February 5, 2026
After an injury-marred campaign in 2024, Kansas City Chiefs running back
Isiah Pacheco entered 2025 in need of a bounce-back effort. Unfortunately, the 26-year-old struggled with inefficiency, recording 563 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns on 137 touches across 13 games played. Pacheco averaged just 3.9 yards per carry, his second-straight season under four yards per rush attempt after averaging 4.7 yards per carry over the first two years of his career. Pacheco spent most of the 2025 season splitting backfield work with veteran Chiefs running back
Kareem Hunt, with Hunt dominating touches in short-yardage situations and around the goal line. Pacheco is now set to hit unrestricted free agency, so he's not guaranteed to be back in Kansas City. Based on his performance over the last two seasons, it's not hard to imagine a scenario where Pacheco finds himself in a committee backfield or even a straight RB2 role for the 2026 season. In dynasty formats, Pacheco's future fantasy value profiles as uncertain at best coming off his shaky 2025 campaign.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
February 5, 2026
Green Bay Packers tight end
Tucker Kraft (knee) suffered a torn ACL in Week 9 of the 2025 season, putting an early end to a promising breakout campaign. Across his eight games played before getting hurt, the 25-year-old recorded 32 receptions for 489 yards and six touchdowns on 44 targets. Even with the injury, recent reporting indicates that the Packers have begun extension negotiations with Kraft, signaling that the young tight end remains a big piece in the team's plans. Green Bay traditionally spreads the ball around to a multitude of pass catchers, which limits Kraft's volume-related production. However, he has proven the ability to be highly efficient on a low number of targets. For his career, Kraft is averaging 13.7 yards per reception and has hauled in 15 touchdown grabs on just 154 total targets. Given the timing of his injury, Kraft has a chance to be ready for the start of the 2026 season. Despite the unfortunate injury setback, Kraft remains a high-end tight end option for dynasty fantasy managers coming out of 2025.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
February 5, 2026
Detroit Lions wide receiver
Amon-Ra St. Brown posted another excellent season in 2025, recording 117 receptions for 1,401 yards and 11 touchdowns on 172 targets across 17 games played. The 26-year-old has established himself as one of the most consistent pass-catchers in the NFL, logging three straight seasons with at least 115 catches, 1,200 receiving yards, and double-digit touchdown grabs. Heading into 2026, St. Brown will be entering his age-27 season and should remain locked in as the top pass-catcher in the Lions' offense. Detroit should get tight end
Sam LaPorta (back) back from the back injury that sidelined him for a significant part of 2025, and the Lions have other talented receiving options in wideout
Jameson Williams and running back
Jahmyr Gibbs. Still, St. Brown has proven to be the number one option for Detroit quarterback
Jared Goff. St. Brown remains a high-end wide receiver option for both dynasty and re-draft fantasy managers as he continues his prime seasons.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
February 5, 2026
Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said on Thursday that rookie safety Nick Emmanwori (ankle) is fully expected to play in Super Bowl LX on Sunday against the New England Patriots, but the team will be overly cautious with him going into the weekend to make sure he's fine after rolling his ankle in practice on Wednesday, according to ESPN's Jeff Darlington. The 21-year-old second-round pick was limited on Wednesday and is currently dealing with a low-ankle sprain. Emmanwori might be limited in practice the rest of the week, but it sounds like he's going to give it a go for the big game this weekend, which is great news for Seattle's secondary. In his first year in the NFL, Emmanwori totaled 81 tackles (56 solo), 2.5 sacks, nine tackles for loss, four QB hits, an interception, and 11 pass breakups in 14 regular-season games to put himself in contention to win Defensive Rookie of the Year.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Darlington
February 5, 2026
The Green Bay Packers have already started contract-extension talks this offseason with tight end
Tucker Kraft (knee), according to Wes Hodkiewicz of Packers.com. Before Kraft's season-ending torn ACL on Nov. 2 against the Carolina Panthers, he was the team's leading receiver with 32 catches for 489 yards and six touchdowns in eight games, and he was well on his way to his first Pro Bowl appearance in his third year in the league. The 6-foot-5, 259-pounder is entering the final year of his four-year, $5.54 million rookie deal, and the Packers would like to lock him down for the long-term. "Obviously, he's a really important part of this football team," Gutekunst said. The 25-year-old is ahead of schedule in his recovery from ACL surgery, which means he's currently expected to be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season. Despite his major knee injury last year, if Kraft is a full-go for the start of next season, he'll be a high-end TE1 target in fantasy football drafts.
--Keith HernandezSource: Packers.com - Wes Hodkiewicz
February 5, 2026
Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio said on Thursday that running back
Joe Mixon (foot, ankle) will attempt to play in 2026, according to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. "Joe (Mixon) worked really hard to get himself ready. He's committed to trying to be able to play football this year. We'll see if he's physically able to do it or not. It's a little bit of a moving target," Caserio said. The GM said late last month that Mixon's foot/ankle injury last year was a "freak thing" that ended up keeping him out all year. The 29-year-old will attempt to play in 2026, but Caserio admits that it's no sure thing. Mixon has one year left on the three-year, $25.5 contract restructure that he signed in March of 2024, and the Texans can clear $8 million in salary cap space this year by cutting him. Even if Mixon sticks on Houston's roster, they could add to the RB position after
Woody Marks took over as the primary back in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: Houston Chronicle - Jonathan M. Alexander
February 5, 2026
Seattle Seahawks nickelback Nick Emmanwori (ankle) injured his ankle while defending a pass late in practice on Wednesday, according to ESPN's Brady Henderson. Emmanwori, a finalist for Defensive Rookie of the Year, walked off the field under his own power, but it remains to be seen if he'll be able to play this Sunday against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX. The second-rounder has been a key player in head coach Mike Macdonald's top-ranked scoring defense this year. Emmanwori was officially listed as limited on Wednesday's practice report. How much the 21-year-old defensive back can do in practice on Thursday and Friday will ultimately determine his status for the big game this weekend. If Emmanwori is unable to play or is limited on Sunday, it will definitely be a downgrade for Seattle's secondary.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Brady Henderson
February 5, 2026
Despite being listed as limited on Wednesday's injury report, Seattle Seahawks quarterback
Sam Darnold (oblique) doesn't seem concerned about his injury heading into Super Bowl LX on Sunday against the New England Patriots, according to Brady Henderson of ESPN. "It feels really good," Darnold said. "Definitely, the time off has helped a little bit. I'm always just going to take it one step at a time, do my rehab and do everything I need to do to make sure it feels great going into practice and going into the game ... on Sunday." The 28-year-old has played both playoff games with the oblique injury and hasn't been affected, so fantasy managers in DFS contests shouldn't be too worried about it affecting him on Sunday, especially with an extra week to rest. Darnold will be going up against a Patriots defense that allowed the ninth-fewest fantasy points per game (16.1) to the QB position during the regular season.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Brady Henderson
February 4, 2026
Wide receiver
DK Metcalf's first year in Pittsburgh with the Steelers didn't go as planned after he signed a four-year, $132 million contract with the team in March of last year. Metcalf was the team's leading receiver, but he finished under 1,000 yards for the second straight year while catching 59 of a career-low 99 targets for 850 yards and six touchdowns in 15 regular-season games. A two-game suspension to close out the year for punching a fan didn't help his cause. The 28-year-old didn't show much chemistry with quarterback
Aaron Rodgers, but in Metcalf's defense, the Steelers' lack of WR led to plenty of double-teams. The two-time Pro Bowler is still one of the most physically gifted receivers in the game, but the Steelers need to get him some help. His two-year decline will drop his fantasy value in 2026, especially since there's a good chance Metcalf will be working with a new QB in his eighth year in the NFL.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
February 4, 2026
The Houston Texans selected wide receiver
Jayden Higgins in the second round in 2025 out of Iowa State, and he finished his rookie season in the NFL with 41 receptions on 68 targets for 525 yards and six touchdowns in 17 regular-season contests. Higgins was the Texans' third leading receiver behind
Nico Collins and tight end
Dalton Schultz. In the team's two playoff games, the 23-year-old caught nine of his 14 targets for 98 yards. Higgins' success going forward will be tied to whether quarterback
C.J. Stroud can bounce back following a couple of disappointing campaigns after his outstanding rookie year, but either way, he should be Houston's No. 2 behind Collins with
Christian Kirk hitting free agency this March. Higgins has the size (6-foot-4, 215 pounds) and speed to take a big step forward with more targets in his sophomore season.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
