April 21, 2026

After spending the first 12 seasons of his NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, veteran wide receiver Mike Evans made headlines by signing with the San Francisco 49ers in free agency earlier this offseason. Injuries forced Evans to miss nine games in his final year with Tampa Bay in 2025. Across the eight games he was healthy for, the 32-year-old hauled in 30 receptions for 368 yards and three touchdowns on 62 targets. While Evans should no longer be expected to provide the same production he once did at his peak, he currently profiles as the clear number one wide receiver in the 49ers' passing game. Particularly with star 49ers tight end George Kittle (Achilles) working his way back from a torn Achilles tendon, Evans could dominate targets early in the year in San Francisco. In dynasty formats, now might be the time for win-now managers to buy low on Evans before his value starts gaining momentum following the upcoming NFL Draft.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

April 21, 2026

Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane said that kicker Tyler Bass (hernia) is really close to being fully healthy, according to Sydney Ciano and Maddy Glab of the team's official website. "If he's not 100 (percent), he's right at it," Beane said. Bass was working his way back from a sports hernia last year, but he eventually had surgery and was ruled out for the season in late November. With Bass out for all of last year, Buffalo mixed and matched at placekicker with veteran Matt Prater and Michael Badgley, neither of whom is with the team heading into the 2026 season. All signs are pointing to the Bills rolling with Bass as their primary kicker now that he's recovered from his hernia. The 29-year-old has been the team's kicker since being selected in the sixth round in 2020 out of Georgia Southern. In his five NFL seasons, he's made 84.5% of his 155 field-goal attempts, including going 16-for-23 from 50-plus yards. There will be more risk surrounding Bass in fantasy football, but he could be a nice sleeper target in drafts after he finished as a top-10 kicker in 2024.--Keith Hernandez
Source: BuffaloBills.com - Sydney Ciano and Maddy Glab

April 21, 2026

The Athletic's Chad Graff writes that one of the few certainties in this year's 2026 NFL draft for the New England Patriots is that they will "exit with a tight end who is a strong receiver." The Patriots desperately need a pass-catching complement to the all-around play of Hunter Henry and the blocking prowess of Julian Hill. Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers "would check that box in a big way," according to Graff. The Patriots last drafted a TE within the first two rounds back in 2010, when they took Rob Gronkowski. Henry is entering the final year of his contract in 2026. Stowers has some work to do as a blocker as he heads to the next level, but he could give New England a mismatch weapon in the passing game alongside Henry this year. Austin Hooper served as the pass-catching complement to Henry last year, but he left in free agency to rejoin the Atlanta Falcons. Stowers profiles as a joker tight end in the NFL, and he's generally projected to be a Day 2 pick in the second or third round, but there's a chance he could sneak into the first round this Thursday night.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Chad Graff

April 21, 2026

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy didn't give a firm timeframe for when in the offseason program he would want free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers to join the team, but he expressed confidence in Rodgers if the team ends up re-signing him, according to Mike DeFabo of The Athletic. "I think Aaron is probably more in tune than we would realize. But I have confidence in where he would be the day he would arrive, if that's his decision," McCarthy said. There is still some uncertainty as to Rodgers' future, and nothing is expected to be announced before this week's NFL draft, but all signs continue to point to the future Hall of Famer returning for another year in the Steel City to reunite with McCarthy. The 42-year-old four-time NFL MVP led Pittsburgh to the postseason in 2025, but he finished as the QB19 in fantasy scoring with 3,322 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in 16 regular-season games. The Steelers added receiver Michael Pittman Jr. in a trade this offseason, but Rodgers should still be viewed as a low-upside, low-end QB2 in fantasy if he officially returns to Pittsburgh for one more year in 2026.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Mike DeFabo

April 21, 2026

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen told the media on Tuesday that quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles) is "dropping back and throwing" as he recovers from a torn Achilles that he suffered in the Week 14 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars last year, according to Mike Chappell of FOX 59. General manager Chris Ballard said on Monday in a pre-draft news conference that Jones is "progressing really well." Despite the 28-year-old's torn Achilles, the Colts doubled down on him as their starting QB this offseason by signing him to a two-year, $88 million deal to bring him back for the next two seasons. The former sixth overall pick of the New York Giants in 2019 out of Duke looked great in his 13 starts in his first year in Indy in 2025 before going down with his Achilles injury, throwing for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. There is optimism that he'll be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season, although fantasy managers should be viewing him as a risk/reward QB2 in drafts this fall.--Keith Hernandez
Source: FOX 59 - Mike Chappell

April 21, 2026

Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy (knee) tore his ACL in January of 2025 and didn't play at all last year. The NFL Network's Tom Pelissero says that McCoy has drawn plenty of scrutiny from NFL medical people in the pre-draft process because of concerns over his surgically-repaired knee. There is a possibility that McCoy slips in this year's draft, but not because of his ACL. The concern surrounds a bone plug that was used to fix a cartilage defect in his knee. Some doctors who have seen his scans are concerned that McCoy will need another surgery to replace the bone plug, which would feature a lengthy rehab. The young defensive back looked fully healthy during the Volunteers' pro day in front of NFL scouts, but his long-term durability is certainly in question with the NFL draft just a few days away. If McCoy didn't have any knee issues, he could have been looking at being taken within the top 10 picks in this year's draft. Pelissero says there's a chance he might not even be taken in Round 1 on Thursday evening.--Keith Hernandez
Source: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero

April 21, 2026

ESPN's Seth Walder thinks Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson may fall out of the first round of the 2026 NFL draft, which starts this Thursday night. The Draft Day Predictor says Simpson has a 43% chance to be available at pick No. 33 to start Day 2 on Friday. The most likely spots for Simpson to go in the first round are at Nos. 16 (New York Jets), 21 (Pittsburgh Steelers), and 24 (Cleveland Browns). If Simpson doesn't get taken in the first round, the Jets (No. 33) and Arizona Cardinals (No. 34) are possibilities at the start of the second round. The draft predictor thinks there's a 91% chance that Simpson is off the board before pick No. 50. Many draft analysts were pretty confident last month that Simpson would be a first-rounder, but the buzz on Simpson being the second QB off the board in this year's class has faded since then. Wherever Simpson lands, he projects to be a developmental QB prospect that will sit and learn behind a veteran in his first season in the NFL.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Seth Walder

April 21, 2026

ESPN's Jordan Reid is mocking Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love to the Washington Commanders in the first round of this year's NFL draft at No. 7 overall. Love is widely considered the best overall prospect in this year's draft class, and he's an explosive playmaker waiting to happen. Reid believes that Love "would unlock multiple layers" of Washington's playbook that they couldn't access in 2025. Adding Love in the backfield would be a huge boost to quarterback Jayden Daniels as he looks to bounce back from an injury-plagued year in his second season in the NFL. Love rushed for 1,372 yards and a whopping 18 touchdowns last year for the Fighting Irish and had 39 runs of 10-plus yards, which was fourth-most in college football. A landing spot in D.C. would make Love quite attractive in both dynasty and redraft leagues in 2025. Other potential landing spots for Love in the top 10 picks in this year's draft include the Cardinals, Titans, and Giants. The Commanders could represent one of the best opportunities for the clear top RB in the 2026 NFL draft.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Jordan Reid

April 21, 2026

Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike (neck), who suffered a season-ending and career-threatening neck injury in Week 2 of last year, underwent neck surgery last week that left his doctors believing he will be able to resume playing in 2026, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Madubuike has been taking part in the team's voluntary offseason program, but to what extent is unknown. When healthy, the 28-year-old nose tackle was a big part of the interior of Baltimore's defensive line, getting named to back-to-back Pro Bowls in 2023 and 2024. In that span, he had 99 tackles (59 solo), 19.5 sacks, 23 tackles for loss, 50 QB hits, and two forced fumbles in 34 starts. Getting the former third-rounder in 2020 out of Texas A&M back for the upcoming season would be a massive boost for the Ravens' defense, and it could affect their strategy in the upcoming NFL draft.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter

April 21, 2026

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said that wide receiver Kayshon Boutte is not present this week for the start of voluntary offseason workouts, according to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. The Patriots and Boutte have been in communication, but the 23-year-old wideout has chosen to stay away from the team after a report surfaced on Monday that Boutte's name has come up in trade talks as he enters the final year of his contract in 2026. The Pats signed former Packers receiver Romeo Doubs in free agency, and they are expected to complete a trade for Philadelphia Eagles pass-catcher A.J. Brown after June 1, making Boutte expendable. Boutte was the Patriots' sixth-round pick in 2023 out of LSU. He only appeared in five games in his rookie campaign, but he's gone over 500 receiving yards in each of the last two seasons, and he scored a career-high six touchdowns in 14 regular-season contests (10 starts) in 2025. If New England does indeed acquire Brown from Philly, Boutte's best chance for a boost in fantasy value will be via a trade to another organization.--Keith Hernandez
Source: FOX Sports - Jordan Schultz

April 21, 2026

Carolina Panthers second-year wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan said that he dropped 10 to 15 pounds during his rookie season in 2025 and got down to around 205 pounds, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. As a result, McMillan spent the offseason working on his "power" and weight/muscle gain. The 23-year-old former eighth overall pick out of the University of Arizona was named the Offensive Rookie of the Year after catching 70 of his 122 targets for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns in 17 starts in his first year in the league. McMillan immediately became quarterback Bryce Young's go-to target in the passing game, and his arrow is firmly pointing upward in dynasty/keeper leagues as he heads into Year 2. He should grow in offensive coordinator Brad Idzik's scheme in his second season after finishing last year as the WR15 in half-PPR scoring. In redraft leagues this fall, fantasy managers should consider McMillan a low-end WR1/high-end WR2.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Joe Person

April 21, 2026

Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty was one of the hottest names in dynasty fantasy football just one year ago. The buzz around the Boise State product has cooled down slightly, and managers should capitalize on this opportunity to acquire the running back in dynasty fantasy football leagues. It felt like there was this perception during the regular season that Jeanty was inconsistent, or perhaps even underperforming. The former may be true, but the latter certainly isn't, as Jeanty finished his rookie campaign as the RB11 in PPR leagues with 975 rushing yards, 346 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns. The softened narrative was likely caused by the state of the Raiders' offense, as the team limped to a 3-14 record that was the worst in the NFL. That narrative will shift in the coming weeks as the Raiders embark on a new chapter with consensus No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza. The state of Vegas' offense is trending up, and Mendoza's presence should drive up the value of all Raiders skill players in fantasy football, including Jeanty. Plus, in a draft that is relatively sparse at the running back position, we don't expect the Raiders to bring in any major competition for the former first-round pick. All in all, Jeanty continues to trend up and should be in the conversation as a potential top-five fantasy running back in 2026. He has top-tier upside in dynasty fantasy football leagues, ranking as RotoBaller's overall RB3. Dynasty managers should buy now before it's too late.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

April 21, 2026

New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough was dominant after being installed as the starting quarterback last year, especially in the weeks following his team's bye. From Week 12-18, he had 10 total touchdowns and ranked as the overall QB5 in fantasy football. That type of production in an offense that didn't have very high expectations should instantly vault Shough into the top-12 conversation for the 2026 fantasy football season. Now, his value could soar even higher if the Saints add a receiver in the first few rounds of this week's NFL Draft. Most of Shough's production last year came from throwing to Chris Olave and Juwan Johnson. Both players showed major improvement in 2025, but adding another big name to this offense could be crucial for Shough's ascension into a weekly fantasy contributor. Many media outlets and mock drafts have linked the Saints to a Day 1 or Day 2 receiver. Such a selection would give a boost to Shough's value in dynasty leagues. Managers should look to buy low on Shough before the Saints improve his supporting cast via the draft.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

April 21, 2026

New York Jets tight end Mason Taylor showed flashes of upside as a rookie last season, and he's an intriguing buy-low candidate ahead of this week's NFL Draft. With two first-round picks, the Jets seem primed to select one of this year's top quarterback prospects -- if not on Day 1, then likely on Day 2. Adding a young quarterback not only gives the Jets a long-term upgrade over Geno Smith but also an improved passer for many of the team's young receivers, including Taylor. In fact, perhaps no position benefits more from a rookie quarterback than tight end. Taylor can be a reliable, short-distance outlet for the Jets' young quarterback, and the two could potentially form a strong rapport that transforms Taylor into a weekly TE1 option. There's a lot of value in trading for young pass-catchers who are about to get a quarterback upgrade. Taylor currently ranks as RotoBaller's TE16 in dynasty fantasy football, and he could jump to the top-12 range with an improved quarterback situation. The time to buy low on Taylor is now.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

April 21, 2026

New Orleans Saints running back Devin Neal might be penciled into the third-string role for now, but he's a sneaky buy in dynasty leagues ahead of this week's NFL Draft. The Saints brought in Travis Etienne Jr. during free agency, blocking Neal from becoming the team's starting running back in 2026. However, there's still a path for him to fill the No. 2 role while maintaining fantasy relevance. As it stands, the Saints have a crowded backfield, making it unlikely that they'll spend a premium pick on a running back in this year's draft, which is sparse at the position. At the same time, Alvin Kamara's time in New Orleans seems to be coming to an end. We would not be surprised to see Kamara traded or released around the time of the draft, when key roster decisions are typically made. But even if he does stick around for another year, Kamara's role is declining. His 3.0 catches per game and 3.6 yards per carry last year both represented new career lows for the veteran. It would surprise nobody if Neal leapfrogged Kamara on the depth chart by the middle of the season, as the 22-year-old has intriguing upside as an impact running back. The Saints want to make Neal a long-term part of their backfield, so dynasty managers would be wise to buy low while he's still buried in the third spot on the depth chart.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller