April 22, 2026

Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said that wide receiver George Pickens will play under the $27.3 million franchise tag in 2026, according to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports. "There won't be negotiations on a long-term deal," Jones says. Pickens has not signed the franchise tag, so he isn't under contract and can't be fined for missing voluntary or mandatory team activities. If Pickens' holdout drags into the 2026 regular season and he doesn't report, he could miss out on game checks of $1.5 million each week. The Cowboys and Pickens have until July 15 to work out a long-term deal. The Cowboys calling off extension talks doesn't sound like a good thing for the team or for Pickens. This could get messier in training camp and as the start of the season nears in early September. The 25-year-old had a career year with a 93-1,429-9 line in 17 games played in his first year with Dallas, and he will have a WR1 price in fantasy drafts this fall. Fantasy managers considering taking Pickens early in 2026 drafts should be wary of what is shaping up to be a messy contract situation.--Keith Hernandez
Source: CBS Sports - Jonathan Jones

April 22, 2026

Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins (knee) was spotted on the field during Tuesday's voluntary minicamp, according to Browns beat writer Camryn Justice. It's a positive development after the second-rounder's rookie season was cut short by a knee injury. The Browns drafted the Ohio State star with hopes that he'd eventually take over for Nick Chubb as the team's primary back in Cleveland, and he quickly did in 2025, running for 827 yards and seven touchdowns on 230 carries (3.6 yards per tote) in 14 starts. The 22-year-old added 26 catches for 171 yards through the air on 36 targets. Judkins' presence on the field for the start of the voluntary offseason program is a good sign that he should be fully healthy for the start of the 2026 season. There's plenty to like about Judkins in the long-term, but he'll need to be more efficient in Year 2 in what could once again be a very inconsistent Browns offense if he wants to take the next step and become a reliable RB1 in fantasy football.--Keith Hernandez
Source: WEWS - Camryn Justice

April 22, 2026

New York Jets running back Isaiah Davis began the 2025 season as his team's RB3 behind Breece Hall and Braelon Allen. However, Allen went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 4, opening the door for Davis to play a more prominent role. Despite the opportunity, Davis finished the year with 422 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on just 64 touches across 16 games. Allen should be fully healthy for the 2026 season, pushing Davis back down the Jets depth chart. While Davis has been efficient (6.5 yards per touch) throughout the first two seasons of his NFL career, his pathway to fantasy-relevant playing time is currently difficult to see. As a result, dynasty managers may want to consider selling Davis for whatever value they can still get before it's too late.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

April 22, 2026

There is a possibility that the Atlanta Falcons trade tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. during the 2026 NFL draft this week, according to John Breech of CBS Sports. New Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham already admitted that the team will listen to offers for Pitts and other players. Breech thinks that if Atlanta is serious about trading Pitts, the Kansas City Chiefs should give them a call as they look to grab their next TE for life after Travis Kelce. KC currently has two first-round picks in this year's draft, and they would likely be able to get a deal done for Pitts by giving the Falcons one of those first-rounders. The Falcons don't have a first-round pick this year (and have only five total picks in the draft), and if they trade Pitts away, they'd free up $15 million in salary cap space for this season. Pitts finally broke out for fantasy managers in 2025 and was the TE2 overall in half-PPR scoring with 88 catches, 928 yards, and five touchdowns in 17 games. A move to KC would be attractive in the long-term, but with Kelce still around for another season, it would seriously hurt Pitts' 2026 redraft value.--Keith Hernandez
Source: CBS Sports - John Breech

April 22, 2026

A third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson failed to carve out a role in his team's offense as a rookie. Across 10 games played, the 22-year-old recorded just 28 carries for 69 yards. He spent the year buried on the Steelers' running back depth chart behind Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell. While Gainwell departed Pittsburgh in free agency, the team brought in former Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle to replace him. As a result, Johnson appears to remain stuck in the RB3 role in Pittsburgh heading into 2026. While Johnson showed dynasty managers little reason for optimism in 2025, there would be little point in selling him now when his value is at its lowest. Johnson has the advantage of working with an entirely new Steelers coaching staff in 2026, which could provide him with the fresh start he needs. If Johnson can be had for pennies on the dollar, deep-league dynasty managers may want to consider buying very low on him.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

April 22, 2026

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf had an underwhelming season in his first year with the team in 2025, finishing the year with 59 receptions for 850 yards and six touchdowns on 99 targets across 15 games. Despite profiling as the obvious number one pass-catcher in Pittsburgh, Metcalf set career lows in both targets and receiving yards. To fortify their receiving corps, the Steelers swung a big trade for former Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. earlier this offseason. While Pittman Jr.'s presence could relieve some defensive pressure from Metcalf, it could also lead to Metcalf seeing yet another reduction in targets. Additionally, the Steelers quarterback situation currently remains in flux while the team waits for Aaron Rodgers to make a decision on whether or not he will play in 2026. Dynasty managers may not want to sell Metcalf at an apparent low point in his value, but there's a real possibility that his stock could sink even further as he enters his age-29 season.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

April 22, 2026

Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride took his already stellar production to an even higher level in 2025, recording 126 receptions for 1,239 yards and 11 touchdowns on 169 targets across 17 games. The 26-year-old finished the year as the runaway fantasy TE1, and he's now hauled in a remarkable 237 receptions over the last two seasons. McBride's production in 2025 surged once veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett took over under center for the Cardinals in Week 6. Heading into 2026, Brissett appears poised to remain Arizona's QB1 for at least one more season. While the Cardinals have other capable pass-catchers in wideouts Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson, McBride is the clear focal point of the team's offense and should remain that way even under new Arizona head coach and play caller Mike LaFleur. In dynasty formats, McBride and Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers profile as the obvious top two players at their position.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

April 22, 2026

The Athletic's Joseph Person writes that Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq has "been increasingly linked" to the Carolina Panthers in mock drafts with the 2026 NFL draft quickly approaching on Thursday night. The Panthers hold the 19th overall pick in the first round. Sadiq, who is a freakish athlete at his position, has gone in the top 15 picks in a couple of recent mock drafts by The Athletic, so he could be off the board by the time the Panthers are on the clock (assuming they don't trade up). Some in the Panthers organization don't think TE is as big of a need as some outsiders do, especially with how head coach Dave Canales has used the position in his first two seasons with the team. In his final collegiate season with the Ducks, Sadiq had 51 catches for 560 yards and eight touchdowns in 14 games played. Wherever he lands, he's going to be a pricey acquisition in rookie-only drafts in keeper leagues later this year. In Carolina, Sadiq could immediately become the TE1 because of his athleticism and elite speed at the position.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Joseph Person

April 22, 2026

Across 16 games with the New York Giants in 2025, wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson posted the best season of his career by recording 92 receptions for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns on 140 targets. The 25-year-old was rewarded for his efforts in free agency by the Tennessee Titans, who signed him to a four-year, $70 million deal. Robinson has always been a high-volume target earner from the slot who excels in the short area of the field. However, he showed an ability to do a bit more down the field in his last year with the Giants, upping his yards per reception from 7.5 in 2024 to 11.0 in 2025. In Tennessee, Robinson currently profiles as the number one target for Titans quarterback Cameron Ward. As a young quarterback, Ward will likely lean heavily on Robinson as a security blanket. If Ward takes a significant step forward in his second season, Robinson's production could reach an even higher level with the Titans.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

April 22, 2026

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy had the first half of his 2025 season disrupted by toe and shoulder injuries that forced him to miss eight games. Still, the 26-year-old was effective down the stretch of the season, finishing the year with 2,167 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Purdy also added three touchdowns as a rusher. Heading into 2026, Purdy could be without star tight end George Kittle (Achilles) to start the year. Wide receiver Jauan Jennings also currently remains unsigned and is not a lock to be back with the 49ers. However, San Francisco made a big splash in free agency by signing veteran wide receiver Mike Evans, giving Purdy a true number one option on the outside and in the red zone. Given the unsettled nature of the offense around him in San Francisco, there might be a window for dynasty managers to buy low on Purdy.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

April 22, 2026

ESPN's Adam Schefter said that Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love is a "logical pick" for the Arizona Cardinals if they stay at No. 3 overall in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft this Thursday night. However, the Cardinals have held exploratory talks with other teams about trading down from the third spot. The list of teams that have the ammunition to move all the way up to third overall isn't a long one. The Kansas City Chiefs have had discussions with Arizona about moving up to No. 3, but Schefter also notes that KC is a team also considering moving back within the first round. The New Orleans Saints (eighth overall) could move up into the top five, but that would likely be to snag a pass-rusher and not Love. The Cardinals have gone defense in the first round in recent years, but with an offensive-minded head coach, Love could easily be the pick if they stay at No. 3, even with RBs Tyler Allgeier, James Conner, and Trey Benson all currently on the roster.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter

April 22, 2026

The dynasty value of Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan has been difficult to gauge through his first two seasons in the league, making him an attractive low-cost buy before this week's NFL Draft. A third-round pick in 2024, his rookie season began slowly but took off late in the year. On the strength of eight receiving touchdowns across his final five games, McMillan was the WR7 from Weeks 14 through 18. Peaking as KeepTradeCut's WR30 in the early 2025 offseason, any hopes of a true sophomore breakout were suppressed when the Buccaneers used the 19th overall pick on Emeka Egbuka and then fully extinguished when a scary preseason neck injury cost McMillan all but four games in 2025. With the Buccaneers' offense struggling as a whole by the time he returned, McMillan still managed to top 100 yards in Week 17, providing a WR10 finish in fantasy championship week and reminding managers of his spike potential. With Mike Evans signing a three-year deal with the 49ers in free agency, McMillan could be primed for his biggest role to date as the most prototypical boundary receiver remaining in Tampa. At RotoBaller's dynasty WR65, McMillan is a low-cost acquisition who has already shown the ability to win weeks, making him particularly undervalued in best-ball formats.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 22, 2026

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is coming off the worst season of his six-year career. He hit single-season yardage and touchdown lows, while his 4.9 receptions per game were approximately a catch and a half below his career average. And yet, Jefferson is still RotoBaller's dynasty WR4, largely because his 2025 struggles can be almost entirely explained away by some of the worst quarterback play in the league. Vikings quarterbacks threw for 3,176 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions in 2025, bottom-four numbers across the board. While Minnesota may not have found a long-term solution at the position, they've at least brought in a Band-Aid for 2026, signing Cardinals castoff Kyler Murray to a one-year deal at the start of free agency. While Murray has had his own struggles of late, he can stand on a proven record of supporting a true number one receiver, peppering DeAndre Hopkins with over 150 targets in their first season together, en route to a WR7 finish in 2020. Even if a clear path out of the darkness wasn't evident at the time, Jefferson was one of the smartest buy-lows of the 2025 season, and at just 26 years old, his cost to acquire may still be suppressed enough to make him a worthwhile buy before the new season starts and he reminds the league of what he's capable.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 22, 2026

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy has had a tumultuous start to his NFL career. While Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, and Bo Nix, fellow quarterbacks taken in the 2024 NFL Draft, have all seen their dynasty stock rise tremendously through their first two years in the league, McCarthy's has been in free fall. After missing the entire 2024 season with a torn meniscus sustained in the preseason, McCarthy struggled mightily in what was essentially a redshirt rookie season, throwing for 163.2 yards per game while tossing 11 touchdowns to 12 interceptions, all the while dealing with nagging injuries and rumors of a soft benching. Heading into his third season, the Vikings have brought in former Cardinal Kyler Murray on a one-year deal. While Murray has faced his own on-field struggles of late, the presumption is that he should have the inside track to Minnesota's starting job in 2026, and after peaking as high as QB12 before ever taking a regular-season snap, McCarthy has fallen to RotoBaller's dynasty QB28. While things currently look bleak for his NFL future, it's important to remember that McCarthy is only 23 and has made just 10 professional starts. With Murray's deal only tying him to the Vikings for one season, a lot can happen between now and the point when Minnesota will need to make a decision on McCarthy's fifth-year option. Depending on just how low his stock dips, he could still be a worthwhile dart-throw acquisition for rebuilding dynasty managers.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 22, 2026

Fresh off the closest MVP race in recent history, New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is RotoBaller's dynasty QB2, though the market would suggest he may be the most difficult player to acquire via trade. The 23-year-old third overall pick from 2024 finished his second season with 4,394 yards and 31 touchdowns through the air and an additional 450 and four on the ground, good enough for a QB2 finish in most fantasy formats, and the arrow is still pointing up. Although a trade with the Eagles likely won't become official until after June 1st, dynasty managers are presently treating an A.J. Brown to the Patriots deal as a foregone conclusion, with the upgraded weaponry already baked into Maye's cost. At nearly 29 years old, Brown is still a dominant outside threat who could open things up even further for arguably the best downfield thrower in the league, and his presence would allow the rest of New England's receivers to slot into their more natural roles without having to fight up a weight class. The acquisition of Romeo Doubs to replace Stefon Diggs can be seen as a lateral move given the trajectory of each player, and the Patriots also made moves to bolster an offensive line that had its struggles throughout the 2025 season. Even with his rushing numbers dropping from his rookie season, Maye proved that he belongs among the fantasy elite, and if given the chance to fully utilize all his tools with a better surrounding cast, it should surprise nobody if he claims the QB1 title in the near future.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller