March 5, 2026
The Atlanta Falcons are planning to release wide receiver
Darnell Mooney, sources told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Mooney is set to count $18.4 million against this year's salary cap and caught just 32 passes for 443 yards and one touchdown on 72 targets in 15 starts last year in his second year with the team. He's still only 28 years old, though, and has averaged better than 13 yards per catch in each of the last three seasons, so he should generate some interest on the open market from receiver-needy teams. Mooney was heading into the final year of a three-year, $39 million contract he signed with the Falcons in March of 2024. By releasing him, Atlanta will save $7.4 million in salary cap space in 2026. In his first year in Atlanta, Mooney was great, catching 64 of his 106 targets for 992 yards and a career-high five touchdowns. Mooney's lone 1,000-yard season came in his second year in the league in 2021 with the Bears.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
March 4, 2026
The NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that there are only a "select few" NFL teams that would meet the criteria of the Philadelphia Eagles and for wide receiver
A.J. Brown as a potential trade partner this offseason. It's unclear exactly what it might take to pry Brown away from the Eagles, and general manager Howie Roseman knows he doesn't have to trade the 28-year-old three-time Pro Bowler away. The New England Patriots are seen as a potential landing spot after they released receiver
Stefon Diggs, and because of the familiarity between Brown and head coach Mike Vrabel. The Los Angeles Rams could have been another team in play for Brown, but they just traded a first-round pick for cornerback Trent McDuffie. At the very least, the Eagles will likely want a first-rounder and more for Brown, who has exactly seven touchdowns in each of the last three seasons while reaching the 1,000-yard mark in each of the last four years and six of his seven seasons in the NFL.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
March 4, 2026
The Detroit Lions tendered a contract to exclusive-rights free-agent kicker
Jake Bates, ensuring that he returns for the 2026 season, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Bates has gotten off to a nice start to his NFL career in two seasons with Detroit, making 84.1% of his 63 field-goal attempts while making 118 of his 123 extra-point tries in 34 games played. The 27-year-old Arkansas product has led the NFL in extra-point attempts and extra-point makes in each of the last two years while playing in one of the best offenses in the league. In 2025, he went 27-for-34 on field goals (4-for-9 from 50-plus yards) and 54-for-56 on extra points in 17 games played to finish as the No. 6 fantasy kicker in overall points. The Lions will have a new offensive coordinator in 2026, but they should still have a favorable offense, making Bates a clear top-10 fantasy target at the kicking position.
--Keith HernandezSource: Detroit Free Press - Dave Birkett
March 4, 2026
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end
Pat Freiermuth's fantasy value in both redraft and dynasty/keeper leagues should be higher going into the 2026 season with the news that the Steelers are releasing
Jonnu Smith. In offensive coordinator Arthur Smith's run-first, two-tight-end system last year, Freiermuth regressed, catching 41 of 54 targets for 486 yards and four touchdowns in 17 regular-season games (eight starts).
Darnell Washington (forearm) also cut into Freirmuth's production. New head coach Mike McCarthy should be much friendlier to Freiermuth for fantasy purposes next season, even if the team's quarterback situation is currently unsettled. Depending on what direction the Steelers go in at QB, Freiermuth will be a TE1 sleeper this fall. In dynasty/keeper leagues, he's a decent buy-low target. Freiermuth already has two seasons with seven touchdown catches, including his rookie year in 2021.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
March 4, 2026
The Pittsburgh Steelers are releasing tight end
Jonnu Smith on Wednesday, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. The move will save the Steelers $7 million against the salary cap, and Smith will now become an unrestricted free agent. Smith, 30, was a first-time Pro Bowler in 2024 with the Miami Dolphins, putting up career-highs in catches (88), targets (111), receiving yards (884), and touchdowns (eight) in 17 games. He came crashing back down to Earth in 2025 with Pittsburgh while sharing targets with
Pat Freiermuth, though, as he finished with only 38 receptions for 222 yards and two touchdowns on 54 targets in 17 regular-season games. Smith may never be as good as he was in 2024 in Miami, but a move out of the Steel City is a good thing for his fantasy value going into the 2026 campaign. Smith's departure is also great news for Freiermuth's ceiling.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
March 4, 2026
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers did not tender a contract to restricted free-agent running back
Sean Tucker, a source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Tucker will become a free agent next week after rushing for 320 yards and seven touchdowns on a career-high 86 carries in 17 games in 2025 in his third year in the NFL. The 24-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Syracuse also added eight receptions (11 targets) for 34 yards and a touchdown through the air.
Rachaad White is another Tampa RB set to depart in free agency this offseason, so the team's backfield could look quite different next year behind
Bucky Irving. Tucker probably won't land anywhere that will give him a big role in the backfield in 2026, but he has proven to be a useful depth option while also contributing on special teams as a returner. He had a career-high 597 kickoff return yards. If he re-signs with the Bucs, Tucker could be the top handcuff for those who roster Irving.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
March 4, 2026
The Minnesota Vikings are expected to release defensive tackle Jonathan Allen due to salary cap restraints, sources told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. The former Pro Bowler had 68 tackles (29 solo) and 3.5 sacks in 17 starts for Minnesota last year. The Vikings are $40-plus million over the salary cap right now, so they are looking to create additional space before the start of the new league year next week. The 31-year-old veteran was able to stay healthy all year in 2025 in his first season outside of Washington after he appeared in just eight games for the Commanders in 2024 due to injuries. Allen's 68 total tackles tied a career high, but he's only had 6.5 sacks over the last two seasons combined after recording 22 sacks in the three prior seasons. He'll attract interest as a veteran run-stopper in free agency, but Allen's peak as a pass-rusher might already be behind him.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
March 4, 2026
Impending free-agent wide receiver
Rashid Shaheed is said to not be close to a long-term contract extension with the Seattle Seahawks, and the expectation is that he will now test the free-agent market on Monday, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. The 27-year-old was a midseason pickup by the eventual Super Bowl-champion Seahawks in a trade with the New Orleans Saints. Shaheed was a key piece of the championship roster, although he was more of a fantasy asset in New Orleans with 44 catches for 499 yards and two touchdowns in nine games. In nine regular-season contests with Seattle, Shaheed had only 15 grabs for 188 yards and no touchdowns on offense. Wherever Shaheed is playing in 2026, he'll be a boom/bust WR4/flex for fantasy managers, with more value coming in leagues that count return yardage and TDs on special teams.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
March 4, 2026
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver
Emeka Egbuka faded after a slow start in his rookie NFL season in 2025, but he could have a clear path to his first 1,000-yard season next year with veteran wideout
Mike Evans set to test the free-agent market. Over his first five career games, the 23-year-old 19th overall pick out of Ohio State caught 25 of his 38 targets for 445 yards and five touchdowns. Injuries to Evans, Chris Godwin, and
Jalen McMillan helped Egbuka's cause as one of quarterback
Baker Mayfield's go-to options through the air. Egbuka started to cool off for fantasy managers when Evans, Godwin, and McMillan all returned from their injuries. Still, it was a very successful first year in the NFL for Egbuka, who finished with a 63-938-6 line on 127 targets in 17 regular-season games. He should have an elevated target share with a very high ceiling in fantasy in 2026 if Evans signs elsewhere in free agency.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
March 4, 2026
Minnesota Vikings running back
Jordan Mason could be in line for a bigger backfield role with the Vikings next season, with fellow RB
Aaron Jones Sr. set to be either released or traded this offseason. If Jones is off the roster going into the 2026 season, Mason would rise to the top of the RB depth chart, barring offseason additions through free agency or the draft. The 26-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Georgia Tech had a career-low 4.8 yards per carry, but he was still very productive as a complementary back to Jones, carrying the ball a career-high 159 times for 758 rushing yards and a career-high six touchdowns in 16 games. Mason also had a career-high 14 catches for 51 yards through the air. We won't have the full picture on Mason's 2026 fantasy football value until after the NFL draft, but right now, his arrow is pointing up.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
March 4, 2026
The Cleveland Browns announced on Wednesday that they tendered a contract to exclusive-rights free-agent kicker
Andre Szmyt, among others. In his first year in the NFL, Szmyt made 24 of his 27 field-goal tries and missed just one of his 26 extra-point attempts in 17 games played in Cleveland. The 27-year-old will return to Cleveland for the 2026 season and should be expected to open the regular season as their starting placekicker. Szmyt was dependable for the Browns as a rookie, but he was only the No. 26 kicker in terms of overall fantasy points in a Browns offense that didn't create many scoring opportunities. Szmyt averaged only 5.7 fantasy points per game. He was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 3 in 2025. Szmyt is a solid young kicker, but in 12-team fantasy leagues, you can find better, higher-ceiling options at the position.
