Fantasy Football News

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed missed 10 games in 2025 due to collarbone and foot injuries, finishing the year with just 19 catches for 207 yards and a touchdown on 22 targets. Reed has been an efficient player when healthy in his career to date, recording over 1,900 scrimmage yards and 17 touchdowns across his first two seasons with the Packers in 2023 and 2024. However, he's struggled to see consistent target volume in the run-heavy Green Bay offense, averaging four targets per game since the start of 2024. That could change in 2026, as the Packers let wide receiver Romeo Doubs walk in free agency and traded wideout Dontayvion Wicks to the Philadelphia Eagles while signing Reed to a three-year extension this past offseason. Green Bay still has wide receivers Christian Watson and Matthew Golden, but Reed should play an important role as the team's primary slot receiver. Given the Packers' financial commitment to Reed, he could be a worthy buy-low target for dynasty managers entering 2026.

Green Bay Packers tight end Josh Whyle has emerged this offseason after taking significant snaps with the starters, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN. The Packers still have Tucker Kraft as their TE1 and Luke Musgrave as depth, and Whyle only caught five passes for 36 yards and a touchdown in eight games last year in Green Bay. "We can't believe that the Titans would let a product like that go," Kraft said. "And we're fortunate to have him." The 26-year-old former fifth-rounder by Tennessee in 2023 out of the University of Cincinnati caught 37 of his 52 targets for 342 yards and two touchdowns in 28 games (seven starts) in his first two years in the NFL with the Titans. Although he had a limited role with the Packers in Year 3 in 2025, Whyle could be more involved in a depth role in Green Bay in 2026. Whyle is only a name to monitor for now, and he'll likely need one of Kraft or Musgrave to miss time due to injury to find a fantasy-relevant role.

Veteran free-agent tight end Zach Ertz (knee), who remains unsigned with training camp quickly approaching next month, said on the New Heights podcast that he continues to work towards being 100% healthy for the 2026 season, according to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. "We're in a good spot. We're like five, almost six months now from surgery," Ertz said. "Just training every day, doing everything I can to get back to where I was. It's a long process. There's some long days, there's some long weeks, some long months . . . it's tough, but we're just trying to stack these days right now." In his 13th year in the NFL last season with the Washington Commanders, the 35-year-old caught 50 of his 72 targets for 504 yards and four touchdowns in 13 starts before suffering a season-ending torn ACL in Week 14. Because of the timing of the injury and his age, Ertz is not guaranteed to be ready for the start of the 2026 season, which is certainly why he's still a free agent. A team could take a chance on the three-time Pro Bowler before the start of the upcoming season if he proves he's fully healthy, but for right now, Ertz is off the fantasy radar.

Cleveland Browns second-year quarterback Dillon Gabriel has "had a very nice spring," but he will enter training camp at the end of July competing for a depth role behind Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, according to Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer. After being surprisingly selected before Sanders in the third round (94th overall) last year out of the University of Oregon, Gabriel went on to appear in 10 games (six starts) while throwing for 937 yards, seven touchdowns, and two interceptions on 185 pass attempts. The 25-year-old southpaw will essentially be competing for the No. 3 QB role this summer with rookie sixth-rounder Taylen Green. When healthy and in a starting role in 2025 in his rookie season, Gabriel looked mostly like an underwhelming game manager, but to be fair, he didn't have a ton of help around him on offense. Gabriel will enter his sophomore campaign completely off the redraft fantasy radar.

Cleveland Browns rookie first-round wide receiver KC Concepcion could be moved around the offensive formation in his first year in the NFL in new head coach Todd Monken's offense as the Browns look for "the best ways to utilize his explosiveness," according to The Athletic's Zac Jackson. Even with a less-than-ideal quarterback competition going on between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders this summer, Concepcion, the 24th overall pick in April out of Texas A&M, could be fantasy relevant in most leagues in 2026 in his first year in the NFL. Veteran Jerry Jeudy really struggled last year, which is why the Browns brought in both Concepcion and Denzel Boston (second round) to beef up the team's passing attack. The Browns have every reason to throw both Concepcion and Boston into the fire immediately and give them big roles to try and spark their offense. In his lone season with the Aggies in 2025, Concepcion caught 61 passes for 919 yards and an SEC-leading nine touchdowns in 13 games. His opportunity and upside make him RotoBaller's No. 47 fantasy WR as he heads into his rookie season.

Cleveland Browns rookie second-round wide receiver Denzel Boston "might have been the most impressive offensive player in the (Browns') spring sessions," according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic. The Browns still have Jerry Jeudy atop their WR depth chart, but Boston and fellow rookie KC Concepcion (24th overall pick in April) should make immediate impacts in new head coach Todd Monken's offense in 2026. Of course, the Browns' quarterback situation -- competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders -- isn't ideal, but the 6-foot-4, 209-pound Boston could see plenty of targets on the outside in his first year in the NFL. If Boston continues to impress the coaching staff during training camp this summer, he should at least be considered Cleveland's WR2 behind Jeudy, with a chance to overtake him later this year if Jeudy's struggles persist. In his final two collegiate seasons at the University of Washington, Boston hauled in 125 catches for 1,715 yards and 20 touchdowns in 25 games played. RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 60 fantasy WR as he heads into his first year in the league.

Houston Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley said that he has seen quarterback C.J. Stroud "take a leap this offseason," according to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. Caley sees a different comfort level from Stroud and said the communication between him and new quarterbacks coach Jerry Schuplinski "has been good." "There was a lot of progress that C.J. and the offense made last year," Caley said. "We continued to get better from the start of the season to the end of the regular season and just continued to make progress from week to week. So we're going to continue to build on that. It's a new year. C.J. has done a great job out here. Looks good. Locked in." The 24-year-old took the league by storm after he was the second overall pick in 2023 out of Ohio State, throwing for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, and only five interceptions in 15 regular-season starts. He hasn't been nearly as good the last two years, and he threw for a career-low 3,041 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight picks in 14 regular-season starts in 2025. Stroud has clear bounce-back potential and is still in the prime of his career, making him a low-end QB2 target in superflex leagues with sleeper potential in 2026.

Washington Commanders rookie running back Kaytron Allen was one of the more productive running backs in college football during his time at Penn State, recording over 2,600 scrimmage yards and 25 touchdowns over his final two seasons for the Nittany Lions. However, Allen fell to the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Despite the draft day slide, Allen could have a chance to earn consistent playing time in the Commanders' backfield as a rookie. Between Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Rachaad White, Jeremy McNichols, and Jerome Ford, Washington has several capable backs for Allen to compete with. However, none of the Commanders' rushers other than Croskey-Merritt and Allen profiles as particularly high upside options. Allen's fantasy profile comes with some risk, as there's a chance he falls out of the Washington backfield rotation completely. However, the current lack of an obvious RB1 for the Commanders makes Allen an appealing dart-throw in the late rounds of redraft leagues.

After recording 1,047 scrimmage yards and 10 touchdowns on 207 touches across 12 games in his senior season at Wake Forest, running back Demond Claiborne was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Claiborne is unlikely to see significant playing time in Minnesota as a rookie, as he enters the year with veterans Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason both firmly ahead of him on the running back depth chart. However, neither Jones Sr. nor Mason is currently under contract with the Vikings beyond the 2026 season. Claiborne is undersized for an NFL running back, but he brings a speed element that could allow him to establish himself as a key piece of the Minnesota offense going forward. Given the clear long-term opportunity available in the Vikings backfield, Claiborne profiles as a worthy late-round dart throw for dynasty managers in rookie drafts.

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson was one of the breakout success stories of the 2025 season, recording 78 receptions for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns on 126 targets across 17 games. Wilson finished the season on a five-game touchdown-scoring streak, and he saw double-digit targets in five out of 12 games after veteran Jacoby Brissett took over as the Cardinals' starting quarterback. Brissett is back as Arizona's starter for 2026, which helps Wilson's outlook. However, Arizona has an ultra-high-volume target-earner in tight end Trey McBride and should get a healthier season out of wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. The Cardinals also averaged over 40 pass attempts per game with Brissett under center in 2025, which seems unlikely to continue under a new coaching staff in 2026. Dynasty managers should feel comfortable holding Wilson, but exploring sell-high opportunities for the 26-year-old could also prove fruitful.

