Fantasy Football News

The Athletic's Jesse Newell writes that Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy "checks many other boxes for a potential breakout player" in 2026. Worthy flashed chemistry with quarterback Patrick Mahomes during offseason workouts, and Worthy would have been the team's summer practice MVP if they had one. The speedy receiver just turned 23 years old and is actually two months younger than rookie pass-catcher Cyrus Allen. Worthy's limited production in 2025 in his second season -- 42 catches, 532 yards, and only one touchdown in 14 games -- can be explained by injury after he played through a torn labrum in his shoulder that he suffered in the Week 1 loss to the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers. Head coach Andy Reid even admitted that Worthy's injury led the Chiefs to limit his route tree. Worthy is expected to be back to full strength for a Week 1 Monday night showdown against the division-rival Denver Broncos after having offseason surgery, and fantasy managers would be wise to target the University of Texas alum late in drafts as a WR4/flex with plenty of bounce-back and breakout potential in his third year in 2026.

The Athletic's James Boyd lists Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs as a breakout candidate in 2026 after the departures of Adonai Mitchell and Michael Pittman Jr., who were traded to the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers, respectively. Alec Pierce (ankle) is also recovering from offseason surgery that could slow him down early on. Downs is an established receiver in the NFL, having recorded 2,140 yards and 11 touchdowns on 198 receptions in his three years in the league. However, the 24-year-old former third-rounder from the University of North Carolina in 2023 is coming off a career-low 566 receiving yards in 2025. Downs should have more opportunities in his fourth year in the NFL, though, and he'll be motivated as he enters a contract year if he plans on cashing in next offseason on the free-agent market. There's more risk in the Colts' offense as a whole with quarterback Daniel Jones coming off a torn Achilles tendon, the increase in route share and per-route target rate should be enough to put Downs on fantasy managers' radars as a great value pick in the later rounds of drafts. RotoBaller currently has Downs ranked as the No. 42 fantasy WR for 2026.

Houston Texans running backs coach Danny Barrett said that Jawhar Jordan is "playing faster than he was last year" as he battles for the RB3 role in 2026 behind newcomer David Montgomery and second-year back Woody Marks, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. After being selected in the sixth round (205th overall) in 2024 out of the University of Louisville, Jordan didn't play at all in his rookie season before carrying the ball 43 times for 193 yards and zero touchdowns in just four games in 2025. He rushed for 101 yards on 15 carries in his first regular-season game against the Arizona Cardinals, becoming the second player in franchise history to rush for 100 yards in their NFL debut. The 26-year-old is now trying to do enough in his third NFL season to stay ahead of undrafted rookies Noah Whittington and Joshua Pitsenberger, and veteran Evan Hull. Jordan's improvement and speed on the football field should be enough to land him the RB3 job if he can contribute on special teams as well, but he's going to need an injury to one of Montgomery or Marks to pop up on the fantasy radar as a waiver-wire pickup in single-year leagues in 2026.

Sports Illustrated's John Shipley writes that Jacksonville Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten's upside as a pass-catcher "gives him the narrow edge" over newcomer Chris Rodriguez Jr. "All signs point to this being a timeshare backfield" now that Travis Etienne Jr. is in New Orleans. Tuten flashed tons of explosive talent as a rookie, recording 307 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 83 rushing attempts while adding 10 receptions for 79 yards and another two scores in 15 regular-season games. The 23-year-old former fourth-rounder from Virginia Tech has also looked good during the offseason program, but the Jags signed Rodriguez for a reason, and his history with head coach Liam Coen "could serve him well as he battles for snaps." Shipley predicts that Tuten will "win" the RB1 job out of training camp, but it remains to be seen what the RB1 job in Duvall will look like in 2026. In addition to Rodriguez, second-year back LeQuint Allen Jr. figures to have a bigger role in the backfield, most likely as the team's go-to pass-catching RB. Tuten's fantasy ceiling could be capped in a pure committee backfield, but he's still the most attractive fantasy target in the Jaguars' backfield and should be considered a low-end RB2 with upside on draft day.

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey has played in at least 16 games five different times since 2018, finishing as the fantasy RB1 in three such seasons and never lower than the RB3. One of the premier playmakers of his generation, McCaffrey has been a true difference-maker both as a runner and in the receiving game, leading to some astronomical touch counts over the years. Unfortunately, the same workload that has allowed him to dominate for fantasy has taken a substantial toll on his body, and three times in that same eight-year span, McCaffrey has seen his season cut short after playing fewer than eight games. Now 30 years old and coming off the heaviest workload of his career, the 2017 first-round pick is the embodiment of risk/reward in 2026 drafts. With Brian Robinson Jr. departing in free agency, the depth chart behind McCaffrey has been thinned to rookie Kaelon Black and 2025 fifth-rounder Jordan James, and while keeping the four-time All-Pro fresh and healthy remains a priority, the team is simply better with McCaffrey on the field. Even with injury risk baked thoroughly into his draft cost, the bull case for McCaffrey is as strong as any player in the league, and he remains RotoBaller's RB3 for 2026.

In his second season with the Minnesota Vikings, running back Aaron Jones Sr. was limited to only 548 rushing yards and two scores on the ground while missing five games with a variety of injuries, including a hamstring issue that landed him on injured reserve. An additional 199 receiving yards and one more touchdown through the air allowed him to maintain a serviceable fantasy floor when he was available, but along with former undrafted free agent Jordan Mason, he formed one of the less inspired running back committees in 2025. The Vikings finished in the bottom half of the league in terms of both rushing yards and touchdowns, making it all the more surprising that the team opted to make so few changes to the room for 2026. Minnesota spent a sixth-round pick on Wake Forest's Demond Claiborne, but at only 195 pounds, his role could be limited to little more than change-of-pace duties as a rookie. The offensive line should see better health in 2026, and free agent acquisition Kyler Murray represents a dramatic potential improvement at the quarterback position, so the Vikings could be banking on better cohesion and functionality to lift the offense as a whole, and with it the running game. No longer a player to actively target in fantasy drafts, Jones has fallen to RotoBaller's RB38 for 2026. Still, he should continue to provide usable value from the flex spot for as long as he can hold off Claiborne as the team's primary pass-catching back.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Pat Bryant missed a pair of games late in the 2025 season with a hamstring injury and a serious concussion, and he was forced to prematurely exit both of the team's playoff games, but he had shown notable growth near the end of his rookie campaign, with his involvement steadily on the rise. Over his final eight regular-season games, he was on a full-season pace of 55 receptions for 706 yards, and although he was on the field for only 12 total postseason snaps, he was targeted on exactly one-third of those plays, beginning both games as an obvious focal point of the Broncos' game plan. Denver's high-profile trade for Jaylen Waddle limits Bryant's opportunity for a true year-two breakout, and with veteran Courtland Sutton still on the team, the 2025 third-round pick will likely be left competing with Troy Franklin for meaningful work in three-receiver sets. However, quarterback Bo Nix threw the ball more than any player in the league last season, so the opportunity could exist for that third receiver spot to still hold fantasy value. Bryant is currently RotoBaller's WR76, but when training camps open at the end of the month, his positional battle with Franklin will be one to watch.

With training camps set to open at the end of the month, opportunities could soon begin to arise for some of the veteran free agents who remain unsigned, and a player near the top of the available list of running backs is Najee Harris. The former Pro Bowler began his career with four straight 1,000-yard campaigns for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but how much is left in the tank remains unknown after he tore his Achilles only three games into his 2025 stint with the Los Angeles Chargers. Harris signed a one-year deal with the Chargers last offseason, but a bizarre eye injury limited his availability throughout training camp, and he handled only 15 carries before his season came to an unceremonious ending. With the start of padded practices in training camp comes the unfortunate reality of injury risk, and should a team face an unexpected depth chart shake-up, Harris could be one of the first running backs on standby. Currently RotoBaller's RB69, the 28-year-old veteran still has a chance to work his way into the closing rounds of 2026 drafts.

With Seattle Seahawks rookies reporting to training camp on Friday, all eyes will be on running back Jadarian Price, and NFL Insider Adam Schefter believes the team's 2026 first-round pick will play a major role in filling what he considers the Seahawks' most obvious hole. The Super Bowl champions return 20 of 22 starters, but the most notable absence is Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III, who signed a three-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency. Compounding the situation is the fact that Zach Charbonnet tore his ACL in a January playoff game and may not be available for a meaningful stretch at the start of the season. The Seahawks signed former Packer Emanuel Wilson to a one-year deal, and George Holani remains with the team after stepping into a depth role following Charbonnet's injury, but Price has the highest ceiling of the group and could rise quickly to the top of the depth chart when the full team gathers for training camp at the end of the month. At RotoBaller's RB26, Price is a player to target in the middle rounds of drafts, and if he is able to capitalize on his early-season opportunity, he could prove to be one of fantasy's best values in 2026.

San Francisco 49ers running back Isaac Guerendo posted some promising games as a rookie, but hasn't done much on the field since then. Guerendo was almost exclusively a special teams player this past season. The 49ers didn't need Guerendo in the backfield with Christian McCaffrey healthy. At this point, Guerendo is likely going to get lost in the shuffle in San Francisco. They have Jordan James, Kaelon Black, and Guerendo all fighting for carries behind the workhorse McCaffrey. The chances of Guerendo actually making an impact next season are slim. The only reason to keep him rostered is on the chance that McCaffrey does get injured. He'd likely still struggle to get carries with James and Black in the mix as well.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren continues to produce despite his ADP over the last few seasons. Warren has exceeded expectations and doesn't seem to be getting the credit he deserves. This past season, Warren rushed for nearly 1,000 yards and scored six touchdowns on 211 carries. He also hauled in 40 receptions for 333 yards and an additional two scores through the air. That performance landed him the RB16 spot in half-PPR leagues. Given his success, Warren will likely continue to see a similar usage next season. The Steelers did bring in Rico Dowdle to help take the load off Warren on the ground. The 27-year-old should still be a popular target for Aaron Rodgers, so the addition of Dowdle shouldn't threaten Warren's overall value too much. Dynasty managers should feel comfortable sliding in Warren as their RB2.

Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet saw a significant drop in production this past season. Before this past season, Kmet had registered 45-plus receptions and more than 400 receiving yards in each of the last five seasons. In 2025, Kmet finished with 30 receptions for 347 yards and scored two touchdowns in 16 games. The biggest reason for his regression was the emergence of Colston Loveland. The 22-year-old quickly proved to be a top-tier tight end and jumped Kmet on the depth chart. Kmet should remain in the picture going forward, but it'll likely be more years like his 2025 campaign. He's worth holding in dynasty leagues as insurance in case Loveland goes down at some point.

Washington Commanders wide receiver Dyami Brown is hopeful to rebound in his reunion with the organization. Brown spent the first four years of his career with the Commanders before joining the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2025. He failed to make an impression on the Jags with 20 receptions and 227 receiving yards across 14 games. Brown is one-and-done with the Jags and returned to Washington on a one-year deal. The 26-year-old is likely only to fight for targets given the depth the Commanders have at wideout. He's expected to compete for the fourth receiver role with Van Jefferson, Jaylin Lane, and Luke McCaffrey. It's likely going to take a few injuries for Brown to be relevant in Washington again. Dynasty managers can feel comfortable moving on from Brown.

Green Bay Packers running back Chris Brooks saw his value skyrocket over the summer. Normally, Brooks is an afterthought in the Packers' backfield, but he could become a consistent contributor this season. Lead back Josh Jacobs got into some legal trouble, and his status is still unclear at the moment. If Jacobs does get suspended, MarShawn Lloyd and Brooks would be in line for larger roles in the backfield. Brooks didn't see much of the field last season, rushing for 106 yards on 27 carries with Green Bay. He remains the most trustworthy option between the two, with Lloyd only having six carries to his name in two years. If something happens to Jacobs, Brooks could become the starter in the short term. Otherwise, Brooks isn't a bad stash for dynasty managers as Jacobs' handcuff.

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (Achilles) is ahead of schedule in his return from a torn Achilles during the playoffs last season, and he could be ready for the start of training camp later this month, according to Vic Tafur of The Athletic. Kittle spent a lot of time on an anti-gravity treadmill at home during the offseason and was doing some light cutting in workouts three weeks ago. "I'm 21 weeks out, and I'm running over 16 miles an hour, so I'm having a great time," Kittle said. "Single-leg box jumps, we're cutting again, we're having some fun." We'll have a better idea of the veteran tight end's availability for the Week 1 season opener in Australia against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams once training camp begins, but for now, fantasy managers should view him as an injury-prone, risk/reward, low-end TE1 in fantasy. The 32-year-old former fifth-rounder from the University of Iowa in 2017 played in only 11 regular-season games in 2025 due to injuries and caught 57 passes for 628 yards and seven touchdowns in his ninth year in the league. Betting on an aging player coming off an Achilles tear usually isn't a smart strategy.

The New England Patriots traded for Pro Bowl wide receiver A.J. Brown because of his ability to change the narrative of the game and dictate the defense's coverage. Veteran Patriots safety Kevin Byard attested to Brown's ability to shape what a defense does on SiriusXM NFL Radio on Tuesday. Byard called Brown a "phenomenal athlete, phenomenal talent." The presence of the 29-year-old should give young quarterback Drake Maye better matchups across the board, even if Brown is covered deep down the field. "I mean, that's what A.J. does best. He's gonna run those slants, those quick dig routes, those go balls. I don't think anybody in the league is better than him when it comes to those routes and being able to break a tackle and take it the distance," Byard said. The one-two punch of Brown and Romeo Doubs will give New England a much more formidable air attack in Maye's third season. Brown had his sixth 1,000-yard season in 2025 in his final year with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2025, but he averaged a career-low 12.9 yards per catch. A move to the Pats with a QB like Maye who excels on deep passes should make Brown more interesting as a low-end WR1 in fantasy football in his eighth year in the NFL.

New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith's battery case is now considered "inactive" by the Davie Police Department, according to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. Smith was accused of battery in Florida in June, but it's no longer an active investigation, and the veteran signal-caller shouldn't face any discipline from the NFL in 2026. The 35-year-old two-time Pro Bowler had a season to forget in 2025 with the Las Vegas Raiders, going 2-13 with 3,025 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and a league-high 17 interceptions in 15 starts. The Jets, who took Smith in the second round in 2013 out of the University of West Virginia, decided it was a good idea to trade for Smith after moving on from the failed Justin Fields experiment. Perhaps New York is hoping Smith will secure the services of the first overall pick in 2027 for the second straight season in new coordinator Frank Reich's offense. Smith might not be as bad as he was in 2026 in Vegas, but he should be going undrafted in all but deep two-QB superflex formats as he embarks on his 13th year in the NFL.

After spending the first four seasons of his NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys, wide receiver Jalen Tolbert is entering his first year with the Miami Dolphins in 2026. Tolbert saw minimal usage in Dallas last season, recording 18 catches for 203 yards and one touchdown on 34 targets across 13 games (eight starts). However, he was significantly better in 2024, hauling in 49 catches for 610 yards and seven scores on 79 targets across 17 games. In Miami, Tolbert will no longer be in the shadow of star Cowboys wideouts CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. The Dolphins used 2026 draft picks on wide receivers Chris Bell (knee), Caleb Douglas, and Kevin Coleman Jr. Still, Tolbert may enter the year as the team's most reliable pass-catcher outside of running back De'Von Achane. Tolbert is unlikely to break out as a fantasy superstar, particularly given Miami's overall pass-game questions in quarterback Malik Willis' first season as the team's starter. However, Tolbert's current redraft ADP of WR98 makes him a worthy sleeper to target at the end of drafts.

The 14th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren recorded 76 catches for 817 yards and four touchdowns on 112 targets across 17 games as a rookie. While the 24-year-old's overall line is impressive, his production faded down the stretch of the year. Warren reached double-digit PPR points just once following the Colts' Week 12 bye, and he finished the year as the TE11 by per-game PPR scoring. However, Warren may be entering 2026 as the number one option in the Indianapolis passing game following the team's offseason trade of veteran wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Warren will also get to rekindle his chemistry with Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles), whose absence due to a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 14 of 2025 largely coincided with Warren's fading production. Dynasty contenders should view Warren as an elite tight end option entering 2026.

Houston Texans second-year wide receiver Jayden Higgins is expected to see his role in the passing game grow in 2026 as he and quarterback C.J. Stroud further refine their connection and his understanding of coverages improves, according to Mike Jones of The Athletic. The 23-year-old 6-foot-4, 215-pound receiver impressed the Texans after they took him with the 34th overall pick in the second round out of Iowa State, catching 41 of his 68 targets for 525 yards and six touchdowns in 17 regular-season games (10 starts). Nico Collins remains Houston's unquestioned alpha WR1, but increased production from Higgins will help ease the pressure on Collins, who led the Texans with 71 catches for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns on 120 targets in 2025. Higgins has drawn praise this offseason as the team's WR2, and he could benefit from an improved offensive line in his sophomore campaign now that veteran Christian Kirk is gone. RotoBaller has Higgins ranked as the No. 55 fantasy WR going into 2026, making him a nice under-the-radar breakout target late in upcoming drafts.