Fantasy Football News

The New England Patriots selected Notre Dame tight end Eli Raridon with the 95th overall pick late in the third round in the 2026 NFL draft on Friday evening. All four of Raridon's collegiate seasons came with the Fighting Irish, and he accumulated 48 catches for 623 yards and only three touchdowns in his 40 total games. The 22-year-old dealt with some knee injuries early in his collegiate career, but he was healthy in his junior and senior seasons and had 32 receptions for a career-high 482 yards in 12 games in 2025, although he didn't score a single touchdown. At the very least, the 6-foot-6, 245-pounder will give young quarterback Drake Maye a big target in the passing attack next to Hunter Henry after Austin Hooper left in free agency this offseason. Raridon should enter his rookie season as the TE2 in New England behind Henry as the Pats look to get back to the Super Bowl. Raridon is developing as a pass-catcher. He won't be on the fantasy radar in redraft leagues unless Henry misses time with an injury.

The Miami Dolphins selected Louisville wide receiver Chris Bell (knee) with the 94th overall pick in the third round of the 2026 NFL draft on Friday night. All four of Bell's collegiate seasons came at Louisville, and he had a total of 2,166 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns on 151 catches in his four seasons. Despite tearing his ACL in 2025, Bell finished the year with 72 receptions for 917 yards and six touchdowns in 11 games played. At 6-foot-2, 222 pounds, he will give new quarterback Malik Willis a big target down the field and in the red zone whenever he's ready to resume playing. He will join rookie Caleb Douglas in the passing attack for a Dolphins team that really needed to add to their receiver room in this year's draft after cutting Tyreek Hill (knee) and trading Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos. Bell and Douglas will join Malik Washington, Jalen Tolbert, and Tutu Atwell. The rookie wideouts will have plenty of opportunity, but Bell's short-term fantasy value is clouded by the fact that he could be rehabbing his knee into the start of the regular season this fall. Because of his size, Bell has often been compared to A.J. Brown.

The San Francisco 49ers have selected University of Indiana running back Kaelon Black with the 90th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Black spent the first two years of his college career at James Madison before transferring to Indiana for his final two collegiate seasons. Across 16 games with the Hoosiers in 2025, he recorded 1,040 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 186 carries. Black had just eight total receptions across his final 29 games in college, so he doesn't profile as much of a receiver out of the backfield. However, he's considered to be a physical downhill runner who could excel in short-yardage situations at the NFL level. With the 49ers, Black could have a chance to emerge as the primary backup to star San Francisco running back Christian McCaffrey with a strong showing in training camp.

The Chicago Bears have selected LSU wide receiver Zavion Thomas with the 89th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Across 13 games as a senior in 2025, Thomas recorded 41 receptions for 488 yards and four touchdowns and added 19 carries for 99 yards and a score. At just 5'10" and 190 lbs., Thomas is undersized but possesses elite speed and big-play ability when he gets his hands on the football. In Chicago, Thomas' main utility may end up being on special teams as a returner. However, Bears play-caller Ben Johnson's proclivity for trick plays could mean that Thomas plays a regular role on offense as a gadget piece.

The Miami Dolphins have selected Ohio State tight end prospect Will Kacmarek with the 87th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Kacmarek spent three years at Ohio before joining the Buckeyes for his final two collegiate seasons. He had just 15 catches and two touchdowns during his final year at school, but he snuck his way into Day 2 of the draft because of his blocking ability. Widely regarded as the best blocking tight end in this year's draft, Kacmarek will provide plenty of protection for Malik Willis and De'Von Achane in a Dolphins offense that is expected to adopt a run-heavy approach in 2026. Although he should make an impact right away in the trenches, there's not much fantasy appeal here. He ranks outside the top 85 tight ends in RotoBaller's latest dynasty rankings, and he can be avoided in most rookie drafts.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have selected Georgia State wide receiver prospect Ted Hurst with the 84th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. He contributed during both of his seasons in the Sun Belt Conference, totaling 127 catches for 1,965 yards and 15 touchdowns. This is more of a developmental selection for the Bucs, as Hurst has a history of drops and may deal with some adversity while adjusting to the NFL style of play. With that said, he has impressive upside in a Bucs offense that loves spreading the ball around to multiple receivers. Presumably, Hurst will have a chance to immediately compete for the No. 4 receiver role behind Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin Jr., and Jalen McMillan. He's the overall WR90 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings.

The Carolina Panthers have selected University of Tennessee wide receiver Chris Brazzell II with the 83rd overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-4 pass catcher opened his collegiate career at Tulane before transferring to Tennessee. In 12 games last season, he caught 62 passes for 1,017 yards and an SEC-leading nine touchdowns. Brazzell was a vertical receiver who stretched the field at school, but he's capable of flashing versatility and occupying a variety of roles. That will fit nicely in a Carolina receiver room that already features Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, and Xavier Legette. Brazzell might not have fantasy relevance as soon as Week 1 in his rookie season, but there's plenty of long-term upside here. He ranks as the WR68 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings.

