March 9, 2026
The Pittsburgh Steelers are signing former Carolina Panthers running back
Rico Dowdle to an undisclosed deal on Monday, multiple sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Dowdle was never expected to return to Carolina in his search for an RB1 role after back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons with the Panthers and Dallas Cowboys. The 27-year-old carried the Panthers' backfield last year when
Chuba Hubbard missed time due to injury, and he finished with 1,076 rushing yards and a career-high six rushing scores on 236 carries over 17 regular-season games (11 starts). Dowdle's production trailed off late last year, though, as Hubbard was kept in the fold out of the backfield. In Pittsburgh, he may have a similar problem. Pass-catching back
Kenneth Gainwell signed with the Bucs, but Jaylen Watson remains and could be a serious threat to Dowdle's fantasy upside as he heads into his sixth NFL season. Dowdle finished 2025 as the RB16 in half-PPR scoring.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX Sports - Jordan Schultz
March 9, 2026
The Arizona Cardinals are signing former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
Kendrick Bourne to a two-year deal worth up to $12 million on Monday, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Bourne will bring plenty of experience to the Cardinals, his third NFL team. The 30-year-old veteran has 4,265 career receiving yards in his nine NFL campaigns. He spent the 2025 season with the Niners, catching 37 of 53 targets for 551 yards and no touchdowns in 16 regular-season games (eight starts). Bourne had back-to-back 142-yard games in Weeks 5 and 6 in 2025 to highlight his return to the Bay Area. A move to the desert and the rebuilding Cardinals won't be ideal, though. Expect Bourne to be competing for the WR3 role in Arizona behind
Marvin Harrison Jr. and
Michael Wilson, who should command the vast majority of aerial targets from veteran quarterback
Jacoby Brissett. In 12-team leagues, Bourne should be left to the waiver wire to open the 2026 season.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX Sports - Jordan Schultz
March 9, 2026
The Seattle Seahawks are re-signing wide receiver
Rashid Shaheed to a three-year, $51 million deal on Monday that includes $34.7 million guaranteed, agents Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey told ESPN's Adam Schefter. For fantasy purposes, it might have been better for Shaheed to go elsewhere, as he only caught 15 of 26 targets for 188 yards and no touchdowns in nine regular-season games for Seattle last year after they acquired him in a midseason trade from the New Orleans Saints. Shaheed was much more involved on offense in New Orleans, catching 44 of 66 targets for 499 yards and two touchdowns. He will return to the Super Bowl champions as a field stretcher to help get
Jaxon Smith-Njigba open underneath. Shaheed is also an excellent kick returner on special teams, being named to his second Pro Bowl last year. Perhaps he'll have a bigger role on offense in his first full year with the team, but
Cooper Kupp and
Tory Horton are still in the WR room. Shaheed will be more of a boom/bust WR4/flex option for fantasy managers in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
March 9, 2026
Free-agent quarterback
Kenny Pickett agreed to a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers on Monday that will be worth up to $7.5 million, including $4 million in guarantees, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. With Pickett now in the fold as
Bryce Young's backup, the Panthers are expected to trade veteran
Andy Dalton. The 27-year-old Pickett will be on his fourth different team in the last four seasons. He was the 20th overall pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022 out of Pittsburgh, but he only lasted two years in the Steel City before being dealt to the Philadelphia Eagles. Pickett spent last year with the Las Vegas Raiders, playing in six games (two starts) while going 28-for-45 passing for 188 yards, one touchdown, and two picks. He has mostly operated as a game manager under center with limited upside in his four NFL seasons, completing only 62.4% of his passes.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
March 9, 2026
The New Orleans Saints agreed to terms with free-agent tight end
Noah Fant on an undisclosed two-year deal, sources told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Fant will give the Saints some additional tight end depth behind
Juwan Johnson, with both
Foster Moreau and
Taysom Hill (knee) being free agents. The 28-year-old former first-round pick by the Denver Broncos in 2019 out of Iowa had a career-low 288 yards and three touchdowns on 34 receptions (41 targets) in 15 games (seven starts) in his lone season with the Cincinnati Bengals last year. Before that, Fant spent three years with the Seattle Seahawks, never topping 500 receiving yards or four touchdowns in his time there. His career-high of 673 receiving yards came in 2020 with Denver in his second year in the league. Unless Johnson misses time with an injury in 2026, Fant won't be a target in standard-sized 12-team fantasy leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
March 9, 2026
The Arizona Cardinals' "current intention" is to keep
Jacoby Brissett as their starting quarterback in 2026, with
Gardner Minshew serving as the backup, according to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. Brissett took over for the injured
Kyler Murray (foot), who has since been released, after he suffered a season-ending foot injury in Week 5. The 33-year-old veteran proceeded to have a career year in a pass-happy offense, completing 64.9% of his passes for 3,366 yards, 23 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in 14 games played (12 starts). Brissett quickly became a QB streamer for QB-needy fantasy managers, and he was money in superflex leagues as well, with the Cardinals throwing the ball often while frequently playing down multiple scores. He'll be in play in two-QB leagues again in 2026 as long as he's starting, although the Cardinals may look to become more balanced on offense under new head coach Mike LaFleur.
--Keith HernandezSource: The 33rd Team - Ari Meirov
March 9, 2026
Former Kansas City Chiefs quarterback
Gardner Minshew reached an agreement on Monday on a one-year, $8.25 million deal with the Arizona Cardinals, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN. The Cardinals have released
Kyler Murray (foot), but even with the addition of Minshew, the Cardinals intend to keep veteran
Jacoby Brissett as their starting QB in 2026. It means that Minshew will be the backup in the desert next season. The 29-year-old gunslinger spent last year in Kansas City, backing up
Patrick Mahomes. The forer sixth-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019 out of Washington State appeared in four games (one start) and went 6-for-13 for 37 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. Minshew injured his knee in his lone start late in the 2025 season and didn't play again after Mahomes suffered a season-ending knee injury. A Pro Bowler in 2023 with the Colts, Minshew won't be on the two-QB superflex radar unless Brissett misses time with an injury.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
March 9, 2026
Former Miami Dolphins quarterback
Tua Tagovailoa plans to sign an undisclosed one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Falcons will now have two left-handed signal-callers in Tagovailoa and
Michael Penix Jr. (knee) as they head into the 2026 season. Tagovailoa, the fifth overall pick by Miami in 2020 out of Alabama, was benched late last year in favor of rookie QB
Quinn Ewers. He completed 67.7% of his pass attempts for 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns, and a career-high 15 interceptions in his 14 starts just two years after leading the NFL with 4,624 passing yards. Opponents quickly adjusted to Miami's speed-based offense, with Tagovailoa rarely challenged secondaries deep down the field. The 28-year-old also has a scary history with concussions, so much so that his career could be in danger if he suffers one more head injury. Tagovailoa will have a chance to win a starting job with Atlanta if Penix isn't healthy following ACL surgery, but even if he does, he'll be no more than a low-end QB2 in superflex leagues until he can prove otherwise.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
March 9, 2026
Eleven-time Pro Bowl tight end
Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs have officially agreed to terms on a new deal on Monday, sources told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Kelce will be back for a 14th NFL season in 2026, but the terms of the deal are undisclosed. The 36-year-old future Hall of Famer contemplated retirement for the second straight offseason, but all signs had been pointing toward him returning to play for the Chiefs this fall. He will be hoping to get KC back to the postseason after they fell short in 2025 following three straight Super Bowl appearances. Kelce is no longer in his prime -- he hasn't reached 1,000 receiving yards since 2022 -- but the four-time All-Pro was still a top-five fantasy football tight end last year with 76 catches, 851 yards, and five touchdowns in 17 games played. He's more injury-prone near the end of his career, but his strong connection with quarterback
Patrick Mahomes makes up for it. Kelce will be a midrange TE1 in fantasy drafts this fall.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
March 9, 2026
ESPN's Rich Cimini says to keep an eye on the New York Jets potentially trying to acquire Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver
Brian Thomas Jr. via trade. Cimini thought that the Jets would target wideout
Michael Pittman Jr. from the Indianapolis Colts, but the Colts traded him to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday for a late-round draft pick. The Jets could really use a No. 2 wideout behind
Garrett Wilson going into the 2026 season, and Thomas would definitely be a solid pickup as a WR for Gang Green. The 23-year-old former 23rd overall pick out of LSU in 2024 looked like a star his rookie season, catching 87 passes on 133 targets for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns. But he fell in Year 2, going for a 48-707-2 line in 14 regular-season contests. There's rebound potential for him in 2026, but that could be thrown out the window if he goes to the Jets, a team without a firm plan at quarterback right now.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN New York - Rich Cimini
March 9, 2026
The Washington Commanders re-signed backup quarterback
Marcus Mariota to a one-year, $7 million deal on Monday, sources told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Mariota can make up to $11 million with performance-based incentives. In terms of experience and ability, the 32-year-old veteran is one of the top backup QB options in the NFL. Starter
