Fantasy Football News

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. officially signed his $15.045 million franchise tender on Thursday, according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Pitts is locked into a sixth season with the Falcons, but the team's brass may want to see another strong season in 2026 before getting serious about signing him to a long-term extension. The 25-year-old former fourth overall pick in 2021 out of the University of Florida looked legitimate in his first year in the NFL, when he posted a 68-1,026-1 line on 110 targets over 17 games. However, He combined for just nine touchdowns and didn't exceed 667 receiving yards or 53 receptions in his next three seasons from 2022 to 2024. Pitts finally broke out again for fantasy managers in 2025, securing 88 receptions on 118 targets for 928 yards and five touchdowns in 17 starts in a career year. Can he do it again? Well, it's a major question mark, especially with Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. (knee) set to compete for the starting QB job this summer. He should still be considered a TE1 in fantasy in 2026, but fantasy managers shouldn't reach for him as an elite TE1. Right now, RotoBaller has Pitts ranked as the No. 8 option at his position.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, who missed nine games in 2025 after having surgery for turf toe, was reportedly with the team last week for the start of their voluntary offseason workouts and appeared to look pretty happy, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Rapoport adds that Burrow was quoted recently in Vanity Fair, saying he's "excited to see the initiative of the Bengals" this offseason. Cincy went 6-11 last season (third in the AFC North) and missed the playoffs for the third straight season and the eighth time in the last 10 years. The Bengals are going all-in for the 2026 season after acquiring defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence from the New York Giants and signing linebacker Boye Mafe to a three-year, $60 million contract in free agency. The 29-year-old Burrow appears to be fully healthy as he enters his seventh season in the league, and he'll be a clear high-end QB1 target in fantasy drafts this fall despite his injury history. Burrow threw for a league-best 4,918 yards and 43 touchdowns in 17 starts in 2024, and he's RotoBaller's No.5-ranked fantasy QB for 2026 right now.

Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson turned in a disappointing season in 2025, recording 51 receptions for 438 yards and three touchdowns on 66 targets across 15 games. Like the rest of Minnesota's pass-catchers, Hockenson's numbers were impacted by a Vikings' offense that received subpar play at the quarterback position from the underwhelming combination of J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer. Minnesota added veteran signal-caller Kyler Murray over the offseason, and Murray should help stabilize the team's passing game in 2026. Still, Hockenson has now recorded just 893 receiving yards and three touchdowns across 25 games over the past two seasons. Since tearing his ACL late in the 2023 season, the soon-to-be 29-year-old has struggled to regain his peak form. While the upgraded quarterback play in Minnesota certainly improves Hockenson's outlook for 2026, his overall dynasty value is fading as he enters his eighth NFL season.

Across 15 starts in 2026, Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love completed 66.3% of his pass attempts for 3,381 yards, 23 touchdowns, and six interceptions. On arm talent alone, Love's fantasy upside appears to be higher than his QB17 and QB15 finishes of the past two seasons. However, Green Bay has been one of the most run-heavy offenses in the NFL in recent years and seems likely to profile similarly going forward. Love could also be working with a diminished group of pass-catchers in 2026. The Packers let wide receiver Romeo Doubs walk in free agency, and star tight end Tucker Kraft (knee) is working his way back from the torn ACL that ended his 2025 season. Love still carries some degree of dynasty upside as he enters his age-28 campaign, but he may be settling in as more of a fringe starter in single-QB formats.

Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz put together a steadily productive campaign in 2025, recording 82 receptions for 777 yards and three touchdowns on 106 targets across 17 games. While Schultz has been a fantasy-relevant tight end at different points, 2025 is the only season of his eight-year NFL career with at least 100 targets and 80 catches. The 29-year-old has never averaged more than 10.8 yards per reception, so he's heavily reliant on target volume for fantasy production. Schultz remains atop the Texans' tight end depth chart heading into 2026, but he may be facing a significantly reduced role in his team's offense. Houston added veteran tight end Foster Moreau in free agency and used a second-round pick on tight end Marlin Klein in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Texans should also get more out of tight end Cade Stover, who missed eight games in 2025 with a foot injury. In dynasty formats, fantasy managers may want to consider selling high on Schultz before the start of the 2026 season.

Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal played a surprisingly important role in his team's offense in 2026, finishing the year with 779 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns on 171 touches across 13 games. The Chargers were forced to turn to Vidal early in the year due to injuries to running backs Najee Harris and Omarion Hampton. While Vidal is back with Los Angeles for 2026, his playing time is an open question. Hampton should be fully healthy for the start of the year and profiles as a three-down back. The Chargers also signed former Baltimore Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell to a two-year deal in free agency, which could signify that Mitchell has the upper hand on Vidal for the team's RB2 role. Despite the productive year in 2025, Vidal's dynasty value is trending in the wrong direction entering 2026.

New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson put together the most productive season of his career in 2025, recording 77 receptions for 889 yards and three touchdowns on 102 targets across 17 games. Johnson finished second on the team in targets, behind only star Saints wideout Chris Olave. However, New Orleans aggressively added pass-catchers over the offseason, which could put a ceiling on Johnson's upside in 2026 and beyond. In the 2026 NFL Draft, the Saints used a first-round pick on wide receiver Jordyn Tyson and added two more wide receivers in the middle rounds in Bryce Lance and Barion Brown. New Orleans also brought in direct competition at the tight end position for Johnson, using a third-round pick on Oscar Delp and signing veteran Noah Fant in free agency. While Johnson should still play a role in his team's offense, his fantasy production is reliant on target volume. Dynasty managers may want to consider selling Johnson now, while he's at the peak of his value.

After logging 1,366 scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns in 2024, Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard saw his production dip in 2025. Across 15 games, the 26-year-old recorded just 734 scrimmage yards and four scores. Hubbard opened the year as the Panthers RB1, but an early-season injury opened the door for Rico Dowdle to take over the lead rusher role in Carolina. However, Dowdle signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in March, which could provide Hubbard an opportunity to reassume a three-down role. The Panthers did not add any running backs in the 2026 NFL Draft, leaving the oft-injured Jonathan Brooks and the unproven Trevor Etienne as Hubbard's primary competition. In dynasty formats, Hubbard's stock is rising following Carolina's offseason moves.

When asked about the shoulder injury that bothered New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (shoulder) down the stretch last year, he said he's doing "great," according to The Associated Press. "Nothing, nothing, no problems at all," Maye said, adding that he didn't require surgery. The 23-year-old former third overall pick out of North Carolina in 2024 finished second in the MVP voting in 2025 after an amazing regular season thanks to a soft schedule, but he really struggled in four postseason games, completing 70 of his 120 pass attempts for 828 yards, six touchdowns, and four interceptions while taking 21 sacks. Maye required a pain-killing injection in his right shoulder before the Super Bowl loss to the Seattle Seahawks, but his shoulder is all systems go this offseason, and he shouldn't have any physical limitations going into Year 3. Some fantasy managers will want Maye to prove it again in 2026, but after an outstanding sophomore season, RotoBaller has him ranked as a top-five QB. The Pats added receiver Romeo Doubs in free agency, and Maye's fantasy stock in redraft and dynasty formats will only be boosted if they trade for A.J. Brown, as is expected.

Tennessee Titans tight end Gunnar Helm represents an intriguing buy-low option ahead of a potential Year 2 breakout in 2026. Despite missing one game and playing behind Chig Okonkwo last year, Helm managed to catch 44 passes for 357 yards and two touchdowns. Even though he was a rookie and No. 2 on the depth chart, he finished as the overall TE31 in PPR leagues. The Texas product was trending up to end the season, and his dynasty outlook got a major boost as the Titans let Okonkwo depart in free agency. Now, Helm is the clear-cut No. 1 tight end in a Titans offense that could be trending upward. Quarterback Cameron Ward is certainly still developing, but we'd expect him to make a significant leap in his second season. And the state of the offense as a whole is in a very good place with players like Tony Pollard, Wan'Dale Robinson, and Carnell Tate. There are a lot of mouths to feed in the passing game, but the fact that Helm essentially has the tight end position all to himself is a very encouraging sign, especially in an offense led by Brian Daboll. Under the guidance of Daboll, Giants tight end Theo Johnson jumped from TE37 as a rookie to TE18 in his second season. Don't be surprised if Helm follows a similar trajectory. He currently ranks as the TE27 in RotoBaller's dynasty fantasy football rankings, but there is clear top-15 upside here. Dynasty managers would be wise to trade for Helm before the buy-low window closes.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver and cornerback Travis Hunter (knee) is expected to be a full-go for training camp. He continues to recover from last season's torn LCL, and it doesn't sound like he'll have any limitations this summer. With that said, an uptick in defensive snaps and a crowded receiver room could spell disaster for Hunter's fantasy value in non-IDP leagues. The former first-round pick's career was already off to a slow start on the offensive side of the ball. He posted single-digit fantasy points (PPR) in each of his first six games last year before finally breaking out for eight catches, 101 yards, and one touchdown in Week 7. However, that was his last game of the season due to injury. Hunter averaged 9.1 fantasy points on offense last year, and if he's going to play more on defense in 2026, we'd have to imagine his offensive involvement goes down. And even if he does end up having a similar snap share, his overall productivity will take a hit due to the fact that he's also devoting so much energy and effort to playing on defense. Furthermore, Hunter has added competition in the form of Jakobi Meyers, who wasn't on the team when he was healthy last year. The presence of Meyers, Brian Thomas Jr., and Parker Washington could drop Hunter to fourth on the wide receiver depth chart, stripping him of almost all his value in redraft leagues and also hurting dynasty managers. Hunter still has the potential to play more offense in the future, but the short-term outlook feels like a punch to the gut for fantasy managers who took him in the first round of rookie drafts last year. He has quickly fallen to WR54 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings.

