RADIO
Brock Bowers One of the Most Valuable Assets in Dynasty
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers broke the single-season rookie reception record in 2024, and while injuries largely defined his second season, when healthy, he was still a force. Bowers missed five total games, was shut down twice, and was clearly affected throughout the year by a bone bruise and PCL sprain. However, in his two healthiest games of 2025 (Week 1 to begin the season and Week 9 when initially returning from injury), he caught 17 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns, finishing as the TE2 and TE1 while averaging 27.8 half-PPR points. At only 23 years old, Bowers is RotoBaller's TE1 and one of the most valuable players in all of dynasty. Klint Kubiak arrives in Vegas having deployed heavy personnel packages at one of the league's highest rates with Seattle, and with no Jaxon Smith-Njigba-type on the Raiders' roster, Bowers could see one of the highest first-read target shares in the league. Now tied to 2026 first overall pick Fernando Mendoza for the foreseeable future, Bowers has a chance to dominate for a long time at a position that can provide a league-winning advantage for fantasy.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Mike Gesicki Still Provides Some Dynasty Insurance as His Standalone Value Fades
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki has finished outside the top 20 at the position in three of the last four seasons, and while missing four games in 2025 with a pectoral injury, his TE40 fantasy finish marked the worst result since his rookie season. Gesicki's spot on the depth chart is relatively enviable, often working as the third option in the passing game. But with Ja'Marr Chase earning more than 170 targets in each of the past two seasons and Tee Higgins averaging 101 looks of his own in that span, there is less available work for a third option, particularly when acknowledging the pass-catching prowess of running back Chase Brown. The Bengals' high-powered offense is always capable of providing spike weeks, but without an injury ahead of him, predicting when those weeks might come for Gesicki can be a frustrating task that often leaves him out of starting lineups. Entering his age-31 season, he remains a must-roster dynasty player, simply for what he can provide as injury insurance should one of the team's elite target-earners miss time, but at RotoBaller's TE48, Gesicki offers very little standalone value.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Nolan Smith Arrested for Speeding and Reckless Driving
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith was arrested last Friday and accused of speeding and reckless driving after he was clocked going 135 mph in a 70 mph zone. The arrest happened in Georgia, where the 25-year-old Smith played his college ball for the Bulldogs. A first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Smith has had a rotational role off the edge for the Eagles, with his best season coming in 2024 when he recorded career-highs of 6.5 sacks and 8 tackles for loss. Smith was released shortly after the arrest, after making bond, and a future court date has been set but not yet announced. The NFL has imposed fines and suspensions on players with similar charges in the past, but a determination on Smith has yet to be made as the Eagles prepare to begin organized team activities on Tuesday.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Giants Offense to be a Run-First Unit?
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart thinks the offense will be a run-first unit in 2026 under new head coach John Harbaugh, according to Ryan Dunleavy of The California Post. "It sounds like we're not going to be throwing the ball a lot," Dart said. "We're going to keep giving it to Skatt until they can stop it." The Giants took Dart in the first round (25th overall) last year out of Ole Miss, and he quickly took over the starting QB job from Russell Wilson. The 23-year-old displayed some very intriguing dual-threat skills and finished as the QB14 in fantasy with 2,272 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and five interceptions while adding 86 carries for 487 yards and nine touchdowns as a rusher in 14 games (12 starts). Dart's 487 rushing yards were third in the NFL, behind only Josh Allen and Justin Herbert, and his nine rushing TDs were tied for second with Trevor Lawrence. Long-term, Dart has high-end QB1 upside for fantasy managers, and he should be considered a low-end QB1 target in Year 2 in 2026 in an offense with plenty of talent around him through the air and in the backfield.
Source: The California Post - Ryan Dunleavy
Source: The California Post - Ryan Dunleavy
Joshua Palmer Working Out on the Side at OTAs
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Joshua Palmer (ankle) was seen working out on the side for most of Tuesday's OTA practice session, according to Alaina Getzenberg. Palmer had a season to forget in 2025 in his first year with the Bills after opening his NFL career with four years with the Los Angeles Chargers. The 26-year-old played in just 12 games and caught 22 of his 37 targets for 303 yards and no touchdowns, the first time in his five-year career that he didn't score at all. Palmer also missed both of the Bills' playoff games and finished out the season on Injured Reserve with an ankle injury. The former third-round pick by the Chargers in 2021 out of Tennessee is still rehabbing his ankle in May, although he should have plenty of time to get ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener this fall in early September. After the addition of deep threat DJ Moore and rookie wideout Skyler Bell, Palmer figures to have an even tougher path to consistent targets from quarterback Josh Allen. Palmer isn't even inside RotoBaller's top-100 WR rankings for the upcoming 2026 season.
Source: ESPN.com - Alaina Getzenberg
Source: ESPN.com - Alaina Getzenberg
Raiders "Counting" on Maxx Crosby Being Ready for Training Camp
The Las Vegas Raiders are "counting" on All-Pro pass-rusher Maxx Crosby (knee) being ready to go at training camp this summer as he continues to rehab from offseason knee surgery, according to Paul Gutierrez of ESPN. Head coach Klint Kubiak said he wouldn't be surprised if Crosby was ahead of schedule. Crosby was seen at OTA practice on Wednesday, although he only stretched with his teammates. He isn't expected to practice during OTAs and mandatory minicamp. "He's still the first one in this building every day, working. He's a leader on our team, and when he's out there, you feel his presence. And yes, we're counting on him being there for training camp, and I wouldn't be surprised if Maxx [is] ahead of schedule," Kubiak said. The 28-year-old wasn't happy about being shut down early last year despite dealing with a torn meniscus in his knee. The Raiders agreed to trade Crosby to Baltimore in early March, but the deal fell through, leaving him back in Sin City. As long as he doesn't suffer a setback in training camp, Crosby has a good chance to be ready for Week 1 on Sept. 13. He's still one of the league's best pass-rushers and will be expensive in IDP fantasy formats.
Source: ESPN.com - Paul Gutierrez
Source: ESPN.com - Paul Gutierrez
Kirk Cousins the First Up in OTA Practice on Wednesday
The Las Vegas Raiders continue to ease quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in April's NFL draft, into the offense this offseason, according to Ryan McFadden of ESPN. During the team period during Wednesday's OTA practice, veteran QB Kirk Cousins was the first signal-caller on the field, followed by Aidan O'Connell and then Mendoza. Head coach Klint Kubiak didn't give a specific timeline for when he would like to name a starting QB, and said the answer will reveal itself during training camp this summer. The expectation is that Cousins will begin the year as Vegas' starter, given his experience and familiarity with Kubiak's offense from their time together when Kubiak was the QB coach and offensive coordinator for three seasons with the Vikings from 2019 to 2021. Kubiak said Cousins is the "leader the team is counting on now." Cousins, 37, obviously isn't much of a dynasty asset, and in redraft fantasy leagues in 2026, it might only be a matter of time before Mendoza is given the starting job. Cousins might have familiarity with Kubiak's offense, but he won't have many weapons outside of running back Ashton Jeanty and tight end Brock Bowers. In single-year leagues, RotoBaller has him ranked as the QB33.
Source: ESPN.com - Ryan McFadden
Source: ESPN.com - Ryan McFadden
Klint Kubiak Calls Brock Bowers a "Football Robot From Heaven"
Las Vegas Raiders new head coach Klint Kubiak is excited to get to work with tight end Brock Bowers, whom he called a "football robot from heaven," according to Paul Gutierrez of ESPN. Bowers, the 13th overall pick in 2024 out of Georgia, didn't disappoint in his first year in the NFL, catching 112 of his 153 targets for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns in 17 games to finish as the No. 1 TE in fantasy. The 23-year-old battled a knee injury in his sophomore season, though, which limited him to just 12 games, and he finished with a disappointing 64 catches for 680 yards and seven touchdowns on 86 targets, which put him at the TE10 mark when all was said and done. Now past his knee injury and set to work with quarterbacks Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza (the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft), Bowers is the top dynasty TE and should also be considered one of the top targets at the position in redraft fantasy leagues in 2026. Kubiak figures to make Bowers a huge part of the passing game in his first year in Vegas, especially since the Raiders' top receivers are Tre Tucker and Jalen Nailor.
Source: ESPN.com - Paul Gutierrez
Source: ESPN.com - Paul Gutierrez
Malachi Fields Appears Well-Positioned for Rookie Year Breakout in New York
After recording 36 receptions for 630 yards and five touchdowns across 12 games at Notre Dame in 2025, wide receiver Malachi Fields was selected in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. On paper, Fields appears to be in a good spot to make an immediate impact as a rookie with New York. Star Giants wideout Malik Nabers (knee) recently underwent a second procedure on his surgically repaired right knee, and the team lost wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson to the Tennessee Titans in free agency. Even if Nabers makes a full recovery and is ready for the start of 2026, Fields could have a chance to beat out veterans Darnell Mooney, Darius Slayton (abdomen), and Calvin Austin III for the team's WR2 role. At 6'4" and 205 lbs., Fields has the physical profile to be a dangerous outside receiver who can win on downfield routes and in the red zone. His dynasty stock is rising coming out of the 2026 Draft.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Aaron Rodgers Plans to Retire Following 2026 Season
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers told reporters on Wednesday that he plans to retire at the end of the 2026 season, per ESPN. Rodgers recently signed a one-year deal to return to Pittsburgh and reported to the team's facilities for offseason workouts on Monday. While the 42-year-old is no longer the same player he once was at his peak, he still threw for 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns while leading Pittsburgh to the AFC North title and a playoff berth in 2025. Rodgers enters 2026 as a four-time MVP, four-time first-team All-Pro, 10-time Pro-Bowler, and the MVP of Super Bowl XLV. He's fifth on the NFL's all-time passing yardage leaderboard, and can pass Peyton Manning for third on the all-time passing touchdown list if he throws for 13 or more scores in 2026. Regardless of what happens this upcoming season with the Steelers, he will go down as one of the best quarterbacks of his era and the history of the NFL.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Is Anthony Richardson Sr. Worth Buying Low on in Deeper Dynasty Formats?
