Jul 8, 2026, 9:37 AM ET

Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal led the team in rushing in 2025 and, with very little fanfare, turned in four different performances as the RB8 or better. While the 2024 sixth-round pick was obviously not the first plan in Jim Harbaugh's offense, veteran acquisition Najee Harris and first-round pick Omarion Hampton both succumbed to serious injuries that thrust Vidal into a starting role in which he handled himself admirably. In seven games in 2025, Vidal saw at least 10 carries, and despite playing behind an injury-ravaged offensive line that has been panned as one of the league's worst units, he averaged more than 80 rushing yards in such contests, scoring three touchdowns on the ground and a fourth through the air. While free agent acquisition Keaton Mitchell has rightfully been spotlighted as a natural fit in new coordinator Mike McDaniel's speed-based offense, at only 5'8" and 191 pounds, with a history of significant injuries, he is unlikely to see a substantial uptick in carries should presumed bell cow Hampton again miss extended time. In such a scenario, it would likely be Vidal who handles the bulk of the early-down work, and in what projects to be one of the league's most improved offenses, that could easily translate to continued fantasy success. Vidal is RotoBaller's dynasty RB63, and in deeper redraft leagues, he's worth a look at the end of drafts as one of the more valuable insurance backs in the league.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 8, 2026, 9:25 AM ET

Veteran running back Joe Mixon last saw the field in a 2024 Divisional Round loss in which he registered exactly 100 yards on 20 touches and added a touchdown to conclude what had been a successful first season with the Houston Texans. While nobody knew it at the time, that very well could have been his last professional game. Mixon's entire 2025 season was lost to a mysterious foot and ankle injury sustained early in the offseason and barely clarified at any point thereafter. He was released prior to the start of the 2026 league year with a non-football injury designation, and although he has expressed interest in continuing his career, the soon-to-be-30-year-old back remains unsigned. A training camp or in-season injury could certainly send Mixon's name back into the rumor mill, but he is not a player who should factor into 2026 draft plans, and at RotoBaller's dynasty RB73, he is no longer a player who needs to be rostered.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 8, 2026, 9:14 AM ET

For Atlanta Falcons running back Brian Robinson Jr., 2025 marked the first time in his four-year career that he was able to suit up for all 17 games, but it was in a seldom-used change-of-pace role behind Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco. In one of the stranger careers in recent history, Robinson has yet to top the 205 carries of his rookie season despite playing in only 12 games that year after being shot twice during an attempted robbery and carjacking. Clearly playing at less than full strength, he has since seen better efficiency in each subsequent season, but has never been given a full workload, first ceding carries to veterans Antonio Gibson and Austin Ekeler in Washington before landing as McCaffrey's primary backup in a year when the then-29-year-old led the league in touches. In signing a one-year deal with the Falcons, he finds himself backing up another bell cow running back in Bijan Robinson, who has not missed a game in his three-year career. While the incumbent Robinson has spent enough time split out wide to allow for his previous backup, Tyler Allgeier, to regularly see the field and maintain fantasy relevance, a new coaching regime in Atlanta could turn the backfield over to him entirely. Still, for the second year in a row, Robinson Jr. comes into the season as one of the NFL's most valuable insurance backs, draftable in 2026 leagues for that reason alone, while any standalone value he's able to provide in a new home and a new system should be seen as a bonus. He is currently RotoBaller's RB47.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 7, 2026, 10:00 PM ET

Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift is coming off the second 1,000-yard campaign of his career. Despite some changes of scenery, Swift has been one of the more consistent backs in the NFL in recent years. Last season, Swift rushed for 1,087 yards on 223 carries with nine touchdowns on the ground. The nine scores on the ground were a career-high for the 27-year-old back. The only downside here is the emergence of Kyle Monangai. The two backs are likely going to split up the starting reps, which could create a frustrating situation for fantasy managers. It wouldn't be shocking to see the Bears go with the hot-hand method and ride whichever back looks better on that given day. It's worth mentioning that Swift is in the final year of his contract, so the Bears might be more invested in giving Monangai more carries as the possible future back. Dynasty managers who have Swift on their roster might want to consider selling high on him.--Andy Webb
Source: Pro Football Reference

