws.

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Price lacks a complete résumé and the kind of production you normally want to see from an incoming rookie back, because he played behind Love at Notre Dame. We also have to factor in the efficiency boost that came from their dominant offensive line.

Even so, it’s hard not to like Price’s physical style, which often led to broken tackles and at least a few extra yards on most plays. Though he wasn’t asked to be a pass-catcher very often, his hands seem up to the task of being used in that area moving forward.

Johnson is a smaller back who will likely be splitting touches in his future backfield, but he’s a versatile weapon who does a good job of generating bigger plays by bouncing outside once he reaches the second level. He also has good contact balance for his size.

My concerns with Johnson stem from him lacking a truly elite skill in any specific area. He also has fast feet that sometimes leave him spinning his wheels in place while he’s trying to find a lane. While he’s entertaining to watch, I worry about his fantasy ceiling.

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Washington is a hot name after a solid performance during Senior Bowl week. He’s a very impressive runner with an ideal size at 6-foot-1 and 228 pounds and more than enough juice to power that frame.

His straight-line acceleration and shiftiness in space allow him to steer clear of oncoming tacklers and generate some big plays. He’s also not scared to take defenders with him en route to picking up more yards. As long as he can clean up his ball security issues, Washington has the potential to be a mid-round steal who materializes into a legitimate three-down NFL starter.

Some people might be surprised by Allen being listed so far down in this column, but I’m struggling to see his upside. He’s a bigger back who moves a little clunky at times and doesn’t have the same creativity with the ball in his hands that other players above him possess.

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Allen profiles as a punishing runner who can be a durable early-down grinder in a committee. That can lead to a good career, but from a fantasy perspective, it’s limiting.

Fantasy Outlook: Even with the noted concerns around the backs in this section, they’re all worth considering for fantasy. Just understand that this running back class isn’t as strong or deep as some of the ones we’ve seen in recent years. 

Landing spot will go a long way to determining how we should value these four in redraft formats, but keep them in mind as late-round targets for now. 

In dynasty rookie drafts, the board will dry up quickly in the late first and into the second this year. Placing your chips on intriguing backs who could develop in the right situation is a smart approach in that range. 

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Dynasty rookie value (Superflex): Late first-to-second round

Don’t overlook them

• Demond Claiborne, Wake Forest

The further we go down this list, the more difficult it becomes to find prospects who will pan out as significant fantasy contributors.

Claiborne has the traits of an eventual committee back due to his size (5-foot-10, 195 pounds). He has quick feet, lightning speed when he finds a crease, excellent contact balance for a smaller runner and strong pass-catching skills.

Unfortunately, he can sometimes be too hesitant in his decision-making, lacks power in multiple areas and needs work as a blocker.

Meanwhile, Randall is a versatile threat whose role in the NFL will really depend on the team that drafts him. He’s more of a raw power back with excellent pass-catching skills after converting to running back from receiver. We’ve seen that move work for other ball carriers in the past, but it’s difficult to project success without knowing the offense he’ll be playing in.

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Randall does have a big frame that can make him a goal-line hammer, despite his often upright running style. And his history as a receiver makes him very dangerous when deployed outside the backfield. He’s just a long shot given his profile and limited production as a running back. It won’t shock me if he ends up being a better real-life player than a fantasy asset.

Fantasy Outlook: The vast majority of running backs who make it onto an NFL roster have the ability to produce when given the opportunity and Claiborne and Randall are no different. However, they aren’t foundation backs that an organization will build its offense around, which caps their fantasy ceilings. 

They can still be values in the middle rounds of your dynasty rookie drafts, especially in PPR formats. 

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Dynasty rookie value (Superflex): third-to-fourth round

Prospect Fantasy Outlooks

New Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken met the media Tuesday and answered one key question, while leaving others to be determined over the coming weeks and months.

First, Monken does not plan to change the Browns’ defensive scheme — an attack, man-heavy approach — no matter who the coach running that side of the ball is next season.

“My anticipation is we’re not going to change the system,” Monken said. “[It’s] very difficult to go against. I’m not planning on changing the system. We’re built for the system that they’re in currently. I’m not going to get into staffing, because that’s not at this time to get into that. But they can be rest assured that we’re going to keep the same system. We’re still going to let them attack. We’re still going to let them play free. I can’t see any other way. They’re a big reason why I took this job — the defensive players.”

That leads into the next questions, which remains open.

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Will Jim Schwartz be back running the defense?

The 59-year-old Schwartz has been the Browns’ defensive coordinator since 2023 and remains under contract through next season. But after Monken was hired over numerous candidates, including Schwartz, it was reported that an upset Schwartz was looking to move on.

[More Browns news: Cleveland team feed]

Monken praised Schwartz and the defenses that Monken faced several times a season while he was the Baltimore Ravens’ offensive coordinator. But the head coach refused to comment about what the future holds for Schwartz and the Browns.

“First of all, I think Jim is an outstanding defensive coordinator — I think we all would agree with that,” Monken said. “But I think it’s a little inappropriate for me to comment about that at this time.”

The Browns’ defense this past season, which featured five-time All-Pro and single-season sack record holder Myles Garrett, allowed the fourth-fewest total yards per game (283.6) and had the third-best passing defense with 167.2 yards allowed per game.

While the defensive coordinator position is still in question, Monken said his focus is on his players right now.

“I didn’t take this job because of Jim Schwartz,” Monken said. “I have a lot of respect for Jim Schwartz, as I would hope he has for me. But I took it because of the players that are here, the ownership, [general manager] Andrew Berry, and the ability to build this roster from the ground up on the offensive side.

