February 17, 2026
Quarterback
J.J. McCarthy's lack of availability through his first two NFL seasons is the Minnesota Vikings' "foremost concern," according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic. McCarthy has played in 29% of the team's regular-season games since he was drafted in the first round in the spring of 2024. The 23-year-old has dealt with a torn meniscus in his knee, a sprained ankle, a concussion, and hand and finger injuries. Durability concerns are the primary reason why Minnesota is seeking QB insurance behind McCarthy going into the 2026 season. But injuries aren't the only reason for the Vikings to be concerned. Outside of a four-game stretch to close last season, McCarthy's overall body of work ranked at the bottom among all qualified QBs. The team removed most of its over-the-middle passing concepts last season to keep McCarthy's line of sight as simple as possible. It's clear McCarthy is still developing after missing his entire rookie campaign, but if he doesn't show improvement soon, he could be looking at losing the franchise QB title sooner than later.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Alec Lewis
February 17, 2026
Once viewed as a top-10 dynasty tight end following his early-second round selection in the 2023 NFL draft, Las Vegas Raiders three-year veteran
Michael Mayer has seen his stock dip season after season. With the Raiders bringing in an entirely new coaching staff for the second year in a row, Mayer has again seen his name floated in trade speculation, with dynasty managers hoping a change of scenery can revive his value. A dominant receiving tight end while at Notre Dame, Mayer has shown the occasional flash with the Raiders, notably finishing the 2025 season with 136 yards on 14 targets while
Brock Bowers was sidelined for Weeks 17 and 18. If Mayer is indeed traded, he should see his value spike, but even if he remains in Las Vegas, new head coach Klint Kubiak could find more creative uses for a player that still ranks among the most talented offensive weapons on the team.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
February 17, 2026
The Minnesota Vikings could be looking to trade for a quarterback this offseason after former first-rounder
J.J. McCarthy struggled with injuries and ineffectiveness in his first full year as the starter. The Athletic's Alec Lewis writes that "there is perhaps no candidate who checks more boxes for what the Vikings are looking for than San Francisco 49ers QB
Mac Jones." There are a lot of things that could attract the Vikings' front office and head coach Kevin O'Connell. The 27-year-old is a former first-rounder, comes from a Kyle Shanahan offense, and pushes the ball over the middle of the field. He's still under contract with San Fran for another year, but his guaranteed salary for 2026 is only $1 million. The biggest obstacle to Jones potentially landing in Minnesota is the 49ers driving a "hard bargain" for him after he had a solid season filling in for the injured
Brock Purdy. To land Jones, the Vikes might have to make the Niners an offer they can't refuse.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Alec Lewis
February 17, 2026
While playing all 17 games in 2025, New York Jets second-year running back
Isaiah Davis put up 422 total yards on 64 touches. While the efficiency he displayed in his rookie season remained evident, his lack of usage was a disappointment, given fellow sophomore back
Braelon Allen missed all but four games. With
Breece Hall set to hit free agency following a true workhorse season in which he handled 283 opportunities, there is a chance he moves on, and Davis could help to absorb some of those vacated touches. However, the Jets have both the cap space and the will to secure Hall's services for the long-term, and if they do, Davis will again be forced to fight with a presumably healthy Allen for limited time on the field. Until a decision is officially made on Hall, Davis remains a dynasty hold, but he could be heading toward cut territory if the Jets run back the same room in 2026.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
February 17, 2026
Cleveland Browns wide receiver
Cedric Tillman had a three-game flash near the middle of his sophomore season, during which time he caught 21 passes for 255 yards and two scores. Unfortunately, nothing he's shown before or since has indicated a need to keep him rostered anywhere outside of the deepest dynasty leagues. Remaining relatively healthy throughout the 2025 season, the soon-to-be 26-year-old totaled only 21 receptions for 270 yards and two touchdowns, unable to carve out a meaningful role on one of the league's worst receiving units. With rookie drafts approaching in many dynasty leagues, managers now face decisions over who to cut to make room for the new class. With early reports tying Cleveland to some of the top receiving talent in the NFL draft, and with no promise of improved quarterback play in 2026, Tillman no longer needs to be held if roster space is at a premium.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
February 17, 2026
The Athletic's Vic Tafur writes that it seems as though the San Francisco 49ers "have big plans" for second-year running back
Jordan James.
