Fantasy Football News

Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze will be tasked with handling more volume in 2026 after the team traded away DJ Moore this offseason. Odunze got off to an incredibly hot start last year, ranking as the overall WR3 through the first four weeks. However, the Bears then had their bye week, and he averaged just three catches per game the rest of the way. Things got worse for the former first-round pick as he suffered a stress fracture in his foot prior to Week 14 and missed the final five regular-season contests. He was one of the few skill players who didn't make a major leap under first-year head coach Ben Johnson, finishing the year with a modest 44 catches, 661 yards, and six touchdowns. He was the WR41 overall, finishing outside the top 40 fantasy receivers for the second year in a row. While Odunze's 2025 season was forgettable, fantasy managers should feel optimistic about his future outlook. First of all, he's healthy; it's always a good sign for players to get a clean bill of health entering the offseason. Furthermore, he's expected to fetch even more volume as the Bears look to replace Moore and his 85 vacated targets. Some of that volume will go to rookie breakouts Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland, but a significant amount should head Odunze's way, too. The 23-year-old should be drafted as a top-36 fantasy receiver in 2026 redraft leagues. In dynasty formats, he has quickly become an intriguing buy-low candidate given his subpar results in 2025 and the likelihood that he'll bounce back in 2026.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield already delivered subpar results during the 2025 season, and moving forward, he'll also be without one of his favorite targets. Mike Evans departed for the San Francisco 49ers in free agency, causing Mayfield to lose a perennial 1,000-yard threat with major touchdown upside. The veteran quarterback was the overall QB10 in 2023 and QB4 in 2024, but he fell to QB12 with 27 total touchdowns, 14 turnovers, and 36 sacks last year. We could still see Mayfield rank as a top-12 quarterback in 2026, especially with Zac Robinson replacing Josh Grizzard as the Bucs' offensive coordinator. However, it's going to be tougher for him to routinely carve up defenses without Evans at his disposal. Fortunately for Mayfield, the Bucs have other key pass-catching weapons. Chris Godwin Jr. remains a productive veteran, and Emeka Egbuka flashed glimpses of being a Rookie of the Year candidate in 2025. If Godwin can stay healthy for a full season and Egbuka can take a substantial second-year leap, Tampa Bay may be able to counteract the effect of Evans' departure, vaulting Mayfield back into the top-10 range. There's a wide range of possible outcomes for the former first-round pick, and depending on the asking price, he could be an appealing buy-low target in dynasty leagues this offseason.

Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis is one of the most appealing handcuffs in fantasy football. Not only does he play for a highly productive offense, but he runs behind one of the game's highest-scoring running backs. However, managers who invested in Davis' upside as a handcuff have been forced to exercise extreme patience. We haven't yet seen him step into the lead-back role for an extended period of time, as James Cook has missed just one game throughout his four-year NFL career. It's not like Davis has standalone value when Cook is healthy, so he and his managers continue to just wait for an opportunity. The 26-year-old ended up finishing 2025 with just 275 rushing yards, 86 receiving yards, and a pair of touchdowns, ranking as the RB61 in PPR leagues. Now, he's halfway through his rookie contract but remains in a familiar position. He's buried in the backup role as long as Cook is healthy. The best course of action for fantasy managers is to buy Davis for cheap if you also have Cook on your roster. He offers more value to you as a handcuff than to other managers as a mere bench piece, so you can justify trading a late-round pick for him. If you don't have Cook, though, it doesn't make much sense just to trade for Davis in hopes that he maybe has an unforeseen breakout game here and there.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase continued to produce at a high level in 2025. Even with inconsistent quarterback play, Chase caught 125 passes for 1,412 yards and eight touchdowns over 16 games, ranking as the WR4 in PPR leagues. He didn't replicate his overall WR1 finish from 2024, but he still offered top-tier results for his fantasy managers down the stretch. Most importantly, Chase didn't let quarterback issues alter his productivity too much. Sure, he looked much better when Joe Burrow was healthy, but he still ranked as a WR1 when catching passes from Jake Browning and Joe Flacco. With Burrow entering the offseason on a clean bill of health, Chase finds himself back in the high-end WR1 tier. In fact, he has the potential to rank as the overall WR1 as long as Burrow stays healthy for most or all of the 2026 campaign. The LSU product has been a top-12 fantasy receiver in all five of his pro campaigns, as well as a top-five receiver in three of the five. He remains a hot commodity in the first round of redraft leagues going forward, and he's (justifiably) one of the most expensive trade targets in dynasty formats.

Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams remains the workhorse option heading into the 2026 season. Williams enjoyed a career resurgence during his first season in Dallas, totaling 1,201 rushing yards, 137 receiving yards, and 13 touchdowns. He was the overall RB12 in PPR leagues, setting the best mark of his career to this point. For his efforts, Williams was rewarded with a three-year, $24 million contract that assures he's the Cowboys' primary ball-carrier for years to come. We do expect Jaydon Blue to get more involved going forward, but he's more of a change-of-pace and handcuff. Blue isn't going to threaten Williams' role in 2026. As a result, Williams remains a fringe top-12 fantasy running back with tremendous touchdown upside in a high-scoring Cowboys offense. It doesn't make sense to buy Williams at his elevated price in dynasty leagues, but it's also too early to sell high on him. He's firmly in the "hold" range this offseason.

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston had the best season of his young career in 2025, and he could make an even bigger impact with a potentially larger target share next year. Johnson finished his third NFL campaign with 51 catches, 735 yards, and eight touchdowns. This ended up being just four fewer catches and 24 more yards than his 2024 marks, as well as the same number of trips to the end zone. His 2025 stats resulted in a career-best WR34 finish. The 24-year-old continued to deal with some of the struggles that plagued him at the start of his career, including drops. However, he has started to show signs of turning the corner and being a productive fantasy option week in and week out. Now, Johnston could be headed for even more volume after teammate Keenan Allen hit free agency. Allen leaves behind a whopping 112 vacated targets that will likely be allocated to some combination of Johnston, Ladd McConkey, and Tre' Harris. We wouldn't be surprised to see Johnston get triple-digit targets in 2026, and if his hands become a little more reliable, he could push for 1,000 yards. All in all, he has top-30 receiver upside heading into his fourth NFL season, especially with Allen no longer stealing volume.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba did it all in 2025 in just his third year in the NFL after the Seahawks took him 20th overall in the 2023 draft out of Ohio State. Smith-Njigba set career-highs across the board, led the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards, and capped it all off by winning a Super Bowl ring and the Offensive Player of the Year award. The 24-year-old caught 119 of his 163 targets and added 10 touchdowns in 17 regular-season starts. He added 17 catches for another 199 yards and two touchdowns in three playoff games. There's a good chance JSN will be one of the first receivers off the board in the first couple of rounds of fantasy football drafts later this year. He also had 1,000 receiving yards last year and now has 3,551 yards and 20 touchdowns on 282 receptions in 51 games in his first three years in the NFL. Smith-Njigba has quickly become an elite threat at his position with tremendous yards-after-the-catch ability.

The Kansas City Chiefs failed to make the postseason for the first time in a decade in 2025, and star quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) also tore his ACL and LCL late in the year. Yup, it was a season Chiefs fans would like to forget. Mahomes ended up playing in 14 games in his ninth year in the league, completing a career-low 62.7% of his passes for 3,587 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. His 22 TD passes were his lowest since his rookie season, when he appeared in just one game. The 30-year-old added 64 carries for a career-high 422 rushing yards and five touchdowns to finish just inside the top 12 at the position in 2025. Mahomes is hoping he'll be fully recovered from knee surgery for the start of the 2026 season this fall, but it's not a guarantee. We wouldn't bet against the six-time Pro Bowler, two-time All-Pro, and three-time Super Bowl MVP, but Mahomes' injury uncertainty definitely puts him on more of the low end of QB1 options for the upcoming fantasy football season. If the gunslinger's mobility is affected at all next season, his fantasy ceiling and floor will definitely be lowered.

ESPN's John Keim writes that the Washington Commanders are still seeking another receiver "who can serve as a No. 2 wideout" opposite Terry McLaurin this offseason. The Commanders did sign backups Dyami Brown and Van Jefferson and also re-signed Treylon Burks, but they still want someone who can be a true No. 2 behind McLaurin, like Deebo Samuel Sr. was last year. An intriguing name that Keim thinks the Commanders could pursue is San Francisco 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) once he's released. The team is aware of Aiyuk's desire to play with quarterback Jayden Daniels, but they likely won't sign him for more than a one-year, prove-it deal after he missed all of the 2025 season. The Commanders could also look to the upcoming NFL draft for another wideout to pair with McLaurin. Neither McLaurin nor Daniels was healthy last year, leading to a disappointing season overall for the franchise. If McLaurin and Daniels stay healthy in 2026, he could be a solid WR2 for fantasy managers, regardless of whether they bring another WR.

Thankfully for fantasy managers, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert's playoff woes don't count. Herbert was named a Pro Bowler for the second time in his career in 2025, but he looked bad again in an ugly playoff loss to the New England Patriots. During the regular season, the 28-year-old completed 66.4% of his passes for 3,727 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions in 16 games to finish as the QB10 in overall fantasy points. He added a career-high 83 rushing attempts for 498 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. The fact that L.A.'s offensive line was so banged up and ineffective led to Herbert taking off and running more than he ever has in his career. It helped him stay in the top-12 overall fantasy QBs. With a healthier offensive line in 2026 and with new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel leading the offense, Herbert should be in better hands. He might even return to the 4,000-yard passing mark, which he hasn't reached since his third year in the league in 2022. Herbert's dynasty and redraft stock is on the rise, making him at least a low-end QB1 target in drafts later this year.

Philadelphia Eagles running back Tank Bigsby began the 2025 season with the Jacksonville Jaguars but was traded to the Eagles after just one game played. In 16 games (one start) with Philly, Bigsby served as the direct backup to star Saquon Barkley, seeing 58 rushing attempts for 344 yards and two touchdowns while adding three catches for 32 yards through the air. In his lone start in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Washington Commanders, the 24-year-old averaged 4.7 yards per carry for 75 rushing yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, adding a 31-yard catch to his tally. The former third-round pick in 2023 by the Jaguars out of Auburn has averaged a healthy 4.5 yards per carry in his three years in the NFL on 281 rushing attempts, and he's also found the end zone 11 times on the ground in 50 games (two starts). Bigsby isn't going to have much value on a week-to-week basis in 2026 outside of being a handcuff for those who roster Barkley, but he'll be a valuable RB stash in dynasty/keeper leagues. If Barkley were to miss time with an injury, Bigsby would immediately become a must-start fantasy RB.

The Philadelphia Eagles announced on Thursday that they agreed to terms on an undisclosed one-year deal with free-agent running back Dameon Pierce. The 26-year-old was originally drafted in the fourth round (107th overall) by the Houston Texans in 2022 out of the University of Florida. He had 1,648 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns on 405 rushing attempts in his first three years in the league with Houston before spending 2025 with Houston and the Kansas City Chiefs. Pierce saw only 14 rushing attempts last year for 36 yards. He has not been able to replicate his rookie season in 2022, when he ran for 939 yards and four touchdowns on a career-high 220 rushing attempts. In Philly, Pierce will compete for the RB3 duties with Will Shipley, behind starter Saquon Barkley and Tank Bigsby. For now, he remains off the fantasy radar in all formats.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden had a very frustrating rookie season. Despite being a first-round pick, he caught just 29 passes for 361 yards and zero touchdowns. He played 14 games but finished as just the WR89 in PPR leagues. Dynasty managers are rightfully concerned, but it's too early to completely hit the panic button. Year 2 is a common time for receivers to break out, so managers should be patient and allow Golden more time to take a step forward. Plus, he's expected to step into a larger role next season. Green Bay watched Romeo Doubs depart in free agency, leaving Golden in the mix to start alongside Christian Watson and Jayden Reed. In the NFL playoffs, the speedy receiver showed flashes of being able to handle more opportunities. During the Packers' Wild Card loss, he caught four of five targets for 84 yards and a touchdown. Managers shouldn't necessarily buy low at his slightly reduced price tag, but it's also far too early to panic sell. He's purely in the "hold" range in dynasty leagues for now.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins has taken a step forward in fantasy football every year, and he now finds himself in the high-end WR2 tier heading into the 2026 season. Outside of an injury-shortened 2023 campaign, Higgins' overall fantasy finish has improved every year since he was drafted. He was the WR15 in PPR leagues this past season, catching 59 passes for 846 yards and a career-high 11 touchdowns. Higgins was able to produce at such a high level despite missing two games and spending plenty of time catching passes from Jake Browning and Joe Flacco. With Higgins and Joe Burrow both healthy heading into 2026, the former second-round pick has legitimate top-12 receiver upside in fantasy football. The Bengals' offense has shown that it can support high-end fantasy production from Higgins, Ja'Marr Chase, and Chase Brown on any given week, as long as Burrow is healthy. Therefore, he's worth drafting as a high-end WR2 in redraft formats and is appropriately priced in dynasty leagues.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Evan Engram was already coming off a very frustrating 2025 season, and now, he could face even greater competition for targets in 2026. The Broncos made a stunning offseason trade to acquire Jaylen Waddle, giving Bo Nix a star-studded pass-catching unit that includes Waddle, Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin, Pat Bryant, and Engram. While Engram is the outlier on that list as the lone tight end, that doesn't mean he's guaranteed to have a substantial role. As the Broncos' No. 1 tight end in 2025, he was held to just 50 catches, 461 yards, and one touchdown. He finished as the overall TE29 in PPR leagues despite playing 16 games. Unless the Broncos plan to overhaul their offensive scheme this offseason, it seems unlikely that Engram will be due for increased production next year. In fact, his pass-catching volume could be scaled back even further as Waddle joins the mix and Franklin and Bryant both ascend into larger roles. Engram might have a little name value that could get you a late-round draft pick in a trade, but otherwise, it'll be tough to find any takers for him in dynasty leagues this offseason.

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey had an underwhelming second season in the NFL. Rather than building on an exceptional rookie campaign, he took a step backward with 66 catches, 789 yards, and six touchdowns. He ranked as the WR30 overall in PPR leagues, dropping more than a dozen spots from his 2024 ranking as WR13. The exact reason for McConkey's regression is unclear, but we'd imagine the Chargers' league-worst offensive line played a role. McConkey excels in running medium routes downfield, getting open, and making plays, but if the big men up front didn't allow enough time for that to develop, the receiver would either get uncatchable targets or no targets at all. Los Angeles fortified its trenches this offseason with Tyler Biadasz and Cole Strange, and they also freed up an additional 122 targets by letting Keenan Allen walk in free agency. These two factors -- as well as the hiring of smart-minded offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel -- could be exactly what McConkey needs to get back into the low-end WR1 or high-end WR2 conversation in 2026.

Dallas Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue had a very underwhelming rookie season in the NFL. A healthy scratch more often than not, Blue finished his first pro campaign with just 134 scrimmage yards and one touchdown across five games. The bulk of his production came from a single game in Week 18, when he had 16 carries for 64 yards and a touchdown. While it was understandably difficult for managers to watch Dallas essentially feed just one running back (Javonte Williams) all year, Blue is still a strong handcuff and an important part of the dynasty fantasy football conversation. Williams will lead the backfield again in 2026, but Blue's strong Week 18 and the Cowboys' lack of other running back moves indicate that the Texas product is slated for the backup role. Blue won't have standalone value every week, but he'll be a top-10 running back handcuff, presumably ranking as an RB2 if Williams were to miss time. As a result, Blue is an intriguing buy-low option in dynasty leagues this offseason, especially for managers who already have Williams on their roster.

The Athletic's Daniel Popper believes Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden will play in a role that "maximizes his receiving skill set" under new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel in 2026. The Chargers signed tight end Charlie Kolar, who is an elite run blocker and an "ideal fit" in McDaniel's movement offense. He also has upside as a pass-catcher, but Gadsden will be the Bolts' clear top pass-catching TE after he impressed in his first year in the NFL in 2025 with 49 catches on 69 targets for 664 yards and three touchdowns in 15 regular-season games (seven starts). His numbers were good enough to make him the TE16 in half-PPR scoring as a rookie. Gadsden also ranked 14th at his position in yards per route run. He's an ascending player with a good fit in the offensive scheme as he heads into his second year in the league. For fantasy managers who wait at the TE position, Gadsden is a great late-round target with upside.

The Athletic's Daniel Popper writes that new Los Angeles Chargers running back Keaton Mitchell's "acceleration and threatening speed to the edge will thrive" in new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel's scheme in 2026. The Bolts drafted Omarion Hampton in the first round last year, but the 24-year-old Mitchell runs with explosiveness and has been compared to Miami's De'Von Achane, whom McDaniel coached with the Dolphins. Mitchell has averaged a healthy 6.3 yards per carry in his three years in the NFL with Baltimore, but injuries have kept him from reaching his true potential, as his 13 games played in 2025 were a career-high. In his 26 NFL games (two starts), Mitchell has 767 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 121 carries, adding 19 receptions for 184 more yards on 24 targets. Mitchell will be a handcuff for Hampton at the very least, but he could also absolutely carve out standalone value as an RB3/flex in fantasy in 2026 if he can stay on the field in L.A.

The Philadelphia Eagles reworked kicker Jake Elliott's contract for the 2026 season, according to OverTheCap. Elliott accepted a $1 million pay decrease from $6 million to $5 million, but the Eagles guaranteed the $5 million, which is a clear sign that Elliott will remain their kicker this year after a disappointing 2025, according to Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports. Elliott's previous salary cap hit was due to be $4.893 million, and his new cap hit will be $4.65 million. If Elliott were cut after June 1, there would be no further cap savings. He remains under contract through the 2028 season. The 31-year-old veteran made just 20 of 27 field goals last year and was 4-for-8 from 50-plus yards out. In the last two seasons, Elliott is 5-for-15 from 50-plus yards, giving him the worst percentage in the NFL among 35 kickers with at least five attempts. If Elliott continues to struggle, especially from long range, the Eagles could have a shorter leash with him in 2026, making him a more volatile kicking option in 12-team fantasy football leagues.