Fantasy Football News

Center Aaron Brewer and the Miami Dolphins agreed to a three-year, $52.5 million contract extension on Wednesday that includes $37 million guaranteed, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The deal makes Brewer one of the highest-paid centers in the NFL. The 28-year-old initially went undrafted out of Texas State before eventually latching on with the Tennessee Titans and spending his first four years in the NFL in Nashville. Brewer has spent the last two years in Miami, where he has missed just one game. In terms of total contract value, he's the fifth-highest paid center and the third-highest paid center in terms of average annual value ($17.5 million). The deal more than doubles the value of the three-year, $21 million deal he signed with Miami as a free agent in 2024. Since joining the Dolphins, Brewer has the 10th-best pass-block win rate of any qualified center in the NFL, and he has allowed just seven sacks in 1,127 pass-blocking snaps. It's a big win for the Dolphins' new braintrust and new quarterback Malik Willis.

New York Giants edge rusher Abdul Carter (ankle) suffered what sources are classifying as a minor ankle sprain during practice on Monday, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. As a precaution, Carter was held out of offseason practice for the rest of the week, according to Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News. He had a tight wrap on his ankle on Wednesday and did not participate in the team's walkthrough. The good news is that the second-year linebacker was not in a walking boot, and the goal is for him to be ready for the start of training camp next month. The 22-year-old former third overall pick last year out of Penn State should be fine for the start of his second season in the NFL in 2026, and both he and the Giants will be looking for him to take the next step as a pass-rushing linebacker. In his first year in the league in 2025, Carter finished with 43 tackles (25 solo), four sacks, seven tackles for loss, 23 QB hits, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries across 17 games (six starts).

Indianapolis Colts kicker Spencer Shrader (knee) was able to get up some kicks as he works his way back into the mix. Shrader is currently recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered in Week 5 of last season. He knocked down 3-of-5 field goal attempts during a recent practice session. He'll be competing with Blake Grupe for the starting kicker job this upcoming season. Grupe connected on all five of his kicks, so Shrader could have a tough challenge ahead of him. Despite some struggles, it's quite amazing that Shrader is even attempting field goals around eight months after surgery.

New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller (knee) was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday. Miller is taking part in minicamp and 11-on-11 reps, but remains limited while he recovers from ACL surgery. He suffered a torn ACL in October of last year and is still not 100 percent healthy quite yet. When healthy, Miller will be competing for snaps with Alvin Kamara and Travis Etienne Jr. in the backfield. He has played a limited role in the backfield during his first three seasons with the Saints. Miller could be a viable depth option, but he is unlikely to be a trustworthy fantasy option.

Former NFL linebacker Darron Lee has been indicted on a murder charge. Prosecutors are seeking a first-degree murder conviction for the death of his partner. The first-degree murder charge carries a life sentence, but it's undecided if they will pursue the death penalty against Lee. He currently remains in the Hamilton County Jail without bond. Lee is a former first-round pick of the New York Jets who also played with the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills between 2016-2020.

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley (leg) was able to take part in his first 7-on-7 practice. This is great news, as Ridley is returning from a broken fibula that he suffered during Week 11 of last season. Ridley was running routes and is moving well in practice right now. The expectation is that Ridley will be fully ramped up in time for training camp. The veteran wideout is going to have to fight for targets in a much more crowded receiving corps in Tennessee. The Titans added Wan'Dale Robinson through free agency and selected Carnell Tate with the fourth overall pick during the NFL Draft. His target share will likely take a hit this upcoming season, but the Titans are just hopeful to have him ready for the beginning of the season.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (hamstring) was not seen on the practice field on Thursday. When asked about his absence, head coach Todd Monken said Jeudy isn't practicing due to a hamstring injury. The team wants to be extremely cautious with it being this early in camp. Fantasy managers shouldn't have anything to worry about, as this seems like a minor issue. Jeudy is expected to be the No. 1 wide receiver on the Browns' offense heading into the 2026 season. He's looking to rebound after posting 50 receptions, 602 receiving yards, and two touchdowns with the Browns last season. Fantasy managers should stay tuned for more updates, but Jeudy should be fine going forward.

