Fantasy Football News

The Seattle Seahawks signed tight end Nick Vannett to an undisclosed deal on Friday, according to John Boyle of the team's official website. The Seahawks drafted Vannett in the third round (94th overall) in 2016 from Ohio State. The 33-year-old spent the first three years of his NFL career in Seattle before they traded him to the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2019 season. Since the trade, he has spent time with the Steelers, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, Los Angeles Chargers, Tennessee Titans, Minnesota Vikings, and Los Angeles Rams. In his 10 years in the NFL, the journeyman tight end has accumulated 108 receptions on 150 targets for 1,012 yards and nine touchdowns in 121 games played (54 starts). His most successful season came in 2018 with Seattle, when he caught 29 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games. If Vannett earns a spot on the 53-man roster for the regular season in 2026, he will most likely serve as a blocking TE and on special teams, making him avoidable in all fantasy leagues.

The Baltimore Ravens hosted veteran free-agent wide receiver Sterling Shepard for a workout on Friday, according to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. The Ravens are apparently looking for some receiver depth before the start of training camp after drafting rookies Elijah Sarratt and Ja'Kobi Lane. The 33-year-old Shepard would bring some veteran experience to the WR room for the Ravens and give them more depth behind Zay Flowers and fading veteran Rashod Bateman. Shepard served in a depth role the last two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, combining for 71 catches on 104 targets for 705 yards and two touchdowns in 27 games (seven starts). The former second-rounder in 2016 from the University of Oklahoma had a career-high 872 receiving yards in 2018 with the New York Giants and a career-high eight touchdowns as a rookie in 2016, but he has had exactly one touchdown reception in each of the last five years. Shepard would not be very attractive for fantasy purposes if he were to land in Baltimore, a place that hasn't boasted too many fantasy-relevant WRs over the years.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles has already declared running back Bucky Irving (shoulder) as healthy following offseason shoulder surgery, but there are still some reasons for concern if you're considering drafting him in fantasy football. Irving burst on the scene as a rookie in Tampa in 2024 with 1,122 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 207 carries while also catching 47 passes for 392 yards as a receiver, but he had an injury-plagued 2025 and finished with 588 rushing yards and just one TD while adding 30 receptions for 277 yards and three more scores. He's looking to return to the 1,000-yard mark in 2026, but will that be possible following the addition of Kenny Gainwell? Pewter Report's Scott Reynolds writes that there's a reason why Bowles has called Irving and Gainwell 1A and 1B. Gainwell is very talented, and the Bucs gave him a two-year, $14 million deal in free agency. He has impressed new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, and he will "see plenty of snaps and touches" this fall to "reduce Irving's workload so he can be more effective with fewer plays." It's how the Bucs' backfield operated when Irving and Rachaad White shared the workload in 2024. Between durability concerns and the loss of volume to Gainwell, Irving is shaping up as a volatile low-end RB2 target in 2026 fantasy drafts.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (knee) has been cleared for the start of training camp next week, head coach Andy Reid told Matt McMullen of Chiefs.com. Rice will be ready to rock, along with star quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee), in training camp practices next week after he had a minor clean-up procedure on his right knee in May. As long as the 26-year-old former second-rounder in 2023 out of SMU isn't in anymore danger of being suspended by the league to begin the 2026 season, his ADP should continue to rise after playing in just 12 regular-season games the last two years combined due to injuries and suspension. Rice caught 79 of his 102 targets for 938 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 games (eight starts) as a rookie, and he has clear WR1 upside as Mahomes' top target if he can stay active for an entire season again. The Chiefs will be leaning on the Mahomes-Rice connection a ton if both players are healthy in 2026. Right now, Rice is a bargain based on his current WR2 ADP, but that could change fast now that he's fully healthy for training camp.

Updating a previous report, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said on Friday that quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) has been fully cleared to participate in the start of training camp practices next week, according to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. A previous report from ESPN's Jeremy Fowler suggested that Mahomes was hoping to take part in 11-on-11 team work next week after being limited to seven-on-seven drills during the offseason program while rehabbing a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee from late last season. It appears that Mahomes has gotten the clearance. The 30-year-old three-time Super Bowl MVP and two-time regular-season MVP still has boxes to check, but barring a setback during camp and the preseason, he figures to be KC's starting QB for Week 1 against the division-rival Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football. Going up against Denver's stout defense out of the gates will be a good test of Mahomes' health if he plays. We've learned not to bet against Mahomes at this point, but his redraft and dynasty stock going into 2026 is as low as it's ever been as he returns from a serious knee injury. Draft him as a low-end QB1 with upside if the Chiefs' offense can bounce back.

Indianapolis Colts running back Seth McGowan has a simple path to fantasy relevance: beat DJ Giddens for the job behind Jonathan Taylor. The seventh-round rookie ran for 725 yards and 12 touchdowns at Kentucky, with another 126 yards on 19 catches. There is some appeal here. McGowan has the size for short-yardage work, and Taylor handled 323 carries last season. The problem is that Indianapolis has not promised meaningful weekly touches to its backup, and Giddens owns better draft capital after going in the fifth round a year earlier. RotoBaller still has McGowan at rookie RB11, but neither Colts reserve is being drafted inside the top 70 backs. That makes McGowan a deep dynasty stash, not a redraft sleeper. Until he wins the RB2 job, he is mostly an insurance bet with no standalone value.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) is hoping to take part in 11-on-11 team drills when the team starts up training camp practices next week. Mahomes' rehab from a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee late last season has gone well this offseason, but he was limited to seven-on-seven work during the offseason program. Regardless of what Mahomes does on the field this summer, Fowler says that the Chiefs are going to be extra cautious with the star signal-caller. The 30-year-old two-time MVP and six-time Pro Bowler wants to eventually get back into a normal practice routine, and he still would like to get some action in a preseason game as well before being a full-go for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Monday night against the division-rival Denver Broncos. Mahomes has yet to be cleared for 11-on-11 work in camp, and he has some boxes to check before being ready for the season opener in early September, but all signs right now point to him having a realistic shot to get there. Coming off a serious knee injury in a Chiefs offense that is looking to regain its identity, Mahomes is considered a low-end QB1 in fantasy with more risk than ever before.

Free-agent wide receiver Stefon Diggs is still waiting on a team after catching 85 passes for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns with New England last season. The production says there is something left. The empty depth-chart line is why the price has cratered. RotoBaller ranks him WR68 in dynasty and WR62 for PPR redraft, with the newest all-position dynasty list placing him 145th overall. The NFL has closed its conduct investigation without discipline, and multiple teams have reportedly checked in, but no landing spot means no target projection. That makes Diggs more useful to contenders than rebuilders. He is worth a cheap inquiry in dynasty and a late redraft stash, not a player to draft as though last year's role will follow him. Once he signs, the market may move quickly. Until then, managers are buying the possibility of a role, not the role itself.

Between Arizona Cardinals rookie first-round running back Jeremiyah Love and free-agent pickup Tyler Allgeier, it will be tough to predict how the backfield touches will shake out to begin the 2026 season. Donnie Druin of Sports Illustrated writes that it doesn't feel as though the Cardinals "will fully name one ball-carrier as a labeled starter." The Cardinals' backfield is going to look much different this year in new head coach Mike LaFleur's offense after both James Conner (ankle, foot) and Trey Benson (knee) suffered season-ending injuries early in 2025. Both Conner and Benson are still around, and although they figure to be No. 3 and No. 4 in the pecking order, their presence might be another reason not to go all in on Love, the third overall pick in April, as a true RB1 in 2026 in his first year in the NFL. It's hard to ignore the 21-year-old's production in his final two seasons at Notre Dame, though, as he went over 1,100 yards in both seasons with 35 total rushing touchdowns and five receiving TDs in 28 games. Love is the total package as an explosive runner with soft hands. He should have the upper hand for touches over Allgeier based on his draft capital alone, but Allgeier could continue to vulture TDs, much like he did in Atlanta. RotoBaller has Love ranked as the No. 13 overall fantasy RB for 2026.

Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams lost work to Blake Corum last season without losing his lead role. Williams finished with 1,252 rushing yards, 36 catches, and 13 total touchdowns on 295 touches, while Corum played 30.5% of the offensive snaps and handled 145 carries. The rotation helped keep Williams fresh. It also makes another 300-carry season hard to project. That makes the format matter. RotoBaller has Williams at RB16 in dynasty and RB14 in half-PPR redraft. The dynasty price is easier to buy. He is signed through 2028 and remains the more established scorer and receiver in one of the league's strongest offenses. Redraft is closer to fair value than a discount because Corum has earned weekly work. Williams still carries RB1 upside, but managers should buy the dynasty dip without pretending the committee risk disappeared.

Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton turned nine rookie games into 737 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns, enough to keep the breakout buzz alive after two ankle injuries disrupted his season. He averaged 4.4 yards per carry and caught 32 passes, so the appeal is not tied only to early-down volume. The runway also looks cleaner in Year 2. Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal are the main backs behind him, while Mike McDaniel is moving the offense toward an outside-zone scheme. The fit is exciting. The price has already caught up. RotoBaller ranks Hampton 21st overall in dynasty and 19th in PPR redraft, where he is the RB11. Managers are paying for a healthy season and a larger workload, not finding a hidden sleeper. The ankle history keeps him from being risk-free, but Round 2 remains a fair place to bet on the breakout.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase caught 125 passes for 1,412 yards and eight touchdowns last season, and the quieter scoring total did nothing to loosen his grip on the top dynasty spot. Chase still led the NFL with 185 targets. He has also cleared 1,200 receiving yards in four of five seasons, with Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins remaining alongside him in Cincinnati. RotoBaller ranks Chase first overall in dynasty, while he sits fifth overall and WR2 in its PPR redraft rankings. That is hardly a bargain, but it is not an overvaluation, either. Chase is 26, signed through 2029, and attached to one of football's best passers. Rebuilders do not need to move him simply because they are not ready to contend. Unless the return looks like a franchise-changing haul, there is little reason for any dynasty manager to sell.

Denver Broncos tight end Evan Engram is still recognizable enough to tempt fantasy managers, but last season gave them little reason to chase the name. He caught 50 passes for 461 yards and one touchdown across 16 games while starting twice and playing only 42% of the offensive snaps. Denver has since added Jaylen Waddle, and fifth-round rookie Justin Joly brings another movable receiving option to the tight end room. Engram remains atop the depth chart for now. That does not guarantee the larger role he never found in 2025. RotoBaller ranks him TE35 for redraft, and he has slipped to 265th overall in its newest dynasty rankings. A rebound is possible if the playing time changes, but that is a preseason hope, not an expectation. Engram belongs on deep-league watch lists. Standard-league managers can find better late-round bets.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins remains one of the league's better touchdown bets, but his value is not identical across formats. He caught 59 passes for 846 yards and a career-high 11 scores on 98 targets last season, giving him 21 touchdowns over his last 27 games. That is the appeal. The catches are less secure. Ja'Marr Chase still owns the top spot in Cincinnati, and Higgins has missed 12 games over the past three seasons. RotoBaller ranks him WR13 for PPR redraft but WR27 in dynasty, a gap that makes sense. He can still return low-end WR1 numbers when Joe Burrow and the Bengals' passing game are healthy, which keeps him attractive near the third round. Dynasty contenders can buy at a fair WR2 price. Rebuilders should be more willing to sell after another touchdown-heavy season rather than count on his market value climbing much higher.

Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt made the most of 175 rookie carries, turning them into 805 yards and eight touchdowns while starting seven games. He also caught only nine passes. That gap matters more now that Washington has Rachaad White, Kaytron Allen, Jeremy McNichols, and Jerome Ford in the room. The Commanders believe he can handle more early-down work, and his league-best 53.7% rushing success rate gives them a reason to find out. An every-down role is another matter. Croskey-Merritt still has to improve as a receiver and pass protector, and Dan Quinn has already suggested a committee. RotoBaller ranks him RB43 in both redraft and dynasty. The redraft price leaves room for a useful season if he leads the ground game. In dynasty, the crowded depth chart, limited receiving profile, and seventh-round draft capital make him tougher to buy aggressively.

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman has fallen far enough that the price finally matches the risk. He caught 38 passes for 404 yards and four touchdowns on 59 targets last season, starting only six games. A wrist injury cost him time, and being late to team meetings cost him trust and opportunities. Buffalo did not clear the runway this offseason, either. DJ Moore joined Khalil Shakir atop the receiver room, while rookie Skyler Bell added another option. Still, head coach Joe Brady praised Coleman's offseason and plans to use him both inside and outside. RotoBaller ranks him WR92 in dynasty and WR109 for redraft, so nobody is paying for a breakout. That makes him a reasonable buy-low throw-in for rebuilders and a late dart in deeper drafts. Contenders just should not enter the season needing him in the lineup.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has a path to Week 1 starts, but dynasty managers should treat him as a cheap throw-in, not a reclamation project. He completed 67.7% of his passes for 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns, and a career-high 15 interceptions in 14 starts last season. Atlanta signed him to a one-year deal while Michael Penix Jr. works back from a torn ACL. Tagovailoa took most of the first-team snaps in minicamp, though that came before Penix was cleared for full-team work. The actual competition still has to play out. RotoBaller ranks Tagovailoa as its dynasty QB33 and around QB30 for redraft, which leaves him outside the picture in standard one-quarterback leagues. He has more appeal in superflex, especially for a contender that needs an inexpensive third quarterback. Even there, the lack of rushing production and uncertain job security make him a short-term bet rather than someone to build around.

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London is already priced as a top-10 dynasty asset, but the cost still makes sense for contenders and rebuilders. He caught 68 passes for 919 yards and seven touchdowns in only 12 games last season, drawing 112 targets despite missing five contests. Atlanta paid him accordingly, signing him through 2030 on a four-year, $141 million extension. The receiver room is faster and deeper after adding Jahan Dotson, Olamide Zaccheaus, and rookie Zachariah Branch, yet the Falcons still view London as the clear No. 1. The real concern is quarterback. Michael Penix Jr. is returning from ACL surgery, while Tua Tagovailoa will compete for the job. That uncertainty is already baked into a mid-second-round redraft price. London sits at dynasty WR7 and ninth overall in RotoBaller's latest rankings, which feels about right. He is not cheap, but there is no roster build that needs to rush into selling him.

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson is already the most expensive player at his position in dynasty, and the case for paying that price remains easy to make. He led the NFL with 2,298 scrimmage yards last season, pairing 1,478 rushing yards with 79 catches for another 820. That receiving workload can rescue a fantasy week even when the touchdowns do not cooperate. RotoBaller currently ranks Robinson as the dynasty RB1 and RB2 in redraft. Brian Robinson Jr. has replaced Tyler Allgeier as Atlanta's complementary back, but nothing about the new pairing points to a meaningful reduction for the starter. There is no buy-low window here. Contenders should be willing to pay for the weekly advantage, while rebuilders have little reason to move a 24-year-old cornerstone unless the return is overwhelming. Some stars are too expensive. Robinson is expensive for a reason.

The Washington Commanders selected wide receiver Antonio Williams in the third round with the 71st overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The 22-year-old landed in a Washington offense that lacks top-tier receiver talent outside Terry McLaurin. Williams has an opportunity to win the WR2 role in camp as he battles Luke McCaffrey, Treylon Burks, and Dyami Brown for the role. Additionally, the team will see a new offense under offensive coordinator David Blough, who is expected to run a similar offense to Ben Johnson. Williams' skillset can be magnified in Blough's system with his smooth route running from the slot position. However, his fantasy outlook for this season could take a hit if the team decides to sign a veteran receiver like Stefon Diggs, but it would not tank his dynasty value. Williams has the chance to be a top target earner in Washington and a valuable fantasy asset for years to come.