May 26, 2026, 9:53 PM ET

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) was on the field with a brace on his left knee on Tuesday for the team's opening OTA practice after having surgery on Dec. 15 to fix a torn ACL and LCL that he suffered on Dec. 14 against the Los Angeles Chargers, according to Nate Taylor of ESPN. Tuesday's practice was closed to the media, so it's unclear exactly how much the star signal-caller did. Mahomes' goal is to be ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Monday night against the division-rival Denver Broncos on Sept. 14, and him being on the field late in May is a good first step. The Chiefs are optimistic that Mahomes will be ready for the season opener. Still, there's no guarantee that the 30-year-old six-time Pro Bowler and two-time MVP will be ready for Week 1 against Denver, which clouds his 2026 fantasy value as a QB1. Despite another disappointing year from Mahomes fantasy-wise, he still finished as the QB5 in fantasy points per game, although his serious knee injury has made him a low-end QB1/high-end QB2 target in single-year drafts this year.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Nate Taylor

May 26, 2026, 4:36 PM ET

A third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Jalen Milroe appeared in just three games and did not record a pass attempt in his rookie season. With Sam Darnold locked in atop the Seattle QB depth chart, Milroe enters 2026 in a competition with Drew Lock for the team's backup job. Without an injury to Darnold, Milroe's path to immediate fantasy production is blocked off. However, the 23-year-old remains a solid stash candidate in dynasty formats because of his profile as a dual-threat quarterback. In his final collegiate season at the University of Alabama in 2024, Milroe threw for 2,844 yards and 16 touchdowns while rushing for 726 yards and 20 scores. In deeper leagues, Milroe could profile as a solid buy-low target for dynasty managers.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

May 26, 2026, 3:10 PM ET

Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio says that it continues to be inevitable that the NFL will expand the regular season to 18 games, but it's not inevitable that it will happen as soon as the 2027 season. It's "highly unlikely" that a change to the regular-season schedule will be made by then. The door won't be closed on an expansion of the regular-season slate in 2027, because the NFL still hasn't picked a date for Super Bowl LXII that year in Atlanta. The Super Bowl will be held on Feb. 13 of 2028 that year under the current structure of the schedule. NFL players and the NFLPA have pushed back on adding another regular-season game, citing player safety, but one way or another, the regular season will be expanded to 18 games in the near future. "If you can't do it safely for our players, we're not gonna do it. And that's why I would say it's not inevitable," commissioner Roger Goodell said in April.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Pro Football Talk - Mike Florio

May 26, 2026, 1:51 PM ET

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is in attendance for the team's second week of voluntary OTA practices, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. Jackson was absent from OTAs last week, but it had nothing to do with him angling for a new contract. Reports have suggested that the 29-year-old two-time MVP is committed to learning a new offense this offseason after an injury-plagued and disappointing 2025 campaign in which he made just 13 starts and finished with 2,549 passing yards, 21 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Jackson also had 67 rushing attempts for 349 yards and two scores on the ground to finish as the QB20 in fantasy scoring. Despite the down year, the elite dual-threat signal-caller led the league with 13.3 yards per completion when he was on the field, and he's an easy bounce-back candidate in 2026 in a new offense if he can stay on the field. Jackson will be a high-risk/high-reward target as RotoBaller's QB2 going into his ninth year in the NFL.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Jeff Zrebiec

May 26, 2026, 11:50 AM ET

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams has become known for making spectacular plays outside the pocket deep down the field, but in the eyes of the coaches, it is a bit much, according to Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times. One of the main messages to Williams this offseason is to "do less," according to QBs coach J.T. Barrett. It's great that Williams can manufacture big plays when needed late in games, but the Bears' coaching staff wants to see more of the simple throws to build 300-yard passing performances on a more consistent basis. "We don't have to work as hard for our money," Barrett explained. "There's times where we could just work through our progression and get the ball out on time instead of having to create and extend plays." The 24-year-old former first overall pick out of USC took a step forward overall in Year 2 in 2025, but he finished last in the league with a 58.1% completion percentage, and he had 6.9 yards per pass attempt. Williams is already considered a clear top-10 fantasy QB going into Year 3, but if he can improve his efficiency, he has high-end QB1 potential in head coach Ben Johnson's offense in 2026 and beyond.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Chicago Sun-Times - Jason Lieser

