April 7, 2026

Broncos tight end Evan Engram signed with Denver in 2025 following an injury-hampered final season in Jacksonville, and while he was able to appear in 16 games, his 28.8 yards per contest were the second-lowest total of his nine-year career. The Broncos got flashes out of their young receiving core of Troy Franklin, Pat Bryant, and Marvin Mims Jr., and the team recently paid up to pair explosive playmaker Jaylen Waddle with the steady target-earner Courtland Sutton. All of that amounts to a crowded group of pass catchers before even factoring in the 83 Denver targets that went to running backs in 2025. Head coach Sean Payton has made no secret that he wants to add a level of dynamism to the tight end position, and with the 2026 NFL Draft offering a deep class with varied skillsets, he will likely be on the hunt to fill the fabled Joker role he's struggled to implement since coming to Denver. Engram is RotoBaller's TE35 in dynasty rankings, and should the Broncos spend early capital at the position, it could mark the official end of what was at times an exciting fantasy career.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 7, 2026

New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson is coming off the most productive season of any rookie back in a Josh McDaniels-led offense since Knowshon Moreno in 2009. McDaniels' famously complex protection schemes have often resulted in essentially a redshirt season for most of his rookie runners, followed by a consistent year-two leap. Henderson was touted as the best pass-protecting halfback in a loaded 2025 class, and while he was the first Patriots rookie to see 500 offensive snaps since Curtis Martin in 1995, his still-developing play strength and recognition often made him a liability on obvious passing downs, with the coaching staff favoring Rhamondre Stevenson in critical situations. Additional time in the Patriots' new weight room and one more year with McDaniels' playbook, along with his clearly evident big-play ability, could see Henderson carve out a larger share of running back snaps in 2026. While Stevenson will still get his, the moves made by New England in free agency suggest an emphasis on getting more productive on early downs and less reliant on Drake Maye to bail the team out of third-and-long scenarios. When healthy, Alijah Vera-Tucker is one of the most disruptive interior linemen in the league, while fullback Reggie Gilliam and tight end Julian Hill add snarl that the team sorely lacked in gotta-have-it situations in 2025.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 7, 2026

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams finished his second professional season as the QB5 despite failing to reach 4,000 passing yards or even a 60% completion rate. Heading into year two under the tutelage of head coach Ben Johnson, if Williams can clean up some of the details that have plagued his young career, he has the natural ability and tools to become a fantasy league winner. Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, and tight end Colston Loveland represent one of the best young groups of pass catchers in the league, and for all of Williams' highlight-worthy improvisation, he's done a remarkable job of keeping the ball out of harm's way, accounting for 50 career touchdowns to only 13 interceptions and 19 total turnovers. While the sample size is small and imprecise, Jared Goff finished as QB10 in his second season with the Lions (his first with Johnson at offensive coordinator) before reeling off consecutive top-7 finishes. Williams is currently RotoBaller's QB5 in dynasty rankings, so any meaningful leap could land him among the fantasy elite.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 7, 2026

Seattle Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo finished his rookie season with 15 receptions for 179 yards and one touchdown, but he did show signs of encouraging usage. His 90.8% route participation was highest among rookie tight ends, while his average depth of target and yards per route run were both close to the top of the class. While it was AJ Barner, in a second-season breakout of his own, who saw the vast majority of high-value touches out of the tight end room, a new offensive coaching staff could help to clear the slate for Arroyo. Brian Fleury takes over as the offensive coordinator in Seattle after four seasons as the 49ers' tight ends coach. While George Kittle can potentially make said position look easy, Fleury and the Niners offense got several fantasy-relevant performances out of Jake Tonges in Kittle's absence. It's worth noting that while Seattle deployed 12 personnel at a top 10 rate under Klint Kubiak, San Francisco ranked near the bottom of the league in each of the last four seasons, though context is important here. The 49ers ran the highest rate of 21 personnel over that time, and while San Francisco boasts arguably the best halfback/fullback duo in the league, Seattle might not have either position figured out heading into the NFL Draft, while tight end remains a strength in 2026.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 7, 2026

Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker was the leading receiver on a 2025 Las Vegas team that has since added only Jalen Nailor on a mid-market free agent contract. His 696 receiving yards marked a career high, and he could see enough early-season success to make him a sellable fantasy depth piece. Tucker is an undersized speedster in a mold similar to Darnell Mooney, whose best games in Atlanta came with Kirk Cousins, the presumed starter in Vegas to start the year. It's important to note that Tucker's sell window could be tightened by what the Raiders do in the NFL Draft, as the team is expected to add receiving help for presumed number one overall pick Fernando Mendoza, and Tucker should not be viewed as an irreplaceable talent. Almost 30% of his fantasy points in 2025 came in a single game against the Commanders while Brock Bowers was fighting through injury.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 7, 2026

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jack Bech disappointed in his first NFL season in 2025 after being drafted 58th overall in the second round out of TCU. The 23-year-old only caught 20 of his 29 targets for 224 yards and no touchdowns in 16 games played (five starts). Bech didn't have much of a chance to succeed last year, though, in one of the worst offenses in the league. There's a new coaching staff in Vegas, though, and veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins is expected to start the year under center, eventually giving way to Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza. Bech will be considered a deep-league fantasy football sleeper who will be competing for the No. 2/3 role with Jalen Nailor and Dont'e Thornton Jr. Things will become more difficult for Bech if the Raiders address the position early in this month's NFL draft. In dynasty formats, Bech is worth considering as a buy-low candidate as he looks to take a step forward in Year 2.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Pro Football Reference

April 6, 2026

Dallas Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue had a quiet rookie season in 2025, totaling 39 touches and logging offensive snaps in just five games. The Texas product was a healthy scratch more often than not, but he did make an impact with 16 carries, 64 rushing yards, and one touchdown in the Week 18 regular-season finale. That game showed that Blue is capable of taking on a more substantial role in the backfield, delivering decent efficiency numbers and even boasting touchdown upside. It took a while for Blue to earn the coaches' trust and carve out a role, but his strong Week 18 could be a good indication that he'll hold onto the No. 2 running back role in 2026. The Cowboys re-signed Javonte Williams to be their RB1 and potential every-down back, but they've yet to bring in any sort of competition for Blue in the second-string role. There's still plenty of time left in free agency, but with each passing day, an external signing looks less likely. The NFL Draft does represent an elephant in the room, but this year's running back class is viewed as abnormally weak, so there are very few impact ball-carriers in the mid-to-late rounds. Plus, it's been a while since the Cowboys last drafted a running back who made a real impact as a rookie. Blue, who patiently waited his turn to produce last year, seems to have earned first dibs on the No. 2 running back role for 2026. Barring a surprise during the NFL Draft, it seems like Blue will be the direct backup to Williams. As a result, he has plenty of fantasy appeal as the handcuff behind Williams. Managers who roster Williams in dynasty leagues should consider sending out trade offers for Blue this offseason.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

April 6, 2026

Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden flashed tremendous upside at various points throughout his rookie season in 2025. He had a four-game stretch with 24 catches, 377 yards, and two touchdowns from Week 6-9, and he added two more double-digit fantasy performances from Week 15-17. Gadsden had some explosive showings, but his lack of consistency prevented him from establishing himself as a surefire TE1. Instead, he finished the year as the overall TE15 in PPR leagues. That's still not bad for a rookie by any means, but we'd like (and expect) to see Gadsden take a significant leap heading into Year 2 of his career. Not only is the second season a common time for tight ends to break out, but Gadsden should also benefit from the Chargers' new-look offensive system. The Bolts hired mastermind Mike McDaniel as their new offensive coordinator, taking the offense to a whole new level. We've seen McDaniel squeeze production from a variety of tight ends. Darren Waller averaged 9.9 fantasy points and 0.7 touchdowns per game with the Dolphins last year; Jonnu Smith was the overall TE4 in fantasy with eight touchdowns in 2024; and, of course, McDaniel oversaw George Kittle's TE4 finish as the 49ers' offensive coordinator in 2021. Managers typically think of McDaniel as a running back and wide receiver whisperer, but his impact on tight ends cannot be overlooked. Gadsden has top-10 upside heading into 2026, making him a low-cost redraft selection and an intriguing buy-low option in dynasty leagues.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

April 6, 2026

Los Angeles Chargers running back Keaton Mitchell is embarking on the next chapter of his career after switching teams during free agency. After spending his first three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, Mitchell signed with the Chargers. He goes from playing for John Harbaugh in Baltimore to playing for Jim Harbaugh in Los Angeles. Mitchell had an underwhelming three-year stint with the Ravens, peaking as the overall RB59 as a rookie in 2023. Occupying a depth role has limited his upside, but injury issues have been a greater burden to his development. He missed 21 games over his first two seasons in the league, as well as an additional four games last year. If Mitchell, now 24, can stay healthy with the Bolts, he has the potential to carve out standalone fantasy value as an RB3/flex. The East Carolina product has flashed some of the best burst in the NFL, consistently breaking off huge runs and capitalizing on his limited playing time. A more consistent role -- now behind Omarion Hampton in L.A. -- could be exactly what he needs to finally break out. The scheme represents a great fit, too, as he'll now be playing for offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, who was able to maximize the potential of similar speedy running backs like Raheem Mostert and De'Von Achane in Miami. Mitchell isn't a top-36 running back in dynasty or redraft formats yet, but he's an intriguing buy-low candidate because of his upside.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

April 6, 2026

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Isaiah Bond had a disappointing rookie season in 2025, catching just 18 of 44 targets for 338 yards through 16 games. The speedy pass-catcher out of Texas was unable to develop much of a rapport with a subpar quarterback room featuring Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. On one hand, Year 2 is a common time for receivers to break out, so Bond could be due for a step forward in that regard. On the other hand, he's likely facing even more competition in the future. He spent last season operating behind Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman. Next season, he'll likely remain behind both of them, and there's also a growing sense that the Browns will select their WR1 of the future with the sixth overall pick in the draft. That would drop Bond to fourth on the depth chart, as well as fifth in the pass-catching pecking order when you also consider breakout tight end Harold Fannin Jr. Heading into Year 2 is encouraging for Bond, but his reduced role on the depth chart, coupled with poor quarterback play, will make it difficult for him to break out.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

April 6, 2026

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook has been trending up in fantasy football year after year. He opened his career as the RB44 as a rookie in 2022, but he has been a top-12 fantasy running back every season since then. He jumped to the ranking of overall RB6 last year, carrying the Bills' offense with 1,621 rushing yards, 291 receiving yards, and 14 touchdowns. Before the season, critics forecasted touchdown regression for Cook. While his touchdown total did scale back slightly from 18 to 14, he was still highly productive around the goal line, and he handled a new career-high rushing workload. The Bills underwent a coaching staff shakeup during the offseason, but new head coach Joe Brady was formerly Buffalo's offensive coordinator, so we don't expect the offense to look too different next year. Cook should continue to operate as the every-down back, rarely ceding touches to Ty Johnson and Ray Davis. He continues to have top-five upside in redraft and dynasty formats.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

April 6, 2026

Miami Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan said on ESPN's This Is Football with Kevin Clark that he wants to see if tight end Greg Dulcich can build on his strong finish to the 2025 season. In the final 10 weeks last year, Dulcich caught 26 passes for 335 yards and one touchdown for Miami. The 26-year-old has never played in more than 10 games in a single season in his four years in the NFL due to injury, but he could be set up for his biggest opportunity with the rebuilding Dolphins as he goes into his fifth campaign. The Dolphins traded away receiver Jaylen Waddle and cut quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and receiver Tyreek Hill (knee), so Dulcich figures to see a heavy target load in 2026 from new QB Malik Willis. In 10 games in his rookie year with the Denver Broncos, the former third-rounder in 2022 out of UCLA caught 33 passes for 411 yards and two touchdowns. Dulcich must stay healthy first, but he's not a bad dynasty buy-low candidate this offseason.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Kevin Clark

April 6, 2026

Sports Illustrated's John Shipley writes that the Jacksonville Jaguars love their running back room as they head into the 2026 NFL draft later this month. Shipley also writes that it "seems like the Jaguars are set to keep their RB group as-is" when it comes to the draft after they signed Chris Rodriguez Jr. The Jags lost Travis Etienne Jr. to the New Orleans Saints in free agency, but between Rodriguez, Bhayshul Tuten, and LeQuint Allen Jr., the team has "enough weapons" to make a leap with their running game in 2026. Tuten, who was a fourth-round pick last year out of Virginia Tech, had 83 carries for 307 yards (3.7 yards per carry) and five rushing touchdowns while adding 10 catches for 79 yards and two touchdowns. He'll be in a battle with C-Rod in training camp this summer for lead-back duties. Tuten's dynasty value is clearly on the rise with Etienne out of the picture, but he won't necessarily be handed workhorse duties, and Allen figures to be Jacksonville's primary pass-catching back. Tuten's explosiveness will make him a high-end RB2 if he's the starter on early downs.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Sports Illustrated - John Shipley

April 6, 2026

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was present for the start of the team's offseason program on Monday. Jackson is coming off an injury-plagued and disappointing 2025 campaign for Baltimore, and he's also looking to get a head start after a regime change to new head coach Jesse Minter and new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. The four-time Pro Bowler and two-time MVP appears to be in good standing with the front office as they work towards a contract extension with two years currently remaining on the five-year, $260 million contract he signed with the Ravens in April of 2023. Jackson played in only 13 games in 2025, throwing for 2,549 yards, 21 touchdowns, and seven interceptions while rushing for 349 yards and two touchdowns on a career-low 67 rushing attempts. If the 29-year-old can put his lower-body injuries behind him in 2026, he'll be a clear bounce-back candidate with high-end QB1 potential. Jackson is still one of the most lethal dual-threat signal-callers in the NFL.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Baltimore Ravens

April 6, 2026

New York Giants All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence has requested a trade and will not take part in the team's offseason workout program that opens on Tuesday, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Lawrence said there hasn't been any progress in trying to work with the team over the last two offseasons on a contract extension. The 28-year-old former 17th overall pick in 2019 out of Clemson was a Pro Bowler from 2022 to 2024 before recording just 31 tackles (14 solo) and half a sack in 17 starts in 2025 in his seventh year in the NFL. Lawrence had a career-high nine sacks in 2024 in just 12 regular-season starts. He still has two years left on the four-year, $87.5 million contract that he signed with the Giants in May of 2023. Lawrence is hoping for a change of scenery and to bounce back from a career-worst season in 2025.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter