Fantasy Football News

Atlanta Falcons rookie wide receiver Zachariah Branch, who was the 79th overall pick in the third round of this year's draft out of the University of Georgia, has been quickly learning the team's offense and building chemistry with his teammates in OTAs this offseason, according to Will McFadden of AtlantaFalcons.com. The 22-year-old proved to be one of college's most explosive playmakers in 2025 with the Bulldogs, leading the SEC with 81 catches and gaining 811 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 14 games played. He has drawn the attention of new quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who played with two elite speed receivers in Miami in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. "I mean, dude's fast," Tagovailoa said. "Dude can play very shifty. Kind of reminds me of Waddle." Branch caught 159 passes for 1,634 yards and nine touchdowns in his three collegiate seasons (two at USC), and he did most of his damage after he already secured the football. He was targeted 96 times and caught 92 passes behind the line of scrimmage in college. Speed is not in question with Branch, but his durability at 5-foot-9, 177 pounds, and his role in his rookie season are up for debate. Expect him to compete with Olamide Zaccheaus and Jahan Dotson for the WR2 role in Atlanta in 2026 behind WR1 Drake London.

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (undisclosed) hasn't taken part in on-field workouts during the offseason program after having two undisclosed surgeries, but he's "feeling good" and is expected to be back on the field for training camp this summer, according to John Boyle of the team's official website. The 24-year-old was on the weekly injury report for Seattle regularly late last season, being listed with hip, elbow, shoulder, knee, ankle, and calf injuries. He still made 20 starts, including the postseason, and he finished with 52 receptions (68 targets) for 519 yards and six touchdowns in 17 regular-season starts in his second year in the NFL. "I'm going to feel much better, and I'm already feeling much better, and I think that's where I'll see strides," Barner said. "I'm feeling good, and I'm chomping at the bit trying to get back out there." The third-year TE should remain a threat in the red zone for the defending Super Bowl champs in 2026, but the expected emergence of Elijah Arroyo will certainly cap his fantasy ceiling in 2026. RotoBaller has Barner ranked as the No. 27 fantasy TE going into the upcoming season.

Chicago Bears second-year wide receiver Luther Burden III appears to be the one ready to step up after Chicago traded DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills this offseason. According to former NFL tight end Clay Harbor, Burden is "doing everything you'd think a No. 1 receiver would do" during OTAs this offseason. The 22-year-old former second-rounder (39th overall) out of the University of Missouri looks bigger and faster and is playing both inside and outside in head coach Ben Johnson's offense. Johnson even said himself last week that he's "buying Burden stock right now." He finished his rookie year as a real weapon in Chicago's offense, catching 47 of his 60 targets for 652 yards and two touchdowns in 15 regular-season games (five starts). Former first-rounder Rome Odunze remains in town, but he may never be the same after heel issues that could continue to be a concern for him. Burden looks like the real deal and is quickly becoming one of the top breakout candidates at the receiver position in 2026. RotoBaller currently has him ranked as the No. 19 fantasy WR for the 2026 season.

The Pittsburgh Steelers recently gave edge rusher Nick Herbig a four-year, $100 million contract extension, which has led to more speculation that the Steelers could trade one of linebackers T.J. Watt or Alex Highsmith, this offseason. The NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said on The Pat McAfee Show on Thursday that Watt "isn't going anywhere this year, and he's going to play for the Steelers." Rapoport also doesn't "get the sense" that Highsmith is going anywhere either. Watt, 31, signed a three-year, $123 million contract with Pittsburgh in July of last year. It doesn't sound like he's a realistic trade candidate this offseason, but that could be a different story come next year, when the Steelers will have a decision to make either way. The eight-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro can still be a difference-maker on defense when he's healthy, but he's not getting any younger, and durability is becoming a bit more of a concern for the Steelers and fantasy managers in IDP formats. Watt played in 14 regular-season games in 2025 and had just seven sacks, the second-fewest total of his nine-year NFL career.

Las Vegas Raiders All-Pro pass-rusher Maxx Crosby (knee), who is calling his nixed offseason trade to the Baltimore Ravens "water under the bridge," is improving physically and is "almost back to being" on the field, according to Sam Warren of The Athletic. The 28-year-old was in the early stages of his recovery from surgery to fix a torn meniscus when the Ravens withdrew from a potential Crosby trade due to a failed physical. Baltimore's doctors reportedly were worried about Crosby's long-term prognosis of his surgically-repaired left knee, despite his short-term outlook being positive. New head coach Klint Kubiak said the team is "counting on" Crosby being back for training camp in July, adding that he "wouldn't be surprised if Maxx was ahead of schedule." Barring a setback, the five-time Pro Bowler should be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season, which will make him a highly coveted D-lineman in IDP fantasy formats despite added injury risk after he missed seven games in the last two seasons due to injuries.

