Fantasy Football News

Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said on Thursday that he is planning to move star wide receiver George Pickens around the formation more in 2026, per the team's official website. Pickens was absent from organized team activities in the spring after failing to reach a long-term contract extension with the organization, but he is present this week for mandatory minicamp. The 25-year-old former second-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022 out of the University of Georgia broke out in 2025 after the Dallas Cowboys acquired him from Pittsburgh, catching 93 passes for a career-high 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns on 137 targets in 17 games (15 starts). The vast majority of Pickens' snaps in 2025 in his first year in Dallas came out wide, but it sounds like he could spend more time inside in the slot in Year 2 in Big D, which should help the Cowboys create more mismatches for the big-play threat. Even with CeeDee Lamb commanding a high target share, the Cowboys should continue to throw the ball enough under Schottenheimer to make Pickens a legitimate WR1 again in fantasy in 2026.

The Athletic's Zac Jackson writes that Cleveland Browns new head coach Todd Monken would have liked to have a starter already named going into training camp in late July, but he "wants and needs to see more" from both quarterbacks Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders this summer. Ultimately, Monken said he will play "whoever gives us the best chance to score, and I won't know that until we play." He wants to see more "consistency and confidence" from both Watson and Sanders in training camp than what he saw this spring. Jackson adds that it's safe to say that Watson "looked like the same player in his return from a year and a half away that he was before his two Achilles tendon injuries." Watson is healthy and threw downfield occasionally with confidence, but he "lacked consistency and too often threw into traffic." Jackson doesn't think there is much reason to want Watson to play unless he's "clearly their best option." The 30-year-old Watson has been a Pro Bowler three times (all before he came to Cleveland), but it appears he might have to thoroughly outplay Sanders to win the starting gig going into Week 1. Either way, this QB situation is one to ignore for fantasy managers, if at all possible. Whoever wins the starting job this summer probably will have a very short leash to begin the regular season.

Commanders.com's Zach Selby writes that Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn likes the competition in the running back room during offseason workouts. Quinn mentioned Rachaad White specifically and his ability as a pass-catcher. It's unclear yet if there will be one designated starter, but multiple players will play a part in the team's rushing attack in 2026. Second-year back Jacory Croskey-Merritt could be the odds-on-favorite for lead-back duties in D.C. after leading the squad with 805 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 175 carries in 17 games (seven starts) in his rookie campaign. However, the 25-year-old needs to work on his pass protection (he only caught nine passes for 68 yards) and his ball security in order to do so. Meanwhile, White has the most experience as a dual-threat back in the NFL, even if he has averaged under 4.0 yards per carry as a ball-carrier in his four years in the league. In PPR leagues, White will be a sneaky RB3/flex target with upside in his new digs, although his ADP could rise quickly if he begins to gain more steam over Croskey-Merritt in training camp this summer.

After completing 72.4% of his pass attempts for 3,813 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions across 16 games for the University of Miami in 2025, quarterback Carson Beck was selected in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals. Beck may be entering his rookie season as the QB3 in Arizona behind veterans Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew II. However, neither Brissett nor Minshew II projects as the Cardinals' quarterback of the future, which could put Beck in a position to earn a starting opportunity at some point in 2026 or 2027. Arizona has a strong core of offensive weapons around its quarterbacks in tight end Trey McBride, wide receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson, and running back Jeremiyah Love, which could help Beck have success if he gets on the field. For dynasty managers in the midst of a rebuild, taking a shot on Beck in rookie drafts could be a worthy dart throw.

With the 2026 season now just a few months away, veteran quarterback Geno Smith appears likely to open the year as the QB for the New York Jets. Smith had a disastrous year as a member of the Las Vegas Raiders in 2025, completing 67.4% of his pass attempts for 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions across 15 games. The 35-year-old averaged just 6.8 yards per pass attempt and also took a league-leading 55 sacks despite missing two games. While the Jets were one of the worst offenses in the NFL last season, the team should get a healthier season out of star wideout Garrett Wilson and also added wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. and tight end Kenyon Sadiq in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. New York should also put a much better offensive line in front of Smith than the line he played with in Las Vegas in 2025. Smith's dynasty upside is limited at this point in his career, but he could be worth buying low on as a depth option for dynasty contenders ahead of 2026.

After being named the MVP of Super Bowl LX in February, running back Kenneth Walker III signed a three-year, $43 million contract with the Kansas City Chiefs in March. The 25-year-old has been a productive player over the past four years as a member of the Seattle Seahawks, averaging 1,140 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns per season. However, he's never recorded more than 255 touches in a season and had his 2025 workload with the Seahawks impacted by the presence of Seattle back Zach Charbonnet (knee). In Kansas City, Walker III profiles as the clear number one back and should see all the touches he can handle. As long as he can stay healthy, Walker III may currently be undervalued in redraft formats as a lower-end RB1.

Relative to his own lofty standards, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb had a down year in 2025. The 27-year-old missed three games with an ankle injury and finished the year with 75 receptions for 1,077 yards and three touchdowns on 117 targets. After averaging over 10 targets per game in 2024, Lamb saw his targets decrease to 8.4 per game in 2025. Part of the reason for the decline was the emergence of fellow Cowboys wideout George Pickens. However, Lamb's efficiency went up in terms of both yards per reception and yards per target while sharing the field with a vertical threat like Pickens in 2025. With better health, Lamb could re-emerge as a dominant force in the short and intermediate areas of the field. Pickens is also playing the 2026 season on the franchise tag and remains without a long-term extension from Dallas. Even if Pickens' presence is a real impediment to Lamb's production, his long-term dynasty outlook is unchanged until Pickens extends with the Cowboys.

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman had a year to forget in 2025. The 23-year-old recorded 38 receptions for 404 yards and four touchdowns on 59 targets across 13 games and was benched in several games down the stretch of the year for disciplinary reasons. Coleman has drawn compliments from the Bills' coaching staff for his work so far this offseason, so it's possible that he can work his way back into the good graces of the team. However, Buffalo acquired veteran wide receiver DJ Moore in March and used a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on wideout Skyler Bell. As a result, Coleman appears to be entering training camp without any guarantees of playing time or target volume. Coleman retains some upside if he can put it all together, which could make him an intriguing buy-low option for dynasty managers. Still, his fantasy profile contains significant risk entering 2026.

With the Atlanta Falcons wrapping up the final session of mandatory minicamp on Wednesday, it was quarterback Tua Tagovailoa leading the first-team offense as the team worked on third-and-goal situations. Following his release from the Dolphins, Atlanta signed Tagovailoa to a one-year, $1.2 million deal, and as Michael Penix Jr. continues to work his way back from the ACL tear that ended his 2025 season, the seventh-year veteran has been given an early advantage in a battle expected to carry into training camp. The Falcons spent a first-round pick on Penix in the 2024 NFL Draft and face a critical decision about his fifth-year option following the 2026 season, so there is a belief that he'll be given every opportunity to claim the starting job once healthy, but new head coach Kevin Stefanski has long valued accuracy as one of the most important traits of the position. While Tagovailoa has completed exactly 68% of his passes since entering the league as a first-round pick in 2020, Penix ranked near the bottom of the league in on-target throw percentage in 2025. With a strong supporting cast of Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts, whoever claims the starting job could have fantasy viability throughout the year, and if that becomes Tagovailoa out of the gates, RotoBaller's QB30 could have early-season appeal as a streaming option.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington averaged only 18.6 receiving yards per game in 2025, but playing in all 17 games, his 317 yards were the most of any receiver currently on the roster. Miami has moved on from Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, and the team spent five of its 13 draft picks on either receiver or tight end. With the competition for targets wide open heading into 2026, Washington has a strong chance to serve as the team's WR1 in a new-look offense that will undoubtedly still run through running back De'Von Achane and potentially tight end Greg Dulcich. 2025 starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa ranked 30th in the league with 6.9 yards per attempt, contributing to Washington's low yardage total despite a respectable 62 targets, whereas new starter Malik Willis has proven to be much more aggressive, leading the league with 12.1 yards per attempt across his four 2025 appearances. With a spot near the top of the depth chart and a downfield passing attack that could take advantage of some of the abilities that allowed him to rack up more than 1,300 yards in his final collegiate season, Washington has a chance to carve out something close to an every-week role for fantasy and could prove to be a steal as a player going in the late double-digit rounds of startup drafts.

In a year that saw 22 tight ends selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, Baylor's Michael Trigg was not one of the players to hear his name called, and he ultimately signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent. Finishing second in the nation with 694 receiving yards from the tight end position and landing in the top five with his six touchdown grabs, talent has never been a concern for Trigg, but off-field issues are what led him to go undrafted. While the Cowboys organization has a checkered history of character concerns, that reputation has improved immensely in recent years, and if Trigg can keep things focused on football, he could earn his way onto the roster. Dallas is already deep at the position with Jake Ferguson and dedicated blockers Luke Schoonmaker and Brevyn Spann-Ford, but in a league trending toward heavier 12 and 13-personnel usage, it should come as no surprise if more teams start keeping four tight ends on the roster. Trigg offers a receiving element that neither Schoonmaker nor Spann-Ford would be able to provide should Ferguson miss extended time, and while he'll first need to make the team, RotoBaller's dynasty TE42 could ultimately prove to be a taxi squad stash with long-term fantasy upside.

When the Indianapolis Colts took running back Seth McGowan in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft, they added to a room in serious need of depth behind three-time Pro Bowler Jonathan Taylor. With Taylor playing in all 17 games and leading the NFL with 323 carries in 2025, there was little work to be split up behind him, and the next three backs on the roster combined for fewer than 50 attempts. Two of those backs, veterans Ameer Abdullah and Tyler Goodson, are no longer on the roster, leaving McGowan to battle it out with 2025 fifth-round pick DJ Giddens for the team's primary backup role. In a disappointing rookie season, Giddens was held out of several games as a healthy scratch while averaging only 3.7 yards per carry. With quarterback Daniel Jones potentially facing a ramp-up period to begin the year as he recovers from the Achilles injury sustained in December, the Colts' running game becomes all the more important, and a balance will need to be struck in preserving Taylor after 2025 marked his first full season since his 2021 breakout. A big, physical back, McGowan will have his chance to make an impression when the pads come on for training camp in late July. Whoever ultimately wins the job between McGowan and Giddens will have little standalone value behind Taylor, but in a run-heavy offense behind a running back with a history of missing time, the role comes with some of the highest insurance upside in the league.

While playing in all 17 games in 2025, Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams finished as the fantasy RB9, but his points per game in half-PPR formats dropped by almost 1.9 points from his RB7 finish of the previous season. While many are quick to point out the growing involvement of 2024 third-round pick Blake Corum, one of the biggest factors working against Williams in 2025 was his red zone usage. Williams was still one of the most efficient goal line players in the league, but with wide receiver Davante Adams scoring an NFL record 11 receiving touchdowns from within the five-yard line, Williams saw his red zone carries drop by more than 20 attempts from the previous season. Adams holds the career record for most receiving touchdowns from the one-yard line, so his goal line usage is not going to suddenly dry up in 2026, but regression will likely prevent him from again hitting double-digit scores from that area, providing Williams more opportunities from a part of the field where he has been one of the league's most successful players over the past three seasons. At RotoBaller's RB14, Williams represents some of the highest odds of a top-five fantasy finish from a player going outside the top 12 of his position and remains a reliable RB1 for drafters loading up on receivers with their first two picks.

Los Angeles Chargers second-year running back Omarion Hampton said that offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel told him he reminds him of Denver Broncos Hall of Fame RB Terrell Davis, according to Alex Insdorf. The Bolts took the 23-year-old with the 22nd overall pick in last year's NFL draft out of the University of North Carolina. He was set up for a major role earlier than expected in L.A. when Najee Harris suffered a torn Achilles in Week 1, but then Hampton missed seven weeks with a fractured ankle, ultimately finishing with 545 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 124 carries (4.4 yards per carry) while adding 32 receptions for 192 yards and another score in nine regular-season games (six starts). Comparing Hampton to Davis is high praise from the new OC, but if healthy, Hampton has clear Year 2 breakout potential. With better health, an improved Chargers' offensive line, and more usage in McDaniel's system, Hampton has obvious RB1 upside going into his sophomore campaign. RotoBaller has Hampton ranked as the No. 11 fantasy RB for the upcoming 2026 season.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase has been a superstar since entering the league in 2021. Chase has finished with 1,000 receiving yards or more in every season and has over 50 touchdowns in his career. This past season, Chase saw a career-high 185 targets, hauling in 125 receptions for 1,412 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. across 16 games. Chase has finished as the WR5 or higher in three of his first five seasons in the league. The superstar wideout seems to be one of the few players in the league who is bust-proof. The 26-year-old still has a league-winning ceiling and is young enough to still build around even in dynasty start-ups.

Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams is coming off a career year this past season. He was an inconsistent option during his first four seasons in Denver, but he took a huge leap forward last season. Williams rushed for 1,201 yards on 252 carries with 11 touchdowns across 16 games with the Cowboys. Williams finished as the RB11, but slots in as the RB21 in the Rotoballer rankings. Williams should once again be the workhorse back in Dallas, but past injuries make it tough to trust him as a long-term option. This past season was the first time that Williams has started 16 games in a single season. He's locked into a long-term deal in Dallas and is expected to remain the lead back going forward. There's RB1 upside here, but can Williams replicate his 1,200-yard campaign, or is it only downhill from here? Dynasty managers could be on the hook for paying top dollar for a running back who only has one year of elite production.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins has been undervalued at times because he's playing alongside Ja'Marr Chase. Despite being the No. 2 option, Higgins has been a stud since being drafted by the Bengals in 2020. During his first three seasons, Higgins finished with 1,000-plus receiving yards in two of those first three years. Unfortunately, injuries have slowed down Higgins from putting up elite numbers, but he's hopeful to put those lingering issues behind him. This past season, Higgins finished with 59 receptions, 846 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns. Those are fairly impressive numbers given the fact that Higgins is doing that with quarterback Joe Burrow being injured for part of two of the last three seasons. When this offense is healthy, Higgins can put together high-end WR2 numbers with the possibility of being a WR1.

Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (elbow) sat out of team drills during minicamp, but he was able to get through individual position drills. Simmons recently confirmed that he underwent a minor elbow procedure this offseason. This is the reason we've seen Simmons wearing a brace in the past. The stud pass rusher has been participating in mandatory minicamp under Robert Saleh's new defensive scheme. This past season, Simmons recorded a career-high 11 sacks with 67 tackles and 17 tackles for loss across 15 games. The 28-year-old will be a significant part of the Titans' defense going forward and should be fine after a minor elbow surgery this offseason.

Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (undisclosed), who missed voluntary organized team activities due to an undisclosed soft-tissue injury, returned to practice on Tuesday, according to John Keim of ESPN. While Croskey-Merritt has the clearest path to the RB1 role in Washington in 2026 in his second year in the NFL, head coach Dan Quinn has mentioned that the former seventh-rounder out of the University of Arizona needs to show what he can do in pass protection, among other areas. The 25-year-old could also stand to improve his ball security going into Year 2 as he looks to hold off Rachaad White, Jerome Ford, rookie Kaytron Allen, and Jeremy McNichols. Croskey-Merritt averaged 4.6 yards per carry for a team-high 805 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 175 carries in 2025 in his rookie campaign, but he barely contributed as a pass-catcher with only nine receptions for 68 yards in 17 games (seven starts). Bill's role as the clear lead back in D.C. isn't solidified yet, but he's the best fantasy target in the Commanders' backfield in 2026 as an RB3/flex with upside, primarily in standard-scoring formats.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin (hamstring) was active during the team's mandatory minicamp practice on Wednesday, according to Zac Stevens of DNVR Sports. Franklin appears to be over a hamstring injury that prevented him from playing in the loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game back in January. In his second year in the NFL in 2025 after the Broncos made him a fourth-round pick in 2024 out of the University of Oregon, the 23-year-old took a big step forward with 65 catches for 709 yards and six touchdowns on 104 targets in 17 regular-season games (seven starts). He only had 28 receptions (53 targets) for 263 yards and two touchdowns in 16 games (six starts) as a rookie in 2024. Franklin's fantasy stock is trending down going into his third year in the league, though, primarily because the Broncos gave up a first-round pick this year for veteran wideout Jaylen Waddle. Between Waddle and Courtland Sutton, there may not be many targets left over for Franklin as he competes for the No. 3 role in Denver in 2026. RotoBaller currently has Franklin ranked as the No. 86 fantasy WR in single-year, half-PPR leagues.