Across 17 games in 2025, Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard recorded 1,288 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns on 275 touches. The 29-year-old has been both consistent and durable in recent years, recording four consecutive seasons with at least 16 games played and 1,000 rushing yards. Pollard may also have more chances to score touchdowns in 2026 in what should be an improved Titans offense in quarterback Cam Ward's second NFL season. However, Pollard is entering his final year under contract with Tennessee in 2026. The Titans have a new coaching staff in place and a couple of younger running back options on the roster in Tyjae Spears and fifth-round rookie Nicholas Singleton. Pollard has averaged just 4.5 yards per touch over his first two seasons in Tennessee, so he's highly reliant on volume for fantasy production. In dynasty formats, managers may want to sell high on Pollard ahead of a potential workload decline in 2026.

A third-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Chris Brazzell II could have a chance to carve out an immediate role with his new team. Across 12 games for the University of Tennessee in 2025, Brazzell II recorded 62 catches for 1,017 yards and nine touchdowns. The Panthers have Tetairoa McMillan locked in as their WR1 on the outside, and the team recently committed to slot wideout Jalen Coker with a multi-year contract extension. However, Brazzell II may enter training camp in a job battle with third-year Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette for the team's WR3 role. Legette has largely been a disappointment since being selected by Carolina in the first round of the 2024 draft, failing to reach 50 catches or 500 receiving yards in either of his first two NFL seasons. With a strong summer, Brazzell II could establish himself as a building block in the Panthers passing game. Entering 2026, Brazzell II ranks as RotoBaller's dynasty WR67.

After recording 49 receptions for 745 yards and four touchdowns across 11 games in his final collegiate season at USC, wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Lane is one of two prominent rookie wideouts on the Baltimore roster, as the team also selected Elijah Sarratt in the fourth round. Entering his first NFL season, Lane should have a chance to emerge as an immediate contributor. Zay Flowers is Baltimore's clear WR1, but presumed WR2 Rashod Bateman is coming off a 2025 season in which he was both inconsistent and injured. With a new coaching staff in place, the Ravens could be looking to turn the page and go with their younger pass-catchers. Baltimore has typically been one of the NFL's run-heaviest offenses in the Lamar Jackson/Derrick Henry era, which could put a ceiling on Lane's fantasy production. Still, Lane has a clear pathway to a fantasy-relevant role in Baltimore and should be a target for dynasty managers who are focused on the long term.

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs has been one of fantasy's most consistent contributors when healthy, but allowing for the uncertainty stemming from his pending legal situation, he projects as one of the biggest boom-or-bust picks in 2026 drafts. Jacobs was the RB5 in 2024 and remained a top 12 fantasy back last season despite missing two games and playing through injury over the back half of the year. He has scored 30 total touchdowns in his 32 games with the Packers, and behind an offensive line that should see improvement in the run game, a healthy Jacobs is a near-lock to outperform his current ranking of RotoBaller's RB17. Green Bay has made no corresponding moves at running back since news first broke of his domestic violence allegations, and while charges have yet to be filed against him, the risk of suspension will follow Jacobs into the year, likely keeping him out of the first two rounds of 2026 drafts and threatening to derail his season altogether.

Los Angeles Rams tight end Max Klare currently sits fifth on the team's unofficial depth chart, but if there's any offense where that should not be viewed as a deterrent, it's Sean McVay's. The Rams had three tight ends on the field for almost a third of their plays in 2025, and by spending one of their only five 2026 draft picks on Klare, that trend looks to continue with Colby Parkinson, Tyler Higbee, Terrance Ferguson, and Davis Allen all still on the roster. While that sort of depth will allow Klare to develop as he adds play strength, only he and Ferguson are under contract beyond 2027. Not only the two most dangerous pass catchers of the group, but they also appear to be the future of the position. Parkinson and Allen's deals run only through this season, while Higbee is 33 and has been significantly slowed by injury in recent years. Klare could see a package of plays as a rookie to utilize his pass-catching abilities in more of a big slot role, but the second-rounder out of Ohio State factors more as a long-term dynasty play and a buy-low stash fit for a taxi squad in 2026.

Fresh off a career-high 724 receiving yards in his final season with the Packers, wide receiver Romeo Doubs signed a four-year, $68 million deal with the New England Patriots, where he could become the No. 2 option for 2025 MVP runner-up Drake Maye. While former Eagle A.J. Brown has since become the splashier addition, the three-time Pro Bowler is expected to handle more of the true outside role that was held primarily by Kayshon Boutte in 2025. Meanwhile, Doubs is presumed to inherit Stefon Diggs' inside spot, from which the veteran topped 1,000 yards while playing a part-time role. While he has yet to reach 60 receptions in a season, another career year could be in store for Doubs. Still just 26 years old, he is now tied through 2029 to a high-powered offense with plenty of room to grow. Providing a safe fantasy floor as a reliable chain-mover, a case could be made that he's become an undervalued dynasty asset at RotoBaller's WR62.

