RADIO
Isaiah Likely Carries Significant Dynasty Upside into First Season in New York
After spending the first four seasons of his NFL career with the Baltimore Ravens, tight end Isaiah Likely signed a three-year, $40 million contract in free agency with the New York Giants this past March. Likely routinely flashed high upside during his time in Baltimore, but his path to consistent fantasy production was blocked by the presence of fellow Ravens tight end Mark Andrews. In New York, Likely may now be facing another playing time split with incumbent Giants tight end Theo Johnson. However, the team's sizable financial commitment to Likely indicates that he is the Giants' TE1, as does Likely's familiarity with new Giants and former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. Additionally, Likely could conceivably open 2026 as the number one target in New York's passing game with star Giants wideout Malik Nabers (knee) facing an uncertain recovery timeline from the serious knee injury that ended his 2025 campaign. Likely's fantasy profile still lacks certainty, but his dynasty upside is significant as he enters his first season with his new team.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Emanuel Wilson's Dynasty Outlook Clouded by Depth Chart Uncertainty in Seattle
After spending the first three seasons of his career with the Green Bay Packers, running back Emanuel Wilson signed a one-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks for the 2026 season in March. The 27-year-old was productive in a backup role behind Josh Jacobs in Green Bay, recording 1,145 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns on 254 touches across 34 games over the past two seasons. With Seahawks RB1 Zach Charbonnet (knee) expected to miss the start of the 2026 regular season while recovering from the torn ACL he suffered in mid-January, Wilson could open the year as Seattle's lead rusher. However, the Seahawks also added Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price with the 32nd overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, likely capping Wilson's production upside. Wilson carries some short-term production upside, but he likely still profiles long-term as a handcuff running back option for dynasty managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Is Jaylin Noel Still Roster-Worthy in Dynasty Formats?
Across 17 games as a rookie in 2025, Houston Texans wide receiver Jaylin Noel hauled in 26 receptions for 292 yards and two touchdowns on 35 targets. Noel profiles primarily as a slot receiver, so his path to playing time last season was largely blocked by veteran wideout Christian Kirk. While Houston let Kirk walk in free agency, Noel may not be in a better position in 2026 due to the impending return of Texans wideout Tank Dell (knee) from the knee injury that caused him to miss the entire 2025 season. Dell is recovering from a dislocated kneecap and multiple torn ligaments, making both his return and ability to produce uncertain at best. However, if Dell is healthy, Noel could project as the WR4 in Houston behind Dell, Nico Collins, and Jayden Higgins. Noel profiles as a player to hold in dynasty formats for the time being, but his future in Houston is likely largely dependent on Dell's health status going forward.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dylan Sampson Carries Dynasty Upside Despite Current Place on Depth Chart
Across 15 games as a rookie in 2025, Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson recorded 446 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 98 touches. While fellow Browns rookie Quinshon Judkins (ankle) emerged as the team's clear lead rusher, Sampson established himself as a pass-catcher out of the backfield by hauling in 33 receptions for 271 yards and two scores on 40 targets. Cleveland did not make any notable additions to its running back room over the offseason and let veteran back Jerome Ford walk in free agency. As a result, Judkins and Sampson appear to be locked in as the Browns' top two rushers for 2026. As long as Judkins fully recovers from the ankle injury that ended his 2025 season and remains healthy in 2026, Sampson's production upside is limited. Still, Sampson carries dynasty handcuff appeal and could offer some standalone value in PPR-scoring formats if he continues to dominate passing-down work. Fantasy managers may want to consider attempting to buy low on Sampson ahead of his second NFL season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Is George Holani Worthy of a Deep-League Dynasty Roster Spot?
Across 11 games in 2025, Seattle Seahawks running back George Holani recorded just 88 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on 24 touches. The 26-year-old spent the year blocked from regular playing time by Seattle's potent running back duo of Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet (knee). Walker III departed Seattle in free agency, and Charbonnet's status for the start of 2026 is in doubt as he works his way back from the torn ACL that he suffered during Seattle's NFC Divisional Round win over the San Francisco 49ers in mid-January. However, Holani's place on the depth chart remains uncertain following the Seahawks' use of a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on running back Jadarian Price and their free agent acquisition of running back Emanuel Wilson. With Charbonnet expected to miss the beginning of the upcoming season, Holani could carve out a regular role in Seattle. However, he could also remain limited to RB3 duties if he cannot beat out Wilson and/or Price emerges as a star. Holani could be worth rostering in deeper dynasty leagues, but his profile comes with risk.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tank Bigsby Could See an Increase in Snaps in 2026
Philadelphia Eagles running back Tank Bigsby could see an increase in snaps in his second year with the team, according to Geoff Mosher of PhillyVoice. Mosher speculates that Bigsby's one-cut running style may actually be a better fit for new Eagles play-caller Sean Mannion's offensive scheme than star running back Saquon Barkley's "freelance" approach. Philadelphia acquired Bigsby one week into the 2025 season, and he finished the year with 344 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just 58 carries across 16 games. In games where Barkley is available, the Eagles have typically leaned on him heavily as a three-down workhorse. However, Bigsby was highly efficient as a rusher (5.9 yards per carry) when given the opportunity in 2025. If he earns more touches in 2026, he could carve out some standalone fantasy value. Either way, he carries significant upside as a high-end handcuff running back option for fantasy managers.
Source: PhillyVoice - Geoff Mosher
Source: PhillyVoice - Geoff Mosher
Is it Time to Move on From Kendre Miller in Dynasty Leagues?
New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller has yet to reach 115 offensive snaps, 50 carries, or 200 rushing yards in any of his three seasons in the league. Hampered by injury and inefficiency, he's spent his early career clinging to a roster spot since the Saints selected him in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. With New Orleans spending big to acquire Travis Etienne Jr. in free agency, and veteran Alvin Kamara still on the roster through the opening stages of organized team activities, Miller is left battling 2025 sixth-round pick Devin Neal for the third spot in a top-heavy rotation. With Miller still recovering from the torn ACL that ended his third season after only seven games, the early edge could go to Neal, who turned in a serviceable effort in his lead-back duties to finish the year. Still just on the verge of turning 24, Miller's best hopes of finding fantasy relevance are tied squarely to the fate of Kamara. If the 10th-year veteran sticks in New Orleans for one more season, Miller may not even be guaranteed a roster spot in 2026, but if the Saints eventually find a way to move on from their all-time leading rusher, there may still be a slim chance of retribution for RotoBaller's dynasty RB95.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Hollywood Brown a Dynasty Fade in New-Look Eagles Receiver Room
When the Philadelphia Eagles signed veteran wide receiver Hollywood Brown to a one-year deal in mid-March, it was the first of several steps taken to prepare for life without three-time Pro Bowler A.J. Brown. The team has since traded for Dontayvion Wicks and has spent first and second-round picks on Makai Lemon and tight end Eli Stowers. With the latter Brown being dealt to New England on June 1st, incumbents DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert are the last remaining pillars of a receiving core that prepares to play under its fifth offensive coordinator in as many seasons. Himself no stranger to change, the Eagles mark Hollywood Brown's fourth team in six years, but unable to top a WR45 fantasy finish at either of his last two stops, it's unlikely he takes a significant step forward in his new environment. With Smith and Lemon projected to lead the team in targets, Brown could be dealing with a limited workload in what still projects to be a run-first offense, and at 29 years old, he has fallen to RotoBaller's dynasty WR104.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Darnell Mooney Facing Further Dynasty Decline
When veteran wide receiver Darnell Mooney signed a one-year deal with the New York Giants in March, he joined what looked to be one of the thinnest receiver rooms in the league. The Giants have since used a third-round pick on big-bodied boundary wideout Malachi Fields and opened June by handing out contracts to Odell Beckham Jr., JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Braxton Berrios. While the signings were perhaps an indictment of the health of presumed starters Malik Nabers and Darius Slayton, the infusion of depth is enough to make dynasty managers bearish on Mooney after he failed to top 450 receiving yards in his final season in Atlanta despite playing starter's snaps alongside players like David Sills V and Casey Washington, while Drake London missed five games with a sprained PCL. In what projects to be another run-heavy offense under John Harbaugh and Matt Nagy, Mooney already faced an uphill climb to reestablishing fantasy value, but with his situation now considerably murkier than it was at the time of his signing, the undersized 28-year-old has fallen to RotoBaller's dynasty WR98.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Christian Kirk Unlikely to Regain Dynasty Value in San Francisco
Since 2021, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Christian Kirk has taken more than 75% of his snaps out of the slot, but in signing with the Niners in free agency, he landed with a team that deployed 11 personnel at the league's sixth-lowest rate in 2025. In the Kyle Shanahan era, no team has more regularly removed a receiver from the formation in favor of a fullback than the 49ers, putting Kirk at a disadvantage before even factoring in the team's splashier free agent signing of six-time Pro Bowler Mike Evans or the surprise selection of De'Zhaun Stribling with the 33rd overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft. There's a slim possibility of a tendency shift to lighter personnel early in the year as the team awaits a return to health from All-Pro tight end George Kittle, but even in this unlikely scenario, Kirk could still find himself fighting for playing time behind Evans, Stribling, and 2024 first-round pick Ricky Pearsall. Once partly responsible for resetting the wide receiver free agent market, Kirk is now 29 years old, and at RotoBaller's dynasty WR97, he is no longer a player who needs to be rostered in shallower leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Can Brashard Smith Be Dropped in Dynasty Leagues?
Inconsistency and a lack of a true bell cow atop the Chiefs' running back depth chart allowed ample opportunity for Brashard Smith to carve out a meaningful role as a 2025 rookie, but the seventh-round pick out of SMU was never able to capitalize. Appearing in all 17 games, Smith ran for only 151 yards on a 3.4-yard-per-carry clip, adding another 172 yards through the air and scoring his only touchdown of the season in a Week 17 loss to the Broncos. Kansas City added the top free agent running back on the market in Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III before spending a fifth-round pick on arguably the best receiving back in the 2026 rookie class, Emmett Johnson. The Chiefs rounded out their depth chart with the low-cost addition of veteran Emari Demercado, who had been hyper-efficient in his limited work with the Cardinals, averaging almost 7.9 yards per attempt over the past two seasons. Smith has accordingly been pushed to the bubble of most dynasty rosters, and with no clear path to fantasy relevance, he has fallen to RB74 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings, making him a drop candidate in all but the deepest leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Zachariah Branch Impressing New Falcons QB in OTAs
Atlanta Falcons rookie wide receiver Zachariah Branch, who was the 79th overall pick in the third round of this year's draft out of the University of Georgia, has been quickly learning the team's offense and building chemistry with his teammates in OTAs this offseason, according to Will McFadden of AtlantaFalcons.com. The 22-year-old proved to be one of college's most explosive playmakers in 2025 with the Bulldogs, leading the SEC with 81 catches and gaining 811 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 14 games played. He has drawn the attention of new quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who played with two elite speed receivers in Miami in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. "I mean, dude's fast," Tagovailoa said. "Dude can play very shifty. Kind of reminds me of Waddle." Branch caught 159 passes for 1,634 yards and nine touchdowns in his three collegiate seasons (two at USC), and he did most of his damage after he already secured the football. He was targeted 96 times and caught 92 passes behind the line of scrimmage in college. Speed is not in question with Branch, but his durability at 5-foot-9, 177 pounds, and his role in his rookie season are up for debate. Expect him to compete with Olamide Zaccheaus and Jahan Dotson for the WR2 role in Atlanta in 2026 behind WR1 Drake London.
Source: AtlantaFalcons.com - Will McFadden
Source: AtlantaFalcons.com - Will McFadden
AJ Barner Expected to be Ready for Training Camp
Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (undisclosed) hasn't taken part in on-field workouts during the offseason program after having two undisclosed surgeries, but he's "feeling good" and is expected to be back on the field for training camp this summer, according to John Boyle of the team's official website. The 24-year-old was on the weekly injury report for Seattle regularly late last season, being listed with hip, elbow, shoulder, knee, ankle, and calf injuries. He still made 20 starts, including the postseason, and he finished with 52 receptions (68 targets) for 519 yards and six touchdowns in 17 regular-season starts in his second year in the NFL. "I'm going to feel much better, and I'm already feeling much better, and I think that's where I'll see strides," Barner said. "I'm feeling good, and I'm chomping at the bit trying to get back out there." The third-year TE should remain a threat in the red zone for the defending Super Bowl champs in 2026, but the expected emergence of Elijah Arroyo will certainly cap his fantasy ceiling in 2026. RotoBaller has Barner ranked as the No. 27 fantasy TE going into the upcoming season.
Source: Seahawks.com - John Boyle
Source: Seahawks.com - John Boyle
Luther Burden III Looking Like a True WR1 in OTAs With Bears
Chicago Bears second-year wide receiver Luther Burden III appears to be the one ready to step up after Chicago traded DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills this offseason. According to former NFL tight end Clay Harbor, Burden is "doing everything you'd think a No. 1 receiver would do" during OTAs this offseason. The 22-year-old former second-rounder (39th overall) out of the University of Missouri looks bigger and faster and is playing both inside and outside in head coach Ben Johnson's offense. Johnson even said himself last week that he's "buying Burden stock right now." He finished his rookie year as a real weapon in Chicago's offense, catching 47 of his 60 targets for 652 yards and two touchdowns in 15 regular-season games (five starts). Former first-rounder Rome Odunze remains in town, but he may never be the same after heel issues that could continue to be a concern for him. Burden looks like the real deal and is quickly becoming one of the top breakout candidates at the receiver position in 2026. RotoBaller currently has him ranked as the No. 19 fantasy WR for the 2026 season.
Source: Clay Harbor
Source: Clay Harbor
T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith Expected to Remain With Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers recently gave edge rusher Nick Herbig a four-year, $100 million contract extension, which has led to more speculation that the Steelers could trade one of linebackers T.J. Watt or Alex Highsmith, this offseason. The NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said on The Pat McAfee Show on Thursday that Watt "isn't going anywhere this year, and he's going to play for the Steelers." Rapoport also doesn't "get the sense" that Highsmith is going anywhere either. Watt, 31, signed a three-year, $123 million contract with Pittsburgh in July of last year. It doesn't sound like he's a realistic trade candidate this offseason, but that could be a different story come next year, when the Steelers will have a decision to make either way. The eight-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro can still be a difference-maker on defense when he's healthy, but he's not getting any younger, and durability is becoming a bit more of a concern for the Steelers and fantasy managers in IDP formats. Watt played in 14 regular-season games in 2025 and had just seven sacks, the second-fewest total of his nine-year NFL career.
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