Brian Robinson Jr. had a nice season as the backup to star RB
Christian McCaffrey, carrying the ball 92 times for 400 yards and two touchdowns in 17 regular-season games, but the 26-year-old will be a free agent in March. James, 21, was taken in the fifth round out of Oregon last year, but he played in only three games and didn't have a single touch out of the backfield.
Isaac Guerendo is an obvious cut candidate, but James probably will only see a significant role in San Fran's backfield in 2026 if Robinson walks in free agency. James was a healthy scratch for the first 14 games of the 2025 season and only played on special teams to close out the year. If Robinson isn't back next season, James will be an obvious handcuff for the oft-injured CMC.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Vic Tafur
February 17, 2026
Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Matthew Golden had a disappointing first year in the NFL in 2025 after he was taken with the 23rd overall pick out of Texas. The 22-year-old caught 29 passes for 361 yards and no touchdowns in 14 regular-season games on just 44 targets. It was surprising that he had so few targets, especially with tight end
Tucker Kraft tearing his ACL in Week 9. The Athletic's Matt Schneidman expects Golden "to be a much bigger part of the game plan next season" in his sophomore season. It would be premature to expect Golden to be above
Christian Watson or
Jayden Reed in the pecking order, but Schneidman "wouldn't hesitate to use him over
Dontayvion Wicks."
Romeo Doubs is expected to depart in free agency, opening up a big role in the passing attack for Golden. Fantasy managers in dynasty/keeper leagues shouldn't sell low on him, and he could end up being a nice value pick in redraft fantasy leagues this fall.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
February 17, 2026
For the first time since the end of his explosive rookie season, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver
Justin Jefferson is being priced outside the top five of the position in dynasty startups. Still only 26 years old, the dip in value is in no way indicative of a decline in talent but rather stems from the poor quarterback play that contributed to his career-worst 9.4 fantasy points per game in 2025. Unfortunately for Jefferson and the Vikings, no quick fix appears to be coming to Minnesota, with the team likely to give third-year signal-caller
J.J. McCarthy one more shot to lock down the starting job for 2026. It should come as no surprise if the team also brings in a veteran presence for a training camp competition, though the free agent market is relatively barren. Head coach Kevin O'Connell has long been regarded as a quarterback whisperer, but unless he's able to draw a drastic improvement from McCarthy or whomever he deems worthy of leading the team moving forward, Jefferson's value could continue to slide.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
February 17, 2026
The Athletic's Matt Schneidman writes that Green Bay Packers impending free-agent wide receiver
Romeo Doubs "is as good as gone in free agency." Doubs is coming off a strong fourth year in the NFL and is fully expected to sign a multi-year extension with a new team this offseason after catching 55 of his 85 targets for a career-high 724 yards and six touchdowns in 16 regular-season games. The 25-year-old former fourth-rounder in 2022 out of Nevada probably won't become a No. 1 wideout with a change of scenery, but he's an underrated player and should be easily considered a top-five free agent at his position going into next season. Doubs has 202 receptions for 2,424 yards and 21 touchdowns in his four NFL seasons, and with the right offense, he could become a priority target as a No. 2 or 3 wideout in fantasy in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
February 17, 2026
The Arizona Cardinals are intrigued by Chicago Bears backup quarterback
Tyson Bagent, according to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports. Bagent has one year left on his deal, so the Cardinals would have to trade for him. The 25-year-old former undrafted free agent beat out
P.J. Walker for the backup job with the Bears and was signed to a two-year, $10 million extension in August of last year. In his three years in the NFL with Chicago, Bagent has appeared in 12 games (four starts) and has gone 99-for-149 passing for 917 yards, three touchdowns, and six interceptions. Arizona currently has veteran
Jacoby Brissett and
Kyler Murray (foot) under contract for next season, but the Cardinals are reportedly looking to trade Murray after another disappointing and injury-plagued campaign in 2025. The Cardinals will surely be looking for a signal-caller in April's draft, too, so if Bagent were to land in the desert, he'd be competing for a starting job in a best-case scenario.
--Keith HernandezSource: Arizona Sports - John Gambadoro
February 17, 2026
NFL.com's Judy Battista writes that Indianapolis Colts quarterback
Daniel Jones (Achilles) could receive the franchise tag to buy the team some time to work out a long-term contract extension. The Colts have made it clear that they want Jones to be their starter in 2026 whenever he's healthy. Plenty of teams around the league would be interested in the 28-year-old if he were to reach free agency, though, so the tag could be in play for him if he doesn't agree to an extension before the free-agent negotiating period starts on March 9. Battista adds that the decision on Jones is linked to the Colts' chances of re-signing receiver
Alec Pierce, who is coming off a career year as the team's No. 1 wideout. If the Colts get Jones signed to an extension, they could then use the franchise tag on Pierce instead. Jones had a nice bounce-back season in his first year in Indy in 2025, throwing for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions before tearing his Achilles in Week 14 against the Jaguars.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL.com - Judy Battista
February 17, 2026
The Indianapolis Colts have made it clear that
Daniel Jones (Achilles) is their starting quarterback when he returns to full health, and ESPN's Stephen Holder writes that "it's becoming increasingly likely" that former first-rounder
Anthony Richardson Sr. (eye) "will wind up elsewhere." Richardson lost the preseason QB battle to Jones last summer, and the Colts have also "warmed to the idea" that sixth-rounder
Riley Leonard can be the backup. According to team sources, Richardson has yet to request a trade, "but it is beginning to feel inevitable." Even though Richardson has been a disappointment and suffered a freak orbital bone injury in 2025, the Colts should be able to get something in return for a signal-caller who will be just 24 next season and is a former first-rounder. Richardson has elite rushing upside, but accuracy as a passer has been an issue, and he hasn't been able to stay healthy. There's no guarantee he'll compete for a starting role if he's traded away this offseason.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Stephen Holder
February 17, 2026
The Miami Dolphins have already been rumored to be a destination for Green Bay Packers impending free-agent quarterback
Malik Willis, and ESPN's Matt Bowen believes they are a perfect fit for Willis in free agency. The Dolphins have a new general manager in Jon-Eric Sullivan and a new head coach in Jeff Hafley, who both came from Green Bay, so the connection is obvious. Miami is also looking to trade QB
Tua Tagovailoa. Bowen envisions a scheme "built around motion/movement, with play-action elements woven in" by new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik. Willis only made three starts for the Packers in his two seasons with the team, but he proved to be an adequate backup as both a passer and runner, completing 78.7% of his passes for 976 yards, six touchdowns, and no interceptions while also running for three TDs in 11 total games played. The 26-year-old third-rounder will generate plenty of interest from QB-needy teams this offseason, and he could be a nice QB2 option for fantasy managers in superflex leagues in 2026 if he wins a starting job somewhere.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Matt Bowen
February 17, 2026
ESPN's Matt Bowen believes the best fit for Baltimore Ravens impending free-agent tight end
Isaiah Likely is with the Washington Commanders. The Commanders are making the transition from Kliff Kingsbury to
David Blough at offensive coordinator, and Likely "could replace free agent
Zach Ertz as the middle-of-the-field target for quarterback
Jayden Daniels." Ertz has been a solid TE for Washington, but he's not getting any younger and is coming off a torn ACL. Likely would bring more upside with his catch-and-run ability, and Blough could scheme things up to "create underneath one-on-ones" for Likely. The 25-year-old former fourth-round pick in 2022 out of Coastal Carolina caught a career-low 27 passes for 307 yards and one touchdown in 14 games last year, but he had a 42-477-6 line in 2024. Getting out of
Mark Andrews' shadow will certainly be helpful for Likely's fantasy value.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Matt Bowen
February 17, 2026
ESPN's Matt Bowen thinks that Indianapolis Colts impending free-agent wide receiver
Alec Pierce would be a good fit with the Tennessee Titans under new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. "Pierce has the vertical stretch ability to produce downt he field and can play a volume role as a multi-level target for quarterback
Cameron Ward," Bowen writes. In a breakout 2025 campaign with the Colts in which he led the team in receiving, Pierce averaged a league-best 21.3 yards per catch and caught 47 of his 84 targets for a career-high 1,003 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games. The 25-year-old also led the league in 2024 by averaging 22.3 yards per reception, so he's established himself as one of the best downfield threats in the NFL. He'll be a popular receiver target in free agency for wideout-needy teams like the Titans, but they will surely have competition on the open market. In Tennessee, Pierce would immediately become the team's WR1.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Matt Bowen
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