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
January 30, 2026
Former Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury is expected to be in the mix for the New York Giants' offensive-coordinator job, especially after he was "on the fringe of their head-coaching search," according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN. Raanan lists Jim Bob Cooter, Josh McCown,
Davis Webb, Charlie Weis Jr., Greg Roman, Jake Peetz, Justin Outten, Lunda Wells, Matt Nagy, and Alex Tanney as other candidates to work under head coach John Harbaugh. Kinsbury is most likely one of the favorites for the job in New York, as he's considered one of the brightest offensive minds in the league and also has previous head-coaching experience from his time with the Arizona Cardinals. Quarterback
Jaxson Dart, running back
Cam Skattebo, and receiver
Malik Nabers would become even more interesting in fantasy if Kingsbury is working with them.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN New York - Jordan Raanan
January 30, 2026
ESPN's Adam Schefter said on Friday on The Pat McAfee Show that Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak "is getting the Raiders or the Cardinals" head-coaching job. "He's definitely getting one of those jobs." Kubiak has established himself as one of the best offensive coordinators and play-callers in the last few seasons. He led a scrappy New Orleans Saints team in 2024 and has helped quarterback
Sam Darnold lead the Seahawks to the Super Bowl in his first year with the team in 2025. The son of former head coach Gary Kubiak, Klint is considered the front-runner for the head-coaching gig with the Raiders, but if he for some reason doesn't get hired there, it sounds like the Cardinals will bring him on board. Both organizations are a mess, but the Raiders have the No. 1 overall pick in this year's NFL Draft and are expected to take Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza. Under Kubiak this year, Seattle's offense ranked fourth in yards per play and second in yards per pass play.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
January 30, 2026
The Kansas City Chiefs are expected to have a new starting running back for the 2026 season, according to Nate Taylor of ESPN. The Chiefs had one of the worst rushing attacks in the NFL last year with RBs Isaiah Pacheco and
Kareem Hunt. Pacheco didn't have a single rush of 20-plus yards, while Hunt had only one. Offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, who is returning to the franchise, will be tasked with improving the rushing attack in KC, although head coach Andy Reid will remain the offensive play-caller. Both Pacheco and Hunt will be free agents in March, leaving
Brashard Smith as the only RB on the roster under contract. It means that the Chiefs' backfield could look drastically different in 2026, and they will most likely be in play for one of the top free-agent RBs. Hunt led the Chiefs in rushing in 2025 with only 611 yards on 163 carries (3.7 yards per tote), while Pacheco had only 462 yards on 118 carries (3.9 YPC).
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Nate Taylor
January 30, 2026
The Tennessee Titans are hoping that new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll will help young quarterback
Cam Ward, who struggled in his first year in the NFL after the Titans took him first overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. During Daboll's time in New England under Bill Belichick, he learned the Erhardt-Perkins system, which employs a concept-based passing scheme and runs to set up the pass. ESPN's Turron Davenport points out that Daboll has also used play-action, with vertical passing concepts, which match Ward's skill set. Ward had plenty of success using run-pass-option plays in college, and the Giants used RPOs at a 12.6% rate last year under Daboll, the fourth-highest rate in the league. The 23-year-old plans to clean up his mechanics after throwing for 3,169 yards, 15 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in his first 17 games. Ward must fix his accuracy issues to take the next step, but he should be in good hands with Daboll.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Turron Davenport
January 30, 2026
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said that wide receiver
Jalen Coker will enter the offseason as the team's No. 2 wideout behind 2025 first-rounder
Tetairoa McMillan, according to David Newton of ESPN. Newton also writes that the Panthers' top offseason priority is locking Coker down long term. He's an exclusive-rights free agent, so the team could tender him an offer for the league minimum to ensure that he's around in 2026 at a low cost. The 24-year-old came on strong late in 2025 and had nine catches for 134 yards and one touchdown in the Wild-Card loss to the Los Angeles Rams. If the Panthers truly believe in Coker, they could look to lock him up long-term at a reasonable price. Injuries have limited Coker to 22 regular-season games in his first two years in the NFL, but when on the field, he's been productive, catching 65 passes for 872 yards and five touchdowns on 89 targets. If he can finally stay healthy in Year 3, Coker has true breakout potential.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - David Newton
January 30, 2026
ESPN's David Newton writes that unless Carolina Panthers running back
Rico Dowdle wants to "return at a bargain price," he "appears headed to this third team in three seasons." General manager Dan Morgan said he had a good meeting with Dowdle after the season, but Dowdle was unhappy with the way the year ended -- he had seven carries for 10 yards in the Week 18 regular-season finale and only five carries for nine yards in the Wild-Card loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The 27-year-old has produced back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and was Carolina's leading rusher (1,076 yards), but he'd likely be in a committee backfield again with
Chuba Hubbard if he were to re-sign. Hubbard is locked in through the 2028 campaign on a four-year, $33.2 million deal he signed in 2024. "I just want to be a guy who can go out there and just get the bulk [of the carries]," Dowdle said.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - David Newton
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