Fantasy Football News

It's been a surprise that wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee), who hasn't played since tearing his ACL in October of 2024, is still with the San Francisco 49ers, with April coming to an end this week. In January, general manager John Lynch said that it was "safe to say" that Aiyuk had played his last snap with the organization. Lynch later said an Aiyuk-related move would come before the new league year started on March 11. In late March, Lynch said he didn't have a date when asked when the 49ers might release Aiyuk, and he also added that "we're in no rush to do that." The 49ers were discussing a trade of Aiyuk in the lead-up to last week's NFL draft, but nothing came to fruition. Lynch seemed to indicate that if Aiyuk wasn't traded during the draft, they might finally release the former first-rounder. The Niners don't appear to be in any rush to do Aiyuk any favors after a lengthy contract dispute in 2024 before his season-ending knee injury that year. Aiyuk then stopped showing up for his rehab last year, at which point the team voided the remaining guarantees on his contract. The Athletic's Matt Barrows thinks the team's first organized team activity practice on May 27 might be an "unofficial marker" for Aiyuk's release. The 28-year-old former 25th overall pick in 2020 out of Arizona State had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2022 and 2023, but he's coming off a major knee injury, which will make him a huge question mark in 2026 fantasy football leagues. The Commanders appear to be the likeliest landing spot for Aiyuk if he's eventually released, potentially linking up with former college teammate, QB Jayden Daniels.

The Carolina Panthers officially picked up quarterback Bryce Young's fifth-year option for the 2027 season on Wednesday, according to Darin Gantt of the team's official website. It was a no-brainer move for the Panthers after Young set new career-highs in passing yards (3,011), touchdowns (23), completion percentage (63.6), and passer rating (87.8). He also had six of his 12 game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime in 2025, and his 12 comeback wins are the most of any QB in the NFL since 2023. While Young still shouldn't be viewed as a legitimate QB1 in fantasy football in 2026, he has proven in recent seasons that he is improving, and he was especially effective late in games and in close contests. The former first overall pick in 2023 is now under contract for the next two seasons in Carolina and has plenty of receiving weapons in Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, Xavier Legette, and rookie Chris Brazzell II to take another step forward as a passer in 2026. Young is a rising high-end QB2 in superflex and dynasty/keeper leagues.

Former 49ers and Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. remains unsigned following the 2026 NFL Draft, which saw 36 new receivers drafted into the league. In what was often described as a "flavors class" at the position, most receiver-needy teams were able to come away from the three-day event believing they'd found an offensive fit. At his peak, Samuel's physical YAC abilities made him one of the most unique receivers in the game, but even coming off a year in which he led a depleted Commanders team in receiving yards and touchdowns, age and injuries have slowed him considerably. Since finishing as the fantasy WR2 in a remarkable 2021 season that saw him top 1,750 yards from scrimmage while scoring 14 touchdowns, Samuel has exceeded 865 total yards only once and finished as the WR28 or worse in three of four seasons. With the NFL overlooking him in free agency and turning to a deep draft class to find scheme fits, it's possible that Samuel will need to wait for a training camp injury before finding a new home, and at 30 years old and RotoBaller's WR78, he's become little more than a dynasty hold who can hopefully see one more value spike if that home provides a natural match for his once-dominant skill set.

As a fourth-round rookie in 2025, Tennessee Titans wide receiver Elic Ayomanor led the team in targets and receiving touchdowns, but his competition heading into Year 2 figures to be significantly stiffer. After spending $38 million in guarantees to acquire former Giants receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (fresh off back-to-back 90+ reception campaigns), the Titans produced one of the NFL Draft's early surprises by selecting Ohio State prospect Carnell Tate with the fourth overall pick. Tate figures to slot in as a day one starter, and, given the investment and his familiarity with new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, Robinson is likely to become his primary running mate in two-receiver sets. That leaves Ayomanor, eight-year veteran Calvin Ridley, and special teams maven Chimere Dike to split reps when the team turns to 11 personnel. With both Ayomanor and Tate profiling as prototypical boundary receivers, it could be Ridley who finds an easier path to playing time after leading the team in both targets and yards before a broken fibula ended his season prematurely. Following a WR51 finish in his rookie season, the soon-to-be-23-year-old Ayomanor has fallen to WR79 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings.

New York wide receiver Darius Slayton has become a bit of a forgotten man amidst a busy Giants' offseason, and that is reflected in his dynasty value, as he has fallen to RotoBaller's WR122. At times, out of necessity in 2025, Slayton operated as the team's primary boundary receiver, but he converted the opportunity into only 538 yards and one touchdown on 37 receptions. For reference, Malik Nabers finished the year with 18 catches, 271 yards, and two touchdowns after an early-season ACL tear limited him to parts of only four games. With Nabers expected back for the start of the 2026 season, he'll be looking to recreate his historic 2024 rookie season, in which he caught 109 of 165 targets. Wan'Dale Robinson, who led the team with 131 targets in 2025 before signing a four-year deal with the Titans, will see much of his vacated workload picked up by free agent acquisitions Isaiah Likely and Darnell Mooney, as well as the recently drafted Malachi Fields. With the Giants' depth chart suddenly crowded, Slayton is projected to settle back into a more natural complementary role, and dynasty managers who were unable to sell on the strength of his opportunistic workload are stuck holding a depreciating asset.

Former Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku remains unsigned after a down year led to his release. The 29-year-old veteran ceded a considerable workload to breakthrough rookie Harold Fannin Jr. and finished his ninth season in Cleveland with only 293 yards on 33 catches. Njoku is a plus blocker and a huge target who has long been a menace after the catch, and despite seeing 21 tight ends selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, including nine through the first three rounds, there are still tight end-needy teams on the market. With NFL offenses gearing more towards heavy personnel, this recent draft was evidence of the growing need for depth at the position, and Njoku's versatility could still make him a factor in fantasy regardless of where he ultimately lands. At RotoBaller's dynasty TE23, he's a low-cost dart throw depth piece who is likely to see his value spike as soon as he finds a new home.

Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren converted 106 targets into 76 receptions, 817 yards, and four touchdowns as a rookie in 2025, and his opportunities could be even more bountiful in Year 2. The Colts have been shedding wide receivers since their mid-season trade for cornerback Sauce Gardner, in which they sent 2024 second-round pick Adonai Mitchell to the New York Jets. Shortly into the new league year, the team dealt Michael Pittman Jr. to the Steelers, and while they committed to Alec Pierce with a four-year, $114 million deal, Indianapolis has made no significant outside acquisitions through free agency or the draft. With Pittman gone, there is no player on the roster besides Warren who saw more than 84 targets last season, and the majority of passing work should now be divvied up between the trifecta of Warren, Pierce, and Josh Downs. Warren did see a significant decline in production following the season-ending Achilles injury suffered by Daniel Jones, so the quarterback situation in Indianapolis could hold significant weight in his ability to take the next step, but by all accounts, Jones is progressing well, and the team believes he will be ready for the start of the 2026 season. At RotoBaller's dynasty TE4, Warren is one of the few tight ends in the league in position to lead his team in targets and should remain a true fantasy difference-maker for the foreseeable future.

The New York Jets hosted veteran free-agent quarterback Russell Wilson for a visit and are considering him as an option to be Geno Smith's backup this year, a source told Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. Wilson, 37, is nearing the end of his career after being benched in favor of first-rounder Jaxson Dart with the New York Giants last year. In his six games (three starts) for the G-Men in 2025, Wilson completed a career-low 58% of his passes for 831 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions. The former third-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in 2012 out of Wisconsin had a fantastic run in the NFL with 10 Pro Bowl appearances and a Super Bowl championship, but he is nearing the end of the line and is strictly QB depth at this point in his career. If he stays in New York and signs with the Jets for the 2026 season as a backup, Wilson won't even be on the radar in dynasty/superflex leagues.

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) said he's been fully cleared by his surgeon to take part in the team's offseason program and feels "close to 100 percent," according to Joe Person of The Athletic. Brooks is returning from a second ACL surgery on his right knee and could have a pretty decent role in the Panthers' backfield in 2026 behind Chuba Hubbard if he can stay healthy. The 22-year-old was a second-round selection in 2024 out of the University of Texas, but he has only played in three games and has had nine carries for 22 yards since being drafted by Carolina due to continued knee issues. Rico Dowdle departed in free agency to look for a bigger role elsewhere, which leaves Brooks to compete primarily with AJ Dillon for RB2 duties behind Hubbard. Brooks will most likely go undrafted in most single-year leagues later this year, but in dynasty/keeper formats, he might be a savvy buy-low candidate for RB depth.

The New England Patriots exercised cornerback Christian Gonzalez's fifth-year option on Tuesday, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN. This move was fully expected after Gonzalez was selected to his first Pro Bowl in Year 3 in 2025 after he recorded a career-high 69 tackles (54 solo) and 10 pass breakups in 14 regular-season games. The 23-year-old was the Patriots' first-round pick (17th overall) in 2023 out of Oregon. He played in only four games in his rookie season due to injury, but he has bounced back nicely in each of the last two seasons with a combined 128 tackles (104 solo), two interceptions, 21 pass breakups, and a fumble recovery in 30 starts. Gonzalez will make $18.1 million on his fifth-year option in 2027, but it doesn't keep the Patriots from eventually signing the star defensive back to a long-term extension. He was a big reason that the Patriots surprised everyone in 2025 to make a run to the Super Bowl.

ESPN's Adam Schefter considers new Arizona Cardinals running back Tyler Allgeier as one of the biggest losers after the 2026 NFL draft last week. Allgeier left the Atlanta Falcons to sign a two-year, $12.25 million deal with the Arizona Cardinals so that he could finally be a lead back in the NFL. Then on draft night, the Cardinals took Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love with the third overall pick, thrusting Allgeier right back into a backup role. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. says that the Cardinals could accommodate Allgeier a bit by putting Love out wide as a slot receiver in the offense this year. Love is a dynamic threat out of the backfield as both a receiver and runner, so he will give the Cardinals flexibility and versatility in the backfield, but the bottom line is that the addition of the Fighting Irish star RB is a major threat to Allgeier having a much bigger role than he saw in Atlanta behind Bijan Robinson. That's especially true since the Cardinals also have James Conner (foot) and Trey Benson (knee) as backfield options in 2026 (if they aren't traded). Allgeier could open the season as the primary back in Arizona, but before long, Love should take over.

ESPN's Adam Schefter said on The Pat McAfee Show this week that he thinks the Philadelphia Eagles will receive a first-round pick for wide receiver A.J. Brown from the New England Patriots when the trade "comes together" on June 1. The Eagles have been open to moving Brown after June 1 all along, and the New England Patriots really want Brown, even though they signed Romeo Doubs in free agency in March. Schefter believes the Patriots will end up sending a 2028 first-rounder to Philly, and receiver Kayshon Boutte could be headed to Philly as part of the package. The 28-year-old Brown, who was a second-rounder by the Tennessee Titans in 2019 out of Mississippi, may have worn out his welcome in Philly in 2025, when he openly complained about his role on offense. Brown still finished with his sixth 1,000-yard season in seven NFL campaigns, but he also had a career-low 12.9 yards per catch and was as up-and-down as a 1,000-yard receiver can be. A move to New England to work with young QB Drake Maye could reinvigorate Brown as he enters his eighth NFL season in 2026. He'd immediately become the Pats' WR1 over Doubs if he were to be traded to New England.

The Pittsburgh Steelers placed the rare right-of-first-refusal tender on free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers on Tuesday, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. It means that Rodgers can accept a 10% raise from last year's salary, which would pay him around $15 million in 2026, and the Steelers also will have the right to match any offer sheet he would sign with another team. Rodgers would only be able to sign with the Steelers once training camp begins, as another condition of the tender. The 42-year-old future Hall of Famer has not informed Pittsburgh of his decision on whether he wants to continue his career and re-sign with the team, but all signs continue to point to a reunion with new head coach Mike McCarthy. The Steelers drafted QB Drew Allar in the third round last week, but if Rodgers returns, he will be the team's starter under center for a second straight season. Pittsburgh has added some reinforcements at receiver behind DK Metcalf, including former Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr., but Rodgers should still be viewed as more of a low-upside, low-end QB2 in superflex leagues in 2026 if he's back for another season.

Free-agent wide receiver Jauan Jennings is visiting with the Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday night and Wednesday, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN. The 49ers moved on from Jennings after not finding common ground for a long-term extension. The 28-year-old's market has been ice-cold this offseason after he caught 55 passes for 643 yards and a career-high nine touchdowns in 15 regular-season starts in his fifth year in the NFL. Jennings has 15 touchdown receptions in the last two years and also set career-highs in catches (77) and receiving yards (975) in 15 games for the 49ers in 2024. The former seventh-rounder's high-point mark easily could have been the 2024 season. His production soared the last two seasons, with both Brandon Aiyuk (knee) and Ricky Pearsall missing extended time with injuries in the Bay Area. If Jennings were to land in Minnesota, his fantasy ceiling would be much lower behind both Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.

The Los Angeles Chargers announced on Tuesday that they exercised the fifth-year option on wide receiver Quentin Johnston. Johnston was taken by the Bolts with the 21st overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft out of TCU. He was looking like a first-round bust after a very disappointing rookie year that involved plenty of miscues and drops. The 24-year-old then bounced back in 2024 with 55 catches, 711 yards, and eight touchdowns in 15 regular-season games. Johnston had a similar campaign in 2025, finishing with a 51-735-8 line in 14 regular-season starts. The Chargers did add receiver Brenen Thompson in the draft this year, but as long as the team doesn't re-sign veteran Keenan Allen, Johnston should be quarterback Justin Herbert's primary deep threat through the air in 2026. The 6-foot-2, 208-pounder has been a boom/bust WR4/flex as a big-play receiver, but he could have even more upside in new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniels' scheme in his fourth NFL season.

