May 7, 2026, 2:18 PM ET

The Minnesota Vikings have requested to interview Los Angeles Chargers assistant general manager Chad Alexander for their general manager job, according to Kevin Seifert of ESPN. In addition to Alexander, the other candidates to take over as the Vikings' GM include San Francisco 49ers assistant GM RJ Gillen, Buffalo Bills assistant GM Terrance Gray, Los Angeles Rams assistant GM John McKay, Seattle Seahawks assistant GM Nolan Teasely, and Tennessee Titans assistant GM Dave Ziegler. Vikings executive vice president Rob Brzezinski has also expressed interest in the job and is a candidate to take over after the team surprisingly fired Adofo Kwesi-Mensah back in January. All of the candidates come from a scouting background. Alexander has been the Chargers' assistant GM since 2024. He was previously with the Baltimore Ravens' personnel department from 1999 to 2018 before serving as the New York Jets' director of player personnel from 2019 to 2023.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Kevin Seifert

May 7, 2026, 1:35 PM ET

The Minnesota Vikings requested an interview with San Francisco 49ers assistant general manager RJ Gillen for their general manager job, a source told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. The Vikings are ramping up their search for a new GM after surprisingly firing Adofo Kwesi-Mensah in January. In addition to Gillen, the Vikings have requested to interview Tennessee Titans assistant GM Dave Ziegler and Los Angeles Chargers assistant GM Chad Alexander. Ziegler is the only one who has previous experience as a GM with the Raiders in 2022 and 2023, but he was fired midway through his second season with the organization, along with head coach Josh McDaniels. Gillen has spent the last 11 seasons with the 49ers and was promoted to his current role in 2025 after serving as the director of player personnel for two years. The Vikings are looking for new leadership after letting quarterback Sam Darnold walk in free agency last year before he landed with the Seattle Seahawks and led them to a Super Bowl championship.--Keith Hernandez
Source: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero

May 7, 2026, 1:27 PM ET

When asked about the shoulder injury that bothered New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (shoulder) down the stretch last year, he said he's doing "great," according to The Associated Press. "Nothing, nothing, no problems at all," Maye said, adding that he didn't require surgery. The 23-year-old former third overall pick out of North Carolina in 2024 finished second in the MVP voting in 2025 after an amazing regular season thanks to a soft schedule, but he really struggled in four postseason games, completing 70 of his 120 pass attempts for 828 yards, six touchdowns, and four interceptions while taking 21 sacks. Maye required a pain-killing injection in his right shoulder before the Super Bowl loss to the Seattle Seahawks, but his shoulder is all systems go this offseason, and he shouldn't have any physical limitations going into Year 3. Some fantasy managers will want Maye to prove it again in 2026, but after an outstanding sophomore season, RotoBaller has him ranked as a top-five QB. The Pats added receiver Romeo Doubs in free agency, and Maye's fantasy stock in redraft and dynasty formats will only be boosted if they trade for A.J. Brown, as is expected.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Associated Press

May 7, 2026, 11:46 AM ET

Tennessee Titans tight end Gunnar Helm represents an intriguing buy-low option ahead of a potential Year 2 breakout in 2026. Despite missing one game and playing behind Chig Okonkwo last year, Helm managed to catch 44 passes for 357 yards and two touchdowns. Even though he was a rookie and No. 2 on the depth chart, he finished as the overall TE31 in PPR leagues. The Texas product was trending up to end the season, and his dynasty outlook got a major boost as the Titans let Okonkwo depart in free agency. Now, Helm is the clear-cut No. 1 tight end in a Titans offense that could be trending upward. Quarterback Cameron Ward is certainly still developing, but we'd expect him to make a significant leap in his second season. And the state of the offense as a whole is in a very good place with players like Tony Pollard, Wan'Dale Robinson, and Carnell Tate. There are a lot of mouths to feed in the passing game, but the fact that Helm essentially has the tight end position all to himself is a very encouraging sign, especially in an offense led by Brian Daboll. Under the guidance of Daboll, Giants tight end Theo Johnson jumped from TE37 as a rookie to TE18 in his second season. Don't be surprised if Helm follows a similar trajectory. He currently ranks as the TE27 in RotoBaller's dynasty fantasy football rankings, but there is clear top-15 upside here. Dynasty managers would be wise to trade for Helm before the buy-low window closes.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

May 7, 2026, 11:37 AM ET

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver and cornerback Travis Hunter (knee) is expected to be a full-go for training camp. He continues to recover from last season's torn LCL, and it doesn't sound like he'll have any limitations this summer. With that said, an uptick in defensive snaps and a crowded receiver room could spell disaster for Hunter's fantasy value in non-IDP leagues. The former first-round pick's career was already off to a slow start on the offensive side of the ball. He posted single-digit fantasy points (PPR) in each of his first six games last year before finally breaking out for eight catches, 101 yards, and one touchdown in Week 7. However, that was his last game of the season due to injury. Hunter averaged 9.1 fantasy points on offense last year, and if he's going to play more on defense in 2026, we'd have to imagine his offensive involvement goes down. And even if he does end up having a similar snap share, his overall productivity will take a hit due to the fact that he's also devoting so much energy and effort to playing on defense. Furthermore, Hunter has added competition in the form of Jakobi Meyers, who wasn't on the team when he was healthy last year. The presence of Meyers, Brian Thomas Jr., and Parker Washington could drop Hunter to fourth on the wide receiver depth chart, stripping him of almost all his value in redraft leagues and also hurting dynasty managers. Hunter still has the potential to play more offense in the future, but the short-term outlook feels like a punch to the gut for fantasy managers who took him in the first round of rookie drafts last year. He has quickly fallen to WR54 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

May 7, 2026, 11:29 AM ET

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir was a relatively consistent fantasy contributor in 2025, scoring 9.5+ fantasy points (PPR) in 11 of his 16 games. Between James Cook and Josh Allen, the Bills were a run-heavy offense last year, but when they did throw the ball, Shakir emerged as a dependable target. He caught 72 passes for 719 yards and four touchdowns, ranking as the overall WR36, which was the best mark of his career. While it was encouraging him to turn in a solid season in such a prominent offense, dynasty managers should be a little concerned about a certain offseason move. Buffalo struck a deal to acquire DJ Moore from the Chicago Bears, bumping Shakir down to No. 2 on the depth chart. In many offenses, Shakir as a No. 2 would still be a very strong WR3/flex, but there aren't a ton of targets to go around in Buffalo. Josh Allen threw the ball just 460 times last year, which was his lowest pass attempt total since his rookie season in 2018. If that trend persists in 2026 and beyond, Moore could be the only Bills receiver with fantasy relevance every week. That drops Shakir to being more of a matchup-based play. The latest expert insight reflects that narrative, as Shakir has fallen to WR56 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings. Managers can try to trade him away this offseason, but it may be too late.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

May 7, 2026, 11:22 AM ET

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson has the potential to be a weekly fantasy starter when healthy, but injuries have derailed the first four years of his career. He has missed 20 of 68 games since being drafted, and he has never finished a single season higher than WR41 in PPR leagues. The talent is undeniable, though, and we're confident that a Christian Watson and Jordan Love duo could eclipse 1,000 yards together over a healthy 17-game stretch. The crowded receiver room is another factor to consider, although it's not a major obstacle. Players like Watson, Jayden Reed, the now-departed Romeo Doubs, and even Matthew Golden have shown that they can produce in this crowded position group. There are enough targets to go around to support a top-30 finish from Watson. Now, he just needs to stay on the field. We're encouraged by the fact that he played 10 consecutive games without being inactive in 2025, so perhaps that's a sign that he'll be able to stay healthy in 2026. Purely based on upside and his relatively low cost, Watson is an intriguing dynasty trade target this offseason.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

