February 27, 2026
The Athletic's Josh Kendall writes that Atlanta Falcons tight end
Kyle Pitts Sr. is expected to "play this season on the franchise tag," which Atlanta officially put on him on Tuesday. The Falcons can still attempt to sign Pitts to a long-term deal, "but that's not the vibe" the team is giving when it comes to the tight end. "I just felt (the franchise tag) was best to give us some time to evaluate," new general manager Ian Cunningham said. Pitts had 68 catches for 1,026 yards as a rookie in 2021, but then had three straight years where he averaged 542 receiving yards before bouncing back in 2025 with a career-high 88 receptions for 928 yards. The Falcons are basically telling the 25-year-old former fourth overall pick that he needs to do it again in 2026 before they seriously consider inking him to a long-term extension. Pitts certainly has the skills to be a high-end TE1 again in fantasy, but the quarterback situation might not do him any favors with
Michael Penix Jr. coming off a serious knee injury and facing pressure to prove he's the franchise QB.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Josh Kendall
February 27, 2026
The New England Patriots are expected to be in active trade discussions for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver
A.J. Brown, one league source told Chad Graff of The Athletic. The Patriots most likely won't give up their first-round pick, but at the right price, Brown "would fit what the Patriots are looking for." If the Patriots cut receiver
Stefon Diggs to save salary cap space, they are expected to look at wideouts
Mike Evans or
Alec Pierce (if he's available) before potentially making a trade for Brown. If they whiff on both the free-agent and trade markets, they could look to take a receiver early in this year's NFL draft. The 28-year-old Brown may have worn out his welcome in Philly after airing frustration with his role in the offense last year. The three-time Pro Bowler still had his fourth straight 1,000-yard season. Brown played for Pats head coach Mike Vrabel in Tennessee and could definitely have a higher fantasy ceiling while working with young quarterback
Drake Maye.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Chad Graff
February 27, 2026
The Dallas Cowboys officially placed the franchise tag on impending free-agent wide receiver
George Pickens on Friday, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Now the two sides will try to work out a long-term contract extension before the July 15 deadline, with executive vice president Stephen Jones saying that the team isn't putting any timeframe on it. Rapoport said he does not expect Pickens to report to the team's facilities "unless and until there is a long-term deal." Rapoport also wonders if there is a team out there that would be willing to give up a premium draft pick and sign Pickens to a long-term deal themselves to try to pry the 24-year-old away from Dallas for 2026 and beyond. If Dallas and Pickens are unable to reach a long-term deal by July 15, and he's not traded, he'd play the upcoming season on a one-year, fully guaranteed $28 million contract. All signs point to the former second-rounder playing in Dallas again in 2026, where he had a career-best 93 catches for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns in 17 regular-season games. Pickens is a locked-in WR1 in fantasy for this fall.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
February 27, 2026
The Denver Broncos are not tendering running back
Jaleel McLaughlin, a source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. McLaughlin will hit the open market as a free agent next month, although it's believed that the Broncos would be interested in bringing him back for backfield depth. The 25-year-old former undrafted free agent combined for 189 carries, 906 rushing yards, and two rushing touchdowns in 33 regular-season games over the first two years of his career in Denver, adding 55 catches for 236 yards and four more touchdowns as a receiver. He only played in eight games in 2025, though, and had a career-low 37 rushing attempts for 187 yards and one touchdown, adding four catches for 27 yards. The Broncos will most likely add to their RB room alongside
RJ Harvey this offseason, either through the draft or free agency, but McLaughlin won't be a priority.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
February 27, 2026
New York Giants running back
Cam Skattebo (ankle) emerged as a rookie in 2025, recording 617 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns on 125 touches across eight games. Unfortunately for Skattebo and the Giants, his first NFL campaign was cut short in Week 8 by a season-ending ankle injury. While Skattebo is expected to make a full recovery in time for the start of 2026, his physical style of play may lead to long-term durability concerns. Additionally, a recent report from Dan Benton of Giants Wire suggests that New York may be targeting University of Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with the number five overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft. If the Giants add Love or another talented running back this offseason, the team's running back room will be very crowded heading into 2026. Skattebo's fantasy upside is largely dependent on his ability to handle a high volume of touches as both a rusher and receiver, so his dynasty outlook would be significantly impacted by the possible addition of Love in New York.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
February 27, 2026
Even entering his age-32 season, Baltimore Ravens running back
Derrick Henry remains one of the most dominant players at his position in the NFL. Across 17 games in 2025, Henry recorded 1,595 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on 307 carries. As Henry continues to age, his ability to handle a large workload while remaining productive is uncertain. However, any signs of significant age-related decline are difficult to spot in his statistical profile. Henry has now played 17 games and recorded over 300 touches in three straight seasons, and has logged over 3,500 rushing yards and 32 rushing touchdowns since joining the Ravens in 2024. Henry's lack of receiving work limits his PPR fantasy upside, as he recorded just 15 receptions on 21 targets in 2025. Still, he appears to be a lock for 1,000-plus rushing yards and double-digit touchdowns in Baltimore as long as he remains healthy. Henry's long-term dynasty value fades with each passing season, but it's hard to bet against him in 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
February 27, 2026
Baltimore Ravens tight end
Mark Andrews has been one of the better players in the NFL at his position since entering the league in 2018. However, Andrews is now entering his age-31 season, and he had one of the least productive years of his career in 2025. Across 17 games played, Andrews recorded 48 receptions for 422 yards and five touchdowns on 70 targets. Andrews' path to target share and playing time could be clearer in 2026, as fellow Ravens tight end
Isaiah Likely is set to hit free agency and may not return to the team. However, Andrews will also be working with an entirely new Baltimore coaching staff for the first time in his career in 2026. Additionally, Andrews has now recorded three consecutive seasons with fewer than 60 receptions and 700 receiving yards. While he will likely remain a security blanket for Ravens quarterback
Lamar Jackson in the red zone, Andrews' days as a high-end fantasy tight end may be behind him.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
February 27, 2026
Green Bay Packers wide receiver
Jayden Reed had his 2025 season thrown off track by injury, as collarbone and foot ailments limited him to just seven games played. Across those contests, the 25-year-old hauled in 19 catches for 207 yards and one touchdown on 22 targets. Before 2025, Reed flashed upside in his first two NFL seasons, recording over 1,900 scrimmage yards and 17 total touchdowns. However, he's struggled to carve out a high-volume role in the Packers offense, which typically spreads the ball around to multiple pass-catchers. Across 40 career games with Green Bay, Reed is averaging 4.8 targets per contest. Packers wideout
Romeo Doubs is set to hit free agency, and start tight end
Tucker Kraft (knee) is currently recovering from a torn ACL, so Reed's path to playing time could be clearer in 2026. He will still have to contend with Green Bay wideouts
Christian Watson and
Matthew Golden for targets, but a fully healthy offseason could put Reed in position for a breakout year. In dynasty formats, Reed could be a solid buy-low candidate coming off his injury-marred 2025 campaign.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
February 27, 2026
Three seasons into his NFL career, Detroit Lions running back
Jahmyr Gibbs has established himself as one of the premier players at his position. Across 17 games in 2025, the 23-year-old recorded 1,839 yards from scrimmage and 18 touchdowns on 320 touches. Gibbs is averaging nearly six yards per touch for his career and has recorded back-to-back seasons with at least 1,800 scrimmage yards and 18 scores. 2025 also brought about a couple of notable changes in Gibbs' profile. After starting just seven of his first 32 NFL games while sharing the Lions' backfield with veteran back
David Montgomery, Gibbs started all 17 contests in 2025 and established himself as the team's clear RB1. Gibbs also saw the heaviest receiving workload of his career, setting single-season highs in targets (94), receptions (77), and receiving yards (616). In 2026, Gibbs appears likely to once again be relied upon as a heavily featured piece in the Lions' offense. Gibbs' ability to rack up fantasy production as both a rusher and receiver makes him an elite dynasty running back option heading into the prime years of his career.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
February 27, 2026
After a down year in 2024 in which he missed nine games due to injury, New Orleans Saints wide receiver
Chris Olave bounced back to form in 2025. Across 16 games, the 25-year-old hauled in 100 receptions for 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns on 156 targets. Olave's production reached a new level after
Tyler Shough took over as the Saints' starting quarterback in Week 8. Across nine games alongside Shough, Olave hauled in 56 catches for 723 yards and six touchdowns on 85 targets. With a full season's worth of games playing with Shough in 2026, Olave could be in line for the best year of his career. Injuries remain a concern for Olave, as he's missed 13 games across four NFL seasons and ended 2025 sidelined by a blood clot in his lung. However, he's expected to make a full recovery heading into 2026, and he's proven a safe per-game production floor throughout the course of his career. In dynasty formats, Olave's fantasy stock is rising as a result of his encouraging 2025 season.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
February 27, 2026
The New York Giants are "seriously looking" at some of the top running backs in both the NFL draft and free agency this offseason, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN. Raanan specifically notes players like Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love and free-agent RBs
Travis Etienne Jr. and
Kenneth Walker III. Even though they already have
Cam Skattebo (ankle) and
Tyrone Tracy Jr. in their backfield, there "seems to be a clear focus on becoming a more physical run-heavy team" under new head coach John Harbaugh. Skattebo, 24, was a fourth-round pick out of Arizona State last year and is a pretty physical back, but the Giants may have concerns about his long-term durability after he suffered a season-ending ankle injury in his rookie campaign. Love, meanwhile, has the skills to be a top-five pick in this year's NFL draft and be a difference-maker at the next level for years to come.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN New York - Jordan Raanan
February 27, 2026
Georgia tight end Oscar Delp (foot) won't be allowed to go through drills at this weekend's NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis due to liability issues, according to a league source. Delp played the entire 2025 season for the Bulldogs with a hairline fracture in his foot, which was accidentally found on a routine X-ray. Delp will run and be a full-go for all drills at Georgia's pro day on March 18. The 22-year-old should be completely fine for the start of the 2026 NFL campaign this fall. He's expected to be a Day 3 prospect in this year's NFL draft after catching 20 passes for 261 yards and one touchdown in his senior season in 2025. Delp never had more than 284 receiving yards or four touchdowns in his four-year career at Georgia.
--Keith HernandezSource: Zach Klein
February 27, 2026
Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate said on Friday that he might only run the 40-yard dash at this weekend's NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, according to Travis May of A to Z Sports. Tate is considered one of the top receivers of this year's draft class after catching 51 passes for a career-high 875 yards and nine touchdowns in 11 games in 2025 in his junior year with the Buckeyes. He helped Ohio State win the national championship in 2024, when he caught 52 passes for 733 yards and four touchdowns in 15 games played. Tate finished his three seasons with 121 receptions, 1,872 yards, and 14 touchdowns in 39 games. Tate and USC's Makai Lemon will battle to be the first wideout taken in the 2026 NFL draft, and they could both come off the board within the first 15 or so picks.
--Keith HernandezSource: A to Z Sports - Travis May
February 27, 2026
The Dallas Cowboys officially placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on impending free-agent wide receiver
George Pickens on Friday, according to Todd Archer of ESPN. The non-exclusive tag allows teams to talk to Pickens when free agency begins next month, but the Cowboys will have the right to match any offer. Ultimately, the Cowboys hope that the tag is just a placeholder until they can work out a long-term extension with Pickens, who had a career year in 2025 in his first season in Dallas. The two sides will have until July 15 to reach a new contract. If an extension isn't reached, Pickens will most likely play the 2026 campaign in Dallas on the franchise tag. The 24-year-old led the Cowboys in receiving last year and was money for fantasy managers, catching 93 of his 137 targets for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns in 17 games. Pickens was the WR5 in half-PPR scoring and won't be cheap in the early rounds of drafts this fall as a WR1.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN Dallas - Todd Archer
February 27, 2026
University of Southern California wide receiver Makai Lemon will not run the 40-yard dash at this week's NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, according to Dane Brugler of The Athletic. Lemon will participate in the gauntlet and run some routes, but he won't take part in official testing. The 21-year-old won the Biletnikoff Trophy in 2025 after catching 79 passes for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns in his final collegiate season with the Trojans. Lemon will most likely run the 40-yard dash at his school's pro day next month. He's been compared to Lions wideout
Amon-Ra St. Brown and will be a lock to come off the board in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft, possibly within the first 10 to 15 picks.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Dane Brugler
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