Fantasy Football News

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs had 13 rushing touchdowns in 15 regular-season starts, but a knee injury he suffered in Week 11 against the New York Giants hampered him the rest of the way and made him a disappointment when fantasy managers needed him the most. The 27-year-old had 929 rushing yards on 234 carries and added 36 catches for 282 yards and another score on 44 targets. Jacobs didn't have a single 100-yard rushing performance and finished under 1,000 yards for only the third time in his seven-year NFL career. The three-time Pro Bowler was the RB12 in half-PPR scoring, and his 234 carries ranked 16th among all RBs. Jacobs has double-digit rushing touchdowns in four of his seven seasons and will be Green Bay's RB1 again in 2026. The volume should be there if he's healthy, but fantasy managers should target Jacobs as more of an RB2 than an RB1.

Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason had a career-high 159 rushing attempts for 758 yards (career-low 4.8 yards per carry) and a career-high six rushing touchdowns in 16 games (five starts) in 2025 in his first year with the team. The 26-year-old added a career-best 14 receptions on 16 targets for 51 yards through the air. He'll be under contract with the Vikes again in 2026 after signing a two-year, $10.5 million deal in March of last year. Mason's fantasy ceiling was capped while working in a timeshare with Aaron Jones, who is also under contract through next season, and he finished as the RB34 in half-PPR scoring while averaging only 7.7 fantasy points per game. In what should be a similar role in 2026, Mason will be an RB3/flex target later in fantasy football drafts as the power back for Minnesota. Those who roster the oft-injured Jones would be wise to handcuff him to Mason.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce could hang up his cleats after 13 seasons in the NFL. It's still unclear if he'll return for a 14th campaign with the Chiefs after playing out the two-year, $34.25 million deal he signed with KC in April of 2024. The 36-year-old future Hall of Famer was slightly better in 2025 than he was in 2024, but he still finished with fewer than 1,000 yards receiving for the third straight season. Kelce hauled in 76 of his 108 targets for 851 yards and five touchdowns in 17 starts. He became the third TE in history to reach 13,000 receiving yards, and he also had at least 75 catches for the 10th straight season. Kelce clearly is no longer in his prime, but he was still a top-five fantasy TE in half-PPR scoring in a season in which the Chiefs didn't even make the postseason. If Kelce returns to the Chiefs for one more run at it in 2026, he'll still be a top-10 fantasy target at the TE position, albeit one with more injury risk than ever before.

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor finished behind only Christian McCaffrey in overall fantasy points at the RB position in 2025 in his sixth year in the league. Taylor led the NFL in carries (323) and rushing touchdowns (18) while gaining 1,585 yards on the ground (4.9 yards per attempt). He added a career-best 46 receptions on 55 targets for 378 receiving yards and two more touchdowns in 17 starts. The 27-year-old former second-round selection in 2020 out of Wisconsin has run for 3,016 yards and 29 touchdowns on 626 rushing attempts for the Colts the last two years, and he's found the end zone double-digit times on the ground in four of his six NFL campaigns. The three-time Pro Bowler will remain the centerpiece of Indy's offense in 2026, and with quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles) expected to return, he should maintain high-end upside as a top-five RB for fantasy football managers.

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (shoulder) threw the football around on Monday and said he felt "good." "I threw a good bit (today). I threw as much as I would in a practice, and it felt great. I'll be just fine," Maye said. The second-year signal-caller injured his right (throwing) shoulder in the AFC Championship game win over the Denver Broncos and was listed as questionable for the Super Bowl after three practices last week. Maye was limited in two practices and did not see the field last Friday while dealing with an illness. The Patriots haven't been concerned at all about his availability for the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 8, against the Seattle Seahawks, so fantasy managers shouldn't be either. The matchup against a tough Seattle defense should be more concerning, especially since Maye hasn't been nearly as good in his first three career playoff games as he was during the regular season.

