Fantasy Football News

Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III finished his rookie season on a tear that had him widely regarded as a Year 2 breakout candidate, and following the team's trade of DJ Moore to the Bills, his stock will only continue to rise. Burden's 2.69 yards per route run led all rookies in 2025 and trailed only Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba among all the league's receivers. Among his own team, however, he was unable to carve out a significant role, with four Chicago players topping the 650-yard mark, while none could crack 750. With Moore's 80 targets, 682 yards, and six touchdowns now being shipped to Buffalo, Burden, Rome Odunze, and tight end Colston Loveland should all see significant production spikes in 2026.

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir has led the team in targets and receiving yards in each of the past two seasons, but given the team's reported acquisition of Bears receiver DJ Moore via trade, that streak is likely to come to an end in 2026. Shakir has been a fantasy-relevant depth piece over the past two seasons, largely due to his safe, volume-dependent floor while the Bills struggled to find an Alpha receiver to fill the shoes of Stefon Diggs, who last played for the Bills in 2023. In Moore, they appear to have found that Alpha. While Shakir and Moore do play complementary games, and the spacing provided by a true outside threat could help Shakir see more spike games, his reliable floor will likely become a thing of the past, making him a difficult-to-trust weekly play moving forward.

Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze has shown brilliant flashes throughout his first two seasons, but he has yet to capitalize on the potential that made him the ninth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. With teammate DJ Moore now being shipped to Buffalo via trade, the door is wide open for him claim the WR1 spot in Ben Johnson's fantasy-friendly offense. Despite missing five games in 2025, Odunze led the Bears in targets, and along with Moore was one of four players to top 600 receiving yards. With Moore's 80 regular-season targets likely to be distributed between Odunze and promising second-year players Luther Burden III and tight end Colston Loveland, all should see a boost in productivity, and will likely all see their dynasty cost rise dramatically.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall's early NFL career has been hampered by injuries, resulting in 17 missed games through his first two seasons. However, with major changes expected to reshape the 49ers' receiving corps heading into 2026, the cards are aligned for a healthy Pearsall to take the next step and deliver upon the flashes he showed to bookend his sophomore campaign. Jauan Jennings is set to test free agency when the new league year opens, and All-Pro tight end George Kittle faces a lengthy recovery from the torn ACL he suffered in a Wild Card win over the Eagles. San Francisco is still likely to add receiving depth through free agency or the draft, but the former first-rounder Pearsall has every opportunity to carve out a major role on a depth chart with only the soon-to-be-30-year-old Christian McCaffrey currently threatening for targets.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson missed the first seven weeks of 2025 with an ACL injury sustained late in 2024, but in his 10 games played in 2025, he delivered a 17-game pace of 60 catches for 1,039 yards and 10 touchdowns, finishing as a top-five fantasy wide receiver three times. Four-year veteran Romeo Doubs, who led the team in targets, receptions, and yards in 2025, is now set to test free agency, leaving an opening for Watson to take over as the Packers' unquestioned WR1. Green Bay is expected to have tight end Tucker Kraft back in the fold after pacing the team in receiving before missing the final nine games with an ACL injury of his own, and speedster Matthew Golden is expected to take a leap after finishing his rookie campaign without a regular-season touchdown catch. So while the competition for Doubs' potentially vacated targets could be stiff, Watson's career-high 2.51 yards per route run led the team in 2025, and he will look to thrive in a potentially expanded role in 2026.

The Chicago Bears are working to finalize a trade that would send wide receiver DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Compensation is still being discussed, and the trade cannot be processed until the new league year begins next week. Moore signed a four-year, $110 million contract with the Bears in July of 2024, and he was an obvious trade candidate after having the worst year of his career in 2025 in head coach Ben Johnson's new offense. The 28-year-old just didn't seem to fit Johnson's scheme very well, and he also didn't show much chemistry with quarterback Caleb Williams, finishing with 50 receptions on 85 targets for 682 yards and six touchdowns. Moore did have some clutch moments and big plays when Chicago needed them, but overall, he was a disappointment in fantasy. If the trade goes through with Buffalo, he and Khalil Shakir will be at the top of Buffalo's WR depth chart, although it won't guarantee Moore a big uptick in production in an offense that led the NFL in rushing in 2025. UPDATE: NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports the Bills will send a mid-round pick as compensation for Moore.

The Houston Texans re-signed offensive tackle Trent Brown (ankle) to a one-year deal worth up to $7 million on Thursday, agent Drew Rosenhaus told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Brown only ended up playing in seven games in his first year with Houston in 2025 due to an ankle injury. The 32-year-old veteran is expected to serve as the Texans' starting right tackle next year if he's completely recovered from his ankle injury. Brown, a former seventh-round pick (244th overall) by the San Francisco 49ers in 2015 out of the University of Florida, has started 103 of the 110 games he's appeared in over the course of his 11 seasons in the NFL with five different teams. He was a Pro Bowler back in 2019 with the Raiders, when he started only 11 games.