Jayden Daniels battled multiple injuries and missed significant time in 2025, leading to Mariota playing in 11 games (eight starts). The former second overall pick by the Tennessee Titans in 2015 out of Oregon completed 61.2% of his passes for 1,695 yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He also had 297 rushing yards and another score on the ground. The Commanders are hoping that Mariota won't see as much of the field in 2026, though, which would mean Daniels has been able to stay healthy in his third NFL campaign.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
March 9, 2026
The Denver Broncos reached an agreement with running back
J.K. Dobbins (foot) on an undisclosed two-year deal on Monday to bring him back for another season, a source told Mike Klis of 9 News. Dobbins was on track for a career year in 2025 in his first year in Denver before suffering a season-ending foot injury that required surgery. The 27-year-old had 153 carries for 772 yards and four rushing touchdowns in 10 games while sharing touches with rookie second-rounder
RJ Harvey. Dobbins also caught 11 passes for 37 yards through the air. Denver certainly liked the production that Dobbins gave them when healthy last year, enough so that they want to run it back again with the injury-prone RB. The former second-rounder in 2020 by the Baltimore Ravens has never played a full season and has also never reached the 1,000-yard mark in five seasons. His return is bad news for Harvey, who was the RB1 for the Broncos after Dobbins' injury. Dobbins will be a risk/reward RB3/flex target in fantasy football drafts this fall. The injury risk will be high for a lot of fantasy managers, especially since Harvey could have a bigger role in Year 2.
--Keith HernandezSource: 9 News - Mike Klis
March 9, 2026
Future Hall of Fame wide receiver
Mike Evans has agreed to terms on an undisclosed three-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers on Monday, according to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. Evans' 13th year in the NFL will be his first away from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 32-year-old veteran opened his career with 11 straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons before suffering hamstring and collarbone injuries in 2025 that limited him to a career-low eight starts. Evans caught 30 of his 62 targets last year for 368 yards and three touchdowns. The six-time Pro Bowler will now be seeking a second Super Bowl ring in the Bay Area as the Niners' clear No. 1 target for quarterback Blake Purdy. Injuries are a bigger issue for the aging wideout, but if healthy, Evans could have a WR1 ceiling again in fantasy football in head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense.
UPDATE: Evans' deal is worth up to $60.4 million.--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
March 9, 2026
Former New York Giants star wide receiver
Wan'Dale Robinson is signing an undisclosed deal with the Tennessee Titans on Monday, sources told FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz. Robinson will reunite with former Giants head coach Brian Daboll, who is now the offensive coordinator in Tennessee. The 25-year-old former second-rounder in 2022 out of Kentucky has back-to-back seasons of 90-plus catches in New York, and he reached the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career in 2025, catching 92 of 140 targets for 1,104 yards and a career-high four touchdowns in 16 games. Robinson should have a pretty high PPR floor as he reunites with Daboll, but he'll also be working with young quarterback
Cameron Ward in an offense that has two other rising young wideouts in
Elic Ayomanor and
Chimere Dike, not to mention second-year tight end
Gunnar Helm. Robinson should see plenty of volume, although his ceiling in 2026 and beyond will be determined by whether Ward can take the next step in his development.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX Sports - Jordan Schultz
March 9, 2026
The New Orleans Saints are signing former Jacksonville Jaguars running back
Travis Etienne Jr. to a four-year, $52 million deal on Monday, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. It's a major addition for the Saints' offense, as Etienne had over 1,000 rushing yards in 2025 and contributes in both the run and pass game. The addition of the former Clemson star is a sign that the Saints could be releasing veteran
Alvin Kamara this week after he ended last season with a knee injury. New Orleans also has
Kendre Miller (knee) and
Devin Neal (hamstring) at RB on the roster, but Etienne will be the clear lead back going into next season. The 27-year-old has gone over 1,000 rushing yards in three of the last four seasons and will join a New Orleans offense that was scrappy with rookie quarterback
Tyler Shough running things to close out the year. Etienne's speed and three-down skill set will give him clear RB1 upside in 2026 in the Big Easy.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX Sports - Jordan Schultz
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