Fantasy Football News

Denver Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin finished his second season behind only Courtland Sutton in terms of team targets, receptions, yards, and touchdowns, though he spent the final stretch of the season in a competition with rookie Pat Bryant for playing time and opportunities. With most of the raw statistics suggesting Bryant had overtaken him on the pecking order by the time the playoffs arrived, he was already in for a fight come the 2026 season. With the Broncos' addition of Jaylen Waddle via trade, Franklin could now see himself relegated to more of a situational role. At best, he will be competing with Bryant and Marvin Mims Jr., both capable downfield threats, for the primary work in three-receiver sets.

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix targeted six different players at least 45 times in 2025, all of whom are still on the roster, and with the team's recent acquisition of Jaylen Waddle from the Dolphins, he will add one more weapon in 2026. Waddle joins a receiver room with Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin, Marvin Mims Jr., and Pat Bryant, giving the third-year signal-caller one of the more versatile groups of pass-catchers in the league, before even factoring in tight end Evan Engram or running back RJ Harvey. With Denver adding an explosive playmaker like Waddle to practically the exact offense that Nix led to the AFC Championship game in his second year as a starter, the pieces are in place for him to take a massive leap forward in Year 3.

Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane has seen the fantasy landscape around him change dramatically since finishing as the RB5 in 2025. The hiring of defensive-minded head coach Jeff Hafley and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, who was fired from the same position with Houston following the 2024 season, raised questions about Achane's usage. The signing of Malik Willis, a quarterback not known for featuring his running backs in the passing game, did little to dispel them. Now, with the trading of Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos, Achane remains as the last true playmaker on the roster, and assuming he isn't next on the trade block, he'll likely be the focal point of every defensive coordinator Miami faces in 2026. While there is something to be said for being the driving force of the Dolphins' offense, the arrow is pointed way down for the unit as a whole, creating a difficult environment for any running back to thrive.

The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. believes that when the Cincinnati Bengals signed 14-team NFL legend Josh Johnson over the weekend, it "sent a clear message" that they "plan on waiting" for free-agent quarterback Joe Flacco. The 41-year-old veteran will return for a 19th season in the NFL, but he's prioritizing signing with a team that will allow him to start in Week 1 of the regular season this fall. At this point, that's unlikely to happen, but Flacco has also stated that he'd have interest in returning to Cincinnati as Joe Burrow's backup if he can't find an opportunity to compete for a starting job. The Bengals essentially bought time to wait Flacco out by signing Johnson. Flacco put up some impressive single-game numbers for Cincy last year when Burrow was dealing with a toe injury, and he finished with 2,479 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in 13 games (10 starts) with the Bengals and Browns. Despite his age, Flacco would be back on the superflex and streaming radar in fantasy if he re-signs with the Bengals and Burrow gets injured again in 2026.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton has finished the past two seasons with nearly identical stat lines, but he's arrived there in drastically different ways. In Bo Nix's 2024 rookie season, Sutton more than doubled the next closest teammate in targets. As Nix's passing volume increased in 2025, so too did his diversity of targets, and Sutton earned a share only 3% higher than that of Troy Franklin. With the Broncos trading for former first-round pick Jaylen Waddle, Nix will presumably have a new number one option, and Sutton will be next up in a competitive room that still features Franklin, Marvin Mims Jr., and Pat Bryant, as well as tight end Evan Engram and pass-catching back RJ Harvey. Sutton turns 31 in October, and while he will still be featured prominently in Sean Payton's pass-heavy offense, he faces his stiffest competition for targets since Denver spent a first-round pick on Jerry Jeudy.

Free-agent tight end David Njoku visited with the Baltimore Ravens on Tuesday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The former Cleveland Browns tight end has been greeted with a cold free-agent market after the Browns cut him following the 2025 season. The Ravens let Isaiah Likely walk in free agency and could use some more depth at the position behind veteran Mark Andrews. Baltimore signed Durham Smythe, but he's more of a blocking TE. The 29-year-old Njoku fell into a backup role in Cleveland last year due to the swift emergence of rookie Harold Fannin Jr. The former first-rounder in 2017 out of the University of Miami regressed with 33 catches for 293 yards and four touchdowns on 48 targets in 12 games played. Injuries didn't help, but it was clear that Fannin is the future in Cleveland at tight end. If Njoku were to land with the Ravens, he'd probably be in a similar role as the TE2 behind Andrews, limiting his bounce-back potential in fantasy football.

The Athletic's James Boyd says he expects tight end Tyler Warren's volume to increase in 2026 in the absence of receiver Michael Pittman Jr., and he takes it a step further and says that regardless of who the Colts add at wideout, Warren "will be the team's No. 2 pass-catcher." Warren finished as the TE6 in half-PPR scoring in his first year in the NFL, catching 76 of his 112 targets for 817 yards and four touchdowns in 17 games played. His production tapered off after quarterback Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon late in the year, but he still had a promising rookie year overall. His 76 catches were second-most on the team. The Colts re-signed tight ends Mo Alie-Cox and Drew Ogletree, but they will continue to primarily be used as blockers. Warren is one of the top dynasty TEs going into 2026, and he'll also have top-five upside at his position in single-year formats as long as Jones doesn't suffer any setbacks in his rehab.

The Indianapolis Colts signed free-agent veteran defensive tackle Jerry Tillery to an undisclosed deal on Tuesday, according to James Boyd of The Athletic. Tillery will head to the AFC South after spending his seventh year in the NFL in 2025 with the Kansas City Chiefs. The 29-year-old former first-round pick by the Los Angeles Chargers in 2019 out of Notre Dame had 20 tackles (eight solo), 1.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery in 17 games (three starts) in KC last year. Tillery will most likely compete for a rotational role on the interior of the Colts' defensive line in 2026, meaning he won't be on the IDP fantasy radar. Tiller has only started 53 of the 113 games he's appeared in over the course of his seven-year NFL career with four different teams. He has a total of 195 tackles (97 solo), 14 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, 46 QB hits, four pass breakups, four forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries in his time in the NFL.

The Baltimore Ravens and free-agent center Danny Pinter agreed to terms on an undisclosed one-year deal on Tuesday, a source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. It's much-needed help for the Ravens at the center position after Tyler Linderbaum left in free agency. Pinter was selected 149th overall in the fifth round in the 2020 draft out of Ball State by the Indianapolis Colts, and he spent the first five seasons of his career in Indy. The 29-year-old center has started just 10 of the 77 games he's appeared in with the Colts, but with Linderbaum now in Vegas, the expectation is that Pinter will have an opportunity to prove that he deserves to start under center in 2026 for the Ravens. According to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, Pinter's deal is worth $2.25 million with a maximum of $2.75 million via incentives.

The Houston Texans agreed to terms on an undisclosed two-year deal with three-time Pro Bowl offensive guard Wyatt Teller on Tuesday, sources told Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. The Texans continue to improve their offensive line this offseason after it was a liability in 2025. The 31-year-old Teller was a three-time Pro Bowler with the Cleveland Browns in three straight seasons from 2021 to 2023. He was originally drafted out of Virginia Tech in 2018 in the fifth round by the Buffalo Bills. Teller spent just one season in Buffalo and has been with Cleveland for the last seven years. In his eight years in the NFL, he has started 101 of the 109 games that he's appeared in. Teller will be expected to fortify the right side of Houston's offense line in 2026 at right guard.

The Tennessee Titans re-signed running back Julius Chestnut to an undisclosed one-year deal on Tuesday, according to Jim Wyatt of TennesseeTitans.com. Chestnut will return for his fifth year in Nashville after he went undrafted out of Sacred Heart. In his four years in the NFL with the Titans, the 25-year-old has operated as a backup, carrying the ball only 42 times for 154 yards (3.7 yards per carry) and no rushing touchdowns in 43 games (zero starts). He's added five catches on eight targets for 52 yards as a pass-catcher. With the Titans' backfield largely unchained going into next season, Chestnut will most likely operate primarily in a special-teams role, leaving him mostly unattractive in all fantasy football formats. He was active in all 17 games in 2025, but he saw just 11 rushing attempts for 40 yards. He's currently the RB4 on Tennessee's depth chart behind Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears, and Kalel Mullings.

The New Orleans Saints announced on Tuesday that they agreed to terms on an undisclosed one-year deal with free-agent running back Ty Chandler, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The Saints added Travis Etienne Jr. to their backfield in free agency and could move on from veteran Alvin Kamara as a result. In the Big Easy, the 27-year-old Chandler will most likely be competing for backup duties with Kendre Miller, Devin Neal, and Audric Estime going into the 2026 season. The former fifth-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2022 out of North Carolina was limited to only three games in 2025 due to injury, carrying the ball 17 times for 47 yards and catching three passes for 11 yards. Chandler's best season came in Year 2 in 2023, when he had 102 rushing attempts for 461 yards and three touchdowns, adding 21 receptions for another 159 yards in 17 games (four starts). With a likely limited role on offense with the Saints, Chandler is, at best, a dynasty/keeper stash for RB depth.

New tight end Isaiah Likely, who received a three-year, $40 million contract in free agency, is expected to be a "featured piece" in the New York Giants' offense this year, according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic. Duggan adds that the Giants essentially swapped Likely in for receiver Wan'Dale Robinson, "signaling the shift in their offensive approach" under new head coach John Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. Likely will be paired often with fellow TE Theo Johnson, while Chris Manhertz was re-signed as the primary blocker at the position. Likely, 25, was expected to be a bigger part of the Baltimore Ravens' offense in 2025 under Harbaugh, but the former fourth-rounder suffered a foot injury in the preseason and got a late start to the year. He never really recovered and finished with a career-low 27 catches for 307 yards and only one touchdown on 36 targets in 14 games (seven starts). Likely will be an obvious bounce-back candidate in fantasy football in 2026, although Johnson's presence could keep his ceiling low.

The Philadelphia Eagles are signing former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquise Brown to a one-year deal worth up to $6.5 million on Tuesday, multiple sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Hollywood played in just two games in his first year with the Chiefs in 2024 due to an injury, but he rebounded last year to catch 49 passes on 74 targets for 587 yards and five touchdowns in 16 games (six starts). The 28-year-old pass-catcher has been on the decline since posting his only 1,000-yard season back in 2021 with the Baltimore Ravens. However, Brown could have a decent role in Philly behind DeVonta Smith if the Eagles trade A.J. Brown this offseason. Brown's 2026 fantasy football value will depend largely on whether Brown ends up in another uniform heading into next season. For his career, Brown has averaged 11.6 yards per catch and has 4,322 receiving yards and 33 touchdowns on 371 catches in his seven NFL seasons.

The Denver Broncos are acquiring wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and a fourth-round draft pick (11th in the round) in 2026 from the Miami Dolphins on Tuesday in exchange for a first-round pick (30th overall) along with late third- and fourth-round picks (30th in each round) in this year's draft, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. It's a pretty big upgrade for quarterback Bo Nix and Denver's offense, as Waddle could end up leading the Broncos' pass-catchers in targets if he can stay healthy in 2026. It gives Nix another trusted weapon to throw to besides Courtland Sutton. The 27-year-old Waddle, who was drafted in the first round (sixth overall) in 2021 out of Alabama, started his career with three straight 1,000-yard seasons and led the NFL with 18.1 yards per catch in his sophomore season. He'll be a reliable target for Nix as the Broncos' offense looks to take the next step. It's a good landing spot for Waddle, although he'll definitely have more competition for targets than if he had stayed in Miami. His arrival in Denver is bad news for the dynasty values of both Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant.

Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd will likely have an opportunity to compete for the backup role in 2026. The Packers recently watched Emanuel Wilson depart in free agency, leaving a void to be filled at the No. 2 running back spot behind Josh Jacobs. Green Bay could still add a free agent or draft a rookie to take that spot, but that hasn't happened yet. To this point, it seems like the Packers will lean on an existing internal option to back up Jacobs. Chris Brooks has a slight leg up on the competition, but Lloyd is absolutely in the mix, too. Lloyd carried impressive upside as a third-round pick in 2024, but a tumultuous series of injuries has limited his ability to get on the field. He has played offensive snaps in just one NFL game through two seasons, rushing for 15 yards on six carries. At this point, it appears Lloyd has been cleared of the hip, hamstring, and ankle injuries -- as well as the appendicitis -- that have plagued the early portion of his career. He's firmly in the mix to back up Jacobs this year, and given the starter's age and injury concerns in 2025, we could see a scenario where Lloyd is considered to start a couple of games next season. His price tag is at an all-time low, so it wouldn't hurt to send out a low-risk trade offer for the young running back in dynasty leagues.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles) hasn't played a snap since the middle of the 2024 season, but it appears that he could get back on the fantasy football radar soon. Watson should be healthy (or at least near full health) ahead of the 2026 campaign, giving him a real chance to win the Browns' starting quarterback job. Not only does Watson have the best career stats among the Browns' quarterback room, but he also comes with the largest investment. Cleveland flipped three first-round picks for Watson, whereas Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders were merely Day 2 or 3 selections. Neither Gabriel nor Sanders, both of whom started games in 2025, put together very encouraging stat lines. Watson wasn't great when he last played, either, going 1-6 with 1,148 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions. However, his experience, track record, and investment likely make him the favorite to start at quarterback in Week 1, if he's healthy. With a talented, young group of skill players around him -- plus an improved offensive line in front of him -- Watson could sneakily become a fantasy option in deeper leagues. At worst, he has top-24 upside at the quarterback position in 2026.

Seattle Seahawks running back Emanuel Wilson landed in a more favorable spot this offseason, and now, he finds himself trending up in fantasy football. Wilson spent three years as a depth option in Green Bay before signing with the Seahawks last week. The former undrafted free agent posted at least 550 scrimmage yards in each of the last two seasons, offering the Packers a reliable backup to Josh Jacobs. Wilson ended up making two starts last year, including an impressive Week 12 performance in which he posted 28 carries, 107 rushing yards, two catches, 18 receiving yards, and a pair of touchdowns. Seattle lost Kenneth Walker III to the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency, and Wilson is the only significant backfield addition the Seahawks have made since then. The move pairs Wilson with Zach Charbonnet (knee), who could be the Seahawks' eventual starter but will first have to clear a major injury hurdle. Charbonnet is working his way back from a torn ACL that he suffered in the playoffs, so he might not be ready for Week 1 next season. Even if he does play, he likely won't be at 100%. At this point, it seems likely that Wilson -- not Charbonnet -- will take the Seahawks' first snap at running back in 2026, giving him plenty of early-season upside. As the Seahawks' potential lead back, Wilson can be an RB2 in fantasy football early next year, and similarly, he's a long-term RB3/flex with RB2 upside in dynasty formats. Managers should consider sending out trade offers for Wilson, since he's still currently affordable in dynasty leagues. He's an especially appealing option for Charbonnet's managers who want his handcuff.

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jalen Nailor is expected to have increased fantasy value going forward. This offseason, Nailor hit free agency and signed with the Raiders, going from the No. 3 receiver in Minnesota to the potential No. 1 receiver in Vegas. He never quite emerged as a consistent week-over-week fantasy option in Minnesota, but he certainly flashed upside with a total of 10 touchdowns over the last two years. In each of those two seasons, he also had at least 28 catches and 414 yards. We don't quite know if Nailor is capable of making the jump to a top receiver role, so fantasy managers should temper expectations at least a little. Plus, Vegas also has Tre Tucker and Jack Bech on its roster, creating additional competition for Nailor, and we can't rule out the possibility of them drafting another pass-catcher. Finally, Vegas' offense could experience some growing pains in the first year under presumptive No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza. All in all, there's upside here, but it's a bit too early to send out dynasty trade offers that would price Nailor as a top-40 fantasy receiver.

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Chris Rodriguez Jr.'s new landing spot should benefit him long-term, and it also bodes well for his fantasy football managers. Rodriguez, a former Washington Commander, hit free agency this offseason and ultimately signed with the Jaguars. It was a very intriguing offseason move, as Jacksonville had recently lost Travis Etienne Jr. and was looking for someone to share the backfield with Bhayshul Tuten. While Tuten's one year of experience in the Jags' backfield gives him an early advantage on the lead-back role, we fully anticipate that Rodriguez will also be heavily involved. Rodriguez should play at least one-third of the snaps, and we'd have to imagine that Tuten still has somewhat of a short leash given his youth and lack of a track record. In other words, there's a path for Rodriguez to land the lead-back role if Tuten struggles or gets injured. Plus, Rodriguez already has a connection to head coach Liam Coen. At Kentucky in 2021, when Rodriguez was running for Kentucky and Coen was Kentucky's offensive coordinator, the former amassed 1,440 scrimmage yards and 12 touchdowns. All in all, Rodriguez is a very appealing "buy" in dynasty leagues this offseason.