February 4, 2026
Los Angeles Rams running back
Kyren Williams signed a three-year, $33 million contract extension with the team last fall before the start of the 2025 season and then went on to post his third straight 1,000-yard rushing season, along with 10 rushing touchdowns on 259 carries over 17 regular-season games. Williams didn't see as many carries as he did in 2024, but he was more efficient (4.8 yards per carry) and added a career-best 36 catches for 281 yards and three more scores on 50 targets. The 25-year-old has now had double-digit rushing TDs in each of the last three seasons, and he ended the 2025 campaign as the RB8 in half-PPR scoring. Backfield mate
Blake Corum took on a bigger role late in the year as the Rams tried to keep Williams fresh for their playoff run, and he out-touched Corum in all three playoff games, which means he should maintain his lead-back role in 2026. As long as quarterback
Matthew Stafford returns for another season, Williams figures to be a top-10 RB target in fantasy.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
February 4, 2026
New England Patriots quarterback
Drake Maye (shoulder) was a full participant in practice on Wednesday, per The Athletic's Michael-Shawn Dugar. It's not much of a surprise after Maye said he felt good while throwing the football around on Monday. The 23-year-old second-year signal-caller put in two limited practices last week before picking up a DNP on Friday due to an illness. The Patriots listed him as questionable on last week's final injury report, but barring a setback this week, he should be fully cleared to suit up for Super Bowl LX this Sunday in Santa Clara, Calif., against the Seattle Seahawks. Maye will be an MVP finalist after throwing for 4,394 yards, 31 touchdowns, and eight interceptions with a league best 72% completion percentage during the regular season. It's been a different story in three playoff games, though, as he's completed only 55.8% of his passes for 533 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions while fumbling six times (three lost).
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Michael-Shawn Dugar
February 4, 2026
Seattle Seahawks quarterback
Sam Darnold (oblique) remains on the injury report and was listed as a limited practice participant on Wednesday, according to Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic. Darnold injured his left oblique in practice days before the team's Divisional Round win over the San Francisco 49ers, but he wasn't tagged on last week's final injury report and is fully expected to play this Sunday in Super Bowl LX versus the New England Patriots. The 28-year-old signal-caller only attempted 17 passes in the 41-6 blowout win over the Niners, but he went 25-for-36 for a season-high 346 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions in the NFC Championship win over the Los Angeles Rams. The former third overall pick by the New York Jets in 2018 out of USC will look to put the finishing touches on an incredible career resurgence.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Michael-Shawn Dugar
February 4, 2026
Philadelphia Eagles offensive-line coach and run-game coordinator Jeff Stoutland announced on X on Wednesday that his time coaching with the Eagles "has come to an end." Stoutland joined the organization back in 2013 when Chip Kelly was the head coach, and ever since then, the Eagles have had one of the best offensive lines in the league. The Eagles won both of their Super Bowl titles with Stoutland on the coaching staff, and he was instrumental in the offense's success with the tush push in recent years. It won't be an easy task for new offensive coordinator
Sean Mannion and head coach Nick Sirianni to replace Stoutland, and it will be interesting to see how this affects the Eagles' tush-push success going forward.
--Keith HernandezSource: Jeff Stoutland on X
February 4, 2026
The Arizona Cardinals requested an interview with Houston Texans defensive backs coach Dino Vasso for their defensive-coordinator job, a source told the NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. This will be Vasso's second interview for a DC job this cycle after getting a look from the Tennessee Titans before they went with veteran Gus Bradley. In addition to Vasso, the Cardinals are looking at New York Giants outside linebackers coach Charlie Bullen and Los Angeles Rams passing-game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant. Vasso is a rising assistant in the coaching ranks and has been coaching with the Texans since the 2021 season. Before joining the Texans, Vasso coached with the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. The Cardinals' defense could use all the help it can get after allowing the fourth-most points per game (28.7) and sixth-most total yards per game (357.7) in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
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