February 10, 2026
Pending free agent running back
Austin Ekeler signed a two-year deal with the Washington Commanders before the 2024 season, but has struggled with injuries since. The 30-year-old back managed fewer than 70 offensive snaps in 2025 before a devastating Achilles injury ended his season in Week 2. While his touchdown numbers have dropped precipitously from his fantasy glory days with the Chargers, he continued to prove himself a valuable part of the Commanders' passing game. With almost a full year of recovery before the start of the 2026 season and a work ethic second to none, it should come as no surprise if he signs a minimal short-term deal when free agency opens in March, potentially carving out a dedicated third-down role. While his RB1 days are clearly behind him, he could represent a next-to-nothing dynasty buy with the occasional spike week still in his future.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
February 10, 2026
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver
Puka Nacua finished as the WR1 in Half-PPR formats in 2025, and the 24-year-old wideout belongs in the conversation at the top of the position in dynasty startups. His 95.3 receiving yards per game since his record-breaking 2023 rookie campaign is the highest in NFL history, and with quarterback
Matthew Stafford insinuating his return during NFL Honors, the Rams appear poised for another all-in title push in 2026. Nacua, Ja'Marr Chase, and
Jaxon Smith-Njigba comprise the top tier at the position. While youth slightly favors Smith-Njigba, and long-term quarterback stability belongs to Chase, Nacua enters 2026 in the most favorable overall position and is the most likely to see his value rise throughout the season. While drafters can't go wrong with any of the three, Nacua makes sense at the top of the draft for those building both an instant contender or long-term juggernaut.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
February 10, 2026
Washington Commanders tight end
Ben Sinnott's role could change in 2026 with new offensive coordinator
David Blough calling plays, according to JP Finlay of NBC Sports. "It seemed pretty clear that Kliff didn't see him as a long-term piece of the offense, just because he didn't get many looks," The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala said. Sinnott only had 11 catches on 13 targets for 114 yards and one touchdown in 16 games for the Commanders in 2025 in his second year in the NFL, even though Ertz missed four games after tearing his ACL. Ertz probably won't be ready for the start of the 2026 campaign and is also a free agent, so Sinnott's role could grow significantly in Washington's offense in his third year in the league. That could change, depending on who the team adds via the draft and free agency in the offseason, but as of right now, Sinnott could be a TE sleeper to monitor.
--Keith HernandezSource: NBC Sports Washington - JP Finlay
February 10, 2026
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver
Mike Evans' agent, Deryk Gilmore, hinted that his client is leaning toward playing again in 2026, according to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. "Mike started the season in great shape. Most people in the organization said he probably had the best camp of everyone. He finished feeling better than he has in several seasons. I think his competitive nature leads to more football. That is my hope," Gilmore said. The 32-year-old future Hall of Famer fell under 1,000 yards receiving for the first time in his 12 NFL seasons in 2025 because of a broken collarbone that caused him to miss half the season. Evans finished with a 30-368-3 line on 62 targets in eight starts, but it sounds like he doesn't have any intention of hanging up his cleats just yet. If Evans plays in 2026, it will most likely be back in Tampa, although it might not be the most ideal spot for fantasy purposes, given their crowded WR corps.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
February 10, 2026
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler suggests that the Indianapolis Colts could use the franchise tag on impending free-agent wide receiver
Alec Pierce as a way to facilitate a long-term deal. The Colts' offseason priority is to sign quarterback
Daniel Jones (Achilles) to a long-term extension, but Pierce is a 1B option, according to Fowler. The only problem with the franchise tag for Pierce is that it would be a steep price tag ($25 to $28 million) for receivers in 2026. The 25-year-old broke out in 2025 in his fourth year in the NFL, leading the Colts with 1,003 receiving yards on 47 receptions. He also caught six touchdown passes on a career-high 84 targets over 15 games played. Pierce's fantasy stock will continue to rise if Jones re-signs, which is expected, and if the Colts cut fellow receiver
Michael Pittman Jr., who has one year left on his current deal.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
February 10, 2026
Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson spent four seasons at Alabama, but the 23-year-old wasn't named the starter until his redshirt junior season in 2025. However, his lone season as the QB1 has him in a position to be a first-round draft selection in April. The Tennessee native started in 15 games in 2025, throwing for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. He tallied 93 yards and two scores as a runner. In early November, Simpson was projected to be a fringe top-five pick, as he threw 20 touchdowns to just one interception through his first eight games. He wasn't quite as efficient through the final seven games of the year, but his overall body of work and the premium placed on the QB spot in the NFL make him likely to be a mid-or-late first-round pick. The Raiders are expected to pick Fernando Mendoza No. 1 overall, but the Jets, Cardinals, Browns, and Dolphins are among the teams clearly looking for a new quarterback in 2026. If Simpson is a first-round pick, he'll be a valuable rookie selection in Superflex and two-QB dynasty leagues. His lack of rushing upside limits his ceiling in single-QB setups.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
February 10, 2026
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love is almost unanimously considered the No. 1 prospect at the position in the 2026 NFL Draft class, and he's widely viewed as a top-five or fringe top-five overall player. Despite many draft analysts believing running backs shouldn't be selected in the top half of the first round, we have seen
Ashton Jeanty (No. 6),
Bijan Robinson (No. 8), and
Jahmyr Gibbs (No. 12) come off the board that early just in the past three drafts. After a monster junior season, Love is primed to be a top-10 pick in April's draft. In 12 games, the 20-year-old tallied 226 touches for 1,652 yards and 21 touchdowns despite sharing the backfield with Jadarian Price, who many view as the RB2 in the 2026 class. Love has adequate workhorse size at 214 pounds, and he's a crafty and dynamic runner and receiver. If Love is picked as early as expected, he figures to be a clear second-round pick in redraft leagues next season, and he has high-end RB1 upside in his career, if not from Day 1. Love is easily the No. 1 pick in upcoming single-QB rookies drafts.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Sports Reference CFB
February 10, 2026
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver
Darnell Mooney didn't live up to expectations during the 2025 season. Many fantasy managers viewed Mooney as one of the most intriguing No. 2 wide receivers in fantasy football coming into the year, but injuries and a lack of rapport with Atlanta's quarterbacks cost his fantasy managers in a big way. Mooney, who had 992 yards and five touchdowns in 2024, came back down to earth with just 32 catches, 443 yards, and one touchdown across 15 games this past season. The sixth-year receiver had the second-worst season of his career, letting down the managers who drafted him at his preseason ADP around 120. It will be interesting to see how the Falcons address their pass-catching unit this offseason. At the very least, we would expect them to bring in some competition for Mooney. However, the team also has a glaring hole at tight end with
Kyle Pitts headed for free agency. Plus, the quarterback position remains in limbo with
Michael Penix Jr. (knee) injured and
Kirk Cousins' future uncertain. There are a lot of moving parts here, but one thing is for certain: Mooney will be ranked a lot lower in 2026 fantasy drafts than he was in 2025. Managers shouldn't be rushing to select Mooney or acquire him in dynasty leagues.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
February 9, 2026
New York Jets running back
Braelon Allen (knee) saw his 2025 season come to an abrupt end after he suffered an MCL sprain back in Week 4. New York left the door open for him to return, but that never came to fruition. He ultimately finished his second pro season with 18 carries, 76 rushing yards, two catches, 17 receiving yards, and one touchdown through parts of four games. It was a frustrating setback for a young ball-carrier who was projected to eat into
Breece Hall's workload. While that didn't pan out in 2025, we could still see Allen step into a much larger role next season. Hall is headed for free agency, and if the Jets don't franchise tag him, he could quite possibly sign elsewhere. That would leave Allen and
Isaiah Davis, who had 422 yards and one touchdown across 16 games last season, sharing a rung atop the depth chart. The fantasy surge of Allen and Davis hinges on New York letting Hall walk and failing to replace him, which is far from a guarantee. However, there's certainly a path to Allen being a top-36 fantasy running back next season. Managers should pay close attention to the Jets' free agency plans when evaluating the 22-year-old's fantasy future.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
February 9, 2026
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver
DeVonta Smith had another solid campaign during the 2025 season, catching 77 passes for 1,008 yards and four touchdowns. This was the lowest touchdown total of his career, but it was encouraging to see him eclipse the 1,000-yard mark for the third time in the last four years. It's also worth noting that he had more yards and just one fewer catch than teammate
A.J. Brown, indicating the gap between the two may not be as large as it seems. Of course, it's unclear if this duo will be together for long. There were rumors of drama between Brown and the Eagles throughout the year, and we wouldn't be surprised to see trade talks ramp up during the offseason. Trading Brown is far from a guarantee, but even the threat of a depth chart shakeup makes Smith a very intriguing "buy" in dynasty fantasy football leagues. If Smith were to become the top receiver in Philly, he'd have top-12 appeal among wide receivers in 2026 fantasy football drafts.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
February 9, 2026
Cleveland Browns wide receiver
Jerry Jeudy had an underwhelming season despite operating as the No. 1 receiver on the depth chart. Jeudy ultimately caught passes from a mix of quarterbacks, including
Joe Flacco,
Dillon Gabriel, and
Shedeur Sanders. None of those signal-callers played particularly well, and as a result, he was held to just 50 catches, 602 yards, and two touchdowns. These were his lowest marks since 2021, when he only played 10 games. The 26-year-old is a talented receiver, and the fact that he's under contract for two more seasons indicates that he'll remain with Cleveland in 2026. However, he hasn't necessarily put last year's adversity behind him. The Browns' quarterback plans remain uninspiring, and Jeudy will continue to face competition from the likes of
Cedric Tillman and
Harold Fannin Jr. As a result, managers shouldn't count on Jeudy to be a top-36 receiver ahead of 2026 fantasy football drafts.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
February 9, 2026
Denver Broncos wide receiver
Troy Franklin took a major step forward during his second season in the NFL. He appeared in all 17 games throughout the 2025 regular season, catching 65 passes for 709 yards and six touchdowns. Despite competing for volume with
Courtland Sutton,
Pat Bryant,
Marvin Mims Jr., and
Evan Engram, Franklin managed to finish the year as the overall WR30 in full-PPR leagues. The Broncos aren't losing any key receivers in free agency, so Franklin won't face any less competition heading into next year. However, having another full season and offseason under his belt should allow him to elevate his game and push for a 1,000-yard season. He'll also benefit from playing another year alongside quarterback
Bo Nix (ankle), who should be healthy by Week 1. Franklin is a top-36 receiver heading into 2026 fantasy football drafts.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
February 9, 2026
New England Patriots wide receiver
Stefon Diggs caught all three of his targets for 37 yards during Sunday's Super Bowl LX loss against the Seattle Seahawks. Diggs produced every time the ball was thrown his way, but he didn't quite live up to his expectations as New England's No. 1 receiver. Although it was a tough game for the Patriots' wide receivers all around,
Mack Hollins and
DeMario Douglas started to produce in the second half, and the two ultimately combined for nine catches, 123 yards, and a touchdown. Diggs had an up-and-down regular season, but it should be chalked up to a success given that he had 85 catches, 1,013 yards, and four touchdowns. The veteran's contract is designed to give the Patriots a potential out this offseason, but if New England chooses to bring him back, he'll remain a top-25 wide receiver in 2026 fantasy football drafts.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
February 9, 2026
San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Keion White (ankle) was shot in the ankle during an event in San Francisco on Monday morning, sources told Matt Barrows of The Athletic. White underwent surgery on Monday and is expected to be OK. The 49ers acquired White from the New England Patriots in late October. The 27-year-old former second-rounder in 2023 out of Georgia Tech tallied 12 tackles (five solo), 1.5 sacks, six QB hits, and a fumble recovery in nine regular-season games with the Niners in a rotational role. White might not be ready for the start of offseason workouts because of his ankle surgery, but he should be fully ready to play by training camp this summer. He's heading into the final year of his rookie contract in 2026 and should once again be a rotational defensive lineman for San Fran next season.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Matt Barrows
February 9, 2026
All signs are pointing toward Cleveland Browns tight end
Harold Fannin Jr. being the team's No. 1 pass-catching tight end again in 2026 after fellow TE
David Njoku announced on Monday that he's not expecting to re-sign with the team in free agency this offseason. Fannin, 21, surprisingly led Cleveland in receiving in 2025 after the team selected him in the third round out of Bowling Green. The 6-foot-4, 241-pounder hauled in 72 of his 107 targets for 731 yards and six touchdowns in 16 games played, which made him the TE5 overall in half-PPR scoring. Fannin did it all despite a less-than-ideal situation at quarterback, too, which makes his rookie campaign even that much more impressive. The Browns' QB picture won't look all that much better going into next year, but Fannin should maintain TE1 value in fantasy as a key piece of the offense in his sophomore season.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Daniel Oyefusi
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