February 1, 2026
According to Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com, "it seems more likely" that Pittsburgh Steelers running back
Kenneth Gainwell will sign with a new team during free agency. He had an impressive one-year stint in Pittsburgh, totaling 537 rushing yards, 73 catches, 486 receiving yards, and eight touchdowns. He finished as the overall RB16 in full-PPR leagues, which was the best mark of his career. Gainwell's strong campaign in Pittsburgh raised his anticipated market value this offseason. While the Steelers would presumably be open to bringing him back, he's expected to fetch a decent-sized contract in free agency. "The Steelers haven't typically given big contracts to running backs," Pryor writes. She also notes that the vision for the backfield could look different with head coach Mike McCarthy replacing ex-offensive coordinator Arthur Smith as the team's play-caller. All signs point to Gainwell playing somewhere else in 2026.
--Andersen PickardSource: Brooke Pryor
February 1, 2026
The New York Jets "would like to work out a long-term deal" with running back
Breece Hall, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. New York had an opportunity to move Hall at last season's trade deadline, but they ultimately kept him in hopes of extending him long-term. He finished his fourth NFL campaign with a career-high 1,065 rushing yards, but he scored just five touchdowns. Meanwhile, he finished the year with 350 receiving yards, the lowest mark since his rookie campaign. Still, Hall reportedly won over head coach Aaron Glenn, who wants the 24-year-old to remain the focal point of New York's run-heavy offense going forward. The former Iowa State standout could stir up a bidding war on the open market, though. As a result, Cimini writes that the Jets "could utilize the franchise or transition tag on him." The franchise has until 4 p.m. on March 4 to tag him. The NFL's legal tampering period for free agents begins at 12 p.m. on March 9.
--Andersen PickardSource: Rich Cimini
January 31, 2026
Indianapolis wide receiver
Michael Pittman Jr. carries an expected $29 million salary cap hit into 2026, but the Colts could clear all but $5 million by cutting him before the new league year. With
Alec Pierce coming off his first 1,000-yard campaign and set for unrestricted free agency, the belief around Indianapolis is that the team will prioritize him over the 28-year-old Pittman. With the 12-plus games played by
Daniel Jones before his season-ending Achilles injury arguably representing the pinnacle of quarterback play that Pittman has seen in his six-year career, the always steady, but never explosive, receiver could still have more to show. While he's never come close to delivering on his former top-ten dynasty ranking, his value could once again spike if he lands in the right situation.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
January 31, 2026
Detroit Lions tight end
Sam LaPorta was on a 17-game pace of 76 receptions for 924 yards and six touchdowns before a back injury prematurely ended his season. Expected to be healthy for the 2026 season, LaPorta should see heavy involvement in new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing's tight end-friendly system. With Petzing calling plays in Arizona for the past three seasons, Cardinals tight end
Trey McBride has emerged as a fantasy superstar. While target competition in Detroit will be significantly stronger than McBride faced in the desert, LaPorta already has a TE1 season under his belt and is an obvious dynasty buy until his market recovers to its pre-injury form.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
January 31, 2026
Buffalo Bills wide receiver
Keon Coleman hasn't played a game since mid-January, but perhaps no player has had a rougher transition into the offseason. After a disappointing sophomore season that saw him catch 38 passes for 404 yards and four touchdowns, Coleman's name was front and center as the Bills transitioned from long-time head coach Sean McDermott to former offensive coordinator Joe Brady. With Bills owner Terry Pegula publicly insinuating that Coleman's second-round selection in the 2024 draft was not unanimously agreed upon in the draft room, he put general manager Brandon Beane and new head coach Brady in a position to do damage control. Coleman had already seen his dynasty value tumble throughout 2025, as he was made a healthy scratch on multiple occasions, but it currently sits at an all-time low, making him a nearly impossible sell.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
January 31, 2026
New York Giants sophomore running back
Tyrone Tracy Jr. saw his total touches and yards per touch drop from Year 1 to Year 2, as he missed some games early, spent time clearly running behind rookie
Cam Skattebo, and never truly established himself as the Giants' lead back until late in the year after Skattebo's season-ending ankle injury. His fantasy value took another hit in the touchdown category, slipping from six total scores as a rookie to only four in 2025. With Skattebo expected to return to full health for 2026 following a devastating ankle injury, the 26-year-old Tracy is likely to be relegated to more of a change-of-pace role and should be viewed as little more than a high-upside handcuff entering his third season.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
January 31, 2026
The Buffalo Bills are hiring Denver Broncos defensive passing-game coordinator Jim Leonhard as their new defensive coordinator, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. A former NFL safety, Leonhard played in 142 career games across 10 seasons from 2005 to 2014. He had two separate stints in Buffalo as a player, first from 2005 through 2007 and then for the penultimate season of his career in 2013. Leonhard got his start as a coach at the University of Wisconsin, where he served as the defensive coordinator from 2017 through 2022. He returned to the NFL in 2024 and has served as the Broncos' defensive passing game coordinator for the past two seasons. Denver finished the 2025 season with the NFL's seventh-best pass defense in terms of total yardage (3,182) and the best pass defense by net yards per pass attempt (4.8). Rapoport reports that Leonhard was "coveted" around the league, so his hire represents a big get for new Bills head coach Joe Brady.
--Will BradySource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
January 31, 2026
Chicago Bears running back
D'Andre Swift posted another solid season in 2025, recording 1,386 scrimmage yards and 10 touchdowns on 257 touches across 16 games. Swift has quietly been one of the NFL's most consistent backs in recent years, recording at least 1,250 scrimmage yards and missing just two contests over his past three campaigns. However, Swift may find himself competing for the RB1 role in Chicago in 2026 with fellow Bears running back
Kyle Monangai. A seventh-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Monangai racked up 947 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns across 17 games played as a rookie. Down the stretch of the 2025 season, Swift and Monangai split backfield work relatively evenly, with neither back playing fewer than 40% or greater than 60% of the team's offensive snaps in any game between Week 12 and Week 18. Swift is entering his age-27 season and will be a free agent after the 2026 campaign, so Chicago could be looking at Monangai as its running back of the future. Bears head coach Ben Johnson has proven an ability to support fantasy production for two backs throughout his time as an NFL play-caller. Still, fantasy managers may want to prepare for a decrease in Swift's workload in 2026 and beyond.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 31, 2026
New York Jets wide receiver
Garrett Wilson (knee) had his 2025 season cut short by a knee injury that he suffered in Week 6. After attempting to make a comeback in Week 10, Wilson was eventually shut down for the remainder of the year. Across the seven games he played, the 25-year-old recorded 36 receptions for 395 yards and four touchdowns on 59 targets. While Wilson remains an obvious talent at the wide receiver position and profiles as the clear lead option in the Jets' passing game going forward, the offensive infrastructure around him in New York continues to be a major question mark.
Justin Fields,
Tyrod Taylor, and
Brady Cook all saw time at quarterback for the Jets in 2025, but none of them appears to be the team's long-term answer at the position. As such, Wilson will likely be working with yet another new quarterback in 2026. New York will also have a new play-caller after moving on from offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand. Wilson still profiles as a solid wide receiver option for fantasy managers in 2026, but the unstable situation around him limits his production certainty.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 31, 2026
After topping 1,200 receiving yards and recording 10 touchdown catches as a rookie in 2024, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver
Brian Thomas Jr. was expected to fully emerge as an elite player at his position in 2025. However, the 23-year-old battled through both injury and underperformance this past season, recording just 48 receptions for 707 yards and two touchdowns on 91 targets across 14 games played. As the season progressed, Thomas Jr. appeared to fall behind Jaguars wideouts
Jakobi Meyers and
Parker Washington on the team's pass-catching pecking order. Including the postseason, Thomas Jr. recorded fewer than five receptions in each of his final nine games of the year. Heading into 2026, the Jaguars' wide receiver depth chart will get even more crowded by wide receiver/cornerback
Travis Hunter's (knee) return from injury. Thomas Jr. could re-emerge as the lead wideout in Jacksonville in 2026. However, his stock in both redraft and dynasty fantasy formats has taken a hit after his disappointing 2025 campaign.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 31, 2026
Detroit Lions running back
Jahmyr Gibbs posted another excellent season in 2025, recording 1,839 yards from scrimmage and 18 touchdowns on 320 touches across 17 games played. While Gibbs' efficiency dropped slightly from his standout 2024 season, he still averaged 5.0 yards per carry and 5.7 yards per touch. The 23-year-old also set career-highs across the board as a receiver, finishing the year with 77 catches for 616 yards and five touchdowns on 94 targets. Perhaps most importantly for Gibbs' future outlook, he fully moved past fellow Lions running back
David Montgomery on the team's depth chart. After the team's Week 8 bye, Montgomery played fewer than 40% of Detroit's offensive snaps in eight out of 10 contests. As long as Gibbs can stay healthy, he profiles as an elite fantasy running back for both 2026 and beyond.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 30, 2026
Seattle Seahawks quarterback
Sam Darnold (oblique) was limited in practice all week but was removed from the final injury report on Friday, according to John Boyle of Seahawks.com. Darnold injured his left oblique in practice before the Divisional Round win over the San Francisco 49ers. The 28-year-old has played in both of the team's postseason games and has gone 37-for-53 passing for 470 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions in wins over San Fran and the Los Angeles Rams. Darnold hasn't wavered since tweaking his oblique several weeks ago, and with another week until the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 8, against the New England Patriots, he should be close to 100%. The former third overall pick back in 2018 by the New York Jets threw for a season-high 346 yards against the Rams last weekend and could put up big numbers in the big game against New England.
--Keith HernandezSource: Seahawks.com - John Boyle
January 30, 2026
New England Patriots wide receiver
Mack Hollins (abdomen) is listed as questionable on the team's final injury report of the week, according to the team. Hollins was limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday before upgrading to a full session on Friday. The Patriots still have another week before they face off with the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 8. Hollins, who was activated from Injured Reserve last week, should be fine to play by then. The 32-year-old veteran caught both of his targets for a team-high 51 yards in the 10-7 victory over the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship in his first game back from IR. Hollins won't be expected to stand out in the big game against Seattle after he caught 46 of his 65 passes for 550 yards and only two touchdowns in 15 regular-season contests.
--Keith HernandezSource: New England Patriots
January 30, 2026
The New England Patriots listed quarterback
Drake Maye (shoulder, illness) as questionable on Friday's final injury report, per the team's official website. Maye injured his right shoulder in the win over the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship on Sunday and was limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday. He did not take part in practice on Friday, but it was because of an illness. The 23-year-old MVP candidate still has another week to rest, though, and he's fully expected to play in the Super Bowl against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Feb. 8. Fantasy managers in playoff leagues shouldn't be concerned about Maye not playing in the big game, but rather Seattle's strong defense. In just his second NFL season, Maye was one of the best QBs during the regular season, but he has struggled in his three playoff games, with 15 sacks taken, six turnovers, and a 55.5 completion percentage.
--Keith HernandezSource: Patriots.com
January 30, 2026
The Athletic reports that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein connected New York Giants chairman and co-owner Steve Tisch with multiple women, according to newly released emails. Tisch received scouting reports on women from Epstein, and the two men discussed whether women were "pro or civilian" or a "working girl." The 76-year-old Tisch assumed his role with the Giants in 2005 after his father purchased 50% of the team back in 1991. Epstein died by suicide in August of 2019 in his jail cell while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. Tisch offered Epstein two tickets to his suite for a Giants game in September 2013 and also invited him to other games. Epstein invited Tisch to visit him on his private island in the Caribbean, but it's unclear if Tisch ever went. It's obviously a bad look for the organization, although it's unclear how the Giants and the NFL will handle it. Stay tuned.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Carson Kessler, Nathan Fenno, and Katie Strong
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