May 5, 2026

The Athletic's Sam Warren writes that the Las Vegas Raiders like wide receiver Jalen Nailor to "take a big leap in a more featured role" in 2026. Nailor will be a starter alongside Tre Tucker and Jack Bech after signing a three-year, $35 million deal in free agency in March. The 27-year-old former sixth-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2022 out of Michigan State showed flashes with the Vikings, but his fantasy value was always capped as the No. 3 with the Vikes behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Nailor had a career-high six touchdowns in 17 games in 2024 and caught 29 passes for a career-high 444 yards and four touchdowns in 17 games in 2025 in his final season in Minnesota. He'll be reunited with former QB Kirk Cousins to start the 2026 campaign in Vegas, and there is plenty of opportunity since the Raiders didn't address the receiver position in this year's draft. At the very least, Nailor will be in play as a weekly WR4/flex in redraft leagues for the upcoming season, while his dynasty stock has more long-term upside as he begins to work with No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Sam Warren

May 5, 2026

The Cleveland Browns added rookie wide receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston in the 2026 NFL draft, which makes The Athletic's Zac Jackson wonder if the team will eventually look to trade Cedric Tillman this summer. In addition to adding younger competition, the Browns are installing a new offense under head coach Todd Monken. Jackson lists Jerry Jeudy and Concepcion in the top tier of Browns wideouts, followed by Boston and Isaiah Bond in Tier 2. In Tier 3, he lists Tylan Wallace, Malachi Corley, Tillman, and Jamari Thrash. The Browns are hoping that Bond can take the next step with a full offseason, and Boston is a true outside receiver like Tillman. The Browns' major commitments are to Jeudy and the two rookies, which means, as of right now, Tillman might be the WR5 in Cleveland. The fact that Tillman doesn't contribute on special teams hurts his cause even more. The 26-year-old former third-rounder in 2023 out of Tennessee is entering the final season of his rookie deal and is coming off a season in which he caught just 21 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games. Tillman has failed to get going in his three NFL seasons, making him a cut candidate in dynasty leagues if he stays with the Browns.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Zac Jackson

May 5, 2026

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has compared rookie fifth-round running back Emmett Johnson to former six-time Pro Bowl RB LeSean McCoy, according to Grant Gordon of NFL.com. Reid believes Johnson can contribute on the ground, as a pass-catcher, and on special teams. "First of all, he's got a good feel for things, a smart kid, good kid. He's got that lateral quickness. We had LeSean McCoy here for a bit, and he has a little bit of that to him, where he can shift gears and still get himself up the field quickly," said Reid, who coached McCoy with the Philadelphia Eagles and for a season with the Chiefs. Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco are both gone, but the Chiefs added Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III, Emari Demercado, and Johnson to a RB room that still includes Brashard Smith. Johnson was the sixth RB off the board in the 2026 NFL draft, but he was first in the FBS in 2025 with 151.8 all-purpose yards per game. He also had a career-high 1,451 rushing yards and 370 receiving yards at Nebraska last year. Because of his three-down skill set, if anything were to happen to Walker, who has a history of lower-body injuries, Johnson could benefit right away in 2026. Consider the 22-year-old a dynasty sleeper and a handcuff to Walker in single-year fantasy leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: NFL.com - Grant Gordon

May 5, 2026

The Los Angeles Rams surprised everyone in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft when they selected former Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick. SEC coaches acknowledged that Simpson's profile "has some clear concerns," but another SEC coach said that "it's a great fit for him from a system standpoint." "There's a lot of similarities [with Michael Stafford]. [The pick] was the biggest [surprise], a guy who didn't have a ton of starts, but when he played, he played well. His long game is going to be really good." Simpson only had one season of starting experience at Alabama in 2025, so he's clearly not ready for a starting role at the next level. The good news is that in L.A., behind Stafford, Simpson won't be pressured to start right away, and he could end up sitting and learning for two years until Stafford decides to retire. Fantasy managers in dynasty/keeper leagues will be playing the long game if they select Simpson, who is in excellent hands with head coach Sean McVay.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Adam Rittenberg

May 5, 2026

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (knee) doesn't appear to be planning to retire this offseason, according to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. "I'm excited to see what we can do together," Kamara said of new RB Travis Etienne Jr. Rumors surfaced earlier this offseason that Kamara was considering hanging up his cleats after a career-worst season in 2025 that ended early due to a knee injury. The 30-year-old veteran and five-time Pro Bowler played in only 11 games and finished with a career-low 471 rushing yards and only one touchdown while catching a career-low 33 passes for 186 yards on 39 targets. The Saints signed Etienne to a four-year, $52 million deal in free agency, signaling that Kamara's eight-year run as the organization's clear-cut RB1 is over. Etienne has a very similar three-down skill set and is nearly four years younger than Kamara, with a lot less wear on his tires. If Kamara remains with the Saints going into the 2026 regular season, his fantasy value is going to take a massive hit in a complementary role.--Keith Hernandez
Source: NewOrleans.Football - Nick Underhill

May 5, 2026

The Arizona Cardinals took former University of Miami quarterback Carson Beck with the first pick in the third round of this year's draft because of his big-game experience, arm strength, size (6-foot-4, 220 pounds), accuracy, toughness, and intangibles. Beck enters a QB room in Arizona that already includes veterans Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew. New head coach Mike LaFleur said that "it won't be the worst thing" for Beck if he "ends up sitting for part or all of his rookie season." That won't be anything new for the 24-year-old, who was a backup at Georgia for his first three seasons, including sitting behind current Los Angeles Rams backup QB Stetson Bennett in 2022. "It benefits anyone in any position to be able to sit back," LaFleur said. "Sometimes, guys don't have the choice because you have to put your best 22 out on the field there." The Cardinals have some maneuvering to do with Brissett's contract this year, but that should be taken care of, and he's fully expected to start under center in 2026 after a career season in 2025 in Arizona. Beck has plenty of long-term upside as a dynasty target in fantasy, but he won't be on the redraft radar at all.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Josh Weinfuss

May 5, 2026

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele entered this offseason as one of the biggest sleepers in dynasty fantasy football. In his final four games of 2025, Vele had caught 19 passes for 239 yards and one touchdown. He averaged 12.2 points per game in PPR leagues during that span, ranking as the overall WR21. It seemed like he might be a breakout candidate in 2026, but that trajectory came crashing down as the Saints added two receivers in the NFL Draft. Now, Vele is behind Chris Olave and Jordyn Tyson on the depth chart, and he could also end up behind rookie Bryce Lance, who has the speed necessary to fill a Rashid Shaheed-esque role in New Orleans. It's a disappointing development for managers who acquired Vele at a low cost this offseason. With that said, he's still worth holding in deeper leagues, as he's proven that he can handle volume. This Saints' offense is quickly trending up, so he could still get onto the WR3/flex radar if Olave or Tyson were to miss any time.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

May 5, 2026

Los Angeles Chargers rookie fourth-round wide receiver Brenen Thompson was compared to speedy former Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs wideout Tyreek Hill by head coach Jim Harbaugh, according to Kris Rhim of ESPN. New Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, who coached Hill in Miami, was advocating that the Chargers take the former Mississippi State speedster in this year's draft. He stands at 5-foot-9 and 164 pounds and will be the lightest player on the Chargers' roster, but he'll also be their fastest player after running a 4.26-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine -- the third-fastest time by a WR since 2003. Thompson had an SEC-leading 1,054 receiving yards in 2025, which set the single-season school record at Mississippi State. Hill was a first-team All-Pro in his first two seasons with McDaniel, and he had a career-high 1,799 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2023. Thompson has also been compared to former Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson. Thompson's speed is enticing, but he'll be competing for targets in L.A. in a crowded WR room that also includes Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, Tre' Harris, and Derius Davis. Most likely, the 22-year-old will operate in a part-time role in specific packages in 2026 in which the Chargers can utilize his game-changing speed.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Kris Rhim

May 5, 2026

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor has the potential to bounce back as the overall RB1 in fantasy football during the 2026 season. Taylor was well on his way to the overall RB1 spot during the first half of last season. He ranked as the RB1 in PPR leagues from Week 1 to Week 10, and it wasn't particularly close; he was a full 25.1 points ahead of the RB2 during that span, Christian McCaffrey, and a full 89.9 points ahead of the RB4, Jahmyr Gibbs. Unfortunately, a slow second half (largely due to Daniel Jones' season-ending injury) derailed that trajectory. The good news is that Jones (Achilles) is trending toward playing in Week 1, and the Colts could also go a little more run-heavy after trading away Michael Pittman Jr. If Jones and Taylor can both stay healthy for the full year -- which is admittedly far from guaranteed -- then the 27-year-old could certainly be the highest-scoring running back and a league winner in redraft formats. There's a little less upside in dynasty leagues, though, given that Taylor is already 27 years old. Even if he does have a bounce-back year in 2026, he's almost certainly on the back half of his career. Most dynasty managers should hold Taylor for now. However, managers looking to win now in a championship window could consider trading for him this offseason, banking on the fact that last year's RB4 finishes even higher this year.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

May 5, 2026

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba solidified himself among the top tier of fantasy football superstars during the 2025 campaign. In his third NFL regular season, Smith-Njigba exploded for 119 catches, 1,793 yards, and 10 touchdowns (all career-high marks). He was the WR2 in PPR leagues, ranking among the top 10 receivers for the second year in a row. As the 2026 season approaches, Smith-Njigba finds himself in Tier 1 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football wide receiver rankings, but he hasn't yet claimed the overall WR1 spot. The latest rankings have Ja'Marr Chase first, Smith-Njigba second, and Puka Nacua third. It's a fair evaluation, especially since Chase's quarterback situation is far more appealing long-term than Smith-Njigba's. Still, it would surprise nobody if Smith-Njigba finished the 2026 season (or any season) as the overall WR1, especially given Joe Burrow's injury history in Cincinnati. All in all, Smith-Njigba is an undisputed top-three dynasty receiver, and any fantasy manager looking to acquire him will have to be comfortable parting with a hefty return package.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

May 5, 2026

Former Penn State quarterback Drew Allar likely would have been among the top QBs drafted in 2025 if he had skipped his senior season, according to Adam Rittenberg of ESPN. However, Allar chose to return to Penn State and had a slower-than-expected start before breaking his ankle in the middle of the season. The Pittsburgh Steelers took the 6-foot-5, 228-pounder with the No. 76 overall pick in this year's NFL draft. Big Ten coaches were lukewarm on Allar, but they noted that he "went through multiple systems and wasn't always set up to succeed." "Hopefully [Pittsburgh] will be a coaching staff that can maximize what he's good at," a Big Ten coach said. "I'm not really sure that was the case [at Penn State]." Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy will look to maximize Allar's skill set, but most likely after veteran Aaron Rodgers plays one more season in the Steel City. Allar threw for 49 touchdowns in his sophomore and junior seasons with the Nittany Lions before recording 1,100 yards, eight touchdowns, and three interceptions in six games in his senior campaign before getting hurt. Fantasy managers in dynasty formats will need to be patient with the 22-year-old, but the long-term ceiling is high.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Adam Rittenberg

May 5, 2026

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington finally seemed like he was getting closer to fantasy relevance in dynasty leagues last season. However, the chances of him getting on the fantasy radar are now declining based on the Steelers' offseason moves. For starters, the team parted ways with head coach Mike Tomlin and brought in Mike McCarthy, who has no connections to the existing roster and presumably won't have the same patience to wait for a Washington breakout. Additionally, McCarthy started to put his own stamp on the tight end room, selecting Riley Nowakowski in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. That's not elite draft capital by any means, but it's presumably enough to give Nowakowski the chance to earn the No. 2 role by the end of the season. That could be problematic for Washington, who is heading into a contract year and is already behind Pat Freiermuth on the depth chart. As of now, it seems unlikely that Washington will be able to replicate his 2025 finish, which included 31 catches, 364 yards, and one touchdown. Additionally, we wouldn't be shocked if he's on a different team in 2027. He finished last year as the TE39 in PPR leagues, and he has already fallen to TE53 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

May 5, 2026

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley's ranking in dynasty fantasy football leagues has started to decline now that he's 29 years old. We don't quite know how many seasons he has remaining in his career, but we do know that there's still enough left in the tank for another big year or two. As a result, Barkley represents an interesting trade target for dynasty managers looking to win now. Since he's getting older, his price tag is dropping in trade talks, but he still has the potential to be the RB1 or RB2 on a championship-winning fantasy roster. After all, he was the overall RB14 in PPR leagues last year, and he was the overall RB2 just two years ago. Barkley is an elite athlete himself, and he should also benefit from the Eagles' top-tier offensive line being healthy in 2026. All signs point to him bouncing back as a potential top-12 fantasy running back. As a result, dynasty managers currently in their championship window should consider sending out an offer for the Eagles' superstar ball-carrier.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

May 5, 2026

Former Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza was the consensus No. 1 overall selection in this year's draft by the Las Vegas Raiders after his near-flawless performance in the College Football Playoff, which was capped by his heroic performance in the national title game to beat Miami. Most analysts believe that Mendoza is one of the more complete QB prospects because of his scarcity of turnovers and his mix of intelligence, size, and movement. However, a coach who had faced Mendoza when he played for Cal doesn't think his skill set will translate well to the next level. "He's a good decision-maker, but I don't think he's got the NFL traits," the coach said. "They're all back-shoulder [throws]. That's not working in the NFL. His receivers made plays to make him look better than he is. In the NFL, those throws are getting picked off." Mendoza had a knack for delivering on the big stage, in addition to his other impressive physical skills. However, he lacks the experience of playing under center, which is what is going to be asked of him in head coach Klint Kubiak's offense. There will be a learning curve there, which is why the Raiders prefer to have the young QB sit and learn behind veteran Kirk Cousins early in his NFL career. Mendoza should be the No. 2 pick in rookie-only dynasty drafts this year.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Adam Rittenberg

May 5, 2026

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson was one of the lone bright spots for the team last season, delivering 78 catches for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns in a breakout campaign. Most of his production came in the second half of the year, too. From Week 11 through Week 18, he averaged 21.2 points per game and ranked as the overall WR2 -- behind Puka Nacua and ahead of Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Most of his production came with Jacoby Brissett as the Cardinals' quarterback. While we don't typically think of Brissett as this special playmaker, he was a solid passer for Arizona and supported big production from both Wilson and Trey McBride. The Cardinals could end up finishing last in the NFC West in 2026, as Brissett remains under center but lacks winning upside. Still, he should continue to support fantasy production from Wilson, who gets the best of both worlds. This year, he'll have consistency with Brissett throwing him the football, and next year, he'll presumably get a flashy quarterback upgrade as the Cardinals build out their offense. As long as the Cardinals' new coaching staff is willing to let Wilson prove himself as the alpha receiver over Marvin Harrison Jr., he should continue to rank as a mid-range WR2 option in both redraft and dynasty leagues.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller