Fantasy Football News

Even though Houston Texans wide receiver Jaylin Noel figures to be a bigger part of the passing game in his second season in 2026, most fantasy managers won't be looking his way after he posted a 26-292-2 line in 17 regular-season games (three starts) last year after he was selected in the third round (79th overall) out of Iowa State. Nico Collins and fellow second-year wideout Jayden Higgins figure to be the team's top-two WRs, so ultimately, Noel's case for a second-year breakout could depend on how much Tank Dell can do after missing the entire 2025 season following a devastating knee injury in 2024. The 23-year-old reportedly looked strong during minicamp this offseason, and he made the most of his limited opportunities in his rookie campaign in an inconsistent offense. If Noel stakes claim to the No. 3 role in Houston, his raw athleticism and versatility make him an interesting late-round dart throw in fantasy drafts this fall. He finished his rookie year just inside the top-100 WRs in half-PPR points, but RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 79 WR going into Year 2.

Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (knee) had a promising rookie season in 2023 after he was taken with the 69th overall pick in the third round out of the University of Houston, catching 47 of his 75 targets for 709 yards and seven touchdowns in just 11 regular-season games. It all came crashing down in 2024 when the 26-year-old tore multiple ligaments in his knee and dislocated his kneecap. He missed all of last year as a result and still isn't full-go with training camp right around the corner, making his availability for the start of the 2026 season in early September still a mystery. Nico Collins is Houston's unquestioned alpha WR1, and second-year wideouts Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel are both expected to have bigger roles in the passing attack. So once Dell gets back up to speed, whenever that is, he figures to be competing for targets as the WR3 or WR4 in an offense that hasn't been nearly as good as it was the last two seasons as it was in QB C.J. Stroud's rookie season. The Texans are expecting Dell to contribute in 2026, but because he might merely be trying to work back into form for most of the year, it's hard to recommend him as a 12-team redraft stash. RotoBaller has Dell currently ranked as the No. 75 WR.

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley finished outside the top 10 at the RB position in 2025 in his second year with the Eagles despite running for 1,140 yards on 280 rushing attempts and catching 37 passes for 237 yards and two more TDs as a pass-catcher. The three-time Pro Bowler's second year in Philly was a pretty big disappointment after he led the league in 2024 in carries (345), rushing yards (2,005), and yards per game (125.3). The 29-year-old three-time Pro Bowler still had over 4.0 yards per carry, but he was held hostage by a lackluster Eagles offense, which was the worst of head coach Nick Sirianni's tenure. Nobody should be expecting Barkley to approach his numbers from his magical 2024 season, but if Philly gets better injury luck with their offensive line and if the offense as a whole can bounce back under new coordinator Sean Mannion, Barkley could return to high-end RB1 status in fantasy football at a reduced cost in 2026 after his disappointment last year. At the very worst, Barkley should be considered a midrange RB1 with a high floor, and he could be involved even more now that receiver A.J. Brown is out of town.

New Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III finished the 2026 season with the Seattle Seahawks as just the No. 22 fantasy RB in half-PPR scoring after running for 1,027 yards and five rushing touchdowns in 17 regular-season starts, adding 31 receptions (36 targets) for 282 yards as a pass-catcher. But he went off in the postseason, leading the NFL in carries (65), rushing yards (313), and rushing touchdowns (four) on his way to being named Super Bowl MVP, and he parlayed that into a three-year deal with the Chiefs in free agency in March. Unlike in 2025 when he shared backfield touches with Zach Charbonnet, the 25-year-old former second-rounder out of Michigan State figures to be used as more of a true workhorse in his new digs as the Chiefs look to get back to the playoffs in 2026. Walker earned a reputation for being a run-first back in his four years with the Seahawks, but he suggested that the Chiefs could use him more as a pass-catcher, with rookie Emmett Johnson, Emari Demercado, and Brashard Smith vying for backup duties behind him. Walker also had a reputation for nagging lower-body injuries in Seattle. The volume increase in KC will give him a higher floor as more of a low-end RB1 target in 2026 fantasy drafts, but his injury history will also make him somewhat of an RB1 bust candidate in his first year in the AFC West.

New England Patriots second-year running back TreVeyon Henderson rushed for 911 yards and nine touchdowns on 180 rushing attempts, averaging a healthy 5.1 yards per carry, in 17 regular-season games in 2025 after he was selected with the 38th overall pick in the second round of the 2025 NFL draft out of Ohio State. The 23-year-old native of Virginia added 35 receptions on 42 targets for 221 yards and another score before rushing for 76 yards on 30 carries in four postseason games. Henderson is definitely the RB to target in fantasy in an improving Patriots offense led by impressive young QB Drake Maye, but volume could continue to limit his fantasy ceiling and keep his floor pretty low while sharing touches with Rhamondre Stevenson. Ball security is an issue, but the same can be said for Stevenson, and Henderson is a bigger home run threat with intriguing pass-catching chops. Henderson is definitely the better all-around back with more long-term appeal, and if anything were to happen to Stevenson, he'd become a clear RB1 option. Heading into Year 2, fantasy managers in redraft leagues should be targeting Henderson as a low-end RB2 with plenty of upside.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Emmett Johnson could be a sneaky stash option for fantasy managers this season. The Chiefs selected the Nebraska running back in the fourth-round of this year's draft. The expectation is that the rookie back is going to compete for the backup role with Brashard Smith and Emari Demercado. The Chiefs signed Kenneth Walker III to be the workhorse back in Kansas City for years to come. His presence is going to diminish Johnson's overall upside. It's noteworthy that Walker has only played one full season since making his debut in 2022. Fantasy managers should view Johnson as an interesting handcuff candidate give Walker's injury history. The rookie back is certainly someone to look at in the middle rounds of dynasty rookie drafts.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele showed some flashes of potential last season. He hauled in 25 receptions, 293 receiving yards, and two touchdowns in 13 games last season. Those aren't bad numbers for someone who served as the third or fourth receiver behind Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. It won't get easier for Vele with the Saints adding Jordyn Tyson and Bryce Lance through the draft this year. At best, Vele will be the distant third option in this offense next season. The 28-year-old might offer some deep league depth, but isn't someone that needs to be rostered to begin the season.

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Brenen Thompson might be able to carve out a consistent role for himself right away. The Chargers selected Thompson in the fourth-round of this year's draft. The Mississippi State product led the SEC in receiving yards and put on a show during the NFL Combine. Thompson could immediately push Tre' Harris for the third wideout role in this offense. Due to a lack of reps, Thompson will probably begin the season behind Harris, but it might not last too long. If Thompson proves himself, he could factor into the weekly gameplan in Los Angeles. He's not an ideal option in redraft formats, but Thompson is someone worth considering as a stash option in dynasty leagues.

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer put together a career year last season. Across 13 games, Mayer hauled in 35 receptions for 328 receiving yards and one touchdown. Both the receptions and yardage are career highs for the 25-year-old. His overall ceiling is going to be limited because Brock Bowers is ahead of him on the depth chart. The good news for Mayer is that new head coach Klint Kubiak deploys a two-tight-end set at the same time. The assumption is that more time on the field will lead to more involvement in the offense for Mayer. He's not someone who needs to be rostered in 12-team formats to start the season. However, he'll be a popular waiver wire candidate if Bowers ever goes down.

Seattle Seahawks standout safety Nick Emmanwori (ankle), who was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list on Monday, will miss time in training camp after having surgery on his right ankle, but he's expected to be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season, sources told Brady Henderson of ESPN. The 22-year-old dealt with two right-ankle injuries in 2025 after being selected in the second round (35th overall) out of the University of South Carolina, which limited him to 14 games (11 starts) in his first year in the NFL. When healthy, Emmanwori had 81 tackles (56 solo), 2.5 sacks, nine tackles for loss, one interception, and 11 pass breakups. He suffered a high sprain on the first series of the season opener, and he also suffered a low sprain in practice four days before Super Bowl LX, but he was able to play in the win over the New England Patriots. Emmanwori will continue to serve as a versatile playmaker on the back end of what was a shutdown Seattle defense a year ago.

