Fantasy Football News

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was arguably the best pass-catcher in football in 2025, recording 119 catches for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns on 163 targets across 17 games. The 24-year-old was remarkably efficient, averaging 3.61 yards per route run while seeing 35.8% of the Seahawks' total targets. Entering 2026, Smith-Njigba once again profiles as the clear number one option in a Seattle passing game that lacks another obvious high-volume target-earner. The Seahawks threw the ball at the third-lowest rate in the NFL in 2025 but may be forced to turn to the air more often this season after losing running back Kenneth Walker III to the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency. With Smith-Njigba entering the prime of his career, he has a legitimate case to be the number one overall pick in redraft leagues ahead of 2026.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford had a historic season in 2025, throwing for 4,707 yards, 46 touchdowns, and eight interceptions across 17 games and being named the NFL's MVP. Stafford was an elite fantasy QB last season, particularly in leagues that award six points per passing touchdown. Still, there are multiple reasons to expect regression from Stafford in 2026. For one, the veteran quarterback is entering his age-38 season and has a history of back and neck issues. Stafford also posted a 7.7% touchdown rate as a passer in 2025, which is well above his career mark of 4.8%. By measure of per-game scoring, Stafford finished outside the top-24 at the quarterback position in 2024. However, he's currently being valued as a low-end QB1/high-end QB2 by average draft position in redraft formats. Unless his price continues to come down, Stafford may be a player for redraft managers to avoid in 2026.

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley (leg) had a season to forget in 2025, as he played in just seven games and suffered a season-ending broken fibula in Week 11. The 31-year-old finished the year with just 17 catches for 303 yards and zero touchdowns on 36 targets. Entering 2026, Ridley may now profile as the third option in the Titans' passing game behind slot receiver Wan'Dale Robinson and rookie wideout Carnell Tate. Still, the overall offensive environment in Tennessee should be improved with Brian Daboll in place as the play-caller and quarterback Cam Ward entering his second season. Ridley should be fully healthy for the start of the 2026 season, and he recorded back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns in 2023 and 2024. Fantasy managers should no longer expect peak production from Ridley, but he may still be a value selection as the 67th wide receiver off the board by average draft position in redraft leagues.

Across 12 games in 2025, Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid recorded 39 catches for 571 yards and five touchdowns on 49 targets. The 26-year-old has flashed upside since entering the league in 2023, but he's missed nine games due to injury over the past two seasons. The Bills have also limited Kincaid's workload even in games where he's been active, as he failed to reach 50% of Buffalo's offensive snaps in any game after Week 5 in 2025. Entering 2026, Kincaid is reportedly fully healthy. However, the Bills added a high-volume target over the offseason in wide receiver DJ Moore and still have tight ends Dawson Knox and Jackson Hawes on their roster. As the TE12 by average draft position in redraft formats, Kincaid may be overvalued entering 2026.

The Los Angeles Rams surprised many when they selected quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Simpson was a productive player for the University of Alabama in 2025, completing 64.5% of his pass attempts for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns, and five interceptions across 15 games. Still, Los Angeles has the reigning NFL MVP ahead of Simpson on their quarterback depth chart in Matthew Stafford. As long as Stafford stays healthy, Simpson is at least one year and possibly longer from taking over under center for the Rams. However, Stafford is entering his age-38 season and has a history of back issues. Simpson is also in an ideal developmental spot in Los Angeles under Rams head coach Sean McVay. For dynasty managers engaged in a rebuild, targeting Simpson is a logical move.

The No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza, profiles as his new team's long-term answer under center. Mendoza had a dominant junior season at the University of Indiana in 2025, completing 72% of his pass attempts for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns, and six interceptions across 16 games. The 22-year-old also showed some ability to produce with his legs, recording 276 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. Currently, Mendoza appears to be entering his rookie training camp behind both Kirk Cousins and Aidan O'Connell on the Raiders' quarterback depth chart. However, Cousins is entering his age-38 season, and O'Connell has not shown anything more than quality backup quarterback production to this point in his career. Mendoza could easily emerge as the starter in Las Vegas early on in 2026. With a current average draft position of QB27, Mendoza may be undervalued in redraft formats.

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook III tied for the league lead with 16 rushing touchdowns in 2024, and while those calling for regression ahead of the 2025 season were technically right, Cook was able to pair his 12 touchdown runs with 1,621 yards on the ground and the first rushing crown of his career. Cook has finished as the RB8 and RB6 in the past two seasons, and with Buffalo's offense remaining largely intact for 2026, there is no reason to expect any significant falloff. The largest change comes at the top, where Joe Brady will take over as head coach, though his previous promotion to offensive coordinator coincided with Cook's breakout, and no team has scored more offensive touchdowns across his two full seasons as playcaller. While the offseason trade for veteran receiver DJ Moore could allow for perennial MVP-contender Josh Allen to again throw for more than 4,000 yards, something he has not done in either of Cook's RB1 seasons, a more balanced offense could also lead to more scoring opportunities on the ground. Despite Allen scoring rushing touchdowns at a historic rate in recent years, Cook has still been one of the league's most active backs from within the five-yard line over the past two seasons, and he is RotoBaller's RB5 for 2026.

Still eyeing a return for 2026, free agent wide receiver Tyreek Hill (knee) continues to work his way back from the gruesome knee injury that ended his 2025 season after only four games. In a clip he posted to his YouTube channel in late June, he appears to receive positive news from a doctor who is impressed by his recovery. As rumors continue to swirl about potential 2026 landing spots for the five-time All-Pro, teams are set to reconvene for training camps at the end of the month, where a single injury could create a need for his services. While there are no guarantees that he will ever take another NFL snap, and even fewer assurances that he can return to pre-injury form, Hill has been one of the most explosive players to ever play the game, with his 28 career touchdowns of at least 50 yards ranking as the fourth most in NFL history. An afterthought in most 2026 drafts, Hill is a player who can and should be scooped up in the final rounds of any leagues with the use of injured reserve slots, and even without, the 11th-year receiver is worthy of an end-of-bench early-season stash, allowing fantasy managers extra time to make a decision before bye weeks and injuries arrive.

New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller was selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. At the time, Alvin Kamara had seen his efficiency drop as he flirted with 300 opportunities in each of the previous three seasons, and the prevailing belief was that Miller could help to keep him fresh before potentially assuming the starting role himself. However, injuries have limited the fourth-year back to appearances in only 21 of a possible 51 games, and when he has seen the field, he has not looked the part of an NFL starter, averaging fewer than four yards per attempt on his 127 career carries. With New Orleans committing $28 million in guarantees to free agent Travis Etienne Jr., and Kamara still on the team along with Devin Neal and Audric Estime, Miller could be viewed as a long shot to even make the Saints' 53-man roster. Ranked outside of RotoBaller's top 300 players for 2026, Miller is not a player that should factor into draft plans in any redraft leagues, and his dynasty value has sunk to a place that makes him an easy drop candidate.

While playing in all 17 games in 2025, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy saw his receiving yards cut by more than half from his previous season, a 90-catch, 1,229-yard campaign that earned him his first Pro Bowl selection. His first season with the team saw him hyper-targeted to end the year by a combination of Jameis Winston, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and Bailey Zappe, earning double-digit opportunities in six of the final nine weeks. While the team's quarterback rotation continued into 2025, the players changed, and with Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders all starting games, Jeudy only topped 10 targets twice all season, and an inability to form a connection with any of his signal callers led to one of the lowest reception percentages in the league. Heading into 2026, the Browns' quarterback situation is as unsettled as ever, with Sanders and veteran Deshaun Watson projected to battle throughout training camp for the starting job in new head coach Todd Monken's offense, and with the team spending two top 40 picks on the receiver position, Jeudy could face the most significant target competition since being traded from Denver. With all these factors at play, expectations are low heading into the 2026 season, and Jeudy is RotoBaller's WR64.

Beginning with one of the most dominant fantasy seasons ever in his first year as a starter, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes went on a five-year run that saw him finish as the QB4 or better four different times with bookending QB1 finishes. Since then, some of his most dangerous weapons have either moved on or slowed with age, and major philosophical changes in Kansas City have led to a statistical decline and the three worst fantasy seasons of his career. After leading one of the league's most aggressive offenses in his early seasons, Mahomes has seen his air yards drop from 8.6 yards per attempt to only 6.9 over his past three seasons. The more conservative approach has not necessarily led to more efficiency, as his touchdown-to-interception ratio also dropped by nearly half over that span. A saving grace for fantasy has been an increased scramble rate, which saw Mahomes rush for career highs of 422 yards and five touchdowns in 2025 despite playing in only 14 games before his season was ended by a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee. How much of his mobility returns when he gets back on the field could be the most crucial element in determining his fantasy value in 2026, as his pass catchers remain largely unchanged from previous seasons. Expected to return to 11-on-11 work as early as training camp, Mahomes' movement will be watched closely, but for now he is RotoBaller's QB13 for 2026.

After being selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden had a rookie season to forget. Across 14 games (five starts), the 22-year-old recorded 29 catches for 361 yards and zero touchdowns on 44 targets. Golden should have a more prominent role in the Packers' offense in his second season, as the team moved on from wide receivers Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks over the offseason. However, Golden may still be behind wide receivers Christian Watson and Jayden Reed, as well as tight end Tucker Kraft, on the team's target pecking order. Green Bay has been a difficult place for wide receivers to post high-end fantasy production in recent seasons, as the team has frequently opted for an equal-opportunity passing offense and a run-heavy approach overall under current head coach and play-caller Matt LaFleur. Even with a discount in his value baked in, dynasty managers may want to avoid Golden ahead of 2026.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker missed the first six games of the 2025 season due to a quad injury. The 24-year-old posted modest numbers upon his return, recording 33 receptions for 394 yards and three touchdowns on 43 targets across 11 games. Still, Carolina saw enough from Coker to sign him to a three-year contract extension over the offseason, and he enters 2026 as the projected WR2 for the Panthers. Coker has missed 12 games across his first two NFL seasons, so injury concerns are unquestionably present in his profile. Still, the young wideout could be in line for a breakout season if he can finally put together a fully healthy campaign. As the WR56 by current average draft position in redraft leagues, Coker may be a sneaky sleeper for fantasy managers to target ahead of 2026.

After spending the first five seasons of his NFL career with the Miami Dolphins, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle is entering his first year with the Denver Broncos in 2026. Denver sent significant draft capital to Miami to acquire Waddle, who now projects as the team's WR1. The move from Miami to Denver should provide Waddle with a significantly improved offensive environment. However, the Broncos have several wide receivers who are capable of earning targets, including Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin, and Pat Bryant. Waddle spent most of 2025 as the clear WR1 in Miami, but he still finished the year as the WR29 in per-game PPR scoring. As the 23rd wide receiver off the board by average draft position in redraft leagues, Waddle may currently be slightly overvalued.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles) is currently working his way back from the torn Achilles that ended his 2025 campaign in Week 14. While Jones has not yet been fully cleared, he still appears to be tracking towards being ready to go for Week 1 of the 2026 season. Jones was having arguably his best NFL season before the injury in 2025, completing 68% of his pass attempts for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions across 13 games. The 29-year-old also rushed for 164 yards and five scores on 45 attempts. Jones may be less aggressive as a rusher in his first year back from injury, which could limit his fantasy upside for 2026. Still, the veteran quarterback appears to have found a home in Indianapolis and was the QB12 in per-game fantasy scoring before getting hurt last season. For rebuilding dynasty managers, buying low on Jones ahead of 2026 could pay dividends.

