Fantasy Football News

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) missed the entirety of the 2025 season after tearing his ACL for the second time on the ninth carry of his NFL career. Brooks went down in Week 14 of his 2024 rookie season after missing ten games during a lengthy recovery from his first ACL tear, sustained at the end of his final collegiate season at Texas. With the injuries stacking up and so much passing time between meaningful snaps, it can be easy to forget that the 2024 second-round pick was seeing an incremental increase in usage leading up to the injury, even though Chuba Hubbard had the fourth most rushing yards in the league to that point. With Rico Dowdle departing in free agency after only one season in Carolina, Brooks will return to a running back room strikingly similar to the one in which he last played. Hubbard will be 27 years old at the start of the season, coming off a year in which injuries and inefficiency saw him turn the room over to Dowdle for much of the season, and his career yards per route run remains well under 1.0 yards. As RotoBaller's dynasty RB37, Brooks could be severely underpriced for a running back with both the skills and the path to take over the lead back role in a steadily improving offense.

Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins finished his first season as RB23 by points per game, the fourth-highest total in a loaded rookie class. A dislocated ankle and fractured fibula ended his season in Week 16, but by all accounts, his recovery has gone well, and he should be available for the start of training camp. The Browns have brought in a new coaching staff for 2026, but some of the surrounding elements that stood in the way of a true breakout have not been addressed. Cleveland saw some of the worst quarterback and offensive line play in the league in 2025, and those remain points of concern heading into the NFL Draft. While they will likely need to wait until 2027 to make any upgrades at quarterback, two first-round picks could have them in position to address the line at multiple spots. Judkins hard-running style and safe bet for volume should provide a healthy floor for fantasy, but with Cleveland's offense again projected to be among the worst in the league, he may not have the scoring opportunities needed to raise his ceiling, especially considering his lack of involvement in the passing game.

At 31 years old, San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (knee) came into the 2025 season still in the conversation as a top-five dynasty tight end. Six games missed due to a hamstring injury and an unfortunate postseason Achilles tear that now threatens his availability for the start of the 2026 season have pushed him well down the rankings. However, even without the injuries, the emergence of rookie stars Colston Loveland, Tyler Warren, and Harold Fannin Jr. would have already had a hand in shaking up the rankings. The two factors working together may have created a perfect buy-low window for Kittle, who could now be viewed as undervalued as RotoBaller's dynasty TE13. Yes, he will be only eight months removed from his Achilles tear by the time the 49ers next play meaningful football, and he will turn 33 shortly after that, but he has not scored fewer than 10.6 fantasy points per game since his rookie season. For reference, over the past five seasons, the TE13 has averaged 8.0 Half-PPR points per game. While it could, and likely will, take Kittle time to get back up to speed, even 80% of the player he has historically been represents a smart dynasty buy for contenders with the surrounding roster strength to bank on a fantasy playoff appearance.

After recording nearly 1,300 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie in 2024, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. regressed in his second season. Across 14 games, the 23-year-old hauled in 48 receptions for 707 yards and two touchdowns on 91 targets. After looking like a no-doubt fantasy WR1 as a rookie, Thomas Jr.'s dynasty value is now an open question. However, Thomas Jr. battled wrist, shoulder, and ankle injuries throughout the year, which may have played a role in his subpar performance. The Jaguars also reportedly plan to play cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter (knee) more on the defensive side of the ball in 2026, which could open up a few more target opportunities for Thomas Jr. He comes with a significant amount of risk, but dynasty managers may never have a better buy-low window on Thomas Jr.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes's (knee) status for the start of the 2026 season is currently unclear as he recovers from the torn ACL and LCL he suffered last December. Across 14 games before getting injured, Mahomes II completed 62.7% of his pass attempts for 3,587 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. A large portion of his fantasy value came from his work as a rusher, as he collected 422 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 64 attempts. While Mahomes II remains arguably the best overall quarterback in the NFL, his fantasy production as a passer has not been elite since 2022. If his recovery from major knee surgery limits his effectiveness as a rusher, Mahomes II's short-term value as a must-start quarterback could be in question. Until he proves he's fully recovered from the injury, Mahomes II's dynasty value is trending slightly downward as well.

A second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tre' Harris did not get many chances to contribute to his team's offense as a rookie. Across 17 games, the 24-year-old recorded 30 receptions for 324 yards and one touchdown on 43 targets. Harris largely operated as the fifth target in the Chargers' passing game behind wide receivers Ladd McConkey, Keenan Allen, and Quentin Johnston, as well as tight end Oronde Gadsden. Allen currently remains unsigned heading into 2026, which could open the door for Harris to move into a more prominent role in Los Angeles. The Chargers also replaced former offensive coordinator Greg Roman with former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, which could lead to a more pass-happy offense overall. Harris still faces an uphill battle to make a significant contribution in Los Angeles, but he could be a decent buy-low target for dynasty managers after his quiet rookie year.

New York Jets running back Braelon Allen (knee) was limited to just four games played in 2025 after suffering a season-ending torn MCL in Week 4. The 22-year-old had been expected to play a significant role as a complementary piece to fellow Jets back Breece Hall, but instead was limited to just 93 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on 20 touches for the year. Allen should be fully healthy for the start of the 2026 season. While Hall remains with the Jets and profiles as the team's clear lead back, he is currently signed via the franchise tag, and his future in New York beyond 2026 is uncertain. Allen currently profiles as a high-end handcuff option for dynasty managers, and his long-term value could surge if the Jets move on from Hall. In dynasty formats, now might be the best time for managers to buy low on Allen.

Free agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers remains unsigned heading into the back half of April. As the NFL Draft approaches, Rodgers still hasn't given any indication as to where (or if) he'll be playing in 2026. The future Hall of Famer is coming off a solid season, all things considered. Now 42 years old, he has managed to rank as a top-18 fantasy quarterback each of the last two years. Across 16 games in 2025, he completed 65.7% of his pass attempts for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. It was the lowest passing yards total of his career (minimum 10 games), but that can be explained by the fact that he had a weak receiving corps around him. DK Metcalf didn't operate like a true WR1 in his first season with the Steelers, and Calvin Austin III failed to take a fourth-year leap. Heading into 2026, Rodgers still has the ability to keep teams in a competitive position, as he did with the Steelers last year. We wouldn't be surprised to see him sign shortly after the NFL Draft. That's what he did in 2025 with the Steelers; once it was clear they didn't select an immediate starter in the draft, he was essentially assured the starting job, so he put pen to paper. There are rumors that the Steelers, whose current QB1 is Mason Rudolph, won't draft a quarterback in the first round. At this point, a post-draft return to Pittsburgh (and a reunion with head coach Mike McCarthy) seems like the most probable outcome for Rodgers. He's a low-end QB2 in redraft leagues, and he's merely a one-year bridge option in dynasty formats.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen continues to be an elite option in fantasy football, and his ceiling might be getting even higher now that he's healthy and has a new weapon at his disposal. Allen underwent surgery to fix a broken bone in his right foot following the 2025 season, but head coach Joe Brady said that the superstar quarterback is fully healthy. It doesn't sound like the surgery will have any limitations on his performance during training camp or the 2026 regular season. Additionally, Allen will benefit from the Bills' acquisition of wide receiver DJ Moore. While Moore is coming off a down year in which he was essentially pushed down to third on the depth chart in Chicago, he should bounce back as the No. 1 receiver in Buffalo. He'll operate ahead of Khalil Shakir, serving as a reliable medium to deep threat for Allen. It should be no surprise that Allen, who ranked as a top-two fantasy quarterback in each of his last six seasons, remains the QB1 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray remains somewhat of an unknown commodity in dynasty leagues following his offseason change of scenery. After being released by the Cardinals, Murray signed a one-year deal with the Vikings to compete with J.J. McCarthy for the starting quarterback role. So far, it has been hard to gain much insight into the quarterback competition. On one hand, McCarthy is the incumbent starter. On the other hand, the Vikings actively went out and signed Murray, so we know that Kevin O'Connell has confidence in starting him if needed. McCarthy is coming off an ugly season in Minnesota, but the same can be said of Murray in Arizona. We may be looking at a lesser of two evils situation here, as both quarterbacks are grasping for the opportunity to start meaningful football games. Murray made five starts before missing the rest of the 2025 season due to injury. The former No. 1 pick finished last year with 962 passing yards, 173 rushing yards, seven total touchdowns, and four total turnovers. He was the QB17 in fantasy football from Week 1-5, so he'd likely rank in a similar range if named the Vikings' starter. Having Justin Jefferson would boost his fantasy value, but more importantly, his output would hinge on his ability to stay mobile and rush for yards. Given that Murray was quite literally cut loose during the middle of a $230.5 contract, it's safe to say that his football outlook is approaching rock bottom. As a result, he can be acquired in dynasty leagues at a very minimal cost. Quarterback-needy dynasty managers should entertain the idea of acquiring Murray. If it doesn't pan out, then you've lost a late-round rookie pick, or the equivalent; no big deal. If it does pan out, you're left with a multi-year fantasy starter, and it only cost you a negligible pick.

Washington Commanders running back Rachaad White is trending up in dynasty leagues after his recent change of scenery. Following four seasons in Tampa Bay, White left for the Commanders in free agency. It was an understandable move, as White went from tallying 1,500+ yards in 2023 (RB4 in PPR leagues) to operating as the Bucs' backup running back in 2024 (RB22) and 2025 (RB32). White won't have the backfield all to himself in Washington, but he also won't face the same level of competition that Bucky Irving presented in Tampa Bay. White will use this summer to try to win the lead-back role over Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who was promising in his own regard with 4.6 YPC and eight touchdowns as a rookie last year. Croskey-Merritt was essentially a non-factor in the receiving game last year. That's where White thrives, so at the very least, he should be the primary passing-down back. He'll need to earn the rushing attempts, but that's not such an extreme ask given that he has 4.3 YPC and 13 total touchdowns over the last two seasons. White can be a low-end RB1 in an every-down role. In all likelihood, though, he'll end up as a low-end RB2 or high-end RB3 while sharing some of his volume with Croskey-Merritt. Still, that's a nice boost from his RB32 finish in 2025, so dynasty managers would be wise to send out trade offers for White in anticipation of his bounce-back campaign.

Free agent wide receiver Stefon Diggs remains unsigned as we head into the back half of April. Diggs was cut loose after one season with the New England Patriots, during which he caught 85 passes for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns. He ranked as the overall WR17 in PPR leagues, which was an improvement from when he missed nine games in 2024. However, it was still a significant drop-off from his four-year stint in Buffalo, where he was a top-10 fantasy receiver every year. Coming off a 1,000-yard season, it's a little surprising we haven't heard more about Diggs' free agent market. Perhaps at this point in the offseason, NFL teams are waiting to see how the draft unfolds before deciding whether to make a big free agency addition. Presumably, we'll see some more chatter about potential landing spots for Diggs when the 2026 NFL Draft concludes one week from today.

Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson (knee) doesn't have a direct path to fantasy relevance in dynasty leagues. Benson was once viewed as the running back of the future in Arizona after the Cardinals selected him with a third-round pick. However, James Conner was healthy and productive in 2024, leaving Benson in a backup role for most of his rookie season. Then, when Conner suffered a season-ending right foot/ankle injury, it seemed like Benson might finally have an opportunity to shine. Instead, he started one game before suffering a season-ending knee injury of his own. Now, Conner is healthy again, and he's expected to occupy the lead-back role in 2026. New head coach Mike LaFleur also went out and signed Tyler Allgeier, who presumably will operate as the No. 2 running back, pushing Benson to third on the depth chart. Benson is still 23, so we're not completely out on him yet, but it seems like it will take either a lot of patience or a lot of teammate injuries before he has a chance to prove his fantasy relevance. He can be stashed at the end of your bench in most dynasty leagues, as there's really no motivation to buy or sell here.

Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt was one of the most fun stories heading into the 2025 season, and through the first month of his rookie campaign, the man known simply as "Bill" looked to be making good on all the preseason hype. Playing behind an above-average offensive line, Croskey-Merritt was able to churn out chunk plays at a league-leading level, averaging 11.6 fantasy points per game through Week 5 despite minimal usage in the passing game. Unfortunately, the big plays eventually dried up, and Croskey-Merritt finished the year as RB31, working in almost a true 50/50 split with Chris Rodriguez Jr. by the end of the season. The Commanders have since replaced Rodriguez with Rachaad White, which could be viewed as a win for Croskey-Merritt managers, as White's greatest contributions have come catching the ball, a market that Croskey-Merritt was never going to own. However, Washington is one of the teams picking in the top 10 of the upcoming NFL Draft that has been tied to Notre Dame prospect Jeremiyah Love. Should he become their pick on Day 1, Croskey-Merritt would be relegated to little more than change-of-pace duty. If the Commanders opt to go in a different direction, or if Love has already been selected by the time they're on the clock, Croskey-Merritt, who is currently RotoBaller's dynasty RB44, could still provide value as a low-end RB2 or flex play.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker had some usable fantasy moments and one week-winning performance in 2025, operating primarily as the third option in a top-loaded rotation. While some of the names have changed for 2026, Tucker's situation appears to be quite similar, with any fantasy relevance still tied to an injury ahead of him on the depth chart. His 140-yard, three-touchdown blowup in Week 11 came with Bucky Irving sidelined with foot and shoulder injuries and Rachaad White falling out of favor. White has since been replaced by Kenneth Gainwell, who will likely carve out the lion's share of the running back receiving work after banking a career-high 73 receptions with the Steelers in 2025. Irving, even while banged up and inefficient in his second season, still saw more than double Tucker's total carries while playing in five fewer games. With an expected return to health in 2026, that ratio could grow even more lopsided, leaving the 2023 undrafted free agent with very little standalone value.

After three years in the league in which he never caught a single pass, San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges seemingly came out of nowhere in 2025 in relief of the injured George Kittle. Kittle missed parts of six games with an early-season hamstring injury, and in those games, the 2022 undrafted free agent averaged 4.2 receptions for 37.3 yards while scoring three touchdowns and ranking as the fantasy TE11. With Kittle tearing his Achilles in the team's Wild Card win over the Eagles, and his availability in doubt for the beginning of the 2026 season, Tonges is once again a must-roster player in dynasty leagues, and of particular importance to Kittle's managers. While his 8.8-point per game pace over the best six-game stretch of his career still falls well below anything Kittle has done since his 2017 rookie season, Tonges' usage around the goal line offers enough value to dynasty managers simply looking to stay afloat at the position through the opening stretch of the season. His current status as RotoBaller's dynasty TE34 reflects his lack of standalone value once Kittle returns to full health.

Even before signing a three-year, $27 million contract with the Washington Commanders, tight end Chig Okonkwo was a popular breakout candidate as he hit free agency after four promising seasons with the Tennessee Titans. Despite never finishing higher than TE22 in Half-PPR formats, Okonkwo's 4.52 speed and ability to gain yards after the catch are rare for the position, and many fantasy managers were banking on an improved situation where his skills could be put on display with regularity. He appears to have found that with the Commanders. When quarterback Jayden Daniels was fully healthy in 2024, his 78.2% on-target throw rate ranked 12th in the league as a rookie. Okonkwo never saw a quarterback finish inside the top 25 in that regard during his time in Tennessee, but he was still able to top 50 receptions in each of the last three seasons. The Commanders are expected to add pass-catchers in the upcoming NFL Draft, but as it currently stands, the talent gap between eight-year veteran Terry McLaurin and the rest of the room is notable, providing Okonkwo plenty of space to slide in as the secondary option in the passing game. He is currently TE20 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings, but it's extremely possible he is still being slept on.

Los Angeles Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz thinks that both offensive tackles Rashawn Slater (knee) and Joe Alt (ankle) will participate at some point in the team's offseason program, which begins next Monday, according to Eric Smith of Chargers.com. "Yeah, I think they'll be involved in some capacity. Coming back from injuries, you don't rush anything, there's no need to rush it," Hortiz said. "Let them come back, be healthy, the target is for the start of training camp. But I think they'll be out there getting some work." Slater suffered a ruptured patellar tendon in training camp last summer and missed the entire 2025 season, while Alt made the Pro Bowl despite playing in only six games due to a season-ending ankle injury. With both Slater and Alt sidelined for all but six games last season, the protection for quarterback Justin Herbert really broke down. Having a healthy Slater and Alt in 2026 could be a difference-maker for the Chargers' QB and the entire offense in general under new coordinator Mike McDaniel.

After topping 1,500 scrimmage yards in 2024, Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones Sr. struggled through a down year in 2025. The 31-year-old missed five games due to injury and finished the year with just 747 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns on 160 touches. While Jones Sr. was still Minnesota's nominal starter in the games he was healthy for, the team largely split carries between him and Jordan Mason. At this point in their respective careers, Mason profiles as a more reliable short-yardage back, which could leave Jones Sr. limited to third-down and pass-catching duties. Jones Sr.'s production should benefit from the Vikings' offense having more overall stability in 2026 after the signing of veteran quarterback Kyler Murray. Still, Jones Sr.'s dynasty value is firmly trending in the wrong direction, given his age and the split backfield in Minnesota.

After spending the first four years of his career with the Green Bay Packers, wide receiver Romeo Doubs signed a four-year contract with the New England Patriots as a free agent this past March. The 26-year-old posted solid but unspectacular numbers with the Packers in 2025, recording 55 receptions for 724 yards and seven touchdowns on 85 targets. With New England, Doubs profiles as the team's WR1 and could have a chance to break 100 targets for the first time in his career. The Patriots have other quality wideouts in Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, and Kyle Williams, but Doubs figures to be locked into every-down playing time, given the team's sizable investment in him. He may not carry high-end fantasy upside, but Doubs has established a solid production floor, and his dynasty value is rising after the move to New England.