RADIO
All Signs Point to Bounce-Back Season for Brock Purdy in 2026
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy had a lost season in 2025 due to toe and shoulder injuries that cost him eight games. The former last pick in the seventh round (Mr. Irrelevant) in 2022 out of Iowa State finished with 2,167 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in nine regular-season starts to finish as the QB24 in fantasy football. But now that the 26-year-old is fully healthy as he embarks on his fifth year in the NFL, he's an obvious buy-low candidate with bounce-back potential in dynasty leagues in an offense that got some receiving upgrades in free agency in veterans Mike Evans and Christian Kirk, and in the draft in rookie second-rounder De'Zhaun Stribling. When he was on the field last year, Purdy mostly dinked and dunked in an offense that lacked consistent downfield threats in the passing game due to injuries. Getting tight end George Kittle (Achilles) back will be huge, but it's unclear when that will happen. As long as Purdy avoids the injury bug, he should be a fringe QB1 for fantasy managers. He's currently ranked as RotoBaller's No. 13 dynasty signal-caller.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Jalen McMillan has a Path to Bigger Role, But There Will be Target Competition
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan played in only four games in his sophomore season in 2025 due to a serious neck injury that he suffered in the preseason. In those four contests, the 24-year-old showed flashes of long-term upside with 12 catches for 178 yards, although he failed to find the end zone. In his first NFL campaign in 2024 after the Bucs took him in the third round out of the University of Washington, McMillan had a 37-461-8 line on 58 targets across 13 games (12 starts). Veteran Mike Evans is out of town now, but McMillan will still have to work for targets from quarterback Baker Mayfield in a WR corps that features Chris Godwin Jr., Emeka Egbuka, Tez Johnson, and rookie third-rounder Ted Hurst. The 24-year-old will seemingly compete with Hurst for the WR3 role behind Godwin and Egbuka in a scheme run by new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson. McMillan is already established with two years in the NFL, but Hurst has better physical skills and a higher long-term ceiling. RotoBaller has McMillan currently ranked as the No. 71 dynasty WR.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Justin Jefferson's Dynasty Stock on the Rise With New QB in Minnesota
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson reached the 1,000-yard mark for the sixth straight season to begin his NFL career in 2025, but he had a career-low 1,048 yards with only two touchdowns in 17 starts as the team's quarterback play deteriorated following the departure of Sam Darnold in free agency last offseason. Former first-rounder J.J. McCarthy missed nine games due to injuries last year and was a disaster in terms of accuracy and consistency while leading the Vikings' offense, which led to a WR25 finish for Jefferson in half-PPR scoring. The 26-year-old's arrow was pointing down in dynasty fantasy football leagues until the Vikings signed former Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray to take over under center in 2026. The four-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro's fantasy stock is now back on the rise, and his buy-low window is closing fast. Murray is a definite upgrade over McCarthy, but fantasy managers should automatically expect Jefferson to return to elite WR1 territory in redraft leagues in 2026. Jefferson is ranked as the WR4 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Injuries, QB Addition in Minnesota Deal Big Blow to J.J. McCarthy's Dynasty Value
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy was drafted with the 10th overall pick in 2024 out of Michigan as the team's next franchise signal-caller. He missed his entire rookie season in 2024, though, due to a meniscus injury in his knee that required surgery. The Vikings were still confident he was their guy under center going into last year, however, and let Sam Darnold walk in free agency as a result. Not only did McCarthy disappoint in 2025 in his first full season as the Vikings' starter, but Darnold led the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots. The 23-year-old made only 10 starts in his first NFL action, completing 57.6% of his 243 pass attempts for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions while taking 27 sacks. The Vikings quickly rethought their plan at QB this offseason and signed former first overall pick Kyler Murray. With Murray expected to open the 2026 campaign as the Vikings' starter, McCarthy's dynasty fantasy value has taken a massive hit, and he's now ranked as the No. 31 QB in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings. Murray isn't a lock to run with the starting gig in Minnesota -- his injury history is lengthy -- but McCarthy showed last year that he has plenty of developing to do still, and he may not get that opportunity again with the Vikings.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Aaron Rodgers Doesn't Meet With Steelers Over the Weekend
Free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers reportedly did not meet with the Pittsburgh Steelers over the weekend, according to Brooke Pryor of ESPN. Rodgers is expected to eventually meet with Pittsburgh, though, and he's still expected to re-sign with the organization for 22nd year in the NFL. Right now, the Steelers have Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, and rookie Drew Allar at the position. Head coach Mike McCarthy said it would be "awesome" to add a fourth QB going into the 2026 season, indicating that he's still on board for a reunion with Rodgers, whom he coached in Green Bay. Pryor says to circle May 18 as the next important date in the Rodgers saga. That is when the Steelers begin the next phase of their offseason program, and they'd really like to have the 42-year-old future Hall of Famer under contract by then. The four-time MVP and 10-time Pro Bowler didn't sign with the Steelers last year until June 5, for what it's worth. If Rodgers suits up again in 2026 for the Steelers, he shouldn't be considered much more than a low-end QB2 in superflex fantasy leagues.
Source: ESPN.com - Brooke Pryor
Source: ESPN.com - Brooke Pryor
Steelers Agree With Kicker Chris Boswell on Four-Year Extension
The Pittsburgh Steelers agreed with kicker Chris Boswell on a four-year, $28 million contract extension on Monday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The $7 million average per year ties Boswell with the Dallas Cowboys' Brandon Aubrey for the highest-paid kicker in NFL history, per CAA Football. Boswell is locked in with the Steelers through the 2030 season. The 35-year-old veteran made his second Pro Bowl in 2025 in his 11th year in the Steel City, going 27-for-32 (9-for-11 from 50-plus yards out) on his field-goal tries and 42-for-43 on extra points in 17 regular-season games. He's a career 87.7% kicker on his 341 field-goal attempts (52-for-63 from 50-plus yards) in his 11 years in the league with Pittsburgh. Boswell finished as the No. 12 fantasy kicker in 2025 in a Steelers offense that had its limitations with veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers under center. The Steelers aren't in a better QB situation this year and are currently waiting on Rodgers to make a decision on whether he wants to re-sign. It makes Boswell a fringe top-12 option at the position going into his 12th NFL campaign.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Harold Fannin Jr. Offers Tantalizing Dynasty Upside Despite Uncertain Offense
A third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Cleveland Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. put together an extremely encouraging rookie season. Despite operating in one of the league's worst offensive environments in Cleveland, Fannin Jr. recorded 72 receptions for 731 yards and six touchdowns on 107 targets across 16 games. The Browns' outlook on offense isn't much better for 2026, as the team still projects to get bottom-tier quarterback play from the likes of Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, and Dillon Gabriel. Still, Fannin Jr. could be in an even better position to soak up targets with former Browns tight end David Njoku departing for the Los Angeles Chargers in free agency. In dynasty formats, Fannin Jr. profiles as a potential high-end TE1 for years to come as he enters his age-22 season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Is Dalton Kincaid's Long-Term Dynasty Upside Fading Due to Health Concerns?
Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid had the best year of his career on a per-target basis in 2025, hauling in 39 receptions for 571 yards and five touchdowns on 49 targets across 12 games. Unfortunately for both the Bills and fantasy managers, volume continues to be a major impediment to Kincaid's ability to consistently produce. Thanks to hamstring and recurring knee issues, the 26-year-old has missed nine games over the past two seasons. His durability concerns have also limited his time on the field even in games where he's active, as he played fewer than 50% of Buffalo's offensive snaps in 10 of his 12 games in 2025. While Kincaid will likely always show flashes of high-end upside, his chances of emerging as a reliable, high-end fantasy TE1 appear to be fading. In dynasty formats, managers may want to consider selling Kincaid before the start of the 2026 season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jordan James Could Emerge as a Must-Roster Handcuff Option for Dynasty Managers
A fifth-round pick out of Oregon in the 2025 NFL Draft, San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan James did not record a single carry during his rookie season. Still, despite the uninspiring start to his pro career, James could be a worthy target for dynasty managers. Superstar 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey remains atop the team's depth chart at the position and will dominate the team's backfield touches as long as he's healthy. However, James could be positioned to earn San Francisco's RB2 role, with the unproven duo of Isaac Guerendo and 2026 third-rounder Kaelon Black as his primary competition. McCaffrey is entering his age-30 season and has led the NFL in touches in two out of the last three years. If James can secure the lead backup role in San Francisco, he immediately becomes one of the best handcuff options in fantasy football. In dynasty formats, James profiles as a worthy dart throw for managers to stash in a bench spot just in case McCaffrey goes down with an injury.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jaylen Waddle's Dynasty Stock Rising After Offseason Move to Denver
After spending the first five seasons of his NFL career with the Miami Dolphins, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle enters his first year with the Denver Broncos in 2026. Denver acquired Waddle on the back of his strong 2025 campaign with Miami, in which he hauled in 64 receptions for 910 yards and six touchdowns on 100 targets across 16 games. Waddle will face stronger target competition in Denver from wide receivers Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin, and Pat Bryant. However, the Broncos should also offer a stronger overall offensive environment, and Denver quarterback Bo Nix (ankle) led the NFL in pass attempts in 2025. All in all, Waddle should be better positioned to capitalize on the final years of his prime in Denver than he was in Miami. Waddle's dynasty stock is rising as he enters his age-28 season in 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Josh Downs in Line for Expanded Role in Indianapolis
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs saw his production drop across the board in 2025, as he recorded 58 receptions for 566 yards and four touchdowns on 88 targets across 16 games. After averaging 7.6 targets per game in 2024, Downs earned just 5.5 targets per game last season. The Colts addition of 2025 first-round tight end Tyler Warren played a big role in Downs' diminished role, as Warren soaked up many of the short and intermediate-area targets in the team's offense. While Warren's role in the passing game will likely only grow in 2026, Downs' production outlook is still trending upward following Indianapolis' offseason trade of wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. Outside of Alec Pierce, who is best known for his work as a downfield threat, Downs profiles as the only other proven wideout in Indianapolis. Due to his expected uptick in target volume, Downs has clear buy-low appeal for dynasty managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Mike Evans Could Be Well-Positioned for a Resurgent Season in San Francisco
Thanks to hamstring and collarbone injuries that forced him to miss nine games, veteran wide receiver Mike Evans posted the least productive season of his career in 2025. Across eight games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Evans hauled in 30 receptions for 368 yards and three touchdowns on 62 targets. Despite the down year, the San Francisco 49ers signed Evans to a three-year, $42 million contract in free agency. In San Francisco, Evans profiles as the clear WR1, particularly following the news that former 49ers wideout Jauan Jennings is signing with the Minnesota Vikings for 2026. As Evans enters his age-33 season, age and injury-related regression are obviously a concern. Still, he should see plenty of red zone opportunities while playing for the potent 49ers offense. For dynasty managers operating in win-now mode, Evans' stock is rising following his move from Tampa Bay to San Francisco.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jaguars Sign Running Back Ameer Abdullah for Backfield Depth
The Jacksonville Jaguars signed free-agent running back Ameer Abdullah to an undisclosed deal on Monday, according to the team. In a corresponding move, the team waived running back Ja'Quinden Jackson. Adbullah, 32, will give the Jaguars additional depth in the backfield going into training camp this year after they lost Travis Etienne Jr. to free agency. He's unlikely to have a role for the Jaguars if he makes the roster out of training camp, as the Jags also have Bhayshul Tuten, Chris Rodriguez Jr., and LeQuint Allen Jr. at the position, as well as DeeJay Dallas. Abdullah played in 13 games for the Indianapolis Colts in 2025 but saw just 14 carries for 60 yards and one touchdown while catching 16 of his 17 targets in the passing game for 99 yards. If anything, Abdullah will most likely be an option on special teams for the Jaguars if he's still with the team when the regular season starts in early September.
Source: Jaguars PR
Source: Jaguars PR
Kayshon Boutte in a Likely No-Win Scenario for 2026
New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte was one of Drake Maye's favorite targets in a brilliant 2025 campaign that nearly landed the 23-year-old quarterback the MVP. However, there may be no player more impacted by the trade of A.J. Brown, a deal many dynasty managers are already viewing as an inevitability. Should Boutte stick in New England, he could struggle to find reliable snaps in an offense featuring two new outside receivers in Brown and big-ticket free agent acquisition Romeo Doubs. Meanwhile, Boutte's name has also come up as a player who could be heading to Philadelphia as part of the Brown deal, which would put him in another crowded room in a low-volume passing offense. Boutte proved himself one of the most efficient downfield receivers in the league in 2025, but regardless of where he plays in 2026, his dynasty value (currently RotoBaller's WR74) is almost certain to take a further hit.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Can Tetairoa McMillan Become a Dynasty Cornerstone?
After winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award in 2025, Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan has risen to WR9 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings. The 23-year-old pass catcher out of Arizona hauled in 70 receptions for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns in his first season, and while playing with one of the weaker supporting casts in the league, he reached or exceeded a 20% target share in 14 of 17 games. Third-year receiver Jalen Coker comes into the season healthy after missing the first six weeks of 2025, but having shown a late-season connection with Bryce Young. Otherwise, the Panthers have made very few changes at wide receiver or tight end, spending a third-round pick on Chris Brazzell II after adding John Metchie III in free agency. McMillan should again be locked in for a hefty workload, and if Young can take another step forward as a passer, as he has done incrementally since his 2024 benching, the second-year receiver could secure his position as a true WR1 to build around in dynasty leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