May 26, 2026, 9:16 AM ET

Cincinnati Bengals backup quarterback Joe Flacco stepped immediately into the starting role in 2025 after a rare in-division mid-season trade from the Browns, turning in three fantasy finishes as the QB7 or better across his six starts, all while learning a brand new playbook on the fly. With Flacco signing a one-year deal to return to the team this offseason, a better grasp on the system and one of the best surrounding casts in the league should allow him to thrive if called upon again in 2026. Perhaps more importantly for fantasy, his presence boosts the worst-case scenario floors of Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Chase Brown should three-time Pro Bowl quarterback Joe Burrow miss significant time again. With Burrow shelved early in 2025 with a serious turf toe injury, all three saw their production plummet with Jake Browning under center, but rebounded nicely following the trade for Flacco. At 41 years old, his remaining time in the league is limited, but at RotoBaller's dynasty QB46, Flacco's cost to acquire is significantly lower than any other player with such a clear path to week-winning production.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 25, 2026, 12:52 PM ET

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Cole Payton's impressive speed gives him long-term dynasty upside, but fantasy managers will have to be patient as he works his way up a crowded depth chart. Behind Jalen Hurts, the Eagles also have Tanner McKee and Andy Dalton, leaving Payton in the fourth-string quarterback role. That's not good enough to make the 53-man roster, but if the Eagles enter the season with the Hurts/McKee/Dalton trio, they'll presumably push hard to keep Payton on the practice squad in a developmental role. Payton has a strong arm and ran a 4.56-second 40-yard dash, but his accuracy is questionable, and it's clear that his legs offer more upside than his arm. Still, in an offense that loves to run the ball with Hurts and Saquon Barkley, there's a path to a meaningful role for Payton, especially as Dalton gets older and the Eagles are forced to decide whether McKee has a spot on the team long-term. If Payton plays well during training camp and the preseason, he could boost his stock in dynasty fantasy football leagues. Managers should consider rostering him before his price tag goes up. At the moment, he's a low-risk option, projecting as a fourth-round pick in 2026 rookie drafts.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

May 25, 2026, 12:46 PM ET

Cleveland Browns quarterback Taylen Green finds himself in a very crowded position group, and he only has modest draft capital after being selected in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. However, his speed could help him carve out a role in Cleveland, despite the Browns already having Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, and Dillon Gabriel. All of those existing quarterbacks have major question marks, and while Green won't be able to start over any of the three, his speed could get him occasional playing time in an offense led by head coach Todd Monken. Monken most recently was the offensive coordinator in Baltimore, where he worked with a similarly fast quarterback in Lamar Jackson. If Green, who ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash, can prove that his speed holds value in Monken's system, he could earn a roster spot and compete for a backup role long-term. In turn, that would allow him to carve out some dynasty value as a potential handcuff behind whichever the Browns choose to roll with -- presumably Watson short-term and Sanders long-term. Green currently projects as a fourth-round pick in rookie drafts in single-quarterback dynasty leagues.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

May 25, 2026, 12:27 PM ET

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is currently buried on the depth chart, but he has long-term upside as a potential handcuff option for Patrick Mahomes' fantasy managers. Nussmeier was projected as a mid-round pick, but he fell to the seventh, offering some value for the Chiefs. Adding him to the quarterback room also makes sense because Mahomes is recovering from a torn ACL. While we expect Justin Fields to start Week 1 if Mahomes isn't ready to play, Nussmeier would open the year just one step away from the starting job. Plus, with a four-year rookie contract, the LSU product has the potential to back up Mahomes (and earn playing time if Mahomes gets hurt) for several years to come. Nussmeier is far from a perfect prospect, but the landing spot is terrific since the Chiefs have done a good job supplying Mahomes with weapons and a talented coaching staff. Dynasty managers in deeper leagues should consider stashing Nussmeier, who projects as a fifth-round pick in 2026 rookie drafts.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

May 25, 2026, 9:14 AM ET

In what was considered a weak quarterback class, Miami (FL.) product Carson Beck lasted until the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, when the Arizona Cardinals made him the third quarterback off the board at pick No. 65. With the Cardinals already in a contract dispute with presumed 2026 starter Jacoby Brissett and fielding one of the weakest rosters in the league, there's a sense the team could have an eye toward the 2027 Draft. If that is truly the case, Beck has one of the best chances to find starting work this season of any of the 10 quarterbacks drafted in April, making him a worthwhile pick in the later rounds of superflex rookie drafts. While his chances of long-term fantasy success are slim, scarcity at the position tends to allow quarterbacks to hold value. With fantasy depth always challenged by year's end, if Beck does indeed close out the season by starting games, a value bump could then allow dynasty managers to flip him for at least what they spent, essentially moving a rookie pick into what projects to be a much stronger 2027 class.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 24, 2026, 11:37 PM ET

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye could take another leap in 2026 in his second year in offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels' system, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN. Maye was the runner-up in the MVP race last year in his first season playing under McDaniels, completing 72% of his passes for 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions in the regular season before struggling in the playoffs against some of the league's top defenses. Tight end Hunter Henry thinks Maye could be even better in Year 2 with McDaniels, and two key newcomers have noted Maye's ownership of the offense. "To see the growth from, call it last May to the Super Bowl, was really remarkable in my opinion. Now, he's going to have all that to build off going into this offseason of OTAs. He's in meetings; he has extreme ownership over it. Being in the second year in a system is so vital," former NFL QB Brian Hoyer said. Despite a much tougher schedule in 2026, the Patriots are optimistic with Maye at the helm, and RotoBaller has the former North Carolina product ranked as a top-five fantasy QB in redraft leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN Boston - Mike Reiss

May 24, 2026, 4:13 PM ET

In what was his first full season as a starter, New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye missed out on the MVP award by a single first-place vote in what was the closest MVP race in over 20 years. He did so at the age of 23 with a league-average offensive line and one of the weaker receiving rooms in the league. Heading into 2026, the Patriots have invested heavily in the line through both free agency and the draft, and they remain the odds-on favorite to land three-time Pro Bowler A.J. Brown on or after June 1st. In what will be only his second season in Josh McDaniels' complicated system, there should be an expectation of more nuance and wrinkles as the offensive identity is further molded around Maye's unique, fantasy-friendly skill set. Yet to turn 24 years old, Maye is RotoBaller's dynasty QB2, but should things continue to progress in an environment that already looks better on paper, he could claim the top spot as early as this season and keep it for some time.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 23, 2026, 4:48 PM ET

New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith is RotoBaller's dynasty QB41, and following a disastrous season with the Raiders in which he threw for barely over 3,000 yards and nearly as many interceptions as touchdowns, the 35-year-old veteran has become one of the most easily acquirable starting quarterbacks in fantasy. With New York's offensive line notably stronger than the unit he played behind in Vegas, and the Jets boasting an exciting group of young pass catchers even behind 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson, if Smith has anything left in the tank, his production should improve dramatically in 2026. While he should be capable of plugging in as a startable bye week or injury filler in superflex leagues, how much value he can provide if needed in a pinch during fantasy playoffs is a different question entirely. The Jets spent a fourth-round pick on Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik, and with three first-round picks in a loaded 2027 NFL Draft and an eye toward the future, there's no certainty that Smith will be the one starting games to finish the season. For quarterback-desperate managers, Smith is still capable of exceeding his current trade value, but should he end 2026 riding the bench for another bad Jets team, any remaining dynasty value will fully disintegrate.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 23, 2026, 4:36 PM ET

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud was once viewed as the QB2 in consensus dynasty rankings, fresh off an incredibly efficient 2023 rookie campaign in which he threw for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns to only five interceptions. Following two disappointing seasons, and last seen in arguably the worst game of his career in a Divisional Round playoff loss to the Patriots, he has fallen to QB18 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings. With the Texans exercising his fifth-year option back in April, Stroud will spend at least the next two seasons with a Houston team that has a strong enough surrounding cast to keep him fantasy relevant even without the safety of a rushing floor. Stroud has not topped 233 rushing yards through his first three years in the league, and with that type of immobility, his yearly fantasy finishes will be intrinsically linked to his touchdown totals. While he finished 2025 with only 19 passing touchdowns, he was on pace for more than 30 and was the fantasy QB14 through the first half of the year before a concussion knocked him out of a Week 9 loss to the Broncos and ultimately cost him three starts. While he is unlikely to ever return to top two dynasty status, Stroud's ceiling when things break right is still higher than his current ranking would suggest, and as a more than capable second quarterback in superflex leagues, he's become an undervalued trade target who has yet to turn 25.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 23, 2026, 12:17 PM ET

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is as gutsy as they come on the football field, and he had back-to-back 4,000-yard seasons in 2023 and 2024 in his first two years with the organization. However, he went from being the QB4 in fantasy in 2024 to the QB12 last year after finishing with 3,693 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 17 starts. The 31-year-old signal-caller is as tough as they come, but injuries have to be a concern because of the way he plays and always grinds for the extra yard. The biggest knock on Mayfield's dynasty stock in the future is the loss of future Hall of Fame receiver Mike Evans, who departed in free agency. Mayfield will also be learning a new scheme under offensive coordinator Zac Robinson. There's hope that Robinson can unlock the version of Mayfield from 2023 and 2024, but with Evans gone, Mayfield won't be as attractive as a QB1 streamer in single-year fantasy football leagues. In dynasty, it feels like Mayfield's best years are probably behind him, and he has dropped in RotoBaller's rankings to QB19, one spot behind the Houston Texans' C.J. Stroud. In superflex leagues, Mayfield can still be a serviceable No. 2, but we wouldn't want to be relying on the aging QB as a No. 1 in a new offensive scheme without his most reliable weapon from years past.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Pro Football Reference