Fantasy Football News

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams scored nine of his league-leading 14 receiving touchdowns from within the five-yard line, and while that makes him an obvious regression candidate for 2026, his 42 career scores from within that same range are the most of any player since 2000. It is not by chance that Adams ranks seventh on the all-time receiving touchdown list. His legendarily quick release package and encyclopedic knowledge of defensive back tendencies have made him one of the most unguardable players in the red zone for most of his career, and even if he's begun to show signs of decline between the 20s, he is still as safe a bet as any to lead the league in scoring grabs again. Touchdowns have long been one of the least predictable elements of fantasy football, but the 33-year-old Adams has 12 seasons of history on his side, and at RotoBaller's WR15, he remains one of the highest upside plays from outside the opening rounds of 2026 drafts.

New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson was able to overcome early-season fumbling concerns in 2025 and led the team in running back snaps on his way to a very usable RB25 finish, despite missing three games. While calls for a TreVeyon Henderson breakout are growing louder and easier to buy into, there's a world where the 2025 second-round pick takes his game to a stratospheric level without meaningfully impacting Stevenson. In what will be quarterback Drake Maye's second full season as a starter, there is a sense around the team that he has taken ownership of Josh McDaniels' offense, and with New England acquiring A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs to go with Mack Hollins and Kayshon Boutte, they could boast the most physically imposing receiver room in the league. Having spent a first-round pick to shore up the offensive line after making free agent investments at fullback and tight end, this appears to be a unit looking for creative ways to adopt a bully-ball persona. In what should remain one of the league's most efficient and explosive offenses, there's a realistic possibility for both backs to crack 1,000 yards from scrimmage while pushing for double-digit touchdowns, and at RotoBaller's RB28, Stevenson remains a value in the middle rounds of 2026 drafts.

Veteran running back Rico Dowdle has topped 1,000 rushing yards in each of the past two seasons, playing for two different teams, and he looks to keep that streak alive after signing a two-year, $12.3 million deal this offseason to join the Pittsburgh Steelers. In Dallas, Dowdle shared the backfield with three-time Pro Bowler Ezekiel Elliott, while last year in Carolina, he joined a room with Chuba Hubbard, who was fresh off an RB15 finish and a four-year contract extension. While he was able to ultimately wrestle primary duties from both, Elliott was well past his prime, while Hubbard spent much of the year slowed by a calf injury. In Pittsburgh, even as he reunites with former head coach Mike McCarthy, Dowdle could face notably stiffer competition for playing time from jack-of-all-trades Jaylen Warren, who himself finished as the RB16 in 2025 while splitting work with one of the league's most proficient pass catchers, Kenneth Gainwell. However, in an Aaron Rodgers-led offense unlikely to push the ball downfield, both backs are likely to see heavy involvement, and with neither currently being drafted inside the top 30 of the position, both stand a strong chance to outperform ADP. Dowdle is RotoBaller's RB33 for 2026, but with multiple paths to fantasy relevance, he could prove to be one of the year's better mid-round values.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp played in 16 games in 2025, but his 593 receiving yards were the lowest since his 2018 sophomore season, in which he missed eight games after tearing his ACL halfway through. His first season in Seattle also marked his first 16-game campaign since winning the receiving Triple Crown in 2021, but even without succumbing to the injuries that have slowed him of late, the ninth-year veteran has seen a notable decline in his ability to separate or add meaningful production after the catch. Heading into his 10th season at 33 years old, Kupp remains an important complementary piece for Seattle behind Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba, but that real-life importance is unlikely to translate to fantasy outside of the occasional best-ball spike week, and the two-time Super Bowl champion is RotoBaller's WR72 for 2026.

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey has become one of fantasy's greatest paradoxes. In 2025, he played in all 17 games and finished as the RB1 by a substantial margin, marking the fifth time in the last eight seasons that he's played at least 16 games, with accompanying finishes of RB1, RB1, RB2, RB1, and RB3. McCaffrey is one of the most unique weapons in the game, as dangerous aligned out wide as he is from the backfield, making him nearly impossible to remove from the field despite yearly discussions about limiting his workload. Unfortunately, his unquestioned bell cow role has come with predictable wear and tear and a number of catastrophic injuries, and three times over those eight years, he's played in seven or fewer games. McCaffrey is now 30 years old and coming off the heaviest workload of his career, handling more than 430 opportunities in 2025, and his fantasy outlook remains familiar: if he makes it through another full season, he's as strong a bet as anyone to finish as the RB1, but getting there means facing the type of physical strain that very few human beings on the planet are equipped to handle. With injury risk pitted against upside, McCaffrey is RotoBaller's RB3 for 2026.

