April 19, 2026

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving was one of the breakout success stories of the 2024 season, recording over 1,500 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns as a rookie. However, foot and shoulder injuries caused him to miss seven games in 2025 and limited him to just 865 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns for the year. Irving's efficiency as a rusher also plummeted precipitously, as he averaged just 3.4 yards per carry after averaging 5.4 yards per carry in 2024. Irving could easily bounce back with better health in 2026. However, Irving's stature as an undersized back leads to questions about whether he can make it through a full NFL season healthy. Additionally, Tampa Bay signed veteran running back Kenneth Gainwell to a two-year contract in free agency. Gainwell topped 1,000 scrimmage yards as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025, and his presence caps Irving's workload upside. While Irving still carries plenty of fantasy upside, his dynasty value is more of an open question coming off a down season.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

April 19, 2026

The Kansas City Chiefs made one of the biggest moves of the NFL offseason by signing running back Kenneth Walker III to a three-year, $43 million contract in free agency. Walker III recorded 1,309 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns on 252 touches across 17 games as a member of the Seattle Seahawks in 2025. The 25-year-old did so despite splitting touches with fellow Seahawks back Zach Charbonnet (knee) for the majority of the year. In Kansas City, Walker III profiles as the clear lead back and could easily top 300 touches for the first time in his career if he can stay healthy. The Chiefs' offense could have some struggles in the early going while star quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) makes his way back from knee surgery. Still, Kansas City should put Walker III in a position to rack up consistent fantasy production. In dynasty formats, Walker III profiles as a major riser following his offseason change of scenery.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

April 19, 2026

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (ankle) had his 2025 season come to an unfortunate end when he suffered a fractured ankle during his team's AFC Divisional Round win over the Buffalo Bills. However, Nix is expected to be fully ready to go for the start of the 2026 season. Across 17 games in 2025, the 26-year-old completed 63.4% of his pass attempts for 3,931 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Nix also rushed for 356 yards and five touchdowns on 83 attempts. While Nix hasn't been particularly efficient (6.5 yards per pass attempt) through the first two years of his NFL career, the Broncos high-volume pass game and Nix's ability to impact the game with his legs allow him to maintain fantasy upside. If the return from ankle injury prevents Nix from being effective as a scrambler, his fantasy production could suffer. Nix's dynasty value is trending slightly downward as he enters his third season in the NFL.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

April 19, 2026

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams finds himself in a classic sell-high situation this offseason. He was the overall WR6 in half-PPR leagues when healthy (14 games) last season. A significant portion of his fantasy production came from his 14 touchdowns, which tied his highest mark since 2020 in Green Bay. Adams is due for touchdown regression in 2026, even though he plays in a Rams offense that throws the ball near the goal line a lot. As a result, his volume and yardage potential will carry more weight, and we're not super bullish about that. He had a relatively modest 60 catches for 789 yards last year, and he never caught more than six passes in a single game. If the touchdown total scales back, Adams will have extreme difficulty remaining a top-15 receiver with that volume share. At 33 years old, Adams' days of being a top-10 fantasy receiver could be behind him. Yet, managers can capitalize on the fact that he has been a top-12 receiver in each of the last six seasons, using that statistic to sell high and pick up some significant compensation in a dynasty league trade. He has fallen to WR41 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

April 19, 2026

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison has the talent to produce as a fringe top-24 fantasy receiver every week, but quarterback issues have plagued his fantasy value recently. After opening his career with back-to-back top-24 finishes in PPR leagues, Addison dropped to WR45 in 2025. Sure, he did miss three games due to a suspension, but his average of 9.7 fantasy points per game was still a career low. The USC product suffered from playing with a combination of J.J. McCarthy, Max Brosmer, and Carson Wentz. Those quarterbacks struggled to support fantasy relevance for Justin Jefferson, let alone both Jefferson and Addison. As a result, there's some concern about Addison's outlook in dynasty leagues. The Vikings have control of McCarthy for three more years, and they also signed Kyler Murray, who played so poorly in Arizona that the Cardinals released him from his $230.5 million extension. We never saw Murray support multiple fantasy-relevant receivers at once, and so far, McCarthy has struggled to do the same. As a result, managers should temper expectations for Addison. He's not an appealing dynasty trade target at the moment.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

April 19, 2026

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka was an Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate at some points during the 2025 NFL season, but his somewhat underwhelming second half took him out of the running for the award. Along the way, Egbuka's high dynasty stock decreased slightly, creating a "buy" opportunity for managers in some dynasty leagues this offseason. The Ohio State product's subpar production during the second half was frustrating, but there's absolutely no reason to panic going forward. He has still shown that he can be a top-tier receiver in the NFL, winning matchups against defenders and scoring plenty of touchdowns. Now, he'll have an opportunity to do so more often with Mike Evans gone. Evans left for the 49ers in free agency, leaving Egbuka as the Bucs' top receiver over Chris Godwin Jr. Egbuka ranks as the WR12 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings. That's nothing to scoff at, but he also has top-five upside if the Bucs' offense can find more of a rhythm in 2026. Believe it or not, Egbuka is still a reasonable trade target in many dynasty leagues.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

