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Packers Release Kicker Brandon McManus
The Green Bay Packers released veteran kicker Brandon McManus on Friday after drafting University of Florida kicker Trey Smack in the sixth round last month, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN. McManus' run in Green Bay comes to an end after two seasons with the Packers, in which he made 44 of his 51 field-goal attempts (6-for-8 from 50-plus yards) and 62 of his 63 extra-point attempts in 25 regular-season games. The 34-year-old, 12-year veteran and former Super Bowl champion with the Denver Broncos is nearing the end of the line in the NFL after a solid career that has seen him make 82% of his field-goal attempts in 186 regular-season games. With McManus gone, the Packers figure to have a kicking competition this summer between Smack and Lucas Havrisik. McManus wasn't 100% healthy last year in Green Bay and was successful on 24 of his 30 field-goal tries and 32 of his 33 extra-point attempts in his 14 regular-season games. Fantasy managers in 12-team leagues will want to avoid the Packers' kicking situation in 2026.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Jets Talking to a "Number of Veteran Quarterbacks"
New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said he has no update on free-agent quarterback Russell Wilson and said that the team is talking to a "number of veteran quarterbacks," according to Rich Cimini of ESPN. Glenn added that he's "happy" with the current QB room, which includes veteran starter Geno Smith, rookie Cade Clubnik, Brady Cook, and Bailey Zappe. The Jets brought Wilson in for a visit last week and have reportedly offered him a contract for the 2026 season as a backup to Smith, but Wilson is non-committal on his NFL future and is considering getting into television for the upcoming season. The 37-year-old 10-time Pro Bowler and former Super Bowl champion with the Seattle Seahawks has been a shell of his former self since his final season in Seattle back in 2021. He's bounced around with the Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New York Giants since then and threw for 831 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions in six appearances (three starts) with New York in 2025. Wilson is no longer worth holding in dynasty leagues, as he'll be the clear backup to Smith if he signs with the Jets.
Source: ESPN New York - Rich Cimini
Source: ESPN New York - Rich Cimini
Travis Etienne Jr. a Reliable Dynasty Starter Entering First Season With Saints
After a down year in 2024, New Orleans Saints running back Travis Etienne Jr. bounced back in a big way while playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2025. Across 17 games, Etienne Jr. recorded 1,399 yards from scrimmage and 13 touchdowns on 296 touches. His resurgence earned him a significant commitment from the Saints, who signed him to a four-year, $48 million contract in March. While legendary Saints running back Alvin Kamara currently remains on the team's roster, the organization's financial ties to Etienne Jr. signify a changing of the guard. Etienne Jr. offers a three-down skill set and should dominate touches and playing time in the Saints' backfield. The offense around him in New Orleans should also be an improved unit in the team's second year with Tyler Shough at quarterback and head coach Kellen Moore calling plays. As he enters his age-27 season, Etienne Jr. profiles as a reliable starting running back option for dynasty managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Is Kenneth Gainwell's Dynasty Stock Still Rising After Offseason Change of Scenery?
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Kenneth Gainwell put together the most productive season of his career while playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025, recording 1,023 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns on 187 touches across 17 games. Gainwell emerged as a security blanket for Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the passing game, finishing the year with 73 catches for 486 yards and three touchdowns on 85 targets. The Bucs rewarded Gainwell with a two-year contract in free agency, and he now projects as the 1B option in the Tampa Bay backfield behind Bucky Irving. Gainwell may not see as many targets from Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield as he did from Rodgers, which would hurt his fantasy production. However, Gainwell should still play a role in the Tampa Bay passing game and could emerge as the team's go-to option in short-yardage and goal-line situations. Irving also has to be considered an injury risk after missing seven games with foot and shoulder injuries in 2025. Gainwell's dynasty value would have benefited more had he signed somewhere as a clear starter, but his stock is still up following his breakout 2025 season in Pittsburgh.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Mac Jones a Deep-League Dynasty Stash Candidate
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones showed he still carries some starting potential in 2025, completing 69.6% of his pass attempts for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions across 11 games (eight starts). Jones stepped into the 49ers QB1 role when Brock Purdy went down early in the year with toe and shoulder injuries and performed admirably. While Purdy's presence blocks Jones from fantasy-relevant playing time in San Francisco, 2026 is his final year under contract with the 49ers. At just 27 years old, Jones could land with a team that views him as a starter when he hits free agency next spring. San Francisco could also look to trade him at some point before the 2026 trade deadline, which would be another path to a potential starting role. Either way, deeper-league dynasty managers may want to consider stashing Jones for his long-term upside.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tez Johnson Facing Uphill Battle for Playing Time in Tampa Bay
A seventh-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Tez Johnson entered his rookie season buried on his team's depth chart. However, myriad injuries to the Bucs' wide receiver corps opened the door for Johnson to see the field, and he finished 2025 with 28 receptions for 322 yards and five touchdowns on 44 targets across 16 games (eight starts). While Johnson flashed upside when given the opportunity, he lost playing time as Tampa Bay got healthier down the stretch of the season. Johnson failed to play more than 25% of the team's offensive snaps in any of its final four games of the year. Entering 2026, Johnson projects to be behind Bucs wideouts Chris Godwin Jr., Emeka Egbuka, and Jalen McMillan on the depth chart. Tampa Bay also used a third-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Georgia State wide receiver Ted Hurst, which could push Johnson even further down the target pecking order. Given the uphill battle he faces for playing time in Tampa Bay, Johnson's dynasty stock is down as he enters his second NFL season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jared Goff Remains a High-Floor Dynasty QB2 Heading into 2026
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff put together another solid statistical season in 2025, completing 68% of his pass attempts for 4,564 yards, 34 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Goff's complete lack of rushing ability limits his fantasy upside. However, the 31-year-old has now posted three consecutive seasons with at least 4,500 passing yards and 30 touchdowns, giving him a stable production floor. Heading into 2026, Goff still has a strong supporting cast of pass-catchers around him, led by wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs is also a weapon in the passing game, and tight end Sam LaPorta (back) should be part of the equation as well after missing the final eight games of 2025 with a back injury. The Lions have some questions on the offensive line, but the team added veteran center Cade Mays in free agency and used a first-round pick in the 2026 Draft on Clemson tackle Blake Miller. As long as Detroit can keep Goff upright, he profiles as a steady dynasty QB2 with matchup-dependent streaming upside.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
De'Von Achane Remains a High-End Dynasty RB Despite Uncertain Supporting Cast
Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane put together an excellent season in 2025, recording 1,838 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns on 305 touches across 16 games. While the 24-year-old has established himself as one of the best running backs in fantasy football, there are some notable changes around him in Miami going into 2026. Bobby Slowik will take over for Mike McDaniel as the Dolphins' play-caller, and Malik Willis is replacing Tua Tagovailoa as the team's starting quarterback. Achane is also currently in somewhat of a contract standoff with the organization as he enters the final year of his rookie contract and seeks a monster extension. Still, despite the relative uncertainty around him, Achane profiles as the most talented player on the Miami offense by far. With the Dolphins having traded away star wideout Jaylen Waddle over the offseason, Achane could even surpass the 85 targets he saw as a receiver in 2025. In dynasty formats, Achane remains a high-end RB1.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chiefs Limited Xavier Worthy's Usage After Injury Last Year
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told The Athletic's Jesse Newell at last month's annual NFL meeting that the team limited wide receiver Xavier Worthy's (shoulder) routes last year to protect him after his labrum injury in Week 1. "I would tell you that we kind of, after that, we were afraid to do certain things with (Worthy)," Reid said. "So I think him coming back healthy, I think opens up that whole picture you saw during training camp, where he had a whole bunch of different routes in there." The 23-year-old former first-rounder and speed threat took a step back in Year 2 in 2025, catching just 42 of 73 targets for 532 yards and one touchdown in 14 games after putting up a 59-638-6 line in 17 regular-season games as a rookie in 2024. Worthy's shoulder injury never allowed him to reach his true ceiling in his sophomore campaign, and he never went over 85 receiving yards in a single game. With a full route tree again in 2026, Worthy will have bounce-back potential, but his slight frame (5-foot-11, 165 pounds) will continue to leave him vulnerable to injuries. He's currently ranked as the No. 52 fantasy wideout at RotoBaller, but he'll have bounce-back potential in Year 3 if he can stay healthy.
Source: The Athletic - Jesse Newell
Source: The Athletic - Jesse Newell
Chiefs Not Ready to Discuss Extension With Rashee Rice?
The Athletic's Jesse Newell suggests that wide receiver Rashee Rice needs to prove himself more both on and off the field before the Kansas City Chiefs realistically consider approaching him about a long-term contract extension. Newell writes that there is "a long way to go between that potential reality and where things sit now." The 26-year-old former second-rounder (55th overall) in 2023 out of SMU is in the final year of his rookie deal in 2026, but he needs to "prove he can go a calendar year without ending up in negative offseason headlines." Rice has played in just 12 regular-season games since the start of 2024 due to suspensions after posting a 79-938-7 line in 16 games in his rookie campaign with KC. Despite his off-the-field issues, Rice is clearly the Chiefs' WR1 going into the upcoming season, and he should be treated as a WR1 in fantasy football as well. In just eight starts in 2025, he caught 53 of his 78 targets for 571 yards and five touchdowns, and he's scored 14 times in his 28 NFL games over his first three seasons. Rice's after-the-catch abilities are as good as any wideout in the league.
Source: The Athletic - Jesse Newell
Source: The Athletic - Jesse Newell
Cade Otton Remains a Quality Dynasty Depth Piece
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton has caught exactly 59 passes in each of the past two seasons while averaging 586 receiving yards. His 11 total touchdowns across his four professional seasons point to a ceiling incapable of winning leagues, but he has long provided an underrated floor. With the Buccaneers' relatively quiet offseason already leading into organized team activities, Otton should continue to provide quality depth as a second or third tight end in dynasty leagues. The Buccaneers were a team commonly linked to Oregon's Kenyon Sadiq throughout the pre-draft process, but with Rueben Bain Jr. falling to them in the first, Tampa did not make any offensive selections until receiver Ted Hurst in the third. Hurst and free agent running back Kenneth Gainwell will help to soften the blow of losing Mike Evans and his average receiving line of 72 catches for 1,088 yards and nine touchdowns from the past 12 seasons, but in a tight end room with only Payne Durham, Ko Kieft, and sixth-round rookie Bauer Sharp, Otton's role could also expand. His rapport with Baker Mayfield makes him a natural candidate to inherit some of Evans' vacated targets, and at RotoBaller's dynasty TE32, Otton is perennially underrated as a depth piece who can be trusted to get contending managers through the inevitable stretch of injuries and bye weeks that pop up every season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
T.J. Hockenson's Bounce-Back Chances Stifled by Improved Pass-Catching Depth
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson was a popular bounce-back candidate after his 438 receiving yards in 2025 marked the lowest total since his rookie season. With the Vikings agreeing to a one-year deal on Thursday with former 49ers receiver Jauan Jennings, Hockenson's chances of a fantasy resurgence took a meaningful hit. While operating largely in the intermediate areas of the field over the past two seasons, Jennings has caught 132 passes for 1,618 yards and 15 touchdowns. Now surrounded by Jennings, Justin Jefferson, and Jordan Addison, Hockenson is unlikely to approach the 120+ targets of his glory days, but he is one more year removed from the ACL injury that ended his 2023 season, and the presence of Kyler Murray is expected to increase scoring opportunities for the entire Vikings offense. At RotoBaller's dynasty TE22 and falling, Hockenson could still provide usable fantasy depth, making him a worthwhile buy on the inevitable post-trade dip.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jordan Addison Facing Competition for No. 2 Role?
With the Minnesota Vikings agreeing to terms on a one-year deal with former 49ers receiver Jauan Jennings on Thursday, 2023 first-round pick Jordan Addison is now part of arguably the deepest receiver room of his young career. With veteran Adam Thielen heading to Carolina in the same year that Addison was drafted, the stiffest competition for targets behind two-time All-Pro Justin Jefferson has long been tight end T.J. Hockenson, with Minnesota running out K.J. Osborn and Jalen Nailor in the third receiver spot since 2023. With Nailor unable to top 29 receptions or 444 receiving yards in his time with the Vikings, Jennings represents a major upgrade, fresh off a 643-yard, nine-touchdown campaign, and only two years removed from career-highs of 77 receptions and 975 yards in 2024. Addison's receptions, yards, and touchdowns have all dropped year-over-year since entering the league, but with the team opting to pick up his fifth-year option in March, there is a clear belief that he can turn things back around. With improved quarterback play expected in 2026, Addison still has the home run ability to take over games, and he should enjoy enough spike weeks to make him a reliable fantasy asset despite the increased competition.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Taylor Heinicke Retiring After 11 Seasons
Veteran quarterback Taylor Heinicke announced his retirement on Thursday through a post on his Instagram page. The 2015 undrafted free agent out of Old Dominion played 11 professional seasons and spent time with eight different teams, including the St. Louis Battlehawks of the XFL. He ends his NFL career with 6,663 passing yards, 42 total touchdowns, and 28 interceptions. Heinicke's last on-field action came in 2024 with the Chargers, while his last start came with the Falcons in 2023. The pinnacle of his career was undoubtedly his 2021 season with Washington, in which he threw for 3,419 yards and 20 touchdowns, good enough for a QB19 fantasy finish.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Jauan Jennings Signs With Vikings on One-Year Deal
Wide receiver Jauan Jennings and the Minnesota Vikings have agreed to a one-year deal that will pay the former 49er up to $13 million in 2026. While missing two games in his final season with San Francisco, the 2020 seventh-round pick out of Tennessee recorded 643 yards and nine touchdowns, this after making a career-high 77 receptions for 975 yards in 2024. With Jennings reportedly expecting a more robust market for his services, the one-year prove-it deal will allow him to test free agency again in 2027. Meanwhile, after the team's third receiver, Jalen Nailor, agreed to a three-year, $35 million deal with the Raiders, the Vikings have arguably upgraded the position at a fraction of the cost. Jennings will round out a receiver room of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and 2025 third-round pick Tai Felton, creating an environment in which quarterback Kyler Murray could thrive while on a one-year deal of his own.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
