Fantasy Football News

Indianapolis Colts kickers Spencer Shrader (knee) and Blake Grupe will compete for the place-kicking job in Indy in training camp this summer, per Paul Bretl of Colts Wire. Shrader was 13-for-14 on field goals and a perfect 14-for-14 on extra points in five games last year before suffering an ACL injury in his knee. He was replaced by Grupe in Week 14, and he went a perfect 10-for-10 on field goals and 11-for-11 on his extra-point tries to close out the year before being re-signed in the offseason. Bretl thinks that Grupe should have the advantage going into the 2026 season because he has 105 career attempts under his belt compared to Shrader's 19, and he's also not coming off a significant knee injury. The 27-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame has made 81.9% of his 105 field-goal attempts (19-for-27 from 50-plus yards) and 98% of his extra points in his three years in the NFL. Fantasy managers in 12-team leagues can avoid the Colts' kicking situation to begin the year.

Tim Weaver of Falcons Wire writes that Atlanta Falcons wide receivers Olamide Zaccheaus, Jahan Dotson, and rookie Zachariah Branch will battle for the WR2 job in training camp this summer behind Drake London. Dotson, a former first-rounder by the Philadelphia Eagles, is the most logical option, but he hasn't been anything special in the NFL since he caught 35 passes for 523 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games as a rookie in 2022. Weaver points out that Zaccheaus has the upper hand in terms of experience, having played in 105 games (35 starts), catching 188 passes for 2,311 yards and 15 touchdowns in seven years with four different teams. Branch, meanwhile, has the most pure upside thanks to his speed and playmaking ability in space. Weaver writes that it's "truly a wide-open competition." Zaccheaus is returning to Atlanta after starting his career with the Falcons in 2019 and playing with them through the 2022 campaign. He has only topped 500 receiving yards once in his seven seasons, but given the lack of depth and experience behind London and tight end Kyle Pitts Sr., Zaccheaus could be worth a late-round dart throw in deep leagues for the opportunity.

Philadelphia Eagles tight end Eli Stowers could be a sneaky target for dynasty managers. The Eagles selected Stowers in the second-round out of Vanderbilt. He put together an impressive performance during the NFL Scouting Combine. There's some good long-term potential here, even if Stowers isn't going to be heavily involved right away. Dallas Goedert is the TE1 in Philly, with Johnny Mundt and Grant Calcaterra fighting for the TE2 job. Fantasy managers in redraft formats are probably safe to avoid Stowers. It could take some time before he's a consistent contributor. Dynasty managers looking for help at tight end should certainly consider Stowers as a stash option. It might take some time, but Stowers has the skillset to be a top-tier option at his position in the future.

New York Jets running back Braelon Allen is looking to bounce back after a disappointing 2025 campaign. Due to injuries, Allen was limited to four games this past season. The 22-year-old has worked hard this offseason to get his body right and get himself ready for a bounce-back campaign in 2026. Even if he's in great shape, Allen isn't going to be the No. 1 option on this team. Breece Hall signed a new extension and remains the workhorse back on this roster. At best, Allen can surpass Isaiah Davis on the depth chart and become a useful change-of-pace back. Fantasy managers should consider stashing Allen as a handcuff.

Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland is looking to build off a strong rookie campaign. The 22-year-old registered 58 receptions, 713 receiving yards, and six touchdowns in 16 games with the Bears last season. Like many rookies, Loveland was eased into the mix, but it didn't take him long to surpass Cole Kmet on the depth chart. He's now expected to take on a larger workload with D.J. Moore out of the picture and a full season with Caleb Williams already under his belt. Loveland finished as the TE12 and outside the top-100 last season, but the sky is the limit for him. Brock Bowers and Trey McBride are likely going to be selected ahead of him, but Loveland as the TE3 isn't crazy. The departure of Moore should free up more chances for him in 2026. A finish inside the top-50 seems possible if everything goes right for Loveland next season.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (ankle) put together a career year this past season. Pierce posted career highs in both receptions (47) and receiving yards (1,003) across 15 games with the Colts last season. He was rewarded with a hefty $114 million contract. Now the expectations are much higher with Pierce being one of the highest-paid receivers in the league. The good news for Pierce is that Michael Pittman Jr. is no longer on the Colts roster. Pierce is now the No. 1 wideout and should be a focal point in the passing game alongside tight end Tyler Warren. Pierce saw a career-high 84 targets last season, and that was with Pittman on the roster. Fantasy managers shouldn't be shocked if that number rises to triple digits in 2026. Due to offseason ankle surgery, Pierce's ADP has fallen to WR38. There's enough potential here that Pierce should easily surpass that current ADP.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Chase McLaughlin has had a strong run in his three seasons with the Bucs, but he'll likely be kicking for his job in a contract year in 2026, according to Logan Robinson and River Wells of Sports Illustrated. McLaughlin has made 90.1% of his 101 field-goal attempts (26-for-30 from 50-plus yards) while connecting on 97.5% of his 122 extra-point attempts in 51 regular-season games in the last three years in Tampa. However, the 30-year-old former undrafted free agent out of the University of Illinois made only 84.2% of his 38 field-goal tries (11-for-12 from 50-plus yards) in 17 games last year, which was his worst field-goal percentage of his Bucs tenure. In his defense, blocked kicks and special teams woes were partly to blame in 2025. If McLaughlin bounces back in 2026, he should be paid as one of the top kickers in the league. But if he struggles, he could be cut midway through the season. In a new offense this year, McLaughlin should be viewed as a fringy starter at the position in 12-team fantasy leagues.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Jordan Whittington will be competing for the WR3 role in training camp this summer behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, according to Nate Atkins of The Athletic. Whittington was on the field more for the Rams in Year 2 in 2025, but his production dropped from his rookie campaign, as he caught just 18 of 25 targets for 171 yards and zero touchdowns in 17 regular-season games (six starts). The 25-year-old former sixth-rounder in 2024 out of the University of Texas had 22 catches for 293 yards and zero TDs in 15 games (three starts) as a rookie in 2024. Even if he wins the WR3 job this summer over the likes of Xavier Smith, Konata Mumpfield, CJ Daniels, and Tyler Scott, Whittington will be off the fantasy football radar in most single-year formats as long as both Nacua and Adams stay healthy.

New England Patriots running back Terrell Jennings (undisclosed) will open training camp on the Non-Football Injury list, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN. It means that Jennings will not be cleared to practice early in camp, but he can be activated at any time. It's not great news for Jennings, who will be competing with rookies Jam Miller and Myles Montgomery, and Lan Larison for the RB3 role this summer behind TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson. The 25-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Florida A&M has had a small role in New England's backfield in his first two years in the league, combining for 36 rushing attempts, 106 yards, and one touchdown in just 10 games played in 2024 and 2025, adding one reception for nine yards last year. The longer Jennings takes to get cleared for camp and the preseason, the more of a long shot he'll be to win RB3 duties in the Patriots' backfield in 2026.

It was reported earlier on Tuesday that the Arizona Cardinals and veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett haven't reached a resolution as he seeks a new deal, but the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport is reporting that the two sides are in talks with rookies and veterans scheduled to report to training camp on Wednesday. If the two sides don't strike a new deal before Wednesday, Brissett is more likely to be a hold-in during camp, which means he'll show up but won't take part in any workouts. The Cardinals agree that Brissett deserves more money in 2026 after a career year in 2025 in which he threw for 3,366 yards, 23 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in 14 games played (12 starts) after Kyler Murray's season-ending foot injury. While a new deal might not come by Wednesday, something should get done, as Rapoport notes that the two sides have been negotiating for several months this offseason. Brissett benefited from positive game script in a pass-happy Arizona offense last year. He's been told he'll be the starter going into the 2026 campaign, but with an offense that is expected to be much more balanced under new head coach Mike LaFleur, Brissett will likely be hard-pressed to put up gaudy passing numbers again in his 11th year in the NFL. Treat him as a low-end QB2 option in superflex leagues.

Detroit Lions Pro Bowl tight end Sam LaPorta (back) was fully cleared earlier this month and will be ready to go for the start of training camp, a source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. The Lions will determine LaPorta's level of involvement early in camp, but he's expected to be a full-go after having surgery to fix a herniated disc in his back last year that limited him to only nine starts and a 40-489-3 line in his third year in the league. The 25-year-old former second-rounder in 2023 out of the University of Iowa was limited during offseason workouts, but as long as he doesn't suffer a setback with his back in camp, he'll be ready to roll for the 2026 regular-season opener and should once again be a key cog in Detroit's pass-happy offense. And because of his season-ending back injury a year ago, he's heading into the summer as an underrated TE1 in fantasy. Don't forget that LaPorta recorded 146 receptions on 203 targets for 1,615 yards and 17 touchdowns in 33 regular-season games in his first two years in the league. LaPorta is shaping up as a potential TE1 steal in drafts at his pre-camp ADP.

The Miami Dolphins announced on Tuesday that they placed rookie third-round wide receiver Chris Bell (knee) on the Non-Football Injury list. Bell will not be ready for training camp this summer like he originally predicted after having surgery for a torn ACL last December that he suffered in his final collegiate season at the University of Louisville. Bell could get himself up to speed for the 2026 regular-season opener if he continues to progress in his rehab this summer, but nothing is guaranteed, and the Dolphins probably aren't going to rush him. Once Bell rejoins the rest of the team, he'll be competing for a depth role in a wide-open receiver's room with the likes of Malik Washington, Jalen Tolbert, Tutu Atwell, and rookies Caleb Douglas and Kevin Coleman. Before his torn ACL in 2025 at Louisville, Bell caught 72 passes for 917 yards and six touchdowns in 11 games played. Fantasy managers in single-year leagues can ignore Bell for now, while he's a stash candidate in dynasty/keeper formats with plenty of opportunity in the short- and long-term in Miami.

The Athletic's James Boyd suggests that Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor could be a hold-in when training camp begins. Taylor is entering the final year of the three-year, $42 million contract he signed with the team in October of 2023. He said he wants "to be a Colt for life," but if the two sides can't reach an amicable agreement before camp starts, Boyd thinks Taylor should hold in despite his legacy with the Colts already being solidified. The 27-year-old ranks first in franchise history in rushing touchdowns (69) and needs just 1,629 more rushing yards to surpass Hall of Famer Edgerrin James for the franchise lead. The star RB was still dealing with a lingering right-ankle injury from 2022 when he demanded a new contract three years ago, so he wasn't technically a hold-in during camp that summer. Despite being three years older, Taylor could have more leverage in negotiations this time around because he figures to be leaned on heavily early in 2026 with QB Daniel Jones coming off an Achilles tear in 2025. A hold-in this summer could make Taylor more of a bust candidate as an RB1, especially since the Colts will be mindful of his workload after leading the NFL with 323 rushing attempts last year in his sixth year in the league.

The eighth overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan recorded 70 catches for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns on 122 targets across 17 games as a rookie. By measure of per-game PPR scoring, McMillan finished the year as a low-end WR2. Entering 2026, the 23-year-old remains the clear number one option in the Panthers' passing game. However, he could see more target competition this season. Carolina should get a full season out of wide receiver Jalen Coker, who missed six games due to injury in 2025. The team also used a third-round pick in the 2026 Draft on wideout Chris Brazzell II. Perhaps most importantly, the Panthers have been a run-heavy team since head coach Dave Canales took over in 2024. Over the past two seasons, Carolina quarterback Bryce Young is averaging just 28.7 pass attempts per game. While McMillan has clear upside, he may be slightly overvalued at his current redraft ADP of WR15.

After a high-profile contract disagreement that led to him missing most of last summer, Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin had his 2025 season derailed by quad and core injuries that caused him to miss seven games. The veteran wideout remained a productive player when healthy, recording 38 catches for 582 yards and three touchdowns on 60 targets across 10 games. McLaurin also has a long track record of being one of the most durable pass-catchers in the NFL, playing in 17 games in four consecutive seasons leading into 2025. McLaurin is now entering his age-31 campaign, which leads to some obvious concerns about age-related regression. However, he should have the benefit of a fully healthy offseason leading into 2026. McLaurin also profiles as the obvious number one option in the Commanders' passing game, and he'll have a chance to renew his chemistry with Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels after the two shared the field for just three games last season. As the WR24 by current redraft ADP, McLaurin could end up as a value selection for fantasy managers.

The 16th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Washington Commanders, current Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Jahan Dotson has yet to live up to his draft-day pedigree. Dotson spent the 2025 season with the Philadelphia Eagles, recording 18 catches for 262 yards and one touchdown on 36 targets across 17 games (10 starts). However, the 26-year-old could have the fresh start he needs this season in Atlanta. The Falcons have a superstar WR1 in Drake London, but Dotson currently appears to be competing with veteran Olamide Zaccheaus and third-round rookie Zachariah Branch for WR2 duties. While Dotson has played a very low-usage role with the Eagles over the past two seasons, he recorded over 1,000 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns across the first two seasons of his career with the Commanders. Given his opportunity to re-establish himself in Atlanta, Dotson profiles as an intriguing dynasty buy-low candidate ahead of 2026.

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews had one of the least productive seasons of his career in 2025, recording 48 catches for 422 yards and five touchdowns on 70 targets across 17 games. The three-time Pro-Bowler averaged his fewest targets per game (4.1) since 2018, and his average of 6.0 receiving yards per target was the worst of his career by a significant margin. As he enters his age-31 season with 121 career games of NFL mileage on his body, Andrews may simply be done as a high-level fantasy contributor. However, Baltimore lost tight end Isaiah Likely to the New York Giants in free agency, leaving Andrews as the Ravens' clear TE1 going into 2026. Baltimore could also open up its passing game a bit more under new play-caller Declan Doyle, and the team lacks an obvious number two option in the passing game behind star wideout Zay Flowers. His profile is not without risk, but Andrews could be a value selection at his current redraft ADP of TE15.

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Chimere Dike outplayed expectations during his rookie season. The 24-year-old was primarily drafted in the fourth round in 2025 to contribute on special teams as a punt and kick returner. However, Dike hauled in 48 catches for 423 yards and four touchdowns on 74 targets after the team battled injuries all season. This offseason, the Titans fortified the receiving depth chart by adding Wan'Dale Robinson, Carnell Tate, and restructuring Calvin Ridley's contract to keep him in Tennessee. Additionally, Dike will be battling with Elic Ayomanor and Gunnar Helm for targets in a crowded passing offense. While many are projecting Cam Ward to take his game to the next level, it has yet to be seen if he can sustain multiple fantasy-relevant pass-catchers. Dike will face stiff competition to earn targets this season in hopes of avoiding getting lost in a deep receiving room.

Across 15 games (11 starts) in 2025, New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. recorded 1,028 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns on 212 touches. Early on last season, Tracy Jr. appeared to be losing his touches to fellow Giants back Cam Skattebo (ankle). Tracy Jr. regained the team's RB1 role after Skattebo went down with a season-ending ankle injury in Week 8. However, Skattebo is expected to be ready to go for the start of 2026, pushing Tracy Jr. back to a reserve role. As long as Skattebo remains healthy, Tracy Jr. is unlikely to log enough touches to provide fantasy-relevant production. However, the 26-year-old has proven himself capable of putting up decent numbers when given the chance, finishing in the RB3 range in per-game PPR scoring in each of his first two NFL seasons. Skattebo's physical play style may also put him at greater risk of injury than the typical running back, which only increases Tracy Jr.'s handcuff appeal. As the RB44 by current redraft ADP, Tracy Jr. could end up as a value selection for fantasy managers.

The Arizona Cardinals and quarterback Jacoby Brissett have not found a resolution to Brissett's contract situation, according to Ian Rapoport on NFL Network. The Cardinals and Brissett have been actively negotiating for the last several months and agree that he deserves a raise. However, a day before the team reports to training camp, the sides have yet to agree on a number. Brissett is currently in the final year of his 2-year, $12.5 million contract with the Cardinals and is slated to make less than Gardner Minshew II, who is the team's backup quarterback. The 33-year-old veteran took over the starting spot last season midway through the year after he replaced an injured Kyler Murray. As the starter, Brissett managed to throw for 3,366 yards and 23 touchdowns while taking the Cardinals' passing game to another level.