John Shipley of Sports Illustrated writes that perhaps no Jacksonville Jaguars draft pick "garnered as much buzz" this offseason as fifth-round rookie tight end Tanner Koziol. The Jaguars took Texas A&M TE Nate Boerkircher in the second round (56th overall) and still have Brenton Strange at the position, but they are expected to involve more multiple-tight-end looks in 2026. Koziol's pass-catching prowess and refinement in the passing game helped him stand out immediately this offseason. In his four years in college (three years at Ball State and one at the University of Houston), he had 237 catches for 2,234 receiving yards and 24 touchdowns in 49 games played. His 74 catches last year with Houston led all TEs nationally, and his 727 receiving yards ranked second. There's no doubting what Koziol can do as a pass-catcher, but it will be hard for him to find playing time in head coach Liam Coen's offensive scheme if he doesn't offer value as a blocker as well. Right now, Koziol is an intriguing long-term prospect for those in dynasty/keeper leagues, but he could open his rookie year as the No. 3 TE in Jacksonville.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have had preliminary talks about a contract extension with tight end Brenton Strange and wide receiver Parker Washington, according to Michael DiRocco of ESPN. Strange and Washington are entering the final years of their rookie contracts. Strange set career highs in catches (46), receiving yards (540), and receiving touchdowns (three) in 2025. General manager James Gladstone is optimistic about the team's chances of extending both Strange and Washington, saying the team is "probably within striking distance to see things come to light." The Jaguars drafted rookie tight ends Tanner Koziol and Nate Boerkircher in this year's draft, and they are expected to deploy multiple tight-end sets more often in 2026 in head coach Liam Coen's offense. Despite the addition of two rookies at his position, Strange is expected to have a bigger role on offense and should move around the formation more to create mismatches. Still, with plenty of options for quarterback Trevor Lawrence in the receiving room, too, Strange should not be considered as anything more than a TE2 pick with upside in 2026.

ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi writes that no Cleveland Browns wideout was targeted more than wide receiver Isaiah Bond this spring. The Browns drafted receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston back in April, but that doesn't mean that Bond will be mothballed in his second NFL season. Bond showed off his speed and the 15 pounds of muscle that he added in the offseason with plenty of contested catches during offseason practices. The 22-year-old former University of Texas product played in 16 games (two starts) for the Browns in 2025 in his first year in the NFL and caught just 18 of his 44 targets for 338 yards and no touchdowns. Veteran Jerry Jeudy is still in the team's WR room, which will definitely make it difficult for Bond to stand out every week as he heads into his sophomore season in Cleveland. Bond deserves to be held in dynasty/keeper formats, but in redraft leagues in 2026, he should be left to the waiver wire to begin the season in 12-team leagues. Right now, Bond is outside of RotoBaller's top-100 receivers for the upcoming campaign.

New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (ankle) thinks he will be ready to go in Week 1 of the 2026 regular season after last year's gruesome season-ending ankle injury in his rookie campaign, according to Bobby Kownack of NFL.com. "It ain't gonna change who I am," Skattebo said. "I had an injury, you know, it is what it is. I've still got plenty of football left, plenty of life left, I'm not going to let this little ankle thing bother me. I'm going to get back [to] running people over like you see on the videos. It's going to be normal Cam Skattebo from here on out." After the Giants selected him in the fourth round in 2025, the Arizona State product had 617 total yards and seven touchdowns before injuring his ankle in Week 8. The 24-year-old took part in 11-on-11 drills during mandatory minicamp last week and should do more in training camp this summer. The Giants should rely more heavily on the running back in new head coach John Harbaugh's first year in the Big Apple, which makes Skattebo an intriguing RB2 target in single-year fantasy leagues in 2026 with the upside for more. RotoBaller currently has him ranked as the No. 20 fantasy RB.

