The 2025-26 NBA season is almost here, and with it comes my position-by-position fantasy basketball tiers, starting with the guards. This guide is points-league focused but includes insights for category formats as well. 

[Join or create a fantasy basketball league for the 2025-26 NBA season]

Let’s kick it off with two players who will drive much of the MVP conversation this season. 

Editor’s note: Players are listed based on their primary position from last season or projected role this year.

[Dan Titus’ Draft Tiers: PG/SG | SF/PF | C]

Tier 1 — The Fantasy pillars 

• Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Luka Dončić: Luka enters his first full Lakers season healthy and in shape, ready to deliver close to a nightly 30-point triple-double. Even in a down year, he dropped 28-8-8. His blend of usage, shot volume and all-around production makes him one of the safest fantasy picks available. With efficiency improvements and better conditioning, he could push for a top-three finish across formats.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: SGA and Luka were the only guards to average over 50 FPPG last season. After a legendary season finishing as the scoring leader, MVP, Finals MVP and champion, SGA’s floor is top five across all formats.

Tier 2 — Elite anchors 

• Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves

• Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons

• Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks

• Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns

• Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers

• James Harden, Los Angeles Clippers

Anthony Edwards: Edwards continues his ascent as Minnesota’s offensive centerpiece, combining highlight-reel finishes with steady statistical growth. His scoring is already elite, but his rebounds and assists have begun to rise, too. With another leap in efficiency, Edwards could join Tier 1 next season.

Cade Cunningham: There’s a chance Cunningham can sneak into the elites. He averaged 48 FPPG last season, so another leap forward for him and the Pistons in a weaker Eastern Conference can push him into 50 FPPG territory.

Devin Booker: The only thing preventing Booker from being a savage offensively is a possible late-season tank. I don’t see it happening, so expect Booker to put up top-tier points and assist numbers.

Trae Young: Trae’s elite assists and scoring floor make him one of the best points-league guards. Turnovers and poor shooting don’t impact his value as much, so bank on him being one of the few players getting at least 24 points and 10 assists a night.

Tyrese Maxey: I’m higher on Maxey than the consensus. Maxey posted the sixth-most FPPG among guards last year. Those numbers are going up with Joel Embiid and Paul George undoubtedly missing games.

Tier 3 — Established stars 

• Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

• De’Aaron Fox, San Antonio Spurs

• Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks

• LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets

• Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers

Stephen Curry: I’d draft Curry higher in category leagues than points because his 3s and high FT% are more statistically relevant. Still, he’ll likely be a top-10 scorer in the NBA who also generates enough counting stats elsewhere to warrant an early pick in points leagues.

De’Aaron Fox: Fox gets a full offseason to prepare to play with Victor Wembanyama, so an uptick in assists as the primary creator elevates his value. He finished in the top 10 in FPPG among guards last season, averaging 41 FPPG.

Jalen Brunson: The engine for the Knicks has one of the safest floors for a guard. He’ll likely go in the first three rounds of drafts, but be aware that the minutes are likely to dip under new HC Mike Brown. 

LaMelo Ball: Injuries always hold him back, and it’s reflected in his ADP. When healthy, though, Ball is capable of being a top-10 scorer amongst guards in FPPG. 

Tier 4 — High-upside starters 

• Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies

• Tyler Herro, Miami Heat

• Josh Giddey, Chicago Bulls

• Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets

• Amen Thompson, Houston Rockets

• Desmond Bane, Orlando Magic

• Derrick White, Boston Celtics

• Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets

Ja Morant: Few guards are as explosive as Morant, capable of putting up 25/7/5 lines on any given night. The risk is obvious — injuries and off-court issues — but the reward is massive if he plays 65+ games. He’s a swing pick with league-winning upside. He’s way better for points formats since you can ignore the poor FT shooting, turnovers and lack of 3s.

Josh Giddey: He inked a new contract, plus was one of three players to average at least 8.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game last year. The other two? Luka and Nikola Jokić. Giddey can push for over 40 FPPG this year.

Amen Thompson: With Jalen Green gone, Thompson steps into a bigger role in Houston’s offense. His rebounding and defensive stocks make him an unusual fantasy guard with multi-category upside. If his jumper stabilizes, it’ll more than justify a third-round selection, even for points leagues.

Desmond Bane: Bane is a solid 30-35 FPPG scorer, but he’ll be in a new environment, playing alongside Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. I prefer Bane in category leagues, but he’ll have the counting stats to warrant a pick around the fourth or fifth round. 

Tier 5 — Solid starters 

• Jalen Green, Phoenix Suns

• Cam Thomas, Brooklyn Nets

• Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers

• Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers

• Jordan Poole, New Orleans Pelicans

• Zach LaVine, Sacramento Kings

• Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks

• Coby White, Chicago Bulls

• Fred VanVleet, Houston Rockets

• Anfernee Simons, Boston Celtics

Jalen Green: Green gets a huge bump after getting traded to the Suns. Volume is king for points leagues and he’ll get plenty of opportunities as the secondary option to Booker. He’s much better for points than category leagues.

Cam Thomas: Thomas still hasn’t signed his qualifying offer with the Nets. We’ll have to wait and see how long his contract situation plays out. Thomas and Michael Porter Jr. are going to have a ton of scoring opportunities playing for Brooklyn.

Darius Garland: Garland should be a tier higher, but he underwent surgery on his toe in June with a recovery timeline of 4-5 months. I don’t expect to see him in uniform until November. When fully healthy, he should average north of 35 FPPG. 

Dyson Daniels: The NBA’s Most Improved Player took a massive step forward last season. However, Jalen Johnson was hurt for the majority of the season, and the team wasn’t as equipped as it is now. I’m expecting some regression despite Daniels averaging 37 FPPG in 2024-25.

Fred VanVleet: FVV loses value in points leagues because his 3s, steals and FT% don’t carry as much weight. Still, he’s a useful PG capable of putting up at least 30 FPPG.

Tier 6 — Last, clear every-night starters 

• Immanuel Quickley, Toronto Raptors

• Andrew Nembhard, Indiana Pacers

• Jalen Suggs, Orlando Mag

• Payton Pritchard, Boston Celtics

• CJ McCollum, Washington Wizards

• Bennedict Mathurin, Indiana Pacers

• Norman Powell, Miami Heat

• Bradley Beal, Los Angeles Clippers

• Shaedon Sharpe, Portland Trail Blazers

• Christian Braun, Denver Nuggets

Immanuel Quickley: Quickley is looking to bounce back from an injury-riddled campaign. He averaged 31 FPPG when he played, so it’s something to build off of playing with Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram and Jakob Poeltl. 

Andrew Nembhard: Nembhard is one of my favorite breakout candidates with Tyrese Haliburton being ruled out for the season. His skill set fits better with category leagues, but I’d also consider getting shares in points leagues. 

CJ McCollum: McCollum’s ADP is just outside the top 100 over the past seven days on Yahoo. He’s becoming a value, especially for points leagues. I think he’ll play a lot of minutes for the Wizards until a mid-season trade likely sends him to a contender.

Shaedon Sharpe: Sharpe’s athleticism pops every night, and he’s starting to find consistency as a scorer. Portland is giving him freedom to develop, which means more usage. He’s on the verge of becoming a 20-point scorer in this League. 

Tier 7 — Reliable rotational assets

• Kevin Porter Jr., Milwaukee Bucks

• Keyonte George, Utah Jazz

• D’Angelo Russell, Dallas Mavericks

• Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons

• Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs

• Brandin Podziemski, Golden State Warriors

• Ayo Dosunmu, Chicago Bulls

• Davion Mitchell, Miami Heat

• Isaiah Collier, Utah Jazz

• Quentin Grimes, Philadelphia 76ers

• Malik Monk, Sacramento Kings

Keyonte George: George had growing pains last year, but his court vision and scoring style — reminiscent of Jordan Clarkson — make him worth the gamble. If his efficiency stabilizes, he could jump to Tier 6 quickly.

Brandin Podziemski: Podziemski is one of the rare guards who rebounds like a forward. Golden State trusts him with meaningful minutes, which ensures a solid floor. If Curry misses time, his value skyrockets.

Stephon Castle: Castle will start at SG and offers some nice counting-stat potential heading into his second NBA season. He’s a better asset for points leagues because his efficiency and lack of 3s remain an issue. 

Davion Mitchell: Once he was traded to the Heat last year, he was finally able to carve out a meaningful role. His defense is infectious and he looked far more comfortable shooting the ball and acting as a primary facilitator than he did with the Kings and Raptors. He’s one of my sleepers whom I’ll be selecting in the later rounds of drafts.

Tier 8 — Upside watchlist

• Scoot Henderson, Portland Trail Blazers

• Cason Wallace, Oklahoma City Thunder

• Jared McCain, Philadelphia 76ers

• Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Atlanta Hawks

• Reed Sheppard, Houston Rockets

• Tre Johnson, Washington Wizards

• Anthony Black, Orlando Magic

• VJ Edgecombe, Philadelphia 76ers

• Rob Dillingham, Minnesota Timberwolves

• Bub Carrington, Washington Wizards

Scoot Henderson: Henderson’s early career journey has been volatile. Bringing in Jrue Holiday likely puts him back on the bench. Perhaps a sixth-man role could pan out. Either way, he’s better for points leagues than category if he continues getting 27 minutes a night.

Cason Wallace: Wallace thrives as a low-mistake, high-efficiency rotation guard. OKC trusts him in high-leverage minutes, which locks in his role. I think we’ll see his role expand this season, making him a fantasy asset in more category leagues than points leagues.

Tre Johnson: Outside of Cooper Flagg, Johnson has a legitimate shot at Rookie of the Year. The injury to Bilal Coulibaly should expedite his fantasy impact as well. 

Rob Dillingham: The second-year guard looked great at Summer League. Mike Conley is getting older and Nickeil Alexander-Walker left in free agency, so they’ll need Dillingham’s speed and scoring punch off the bench. He’s a bucket who will emerge as a points league guy this year. 

Tier 9 — Deep-league bench guys and streamers 

• Russell Westbrook III, Free agent

• Donte DiVincenzo, Minnesota Timberwolves

• T.J. McConnell, Indiana Pacers

• Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers

• Jrue Holiday, Portland Trail Blazers

• Klay Thompson, Dallas Mavericks

• Collin Sexton, Charlotte Hornets

• Alex Caruso, Oklahoma City Thunder

• Caris LeVert, Detroit Pistons

The 2025-26 NBA season is around the corner, so in conjunction with my latest fantasy basketball points and category rankings, I’ve combined the top small forwards and power forwards into tiers to help guide draft strategy in points leagues.

[Join or create a fantasy basketball league for the 2025-26 NBA season]

As always, tiers aren’t strict rankings — they group players with similar upside and value. Drafting from tiers gives you flexibility while ensuring you don’t miss out on positional depth. And of course, there are relevant player insights for those playing in category formats.

[Dan Titus’ Draft Tiers: PG/SG | SF/PF | C]

Tier 1: The fantasy pillars

• Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

• Anthony Davis, Dallas Mavericks

Giannis Antetokounmpo: Giannis is as elite as it gets in points leagues, with his blend of scoring, rebounding and playmaking. The turnovers and free throws that sometimes ding him in category leagues don’t matter here. He should be a top-three selection.

Anthony Davis: Davis thrives in points leagues thanks to his defensive stats, rebounding and scoring. His lengthy injury history always lingers, but when healthy, he’s been a top-five fantasy player over the past three seasons, averaging over 52 FPPG. 

Tier 2: Elite anchors

• LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

• Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic

• Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets

• Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks

• Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors

• Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics

LeBron James: Even at 40 years old (turning 41 in December), LeBron remains a points-league monster. Father Time apparently has no interest in coming for the King. 

Paolo Banchero: Orlando’s young cornerstone is shaping into a LeBron-like fantasy asset for his ability to stuff the stat sheet across categories. It may feel rich putting him into the second tier, but he’s increased his scoring, shooting volume and rebounding in each of his first three seasons. Buy into the upward trajectory.

Kevin Durant: Durant will be worth an early-round pick regardless of format. He’s a basketball mercenary and a new home in Houston won’t prevent him from scoring 25 points a night and over 40 FPPG. 

Jalen Johnson: A revamped Hawks squad will only increase his assist potential after already becoming one of the most versatile two-way forwards in the league. He’ll join the esteemed crew of Giannis and Nikola Jokić in the 20-10-5 crew this year.

Scottie Barnes: Barnes’ all-around game shines in points leagues, with rebounds and assists boosting his floor. As Toronto’s centerpiece, his heavy usage locks him into Tier 2 value.

Jaylen Brown: It’s bold, but Brown will likely put up the best numbers of his career. Since 2021, Brown has averaged 29.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.3 steals in 31 games without Jayson Tatum. When factoring in Brown committing nearly four turnovers per contest, that’s still hovering around 45 FPPG. He’s better for points leagues, but he should still be off the board by Round 4 in category leagues.

Tier 3: All-Star caliber

• Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers

• Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder

• Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic

• Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans

• Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat

• Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies

Jalen Williams: The third-year pro will comfortably average 20-5-5, making him reliable in points formats. He’s also among the league leaders in steals. With such a high floor, he’s a consistent, safe pick in the early rounds in all formats.

Franz Wagner: Fresh off a EuroBasket victory, Wagner is entering the season on a high note. He’s increased his scoring, rebounds and assists each year of his career, and the Magic will be one of the best teams in the East. Buy the hype.

Zion Williamson: Durability remains his biggest hurdle, but a healthy Zion could enter Tier 2 status as the focal point of the Pelicans’ offense. 

Tier 4: Reliable starters

• Deni Avdija, Portland Trail Blazers

• Trey Murphy III, New Orleans Pelicans

• Miles Bridges, Charlotte Hornets

• Josh Hart, New York Knicks

• Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers

• Jimmy Butler, Golden State Warriors

• DeMar DeRozan, Sacramento Kings

• Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks

Deni Avdija: In 20 games after the All-Star break, Deni averaged 23.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game. This man is about to become a household name in fantasy basketball this season across all formats.

Josh Hart: Hart does a bit of everything, and his rebounding and assists from the wing position add sneaky value in points leagues. He’s a utility forward who rarely posts duds. Just be aware that last season was likely his peak.

Pascal Siakam: Siakam’s usage and production are pretty similar with and without Tyrese Haliburton on the floor. His early third-round ADP is a bit too high for points and category leagues, but I think he’ll be a solid, high-floor asset no matter the format. I’d rather select other Pacers later, like Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin or Jay Huff.

Cooper Flagg: The rookie enters with high expectations. His defensive instincts, athleticism and scoring ability make him an intriguing upside play in all leagues. You might have to reach into the third round if you want to get him. 

Tier 5: High-risk, somewhat high-reward vets

• Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers

• Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz

• Paul George, Philadelphia 76ers

• Brandon Ingram, Toronto Raptors

Kawhi Leonard: Assuming there’s no punishment looming from the NBA’s investigation, Leonard appears to be healthy and ready for the start of the season. He’d be at least two tiers higher if it weren’t for load management. 

Lauri Markkanen: Another player who showed out in EuroBasket was Markkanen. It was a nice reminder of how good he is after last season’s blunder. The Jazz should be more competitive this season, but I think his ADP is a bit too high at 43 right now. I’d rather select Markkanen in the fifth round in 12-team leagues.

Brandon Ingram: An ankle sprain forced Ingram to miss over 3/4 of the 2024-25 season. He also got traded midseason to the Raptors. Injuries have been a constant in BI’s career, but from a pure production standpoint, when healthy, he delivers. He joins George as a faller whose ADP is past 70 on Yahoo.

Tier 6: Upside swings

• Michael Porter Jr., Brooklyn Nets

• Matas Buzelis, Chicago Bulls

• Ausar Thompson, Detroit Pistons

Michael Porter Jr.: I like MPJ this year because he’s poised to average the most points per game of his career. Also, 10 rebounds per game isn’t out of the question. He could be more valuable than people think, given that Brooklyn’s set to be one of the worst teams in basketball.

Matas Buzelis: The minutes should be near the 30s and the Bulls will give him more opportunities to create in Year 2. I’m anticipating he’ll produce more than the 13 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists he averaged as a starter last season. I prefer him for category leagues, but any bump in scoring benefits his potential in points leagues.

Ausar Thompson: The other Thompson twin is on breakout watch. If his minutes can creep into the high 20s, low 30s, we could see a jump to 13-15 PPG along with 6 boards, 3 assists and upwards of two stocks per contest. The Pistons will be good, and his ascension is key to their growth. 

Tier 7: Solid vets playing big minutes

• RJ Barrett, Toronto Raptors

• Julius Randle, Minnesota Timberwolves

• OG Anunoby, New York Knicks

• Cameron Johnson, Denver Nuggets

• Mikal Bridges, New York Knicks

• John Collins, Los Angeles Clippers

• Andrew Wiggins, Miami Heat

RJ Barrett: I could be sleeping on a consistently undervalued points league asset, but I’m skeptical he’ll keep it up with Brandon Ingram also vying for touches. Barrett averaged 37 FPPG last year …

Julius Randle: Randle finally found his footing with the Wolves in the postseason. However, I’m concerned he won’t generate the counting stats we’re used to. For the first time in his career, he averaged fewer than eight rebounds per game. His scoring also dropped to 18.7 PPG, the lowest in four seasons. He has refined his game and is actually better for category leagues than points.

John Collins: The Clippers are stacked, removing Collins’ tank risk that impacted his fantasy value playing in Utah. He’s also an efficiency guy but still offers plenty from a scoring, rebounding and defensive standpoint.

Cameron Johnson: Like Anunoby, efficiency drives much of Johnson’s fantasy value. I prefer them both for category leagues because they’ll average between 15-18 PPG with middling rebounding and assists, but a steady starting role playing 30+ minutes per night.

Tier 8: Reliable role players

• Santi Aldama, Memphis Grizzlies

• Bobby Portis Jr., Milwaukee Bucks

• Aaron Gordon, Denver Nuggets

• Kyle Kuzma, Milwaukee Bucks

• Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors

• De’Andre Hunter, Cleveland Cavaliers

• Keegan Murray, Sacramento Kings

• Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors

• Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers

• Jaden McDaniels, Minnesota Timberwolves

• Tobias Harris, Detroit Pistons

• Klay Thompson, Dallas Mavericks

Santi Aldama: We don’t know if Jaren Jackson Jr. (toe) will be ready for the start of the season, but Aldama is a sneaky option to consider for points and category leagues. His ADP is climbing over the past seven days to 119th overall, but he could outperform that ADP with Desmond Bane gone and JJJ shelved temporarily. Many wouldn’t have suspected that Aldama’s improved in almost all categories, year-over-year, except for blocks per game and FT%.

Aaron Gordon: Gordon thrives next to Jokić and will quietly contribute across scoring, rebounding and assists. He’s an underrated stat-stuffer.

Keegan Murray: He needs a change of scenery. There are too many players ahead of him in the pecking order for me to get excited in points or category leagues.

Jonathan Kuminga: I doubt he’ll get traded by the start of the season, which means he’ll be coming off the bench for the Warriors. It’s far from an ideal scenario, but Kuminga could be one of the top scoring bench options in the league. 

Tier 9: Back-end depth

• Ace Bailey, Utah Jazz

• Jeremy Sochan, San Antonio Spurs

• Herbert Jones, New Orleans Pelicans

• P.J. Washington Jr., Dallas Mavericks

• Obi Toppin, Indiana Pacers

• Keldon Johnson, San Antonio Spurs

• Kyshawn George, Washington Wizards

• Tari Eason, Houston Rockets

• Terrence Shannon, Minnesota Timberwolves

• Bilal Coulibaly, Washington Wizards

• Naji Marshall, Dallas Mavericks

• Jabari Smith Jr., Houston Rockets

• Rui Hachimura, Los Angeles Lakers

• Gradey Dick, Toronto Raptors

• Grayson Allen, Phoenix Suns

• Aaron Nesmith, Indiana Pacers

• Toumani Camara, Portland Trail Blazers

• Kelly Oubre Jr., Philadelphia 76ers

• Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks

• Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies

• Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets

• Khris Middleton, Washington Wizards

Ace Bailey: Bailey is on track to start at SF this year and, despite his shortcomings as a defender, he can score with the best of them. Given the efficiency concerns, I would target him late in points leagues over category formats. 

