Fantasy Football News

The Houston Texans have exercised quarterback C.J. Stroud's fifth-year option for 2027. As a former first-round pick, Stroud's rookie contract came with a team option for a fifth year. He is now under contract for two more seasons and will make more than $25.9 million in 2027. Stroud was terrific as a rookie back in 2023, but he's coming off two relatively disappointing campaigns, as well as a six-quarter span in the 2025 playoffs during which he coughed up seven turnovers. Still, the low points haven't been bad enough for the Texans to begin searching for a new quarterback. They still view Stroud as a potential long-term solution, which is why they've committed to paying him through 2027. It will be interesting to see what happens after his rookie deal expires, though, as Stroud is currently scheduled to hit free agency prior to the 2028 season. His performance over the next two years will dictate how aggressive the Texans are in trying to extend him, as well as how much money he'll fetch in his next contract.

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton said that re-signing running back J.K. Dobbins "was a priority ahead of all others," according to Zac Stevens of DNVR Sports. It was very intriguing to hear Payton go out of his way and identify Dobbins specifically. This could be a sign that he'll continue to have a large workload in 2026, even with RJ Harvey trending up ahead of his second season in the NFL. In his first season with Denver last year, Dobbins played in 10 games, tallying 772 rushing yards and four touchdowns. He ranked as the overall RB18 in half-PPR leagues before being shut down ahead of Week 11 due to a foot injury. The Broncos recently confirmed that Dobbins has fully recovered from the ailment and could have even played in the Super Bowl if Denver had qualified. Fantasy managers should prepare for the possibility of Dobbins and Harvey splitting touches next season. A shared backfield is never ideal for fantasy football, but we could still see both backs maintain fantasy relevance, given the productivity and anticipated success of Denver's offense.

Atlanta Falcons starting right tackle Kaleb McGary (leg) has decided to retire after seven years in the NFL, agent Collin Roberts told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. The 6-foot-6, 330-pound lineman was Atlanta's first-round pick back in 2019. He started 92 of his 93 career games, but he missed all of the 2025 season due to a serious lower left leg injury that he suffered during training camp last summer. As a result, his final NFL snaps came in 2024, when he started 16 games with a 73.8 PFF grade. He was particularly productive in run blocking, where his grade of 77.6 ranked 17th-best among 81 eligible tackles. Retiring after just seven years (and six active seasons) is a bit early for a lineman, but his future in the NFL looked complicated due to the serious leg injury and his ongoing recovery. Going forward, he'll be replaced at right tackle by Jawaan Taylor, whom the Falcons signed to a one-year deal on Wednesday.

The Atlanta Falcons have signed free agent offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor to a one-year deal, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. The contract includes a base value of $5 million and an additional $1 million available in incentives. Taylor previously spent four seasons in Jacksonville and three seasons in Kansas City. He has started all 111 games in which he has appeared, including a dozen contests in 2025. Although he's a household name, the 28-year-old didn't deliver the greatest production last year. His 53.3 PFF grade ranked 10th-worst among tackles, and his 43.8 run blocking grade was second-worst. He was also flagged for 13 penalties, and he surrendered 20 pressures, five quarterback hits, and three sacks. Despite an iffy season, Taylor projects as a starting tackle in Atlanta, where he'll fill the void left by the retirement of starting right tackle Kaleb McGary.

The Houston Texans exercised the 2027 fifth-year option on quarterback C.J. Stroud on Wednesday, a source told Field Yates of ESPN. Stroud is now due $25.904 million next season and is extension-eligible. Despite another disappointing season in 2025 in his third year in the league, the Texans remain committed to the former second overall pick in 2023 out of Ohio State. The 24-year-old signal-caller really impressed as a rookie, throwing for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, and only five interceptions in his 15 starts. However, he has come back down to Earth over the last two years, and Houston's porous offensive line hasn't helped his cause. In 14 regular-season starts in 2025, Stroud completed a career-high 64.5% of his pass attempts, but that led to a career-low 3,041 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight picks. Better offensive-line play and Year 2 leaps from wideouts Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel will be needed for Stroud to bounce back into QB1 territory for fantasy football purposes.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington emerged from a crowded wide receiver room to become a fantasy playoff winner in 2025. With the team currently on track to return the same group of pass-catchers for 2026 (along with additional contributions from Travis Hunter, who ended his rookie season on IR), questions of where Washington will fit into the target pecking order have his dynasty value severely suppressed. After finishing as the WR3 over the final three weeks of 2025, Washington is going around the 10th round in dynasty startups. Including Jacksonville's playoff loss to the Bills, Washington's four-game stretch of 38 targets, 26 receptions, 454 yards, and three touchdowns saw him triple the next closest Jaguars wide receiver in both yards and touchdowns. Tight end Brenton Strange was second on the team in both categories over that stretch, tallying 154 receiving yards and two scores. While the expectation is for Washington to fall back to the pack, he potentially offers the most appealing blend of volume and upside in an ambiguous offensive situation, and should the lingering rumors of a Brian Thomas Jr. trade amount to movement, Washington's value will spike as the remaining big-play threat in Jacksonville.