--Keith HernandezSource: ClevelandBrowns.com
March 4, 2026
The Los Angeles Chargers released tight end
Will Dissly on Wednesday, according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic. The Chargers also cut offensive guard Mekhi Becton and offensive tackle Savion Washington before the start of the new league year next week. It was mostly a lost season in 2025 for Dissly, who played in only nine games due to injury and caught only 11 of his 16 targets for 97 yards and no touchdowns in his second year in L.A. The 29-year-old tight end missed three weeks with a knee injury and was phased out of the offense in the second half of the year. In his first year with the Bolts, Dissly was much more productive, setting career-highs in catches (50), targets (64), and receiving yards (481) while finding the end zone two times in 15 games played (eight starts). He should be able to latch on with another team as TE depth, but he isn't expected to be on the fantasy radar.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Daniel Popper
March 4, 2026
The New England Patriots informed four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver
Stefon Diggs that they are releasing him after the start of the new league year next week, sources told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. The Patriots will not have to pay Diggs the $6 million option in his contract that was set to become fully guaranteed next Friday. The 32-year-old veteran was New England's top wideout and helped the Patriots get back to the Super Bowl, where they ultimately lost to the Seattle Seahawks. Diggs caught 85 passes for 1,013 yards (his seventh 1,000-yard season) and four touchdowns in 17 regular-season games in his only season with the team. The former fifth-rounder of the Minnesota Vikings in 2015 out of Maryland still has plenty left in the tank, but his new home may not afford him WR1 targets. Meanwhile, the Pats could be setting things up to try to acquire pass-catcher
A.J. Brown from the Eagles.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
March 4, 2026
Pittsburgh Steelers impending free-agent quarterback
Aaron Rodgers had nothing but good things to say about new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy, who was Rodgers' former head coach with the Green Bay Packers. "Mike McCarthy is one of the great guys in the league, and he really cares about the players. He's an exceptional human being with a big heart," Rodgers said. The 42-year-old future Hall of Famer and four-time MVP also said there's no deadline for him to decide on whether he's returning for a 22nd year in the NFL, and those conversations will be down the line. The relationship between Rodgers and McCarthy soured toward the end of their time together in Green Bay, but McCarthy's presence in the Steel City probably won't be a deal-breaker if Rodgers wants to play another season with the Steelers. Rodgers led Pittsburgh to the playoffs in 2025, but if he plays again in 2026, he'll be a low-end QB2 in fantasy with limited upside.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pat McAfee Show
March 4, 2026
The Carolina Panthers placed exclusive-rights free-agent tenders on wide receivers
Jalen Coker and
Brycen Tremayne on Wednesday, locking them both in for the 2026 season, according to Darin Gantt of Panthers.com. Neither Coker nor Tremayne will have the opportunity to negotiate with other teams this offseason. The 24-year-old Coker missed the first six games of last season due to a quadriceps injury, but he still managed to finish second in receiving in Carolina with 33 catches on 43 targets for 394 yards and a career-high three touchdowns in 11 regular-season games in his second year in the NFL. Coker emerged as the team's WR2 behind Offensive Rookie of the Year
Tetairoa McMillan late in the year, catching 19 passes for 244 yards and all three of his TDs in the final five games. He added nine grabs for 134 yards and a score in the Wild-Card playoff loss to the Rams. If Coker can play in a full season, he has true breakout potential as Carolina's WR2.
--Keith HernandezSource: Panthers.com - Darin Gantt
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