In trading up for wide receiver Makai Lemon in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman took yet another step to prepare the team for life without three-time Pro Bowler A.J. Brown. By that point, the Eagles had already signed Hollywood Brown and traded for Dontayvion Wicks, and with three-time 1,000-yard receiver DeVonta Smith still in the building, Roseman was able to retool the group on the fly. With a versatile group of new pass catchers looking to earn their spots behind Smith, it will undoubtedly be one of the most interesting position groups to watch when the team reconvenes for training camp in late July, and Sports Illustrated's Eagles reporter Ed Kracz believes Lemon will be used primarily out of the slot and will be the team's most impactful rookie. Lemon won the Biletnikoff Award operating primarily from the inside at USC, and if he can carve out an early role, he could pay immediate fantasy dividends as a late-round pick in 2026 drafts, particularly in full-PPR leagues.

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye was one first-place vote away from winning the 2025 NFL MVP award in his first full season as a starter, and one area that his supporters pointed to was the level of pass catchers he was throwing to in comparison to the award's winner, Matthew Stafford. Heading into 2026, the Patriots have rebuilt their wide receiver corps, adding Romeo Doubs through free agency and sending a first and fifth-round pick to Philadelphia for three-time Pro Bowler A.J. Brown. Maye finished as the fantasy QB2 in 2025, accounting for 4,844 yards and 35 touchdowns through the air and on the ground, and as he continues to take agency over Josh McDaniels' offense, his game has the potential to reach even higher levels. He was one of the most proficient passers against man coverage last season, while Brown has been the league's most disruptive receiver against man since 2022, and with Brown and Doubs expected to hold the top two spots on the depth chart, the rest of New England's receivers like Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, DeMario Douglas, and, for now, Kayshon Boutte can slot into their more natural positions. With improvements made to both the receiver room and offensive line, and still possessing the ability to keep plays alive well-beyond structure, Maye is RotoBaller's QB4 for 2026, though a QB1 finish is very much in his range of possibilities.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold led the Seahawks to a Super Bowl victory in his first year with the team in 2025, but after a mediocre performance in the Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots, the veteran signal-caller knows he has plenty to work on going into his ninth year in the NFL. Darnold didn't turn the ball over in the postseason, but he had 20 regular-season turnovers (14 interceptions and six fumbles lost). "I think the biggest thing is continuing to build off of my weaknesses, understanding what I wasn't great at this past year, which I think for me is continuing to hone in on the deep ball, understand how I can be better that way, quieting my feet in the pocket," Darnold said. The former No. 3 overall pick by the New York Jets in 2018 out of USC threw for 4,048 yards, 25 touchdowns and 14 picks during 17 regular-season starts to finish as the QB13 in fantasy. The 29-year-old has one of the best receivers in the game in Jaxon Smith-Njigba at his disposal, but the Seahawks will be relying on rookie running back Jadarian Price after letting Kenneth Walker III walk in free agency. His QB13 finish in 2025 might be his ceiling when considering the lack of depth on Seattle's offense and the fact that the offense will be run by a first-time play-caller in Brian Fleury.

Veteran free-agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins said on Sirius XM NFL Radio on Wednesday that "going into Year 14, I would love to play for a competitor." However, Hopkins also indicated that he's not in a rush to join a team this offseason, with about a month until training camps kick off around the league. The 34-year-old former 27th overall pick by the Houston Texans in the 1013 NFL draft out of the University of Clemson has been named to five Pro Bowls and three first-team All-Pro units in his 13 years in the league, but he acknowledged that he's merely a part-time player at this point of his career. In 17 games (three starts) with the Baltimore Ravens in 2025, Hopkins had only 22 receptions on 39 targets for 330 yards and two touchdowns. His last 1,000-yard campaign came in 2023 with the Tennessee Titans. Nuk might not latch on with a new team before the start of the 2026 regular season this fall, but if the right situation arises, he could become an interesting third-down/red-zone weapon for a contending team.