Dynasty fantasy football trade targets for 2026 - top undervalued players. Read our fantasy football dynasty league advice for Ricky Pearsall and more.
With the Super Bowl behind us, we have officially started the NFL offseason. While redraft managers are heading into fantasy football hibernation, dynasty managers know that it is time to get to work. We are hostages to our rosters during the regular season, but we become the solution to our rosters during the offseason.
The best way to become the solution to moving your roster closer to a fantasy championship is by identifying undervalued players in the dynasty community. If you can acquire these players, it can launch your team into becoming a contender for your league title.
Make sure you’re following RotoBaller on X and check out RotoBaller.com for all your fantasy football needs. Here are five underrated players you should acquire in your dynasty fantasy football leagues.
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Ricky Pearsall, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Pearsall has had a unique and rocky start to his NFL career, after being shot in his rookie season and battling through an injury-riddled sophomore campaign.
When he’s been on the field, he’s shown the ability to be a playmaker and a master at creating separation in his routes. In nine games, Pearsall was able to haul in 36 catches for 528 yards on 59 targets and become a reliable target for Brock Purdy.
In Weeks 1-4, before spraining his PCL, Pearsall was first in yards per reception (16.4), second in average depth of target (15.9), third in deep-target rate (32.1%), and fourth in receiving yards (327), according to PFF data.
He flashed his ability to be a top-5 deep threat in the league early on when he was healthy. Yes, this is a relatively small sample, but pairing it with an impressive end to his rookie season and the eye test, Pearsall has the potential to produce big numbers.
Looking into 2026, Pearsall will be the No. 1 pass-catcher in San Francisco with George Kittle recovering from an Achilles injury and Jauan Jennings set to become an unrestricted free agent.
To take it a step further, Christian McCaffrey is coming off a 471-touch season between the regular season and postseason. With McCaffrey’s injury history and historical trends of running backs who hit over 400 touches in the season, McCaffrey is likely in for some regression in 2026.
It is within the realm of possibilities that Pearsall becomes the No. 1 option for the 49ers, depending on the rest of the roster. With that volume and his skill set, Pearsall would be in line for a major breakout season.
Pearsall is currently ranked as RotoBaller’s dynasty WR34 and could be seen as a top-20 receiver a year from now. According to our trade value chart, it would take a late first-round pick or potentially an early second-round pick from a perceived weaker rookie draft class to acquire him.
Cameron Ward, QB, Tennessee Titans
It is hard to believe that the first overall pick from a year ago could be on an underrated list, but after a slow start for Ward, here he is. It also doesn’t help Ward's perceived value that Jaxson Dart and Tyler Shough had a strong rookie season.
Cam Ward rushes for a touchdown!
TENvsJAX on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/FH1okZzdlg
— NFL (@NFL) January 4, 2026
Ward was given no favors this year and became the fourth straight quarterback picked No. 1 overall to have his coach fired before the end of the season. Entering Year 2, Ward will have Robert Saleh as his head coach and Brian Daboll as his offensive coordinator.
The coaching combo offers Ward the two most important things as a young quarterback: the potential of a great defense and a proven offensive coach who has developed quarterbacks. Both take pressure off the young signal-caller and put him in the best position to succeed.
Despite a rough year, Ward still showed growth and flashed late in the season. He was QB14 from Week 12 on through the rest of the season and averaged 14.2 points per game. If Daboll can unlock Ward’s athleticism, he could take a big leap in Year 2 as a fantasy quarterback with more rushing opportunities.
The only goal next year in Tennessee is to make Ward work and show success. It drafted him to be the franchise quarterback moving forward, and it will do anything to make sure it happens.
Ward is currently ranked as RotoBaller’s dynasty QB18 and is a worthy dart throw in single quarterback start-up drafts. In Superflex leagues, he’s a solid QB2 who offers roster-changing upside if he hits his ceiling.
Terrance Ferguson, TE, Los Angeles Rams
Ferguson flew under the radar for most of the season but started to show up when it mattered the most later in the year. The second-round pick brought an athletic versatility to the Rams that even got Sean McVay thrilled when he was drafted.
Terrance Ferguson's 2⃣nd career TD reception gives @RamsNFL the lead 👏
LARvsSEA on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPluspic.twitter.com/SUjh2TOK2c— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) December 19, 2025
Ferguson helped shift McVay’s offense to more 12- and 13-personnel formations. The Rams utilized 13 personnel (one RB, three TEs, one WR) on 30.5 percent of their offensive snaps during 2025, more than double any other team this past season, and it was the highest rate in the Next Gen Stats era, according to Rams.com.
The heavier formations allow McVay to take advantage of the modern-day NFL defenses that have become smaller and faster in the run game with his bigger and stronger tight ends on the field to block.
Ferguson, with his unique size, speed, and athleticism, becomes a chess piece for an offensive mastermind. There were only six tight ends lined up out wide more frequently than Ferguson, according to PFF.
He offers physicality in the run game and an explosive threat in the passing game. McVay can now marry the run and pass game together, and can attack defenses in 1,000 different ways from the same formation. Checkmate.
With the Rams using more 13 personnel, it not only keeps Ferguson on the field more but also allows him to compete with tight ends for targets instead of receivers.
With his athleticism, Matthew Stafford is more likely to target him than the other traditional tight ends on the field. We even saw this in the playoffs with the game on the line. The Rams' last push to beat the Seahawks was a deep shot drawn up for Ferguson.
Ferguson is currently ranked as RotoBaller’s 28th tight end in dynasty. He is a lottery ticket at a low cost, making him an affordable tight end to acquire with a sky-high ceiling.
Tyjae Spears, RB, Tennessee Titans
We mentioned earlier that the Titans will look completely different in 2026 with Saleh at the helm. If Saleh makes a push to strengthen the defense and lean on the run game to win games, Spears could be the biggest beneficiary.
Tyjae Spears in for the Tennessee TD
TENvsIND on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/xzpFOUITav
— NFL (@NFL) October 26, 2025
With Daboll running the offense, he has traditionally deployed a feature back instead of using a split backfield. In his last full year in New York, one running back had over 65% of the snaps in 13 games, according to Pro Football Reference.
Spears' youth and explosiveness would give him a leg up on teammate Tony Pollard. The Tulane product offers a versatile skill set that can be used as a feature back.
Spears was a steady running back near the end of the season and was a top-30 running back from Week 12 on in PPR leagues despite seeing under 50 percent of snaps in all but one game in this stretch.
He provided a solid floor in the passing game, earning at least five targets during five of his last eight games. Spears could be in line for a breakout season if he finds a way to get the lion's share of the work.
He is currently RB53 in our dynasty rankings and would only cost a pick at the end of the second round in rookie drafts. That would be a small price to pay for a player who could offer a high reward.
Terry McLaurin, WR, Washington Commanders
It’s not often you see a 30-year-old veteran on an underrated dynasty article, but we have one to close out our list. McLaurin was an obvious sell candidate late last summer after missing offseason workouts while trying to get a contract extension.
We were unfortunately correct, and McLaurin battled injuries all season long and never got to his full form in 2025.
However, there is room for optimism for McLaurin and the Washington offense next season. McLaurin, now paid, will get to work with Jayden Daniels all offseason to rebuild their chemistry and get into full football shape.
He will be getting a new offensive play-caller in David Blough, who has been around top offensive minds in Ben Johnson and Kevin O’Connell. Blough’s system will likely bring a modern twist to Washington and move McLaurin around the offense to get him designed touches in space, something he has never seen in his career.
#Bears HC Ben Johnson is very high on new #Commanders OC David Blough, (who he coached as a player in Detroit):
“He’s one of those young guys who will get a head job before you know it.” pic.twitter.com/SgMBQZFTWC
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) January 16, 2026
In an improved role, McLaurin can still flourish in fantasy with his advanced stats still at a high level. In 2025, he improved his yards per route run to 2.22 from 1.98, along with increasing his targets per route run and first downs per route run, according to JJ Zachariason on "The Late-Round Fantasy Football Podcast."
Even in a “down” year, McLaurin was showing signs of growth in his efficiency numbers.
McLaurin is still a solid dynasty option with plenty of gas still left in the tank. It’s worth pointing out that as McLaurin has gotten older, he has shown gradual improvement in his game each year.
He's RotoBaller's WR39 in dynasty ranking, and acquiring him is a savvy move that helps you win within the margins during the fantasy playoffs. The ones that push you closer to winning a dynasty championship.
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