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If anyone had predicted two years ago that Miguel Andújar would be a key member of the Padres’ offense in 2026, no one would have taken them seriously.

Yet, here is Andújar, batting fifth for the Padres as the primary DH for a team that needs an offensive boost. He has proven to be a versatile addition to the San Diego Padres lineup, which explains why the team targeted him in free agency.

READ MORE: MLB Power Rankings Week 1, see where the Padres land

The veteran journeyman was once the Yankees’ starting third baseman, finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting in 2018. He was considered a future star in New York, but injuries and slumps held him back over the next three years. He bounced from New York to Pittsburgh to Oakland, and ultimately ended up with the Reds, where he broke out in 2025 and became a key part of a surprise playoff push in Cincinnati.

In 34 games with the Reds, Andújar was worth 0.6 bWAR, hitting .359, slugging .544, and finishing with a .944 OPS. This helped him earn an $8 million deal with the Padres in free agency, the most he ever made in his nine-year MLB career.

No one in San Diego expected Andújar to match his .944 OPS with the Reds, and perhaps he would never do so again. However, he has continued to perform well. The utility man is slashing .261/.320/.391 for a .711 OPS through his first seven games. He’s getting good at-bats as the Padres’ DH, but still has the versatility to play third base or the corner outfield.

Fans are still getting used to the idea that Andújar can be a consistently good major league player. Recent evidence suggests that Andújar is a legitimate bat going forward.

comeback story

Between 2019 and 2022, Andújar was viewed as a marginal major leaguer. During those four years, he played in 114 major league games, was worth -2.0 bWAR, and had a 61 OPS+. He also played 93 minor league games in that span.

Something changed in 2023 when Andújar was in the Pirates’ minor-league system. With Triple-A Indianapolis, Andújar had a .944 OPS in 103 games, while hitting .338. He proved good enough to earn a call-up at the end of the season and a place in the Athletics in 2024.

Since being called up in 2023, here are his MLB numbers: 205 games, 1.3 bWAR, .296 average, 113 OPS+, 39 doubles, 18 home runs and 94 RBI. He’s been an above average hitter at the big league level for 205 games so far, and he’s showing no signs of slowing down.

The Padres suddenly seem to have identified Andujar as an underrated player who could provide an immediate spark to their offense, and so far, he’s been exactly that. Against former All-Stars like Xander Bogaerts, Jake Cronenworth and Nick Castellanos, he has the fifth-highest OPS ever on the team.

Andujar may not be a superstar, but he has been the middle of the lineup spark the Padres need.

2025 was not the year of the Kansas City Chiefs. not even close. With Patrick Mahomes fouled out in a brutal moment, Super Bowl hopes were dashed, and there was a lot of chaos in between. It’s safe to say that Arrowhead has been in overdrive ever since. This offseason is all about running it back the right way.

He began by tackling the whole Travis Kelce retirement saga. Shortly after, they not only confirmed another Kelce run, but they also signed Kenneth Walker III and brought in QB2. Last night, they took it up a notch by signing Kelce to a three-year deal worth up to $57 million. However, there is one area where the heads are still lacking. There’s still a hole in that WR room.

And this is where it gets interesting. The veteran playmaker dressed up again in the Fanatics flag football race, showing he still has fire. The explosiveness, the hands, the ability to turn a game around in one fell swoop – it’s all still there. This is why chiefs must make this call now.

RELATED: Travis Kelce’s future in KC gets even bigger after latest move

Chiefs’ WR room could use Odell Beckham Jr.’s big-game DNA

The inaugural Fanatics Flag Football Classic was a straightforward showdown. You had current stars, veterans, and international teams all sharing the field, and Team USA ran through a group of NFL talent in a fast, no-holds-barred style of play.

But let’s be honest, this wasn’t just a reunion tour for the vets. He was making statements. And Odell Beckham Jr. came and made noise.

From his first snap, OBJ stood out. sudden cut. Easy separation. Another ridiculous one-handed snag that blew up the timeline.

For a guy who hasn’t touched an NFL field since the end of 2024, that was a statement. Loud and clear: He’s still got WR1 juice in Flash. He even took a dig at Kay Adams and made it known that he wanted to come back to the league. Also mentioned the New York Giants. But honestly, that reunion seems like a long shot. However, there is one team that makes more sense.

chief. And that’s why he’s a perfect fit as a backup WR.