The Baltimore Ravens selected USC wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane in the third round of the 2026 NFL draft at No. 80 overall. Lane has good size at the position at 6-foot-4 and 208 pounds. Lane had a career-high 12 touchdowns in his sophomore season for the Trojans in 2024 and finished his collegiate career with a 49-745-4 line in 11 games last year. Unsurprisingly, he offers a big catch radius and is a prototypical X receiver that should really help Baltimore's offense in the red zone. The Ravens really needed the help through the air behind Zay Flowers after another disappointing season from Rashod Bateman in 2025. Depending on how Lane develops in training camp and the preseason, and how much chemistry he can develop with quarterback Lamar Jackson, he has the potential to open his rookie campaign as the WR2 behind Flowers. With the landing spot in Baltimore, Lane will have plenty of long-term upside for dynasty/keeper managers, and he could become a touchdown-dependent flex in redraft leagues in 2026.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have made a move at the quarterback position, selecting Penn State signal-caller Drew Allar with the 76th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Allar played just six games for the Nittany Lions in 2025 due to a fractured ankle, which ended his season in mid-October. Across 45 career collegiate contests, Allar completed 63.2% of his pass attempts and threw 61 touchdowns with just 13 interceptions. He also showed some ability to make plays with his legs during his junior season in 2024, rushing for 302 yards and six touchdowns on 96 attempts. The Steelers quarterback room is currently unsettled as the team waits for Aaron Rodgers to decide whether he will play in 2026. If Rodgers returns, Allar will likely play a reserve role as a rookie. Should Rodgers decide to retire, Allar could be competing with veteran quarterback Mason Rudolph for the starting role in Pittsburgh.

The Atlanta Falcons selected University of Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch with the 79th overall pick in the third round of the 2026 NFL draft on Friday night. Branch can fly, has plenty of after-the-catch ability and explosiveness, and he should also factor in on special teams as a punt/kick returner. Branch spent the first two seasons of his collegiate career at USC before playing for Georgia in 2025, where he caught an SEC-high 81 passes for 811 yards and six touchdowns in 14 games played. The 5-foot-9, 177-pounder is an absolute burner with elite speed and acceleration. He clocked a 4.35-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine in February. His game-changing speed will give him plenty of upside in dynasty fantasy leagues, and he could have a pretty big role in his first year in the NFL in Atlanta behind Drake London. The biggest concerns about Branch at the next level are his lack of size and his limited route tree.

The Miami Dolphins have selected Texas Tech wide receiver Caleb Douglas with the 75th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Across 14 games as a redshirt junior with the Red Raiders in 2025, Douglas recorded 54 receptions for 846 yards and seven touchdowns. Douglas is considered a high-upside prospect with good positional size and athleticism, but he struggled with drops and inconsistency throughout his college career. Still, the Dolphins' wide receiver room currently looks like an open competition after the team's trade of star wideout Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos. Alongside veteran wide receivers Jalen Tolbert and Tutu Atwell, Douglas could have a chance to emerge as Miami's number one pass-catcher on the outside if he shows well in training camp.

The New York Giants have traded up to pick 74 in the 2026 NFL Draft to select University of Notre Dame wide receiver Malachi Fields. Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, New York sent the Cleveland Browns picks 105 and 145, along with a 2027 fourth-round selection, in exchange for pick 74. Fields spent the first four seasons of his collegiate career at the University of Virginia before transferring to Notre Dame for his fifth year. Across 12 games with the Fighting Irish in 2025, he recorded 36 receptions for 630 yards and five touchdowns. Early in his NFL career, Fields will likely be battling with veteran wideouts Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin III for playing time with the Giants. If it all comes together for Fields, he could be a dangerous downfield threat in the NFL.

The Washington Commanders have selected Clemson wide receiver prospect Antonio Williams with the 71st overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. A four-year contributor at school, Williams had 130 catches, 1,508 yards, and 15 touchdowns over his last two seasons. This selection addresses an area of need for the Commanders. Washington lost Deebo Samuel Sr. in free agency, leaving Terry McLaurin as the team's only fantasy-relevant receiver. The Commanders continue to be linked to 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, but for now, Williams should slot into the No. 2 role behind McLaurin in this Jayden Daniels-led offense. He entered the draft as the overall WR93 in RotoBaller's dynasty fantasy football rankings.

The Chicago Bears have selected Stanford tight end prospect Sam Roush with the 69th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. He joins a relatively crowded tight end room that already features 2025 first-rounder Colston Loveland and veteran Cole Kmet. There's still a fit for Roush here, as he's more of a blocker while the Bears' returning tight ends excel as pass catchers. With that being said, he did get more involved as a receiver during his final season at school, catching 49 passes for 545 yards and two touchdowns. He excelled most in pass blocking, where he posted a 68.8 PFF grade. With Loveland and Kmet presumably ahead of Roush on the depth chart, it might be a little while before the Stanford product makes a consistent fantasy impact. He entered the draft outside the top 85 tight ends in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings, and he figures to remain an afterthought in fantasy football because of the landing spot.

The Arizona Cardinals selected University of Miami quarterback Carson Beck with the 65th overall pick to kick off the third round of the 2026 NFL draft on Friday night. The Cardinals were fully expected to take a signal-caller at some point in this year's draft, and it ends up coming with the first pick of the third round. The Cardinals released former first-rounder Kyler Murray (foot) after a disappointing and injury-plagued 2025 campaign. Veteran Jacoby Brissett took over for Murray last year and had a career year in a pass-heavy offense. Beck is the heir apparent in the desert under center now, and he could end up playing in 2026 under new head coach Mike LaFleur. There was a time when Beck was considered a potential first-rounder, but that all changed after he suffered a torn UCL in his right elbow in 2024. Beck is often compared to Jared Goff. The 6-foot-4, 233-pounder had questions about his arm strength after elbow surgery and finished his final collegiate season with a 72.4% completion percentage, 3,813 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in 16 games played. Beck will most likely head into training camp competing with Gardner Minshew for the backup job, but if Brissett struggles early, there will be plenty of noise for the Cardinals to get the Beck era started.

The Los Angeles Rams have selected Ohio State tight end Max Klare with the 61st overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Klare played the first three seasons of his collegiate career at Purdue before transferring to Ohio State for his redshirt junior season. Across 14 games with the Buckeyes in 2025, Klare recorded 43 receptions for 448 yards and two touchdowns. With Colby Parkinson, Tyler Higbee, Terrance Ferguson, Davis Allen, and Klare, the Rams have one of the deepest tight end rooms in the NFL. While Los Angeles utilized two and three-tight end personnel at a very high rate in 2025, it will likely still be difficult for Klare to see much playing time or target volume as a rookie.

The Houston Texans have selected University of Michigan tight end Marlin Klein with the 59th overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft. Across 11 games with the Wolverines in 2025, Klein recorded 24 receptions for 248 yards and one touchdown. While Klein's collegiate numbers don't stand out, he's regarded as a high-upside developmental prospect. Klein won't necessarily be expected to contribute right away in Houston, as the Texans have Dalton Schultz and Cade Stover atop their tight end depth chart. As a result, Klein has more fantasy appeal in dynasty formats than redraft leagues for 2026.

The Philadelphia Eagles have acquired outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard and the No. 244 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft from the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for the 98th overall pick in 2026 and a third-round pick in 2027. Additionally, the Eagles are signing Greenard to a four-year, $100 million contract extension that includes $50 million guaranteed. The trade has reportedly been in the works for several days, which helps to explain why the Eagles are turning around and signing him to a nine-figure extension so quickly. It's a huge addition to the Eagles' defense, as Greenard is a former Pro Bowler who had 24.5 sacks between 2023 and 2024. He was limited to just 12 games (10 starts) last year, during which he amassed 38 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 12 quarterback hits, and three sacks.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have selected Texas A&M tight end prospect Nate Boerkircher with the 56th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. This was the Jaguars' first selection of the draft, and they spent it on a tight end despite already having Brenton Strange on their roster. We shouldn't be too surprised by the addition, though, as pre-draft reporting indicated that the Jaguars wanted to come out of the draft with an impact tight end to complement Strange on offense. After four years with Nebraska, Boerkircher transferred to A&M for the 2025 season and ultimately tallied 19 catches, 198 yards, and three touchdowns. Those are underwhelming receiving metrics, and while the Jaguars do plan to get him more involved in the passing game, he's a blocker first and foremost. He posted a 72.2 PFF grade in run blocking last season. Ranked as the consensus #162 prospect in the draft according to NFLMockDraftDatabase.com, some might say this was a bit of a reach for Jaguars general manager James Gladstone. The fantasy rankings would tend to agree, as Boerkircher falls outside the top 85 tight ends in RotoBaller's latest dynasty rankings.

The Philadelphia Eagles have selected Vanderbilt tight end prospect Eli Stowers with the 54th overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. Stowers is just the second tight end selected so far this year, as well as the first to hear his name called on Day 2. There had been rumblings of the Vandy product being a first-round pick, but he ended up going near the middle of the second. The 23-year-old caught 111 passes for 1,407 yards and nine touchdowns over his final two seasons at school. He'll offer the Eagles a long-term solution at the tight end position with Dallas Goedert slated to hit free agency (and widely expected to sign elsewhere) next offseason. Stowers might not have much redraft appeal as long as Goedert is healthy and on the team, but he could jump onto the weekly fantasy radar in 2027. Plus, he's an appealing dynasty option in this successful Eagles offense, ranking as the overall TE15 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings.