May 18, 2026, 10:01 AM ET

As a second-round pick with an easy-to-root-for story, Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jack Bech was a popular early pick in 2025 dynasty rookie drafts, but his first-year production was terribly disappointing. In a Raiders offense that saw number one receiver Jakobi Meyers traded away after Week 9 and All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers either slowed or sidelined by injury for much of the year, Bech mustered up only 224 yards on 20 catches and failed to find the end zone. He finished eighth in total targets for a team that signed a 33-year-old Tyler Lockett off the street partway through the season. Working in Bech's favor is a lack of competition from what remains one of the league's weakest receiver rooms, along with expectations for the offense to take a massive step forward under new head coach Klint Kubiak. The Raiders invested heavily in the offensive line and spent the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on quarterback Fernando Mendoza. When healthy, Bowers and running back Ashton Jeanty will remain the unquestioned lynchpins of the offense, but if Bech can beat out Tre Tucker for a reliable tertiary pass-catching role, he could offer a usable fantasy floor. At only 23 years old, he is RotoBaller's dynasty WR80.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 18, 2026, 9:49 AM ET

Dallas Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue did very little in his first professional season after the team selected him in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. A healthy scratch in 12 games, he totaled only 129 rushing yards as a rookie on a 3.4-yard per carry average, and yet he remains a dynasty hold in all but the shallowest of leagues. With the Cowboys largely focused on defense in what was a weak 2026 NFL Draft for running backs, Blue finds himself in competition with only Malik Davis and 2025 seventh-round pick Phil Mafah for the primary backup spot behind Javonte Williams. With the team committing $16 million in guaranteed money to Williams as part of the three-year extension he signed this offseason, it's evident that he is viewed as a true bellcow, but his injury history brings added value to whoever can earn the backup job. On talent alone, Blue should have an advantage, but Davis looked serviceable in his limited opportunities in 2025, averaging almost five yards per carry and topping 100 yards when given the bulk of the work in a Week 17 win over the Commanders. At RotoBaller's dynasty RB68, Blue is unlikely to make a meaningful fantasy impact, but at only 22 years old and offering an element of speed not possessed by any other back on the roster, he's at least worth holding through training camp in hopes that a pecking order becomes more clearly defined.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 18, 2026, 9:36 AM ET

When the Philadelphia Eagles traded up to select wide receiver Makai Lemon with the 20th pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, it all but confirmed that A.J. Brown had played his last game with the team. With a trade of the three-time Pro Bowler expected in early June, Lemon is the most exciting new piece in an Eagles receiver room that was rebuilt on the fly. Philadelphia added Hollywood Brown and Dontayvion Wicks prior to the draft and spent a second-round selection on Eli Stowers, a tight end with a wide receiver skill set, ensuring there would be no lack of depth joining incumbent DeVonta Smith. Even with recent rumors suggesting that New England's Kayshon Boutte could be part of Philadelphia's return in the Brown trade, it will undoubtedly be Lemon who most often takes the field with Smith in two-receiver sets. Former NFL quarterback Sean Mannion takes over as the Eagles' offensive coordinator in 2026. With this being his first year in the position, his tendencies are not yet known, but Lemon is a natural target-earner who should become an early favorite of Jalen Hurts. At RotoBaller's rookie WR3, he is well worth a top-five pick in superflex rookie drafts, and he could make an immediate impact, even from a crowded room.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 18, 2026, 9:26 AM ET

When healthy, San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (Achilles) remains among the truly elite fantasy difference-makers at the position. On a per-game basis, Kittle was 2025's TE4, finishing almost two Half-PPR points per game higher than the TE5. Unfortunately, he missed five games with a hamstring injury, and his season ended in a Wild Card win over the Eagles with a devastating Achilles tear that threatens his availability for the start of the 2026 season. All reports have suggested that his recovery is going smoothly, but with San Francisco's opening game coming only eight months after the initial injury, it's unlikely Kittle will be ready to go in Week 1, and at 32 years old, he's fallen all the way to RotoBaller's dynasty TE14. At that cost, he has become a screaming buy for contending managers, as he should be close to full health by the fantasy playoffs, and even at 80%, Kittle is capable of putting up week-winning performances in an offense that has long supported multiple fantasy stars.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 18, 2026, 9:14 AM ET

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. signed a two-year, $10 million deal in the opening days of free agency to reunite with head coach Liam Coen, who coached the offense for one year at Kentucky during Rodriguez's most productive collegiate season. With the departure of Travis Etienne Jr. opening up more than 300 opportunities from 2025, the expectation is that Rodriguez will split time with 2025 fourth-round pick Bhayshul Tuten at the top of a running back committee. Having never seen more than four targets in a season, Rodriguez will likely leave the bulk of the receiving work to Tuten and LeQuint Allen Jr., with contributions from Ameer Abdullah, but he should still find fantasy value through early down and goal line work. Last season, in a similarly ambiguous backfield in Washington, Rodriguez led the team in red zone and goal line carries, despite missing four games with a handful of injuries and ailments. His six touchdowns from Week 7 on helped to make him the team's most fantasy-relevant running back over the second half of the season. With Jacksonville's offense clicking immediately in year one under Coen, the Jaguars saw 109 total carries from within the 20-yard line to Washington's 89, with Etienne personally responsible for nearly half. At 26 years old and slotting in at RotoBaller's dynasty RB46, Rodriguez has legitimate sleeper potential as a back who could find plenty of scoring opportunities in an offense that again projects to spend a lot of time in plus territory.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 17, 2026, 4:54 PM ET

Although the Denver Broncos already have second-year running back RJ Harvey and veteran J.K. Dobbins, they selected former University of Washington RB Jonah Coleman in the fourth round (108th overall) in this year's NFL draft. The 5-foot-8, 220-pounder is a bowling ball as a power back who finished with 1,811 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns on 349 carries in two seasons with the Huskies in his final two collegiate campaigns, adding 54 catches for 531 yards and two touchdowns. While Coleman will give the Broncos some toughness between the tackles, especially in short-yardage and goal-line situations, he lacks breakaway, big-play speed. If the 22-year-old develops as a pass-catcher, he could quickly surpass Harvey as a dual-threat option out of the backfield, and he'll provide needed depth behind the injury-prone Dobbins in 2026. Coleman will most likely enter his rookie season as the RB3 with the Broncos, battling Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie for a complementary role. Dynasty managers will need to be patient, but in the long-term, Coleman has plenty of upside with a Broncos organization that is desperately looking to become more efficient and tough on the ground. He's ranked as the No. 28 dynasty RB at RotoBaller going into his first year in the NFL.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Sports Reference

May 17, 2026, 4:40 PM ET

The New York Giants let wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson walk in free agency this offseason, but they added to the WR room with Darnell Mooney, Calvin Austin III, and rookie third-rounder Malachi Fields. Passing-game targets could be up for grabs early on in 2026 if WR1 Malik Nabers (knee) is slow to recover from a torn ACL he suffered early last year, but Darius Slayton himself is rehabbing from core-muscle surgery and won't be present for offseason workouts. In his seventh year with the G-Men in 2025, the 29-year-old pass-catcher underwhelmed with 37 receptions on 63 targets for 538 yards and just one touchdown in 14 games. His 538 receiving yards were the second-fewest of his career, and he has never caught more than 50 passes in a single season. Slayton also hasn't had more than four touchdowns in a season since he spiked with eight trips to the end zone in his rookie campaign in 2019. He should be healthy for the start of the 2026 regular season in early September, but Slayton will continue to be a low-ceiling fantasy receiver in an offense that also added pass-catching tight end Isaiah Likely in the offseason. Slayton has fallen all the way to the No. 136 WR in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings, and he's a cut candidate in those same formats.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Pro Football Reference

May 17, 2026, 3:59 PM ET

Across 13 games as a member of the Baltimore Ravens in 2025, Los Angeles Chargers running back Keaton Mitchell recorded 404 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown on 68 touches. While Mitchell never quite carved out a consistent role in the Baltimore offense in any of his three seasons with the team, he consistently flashed high-end upside by averaging 6.8 yards per touch. Now in Los Angeles, Mitchell remains blocked off from the RB1 role by the presence of Chargers running back Omarion Hampton. However, Mitchell looks like the favorite for the team's RB2 role and could be Los Angeles' lead pass-catcher out of the backfield. He also has the benefit of working with new Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, who consistently squeezed fantasy-relevant production out of multiple running backs during his time as the play-caller for the Miami Dolphins. Following his offseason change of scenery, Mitchell's dynasty stock is rising entering 2026.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

May 17, 2026, 3:51 PM ET

After recording 20 touchdowns on just 243 touches over his final two collegiate seasons at Notre Dame, running back Jadarian Price was selected in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle had one of the better running back tandems in the league in 2025 in Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet (knee). However, Walker III signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in March, and Charbonnet underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL in late February. As a result, Price could be in a position to lead the Seattle backfield right away in 2026. The Seahawks will eventually get Charbonnet back, and they also signed former Packers back Emanuel Wilson in free agency to take some of the pressure off of Price. Still, the 22-year-old clearly profiles as the running back of the future in Seattle. RotoBaller currently ranks Price as its 21st-best dynasty running back entering 2026.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

May 17, 2026, 3:40 PM ET

Across 16 games as a rookie in 2025, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Isaiah Bond recorded 18 receptions for 338 yards on 44 targets. While Bond flashed high-end upside as a downfield target, he largely struggled to carve out a consistent role in his team's passing game despite the Browns' obvious need for wide receiver talent throughout the 2025 season. Heading into 2026, Bond could see fewer opportunities for production after Cleveland selected wide receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston with top-40 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Browns quarterback situation also remains highly unsettled heading into the year, making it highly unlikely that the Cleveland passing game will be able to support more than a couple of fantasy-relevant wideouts. Bond remains a somewhat intriguing stash candidate in deeper dynasty leagues, but his stock is trending in the wrong direction entering 2026.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

May 17, 2026, 3:30 PM ET

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook III earned second-team All-Pro honors for his work in 2025, recording 1,912 yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdowns on 342 touches across 17 games. The 26-year-old has been a highly productive player for Buffalo in all four of his NFL seasons. However, the Bills significantly upped Cook III's usage in 2025, as his 20.1 touches per game were nearly four more than his previous career high of 16.5. Buffalo failed to make any significant additions to their backfield in either free agency or the draft, putting Cook III in a position to dominate touches once again in 2026. Given the strong offensive environment around Cook III in Buffalo, there's little reason to think he won't continue to provide high-end RB1 production for dynasty managers for years to come as he enters his age-27 season.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

May 17, 2026, 3:20 PM ET

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson battled through hamstring and back injuries that caused him to miss four games in 2025 and held his production below his usual standards. The 29-year-old completed 63.6% of his pass attempts for 2,549 yards, 21 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, and added 349 yards and two scores on 67 rushing attempts. With improved health, Jackson should have a chance to be far more aggressive with his legs in 2026. He could also be operating in an improved offensive environment under a new play-caller in Declan Doyle and with a pair of new wide receivers in 2026 mid-round draft picks Ja'Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt. Despite the down year in 2025, Jackson remains an elite dynasty quarterback option heading into 2026.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

May 17, 2026, 3:09 PM ET

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (shoulder) should be ready for training camp, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. Irving is coming off an injury-marred season in 2025, as he missed seven games due to shoulder and foot ailments. The 23-year-old's efficiency cratered when he was on the field as well, as he averaged just 3.4 yards per carry in 2025, down from 5.4 yards per carry in 2024. Tampa Bay made a big addition to its running back room in free agency, signing former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell to a two-year contract. While Gainwell will surely play a significant role, Stroud reports that Irving is still expected to open training camp as the Buccaneers' RB1. Irving's fantasy upside remains sky-high as he enters his third NFL season, but his injury history and Gainwell's presence in Tampa add some risk to Irving's profile.--Will Brady
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Rick Stroud

May 17, 2026, 11:36 AM ET

New England Patriots wide receiver Kyle Williams flashed upside as a big-play threat down the field in 2025 in his first year in the NFL after the Patriots selected him 69th overall in the third round out of Washington State. The 23-year-old pass-catcher caught 10 of his 21 targets for 209 yards (20.9 yards per reception) and found the end zone three times in his 17 regular-season games. He caught two of six targets for 14 yards in four playoff games. The speedy 5-foot-11, 190-pounder never really capitalized on an opportunity to establish himself as a consistent weapon during quarterback Drake Maye's breakout last year, and things won't get any easier for him going forward despite the departure of Stefon Diggs. The Patriots signed Romeo Doubs in free agency and are expected to acquire Pro Bowler A.J. Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles after June 1. The Pats also still have Mack Hollins, Kayshon Boutte, and DeMario Douglas, so a path for Williams to carve out an expanded role going forward for dynasty managers is not a given. Williams is an intriguing downfield threat because of his speed, but he's currently the No. 89 receiver in RotoBaller's WR dynasty rankings.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Pro Football Reference

May 17, 2026, 11:21 AM ET

When wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. was traded from the Indianapolis Colts to the Pittsburgh Steelers back in March, it was unclear if veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers would return for a 22nd year in the NFL. That made the 28-year-old's short-term outlook in his new digs somewhat cloudy. On Saturday night, Rodgers and the Steelers agreed to a reunion for the 2026 season, which won't drastically affect Pittman's long-term dynasty outlook, but it should give him a short-term boost in value, especially in point-per-reception leagues. The former second-round pick by the Colts in 2020 out of USC had two 1,000-yard seasons in his six years in Indy. Pittman had a career-high seven touchdowns in 17 games in 2025, but he disappointed with 784 receiving yards on 80 receptions. He will now be competing for targets in Pittsburgh with DK Metcalf and rookie second-rounder Germie Bernard. If not for QB Daniel Jones' (Achilles) injury last year, Pittman might have had his third 1,000-yard campaign. Pittman will be a short-term boost in his dynasty stock with Rodgers now officially back in town, but beyond that, all bets are off. He's currently RotoBaller's No. 53 WR in dynasty formats.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Pro Football Reference