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir was a relatively consistent fantasy contributor in 2025, scoring 9.5+ fantasy points (PPR) in 11 of his 16 games. Between James Cook and Josh Allen, the Bills were a run-heavy offense last year, but when they did throw the ball, Shakir emerged as a dependable target. He caught 72 passes for 719 yards and four touchdowns, ranking as the overall WR36, which was the best mark of his career. While it was encouraging him to turn in a solid season in such a prominent offense, dynasty managers should be a little concerned about a certain offseason move. Buffalo struck a deal to acquire DJ Moore from the Chicago Bears, bumping Shakir down to No. 2 on the depth chart. In many offenses, Shakir as a No. 2 would still be a very strong WR3/flex, but there aren't a ton of targets to go around in Buffalo. Josh Allen threw the ball just 460 times last year, which was his lowest pass attempt total since his rookie season in 2018. If that trend persists in 2026 and beyond, Moore could be the only Bills receiver with fantasy relevance every week. That drops Shakir to being more of a matchup-based play. The latest expert insight reflects that narrative, as Shakir has fallen to WR56 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings. Managers can try to trade him away this offseason, but it may be too late.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson has the potential to be a weekly fantasy starter when healthy, but injuries have derailed the first four years of his career. He has missed 20 of 68 games since being drafted, and he has never finished a single season higher than WR41 in PPR leagues. The talent is undeniable, though, and we're confident that a Christian Watson and Jordan Love duo could eclipse 1,000 yards together over a healthy 17-game stretch. The crowded receiver room is another factor to consider, although it's not a major obstacle. Players like Watson, Jayden Reed, the now-departed Romeo Doubs, and even Matthew Golden have shown that they can produce in this crowded position group. There are enough targets to go around to support a top-30 finish from Watson. Now, he just needs to stay on the field. We're encouraged by the fact that he played 10 consecutive games without being inactive in 2025, so perhaps that's a sign that he'll be able to stay healthy in 2026. Purely based on upside and his relatively low cost, Watson is an intriguing dynasty trade target this offseason.

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth had a frustrating 2025 season, catching just 41 passes for 486 yards and four touchdowns en route to ranking as the overall TE25 in PPR leagues. There's some uncertainty about his future outlook, but the good news is that the Steelers have a new coaching staff in place, and they didn't bring in anyone to compete with Freiermuth. He's clearly the top option on the depth chart, ahead of players like Darnell Washington and rookie Riley Nowakowski. The bad news, on the other hand, is that in Mike McCarthy's last season as a head coach (2024), Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson was the TE25. In the Cowboys' first year without McCarthy, he soared to TE5. So while we're encouraged that the Steelers' coaching staff change -- plus the anticipated return of dependable passer Aaron Rodgers -- could be good for Freiermuth, we also acknowledge that McCarthy doesn't have the greatest short-term track record with the position. The 27-year-old should bounce back this year, but the exact magnitude of his progression is unknown. We're not ready to bank on him being a TE1 in fantasy football.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has the potential to be a short-term option in fantasy football, but he lacks long-term upside in dynasty leagues. Tagovailoa signed with the Falcons this offseason after being released by the Miami Dolphins. He may open the 2026 season as Atlanta's starter since Michael Penix Jr. (knee) is still recovering from his torn ACL, but the job belongs to Penix when he's healthy. Recent comments from president of football Matt Ryan seem to indicate that Penix's recovery is either on schedule or behind schedule, so Tagovailoa could be a QB2 option through the first few weeks of the season. Once Penix returns, though, Tagovailoa will head to the bench, where he'll face an uphill battle to reclaim any starting role, at least as long as he remains in Atlanta. He was the QB9 in 2023, but he's coming off a disastrous 2025 campaign in which he threw for 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