April 19, 2026

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce was paid like a top-tier receiver this offseason, signing a four-year, $114 million extension. It's a hard-earned payday for Pierce, who eclipsed 1,000 yards last season and was the WR28 in PPR leagues. Still, it's a big investment for a receiver who had been third on the depth chart less than 12 months earlier. Now that he's paid like a No. 1 receiver, managers should expect him to be targeted like one every single week. His target rate will presumably increase from last year's mark of 5.6 targets per game. With Michael Pittman Jr. gone, the Colts could ask Pierce to abandon his deep-threat playing style and serve as more of a medium-range target for Daniel Jones. This might mean fewer explosive touchdowns, but it should result in a higher target share and more consistent production week in and week out. A 25-year-old who is under contract for four years is typically a very safe and dependable option for fantasy managers, as he has job security and the team is investing enough money to force-feed him targets. Managers should hold Pierce, who ranks as the WR35 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings and possesses top-24 upside.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

April 19, 2026

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. will get a fresh start in 2026 following an offseason trade. Dealt from the Colts to the Steelers, Pittman will slot in as a starting wide receiver opposite DK Metcalf next year. He offers a major upgrade for the Steelers, who endured a rough season of Calvin Austin III as their No. 2 receiver last year. Pittman was impressive when quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles) was healthy, averaging 11.4 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) and ranking as the overall WR8. However, his production took a hit when Jones was ruled out for the season. Therein lies the biggest question mark for Pittman in 2026. We still don't know who his quarterback will be in Pittsburgh. An Aaron Rodgers return seems probable, but nothing is imminent. Assuming Rodgers does return to the Steelers, he could support top-25 finishes from both Metcalf and Pittman. We're encouraged by Pittman's new opportunity, as the Steelers' decision to trade for him shows how much they want to get him involved on offense. He currently ranks as the WR52 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings, so managers who have higher expectations could opt to buy low on Pittman this offseason.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

April 19, 2026

New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson's perception in dynasty fantasy football leagues has declined, creating an opportunity for managers to buy low on a weekly RB3/flex option. Stevenson saw his role change during the second half of the 2025 season as rookie TreVeyon Henderson broke out. Still, the Patriots went run-heavy for most of the year, so Stevenson maintained a fantasy-relevant role alongside the rookie. In fact, over his final five games of the season, he averaged 63.8 rushing yards, 34.2 receiving yards, 1.2 touchdowns, and 20.0 fantasy points in full-PPR leagues per game. We expect Henderson to be the primary ball-carrier in 2026, but Stevenson should remain a heavily involved part of the offense, enough to justify deploying him as an RB3/flex every week. That's where there's value for fantasy managers; Stevenson has top-36 appeal every week, but he has fallen to RB46 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings. At 28 years old, Stevenson still has plenty of good football ahead of him. He's an appealing dynasty trade target this offseason.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

April 19, 2026

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp finished the 2025 season as the WR55, and his receiving yardage has now dropped year after year since his 2021 triple-crown-winning season. His two total touchdowns and 37.1 yards per game both marked career lows. In his first season in Seattle, he saw only a 15.5% target share, and as he approaches his age-33 season, any hopes of a fantasy resurgence have been comfortably put to rest. Returning quarterback Sam Darnold and new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury will have the reigning Offensive Player of the Year to lean on in Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and after sending a fourth and fifth-round pick to acquire Rashid Shaheed in a mid-season trade and then signing him to a three-year, $51 million deal, the expectation is that he will earn more than the 2.6 targets per game he saw across his nine regular season outings with the Seahawks. Kupp did lead the team in targets and receptions in their Super Bowl win over the Patriots, proving that he can still provide the occasional spike week in the rare occurrence that an opponent has both the plan and the personnel to limit Smith-Njigba, but relying on him as a weekly starter is no longer a viable option. Once one of fantasy's true elites, Kupp is now WR108 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 19, 2026

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren has spent his entire career in some form of timeshare. From 2022 to 2024, he shared a room with Najee Harris and found fantasy relevance through his work as a pass catcher, making a career-high 61 grabs in 2023 on his way to an RB25 finish. In 2025, many expected him to split time with rookie Kaleb Johnson, but it was actually free agent signing Kenneth Gainwell that ate into his workload, most notably as a receiver, with Warren's 42 targets the lowest since his rookie season. With Gainwell now off to Tampa Bay, Warren finds himself in yet another new committee, this time with former Cowboys and Panthers runner Rico Dowdle. While Dowdle is a well-rounded back, he possesses neither the tank-like frame to grind out the 270+ carries of a prime Harris nor the receiving chops to approach Gainwell's 73 receptions from 2025, leaving margins for Warren to again hold a prominent, fantasy-relevant role. Since Dowdle's signing, Warren has fallen to low-end RB3 status in consensus dynasty rankings, but with a clear path to reestablish himself as the primary pass-catcher out of the backfield, he should be more than capable of matching or exceeding his RB26 finish from 2025. At 27 years old, Warren represents the type of depth piece that a contending manager might lean on for notable swaths of the season.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 19, 2026

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is coming off the third RB1 fantasy finish of his career despite putting up some of his lowest efficiency numbers since entering the league. His 413 touches in 2025 marked a career-high, while his 5.1 yards per touch were the lowest since 2020, a season in which he only played three games. This was McCaffrey's third time finishing a season with more than 330 total touches, all three times culminating in an All-Pro selection, but in both previous instances, he missed significant time the following season. Only twice in four opportunities has he played more than four games following a 200+ touch campaign. While that sort of fragility might frighten some fantasy managers, the ceiling that he represents when given a full workload is unattainable by any other player in the league. 58 times in his career, McCaffrey has touched the ball at least 20 times in a game. Only once under such circumstances did he fail to record at least 100 yards or a touchdown. Unfortunately, that occurred in 2025, along with several other instances where he barely cleared the mark, further signaling a decline in efficiency. About to turn 30 years old, McCaffrey appears to have hit a crossroads where his continued fantasy greatness is reliant on a one-of-one workload, while that same workload could be his ultimate undoing were he to sustain another serious injury. He currently ranks as RotoBaller's dynasty RB10, but contending managers would be advised to ride him until the wheels fall off.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 19, 2026

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (knee) has made 12 starts in his young career, beginning his rookie season behind veteran Kirk Cousins before taking over in Week 16. Year two began with the roles reversed, until Penix tore his ACL in Week 11, his fifth season-ending injury and third ACL tear dating back to his college days. Across nearly a full year of professional starts, the eighth overall pick from the 2024 Draft has gone 4-8, throwing for 2,757 yards, 12 touchdowns, and six interceptions. While Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, and Bo Nix from the same draft class have all shown signs or outright proof that they can be franchise cornerstones, the outlook is still unclear on Penix. While he has a chance to be ready for the start of the 2026 season, the Falcons brought in a new coaching staff and signed former Dolphin Tua Tagovailoa to a one-year deal. Their camp battle will be one to watch, as both players are essentially fighting for their future in the league, and if neither player impresses in the first year of the new regime, it would surprise nobody if the franchise explored new options in what currently projects to be a loaded 2027 draft class. Penix will be 26 by the start of his third season and sits at QB26 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings, eight spots higher than Tagovailoa.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 19, 2026

Three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence has been traded from the New York Giants to the Cincinnati Bengals in a deal that sees the Bengals' 10th overall pick in the 2026 Draft heading back to New York. The two-time second-team All-Pro had reportedly demanded a trade after initially seeking a new deal with the Giants, and the team obliged after the two sides were unable to come to an agreement. The 28-year-old Lawrence registered only half a sack in 2025 after tallying a career-high nine in 2024, but his 108 pressures since 2022, when lined up at the nose, are more than triple that of any other player in the league. Cincinnati has had one of the league's lowest-ranked defensive units for years, and they have paid a steep price to bolster the trenches. Lawrence's true impact will now be put to the test without the help of a much stronger surrounding cast, particularly on the edges.--Patrick McGrath
Source: Ian Rapoport

April 18, 2026

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) missed the entirety of the 2025 season after tearing his ACL for the second time on the ninth carry of his NFL career. Brooks went down in Week 14 of his 2024 rookie season after missing ten games during a lengthy recovery from his first ACL tear, sustained at the end of his final collegiate season at Texas. With the injuries stacking up and so much passing time between meaningful snaps, it can be easy to forget that the 2024 second-round pick was seeing an incremental increase in usage leading up to the injury, even though Chuba Hubbard had the fourth most rushing yards in the league to that point. With Rico Dowdle departing in free agency after only one season in Carolina, Brooks will return to a running back room strikingly similar to the one in which he last played. Hubbard will be 27 years old at the start of the season, coming off a year in which injuries and inefficiency saw him turn the room over to Dowdle for much of the season, and his career yards per route run remains well under 1.0 yards. As RotoBaller's dynasty RB37, Brooks could be severely underpriced for a running back with both the skills and the path to take over the lead back role in a steadily improving offense.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller