March 1, 2026
The Indianapolis Colts have made it clear to impending free-agent wide receiver
Alec Pierce that "he will be a Colt," either through the franchise or transition tag, or via a long-term deal, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Pierce seems to be a logical tag candidate, but multiple people connected to the situation also think quarterback
Daniel Jones (Achilles) is a prime candidate for the tag. It could be an issue for the Colts if they tag Pierce but can't reach a long-term extension with Jones. But tagging Jones ensures the QB will be around in 2026, which would appeal to Pierce. A franchise tag for Pierce would cost around $27 million for 2026. If he reaches free agency, he "would command a massive contract." After a breakout year in which he led the Colts in receiving, Pierce would easily top $20 million per year on the open market. The 25-year-old's fantasy value for the 2026 campaign will be the most stable if he sticks in Indy and continues to build chemistry with Jones.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
March 1, 2026
The Arizona Cardinals have interest in Los Angeles Rams impending free-agent quarterback
Jimmy Garoppolo, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. New head coach Mike LaFleur is considered very close to Garoppolo after they worked together in L.A. "That's his guy," a league source said. Both
Kyler Murray (foot) and
Jacoby Brissett are expendable in Arizona, and LaFleur could decide to "create a clean path to restart his QB room by adding at least one veteran and drafting a QB." Jimmy G might not be in a rush to leave the Rams, though, as Fowler notes he has one of the best backup jobs behind
Matthew Stafford, and the Rams "would welcome him back." If Garoppolo leaves, another option would be the backup job in Green Bay behind
Jordan Love. The 34-year-old veteran appeared in only three games in 2025 and didn't have a single pass attempt.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
March 1, 2026
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler hears that the Minnesota Vikings are considering Arizona Cardinals quarterback
Kyler Murray (foot) and Las Vegas Raiders QB
Geno Smith as they outline their plan for a veteran signal-caller this offseason. The Miami Dolphins'
Tua Tagovailoa and Atlanta Falcons'
Kirk Cousins "are also on their radar." None of those four QBs are free agents, but Cousins will be soon, and the others are available via either a trade or, eventually, via free agency if they are released. The Vikings need a contingency plan for
J.J. McCarthy, who couldn't stay healthy and struggled in his first full season as the starter in 2025. Many QBs view the Vikings as an attractive destination, so they shouldn't have too much trouble finding a veteran to pair with McCarthy for the upcoming season. Fowler thinks Smith going to Minnesota makes a lot of sense. He's due $18.5 million in guarantees in 2026, but has another $8 million that guarantees on the third day of the new league year.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
February 28, 2026
The New England Patriots "have explored trade talks" involving Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver
A.J. Brown, but they feel the current asking price is "unserious," a source told Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald. The return could be a step above what the Seattle Seahawks received when they traded receiver
DK Metcalf and a sixth-rounder to the Pittsburgh Steelers last offseason for a second-rounder (52nd overall) and a seventh-rounder. Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf said that the team would be willing to trade their first-round pick "in the right situation." New England is looking to add more offensive firepower to help quarterback
Drake Maye, and they could be forced to cut top wideout
Stefon Diggs for salary cap reasons. Brown was unhappy with his role in Philly's offense in 2025, but he still managed to reach 1,000 receiving yards for the fourth straight season while also scoring seven times. Brown is familiar with head coach Mike Vrabel from their time together in Tennessee, and he's been public about his lifelong fandom of the Patriots. There is some smoke here, so stay tuned.
--Keith HernandezSource: Boston Herald - Andrew Callahan
February 28, 2026
New Orleans Saints running back
Alvin Kamara had his 2025 season cut short due to a knee sprain suffered during Week 12. Before his injury, Kamara was already performing below fantasy managers' expectations with just one touchdown and a career-low 3.6 yards per carry. Most notably, Kamara's targets per game dropped to an average of 3.5 compared to 6.7 and 6.4 targets in 2023 and 2024, respectively. The veteran running back also had a 19.1% missed tackle rate this season, his lowest since at least 2018. Kamara is still under contract for the 2026 season, and his cap hit is expected to rise, making him a prime candidate for restructuring. If he suits up as a Saint in 2026, Kamara profiles as a low-end RB2, buoyed mainly by name recognition, due to his drop in efficiency and decline in passing game involvement.