May 7, 2026, 11:16 AM ET

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth had a frustrating 2025 season, catching just 41 passes for 486 yards and four touchdowns en route to ranking as the overall TE25 in PPR leagues. There's some uncertainty about his future outlook, but the good news is that the Steelers have a new coaching staff in place, and they didn't bring in anyone to compete with Freiermuth. He's clearly the top option on the depth chart, ahead of players like Darnell Washington and rookie Riley Nowakowski. The bad news, on the other hand, is that in Mike McCarthy's last season as a head coach (2024), Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson was the TE25. In the Cowboys' first year without McCarthy, he soared to TE5. So while we're encouraged that the Steelers' coaching staff change -- plus the anticipated return of dependable passer Aaron Rodgers -- could be good for Freiermuth, we also acknowledge that McCarthy doesn't have the greatest short-term track record with the position. The 27-year-old should bounce back this year, but the exact magnitude of his progression is unknown. We're not ready to bank on him being a TE1 in fantasy football.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

May 7, 2026, 11:10 AM ET

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has the potential to be a short-term option in fantasy football, but he lacks long-term upside in dynasty leagues. Tagovailoa signed with the Falcons this offseason after being released by the Miami Dolphins. He may open the 2026 season as Atlanta's starter since Michael Penix Jr. (knee) is still recovering from his torn ACL, but the job belongs to Penix when he's healthy. Recent comments from president of football Matt Ryan seem to indicate that Penix's recovery is either on schedule or behind schedule, so Tagovailoa could be a QB2 option through the first few weeks of the season. Once Penix returns, though, Tagovailoa will head to the bench, where he'll face an uphill battle to reclaim any starting role, at least as long as he remains in Atlanta. He was the QB9 in 2023, but he's coming off a disastrous 2025 campaign in which he threw for 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

May 7, 2026, 10:02 AM ET

Following the trade that sent running back Jordan Mason to the Minnesota Vikings ahead of the 2025 season, the fourth-year back was pegged as a popular breakout candidate, rising all the way to RB24 in consensus dynasty rankings. By most metrics, Mason's first year in Minnesota was a disappointment. Even with Aaron Jones Sr. missing significant time, Mason was held to only 758 rushing yards and six touchdowns while the entirety of the Vikings' offense was held back by listless quarterback play. The Vikings have found at least a short-term fix at quarterback, bringing in Kyler Murray on a one-year deal, and while Minnesota was labeled as one of the more running back-needy teams entering the 2026 NFL Draft, the team waited until the sixth round of a weak class to address the position, selecting Demond Claiborne out of Wake Forest. At 5'9" and 195 pounds, Claiborne poses little threat to Mason's between-the-tackles early-down work. With both Mason and Jones in the final year of their contracts, the importance of the 2026 season for Mason's long-term dynasty value can not be overstated. He enters the season as RotoBaller's RB50, but that ranking could climb if Minnesota's offense can shake off a forgettable 2025 campaign.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 7, 2026, 9:50 AM ET

Free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers is planning to visit the Pittsburgh Steelers to further discuss his future with the team, as reported by NFL insider Ian Rapoport. While no deal is currently in place, there is speculation that the visit could be the next step toward getting him signed for the 2026 season. Rodgers threw for 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns in his first season with Pittsburgh. Following a mutual parting of ways between the Steelers and long-time head coach Mike Tomlin, a return to the Steel City by the 42-year-old veteran would also mean a reunion between Rodgers and new head coach Mike McCarthy after the two spent 13 seasons together in Green Bay, including a Super Bowl-winning 2010 campaign. The Steelers added quarterback Drew Allar in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and should the team find itself in a situation where it is forced to move forward without Rodgers, the Penn State rookie would likely compete with seven-year veteran Mason Rudolph and 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard for the starting job.--Patrick McGrath
Source: Ian Rapoport

May 7, 2026, 9:37 AM ET

The Philadelphia Eagles sent fifth and sixth-round picks to acquire wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks as part of their near-total overhaul of the position. With the team expected to trade three-time Pro Bowler A.J. Brown on or after June 1st, the new look receiver room in Philadelphia now includes Wicks, incumbent DeVonta Smith, Marquise Brown, and 2026 first-round pick Makai Lemon. The Eagles also added tight end Eli Stowers in the second round of the NFL Draft after many teams were reportedly scouting him through the lens of a wide receiver. After three seasons in a crowded receiver room in Green Bay, Wicks finds himself in a similar situation in Philadelphia, but at 6'1", 206 pounds, he profiles as the most likely candidate to inherit some of Brown's snaps on the boundary. While the Packers have been one of the most run-heavy teams in recent years, the Eagles have thrown the ball at an even lesser rate, so even if Wicks can carve out a more meaningful role, his fantasy ceiling is still capped. At RotoBaller's dynasty WR104, he still belongs on rosters for what he could offer should injuries eventually condense targets in Philadelphia, but his contributions could be limited for the foreseeable future.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 7, 2026, 9:26 AM ET

Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders can arguably be thrown into the category of 2026 offseason winners, but how that actually translates to his dynasty value remains to be seen. The Panthers were considered one of the most tight end-needy teams in the league, but in an NFL Draft that saw 21 tight ends come off the board, not one of them went to Carolina. Sanders led all Panthers tight ends with 29 receptions in 2025 and finished within 60 yards of Tommy Tremble despite missing five games with a high ankle sprain and later a broken ankle to end his season. All reports have him recovering well, and while calls are growing louder for a Jalen Coker breakout, there is still a serious lack of target competition behind 2025 Offensive Player of the Year Tetairoa McMillan. If Sanders can beat out Tremble and 2025 fifth-round pick Mitchell Evans as the team's primary pass-catcher at the position, there should be enough opportunity to make a modest fantasy impact. At RotoBaller's dynasty TE37, expectations are low, but if Sanders can take a step forward in year three, as used to be the norm before the recent tight end resurgence, he could be a low-cost add who offers usable depth moving forward.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 7, 2026, 9:14 AM ET

Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell suffered a gruesome knee injury in Week 16 of the 2024 season, which ended his sophomore campaign and caused him to miss all of the 2025 season. After dislocating his knee and tearing multiple ligaments, his recovery has been arduous, but signs now point to his eventual return in 2026. Dell has been participating in the early stages of organized team activities, and there is a belief he could be ready for the start of the season. With the Texans adding Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel in the 2025 NFL Draft, it's uncertain how the receiver rotation will work out alongside two-time Pro Bowler Nico Collins. Dell has taken more than 70% of his professional snaps on the outside, so despite vastly different body types, his most direct competition would appear to be the 6'4", 215-pound Higgins. Dell finished as WR38 as a rookie in 2023, and he's risen back up to WR66 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings after falling as low as WR87 in consensus ranks. That said, with the improved depth of the position since he last took the field, the ceiling could be capped for all Texans pass-catchers outside of Collins.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 6, 2026, 9:27 PM ET

New York Jets offensive coordinator Frank Reich said that veteran quarterback Geno Smith is the "perfect fit" for his offense, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN. "I feel his resilience, his toughness," Reich said. The Jets swung and missed with their free-agent acquisition of QB Justin Fields last year, so this year they acquired Smith from the Las Vegas Raiders after he was one of the worst starting signal-callers in the league in 2025. Perhaps they're hoping the 35-year-old veteran can lead the Jets to the No. 1 overall pick in the 2027 draft like he did for the Raiders this year. The former second-rounder by the Jets in 2013 out of West Virginia made back-to-back Pro Bowls in 2022 and 2023 with the Seattle Seahawks, but he went 2-13 in his 15 starts for the Raiders in 2025, throwing for 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns, and a league-high 17 interceptions. He also took the most sacks of any QB with 55. Smith will start for the Jets in Week 1, but we wouldn't be surprised if he was benched sooner rather than later. At best, he's a QB3 option in superflex fantasy leagues for the 2026 campaign despite the Jets adding some weaponry to their offense in this year's draft in the form of tight end Kenyon Sadiq and receiver Omar Cooper Jr.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN New York - Rich Cimini