February 19, 2026
Since signing with the New England Patriots in 2021, tight end
Hunter Henry has turned in a top-12 finish in three of five seasons, never finishing below TE21. While he lacks the big game consistency to stay off the waiver wire in redraft formats, he's the exact type of player drafters should be targeting in the later rounds of best ball drafts, especially in three-tight-end builds. Henry has become a trusted red zone weapon for
Drake Maye and has five multi-touchdown games in his career, providing occasional week-winning spikes that can be difficult to predict when streaming the position. Henry finished as the TE7 in 2025 and is currently going outside the top 12 at the position in early best ball drafts.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
February 19, 2026
Washington Commanders running back
Jacory Croskey-Merritt was a seventh-round pick in 2025 following an unorthodox finish to his college career, and he became a popular sleeper pick heading into his first season. With the Commanders' running back room lacking obvious star talent, the path was there for the explosive young back to claim the top spot. Following an early-season injury to
Austin Ekeler, Croskey-Merritt was given multiple chances to secure the role. While he was never able to take a stranglehold of the position, injuries and ineffectiveness around him never let him stray too far from relevance. With Ekeler set to hit the open market and
Chris Rodriguez Jr. a restricted free agent, Washington will likely bring in another back to compete for touches. However, after putting up two of his best games against divisional foes over the final month of the season, Croskey-Merritt should have every chance to compete for a primary role again in 2026.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
February 19, 2026
Third-year Jacksonville wide receiver
Parker Washington led all Jaguars pass catchers with 58 receptions for 847 yards in 2025, while his five touchdown grabs trailed only running back
Travis Etienne Jr. With rumblings that second overall pick
Travis Hunter will be used primarily on the defensive side of the ball in year two, the Jaguars' wide receiver room is wide open heading into 2026.
Brian Thomas Jr. was unable to follow up on his Pro Bowl rookie season, while veteran
Jakobi Meyers became an integral piece of Jacksonville's offense following a mid-season trade. With either just as capable as Washington of leading the room, and Hunter unlikely to be entirely phased out of the offense, whoever ends up as the de facto number one could still struggle to crack 1,000 yards or double-digit touchdowns, and will be difficult to trust week-in and week-out, making all of them more valuable in best ball formats.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
February 19, 2026
The Los Angeles Chargers selected running back
Omarion Hampton 22nd overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, but ankle injuries limited the talented rookie to only nine regular-season games. Even still, the 22-year-old out of North Carolina showed enough in his first season to make him a popular breakout candidate heading into 2026. Following a season-ending injury to
Najee Harris in Week 3, Hampton exploded for his best game of the season, with 165 total yards and a touchdown in a Week 4 loss to the Giants. While he would play only five more games for the rest of the year, mostly behind an injury-ravaged offensive line, he continued to run hard, averaging 4.4 yards per carry while staying steadily involved in the passing game. Assuming a full return to health by both Hampton and the line in front of him, the second year back could be knocking on a top-five fantasy finish in Mike McDaniel's offense in 2026.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
February 19, 2026
Philadelphia Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson (foot) told The Philadelphia Inquirer's Jeff McLane on Thursday that he is officially returning for a 14th season with the Eagles. It will be big to have the future Hall of Fame right tackle back as head coach Nick Sirianni alters the offense under new offensive coordinator
Sean Mannion in 2026. On top of that, Philly will have a new offensive-line coach after Jeff Stoutland resigned. Chris Kuper will be taking over responsibilities, and the scheme on the O-line is likely to change. The 35-year-old Johnson missed the final eight games of last season, including the loss in the postseason to the San Francisco 49ers, with a Lisfranc foot injury. He has continued his rehab early this offseason as he works to regain full strength, and he should be ready to go by Week 1 this fall. Johnson's return is excellent news for the Eagles' offense in 2026, primarily for quarterback
Jalen Hurts and running back
Saquon Barkley.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Philadelphia Inquirer - Jeff McLane
February 19, 2026
Seattle Seahawks impending free-agent wide receiver/return man
Rashid Shaheed told NFL Network's Judy Battista and Bridget Condon on Wednesday that he "would love" to return to the Seahawks. Seattle acquired Shaheed at last year's trade deadline, and the 27-year-old was an underrated piece of the Seahawks' Super Bowl-champion squad. He provided an additional deep threat for quarterback
Sam Darnold while also returning three kicks for scores on special teams, including one in the Divisional Round blowout win over the San Francisco 49ers. He was more of a threat for fantasy managers with the New Orleans Saints before the trade, though, as he caught only 15 of 26 targets for 188 yards and no touchdowns in nine regular-season games in Seattle. Shaheed was averaging career bests in catches per game (4.9) and receiving yards per game (55.4) before the trade. Wherever he lands in free agency this offseason, Shaheed will most likely be a boom/bust WR4/flex for fantasy.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Judy Battista and Bridget Condon
February 18, 2026
Cleveland Browns Pro Bowl offensive guard Wyatt Teller, who will be a free agent in March, announced on Instagram on Wednesday that he will not return to Cleveland and will sign elsewhere, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Teller was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the fifth round in 2018 out of Virginia Tech, but he has spent seven of his eight years in the NFL with the Browns. The 31-year-old veteran was a Pro Bowler for three straight seasons from 2021 to 2023, but he appeared in only 13 games in each of the past two seasons in Cleveland. A calf injury limited him this past season. Teller figures to draw plenty of interest on the open market for teams that are looking for a dependable starting right guard. He has started 101 of the 109 games he's appeared in during his eight seasons in the league.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
February 18, 2026
The Los Angeles Rams announced on Wednesday that they re-signed offensive lineman David Quessenberry to an undisclosed one-year deal. Quessenberry was in his first year with the Rams in 2025, and he appeared in 13 regular-season games (zero starts). The 35-year-old veteran offensive tackle only played 18 snaps on offense, though, and 73 snaps on special teams. The former sixth-round pick out of San Jose State in 2013 will return to L.A. next season as offensive-line depth. Quessenberry has bounced around the league in his eight years in the NFL, having already played for five different teams.
--Keith HernandezSource: Los Angeles Rams
February 18, 2026
The Cleveland Browns and left guard Joel Bitonio pushed the void date of his contract to the start of the new league year on March 11, a league source told Dan Labbe of The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Bitonio's contract was previously set to void on Monday, Feb. 16. The team's longest-tenured player will now have a little extra time to decide if he wants to return to play a 13th year in the NFL. The 34-year-old veteran offensive lineman will be extended or released by March 11 because the Browns would take on a $23 million dead-cap hit if his contract voids. If Bitonio chooses to return to Cleveland in 2026, he'll be expected to start at left guard. He was originally drafted in the second round in 2014 out of Nevada. Bitonio has been a stalwart interior offensive lineman for the franchise, being named to the Pro Bowl for seven straight seasons from 2018 to 2024.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Cleveland Plain Dealer - Dan Labbe
February 18, 2026
New Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Declan Doyle said on Wednesday that he expects everyone to be in attendance for the team's voluntary organized team activities this spring, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN. The team's offseason program will start on April 6, with their first on-field workouts beginning in May. Quarterback
Lamar Jackson, who had a down year by his standards in 2025, has typically skipped most of the voluntary OTAs and didn't take part in eight of the nine on-field practices last spring. Whether the Ravens can get a new deal done with Jackson, who represents himself in contract negotiations, could impact his availability this spring. The 29-year-old is tied for the best career passer rating (102.2) and has the most rushing yards ever by a QB (6,522), making him one of the best dual threats at the position all time. Injuries slowed him down in 2025, though, and he'll be looking to bounce back with a first-time play-caller in Doyle.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jamison Hensley
February 18, 2026
