Jul 3, 2026, 3:01 PM ET

--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 3, 2026, 2:49 PM ET

One season after tearing his ACL while playing for the Houston Texans, 11th-year wide receiver Stefon Diggs was the top receiving option for a 2025 New England Patriots team that reached the Super Bowl. While the Patriots opted to move on from Diggs while aggressively rebuilding their receiver room around MVP runner-up Drake Maye, the four-time Pro Bowler is still more than capable of providing a veteran presence to a number of teams and could find a fantasy-relevant role in a handful of receiver rooms as currently constructed. In a rotational role in his lone season in New England, Diggs topped 1,000 yards on 85 receptions, finishing as the WR18 while rarely seeing higher than a 60% snap share. Still a savvy route-runner with some of the best hands in the league, Diggs converted 60% of his receptions into first downs and could continue to see high-value opportunities in a part-time role. Even without a team at the moment, at RotoBaller's WR62, the free agent receiver is a clever stash in the final rounds of 2026 drafts.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 3, 2026, 2:38 PM ET

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan finished as the WR15 in his first professional season, and with the coaching staff remaining largely intact and the team returning nine of 11 offensive starters from a season ago, the only thing standing in the way of a true WR1 breakout could be an overall lack of passing volume. As a rookie, McMillan more than doubled his next closest teammate with a 26.3% target share, but in an offense that threw the ball only 515 times, his 120 total targets ranked 13th in the league. While the biggest change coming to Carolina's offense for 2026 is offensive coordinator Brad Idzik's promotion to full-time playcaller, head coach Dave Canales will still have his fingerprints on the team's weekly game plans, and only nine teams have thrown fewer passes than the Panthers since he took over in 2024. While an improving receiver room could lead Idzik to play more to the team's strengths, an increase of overall volume could be counter-balanced by the rising involvement of third-year receiver Jalen Coker, who missed the first six weeks of the season, but found himself on a 95-target pace of his own over the final seven games of the regular season and playoffs. At RotoBaller's WR18, McMillan profiles as one of the safest, most reliable WR2 options in 2026, but for drafters seeking top-five upside, other receivers going in his range of the draft come with higher ceilings (and more accompanying risk).--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 3, 2026, 2:25 PM ET

Washington Commanders tight end Chig Okonkwo has long displayed the occasional flash of game-breaking athleticism, but since coming into the league as a fourth-round pick out of Maryland, he's rarely been part of an offense equipped to make use of those abilities. That may no longer be the case in 2026. After leading the Titans in receptions and yards in his final season in Tennessee, Okonkwo signed a three-year, $27 million deal with the Commanders, and under first-time offensive coordinator David Blough, he could become a featured piece of a Washington offense looking to put last season's injury-riddled struggles behind them. Blough is expected to adopt elements of the Ben Johnson offense he was part of as backup quarterback in Detroit; the same offense that led to a TE1 finish from rookie Sam LaPorta in 2023 and now has the Bears' Colston Loveland knocking on the door of the position's top tier. With the wide receiver depth chart notably thin behind two-time Pro Bowler Terry McLaurin, Okonkwo could easily step in as the number two option in the passing game, inheriting a role that saw veteran Zach Ertz earn a 19% target share across his 30 games with the team. Currently being drafted as the TE17, Okonkwo is a late-round sleeper with both the ability and opportunity to produce legitimate TE1 upside in 2026.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 3, 2026, 2:14 PM ET

