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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.

The Utah Jazz took their big swing before the 2026 trade deadline, acquiring Jaren Jackson Jr., John Konchar, Jock Landale and Vince Williams Jr, in a blockbuster deal, sending out Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Tyler Hendricks, Georges Niang and three future first-round selections.

This was a long time coming for Memphis, which is seemingly ready to hit the big red reset button, and rightfully so. Jackson, who renegotiated and extended his contract with Memphis over the summer, is locked in for an additional three seasons at over $151 million.

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Let’s get to the grades.

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Memphis Grizzlies: A

It wasn’t long ago when I wrote about Memphis and why it needed to break up its core. Jackson isn’t a primary star, and if we’re being honest, he’s probably not a secondary one either.

Just getting out of that contract, while getting three picks in return, is a major home run for the Grizzlies, who now have oodles of financial flexibility, a small army of cost-controlled young players and a front office that knows how to find quality in the later stages of the draft.

This also leans into the idea that Ja Morant is likely to get traded, which is what the organization has needed to do for a while now.

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The Grizzlies don’t yet have a primary building block, but given that they frankly never did, that didn’t much change their starting position. This deal allows them to clean their palate and start fresh, armed to the teeth with assets.

Utah Jazz: B-

I’m not really sure what the vision here is. Jackson and Lauri Markkanen might be the worst rebounding big-man duo in the league, which is immediately concerning.

Now, offensively they’ll be intriguing, and that’s why the grade isn’t harsh. The fact that both can create their own shots, especially from behind the 3-point line — and do so with high volume — is a major asset for a ball club that presumably has decided to accelerate its own process.

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This trade feels like the first step of several, as the Jazz still need significantly more veteran talent to make it further in the Western Conference.

However, Landale will fill in nicely at center with Walker Kessler out, and Williams could find more opportunities in Utah. So there is more to be found in this deal.

Overall, I’m not much of a fan hitching one’s wagon to Jackson, who drops off quite severely in the playoffs, but I have to assume this is just the first domino, and therefore I’m giving the Jazz some benefit of the doubt here.

However, should this be their big deadline move, I’ll have to ponder whether they deserve to keep their B-, as I’m feeling a little generous with that.

The Memphis Grizzlies just executed the first major trade of the 2026 deadline, shipping Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz in an eight-player deal that shakes up both rosters. Memphis is getting back Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Georges Niang and three future first-rounders, while also sending John Konchar, Jock Landale and Vince Williams Jr. to Utah alongside JJJ.

In what appears to be Memphis’ second step to a rebuild (trading Desmond Bane was the first), here’s my initial read on what it means for fantasy hoops.

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The New Situation in Utah

For fantasy purposes, I don’t like it — Utah is already managing minutes for guys like Lauri Markkanen, so it’ll likely happen for JJJ too. And I honestly don’t like it in real life either. Three picks for JJJ?! That’s a lot to mortgage for a big man who doesn’t rebound. Still, it’ll likely look better once Walker Kessler is back. I guess I’m surprised the Jazz were buyers in the midst of having one of the worst records in the league. I doubt Utah is finished trading, so I should probably reserve some of my disdain for the trade.

Back to JJJ’s fit with Utah for now. It’s a fun fantasy-friendly offense that could sustain his fantasy value in the games that he’s active. His peripheral and defensive stats will be fine for 9-cat. However, I’d expect his shot volume to dip when sharing the court with Keyonte George and Markkanen.

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The verdict: I’ve never advocated for JJJ in fantasy and playing for the tanking Jazz isn’t ideal. In the short term, I’d assess how he looks with his new team, but be ready to sell high the moment he has a spike in performance.

Memphis Side: Who Benefits?

Ja Morant is recovering from an elbow injury through the All-Star break, but I doubt he’ll be with Memphis beyond Thursday. Now that JJJ’s gone, the Grizzlies have officially pivoted to rebuild mode.

Santi Aldama is the leading frontcourt player left standing after this deal. I’d hope Zach Edey can find his way back to the court soon, because he’ll be the biggest beneficiary in the long term. I’d also hold Ty Jerome in all formats, even with Clayton coming over from Utah. Cam Spencer’s value lessened, but he’ll still be in the rotation until Scotty Pippen Jr. is ready to make his return to the court.