Herbert Jones: I hope Herb can stay healthy because he’s one of the best defenders in the league. His skill set is more impactful for category leagues, but keep an eye on him if you’re looking for stocks and 3s late.

Kyshawn George:The injury to Bilal Coulibaly could pay off for the Canadian forward, as George could sneak into the starting unit. George is a budding two-way player who played extremely confidently across the Vegas Summer League and AmeriCup tournaments. He’s one of my sleepers whom I’ll be targeting late in drafts regardless of format.

Tari Eason: He’s going to have to wait, but he’ll remain an effective per-minute player, especially in category leagues. Jabari Smith Jr. is another option to consider.

Toumani Camara: Similar to Herb Jones, Camara has become one of the top defensive players in the NBA. If he can take a step forward offensively, it’d elevate him a tier or two, but there’s a lot of mouths to feed in Portland. 

Tier 10: Streamers

• Luguentz Dort, Oklahoma City Thunder

• Harrison Barnes, San Antonio Spurs

• Guerschon Yabusele, New York Knicks

• Jalen Smith, Chicago Bulls

• Alex Caruso, Oklahoma City Thunder

• Cam Whitmore, Washington Wizards

• Jaime Jaquez Jr., Miami Heat

• Sam Hauser, Boston Celtics

• Royce O’Neale, Phoenix Suns

• Vince Williams Jr., Memphis Grizzlies

• Dalton Knecht, Los Angeles Lakers

• Nikola Jovic, Miami Heat

• Aaron Wiggins, Oklahoma City Thunder

• Justin Edwards, Philadelphia 76ers

• Ronald Holland II, Detroit Pistons

• Taylor Hendricks, Utah Jazz

The MLB postseason is right around the corner. And with less than two weeks left in the regular season, every team with World Series aspirations still has a lot left to play for.

Let’s break down the MLB standings and the playoff picture as they look ahead of games on Sept. 19.

Who has clinched a spot in the playoffs?

The Brewers clinched the first spot in the playoffs on Sept. 13. They are in line to win the NL Central and secure the NL’s No. 1 seed.

The Phillies clinched a postseason spot on Sept. 14. They won the NL East and are in line to secure the NL’s No. 2 seed.

The Cubs clinched a postseason spot on Sept. 17. They are in line to secure the top wild card in the NL and the No. 4 seed.

No other team has clinched a postseason berth yet, though the same 12 teams have been in playoff position since July 11.

Who can clinch next?

The Blue Jays are in line to be the first team in the postseason in the American League, with a magic number at two. The Dodgers’ magic number to clinch a playoff spot is down to one.

On the NL side, the Dodgers and Padres have playoff odds above 99%, according to FanGraphs. The Brewers and Dodgers are in position to win their divisions, while the Cubs currently hold the top wild card. The Mets are also in wild-card position.

In the AL, the Blue Jays, Yankees, Tigers and Mariners all have playoff odds of 96% or better. Also in playoff position are the Astros and Red Sox. The Tigers, Blue Jays and Mariners currently lead their divisions, with the Yankees, Astros and Red Sox making up the wild-card field. 

But someone could still shake up the wild-card picture, as the Guardians are within 1.5 games of the Red Sox for the final spot in the AL, and the Diamondbacks and Reds are within 2 games of the Mets for the final spot in the NL.

What’s still up for grabs?

Once a team clinches its ticket to the postseason, there’s still a lot to play for. Beyond division leads and wild cards, teams could be battling for playoff positioning until the final weekend of the season.

The Nos. 1 and 2 seeds in each league go to the division winners with the two best records. Those teams earn a bye through the wild-card round and hosting rights in the division series. Currently, the Brewers, Phillies, Tigers and Blue Jays are in line to claim those byes.

The No. 3 seed goes to the third division winner, and that team will host the three-game wild-card series against the No. 6 seed (which goes to the third wild card). The top wild-card team will earn the No. 4 seed and host the No. 5 seed (the second wild card) in the wild-card round.

The higher seed also gets home-field advantage in the championship series, once we get that far.

What are the tiebreakers?

No longer do teams play a Game 163 if they finish the season tied. Instead, tiebreakers are determined by head-to-head records first and, if needed, intradivision records second.

Here are the tiebreakers that could come into play:

• The Blue Jays have clinched the tiebreaker against the Red Sox, Yankees and Tigers.

• The Red Sox have clinched the tiebreaker against the Yankees.

• The Tigers have clinched the tiebreaker against the Astros.

• The Mariners have clinched the tiebreaker against the Tigers.

• The Mets have clinched the tiebreaker against the Phillies and Padres.

• The Phillies have clinched the tiebreaker against the Dodgers.

• The Brewers have clinched the tiebreaker against the Phillies.

• The Cubs have clinched the tiebreaker against the Brewers.

• The Dodgers have clinched the tiebreaker against the Padres.