--Matt McCauleySource: ESPN
February 28, 2026
New York Giants running back
Tyrone Tracy Jr. may be on the outside looking in during the 2026 season. The team expects fellow running back
Cam Skattebo (ankle) to make a full recovery by Week 1, and may target other backs in free agency or the NFL draft. Tracy was unable to replicate his electric rookie season during his sophomore year and lost playing time, seeing just 31.5% of offensive snaps until Skattebo's season-ending injury in Week 8. Starting in Week 9, his playtime nearly doubled to 61.9% of team snaps, and Tracy did have two RB1 performances, including a career-high 24.7 PPR points against the Washington Commanders during the fantasy playoffs in Week 15. Tracy is a young, talented back who has demonstrated his RB1 ability, but his dynasty value could plummet this offseason if he drops further down the depth chart.
--Matt McCauleySource: ESPN
February 28, 2026
The Dallas Cowboys will restructure quarterback
Dak Prescott's contract heading into the 2026 season, according to sources of ESPN's Adam Schefter. Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones intends to be "aggressive in free agency" this offseason. Dallas has already made other moves on the offense by placing a non-exclusive franchise tag on wide receiver
George Pickens on Friday and signing running back
Javonte Williams to a three-year extension earlier this week. In the 2025 season, Prescott had a career-high 4,552 passing yards and led the league with his 404 completions. Dallas is making a concerted effort to keep Prescott's weapons going into 2026, making the 32-year-old play-caller a viable option for those looking for value in late-round quarterbacks.
--Matt McCauleySource: ESPN.com – Adam Schefter
February 28, 2026
Sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter that the Dallas Cowboys will restructure wide receiver
CeeDee Lamb's contract. This news comes on the heels of the team's decision on Friday to place the non-exclusive franchise tag on fellow wide receiver
George Pickens, who is expected to seek a long-term deal with Dallas. Lamb missed three games in 2025 due to injuries and had a disappointing end to the season in Weeks 16 through 18, but finished just inside the top 20 for the year. Playing on the opposite side of Pickens in 2025, Lamb saw a 23% target share, which is a slight drop from his 28% average since 2022. The 26-year-old receiver is still the lead pass catcher in Dallas and is a bona fide WR1 on an offense that has proven its ability to sustain two top wide-outs.
--Matt McCauleySource: ESPN.com – Adam Schefter
February 28, 2026
At the NFL Combine on Thursday, sources told Jenna Laine of ESPN that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will "aggressively pursue" attempts to re-sign wide receiver
Mike Evans ahead of the 2026 season. The 32-year-old pass catcher played in a career-low eight games in 2025 due to collarbone and hamstring injuries, and was unable to extend his streak of 1,000-yard seasons to 12. When active and healthy in Weeks 1 through 3 and 15 through 18, however, Evans was quarterback
Baker Mayfield's preferred target, averaging eight targets and 39% air yards share per game. If Evans does return to Tampa, he profiles as a low-end WR2 due to his target volume and the likelihood that he will lead a packed wide receiver room.
--Matt McCauleySource: ESPN.com – Jenna Laine
February 27, 2026
Buffalo Bills wide receiver
Keon Coleman is coming off a deflating sophomore season after being a trendy sleeper during fantasy drafts. Coleman finished the season with 38 catches for 404 receiving yards with four touchdowns on 59 targets. The 22-year-old was a healthy scratch during multiple games in 2025 due to disciplinary reasons and maturity issues. Coleman took the brunt of an ugly breakout between the Bills organization and former head coach Sean McDermott by receiving public criticism. However, newly hired head coach Joe Brady claimed that his hiring is the "best thing" that could have happened for Coleman. With the lack of a clear WR1 in Buffalo and support from his new head coach, Coleman has a glimpse of hope to save his career in Buffalo. Coleman will remain a late-round dart throw in dynasty leagues with mysterious upside.
