May 12, 2026, 11:34 AM ET

New York Jets wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. has long-term upside in dynasty fantasy football, but managers should prepare for the possibility that he doesn't break out right away as a rookie. The Jets are expected to experience some growing pains this season with Geno Smith at quarterback. Smith had a miserable season in Las Vegas last year, and we question whether he'll be able to support a fantasy-relevant season from Omar Cooper Jr. when he already has Garrett Wilson as his WR1. With that being said, Cooper has proven himself as a winning receiver since he played for the national champion Indiana Hoosiers. He also has long-term appeal in dynasty leagues, because it seems like a foregone conclusion that the Jets will spend a top pick on a quarterback next year. A talented, young quarterback could be exactly what Cooper needs to emerge as a reliable fantasy option, even if Wilson remains the top target. As a result, Cooper is the WR5 in RotoBaller's rookie rankings and the WR37 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

May 12, 2026, 11:21 AM ET

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Jordyn Tyson was a top prospect in this year's NFL Draft, and his landing spot could be conducive to a top-12 finish in fantasy football. Tyson ended up with the Saints, where he should start every game opposite Chris Olave. New Orleans' offense is trending in the right direction under offensive-minded head coach Kellen Moore. Quarterback Tyler Shough had a fantastic rookie season, Travis Etienne Jr. was added to the backfield, and Tyson and Olave could end up being the best wide receiver duo in the NFC South. We're not too worried about target share, either, as Shough averaged 35 pass attempts per game following the bye week last year, and that number could increase in 2026. Tyson may initially produce slightly less than Olave, but we wouldn't be surprised to see an even split (or even see Tyson win the top role) by season's end, especially given Olave's concussion history. All in all, Tyson will push to be the top-scoring receiver in the 2026 rookie class, both short-term and long-term. His biggest competition is presumably Carnell Tate, the Titans' first-round pick, who may initially face some growing pains as Cameron Ward continues to develop.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

May 12, 2026, 11:11 AM ET

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins wasn't the flashiest name last season, but he still managed to finish as the WR8 in PPR leagues. That was the best mark of his career, and it was the second time that he finished among the top 12 receivers in the last three years. He had 71 catches, 1,117 yards, and six touchdowns, and he presumably would have ranked even higher if he hadn't missed two games due to injury. Collins managed to produce at a high level despite the inconsistent quarterback play of C.J. Stroud, who had a shaky third season. If Stroud doesn't bounce back in 2026 and beyond, it's encouraging to know that Collins can still be a top-12 receiver with iffy quarterback play. However, if Stroud does have a big year, then Collins has legitimate top-five upside in both redraft and dynasty leagues. He's a firm "hold" for now, and he ranks as RotoBaller's dynasty WR11 at the moment.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

May 12, 2026, 10:00 AM ET

Despite playing in only two playoff games as a rookie in 2025, Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland's 25 postseason targets trailed only Puka Nacua, while only Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba amassed more receiving yards. Standing out from a loaded group of pass catchers when the games mattered most certainly drew the attention of dynasty managers, and with the Bears thinning their pass-catching ranks this offseason by trading away veteran DJ Moore, Loveland has become one of the most sought-after assets in fantasy. Loveland's 25 targets against the Packers and Rams were more than All-Pro Trey McBride saw over any two-game stretch in a year in which he broke the tight end reception record. While accuracy issues from quarterback Caleb Williams limited the impact of some of that raw volume, the former first overall pick is expected to take another step forward in his second season in Ben Johnson's offense, potentially elevating the entire Chicago offense. With the passing game expected to run through Loveland, Rome Odunze, and Luther Burden III, the second-year tight end has risen to RotoBaller's dynasty TE3, and at only 22 years old, he is already knocking on the door of the fantasy elite.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 12, 2026, 9:48 AM ET

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers finished the 2025 season with career highs of 86 receptions and 1,211 yards, while his five touchdown grabs matched the previous high mark from his rookie campaign, good enough to land him as the WR7 in Half-PPR formats. With quarterback Lamar Jackson missing four games and hampered in several others, Baltimore's passing offense ranked in the bottom five of the league, but a weak receiver room allowed Flowers to rack up a 30% target share. The Ravens have experienced some offseason shakeups that make Flowers' continued success more challenging to predict, but the path still exists for the 25-year-old former first-round pick to continue rising in dynasty rankings. Baltimore spent third and fourth-round picks to strengthen the receiver room with USC's Ja'Kobi Lane and Indiana's Elijah Sarratt, but new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle has stated a clear goal of making the offense more explosive in 2026. With Jackson topping 4,100 passing yards as recently as 2024, Flowers has the opportunity to match his raw production from last season even if his target share takes a hit. At RotoBaller's WR26, Flowers is potentially still undervalued as the clear WR1 in an offense led by a perennial MVP-contender.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 12, 2026, 9:37 AM ET

Jacksonville Jaguars running back LeQuint Allen Jr. was on the field a surprising amount for a seventh-round rookie, with his superior pass blocking leading to more offensive snaps than his fourth-round teammate Bhayshul Tuten. While his opportunities were still limited, touching the ball only 33 times in year one, the path to a larger workload is there for 2026. With the Jaguars saying goodbye to Travis Etienne Jr. in free agency, the backfield is set to be turned over to the two youngsters and free agent acquisition Chris Rodriguez Jr. Having seen more than 160 targets across his last three seasons in Jacksonville, Etienne's absence creates a major vacuum in the passing game, and while Allen made only 10 catches as a rookie, that's four more than Rodriguez has accumulated in his three-year career. After leaving Syracuse as arguably the most accomplished receiving back in a loaded 2025 draft class, Allen could handle the primary pass-catching duties in what profiles to be a high-powered Liam Coen offense. At RotoBaller's dynasty RB90, he's seen his value steadily rise throughout the offseason, but given the fantasy-friendly opportunity that could be in front of him, it's possible Allen is still being severely undervalued.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 12, 2026, 9:24 AM ET

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders has had one of the strangest paths to begin an NFL career in recent memory, first falling to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft before making the Pro Bowl as a rookie despite throwing only seven touchdowns to 10 interceptions and completing fewer than 57% of his passes. With the Browns clearing house this offseason, Sanders will need to impress new head coach Todd Monken to reclaim the starting job with which he finished his rookie campaign. While Dillon Gabriel came off the board two rounds earlier than Sanders and was given the earlier crack at starting duties, and the team also spent a sixth-rounder in 2026 on developmental prospect Taylen Green, the early presumption is that the starting job will eventually go to either Sanders or veteran Deshaun Watson. Monken has stated that he would like to have a starter in place by the beginning of training camp. While some reports have suggested that Watson could have the initial edge, the former first-round pick of the Houston Texans has not thrown a pass in an NFL game since Week 7 of the 2024 season, and he is the only quarterback on the roster whose contract does not extend past 2026. At RotoBaller's QB34, Sanders should be viewed as a dynasty hold who could work his way back into a starting role or even see a bump to his value should the Browns opt to move him to another quarterback-needy team.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 12, 2026, 9:12 AM ET

Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins ran with power and purpose in 2025 before a dislocated ankle and fractured fibula ended his rookie season. Even with the presumption of full health heading into year two, there were still concerns that his fantasy ceiling could be capped in a pedestrian Cleveland offense. With the Browns committing heavily to one side of the ball in the 2026 NFL Draft, many of those concerns have been assuaged, and Judkins has risen to RB12 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings. With the ninth overall pick, Cleveland made Utah's Spencer Fano the first offensive lineman off the board before spending its next two picks on receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston. With 2025 breakout tight end Harold Fannin Jr. already in the mix, the Browns have assembled the pieces of what could be a potent offense, putting Judkins in a far more favorable position if the team can overcome what again projects to be below-average quarterback play. Judkins ran for 827 yards as a rookie, but with defenses often keying on him, only 11.1% of that total came before contact. The additions made by Cleveland through the draft should help to open more space, and if the team can find a quarterback fix through one of the four players currently on the roster or in a loaded 2027 draft class, Judkins' hard-running consistency could soon make him a dynasty running back worth building around.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

May 11, 2026, 10:48 PM ET

The New York Jets signed starting running back Breece Hall to a three-year, $45.75 million contract extension last Friday, which is not great news for the dynasty fantasy football value of fellow Jets RB Isaiah Davis. On the bright side, Davis could have a chance to take over RB2 duties in New York in 2026 in his third year in the NFL after Braelon Allen (knee) missed most of last year with an MCL injury. The 24-year-old Davis, a former fifth-round selection in 2024 out of South Dakota State, has actually been quite productive in his limited opportunities so far in his two seasons with Gang Green. He had 43 carries for 236 yards (5.5 yards per carry) and one touchdown on the ground in 16 games in 2025, adding 21 receptions for an additional 186 yards as a pass-catcher. Davis has a healthy 5.6 yard-per-carry average in his two years in the league, and he proved last year that he can contribute in the passing attack out of the backfield. Fantasy managers in dynasty leagues with Hall rostered might want to look into acquiring Davis as a handcuff. RotoBaller has Davis currently ranked as the No. 80 dynasty RB.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Pro Football Reference

May 11, 2026, 10:33 PM ET

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson was an interesting target in dynasty leagues going into his rookie season in 2025 after the Steelers took the Iowa product with the 83rd overall pick in the third round last April, but he ended up being mothballed behind Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell. The 22-year-old only saw 28 rushing attempts for 69 yards (2.5 yards per tote) and added a measly one reception on two targets for nine yards in 10 games played. Johnson got off on the wrong foot with former head coach Mike Tomlin and his coaching staff after an inexcusable special teams blunder early in the season, and he just wasn't trusted in either the running or passing game out of the backfield with both Warren and Gainwell being a nice one-two punch. Gainwell is now gone, but the Steelers added Rico Dowdle in free agency, so Johnson figures to enter his sophomore campaign in the Steel City as the RB3, at best. Perhaps new head coach Mike McCarthy will utilize him more in 2026, but as things currently stand, Johnson's dynasty stock has fallen considerably. He's RotoBaller's No. 56 dynasty back, behind former Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco, who is now in Detroit.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Pro Football Reference

