Fantasy Football News

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks continues to face an uphill battle to earn consistent volume ahead of the 2026 season. While the departure of Romeo Doubs in free agency initially seemed like it might lead to more opportunities for Wicks, the latest reporting indicates that 2025 first-round pick Matthew Golden will benefit most from Doubs' departure. As a result, the Packers are expected to proceed with Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, and Golden as their top three receivers, leaving Doubs still buried in a depth role. He didn't do a whole lot to help his case in 2025, catching just 30 passes for 332 yards and two touchdowns across 14 games. All of those numbers set new career lows for the Virginia product. Now 24 years old, Wicks is heading into a contract year but remains an unappealing option in most redraft and dynasty leagues.

The Carolina Panthers have signed tight end and special teamer Feleipe Franks, according to NFL reporter Jordan Schultz. Franks was a standout quarterback in college, totaling 18 touchdowns and just four interceptions in his final NCAA season at Arkansas in 2020. He also had 31 touchdowns and six interceptions as a sophomore at Florida in 2018. He ended up signing with the Falcons as an undrafted free agent and made one appearance before converting to tight end in 2022. He joined the Panthers in 2024, then returned to the Falcons in 2025. Now, he's back in Carolina for 2026. He has just one catch and two rushing attempts since becoming a tight end, so we expect the vast majority of his contributions to come on special teams next year. He has no fantasy relevance.

The Kansas City Chiefs are a potential landing spot for free-agent defensive end Cameron Jordan, according to Nate Taylor of ESPN.com. Defensive lineman Chris Jones recently posted on social media, floating the idea of the Chiefs signing Jordan, and Taylor confirms Kansas City is indeed a "possible destination." Jordan is nearing the end of his career at 37 years old, but he remained highly productive last season with 10.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and 47 tackles. The 15-year NFL veteran has spent his entire career so far in New Orleans, so a shift to the Chiefs would be quite significant. He'd give Kansas City a clear upgrade on the defensive line, opposite George Karlaftis, especially as the Chiefs look to get back into the NFL playoffs after finishing below .500 last year.

Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com writes that "it'll be a while" before the Jacksonville Jaguars' backfield dynamic gains any clarity. Jacksonville lost Travis Etienne Jr. in free agency and replaced him with Chris Rodriguez Jr., who will compete for the lead-back role with Bhayshul Tuten. Although it might seem like Tuten has an early leg up on the competition because of his familiarity with the Jaguars' offense, we must also acknowledge that Jacksonville deliberately went out and paid Rodriguez $10 million, so they want to get him involved. He also has a connection to head coach Liam Coen, who was his offensive coordinator at Kentucky in 2021. The Jaguars are no strangers to complicated backfields. They entered last season with no clear frontrunner between Etienne, Tuten, and Tank Bigsby. The good news is that there are now only two names in the mix, instead of three. Still, it sounds like it will be a while before we gain any clarity in this backfield. Both Rodriguez and Tuten should be viewed as low-end RB3/flex options, and whichever player wins the starting role will jump to the low-end RB2 tier given how strong Jacksonville's offense looked last year.

After trading quarterback Justin Fields to the Kansas City Chiefs this offseason, the New York Jets still need a veteran backup QB for Geno Smith. Carson Wentz re-signed with the Minnesota Vikings, and the Philadelphia Eagles acquired Andy Dalton from the Carolina Panthers. Options are dwindling, but ESPN's Rich Cimini writes that the 32-year-old Cooper Rush could be in play after the Baltimore Ravens recently released him. Re-signing Tyrod Taylor is another option, but the 36-year-old is injury-prone. Other free-agent QBs include Joe Flacco and Russell Wilson. A trade can never be ruled out, but the asking prices remain high around the league. Rush is an eight-year NFL veteran who spent his first seven years with the Cowboys before going 34-for-52 for 303 yards, no touchdowns, and four picks in four games (two starts) for the Ravens in 2025. Taylor replaced Fields as the starter last year in New York but played only six games (four starts) due to injuries and was lackluster, completing 59.7% of his pass attempts for 779 yards, five touchdowns, and five interceptions.

The Los Angeles Rams are interested in bringing back veteran free-agent quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, but the market for him is fluid, according to Nate Atkins of The Athletic. If the Rams don't retain Jimmy G, they could opt for another trusted veteran to back up Matthew Stafford, or they could look to the NFL draft to find both a backup and an heir apparent to replace Stafford once he retires. It's unlikely that the Rams will use the No. 13 overall pick in the first round in this year's draft on a QB when next year's draft appears to be much stronger at the position. The 34-year-old Garoppolo has appeared in just four games and has made one start for the Rams in his two seasons with the team. Since the start of the 2023 season, Garoppolo has attempted just 210 passes for 1,539 yards, nine touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in eight games (seven starts). He has completed 67.4% of his passes in his 12-year NFL career, though, and he remains one of the most experienced backup QBs in the league.

The Athletic's Nate Atkins believes that Los Angeles Rams tight end Terrance Ferguson's first offseason in an NFL strength program should lead to a "significant uptick" in the former second-rounder's 39% snap share and 25 targets from his rookie campaign. The Rams leaned into three-tight-end sets for the first time under head coach Sean McVay in 2025 and had the highest rate in the league. It's clear they plan to run that approach back after re-signing veteran Tyler Higbee this offseason. Ferguson should help to offset the Rams' lack of depth at receiver behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Colby Parkinson is the Rams' third TE who will continue to be involved in the rotation. Ferguson, 23, finished his first year in the league with 11 receptions on 25 targets for 231 yards and three touchdowns in 14 regular-season games. He battled through a hamstring down the stretch, which hurt his playing time, but he could be a bigger part of a high-scoring Rams' offense in 2026. Still, with both Higbee and Parkinson involved, Ferguson's fantasy ceiling will be limited.

With running back Travis Etienne Jr. no longer in town, the Jacksonville Jaguars could be eyeing a timeshare in their backfield in 2026 with Bhayshul Tuten and newcomer Chris Rodriguez Jr. ESPN's Michael DiRocco writes that "it'll be a while before it's determined what the workload share between Tuten and Rodriguez will be." Behind Tuten and Rodriguez is second-year back LeQuint Allen Jr., seven-year veteran DeeJay Dallas, and Ja'Quinden Jackson, an undrafted rookie free agent in 2025 who spent all of last year on the practice squad. Tuten, a fourth-rounder last year, ran for 305 yards and five touchdowns while catching 10 passes for 79 yards and two scores as a rookie. Rodriguez had 4.8 yards per carry and ran for 500 yards and six rushing touchdowns in 2025 with Washington. He had 920 yards and 10 TDs in mostly a reserve role in his three years in D.C., which makes him the Jags' most experienced back. He also has experience in head coach Liam Coen's offense after working with him in 2021 at Kentucky. DiRocco writes that could make Rodriguez "an early leader to be the Jags' No. 1 back" going into the summer.

The Athletic's Daniel Popper thinks that Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey could have a bounce-back season in 2026 in offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel's offense. Popper also believes that for McConkey to bounce back, the Chargers need to avoid re-signing veteran Keenan Allen, who led the team in targets and catches in 2025. McConkey and Allen both thrive in similar areas of the field, so in the absence of Allen in McDaniel's offense, McConkey could become a fantasy football stud again. Popper sees McDaniel maximizing McConkey's "shiftiness and yards-after-the-catch ability" with pre-snap motion and linebacker manipulation. The 24-year-old former second-rounder in 2024 out of Georgia caught 82 of 112 targets for 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 games in his rookie season, but he fell to a 66-789-6 line in 16 games in 2025. With more targets and a focus on the offense under McDaniel, McConkey definitely can become a strong WR2 for fantasy managers going into his third year in the NFL.

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenny McIntosh (knee) could be in the mix to lead the team's backfield in 2026. According to Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic, "McIntosh is as talented as any running back on the roster and should get an opportunity to be one of the two lead guys." This is an interesting development out of Seattle. While McIntosh, who is working his way back from a torn ACL, is a near-lock to make the roster out of camp, there hadn't been much buzz for him to push his way to the top of the depth chart until now. Dugar said that he believes the 26-year-old's contact balance, breakaway speed, and reliable hands could vault him into a lead role over Emanuel Wilson and Zach Charbonnet (knee). There's still plenty of time between now and Week 1, and we could see this backfield go in any direction depending on external additions, injuries, or individual camp performances. At the very least, though, McIntosh suddenly becomes an intriguing buy-low target in dynasty leagues, especially if he has a path to earning more than half of the snaps and rushing attempts in the season opener.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ryan Flournoy is expected to be third on the depth chart when the 2026 season begins, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. Machota's roster projection indicates that the Cowboys won't make any major additions at wide receiver this offseason, leaving Flournoy in the No. 3 role behind CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. This is an unsurprising development, as the Cowboys already have $61.3 million allocated to Lamb and Pickens, so an external addition at wide receiver wouldn't make much sense. Plus, Flournoy had an impressive 2025 season, catching 40 passes for 475 yards and four touchdowns across 16 games. He stepped up when teammates went down, such as when he caught nine passes for 115 yards and one touchdown in Week 14. Realistically, Flournoy is one of the better No. 3 receivers in the NFL, and he could handle the jump to being a fantasy-relevant No. 2 receiver if Lamb or Pickens miss any time in 2026. As a result, he's a low-cost trade target in deep dynasty leagues this offseason.

The Philadelphia Eagles are showing interest in Minnesota Vikings edge rusher Jonathan Greenard, according to Zach Berman of The Athletic. Berman notes that the team is monitoring his availability even after signing edge rusher Arnold Ebiketie. Greenard is coming off his sixth season in the NFL, during which he appeared in 12 games with three sacks, one forced fumble, and 59 tackles. It was a step backward for the veteran defender, who had combined for 24.5 total sacks between 2023 and 2024. Adding a player of his caliber would be huge for an Eagles defense that lost Jaelan Phillips and Joshua Uche in free agency. As Berman notes, any sort of Greenard trade would have its complications. Not only do the Eagles and Vikings need to agree on trade compensation, but a deal could also require Philadelphia to replace the pass rusher's existing contract with a new, long-term extension.

The Philadelphia Eagles' acquisition of veteran quarterback Andy Dalton does not appear indicative of the trade market for quarterback Tanner McKee, according to Brooks Kubena of The Athletic. While previous reporting suggested McKee might be available for trade, Kubena notes that the addition of Dalton is not an "immediate step" toward another move. It remains to be seen how this entire situation will unfold as the offseason continues. The NFL Draft is a popular time for backup quarterback trades, so we can't rule out the possibility of McKee still being dealt within the next month or so. He has flashed upside at times in Philadelphia, starting the Eagles' Week 18 game in each of the last two seasons. During his start this past year, he completed 21 of 40 pass attempts for 241 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Among all of McKee's suitors, the Jets have been discussed the most. New York is still looking for a backup to Geno Smith.

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young posted mixed results in 2025, but his strong finish to the year and his career-high 23 passing touchdowns put him in the conversation as a potential buy-low target in dynasty leagues. Young took strides during his third pro season, posting a career-best finish as QB19 in fantasy football. The touchdown total increased to a new career-high mark, but so did the turnovers, as he threw 11 interceptions and coughed up four fumbles. Young was highly inconsistent, and it ws difficult for fantasy managers to know when to start him. He did start to turn a corner in the second half of the season, though, ranking as the QB11 from Week 11 through Week 18. We could see the former No. 1 pick take another step forward next year as the offense takes on a slightly new look. Head coach Dave Canales is passing off play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Brad Idzik, and Young will have more freedom to make changes at the line of scrimmage. Additionally, he should have his top two receivers (Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker) healthy for Week 1, giving him a pair of highly talented weapons heading into the season. There will still be growing pains, and we won't claim to expect a top-12 fantasy finish from Young. However, such an outcome wouldn't surprise us, either. As a result, he's an intriguing speculative buy-low candidate at his current price tag in dynasty leagues.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele is an intriguing under-the-radar sleeper for 2026. Acquired from the Denver Broncos last year, Vele started to turn a corner following the Saints' Week 11 bye. In four games after the bye, he caught 19 passes for 239 yards and one touchdown. He averaged 12.2 points per game in PPR leagues during that span, ranking as the overall WR21. Unfortunately, Vele injured his shoulder in Week 15 and missed the final three contests of the season. Despite his late-season injury, Vele produced enough when healthy to suggest that he might play a key role on offense in 2026. He's currently listed as the No. 2 receiver on the depth chart, slotting in behind Chris Olave. Quarterback Tyler Shough had a great rookie season, and there's reason to believe he can support two fantasy-relevant receivers next year. We know this Saints coaching staff likes Vele because they traded a fourth-round pick and a seventh-round pick for him, and we know there's a solid rapport between him and Shough. Could it translate to WR3/flex production in 2026? It's certainly possible, which means dynasty managers should consider buying low on Vele this offseason.

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington has officially jumped to No. 2 on the depth chart after the team released Jonnu Smith. Washington has never finished higher than TE39 in his three NFL seasons, but that could change next year as he takes on a larger role. He's technically listed behind Pat Freiermuth, but given how often the Steelers deployed two-tight end sets in 2025, we wouldn't be surprised to see Washington consistently get on the field for more than two-thirds of the offensive snaps. A physical specimen at 6-foot-7 and 265 pounds, Washington has shown a tendency to get open and make plays with the ball in his hands. He averaged 2.3 catches and 5.3 fantasy points per game from Weeks 11 through 17 last year, starting to trend up in dynasty leagues. The next big step for Washington is taking on a larger role around the goal line. For someone as tall and large as Washington, we'd expect him to have more than two touchdowns through three seasons. If he can take on a bigger role and get more looks around the end zone in new offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio's system, then Washington could become one of the more intriguing handcuffs in his role alongside Freiermuth. Tight end-needy managers in deep dynasty leagues should consider offering a late-round draft pick for Washington, because he has the potential to offer streaming appeal at times next year.

New York Jets wide receiver Adonai Mitchell remains nestled into the No. 2 receiver role, and there's a case to be made that he's trending up in dynasty leagues. The Jets didn't have the flashiest start to free agency, but they arguably upgraded their quarterback position a little by acquiring Geno Smith. Any sort of quarterback change is an upgrade for Mitchell, who spent the back half of last season catching passes from Justin Fields, Tyrod Taylor, and Brady Cook. We also expect the return of Garrett Wilson (knee) to work in Mitchell's favor. While Wilson's return drops Mitchell from first to second on the depth chart -- and therefore could cost him some targets -- it will also allow him to run routes against a team's No. 2 cornerback, rather than a primary, lockdown corner. Mitchell could get open more often, allowing him to use his route-running and playmaking skills to rack up fantasy points. The Jets have made it clear they want to get him involved, too. He had six-plus targets in six of his last seven games in 2025, ranking as the overall WR31 in PPR leagues during that span. In an offense that should be pass-heavy while playing from behind, we expect Mitchell to fetch plenty of targets and carve out a fantasy-relevant role next year. There's still an intriguing window to buy low on Mitchell in dynasty leagues, especially before training camp gets underway.

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley had another strong campaign in 2025, but it was admittedly a little underwhelming by his own standards. Fantasy managers who spent a first-round pick on Barkley after his overall RB2 campaign were also likely a little disappointed to see him drop to RB14 in 2025. Still, that's nothing to scoff at, as Barkley had 1,400+ scrimmage yards and finished as a top-14 running back for the fourth year in a row. His continued dominance should remain present in 2026, when the Eagles roll out a new-look offensive scheme. Head coach Nick Sirianni previously said that new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion will install more zone-blocking concepts, which should benefit Barkley in the running game. It should help the veteran ball-carrier improve upon last year's marks in yards per carry (4.07) and rushing touchdowns (seven). Will we see Barkley get back to the overall RB2 spot? Not necessarily. However, he's firmly in the top-10 conversation, and managers should be willing to buy low on Barkley in dynasty leagues despite him being 29 years old.

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson exploded for a breakout campaign in 2025, and he could remain one of the team's top fantasy scorers next year. Marvin Harrison Jr. was the consensus No. 1 receiver in Arizona entering the season, but his struggles created a perfect scenario for Wilson to break out, and the 26-year-old capitalized on this opportunity. Playing most of the season with Jacoby Brissett as his quarterback (plus a few weeks of Kyler Murray), Wilson delivered 78 receptions, 1,006 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns. He finished as the WR10 in PPR leagues, ranking ahead of stars like A.J. Brown, CeeDee Lamb, and Justin Jefferson. This outcome is even more incredible when you consider that Wilson didn't have a single double-digit fantasy performance until Week 11. From Week 11 through Week 18, he was simply otherworldly, averaging 21.2 points per game and ranking as the overall WR2 -- behind Puka Nacua and ahead of Jaxon Smith-Njigba. It would be a little too bold to predict another top-10 season from Wilson, so dynasty managers might consider trying to sell high on the Stanford product. With that said, we wouldn't be surprised to see him still have success in 2026. After all, he'll have much-needed consistency at the quarterback position with Brissett coming back, and Arizona didn't bring in any major weapons on offense to compete with him. An offense-oriented scheme under new head coach Mike LaFleur should bode well for Wilson, too. He remains firmly in the top-24 fantasy receiver conversation for next year.

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson opened the 2025 season as a premier fantasy option, but his productivity declined near the end of the year. After ranking as the overall TE1 in PPR leagues from Week 1 through Week 7, he dropped to the overall TE22 spot over the remainder of the season. He had a particularly poor showing over the final four weeks of the season, during which he had just seven catches and ranked 23rd among tight ends in fantasy points. Ultimately, Ferguson just couldn't carve out a consistent role while buried behind CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens in the pecking order. He also lost opportunities when the team decided to run the ball and feed Javonte Williams. All three of those skill players are back for 2026, making it tough to predict any sort of improvement for Ferguson. He's too dependent on targets to confidently draft as a top-eight fantasy tight end. Instead, he's a high-end TE2 who will deliver some mid-to-low TE1 outings from time to time. His name value makes him an appealing sell-high candidate in PPR leagues, especially since his finish as the overall TE5 masks his late-season struggles.