Philadelphia Eagles kicker Jake Elliott doesn't currently have any competition as he enters training camp this summer, leading Jimmy Kempski of the Philly Voice to assume that he'll open the 2026 season as the team's placekicker again. The 31-year-old veteran and former fifth-rounder by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2017 out of the University of Memphis made just 74.1% of his 27 field-goal attempts (4-for-8 from 50-plus yards) in 17 regular-season games in 2025 in his ninth year with the Eagles, and it didn't help matters that the offense had a hard time starting and sustaining drives. It was Elliott's second straight season and third overall in his career with a field-goal percentage under 80%. The Eagles are hoping to turn things around on offense and have the weapons to do so in 2026, but fantasy managers in standard 12-team leagues should have higher-floor options to choose from. Elliott finished as the No. 23 kicker in fantasy a year ago.

Carolina Panthers general manager Dan Morgan said on Wednesday that cornerback Jaycee Horn (foot) is expected to come off the Non-Football Injury list in "a matter of days," according to NFL.com. Horn was placed on the NFI list by the Panthers after recently suffering a cut on his foot, but it's not serious, and Horn should be ready to roll for the start of the 2026 regular season. The 26-year-old former eighth overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft out of the University of South Carolina was named a Pro Bowler in 2025 for the second straight season in his fifth year with the Panthers after recording 37 tackles (26 solo), a career-high five interceptions, and eight pass breakups in 16 regular-season starts. Horn was once again a big part of a Carolina defense that helped get the team to the postseason last year.

Dallas Cowboys tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford is expected to earn a spot on the 53-man roster in a backup role to top pass-catching TE Jake Ferguson in 2026, according to Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Spann-Ford has played in all 17 games in both of his two NFL seasons in Dallas since joining the team as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Minnesota. The 26-year-old has mostly been used as a blocker on offense, though, so he hasn't been on the fantasy football radar at all. He has had exactly nine receptions in each of his first two seasons, combining for 178 yards and just one touchdown reception in 34 games played (five starts). Spann-Ford had 90 receiving yards and a touchdown catch last year, which included all five of his career starts. If Ferguson were to miss time due to an injury, Luke Schoonmaker, not Spann-Ford, would likely be the better waiver-wire target as a streaming tight end in fantasy.

Free-agent quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo considered retirement this spring, but he is still open to playing in 2026 in "the right situation," according to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. With that said, Garafolo added that nothing is imminent in terms of Garoppolo signing with a team, and it might take an injury to a current QB on a roster for an NFL team to reach out to him before the start of the regular season this fall. The 34-year-old former second-rounder by the New England Patriots in 2014 out of Eastern Illinois was the insurance policy for veteran Matthew Stafford with the Los Angeles Rams the last two seasons, but he played in only four games (one start) and attempted just 41 passes in that time. The Rams have now moved on after surprising everyone by drafting Ty Simpson in the first round back in April. Jimmy G has 12 years of NFL experience under his belt, but if he does sign with a team for 2026, it will most likely be as a mentor and experienced backup rather than a guaranteed starter.

The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt thinks that New York Jets running back Isaiah Davis is the early favorite to win the RB2 role in training camp this summer behind starter Breece Hall. Davis' primary competition will be Braelon Allen. Both backs will have opportunities in change-of-pace roles behind Hall. Allen isn't big and strong like Allen, but what he lacks in power, he has made up for in efficiency, averaging 5.6 yards on 73 career rushing attempts while also catching 30 of his 40 targets as a receiver. Allen has looked great in the summer the last two years, but it hasn't translated to production during the regular season, as he has averaged 3.7 yards per carry on 110 rushing attempts for 410 yards and three touchdowns, adding 21 catches for 165 yards and another TD as a receiver. Allen was developing some momentum in 2025 before suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 4. Both Davis and Allen are nothing more than handcuff options for managers who select Hall in deeper fantasy leagues in 2026. The 24-year-old Davis has more standalone fantasy appeal in deep PPR leagues this year.

After spending the first three seasons of his NFL career with the Washington Commanders, running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. is entering his first year with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2026. Across 13 games (seven starts) with Washington last season, Rodriguez Jr. recorded 500 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 112 carries. The 25-year-old's fantasy upside is limited by his inability to impact the game as a receiver, as he's logged just six total catches across 35 career NFL games. Fellow Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten has more of a three-down profile, which could lead to Rodriguez being limited to RB2 duties in Jacksonville. However, Rodriguez Jr. has averaged an efficient 4.6 yards per carry for his career, and his physical running style could make him the Jaguars' preferred option in short-yardage and goal-line situations. As the RB53 by current redraft ADP, Rodriguez Jr. is worth targeting as a late-round flier.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was arguably the best pass-catcher in the NFL in 2025, recording 119 catches for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns on 163 targets across 17 games. The 24-year-old finished the year as the WR2 in per-game PPR scoring, averaging over 21 fantasy points per contest. Entering 2026, Smith-Njigba once again profiles as the clear number one option in the Seahawks' passing game. Seattle could also be forced to throw the ball a bit more this season, as the team lost running back Kenneth Walker III in free agency after logging the NFL's third-highest run rate in 2025. By current redraft ADP, Smith-Njigba is coming off the board as the WR3 and a late first-round pick in 12-team leagues. Even if Smith-Njigba's production regresses to some degree in 2026, he profiles as a high-end fantasy WR1 who has a good chance to pay off his current draft-day price.

As he enters his sixth season in 2026, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Justin Fields will be suiting up for his fourth NFL team. The 27-year-old opened the 2025 season as the starter for the New York Jets, but he struggled mightily across nine starts before eventually being benched. At this point, the high-end prospect pedigree that followed Fields in the early portion of his career is likely gone. Still, Fields has proven to be an elite rushing quarterback when given the chance to play, which allows him to maintain some fantasy appeal. Across 59 career NFL games (53 starts), Fields has rushed for nearly 2,900 yards and 23 touchdowns. As long as Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) stays healthy this season, Fields has no path to fantasy production. However, with Mahomes returning from a torn ACL, Fields could be worth targeting in the late rounds of deeper two-quarterback leagues as a handcuff option.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford put together a dominant season in 2025, completing 65.0% of his pass attempts for 4,707 yards, 46 touchdowns, and eight interceptions across 17 games. By measure of per-game scoring, Stafford finished the year as the QB3 behind only Josh Allen and Drake Maye. However, fantasy managers may be wise to project regression from Stafford in 2026. For one, the veteran signal-caller is entering his age-38 season. Secondly, Stafford's production in 2025 was fueled by a spike in his touchdown rate to 7.7%, which is well above his career mark of 4.8%. Because Stafford provides zero fantasy production with his legs, his profile is extremely reliant on passing touchdowns. With a 3.9% touchdown rate in 2024, Stafford finished the year as the QB25 in per-game scoring. In dynasty formats, managers should explore selling high on Stafford now, while his value is likely at its peak.

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley (leg) battled through an injury-ravaged 2025 season, as hamstring and leg injuries limited him to just seven games. While the veteran wideout is expected to be ready to go for the start of 2026, his place on the Titans' wide receiver depth chart has changed following the team's offseason additions of wideouts Carnell Tate and Wan'Dale Robinson. Ridley is also entering his age-32 campaign, and the overall offensive environment in Tennessee remains questionable ahead of quarterback Cam Ward's second NFL season. However, Ridley was a productive player as recently as 2024, when he recorded 64 catches for 1,017 yards and four touchdowns on 120 targets across 17 games. While he should not be expected to provide the same production he once did at his peak, Ridley's draft-day cost in redraft leagues has plummeted all the way down to WR71. At that price, Ridley could be a late-round sleeper worth targeting.