The Atlanta Falcons are planning to release wide receiver Darnell Mooney, sources told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Mooney is set to count $18.4 million against this year's salary cap and caught just 32 passes for 443 yards and one touchdown on 72 targets in 15 starts last year in his second year with the team. He's still only 28 years old, though, and has averaged better than 13 yards per catch in each of the last three seasons, so he should generate some interest on the open market from receiver-needy teams. Mooney was heading into the final year of a three-year, $39 million contract he signed with the Falcons in March of 2024. By releasing him, Atlanta will save $7.4 million in salary cap space in 2026. In his first year in Atlanta, Mooney was great, catching 64 of his 106 targets for 992 yards and a career-high five touchdowns. Mooney's lone 1,000-yard season came in his second year in the league in 2021 with the Bears.

The NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that there are only a "select few" NFL teams that would meet the criteria of the Philadelphia Eagles and for wide receiver A.J. Brown as a potential trade partner this offseason. It's unclear exactly what it might take to pry Brown away from the Eagles, and general manager Howie Roseman knows he doesn't have to trade the 28-year-old three-time Pro Bowler away. The New England Patriots are seen as a potential landing spot after they released receiver Stefon Diggs, and because of the familiarity between Brown and head coach Mike Vrabel. The Los Angeles Rams could have been another team in play for Brown, but they just traded a first-round pick for cornerback Trent McDuffie. At the very least, the Eagles will likely want a first-rounder and more for Brown, who has exactly seven touchdowns in each of the last three seasons while reaching the 1,000-yard mark in each of the last four years and six of his seven seasons in the NFL.

The Detroit Lions tendered a contract to exclusive-rights free-agent kicker Jake Bates, ensuring that he returns for the 2026 season, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Bates has gotten off to a nice start to his NFL career in two seasons with Detroit, making 84.1% of his 63 field-goal attempts while making 118 of his 123 extra-point tries in 34 games played. The 27-year-old Arkansas product has led the NFL in extra-point attempts and extra-point makes in each of the last two years while playing in one of the best offenses in the league. In 2025, he went 27-for-34 on field goals (4-for-9 from 50-plus yards) and 54-for-56 on extra points in 17 games played to finish as the No. 6 fantasy kicker in overall points. The Lions will have a new offensive coordinator in 2026, but they should still have a favorable offense, making Bates a clear top-10 fantasy target at the kicking position.

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth's fantasy value in both redraft and dynasty/keeper leagues should be higher going into the 2026 season with the news that the Steelers are releasing Jonnu Smith. In offensive coordinator Arthur Smith's run-first, two-tight-end system last year, Freiermuth regressed, catching 41 of 54 targets for 486 yards and four touchdowns in 17 regular-season games (eight starts). Darnell Washington (forearm) also cut into Freirmuth's production. New head coach Mike McCarthy should be much friendlier to Freiermuth for fantasy purposes next season, even if the team's quarterback situation is currently unsettled. Depending on what direction the Steelers go in at QB, Freiermuth will be a TE1 sleeper this fall. In dynasty/keeper leagues, he's a decent buy-low target. Freiermuth already has two seasons with seven touchdown catches, including his rookie year in 2021.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are releasing tight end Jonnu Smith on Wednesday, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. The move will save the Steelers $7 million against the salary cap, and Smith will now become an unrestricted free agent. Smith, 30, was a first-time Pro Bowler in 2024 with the Miami Dolphins, putting up career-highs in catches (88), targets (111), receiving yards (884), and touchdowns (eight) in 17 games. He came crashing back down to Earth in 2025 with Pittsburgh while sharing targets with Pat Freiermuth, though, as he finished with only 38 receptions for 222 yards and two touchdowns on 54 targets in 17 regular-season games. Smith may never be as good as he was in 2024 in Miami, but a move out of the Steel City is a good thing for his fantasy value going into the 2026 campaign. Smith's departure is also great news for Freiermuth's ceiling.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers did not tender a contract to restricted free-agent running back Sean Tucker, a source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Tucker will become a free agent next week after rushing for 320 yards and seven touchdowns on a career-high 86 carries in 17 games in 2025 in his third year in the NFL. The 24-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Syracuse also added eight receptions (11 targets) for 34 yards and a touchdown through the air. Rachaad White is another Tampa RB set to depart in free agency this offseason, so the team's backfield could look quite different next year behind Bucky Irving. Tucker probably won't land anywhere that will give him a big role in the backfield in 2026, but he has proven to be a useful depth option while also contributing on special teams as a returner. He had a career-high 597 kickoff return yards. If he re-signs with the Bucs, Tucker could be the top handcuff for those who roster Irving.