New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown has had issues with his knees in the past, but the Patriots did their homework before acquiring him from the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday for a first-rounder in 2028 and a fifth-rounder in 2027, and they don't believe it will be something that limits him in 2026, according to Cameron Wolfe of the NFL Network. The Pats targeted the disgruntled Brown with a vision on maximizing quarterback Drake Maye's rookie contract window over the next couple of years. Brown is known to be fiery, competitive, and outspoken, but New England believes it will be a strength, especially since he's happy and exactly where he wants to be with a head coach that he played for before with the Tennessee Titans to begin his NFL career. The 28-year-old will be the unquestioned No. 1 target for Maye in his new digs, even though the Pats signed Romeo Doubs in free agency. Brown, a three-time Pro Bowler, had his sixth 1,000-yard season in 2025 in Philly, but he also had a career-low 12.9 yards per catch. He'll come at a slight discount in fantasy drafts but will remain a high-risk, high-reward low-end WR1/high-end WR2 in a Patriots offense that should offer much more passing-game volume.

The Los Angeles Rams and star edge rusher Myles Garrett did not agree on a new deal after he was acquired in a blockbuster trade from the Cleveland Browns on Monday, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Instead, the Rams reworked Garrett's contract that pays him $204 million over five years. The average per year and term stay the same as his deal was in Cleveland, but the alteration allows the Rams to onboard Garrett and his record-setting deal to move the vesting date of his guarantees back a few months. The 30-year-old seven-time Pro Bowler and five-time first-team All-Pro will head to the NFC West to try and help the Rams get to another Super Bowl after setting the NFL's single-season sack record with 23 in 17 starts for Cleveland last year. On paper, the Rams now clearly have the best roster in the NFL, and Garrett's arrival could bring legendary defensive tackle Aaron Donald out of retirement to make their defensive line even more formidable. Garrett will be the No. 1 defensive lineman off the board in IDP fantasy drafts in 2026.

Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (knee) was seen back on the field in team drills during OTAs on Thursday for the first time since tearing multiple ligaments in his knee back in Week 16 of the 2024 season. The 26-year-old did not play at all last year for the Texans while rehabbing, but barring a setback in training camp this summer, Dell could have a great shot to be ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener in early September. He will most likely be limited in mandatory minicamp workouts later this month, but it's definitely good to see Dell running around on the football field again. The Texans took him with the 69th overall pick in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft out of the University of Houston, and he caught 98 of his 156 targets for 1,376 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2023 and 2024. Houston is confident that Dell will have a role in his return to action in 2026, but how much of a role he'll have is a big question mark. Dell will be trying to challenge second-year wideouts Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel for playing time behind WR1 Nico Collins, and he'll likely go undrafted in most 12-team formats. RotoBaller has Dell ranked as the WR78 currently for the upcoming season.

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (back) looked good and was moving around well at OTA practice on Thursday after he sat out of the first open practice last week, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com. It's a good sign for LaPorta, who is coming off back surgery to fix a herniated disc that forced him to miss the final eight games of the 2025 season. The 25-year-old former second-rounder in 2023 out of the University of Iowa was the No. 1 fantasy TE in his rookie year, catching 86 passes for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns on 120 targets in 17 regular-season games. LaPorta took a slight step back in 2024 with a 60-726-7 line in 16 starts, before catching just 40 passes for 489 yards and three scores a year ago in nine starts. It won't cost nearly as much to secure LaPorta's services in fantasy as a low-end TE1 after his injury in 2025, and with the situation not much different in Detroit than in his first two years, there is clear bounce-back potential in his fourth year in the NFL if he can stay healthy. LaPorta is ranked as RotoBaller's No. 9 TE for the 2026 campaign.

New San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans has quickly won over his coaches and teammates in the Bay Area during OTAs, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. Not only has Evans, a surefire future Hall of Famer, been humble around his new teammates, but his length and route-running abilities have stood out in practices. "I pinch myself every day," tight end George Kittle said. "This is like the first legit veteran wide receiver I've had on my roster since Emmanuel Sanders in 2019, in my opinion. And nothing against the other veteran receivers I've had, but he's a Hall of Famer. I think he takes ball seriously. That kind of sets the tone for the wide receiver room, especially when we have a bunch of young guys in there." Evans' string of 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons ended in 2025 due to a broken clavicle, but he's intent on starting a new streak in 2026 at 32 years old. Joining the Niners gives Evans a clear path back to the 1,000-yard mark and perhaps even double-digit touchdowns, but there's no denying the risk involved with an aging player like Evans, who has a lot of tread on the tires. Fantasy managers would be wise to target him as more of a high-end WR3/low-end WR2 in drafts this fall.

Carolina Panthers running back Trevor Etienne currently projects to be behind both Chuba Hubbard and Jonathon Brooks on the team's running back depth chart, per Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer. A fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Etienne recorded just 107 scrimmage yards on 23 touches across 17 games as a rookie. Hubbard has recorded over 3,200 scrimmage yards and 20 touchdowns over the past three seasons for Carolina and profiles as the clear RB1. However, Brooks has been limited to just three games by knee injuries since being drafted in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Etienne could work his way past Brooks over the course of the summer. Still, it's notable that the Panthers may be thinking of Brooks as the complement to Hubbard at this point. It's too early to give up on Etienne in dynasty formats, but the 21-year-old has some work to do to establish himself after his underwhelming rookie year.

Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said running back Jaylen Wright is showing a greater comfort level this season and "has some speed," per David Furones of the Sun Sentinel. Wright missed time early in the 2025 season with a knee injury, but finished the year with 332 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 75 touches across 10 games. As long as star Dolphins running back De'Von Achane remains healthy, it will be difficult for Wright to earn enough touches to provide fantasy-relevant production. However, Wright may be on his way to firmly seizing the RB2 role in Miami away from fellow Dolphins back Ollie Gordon II. If Wright emerges as the clear backup to Achane, he would profile as one of the better handcuff running back options for fantasy managers entering 2026.

Miami Dolphins tight end Greg Dulcich said he is developing chemistry with new quarterback Malik Willis during OTAs, per Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald. Dulcich currently sits atop the Dolphins' tight end depth chart, with rookie third-rounder Will Kacmarek and rookie fifth-rounder Seydou Traore possibly in the mix for regular playing time as well. Injuries have been a major issue for Dulcich to this point in his career, as he's played in just 31 games across four NFL seasons. However, he finished the 2025 season strong for Miami, recording 11 catches for 135 yards and a touchdown on 13 targets over his final three games of the year. The Dolphins are also entering 2026 without any obvious high-end pass-catchers on the roster outside of running back De'Von Achane. If Dulcich can emerge as a trusted option for Willis, he may currently be undervalued by consensus fantasy boards.

Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley said that rookie wide receiver Caleb Douglas (undisclosed) "tweaked something" during OTAs on Wednesday, per David Furones of the Sun Sentinel. Furones reports that Hafley also said Douglas' injury is not something the team is concerned about in the long haul. Miami used the 75th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Douglas after he recorded 54 catches for 846 yards and seven touchdowns across 14 games at Texas Tech in 2025. The Dolphins have one of the weakest wide receiver depth charts in the NFL entering the upcoming season, with the veteran trio of Jalen Tolbert, Malik Washington, and Tutu Atwell currently occupying starting roles. Douglas should have a chance to contribute immediately as a rookie, but fantasy managers should monitor this current injury to make sure it doesn't snowball into a more serious issue.

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (foot/ankle) has been working off to the side with team trainers during OTAs, per Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic. Conner is working his way back from the gruesome foot/ankle injury that ended his 2025 season in Week 3. The 31-year-old was a highly productive player in his last fully healthy season with Arizona in 2024, recording 1,508 scrimmage yards and nine touchdowns on 283 touches across 16 games. However, Conner's role with the Cardinals entering 2026 is in question after the team signed running back Tyler Allgeier in free agency and used the number three overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on running back Jeremiyah Love. Even if he's able to return in time for the start of the upcoming season, Conner may be limited to RB3 duties in Arizona and would likely need either an injury above him on the depth chart or a change in scenery to provide fantasy-relevant production.