The New England Patriots have promoted inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr as their full-time defensive coordinator, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Kuhr was hired as the team's inside linebackers coach last season, but he took over as the defensive play-caller in Week 2 after defensive coordinator Terrell Williams was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Williams was cleared to return last week, according to head coach Mike Vrabel, and he was elevated to a higher-ranking role on the coaching staff. The 37-year-old Kuhr drew rave reviews from Williams at Super Bowl LX, and the Patriots' defense was instrumental in helping them get to the big game. Coaching assistant Vinny DePalma is expected to take over Kuhr's former position as inside LBs coach. The Pats' defense allowed the fourth-fewest points per game (18.8) and eighth-fewest total yards per game (295.2) during the 2025 regular season.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
February 18, 2026
The Miami Dolphins have had trade talks with teams this offseason regarding five-time Pro Bowl safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Miami already released four players earlier this week, including Pro Bowl receiver
Tyreek Hill (knee), and they are in the early stages of resetting their roster under a new regime. The Dolphins acquired the 29-year-old defensive back from the Pittsburgh Steelers last year in the deal that sent cornerback Jalen Ramsey to the Steel City. Fitzpatrick could be on the move again this year after he recorded 82 tackles (59 solo), one sack, four tackles for loss, one interception, six pass breakups, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries in 14 games in his return to Miami. He should have plenty of suitors on the trade market as the Dolphins look for draft-pick compensation.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX Sports - Jordan Schultz
February 18, 2026
Los Angeles Rams impending free-agent tight end
Tyler Higbee has been a key weapon in the organization for a full decade, but he could be headed for a change of scenery as he enters free agency in 2026. Higbee played 10 games in 2025, missing the remaining seven due to an ankle issue. He was held to just 25 catches, 281 yards, and three touchdowns, ranking as the overall TE40 in PPR leagues. It was another underwhelming year for the veteran tight end, who has been healthy for just 13 of 34 games over the last two years. Not only has Higbee's recent downturn made him a non-priority for the Rams in free agency, but so has the emergence of two key teammates.
Colby Parkinson scored eight touchdowns in a late-season breakout, and the Rams also invested significant draft capital in
Terrance Ferguson, who had five catches, 87 yards, and two touchdowns over his final two games as a rookie in 2025. There's no real spot for Higbee in this offense, especially if he and the Rams don't agree on a salary. If Higbee, 33, wishes to return for an 11th NFL season, it seems likely it'll be with an organization other than the Rams.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
February 18, 2026
Seattle Seahawks tight end
AJ Barner broke out as the overall TE14 in PPR leagues during his second pro season in 2025. Fully healthy for all 17 games, he racked up 52 catches, 519 yards, and six touchdowns in a Seahawks offense that ultimately won Super Bowl LX. Most importantly, he fended off rookie
Elijah Arroyo. Before the year, it seemed like Arroyo might push to be the No. 1 tight end, but that never happened because Barner contributed at such a high level. Arroyo will get a little more involved in 2026, but we expect that Barner will remain the top tight end target for
Sam Darnold, especially around the goal line. Not only is he trending up in dynasty leagues, but he's also an intriguing option in redraft leagues, especially for managers waiting to take their primary tight end until the later round of fantasy drafts. He'll likely open 2026 draft rankings just outside the top 12 tight ends, but he has top-10 upside.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
February 18, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs tight end
Noah Gray has long-term upside in dynasty leagues, making him a sneaky stash for the upcoming offseason. For his entire five-year career so far, Gray has been stuck in a depth role behind superstar
Travis Kelce. However, with Kelce likely nearing the end of his playing career, it's time for fantasy managers to start considering who might take his place after he retires. Right now, the frontrunner is Gray, who has flashed tremendous upside even in his role as the Chiefs' No. 2 tight end. In 2024, even with Kelce playing 16 games, Gray ranked as the overall TE2 in PPR leagues with 40 catches, 437 yards, and five touchdowns. He added another 21 catches and 178 yards last year. Kelce is likely coming back for another year, but we expect the Chiefs to begin incorporating Gray even more than last year. In addition to an anticipated larger role, Gray is the top tight end handcuff in the NFL. While roster spots are limited and rostering a backup tight end in redraft leagues may not be feasible, Gray is absolutely an intriguing offseason pick-up in dynasty leagues. He has top-10 upside when Kelce isn't healthy or isn't playing anymore. Dynasty managers should consider adding Gray if he's currently not rostered.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
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