Even in a limited role, OBJ is still a chunk-play machine. One touch and he’s rotating the position or speed of the sphere. Combine this with Mahomes, a QB who lives off-script, and you get chaos for the defense. Then there’s Andy Reid’s system. It is built on speed, spacing and versatility. OBJ has made it everywhere in his career. Outside, slot, pre-snap motion, you name it. His route-running IQ fits perfectly into KC’s playbook like it was designed for him.

And the best part? it doesn’t have to be Boy As a WR3 or WR4, OBJ’s job is simple. Win delegates, play, shake chains. With the defense of Kelce and the young WRs, he is getting favorable matchups all day long. This is dangerous for the vet who still knows how to cook DB.

At his peak, Beckham was one of the league’s premier wide receivers. He won the 2014 Offensive Rookie of the Year, was a Pro Bowl selection three times in his first three seasons, and had five 1,000-yard campaigns. Over 10 seasons, he totaled 7,987 career receiving yards and 59 touchdowns. He owns some of the fastest statistical starts in NFL history, reaching 200 receptions and 4,000 yards at record pace.

Also, let’s not overlook the intangibles. The Chiefs’ WR room has been young and inconsistent. OBJ brings playoff reps, a ring and big game DNA. In January, Mahomes needs guys he can trust—and OBJ has been there before.

Let’s not forget that Tyreek Hill is still a free agent, and the Chiefs have also been linked to him. Full of dreams of a three-peat, the explosiveness the Chiefs could get by bringing in both OBJ and Hill to play alongside Mahomes and Kelce is off the charts.

Let’s hope the gridiron gods are kind to the Chiefs Kingdom this season.

RELATED: Patrick Mahomes reacts to Travis Kelce’s three-year deal with the Chiefs

As the Washington Wizards cruised through the final three weeks of the NBA regular season, college basketball began March Madness, also known as the NCAA Tournament. Like last year, there are several prospects heading into the tournament that the Wizards could take with their lottery picks in this summer’s draft.

In 2025, freshman guard Trey Johnson had a team-high 23 points (6-14 FG, 4-7 3-points), six rebounds and two assists in 38 minutes for Texas in an 86–80 First Four loss to Xavier. That game ended the collegiate career of the 2025 SEC Freshman of the Year, and Washington drafted him No. 6 overall in June. Now, his 36.7% three-point clip ranks fourth among NBA rookies with at least four attempts per game (minimum 40 games played). He also ranks fifth with an average of 5.3 attempts.

This year, the obvious draft targets for the Wizards are BYU forward AJ DiBuntsa, Kansas guard Darrin Peterson and Duke forward Cameron Boozer. All three will be playing in the tournament, as No. 1 Duke plays No. 16 Siena in the East Region on Thursday, No. 6 BYU takes on No. 11 Texas in the West Region on Thursday, and No. 4 Kansas takes on No. 13 California Baptist in the East Region on Friday. If Duke and Kansas each win their first two games, they will play each other in the Sweet Sixteen.

Any one of those players could be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. DiBuntsa leads the nation with 25.3 points per game on 51.3% shooting (34% 3-point) and can score any type of basket, Peterson ruins games for the opponent even in limited minutes (for example, he scored 23 points in 18 minutes in an 81–69 win over Oklahoma State on February 18), and Boozer is a double-double machine (22.5 points and 10.2 rebounds). Season) who also creates shots for his teammates. Most recently, the 6-foot-9, 250-pounder dished out eight assists in the Blue Devils’ 74-70 ACC Tournament final win over Virginia on Saturday.

If the Wizards get a top-three pick in May’s NBA Draft Lottery, they will likely get one of these three players. If they get the No. 4 pick, they could acquire North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson, the only freshman in school history other than Tyler Hansbrough to earn All-American honors. The 6-foot-10, 215-pounder won’t play in the tournament as he recovers from thumb surgery (per ESPN), but he averaged a near double-double (19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds) on 57.8% shooting and can switch to any position defensively.

However, there is a possibility that Washington’s lottery selection could fall outside the top four again. Entering Thursday night’s home matchup with the Detroit Pistons, the team has the NBA’s second-worst record (16-52), having finished in the same place last season. The second-worst record guarantees a top-six selection, and the Wizards were unlucky to get the lowest selection they could get last year.

Washington fans should be familiar with the consensus prospects outside the top four if the team selects the No. 5 or No. 6 pick in May. Luckily for the Wizards, several potential stars will likely be available in that range as well.

Here are four of those players:

G Kingston Flemings, Houston

Flemings was named the Cougars’ “best freshman” by Joseph Duarte of the Houston Chronicle, and with good reason. The 6-foot-4, 190-pounder blends efficient shooting with playmaking as a point guard while limiting turnovers. He is averaging 16.4 points per game with 5.3 assists on 47.5% shooting (39.2% 3-point shooting), while committing only 1.9 turnovers in 31.7 minutes. He also leads the team with 1.6 steals.

Additionally, the Flemings move on to bigger games. For example, the San Antonio native scored 21 points (6-14 FG, 3-4 3-point) with four rebounds, three assists and three steals in 32 minutes in Houston’s 69-47 win over Peterson and Kansas in Friday’s Big 12 Tournament semifinals.

No. 2 Houston will face No. 15 Idaho in the South Region on Thursday night.

G Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas

Acuff may be the hottest player in college basketball, coming off a 30-point, 11-assist performance in the Razorbacks’ 85-76 win over Vanderbilt in Sunday’s SEC Tournament final. The 6-foot-3, 190-pounder has five 30-plus-point games this season, including a 49-point breakout in a 117-115 double overtime win over Alabama on Feb. 18.

Acuff is also more efficient than Flemings in high shooting volume, as he ranks seventh in the country with 22.9 points on 48.6% shooting (44.5% 3-point) while averaging 16.2 field goal attempts (5.8 3-point). Flemings is averaging 12.8 attempts (three 3-pointers).

Acuff is averaging 6.5 assists against 2.2 turnovers in 35.1 minutes. The 2026 SEC Player and Rookie of the Year could be the long-term version of Washington’s Trae Young, just an inch shorter. The latter has a $49 million player option this summer, so there’s no guarantee he’ll remain there after next season.

No. 4 Arkansas will play No. 13 Hawaii in the West Region on Thursday.

G Keaton Wagler, Illinois

Wagler is another freshman sniper, as he shoots 40.2% from long range on an average of 5.8 attempts. However, the Kansas native also has the size at 6 feet 6 inches and his scoring prowess is similar to what Flemings and Acuff have displayed in their careers. 46 point performance in 88-82 win over Purdue on Jan. 24.

PTS: 46
FG: 13-17
3pt: 9-11

Revitalize Every Basket @ilinimbb Star Keaton Wagler @bigten Freshman record 4️⃣6️⃣-point performance 👇 pic.twitter.com/dNcila5QJc

– Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) 24 January 2026

Wagler is the biggest surprise on this list, as he was a three-star recruit before winning Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors this season. Nonetheless, the combo guard is now unquestionably one of the best players in this class.

No. 3 Illinois will face No. 14 Pennsylvania in the South Region on Thursday.

Fort Ament, Tennessee

Ament is not as efficient as the above players, as he is averaging 17.5 points on 40.5% shooting (33.1% 3-point) in 30.2 minutes. However, the freshman at 6-foot-10, 207 pounds has great defensive tools and potential as a big man in the NBA. Some of his standout performances this season include 29-point performances against Oklahoma, Kentucky and Alabama on February 18, February 7 and January 24, respectively. The Volunteers also won 89–66, lost 74–71 and won 79–73, respectively.

No. 6 Tennessee will face No. 11 Miami (OH) in the Midwest Region on Friday.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are in the midst of a tight Western Conference race, and every game will be important until the end of the season. Their next game will be against the Golden State Warriors, who are also alive in the West by being in the play-ins. Both teams are struggling to get seeded and are doing so while battling injuries.

As for the Timberwolves, they have been fairly healthy, but before their game, Anthony Edwards was added to the report with right knee soreness. It’s uncertain whether the injury is serious, but if so, he would likely have been listed as questionable or out.

Edwards still has a chance to suit up, and if he’s able to play, there’s no doubt he will. Plus, the Timberwolves don’t want to see him on the injury report at all, especially at this point in the season.

Edwards has been huge for the Timberwolves this season, as he is averaging a career-high 29.4 points per game. He is also shooting a career high from the three-point line at 40.2%.

Although Edwards is doing the best he can, the Timberwolves have still had times throughout the season when they have been very inconsistent. As far as a recent example goes, they are currently losing three games in a row and their defense is not playing well. They gave up 153 points to the Los Angeles Clippers, and in the game before that, they gave up 120 points to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The schedule will not be easy for the Timberwolves, as after the Warriors, they will have to face the Oklahoma City Thunder and Phoenix Suns.

If the Timberwolves ever need to try and lock down a lead, it should be now. With them being seeded sixth, there is a possibility they could reach the seventh seed, depending on what the Suns do the rest of the season.