Fantasy Football News

Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis entered this week with a relatively weak supporting cast, but the wide receiver room improved during the NFL Draft. The Dolphins selected Texas Tech wide receiver Caleb Douglas and Louisville wide receiver Chris Bell in the third round, and then they went out and drafted Missouri wide receiver Kevin Coleman Jr. in the fifth round. None of these players has the draft capital to be an immediate superstar, but they're still intriguing names who offer youth and upside. Plus, most importantly, all three of them -- and especially Douglas and Bell -- have the potential to get on the field as starters in Week 1. The non-rookies in Miami's wide receiver room are Malik Washington, Jalen Tolbert, and Tutu Atwell. None of those are flashy names, and we wouldn't be surprised to see any of the rookies establish themselves as immediate contributors throughout training camp and the preseason. Adding capable pass-catchers bodes well for Willis, who is a run-first quarterback but will still need to throw the ball to have success in 2026. He ranks as the QB25 in RotoBaller's early redraft rankings.

Washington Commanders wide receiver Antonio Williams didn't hear his name called until the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, but he could still have a starting role as early as Week 1. The Clemson product had 130 catches, 1,508 yards, and 15 touchdowns over his last two seasons at school. Now, he immediately projects as the Commanders' No. 2 receiver behind Terry McLaurin. That's good enough to get him into the starting lineup right away, assuming Washington doesn't make any other big additions at the position. There's still a chance they could go out and acquire someone like Brandon Aiyuk, but for now, all signs point to Williams having a significant role. Third-round draft capital doesn't usually translate to first-year success in fantasy football, but there are exceptions, especially for receivers with as much projected volume as Williams.

Los Angeles Rams tight end Terrance Ferguson's dynasty value took a significant hit during the 2026. NFL Draft. The Rams spent their second-round pick on Ohio State's Max Klare, who is a pass-catching tight end with high upside. It seems as though Los Angeles is refusing to let Ferguson have an easy path to the No. 1 tight end role. Not only is Klare an obstacle for him, but the Rams also re-signed Tyler Higbee, who should continue to have a significant role within the position group. It's not completely crazy to suggest that Ferguson could fall as low as fourth on the depth chart behind Colby Parkinson, Higbee, and Klare. In all likelihood, we'll see a frustrating dynamic similar to what the Rams showed near the end of last season when they incorporated multiple tight ends. Ferguson had one catch over four games from Week 12-15, then randomly broke out with touchdowns in back-to-back contests. Meanwhile, Parkinson was the TE67 from Week 1-9, then jumped to TE4 from Week 10-18. If the Rams adopt a similar approach to handling the tight end position, it will be tough to know which Rams tight end to start in a given week, if any at all. Maybe Ferguson's dynasty outlook will get clearer after Parkinson's contract expires next March, but for now, this is a crowded position group that we want no part of. Ferguson can be avoided in redraft leagues, and he's a fringe top-30 tight end in dynasty formats.

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange seemed like the clear-cut No. 1 option on the depth chart this offseason, and all signs pointed to him being a strong extension candidate. However, that perception has changed following this week's NFL Draft. The Jaguars made several tight end additions in the draft, selecting Texas A&M's Nate Boerkircher at No. 56 overall and Houston's Tanner Koziol at No. 164 overall. Boerkicher has more of a blocking skill set, but he's certainly capable of catching passes, too. Meanwhile, Koizol is a true pass-catcher who should compete for targets right away. Strange is clearly still the No. 1 tight end here, but there's now less confidence in his ability to fend off competition long-term. The Jaguars sent a clear message that they want some other tight ends to get involved going forward. It's possible that Strange hit his peak last year when he averaged 9.8 fantasy points per game. When extrapolated over 17 games, that's still good enough for a top-15 finish in PPR leagues. However, the new additions certainly place a cap on his long-term upside.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver KC Concepcion has been on the team for less than 48 hours, and he's already facing competition on the depth chart. The Browns selected Concepcion, a Texas A&M product, with the 24th overall pick, suggesting that he had a strong chance to open the year as the team's No. 1 receiver over Jerry Jeudy. That remains true, but his projected target share was scaled back a little after the Browns also drafted Washington's Denzel Boston. The 39th overall pick, Boston's draft capital is also significant enough that he should see a meaningful snap and target share early in the season. In fact, entering the draft, Boston (#34) ranked three spots higher than Concepcion (#37) in RotoBaller's dynasty fantasy football rankings. There's a realistic scenario in which both Concepcion and Boston flourish, especially with how poorly Jeudy has played in past years. Still, any chance of the former Aggie being a standalone alpha in this receiver room has likely faded away.

Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt remains atop the depth chart following the 2026 NFL Draft. There was plenty of chatter that Washington might spend a premium pick on a running back, but that never came to fruition. Instead, they waited until the back half of Day 3, selecting Penn State's Kaytron Allen with the 187th overall pick in the sixth round. That's not exactly a big move, and Allen is unlikely to threaten Croskey-Merritt's role within the backfield. To this point, Rachaad White remains the biggest competition for Croskey-Merritt, but even then, it doesn't seem like he's an enormous threat. In all likelihood, Croskey-Merritt will get the bulk of the early-down carries after posting 805 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns as a rookie last year. Meanwhile, White will get more involved on passing downs, plus as a change-of-pace back when Croskey-Merritt needs a breather on early downs. That sentiment is reflected in RotoBaller's latest dynasty rankings, which have Croskey-Merritt slotted in as the overall RB44.

The Green Bay Packers have selected Florida kicker Trey Smack with the 216th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, making him the first kicker off the board. Smack has made 82.8% of his field goal attempts across three seasons with the Gators, and his only missed extra point came on the final kick of his collegiate career, ending a streak of 100 straight makes. A two-time Lou Groza Award semifinalist, Smack owns the Florida record with nine made field goals of 50+ yards. Veteran kicker Brandon McManus made 35 of 37 field goals in his second season with the Packers, but at almost 35 years old, he likely faces a preseason competition with the rookie, and the winner should have fantasy value with what figures to be another competent Green Bay offense.

The Denver Broncos have selected Utah tight end Dallen Bentley with the 256th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Tight end was considered a major need for the 2025 AFC West champions, and after spending a fifth-round pick on NC State's Justin Joly, the Broncos doubled up at the position. After making only three catches across his first two seasons at Utah, Bentley was one of the team's leading receivers in 2025, finishing his final season with 620 yards and six touchdowns on 48 receptions. While not a dominant blocker, he has the traits of an NFL tight end and has a real chance to make the team as the final offensive player selected in 2026. With Denver holding the final two picks of the draft, Bentley also has some claim to split the Mr. Irrelevant title with new teammate Red Murdock.

The New England Patriots have selected Alabama running back Jam Miller with the 245th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Miller averaged 4.6 yards per carry across his four seasons with the Crimson Tide, but he offers little in the passing game. He has NFL size and enough athleticism to handle change-of-pace duties behind Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson, but his potential on special teams is what will help him stick with the team out of camp. While he is unlikely to make a fantasy impact in redraft leagues, Stevenson is 28 years old with a history of injuries, making Miller worthy of a post-rookie draft waiver wire stash in deeper dynasty leagues.

The Indianapolis Colts have selected Kentucky running back Seth McGowan with the 237th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Following stints with Oklahoma and New Mexico State, McGowan scored 12 rushing touchdowns in his lone season with the Wildcats. He profiles as an early-down, between-the-tackles runner who could struggle to find the field without a major injury in front of him. Jonathan Taylor was able to play in all 17 games in 2025, and the Colts spent a fifth-round pick on DJ Giddens in last year's draft, so without much of a receiving profile in his background, McGowan is unlikely to show up on many fantasy radars.

The New England Patriots have selected Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton with the 234th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft. A former four-star recruit, he spent five seasons at Texas Tech, starting games early into his career after taking over for an injured Tyler Shough and becoming the full-time starter and a team captain by 2024. Injuries have forced him to miss time throughout his career, but he has produced whenever he's been given the chance, and with time, he could develop into a quality NFL backup. The Patriots recently released veteran backup Joshua Dobbs, leaving Tommy DeVito as the only quarterback on the roster behind Drake Maye. Morton has a chance to stick in Foxboro as an emergency third quarterback who could eventually threaten for primary backup duties.

The Kansas City Chiefs have selected LSU quarterback prospect Garrett Nussmeier with the 249th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Nussmeier was widely projected as a Day 2 pick throughout the offseason, so to see him still on the board within the final 10 selections was quite surprising. He racked up 4,052 passing yards, 29 passing touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in 2024, but his statistics regressed in 2025 as he was limited to just nine games. In addition to the stats, part of the reason for his late selection was a medical concern that emerged in the pre-draft process, as Nussmeier was diagnosed with a spinal cyst pressing on a nerve. His tumble down the draft board ultimately ends with the Chiefs, who will bring him in as a developmental depth option. Patrick Mahomes II (knee) might not be ready for Week 1, so while Justin Fields is the early favorite to start the season opener, Nussmeier could have a small chance to go in and compete with the former Jets signal caller.

