March 8, 2026
The Indianapolis Colts re-signed kicker
Blake Grupe to a one-year deal worth up to $1.4 million on Sunday, league sources told James Boyd of The Athletic. Grupe was cut by the New Orleans Saints last year after starting the year 18-for-26 on his field-goal tries and making all 15 of his extra-point attempts through 11 games played. The 27-year-old Notre Dame product then latched on with the Colts and kicked for them for five games, going a perfect 11-for-11 on field goals and 10-for-10 on his extra points. The strong finish to the 2025 season led to Grupe getting another shot as Indy's starting placekicker to begin the 2026 campaign this fall. Grupe has made 81.9% of his 105 career field-goal attempts (19-for-27 from 50-plus yards out) over three NFL seasons with the Saints and Colts. Fantasy managers in standard 12-team leagues should have better options at the kicking position this fall.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - James Boyd
March 8, 2026
CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones thinks it would be a surprise if the Jacksonville Jaguars traded wide receiver
Brian Thomas Jr. this offseason, considering how the Jaguars' offense flourished down the stretch last year. There have been rumors that the Jags could look to move Thomas after a very disappointing sophomore season in 2025, but the team still values the 2024 first-round pick. The 23-year-old former 23rd overall pick out of LSU made a name for himself immediately in his rookie year and was a Pro Bowler, catching 87 of 133 targets for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns in 17 regular-season games. Thomas only caught 48 passes in 2025 for 707 yards and two touchdowns on 91 targets in 14 regular-season games. If he stays in Jacksonville, Thomas could be a rebound candidate for fantasy managers in 2026, although it won't be easy with
Jakobi Meyers,
Parker Washington, and former Heisman Trophy winner
Travis Hunter (knee) taking targets away in the passing game.
--Keith HernandezSource: CBS Sports - Jonathan Jones
March 8, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs impending free-agent tight end
Travis Kelce appears "motivated to return" for a 14th NFL season, based on conversations that The Athletic's Dianna Russini has had with several teams. The Chiefs are "very much" in the mix to re-sign the three-time Super Bowl champion and four-time All-Pro tight end. The 36-year-old veteran has contemplated retirement for the second straight offseason, and although nothing is official, all signs have pointed towards Kelce returning in 2026, most likely back in KC. The 11-time Pro Bowler was the TE4 in half-PPR scoring in his 13th NFL season last year with 76 receptions on 108 targets for 851 yards and five touchdowns in 17 starts. Kelce has not had 1,000 receiving yards since 2022, but he proved last year that he can still be very valuable for fantasy football purposes, even if his ceiling isn't as an elite high-end TE1 anymore.
UPDATE: Kelce's representatives are "expected to talk to multiple teams" when the legal tampering period begins on Monday, per The Athletic.--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Dianna Russini
March 8, 2026
The Arizona Cardinals and two-time Pro Bowl running back
James Conner (foot) agreed to a restructured contract on Sunday that will keep him with the team in 2026, sources told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Conner played only three games in 2025 due to a foot injury that required season-ending surgery, but he'll be back with the Cardinals this year at age 31.
Trey Benson (knee) also missed most of the year due to injury, which gave more opportunities to both
Michael Carter and
Emari Demercado. Carter led the team with only 333 rushing yards and one touchdown on 92 rushing attempts over 13 games, while Demercado had 312 yards and no touchdowns on the ground in 13 games. Conner could be the favorite for RB1 duties again in 2026, but on the wrong side of 30 in an offense that could have issues at the quarterback position, the upside for Conner probably won't really be there.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
March 8, 2026
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that Seattle Seahawks impending free-agent running back
Kenneth Walker III "seems to be the market-setter as it stands" at the RB position this offseason. Jacksonville Jaguars RB
Travis Etienne Jr. will also have a very strong market. Some teams around the league are setting the market's ceiling at around $12 million. Fowler adds that Walker will consider the New York Giants, Washington Commanders, and Tennessee Titans. Depending on price ranges, it wouldn't be a surprise if the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs also check in on Walker, the Super Bowl LX MVP. Even though last year was Walker's only full season in his four years in the NFL, the 25-year-old's stock is up after a strong finish in last year's postseason. Walker's 2026 fantasy value will depend on his landing spot, but fantasy managers must remember that the former second-rounder was splitting touches pretty evenly with
Zach Charbonnet during the regular season. Walker finished with his second 1,000-rushing season in 2025 but found the end zone a career-low five times in 17 starts.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
March 8, 2026
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler expects the Las Vegas Raiders to make a run at Seattle Seahawks impending free-agent wide receiver
Rashid Shaheed, "depending on how the dominoes in the receiver market fall and the price point." New Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak "loves" Shaheed after working with him in the second half of last year, after the Seahawks acquired him in a midseason trade with the New Orleans Saints. However, Fowler points out that Vegas' bigger need is the offensive line. The Raiders could definitely use some upgrades at the wideout position for their expected new franchise quarterback in Indiana QB
Fernando Mendoza, especially after trading
Jakobi Meyers to the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2025. Shaheed, 27, only had 15 catches on 26 targets for 188 yards and no touchdowns in nine regular-season games in Seattle, although he does also have electric special teams capabilities as a return man. Shaheed is going to be a boom/bust WR4/flex in fantasy wherever he lands.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
March 8, 2026
Barring a last-minute deal with the Indianapolis Colts, wide receiver
Alec Pierce is set to reach free agency when the NFL's legal tampering window opens on Monday, and according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, he could fetch at least $27 million on the open market. The top option in an otherwise underwhelming free-agent class, Pierce is likely to draw interest from the Patriots, Commanders, and Titans, driving his price up. One of the premier downfield threats in the league, Pierce made a career-high 47 catches for 1,003 yards in 2025. Turning 26 in early May, he hits free agency at the perfect point in his career and will receive nothing less than a top-of-market deal.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Jeremy Fowler
March 8, 2026
Wide receiver
Romeo Doubs is set to hit free agency for the first time in his career after talks with the Green Bay Packers were unable to result in a new deal, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Amidst an underwhelming free agent class topped by the soon-to-be 26-year-old
Alec Pierce, the market for Doubs is expected to be robust. He has averaged over 50 receptions for almost 700 yards and six touchdowns over the past three seasons and profiles as a WR2 or 3 on most offenses, utilized primarily along the boundary over the course of his four-year career. While he has struggled with untimely drops, his 5.2% drop rate in 2025 was the lowest of his career, while 66.3% reception rate marked a personal best.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Jeremy Fowler
March 8, 2026
New England Patriots quarterback
Drake Maye finished his sophomore season with 4,394 yards and 31 touchdowns, tacking on an additional 450 yards and four scores on the ground on his way to finishing second in a historically close MVP race. However, his performance dipped substantially during a four-game postseason run against a murderer's row of defenses. Heading into year three, he will be without his leading receiver from 2025, following the recent release of 11-year veteran
Stefon Diggs. The Patriots have been tied to several of the top names on the receiver trade and free-agent markets, but unless they can add a notable player to the room, the current group could struggle against upper-echelon defenses. With a first-place schedule and a larger target on his back, Maye has a tough road ahead to repeating his 2025 success.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
March 8, 2026
Carolina Panthers wide receiver
Tetairoa McMillan finished as the WR15 in Half-PPR formats on his way to winning Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2025. With offensive coordinator Brad Idzik returning for his third season and set to take over play-calling duties from head coach Dave Canales, the stability is in place for him to take the next step in year two. While quarterback
Bryce Young has yet to top 3,100 yards in his three-year career, McMillan was on the receiving end of nearly a third of the Panthers' 2025 passing offense, on the strength of a 26.3% target share. Following a surprise playoff appearance, Carolina holds the 19th pick in the NFL Draft, which could put them out of range to add another difference-making receiver in 2026. While the team did place the exclusive rights free agent tender on
Jalen Coker, McMillan should again clear the top of the depth chart, putting him in line for his first potential WR1 finish.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
March 8, 2026
All-Pro edge rusher Khalil Mack has agreed to a one-year, fully guaranteed $18 million deal to return to the Los Angeles Chargers, taking one of the top potential free agents off the market, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. A Pro Bowler in his first three years with the team, Mack now enters his fifth season with the Bolts, his longest stay with one team as he enters year 13 of his brilliant career. While his pass-rush numbers have fallen precipitously since his career-high 17-sack campaign in 2023, the former fifth overall pick is still one of the league's most dominant edge-setters. Mack's 113 career sacks put him just outside the top 25 in NFL history, and he is likely to wear a gold jacket whenever he decides to walk away from the game.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Jeremy Fowler
March 8, 2026
Tight end
T.J. Hockenson and the Minnesota Vikings have agreed to a restructured contract that lowers his 2026 cap hit by $5 million, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Following back-to-back top-five fantasy finishes in his first two seasons in Minnesota, Hockenson has struggled through injuries and inconsistent quarterback play over the past two years, finishing as the TE26 in 2025 while failing to top 450 receiving yards. He is currently being valued as a low-end TE2 in dynasty startups, making him a sneaky buy candidate, as the Vikings have made no secret of their desire to add quarterback competition or an entirely new starter when the league year opens on Wednesday.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Tom Pelissero
March 7, 2026
Baltimore Ravens quarterback
Tyler Huntley has signed a new deal with the team on Saturday. Huntley is signing a two-year deal worth up to $11 million to stay in Baltimore. The 28-year-old has spent five of his six professional seasons with the Ravens, so it's not shocking that he'd like to continue playing with the organization. Given the injury history of
Lamar Jackson, it makes sense that the Ravens want to have a capable backup who knows the system. Last season, Huntley threw for 426 passing yards with two touchdowns and zero interceptions in five games (two starts) with the Ravens. He also rushed for over 150 yards on the ground this past season. The Ravens enjoy having a player with a similar skill set to Jackson, so they don't have to completely change the game plan if an injury occurs.
--Andy WebbSource: Adam Schefter
March 7, 2026
San Francisco 49ers kicker
Eddy Pineiro agreed to a long-term extension with the organization on Saturday. They've agreed on a four-year, $17 million deal, which includes $10 million in guaranteed money. Pineiro signed a one-year deal with the 49ers last offseason and turned it into a huge payday for himself. The 30-year-old was elite as he knocked down 28-of-29 field goal attempts with a league-leading 96.6 field goal percentage. The 49ers weren't going to let their best kicker in years walk away into free agency. Pineiro was going to get paid regardless, so the 49ers made sure it wasn't by anyone else. The 49ers hopefully have the kicker position taken care of through the 2029 season.
--Andy WebbSource: Adam Schefter
March 7, 2026
Green Bay Packers linebacker Quay Walker is set to become a free agent this Monday. The former first-round pick is expected to have strong value on the open market. The Packers reportedly made a strong push to sign Walker to an extension, but the two sides couldn't finalize a deal. Instead of chasing Walker in free agency, Green Bay acquired Zaire Franklin from the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday. Walker hasn't played a full season since his rookie season in 2022, but that hasn't stopped him from posting impressive numbers. Last season, Walker recorded a career-high 128 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and eight tackles for loss in 14 contests. The 25-year-old should have no problems landing a hefty multi-year deal this offseason.
--Andy WebbSource: Tom Pelissero
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