The Minnesota Vikings are expected to release defensive tackle Jonathan Allen due to salary cap restraints, sources told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. The former Pro Bowler had 68 tackles (29 solo) and 3.5 sacks in 17 starts for Minnesota last year. The Vikings are $40-plus million over the salary cap right now, so they are looking to create additional space before the start of the new league year next week. The 31-year-old veteran was able to stay healthy all year in 2025 in his first season outside of Washington after he appeared in just eight games for the Commanders in 2024 due to injuries. Allen's 68 total tackles tied a career high, but he's only had 6.5 sacks over the last two seasons combined after recording 22 sacks in the three prior seasons. He'll attract interest as a veteran run-stopper in free agency, but Allen's peak as a pass-rusher might already be behind him.

Impending free-agent wide receiver Rashid Shaheed is said to not be close to a long-term contract extension with the Seattle Seahawks, and the expectation is that he will now test the free-agent market on Monday, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. The 27-year-old was a midseason pickup by the eventual Super Bowl-champion Seahawks in a trade with the New Orleans Saints. Shaheed was a key piece of the championship roster, although he was more of a fantasy asset in New Orleans with 44 catches for 499 yards and two touchdowns in nine games. In nine regular-season contests with Seattle, Shaheed had only 15 grabs for 188 yards and no touchdowns on offense. Wherever Shaheed is playing in 2026, he'll be a boom/bust WR4/flex for fantasy managers, with more value coming in leagues that count return yardage and TDs on special teams.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka faded after a slow start in his rookie NFL season in 2025, but he could have a clear path to his first 1,000-yard season next year with veteran wideout Mike Evans set to test the free-agent market. Over his first five career games, the 23-year-old 19th overall pick out of Ohio State caught 25 of his 38 targets for 445 yards and five touchdowns. Injuries to Evans, Chris Godwin, and Jalen McMillan helped Egbuka's cause as one of quarterback Baker Mayfield's go-to options through the air. Egbuka started to cool off for fantasy managers when Evans, Godwin, and McMillan all returned from their injuries. Still, it was a very successful first year in the NFL for Egbuka, who finished with a 63-938-6 line on 127 targets in 17 regular-season games. He should have an elevated target share with a very high ceiling in fantasy in 2026 if Evans signs elsewhere in free agency.

Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason could be in line for a bigger backfield role with the Vikings next season, with fellow RB Aaron Jones Sr. set to be either released or traded this offseason. If Jones is off the roster going into the 2026 season, Mason would rise to the top of the RB depth chart, barring offseason additions through free agency or the draft. The 26-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Georgia Tech had a career-low 4.8 yards per carry, but he was still very productive as a complementary back to Jones, carrying the ball a career-high 159 times for 758 rushing yards and a career-high six touchdowns in 16 games. Mason also had a career-high 14 catches for 51 yards through the air. We won't have the full picture on Mason's 2026 fantasy football value until after the NFL draft, but right now, his arrow is pointing up.

The Cleveland Browns announced on Wednesday that they tendered a contract to exclusive-rights free-agent kicker Andre Szmyt, among others. In his first year in the NFL, Szmyt made 24 of his 27 field-goal tries and missed just one of his 26 extra-point attempts in 17 games played in Cleveland. The 27-year-old will return to Cleveland for the 2026 season and should be expected to open the regular season as their starting placekicker. Szmyt was dependable for the Browns as a rookie, but he was only the No. 26 kicker in terms of overall fantasy points in a Browns offense that didn't create many scoring opportunities. Szmyt averaged only 5.7 fantasy points per game. He was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 3 in 2025. Szmyt is a solid young kicker, but in 12-team fantasy leagues, you can find better, higher-ceiling options at the position.

The Los Angeles Chargers released tight end Will Dissly on Wednesday, according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic. The Chargers also cut offensive guard Mekhi Becton and offensive tackle Savion Washington before the start of the new league year next week. It was mostly a lost season in 2025 for Dissly, who played in only nine games due to injury and caught only 11 of his 16 targets for 97 yards and no touchdowns in his second year in L.A. The 29-year-old tight end missed three weeks with a knee injury and was phased out of the offense in the second half of the year. In his first year with the Bolts, Dissly was much more productive, setting career-highs in catches (50), targets (64), and receiving yards (481) while finding the end zone two times in 15 games played (eight starts). He should be able to latch on with another team as TE depth, but he isn't expected to be on the fantasy radar.

The New England Patriots informed four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs that they are releasing him after the start of the new league year next week, sources told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. The Patriots will not have to pay Diggs the $6 million option in his contract that was set to become fully guaranteed next Friday. The 32-year-old veteran was New England's top wideout and helped the Patriots get back to the Super Bowl, where they ultimately lost to the Seattle Seahawks. Diggs caught 85 passes for 1,013 yards (his seventh 1,000-yard season) and four touchdowns in 17 regular-season games in his only season with the team. The former fifth-rounder of the Minnesota Vikings in 2015 out of Maryland still has plenty left in the tank, but his new home may not afford him WR1 targets. Meanwhile, the Pats could be setting things up to try to acquire pass-catcher A.J. Brown from the Eagles.