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (Achilles) said he is "on track" to be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 season, per ESPN's Nick Wagoner. Kittle tore his Achilles tendon on January 11 during San Francisco's NFC Wild Card round win over the Philadelphia Eagles. However, it appears as though the 32-year-old has a chance to get back on the field roughly eight months after the injury. Kittle battled through an injury-marred 2025 regular season even before the Achilles tear, missing six games due to ankle and hamstring injuries. However, the veteran tight end remained highly productive when healthy, recording 57 receptions for 628 yards and seven touchdowns on 69 targets. With Kittle coming off a serious injury and entering his age-33 campaign, it's fair to project a bit of decline in his production. Still, he profiles as a top-12 fantasy tight end if he can truly make it back for the start of 2026.

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton said that quarterback Bo Nix (ankle) has been throwing, and he's expected to have more of a role in practice later in June during mandatory minicamp, according to Luca Evans of The Denver Post. Evans observed Nix moving around before practice on Thursday and didn't see any kind of bulky-looking brace on his surgically-repaired right ankle. The Broncos aren't rushing the 26-year-old signal-caller along this offseason after he needed surgery to fix a fractured ankle that he suffered in the Divisional Round win over the Buffalo Bills. He might not be a full-go in minicamp, but there's no reason to believe that Nix will be limited once training camp rolls around in late July. The former 12th overall pick in 2024 out of the University of Oregon finished as the QB7 in fantasy in 2025 in his second year in the NFL, throwing for 3,931 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions on a league-high 612 pass attempts over 17 regular-season starts. Nix added 356 rushing yards and another five scores as a rusher. He has helped turn the Broncos franchise around, but with average arm strength and while coming off ankle surgery, fantasy managers have every right to be skeptical about him as a legitimate QB1 in Year 3. RotoBaller has Nix ranked as the No. 15 quarterback in redraft leagues in 2026.

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton said there is a "crystal clear" vision for the role of new wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, who can play all over, according to Zac Stevens of DNVR Sports. Waddle had 1,000-yard seasons in his first three years in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins before falling back down to Earth a bit alongside a struggling Miami offense the last two seasons. The 27-year-old former sixth overall pick in 2021 out of the University of Alabama had a 64-910-6 line in 16 starts in 2025, though, and his fantasy stock is back on the rise after the Broncos gave up a first-round pick for him this offseason. Denver has plenty of options at the position in Courtland Sutton, Pat Bryant, Marvin Mims Jr., and Troy Franklin, but because of his ability to play all over the field with a bright offensive mind in Payton designing plays for him, Waddle could easily lead the Broncos in targets and catches in his first year in the Mile High City in 2026. Fantasy managers will want to target the sixth-year receiver as a low-end WR2 with upside this fall as he finally gets out of the shadow of Tyreek Hill.

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara surprised everyone by showing up to OTAs on Wednesday since he has a history of skipping voluntary workouts in the offseason. Even head coach Kellen Moore was caught off guard. "Obviously a little bit unexpected," Moore said. New Orleans added RB Travis Etienne Jr. in free agency, leading to offseason speculation that Kamara could hang up his cleats or be traded. His status for the 2026 season is far from settled. The Saints have indicated they would like to address Kamara's contract, but the team's all-time leading rusher said he hasn't talked with general manager Mickey Loomis about taking a pay cut. The 30-year-old five-time Pro Bowler is entering the final year of his contract and holds a salary cap hit of around $10.5 million, which was already reduced earlier this offseason. Kamara said he has no beef with the Saints after they added Etienne, and is "going to be ready" to play in the Big Easy for a 10th season. If Kamara stays with the Saints this year, he's going to be the clear No. 2 behind Etienne, which will cause a drastic drop in his fantasy value after being the Saints' lead back for the last nine years.

Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer confirms that wide receiver George Pickens hasn't been in the building this week for OTAs, but he continues to be in communication with him and expects Pickens to be present when mandatory minicamp starts on June 16, according to Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The 25-year-old will make $27.3 million in 2026 on the franchise tag, and the Cowboys have already ruled out the two sides agreeing on a long-term contract extension before the deadline to get a deal done in July. The former second-rounder by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022 out of the University of Georgia broke out for a career year after the Steelers traded him to Dallas in 2025, catching 93 of his 137 targets for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns in 17 starts. The Cowboys want to see him do it again, though, before getting serious about an extension beyond this year. It won't be easy to do with CeeDee Lamb demanding heavy volume, but Dallas has the pass-happy offense under Schottenheimer for Pickens to have a very high ceiling in his fifth year in the league. Fantasy managers should target him as a low-end WR1 in upcoming 2026 drafts.