The Cleveland Browns have selected BYU tight end prospect Carsen Ryan with the 248th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Ryan played for three different schools throughout his college career, culminating in one lone season with BYU. It was easily the best season of his time in the NCAA as he caught 45 passes for 620 yards and three touchdowns. The Browns have not been shy about their desire to add a ton of names to the tight end room. They brought in free agent Jack Stoll to offer depth behind Harold Fannin Jr. and Blake Whiteheart, and now they've drafted both Ryan and Joe Royer on Day 3. With such a crowded position group, Ryan is low on the pecking order and faces an uphill battle to achieve meaningful playing time. He can be avoided in most fantasy football leagues.

The Tennessee Titans have selected Oklahoma tight end Jaren Kanak with the 225th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft. A one-year starter at tight end, Kanak was a high school quarterback who spent most of his time in college on the defensive side of the ball. After logging 103 career tackles as a linebacker, he mved to tight end in 2025 and made 44 receptions for 530 yards. A tough and versatile player, he could find the field in a variety of ways for new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, a la Taysom Hill. While he will almost certainly go overlooked in dynasty rookie drafts, Kanak's is a name to remember as an eventual contributor in deeper leagues.

The Washington Commanders have selected Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis with the 223rd overall pick in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Kaliakmanis spent two years at Rutgers after two seasons with Minnesota, and he showed improvement year over year. He completed more than 60% of his passes for the first time in 2025, setting career highs in passing yards and touchdowns. Kaliakmanis has NFL size at 6'2" and 216 pounds, and his improved processing could help him stick on the Commanders roster as a third quarterback behind Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota.

The Houston Texans have selected Boston College wide receiver Lewis Bond with the 204th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Bond saw increased production across his five years with the Eagles, leading the team with 88 catches for 993 yards in 2025, though he found the end zone only once. Operating primarily out of the slot and winning with toughness and strong hands, his lack of size or elite traits may catch up to him as he makes the jump up to NFL competition. With Tank Dell and Jaylin Noel already working in a similar space for the Texans, Bond could struggle to find the field and is unlikely to make any fantasy impact early in his career.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have selected Navy running back prospect Eli Heidenreich with the 230th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft. A three-year contributor in college, Heidenreich posted elite numbers in the passing game. Last season, he had 499 rushing yards, 51 catches, 941 receiving yards, and nine total touchdowns. He also set a new all-time program record with six touchdown receptions in a single season. The pass-catching numbers are very impressive, and he should continue to have a role on passing downs at the next level. There's a decent chance that he'll be able to carve out some third-down snaps in the Steelers' backfield behind Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle.

The Los Angeles Rams have selected Miami (FL) wide receiver CJ Daniels with the 197th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. A 24-year-old prospect, Daniels spent six seasons at three different schools, topping 1,000 yards once in a career-best 2023 season at Liberty that he was unable to replicate at either LSU or Miami. Lacking any truly elite traits, he proved himself to be a crafty route runner and an important piece of the Hurricanes' deep playoff run. He projects most comfortably as a big slot at the next level, and while the Rams have found recent success with a Day 3 pick of a similar archetype, Daniels is more likely to make his mark on special teams than as an impactful fantasy option.

The Cincinnati Bengals have selected Texas tight end prospect Jack Endries with the 221st overall pick in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft. He was a three-year contributor in college, spending two seasons at California and one at Texas. He had a career-low 33 catches and 346 yards in 2025, but he also scored a career-high three touchdowns. Although his production slid a little, it was encouraging to see Endries remain involved while making the jump to the SEC. At 6-foot-5, he's a big-bodied tight end who is capable of making contested catches. He projects as a rotational pass-catching option for the Bengals behind Drew Sample and Mike Gesicki.

The Las Vegas Raiders have selected Oregon wide receiver Malik Benson with the 195th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. A deep ball specialist, Benson had his most productive season as a senior for the Ducks after beginning in JUCO and making stops at Alabama and Florida State. His game lacks nuance, but he showcased his elite speed by running a 4.37 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, and he now lands with a team that has historically valued receivers who can play vertically. Benson joins a receiver room of Jalen Nailor, Tre Tucker, Jack Bech, and Dont'e Thornton Jr., all of whom are likely to slot in behind Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty in the target pecking order. Benson will likely need to find a special teams role to make the team out of camp, but he could eventually offer upside in best ball only leagues.