The Kansas City Chiefs and star quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) are both "leaning into this Week 1 possibility" that he'll be ready to go for the first Monday night game of the 2026 season against the division-rival Denver Broncos, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Mahomes has made great progress this offseason while recovering from surgery to fix ACL and LCL tears that he suffered on Dec. 14 last year against the Los Angeles Chargers. The 30-year-old two-time MVP has been taking part in seven-on-seven drills during offseason workouts, but the next step will be for him to be cleared for contact and to participate in 11-on-11 team drills. Running and cutting will be a focal point for Mahomes over the next weeks and months as he attempts to regain his patented mobility. Head coach Andy Reid is optimistic that Mahomes will progress in training camp next month, and Mahomes would like to get a dress rehearsal during the preseason to test his surgically-repaired knee. KC added Justin Fields as insurance at the position, but all signs are pointing to Mahomes being ready for the regular-season opener. Nobody should be doubting Mahomes at this point in his career, but fantasy managers should also be tempering expectations as he returns from a major knee injury. It's best to target Mahomes as a high-end QB2 in 2026 fantasy drafts.

On the first day of mandatory minicamp on Thursday, Green Bay Packers second-year wide receiver Matthew Golden lined up across from Christian Watson in a two-receiver set, according to Bill Huber of Sports Illustrated. Golden came into the NFL last year with high expectations after the Packers selected him 23rd overall out of the University of Texas. The 22-year-old was then hyped up plenty during training camp and the preseason, only to disappoint in his rookie campaign in a crowded receiving corps in Green Bay. He caught 29 passes for 361 yards and zero touchdowns in 14 regular-season games (five starts). Golden is trending back up again this spring, and he'll have a much bigger opportunity to carve out a consistent role in the passing attack now that Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks are out of town. Watson is the team's clear WR1 with big-play ability, and the Packers also still have the versatile Jayden Reed, but both wideouts have dealt with their fair share of injuries early in their careers. Even if both Watson and Reed stay on the field, Golden will be a popular Year 2 breakout candidate. He can be had at a discount, too, with RotoBaller ranking him as the No. 51 fantasy WR for the 2026 season.

The Carolina Panthers and wide receiver Jalen Coker agreed to a three-year contract extension on Thursday worth $35 million, with incentives potentially taking the deal up to $41 million, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Coker was set to be an exclusive-rights free agent this year and a restricted free agent next year. The 24-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Holy Cross has battled injuries in his first two seasons in the NFL, playing in a total of 22 regular-season games (seven starts) while catching 65 passes for 872 yards and five touchdowns on 89 targets. Coker came on strong late last season for the Panthers and has averaged a healthy 13.4 yards per reception since entering the league. Going into Year 3 in 2026, Coker is expected to be Carolina's primary slot receiver as their No. 2 behind second-year wideout Tetairoa McMillan. If Coker can stay healthy all year, he has clear potential to have a breakout campaign and be a solid sleeper for fantasy managers. RotoBaller currently has him ranked as the No. 50 fantasy WR going into the 2026 season. Coker isn't a burner by any means, but he's explosive after the catch and has excellent hands.

New Denver Broncos wide receiver Jaylen Waddle "has looked every bit the star wide receiver this spring," according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. The Broncos gave up a first-round pick in this year's NFL draft to acquire the services of Waddle from the Miami Dolphins this offseason, and head coach Sean Payton looks ready to use him all over the field. The 27-year-old former sixth overall pick in 2021 out of the University of Alabama opened his NFL career with three straight 1,000-yard seasons while also leading the league with 18.1 yards per catch in his sophomore campaign. Waddle failed to reach the 1,000-yard mark in each of the last two years as Miami's speed-based offense hit a snag, although he did bounce back in 2025 with a 64-910-6 line in 16 starts. The Broncos already have a capable WR1 in Courtland Sutton, but the Broncos didn't give up a haul not to involve Waddle regularly, and he could thrive underneath in Payton's offense in Year 1 in Denver. Waddle is a more intriguing target for fantasy managers in PPR formats, and he should be considered a low-end WR2/high-end WR3/flex in his new digs.

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Joshua Palmer (ankle) is coming off a frustrating first year with the team, in which he missed five regular-season games due to an ankle injury. The 26-year-old wasn't relevant at all in fantasy football, catching a career-low 22 passes on 37 targets for 303 yards and no touchdowns across 12 regular-season games (eight starts). However, Palmer is "feeling a lot better" this offseason and is optimistic he'll be better in his second season in Buffalo in 2026. He worked off to the side during organized team activities but has been back on the field during mandatory minicamp this week. The former third-round pick (77th overall) by the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021 out of the University of Tennessee averaged 12.6 yards per catch and had 182 receptions for 2,287 yards and 10 touchdowns on 282 targets in 58 games in his first four years in the league with the Bolts. Palmer surely has bounce-back potential after being banged up in 2025, but with the addition of receiver DJ Moore to the fold as a deep threat in the Bills' offense, it's hard to imagine him having a consistent enough role to excite fantasy managers going into the start of the 2026 season this fall.

According to Ben Standig of Last Man Standig, Washington Commanders second-year running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (undisclosed) is missing valuable repetitions during organized team activities this offseason due to a soft-tissue injury. It's unclear what exactly Croskey-Merritt is dealing with or whether he'll be ready to return for the team's mandatory minicamp that runs from June 16-18. Bill has the opportunity to become Washington's clear lead back in Year 2 in 2026, but to do so, he'll need to improve his ball security and as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. Rachaad White, Jeremy McNichols, and Jerome Ford slot in behind Croskey-Merritt in Washington's RB room, but JCM is the only one of the group with a realistic chance for lead-back duties. The 25-year-old former seventh-rounder out of the University of Arizona worked his way into a big role in his first NFL campaign in D.C., rushing for 805 yards and eight touchdowns on 175 carries while adding nine receptions for 68 yards. Because he won't be guaranteed a three-down role, though, fantasy managers should target JCM as more of an RB3/flex in drafts this fall.

Ex-NFL wide receiver Henry Ruggs III was denied parole almost five years after he killed a woman in a car crash in Las Vegas, Nevada, according to The Associated Press. Ruggs, who was the Las Vegas Raiders' first-round pick in 2020, drove his sports car at speeds up to 156 mph on Nov. 2, 2021, and slammed into a car, killing driver Tina Tintor and her dog, Max. Prosecutors at the time said Ruggs' blood-alcohol level taken within the required two hours after the crash was 0.16%. He pleaded guilty in May of 2023 to felony DUI causing death and misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter. Ruggs was sentenced in August of 2023 to a three- to 10-year prison sentence. He'll go before the parole board again three months before his Aug. 24, 2027, mandatory parole release date. The 27-year-old was the 12th overall pick in 2020, and he caught 50 of his 79 targets for 921 yards and four touchdowns in 20 games (19 starts) in his only two years in the league.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette said he lost seven to nine pounds in the offseason and is now down to 221 pounds, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. Legette also said he's tried to "bulletproof" his hamstrings after previously having issues with them. The 25-year-old, who was the 32nd overall pick in 2024 out of South Carolina, has failed to live up to his lofty draft capital in his first two years in the NFL in Carolina. Legette has totaled 84 receptions on 148 targets for 860 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 31 regular-season games (25 starts). His production took a dip last year, too, as he finished with a 35-363-3 line on 64 targets across 15 regular-season contests. Last year's first-rounder, Tetairoa McMillan, looks like the real deal, and Jalen Coker appears primed to be a breakout candidate in his third year as the team's WR2. That leaves Legette battling with John Metchie III and rookie Chris Brazzell II for targets as the Panthers' WR3. In standard 12-team fantasy leagues in 2026, Legette should go undrafted.

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (ankle) is expected to practice next week at mandatory minicamp, head coach Sean Payton told Zac Stevens of DNVR Sports. Nix did a walkthrough before Thursday's practice, which is an encouraging sign for his availability next week. The 26-year-old fractured his right ankle at the end of the team's Divisional Round win over the Buffalo Bills and had surgery in late January. Nix also had a cleanup procedure on his ankle in late April, but he's trending in the right direction to participate in minicamp next week and for the start of training camp at the end of July. For what it's worth, Payton thinks that Nix will be "completely clean, mobility-wise" once he returns to the field in preparation for his third year in the NFL. The former 12th overall pick out of the University of Oregon in 2024 has thrown for 7,706 yards, 54 touchdowns, and 23 interceptions in 34 regular-season games in his first two years in the league, adding 786 rushing yards and nine rushing scores. Nix has been a top-10 fantasy QB in each of his first two seasons, but coming off ankle surgery, there is some concern he won't be as effective as a runner, especially with Payton looking to make the offense more balanced. Nix's dual-threat abilities give him RB1 upside, but in fantasy drafts, managers should target him as more of a low-end QB1/high-end QB2 in 2026. UPDATE: ESPN's Jeremy Fowler thinks Nix will be involved in low-impact, light work during minicamp next week. The goal is for him to do more extensive work at training camp in August.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles), who is just over six months removed from rupturing his right Achilles tendon on Dec. 7, has so far been limited to seven-on-seven drills during organized team activities this offseason, according to James Boyd of The Athletic. However, head coach Shane Steichen said the 29-year-old signal-caller is expected to resume taking part in 11-on-11 drills in training camp next month. "It's my back leg, my push leg," Jones said, explaining the importance of his right Achilles. "There's a strength component. I think there's still work to be done," Jones conceded. "I wouldn't say I'm all the way there at this point." The Colts aren't rushing Jones back, but barring a setback this summer, he looks to be on track to be ready for the Week 1 2026 regular-season opener on Sept. 13 against the Baltimore Ravens. Jones was playing great in 2025 in his first year in Indy before tearing his Achilles, completing 68% of his pass attempts for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. However, fantasy managers should temper expectations for Jones as a QB2 after the Colts traded away his top wideout this offseason in Michael Pittman Jr. Remember, the Colts' offense will continue to run through running back Jonathan Taylor.

Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins (ankle) got a late start to his rookie season in 2025 and then suffered a dislocated right ankle and fractured fibula in Week 16, putting an end to his first year in the NFL. Judkins averaged just 3.6 yards per carry on his 230 rushing attempts for 827 yards and seven touchdowns in his 14 starts, also adding 26 catches for 171 yards as a pass-catcher. Per the Akron Beacon Journal's Chris Easterling, the former second-rounder (36th overall) out of Ohio State has looked more physical, confident, and aggressive during offseason workouts with his ankle/leg injury in the rearview mirror. New head coach Todd Monken said it looks like Judkins has "got his confidence back, his explosion." With a mostly new offensive line in tow in 2026, the Browns view Judkins as part of their core, and he should be their unquestioned RB1 in his sophomore campaign. Cleveland's offense is a big question mark considering their QB situation, but with better health, Judkins should continue to rise as a low-end RB2 target in fantasy drafts with upside.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (shoulder) was seen working out at organized team activities on Thursday. Irving is being worked back in slowly this offseason after having shoulder surgery, but he looked good on Thursday while catching passes at OTAs while doing other work as well. Although he might not be a full-go for the start of training camp at the end of next month, all signs point to the 23-year-old back being ready at some point this summer and for the start of the 2026 regular season in early September. The former fourth-rounder in 2024 out of the University of Oregon impressed with a 1,000-yard season and eight touchdowns on 207 carries while adding 47 receptions for 392 yards as a pass-catcher in 17 games as a rookie, but he played in only 10 games in 2025 due to injury and finished with 588 rushing yards and one touchdown for the Bucs. Irving's fantasy stock has fallen a bit going into his third year in the league because of durability concerns as he learns a new offense. Newcomer Kenneth Gainwell is also likely to steal valuable pass-catching reps from him. He still has clear RB2 upside if he can stay healthy, but Irving has fallen to No. 26 in RotoBaller's RB rankings for the 2026 season.

When asked if wide receiver Rashee Rice (knee) will be ready for the start of training camp in late July, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said, "I think he will be. He gets out [of jail] next week. We'll see where it goes. He'll be back up here and working." Rice has had another rough offseason, violating his probation and being sentenced to 30 days in jail due to a positive test for marijuana. In addition to ongoing legal trouble, the 26-year-old had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to remove loose bodies, keeping him out of organized team activities this offseason. It sounds like Rice's knee surgery won't prevent him from being ready for a Monday night affair in Week 1 of the 2026 regular season against the division-rival Denver Broncos, but another potential suspension hanging over his head has caused him to fall to No. 22 in RotoBaller's WR rankings for the upcoming campaign. The former second-round pick in 2023 out of SMU is KC's clear WR1 when he's available, but he's played in just 12 games in the last two seasons due to suspension and injury. Rice showed his true upside in 2023 in his rookie year, catching 79 of his 102 targets for 938 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 regular-season games (eight starts).