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Another short-term hold is Isaiah Collier. He no longer has to have minutes taken away from Clayton, and with George nursing an ankle injury, fantasy managers can continue to stream him for now.

What about Jusuf Nurkić?

His days are numbered. Given his contract and Utah’s decision to acquire Landale, the Jazz will likely try to move Nurk now that he’s restored his value after last year’s disaster. I’d hold him for one more game and then evaluate the landscape by Thursday’s deadline.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — K’Lavon Chaisson had a fairly common start to his career, and it wasn’t one that should have given him confidence that he’d be starting in a Super Bowl just a couple years later.

Chaisson was a first-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars, selected 20th overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. It’s hard to say he wasn’t a bust there, after just five sacks in 57 games.

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There’s no way he could have figured on being where he was on Tuesday, answering questions ahead of Super Bowl LX.

“Actually I did,” Chaisson said.

Chaisson explained that a couple years ago, he and his girlfriend were in Mexico watching the Super Bowl on television. He turned his phone on and made a video to himself, which he still keeps in his notes.

“I kind of just recorded, just telling myself ‘We’re not supposed to be here. We’re supposed to be at the big one,’” Chaisson said.

“I understood, I’ve got a bigger calling than where I was at. It was just a matter of time. I put it all in God’s plan, but I knew exactly where I belonged.”

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That was ambitious and the path was not common. There were still more obstacles before he got to the Super Bowl with the New England Patriots, and not just as a small role player. Chaisson signed a modest one-year, $3 million deal before this season. That’s backup money in the NFL. But Chaisson became a starter and had a good season, getting 7.5 sacks. That’s more than he had his entire career in Jacksonville.

It’s not unusual for former first-round picks to get second, third and fourth chances in the NFL even after they’ve gotten off to slow starts. It is fairly rare for those players to completely change the narrative of their career the way Chaisson has. Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, who Chaisson will be chasing on Sunday, is part of that group. But it’s not typical, even if Chaisson insists he never lost hope.

“More than grateful, for sure,” Chaisson said.

K’Lavon Chaisson writes a new story

The Jaguars hoped they were getting a difference-making pass rusher with Chaisson, who starred for LSU’s dominant 2019 national champion. All teams dream of getting a star from their first-round pick. It didn’t happen, or even come close. Chaisson had just one sack in each of his first three NFL seasons, then two in his fourth season. That was it for his time with the Jaguars. In 57 games he made almost no impact.

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There were some signs of an emergence last season, when he had five sacks with the Raiders, but even that season hinted that he was closer to fading out of the league than becoming a viable asset to a championship-caliber team. He was cut by the Panthers at the end of training camp before the 2024 season. He was signed by the Raiders, but only to the practice squad. He spent three different stints on the Raiders’ practice squad.

It’s safe to call this season with the Patriots a true breakout.

“Everybody has a different journey to this career and in the NFL,” Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said last month, according to the team’s transcript. “I think he’s worked really hard. I think he plays hard. His motor runs hot.”

There can be many reasons for a player to bloom late. They find the right scheme with a new team. Sometimes they deal with injury misfortune early in their careers. Sometimes it’s simple maturation. Not everyone is ready to be an NFL star at age 22 or 23.

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“I think a lot of factors played into it, for sure,” Chaisson said. “Regardless of how it played out, I think it was just opportunity. Whenever you get a chance to play in the league and representing the organization and represent your last name, take advantage of those. I think I did that well last year and I think I’m doing it this year.”

Patriots get a steal in Chaisson

The Patriots spent a fortune in free agency this past offseason to fix the roster. They spent $364.4 million on 19 free agents, according to Spotrac. Yet a one-year, $3 million deal on Chaisson proved to be one of their biggest moves.

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Chaisson had five sacks in four seasons with the Jaguars. He had 7.5 sacks with the Patriots this season. That ranked second on the team to Harold Landry III.

[More on the Patriots: New England team feed]

A stat that stuck out to Vrabel was Chaisson’s 108 special teams snaps. He has played special teams through his career, but it’s not a given that all former first-round picks will be willing to work on the punt team. Chaisson was.

“I go back to training camp and KC’s willingness to play special teams, to play on the punt team for us and play a lot of snaps when guys were banged up,” Vrabel said last month. “Then he kind of got banged up and he didn’t ask to be taken off the punt team. I’m glad that we found guys that can help him on that unit, but he’s in every one of the meetings. He’s taking reps in practice. He’s ready to go on that unit. So, I think that’s probably been the thing that’s impressed me the most was his willingness to be a part of the special teams and what we’re doing on fourth down and how important that is.”

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Not many former first-round picks embrace special teams, but Chaisson speaks with passion about it.

“Special teams plays are critical and huge to this game,” Chaisson said. “On the punt team man, when you can go out and steal possessions, find a way to get the ball out or pin them inside the 10, create a negative play or explosive play to change the momentum, that’s huge for every game.”

Chaisson’s career has come full circle, because next month he should be a coveted pass rusher again. He’s just 26 years old, coming off a 7.5-sack season for the AFC champions. He has that old draft pedigree and now has the production to match, all while still at a prime age. Chaisson has expressed that he wants to stay with the Patriots, though that will be settled in a few weeks.

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One way or another, he’s likely to get a pretty good contract, not long after being available to anyone for some of the 2024 season as part of the practice squad for the Raiders, one of the worst teams in the NFL, or after being cut by Carolina before the regular season started.

“The opportunity is a blessing,” Chaisson said. “I understand the magnitude of this scenario and situation, and I choose to take advantage of every opportunity that comes with it.”

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The San Francisco Giants signed Luis Arráez to a one-year deal, with the hope that the three-time batting champion will be able to help solidify their offense after their blockbuster deal that brought Rafael Devers to the Bay last season. However, after finishing at 81–81, are the Giants doing enough to try and compete for a title?

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On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman examine the questionable offseason that President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey has navigated for his Giants. While being in the same division as the Los Angeles Dodgers does present some difficulties, should the Giants be doing a bit more to show their commitment to winning? Could they still find a way to improve their rotation before the start of the season?

Later, Jordan and Jake talk about the trade that saw the St. Louis Cardinals trade Brendan Donovan in a three-team deal to the Seattle Mariners and why he is going to be a key player for them. They then discuss the Chicago White Sox’s active weekend, the Sacramento A’s signing Jacob Wilson to an extension, all before they get into the problem that insurance is causing with World Baseball Classic rosters.

2:29 – The Opener: A look at the Giants

29:58 – Around the League: Mariners trade for Donovan

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48:18 – Turbo Mode: Reds sign Eugenio Suárez

58:37 – Tarik Skubal vs. Detroit Tigers

1:01:44 – We Need to Talk About: WBC insurance

🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTube

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

A day after NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said there have been no discussions with the NFLPA about adding an 18th regular-season game, the union’s interim executive director said players have “no appetite” for the idea.

According to David White, players are not open to changes that could factor into health or recovery. The only changes membership would be open to are ones “that minimize risk and ensure players are properly recognized and compensated for a true, fair share of the value they create.”

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The NFL increased its regular season to 17 games in 2021. Over the past five years, it seemed as if the league was on a path to an 18th game. That hasn’t been the case, according to White, who told the Associated Press in September that extending the regular season again was “not inevitable.”

Five months later, the league has yet to approach the union about the topic.

“The 18th game is not casual for us,” White said Tuesday at a news conference in San Francisco. “It’s a very serious issue. It’s something that comes out of negotiations and nothing will move forward until players have the opportunity to account for all of those factors —take that into consideration and then, through negotiations, agree or not to the 18th game. But, as it stands right now, players have been very clear that they have no appetite for it.”

(Former NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell echoed a similar sentiment — “No one wants to play an 18th game. No one.” — during his Super Bowl week news conference last year.)

In January, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft said it was the NFL’s mandate to expand the schedule and ensure an 18-game season would see every team playing internationally. For that to happen, it would require the NFL and NFLPA to reopen the collective bargaining agreement, which expires in 2030.

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On Monday, Goodell said the league would like to talk to NFLPA leaders about expanding the schedule. There would be multiple issues that would need to be resolved in those talks, such as whether a second bye week for teams would be necessary and what roster sizes might look like if the regular season was 19 or 20 weeks long.