Entering 2026, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray is in need of a career reboot. The 28-year-old missed 12 games in 2025 with a foot injury, marking the third time in the last four seasons that he's missed at least six games. Murray's production has also been in gradual decline since his peak years in 2020 and 2021, which led him to sign a massive contract extension with the Arizona Cardinals. As he enters his first year with Minnesota, Murray is currently competing for the QB1 role with incumbent Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy. While McCarthy is a former first-round draft pick, he completed just 57.6% of his passes and threw 12 interceptions across 12 starts for the Vikings in 2025. If Murray can win the starting job, he'll be working with one of the league's better play-callers in Kevin O'Connell and throwing to an elite trio of wide receivers in Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jauan Jennings. Murray also brings dual-threat upside for fantasy managers, as he's just a season removed from rushing for 572 yards and five touchdowns across 17 games for the Cardinals in 2024. Murray's profile obviously carries significant risk, but his current redraft ADP of QB17 may not be accurately capturing his upside.

After failing to record a single reception across his first 20 NFL games, San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges finished the 2025 season with 34 catches for 293 yards and five touchdowns on 46 targets across 17 games. The vast majority of Tonges' production came in the six games that superstar 49ers tight end George Kittle (Achilles) missed due to injury. With Kittle entering his age-33 season and coming off a torn Achilles that he suffered in January, Tonges could easily find himself playing a prominent role in the 49ers' passing game once again in 2026. However, the latest reporting on Kittle indicates that he is on track to be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 season. Across the 11 games where both Kittle and Tonges were active in 2025, Tonges played more than eight snaps just twice. Tonges could be worth stashing in deeper dynasty formats, but his production upside in San Francisco is virtually non-existent as long as Kittle can stay on the field.

After recording over 1,500 scrimmage yards in his first season with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024, veteran running back Aaron Jones Sr.'s production took a tumble in 2025. Jones Sr. battled hamstring, shoulder, ankle, and hip issues and finished the year with 747 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns on 160 touches across 12 games. While Jones Sr. is back in Minnesota for the 2025 season, the expectation is that he will play a secondary role behind Vikings back Jordan Mason. With Jones Sr. entering his age-32 season, it makes sense for Minnesota to limit his workload. However, Mason has recorded just 28 receptions across 61 career NFL games. At the very least, Jones Sr. profiles as the obvious passing-downs back in Minnesota. If he has a healthier season in 2026, Jones Sr. could re-emerge as a 1B or even 1A back for the Vikings. Jones Sr. should no longer be considered a top-24 fantasy running back, but his current average draft position in redraft formats as the RB40 makes him a sleeper worth targeting.

A third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Denver Broncos wide receiver Pat Bryant recorded 31 catches for 378 yards and a touchdown across 15 games (seven starts) as a rookie. The 23-year-old saw his involvement in the Denver passing game grow down the stretch of the season, as he averaged four catches and 45 receiving yards on six targets per game over his final five contests. However, Bryant's place in the Broncos' target pecking order took a hit over the offseason when the team traded for star wide receiver Jaylen Waddle from the Miami Dolphins. Entering 2026, Bryant appears to be battling with Troy Franklin for the WR3 role in Denver behind Waddle and veteran Courtland Sutton. In the immediate, Bryant's production upside is likely limited. Still, with Sutton entering his age-31 season in 2026, Bryant's eventual path to a significant role in Denver remains clear. For rebuilding dynasty managers, Bryant is a worthwhile target.

Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco enters 2026 in a backup role behind star Lions back Jahmyr Gibbs. It's a new role for Pacheco, who spent most of his first four seasons in the NFL as the RB1 for the Kansas City Chiefs. However, Pacheco has struggled with both injuries and ineffectiveness over the past two seasons, missing 14 games and averaging just 3.8 yards per carry since the start of the 2024 campaign. In Detroit, Pacheco's touches will be limited as long as Gibbs remains healthy. Still, former Lions RB2 David Montgomery recorded 908 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns across 17 games in 2025. If Pacheco can assume a similar role as the thunder to Gibbs' lightning, he could be a productive player for fantasy managers in 2026. Pacheco's handcuff appeal is obvious as well, as he profiles as the clear winner in the Detroit backfield if Gibbs suffers an injury. In redraft leagues, Pacheco could be a late-round sleeper to target in drafts.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed is entering his first full season with the team after being acquired from the New Orleans Saints at the 2025 trade deadline. Shaheed's production fell off a cliff following last year's trade, as he recorded 15 catches for 188 yards and zero touchdowns across nine games with the Seahawks after hauling in 44 receptions for 499 yards and two scores across nine games with the Saints. Nevertheless, Seattle re-signed Shaheed to a three-year, $51 million contract in March. As a result, he'll enter 2026 in the mix for the team's WR2 spot behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba, along with veteran Cooper Kupp and youngster Tory Horton. With a full offseason to integrate himself, Shaheed's role in the Seahawks passing game seems likely to expand. In dynasty formats, managers may have a buy-low window on Shaheed ahead of the 2026 season.

