April 24, 2026

The Los Angeles Rams had one of the surprise picks on Thursday night in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft, taking Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson 13th overall. The Rams were clearly looking for the heir apparent to MVP Matthew Stafford, but many draft analysts didn't expect L.A. to go with Simpson with their first-round selection. Although head coach Sean McVay said he was "absolutely" on board with the pick, multiple team sources said they thought McVay "might have felt the need to downplay the pick to accentuate his confidence in Stafford." McVay and general manager Les Snead were in "lockstep" the entire way. When all is said and done, it was a surprising move by a Rams team that had been making all of its offseason moves with a win-now mentality to try to take advantage of what little time Stafford might have left in the league. The Simpson pick was clearly made with an eye toward the future, and he's expected to compete for the backup job with Stetson Bennett this summer. It's unclear now if the Rams are interested in re-signing veteran Jimmy Garoppolo, who has been considering retirement.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler

April 24, 2026

The Los Angeles Rams had one of the biggest surprise selections in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft on Thursday night when they took Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick. While Simpson figures to be the successor to MVP Matthew Stafford, many draft analysts were wondering if Simpson would fall out of the first round of the draft entirely. After the pick was made, head coach Sean McVay said, "This is Matthew's team." The 38-year-old is entering his 18th season, but he was at the top of his game last year, and it's unclear how long he wants to continue playing. McVay made sure to run the selection of Simpson by Stafford first. L.A. became the first team to have a QB named MVP and then select a signal-caller in the first round since the Packers in 1967. With Jimmy Garoppolo considering retirement, McVay said that Simpson will compete for the backup gig with Stetson Bennett. Simpson doesn't have a long resume from college, but he's a hard worker and is in an excellent situation with the Rams to eventually replace Stafford. Fantasy managers in dynasty/keeper leagues will need to be patient with Simpson.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Sarah Barshop

April 24, 2026

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Thursday that the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots are expected to resume trade talks about wide receiver A.J. Brown around June 1, when it will help the Eagles salary-cap wise to trade the disgruntled Brown. The Patriots signed former Green Bay Packers wideout Romeo Doubs in free agency in March, but they might not be done upgrading their receiving room this offseason for young quarterback Drake Maye. On the other side, everything the Eagles have done with their WR room since the start of the new league year points to Brown being dealt after June 1. Philly first acquired wideout Dontayvion Wicks from Green Bay, and then they traded up in the first round of Thursday night's 2026 NFL draft to select USC receiver Makai Lemon at 20th overall. ESPN's Adam Schefter recently said a Brown trade is becoming more likely, which would reunite him with head coach Mike Vrabel. The two worked together in Tennessee previously. The 28-year-old Brown had his sixth 1,000-yard season in seven years in the NFL in 2025 with the Eagles, but he was unhappy with his role and had a career-low 12.9 yards per catch in 15 regular-season starts. A move to New England could boost his fantasy ceiling yet again.--Keith Hernandez
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport

April 24, 2026

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said on Thursday that Las Vegas Raiders veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins is expected to mentor first overall pick Fernando Mendoza this year, and Cousins is expected to be the team's starter under center to kick off the regular season in early September. Rapoport also says that the Raiders hope Cousins can run the offense all year while Mendoza learns on the sidelines. In a perfect scenario, Mendoza would be ready to roll as the full-time starter in 2027. Given Cousins' declining play and elevated injury risk at 37 years old, it would be a surprise if he were the Raiders' starter in 2026 from wire to wire. The 22-year-old Mendoza should be the No. 2 pick in rookie-only dynasty/keeper leagues this year, behind only Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love. The Indiana product doesn't have a ton of dual-threat upside at the next level, but his accuracy in the pocket should give him a safe long-term fantasy floor while paired with offensive-minded head coach Klint Kubiak. In redraft leagues, Mendoza won't be as attractive in 2026, but he'll still have appeal as a QB2 with upside in superflex setups if Cousins falters or gets hurt.--Keith Hernandez
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport

April 24, 2026

New York Jets rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq has the potential to handle a large role right away. The Jets selected Sadiq with one of their three first-round picks on Thursday night, making him the first and only tight end off the board on Day 1. The Jets weren't heavily mocked to take a tight end, given that they already had 2025 second-round pick Mason Taylor on the roster. However, the selection of Sadiq showcases New York's desire to build out a young core on offense, presumably in preparation for drafting and installing a rookie quarterback next year. The Jets will pair Sadiq with Taylor, star wide receiver Garrett Wilson, and first-round receiver Omar Cooper Jr. in an offense led by quarterback Geno Smith this year. There are a lot of mouths to feed, and Smith isn't the most reliable passer, but Sadiq's talent alone will make him an intriguing fantasy option. After all, he had 51 catches, 560 yards, and eight touchdowns just last year at Oregon. He immediately ranks as the overall TE9 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