Following a lengthy contract dispute that carried well into August, Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin was unable to simply flip the switch for the start of the 2025 season, spending the first few weeks reacclimating to the speed of the game after sitting out for much of training camp before suffering a significant quadriceps injury in Week 3 and missing seven of the team's next eight games. With his own injury aligning unfortunately against those of second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels, the two played only two complete games together and were unable to build on the immediate connection they made in 2024. While a repeat of his career-best 13-touchdown performance was always viewed as an unlikely outcome, and McLaurin was already pegged as a regression candidate heading into the year, the Commanders' disastrous 2025 season has potentially swung the pendulum too far in the other direction, making him one of 2026's best potential values. An emphasis on an under-center passing game in new offensive coordinator David Blough's first season at the controls should lead to more explosive play opportunities, and with McLaurin still standing head and shoulders above a receiver room whose secondary option could be third-round rookie Antonio Williams, he figures to be the primary benefactor. Only one injury-riddled season removed from his WR6 finish of 2024, McLaurin is currently being drafted as the WR23, making him one of the higher-upside picks outside the opening rounds of 2026 drafts.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 3, 2026, 1:31 PM ET

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Jahan Dotson hasn't caught 50 passes in an NFL season, hasn't reached 20 receptions in either of the last two years, and has averaged just 380 receiving yards per season in his four years in the NFL with the Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles after Washington took him 16th overall in the 2022 draft out of Penn State. He joined the Falcons this offseason on a two-year, $15 million deal, and while not much is expected of him, the 26-year-old pass-catcher has an opportunity in his new digs to become the WR2 behind Drake London. London is the only receiver on the roster who had more than seven catches in Atlanta in 2025. Dotson's rookie year in 2022 was his best, when he caught 35 of 61 targets for 523 yards and seven touchdowns in D.C. He's seen 31.5% of his career targets from the slot, but he may be asked to play more outside in Atlanta in new head coach Kevin Stefanski's offensive scheme. The speedy 5-foot-11, 184-pounder should be viewed as a deep sleeper in 2026 fantasy drafts, especially with the Falcons' quarterback situation unsettled going into training camp this summer.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Josh Kendall

Jul 3, 2026, 10:02 AM ET

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews' TE16 finish in 2025 was his worst result since his 2018 rookie campaign, and after top-four finishes in three of four seasons from 2019 to 2022, he has now finished outside the top 12 in two of the last three years. While it would be easy to write off the ninth-year veteran who will turn 31 before the start of the season, the Ravens and new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle are in need of playmakers in the passing game, and in signing Andrews to a three-year extension while allowing Isaiah Likely to depart in free agency, the team has signaled its belief that Andrews could still be one of them. Andrews' 8.8 yards per reception in 2025 were by far the lowest of his career, having never previously dipped below 12 yards per catch, and with Doyle emphasizing a need for more explosive plays, he should see more of the seam-stretching usage of past seasons. With his red zone prowess never in question, Andrews could see a significant bounce-back in an offense whose second receiver spot alongside two-time Pro Bowler Zay Flowers will likely come down to career underperformers Rashod Bateman or Devontez Walker, or one of the team's 2026 rookies, Ja'Kobi Lane or Elijah Sarratt. At RotoBaller's TE6, expectations remain high for Andrews, and with a current ADP of TE11, he has the potential to plug in as a season-long starter from the closing rounds of 2026 drafts.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 3, 2026, 9:49 AM ET

New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. has taken advantage of opportunities given, but through his first two years in the league, he's rarely appeared to be the Giants' primary plan. As a fifth-round rookie in 2024, he began the year behind free agent acquisition Devin Singletary and didn't see more than five carries in a game until the veteran missed time with a groin injury. Tracy responded with 129 yards on 18 carries in his first career start and held onto the position the rest of the way, finishing as the RB16 over the final 14 weeks of his rookie season. Heading into year two, Tracy kept the starting job for exactly one week before being supplanted by fourth-round rookie Cam Skattebo, who led the room in snaps, carries, and yards from Weeks 2-7. Skattebo's season-ending ankle injury eventually allowed Tracy to reclaim lead responsibilities, and he again finished the year on a fantasy-relevant 12-week stretch as the RB20, though the offense as a whole lacked the spark provided by the rookie out of Arizona State. With Skattebo expected back for the start of the season, Tracy is RotoBaller's RB46, and while Skattebo's hard-running style could ultimately add to Tracy's value as an in-season insurance pickup, he is not a player expected to factor into most 2026 drafts.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 3, 2026, 9:38 AM ET

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Chimere Dike's 2,427 all-purpose yards in 2025 were the most by any player since Darren Sproles broke the single-season record in 2011, but with only 423 of those yards coming in the passing game, he made little fantasy impact as a rookie, outside of leagues with niche scoring settings. With the Titans overhauling what was one of the weakest receiver rooms in the league a year ago, Dike's impact is again expected to be felt primarily in the return game. Free agent wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson followed new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll from New York to Tennessee after having caught 185 passes in his final two seasons with the Giants, and the Titans spent the fourth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate, transforming a room that was led by rookie Elic Ayomanor's 515 yards a season ago. Dike is still likely to be mixed in offensively, but more as a luxury than a necessity, allowing him to focus primarily on special teams, where his field-flipping abilities provide the most value to the team. At RotoBaller's WR92, the second-year receiver is likely to go undrafted in any 2026 redraft leagues without a heavy emphasis on return yardage.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 3, 2026, 9:25 AM ET

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams finished as the fantasy WR5 over the final 10 weeks of the 2025 season, and while many are quick to point to the absence of tight end Sam LaPorta as the driving factor behind his late-season breakout, there's evidence of his leveling up even before LaPorta was placed on injured reserve with a herniated disc. The two games following Detroit's Week 8 bye proved to be LaPorta's final two outings of the season, but they were also arguably his most productive two-game stretch of 2025, totaling 150 yards on 11 catches while reeling in one of his three touchdown grabs on the year. In those two games, the start of his end-of-season run of dominance, Williams caught 10 passes for 185 yards and two scores, finishing as the WR14 and WR3. With LaPorta expected to be healthy again for 2026, the Lions are likely to deploy more of the two-receiver sets from which Williams has proven to be a dynamic weapon. If Williams can find more consistency in his fifth season, an expectation expressed publicly by wide receiver coach Scottie Montgomery in one of his final media sessions of minicamp, the 2022 first-round pick could pick right back up on the 82-catch, 1,400-yard, and nine-touchdown pace with which he ended 2025, and he should have little trouble outproducing his current ADP as WR26.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 3, 2026, 9:13 AM ET

It took Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown until Week 7 of the 2025 season to post a weekly fantasy finish inside the top 20, but from that point forward, he never looked back. Brown finished as the RB19 or better in each of his final 11 games, only twice finishing outside the top 15. The team's mid-season trade for veteran quarterback Joe Flacco helped to steady a faltering offense without three-time Pro Bowler Joe Burrow, and Brown was perhaps the biggest benefactor, finishing as the RB7 from that point forward. With Burrow at full health and Flacco back under contract to back him up, Brown's high floor remains very much intact, while a projected philosophical shift could help to raise his ceiling in 2026. Brown was one of the league's most explosive runners when the team went under center, but with the Bengals ranking 31st in the league in that category, he rarely had the opportunity to take advantage. Reports out of minicamp have suggested that the team could mix in more under-center runs, and even a modest increase, along with the offensive consistency allowed by the presumed health at quarterback, could have Brown flirting with a top-five finish. Heading into the year, he is RotoBaller's RB10, and drafters should again feel comfortable making Brown their RB1 in 2026.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 2, 2026, 4:09 PM ET

