Fantasy Football News

New tight end Isaiah Likely, who received a three-year, $40 million contract in free agency, is expected to be a "featured piece" in the New York Giants' offense this year, according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic. Duggan adds that the Giants essentially swapped Likely in for receiver Wan'Dale Robinson, "signaling the shift in their offensive approach" under new head coach John Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. Likely will be paired often with fellow TE Theo Johnson, while Chris Manhertz was re-signed as the primary blocker at the position. Likely, 25, was expected to be a bigger part of the Baltimore Ravens' offense in 2025 under Harbaugh, but the former fourth-rounder suffered a foot injury in the preseason and got a late start to the year. He never really recovered and finished with a career-low 27 catches for 307 yards and only one touchdown on 36 targets in 14 games (seven starts). Likely will be an obvious bounce-back candidate in fantasy football in 2026, although Johnson's presence could keep his ceiling low.

The Philadelphia Eagles are signing former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquise Brown to a one-year deal worth up to $6.5 million on Tuesday, multiple sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Hollywood played in just two games in his first year with the Chiefs in 2024 due to an injury, but he rebounded last year to catch 49 passes on 74 targets for 587 yards and five touchdowns in 16 games (six starts). The 28-year-old pass-catcher has been on the decline since posting his only 1,000-yard season back in 2021 with the Baltimore Ravens. However, Brown could have a decent role in Philly behind DeVonta Smith if the Eagles trade A.J. Brown this offseason. Brown's 2026 fantasy football value will depend largely on whether Brown ends up in another uniform heading into next season. For his career, Brown has averaged 11.6 yards per catch and has 4,322 receiving yards and 33 touchdowns on 371 catches in his seven NFL seasons.

The Denver Broncos are acquiring wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and a fourth-round draft pick (11th in the round) in 2026 from the Miami Dolphins on Tuesday in exchange for a first-round pick (30th overall) along with late third- and fourth-round picks (30th in each round) in this year's draft, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. It's a pretty big upgrade for quarterback Bo Nix and Denver's offense, as Waddle could end up leading the Broncos' pass-catchers in targets if he can stay healthy in 2026. It gives Nix another trusted weapon to throw to besides Courtland Sutton. The 27-year-old Waddle, who was drafted in the first round (sixth overall) in 2021 out of Alabama, started his career with three straight 1,000-yard seasons and led the NFL with 18.1 yards per catch in his sophomore season. He'll be a reliable target for Nix as the Broncos' offense looks to take the next step. It's a good landing spot for Waddle, although he'll definitely have more competition for targets than if he had stayed in Miami. His arrival in Denver is bad news for the dynasty values of both Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant.

Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd will likely have an opportunity to compete for the backup role in 2026. The Packers recently watched Emanuel Wilson depart in free agency, leaving a void to be filled at the No. 2 running back spot behind Josh Jacobs. Green Bay could still add a free agent or draft a rookie to take that spot, but that hasn't happened yet. To this point, it seems like the Packers will lean on an existing internal option to back up Jacobs. Chris Brooks has a slight leg up on the competition, but Lloyd is absolutely in the mix, too. Lloyd carried impressive upside as a third-round pick in 2024, but a tumultuous series of injuries has limited his ability to get on the field. He has played offensive snaps in just one NFL game through two seasons, rushing for 15 yards on six carries. At this point, it appears Lloyd has been cleared of the hip, hamstring, and ankle injuries -- as well as the appendicitis -- that have plagued the early portion of his career. He's firmly in the mix to back up Jacobs this year, and given the starter's age and injury concerns in 2025, we could see a scenario where Lloyd is considered to start a couple of games next season. His price tag is at an all-time low, so it wouldn't hurt to send out a low-risk trade offer for the young running back in dynasty leagues.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles) hasn't played a snap since the middle of the 2024 season, but it appears that he could get back on the fantasy football radar soon. Watson should be healthy (or at least near full health) ahead of the 2026 campaign, giving him a real chance to win the Browns' starting quarterback job. Not only does Watson have the best career stats among the Browns' quarterback room, but he also comes with the largest investment. Cleveland flipped three first-round picks for Watson, whereas Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders were merely Day 2 or 3 selections. Neither Gabriel nor Sanders, both of whom started games in 2025, put together very encouraging stat lines. Watson wasn't great when he last played, either, going 1-6 with 1,148 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions. However, his experience, track record, and investment likely make him the favorite to start at quarterback in Week 1, if he's healthy. With a talented, young group of skill players around him -- plus an improved offensive line in front of him -- Watson could sneakily become a fantasy option in deeper leagues. At worst, he has top-24 upside at the quarterback position in 2026.

Seattle Seahawks running back Emanuel Wilson landed in a more favorable spot this offseason, and now, he finds himself trending up in fantasy football. Wilson spent three years as a depth option in Green Bay before signing with the Seahawks last week. The former undrafted free agent posted at least 550 scrimmage yards in each of the last two seasons, offering the Packers a reliable backup to Josh Jacobs. Wilson ended up making two starts last year, including an impressive Week 12 performance in which he posted 28 carries, 107 rushing yards, two catches, 18 receiving yards, and a pair of touchdowns. Seattle lost Kenneth Walker III to the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency, and Wilson is the only significant backfield addition the Seahawks have made since then. The move pairs Wilson with Zach Charbonnet (knee), who could be the Seahawks' eventual starter but will first have to clear a major injury hurdle. Charbonnet is working his way back from a torn ACL that he suffered in the playoffs, so he might not be ready for Week 1 next season. Even if he does play, he likely won't be at 100%. At this point, it seems likely that Wilson -- not Charbonnet -- will take the Seahawks' first snap at running back in 2026, giving him plenty of early-season upside. As the Seahawks' potential lead back, Wilson can be an RB2 in fantasy football early next year, and similarly, he's a long-term RB3/flex with RB2 upside in dynasty formats. Managers should consider sending out trade offers for Wilson, since he's still currently affordable in dynasty leagues. He's an especially appealing option for Charbonnet's managers who want his handcuff.

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jalen Nailor is expected to have increased fantasy value going forward. This offseason, Nailor hit free agency and signed with the Raiders, going from the No. 3 receiver in Minnesota to the potential No. 1 receiver in Vegas. He never quite emerged as a consistent week-over-week fantasy option in Minnesota, but he certainly flashed upside with a total of 10 touchdowns over the last two years. In each of those two seasons, he also had at least 28 catches and 414 yards. We don't quite know if Nailor is capable of making the jump to a top receiver role, so fantasy managers should temper expectations at least a little. Plus, Vegas also has Tre Tucker and Jack Bech on its roster, creating additional competition for Nailor, and we can't rule out the possibility of them drafting another pass-catcher. Finally, Vegas' offense could experience some growing pains in the first year under presumptive No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza. All in all, there's upside here, but it's a bit too early to send out dynasty trade offers that would price Nailor as a top-40 fantasy receiver.

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Chris Rodriguez Jr.'s new landing spot should benefit him long-term, and it also bodes well for his fantasy football managers. Rodriguez, a former Washington Commander, hit free agency this offseason and ultimately signed with the Jaguars. It was a very intriguing offseason move, as Jacksonville had recently lost Travis Etienne Jr. and was looking for someone to share the backfield with Bhayshul Tuten. While Tuten's one year of experience in the Jags' backfield gives him an early advantage on the lead-back role, we fully anticipate that Rodriguez will also be heavily involved. Rodriguez should play at least one-third of the snaps, and we'd have to imagine that Tuten still has somewhat of a short leash given his youth and lack of a track record. In other words, there's a path for Rodriguez to land the lead-back role if Tuten struggles or gets injured. Plus, Rodriguez already has a connection to head coach Liam Coen. At Kentucky in 2021, when Rodriguez was running for Kentucky and Coen was Kentucky's offensive coordinator, the former amassed 1,440 scrimmage yards and 12 touchdowns. All in all, Rodriguez is a very appealing "buy" in dynasty leagues this offseason.

Wide receiver Darnell Mooney had a disappointing second season with the Atlanta Falcons in 2025, but he could be poised to bounce back in 2026 after signing a one-year, $10 million contract with the New York Giants in free agency on Saturday. After four years with the Chicago Bears to begin his NFL career, the 28-year-old pass-catcher looked good in Atlanta in 2024, catching 64 of his 106 targets for 992 yards and a career-best five touchdowns in 16 games played. Mooney's 992 receiving yards were the second-most of his career. It wouldn't last, though, as he played in 15 games in 2025 and finished with a 32-443-1 line before being released. Mooney will essentially be replacing Wan'Dale Robinson in New York in 2026. Robinson had back-to-back 90-plus-catch seasons the last two years. Will Mooney come anywhere near that type of production? Probably not, especially in a new offense run by Matt Nagy, but it doesn't mean that Mooney won't bounce back as a late-round receiver sleeper in PPR formats.

