Fantasy Football News

John Metchie III • WR • Panthers

John Metchie III Signing One-Year Deal to Join Panthers

Former New York Jets wide receiver John Metchie III is signing an undisclosed one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Metchie will reunite with quarterback Bryce Young, with whom he played college ball at Alabama. The 25-year-old was originally a second-round pick (44th overall) by the Houston Texans in the 2022 NFL draft. Metchie had an unfortunate setback with a cancer diagnosis and missed the entire 2022 season, but he has slowly bounced back and posted a career-high 274 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 33 receptions in 16 games (seven starts) with the Jets and Philadelphia Eagles last year. Metchie will now head to the NFC South, where he'll serve in a depth role behind Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker. His previous connection with Young should help, but barring an injury ahead of him on Carolina's WR depth chart, it's hard to imagine Metchie having much weekly fantasy football appeal in 2026.

6 hours ago

Chris Rodriguez Jr. • RB • Jaguars

Jaguars Signing Chris Rodriguez Jr. on Wednesday

The Jacksonville Jaguars are signing former Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. to an undisclosed two-year deal on Wednesday, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Rodriguez will head to the AFC South after three years in Washington. The 25-year-old former sixth-round pick by the Commanders in 2023 out of Kentucky had his best year in 2025, carrying the ball 112 times for 500 yards and six touchdowns, which were all career-highs. He also caught three passes for 30 yards in 13 games played (seven starts) in D.C. In his three years with Washington, C-Rod had 10 rushing touchdowns while averaging a healthy 4.6 yards per tote. Jacksonville lost Travis Etienne Jr. to the New Orleans Saints in free agency and will now go into the 2026 campaign with Rodriguez, Bhayshul Tuten, and LeQuint Allen Jr. as their backfield options, barring another RB addition in the upcoming draft. Tuten figures to be the Jags' RB1, but Rodriguez could easily have flex appeal in a complementary role in a rising offense. UPDATE: Rodriguez will make $10 million on his two-year deal.

6 hours ago

Jake Browning • QB • Buccaneers

Jake Browning Plans to Sign One-Year Deal With Buccaneers

Free-agent quarterback Jake Browning plans to sign an undisclosed one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Browning will go from backing up Joe Burrow in Cincinnati to backing up Baker Mayfield in Tampa. The 29-year-old signal-caller from Washington has three years of NFL experience with the Bengals, appearing in 17 games (10 starts). In those games, Browning completed 68.5% of his 368 pass attempts for 2,707 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. He led the league with a 70.4% completion percentage in his rookie year in 2023, when he was forced to make seven starts with Burrow injured. In Tampa, Browning will serve as a solid backup option for Mayfield, whose aggressive style of play opens him up to plenty of injuries. If Browning is forced into starts for the Bucs in 2026, he definitely won't have the top-notch receiving corps he worked with in Cincy.

7 hours ago

Dylan Parham • G • Jets

Jets Agree With Dylan Parham on Two-Year Deal

The New York Jets agreed to terms with former Las Vegas Raiders offensive guard Dylan Parham on a two-year deal worth up to $20 million on Wednesday, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Parham will help bolster the Jets' offensive line in 2026 after spending the first four years of his NFL career in the desert. The Raiders drafted the 26-year-old in the third round in 2022 out of Memphis. Parham will be expected to protect veteran quarterback Geno Smith, with whom he played last year in Las Vegas. Along a young and inexperienced offensive line in New York, Parham should be expected to start for the team next season. Parham has started 63 of the 64 games he's appeared in over the last four years with the Raiders. It's unclear exactly where he'll play, but he has experience at left and right guard and at center, giving the Jets options.

7 hours ago

Durham Smythe • TE • Ravens

Ravens Agree to Terms With Durham Smythe

The Baltimore Ravens agreed to terms on an undisclosed deal with free-agent tight end Durham Smythe on Wednesday, sources told Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. Smythe will likely be the blocking replacement at the position for Charlie Kolar, who left in free agency this week to join the Los Angeles Chargers. The 30-year-old veteran will reunite with new Ravens offensive coordinator Declan Doyle after being coached by him with the Chicago Bears in 2025. The former fourth-round pick by the Miami Dolphins in 2018 out of Notre Dame won't be anywhere near the fantasy radar in any format going into next season. Smythe had a career-low four catches on six targets for 25 yards in 17 regular-season games with the Bears last year, and he has a measly 136 receptions for 1,253 yards and three touchdowns in his eight-year NFL career.