As veteran running back Najee Harris continues to work his way back from the Achilles tear that ended his Chargers career after only three games and 15 carries, he remains a free agent ahead of NFL training camps. After four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Harris took a one-year, $5.3 million deal in what proved to be a modest 2025 market for running backs. Limited in his first training camp with the Chargers following a bizarre Fourth of July eye injury, he tore his Achilles coming out of his stance on a routine play and has since been rehabbing the injury that has historically sapped the explosiveness out of running backs, particularly those on the wrong side of the age cliff. A first-round pick in 2021, Harris is now 28 years old, and while a running back injury somewhere across the league could provide him a chance to return for his sixth season, expectations of a fantasy revival remain low for RotoBaller's dynasty RB82.

A sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. caught only 11 passes for 108 yards as a rookie, and he could now be fighting for his roster spot heading into Year 2. At 5-foot-8 and 170 pounds, Horn's role in his first season was largely limited to clear-out routes and a handful of catch-and-run gadget plays, but with the team drafting Chris Brazzell II in the third round of the NFL Draft and adding John Metchie III through free agency, those responsibilities could go elsewhere in 2026. Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker are locked into the top two spots on the depth chart, while 2024 first-round pick Xavier Leggette offers big-bodied depth behind them, and with Horn making limited special teams contributions as a rookie, he could be hard-pressed to earn a roster spot as a sixth receiver. Even if he does stick around with Carolina or latch on with another team after training camp, Horn is not a player who needs to be considered for fantasy at RotoBaller's dynasty WR144.

In the conversation of the best pure runner in the league as recently as three years ago, four-time Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb has been unable to return to form since the devastating knee injury that ended his 2023 season, and the 30-year-old former second-round pick remains unsigned ahead of 2026 training camps. In his first full season back since the injury, Chubb played 15 games for the Houston Texans in 2025, but lacking the contact balance that made him one of the game's true elites through his first five seasons with the Browns, he ran for only 506 yards on 122 carries. Prior to the injury, Chubb had averaged 5.3 yards per carry in his brilliant career, but that number has fallen to 3.7 in his 23 games since. While a running back injury somewhere across the league could keep the door open for him to return for a ninth professional season, Chubb has fallen to RotoBaller's dynasty RB99, and his days of fantasy relevance appear to be squarely behind him.

Following a 2024 rookie season in which he handled himself admirably in an insurance role, San Francisco 49ers running back Isaac Guerendo took a sizable step backward in 2025, and now he could be on the outside looking in when it comes to a roster spot in 2026. With four-time All-Pro Christian McCaffrey limited to only four games in 2024, Guerendo ran for 420 yards and four touchdowns on a 5.0-yard per carry average, but in his second season, he failed to record an offensive snap despite being active for 14 games. The primary backup role in 2025 went to Brian Robinson Jr., and a fully healthy McCaffrey rarely left the field. With Robinson no longer on the team, the high-value handcuff role could come down to a training camp battle in which Guerendo may not be able to participate. After tearing a pectoral muscle during an offseason workout, there's a belief that Guerendo may not be ready to return until late in training camp, giving a seismic advantage to 2025 fifth-round pick Jordan James and 2026 third-round pick Kaelon Black in the competition for primary backup responsibilities. An older prospect coming into the league, Guerendo turns 26 before the start of camp, and if RotoBaller's RB97 is unable to work his way back to meaningful playing time in year three, which at this point looks like an uphill climb, there's very little chance of him restoring dynasty value.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs has predominantly been used out of the slot through his first three seasons in the league, but following the departure of Michael Pittman Jr. via trade to the Steelers, the 5-foot-9 former third-round pick could be moved all over the formation. The Colts committed $84 million in guaranteed money to presumed number one receiver Alec Pierce following a career year in 2025, but behind him, the table is set for Downs to step into an expanded role. Downs was seen lined up on the outside throughout mandatory minicamp, routinely making plays regardless of which quarterback was running the offense, and head coach Shane Steichen told reporters, "I think Downs, his role will step up a little bit more - more targets for him." The 24-year-old Downs is RotoBaller's WR44 for 2026, and, set to reach free agency in 2027, he could be the next Colts receiver to see a massive payday.