Jul 7, 2026, 9:49 PM ET

Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis could be a sneaky addition for dynasty managers ahead of the 2026 season. Davis is entering his third season with the Bills and is currently battling for the primary backup role behind James Cook III. Last season, Davis saw a minimal role in the Bills' rushing attack. He rushed 58 times for 275 yards and didn't find the end zone on the ground. He didn't see a ton of action on the ground, but Davis did rush for nearly five yards per carry. Davis has shown the ability to be a viable option when given the opportunity. There's unlikely to be a ton of chance to do damage on the ground as long as Cook stays healthy. The expectation is that Davis and Ty Johnson are going to split up the reps behind Cook. Davis could be one injury away from being a relevant fantasy contributor, which makes him worth considering stashing as a handcuff in dynasty formats.--Andy Webb
Source: Pro Football Reference

Jul 7, 2026, 9:38 PM ET

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is back for at least one more season. The 36-year-old isn't the same top-tier fantasy tight end that he used to be, but that doesn't mean he can't be a reliable contributor. This past season, Kelce hauled in 76 receptions, 851 receiving yards, and five touchdowns across 17 games with the Chiefs. The 76-catch season was his lowest since the 2015 season, but that goes to show how long Kelce has been an elite player in this league. The Chiefs don't have many reliable pass-catchers on offense outside of Rashee Rice, and hopefully Xavier Worthy takes a step forward. The health of quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) also plays a factor in the fantasy value of Kelce. If everything goes right for the Chiefs, Kelce should still be a fringe top-10 fantasy tight end next season. Given his age, fantasy managers needing a tight end might be able to snag Kelce for cheap, with this possibly being his last season.--Andy Webb
Source: Pro Football Reference

Jul 7, 2026, 9:25 PM ET

San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan James is currently projected to be the primary backup this upcoming season. The former fifth-round pick only made three appearances last season and didn't record a single carry as a rookie. Despite the lack of reps, James has drawn praise from head coach Kyle Shanahan during the offseason. The 49ers don't have a clear No. 2 option behind superstar Christian McCaffrey in this backfield. Outside of James, the 49ers have third-round pick Kaelon Black, Isaac Guerendo, and Sincere McCormick. There's plenty of competition for the No. 2 role, but James wouldn't be a bad player to have as a possible handcuff to McCaffrey. He's an interesting buy-low candidate for dynasty managers looking for help at running back.--Andy Webb
Source: Pro Football Reference

Jul 7, 2026, 9:12 PM ET

New England Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins is coming off a decent season in 2025. The veteran wideout hauled in 46 receptions, 550 receiving yards, and two touchdowns in 15 games (13 starts) with the Pats. Those were his best numbers since 2022, but Hollins could be headed towards a diminished role. The Pats acquired AJ. Brown during the offseason to be their top wideout in their offense. They also signed Romeo Doubs, who is projected to be the slot receiver to begin the season. The Pats also have Kayshon Boutte and Kyle Williams returning, who are expected to compete for snaps with Hollins. The assumption is that the Patriots are more likely to feed snaps to a younger player, such as Williams over Hollins. The 32-year-old might end up falling into a depth role on this revamped Pats offense, so fantasy managers counting on Hollins might want to look elsewhere for help.--Andy Webb
Source: Pro Football Reference

Jul 7, 2026, 8:35 PM ET

A recent report from NFL Network's James Palmer reveals that free-agent wide receiver Tyreek Hill (knee) had surgery to fix his ACL and multiple other knee ligaments after suffering a torn ACL and dislocated knee in Week 4 of last season with the Miami Dolphins. Palmer described Hill's possibility of playing in 2026 as "wishful thinking." Hill, an eight-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro, has built a reputation for extraordinary speed, elite acceleration, and reliable hands, but his career could be in jeopardy after his serious knee injury last season. The Cheetah is no spring chicken at 32 years old, and his elite physical traits could diminish after his knee injury. Fans have floated the idea of the former fifth-rounder returning to the Kansas City Chiefs, but he faces significant questions about his future in the NFL. Hill's focus goal could be shifting to a lengthy rehab process that will have him ready for the 2027 season. He opened his career with eight straight Pro Bowl selections, and he has 819 catches for 11,363 yards and 83 touchdowns in his 10 years in the league. As of right now, Hill should be avoided in single-year fantasy leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: NFL Network - James Palmer

Jul 7, 2026, 3:01 PM ET

A third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Houston Texans wide receiver Jaylin Noel finished his rookie season with 26 catches for 292 yards and two touchdowns on 35 targets across 17 games (three starts). The 23-year-old was largely blocked from playing time in the slot by veteran wideout Christian Kirk. However, Kirk departed Houston in free agency this past spring, which could put Noel in a position to be the Texans' primary slot receiver alongside outside wideouts Nico Collins and Jayden Higgins. Houston also has wide receiver Tank Dell (knee) making his way back from the knee injury that cost him all of 2025, but Dell's outlook remains clouded by health concerns. Noel also drew strong reviews for his play during Texans spring workouts and could be in line for a significantly increased role in the Houston passing game. As the WR84 by current redraft ADP, Noel carries significant sleeper appeal heading into 2026.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 7, 2026, 2:51 PM ET

Across seven games (one start) in 2025, New Orleans Saints running back Audric Estime recorded 301 scrimmage yards and one touchdown on 58 touches. With the Saints backfield decimated by injuries down the stretch of the season, Estime took on a lead role for New Orleans' final two games of the year. While Estime remains on the Saints' roster heading into 2026, his place on the depth chart looks drastically different. New Orleans signed running back Travis Etienne Jr. in free agency and will also be getting back Alvin Kamara, Devin Neal, and Kendre Miller (knee) after all three missed the end of the 2025 season with injuries. Entering 2026, dynasty managers should feel comfortable moving on from Estime in favor of a higher-upside option.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 7, 2026, 2:40 PM ET

Thanks to a gruesome knee injury that ended his 2024 campaign in Week 16, Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (knee) missed the entire 2025 season. Dell has yet to be fully cleared from the injury, but he's expected to contribute to the Texans at some point in 2026. The 26-year-old has been a productive player when healthy for Houston, averaging 67 catches for 936 yards and seven touchdowns on 106 targets per 17 games played. Still, he may now be facing an uphill battle for targets even once healthy, as Houston has a pair of promising young wideouts in Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel to go with superstar WR1 Nico Collins. Dell's stock in both redraft and dynasty leagues has obviously fallen considerably from his peak value. Still, it's difficult to buy into Dell at any real cost until he proves he can make it back to full health.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 7, 2026, 2:30 PM ET

After spending the first four seasons of his career with the Baltimore Ravens, tight end Isaiah Likely signed a three-year deal with the New York Giants this past spring. Likely consistently flashed upside as a Raven, but his production in Baltimore was limited by the presence of Ravens tight end Mark Andrews. In New York, Likely will play alongside another talented tight end in Theo Johnson. Still, the Giants' financial commitment to Likely seemingly indicates that he will get a chance to be his team's clear TE1 for the first time in his career. Even in a part-time role with the Ravens, Likely collected 11 receiving touchdowns across a two-season span from 2023 to 2024. Early reports out of Giants camp indicate that Likely has already begun to establish himself as a high-volume target in a New York passing game that is riddled with health and production question marks. Likely's profile comes with some risk, but he certainly has the potential to vastly outproduce his current redraft ADP of TE11.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 7, 2026, 2:22 PM ET

After a promising rookie season in 2024, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy saw his production stagnate in a disappointing 2025 campaign. Across 14 games, Worthy recorded 42 catches for 532 yards and one touchdown on 73 targets. Entering 2026, Worthy profiles as the Chiefs' WR2 behind only the highly unreliable Rashee Rice (knee), who is currently recovering from knee surgery and may be facing another league suspension. If Worthy takes a step forward in his age-23 season, he could emerge as the go-to weapon for Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. However, Worthy was unable to establish himself last season, when Rice missed nine games. Worthy has explosive speed, but he's averaged a highly underwhelming 1.25 yards per route run for his NFL career to this point. He certainly has upside, but Worthy may be overvalued as the 48th wide receiver off the board by current redraft ADP.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

Jul 7, 2026, 2:13 PM ET

Across 17 games in 2025, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield completed 63.2% of his pass attempts for 3,693 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Mayfield's production represented a stark decline from his peak year in 2024, when he threw for 4,500 yards and 41 scores. However, Tampa Bay dealt with myriad injuries to its wide receiver corps in 2025. While the Bucs lost veteran wideout Mike Evans in free agency, the team still has a strong group of now-healthy pass-catchers in wide receivers Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin Jr., and Jalen McMillan. Mayfield also brings some ability to provide fantasy production with his legs, as he's rushed for 760 yards and four scores over the past two seasons. Mayfield might not have high-end upside, but he could easily get back into the fringe QB1 range and is currently valued as the QB19 by redraft ADP entering 2026.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller