Brashard Smith Destined to Become Special Teams Player?
Kansas City Chiefs running back Brashard Smith is currently listed as No. 2 on the RB depth chart for the Chiefs behind new starter Kenneth Walker III, but the 23-year-old has fallen all the way to No. 74 in RotoBaller's dynasty RB rankings despite Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco both departing in free agency in the offseason. In addition to Walker, the Chiefs signed Emarci Demercado in free agency and selected Emmett Johnson in the fifth round of this year's draft. Smith, who was a receiver in college at SMU, is elusive and can obviously catch the ball out of the backfied, but at just 5-foot-10 and 196 pounds, he lacks the size to challenge for a true workhorse RB1 role in the NFL, and he could be destined to see most of his snaps on special teams in KC if Johnson emerges as the team's best change-of-pace back behind Walker. In his rookie campaign in 2025 after the Chiefs took him in the seventh round, Smith saw 44 carries for 151 yards (3.4 yards per carry) and no touchdowns, although he added 25 catches for 172 yards and one touchdown through the air in 17 games (one start). Smith has PPR upside, but his dynasty stock has taken a hit due to the additions of Walker, Demercado, and Johnson.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Ben Sinnott's Dynasty Value Hindered by Free-Agent TE Addition
Fantasy managers holding Washington Commanders tight end Ben Sinnott were hoping that he'd be next in line to replace veteran Zach Ertz (knee) as the team's top pass-catching tight end going into the 2026 season. However, the Commanders signed Chig Okonkwo in free agency (three years for $30 million), and he figures to get the first crack as Washington's TE1 in 2026. Sinnott, the 53rd overall pick in the second round in 2024 out of Kansas State, caught just five passes for 28 yards and a touchdown in 17 games in his first year in the NFL. The 23-year-old only slightly improved on those statistics in Year 2, catching 11 of 13 targets for 114 yards and another TD in 16 games (three starts) last year. With Okonkwo now in D.C., both Sinnott and John Bates will likely be limited to primarily blocking duties, dropping Sinnott's value in both dynasty and redraft formats in 2026. In dynasty formats, Sinnott is all the way down as the No. 55 TE, behind the aging Darren Waller.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Should Dynasty Managers Continue to Hold Sam Darnold?
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold isn't the flashiest name in fantasy football, but he has cemented his status as a solid fantasy option after winning a Super Bowl and supporting explosive seasons from Justin Jefferson (2024) and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (2025). In his first season with the Seahawks, Darnold threw for 4,048 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. His sack total dropped to 27 as he played behind a better offensive line, but he lost a career-high six fumbles. Moving forward, Darnold is firmly in the "hold" range for dynasty fantasy football. He finished his last two seasons as the QB9 and QB13, respectively, and he'll likely remain in that range through at least 2027, which is his final year under contract. Managers shouldn't ignore trade offers on Darnold, especially since he's approaching his thirties, but there's no urgency to sell, either.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dynasty Managers Getting Ready to Sell High on Justin Fields?
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Justin Fields could have another sell-high window coming up, and dynasty managers should be ready to capitalize on his increased trade value when it happens. It seemed like Fields would be out of a job entering this offseason, but the Jets ended up trading him to the Chiefs, giving him a chance to earn some more playing time. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) might end up missing Week 1, and if he does, Fields is expected to be named the starter. If it looks like Fields will end up getting a few starts, there will be a brief period when his value goes up as quarterback-needy managers look to add or trade for him. Managers who currently have Fields on their bench (and have no plans to start him) should capitalize on this opportunity to sell high, when it presents itself. In terms of timing, peaks in his value should correspond with updates about Mahomes' injury, and we should hear more about Mahomes' status in the coming weeks. Dynasty managers should be ready to entertain offers on Fields soon.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dallas Goedert a Target for Dynasty Managers in Championship Window?
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert is coming off the best fantasy season of his career. Goedert caught 60 passes for 591 yards and a career-high 11 touchdowns en route to ranking as the overall TE7 in PPR leagues. This was the first time in his career that he ever finished higher than TE10 overall. Although it was a terrific season for the 31-year-old, dynasty managers are justified in wondering whether he can repeat his success in 2026. He's a glaring candidate for touchdown regression, and the Eagles also drafted competition in the form of Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers. While we expect Goedert to remain atop the depth chart for the whole year, this could very well be his final season in Philadelphia. Goedert signed a one-year extension that allows the two sides to head their separate ways next offseason. With uncertainty surrounding his fantasy outlook for 2027 and beyond, the veteran tight end isn't the safest dynasty target, especially for managers looking to be competitive several years down the road. With that being said, for managers in a win-now window looking to secure a championship title in 2026, Goedert could be a reasonable target. His price tag is cheaper after the Eagles drafted Stowers, and he can still be a top-12 fantasy tight end for at least another year. As it stands, he's the TE12 in RotoBaller's redraft rankings for 2026, and the TE21 in our latest dynasty rankings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Theo Johnson Not the Primary Option in New System?
New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson was one of the biggest risers at his position last year. However, just as quickly as his fantasy value took off, it could now be taking a hit. Johnson was the overall TE18 in his second season last year, catching 45 passes for 528 yards and five touchdowns. He benefitted from a Giants offense coached by Brian Daboll and quarterbacked by rookie Jaxson Dart. While Dart remains in place for 2026, Daboll is gone and has been replaced by John Harbaugh. Not only is there a new scheme in place, but Johnson also faces new competition after Isaiah Likely followed Harbaugh from Baltimore to New York. Given that Likely has a connection to the Giants' head coach and Johnson does not, the former may have an early advantage on the No. 1 tight end hunt. Johnson could still win the job with an impressive training camp, but more likely than not, we'll see split usage for the two tight ends. If that happens, it's unlikely that either would be able to carve out much standalone value on a week-by-week basis. If Likely misses time due to injury, Johnson would be a fringe top-12 fantasy tight end, but otherwise, he's more of a bench stash. Dynasty managers should look to sell high on Johnson, since we're wary of the possibility of him finishing higher than TE18 in 2026 and beyond. There's no resolution in sight, either, as Likely is signed through 2028 and Johnson is signed through 2027.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Still Time to Buy Low on Kyle Monangai in Dynasty Leagues?
Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai's buy-low window might still be open ahead of his second pro season. Monangai generated plenty of buzz as a potential sleeper last summer, and he ended up delivering an impressive rookie campaign with 783 rushing yards, 164 receiving yards, and five touchdowns. He ranked as the RB30 in PPR leagues despite spending his first five games in a minimal role. As the season went on, Monangai earned more touches alongside D'Andre Swift, and the duo formed an impressive one-two punch. Assuming the Bears remain equally run-heavy in 2026, Monangai has the potential to handle 10+ touches per game and eclipse 1,000 yards on the season, even with Swift present. His value would skyrocket if Swift missed time, too, making him a top handcuff. Looking more long-term, Swift is heading into a contract year, so Monangai could have this backfield all to himself in 2027 and beyond. The Rutgers product has clear RB2 upside in dynasty leagues, making him an intriguing buy-low option in dynasty leagues for the time being. The window to trade for Monangai may close as the season gets underway, though, so managers should start sending out trade offers now.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Amon-Ra St. Brown an Unheralded Dynasty Cornerstone
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has finished three straight seasons as the WR3 in half-PPR formats, and even in an offseason where the team brought in no notable target competition, he remains perpetually undervalued in dynasty rankings, currently sitting at RotoBaller's WR6. Detroit's biggest ticket pass-catching additions this offseason were Greg Dortch, tight end Tyler Conklin, and fifth-round pick Kendrick Law. The Lions come into 2026 with their third offensive coordinator in as many years, but with Jared Goff's 18,206 passing yards since 2022 leading the league by a substantial margin, Detroit's offense has become practically automatic under Dan Campbell. Drew Petzing now takes over coordinator duties fresh off a season with the Cardinals in which journeyman quarterback Jacoby Brissett's 3,366 passing yards upon seizing the starting job in Week 6 trailed only Goff. As long as the nucleus remains in place, the Lions' offense should continue to roll, and outside of injury, few foreseeable scenarios would land the 26-year-old St. Brown far from another league-winning fantasy finish.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jerry Jeudy Becoming an Undervalued Dynasty Depth Piece
With the Cleveland Browns selecting two wideouts within the first 39 picks of the 2026 NFL Draft, incumbent wide receiver Jerry Jeudy has been viewed as one of fantasy's biggest offseason losers, falling all the way to WR85 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings. While no real argument can be made that his situation has improved, Jeudy is only one year removed from a WR15 finish, and he did lead the team with 105 targets in 2025, though his league-worst 47.6% reception rate resulted in only 50 catches. With a healthy Deshaun Watson back in the mix and Shedeur Sanders having another year of development under his belt after starting the final seven games of 2025, the quarterback play in Cleveland could be at least marginally better, resulting in a higher quality of target. Even if the improved receiver room limits him to fewer than 100 opportunities, with him priced at his absolute floor, the 27-year-old Jeudy should still see enough of a role to make him a worthwhile throw-in as part of a larger deal or a late-round swing in dynasty startups.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Skyler Bell Could See Multiple Paths to Dynasty Relevance
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Skyler Bell may not see the field immediately as a rookie, taking a monumental step up from FBS Independent Connecticut to the NFL, but his unique versatility could allow him to play across the formation, creating multiple paths to playing time. Bell is slightly undersized at 6'0" and 185 pounds, and he drew some draft day comps to current Bills slot receiver Khalil Shakir, but most of his collegiate success came on the outside. As a fourth-round pick, there's little pressure for him to earn a starting role out of training camp, but his ability to back up multiple receiver positions while tied to one of the league's elite quarterback talents makes him a player worth looking at in the second half of rookie drafts. At RotoBaller's rookie WR18, Bell is a low-cost investment whose outlandish college production and fantasy-friendly landing spot point to one of the higher potential ceilings from the bottom of the draft board.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jayden Daniels Still Worth Paying Up for in Dynasty Leagues
One year removed from an Offensive Rookie of the Year-winning season that had him in the conversation as the No. 1 overall asset in superflex dynasty leagues, Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has fallen notably in consensus rankings, often lasting to the 1-2 turn in dynasty startups. Unlike Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, who saw a similar fall from grace after a historic rookie season, most of Daniels' sophomore struggles can be blamed on injuries, both to himself and to his already thin receiving core. Heading into 2026, both Daniels and Terry McLaurin are projected at full health, and the Commanders have surrounded their third-year quarterback with an interesting group of pass-catchers, adding tight end Chig Okonkwo and running back Rachaad White through free agency before spending a third-round pick on slot receiver Antonio Williams. With the offense around him arguably the strongest it's been since coming into the league as the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Daniels current ranking of RotoBaller's QB4 could represent a floor that he may not return to for several years, making him by no means a low-cost buy, but a potentially undervalued one.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Andrei Iosivas' Already Low Standalone Value Sinks Lower
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andrei Iosivas caught only 33 passes for 435 yards and two scores as a third-year player in 2025, only twice turning in a weekly fantasy finish as the WR30 or better. With both Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins remaining relatively healthy, Iosivas' ceiling was unsurprisingly capped, operating primarily out of the slot in three receiver sets and regularly seeing less than a double-digit target share. Cincinnati added Georgia wide receiver Colbie Young in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and while the former Bulldog and Hurricane spent more than 92% of his time on the outside in three of four collegiate seasons, any additional competition is bad news for a player whose dynasty value is already weighted so heavily by the depth chart ahead of him. The Bengals could also see a return to health from somewhat forgotten 2024 fourth-round pick Erick All Jr., whose presence as a traditional inline tight end could allow Mike Gesicki to spend more time in the slot in favor of Iosivas. At RotoBaller's dynasty WR142, Iosivas still offers unique insurance upside given the overall strength of Cincinnati's offense and the fact that the team essentially has two number one receivers who at some point could miss time, but with his already low standalone value seemingly taking a hit, he is no longer a player that needs to be held under any and all circumstances.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tyjae Spears has Limited Long-Term Upside in Dynasty Formats
Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears missed more time due to an ankle injury in 2025 and finished with a career-low 283 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 72 carries while catching 45 passes for 264 yards as a pass-catcher on 50 targets in 13 games (one start). The 24-year-old third-rounder out of Tulane in 2023 has impressive dual-threat abilities on the football field, but they haven't really translated to fantasy production in his three years in the NFL, and injuries in the last two years haven't helped his cause. Spears had a career-high 453 rushing yards and only two touchdowns in 17 games with Tennessee as a rookie. At this point in his career going into the 2026 campaign, Spears' primary fantasy football value comes in PPR leagues. Durability concerns and the fact that the Titans drafted RB Nicholas Singleton have made Spears a faller in terms of his dynasty value going into the upcoming season. If RB1 Tony Pollard were to miss time due to injury in 2026, Singleton, rather than Spears, could be tasked with lead-back duties. RotoBaller has Spears ranked as the No. 63 RB in dynasty leagues.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Jaylen Wright a Buy-Low Candidate as a Handcuff?
Make no mistake about it, Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane's four-year, $68 million contract extension that he signed on Wednesday is bad news for Jaylen Wright's fantasy stock in dynasty leagues. In Wright's second NFL season in 2025, he had nearly identical numbers to his rookie campaign while playing in five fewer games, although he was a bit more efficient with his touches and got more done after contact. The 23-year-old former fourth-round selection in 2024 out of the University of Tennessee saw 70 carries for 288 yards (4.1 yards per carry) and two touchdowns while adding five catches on nine targets for 44 yards as a pass-catcher in 10 games -- he missed the first six weeks while recovering from knee surgery. Wright was the RB2 behind Achane and ahead of short-yardage back Ollie Gordon II, and that should be the pecking order again going into Week 1 of the 2026 season. RotoBaller has Wright ranked as the No. 69 dynasty RB, but managers in those formats who have Achane rostered may want to consider buying low on Wright for insurance. If anything were to happen to Achane, Wright would be Miami's clear RB1 and would be a weekly fantasy starter in all formats.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Ollie Gordon II's Dynasty Value Takes a Hit After Teammate's Extension
The Miami Dolphins signed starting running back De'Von Achane to a four-year, $68 million contract extension on Wednesday, which is bad news for both Ollie Gordon II and Jaylen Wright in dynasty/keeper leagues. With Achane sticking around long term and a disappointing rookie campaign for Gordon, the 22-year-old is all the way down to No. 72 at the position in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings. After being selected in the sixth round (179th overall) last year out of Oklahoma State, he saw 70 carries for 199 yards (2.8 yards per carry) and three touchdowns, adding just seven receptions for 32 yards and another score through the air in 17 games (one start). The Texas native has a large frame for an RB at 6-foot-2, 225 pounds, and it likely pigeonholes him into a short-yardage/goal-line role in Miami moving forward. As long as Achane and Jaylen Wright stay healthy, Gordon's path to a significant backfield role will be limited. In redraft formats in 2026, Gordon isn't even ranked in RotoBaller's top-100 RBs.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
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