A second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins (ankle) recorded 998 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns on 256 touches across 14 games as a rookie. The 22-year-old's season came to an unfortunate end in Week 16 when he suffered a dislocated right ankle and a fractured fibula. Still, Judkins is expected to be ready to go for the start of 2026 and profiles as Cleveland's early-down and short-yardage workhorse. Judkins struggled to be efficient in his first NFL season, averaging 3.6 yards per carry. However, the Browns overhauled their offensive line this offseason and should create a healthier offensive environment for Judkins in 2026. Judkins' workload projection gives him a safe production floor, and his current redraft ADP of RB21 may undervalue his upside.

New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh described running back Cam Skattebo (ankle) as a "top-tier back," per Jordan Raanan of ESPN. A fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Skattebo collected 617 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns on 125 touches across eight games as a rookie before suffering a season-ending ankle injury. Despite the injury, the 24-year-old is expected to be fully healthy and ready to go for the start of 2026. The Giants have solid depth at the running back position in the form of Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary. However, it appears as though Harbaugh and the rest of the new coaching staff in New York view Skattebo as the team's lead back. RotoBaller currently ranks Skattebo as the 19th-best running back for redraft leagues heading into 2026.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving has become one of the most divisive players in 2026 drafts. After a breakout rookie season in 2024 saw him rack up almost 1,600 yards on his way to an RB14 finish, foot and shoulder injuries, as well as reported off-field struggles, limited him to only 10 games in 2025. Returning to action in Week 13 after an eight-week absence, Irving looked like a shell of himself, unable to top four yards per carry in any of his final six games. On the season, his 3.4-yard-per-carry average was down a full two yards from his rookie season, and while he was able to provide 6.1 half-PPR points per game strictly through the passing game, more than 67% of that production came in the first four weeks of the season. Following offseason shoulder surgery, the bull case for Irving is that he can return to the efficiency of his rookie season and the start of 2025, when he was the RB10 through the first four weeks. His detractors will point to the two-year, $14 million deal given to Kenneth Gainwell as evidence that Irving's fantasy-friendly usage in the passing game is set to take a meaningful hit. Those conflicting opinions have him coming off the board around RB24 by current ADP, providing his believers the opportunity to snag him at a discount in hopes of what could be a league-winning bounceback season.

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson finished as the fantasy TE8 in 2025, but his season truly was a tale of two halves. With five-time Pro Bowl receiver CeeDee Lamb missing time early in the year, Ferguson began his fourth season at a break-neck pace, finishing as the TE5 or better in each game from Weeks 2 through 5, and his 51 catches and six touchdowns had him sitting as the TE1 through the first seven weeks of the season. From that point on, with Lamb back to full health and first-year Cowboy George Pickens proving to be a driving force of Dallas' passing offense, Ferguson caught only two more touchdowns and was barely usable for fantasy, averaging 5.4 half-PPR points over his final 10 games and ranking as the TE22 over that stretch. With Lamb and Pickens back for another season together and capable of fully boxing Ferguson out of the offense, the 27-year-old tight end comes in right on the fringe of fantasy relevance as RotoBaller's TE13. Though clearly capable of stepping into a larger role and delivering week-winning performances should either receiver succumb to injury, Ferguson projects best as a solid second tight end in deeper leagues and is an obvious player to target in best ball drafts.

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki is coming off a down year in which a pectoral injury limited him to only 13 games and 28 receptions, the lowest totals since his rookie season. Returning for the final seven games following a five-week stint on the Reserve/Injured list, he was notably more effective to close the year, playing on a 17-game pace of 49 receptions for 597 yards, but in finding the end zone only twice, Gesicki was still just the TE14 in that span. Following an early-career stretch with the Dolphins in which he finished as a low-end TE1 in three straight seasons, he has not returned to the top 12 across his last four campaigns with Miami, New England, and Cincinnati, only once cracking the top 22, and his most productive stretches with the Bengals have come as an injury fill-in for either Ja'Marr Chase or Tee Higgins. With the offense operating at full health, Gesicki's involvement has been sporadic, with head coach and playcaller Zac Taylor leaning heavily into 11-personnel usage. Gesicki could again see fantasy managers race to the waiver wires should either Chase or Higgins miss time in the coming year, but at RotoBaller's TE28, he is unlikely to factor into 2026 drafts.