There would also be the natural end game in negotiations with both sides getting something they want.

“For the 18th game to happen, there’s obviously going to be some negotiation,” said Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp. “There’s some things, give and take. Unfortunately, it’s one of those things. If the 18th game is on the table, there’s going to have to be some talks about what makes that worth it to the players. And we’ll get to that point. We’ll cross that bridge.”

The Detroit Pistons are trying to shore up their rotation ahead of the NBA playoffs. The team added talent Tuesday, acquiring Kevin Huerter and Dario Šarić as part of a three-team deal involving the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves.

In exchange for Huerter and Šarić, the Bulls will receive Mike Conley from the Timberwolves and Jaden Ivey from the Pistons, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.

The move helps the Pistons, who sit at 36-12 entering Tuesday, hold their grip on the top spot in the Eastern Conference. Huerter has been the best player of the group this season, averaging 10.9 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. Šarić has appeared in just five games this season, all with the Sacramento Kings. He was acquired by the Bulls as part of a separate three-team deal Saturday. His time in Chicago didn’t last long.

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The Pistons also received a 2026 first-round protected pick swap from the Timberwolves as part of the deal.

Minnesota — which did not receive a player in the deal — may have had financial motivations for making the trade.

It’s possible the team has another move up its sleeve after getting rid of Conley’s $10 million salary. The Timberwolves could be freeing up cap space to pursue Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, per Charania.

For the Bulls, the move allows the team to take a chance on Ivey, who has fallen out of the team’s rotation after dealing with an early injury. The 23-year-old Ivey was selected by the Pistons with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, and finished sixth in the Rookie of the Year voting in his first season in the league.

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Conley is on an expiring contract. It’s possible he’ll see time with the Bulls, but he could also be waived or packaged in another deal ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline. Conley, 38, is averaging just 4.4 points this season.

The move gives the Bulls a surplus of options at guard, so it’s likely Chicago will remain active over the next couple days.

Chicago did exact that roughly an hour after trading away Huerter and Šarić, sending big man Nikola Vucevic to the Boston Celtics.

Welcome back to The Playlist: my weekly column that lets you know who to add off the waiver wire and get in your lineup for the upcoming week in fantasy basketball.

[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]

Every league is different — sometimes a 75% rostered player hits waivers, whether by mistake or because they’ve hit an intolerable slump. If they fit your build, go get ’em. But for this column, we’re focusing on players under 50% rostered who are widely available and ready to help in Week 16 or beyond.

One note for daily leagues: The NBA trade deadline is on Thursday at 3 p.m. ET and deals are already happening. Save your transactions so you can react immediately when news breaks. Don’t waste pickups earlier in the week that could be overcome by events leading up to Thursday.

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🎧 Who’s in My Rotation: High Score

Add: Kelly Oubre Jr. – FC, Philadelphia 76ers (32% rostered)

News of Paul George’s 25-game suspension elevates Oubre’s status to must-roster in fantasy. In his first game since the announcement, Oubre dropped a 19-10-4 line, scoring 39 fantasy points.

The Sixers are one of nine teams playing four games this week. Though Oubre has an appealing, tradeable $8 million contract, I doubt the Sixers move him now that George will be out until March. Meaning, I’d buy his stock as a starter playing 30 minutes a night.

Stash: Jalen Smith – FC, Chicago Bulls (20% rostered)

You’re probably tired of my Jalen Smith stash campaign, but we have four days left for the Bulls to make a move! Smith missed the past two games with a calf injury, and yet I’m banking on the Bulls (I know, it’s a tall order) to find a taker for Nikola Vučević and his expiring contract. The compensation might be lower than they want, but damnit, they’ll get something. That would leave a void in the frontcourt, where Smith has already been operating well alongside Vuč.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: The Boston Celtics traded for Nikola Vucevic on Tuesday, February 3.

Before exiting Thursday’s game early, Smith was well on his way to another double-double. Hold him through Thursday because it could be a game-changer for your squad.

Collin Murray-Boyles – FC, Toronto Raptors (25% rostered)

CMB’s versatility has been so impactful for the Raptors. Toronto is a top-five team in the East and the rookie brushed off a thumb injury to return to the starting lineup in Week 15. His skill set is perfect for fantasy, as he provides a healthy mix of scoring, rebounding and assisting with plenty of stocks.

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Jakob Poeltl is not close to returning, leaving CMB as Toronto’s main guy in the frontcourt. It may seem modest, but as a starter, he’s averaging 9.3 points with 6.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.4 stocks per game in 28 minutes. That’s over a fantasy point per minute, which is the type of efficiency you want to see in fantasy.

Stash: Bub Carrington – G, Washington Wizards (17% rostered)

Since the Wizards are tanking and in rebuild mode, Carrington stands out as an early short-term hold through the deadline. Trae Young will be re-evaluated after the All-Star break, leaving Bub as the primary facilitator. And who honestly knows how much Trae will play in the second half of the season?

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Since turnovers don’t matter in High Score, I’d prioritize him over Bilal Coulibaly and Tre Johnson at the moment. That could change if Khris Middleton gets moved by Thursday. Still, I like Bub’s counting stats: he’s scored at least 32 fantasy points in five of his last six games, with High Scores of 40 and 36 over the past two weeks.

🎧 Who’s in My Rotation: Deeper league stashes

Jarace Walker – SF/PF, Indiana Pacers (18% rostered)

There are a couple of paths to a bigger role by season’s end for the Pacers’ 2023 lottery pick. First, Indiana is fielding inquiries on Bennedict Mathurin. Secondly, Pascal Siakam could be load-managed as the season wears on, with the Pacers vying for the worst record in the league.

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Seeing what they have in Walker is important, since he becomes an extension-eligible player this summer. More minutes could be on the way and he’s been producing recently, averaging close to 17 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals per game over his last five contests.

Day’Ron Sharpe – C, Brooklyn Nets (12% rostered)

Add and hold Sharpe through Thursday’s deadline as he’s been a top-150 player over the past month and finished 91st in 9-cat leagues in Week 15. He’s actually good for both 9-cat or points leagues, as he is one of the best offensive rebounders in the league, efficient around the rim and a sneaky playmaker as a big man.

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With the Nets firmly in a rebuild, they could field offers for Nic Claxton, but either way, Sharpe is producing enough per minute to warrant adding across formats.

Ty Jerome – SG, Memphis Grizzlies (23% rostered)

Adding Jerome is less about Ja Morant getting traded (and he might be, considering the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade) and more about the Grizzlies being 18-29 and trending in the wrong direction. In Jerome’s season debut, he scored 20 points with 1 rebound and 6 assists in only 19 minutes.

He’s still on a minutes restriction, but given the Grizzlies will be without Morant for at least the next couple of weeks with an elbow injury, Jerome has some runway to be a viable fantasy asset.

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De’Anthony Melton – PG/SG, Golden State Warriors (10% rostered)

Who knows what swings the Warriors may really take -— trading away Jonathan Kuminga or even bigger, landing Giannis Antetokounmpo. Still, I’d roster Melton before his minutes cap is lifted. He’s averaging 14-3-3 with 2 steals per game over the past two weeks, and Golden State continues to rave about his impact and long-term fit with the team.

Melton could end up in the starting lineup at some point, but he’s still worth holding in fantasy while coming off the bench. In his last outing versus the Pistons, he played his most minutes (26) and delivered 18 points with 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 3-pointer.

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Tre Jones – PG/SG, Chicago Bulls (19% rostered)

Like Vučević, the Bulls are unlikely to offer Coby White a new deal, thus making him an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. It’d be in Chicago’s best interest to get something for him, and if White gets traded, that would leave a void at the guard spot that Jones would take over. He’s been efficient all year, racks up steals and is top-10 in assist-to-turnover ratio while ranking 77th in 9-cat leagues. Jones is on the injured list with a hamstring injury, so you might be able to snag him and stash him from the wire.

Jonathan Kuminga – SF/PF, Golden State Warriors (20% rostered)

Kuminga’s stance on wanting a trade hasn’t wavered and despite being on the IL with a bone bruise, he could very well be dealt by Thursday. Depending on the destination, a change of scenery could unlock the usage and role he’s been seeking in the Golden State. He’s a speculative add in points leagues before Thursday’s deadline.