New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields (knee) was asked to participate in the Pro Bowl games on Tuesday, a source told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Fields declined and will instead focus on his offseason training. The 26-year-old signed a two-year, $40 million deal in free agency last offseason to serve as the Jets' starting QB, but that experiment failed miserably in head coach Aaron Glenn's first year at the helm. The former 11th overall pick by the Chicago Bears in 2021 out of Ohio State made nine starts in 2025 before being benched for veteran Tyrod Taylor, and he ended the year on Injured Reserve due to a knee injury. Fields cut down on turnovers, but he threw for only 1,259 yards, seven touchdowns, and one interception, and he wasn't as aggressive as a runner. He definitely won't be handed the starting job back in 2026, but it's unclear who he'll be competing with in training camp this summer. Fields' stock in dynasty/keeper leagues has taken a big hit.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (back) will not require offseason surgery for a herniated disc in his back, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Stafford's availability for the start of the 2025 season was in question due to his back injury, but not only was he ready, but he played at an MVP level, throwing for 4,707 yards, 46 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions in the regular season. It was something that the Rams managed throughout the year. The 37-year-old veteran is still on the fence about his playing future, but he's leaning towards returning for an 18th NFL campaign in 2026. If Stafford does return, he'll have QB1 expectations from fantasy managers with both receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams returning. However, there will also be considerable injury risk for a player at his age near the tail end of his career.

Denver Broncos passing-game coordinator Davis Webb reached an agreement with the team on Monday to become their offensive coordinator, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Webb interviewed for three head-coaching jobs and also had other offensive-coordinator opportunities this cycle, but he chose to stick around in Denver under head coach Sean Payton. He'll be taking over the OC job from Joe Lombardi, who was fired following the team's AFC Championship game loss to the New England Patriots. It's a promotion for Webb, a former backup QB in the NFL, although Payton will most likely continue to call plays for the Broncos' offense in 2026. The Broncos retaining Webb is excellent news for the entire offense, particularly quarterback Bo Nix (ankle).

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said on Monday that he has "no reason to believe" that wide receiver Davante Adams won't be back in 2026, according to ESPN's Sarah Barshop. Adams signed a two-year, $44 million contract with the team in March of last year, so the 33-year-old is under contract with the team through the 2026 campaign. In his first year in L.A. while working with McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford, Adams showed he still has it, catching 60 of his 114 targets for 789 yards and a league-high 14 touchdowns in only 14 regular-season games. He wasn't all that efficient and took a back seat to star wideout Puka Nacua, but the six-time Pro Bowler was Stafford's go-to target in the red zone. Adams finished as the WR8 in half-PPR scoring. With Nacua not going anywhere as the target hog in this offense, Adams will be a regression candidate if he's unable to find the end zone as he did in 2025. There's also the chance of Adams' value tanking if Stafford retires this offseason.

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said on Monday that he doesn't have a timetable for when quarterback Matthew Stafford will make a decision about his future, but McVay is "hopeful" that the QB will return for his 18th NFL campaign in 2026, according to Sarah Barshop of ESPN. The Rams' head coach said he thinks Stafford "deserves as much time as he needs" to make a decision and said he doesn't "get the sense that (Stafford) wants to let it drag on either." "I'm keeping my fingers crossed." The 37-year-old is under contract through the 2026 season after he agreed to a reworked contract last February. He had the best season of his career in 2025 and is the odds-on favorite to be named MVP after leading the league in passing yards (4,707) and passing touchdowns (46). Durability will be a concern if Stafford returns for another season, but he proved last year that he still has what it takes to be successful with a strong supporting cast on offense.

Dallas Cowboys club officials have held preliminary contract-extension talks with pending free-agent running back Javonte Williams, but talks are on hold until Williams finalizes hiring an agent, according to The Dallas Morning News' Calvin Watkins. The Cowboys have already made it clear that re-signing Williams will be a top priority this offseason after he had a career year in his first season in Dallas in 2025. After four seasons with the Denver Broncos, Williams set career highs across the board with the Cowboys, carrying the ball 252 times for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns in 16 starts. He added 35 receptions on 51 targets for 137 yards and two more scores. Williams finished as the RB11 in half-PPR scoring as Dallas' unquestioned lead back all year long. He finished the year on Injured Reserve due to a shoulder injury, but Williams should be fully healthy by the start of the 2026 campaign. If he returns to Dallas, which is expected, the 25-year-old will be a low-end RB1/high-end RB2 target in fantasy.

The Dallas Cowboys have not held any contract talks with wide receiver George Pickens' agent, two people briefed on the situation told Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News. It's not concerning that the Cowboys haven't talked to Pickens about an extension yet, and they have expressed a desire to re-sign Pickens since the 2025 season ended. The 24-year-old broke out in his first year with Dallas, setting career highs in catches (93), receiving yards (1,429), and touchdowns (nine), to earn his first Pro Bowl nod. People close to Pickens were hopeful for a contract worth at least $30 million per season after the Cowboys acquired him from Pittsburgh last offseason, but after the big year he had in 2025, that average salary figure will most likely rise. If a long-term deal isn't worked out, the Cowboys can place the franchise tag on Pickens, starting Feb. 17. Most likely, Pickens will remain in Dallas for at least one more season on the franchise tag, where he'll be an early-round fantasy pick as a WR1.

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard's RB15 finish in 2024 made him a popular early-to-mid-round pick in 2025, but after missing time and ceding primary early down work to a more efficient Rico Dowdle upon his return, he finished as the RB40. Dowdle, who was on a one-year deal, has been vocal about wanting to be featured as a lead back, but whether he returns to Carolina or not, it's unlikely that Hubbard will again see the type of volume that made him a fantasy league-winner in 2024. Hubbard's usage in the passing game has ranked among the least efficient in the league over his five-year career, and his near-300 touches in 2024 came largely as a result of the unexpected absence of second-round pick Jonathon Brooks, who could be back to fight for a starting role in 2026. Regardless of who Hubbard finds himself sharing a backfield with next season, the 27-year-old has likely seen the last of his bell-cow duties.

The Miami Dolphins offense faces plenty of question marks this offseason, but running back De'Von Achane offers refreshing consistency. Achane is under contract for the 2026 season and has been playing the best football of his young career. He finished last season with a career-high 1,350 rushing yards, and he also caught 67 passes for 488 receiving yards. For the second year in a row, he scored 12 touchdowns and was the overall RB5 in full-PPR leagues. This past year, he accomplished those marks despite missing one game. Miami did make a concerted effort to get Ollie Gordon II and Jaylen Wright more involved, but that decision didn't really detract from Achane's role. If anything, it kept his legs fresh and allowed him to remain as dominant as ever. The Dolphins did make a coaching staff change this offseason, replacing offensive-minded head coach Mike McDaniel with the defensive-minded Jeff Hafley. Achane also got a new offensive coordinator in Bobby Slowik, who was with the Dolphins as a senior passing game coordinator in 2025. Miami has some key questions to answer surrounding quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and wide receiver Tyreek Hill this offseason. As a result, the passing game faces major uncertainty. However, we expect the running game to remain unchanged, leaving Achane in line for another fantastic season in 2026. He should be a top-five running back in fantasy football drafts next summer.

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara is trending downward ahead of the 2026 NFL season. While Kamara is under contract for one more year with the Saints, he's losing his grasp on the New Orleans backfield due to his age, injury issues, and the emergence of younger teammates. Kamara was the overall RB46 in full-PPR leagues during the 2025 season, which was the first time he ever finished lower than RB16. While part of his slip can be attributed to Kamara missing six games, he also showcased reduced volume and effectiveness. He averaged fewer than 15 touches per game, he finished with a career-low 3.6 yards per carry, and he only scored one touchdown all year. He is now 30 years old and suffered a knee sprain in Week 12, so age and injuries may be catching up to him. He also faces more competition than ever, as Devin Neal (hamstring) and Kendre Miller (knee) both flashed the ability to occupy lead-back roles before landing on season-ending injured reserve. Trade rumors have circled around Kamara for several years, but he has indicated that he wants to remain a Saint for life. Now, it's a question of whether New Orleans wants to keep him on the books for 2026. This team is looking to get younger, and cutting Kamara post-June 1 would create $8.5 million in cap space.

Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com expects the New York Giants to re-sign impending free agent wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson. "A return seems likely considering he has always been a favorite of [general manager] Joe Schoen and the Giants need to add playmakers, not let the ones they drafted and developed walk," writes Ranaan. Robinson had the best season of his young career in 2025, catching 92 passes for a career-high 1,014 yards and four touchdowns. He was the overall WR14 in full-PPR leagues, and while part of his ascension can be attributed to the absence of Malik Nabers (knee), it was also the result of a constant upward trend that Robinson has exhibited ever since being drafted. He has continuously taken on a larger role on offense, showcasing excellence when lining up inside or outside. With Nabers, Jaxson Dart, and Cam Skattebo (ankle) all on their rookie deals, New York can afford to hand out a larger contract to Robinson. A quartet of Nabers, Robinson, Dart, and Skattebo provides plenty of weapons to head coach John Harbaugh during his first season in New York.

There is a "strong belief" that the Dallas Cowboys will utilize the franchise tag on wide receiver George Pickens, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.com. Pickens had an excellent first season in Dallas, catching 93 passes for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns. All three of those marks were career-highs, as was his finish as the overall WR5 in full-PPR leagues. Pickens surpassed teammate CeeDee Lamb in all of those categories, too, but it's worth noting that the former played three additional games. Nevertheless, Pickens showed that he is absolutely capable of being a superstar No. 1 wide receiver in any NFL offense. As a result, he would fetch an enormous contract in free agency if he makes it that far. Archer speculates that Pickens could make more than Lamb ($34 million per year) in free agency, so the Cowboys will likely use the franchise tag to bring him back on a one-year, $28 million deal. While $62 million is a lot of money tied up to two receivers, a combination of Lamb and Pickens helps give Dallas one of the best offenses in the NFL, especially with quarterback Dak Prescott playing at a high level. Of course, the franchise tag is just a temporary fix, as it would push Pickens' free agency one year down the road. According to Archer, the last time that Dallas signed a franchise-tagged player to a long-term deal before the July extension deadline was 2015 (Dez Bryant).

The Jacksonville Jaguars are not expected to bring back free agent linebacker Devin Lloyd, according to Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com. Lloyd is headed to the open market for the first time in his career after Jacksonville declined his fifth-year option. DiRocco writes that the Jaguars aren't expected to pay Lloyd the money he'll fetch in free agency, nor do they want to pay him the $27.5 million attached to the franchise tag. As a result, he'll likely play elsewhere in 2026 and beyond. If his time in Jacksonville is indeed over, he finishes his four-year stint with 429 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, five fumble recoveries, and nine interceptions. He tallied 1.5 sacks and a career-high five interceptions through 15 games in the 2025 regular season.

According to Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com, "it seems more likely" that Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell will sign with a new team during free agency. He had an impressive one-year stint in Pittsburgh, totaling 537 rushing yards, 73 catches, 486 receiving yards, and eight touchdowns. He finished as the overall RB16 in full-PPR leagues, which was the best mark of his career. Gainwell's strong campaign in Pittsburgh raised his anticipated market value this offseason. While the Steelers would presumably be open to bringing him back, he's expected to fetch a decent-sized contract in free agency. "The Steelers haven't typically given big contracts to running backs," Pryor writes. She also notes that the vision for the backfield could look different with head coach Mike McCarthy replacing ex-offensive coordinator Arthur Smith as the team's play-caller. All signs point to Gainwell playing somewhere else in 2026.

The New York Jets "would like to work out a long-term deal" with running back Breece Hall, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. New York had an opportunity to move Hall at last season's trade deadline, but they ultimately kept him in hopes of extending him long-term. He finished his fourth NFL campaign with a career-high 1,065 rushing yards, but he scored just five touchdowns. Meanwhile, he finished the year with 350 receiving yards, the lowest mark since his rookie campaign. Still, Hall reportedly won over head coach Aaron Glenn, who wants the 24-year-old to remain the focal point of New York's run-heavy offense going forward. The former Iowa State standout could stir up a bidding war on the open market, though. As a result, Cimini writes that the Jets "could utilize the franchise or transition tag on him." The franchise has until 4 p.m. on March 4 to tag him. The NFL's legal tampering period for free agents begins at 12 p.m. on March 9.