April 24, 2026

Tennessee Titans rookie wide receiver Carnell Tate has the potential to emerge as the team's top option in the passing game rather quickly. The Titans selected Tate with the fourth overall pick in the NFL Draft on Thursday night, making him the first wide receiver off the board. It was a somewhat aggressive pick for a team that already has Wan'Dale Robinson, Elic Ayomanor, Chimere Dike, and Calvin Ridley. On the other hand, none of those four receivers are flashy alpha options in the passing game, whereas Tate has the opportunity to be an alpha receiver early in his rookie season. After all, he had 51 catches, 875 yards, and nine touchdowns at Ohio State last year. He offers a flashy, young pass-catching option for second-year quarterback Cameron Ward. Tate should have a large role from Day 1, ranking as a top-24 receiver in redraft leagues and a fringe top-12 receiver in dynasty formats.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

April 24, 2026

Arizona Cardinals rookie running back Jeremiyah Love may initially find himself in a committee role given the crowded state of the team's backfield. The Cardinals selected Love third overall on Thursday night, and while he did fetch a hefty $50.5 million guaranteed contract, the existing players in Arizona's backfield should continue to have a role. James Conner is an established veteran who has shown that he can still contribute when healthy, and Tyler Allgeier managed to carve out a significant role alongside Bijan Robinson in Atlanta, so he can presumably do the same with Love in Arizona. Of course, Love represents the future in Arizona, and he's an immediate top-five running back in dynasty fantasy football. Even if we see a mix of him, Conner, and Allgeier to open the year, the Cardinals' goal will be to gradually get Love more involved so that he can handle at least 15-20 touches per game by the end of his rookie campaign. After all, he posted 3,014 scrimmage yards and 40 touchdowns over his final two collegiate seasons, so the sky is the limit.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

April 24, 2026

New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson's role was threatened on Thursday after the organization spent its No. 4 overall pick on a pass-catching reinforcement. The Titans selected Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate with the fourth pick, making him the first wide receiver off the board. Tate was widely regarded as this year's top wide receiver prospect, and he should push to be the Titans' immediate No. 1 wide receiver. That's not ideal for Robinson, who signed a four-year, $70 million contract to be Tennessee's top option in the passing game. On one hand, the hefty contract confirms that the Titans do want to keep Robinson heavily involved. After all, his NFL experience makes him a valuable weapon in an offense with Cameron Ward, a second-year quarterback, and Tate, a first-year receiver. On the other hand, teams don't spend the No. 4 pick on a player who is going to ride the bench or play a partial role. Tate will be heavily involved from Day 1, operating as a WR2 or WR3 in fantasy football. That will likely push Robinson down to the low-end WR3/flex tier, especially in an offense that will continue to experience growing pains with Ward still adapting to the NFL. We're not very optimistic that Robinson will be able to replicate his WR14 finish from last season. As a result, managers should consider selling high on the 25-year-old in dynasty fantasy football leagues.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

April 24, 2026

New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough finds himself in a fantastic position ahead of the 2026 NFL season. Shough had already boosted his dynasty value significantly with an impressive rookie season last year. Installed as the starter mid-year, Shough ended up totaling 10 touchdowns from Week 12-18, and he ranked as the overall QB5 in fantasy football during that span. That type of production in an offense that didn't have very high expectations instantly vaulted Shough into the top-12 conversation for dynasty and 2026 redraft leagues. Now, he's trending up once again after the Saints spent a premium first-round pick on a wide receiver. New Orleans drafted Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson with the No. 8 overall pick, making him the second pass-catcher off the board. It was impressive to see the Saints get such an elite weapon for Shough without having to trade up. Tyson is coming off a terrific two-year stretch at ASU in which he caught 136 passes for 1,812 yards and 18 touchdowns. Shough has plenty of key weapons at his disposal in 2026 and potentially beyond. Tyson is under team control through 2030, and while Chris Olave is headed into a contract year, he remains a prime extension candidate. Additionally, tight end Juwan Johnson is under contract through 2027. Plus, we can't forget that the Saints gave a four-year deal to Travis Etienne Jr., who will make Shough's life easier both in the running and passing games. Much credit is due to the Saints for their offensive improvements this offseason. The solidification of their offense gives Shough a steady floor and tremendous upside in both redraft and dynasty formats.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

April 24, 2026

New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson (knee) now faces added competition after the organization made several additions to the offense during the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday night. The Jets made three first-round selections, including two key targets for quarterback Geno Smith. Oregon's Kenyon Sadiq joined the tight end room, and the Jets also traded up to acquire Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. We're not overly bullish about the state of this passing game with Smith throwing the football, but to their credit, the Jets have done a good job building a foundation of weapons around him. The bad news is that Wilson's dynasty value could take a hit. Accurate, valuable targets have been hard to come by in the Jets' offense in years past, and that was when Wilson was one of the only players to pass to. Now, Sadiq, Cooper, and even Mason Taylor and Adonai Mitchell will threaten to steal plenty of targets from Wilson, making him even more dependent on deep-yardage catches and touchdowns. He's still an uber-talented player, but the added competition will hurt his value in dynasty fantasy football.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

April 24, 2026

Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson's (knee) value has rapidly faded away in fantasy football leagues. Once regarded as a promising, up-and-coming third-round pick, Benson has now fallen to fourth on the depth chart and could be a cut or trade candidate this summer. His outlook was already bleak after the Cardinals signed Tyler Allgeier to pair with James Conner, but Arizona's selection of rookie Jeremiyah Love with the third overall pick ultimately spells disaster for Benson. It's partly his fault, as he never seized any of the opportunities presented to him. He had just 350 scrimmage yards and one touchdown as a rookie in 2024, and a season-ending injury cost him the chance to lead Arizona's backfield last year. We wouldn't be surprised to see the Cardinals carry four running backs into the season, but Benson could be the odd man out as a potential healthy scratch every week. He can be dropped in shallower dynasty formats, and he belongs at the bottom of your bench in deeper leagues.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

April 24, 2026

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens is expected to sign the franchise tag in the coming days, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Because Pickens technically is not under contract with the Cowboys, he wouldn't be fined for missing any mandatory workouts this offseason. Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said earlier this week that the two sides won't work out a long-term contract extension, even though they still have until July 15 to get something done. Once the 25-year-old wideout signs the franchise tag, Dallas could look to trade Pickens, despite talk earlier this offseason that they want him around long term. The former second-rounder by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022 out of Georgia had a career year in 2025 in his first season with Dallas, catching 93 passes for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns as the team's leading receiver. The Cowboys might want to see a repeat from Pickens in 2026 before giving him a long-term deal, especially since they already have CeeDee Lamb. After his big season last year, Pickens will go as a WR1 in fantasy drafts this fall.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter

April 24, 2026

Tennessee Titans quarterback Cameron Ward is fresh off a rookie season in which three of his four leading pass-catchers were also rookies, and with the selection of Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate with the fourth overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, his surrounding cast has only gotten younger and more dynamic. Tennessee spent big in free agency to acquire former Giants receiver Wan'Dale Robinson on a 4-year, $70 million deal following a 92-catch, 1,014-yard campaign in 2025. They are also expecting a return to health from veteran Calvin Ridley, who managed only 7 games before a broken fibula ended his season, but whose 43.3 receiving yards per game led the team. While leaning on the youngsters, Ward showed marked improvement down the stretch of his rookie season, throwing 10 of his 15 touchdowns from Week 11 onward, while adding both of his rushing scores. The Titans have seven picks remaining after making two selections on the first night of the draft. If they can address an offensive line that ranked as one of the least efficient in 2025 pass protection, Ward should continue making strides into Year 2, and Tennessee's offense as a whole could be among the league's most improved.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 24, 2026

Arizona Cardinals running back Tyler Allgeier signed a two-year, $12.5 million deal in the opening hours of free agency, and even if the landing spot featured somewhat of an ambiguous backfield, many called for a year-five breakout as he was finally able to escape the shadow of RotoBaller's dynasty RB2, Bijan Robinson. Having never taken an NFL snap, Notre Dame prospect Jeremiyah Love enters the league as RotoBaller's RB4, and with the Cardinals spending the third overall pick to bring him to the desert, Allgeier looks to again be relegated to change-of-pace duty behind a young bellcow. He has already shown he can have moderate success in the role, finishing as the RB34, RB42, and RB38 across the past three seasons while providing the occasional spike week and serving as the game's most valuable insurance back; however, Allgeier managers who were unable to sell on his free agency bump are likely frustrated to find him back in a similar situation. Allgeier topped out as the dynasty RB28 heading into draft weekend, but he will be 28 by the time he next has a chance to look for a larger role. He is still a must-roster player on the strength of the injury insurance he provides, but the hopes that he could become anything more in his second home went up in smoke only three picks into the NFL Draft.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 24, 2026

The Seattle Seahawks entered the 2026 NFL Draft with only four total picks, and they spent the first on Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price, making him the second running back off the board with the 32nd and final pick of the first round. With Kenneth Walker III departing for Kansas City in free agency and Seattle otherwise slated to return 20 of 22 starters from their 2025 Super Bowl-winning team, the Seahawks had both the need and the luxury to spend first-round capital on what has recently been tabbed as a non-premium position. Zach Charbonnet tore his ACL in Seattle's Divisional Round win over the 49ers and is unlikely to be available for the start of the season, putting Price in position to battle Emanuel Wilson, George Holani, and Kenny McIntosh for the Week 1 starting running back job. Even with former offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak off to Las Vegas, the team is still likely to employ some sort of rotation, but Price's balance, vision, and finish should stand out in an otherwise pedestrian room, and the first-round investment would suggest he'll have every opportunity to claim and keep the lead back role. Price is RotoBaller's rookie RB2 and has now cemented his spot in the first round of dynasty rookie drafts.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller