February 17, 2026
Houston Texans tight end
Dalton Schultz quietly had one of the best seasons of his NFL career in 2025. Schultz's headlines were muffled by
C.J. Stroud's struggles and the breakouts of
Jayden Higgins and
Jaylin Noel, but the veteran tight end had a very strong year en route to posting his second TE10 finish in the last three years. The 29-year-old ultimately caught 82 passes on 106 targets, both of which represent career highs. He tallied 777 yards and three touchdowns, finishing as a top-12 tight end for the fifth time in six years. Schultz isn't the flashiest name at the tight end position, but he has quietly offered year-over-year stability. The veteran pass-catcher remains under contract with Houston for 2026, and he should continue to produce next season despite Stroud's inconsistent play. Schultz ranks as a fringe top-12 fantasy tight end, and he should be held in most dynasty leagues.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
February 17, 2026
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver
Tee Higgins continues to be a productive fantasy option, and he posted a new career-best finish as the overall WR15 in PPR leagues in 2025. Despite missing two games, Higgins exploded for 59 catches, 846 yards, and a career-high 11 touchdowns. It has been really encouraging to see the former second-round pick get more looks in the end zone. He has set a new career-high in touchdowns in each of the last two seasons, and during that two-year window, he has scored a total of 21 times. Some people might say that Higgins benefits from facing teams' No. 2 cornerbacks (because their top options cover
Ja'Marr Chase), but that's a hard argument to make given that Higgins has also excelled in games that Chase has missed. There's a bit of an injury risk with Higgins, who had two concussions during the back half of the 2025 season, but his ceiling and floor both remain quite high. He's worth drafting as a high-end WR2 in 2026 fantasy drafts, and he's worth holding in dynasty leagues.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
February 17, 2026
Denver Broncos tight end
Evan Engram had a frustrating 2025 season, failing to live up to preseason expectations. Engram signed with the Broncos after three years in Jacksonville. He had been a top-five fantasy tight end in two of his three years with the Jaguars, and the one exception was his injury-shortened 2024 campaign. Fantasy managers had high hopes for Engram in Denver, where he could have played the "joker" role in Sean Payton's offense. Instead, he was held to just 4.75 targets per contest, and he finished the year with just one touchdown. These subpar stats resulted in Engram ranking as the overall TE29 in PPR leagues, which was the lowest single-season mark of his career (minimum 10 games played). It doesn't seem like this year was a fluke, either. Engram truly just struggled to get on the field, playing fewer than 50% of the offensive snaps in 13 of his 16 contests. Barring a major scheme change this offseason, we can expect a similar pattern for Engram in 2026. He's a risky redraft option in next summer's drafts. Meanwhile, dynasty managers might want to trade Engram while they still can, capitalizing on any name value he has left.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
February 17, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver
Ladd McConkey had a frustrating second season in the NFL. He caught 66 passes for 789 yards and six touchdowns, ranking as the overall WR30. He wasn't a total bust, but he certainly failed to live up to the expectations he had established after finishing as the WR13 as a rookie in 2024. That same year, he had 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns.
Justin Herbert continues to play at a very high level, so we can't blame his regression on poor quarterback play. The Chargers' bottom-tier offensive line could have been a contributing factor, but more likely than not, defenses just started to do a better job game-planning for the former second-round pick now that they had a full year's worth of film on him. Los Angeles replaced offensive coordinator Greg Roman with Mike McDaniel this offseason, which should benefit all of the Chargers' skill players in fantasy football. Additionally, there might be a few extra targets to go around, now that
Keenan Allen is headed for free agency. All in all, managers absolutely should not panic about McConkey after the 2025 season. In fact, dynasty managers might be able to buy low on McConkey if his current manager is frustrated by how he played last year.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
February 17, 2026
Denver Broncos quarterback
Bo Nix (ankle) put together another strong season in 2025, and he continues to trend upward despite entering the offseason with a broken ankle. In his second pro season, Nix threw for 3,931 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He also added 356 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. As a result, he finished as the overall QB7 for the second year in a row. The former first-round pick's production was a little inconsistent at times, as he certainly had some boom or bust games, but he played well enough to satisfy his fantasy managers and keep them in the hunt for the fantasy playoffs. He also kept his Broncos in the playoff hunt, locking up the No. 1 seed and taking down the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round. However, Nix broke his ankle near the end of the Bills game, sidelining him for the Broncos' eventual loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship. Nix should be fully recovered in time for the 2026 season, and his supporting cast will arguably be stronger than ever with
Courtland Sutton returning and
Troy Franklin and
Pat Bryant both having another year under their belts. Plus, running back
RJ Harvey is expected to take a major step forward, further improving the overall state of the offense. All signs point to Nix finishing as QB7 or higher again in 2026.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
February 17, 2026
The Seattle Seahawks are not expected to place the franchise tag on impending free agent running back
Kenneth Walker III, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Walker capitalized on a contract year and put together a very impressive 2025 campaign. For the first time in his career, he was healthy for all 17 regular-season games. He tallied 1,309 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns while splitting work with
Zach Charbonnet during the regular season, and he put the rushing workload on his back after Charbonnet tore his ACL during Seattle's first playoff game. Ultimately, Walker won Super Bowl MVP and could now fetch the largest contract among this year's free agent running backs. Schefter doesn't totally rule out a return to Seattle for Walker, but he does note that the team has other plans for its spending, including a
Jaxon Smith-Njigba extension and re-signing other free agents.
--Andersen PickardSource: Adam Schefter
February 16, 2026
Washington Commanders impending free agent tight end
Zach Ertz (knee) may be 36 years old, but he has continued to be a productive pass-catching weapon on the offensive side of the ball. Ertz had 50 catches for 504 yards and four touchdowns across 13 games, ranking as the overall TE19 in PPR leagues. He has 11 touchdowns over the last two seasons, averaging 10.1 fantasy points per game during that span. His final stat line from 2025 is even more impressive when you remember the quarterback situation he was dealt.
Jayden Daniels missed plenty of time due to injury, so Ertz found himself catching passes from
Marcus Mariota. He was shut down for the season by the time
Josh Johnson earned any quarterback snaps, though. Ertz tore his ACL in Week 14, leaving plenty of question marks about his availability for 2026. Furthermore, he's a free agent this offseason, so we don't even know if he'll end up back in Washington. It's quite possible that a team with an established, young No. 1 tight end signs Ertz, allowing him to recover before filling a depth role. That'd be a rough scenario for fantasy managers, so selling high on him in dynasty leagues might be the right choice this offseason.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
February 16, 2026
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback
Geno Smith had an ugly first season with the team, and it likely cost him his starting job. Smith signed a two-year, $75 million deal with the Raiders last offseason, reuniting with head coach Pete Caroll. The reunion didn't result in a successful season. Vegas went 3-14, Carroll was let go, and Smith posted a horrific 19:17 TD:INT ratio with a career-high 55 sacks. One of the few positive storylines of the Raiders' season was that they ended up with the No. 1 draft pick, giving them the right to select any eligible prospect they'd like. Presumably, that player will be Indiana quarterback and national champion Fernando Mendoza. In all likelihood, Mendoza will win the starting job right away. That could move Smith to a backup role, but more likely, the veteran quarterback will be released with one year left on his contract. Releasing him creates $8 million in cap space with $18.5 million in dead money, offering the Raiders a fresh start with Mendoza and first-year head coach Klint Kubiak. Smith should be avoided in all dynasty and redraft leagues.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
February 16, 2026
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver
Dont'e Thornton Jr. had an underwhelming rookie season, catching just 10 of his 30 targets for 135 yards through 15 games. There was plenty of preseason hype about the Tennessee product, so it was frustrating to see that he never really produced at a significant level. Part of the blame falls on Thornton himself, but we can also attribute some of it to the poor state of the Raiders' offense. Quarterback
Geno Smith struggled during his first year with the team, amassing 17 interceptions and just 19 touchdowns. All signs point to Vegas drafting college football standout Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick, which would put the offense in a better state and potentially lead to more upside for Thornton. He could also pick up some additional targets with veteran
Tyler Lockett headed for free agency. The 23-year-old is a very intriguing buy-low candidate in dynasty leagues after his quiet season. Dynasty managers may have already grown impatient with Thornton, meaning that he could be acquired at minimal cost.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
February 16, 2026
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver
Davante Adams capitalized on his high-scoring role within an omnipotent offense during the 2025 regular season. The Rams' offense steamrolled most opponents in their path, largely thanks to the elite talent of Adams,
Puka Nacua, and quarterback
Matthew Stafford. The veteran receiver benefitted from having Stafford to throw him passes, as the two connected for 14 touchdowns over Los Angeles' first 12 games. The frequent trips to the end zone allowed him to turn in his best fantasy finish (WR9) since 2022, despite posting his lowest yardage total since 2015 in Green Bay. Adams isn't getting younger, and we know that he's still the No. 2 option in the passing game behind Nacua. However, this past season proved that Adams remains a talented, must-start receiver in fantasy football. He's a solid top-12 receiver option heading into redraft leagues in 2026. On the other hand, dynasty managers might want to consider selling high, as he's 33 years old and the peak of his career is behind him.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
February 16, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs running back
Brashard Smith could have the opportunity to take on an expanded role during the 2026 season. Smith was buried in a depth role for most of his rookie season in 2025, especially with
Isiah Pacheco and
Kareem Hunt leading the backfield. However, the Chiefs' running back dynamic could change in 2026. Both Pacheco and Hunt are free agents this offseason, and it's unclear whether either of them will re-sign. If only one or neither of them returns next season, Smith will have a path to a larger workload. He had a modest 323 scrimmage yards and one touchdown this past year, so he certainly hasn't proven himself ready for a lead-back role. However, he could share the backfield with someone like Pacheco or another mid-range, experienced back. Either way, Smith is absolutely trending upward ahead of the 2026 season. He's an intriguing buy in dynasty leagues, especially if his current fantasy manager has already grown impatient.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
February 16, 2026
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back
Bucky Irving (shoulder) had offseason surgery on his shoulder, according to JoeBucsFan.com. Irving missed seven straight games last year from Weeks 5 through 12 with ankle and shoulder injuries. His ankle healed before his shoulder. The good news is that Irving's recovery and rehab are not expected to significantly impact his offseason preparation. Irving had 1,122 rushing yards and 5.4 yards per carry as a rookie in 2024, but his production dropped in Year 2 due to his injuries, as he finished with 588 rushing yards (3.4 yards per carry). The 23-year-old could have a bigger role in Tampa's backfield next season with
Rachaad White not expected to return in free agency, although the Bucs will probably prioritize adding RB depth after Irving's injury issues in 2025. Irving will have bounce-back potential for fantasy managers this year, but he'll also carry injury risk as an RB2 target.
--Keith HernandezSource: JoeBucsFan.com
February 16, 2026
Free-agent wide receiver
Tyreek Hill (knee) said on his Instagram account that he wants to continue playing in 2026, according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. "The Cheetah will be back," Hill wrote. The Dolphins released Hill on Monday and said that he "failed a physical" after suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 4 of last year that required surgery to fix a dislocated knee and multiple torn ligaments. The 31-year-old's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said that Hill is "progressing well" in his recovery and wants to play again. Although Hill seems motivated to continue his playing career, it's unclear if he'll be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 season this fall. Before he signs with a team on the open market, the soon-to-be 32-year-old is going to have to prove that he'll be ready to play at some point later this year. Hill was a Pro Bowler in each of his first eight NFL seasons, which included six 1,000-yard campaigns, but he's failed to reach that lofty mark the last two years and may not be the same explosive wideout upon his return from major knee surgery.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
February 16, 2026
Indianapolis Colts running back
Jonathan Taylor was off to a fantastic start to the 2025 season, but a midseason quarterback change weakened the offense and reduced his upside. The superstar running back was the overall RB1 in PPR leagues from Weeks 1 through 10, scoring an absurd 17 touchdowns during that span. He also had four three-touchdown games over a span of eight weeks. He was slightly less productive after the bye, and his productivity took another step backward when
Daniel Jones (Achilles) tore his Achilles in Week 14. He still scored at least 12 points in four of his five games with
Philip Rivers and
Riley Leonard, but he was more of a low-end RB1 or high-end RB2 during that span. He can get back into the high-end RB1 tier with Jones healthy. In fact, he's an intriguing buy-low in dynasty leagues, and managers in redraft leagues should feel comfortable selecting him somewhere between picks 5-10 if Jones returns healthy for Week 1 of the 2026 season.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
February 16, 2026
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver
Jaxon Smith-Njigba continues to trend up after a historic third season in the NFL. He made a Pro Bowl for the second consecutive year, exploding for 119 catches, 1,793 yards, and 10 touchdowns. As a result, he ranked as the overall WR2 in full-PPR leagues and was named the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year. In some situations, this may be an intriguing opportunity to sell high, but that's not the case with Smith-Njigba. He's just 24 years old and should only continue to improve within the coming seasons. There could be more OPOY awards in his future, and he'll remain a real threat to finish as the overall WR1 in fantasy football. He's one of the top dynasty players and should be a top-four pick in 2026 redraft leagues.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
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