Fantasy Football News

Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (knee) has emerged as a glaring trade target in dynasty leagues amid his recovery from last season's torn ACL. Kraft is reportedly ahead of schedule, and while it's still too early to tell if he'll be ready for Week 1, the 25-year-old said it's his goal to play in the season opener. Once Kraft gets back to 100% and is healthy enough to play in a game, he should re-establish himself as a top-five tight end in fantasy football. He was the top-scoring tight end in fantasy football from Week 1-8 last year, before he ultimately tore his ACL in Week 9. Because of his youth and productivity, Kraft is a high-end tight end in dynasty rankings, but managers can acquire him at a slight discount because of the injury. We'd encourage managers to send out trade offers now, because his price will go up as he gets closer to making his return. He currently ranks as the TE7 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Cedric Tillman was once viewed as a potential dynasty sleeper, but his long-term upside has deteriorated after the Browns made a variety of roster moves under new head coach Todd Monken. Most notably, the Browns drafted KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston to play alongside Jerry Jeudy, dropping Tillman to fourth (or lower) on the wide receiver depth chart. Given that no Browns receiver finished higher than WR52 last year, it's hard to envision a path to short-term or long-term fantasy relevance for Tillman if he is indeed the No. 4 receiver. It's a bit too early to drop Tillman, though, especially as there continues to be buzz about a potential trade. If Tillman is traded and gets a fresh new start somewhere else, his quarterback situation could improve and his dynasty value could rise. He ranks as the dynasty WR101 and is worth holding in most leagues.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Emmett Johnson will open his career in a depth role, but his every-down skill set makes him an intriguing handcuff in case prized free agent signing Kenneth Walker III misses any time. Johnson doesn't have game-changing speed, but he does have a proven track record as a ball-carrier and pass-catcher in the Big 10. He led the conference with 1,451 rushing yards as a redshirt junior in 2025, and he also impressed with 370 receiving yards and 15 total touchdowns. Walker is currently the Chiefs' every-down back, and Emari Demercado or Brashard Smith could rotate in as change-of-pace options. However, we question whether Demercado or Smith is capable of handling an every-down role if Walker goes down. Johnson could be better suited for that workload, making him an appealing dynasty stash at a low cost. He projects as a late second-round pick in 2026 rookie drafts.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele entered this offseason as one of the biggest sleepers in dynasty fantasy football leagues, but his long-term outlook took a hit after the NFL Draft. The draft potentially dropped Vele from second to fourth in the Saints' receiver room, as New Orleans spent a first-round pick on Jordyn Tyson and a fourth-round pick on Bryce Lance, who could be their Rashid Shaheed replacement. With that said, rookies often take a little while to acclimate to the NFL, presenting an opportunity for Vele to have some short-term value and emerge as a potential sell-high candidate. If Tyson and Lance don't start right away, Vele could spend a few weeks as quarterback Tyler Shough's No. 2 option in the passing game (behind Chris Olave). That won't last long, but a few weeks of high target shares could give managers a brief window to sell high on Vele. The 28-year-old is available to be added in 47% of leagues, so managers would be wise to add him now in a low-risk move. If he produces early in the season, he could be traded for a decent rookie pick. If not, then he can merely be dropped -- no harm, no foul.

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Brenen Thompson is a very appealing name for managers in dynasty fantasy football leagues. While the Chargers have a somewhat crowded, young receiver room, there's an opportunity for Thompson to carve out a role in his rookie year and serve as a key receiving threat long-term. Thompson offers blazing speed and the ability to stretch the field for the Chargers. Head coach Jim Harbaugh compared the rookie to Tyreek Hill, which is very exciting when you consider that the Chargers' current offensive coordinator, Mike McDaniel, was Hill's head coach in Miami. We're not necessarily saying that Thompson will replicate Hill's back-to-back WR2 finishes from 2022 and 2023, but rather, we're encouraged by what seems like a real commitment to targeting Thompson downfield quite often. Even if it takes him a little while to adjust to the NFL in his rookie season, his ability to speed by defenders makes him a perfect fit for a pass-heavy system led by strong-armed quarterback Justin Herbert. Given his long-term upside as a WR3/flex or better, he's a steal at his current ranking as the WR94 in dynasty leagues. Dynasty managers are strongly encouraged to take a flier on Thompson in the late second or early third round of 2026 rookie drafts.

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor was playing at an elite level for most of last year, but his production took a hit after quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles) suffered a season-ending injury. Taylor ranked as the RB1 in PPR leagues from Week 1 to Week 10, and it wasn't particularly close; he was a full 25.1 points ahead of the RB2 during that span, Christian McCaffrey, and a full 89.9 points ahead of the RB4, Jahmyr Gibbs. We could see Taylor return to that level in 2026, as Jones is projected to be healthy for Week 1. Additionally, the Colts might adopt more of a run-heavy approach in 2026 after trading away Michael Pittman Jr. The good news for Taylor is that the Colts didn't bring in any major competition, so the backfield should belong to him once again. If he can stay healthy, he projects to average 20+ touches per game. There's both short-term and long-term appeal, as Taylor is still just 27 years old and ranks as the overall RB6 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings.

The New York Giants are unsure of when wide receiver Malik Nabers will be able to return from what head coach John Harbaugh told reporters on Thursday was "not a simple knee" injury. Nabers tore the ACL in his right knee in a Week 4 win over the Chargers and underwent a second surgery, described as a cleanup procedure, in the spring of 2026. He did not participate in the team's organized practice on Thursday, and while Harbaugh went on to say that Nabers was doing his job to return as soon as possible, the optimism that he might be ready for the start of training camp seems to have faded. Nabers broke the team's single-season reception record with 109 grabs as a rookie in 2024, and while he and 2025 first-round pick Jaxson Dart were unable to get through even a single full game together, the future of the Giants' offense remains bright if Nabers can eventually return to anything resembling that record-breaking form. Still only 22 years old, Nabers is RotoBaller's dynasty WR5, though when fully healthy, he'll have a realistic chance of claiming the top spot in the rankings.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba finished as the fantasy WR2 in half-PPR formats on his way to winning the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year Award in 2025. At only 24 years old, he has climbed all the way to WR2 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings. While it's entirely possible that 2025 could mark Smith-Njigba's fantasy peak, he is comfortably in his prime as one of the most dynamic wide receivers in the league. While he could obviously fetch a handsome return via trade, Smith-Njigba is a dynasty asset worth holding onto by any manager with even a sliver of hope for contention in the near future. The Seahawks deployed 11 personnel at the 29th-lowest rate in the league in 2025, and while offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has since taken the top job in Las Vegas, he's been replaced by former 49ers tight ends coach Brian Fleury, who saw San Francisco rank 28th in that same category. For Smith-Njigba, this means continued usage in two, and even one-receiver sets, giving him a chance to match his 38.3% first-read target share from 2025, second only to the Rams' Puka Nacua. While only one receiver (Tyreek Hill) has turned in back-to-back top two fantasy finishes since 2018, Smith-Njigba will at least have a chance of joining that list. Even if 2025 does prove to represent his ceiling, in an environment built to see him succeed, his floor is still realistically in the WR1 range.

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley turned in one of the best fantasy seasons in recent memory in 2024, topping 2,000 rushing yards while garnering MVP consideration. Even with regression all but a foregone conclusion following the 482-touch campaign, his second season in Philadelphia was still considered a disappointment, with his rushing yards and touchdowns both dropping by more than 40%, resulting in an RB14 finish. Now, at 29 years old, Barkley has fallen to RB11 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings, making him an appealing trade candidate for contending managers. Philadelphia's new offensive coordinator, Sean Mannion, is unproven in the position, but with Kevin Patullo seeming to actively hold the team back during his one year on the job, the new-look Eagles offense has room to grow from its 24th-place finish a year ago. Philadelphia has the seventh-easiest schedule in 2026, according to win projections, offering Barkley the opportunity to regularly find himself in favorable situations. The depth chart behind him remains largely unchanged, and even while his raw volume was down in 2025, he still handled 76% of the team's running back touches. Barkley has never finished outside the top 15 at the position while missing fewer than four games, a sample size of six different seasons, so to get him priced near his floor now makes him a smart short-term trade target still capable of delivering multiple RB1 finishes.

Linebacker Jack Campbell and the Detroit Lions have agreed to a four-year, $81 million extension that makes him one of the highest-paid off-ball linebackers in the league and will keep the young All-Pro with the team through the 2030 season. A first-round pick in 2023, Campbell did not earn an every-down role until partway through his second season, but by year three, he'd become a mainstay at the center of Detroit's swarming defense. His 176 tackles, five sacks, and three forced fumbles in 2025 earned him his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections while making him one of the most valuable IDP assets in the game. At 25 years old, Campbell is RotoBaller's LB1, and this long-term security should be enough to keep him at or near that spot for the foreseeable future.

Reigning MVP quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams have agreed to a one-year extension worth up to $60 million with incentives. Stafford can now earn up to $105 million over the next two seasons, as he is committed to the Rams through 2027. The 17-year veteran threw a career-high 46 touchdown passes in 2025 while topping 4,700 passing yards for only the fourth time in his Hall of Fame-worthy career. With Los Angeles all in on another Super Bowl push, the environment around Stafford should continue to support fantasy success, and with him entering his age-38 season, he is one of the lower-cost dynasty quarterbacks still capable of turning in consistent week-winning finishes. Stafford is RotoBaller's QB25, but that ranking is likely to rise, with one additional season of reassurance making a monumental difference at this stage in his dynasty career.

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley (leg) was not seen at the team's OTA practice session on Thursday, according to A to Z Sports' Buck Reising. It's not a huge surprise that Ridley still isn't ready for offseason workouts after he broke his fibula in the Week 11 loss to the Houston Texans last November. The 31-year-old veteran pass-catcher finished with a career-low 17 receptions (36 targets) for 303 yards and no touchdowns in seven games played in 2025 in his second year in Tennessee. Not only is his health a concern going into his eighth year in the league, but volume will most likely be an issue, too, after the Titans added target-hot Wan'Dale Robinson in free agency and rookie Carnell Tate with the fourth overall pick in the NFL draft. Ridley will also be playing for a coaching staff in 2026 that isn't tied to him at all, which will likely be bad news for his involvement when he's healthy. He has plummeted to WR61 in RotoBaller's redraft rankings for 2026, and he won't be an intriguing buy-low target in dynasty/keeper leagues.

Tennessee Titans rookie first-round wide receiver Carnell Tate was an "instant winner" during the team's OTA practice session on Thursday, according to Austin Stanley of A to Z Sports. Tate, the fourth overall pick in April out of Ohio State, had multiple touchdown catches from quarterback Cam Ward in team drills, both long and short. He was catching footballs all over the field, both open and contested, and his hands and body control were "as advertised." Some draft analysts thought the Titans reached considerably when taking Tate within the first five picks of this year's draft, especially after his 4.53-second 40-yard dash was a disappointment at the combine. The 21-year-old wins with quickness and strong route-running skills over physicality at 6-foot-2 and 192 pounds. He might not be the highest-ceiling rookie wideout, but he is expected to contribute immediately in coordinator Brian Daboll's offense, and he should be fantasy relevant right away in redraft leagues in 2026. Tate's fantasy value in his rookie year will be tied to Ward's Year 2 development, but RotoBaller has the former Buckeye ranked as the No. 29 fantasy WR in 2026.

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak hinted that second-year running back Ashton Jeanty could have a much bigger role in his offense in his second year in the league, according to Paul Gutierrez of Raiders.com. "It's important to have a quality second back, but the best player has got to play, and we've got to get them on the field as much as we can. I don't know the play-snap percentage, but you look at [49ers running back] Christian McCaffrey, his play-snap percentage is high. So, those great backs, they don't want to come off the field," Kubiak said. After he was the sixth overall pick last year out of Boise State, Jeanty's 3.7 yards-per-carry average was a disappointment in his first year in the NFL, even though he led all rookies with 975 rushing yards, 1,321 scrimmage yards, five rushing touchdowns, and five receiving TDs. He was the fifth player in league history with that many scores on the ground and through the air in his rookie campaign. The Raiders want rookie fourth-rounder Mike Washington Jr. to push Jeanty as much as possible, but Jeanty should be as close to a workhorse as it gets. Jeanty finished as the RB13 in half-PPR scoring in 2025 and is currently ranked as the No. 8 redraft RB for the upcoming 2026 season.

New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh said that wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee) is in the slog of (his rehab, the grind of it," according to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. The goal is for Nabers to be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season and to get on the field at some point during training camp this summer. "If he's out there, great," Harbaugh said. Nabers' rehab is taking longer because he tore both his ACL and meniscus early last season, but there's still a chance the talented pass-catcher will be ready for a Week 1 showdown on Sunday Night Football against the division-rival Dallas Cowboys. It was recently reported that Nabers also had a clean-up procedure on his surgically-repaired knee to remove scar tissue, adding to the uncertainty about whether Nabers will actually be ready for Week 1 this fall. His status for the start of training camp will be a closely followed storyline, and it's clear from Harbaugh's comments that the Giants are unsure of how active he'll be at the start of camp in late July. The former first-rounder out of LSU has elite WR1 potential in fantasy when he's fully healthy, but the uncertainty around his recovery from a serious knee injury may cause him to fall into the lower WR1 tier.

The Miami Dolphins signed running back Carlos Washington Jr. this week after RB De'Von Achane (undisclosed) missed at least one OTA practice session with an unknown injury, according to C. Isaiah Smalls II of The Miami Herald. It's unclear how serious Achane's injury is at this time, but with over a month until training camp begins in late July, the Dolphins could just be exercising extreme caution with their best offensive player. We'll continue to keep a close eye on Achane's status during the offseason program. The 24-year-old was rewarded with a four-year, $68 million contract extension earlier this month after breaking out with 1,350 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns on 238 carries in 16 starts in 2025 in his third season in the NFL. Achane also added 67 catches for 488 yards and four touchdowns as a pass-catcher and led the NFL with 5.7 yards per carry. Efficiency in the Dolphins' rebuilding offense could remain an issue for Achane's fantasy football ceiling, but he should continue to make up for it with sheer volume. Consider him a top-10 fantasy RB going into his fourth NFL campaign, as long as he's healthy.

So far in Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid's young NFL career, his best showing came in his first year in the league in 2023, when he caught 73 of 91 targets for 673 yards and two touchdowns in 16 games (11 starts). Since then, the 26-year-old's numbers have been down thanks to knee and hamstring injuries. The former 25th overall pick out of Utah in 2023 started in only four games in 2025 and played a career-low 38% of his available offensive snaps. Despite not electing to have offseason knee surgery, Kincaid said "it's probably the best I've felt in my career at this point in the year," according to Tim Graham of The Athletic. In just 12 games played during the regular season last year, Kincaid had a career-high five touchdowns and added two more in two postseason contests. He dropped just one pass all year. So far this offseason, Kincaid has come back stronger and healthier, and he has an opportunity to cement himself as one of the top TEs in the league if he can play a full season. Because of his limited role and injury issues the last two seasons, Kincaid should be a low-end TE1 target in fantasy drafts with upside for more.

Los Angeles Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz said on Up & Adams on Thursday that the "door isn't closed" for veteran free-agent wide receiver Keenan Allen to potentially return to the Chargers. Hortiz adds that the team is giving their younger players a chance to grow and develop first and foremost, but they continue to stay in touch with Allen's representatives. There have been rumors that Allen could sign with the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs, which could be gaining steam after recent news on Rashee Rice's knee surgery and violation of his probation. The 34-year-old Allen remains on the open market with June quickly approaching after he caught 81 passes on 122 targets for 777 yards and four touchdowns in 17 regular-season games in his return to L.A. in 2025. If the six-time Pro Bowler were to return to the Bolts, he'd likely be competing for the WR3 or WR4 role behind Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston, at the very least. He'd have more deep-league fantasy football appeal if he were to sign in Kansas City.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Ty Simpson won't start right away, but his long-term upside in such a prominent offense gives him significant value in dynasty fantasy football leagues. Matthew Stafford is already 38 years old, and although he continues to play at an MVP level, there's no debate that he's in the final stage of his career. Whether he gives it one more year or a few more remains unclear, but the selection of Simpson indicates that the Alabama prospect will be the Rams' quarterback of the future. With the Rams interested in signing wide receiver Puka Nacua long-term, Simpson should have a star-studded receiving corps at his disposal whenever he does take over as the starter. As a result, he ranks as the QB26 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings. That doesn't quite get him into the first round of rookie drafts, though. Instead, he projects as an early second-round pick.

Although Las Vegas Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza worked mostly third in the team's OTA practice on Wednesday behind Kirk Cousins and Aidan O'Connell, he has impressed the coaching staff, according to Sam Warren of The Athletic. The No. 1 overall pick in this year's NFL draft mostly worked with rookies during competitive periods of practice. Mendoza and O'Connell will get their fair share to compete for the starting job going into Week 1 of the regular season, but Cousins appears to be in the driver's seat to start the season opener in early September. The rookie's positioning in the QB rotation is due to his inexperience in the NFL and in new head coach Klint Kubiak's offense. Despite being eased in, the former Indiana product hasn't failed to impress. "Anything that you put in front of him, he's going to attack it," Kubiak said. "Anything that's new, he spends extra time on it. You can tell he fixes things from one day to the next. Very coachable, and that can be said for all those quarterbacks in the room." Although Mendoza might not start from Day 1 at the next level, he's still the clear-cut top QB in rookie-only drafts in dynasty leagues going into the 2026 season, and he could be starting in Vegas sooner rather than later, depending on how Cousins fares.