“So, and I said this to the other guys, I didn’t think I’d say it, but I’m gonna say it — when I was preparing for the Cleveland Browns, I wasn’t trying to chip Jim Schwartz, I was chipping Myles Garrett. And when I was sliding a protection to the outside backers or Grant Delpit, they were blitzing off the edge, I was sliding the protection to the players. And when I was worried about throwing to the right against Denzel Ward or Tyson Campbell to the left, that’s who I was worried about throwing at.”

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Who will be the Browns’ QB1?

On offense, Monken, who said he will call plays, wasn’t ready to make an announcement about who will be his starting quarterback.

Last season, Dillion Gabriel played 10 games, while fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders saw action in eight. Deshaun Watson, who missed all of the 2025 season with an Achilles injury, is expected to be part of the quarterback competition come training camp.

It will be a competition because Monken chose not to declare his QB1 in early February.

“Well, I think like any position on the team, that’s still to be determined,” Monken said. “Am I excited about Shedeur? Am I excited about all the quarterbacks in the room? Am I excited to coach this football team? Absolutely. I can’t wait for them to get back and for us to get started.”

Sanders threw for 1,400 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions with a 68.1 quarterback rating in his first season in Cleveland. That came after the Ravens expressed interest in drafting him, but the quarterback did not want to have to sit behind Lamar Jackson and not have an opportunity to play — something Monken reminded Sanders about when the two met last week for the first time.

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At the Pro Bowl this week, Sanders said he was excited to begin working with Monken after seeing what he did with the Ravens.

“I feel like we definitely have a connection just from talking to him, just seeing his vibe,” Sanders said. “He has a great vibe about him.”

The College Football Playoff semifinals will take place two weeks after the quarterfinals next January.

The CFP announced the dates of the semifinals for each of the next two seasons on Tuesday after college football’s leaders could not come to an agreement to expand the playoff beyond 12 teams nearly two weeks ago.

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The playoff will stay at 12 teams for a third season in 2026 and could expand for the 2027 season … if there’s consensus on how that expansion should take place.

Next season’s national title game in Las Vegas has long been set for Jan. 25, over three weeks after the quarterfinals on New Year’s Day. Because of that gap, the semifinals will take place Jan. 14-15 at the end of the 2026 season.

The schedule is even more strung out than it was at the end of the 2025 season because of when New Year’s Day falls and college football’s insistence on having the title game on a Monday night. New Year’s Day is on a Friday in 2027 and on a Saturday in 2028.

With the semifinals now taking place on a Thursday night and a Friday night, a team that played on New Year’s Day would have less than a week to prepare for a semifinal game on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2027. And holding the semifinals the week after New Year’s would create a break of over two weeks before the national title game.

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In 2028, the semifinals will be Jan. 13-14 ahead of the national championship game on Jan. 24 in New Orleans.

Here’s how the schedule will unfold over the next two seasons. It’s important to note that there will not be a quarterfinal game on New Year’s Eve in 2026, as the first quarterfinal will be Dec. 30 before three games on Jan. 1. With Super Bowl LXI scheduled for Feb. 14, the upcoming New Year’s Eve is set to be ahead of Week 17 of the 2026 NFL season. It’s probable that the NFL will have a Thursday night game scheduled for New Year’s Eve.

2027 CFP games

Quarterfinals

• Jan. 1: Cotton Bowl, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl

Semifinals

National championship game

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2028 CFP games

Quarterfinals

• Jan. 1: Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl

Semifinals

National championship game

The Buffalo Bills fired Sean McDermott, who returned the franchise to prominence and guided seven straight double-digit win seasons, only to promote Joe Brady from offensive coordinator to head coach.

The decision raised eyebrows far beyond western New York.

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Bills general manager Brandon Beane apparently wasn’t surprised. Beane, who also received a promotion following the Bills’ AFC divisional-round exit, was prepared for “the outside” to question the anointment of a 36-year-old Brady, the executive revealed in an interview with Go Long.

“F*** the outside,” said Beane, now also the Bills’ president of football operations, via Go Long. “It’s about the right selection for this team. And if we win, they’ll love it. It’s the same thing I said when I took Josh Allen. If I’m wrong, the moving company will be at my house. So, I understand. And I’m not going to have regret of choosing someone to appease the outside if I thought it should have been something different. If I’m wrong, I’ll f***ing take my job and f***ing go home.

“I don’t want to be wrong — see him go somewhere else — when my gut told me it was Joe Brady. I’m never going to do that.”

Beane added, per Go Long: “I would love for everyone to cheer every move, but it’s not about winning the press conference. It’s about winning games over there.”

[Get more Bills news: Buffalo team feed]

Even before the Bills gave Brady the nod, they lost a press conference. Beane was part of it, as he sat beside team owner Terry Pegula on Jan. 19. They fielded questions about the state of the franchise, and, more notably, the reasoning for McDermott’s dismissal.

Pegula referenced a “playoff wall” that he felt the Bills hit under McDermott. And he defended Beane, pinning Buffalo’s much-maligned decision to select former Michigan State and Florida State receiver Keon Coleman in the second round of the 2024 draft on the coaching staff.

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Coleman has struggled to fulfill expectations during his first two seasons in the league, and Pegula noted that Beane was “being a team player” when the Bills made that pick.

Since, Pegula has been criticized heavily, and so has Beane, especially after a video circulated on social media showing Beane’s interest in Coleman as a prospect during the pre-draft process.

In the aftermath of that PR nightmare, Coleman’s received support from not only Brady but also quarterback Josh Allen.

Brady will be tasked with maximizing Coleman, if he remains on the roster, and finding a way to get Allen over the hump in the postseason.

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But Beane’s roster construction will stay under the microscope, as it’s been scrutinized for years now, and not just regarding the receiver position.

How he handles this offseason will be watched closely. The same goes for the approval rating of Brady’s promotion to head coach.