RADIO
Can Ted Hurst Find Consistent Fantasy Success in a Crowded Receiver Room?
With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers spending a third-round pick on perimeter wide receiver Ted Hurst, he steps into the league with colossal shoes to fill. For the first time since 2013, the Buccaneers will be without six-time Pro Bowler Mike Evans, after the 32-year-old wideout signed a three-year deal with the 49ers in free agency. At 6'3" and 206 pounds, Hurst profiles as the most likely player to inherit Evans' X-role on the boundary, but the receiver depth in Tampa runs deep, with a versatile group of pass-catchers capable of playing across the formation. For Hurst to eventually earn an every-down role in two-receiver sets, his most direct competition could come from third-year receiver Jalen McMillan. Reports out of OTAs have suggested that McMillan has put the neck injury that limited him to only four games in 2025 squarely behind him, and he has looked like the best receiver on the field at times. A younger prospect, with the bulk of his collegiate success coming as a downfield ball-winner, Hurst profiles as a boom-or-bust receiver who could struggle to consistently reach his ceiling early in his career, but in a weak draft class, he slots in as RotoBaller's rookie WR12.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jayden Reed Still an Unproven Dynasty Asset
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed has been one of the most frustrating fantasy assets since coming into the league as a 2023 second-round pick out of Michigan State. He is unquestionably talented, having flashed throughout his three-year career, but operating primarily out of the slot in a league trending toward fewer three-receiver sets, he's never seen the consistent usage to make him an every-week must-start player. With the Packers' leading receiver from 2025, Romeo Doubs, departing through free agency and the team committing to Reed in the form of a three-year, $50.25 million extension, it's entirely possible Green Bay envisions an expanded role for him in 2026. History, however, suggests that outside work in two-receiver sets is still more likely to go to Christian Watson and 2025 first-round pick Matthew Golden, with Reed seeing only nine career routes with fewer than three receivers on the field. Coming off a season in which he missed 10 games with a broken collarbone and never managed higher than a 65% snap share in his return, Reed has fallen to WR51 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Brenton Strange a Safe, Young Dynasty Depth Piece
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange missed five mid-season games in 2025 with a hip injury that landed him on injured reserve. After returning to the field in Week 12, he played the final seven games of the year on a full-season pace of 63 receptions for 816 yards and seven touchdowns, good enough to make him the fantasy TE8 over that stretch. Jacksonville boasts one of the deepest receiver groups in the league, but with at least three different players holding a reasonable claim to the team's WR1 spot in any given week, a consensus fantasy ranking within the room can hardly be agreed upon. Strange's role holds no such ambiguity, and in his 2025 games in which he played a full allotment of snaps, he saw fewer than four targets only once. While he is never going to accumulate league-winning volume, Strange provides a safe weekly floor, and with the depth chart existing as it does, he has multiple paths to an expanded role through injury to any one of the team's wideouts. At only 25 years old, Strange is RotoBaller's dynasty TE16.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kaytron Allen in the Right Situation to Overcome Poor Draft Capital?
With rookie running back Kaytron Allen lasting all the way to pick No. 187 of the 2026 NFL Draft before the Washington Commanders selected him in the sixth round, he landed in as ideal a situation as can be found for a late Day 3 pick. No running back on the roster handled more than 37% of their team's carries last season, with the Commanders' leading rusher, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, himself a seventh-round pick in 2025. No stranger to working in a committee, Allen set the all-time Penn State rushing record while playing all four of his collegiate seasons alongside 2026 fifth-round pick Nicholas Singleton. In Washington, he will be battling veteran Jeremy McNichols for the third spot in a rotation alongside Croskey-Merritt and free agent signee Rachaad White, and with White potentially making McNichols' pass-catching role redundant, the edge could go to the rookie. At RotoBaller's dynasty RB40, Allen is not a flashy pick in the middle rounds of rookie-only drafts, but he has one of the clearer paths to immediate fantasy relevance, which is not a luxury to be overlooked in a generally unexciting draft class.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Demond Claiborne Worthy of a Late-Round Dart Throw in Dynasty Rookie Drafts
Minnesota Vikings running back Demond Claiborne was a sixth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, a historically difficult spot from which to find fantasy success. On the rare occasions when a back with such late draft capital has made a meaningful fantasy impact, the setting is often a backfield without a clear leader. With neither Aaron Jones nor Jordan Mason handling more than 39% of the team's carries or reaching 760 yards on the ground in 2025, the landing spot in Minnesota certainly qualifies as such. Claiborne is only 5-foot-10 and 195 pounds, so he is unlikely to ever find an every-down role in the NFL, but he offers an element of speed unique to the Vikings' running back room. If he can beat out 2023 undrafted free agent Xavier Scott, he could carve out a role in a three-man rotation in an offense projected to get back on track after the worst showing of the Kevin O'Connell era. At RotoBaller's rookie WR8, Claiborne is at least worth a dart throw in the closing rounds of 2026 rookie drafts.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tetairoa McMillan Dealing With Foot Injury During OTAs
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (foot) missed another OTA practice on Tuesday due to a foot injury that he's been dealing with, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. It's something to watch once training camp rolls around at the end of July, but the 23-year-old second-year pass-catcher's injury isn't believed to be serious and shouldn't cause him to be limited for the start of camp. The 23-year-old was the eighth overall pick by Carolina last year out of the University of Arizona, and he did not disappoint in his rookie campaign. McMillan led the Panthers in receiving and was easily quarterback Bryce Young's go-to target through the air, catching 70 of his 122 targets for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns in 17 regular-season starts. He should continue to be a high-volume, big-play option for fantasy managers looking for a safe receiver in the early rounds of 2026 drafts. Right now, McMillan is ranked as the No. 16 fantasy WR for redraft leagues at RotoBaller.
Source: The Athletic - Joe Person
Source: The Athletic - Joe Person
Aaron Donald Considering Coming Out of Retirement?
When asked by FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz if he's considering coming out of retirement and playing for the Los Angeles Rams in 2026 after they acquired All-Pro pass-rusher Myles Garrett from the Cleveland Browns on Monday, former defensive tackle Aaron Donald said, "I'm for sure flirting with the idea. Helluva an opportunity with the Super Bowl in SoFi this year. If I can find the fire, it's a possibility." The 35-year-old last played for the Rams in 2023, but we're pretty sure he could return and still be one of the best interior defensive linemen in the game. The former 13th overall pick back in 2014 out of Pittsburgh made 10 Pro Bowls and was an eight-time first-team All-Pro in his 10 seasons with the Rams. Donald retired in 2023 with 111 career sacks, 543 tackles (340 solo), 176 tackles for loss, and 260 QB hits across 154 regular-season games. Donald was also named the league's Defensive Player of the Year three times. If he were to return in 2026 and join forces with Garrett, the Rams would have by far the best pass-rushing package in the NFL.
Source: FOX Sports - Jordan Schultz
Source: FOX Sports - Jordan Schultz
Drake London, Falcons Agree on Four-Year Extension
The Atlanta Falcons signed wide receiver Drake London to a four-year, $141 million extension on Tuesday that is worth up to $150 million and includes $100 million guaranteed, agent Andrew Kessler told Adam Schefter of ESPN. The deal makes London the third-highest-paid receiver in the NFL with the highest average per year in Falcons franchise history. The 24-year-old former eighth overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft out of USC has only one 1,000-yard season in his first four years in the league, but he has been extremely consistent, totaling 309 receptions (497 targets) for 3,961 yards (12.8 yards per catch) and 22 touchdowns in 62 games over his four seasons. London had a career-low 68 receptions in a career-low 12 games played in 2025, but he still managed 919 receiving yards and seven scores. He should still be viewed as a top-12 fantasy wideout as he heads into Year 5, but with quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. (knee) competing for starting duties going into Week 1 this fall, there's a little more volatility in his 2026 profile.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Michael Wilson Will be "Closer to the Core" in Z Receiver Role
Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur said that wide receiver Michael Wilson will play "closer to the core" in the Puka Nacua role as the Z receiver in 2026, according to The Arizona Republic's Theo Mackie. Former first-rounder Marvin Harrison Jr. will play the Davante Adams role as the X receiver, while Kendrick Bourne is expected to see more work in the slot than he has in the past. Wilson, 26, had a career year in 2025 in his third year in the NFL, but he only broke through after veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett replaced the injured Kyler Murray (foot). The former third-rounder in 2023 out of Stanford caught 78 passes for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns on 126 targets across 17 regular-season games. After his first career 1,000-yard season, the Cardinals have made it clear they are interested in giving Wilson an extension. It's good news that Brissett is back as Arizona's starter under center in 2026, but in what should be a much more balanced offense in the desert under LaFleur, the Cardinals' entire passing game is expected to take a step back. Wilson, who is ranked as RotoBaller's No. 37 fantasy WR in single-year leagues, could lead the team in targets and catches in the underneath role.
Source: The Arizona Republic - Theo Mackie
Source: The Arizona Republic - Theo Mackie
Marvin Harrison Jr. Will Play the X Role for Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur said that wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. will play the Davante Adams role as the X receiver in 2026, with Michael Wilson "closer to the core" in the Puka Nacua role as the Z receiver, according to Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic. It also sounds as though Kendrick Bourne will see more work in the slot than he has in the past. Harrison, the fourth overall pick in 2024 out of Ohio State, has caught 103 of his 189 targets for 1,493 yards and 12 touchdowns in his first two years in the league, but as the No. 1 wideout taken in his draft class, he has yet to live up to his sky-high expectations. The son of former Colts receiver Marvin Harrison played in only 12 games in 2025 and missed the regular-season finale with a foot injury. He's reportedly fully healthy going into Year 3 and will come at a discount in redraft leagues after his injury-plagued 2025 campaign. With Wilson and tight end Trey McBride ascending, and in an offense that will focus much more on the run this year, Harrison has fallen to No. 34 in RotoBaller's single-season WR rankings for the upcoming 2026 season.
Source: The Arizona Republic - Theo Mackie
Source: The Arizona Republic - Theo Mackie
Adam Randall Well-Positioned for Dynasty Success in Baltimore?
After recording 1,068 yards from scrimmage and 13 touchdowns on 204 touches across 13 games as a senior at Clemson in 2025, running back Adam Randall was selected in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens. Veteran back Derrick Henry projects to dominate carries in Baltimore in 2026, and Justice Hill has established himself in the third-down role for the Ravens in recent years. However, Henry is entering his age-32 campaign, and Hill will hit unrestricted free agency following the 2026 season. Randall also began his career at Clemson as a wide receiver, so he could work his way into the mix alongside Henry as a receiving option out of the backfield. Fantasy managers should expect a limited role for Randall in his rookie season. Still, the situation around Randall in Baltimore makes him an intriguing long-term running back option in dynasty formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Nicholas Singleton Could Be the Running Back of the Future in Tennessee
After a disappointing senior season at Penn State in 2025, running back Nicholas Singleton fell all the way to the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft before being selected by the Tennessee Titans. Across 12 games with the Nittany Lions last year, Singleton recorded just 768 scrimmage yards on 147 touches. Still, the 22-year-old scored 14 touchdowns, and he finished his collegiate career with an impressive 54 scores across 53 games. Singleton may struggle to see playing time in Tennessee as a rookie with veteran backs Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears both ahead of him on the depth chart. However, both Pollard and Spears are entering the final years of their current contracts in 2026. If Singleton impresses his coaches this season, he could finish the year as the clear running back of the future for the Titans. Dynasty managers should temper their short-term expectations, but Singleton is still worth taking a shot on for his long-term upside in Tennessee.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Is Bryce Lance Currently Undervalued by Dynasty Managers?
A fourth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Bryce Lance could have a chance to contribute to his new team immediately as a rookie. As a senior at North Dakota State in 2025, Lance showed off his big-play ability by hauling in 51 receptions for 1,079 yards and eight touchdowns while rushing for 92 yards and an additional score on four carries. Lance also turned heads at the Draft Combine by running a 4.34-second 40-yard dash. Given the presence of wideouts Chris Olave and Jordyn Tyson, as well as tight end Juwan Johnson in New Orleans, Lance may have a tough time carving out a high-volume role in the Saints' passing game. However, he could slide into the team's downfield role as a replacement for former Saints wideout Rashid Shaheed, who recorded 44 catches for 499 yards and two touchdowns across nine games before New Orleans traded him to the Seattle Seahawks at the 2025 trade deadline. In dynasty formats, Lance's upside may currently be undervalued heading into 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Mike Washington Jr. Carries Dynasty Sleeper Appeal Entering 2026
After recording 1,296 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns on 195 touches across 12 games at the University of Arkansas in 2025, running back Mike Washington Jr. was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Even after a relatively disappointing rookie season, 2025 number six overall pick Ashton Jeanty remains firmly atop the Raiders running back depth chart going into 2026. However, Washington Jr. could be the favorite for the RB2 role in a backfield that also contains Dylan Laube, Chris Collier, and Roman Hemby. Jeanty has the skill set of a three-down workhorse and logged 321 touches across 17 games in 2025, so there may not end up being much fantasy-relevant playing time behind him in Las Vegas. At the same time, Jeanty averaged a highly inefficient 3.7 yards per carry last season, and the Raiders could be looking to keep him fresher by spreading out their backfield touches a bit more. Washington Jr. could be a solid buy-low target for dynasty managers heading into 2026, given the opportunity available to him in Las Vegas.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Is Adonai Mitchell Still Worthy of a Dynasty Roster Spot?
The New York Jets provided wide receiver Adonai Mitchell with a much-needed change of scenery midway through the 2025 season by acquiring him from the Indianapolis Colts as part of the return package for cornerback Sauce Gardner. After recording just nine receptions across eight games with the Colts, Mitchell hauled in 24 catches for 301 yards and two touchdowns across eight games with the Jets. Mitchell flashed big-play upside with New York, but he also showcased the inconsistency that got him run out of town in Indianapolis. The 23-year-old successfully pulled in just 24 of 58 targets (41% catch rate) with the Jets and owns a 15.2% drop rate across two NFL seasons. Mitchell's role in New York may also be shrinking heading into 2026, as the team will get back star wideout Garrett Wilson from a knee injury and used first-round picks on wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. and tight end Kenyon Sadiq this past April. Mitchell maintains some dynasty upside, but the prospect pedigree that made him a second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft is fading quickly.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
