April 1, 2026
The number 10 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, Minnesota Vikings quarterback
J.J. McCarthy has struggled to get his professional career on track to this point. After missing his entire rookie season due to a torn meniscus, McCarthy was handed the starting role in Minnesota heading into 2025. Across 10 games, the 23-year-old completed just 57.6% of his pass attempts for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. McCarthy also missed time due to ankle, hand, and head injuries. The Vikings made a big addition to their quarterback room over the offseason, signing former Arizona Cardinals quarterback
Kyler Murray. While Murray is also coming off a down year, he's established a far higher level of NFL production than McCarthy heading into 2026. While Minnesota plans to hold an open competition during training camp, McCarthy will have to show major improvement over the summer to hold onto the starting role. In dynasty formats, McCarthy's fantasy value has never been lower than it is right now.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
April 1, 2026
Across 13 games as a senior at Mississippi State in 2025, wide receiver
Brenen Thompson hauled in 57 catches for 1,054 yards and six touchdowns. The 22-year-old showcased blazing speed at the NFL scouting combine in March, running a 4.26-second 40-yard dash, the third-fastest time for a wide receiver since 2003. Thompson's speed makes him an intriguing downfield threat who can force NFL defenses to respect his ability to hurt them over the top. However, at just 5'9" and 164 lbs., Thompson could be a bit of a one-note pass-catcher. He struggled to produce in college before his breakout year at Mississippi State, recording 27 catches across 27 games split between Texas and Oklahoma from 2022 through 2024. Thompson's big-play ability should be enough to get him selected at some point in the middle rounds of the upcoming NFL Draft, but he does not project as a high-volume pass-catcher. RotoBaller currently ranks him as the 144th-best wide receiver for dynasty formats.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
April 1, 2026
Drake Maye
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye emerged as a superstar in 2025, leading his team to a Super Bowl appearance and finishing second in the MVP vote. Across 17 games, the 23-year-old completed 72% of his pass attempts for 4,394 yards, 31 touchdowns, and eight interceptions while also rushing for 450 yards and four scores. Maye's dual-threat ability gives him high-end fantasy upside, and his age makes him a clear dynasty asset. There are some questions around Maye's supporting cast in New England, as the team's starting wide receiver trio of
Romeo Doubs,
Kayshon Boutte, and
Mack Hollins projects as a below-average group. Maye also averaged an unsustainably excellent 8.9 yards per pass attempt in 2025, so a moderate regression in passing efficiency without an uptick in passing volume could lower his numbers across the board. Still, Maye has all the makings of a franchise signal-caller and profiles as an elite dynasty quarterback heading into 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
April 1, 2026
New York Jets wide receiver
Garrett Wilson (knee) battled through a lost season in 2025, as he was limited to just seven games played due to a knee injury. When healthy, Wilson was still productive, recording 36 catches for 395 yards and four touchdowns on 59 targets. The 25-year-old is also expected to make a full recovery and should be healthy and ready to go for the 2026 season. Talent has never been the issue for Wilson, but the offensive environment around him in New York has been questionable for his entire career and profiles similarly in 2026. The Jets acquired veteran quarterback
Geno Smith over the offseason, and while Smith is coming off a down year with the Las Vegas Raiders, he's still a savvy veteran who could stabilize the team's passing game. Wilson also remains the only highly established pass catcher in New York, and should be consistently force-fed targets. Fantasy managers in dynasty formats should hold Wilson in the hopes that he re-establishes high-end value in 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
April 1, 2026
University of Indiana wide receiver
Omar Cooper Jr. was one of the stars of the Hoosiers' National Championship-winning squad in 2025, hauling in 69 receptions for 937 yards and 13 touchdowns across 16 games. The 22-year-old profiles as a physical slot receiver with the ability to both make plays in the red zone and create yards after the catch. He may struggle to consistently win at the catch point on downfield throws, so NFL teams could choose to deploy him closer to the line of scrimmage. Cooper Jr. is currently projected as an early Day 2 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, and could even hear his name called towards the tail end of the first round. RotoBaller currently ranks him as the 53rd-best wide receiver for dynasty formats, and his stock is rising as draft day approaches.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
April 1, 2026
Free agent wide receiver
Odell Beckham Jr. recently met with New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh to discuss the possibility of him signing with the team, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com. The conversation took place during this week's NFL meetings, which Beckham attended in-person. The veteran receiver hasn't played in the league since 2024, when he caught nine passes for 55 yards across nine games with the Miami Dolphins. However, he did recently stir up some social media buzz with his performance in last month's Fanatics Flag Football Classic. Beckham began his career with the Giants, so it would be a full-circle moment to see him re-sign with the organization at the age of 33. He spent five years with the team, making the Pro Bowl in each of the first three seasons of his NFL career. Beckham's prime is far behind now, and he likely wouldn't be anything more than a No. 4 receiver behind
Malik Nabers,
Darnell Mooney, and
Darius Slayton in New York.
--Andersen PickardSource: Jordan Raanan
April 1, 2026
Buffalo Bills head coach Joe Brady acknowledged that "load management remains a possibility for frequently injured tight end
Dalton Kincaid in 2026," according to Tim Graham of The Athletic. General manager Brandon Beane had previously floated the idea of load management for Kincaid, and now, Brady is echoing that idea. The former first-round pick has missed nine games over the last two seasons, including five in 2025. Even in some of the games where he has been on the field, he was at less than 100 percent. Brady acknowledged that Kincaid had a snap count in some games last year, limiting him to passing downs, which made the offense more predictable. He hasn't finished higher than TE20 since his rookie campaign in 2023, but if the Bills can find a way to keep him healthy for the whole year, he might actually be able to sneak into the top 12.
--Andersen PickardSource: Tim Graham
April 1, 2026
Denver Broncos general manager George Paton described running back
J.K. Dobbins (left foot) as fully healthy, according to Chris Tomasson of The Denver Gazette. Paton added that Dobbins, who was placed on injured reserve after Week 10, could have returned for the Super Bowl, if Denver had qualified. He also explained that the veteran running back's positive presence in the locker room is a main reason why the team prioritized re-signing him this offseason. Dobbins was limited to 10 games last year, but he was productive when healthy. He finished the season with 772 rushing yards, 37 receiving yards, and four touchdowns. Moving forward, Dobbins no longer has fringe top-24 appeal at the running back position in fantasy football. His fall down the rankings can be attributed to
RJ Harvey, the rookie who took over as Denver's lead running back after Dobbins went down. As the Broncos look to stay young and fresh on offense, we expect to see Harvey lead the backfield going forward. We still expect Dobbins to have a role, especially on short-yardage and goal-line work, but he's more of a boom-or-bust RB3/flex now. Managers should also take note of his injury history, as he has missed 53 games over the last five years.
--Andersen PickardSource: Chris Tomasson
April 1, 2026
The San Francisco 49ers have said goodbye to free agent receiver
Jauan Jennings, acknowledging that he won't be back in 2026. "He'll find a good home, and Jauan will go play great football for someone," general manager John Lynch told Vic Tafur of The Athletic. "I can't say enough for what that guy did; when that guy stepped between the lines, man, he was a presence, and they had to deal with him, and he won us a lot of games." Lynch noted that
Mike Evans, the new No. 1 receiver in San Francisco, made more sense for the 49ers than Jennings because he is more of a "dynamic fit." Jennings, who remains a free agent heading into April, is coming off back-to-back top-34 finishes at the wide receiver position in fantasy football. Just last season, he caught 55 passes for 643 yards and a career-high nine touchdowns in 15 games. His 2026 fantasy outlook will depend on his landing spot, but he's probably a safe bet to finish among the top 36 fantasy receivers again next year.
--Andersen PickardSource: Vic Tafur
March 31, 2026
Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said it's unclear if wide receiver
Tank Dell (knee) will be ready for organized team activities this spring, but he said he knows "he'll be back for us at some point this year," according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. "As I told Tank, it's not a matter of getting back to OTAs just to get back, it's just a matter of getting back in a really good spot physically to where you stay there. That's the main thing," Ryans said. The 26-year-old former third-rounder in 2023 out of Houston didn't play at all in 2025 after suffering a devastating knee injury in 2024, in which he tore multiple ligaments. Before his knee injury, Dell caught 98 of his 156 targets for 1,376 yards and 10 touchdowns in 25 games (18 starts) in his first two NFL seasons, including seven touchdowns in 11 games in his rookie campaign. His fantasy stock in dynasty/keeper leagues is on the rise, and he could even be worth a late-round dart throw in single-year leagues later this year if his recovery is coming along nicely this summer. If fully healthy, Dell could be competing for the WR2 role in Houston with second-year wideouts
Jayden Higgins and
Jaylin Noel, behind
Nico Collins.
--Keith HernandezSource: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
March 31, 2026
The New Orleans Saints still want to address running back
Alvin Kamara's (knee) contract, even after restructuring it to lower their 2026 salary cap from north of $18 million to roughly $10.5 million already this offseason, according to Matthew Paras of The New Orleans Times-Picayune. It's unclear what else the Saints will do with Kamara's contract, but most likely, they'll ask him to take a pay cut after finishing the year injured for the second straight season. If Kamara doesn't give in, the Saints could trade or cut him, too, especially after signing an RB with similar skills in free agency in
Travis Etienne Jr. on a four-year, $52 million contract. If the Saints address their backfield in the draft as well, the writing could be on the wall for Kamara's departure in the Big Easy. For now, Kamara's future in New Orleans and his 2026 fantasy football value are very murky. Reports this offseason have even suggested that the 30-year-old veteran and five-time Pro Bowler could retire. Kamara was a major disappointment in 2025 in his ninth year in the NFL, playing in a career-low 11 games while rushing for just 471 yards and one touchdown on 131 carries.
--Keith HernandezSource: The New Orleans Times-Picayune - Matthew Paras
March 31, 2026
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on Tuesday that the team has "long-term plans" for franchise-tagged wide receiver
George Pickens, according to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. Jones added that he has no issues with negotiations on a long-term extension for Pickens going through agent David Mulugheta. The long-time owner also said that if Pickens "worked without an agent, he'd save a lot of money." The Cowboys have made it clear that they want to keep the 25-year-old around long-term after he broke out to the tune of 93 catches (137 targets), 1,429 yards, and nine touchdowns in 17 games in 2025, but Jones and Dallas' front office have a history of taking things down to the wire. Thus, it seems likely that Pickens is destined for a lengthy holdout this offseason that could seep into training camp in the summer as he seeks an extension with the team. At the very least, the former second-rounder will be in Dallas for one more season in 2026, and he'll be a clear WR1 target in fantasy drafts after his big first season with the Cowboys.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
March 31, 2026
Atlanta Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham isn't ruling out the possibility of trading tight end
Kyle Pitts Sr., who is currently set to play the 2026 season on the franchise tag, according to Josh Kendall of The Athletic. "It's my job as the general manager to do what's best for the organization," Cunningham said. "Kyle is a great player. We've seen his skill set. Also, it's my job to listen. We're excited to have Kyle. We're excited for his future." Pitts finally broke out for his fantasy managers in 2025, catching 88 of his 118 targets for 928 yards and a career-high five touchdowns in 17 starts in his fifth year in the NFL to finish as the TE2, behind only
Trey McBride, in half-PPR scoring. Fantasy managers in redraft leagues must be careful not to overvalue Pitts, though, as new head coach Kevin Stefanski "will explore" using multi-tight-end sets with Pitts,
Austin Hooper, and
Charlie Woerner all on the field together. The 25-year-old has clear high-end TE1 upside, but if he stays in Atlanta, he could quickly disappoint fantasy managers again, especially with a potential shift to new quarterback
Tua Tagovailoa.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Josh Kendall
March 31, 2026
San Francisco 49ers running back
Jordan James, a fifth-round pick last year out of Oregon, appears to be the "front-runner" to be the top backup behind star
Christian McCaffrey in 2026, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic.
Brian Robinson Jr., who was CMC's primary backup in 2025, signed a one-year deal to join the Atlanta Falcons, leaving James,
Isaac Guerendo, and
Patrick Taylor Jr. as San Fran's options behind McCaffrey with the 2026 NFL draft looming next month. Head coach Kyle Shanahan noted that James was injured last summer and fell down the RB depth chart as a result, but his strong finish to the season makes him a candidate to back up McCaffrey to begin next season. The 22-year-old didn't have a single carry in three regular-season games in his rookie season, but he saw six rushing attempts for 28 yards in the playoff loss to the Seahawks. Given McCaffrey's lengthy injury history, if James sticks as San Fran's RB2 following the draft, he'll have plenty of fantasy value as a handcuff in single-year fantasy formats.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Matt Barrows
March 31, 2026
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel didn't rule out the possibility of the team trading for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver
A.J. Brown, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN. "We've talked about this since last January. We're going to try to do everything we can to strengthen our roster through the draft, through free agency, multiple ways of player acquisition," Vrabel said at the NFL's annual meeting. The Eagles continue to say that Brown remains a member of the team, but the Eagles are financially incentivized to wait until June 1 to trade the Pro Bowl wideout. The Eagles will take a dead-cap hit of more than $40 million if they trade Brown before then, compared to around $20 million after June 1. The Pats released
Stefon Diggs in early March and then signed
Romeo Doubs in free agency, but apparently, they are still serious about adding Brown, who would immediately become quarterback
Drake Maye's top target in the passing game. Brown played for Vrabel with the Titans from 2019 to 2021. The 28-year-old had his sixth 1,000-yard season in 2025 with the Eagles, but he was clearly upset with the direction of the offense. A move to New England to work with one of the best young QBs in the game could invigorate Brown.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN Boston - Mike Reiss
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