• The Astros have clinched the tiebreaker against the Blue Jays.

• The Astros and Mariners are 5-5 this season with three games left to play this weekend.

What would the playoff bracket look like if the season ended today?

American League

Wild card: No. 6 Boston Red Sox vs. No. 3 Seattle Mariners
ALDS: Wild-card winner vs. No. 2 Detroit Tigers

Wild card: No. 5 Houston Astros vs. No. 4 New York Yankees
ALDS: Wild-card winner vs. No. 1 Toronto Blue Jays

National League

Wild card: No. 6 New York Mets vs. No. 3 L.A. Dodgers
NLDS: Wild-card winner vs. No. 2 Philadelphia Phillies

Wild card: No. 5 San Diego Padres vs. No. 4 Chicago Cubs
NLDS: Wild-card winner vs. No. 1 Milwaukee Brewers

What’s the schedule for the postseason?

Wild-card series (best of three)

Game 1: Tuesday, Sept. 30
Game 2: Wednesday, Oct. 1
Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 2*

Division series (best of five)

ALDS

Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 4
Game 2: Sunday, Oct. 5
Game 3: Tuesday, Oct. 7
Game 4: Wednesday, Oct. 8*
Game 5: Friday, Oct. 10*

NLDS

Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 4
Game 2: Monday, Oct. 6
Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 8
Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 9*
Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 11*

Championship series (best of seven)

ALCS

Game 1: Sunday, Oct 12
Game 2: Monday, Oct. 13
Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 15
Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 16
Game 5: Friday, Oct. 17*
Game 6: Sunday, Oct. 19*
Game 7: Monday, Oct. 20*

NLCS

Game 1: Monday, Oct 13
Game 2: Tuesday, Oct. 14
Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 16
Game 4: Friday, Oct. 17
Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 18*
Game 6: Monday, Oct. 20*
Game 7: Tuesday, Oct. 21*

World Series (best of seven)

Game 1: Friday, Oct. 24
Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 25
Game 3: Monday, Oct. 27
Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 28
Game 5: Wednesday, Oct. 29*
Game 6: Friday, Oct. 31*
Game 7: Saturday, Nov. 1*

(*if necessary)

Clayton Kershaw is ending a career that has spanned 18 MLB seasons, 11 All-Star nods, three Cy Young Awards, two World Series titles, a Gold Glove, an NL MVP Award, a Roberto Clemente Award and, notably, just one team.

The Los Angeles Dodgers ]

Let’s talk about the playoffs — and Sandy Koufax

One of the wilder things about Kershaw is that he’s the second left-handed pitcher to spend his entire career with the Dodgers and be on pace to rewrite the record books, only for injuries to put a damper on things.

Except, in Koufax’s case, “damper” is putting it lightly.

Kershaw’s prime might have been incredible, but Koufax arguably reached the peak of all peaks among pitchers in the 1960s. And unfortunately for Kershaw’s case, this is the point where we’re going to bring up postseason performance.

Throughout his career, Kershaw was a divisive player for many because he posted some of the best regular-season numbers in MLB history while stepping on rake after rake in the postseason. For some, Kershaw’s playoff issues invalidated his argument as the game’s top pitcher. Others pointed to how often Kershaw was pushed into short-rest starts or to go just one more inning than he should have. He ultimately found some redemption with the Dodgers’ 2020 World Series run, but the end result is a 4.49 ERA in the games that mattered more.

Maybe some of those arguments are unfair. But here’s the thing: No one has to make any of those qualifications with Koufax.

In an era when the entire postseason was the World Series, Koufax posted a 0.95 ERA across four series. He got the win in two complete games in a sweep of the New York Yankees in 1963, then etched his name in baseball history in 1965, when he refused to play in Game 1 on Yom Kippur, then came back and pitched in three games. He took the loss in Game 2 with — gasp — one earned run in six innings, then threw shutouts in Games 5 and 7, the latter on two days’ rest. All while his arm was falling apart from traumatic arthritis.

Maybe Koufax would’ve had more struggles in an expanded postseason, which has been cruel to so many, but any player from his era would likely have just expected more of the same from him.

Kershaw’s postseason problem shouldn’t keep him out of the Hall of Fame. It shouldn’t stop anyone from speaking about him in hushed tones. But when it comes to deciding on “greatness,” it seems worth mentioning. 

Koufax might’ve lost half of a career to an arm condition, but what remains feels almost tailor-made to argue against Kershaw. Koufax won as many Cy Young Awards and MVPs, with two more Triple Crowns, three more no-hitters (including a perfect game), two more ERA titles and, of course, a postseason track record that made fans proud rather than defensive. He isn’t even that far behind in the counting stats, as Kershaw will finish with only 500 or so more innings — fewer than two seasons for Koufax — than a guy who had to retire after his age-30 season.

Clayton Kershaw will be remembered

We are talking about two different eras with Kershaw and Koufax, but that’s kind of the point with greatness debates. It’s not just about who had the better stats — and Koufax might have had the better stats anyway, especially when you consider that his first few years were mediocre because he entered the big leagues two years after he seriously started pitching.

Koufax played at a time when baseball was a different sport in the eyes of the larger world. He was one of the biggest celebrities in America and made a lasting cultural impact with his Yom Kippur refusal, especially in the Jewish community. It’s hard to see any baseball player achieving a similar status in America today (though Shohei Ohtani is doing it in Japan).

And if greatness is about impact over stats, there’s also Robinson, who broke the color barrier, helped win the Dodgers’ first World Series in 1955 and was one of MLB’s best second basemen ever, even in a vacuum. If you want to say he’s the greatest Dodger ever, no one should disagree with you.

Talking about all of this feels unfair to Kershaw, who most certainly made an impact in today’s game. He just happened to be on one of the toughest teams for making a GOAT argument.

Ultimately, Kershaw might be remembered from the standpoint of his era rather than his team. His decline exemplified a change in baseball this century, from starting pitchers who could be expected to throw 200 innings every year to trips to the injured list being an eventuality. It’s a testament to Kershaw that he remained effective even after that transition.

Neither Kershaw nor Koufax is going to sweat whether they helped the Dodgers more than the other. They clearly both did just fine.

Live updates; Lone Peak [UT] at SN No. 15 Corner Canyon [UT]
originally appeared on The Sporting News

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee, Sept. 19 — The SN No. 15 Corner Canyon [Draper, UT] Chargers are hosting the Lone Peak [Highland, UT] Knights Friday night in one of Utah’s top regular-season contests.

Corner Canyon has looked like one of the nation’s best teams so far in 2025 while Lone Peak was humbled two weeks ago at the Bishop Gorman [Las Vegas, NV] Gaels in a 35-14 loss.

It may have been worse except for the fact the game was called early after a skirmish broke out and most of Lone Peak’s players left the bench area. When suspensions were meted out, the Knights didn’t have enough players to continue the game at that point.

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|| FIRST QUARTER ||

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OUR PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA TEAMS …

Finally, don’t miss out on The Sporting News Preseason All-American Teams that just debuted today!

The Sporting News High School Preseason All-American Offense 2025

The Sporting News High School Preseason All-American Defense 2025

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MORE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL HEADLINES …

• Louisiana High School Football Top 25
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• Illinois High School Football Top 25

The San Francisco 49ers completed the practice week on Friday for Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals, and they released their final injury report. Their offensive depth is being tested. Quarterback Brock Purdy is not expected to play, while left guard Connor Colby was added to the report on Friday.

The details of the 49ers’ final injury report are below. After each player’s injury, there is the daily status, which is either no status (NS), did not practice (DNP), limited (LIM) or Full.

Starters are noted with an asterisk.

San Francisco 49ers Week 3 injury report: Ruled out

• G Spencer Burford (knee): DNP all three days
• WR Jordan Watkins (calf): NS, LIM, DNP

With depth already being tested at wide receiver, Watkins was added to the injury report Thursday and was declared out Friday.

Questionable

• LG Connor Colby (groin): NS, NS, LIM
• *WR Jauan Jennings (ankle/shoulder): DNP all three days
• QB Brock Purdy (toe/left shoulder): LIM all three days

After Purdy was limited for the third consecutive day, head coach Kyle Shanahan said it’s “highly unlikely” that he will start Sunday, meaning Mac Jones will be the starter for the second week in a row. Shanahan is hoping Purdy could be available to be in uniform as a backup. Adrian Martinez was elevated from the practice squad last week.

Colby played most of the game in Week 2 after Ben Bartch left with a high-ankle sprain and was placed on injured this week. Now, Colby is hobbled with the groin issue, apparently suffered in practice Friday.

Jennings didn’t practice all week.

No injury designation

• *DE Nick Bosa (not injury related/rest): DNP, Full, Full
• DE Yetur Gross-Matos (knee): DNP, LIM, DNP
• RB Jordan James (finger): Full all three days
• FB Kyle Juszczyk (concussion): DNP, LIM, Full
• *RB Christian McCaffrey (calf/not injury related/rest: DNP, Full, Full
• S Siran Neal (concussion): DNP, LIM, Full
• *T Trent Williams (knee/not injury related/rest: DNP, LIM, Full

With issues in the passing game and tight end George Kittle also on injured reserve, McCaffrey will be counted on for a big load on offense. Since being acquired in a trade during the 2022 season, the 49ers are 29-10 in games he’s played including the playoffs and 5-9 when he hasn’t played.

Arizona Cardinals Friday injury report

Doubtful

• CB Will Johnson (groin): DNP all three days

Questionable

• G Will Hernandez (knee): LIM all three days
• *LT Paris Johnson Jr. (knee): LIM all three days
• *CB Max Melton (knee): LIM all three days
• TE Tip Reiman (foot): LIM all three days

No injury designation

• T Kelvin Beachum (not injury related/rest): LIM, Full, NS
• LB Cody Simon (concussion): LIM, Full, Full
• DL Dante Stills (elbow): LIM, Full, Full

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: San Francisco 49ers injury report: QB Brock Purdy questionable

Anna (TX) at Lucas Lovejoy (TX): Live updates, score of rematch of two high-scoring Texas tilts from ‘24
originally appeared on The Sporting News

Two teams that turned in a pair of wild, high-scoring contests face off in a much-anticipated rematch Friday.

Anna takes on Lucas Lovejoy in a key District 4-5AII game. Last season, Lovejoy took both games from the Coyotes, winning a regular-season game 66-62 and then claiming a playoff rematch, 52-49, in the third round of the 5A Division II playoffs.

How to watch Anna (TX) at Lucas Lovejoy (TX): Live stream, kickoff time for key district game 

The Coyotes come into Friday’s rematch at 2-0, while the Leopards enter Friday’s game at 2-1 and won their district opener last week, 63-19, against Frisco Liberty. This will be Anna’s district opener.

Follow The Sporting News correspondent Buck Ringgold (@Bucks_Ballpark) for all of the live updates and scoring from Lucas.

Scroll down for live score and game updates from kickoff to the postgame. Refresh this page for the latest.

ANNA 7, LUCAS LOVEJOY 0 1ST QTR.

Refresh for latest

FIRST QUARTER

– TOUCHDOWN ANNA. Ziondre Williams hooks up with WR Roaen Nylander for a 47-yard score, and the Coyotes add the PAT. (Anna, 7-0 | 7:57, 1st) 

7:57 Q1: Anna 7, Lovejoy 0

Anna senior QB Ziondre Williams found senior WR Roaen Nylander for the 47-yard score. @SportsDayHSpic.twitter.com/gsHNlOHRGT

— Myah Taylor (@t_myah) September 20, 2025

PREGAME

– Live from Leopard Stadium in Lucas, the Leopards of Lovejoy welcome in the Coyotes of Anna.

MORE HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS NEWS

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National 20-Game Win Streaks: Marion Local makes it 68 in a row while Garden City gets No. 55 in 2025 opener

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FINAL — TSN No. 20 Centennial [CA] stuns TSN No. 1 Mater Dei [CA] in 43-36 upset

Vote: Who should be the top individual Texas high school football performer from Week 3 (Sept. 8-14)?

Vote: Who should be the top individual Arkansas high school football performer from Week 2 (Sept. 8-14)?

It’s still early in the season, but the Chargers seem to have a legitimate shot at going after the AFC West title. They are set to face another divisional opponent this weekend in the form of the Broncos.

Another win would put them at 3-0, all within the division, and would give them a significant head start in their quest to win the West.

Let’s highlight a few key matchups to watch in this weekend’s battle.

Chargers wide receivers vs. Broncos defensive backs

The Chargers’ wide receiver room looks vastly different in 2025, with the improvement of Quentin Johnston as well as the addition of Keenan Allen and the two rookies. It has been a strength of this team through two weeks, as they are third in the NFL in passing, averaging 270.0 yards per contest.

On the flip side, the Broncos possess arguably the best defensive back room in the NFL. The group features the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Patrick Surtain II, and impressive third-year corner Riley Moss. That’s been on full display again in 2025, as they’ve allowed just 368 passing yards through two weeks, the ninth-fewest in the NFL. This is strength vs. strength on Sunday, and a lot of it will come down to coaching and the schemes that are drawn up.

Tuli Tuipulotu vs. Broncos offensive tackles

The Chargers have four sacks in the first two weeks of the season, but none of those have come from the edge rusher group. With Khalil Mack out for the foreseeable future, there will be even more pressure on Tuipulotu to step up. Through two games, he’s totaled six tackles, three quarterback hits, a tackle for loss, and two pass deflections.

The former USC product will have his hands full on Sunday against the Broncos’ tackle duo of Mike McGlinchey and Garett Bolles. In the first two contests, the two have combined to lose just one rep in pass protection. This is a matchup that will play a deciding role in who wins on Sunday.

Chargers situational offense vs. Broncos defense

The Broncos’ defense was somewhat exposed in the Week 2 loss to the Colts, in which they gave up 29 points. One area that the unit has been particularly stout in, though, has been their third-down defense. Albeit a small sample, the Broncos lead the league in third-down defense as opposing offenses have converted just 29.6% of such scenarios.

On the flip side, the Chargers offense has done quite well with a 45.8% third-down conversion rate. That ranks 10th in the NFL, and the acquisition of a guy like Allen has helped the group in this part of the game. Moments like these will define Sunday’s result.

This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: What matchups should fans watch for in the Chargers’ Week 3 contest?

The Kansas City Chiefs will go head-to-head against the New York Giants on Sunday as they chase their first win of the regular season.

Veteran defensive lineman Charles Omenihu was listed on the Chiefs’ injury reports this week.

Will Omenihu play against the Giants on Sunday?

Here is the latest on Omenihu’s status ahead of Kansas City’s Week 3 matchup:

Charles Omenihu injury update

Omenihu is currently dealing with a hand injury, but was listed as a full participant in all of the Chiefs’ practice sessions this week.

How long will Charles Omenihu be out?

Omenihu did not receive an official game status designation on Friday and should be expected to take the field against New York this weekend.

Chiefs DL depth chart

If Omenihu is unable to play in Week 3, defensive ends George Karlaftis and Malik Herring will be able to step up in his absence on Kansas City’s defensive line.

This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Charles Omenihu injury: Will Chiefs DL play vs. Giants in Week 3?