RADIO
Puka Nacua Could be a Candidate for the Franchise Tag in 2027
CBS Sports' Joel Corry makes the case that Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua could be a candidate for the franchise tag in 2027 as he heads into the final year of his rookie deal in 2026. Based strictly on his production through his first three years in the NFL -- 313 catches, 4,191 yards and 19 touchdowns in 44 regular-season games -- the case can be made that the 25-year-old deserves to be the highest-paid WR. The former fifth-rounder in 2023 led the league with 129 catches for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns (all career highs) in 2025, and his 107.2 receiving yards per game led the NFL. Nacua's 313 catches are the fourth-most ever in a span of his first three seasons, behind only Justin Jefferson (324), Michael Thomas (321), and Amon-Ra St. Brown (315). Only Jefferson (4,825) has more receiving yards through three seasons than Nacua. Questionable off-the-field decisions last year have jeopardized Nacua's big-time payday in the future. He could still get a new deal before the start of the 2026 regular season, but it remains to be seen if the Rams are comfortable with that yet. Either way, Nacua is the unquestioned top fantasy wideout going into this season with veteran QB Matthew Stafford back for another campaign.
Source: CBS Sports Joel Corry
Source: CBS Sports Joel Corry
KC Concepcion a Potential Late-Round Gem in 2026 Drafts
With training camps set to open at the end of the month, a position battle that all fantasy managers should be paying close attention to is at the top of the wide receiver depth chart for the Cleveland Browns. The Browns spent one of their two first-round picks on Texas A&M receiver KC Concepcion before using another top 40 selection on Denzel Boston, adding the rookies to a room in which veteran Jerry Jeudy is looking to rebound from a disappointing 602-yard campaign. While Cleveland has steadily assembled a dynamic core of playmakers, the quarterback spot features its own battle to watch between second-year pro Shedeur Sanders and a redemption-seeking Deshaun Watson. While neither inspires much confidence at this point in their respective careers, whoever wins the job would do well to get the ball into the hands of players who can create yards after the catch, an area where Concepcion stood out in college. Nearly half of his 919 receiving yards in 2025 came after the catch, and if he is able to carve out something close to the Zay Flowers role in Todd Monken's offense, Concepcion could be a late-round gem as RotoBaller's WR49.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Amon-Ra St. Brown Remains One of the Safest Picks in the First Round of 2026 Drafts
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has steadily finished as the fantasy WR3 in each of the past three seasons, and there is little reason to believe he'll stray far from there in 2026. Even with the late-season emergence of teammate Jameson Williams, who topped 1,000 receiving yards for the second straight year, St. Brown remains the unquestioned lynchpin of Detroit's high-powered passing offense, earning an already staggering 31.3% target share and an even more unreal 37.5% share in the red zone. Without the threat of pulling the ball down and running, nearly all of Jared Goff's dropbacks translate to passing production, allowing him to lead the NFL in both passing yards and touchdowns over the past four seasons, and with St. Brown his most trusted target, the four-time Pro Bowler remains one of the safest picks in fantasy. St. Brown is RotoBaller's WR5 and a player who should continue to shift matchups throughout the 2026 season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Emanuel Wilson Not the Seahawks Running Back to Target in 2026 Redraft Leagues
After three seasons with the Green Bay Packers, running back Emanuel Wilson signed a one-year, $1.6 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks. At the time, the team had just lost Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III through free agency, and with Zach Charbonnet tearing his ACL in a January playoff game, the door was temporarily open for Wilson to see a meaningful role after averaging 4.5 career yards per carry, primarily through change-of-pace work and the occasional spot start. Since then, the Seahawks spent their first-round pick on Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price, while Charbonnet was spotted doing rehabilitation work on a side field during the final practice of mandatory minicamp in June. With George Holani also still on the roster, even a best-case scenario for Wilson involves a muddled timeshare with low prospects of hitting for fantasy, but with Price reportedly taking on a larger role throughout those non-padded sessions, a more likely scenario would see the rookie handling lead back responsibilities early in the year. At RotoBaller's RB57, Wilson is not a player who needs to be targeted in 2026 redraft leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tyquan Thornton an Attractive Later-Round Pick in Best-Ball Drafts
After three disappointing years in New England, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton enjoyed the most productive season of his young career in 2025, serving as the primary vertical threat in a Chiefs offense that has stagnated in recent years. Since the departure of Tyreek Hill in 2022, two-time MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes II had seen his air yards per attempt on a steady decline, and while that number sat at only 7.0 in 2025, it still represented a slight uptick over his previous two seasons. While he caught only 19 passes in his first season with the Chiefs, Thornton was easily the most explosive piece of an offense whose most reliable playmakers tended to operate underneath, averaging more than 23 yards per reception and adding three touchdowns to his 438 yards. The team's most impactful receiver, Rashee Rice, is expected to be cleared of the legal situation for which he already served a six-game suspension, while 2024 first-round pick Xavier Worthy should be healthier after a frustrating, injury-marred sophomore campaign, but neither possesses Thornton's ability to consistently stretch the field. While his production may come in more unpredictable spurts, Thornton should benefit from further developed chemistry with Mahomes, and he is a worthwhile selection in the later rounds of 2026 best ball drafts.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Will Shipley an NFL Depth Piece with Little Fantasy Value
With training camps set to open at the end of the month, depth charts around the league will soon be tested, but one of the deepest rosters in the NFL still belongs to the Philadelphia Eagles, and at the running back spot in particular, third-year veteran Will Shipley provides a luxury to a team with title aspirations. Three-time Pro Bowler Saquon Barkley is firmly entrenched atop the depth chart, but with the 29-year-old back having accumulated more than 800 total touches across his first two seasons with the Eagles, the presence of Shipley and 2025 trade acquisition Tank Bigsby could allow him to keep fresh during the dog days of summer while each competes to carve out their own role. Through his own two seasons in Philadelphia, Shipley has carried the ball only 44 times for an unimpressive 131 yards, but his contributions on special teams boost his chances of sticking on the roster. While he carries little standalone fantasy value into 2026, Shipley would become a popular waiver add should an unfortunate injury strain the Eagles' impressive depth.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Aaron Donald a "Real Possibility" to Return to the Rams
The NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said on Thursday that there is a "real possibility" that defensive tackle Aaron Donald will unretire to play for the Los Angeles Rams in 2026. Donald is unsure right now what is going to happen, but he has been working out and lifting weights. The next step for the 35-year-old 10-time Pro Bowler and eight-time All-Pro is to determine whether he can get back into top-notch football shape to return to the form he was in before he retired in 2023. There's no real timeline for Donald to decide one way or another, and if he does show up at the Rams' training camp, it's unlikely to happen until late in camp. It's also possible that if Donald does return to the Rams this year, it might not come until during the regular season. If Donald suits up for L.A. to join All-Pro pass-rusher Myles Garrett in 2026, it will strictly be in a rotational role on the interior of the Rams' defensive line. In his last season in the NFL, Donald had only eight sacks and 53 tackles (28 solo) in 16 regular-season starts in his 10th year in the league.
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Marvin Mims Jr. May Need a Change of Scenery to Matter in Dynasty Formats
Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. is still only 24, but another major addition has made his 2026 role harder to trust. He finished last season with 37 catches for 322 yards and one touchdown, down from 503 yards and six scores in 2024. Denver then traded a first-round pick, among other selections, for Jaylen Waddle. Courtland Sutton remains, and Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant are also fighting for snaps. Mims will still matter to the Broncos because he is one of the NFL's better returners, but that does not help fantasy managers much. He played only 33% of Denver's offensive snaps last year, even before Waddle arrived. There is still a patience case in dynasty. Mims is 24, can create with the ball in his hands, and is entering the final season of his rookie contract. He has also acknowledged this could be his last year in Denver. Contenders should not count on him for 2026. Rebuilders with room should hold rather than sell for scraps, since a new team in 2027 may offer the receiving opportunity he has yet to find.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Trey Benson's Dynasty Appeal Is Fading in Arizona
Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson finally had a shot at replacing James Conner last September, then his own knee injury erased the opportunity. A meniscus procedure ended his season after four games. He had been productive in that brief run, taking 29 carries for 160 yards and catching 13 of 16 targets for another 64, but Arizona spent the offseason building around other backs. Conner reworked his deal to stay. Tyler Allgeier signed for two years. Then the Cardinals used the third overall pick on Jeremiyah Love, who is expected to rise to the top of Mike LaFleur's depth chart. Benson was still rehabbing during the offseason program, though the team expects him back for training camp. Even healthy, finding weekly work will be difficult. Love, Allgeier, and Conner are the obvious top three, and Benson has appeared in only 17 games across two seasons. The 4.9 career yards per carry keep a little intrigue alive, but this is not an automatic buy-low. Contenders cannot count on him, and rebuilders should be willing to move him for a useful return rather than wait for the depth chart to get even tighter.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Isaiah Davis Offers Only Deep Dynasty Stash Appeal in a Crowded Backfield
New York Jets running back Isaiah Davis made a little go a long way last season, but the depth chart never opened the way it seemed it might. After Braelon Allen suffered a season-ending MCL injury in Week 4, Davis moved into the No. 2 spot behind Breece Hall. His best day came in Cincinnati, where he turned 12 touches into 109 yards. That was the exception. Davis finished 2025 with 43 carries for 236 yards and 21 catches for 186 yards, only 64 touches in 16 games even with Allen out for most of the season. Now Allen is back, and the Jets signed Hall to a multi-year extension in May. Aaron Glenn still likes the idea of using all three, though offseason work had Hall first, Allen second, and Davis third. The efficiency is real. Davis has averaged 5.6 yards per carry through two seasons and can help in the passing game. The workload is the problem. He belongs on rosters only in deep dynasty leagues, and neither contenders nor rebuilders should be paying much to get him.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Trey McBride Is a Dynasty Cornerstone, Not a Sell-High Candidate
Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride is the kind of player dynasty managers can overthink after a monster season. He caught 126 passes for 1,239 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2025, one year after going 111-1,146-2. The 169 targets matter more than the touchdown spike. McBride has now topped 100 catches in back-to-back seasons, something no tight end had done before, and Arizona has him under contract through 2029. There is some uncertainty at quarterback, but Jacoby Brissett enters camp as the likely starter. Gardner Minshew II is the veteran alternative, while third-round rookie Carson Beck looks more like a longer-term option. Mike LaFleur has already talked about finding different ways to use McBride in the new offense. Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson remain part of a capable receiving group, but that did not keep McBride from leading the Cardinals in catches, yards, and receiving touchdowns last year. RotoBaller ranks him as the dynasty TE2. Contenders should be willing to pay for the weekly advantage, and rebuilders have no reason to move him just because his value is high. It would take another cornerstone asset, plus a meaningful piece, to make selling worthwhile.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Brock Purdy Is a Smart Dynasty Buy for Contenders
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy played only nine games last season, but the production held up when he was on the field. He threw for 2,167 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions while adding 147 rushing yards and three more scores. That is 23 total touchdowns in nine starts. Purdy will never offer the rushing ceiling of the elite fantasy quarterbacks, though he has already shown he can deliver strong numbers within Kyle Shanahan's offense. He is 26, signed through 2030, and has thrown 84 touchdown passes in 49 career games. San Francisco also gave him a new group of weapons. Mike Evans and Christian Kirk were added, Ricky Pearsall returns, and the 49ers selected De'Zhaun Stribling with the 33rd overall pick. George Kittle's recovery from a torn Achilles remains the biggest concern around the offense. RotoBaller ranks Purdy as the dynasty QB14, placing him near the front of the QB2 tier. Rebuilders do not need to force a deal, but contenders looking for a stable Superflex starter should be asking what it takes to acquire him.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Justin Jefferson's Down Year Gives Dynasty Contenders an Opening
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson did not suddenly stop being an elite dynasty asset because 2025 went sideways. The touchdowns vanished. He scored only twice, and Minnesota cycled through J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer while Jefferson finished with 84 catches for 1,048 yards on 141 targets. It was his worst full season, yet he still cleared 1,000 yards for the sixth time in six years. One season earlier, he posted 103 receptions, 1,533 yards, and 10 scores. The quarterback question remains, with McCarthy and Kyler Murray headed for a camp battle, while Jauan Jennings joins Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson in a deeper group of pass-catchers. None of that changes the larger point. Jefferson turned 27 in June, remains under contract through 2028, and sits fourth in RotoBaller's dynasty wide receiver rankings. He will cost plenty. For a contender with depth to spare, though, this is the rare moment to see whether a frustrated manager will move him. Rebuilders should hold unless the return includes another cornerstone asset.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Harold Fannin Jr. May Be a Steal at Current Redraft ADP
A third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Cleveland Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. recorded 72 catches for 731 yards and six touchdowns on 107 targets across 16 games as a rookie. Even while splitting reps with veteran tight end David Njoku, Fannin Jr. finished the year as the TE8 in per-game PPR scoring. Entering 2026, Fannin Jr. profiles as the unquestioned TE1 in Cleveland following the offseason departure of Njoku in free agency. While the Browns used a pair of top-40 selections in the 2026 NFL Draft on wide receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston, Fannin Jr. may still profile as the most reliable and consistent target in the Cleveland passing game. The Browns' quarterback situation remains one of the NFL's worst on paper, which is a definite concern for Fannin Jr.'s fantasy upside. However, the 22-year-old specializes in winning in the short and intermediate areas of the field, which should make him a security blanket for whoever is lining up under center for Cleveland. Fannin Jr.'s track record as a high-volume target-earner dates back to his final year in college at Bowling Green, when he led the country in both receptions (117) and receiving yards (1,555). As the seventh tight end off the board by current redraft ADP, Fannin Jr. profiles as a value selection for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jalen McMillan Emerging as a Sneaky Redraft Sleeper Ahead of 2026
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan's 2025 season was derailed by a preseason neck injury that kept him out until Week 15. However, the 24-year-old should be healthy heading into 2026, and he will have an opportunity to earn a larger role in the Tampa Bay passing game following the offseason departure of former Bucs' wideout Mike Evans. McMillan has flashed upside across the first 17 games of his NFL career, recording 49 catches for 639 yards and eight touchdowns on 73 targets. While Emeka Egbuka is likely locked into the WR1 role in Tampa Bay, presumed Bucs WR2 Chris Godwin Jr. is entering his age-30 season and has battled both injuries and declining production in recent years. As the WR59 by current redraft ADP, McMillan profiles as a sneaky sleeper for fantasy managers to target in drafts ahead of 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