Atlanta Falcons running back Nathan Carter went undrafted last year out of Michigan State and only saw nine carries for 60 yards in seven games played in 2025 in his first year in the NFL. Seven of his nine carries on the year came in the team's Week 3 loss to the Carolina Panthers. The 23-year-old was buried on the RB depth chart behind both Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier. Carter should have a much bigger role in 2026, though, after Allgeier left in free agency. The Falcons could still add to the position via the NFL draft in April, but as things currently stand, Carter appears to be the handcuff option for fantasy managers who take Robinson at No. 1 overall in fantasy football drafts this fall. The only other running back on the Falcons' current roster is Carlos Washington Jr., who hasn't played a single snap on offense in his two years in the NFL.

Wide receiver Jalen Tolbert could be the Miami Dolphins' new No. 2 wideout after they signed him to a one-year deal last Friday. The Dolphins also added former Los Angeles Rams receiver Tutu Atwell in free agency, but Tolbert will be the favorite to take over as Miami's WR2 after the team released Tyreek Hill (knee). The 27-year-old former third-round pick (88th overall) by the Dallas Cowboys in 2022 out of South Alabama had a career-best 49-610-7 line in 17 regular-season games with Dallas in 2024, but he regressed in 2025 for an 18-203-1 line in 13 games after the addition of wideout George Pickens. With a reportedly strong relationship with new quarterback Malik Willis, Tolbert could be in store for a breakout campaign if he opens the 2026 season as the team's WR2 behind Jaylen Waddle. In his four seasons in Dallas, Tolbert racked up 1,093 yards and 10 touchdowns. Miami could add to the WR position in April's draft, but as of right now, Tolbert is looking like a potential under-the-radar sleeper at the position for fantasy football.

Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson was much more effective as a pass-catcher than as a traditional RB in his first year in the NFL in 2025. Sampson played in 15 games (two starts) and had 175 carries and no touchdowns on 65 rushing attempts (2.7 yards per carry). As a pass-catcher, he caught 33 of 40 targets for 271 yards and two touchdowns. The 21-year-old fourth-round selection out of the University of Tennessee figures to have a similar role in 2026 as a pass-catching specialist behind starter Quinshon Judkins. Sampson should have a slightly bigger role as well with Jerome Ford out of town, but in a Browns offense that could once again struggle given their less-than-ideal situation at quarterback, Sampson will mostly be a late-round handcuff option for Judkins' managers in single-year PPR leagues. Sampson is a bit more attractive in dynasty/keeper leagues as a hold for depth purposes.

Houston Texans wide receiver Jaylin Noel's production didn't jump off the page in his first year in the NFL in 2025, but he was versatile for the Texans and should enter Year 2 with a bigger role on offense. The 23-year-old third-round pick last year out of Iowa State mostly operated as Houston's No. 5 wideout and finished with 26 receptions on 35 targets for 292 yards and two touchdowns in 17 regular-season games (three starts). He also carried the ball six times for 12 yards. On special teams, Noel returned 29 kickoffs for 799 yards and 31 punts for 335 yards. His dynasty value in fantasy football leagues is on the rise as he gets ready for his second season in the NFL, and Noel should have a bigger role in the passing attack with Christian Kirk leaving in free agency. How big a role Noel has could be directly affected by whether Tank Dell (knee) makes a successful recovery from a career-threatening knee injury he suffered in 2024. With Dell likely being eased back into the fold, Noel could be the Texans' No. 3 pass-catcher behind Nico Collins and Jayden Higgins.

In his 13th NFL season in 2025 with the Los Angeles Chargers, wide receiver Keenan Allen caught 81 of his 122 targets for 777 yards and four touchdowns in 17 regular-season games (three starts). Allen finished second on the team in receiving yards, behind only second-year wideout Ladd McConkey. The 33-year-old six-time Pro Bowler spent the first 11 years of his NFL career with the Chargers before spending the 2024 campaign with the Chicago Bears. He returned to L.A. last year and caught touchdown passes in the first three games before tailing off and going over 50 receiving yards just once in his final 10 regular-season games. Now a free agent, it's currently unclear whether Allen will even continue his career in the NFL. If he does, he won't be much more than a touchdown-dependent WR4/flex option for fantasy managers, depending on his landing spot. If Allen doesn't re-sign with the Bolts, he could decide to hang up his cleats.

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London played in a career-low 12 games in 2025 due to a knee injury, but he still managed to catch 68 passes for 919 yards and seven touchdowns on 112 targets in his fourth year in the NFL. That was good enough for him to finish as the WR17 in half-PPR scoring. Had the 24-year-old not been injured, he was on track for a career-best season while working with both quarterbacks Michael Penix Jr. (knee) and Kirk Cousins. The former eighth overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft out of USC has had at least 866 receiving yards in his four NFL seasons and will enter the 2026 campaign as Atlanta's clear WR1 in a new offense run by head coach Kevin Stefanski. On talent alone, London has clear WR1 upside in fantasy, but he could make for more of a volatile No. 2 given the uncertainty as to whether Penix will be ready for the start of the season. London's fantasy stock will surely take a hit if it's Tua Tagovailoa under center for the Falcons in Week 1 this fall.

Seattle Seahawks running back George Holani signed his exclusive-rights free-agent tender on Monday, according to John Boyle of the team's official website. Holani qualifies as an exclusive-rights free agent because his contract is expiring and he has fewer than three accrued seasons in the NFL. He signed as an undrafted free agent out of Boise State in 2024. The 26-year-old played in 11 games in 2025 during the regular season and had 22 rushing attempts for 73 yards and one touchdown, adding two catches for 15 yards. He was on Injured Reserve with a hamstring injury but returned late during Seattle's run to the Super Bowl. With Kenneth Walker III now gone and Zach Charbonnet (knee) unlikely to be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season, Holani could have a prominent role in the Seahawks' backfield early on alongside Emanuel Wilson and whoever the team adds at the RB position in the upcoming NFL draft in April.

Long-time NFL cornerback Darius Slay announced on Monday that he is retiring from professional football, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Slay had a pretty productive career in the NFL after the Detroit Lions took in 36th overall in the second round of the 2013 draft out of Mississippi State. He spent the first seven years of his NFL career in Detroit before also spending five years with the Philadelphia Eagles and one year in 2025 with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 35-year-old veteran was named to six Pro Bowls, was a former All-Pro in 2017, and won a Super Bowl ring with the Eagles in 2024. Over his 13-year career, Slah had 655 tackles (544 solo), one sack, 17 tackles for loss, 28 interceptions (three returned for touchdowns), 163 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and six fumble recoveries (two returned for TDs) in 187 regular-season games (176 starts).

The San Francisco 49ers signed free-agent veteran wide receiver Christian Kirk to a one-year deal worth $6 million on Monday, according to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Kirk was a disappointment with 28 catches on 52 targets for 239 yards and one touchdown in his 13 regular-season games (three starts) in 2025 in his only season with the Houston Texans. However, he did close out the year on a strong note in two playoff games, catching 10 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns. Kirk is the latest addition to the Niners' WR room after the team signed future Hall of Fame pass-catcher Mike Evans in free agency last week. The additions of Evans and Kirk likely mean that Jauan Jennings won't be back in the Bay Area in 2026. Barring any additional injuries at the position in San Fran, Kirk figures to be the No. 3 behind Evans and Ricky Pearsall going into next season, his ninth in the NFL. After two straight rough seasons for Kirk, his fantasy value is way down, but landing in Kyle Shanahan's offense could make him a deep-league sleeper in PPR formats.

Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams posted another excellent season in 2025, recording 1,252 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns on 259 carries across 17 games. The 25-year-old also posted his most productive NFL campaign as a receiver, hauling in 36 receptions for 281 yards and three scores on 50 targets. However, despite playing one more game, Williams saw 55 fewer touches in 2025 than he did in 2024, and he could be in line for an even steeper drop in workload in 2026. Fellow Rams running back Blake Corum emerged as a productive piece of the team's offense in 2025, averaging over five yards per carry on his way to 782 scrimmage yards and six total touchdowns. If Los Angeles fields one of the league's elite offenses once again in 2026, the team may be able to support quality fantasy production from two running backs. However, if the Rams' offense regresses or the team chooses to even out the touch distribution between its two backs even further, Williams might have a tough time maintaining fantasy RB1 production. To no fault of his own, Williams' dynasty value should be slightly downgraded after Corum's emergence in 2025.

New York Jets tight end Mason Taylor (neck) saw his rookie season get cut short by a neck injury that caused him to miss the final four games of 2025. However, the 21-year-old showed some encouraging flashes before getting hurt, recording 44 receptions for 369 yards and a touchdown on 65 targets across 13 games. While Taylor's numbers might not jump off the page, it's important to remember that he was mired in a brutal offensive environment in New York that featured journeymen quarterbacks Justin Fields and Tyrod Taylor as its starters for much of the year. Former Seattle Seahawks and Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith currently projects as the Jets' starter heading into 2026, which could at least bring some stability to the position, if not high-end production. Outside of star wideout Garrett Wilson (knee), Taylor may be the favorite to finish second on the Jets in targets and receptions in 2026. His upside is still limited by the questionable situation around him in New York, but Taylor could be an undervalued tight end option for dynasty managers to target.