Following the trade that sent running back Jordan Mason to the Minnesota Vikings ahead of the 2025 season, the fourth-year back was pegged as a popular breakout candidate, rising all the way to RB24 in consensus dynasty rankings. By most metrics, Mason's first year in Minnesota was a disappointment. Even with Aaron Jones Sr. missing significant time, Mason was held to only 758 rushing yards and six touchdowns while the entirety of the Vikings' offense was held back by listless quarterback play. The Vikings have found at least a short-term fix at quarterback, bringing in Kyler Murray on a one-year deal, and while Minnesota was labeled as one of the more running back-needy teams entering the 2026 NFL Draft, the team waited until the sixth round of a weak class to address the position, selecting Demond Claiborne out of Wake Forest. At 5'9" and 195 pounds, Claiborne poses little threat to Mason's between-the-tackles early-down work. With both Mason and Jones in the final year of their contracts, the importance of the 2026 season for Mason's long-term dynasty value can not be overstated. He enters the season as RotoBaller's RB50, but that ranking could climb if Minnesota's offense can shake off a forgettable 2025 campaign.

Free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers is planning to visit the Pittsburgh Steelers to further discuss his future with the team, as reported by NFL insider Ian Rapoport. While no deal is currently in place, there is speculation that the visit could be the next step toward getting him signed for the 2026 season. Rodgers threw for 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns in his first season with Pittsburgh. Following a mutual parting of ways between the Steelers and long-time head coach Mike Tomlin, a return to the Steel City by the 42-year-old veteran would also mean a reunion between Rodgers and new head coach Mike McCarthy after the two spent 13 seasons together in Green Bay, including a Super Bowl-winning 2010 campaign. The Steelers added quarterback Drew Allar in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and should the team find itself in a situation where it is forced to move forward without Rodgers, the Penn State rookie would likely compete with seven-year veteran Mason Rudolph and 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard for the starting job.

The Philadelphia Eagles sent fifth and sixth-round picks to acquire wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks as part of their near-total overhaul of the position. With the team expected to trade three-time Pro Bowler A.J. Brown on or after June 1st, the new look receiver room in Philadelphia now includes Wicks, incumbent DeVonta Smith, Marquise Brown, and 2026 first-round pick Makai Lemon. The Eagles also added tight end Eli Stowers in the second round of the NFL Draft after many teams were reportedly scouting him through the lens of a wide receiver. After three seasons in a crowded receiver room in Green Bay, Wicks finds himself in a similar situation in Philadelphia, but at 6'1", 206 pounds, he profiles as the most likely candidate to inherit some of Brown's snaps on the boundary. While the Packers have been one of the most run-heavy teams in recent years, the Eagles have thrown the ball at an even lesser rate, so even if Wicks can carve out a more meaningful role, his fantasy ceiling is still capped. At RotoBaller's dynasty WR104, he still belongs on rosters for what he could offer should injuries eventually condense targets in Philadelphia, but his contributions could be limited for the foreseeable future.

Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders can arguably be thrown into the category of 2026 offseason winners, but how that actually translates to his dynasty value remains to be seen. The Panthers were considered one of the most tight end-needy teams in the league, but in an NFL Draft that saw 21 tight ends come off the board, not one of them went to Carolina. Sanders led all Panthers tight ends with 29 receptions in 2025 and finished within 60 yards of Tommy Tremble despite missing five games with a high ankle sprain and later a broken ankle to end his season. All reports have him recovering well, and while calls are growing louder for a Jalen Coker breakout, there is still a serious lack of target competition behind 2025 Offensive Player of the Year Tetairoa McMillan. If Sanders can beat out Tremble and 2025 fifth-round pick Mitchell Evans as the team's primary pass-catcher at the position, there should be enough opportunity to make a modest fantasy impact. At RotoBaller's dynasty TE37, expectations are low, but if Sanders can take a step forward in year three, as used to be the norm before the recent tight end resurgence, he could be a low-cost add who offers usable depth moving forward.

Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell suffered a gruesome knee injury in Week 16 of the 2024 season, which ended his sophomore campaign and caused him to miss all of the 2025 season. After dislocating his knee and tearing multiple ligaments, his recovery has been arduous, but signs now point to his eventual return in 2026. Dell has been participating in the early stages of organized team activities, and there is a belief he could be ready for the start of the season. With the Texans adding Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel in the 2025 NFL Draft, it's uncertain how the receiver rotation will work out alongside two-time Pro Bowler Nico Collins. Dell has taken more than 70% of his professional snaps on the outside, so despite vastly different body types, his most direct competition would appear to be the 6'4", 215-pound Higgins. Dell finished as WR38 as a rookie in 2023, and he's risen back up to WR66 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings after falling as low as WR87 in consensus ranks. That said, with the improved depth of the position since he last took the field, the ceiling could be capped for all Texans pass-catchers outside of Collins.