The Detroit Lions plan to pick up the fifth-year option of star running back Jahmyr Gibbs, according to Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News. Gibbs will be due $14.3 million fully guaranteed for the 2027 season, tying him for the fifth-most expensive RB in the league based on average annual contract value. As one of the best all-around backs in the NFL, picking up the 24-year-old's fifth-year option was a no-brainer move for Detroit. He has been a Pro Bowler in each of his first three years in the league, and there's an argument to be made that he's worth the No. 1 overall pick in fantasy football drafts this year. Gibbs finished with his second straight 1,000-yard rushing campaign in 2025 and added 13 rushing touchdowns in 17 starts. Through the air, he caught a career-high 77 passes for 616 yards and five more touchdowns on 94 targets. With David Montgomery now out of town, the Lions should utilize Gibbs even more as a rare three-down back in his fourth year in the NFL. Through three seasons, Gibbs has an impressive 3,580 rushing yards and 39 rushing TDs, adding 1,449 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns. The dude is a beast at the RB position.

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (ankle) had a successful and anticipated follow-up clean-up procedure on his ankle during his scheduled re-check with Dr. Norman Waldrop last week, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. The Broncos are expected to be conservative with Nix's participation during the offseason program, but the third-year signal-caller "continues to make strong progress" in his recovery and is firmly on track to be ready for the start of training camp at the end of July. The 26-year-old should then be ready to roll for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season in early September, barring a setback with his surgically repaired ankle in camp. The Broncos would like to see Nix start developing chemistry with new receiver Jaylen Waddle as quickly as possible, but they aren't going to rush anything. In his second NFL season in 2025, Nix nearly led the Broncos to the Super Bowl before fracturing his ankle late in the Divisional Round win over the Bills. He was a top-10 fantasy QB as well, throwing for 3,931 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions while adding 356 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground in 17 regular-season games. Nix has some injury risk because of his ankle, but if fully healthy in head coach Sean Payton's offense, he should at least be considered a low-end QB1 in fantasy leagues.

After spending the first four years of his NFL career with the Baltimore Ravens, tight end Isaiah Likely landed a three-year, $40 million deal with the New York Giants in free agency. Likely flashed upside throughout his time with Baltimore, but his path to consistently fantasy-relevant production was often blocked by the presence of veteran Ravens tight end Mark Andrews. In New York, Likely could find himself in another timeshare for tight end snaps with incumbent Giants tight end Theo Johnson. Johnson had a solid year in 2025, recording 45 receptions for 528 yards and five touchdowns on 74 targets across 15 games. However, given the financial investment the Giants made in Likely and the fact that he's following former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh from Baltimore to New York, it wouldn't be shocking to see Likely open the year as the clear TE1. The Giants also do not have an obvious second option in the passing game behind star wideout Malik Nabers (knee), which could further open the door for a breakout year from Likely. A significant jump in production for Likely is not guaranteed, but his dynasty value is in a better spot after his move to New York.

Across 15 games with the San Francisco 49ers in 2025, wide receiver Jauan Jennings hauled in 55 receptions for 643 yards and nine touchdowns on 90 targets. With 49ers wideouts Brandon Aiyuk and Ricky Pearsall both missing significant time, Jennings spent most of the year as San Francisco's WR1. However, despite his solid production, Jennings currently remains an unrestricted free agent. While there are surely a number of teams interested in securing his services, recent reports indicate a league consensus that Jennings is holding out for more money than he is worth. The 49ers signed veteran wideouts Mike Evans and Christian Kirk in free agency and used a second-round pick in the 2026 Draft on Ole Miss wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling, which could be an indication that the team no longer considers Jennings a part of its plans. With his future currently in limbo, Jennings' dynasty value is slowly starting to fade as he enters his age-29 season.

Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III got off to a slow start to his rookie season in 2025, recording just 13 catches in his first seven NFL games. However, the 22-year-old closed the year on a tear, hauling in 21 receptions for 324 yards and a touchdown on 26 targets over his final four contests. This offseason, the Bears have added veteran wide receiver Kalif Raymond in free agency and LSU wideout Zavion Thomas with a third-round pick in the 2026 Draft. However, Chicago also traded away veteran wideout DJ Moore. All in all, Burden III looks to be in a prime position to enter 2026 as the Bears' WR2 alongside Rome Odunze. Burden III has proven to be a big-play threat with the ball in his hands, and he has the benefit of playing in a Chicago offense that should only be ascending with the promising quarterback/play-caller combination of Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson in place for the long haul. In dynasty formats, Burden III looks like a potential breakout candidate heading into 2026.