April 21, 2026

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall struggled to stay on the field last season. When healthy, he typically operated as the Niners' No. 2 receiver behind Jauan Jennings. Although Jennings is expected to sign elsewhere in free agency, the 49ers replaced him with proven No. 1 receiver Mike Evans. The presence of Evans will block Pearsall from making a significant leap up the depth chart this offseason. With that said, there's still the potential for Pearsall to take strides performance-wise. He's coming off a frustrating season in which he played parts of just nine games, catching 36 passes for 528 yards and zero touchdowns. He might not emerge as a major touchdown threat over Evans, Christian McCaffrey, and George Kittle, but he's still due for a little positive scoring regression. Plus, he's a safe bet for between five and eight targets per game, when healthy. If Pearsall can stay on the field, the arrival of Evans won't be that big of a concern. The 25-year-old Florida product can still be a low-end WR3/flex in dynasty and redraft leagues.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

April 21, 2026

Tennessee wide receiver prospect Chris Brazzell II continues to turn heads ahead of the NFL Draft, with most mocks projecting him in the middle of the second round. As a redshirt junior in the SEC last year, Brazzell caught 62 passes for 1,017 yards and a conference-high nine touchdowns. He's viewed as an immediate No. 3 receiver in the NFL, with the upside to develop into an impactful No. 2 or even low-end No. 1. At 6-foot-4, he's a big-bodied receiver with large, reliable hands. He lacks the speed and elusiveness needed to blow by defenders, but he can still beat them in 1-on-1 situations with his size. From a fantasy perspective, Brazzell's outlook will depend on his landing spot. If he does slot in as an immediate No. 3, he might not have redraft appeal in 2026. However, there's plenty of dynasty upside here. As it stands, Brazzell is the #14 prospect and #8 wide receiver in RotoBaller's latest rookie fantasy football rankings.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

April 21, 2026

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton was a fifth-round selection in 2025, and before a serious shin injury ended his rookie season after only eight games, he had shown some prowess as a downfield threat. While he and Sam Darnold were able to connect for only 13 receptions through Week 9, more than a third of those catches resulted in touchdowns, including two in his final game. With Horton out, the Seahawks sent fourth and fifth-round picks to acquire Rashid Shaheed and have since invested almost $35 million in guaranteed money to retain his services. Between Shaheed and Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle has guaranteed $154.7 million to the wide receiver position this offseason, and with a league-low four picks in the upcoming draft, it would stand to reason that their current receiver room of Horton, Shaheed, Smith-Njigba, and the soon-to-be-33 year old Cooper Kupp will look very similar to the one they take into the regular season. While the draft capital and money invested in Shaheed suggest he'll have the inside track to the boundary role opposite Smith-Njigba, he averaged only 1.5 receptions per game following the trade to Seattle. Horton showed flashes as a rookie, and he showed them early in the season, a strong indicator of success with rookie receivers historically seeing more involvement later in the year. New offensive coordinator Brian Fleury will succeed by getting his best players on the field, and in a receiver room whose talent falls off quickly behind Smith-Njigba, the competition for playing time should not be stiff enough to dissuade depth-seeking dynasty managers from inquiring about RotoBaller's current WR75.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 21, 2026

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (knee) has become one of the most interesting names in fantasy ahead of this week's NFL Draft. With Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III signing a top-of-market deal with the Kansas City Chiefs and Charbonnet recovering from the ACL tear he sustained in the team's Divisional Playoff win, Seattle heads into the draft with low-money acquisition Emanuel Wilson and 2024 undrafted free agent George Holani atop the depth chart. The expectation is that the Seahawks will add a running back early in the draft, creating a potential buy window for Charbonnet, but the team has a league-low four picks heading into Thursday, and with needs at corner and along both lines, they may opt to spend the 32nd or 64th pick elsewhere. With so little draft capital, the team won't have a ton of freedom to move around the board, and in a weak running back class, there's no guarantee of coming away with even a moderate difference maker. The 25-year-old Charbonnet is currently RotoBaller's dynasty RB25, but if Seattle is unable to make any meaningful additions to the room through the draft, that ranking will surely spike.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 21, 2026

Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson could be the second or third back to hear his name called in the NFL Draft, but he could just as easily slip into the fantasy wasteland of a Day 3 selection. Such is the nature of a running back class with no true difference makers outside of Jeremiyah Love. When and where the amorphous grouping of second and third-tier backs comes off the board will come down to what type of player each NFL team is looking for, but where Johnson stands out is that his pass-catching ability should make him attractive to any number of franchises. Johnson led all Power 4 running backs with 46 receptions in 2025, on a 15.1% target share, and he could immediately find a role as a dedicated pass catcher in an NFL offense. With so many running backs clustered together, landing spot is going to affect dynasty draft boards more than any year in recent history, but Johnson currently sits as RotoBaller's rookie RB4, and he has as strong a claim as anyone to slip into the tail end of the first round in most rookie drafts.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 21, 2026

Washington running back Jonah Coleman was a fantasy darling early in the process, beginning his pre-draft journey squarely in the conversation to be the second running back off the board. With the NFL Draft just days away, he seems to have fallen out of favor, now being projected most commonly as a Day 3 pick. While Coleman is a well-rounded, between-the-tackles runner who brings strengths to the passing game as both a blocker and receiver, his lack of a top gear shows up repeatedly on film and was all but confirmed by his refusal to run a 40-yard dash at either the Combine or his Pro Day. There are some similarities to Cam Skattebo from last year's draft, as an early favorite whose straight-forward game may have been overanalyzed. At a compact 220 pounds, with unreal contact balance and a nose for the goal line, Coleman is a load to bring down, but the NFL will ultimately tell us how they feel about him with draft capital. Much like Skattebo last year, that may present an opportunity for dynasty drafters to land him later in rookie drafts than they probably should be able to.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 21, 2026

Indiana wide receiver Elijah Sarratt is expected to hear his name called at some point on Day 2 of the NFL Draft, and he may offer as much upside as any player in the second round of dynasty rookie drafts. Entering college as a zero-star recruit, he showed steady improvement along his journey from FCS Saint Francis to James Madison to Indiana, scoring 44 receiving touchdowns across his four-year college career, including a Power 4-leading 15 in 2025. Sarratt is a big-bodied chain mover who could find a role on the outside or as a power slot at the next level, but separation concerns will harken back to recent draft busts such as N'Keal Harry, Terrace Marshall Jr., or Keon Coleman. Exactly one-third of Sarratt's targets at Indiana were considered contested. He was able to win on 49.1% of such looks with physicality as a back shoulder specialist, but he will need to find more nuance to defeat the press coverage of sturdier NFL corners, or else his high ceiling potential will be accompanied by one of the lower floors of the second round.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 21, 2026

The Seattle Seahawks, who have only four picks in this week's 2026 NFL draft, including the No. 32 selection in the first round, will "be looking to trade back," general manager John Schneider told John Boyle of the team's official website. "It's no secret with us; we have four picks." In addition to their pick at the end of the first round, Seattle holds the 64th overall pick in Round 2, the 96th overall pick in Round 3, and the 188th overall pick in Round 6. There should be a team interested in moving up to close out the first round on Thursday night, which would allow the Seahawks to accumulate a bit more draft capital on Friday and Saturday. Their top draft needs this year include running back, edge rusher, defensive back, and offensive line. If they stay at No. 32 overall on Thursday night, Notre Dame RB Jadarian Price could be in play if he's still on the board.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Seahawks.com - John Boyle

April 21, 2026

Former LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (oblique) had tests at the NFL combine in February that showed a cyst on his spine, which was the root cause of the persistent oblique pain that derailed his 2025 season, sources told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. The cyst was pressing on a nerve, which caused pain in Nussmeier's oblique. He has been without symptoms since before the Senior Bowl and throughout the pre-draft process, but if that changes down the road, he could have a minimally invasive surgery and miss around two to three weeks while the stitches heal. Doctors are convinced that there is no short- or long-term risk for the QB prospect, who is projected to be a mid-round draft pick this weekend. The 6-foot-2, 172-pounder broke out and led the SEC in pass attempts while throwing for 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns, but he also led the SEC with 12 interceptions in 13 games. He only played in nine games in 2025 due to his oblique issues as well as chest and abdominal injuries, throwing for 1,927 yards, 12 TDs, and five picks.--Keith Hernandez
Source: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero

April 20, 2026

The NFL Network reports that New York Giants pass-rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux (shoulder) is "more unlikely" to be traded now that the Giants recently traded defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals for the 10th overall pick in this year's NFL draft. However, the possibility of Thibodeaux also hasn't been ruled out, with head coach John Harbaugh saying weeks ago that "everyone is tradable." The G-Men have fielded trade offers for Thibodeaux dating back to last year, but even with Abdul Carter and Brian Burns looking like the team's starting edge duo, they have been hesitant to trade Thibodeaux. He counts for $14.75 million against this year's salary cap and is entering his walk year on a fifth-year option. The Giants have reportedly been asking for at least a third-rounder in exchange for Thibodeaux, but no teams are currently willing to meet that asking price. It doesn't help that he missed the last seven games in 2025 with a shoulder injury. Thibodeaux has just eight sacks in his last 22 games after he broke out with 11.5 sacks in 2023.--Keith Hernandez
Source: NFL Network

April 20, 2026

The Jacksonville Jaguars announced on Monday that they exercised the fifth-year option on offensive lineman Anton Harrison. The 24-year-old former 27th overall pick by the Jags in 2023 out of Oklahoma will make $4.199 million this year before seeing his salary increase to $19.072 million in 2027. It's a worthwhile investment for Jacksonville as they look to keep franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence healthy. Harrison has been a steady left tackle for the organization in his three years in the NFL, and he's started all 48 games that he's appeared in. Look for the Jags to consider locking up Harrison well beyond the 2027 season if he continues to perform as he has for his first three years in the league.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Jaguars PR

April 20, 2026

The Chicago Bears are picking up the fifth-year option for All-Pro offensive tackle Darnell Wright, a source told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network on Monday. Wright will be locked in for the 2027 season and will see a sizeable raise from $6.7 million this year to $19 million in 2027. The 24-year-old has worked out nicely for Chicago after they selected him with the 10th overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft out of Tennessee. Wright was a second-team All-Pro in his third year in the league in 2025, and he's started all 49 of the games he's appeared in over his first three seasons in the NFL. Expect the Bears to get involved in contract-extension talks with Wright if he continues to excel as both a pass- and run-blocker. The Bears had one of the better offensive lines in the league last year, and Wright was a big reason why.--Keith Hernandez
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport

April 20, 2026

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers officially re-signed restricted free-agent running back Sean Tucker to an undisclosed deal on Monday, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 Sports. Tucker will once again carry minimal fantasy football value into the 2026 season as the team's RB3 behind Bucky Irving and new RB Kenneth Gainwell. The 24-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Syracuse saw career-highs in carries (86), rushing yards (320), and touchdowns (seven) with the Bucs in 17 games played in his third year in the league as the RB3 behind Irving and Rachaad White. It helped that Irving missed considerable time in the middle of the season due to injuries, giving Tucker a bigger workload for a nice stretch alongside White. Tucker probably only deserves to be rostered in dynasty/keeper leagues heading into the start of the 2026 campaign later this year. He's averaged 4.3 yards per carry with 651 rushing yards and nine touchdowns in 45 games (zero starts) in his three NFL seasons, adding just 19 catches for 152 yards and two receiving scores on 25 targets. UPDATE: Tucker signed a one-year, $3.52 million contract.--Keith Hernandez
Source: KPRC2 Sports - Aaron Wilson

April 20, 2026

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner (ankle) said he's starting the team's offseason program with no physical restrictions related to his season-ending ankle injury from last October, according to Noah Furtado of the San Francisco Chronicle. "Just going from ground zero, building up. Just like I would any other offseason," Warner said. The 29-year-old four-time Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro suffered a dislocated and fractured right ankle early last year and eventually had surgery, so he was unable to return late in the year and for the playoffs. Barring a setback during offseason workouts and training camp this summer, Warner should be ready to rock for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season, which will be a massive boost for a 49ers defense that suffered tough injuries to their key players last year. If fully healthy to begin the year, Warner will be a high-end linebacker target in IDP fantasy leagues this fall. Last year was the only time in Warner's eight-year NFL career that he finished shy of 100 total tackles.--Keith Hernandez
Source: San Francisco Chronicle - Noah Furtado

April 20, 2026

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said at his pre-draft press conference on Monday that he doesn't think there's a "high probability" that the team will trade disgruntled wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) during the 2026 NFL draft this weekend, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. However, Lynch said there's still a chance Aiyuk is traded, and the team has had talks with specific teams about a potential trade. The Niners are trying to see if they can get anything for the 28-year-old former first-rounder out of Arizona State. If they don't find a trade to their liking, they are expected to release Aiyuk, who missed all of the 2025 season due to a serious knee injury that he suffered early on in 2024. The Washington Commanders are a popular projected landing spot, as it would give him a chance to reunite with quarterback Jayden Daniels, whom he played with in college. Given Aiyuk's uncertain destination in 2026 while coming off a major knee injury, he's a true wild card that will be cheap for fantasy managers in drafts later this year.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Matt Barrows