T.J. Hockenson Coming Off a Frustrating Year
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson had an underwhelming season as the team endured poor quarterback play and inconsistency at the position. Hockenson played 15 games in 2025, starting all of them. He caught 51 passes for 438 yards and three touchdowns, posting the lowest receiving yards total and fantasy points per game mark since he was a rookie. He ultimately finished as the overall TE26 in full-PPR leagues. Although it's fair to blame the trio of J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer for Hockenson's frustrating year, that doesn't mean he'll magically bounce back in 2026. McCarthy is due back as the Vikings' quarterback next season. Interestingly, Hockenson also struggled with Sam Darnold as his quarterback in 2024, so he really hasn't been a trustworthy fantasy tight end since Kirk Cousins quarterbacked the Vikings in 2023. Hockenson is under contract for two more years, but the Vikings have a potential out this offseason. If Minnesota releases Hockenson post-June 1, they would create $15.96 million in cap space while taking on $5.34 million in dead money. It certainly wouldn't hurt the Vikings to keep the veteran tight end to help support McCarthy's development, but we also wouldn't be surprised to see the team's next general manager capitalize on this opportunity to create cap space.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Isaac TeSlaa Trending Up After Late Emergence?
Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa got off to a slow start in 2025, but he seemed to turn a corner near the end of the regular season. Over the final three weeks of the season, he caught eight of 12 targets for 119 yards and two touchdowns, ranking as the overall WR17 in half-PPR leagues during that span. It was an encouraging end to his rookie campaign, and while anything could happen during the upcoming offseason, it seems like he's trending toward being the Lions' established No. 3 receiver in 2026. If TeSlaa remains the third receiver behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, he could have occasional WR3/flex appeal while also being an appealing injury handcuff. Managers in dynasty leagues should hold TeSlaa for now, but there could be an opportunity to buy low before free agency gets underway.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Deebo Samuel Sr. Hits Free Agency After a Decent Season
Washington Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. continued to deliver decent contributions in the passing game last season, which was his first with the team. He finished the year with 72 catches, 727 receiving yards, and five receiving touchdowns, his highest marks in those categories since 2021. He also rushed for 75 yards and an additional touchdown on the ground. Although it was a good but not great year by Samuel's standards, he still finished as the overall WR25 in full-PPR leagues, cementing himself as a low-end WR2 or high-end WR3/flex on a weekly basis. Samuel restructured his contract with the Commanders to become a free agent this offseason, so he'll hit the open market in March. A return to Washington seems possible, but he'll presumably explore all of his options before putting pen to paper. Samuel fits best on a team with an established No. 1 wide receiver, so that he can operate as the No. 2 receiver with contributions as a gadget-type player behind the line of scrimmage or in the short-to-medium passing game. His 2026 fantasy outlook will depend on his landing spot and his eventual quarterback pairing, but for now, we'd expect him to remain a top-30 fantasy receiver.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Darius Slayton Could Remain Stuck as No. 3 Receiver in 2026
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton has shown flashes of upside plenty of times throughout his career, but he continues to struggle to emerge as a consistent fantasy threat week over week. Part of the difficulty for Slayton has been quarterback play, but that changed in 2025 when rookie Jaxson Dart took the reins of the offense. However, the other part of the problem has been Slayton's role on the depth chart, and the outlook there remains bleak. We did temporarily jump to second on the depth chart behind Wan'Dale Robinson after Malik Nabers (knee) tore his ACL -- resulting in 37 catches, 538 yards, and a touchdown -- he'll drop back to third if Nabers is healthy for the start of 2026. Plus, tight end Theo Johnson will continue to command plenty of targets, and the same can be said about running back Cam Skattebo (ankle). If there's any glimmer of hope for Slayton, it's the fact that Robinson is an impending free agent. However, the Giants have been very outspoken about their plans to bring Robinson back. It seems likely that Slayton will remain the Giants' No. 3 receiver in 2026, leaving his value to hinge on a teammate's injury. He's not worth drafting in typical redraft leagues, and he can be stashed on the bench only in deeper dynasty formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Can Woody Marks be a Lead Back in 2026?
Houston Texans running back Woody Marks exceeded expectations as a rookie in 2026. He quickly took over the backfield from Nick Chubb and finished the year with 703 rushing yards, 208 receiving yards, and five touchdowns across 16 games (eight starts). Perhaps most eye-opening was a four-week stretch in the back half of the season, during which he averaged 21 touches per game with a modest 65.8 scrimmage yards. By year's end, he was averaging a suboptimal 3.6 yards per carry. Given that the Texans are a contender for years to come, they'll likely look to upgrade the running back position during the offseason. Adding a 1A running back so that Marks can be a change-of-pace or 1B option makes plenty of sense. That's not necessarily bad news for Marks or his fantasy managers; that shared backfield dynamic could allow him to be more consistent and less boom-or-bust, especially while giving him plenty of targets in the passing game. Managers in dynasty leagues should hold Marks right now, because he still has top-36 running back appeal for the 2026 fantasy football season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tony Pollard's Future with Titans Up in the Air?
Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard didn't quite live up to expectations during the 2025 season, finishing the year with 1,082 rushing yards, 206 receiving yards, and five touchdowns. He did still manage to finish as the RB23 in full-PPR leagues, but his fantasy scoring was a bit skewed due to a three-week stretch during which he exploded for 367 yards and three touchdowns. It seemed like Pollard's 2025 fantasy value would hinge on whether Tyjae Spears played well, but in reality, both Pollard and Spears saw their outputs depend on the state of the Titans' offense. Tennessee limped to the finish line with the second-worst offense in terms of total yards, making it difficult for either running back to make much of a fantasy impact. Heading into 2026, we can't rule out a shakeup to the Titans' backfield. The Titans structured Pollard's three-year deal to give them a potential out prior to the third season, and the clock is now ticking on that decision. The Titans could be incentivized to release the veteran running back; doing so would create $7.25 million in cap savings with just $2 million in dead money. If he does hit the open market, Pollard would likely be viewed as a 1B running back -- someone who can join a backfield with another average ball-carrier. Of course, fantasy managers would prefer that team to be a contender so that Pollard can consistently handle valuable and meaningful touches in 2026. With so much uncertainty, dynasty managers might consider selling high on Pollard and using his RB23 finish to tempt other managers into a deal.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chiefs Hire DeMarco Murray as Running Backs Coach
The Kansas City Chiefs hired former NFL running back and current Oklahoma RBs coach DeMarco Murray as their RBs coach on head coach Andy Reid's staff on Wednesday, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Murray has been coaching at the college level since 2019 and will now make the jump to the NFL. The 37-year-old played seven years in the NFL and made three Pro Bowls, finishing his career with 7,174 rushing yards and 49 rushing touchdowns on 1,604 carries (4.5 yards per carry) with the Dallas Cowboys, Tennessee Titans, and Philadelphia Eagles. He was the Offensive Player of the Year in 2014 with Dallas, when he had a league-high 1,845 rushing yards and 13 TDs. KC's RB room could look drastically different in 2026, with both Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt set for free agency. Murray will be working under offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
Source: FOX Sports - Jordan Schultz
Source: FOX Sports - Jordan Schultz
Seahawks Interviewing Four In-House Candidates for Offensive-Coordinator Job
The Seattle Seahawks are interviewing four in-house candidates -- quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko, passing-game coordinator Jake Peetz, assistant offensive-line coach Justin Outten, and tight ends coach Mack Brown -- on Thursday and Friday for their offensive-coordinator job, sources told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. It's unclear if the Seahawks have any external candidates for the job as they look to replace Klint Kubiak, who left after winning Super Bowl LX to serve as the new head coach for the Las Vegas Raiders. Janocko was with Kubiak in New Orleans as well, so there's a good chance he'll follow Kubiak to Vegas. He has also coached with the Buccaneers, Vikings, and Bears. Peetz has a wealth of experience with six different NFL teams, and he's the only one of the four names with previous OC experience in 2021 at LSU.
Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
Trevor Lawrence Back in the QB1 Conversation
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence came into the league with sky-high expectations after being selected first overall in the 2021 draft, but following four disappointing seasons, he had fallen to the low-QB2 range in dynasty formats. However, after one year with new head coach Liam Coen and an identity-redefining season that saw him receive MVP votes, Lawrence is back into the QB1 conversation in dynasty startups. The biggest change to Lawrence's game in 2025 was his ability to keep drives alive with his legs. Throughout the regular season and playoffs, 333 of his career-high 390 rushing yards came on scrambles, and his nine rushing touchdowns almost doubled his previous career high. It was an element that Coen previously helped bring to Baker Mayfield's game, and one that could continue to boost Lawrence's value as he looks to take advantage of the rare continuity around him, heading into year six.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dylan Sampson's Value Capped by Supporting Cast
Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson spent most of his rookie season as the team's primary receiving back, but following a late-season injury to fellow rookie Quinshon Judkins, he was given the opportunity to serve as Cleveland's lead back for the final two games of 2025. Unfortunately, playing behind an offensive line that struggled throughout the year to open running lanes or keep a revolving door of quarterbacks off the ground, he finished those two games with only 59 yards on 21 carries. With Judkins' status uncertain for the beginning of 2026, Sampson will likely get first crack at primary duties yet again, but unless Cleveland is able to drastically overhaul their offensive line in year one under new head coach Todd Monken, the bulk of his value will still come through his passing work. Sampson will look to improve on his 33 receptions as a rookie, but given his current surroundings, he is not a player who needs to be aggressively pursued.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Can Jaylin Noel Show More Than Just Flashes in Year 2?
Houston Texans wide receiver Jaylin Noel had a quiet rookie season, in which he finished seventh on the team in targets and was held without a reception through two playoff games, but the 2025 third-round pick at least showed flashes throughout the year. He put up a combined 140 yards in what was his best two-week stretch against the Seahawks and 49ers, but he was unable to build on that success, and he all but lost his role in three-receiver sets when Christian Kirk returned from the hamstring injury that sidelined him for three weeks. The 23-year-old is currently being drafted as an afterthought in dynasty startups, but with Kirk no longer under contract heading into a new league year, there is a strong chance Noel will reclaim primary slot duties, making him a player potentially being slept on heading into 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Brenton Strange an Undervalued Breakout Candidate
Jacksonville Jaguars 25-year-old tight end Brenton Strange is currently being drafted outside of the top 12 at his position in dynasty startups after a 2025 season in which he showed glimpses of taking his game to the next level. After a strong start that saw him catch 19 of 23 targets across his first four weeks, he was slowed by a quad injury that landed him on Injured Reserve and cost him five games. Upon his return, he became an integral part of Liam Coen's expanding offense, closing the year on a 17-game pace of 63 receptions for 816 yards and seven touchdowns, numbers that would have put him right in line with the top five at the position. Entering into year two of Coen's offensive installation, Strange could see his role expanded and his value rise, making the 2023 second-round pick a clear target in dynasty leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
What is Keenan Allen's Future with Los Angeles?
Wide receiver Keenan Allen has played 12 of his 13 seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers. While he enters the 2026 season without a contract, he has recently stated that he fully intends to continue his career and isn't considering any team besides the Chargers. After playing one season in Chicago, Allen returned to Los Angeles in 2025 and led the team in targets and receptions, while playing in all 17 games. With the Chargers welcoming in new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, there is little doubt that their offense will see an influx of pre-snap motion, which should help to create space for a receiving corps that saw no player top 800 yards in 2025. Assuming Allen's return on another short-term deal, the question then becomes where he fits in, with Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston both seeing stints as the team's most reliable wideout, and second-rounder Tre Harris handling an increased role down the stretch. Regardless of where he lands in the pecking order, Allen is a practically free pickup in dynasty leagues for contenders looking to add fill-in depth.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Panthers Hire Darrell Bevell as Associate Head Coach
The Carolina Panthers hired former Miami Dolphins quarterbacks coach and passing-game coordinator Darrell Bevell as associate head coach/offensive specialist on Wednesday, sources told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Bevell is a long-time respected NFL assistant coach who will bring a wealth of experience to head coach Dave Canales' staff as Carolina looks to take another step forward after making the postseason in 2025. Canales was the Seattle Seahawks' wide receivers coach when Bevell was the offensive coordinator, so the two have worked together before. The Panthers are hoping that the addition of Bevell will help quarterback Bryce Young take the next step in his development after Carolina's offense ranked only 26th in EPA per play and 18th in success rate last season.
Source: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
Source: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
Packers Name Luke Getsy as New Quarterbacks Coach
The Green Bay Packers named former Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator Luke Getsy as their new quarterbacks coach on Wednesday, sources told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Getsy also has previous experience as an offensive coordinator with the Chicago Bears. He returned to Green Bay in 2025 as a senior assistant and will now take over for Sean Mannion, who left for the OC job with the Philadelphia Eagles. Before leaving to become an OC, Getsy was the team's QBs coach under head coach Matt LaFleur from 2019 to 2021. The 41-year-old didn't have much success in Chicago or Las Vegas, so the move isn't particularly great for the development of QB Jordan Love as he heads into his sixth season in the NFL.
Source: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
Source: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
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