After being selected in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins experienced the rare third-year breakout in 2023, sandwiching two WR9 finishes around a 1,000-yard, seven-touchdown campaign in which he missed five games. Due to the late breakout, the 27-year-old Collins is slowly approaching the age cliff, and following a historic rookie season from C.J. Stroud that had him and Collins pegged as one of the most valuable stacks in dynasty, the quarterback play in Houston has fallen off significantly. Durability has become a concern, with Collins missing nine games over the past three seasons, but when healthy, he is still as impactful as almost any receiver in the game, topping 2.7 yards per route run since 2023 and scoring a touchdown on nearly 10% of his catches. Collins and Stroud can absolutely recapture some of their early career magic, and if they do, it could open a sell window for the 6'4", 215-pound difference-maker. Multiple 1,000+ yard seasons are still on the table for Collins, but his yards after catch have dropped from 6.9 to 5.3 to 4.6 over the past three seasons, and Father Time tends to catch up faster to big-bodied receivers than those who win purely with speed and separation.

Through the first two seasons of his career, Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze has failed to consistently deliver on the promise that made him the ninth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He spent his rookie season battling for targets with veterans DJ Moore and Keenan Allen, and by year two, it was the rookie tandem of Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III. With Caleb Williams yet to top 4,000 yards, that division of labor has led to disappointing production from Odunze, but the flashes have been there to support the case that he could still become a fantasy gamebreaker. Through the first four weeks of 2025, Odunze was the WR3 in Half-PPR formats, and reports out of Chicago indicated that new head coach Ben Johnson, figuring out in real-time just how good his young receiver was, loaded his plate with additional responsibilities. Odunze's game slowed, and nagging injuries eventually led to missed time, allowing for the late-season breakouts of Loveland and Burden. Loveland alone saw 25 targets in the team's two postseason games, leading many to believe he will become the focal point of Chicago's passing offense in 2026. While Loveland could realistically lead the team in targets, and Burden's yards per route run had him among the league's elite as a rookie, Odunze's downfield usage should still provide the highest weekly ceiling, especially if he sees an increase in catchable targets in a year that many are calling for a monumental step forward from Williams.

Philadelphia Eagles running back Tank Bigsby began his 2025 season as a Jacksonville Jaguar, with fantasy managers hoping he could carve out something close to a lead-back role. Those hopes were dashed early when a Week 2 trade sent him to an Eagles team that has now seen Saquon Barkley handle almost 23 opportunities per game over the past two seasons. While it became evident early that the former third-round pick was acquired largely for his work as a kick returner, those duties were eventually turned over to Will Shipley and Britain Covey, leaving Bigsby to function primarily as a change-of-pace back and as a direct backup to Barkley. While Bigsby's touches were limited, he was efficient with the work he got, averaging nearly six yards per carry and topping 100 total yards in his lone start of the season, a meaningless Week 18 game in which he also scored a touchdown. Heading into 2026, his role remains unchanged, but his value as an insurance back makes him a must-roster player in dynasty and even deeper redraft leagues. Philadelphia's offensive line still ranks in the top half of the league, and the 29-year-old Barkley's career-long durability concerns have only been amplified by the exorbitant workload he's received with the Eagles.

When the Green Bay Packers made Matthew Golden only their sixth ever first-round wide receiver, and the first since 2002, many in the fantasy space feared he may have been overdrafted, and a disappointing rookie season did little to quell those concerns. Golden finished the 2025 season with only 361 yards on 29 receptions, and he failed to find the end zone until the Packers' lone playoff game, at least offering a glimpse of what a year two breakout could look like, also topping 80 yards for only the second time on the year. The list of NFL receivers who have become fantasy stars after similarly low-impact rookie seasons is not a particularly long one, and even those who were able to turn things around tended to show more than Golden's 1.35 yards per route run from 2025. The Packers allowed their leading receiver, Romeo Doubs, to walk in free agency, which should open a path to more work in two-receiver sets. However, both Christian Watson and Tucker Kraft, who each missed significant time last year, are expected to be healthier in 2026 and could help to maintain the fantasy jumble we've seen for years from Green Bay's wide receivers.

Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis has failed to establish any sort of standalone value in fantasy football, leading to him being nothing more than a mid-range handcuff. The Kentucky product drew excessive hype during and after the 2024 NFL Draft, but he has yet to get on the fantasy radar consistently with RB40 and RB61 finishes. James Cook III's availability has been tremendous since he was drafted, but he did miss one game in 2024. During that contest, Davis exploded for 97 rushing yards and 55 receiving yards. The talent is indisputable, but the role is far from favorable and will require dynasty managers to exercise more patience. At this point, he's already 26 years old, so his role as a backup/handcuff isn't as intriguing when Cook is healthy for just about every game. Davis would only get onto the fantasy radar if Cook were to miss time next yar, and even then, managers would want to make sure the Bills don't prioritize Ty Johnson over Davis.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase had a terrific season in 2025 from a fantasy football perspective, ranking as the overall WR4 with 125 catches, 1,412 yards, and eight touchdowns. It was a step back from his overall WR1 finish in 2024, but at least he can still say that he was a top-12 fantasy receiver through each of his first five seasons in the NFL. What made Chase's 2025 stats even more impressive was the fact that he spent more than half of his games without Joe Burrow, instead catching passes from Jake Browning and Joe Flacco. If Browning and Flacco can support a top-five finish, then Burrow will certainly have no trouble doing it, too. The 29-year-old quarterback is healthy once again, which bodes well for Chase's potential to reclaim his spot as the top-scoring receiver in fantasy football.

Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams had the backfield to himself for most of the 2025 season, and we could see a similar dynamic in 2026. The Cowboys re-signed Williams to keep him in tow as their primary ball-carrier. He's coming off a breakout campaign in which he finished as the overall RB12 with 1,201 rushing yards, 35 catches, 137 receiving yards, and a career-high 13 total touchdowns. That type of production typically earns a big role the following year, and Williams should continue to thrive with consistent volume. It's great news that the Cowboys' lead back faces minimal competition within his position group. Jaydon Blue, the current favorite to back up Williams, was a healthy scratch more often than not, playing in just five games. The Cowboys have a willingness to get running backs more involved in Year 2 after a patient rookie season, but Blue might need a little more time than that. As a result, Williams' track record as a low-end RB1 is simply too hard to ignore.

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin continues to face minimal competition for volume ahead of the 2026 season. McLaurin finished last year with 38 catches, 582 yards, and three touchdowns across 10 games. Missing seven weeks hurt his fantasy stock, but he made the most of his opportunities when on the field, especially in a low-volume passing offense. Moving forward, the offensive scheme should be McLaurin's only concern. The next receivers on the Commanders' depth chart are Van Jefferson, Treylon Burks, and Luke McCaffrey, so it's not like McLaurin needs to panic about his job. In fact, managers might see him as a buy-low target in dynasty leagues since the Commanders' revamped passing offense could funnel through him. All in all, he's a high-end WR2 with WR1 upside in redraft leagues, and he could be an intriguing buy-low candidate in dynasty formats, given his bounce-back potential.

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is coming off his best fantasy season since 2021, and there's a real chance that he could continue to trend upward going forward. Herbert was the overall QB10 in fantasy football last season, tallying 26 passing touchdowns but throwing 13 interceptions. It was his highest interception total since, ironically, that aforementioned 2021 campaign. Managers should be optimistic about the future outlook of the first-round pick, given the state of the offense. For starters, the Chargers hired offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, a potential play-calling mastermind who can maximize the upside of his players. The Chargers also made a concerted effort to bolster their league-worst offensive line. Now, Herbert will have Cole Strange and Tyler Biadasz in front of him, and he should also get star tackles Rashawn Slater (knee) and Joe Alt (ankle) back from injury. The only glaring subtraction is wide receiver Keenan Allen, but Herbert should still have plenty of reliable targets in Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and Oronde Gadsden III. With a solidified offense around him, Herbert can be a top-10 fantasy quarterback with top-five upside in 2026 and beyond. He's an intriguing target in dynasty leagues this offseason.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins continues to trend up across fantasy football. He posted a career-best WR15 finish in 2025, catching 59 passes for 846 yards and 11 touchdowns. The reception and yardage totals weren't amazing, but his tendency to find the end zone allowed him to solidify himself as a WR1 or WR2 consistently. Higgins had such a productive season despite playing without quarterback Joe Burrow for more than half of his games. As Burrow missed more time due to injury, Higgins was forced to catch passes from a combination of Jake Browning and Joe Flacco. It wasn't the greatest quarterback play, but the 27-year-old receiver still contributed, oftentimes bailing out his quarterbacks with spectacular catches down the field. Higgins has proven capable of handling a more versatile route tree, and we're intrigued about his ability to continue posting double-digit targets while seeing a bump in catches and yards with Burrow fully healthy. Given that Higgins has top-12 upside going forward, he's an intriguing offseason trade target in dynasty leagues.

The Houston Texans acquired linebacker Marte Mapu from the New England Patriots on Tuesday, a source told Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. The two teams are also swapping late-round picks in the 2027 NFL draft. Mapu will head to the AFC South division after spending his first three years of his NFL career in New England, totaling 89 tackles (53 solo), half a sack, three interceptions, 12 pass breakups, and five forced fumbles in 44 games (10 starts). The 26-year-old former third-rounder in 2023 out of Sacramento State had 25 tackles (18 solo), one interception, five pass breakups, and a forced fumble in 17 regular-season games (zero starts) in 2025. Mapu will most likely fill a role on special teams in Houston and can be ignored in IDP fantasy football leagues in 2026.

The Athletic's Zac Jackson said that Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles), who hasn't played since October of 2024 due to a twice-torn right Achilles tendon, has "been medically cleared for competition." The Browns have put a positive spin on Watson's recovery all offseason and will give him the chance to compete with Shedeur Sanders for the starting job this summer. Sanders, a fifth-rounder last year, started the final seven games of last season and was predictably erratic, although he did show signs of being an explosive playmaker at QB. Jackson adds that Sanders "seems most likely to get the first crack at the starting job and operate as the No. 1" early in spring workouts. However, new head coach Todd Monken continues to stress that "nothing is settled." Watson has the better resume (a three-time Pro Bowler), but he's also 30 years old and is coming off a serious injury. And with Watson's contract expiring after 2026, "logic says" the Browns should prefer the younger option in Sanders. Whoever wins the job this summer will merely be a low-end QB2 option in superflex fantasy football leagues.

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (foot) was present on Tuesday for the start of the team's voluntary strength and conditioning program, according to Bo Brack of PHNX Sports. Conner was limited to just three games last year due to a foot injury that required surgery, but he's back for offseason workouts as he heads into his 10th year in the NFL. The 30-year-old two-time Pro Bowler will not only see a big drop in fantasy value going into next season because of his injury, but also because the Cardinals added Tyler Allgeier in free agency on a two-year, $8 million deal. Trey Benson (knee), who is also rehabbing from a season-ending injury in 2025, remains on the roster as well. Conner has been the Cardinals' lead back since the start of the 2021 season, but that is definitely going to change in 2026, as he'll be battling for playing time among two other very capable backs. In addition, the Cardinals have been rumored to be considering taking Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love with the third overall pick in this year's NFL draft.

New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (ankle) was in attendance on Tuesday for the start of the team's voluntary offseason workouts, according to Kevin Patra of NFL.com. Head coach John Harbaugh said that Skattebo is ahead of receiver Malik Nabers (knee) in his rehab, and it's possible that he'll be on the field for some workouts this spring. Nabers' timeline following ACL surgery is closer to training camp or the start of the 2026 regular season. The 24-year-old Skattebo suffered a dislocated right ankle in late October, which ended what was looking like a very promising first year in the NFL. Tyrone Tracy Jr. is still in New York's backfield, but when fully healthy, Skattebo figures to at least be the team's preferred choice on early downs and short-yardage and goal-line situations. The fourth-rounder out of Arizona State had 101 carries for 410 yards and five touchdowns while adding 24 receptions for 207 yards and another two scores in his first eight NFL games (five starts). All signs point to Skattebo being full-go for Week 1 of the regular season this fall.