7 hours ago

Sean Tucker • RB • Buccaneers

Buccaneers Tender Sean Tucker on One-Year Deal

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers tendered an undisclosed one-year deal to restricted free-agent running back Sean Tucker on Wednesday, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. Tucker will most likely return to Tampa for a fourth season and will provide valuable RB depth behind starter Bucky Irving and newcomer Kenneth Gainwell. The 24-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Syracuse saw a career-high 86 rushing attempts last year for 320 yards and a career-best seven rushing touchdowns in 17 games played. Tucker added eight receptions for 34 yards and a touchdown through the air as he saw increased playing time due to Irving missing extended time in 2025 with an injury. Because he'll be the RB3 to open the 2026 season if he sticks in Tampa, Tucker won't be on the fantasy radar in most single-year fantasy leagues, but he'll be a high-priority waiver addition if Irving were to miss time with an injury again.

7 hours ago

Kyler Murray • QB • Cardinals

Kyler Murray Officially Released by the Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals officially released quarterback Kyler Murray (foot) at the start of the new league year on Wednesday, according to ESPN's Kevin Seifert. Murray is "at or near the top" of the Minnesota Vikings' QB wish list this offseason as they look to pair a veteran to push young signal-caller J.J. McCarthy. Murray's fantasy football stock is way down after he missed the final 12 games of the 2025 season in Arizona due to a foot sprain he suffered in Week 5. The 28-year-old former first overall selection in 2019 out of Oklahoma wasn't in sync before his injury, either, throwing for 962 yards, six touchdowns, and three picks in five games started. Despite his poor final season in Arizona, Murray will be attractive to teams looking for a cheap and experienced option at the position, as the Cardinals are paying the $38.8 million guarantees still owed to him. If Minnesota adds Murray and he wins the starting gig over McCarthy, he'd be a clear QB2 bounce-back candidate.

7 hours ago

Kirk Cousins • QB • Falcons

Falcons Officially Release Kirk Cousins

The Atlanta Falcons officially released veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins at the start of the new league year on Wednesday, according to Kevin Seifert of ESPN. The 37-year-old four-time Pro Bowler spent the last two seasons in Atlanta, where he threw for 5,229 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions in 24 games (22 starts). He was benched late in the 2024 campaign in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr. and entered last season as the clear backup. Cousins ended up starting eight games for the Falcons in 2025 due to Penix's season-ending knee injury. He had a few notable performances, but overall, he looked more like a QB nearing the end of his career. Cousins had 1,721 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, and five picks for the Falcons last year. He'll be an option to reunite with the Minnesota Vikings this offseason, but a starting job isn't going to be guaranteed, no matter where Cousins resurfaces for the 2026 campaign.

8 hours ago

Jake Tonges • TE • 49ers

49ers, Jake Tonges Agree to Two-Year Deal

The San Francisco 49ers and tight end Jake Tonges agreed to a new two-year contract for $8 million on Wednesday, agent Steve Caric told Adam Schefter of ESPN. The deal includes $5.5 million guaranteed. Tonges had the best year of his career in 2025 in his third year in the NFL and second in the Bay Area, filling in nicely as the team's top pass-catching tight end when George Kittle was sidelined due to injury. The 26-year-old caught 34 of his 46 targets for 293 yards and five touchdowns in 17 regular-season games (two starts) after not having a single catch in his first two NFL seasons. Tonges went undrafted out of Cal before debuting in the NFL in 2022 with the Chicago Bears. Kittle is recovering from a torn Achilles that he suffered in the postseason, so he almost certainly won't be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season. Tonges showed last year that he has the ability to be a valuable sleeper TE in a good offense with Kittle sidelined.

8 hours ago

Jaylinn Hawkins • S • Ravens

Jaylinn Hawkins Plans to Sign Two-Year Deal With Ravens

Free-agent safety Jaylinn Hawkins plans to sign with the Baltimore Ravens for two years and $10 million, a source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Hawkins will head to Baltimore for his seventh year in the NFL after having one of the best years of his career with the New England Patriots in 2025. The 28-year-old former fourth-round pick by the Atlanta Falcons in 2020 out of Cal totaled 71 tackles (45 solo), a career-high 1.5 sacks, five QB hits, a career-high four interceptions, six pass breakups, one forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in 15 regular-season starts in his second year with the Patriots. The 836 defensive snaps he played were the second-highest total of his career. He was a key part of the team's secondary, but now he'll head to the AFC North and try to help the Ravens get back to the postseason. There's a good chance Hawkins will be in more of a rotational role at safety in Baltimore.

8 hours ago

Chig Okonkwo • TE • Commanders

Commanders Agree to Three-Year Deal With Chig Okonkwo

The Washington Commanders agreed to an undisclosed three-year deal with free-agent tight end Chig Okonkwo on Wednesday, according to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. Okonkwo led the Titans with 560 receiving yards on 56 catches (79 targets) last year, but he caught just two touchdowns and lost a lot of valuable targets and playing time to rookie Gunnar Helm. The 26-year-old tight end finished as only the No. 22 player at his position in half-PPR scoring. Zach Ertz is a free agent and probably won't return to Washington, so Okonkwo has an opportunity to become the Commanders' top pass-catching TE going into next season. It could be a huge boost to his fantasy value as long as starting quarterback Jayden Daniels can remain healthy in his third year in the league. Okonkwo will definitely become at least a more attractive TE2 with upside for more in D.C. UPDATE: Okonkwo's three-year deal is worth up to $30 million.

9 hours ago

Patrick Taylor Jr. • RB • 49ers

Patrick Taylor Jr. Agrees to Extension With 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers agreed to an undisclosed contract extension with running back Patrick Taylor Jr. (shoulder) on Wednesday, according to Equity Sports. A shoulder injury suffered in the preseason last year caused Taylor to miss the entire 2025 campaign, but he'll be back in the Bay Area as RB depth in 2026 behind Christian McCaffrey, Jordan James, and Isaac Guerendo. There have been talks that the Niners are interested in bringing back Brian Robinson Jr., who was the direct backup to McCaffrey last year in the backfield. The 27-year-old Taylor went undrafted out of Memphis before latching on with the Green Bay Packers in 2021. He had his most productive season in the NFL in 2024 in his first year with the 49ers, rushing the ball a career-high 39 times for 183 yards (4.7 yards per carry) and one touchdown in 13 games played (one start). Barring injuries in front of him, Taylor won't be on the fantasy radar.

9 hours ago

Aaron Jones Sr. • RB • Vikings

Vikings Bringing Aaron Jones Sr. Back

The Minnesota Vikings and running back Aaron Jones Sr. agreed to a revised contract on Wednesday to keep him in town for the 2026 season, sources told the NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Jones will lower his base salary to $5.5 million to stay with the Vikings for one more season. Minnesota was getting ready to release the 31-year-old veteran at the start of the new league year before this contract restructure. Jones battled injuries throughout the 2025 season and was limited to 12 games, finishing with 132 carries (his lowest total since his rookie season in 2017 with the Green Bay Packers) for 548 yards and two touchdowns. He added 28 catches for 199 yards and another TD on 41 targets. Jones should be able to bounce back with better health in 2026, but the Vikings might also prefer to give backfield mate Jordan Mason a bigger workload in an effort to keep Jones healthy. There's also the possibility of the Vikes adding to the RB room via the NFL draft in April.

9 hours ago

Cade York • K • Jets

Jets Agree to One-Year Deal With Kicker Cade York

The New York Jets agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal with free-agent kicker Cade York on Wednesday, sources told FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz. Former Jets kicker Nick Folk signed with the Atlanta Falcons earlier this week, so the Jets will add York, a former fourth-rounder, and give him a chance to win the starting job to open the 2026 season. The Cleveland Browns took the 25-year-old placekicker with the 124th overall pick in 2022 out of LSU. York has only kicked in the NFL for two seasons, going 33-for-45 on field goals (73.3%) and 51-for-54 on his extra-point attempts in 23 games played for the Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, and Washington Commanders. He didn't play at all last year and spent the 2024 season with both Washington and Cincy. Right now, York and Lenny Krieg are the two kicking options on New York's roster. Fantasy managers will want to avoid the kicking situation for the Jets in 2026.

10 hours ago

James Mitchell • TE • Panthers

James Mitchell Returns to Panthers on One-Year Deal

The Carolina Panthers re-signed tight end James Mitchell to an undisclosed one-year deal on Wednesday, a league source told Joseph Person of The Athletic. Mitchell was a restricted free agent. Mitchell will return to Carolina for a second season in 2026 after catching all three of his targets for 28 yards in just five games played a year ago. The 26-year-old was drafted in the fifth round (177th overall) by the Detroit Lions in 2022 out of Virginia Tech. In his first three years in the league in Detroit, Mitchell had 13 receptions on 13 targets for 141 yards and one touchdown in 29 games played (one start). He is not anywhere close to fantasy relevance in Carolina and will serve in a depth role at TE once again behind the likes of Ja'Tavion Sanders, Tommy Tremble, and Mitchell Evans.

10 hours ago

Jack Stoll • TE • Browns

Browns Agree With Jack Stoll on One-Year Deal

The Cleveland Browns agreed with free-agent tight end Jack Stoll on an undisclosed one-year deal on Wednesday, sources told Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. The former Philadelphia Eagles undrafted free agent will head to the AFC North after spending a year with the New Orleans Saints in 2025. The 28-year-old Nebraska product played the first three years of his NFL career in Philly, catching 20 of his 27 targets for 183 yards and no touchdowns in 50 games (26 starts). Last year with New Orleans, Stoll played in 15 games (four starts) and caught just six of 11 targets for 46 yards and the first touchdown of his career. He finished the year on Injured Reserve due to a knee injury, but he should be a full-go for the start of the 2026 campaign later this year. In Cleveland, Stoll will provide depth behind Harold Fannin Jr., who quickly took over as the Browns' top pass-catching TE in his first year in the league. Stoll can be ignored in all fantasy formats with his move to Cleveland.

10 hours ago

Kyler Murray • QB • Vikings

Vikings, Kyler Murray Have "Mutual Interest"

Former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (foot), who will officially be released at the start of the new league year on Wednesday, and the Minnesota Vikings have "mutual interest," according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Nothing appears imminent between the Vikings and Murray, and although the 28-year-old former first overall pick can also talk to other teams, the most likely landing spot for the dual-threat QB will be in Minnesota. If he were to land with the Vikings, Murray would probably be the favorite to start in 2026 over J.J. McCarthy, as long as he's fully recovered from the foot sprain that knocked him out for the final 12 games of last year. Murray's rushing ability alone puts him in the low-end QB1 conversation in fantasy, but in Minnesota, he'd definitely have the best chance of bouncing back with a strong WR duo in Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. After drafting McCarthy in the first round in 2024, the Vikings are having second thoughts as to whether he's franchise QB material.

11 hours ago

David Montgomery • RB • Texans

David Montgomery to Enter 2026 as Houston's No. 1 Back

ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime writes that running back David Montgomery will enter the 2026 season as the "No. 1 back" for the Houston Texans after they acquired him from the Detroit Lions for offensive lineman Juice Scruggs and two draft picks. Montgomery had 2,506 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns in his three seasons with the Lions. The Texans were led last year by fourth-round rookie Woody Marks and veteran Nick Chubb and ranked 22nd in rushing yards per game (108). Joe Mixon (ankle, foot) missed the entire season and is expected to be released soon. Marks led the Texans with 703 rushing yards in his first year in the NFL, but it sounds like he'll take on more of a complementary role going into Year 2. Montgomery was unhappy with his role in Detroit last year behind Jahmyr Gibbs, as he had his fewest carries (158) and touches (182) in a season in his career despite playing in all 17 games. The 28-year-old should see more opportunities in Houston, although Marks won't suddenly go away, and Houston's offensive line was a weakness last year.

11 hours ago

Brandon Aiyuk • WR • 49ers

49ers Plan to Release Brandon Aiyuk

With the new league year starting on Wednesday, the San Francisco 49ers plan to release wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee), according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. If the move to release Aiyuk doesn't come on Wednesday, it should be soon. The Washington Commanders are the most likely landing spot for Aiyuk, most likely on a one-year, prove-it deal. The Niners are expected to use a post-June 1 designation on Aiyuk's release, which is why they had to wait until the start of the new league year. The former first-rounder will leave behind $13.325 million in dead-cap money in 2026 and $21.247 million in 2027, with the 49ers getting a credit of $4.987 million towards next year's salary cap. Aiyuk didn't make it far after signing a four-year, $120 million contract with San Fran in August of 2024, as he played in only seven games that year before suffering a season-ending knee injury. He didn't play at all in 2025 and will be a big unknown in fantasy football in Washington or wherever he ends up.

11 hours ago

Maxx Crosby • DE • Raiders

Raiders Still Want Two First-Round Picks for Maxx Crosby

NFL teams that remain interested in Las Vegas Raiders All-Pro pass-rusher Maxx Crosby (knee) think that the Raiders aren't going to come off their asking price of two first-round picks, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic. The Baltimore Ravens agreed to send the Raiders their first-round picks this year and next year in exchange for Crosby last Friday, but they backed out of the deal on Tuesday and instead chose to keep their draft picks and sign All-Pro defensive end Trey Hendrickson. The short-term prospects of Crosby's health are all positive after he had surgery to fix his meniscus in January, although his long-term durability is more of a question, which is what could have given Baltimore cold feet. The 28-year-old Crosby should be ready for the start of Week 1 of the 2026 season later this year, but it remains to be seen if he'll be back with Vegas or be rushing the QB for another team. Either way, he should be a high-end defensive lineman in IDP fantasy leagues as long as he's healthy.

11 hours ago

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