Fantasy Football News

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall has struggled to stay on the field through his first two seasons in the league, but some of the flashes he's shown in brief spurts have demonstrated the abilities that made him a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and suggested that a fantasy breakout could be lurking if he can piece it all together for a full season. All-Pro tight end George Kittle is expected to miss time after rupturing his Achilles in the 2025 postseason, and there is a belief that Christian McCaffrey's workload could be dialed back after handling a league-high 440 opportunities in his age-29 season. Although the team spent an unexpected second-round pick on Ole Miss wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling, Pearsall's primary target competition in two-receiver sets will be a 33-year-old Mike Evans who has dealt with soft tissue injuries in the past and most recently missed nine games with hamstring issues, a concussion, and a broken collarbone. While Pearsall has missed 14 games of his own to a variety of injuries, including a gunshot wound before he'd ever taken an NFL snap, he has finished as the fantasy WR26 or better in 35% percent of his games. Still only 25 years old, Pearsall has both the ability and the opportunity to turn in week-winning performances, and if he can find health and consistency in year three, he has a strong chance of rising dramatically from his current spot of dynasty WR47 in RotoBaller's latest rankings.

Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell continues to recover from the devastating knee injury that ended his 2024 sophomore campaign and cost him the entirety of the 2025 season, and while he is present at the team's organized team activities, he is not yet participating. The gruesome nature of the injury that resulted in a dislocated kneecap and multiple torn ligaments has the Texans taking a cautious approach to his recovery and has understandably brought about questions of how Dell will look when he finally returns to action. As a rookie in 2023, he was the fantasy WR38 in half-PPR formats, and before the injury in 2024, he was trending towards another top-45 finish. Now at only 26 years old, he has fallen to RotoBaller's dynasty WR64, and while any manager who has held him to this point is unlikely to sell at that price, Dell is an intriguing upside dart throw in the later rounds of dynasty startups.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker led the team with seven rushing touchdowns in 2025, and he could see meaningful goal-line work once more in his fourth professional season. Presumed starter Bucky Irving is still recovering from the shoulder injury that cost him seven games and impacted his efficiency in 2025. Irving returned to the field in Week 12, still clearly hampered by the injury, and Tucker handled almost 90% of the Buccaneers' carries from within the five-yard line from that point forward. Irving's recovery timeline has been vague, but if the team opts to keep him fresh by limiting him to mostly between-the-20s work, Tucker would be the most likely benefactor over the 5'9", 200-pound Kenneth Gainwell. Tucker went undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft due to a congenital heart condition, but whenever he's seen the field, he's looked the part of an NFL running back, and at RotoBaller's dynasty RB75, he represents overlooked value if he's able to hold onto the dedicated goal-line role in what should again be a high-scoring Buccaneers offense.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua has had one of the most dominant starts to a career in NFL history. Only Justin Jefferson and Odell Beckham Jr. have topped his 95.3 receiving yards per game through the first three seasons in the league, with fourth-place Anquan Boldin more than 10 yards per game behind. Playing in 16 games in 2025, Nacua finished as the WR1 in half-PPR formats. His physical play style will always put him at risk of missing time, but when on the field, his ceiling is as high as any player in the league. At 25 years old, he is RotoBaller's dynasty WR3 as he enters the final season of his rookie contract. With reigning MVP Matthew Stafford committed to at least two more years with the team, an extension signed by Nacua could be the exact catalyst needed to push him into the top spot, but regardless of where he stands in the rankings, the future is bright for one of the NFL's best young players.

For the first time since 2013, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prepare to play a season without six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Mike Evans, but local media member Scott Reynolds believes the adjustment could go just fine, in part due to the versatility of third-year professional Jalen McMillan. McMillan was a fantasy league-winner down the stretch of his 2024 rookie season, and while a scary preseason neck injury limited him to only four games in 2025, he again topped 100 receiving yards in Week 17. Reynolds believes his ability to play all three receiver spots could lead to similar results across his 2026 campaign. With Zac Robinson arriving from the Falcons as the new offensive coordinator, Tampa will likely see fewer three-receiver sets after deploying 11-personnel at the league's second-highest rate in 2025, and with Emeka Egbuka unlikely to leave the field with any regularity in his second season, a potential rotation between McMillan, Chris Godwin Jr., and 2026 third-round pick Ted Hurst could make those 100-yard performances difficult to predict. As such, McMillan projects as a more useful piece in best ball formats, but at RotoBaller's dynasty WR71, there is still potential to land him well below his actual value with an opportunity for him to see a larger-than-expected workload.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (ankle) posted the most productive season of his career in 2025, recording 47 catches for 1,003 yards and six touchdowns on 84 targets across 15 games. The Colts rewarded him in the offseason, handing him a four-year, $114 million contract. The new money comes with new responsibility as well, as Pierce could shift into Indy's WR1 role following the team's offseason trade of wideout Michael Pittman Jr. to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pierce showed signs of becoming a more well-rounded wide receiver in 2025, but he's still never averaged more than 5.6 targets per game in a season and is heavily reliant on downfield production. Pierce is also recovering from offseason ankle surgery, which isn't expected to impact his availability to open 2026 but could be a limiting factor on his performance. If the Colts' passing game as a whole takes a step back in quarterback Daniel Jones' (Achilles) first year back from a torn Achilles, Pierce's production may not take the leap many are expecting. In dynasty formats, managers may want to look to capitalize on the growing hype around Pierce with a sell-high trade.

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London had the second half of his 2025 season derailed by a PCL strain in his left knee, which caused him to miss time. Even still, the 24-year-old finished the year with 68 receptions for 919 yards and seven touchdowns on 112 targets across 12 games. London's fantasy value has consistently been impacted by shaky quarterback play in Atlanta. That issue could persist in 2026, as the Falcons enter the season with the questionable quarterback duo of Michael Penix Jr. (knee) and Tua Tagovailoa. However, London has a track record of steady production, and he figures to absolutely dominate targets in a Falcons offense that currently features Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus as the next wide receivers up on the depth chart. Given his injury in 2025 and the quarterback uncertainty in Atlanta, dynasty managers may be able to take advantage of a buy-low window on London entering 2026.

Across 14 games in 2025, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams recorded 60 receptions for 789 yards and 14 touchdowns on 114 targets. Adams developed immediate red zone chemistry in his first season with Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, leading the NFL in touchdown catches despite missing three games with a hamstring injury. However, Adams failed to reach 1,000 receiving yards in a season for the first time since 2019 and is blocked from being the number one option in his team's passing game by the presence of Rams wideout Puka Nacua. While Los Angeles projects to once again have a prolific passing offense, any slippage from the team's aerial attack may make it difficult for Adams to buoy his production with touchdowns in 2026. As Adams enters his age-34 season, dynasty managers may be wise to cash in on his value with a sell-high trade.

Despite being limited to 14 games by a toe injury, New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson recorded 948 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns on 162 touches in 2025. It was a major step forward from an efficiency perspective for Stevenson, who recorded just 21 more scrimmage yards on 78 more touches in 2024. Heading into 2026, Stevenson's workload figures to be limited by the presence of fellow Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson. Stevenson was New England's feature back during its run to the Super Bowl last season, which can't be forgotten. Still, Henderson was a second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft who flashed big-play upside as a rookie and could take over more of a true RB1 role in his second season. Even if the workload remains split between the two backs, Stevenson's pathway to consistent fantasy production may require a Henderson injury. In dynasty formats, managers may have one final window to sell high on Stevenson ahead of the 2026 season.

Across 17 games in 2025, Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (ankle) threw for 3,931 yards and 25 touchdowns while rushing for 356 yards and five scores. The 26-year-old's season ended in disappointing fashion when he suffered a broken bone in his ankle in the AFC Divisional Round, but he's expected to be ready to go for the start of 2026. While Nix hasn't been particularly efficient (6.5 yards per pass attempt) to this point in his career, he's averaged nearly 35 pass attempts per game across his two seasons playing for Broncos head coach Sean Payton. In 2026, Nix's high-volume approach could get an efficiency boost from the presence of new star wideout Jaylen Waddle, whom the Broncos acquired from the Miami Dolphins over the offseason. If Nix can take even a small step as a passer while maintaining his solid contributions with his legs, he could be poised for a breakthrough into mid-tier fantasy QB1 territory in 2026 and beyond.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rico Dowdle is entering his first year with the team in 2026 after racking up 1,373 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns on 275 touches across 17 games with the Carolina Panthers in 2025. Dowdle began the year as the RB2 in Carolina but eventually took over the lead role following an early-season injury to Panthers back Chuba Hubbard. While Dowdle's season-long numbers are impressive, his production tailed off down the stretch of the season after Hubbard returned from injury. Dowdle failed to crack 60 rushing yards in any of his final eight games of the season and logged just six touches in the Panthers' playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Dowdle now enters a similar backfield dynamic in Pittsburgh, where he figures to split touches with Steelers back Jaylen Warren. Dowdle's upside in the event of an injury to Warren could be enormous, but his production figures to be limited as long as both backs are splitting touches. In dynasty formats, managers may want to consider selling high on Dowdle.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp posted one of the least productive seasons of his career in 2025, recording 47 catches for 593 yards and two touchdowns on 70 targets across 16 games. After many years as a WR1 with the Los Angeles Rams, Kupp fell into a secondary role in Seattle behind superstar Seahawks wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Entering 2026, Kupp still projects to be behind Smith-Njigba on the target pecking order and may also slip below younger Seattle wideouts Rashid Shaheed and Tory Horton. While the veteran Kupp still provides value as a trusty possession receiver, he no longer offers the same production upside he did at his peak as he enters his age-33 season. In dynasty formats, managers may want to consider dropping Kupp in favor of a younger pass-catcher.

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey was an unquestionably dominant force in fantasy football in 2025, collecting 2,126 yards from scrimmage and 17 touchdowns on 413 touches across 17 games. Even in a year in which he averaged just 3.9 yards per carry, McCaffrey provided ridiculous receiving production with 102 catches for 924 yards and seven scores on 124 targets. As long as McCaffrey stays healthy, he has a solid chance to finish as the overall RB1 once again in 2026. However, dynasty managers need to at least consider selling high on the superstar back. McCaffrey is entering his age-30 season in 2026. He also has an extensive track record of injury issues and is coming off a year in which he led the NFL in touches. The last time McCaffrey led the league in touches was 2023, and he followed that up by playing just four games in 2024. For dynasty managers who are not in immediate contention in their leagues, moving McCaffrey for a king's ransom could be the right call.

New York Jets running back Braelon Allen was one of the buzzier names in fantasy circles leading into the 2025 season. However, the 22-year-old suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 4 that prevented him from eating into the workload of Jets RB1 Breece Hall. While Allen should be ready to go for the start of 2026, Hall remains in New York after signing a three-year, $45.75 extension with the Jets over the offseason. As a result, Allen's path to fantasy-relevant production in New York appears to be blocked off by Hall for the foreseeable future. He remains an appealing handcuff option for fantasy managers, but his dynasty stock is falling entering 2026.

Veteran quarterback Kyler Murray's time with the Arizona Cardinals came to an ugly end in 2025, as he struggled across five starts before suffering a foot injury that ultimately ended his season. However, the 28-year-old is healthy and ready to go entering 2026, and he landed a one-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings over the offseason. While Murray is nominally in a quarterback competition with J.J. McCarthy in Minnesota, the widely held expectation is that Murray will assume the team's QB1 role. With the Vikings, Murray will work with a play-caller in Kevin O'Connell who has orchestrated multiple successful quarterback reclamation projects. Murray also has a pair of excellent wide receivers to throw to in Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. While Murray's career has taken a turn for the worse in recent seasons, he still carries high-end dual-threat fantasy upside. Across 17 games in 2024, Murray threw for 3,851 yards and 21 touchdowns while rushing for 572 yards and five scores. If he can stay on the field in 2026, he has a golden opportunity to revitalize his career with the Vikings.

After spending the first four years of his NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, veteran running back Rachaad White signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Washington Commanders in March. White's market cratered after an uninspiring final year in Tampa in which he recorded 790 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns on 172 touches. However, the 27-year-old could have a golden opportunity to revitalize his career in 2026 with the Commanders. As currently constituted, the Washington backfield looks like an open battle for playing time between White, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Jerome Ford, Jeremy McNichols, and Kaytron Allen. Even if the high-upside Croskey-Merritt takes hold of the lead rushing role, White's extended track record as an above-average receiver out of the backfield should allow him to carve out a significant role with his new team. In dynasty formats, fantasy managers may want to consider buying low on White ahead of a possible bounce-back season.

Across 17 games in 2025, San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges recorded 34 catches for 293 yards and five touchdowns on 46 targets. Nearly all of the 26-year-old's production in games where top 49ers tight end George Kittle (Achilles) was either sidelined or forced to leave early due to injury. In seven such contests, Tonges recorded five top-12 fantasy finishes at the tight end position. While a healthy Kittle will block Tonges from consistent fantasy production, Kittle is currently working his way back from a torn Achilles tendon that ended his 2025 season in January. The veteran Kittle is targeting Week 1 as his return date, but that would be just eight months after the injury and may not be feasible. As a result, Tonges profiles as a quality stopgap injury replacement for Kittle managers. In dynasty formats, Tonges may even profile as the tight of the future in San Francisco with Kittle entering his age-33 season and coming off a serious injury.

Washington Commanders tight end Chig Okonkwo is trending upward after his change of scenery this past offseason. The Commanders signed Okonkwo after he spent four seasons with the Tennessee Titans. With the Titans, he managed to rank as the TE25 or higher every year. That stretch included three consecutive finishes as the overall TE21 from 2023 through 2025. He's always been a decent option for targets, and his ability to stretch the field gives him explosive upside. However, he's been relatively uninvolved near the goal line for a tight end. He caught three touchdowns as a rookie in 2022, and he had just two each of the last two seasons. We like Okonkwo's chances to find the end zone more often in Washington. During his two years as a Commander, Ertz totaled 11 touchdowns, averaging 0.37 touchdowns per game. The Washington offense has some work to do as a whole, but Okonkwo is the clear No. 1 tight end here, and he could ultimately be Jayden Daniels' second-favorite target behind Terry McLaurin. Despite finishing lower than TE20 every year, the Maryland product has jumped to TE17 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings.

Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones Sr. is trending in the wrong direction as he prepares for his age-31 season. Injuries limited Jones to 12 games last year, and it marked the second time in three seasons that he missed at least five weeks. The veteran ball-carrier finished the 2025 campaign with 548 rushing yards, 199 receiving yards, and three touchdowns. He finished as the RB41 in PPR leagues, which was his worst mark since his rookie season in 2017. While being healthy for 2026 will help his stock a little, Jones is losing dynasty appeal as he gets older and his role shrinks. Jones no longer has control over the lead-back role in Minnesota. At best, he's splitting touches with Jordan Mason, and we also can't rule out the possibility that Mason takes over the starting job. Jones has always been a capable pass-catcher, so that will keep him relevant in PPR leagues for a little while, but the trajectory is unfavorable. Jones has fallen to RB53 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings.

New England Patriots wide receiver Romeo Doubs could face some competition soon. The Patriots' plan to acquire A.J. Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles is the worst-kept secret in football, and a deal is expected to come together in the month of June. When that happens, Doubs' role will shrink, but we still expect him to remain a fantasy-relevant option for years to come. Drake Maye took a huge step in Year 2, but he was missing a true No. 2 receiver. Doubs will fill that role behind Brown, and the Patriots' offense is successful enough to support two fantasy-relevant wide receivers. Doubs may not be Maye's first read all the time, but he'll also benefit from Brown pulling away opposing teams' No. 1 cornerbacks. All in all, we're not too worried about the Brown trade, and we still think that Doubs, who is signed through 2029, can be a top-36 fantasy receiver for several years to come. At the moment, he ranks as the WR58 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty rankings.