February 18, 2026

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III had a clear path to production in 2025, but he failed to capitalize on his opportunities and ultimately turned in a disappointing season. It seemed like Austin had a chance to break out this past season after Pittsburgh traded away George Pickens and signed quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The DK Metcalf addition certainly added a wrinkle to Austin's outlook, but it theoretically should have worked in his favor because he's more of a No. 2 receiver anyway. In the end, Austin's productivity actually took a step backward. He had 31 catches (five fewer than 2024), 372 yards (176 fewer than 2024), and three touchdowns (one fewer than 2024). He was the overall WR74 in PPR leagues, and managers never really knew when to start him. He was heavily dependent on scoring touchdowns, as he found the end zone in three of the four games where he produced double-digit fantasy points. Austin will have an opportunity for a fresh start in 2026, as he'll hit free agency next month. However, it was really crucial for him to produce in a contract year, and he wasn't able to do so. As a result, he might end up signing somewhere as a No. 3 receiver, which will severely limit his upside in fantasy football. He's off the redraft radar in most leagues. Dynasty managers should hold onto him for now, and then trade him as soon as he signs somewhere.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

February 18, 2026

Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet's value is declining ahead of the 2026 season. Kmet never really established himself as a top fantasy threat through his first five years in the league, but he did have two top-eight finishes at the tight end position during that span. However, his fantasy production took a major step backward in 2025 (his sixth season in the league) as the Bears shook up their personnel. New head coach Ben Johnson made plenty of changes on the offensive side of the ball, with the most notable being the addition of rookie tight end Colston Loveland. Chicago started feeding Loveland after the Week 5 bye, which resulted in Kmet's snap share dropping from 100% in Week 4 to just 52% in Week 6. Kmet ultimately finished the year with a modest stat line of 30 catches, 347 yards, and two touchdowns across 16 games. The reception and yardage totals both represented his lowest marks since his rookie campaign in 2020. Kmet is under contract for two more years, and while the Bears do have a potential out this offseason, it seems like he'll remain in Chicago through 2027. That would mean he'll nestle into the No. 2 tight end role next season, severely limiting his fantasy value and upside. He's not worth drafting in 2026 redraft leagues, and dynasty managers should absolutely look to trade him within the next couple of months, even though it's too late to completely "sell high."--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

February 18, 2026

Philadelphia Eagles running back Tank Bigsby's short-term value might have dwindled upon his midseason trade from Jacksonville to Philadelphia, but he solidified himself as a top-tier handcuff with the potential for long-term upside. Bigsby spent most of 2025 in a special teams role, as touches were limited behind Saquon Barkley. However, he did have some opportunities to produce out of the backfield, especially when the Eagles jumped out to an early lead and rested some starters. In Week 8 against the Giants, he exploded for 104 yards on nine carries. He added another 209 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns over the final four games of the season. Bigsby has established himself as one of the most appealing handcuffs in fantasy football, as he'd become a potential top-12 fantasy running back if Barkley were to get hurt. Plus, the Eagles have a potential out in Barkley's contract next offseason, so if the front office believes this is his final year in Philadelphia, we could see the coaching staff give Bigsby more touches in preparation for a prominent role in 2027. These are all hypotheticals at this point, but at the very least, Bigsby is an intriguing handcuff option with top-12 upside. He's absolutely worth buying in dynasty leagues this offseason, especially for managers who have Barkley on their roster already.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

February 18, 2026

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman had a very underwhelming 2025 season, catching just 19 of his 38 targets for a career-low 224 yards and two touchdowns. Missing four games impacted his stats slightly, but it's concerning that he had fewer yards over 13 games in 2025 than yards over just six games in 2022. His 1.5 catches and 4.3 fantasy points (PPR) per game are both new career lows. Interestingly enough, Bateman remains under contract with the Ravens through 2029, so he'll have plenty of opportunities to bounce back next season and beyond. It does work in his favor that DeAndre Hopkins and Isaiah Likely are both free agents, but Bateman will still have to compete for targets behind Zay Flowers, Mark Andrews, and any other pass-catchers the Ravens bring in. He can be avoided in all redraft leagues next year, and dynasty managers should be willing to drop him when the 2026 roster crunch comes around.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