--Wyatt McClintockSource: ESPN
February 27, 2026
New York Jets wide receiver
Garrett Wilson is coming off a season-ending knee injury he sustained in December. Wilson was shut down in the middle of the 2025 season to avoid major injury and focus on a full recovery. In a limited season, Wilson had 36 catches for 395 receiving yards with four touchdowns on 59 targets. The 25-year-old was averaging over nine targets per game and was on pace to clear 160 targets. Heading into 2026, the Jets' future is very murky with no clear starting quarterback in place and
Breece Hall potentially departing during free agency. Wilson will remain a fringe WR1 in dynasty based on his talent as a receiver alone, but his ceiling will continue to be capped due to the poor offensive ecosystem around him.
--Wyatt McClintockSource: ESPN
February 27, 2026
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Josh Downs is coming off the worst NFL season of his young career. Despite
Daniel Jones playing at an MVP level early in 2025, Downs was unable to become a consistent contributor in the offense. The 24-year-old had career lows in receptions (58), targets (88), and receiving yards (566) while scoring four touchdowns in 16 games. Downs took a backseat in the Colts' passing attack as
Alec Pierce had a breakout season and
Tyler Warren established himself as one of the NFL's best tight ends. However, there could be major changes coming to the Colts' offense that favor Downs, with Pierce becoming a free agent and
Michael Pittman Jr. a potential cut candidate. This would open up more targets in the offense and create an opportunity for Downs to become a top-3 pass catcher. Even with these possibilities, Downs won't be much more than a late-round dart throw in dynasty leagues, with limited upside in 2026.
--Wyatt McClintockSource: ESPN
February 27, 2026
The Green Bay Packers are not placing a tender on impending free-agent running back
Emanuel Wilson, a source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Wilson will hit the free-agent market this offseason after carrying the ball a career-high 125 times for 496 yards (4.0 yards per carry) and three touchdowns in 17 regular-season games. He added a career-best 15 catches on 17 targets for 99 yards and no touchdowns through the air in his third year in the NFL. It remains to be seen if the Packers have any interest in bringing Wilson back as the backup to starter
Josh Jacobs. The 26-year-old filled in nicely as a plug-and-play RB2 in fantasy lineups last year in the two games that Jacobs missed due to injury, but outside of that, he was merely a handcuff for Jacobs. Wilson will likely operate as a backup somewhere else if he leaves in free agency. In his three seasons in Green Bay, he's averaged a healthy 4.5 yards per carry for 1,083 yards and seven rushing touchdowns on 242 carries.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
February 27, 2026
The Chicago Tribune's Brad Biggs thinks the Chicago Bears would most likely need a "second-round pick or two picks equaling that value" to make it worth their while to trade backup quarterback
Tyson Bagent this offseason. Biggs also questions whether any team would actually offer a second-rounder for Bagent, who has only made four starts (all in his rookie season in 2023) in his three years in the NFL. The Arizona Cardinals have been rumored as a team that could potentially trade for Bagent, and the New York Jets are another organization that might look to save money at the QB position in 2026. It's just hard to imagine any team, no matter how desperate, wanting to give up much for Bagent before they make moves in free agency and the upcoming NFL draft. If Bagent is traded, he wouldn't be guaranteed a starting role going into Week 1 and would have to win a QB competition in training camp.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Chicago Tribune - Brad Biggs
February 27, 2026
Buffalo Bills wide receiver
Khalil Shakir, who signed a four-year, $60.2 million contract with the team in February of last year, is a player "likely taking on a bigger role" next season, according to Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN. New head coach Joe Brady called Shakir "one of the team's best football players" and noted his ability to play both inside and outside. The 26-year-old has mostly operated out of the slot in his four years in Buffalo, but it sounds like Brady has more ideas of how to get him the ball in 2026. The former fifth-round pick in 2022 out of Boise State had 72 receptions on 95 targets for 719 yards and a career-high-tying four touchdowns in 16 regular-season games last season. Shakir also contributed 124 punt-return yards on special teams during the regular season. Shakir's involvement next year will also depend on any offseason additions on offense. It feels like the 6-foot, 190-pounder's ceiling was probably his 821-yard, 76-catch 2024 campaign.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Alaina Getzenberg
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