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. (eye) battled through a nightmarish season in 2025. After losing his starting job to Colts veteran Daniel Jones (Achilles) in training camp, Richardson Sr. fractured his orbital bone during pre-game warmups in October after a freak accident with a stretch band. While Richardson Sr. is expected to be ready to go for the start of 2026, he does not appear to be in the team's plans for the future. Jones is locked in as the Colts QB1, and Richardson Sr. may enter 2026 behind Riley Leonard on the Indianapolis quarterback depth chart as well. Without a change in scenery, it may be tough for Richardson Sr. to provide any fantasy value. At the same time, Richardson Sr. is entering just his age-24 season and still offers elite rushing potential at the quarterback position if he can ever get another starting opportunity. In the deepest of dynasty leagues, Richardson Sr. could be worth buying and stashing in a bench spot while his value is at its lowest.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Does DJ Giddens Carry Dynasty Buy-Low Appeal into 2026?
After being drafted in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Indianapolis Colts running back DJ Giddens spent most of his rookie year as an afterthought in his team's offense. Giddens spent a significant portion of the season as a healthy scratch on game days and finished the year with just 96 yards from scrimmage on 26 touches across nine contests. As long as star Colts running back Jonathan Taylor can stay healthy, Giddens has no path to fantasy-relevant production in Indianapolis. However, the 22-year-old appears to have a clear path to the Colts RB2 role, with 2026 seventh-rounder Seth McGowan currently profiling as his strongest competition. Should Giddens emerge as the primary backup in Indianapolis, he would carry obvious handcuff appeal behind Taylor, who has amassed 690 touches over the past two seasons. In deeper dynasty leagues, Giddens could be a worthy buy-low candidate.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
AJ Barner Enters 2026 as a Dynasty Sell-High Candidate
Across 17 games in 2025, Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner recorded 52 receptions for 519 yards and six touchdowns on 68 targets. The 24-year-old also recorded 10 carries and scored a touchdown with his legs, as the Seahawks frequently lined him up under center to operate quarterback sneaks. While Barner should continue to play a role in the Seattle offense in 2026, there's reason to believe his fantasy value may have peaked in 2025. Even in a relative breakout year, Barner averaged just four targets per game. He doesn't bring much explosiveness down the field either, as he's averaged 9.3 yards per catch on 82 career receptions. Finally, Seattle may look to shift more of its receiving work in 2026 to second-year tight end Elijah Arroyo, whom the team selected in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. In dynasty formats, managers may want to consider cashing in their Barner stock ahead of the 2026 season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Is Josh Jacobs at the Peak of His Dynasty Value?
Across two seasons since signing with the Green Bay Packers, running back Josh Jacobs has collected just under 2,900 yards from scrimmage and 30 touchdowns. Green Bay has leaned on Jacobs as its workhorse back, and he's delivered in a big way. Jacobs could play an even larger role in the Packers' offense in 2026, as the team let running back Emanuel Wilson walk in free agency and currently has the unproven duo of Chris Brooks and MarShawn Lloyd penciled in as its backup running backs. However, Jacobs is now entering his age-28 campaign and has accumulated significant mileage on his legs, having recorded at least 260 touches in all seven of his NFL seasons. Heading into 2026, dynasty managers may want to consider selling Jacobs at what could be the peak of his value.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Cardinals Interested in Inking Michael Wilson to a Long-Term Extension
The Arizona Cardinals have made it clear that they are interested in signing wide receiver Michael Wilson to a long-term contract extension this offseason as he enters the final year of his rookie deal in 2026, according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. "Michael is everything we want in our program to be about," general manager Monti Ossenfort said in February. Wilson exploded in the second half of 2025 for a breakout season, finishing with 78 catches for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns after he had an 8-52-1 line five games into the campaign. It was the first time that he recorded 1,000 yards, and the first time he had played in every game of the season. The 26-year-old former third-rounder in 2023 out of Stanford is due to make $3.9 million in 2026. Although the Cardinals' offense won't be nearly as pass-happy as it was in 2025, Wilson's performance in the desert last year has boosted both his dynasty and redraft fantasy stock as he'll continue to work with veteran QB Jacoby Brissett in 2026. He's now up to No. 34 in RotoBaller's dynasty/keeper WR rankings for the upcoming season.
Source: AZCardinals.com - Darren Urban
Source: AZCardinals.com - Darren Urban