February 18, 2026

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth had a productive season, but the crowded nature of the team's tight end room pushed him off the radar in fantasy football. Despite being a top-nine fantasy tight end in two of his three previous seasons, Freiermuth dropped down to TE25 in PPR leagues in 2025. He played in all 17 games, catching 41 passes for 486 yards and four touchdowns. Part of Freiermuth's underwhelming season can be attributed to the crowded tight end room surrounding him. Jonnu Smith saw 54 targets after Pittsburgh deliberately went out and traded for him during the offseason, and Darnell Washington had a breakout year with 31 catches. Neither Smith nor Washington is a free agent this offseason, so we could expect a similar story of Freiermuth's volume being capped in 2026. As a result, he's not worth drafting in most 12-team redraft leagues next year, and he could be worth selling in dynasty formats.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

February 18, 2026

ESPN's Adam Schefter and Field Yates report that the San Francisco 49ers will play a regular-season game in Melbourne, Australia, a home regular-season game in Mexico City, and have a schedule that includes two cross-country road games at the Atlanta Falcons and the New York Giants in 2026. The 49ers' opponent for the Mexico City game has yet to be announced, but they will square off against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams in Australia. San Francisco was eliminated by the Seattle Seahawks, who went on to win Super Bowl LX, in the Divisional Round of the postseason in a 41-6 rout. It was an impressive feat for the Niners to even make it to the playoffs last season, considering all the key players who missed extensive time due to injuries for them. Led by head coach Kyle Shanahan and quarterback Brock Purdy, the 49ers will be Super Bowl contenders going into 2026, although their schedule certainly won't do them any favors.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter and Field Yates

February 18, 2026

The Kansas City Chiefs restructured quarterback Patrick Mahomes' contract this week to create some much-needed salary cap space going into the 2026 season, according to ESPN. The restructuring converts $54.45 million of Mahomes' 2026 salary into a signing bonus, lowering his cap number to $34.65 million. The move creates $43.65 million in cap space and marks the fourth straight year the Chiefs have restructured Mahomes' contract. KC entered the offseason more than $57 million over the salary cap and will still need to make some financial maneuvers after restructuring Mahomes' contract. The Chiefs missed the playoffs in 2025 for the first time in a decade after reaching the Super Bowl in each of the previous three seasons. Mahomes will now count for an additional $11 million against KC's cap in each of the next four seasons, bringing his total cap number to $85 million for 2027.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com

February 17, 2026

Wide receiver Robert Woods announced his retirement from professional football on Tuesday on his Instagram, according to Omar Ruiz of the NFL Network. Woods was with the Pittsburgh Steelers in training camp last summer but requested his release before the start of the regular season, and he never latched on with another team. The 33-year-old wraps up a successful 12-year NFL career, having caught 683 of his 1,093 targets for 8,233 yards and 38 touchdowns in 171 regular-season games played. Woods was originally a second-round pick in 2013 out of USC by the Buffalo Bills, and he played the first four years of his career with the Bills. He won a Super Bowl ring with the Los Angeles Rams in 2021. In Woods' final NFL campaign in 2024 with the Houston Texans, he caught 20 of 30 targets for 203 yards and no touchdowns.--Keith Hernandez
Source: NFL Network - Omar Ruiz

February 17, 2026

The Cincinnati Bengals plan to gather information about impending free-agent defensive end Trey Hendrickson's market at the NFL scouting combine in late February in Indianapolis, according to Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer. It seems likely that Hendrickson will end up walking in free agency, but there is also a possibility that Cincy looks to place the franchise tag on the 31-year-old veteran and then attempt to trade him. That scenario is unlikely, especially since Hendrickson played in only seven games in 2025 and ended the year on Injured Reserve with a hip/pelvis injury that required core-muscle surgery. The Bengals used the franchise tag on him last year, so tagging him a second straight season would cost them $30.2 milion in 2026. Despite his injury, Hendrickson will have plenty of suitors if he makes it to the open market after having back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons in 2023 and 2024.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Kelsey Conway

February 17, 2026

Tampa Bay Buccaneers impending free-agent wide receiver Mike Evans will play in 2026, agents Deryk Gilmore and Darren Jones told Kimberley A. Martin of ESPN. Evans will return for a 13th season after an injury-plagued 2025 campaign that limited him to a career-low eight games, but Martin also reports that the 32-year-old future Hall of Famer will explore his options in free agency. It's not a foregone conclusion that Evans will return to play in Tampa in 2026, although if he does sign with another organization, it will almost certainly be a team with Super Bowl aspirations. A broken collarbone prevented the former first-rounder from reaching 1,000 receiving yards for the 12th straight year. When healthy, Evans caught 30 of his 62 targets for 368 yards and three touchdowns in eight games. Evans can still be productive when healthy, but depending on where he lands in free agency, he may not be a lock as a WR1 as he nears the end of his illustrious career.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Kimberley A. Martin

February 17, 2026

Baltimore Ravens impending free-agent center Tyler Linderbaum is the team's top free agent this year and is also viewed as one of the five best pending free agents in the NFL, according to The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec. If Linderbaum reaches the open market, he won't have a shortage of suitors, and Zrebiec thinks he's "primed to eclipse Kansas City's Creed Humphrey ($18 million per year) as the NFL's highest-paid center." The 25-year-old former 25th overall pick in 2022 out of Iowa has been a Pro Bowler in three of his four years in the league. He's still only 25 years old and has missed just two games in his career due to injuries. Linderbaum has proven to be a strong run-blocker and possesses all the intangibles that teams look for in offensive linemen. The one knock against him is that he's undersized at 6-foot-2, 305 pounds. If the Ravens don't bring him back, it will likely be because they just have too many other holes to fill on the roster.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Jeff Zrebiec

February 17, 2026

The Baltimore Ravens haven't made progress in their efforts to sign impending free-agent tight end Isaiah Likely to a contract extension, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. Meanwhile, fellow TE Mark Andrews signed a four-year, $56 million contract with the team in September of 2021. Zrebiec writes that it will be very tough for the Ravens to have two guys making top-eight TE money with all their other needs. The 25-year-old Likely had a disappointing fourth year in the NFL in 2025, catching 27 of his 36 targets for a career-low 307 yards and only one touchdown in 14 games. He never really got on track after injuring his foot in training camp last summer. The good news for him is that his disappointing campaign is unlikely to impact his market in free agency this offseason. Likely is versatile and can be a significant weapon in the passing game, but he hasn't been able to stand out in fantasy in Baltimore with Andrews also involved. A change of scenery could be what Likely needs to take the next step.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Jeff Zrebiec

February 17, 2026

Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier has been a key piece of the team's backfield in his four years since he was taken in the fifth round in 2022 out of BYU, rushing for 2,876 yards and 18 rushing touchdowns. Allgeier had a franchise rookie record of 1,035 rushing yards in 2022 and ranks seventh in the NFL in EPA per carry among RBs with more than 250 carries in that span. He's one of just two RBs in the league with more than 500 carries in that time who have not fumbled. However, The Athletic's Josh Kendall writes that "it's hard to imagine how Atlanta will be able to bring him back." The Falcons probably won't offer the 25-year-old starting RB money as the backup to star Bijan Robinson. Allgeier has shown an interest in returning to Atlanta, but it probably isn't in the cards. He had 514 rushing yards and a career-high eight touchdowns on 143 carries in 2025 and will be in high regard if he hits the open market. Depending on where he lands, Allgeier's fantasy value could skyrocket in 2026.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Josh Kendall

February 17, 2026

The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt believes that the New York Jets could release quarterback Justin Fields this offseason. The Jets are going to land in the range of $70 million to $80 million in salary cap space in 2026 without cutting anyone, and they don't have a ton of options for cap savings. Fields signed a two-year, $40 million deal in free agency ($30 million guaranteed) last year, but he was a disaster in 2025 and was eventually benched in favor of veteran Tyrod Taylor. It's unlikely that a team will want to trade for the 26-year-old. If they outright cut him, they'll incur a $22 million dead-cap hit and only $1 million in savings. If they designate him as a post-June 1, they can spread the cap hit out over two years and save $10 million. Rosenblatt believes the Jets will outright cut Fields since they aren't lacking in cap space. The former 11th overall pick has elite rushing upside, but he just has not improved as a passer. Fields could compete for a starting gig elsewhere, but nothing will be guaranteed going into 2026.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Zack Rosenblatt

February 17, 2026

Before a shin injury cut his rookie season short, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton made five touchdown grabs over his final seven games of 2025 while complementing Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba's route-running precision with explosive downfield speed. Perhaps not coincidentally, once Horton was lost for the year, the second half of Smith-Njigba's season, while still dominant, fell off the record-setting pace with which he opened 2025. Seattle made a mid-season trade for speedster Rashid Shaheed, but he wasn't able to recreate Horton's success. With Shaheed headed toward unrestricted free agency, and Cooper Kupp turning 33 before the start of the 2026 season, Horton could be given every opportunity to earn a spot in two-wide sets and is likely to see his value steadily increase as the season nears.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller