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Kyren Williams and Blake Corum Could See a 50/50 Split in 2026
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams has finished as the fantasy RB9 or better in each of the past three seasons, and for most of that run, managers could rely on a weekly volume floor that made him nearly bust-proof. By the end of the 2025 season, however, second-year back Blake Corum had taken on a meaningful role in the Rams' offense, and the Athletic's Nate Atkins believes we could see even closer to a 50/50 workload split in 2026, with Williams still serving as the primary between the tackles runner and third down back, but leaving the field with greater frequency in favor of the more explosive Corum. For the first time since 2016, the Rams did not add a running back through the draft, so the formula from last season is expected to be repeated and potentially amplified, with 2025 fourth-round pick Jarquez Hunter again unlikely to see much of a role without an injury ahead of him. Williams finished 2025 as RB9 while Corum was the RB17 over the final six weeks of the season. Williams is currently RotoBaller's dynasty RB17, with Corum still several tiers below at RB32, making him a potential steal if Atkins' projections come to fruition.
Source: Nate Atkins - The Athletic
Source: Nate Atkins - The Athletic
Is Ja'Marr Chase the Obvious Dynasty WR1 Entering 2026?
Five years into his NFL career, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase is well-established as arguably the best pass-catcher in football. The 26-year-old is coming off another highly productive season in 2025, hauling in 125 receptions for 1,412 yards and eight touchdowns on 185 targets across 16 games. While Chase wasn't able to replicate his 1,700-yard, 17-touchdown season from 2024, he still led the NFL in targets and put up monster numbers despite playing nine games with star Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, who missed time due to a toe injury. With Burrow fully healthy, Chase has a case to be valued as the WR1 in fantasy for the 2026 season. Even if Burrow suffers another injury, Chase has proven the ability to be an elite producer, particularly in PPR-scoring formats. Coming off back-to-back first-team All-Pro seasons, Chase might currently profile as the highest-floor and highest-ceiling dynasty wide receiver in fantasy football.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Can Javonte Williams Replicate 2025 Success in 2026?
Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams was one of the surprise success stories of the 2025 season, recording 1,338 yards from scrimmage and 13 touchdowns on 287 touches across 16 games. The Cowboys rewarded Williams this past offseason with a new three-year, $24 million contract. For the second straight year, Williams figures to play a workhorse role in the Dallas backfield. Behind Williams, the unproven trio of Malik Davis, Jaydon Blue, and Phil Mafah currently projects as the next men up on the team's running back depth chart. While Williams' 2025 production seemingly came out of nowhere, it may simply have been a product of him finally getting back to full health after the devastating knee injury that he suffered in 2022. Williams' value in dynasty formats is on the rise as he enters his age-26 season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Terry McLaurin is Well-Positioned to Rebound in 2026
After missing most of the offseason while negotiating a new contract, Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin battled through an injury-marred 2025 campaign. The 30-year-old missed seven contests with a quad injury, finishing the year with 38 receptions for 583 yards and three touchdowns on 60 targets across 10 games. It was a disastrous year for the Commanders' offense overall, which also got just seven games out of star quarterback Jayden Daniels. Still, both McLaurin and Daniels should be healthy and ready to go for the start of 2026. McLaurin also looks like the undisputed favorite to dominate targets in Washington, as the next wide receivers on the depth chart are the unproven Luke McCaffrey and 2026 third-round pick Antonio Williams. Heading into his age-31 season, age-related decline is a concern for McLaurin. However, his strong track record of production and the situation around him in Washington make him an appealing bounce-back candidate in dynasty formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Justin Herbert's Dynasty Value Rising Following Offseason Overhaul in Los Angeles
Across 16 games in 2025, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert completed 66.4% of his pass attempts for 3,727 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. Herbert also had the most productive season of his career with his legs, racking up 498 yards and two touchdowns on 83 rushing attempts. Despite averaging a relatively modest 32 pass attempts per game, Herbert's uptick in rushing production allowed him to finish as the overall QB10 in fantasy. Heading into 2026, there's reason to believe that Herbert could be in line for an even better season. For one, Los Angeles replaced conservative play-caller Greg Roman with former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, who could help unlock a new level of explosiveness for the Chargers offense. Additionally, Los Angeles overhauled the interior of its offensive line and will get back its star tackle duo of Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, who combined to play just six games in 2025. All in all, Herbert's dynasty outlook is trending up as he heads into his age-28 season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Is Tee Higgins a Top-24 Dynasty Wide Receiver?
Across 15 games in 2025, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins recorded 59 receptions for 846 yards and 11 touchdowns on 98 targets. Even with Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow sidelined for a significant chunk of the season by a toe injury, Higgins proved capable of providing solid production, particularly in the red zone. Injuries remain a red flag in Higgins' fantasy profile, as he's missed 12 games over the past three seasons and battled concussion issues in 2025. Still, Higgins and Burrow are both entering the 2026 season healthy. Even with Bengals wideout Ja'Marr Chase likely to dominate targets in Cincinnati, Higgins has proven to be a must-start wide receiver when both he and Burrow are on the field. In dynasty formats, managers could have an intriguing sell-high window on Higgins before the start of 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chiefs Looking to Establish a Running Game in 2026
Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said on Friday on The Pat McAfee Show that the team made an effort to improve the running back position in the offseason with the addition of Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker III, and they also added Emmett Johnson in the fifth round of the recent NFL draft. The Chiefs definitely want to establish their running game more in 2026, which will help take some of the pressure off quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) as he recovers from a torn ACL and LCL late last season. Having offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy back will certainly help, and Veach also added that the team is excited about all of their offensive-line investments in recent seasons. The Chiefs are hoping to open up their offense a little more for Mahomes around midseason once he's "in that groove." The Chiefs' offense could lean on Walker and the ground game early on in 2026, giving him a clear fantasy boost after he signed a three-year, $43.05 million deal with KC. Volume shouldn't be an issue for Walker, but his lengthy injury history puts him in bust territory as well.
Source: The Pat McAfee Show
Source: The Pat McAfee Show
James Conner Buried on Cardinals' Depth Chart Heading into 2026
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (foot) had his 2025 season cut short after suffering a season-ending foot injury in Week 3. Conner was present for the start of Arizona's voluntary offseason program in early April, which could be a good sign that he's on track to be ready for the start of the 2026 season. However, Conner now projects as the RB3 in Arizona at best after the Cardinals signed former Atlanta Falcons back Tyler Allgeier in free agency and used the third overall pick in the 2026 draft on Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. Conner was a productive player as recently as 2024, when he recorded over 1,500 scrimmage yards and nine touchdowns on 283 touches across 16 games. Still, with Conner entering his age-31 season and coming off foot surgery, Arizona clearly prioritized upgrading at the position with its offseason moves. Barring a change of scenery before the start of the season, Conner's dynasty value is plummeting.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
DK Metcalf Won't be Charged for Incident With Lions Fan
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf will not face charges for an incident with a Detroit Lions fan at Ford Field on Dec. 21, according to Christian Romo of the Detroit Free Press. At the end of last season, the NFL suspended Metcalf for two games for his actions. However, the Steelers didn't void any of Metcalf's guarantees, and no further discipline is expected from the league in 2026. The Lions fan later filed a lawsuit seeking damages from Metcalf, but the Wayne County court determined that the fan didn't appear injured and didn't seek medical attention at the game. It's good news for Metcalf's fantasy value going into the 2026 campaign, although his stock could be on the decline in a new offense led by head coach Mike McCarthy. Not only do the Steelers not officially know if future Hall of Fame QB Aaron Rodgers is coming back for another season, but the team added Michael Pittman Jr. via trade and rookies Germie Bernard and Kaden Wetjen in the draft. The 28-year-old Metcalf could be dealing with subpar QB play in 2026 and more competition for targets in the passing game.
Source: Detroit Free Press - Christian Romo
Source: Detroit Free Press - Christian Romo
Steelers Decline the Fifth-Year Option for Broderick Jones
The Pittsburgh Steelers declined the fifth-year option for left tackle Broderick Jones (neck) on Thursday, a source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. The option would have paid Jones $19.1 million in 2027. Jones only played in 11 games in 2025 in his third year in the league and is coming off neck surgery. The 24-year-old has started 38 of the 45 games he's appeared in over his three years in the NFL, and he was playing well before his neck injury last year, so if Jones can bounce back with another healthy and productive year in 2025, the Steelers could look to extend him beyond next season. However, it's still unclear if Jones, the 14th overall pick in 2023 out of Georgia, will be ready for training camp this summer and the start of the 2026 regular season in early September.
Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
Russell Wilson Ready to Hang Up his Cleats for TV Gig?
Free-agent quarterback Russell Wilson is in "deep discussions" to go into television, which could mark the end of what is likely a Hall of Fame career, sources briefed on the talks told Andrew Marchand of The Athletic. The NFL Today on CBS is considered the favorite to land Wilson, as the two sides have had "lengthy talks." The 37-year-old veteran signal-caller had a visit recently with the New York Jets about potentially backing up Geno Smith at QB, but he hasn't had any other real interest this offseason. If the 37-year-old ends up calling it a career, the 10-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion will finish with 46,966 passing yards, 353 touchdown passes, and 114 interceptions thrown in 205 regular-season games over 14 seasons. Wilson made six appearances (three starts) for the New York Giants last season before eventually being benched for young QB Jaxson Dart. If Wilson lands a deal with another team, he'll almost certainly be limited to a backup role in 2026.
Source: The Athletic - Andrew Marchand
Source: The Athletic - Andrew Marchand
Chase Claypool to Try Out for the Packers
The Green Bay Packers will have former Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears wide receiver Chase Claypool present at their rookie minicamp this weekend for a tryout, according to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. Claypool last played in the NFL in 2023 with the Bears and Miami Dolphins, catching eight of his 21 targets for 77 yards and one touchdown in 12 games played (two starts). Claypool, now 27 years old, was a second-round pick by Pittsburgh in 2020 out of Notre Dame. The best season in his four NFL seasons came in his rookie season in the Steel City, when he caught 62 passes for 873 yards and nine touchdowns on 109 targets across 16 games (six starts). Claypool also had over 800 receiving yards in his sophomore campaign with the Steelers, but he was never the same after being acquired by the Bears in the middle of the 2022 season. Green Bay lost Romeo Doubs in free agency and traded Dontayvion Wicks to the Eagles this offseason, so they could use some depth at the position behind Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, and Matthew Golden after ignoring the position in the NFL draft recently.
Source: The 33rd Team - Ari Meirov
Source: The 33rd Team - Ari Meirov
Cam Skattebo's Role Survives the NFL Draft
New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo doesn't face any additional competition following the NFL Draft. There had been some speculation that the Giants could be a landing spot for Jeremiyah Love or another top running back prospect, but that never came to fruition. It appears that New York remains satisfied with a backfield of Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy Jr., and Devin Singletary. Now, the big question is whether Skattebo will be able to establish himself as the lead back in this offense. He looked like the future of the Giants' backfield in the first half of his rookie campaign last year, but a season-ending ankle injury changed the narrative. Tracy had a very strong second half of the season in his absence, and now, Skattebo will likely need to compete in camp to win the starting job over Tracy. Even if that happens, both backs will be heavily involved, so Skattebo will need to capitalize on all the touches he gets. Fortunately, he's both a physical runner and a capable receiver, so he can earn snaps on any down. After averaging 16.0 fantasy points (PPR) per game when healthy last season, Skattebo now finds himself as the RB22 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Malik Nabers Has Top-Tier Upside When Healthy
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee), who is recovering from an ACL tear, could push to be among the top tier of fantasy receivers during the 2026 season. Nabers exploded as a rookie two years ago, ranking as the overall WR6 in PPR leagues with 109 catches, 1,204 yards, and seven touchdowns. He posted those results despite missing two games and catching passes from a mix of Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, Tommy DeVito, and Tim Boyle. Going forward, he's expected to be ready for Week 1, and he'll have the best quarterback situation of his career with Jaxson Dart under center. Plus, there's not a ton of competition for targets; New York has Darius Slayton and Darnell Mooney, but they said goodbye to Wan'Dale Robinson in free agency. This Giants offense could be sneaky good in 2026, and we expect Dart to throw the ball a lot. As long as Dart and Nabers stay healthy for most of the season, the latter could be a top-tier receiver in fantasy football. We wouldn't be surprised to see him finish the season with as many fantasy points as players like Ja'Marr Chase, Puka Nacua, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Amon-Ra St. Brown. Similarly, he has overall WR1 upside in dynasty fantasy football.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Evan Engram Still Atop Depth Chart After NFL Draft
Denver Broncos tight end Evan Engram remains atop the depth chart after the team didn't select any other tight ends until Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft. Engram was held to just 50 catches for 461 yards and one touchdown last year, posting the worst per-game averages of his nine-year career. It was a frustrating transition to Denver after Engram had been a top-five tight end in two of his three years with the Jaguars. A lot of people expected Engram to have a big role in head coach Sean Payton's offense, so it was concerning to see him finish as the TE29 last year. That outcome raised questions about his fantasy outlook going forward, but the Broncos' front office hinted that Engram will be far more involved in 2026. Additionally, the team didn't bring in any competition in free agency, and they waited until the fifth round to select NC State tight end prospect Justin Joly. With Day 3 draft capital, it will take a while for Joly to compete with Engram, if that ever happens at all. Engram remains the clear-cut No. 1 tight end in Denver, so now, he just needs to perform like one. There's still top-12 upside here if he's as involved as the Broncos have been hinting.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
