February 25, 2026
New Orleans Saints wide receiver
Devaughn Vele (shoulder) caught 25 of his 39 targets for 293 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games (seven starts) in his second year in the NFL. Statistically, it was a step backward after he had 41 catches for 475 yards and three touchdowns on 55 targets in 13 games (seven starts) in his rookie campaign with the Denver Broncos. The 28-year-old finished his sophomore season on Injured Reserve with a shoulder injury, too. However, Vele had become a much bigger part of New Orleans' offense just before his season-ending injury in Week 15. In his final three games, Vele had 16 catches on 19 targets for 202 yards and one of his two touchdowns on the year. The former seventh-rounder by Denver has some momentum going into next season, but his role could change drastically based on what the team does in free agency and the draft.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
February 25, 2026
Tennessee Titans wide receiver
Chimere Dike saw plenty of playing time as a rookie in 2025 after the Titans took him in the fourth round out of the University of Florida. The 24-year-old made the Pro Bowl as a special teams player -- he returned two punts for touchdowns and led the league with 17.3 yards per punt return. Dike wasn't in the top 50 receivers in terms of overall half-PPR points at the end of the year, but he also showed plenty of promise on offense by finishing with 48 receptions on 74 targets for 423 yards and four touchdowns in 17 games played. In dynasty/keeper leagues, Dike has plenty of potential, mainly as a big-play threat with his 4.34-second 40-yard dash speed. Long-term durability is a bit of a question mark, though, as he stands at a thin 6-foot-1, 196 pounds. His role on offense is a question mark as well, with the Titans expected to be looking to add around quarterback
Cameron Ward.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
February 25, 2026
Arizona Cardinals quarterback
Kyler Murray (foot) and his camp "would prefer" that the team cut him so that he can enter free agency, a league source told Ralph Vacchiano and Henry McKenna of FOX Sports. Murray and his representation are expected to meet this week in Indianapolis during the NFL's scouting combine, but they don't expect an answer on his future with the organization. Even though he didn't play in 2025 after suffering a foot injury in Week 5, the 28-year-old signal-caller should be one of the most coveted QBs on the open market. According to a team source, the Cardinals have grown "frustrated" with Murray, and there continue to be questions about his work ethic. Additionally, Arizona is worried Murray will never reach the level of play he had before his ACL tear in 2022, especially after he suffered a sprained foot last season that cost him 12 games. His mobility is "shot," according to a source, and fantasy managers should be pretty concerned about that, too, since most of Murray's appeal comes from his mobility and athleticism outside of the pocket. Arizona prefers to trade him, as he still has two years left on his five-year, $230 million contract.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX Sports - Ralph Vacchiano and Henry McKenna
February 25, 2026
There is a "strong belief" that former New Orleans Saints quarterback
Derek Carr is "very serious" about unretiring and returning to the NFL in 2026, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Carr's rights belong to the Saints, but Schultz writes that teams with winning aspirations "have real interest" in the former four-time Pro Bowler. The 34-year-old's retirement last offseason was a surprise, and now he's got the itch to come back now that he's fully healthy. The former second-round selection by the Raiders in 2014 out of Fresno State, Carr played in only 10 games for the Saints due to injury in 2024 and threw for 2,145 yards, 15 touchdowns, and five interceptions. His prime for fantasy purposes came from 2018 to 2021 with the Raiders, when he had four straight seasons of 4,000 passing yards. Carr could be in contention for a starting role in 2026 if he comes out of retirement, but it's a stretch to think he'll be much more than a low-end QB2 in fantasy if it ends up happening.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX Sports - Jordan Schultz
February 25, 2026
The Tennessee Titans are releasing starting center Lloyd Cushenberry on Wednesday, sources told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Cushenberry was a big-ticket free-agent acquisition by the Titans in 2024, when he signed a four-year, $50 million deal. The 28-year-old didn't live up to expectations in his two years with the team, though, and he was set to make $8 million in 2026. The former third-round pick of the Denver Broncos in 2020 out of LSU only started eight games for the Titans in his first year with the team after suffering an Achilles tear in Week 9 before making 15 starts last year. Cushenberry should generate interest from NFL teams looking for help on the interior of their offensive line, even though he ended the 2025 campaign with an undisclosed injury.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
February 25, 2026
The Atlanta Falcons informed former Pro Bowl special teams player
KhaDarel Hodge (shoulder) that he will be released, a source told Marc Raimondi of ESPN. The 31-year-old veteran wide receiver appeared in 12 games in 2025 in his fourth year in Atlanta and caught just three passes on 10 targets for 31 yards and no touchdowns on offense. Hodge finished the season on Injured Reserve due to a shoulder injury, but he should be good to go for the start of next season this fall. Regardless of where Hodge lands in free agency, the former undrafted free agent won't be on the fantasy football radar and will most likely contribute more on special teams as a kick returner. In Hodge's eight NFL seasons with four different teams, he's never gone over 232 receiving yards, one touchdown, or 14 receptions.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Marc Raimondi
February 25, 2026
The Chicago Bears have granted permission for linebacker Tremaine Edmunds to seek a trade this offseason, a league source told Brad Biggs of The Chicago Tribune. Edmunds is under contract through the 2026 season at $15 million after he signed a four-year, $72 million contract with the team in May of 2023. He's still young at 27 years old and was playing at a Pro Bowl caliber in 10 games before suffering a minor injury. Despite playing in a career-low 13 games in his third season in Chicago, the former 16th overall pick of the Buffalo Bills in 2018 out of Virginia Tech led the Bears with 112 tackles (61 solo). He also had one sack, a career-high four interceptions, nine pass breakups, and a forced fumble in the regular season. If Edmunds reaches the open market, he'll be one of the better linebackers available and should sign quickly.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Chicago Tribune - Brad Biggs
February 25, 2026
Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said that wide receiver/kick returner
Tory Horton (shin, groin), who missed the entire second half of his rookie campaign last year, will not "do anything in the spring," according to Brady Henderson of ESPN. The 23-year-old fifth-rounder out of Colorado State was starting to see a bit more usage in the offense at the time of his injury, and he scored five times in eight games, but he caught just 13 passes on 22 targets for 161 yards as a wideout. Horton underwent surgery for his lower-body injuries, but he should have enough time to recover to be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season this fall. In addition to his five TDs as a receiver, Horton returned a punt for a touchdown on special teams. He appears to have a nose for the end zone, but going into Year 2, Horton probably won't be on the fantasy radar for managers in standard 12-team leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Brady Henderson
February 25, 2026
Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said that running back
Zach Charbonnet (knee) doesn't have a timetable for a return after undergoing surgery last weekend to fix the torn ACL in his knee that he suffered in the Divisional Round win over the San Francisco 49ers in the playoffs, according to Gregg Bell of The Tacoma News Tribune. The typical recovery time for reconstructive knee surgery for ACL tears is eight to 12 months. Seattle doesn't know exactly when Charb might be back in 2026, but Macdonald said the team is "more optimistic than it was initially." The 25-year-old took on a bigger role next to
Kenneth Walker III during the 2025 regular season and led the team with 12 rushing touchdowns, the fifth-most in the NFL. He was the first Seahawk with double-digit TDs since Marshawn Lynch in 2014. Walker will be a free agent next month, but even if he departs, Charbonnet's 2026 fantasy value will most likely be down since he probably won't be ready for Week 1.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Tacoma News Tribune - Gregg Bell
February 25, 2026
ESPN's Dan Graziano writes that there hasn't been an indication that the Jacksonville Jaguars are planning to trade wide receiver
Brian Thomas Jr. this offseason, but there "are teams monitoring the situation" in case the former first-rounder has fallen far enough down their depth chart that the "front office would consider a move." The 23-year-old LSU product was a draft choice of the previous administration two years ago and still has two more years for a total of $4.9 million on his contract, plus a fifth-year team option for 2028. Thomas was excellent in 2024, posting an 87-1,282-10 line in 17 regular-season games, but he regressed in 2025 and finished with 48 catches for 707 yards and only two TDs in 14 regular-season games. The Jags traded for
Jakobi Meyers and then signed him to a long-term deal, and
Parker Washington also broke out. Thomas finished in more of a WR3 field-stretching role last year, and the best chances of him returning to his rookie form might be with a change of scenery.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Dan Graziano
February 25, 2026
Baltimore Ravens running back
Justice Hill had his 2025 season cut short due to a neck injury that sent him to the Injured Reserve after Week 12. Before his injury, Hill was averaging a 37% snap share, but was on the field for 75% of third-down plays, and was the Ravens' change-of-pace back. The 28-year-old running back out of Oklahoma State brought in 21 of his 27 targets for 169 yards and one receiving touchdown, while racking up 93 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Looking ahead to 2026, Hill almost certainly will continue to complement fellow running back
Derrick Henry and offer handcuff and PPR value for deep-league dynasty managers.
--Matt McCauleySource: ESPN
February 25, 2026
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end
Darnell Washington (forearm) ended the 2025 season with surgery on his broken forearm, but he is looking to bounce back in the final year of his contract in 2026. Despite some highlight reel stiff arms and one TE8 finish in Week 11, Washington mainly played behind fellow tight ends
Pat Freiermuth and
Jonnu Smith. The Steelers are expected to move on from Smith during free agency, which is likely to benefit Washington. Despite Washington's size, he was on the field for more than just run blocking, boasting a 40% route run participation rate and hauled in 31 of his 43 targets for 364 yards and a touchdown in 2025. However, the 24-year-old out of Georgia primarily holds value only in deep dynasty leagues with tight end premium scoring due to his position behind Freiermuth on the depth chart.
--Matt McCauleySource: ESPN
February 25, 2026
Sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter that the Carolina Panthers have been receiving calls about quarterback
Andy Dalton for a potential trade. The veteran play-caller is heading into his 16th year in the league and was a serviceable backup during fellow quarterback
Bryce Young's development since 2023. Before his stint in Carolina, Dalton was a streaming quarterback option during the 2022 season with the New Orleans Saints, with two top-10 finishes and double-digit fantasy points in nine of his 12 starts. Depending on his landing spot, Dalton holds value in two-quarterback or superflex dynasty leagues as a stash if he finds himself in a starting position once again. However, the 38-year-old is unlikely to crack the top 12 or 14 for redraft leagues in 2026.
--Matt McCauleySource: NBC Sports - Charean Williams
February 25, 2026
Washington Commanders wide receiver
Jaylin Lane ended his rookie season on Injured Reserve due to an ankle injury, but flashed promise at times during the 2025 season. The young receiver out of Virginia Tech played behind veteran wide receivers
Terry McLaurin and
Deebo Samuel Sr. for the majority of his debut season, tallying just 225 yards on 16 catches. However, Deebo is set to hit free agency in March, which opens the door for Lane to compete for the team's second option at wide receiver. Lane was primarily an intermediate-to-deep threat who averaged 14.7 air yards per target over his 15 games played, and is an intriguing option for deep-league fantasy managers looking for volatility in the late rounds. For dynasty managers, Lane remains a good stash player with upside on a promising offense.
--Matt McCauleySource: ESPN
February 25, 2026
Green Bay Packers tight end
Luke Musgrave is heading into the fourth year of his rookie contract and failed to take advantage of starting opportunities in 2025 after fellow tight end
Tucker Kraft (knee) went down for the season in Week 9. From Week 10 on, Musgrave saw just a 47% snap share and averaged only 2.3 targets per game. The 25-year-old tight end out of Oregon State finished the regular season with 24 catches for 252 yards and no touchdowns, and added one reception for nine yards in the Wild Card game against the Chicago Bears. Fantasy managers need to look back to Musgrave's rookie year in 2023, when he tallied four top-12 tight end performances over his 11 games played, to justify holding him in dynasty leagues going into the 2026 season.
--Matt McCauleySource: ESPN
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