Fantasy Football News

The Kansas City Chiefs and star quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) are both "leaning into this Week 1 possibility" that he'll be ready to go for the first Monday night game of the 2026 season against the division-rival Denver Broncos, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Mahomes has made great progress this offseason while recovering from surgery to fix ACL and LCL tears that he suffered on Dec. 14 last year against the Los Angeles Chargers. The 30-year-old two-time MVP has been taking part in seven-on-seven drills during offseason workouts, but the next step will be for him to be cleared for contact and to participate in 11-on-11 team drills. Running and cutting will be a focal point for Mahomes over the next weeks and months as he attempts to regain his patented mobility. Head coach Andy Reid is optimistic that Mahomes will progress in training camp next month, and Mahomes would like to get a dress rehearsal during the preseason to test his surgically-repaired knee. KC added Justin Fields as insurance at the position, but all signs are pointing to Mahomes being ready for the regular-season opener. Nobody should be doubting Mahomes at this point in his career, but fantasy managers should also be tempering expectations as he returns from a major knee injury. It's best to target Mahomes as a high-end QB2 in 2026 fantasy drafts.

On the first day of mandatory minicamp on Thursday, Green Bay Packers second-year wide receiver Matthew Golden lined up across from Christian Watson in a two-receiver set, according to Bill Huber of Sports Illustrated. Golden came into the NFL last year with high expectations after the Packers selected him 23rd overall out of the University of Texas. The 22-year-old was then hyped up plenty during training camp and the preseason, only to disappoint in his rookie campaign in a crowded receiving corps in Green Bay. He caught 29 passes for 361 yards and zero touchdowns in 14 regular-season games (five starts). Golden is trending back up again this spring, and he'll have a much bigger opportunity to carve out a consistent role in the passing attack now that Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks are out of town. Watson is the team's clear WR1 with big-play ability, and the Packers also still have the versatile Jayden Reed, but both wideouts have dealt with their fair share of injuries early in their careers. Even if both Watson and Reed stay on the field, Golden will be a popular Year 2 breakout candidate. He can be had at a discount, too, with RotoBaller ranking him as the No. 51 fantasy WR for the 2026 season.

The Carolina Panthers and wide receiver Jalen Coker agreed to a three-year contract extension on Thursday worth $35 million, with incentives potentially taking the deal up to $41 million, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Coker was set to be an exclusive-rights free agent this year and a restricted free agent next year. The 24-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Holy Cross has battled injuries in his first two seasons in the NFL, playing in a total of 22 regular-season games (seven starts) while catching 65 passes for 872 yards and five touchdowns on 89 targets. Coker came on strong late last season for the Panthers and has averaged a healthy 13.4 yards per reception since entering the league. Going into Year 3 in 2026, Coker is expected to be Carolina's primary slot receiver as their No. 2 behind second-year wideout Tetairoa McMillan. If Coker can stay healthy all year, he has clear potential to have a breakout campaign and be a solid sleeper for fantasy managers. RotoBaller currently has him ranked as the No. 50 fantasy WR going into the 2026 season. Coker isn't a burner by any means, but he's explosive after the catch and has excellent hands.

New Denver Broncos wide receiver Jaylen Waddle "has looked every bit the star wide receiver this spring," according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. The Broncos gave up a first-round pick in this year's NFL draft to acquire the services of Waddle from the Miami Dolphins this offseason, and head coach Sean Payton looks ready to use him all over the field. The 27-year-old former sixth overall pick in 2021 out of the University of Alabama opened his NFL career with three straight 1,000-yard seasons while also leading the league with 18.1 yards per catch in his sophomore campaign. Waddle failed to reach the 1,000-yard mark in each of the last two years as Miami's speed-based offense hit a snag, although he did bounce back in 2025 with a 64-910-6 line in 16 starts. The Broncos already have a capable WR1 in Courtland Sutton, but the Broncos didn't give up a haul not to involve Waddle regularly, and he could thrive underneath in Payton's offense in Year 1 in Denver. Waddle is a more intriguing target for fantasy managers in PPR formats, and he should be considered a low-end WR2/high-end WR3/flex in his new digs.

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Joshua Palmer (ankle) is coming off a frustrating first year with the team, in which he missed five regular-season games due to an ankle injury. The 26-year-old wasn't relevant at all in fantasy football, catching a career-low 22 passes on 37 targets for 303 yards and no touchdowns across 12 regular-season games (eight starts). However, Palmer is "feeling a lot better" this offseason and is optimistic he'll be better in his second season in Buffalo in 2026. He worked off to the side during organized team activities but has been back on the field during mandatory minicamp this week. The former third-round pick (77th overall) by the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021 out of the University of Tennessee averaged 12.6 yards per catch and had 182 receptions for 2,287 yards and 10 touchdowns on 282 targets in 58 games in his first four years in the league with the Bolts. Palmer surely has bounce-back potential after being banged up in 2025, but with the addition of receiver DJ Moore to the fold as a deep threat in the Bills' offense, it's hard to imagine him having a consistent enough role to excite fantasy managers going into the start of the 2026 season this fall.

According to Ben Standig of Last Man Standig, Washington Commanders second-year running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (undisclosed) is missing valuable repetitions during organized team activities this offseason due to a soft-tissue injury. It's unclear what exactly Croskey-Merritt is dealing with or whether he'll be ready to return for the team's mandatory minicamp that runs from June 16-18. Bill has the opportunity to become Washington's clear lead back in Year 2 in 2026, but to do so, he'll need to improve his ball security and as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. Rachaad White, Jeremy McNichols, and Jerome Ford slot in behind Croskey-Merritt in Washington's RB room, but JCM is the only one of the group with a realistic chance for lead-back duties. The 25-year-old former seventh-rounder out of the University of Arizona worked his way into a big role in his first NFL campaign in D.C., rushing for 805 yards and eight touchdowns on 175 carries while adding nine receptions for 68 yards. Because he won't be guaranteed a three-down role, though, fantasy managers should target JCM as more of an RB3/flex in drafts this fall.

Ex-NFL wide receiver Henry Ruggs III was denied parole almost five years after he killed a woman in a car crash in Las Vegas, Nevada, according to The Associated Press. Ruggs, who was the Las Vegas Raiders' first-round pick in 2020, drove his sports car at speeds up to 156 mph on Nov. 2, 2021, and slammed into a car, killing driver Tina Tintor and her dog, Max. Prosecutors at the time said Ruggs' blood-alcohol level taken within the required two hours after the crash was 0.16%. He pleaded guilty in May of 2023 to felony DUI causing death and misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter. Ruggs was sentenced in August of 2023 to a three- to 10-year prison sentence. He'll go before the parole board again three months before his Aug. 24, 2027, mandatory parole release date. The 27-year-old was the 12th overall pick in 2020, and he caught 50 of his 79 targets for 921 yards and four touchdowns in 20 games (19 starts) in his only two years in the league.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette said he lost seven to nine pounds in the offseason and is now down to 221 pounds, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. Legette also said he's tried to "bulletproof" his hamstrings after previously having issues with them. The 25-year-old, who was the 32nd overall pick in 2024 out of South Carolina, has failed to live up to his lofty draft capital in his first two years in the NFL in Carolina. Legette has totaled 84 receptions on 148 targets for 860 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 31 regular-season games (25 starts). His production took a dip last year, too, as he finished with a 35-363-3 line on 64 targets across 15 regular-season contests. Last year's first-rounder, Tetairoa McMillan, looks like the real deal, and Jalen Coker appears primed to be a breakout candidate in his third year as the team's WR2. That leaves Legette battling with John Metchie III and rookie Chris Brazzell II for targets as the Panthers' WR3. In standard 12-team fantasy leagues in 2026, Legette should go undrafted.

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (ankle) is expected to practice next week at mandatory minicamp, head coach Sean Payton told Zac Stevens of DNVR Sports. Nix did a walkthrough before Thursday's practice, which is an encouraging sign for his availability next week. The 26-year-old fractured his right ankle at the end of the team's Divisional Round win over the Buffalo Bills and had surgery in late January. Nix also had a cleanup procedure on his ankle in late April, but he's trending in the right direction to participate in minicamp next week and for the start of training camp at the end of July. For what it's worth, Payton thinks that Nix will be "completely clean, mobility-wise" once he returns to the field in preparation for his third year in the NFL. The former 12th overall pick out of the University of Oregon in 2024 has thrown for 7,706 yards, 54 touchdowns, and 23 interceptions in 34 regular-season games in his first two years in the league, adding 786 rushing yards and nine rushing scores. Nix has been a top-10 fantasy QB in each of his first two seasons, but coming off ankle surgery, there is some concern he won't be as effective as a runner, especially with Payton looking to make the offense more balanced. Nix's dual-threat abilities give him RB1 upside, but in fantasy drafts, managers should target him as more of a low-end QB1/high-end QB2 in 2026. UPDATE: ESPN's Jeremy Fowler thinks Nix will be involved in low-impact, light work during minicamp next week. The goal is for him to do more extensive work at training camp in August.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles), who is just over six months removed from rupturing his right Achilles tendon on Dec. 7, has so far been limited to seven-on-seven drills during organized team activities this offseason, according to James Boyd of The Athletic. However, head coach Shane Steichen said the 29-year-old signal-caller is expected to resume taking part in 11-on-11 drills in training camp next month. "It's my back leg, my push leg," Jones said, explaining the importance of his right Achilles. "There's a strength component. I think there's still work to be done," Jones conceded. "I wouldn't say I'm all the way there at this point." The Colts aren't rushing Jones back, but barring a setback this summer, he looks to be on track to be ready for the Week 1 2026 regular-season opener on Sept. 13 against the Baltimore Ravens. Jones was playing great in 2025 in his first year in Indy before tearing his Achilles, completing 68% of his pass attempts for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. However, fantasy managers should temper expectations for Jones as a QB2 after the Colts traded away his top wideout this offseason in Michael Pittman Jr. Remember, the Colts' offense will continue to run through running back Jonathan Taylor.

Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins (ankle) got a late start to his rookie season in 2025 and then suffered a dislocated right ankle and fractured fibula in Week 16, putting an end to his first year in the NFL. Judkins averaged just 3.6 yards per carry on his 230 rushing attempts for 827 yards and seven touchdowns in his 14 starts, also adding 26 catches for 171 yards as a pass-catcher. Per the Akron Beacon Journal's Chris Easterling, the former second-rounder (36th overall) out of Ohio State has looked more physical, confident, and aggressive during offseason workouts with his ankle/leg injury in the rearview mirror. New head coach Todd Monken said it looks like Judkins has "got his confidence back, his explosion." With a mostly new offensive line in tow in 2026, the Browns view Judkins as part of their core, and he should be their unquestioned RB1 in his sophomore campaign. Cleveland's offense is a big question mark considering their QB situation, but with better health, Judkins should continue to rise as a low-end RB2 target in fantasy drafts with upside.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (shoulder) was seen working out at organized team activities on Thursday. Irving is being worked back in slowly this offseason after having shoulder surgery, but he looked good on Thursday while catching passes at OTAs while doing other work as well. Although he might not be a full-go for the start of training camp at the end of next month, all signs point to the 23-year-old back being ready at some point this summer and for the start of the 2026 regular season in early September. The former fourth-rounder in 2024 out of the University of Oregon impressed with a 1,000-yard season and eight touchdowns on 207 carries while adding 47 receptions for 392 yards as a pass-catcher in 17 games as a rookie, but he played in only 10 games in 2025 due to injury and finished with 588 rushing yards and one touchdown for the Bucs. Irving's fantasy stock has fallen a bit going into his third year in the league because of durability concerns as he learns a new offense. Newcomer Kenneth Gainwell is also likely to steal valuable pass-catching reps from him. He still has clear RB2 upside if he can stay healthy, but Irving has fallen to No. 26 in RotoBaller's RB rankings for the 2026 season.

When asked if wide receiver Rashee Rice (knee) will be ready for the start of training camp in late July, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said, "I think he will be. He gets out [of jail] next week. We'll see where it goes. He'll be back up here and working." Rice has had another rough offseason, violating his probation and being sentenced to 30 days in jail due to a positive test for marijuana. In addition to ongoing legal trouble, the 26-year-old had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to remove loose bodies, keeping him out of organized team activities this offseason. It sounds like Rice's knee surgery won't prevent him from being ready for a Monday night affair in Week 1 of the 2026 regular season against the division-rival Denver Broncos, but another potential suspension hanging over his head has caused him to fall to No. 22 in RotoBaller's WR rankings for the upcoming campaign. The former second-round pick in 2023 out of SMU is KC's clear WR1 when he's available, but he's played in just 12 games in the last two seasons due to suspension and injury. Rice showed his true upside in 2023 in his rookie year, catching 79 of his 102 targets for 938 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 regular-season games (eight starts).

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid hinted on Thursday that quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) will be active in training camp this summer, according to Nate Taylor of ESPN. "Looks like he'll be able to do some things in [training] camp. We'll see where it goes. So far, it's been a steady climb up the hill," Reid said. Mahomes has been recovering from a torn ACL and LCL that he suffered in Week 15 last year against the Los Angeles Chargers, but he has made significant progress in his rehab and has been taking part in seven-on-seven drills during organized team activities this offseason. He has so far been held out of 11-on-11 work, but the 30-year-old six-time Pro Bowler and two-time MVP is trending in the right direction to be ready for a Week 1 showdown on Monday night against the division-rival Denver Broncos. Nobody should be counting out the former 10th overall pick in 2017 out of Texas Tech University after all he's done in his nine years in the league, but coming off a serious knee injury with a questionable group of pass-catchers has him ranked as more of a high-end QB2 in fantasy football for the 2026 season.

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson took on a high-volume role in his team's offense in 2025, finishing the year with 82 catches for 600 yards and eight touchdowns on 102 targets across 17 games. However, a significant chunk of Ferguson's production came in the four games where star Cowboys wideout CeeDee Lamb was either sidelined or forced to exit early due to injury. Across the 13 games where Ferguson shared the field with Lamb, he averaged 5.3 targets and four receptions per game. The 27-year-old needs a high volume of targets to be productive for fantasy managers, as he's averaged under six yards per target in each of the last two seasons. Ferguson's 2026 spike in red zone production may not be sustainable either, as he failed to record a single touchdown grab across 14 games in 2024. With the Cowboys' star wide receiver duo of Lamb and George Pickens likely to demand a significant chunk of the team's targets in 2026, dynasty managers may want to explore selling high on Ferguson.

After recording 65 catches for 665 yards in his first season with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2024, tight end Mike Gesicki's production fell off in his second year with the team in 2025. The 30-year-old missed four games with a pectoral injury and finished the season with 28 catches for 307 yards and two touchdowns on 42 targets. Gesicki is back with Cincinnati for 2026, and he could be in position for a bounce-back campaign after the team let tight end Noah Fant walk in free agency. Gesicki is not assured of the TE1 role for the Bengals, as he will have to compete with Drew Sample, Erick All Jr., and Tanner Hudson. Still, Gesicki has proven an ability to be productive in the Cincinnati offense before, particularly in games where Bengals wideout Tee Higgins is sidelined by injury. In dynasty formats, Gesicki could be a worthy buy-low dart-throw for managers after his down year in 2025.

Across 12 games (eight starts) in 2025, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Joshua Palmer (ankle) recorded 22 catches for 303 yards and zero touchdowns on 37 targets. The veteran wideout missed five games due to knee and ankle issues in the middle of the year, and was ultimately placed on Injured Reserve ahead of the postseason due to lingering effects from the injuries. Palmer is still working his way back to full strength as of OTAs, but he's expected to be ready to go for the start of the season. With improved health, the 26-year-old could be in position for a bounce-back year in 2026. However, his role in the Buffalo offense is less secure after the team's offseason trade for veteran wideout DJ Moore and its selection of wide receiver Skyler Bell in the 2026 NFL Draft. Bills wideout Keon Coleman is reportedly impressing his coaching staff in the spring after a down year in 2025 and could also pose a threat to Palmer's playing time on the outside. Given his health issues, limited production track record, and uncertain playing time situation, Palmer checks in as RotoBaller's dynasty WR126 entering 2026.

Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins is entering his first season with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2026. Cousins' production has fallen off considerably in recent years, and he finished 2025 with 1,721 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven interceptions across 10 games (eight starts) for the Atlanta Falcons. The 37-year-old appears set to enter training camp as the nominal QB1 in Las Vegas. However, Cousins is highly unlikely to hold the starting job for the Raiders all season long after the team's selection of quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the number one overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Even if Cousins opens 2026 under center for Las Vegas, he may struggle to put up fantasy-relevant production in an offense that is light on pass-catching talent outside of star tight end Brock Bowers. Cousins also averaged just 6.4 yards per pass attempt with the Falcons in 2025, his first season under seven yards per attempt since 2013. Dynasty managers should feel comfortable moving on from Cousins ahead of 2026.

After recording 36 receptions for 630 yards and five touchdowns across 12 games in his final collegiate season at Notre Dame, wide receiver Malachi Fields was selected by the New York Giants in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Entering his rookie year, Fields looks to be well-positioned to make an immediate impact in New York. Superstar Giants wideout Malik Nabers (knee) is still facing an uncertain return timeline from the knee injury that ended his 2025 season. New York still has veteran wideout Darius Slayton on its roster and has been very active in the wide receiver free agent market, bringing in Darnell Mooney, Calvin Austin III, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Braxton Berrios, and Odell Beckham Jr. However, none of those veterans should hold Fields back from a significant role if he can put together a productive training camp. Dynasty managers may want to be aggressive in pursuing Fields ahead of what could be a breakout rookie season.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is entering what he himself has said will be the final year of his legendary NFL career in 2026. As he enters his age-43 campaign, Rodgers is clearly not the same player he once was at his peak. Still, he put together a solid year in his first season with the Steelers in 2025. Across 16 games, Rodgers completed 65.7% of his pass attempts for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Entering 2026, the veteran quarterback should have an improved cast of pass-catchers around him following Pittsburgh's offseason trade acquisition of wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. The Steelers also invested in the wide receiver position in the 2026 NFL Draft, using a second-round pick on Germie Bernard and a fourth-round pick on Kaden Wetjen. Fantasy managers should not expect Rodgers to provide top-12 quarterback production. Still, dynasty managers with win-now rosters in two-quarterback league formats may be able to squeeze one last productive season out of Rodgers in 2026.