Wide receiver Treylon Burks never could live up to his first-round potential when the Tennessee Titans took him 18th overall in 2022 out of the University of Arkansas, as he caught 53 of 92 targets for 699 yards and only one touchdown in 27 games (17 starts) in his first three years in the league. The Titans eventually released the 26-year-old, and the Washington Commanders took a flier on him as they searched for WR depth behind Terry McLaurin. Burks had only 10 catches for 130 yards and one touchdown on 22 targets in eight games (three starts) in his first year in D.C. in 2025, but there were flashes of why he was considered a first-round target. Deebo Samuel Sr. won't be back in free agency, and the Commanders are still searching for depth behind McLaurin. Might Burks be that guy? NFL.com's Nick Shook suggests that a full offseason of stability could serve Burks well as he heads into Year 2 in Washington. If the Commanders don't add a big name at WR before the start of the 2026 season, Burks might be the best bet to emerge as the WR2 behind McLaurin.--Keith Hernandez
Source: NFL.com - Nick Shook

Jul 2, 2026, 3:59 PM ET

Wide receiver Adonai Mitchell didn't pan out for the Indianapolis Colts after they took him in the second round (52nd overall) in 2024 out of the University of Texas, but he took advantage of the opportunity in a bad New York Jets offense last year after being traded. The 23-year-old had just 23 catches on 55 targets for 312 yards and no touchdowns in 17 games (seven starts) in his rookie campaign before catching nine passes for 152 yards and zero scores in eight games in Indy to begin the 2025 season. But after going to the Big Apple, he caught 24 of 58 targets for 301 yards and the first two TDs of his career. Mitchell still isn't in an ideal situation QB-wise with the Jets, but Geno Smith's veteran leadership could give him some stability, according to NFL.com's Nick Shook. Mitchell could be the Jets' No. 3 wideout behind Garrett Wilson and first-round rookie Omar Cooper Jr., but reports this offseason suggest that he has developed some nice chemistry with Smith. His talent still makes him interesting in deeper fantasy leagues, but Mitchell is going to need to become more efficient with his chances to stand out in 12-team formats in his first full season in New York.--Keith Hernandez
Source: NFL.com - Nick Shook

Jul 2, 2026, 3:47 PM ET

Before San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall's NFL career even got off the ground, he suffered a gunshot wound during an attempted robbery that caused him to miss the first six weeks of his rookie campaign in 2024. He played in 11 games (four starts), catching 31 of 46 targets for 400 yards and three touchdowns. The 25-year-old former 31st overall pick out of the University of Florida then suffered a hamstring injury and a PCL injury in his knee in 2025 that limited him to just nine starts. Pearsall finished with 36 receptions on 53 targets for 528 yards and no touchdowns in nine regular-season starts. The Niners let Jauan Jennings walk in free agency in the offseason, but they added future Hall of Famer Mike Evans and slot man Christian Kirk, while taking De'Zhaun Stribling in the second round of the NFL draft. San Fran's WR room is deeper, which means that opposing defenses shouldn't be able to key in on him in his third season. NFL.com's Nick Shook believes Pearsall could be set up for a breakout season. He's a risk/reward WR4/flex that is certainly worth a late-round selection in fantasy drafts for his upside when healthy.--Keith Hernandez
Source: NFL.com - Nick Shook

Jul 2, 2026, 3:33 PM ET

Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward started all 17 games in his rookie season in 2025 after the Titans took him first overall out of the University of Miami, and he predictably struggled without much help around him on offense. Ward finished as the QB22 in fantasy football after completing 59.8% of his passes for 3,169 yards, 15 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. The 24-year-old added 159 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 39 carries. Ward showed improvement in the second half of the season and will be in better hands in Year 2 with the tutelage of new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, who oversaw the rise of Josh Allen in Buffalo before leaving to become the New York Giants' head coach. Ward will also have reinforcements in the passing game in the form of free-agent addition Wan'Dale Robinson and fourth overall pick Carnell Tate, who has looked very impressive during offseason workouts. There is plenty of optimism surrounding Ward's development as he heads into his sophomore campaign, and if Daboll can help improve his accuracy and efficiency, he could bloom in 2026. RotoBaller has Ward ranked as the No. 25 QB for the upcoming season, but he has much more upside than most in that tier of signal-callers.--Keith Hernandez
Source: NFL.com - Nick Shook