May 11, 2026, 10:19 PM ET

Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride was by far and away the top fantasy TE in 2025 in his fourth year in the NFL, and he was also a Pro Bowler for the second straight season. The 26-year-old finished with career highs across the board in catches (126), receiving yards (1,239), touchdowns (11), and targets (169) in 17 starts. The former second-rounder in 2022 out of Colorado State surprisingly became even more productive after quarterback Kyler Murray's foot injury opened the door for veteran Jacoby Brissett to start from Week 6 on. Ten of his 11 TDs on the year came with Brissett throwing him the ball, and he led all TEs with 33 red-zone targets. The good news for McBride's fantasy value in redraft and dynasty leagues going into the 2026 season is that Brissett will enter the year as Arizona's starter again. The one potential concern is the team's new offense under head coach Mike LaFleur, which should be much more balanced than last year's pass-happy attack. But even with an expected volume hit, McBride is an elite player at his position, and RotoBaller has him ranked as the TE2 in dynasty settings, behind only the Raiders' Brock Bowers.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Pro Football Reference

May 11, 2026, 10:05 PM ET

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy had a lost season in 2025 due to toe and shoulder injuries that cost him eight games. The former last pick in the seventh round (Mr. Irrelevant) in 2022 out of Iowa State finished with 2,167 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in nine regular-season starts to finish as the QB24 in fantasy football. But now that the 26-year-old is fully healthy as he embarks on his fifth year in the NFL, he's an obvious buy-low candidate with bounce-back potential in dynasty leagues in an offense that got some receiving upgrades in free agency in veterans Mike Evans and Christian Kirk, and in the draft in rookie second-rounder De'Zhaun Stribling. When he was on the field last year, Purdy mostly dinked and dunked in an offense that lacked consistent downfield threats in the passing game due to injuries. Getting tight end George Kittle (Achilles) back will be huge, but it's unclear when that will happen. As long as Purdy avoids the injury bug, he should be a fringe QB1 for fantasy managers. He's currently ranked as RotoBaller's No. 13 dynasty signal-caller.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Pro Football Reference

May 11, 2026, 9:54 PM ET

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan played in only four games in his sophomore season in 2025 due to a serious neck injury that he suffered in the preseason. In those four contests, the 24-year-old showed flashes of long-term upside with 12 catches for 178 yards, although he failed to find the end zone. In his first NFL campaign in 2024 after the Bucs took him in the third round out of the University of Washington, McMillan had a 37-461-8 line on 58 targets across 13 games (12 starts). Veteran Mike Evans is out of town now, but McMillan will still have to work for targets from quarterback Baker Mayfield in a WR corps that features Chris Godwin Jr., Emeka Egbuka, Tez Johnson, and rookie third-rounder Ted Hurst. The 24-year-old will seemingly compete with Hurst for the WR3 role behind Godwin and Egbuka in a scheme run by new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson. McMillan is already established with two years in the NFL, but Hurst has better physical skills and a higher long-term ceiling. RotoBaller has McMillan currently ranked as the No. 71 dynasty WR.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Pro Football Reference

May 11, 2026, 4:45 PM ET

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson reached the 1,000-yard mark for the sixth straight season to begin his NFL career in 2025, but he had a career-low 1,048 yards with only two touchdowns in 17 starts as the team's quarterback play deteriorated following the departure of Sam Darnold in free agency last offseason. Former first-rounder J.J. McCarthy missed nine games due to injuries last year and was a disaster in terms of accuracy and consistency while leading the Vikings' offense, which led to a WR25 finish for Jefferson in half-PPR scoring. The 26-year-old's arrow was pointing down in dynasty fantasy football leagues until the Vikings signed former Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray to take over under center in 2026. The four-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro's fantasy stock is now back on the rise, and his buy-low window is closing fast. Murray is a definite upgrade over McCarthy, but fantasy managers should automatically expect Jefferson to return to elite WR1 territory in redraft leagues in 2026. Jefferson is ranked as the WR4 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Pro Football Reference

May 11, 2026, 4:34 PM ET

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy was drafted with the 10th overall pick in 2024 out of Michigan as the team's next franchise signal-caller. He missed his entire rookie season in 2024, though, due to a meniscus injury in his knee that required surgery. The Vikings were still confident he was their guy under center going into last year, however, and let Sam Darnold walk in free agency as a result. Not only did McCarthy disappoint in 2025 in his first full season as the Vikings' starter, but Darnold led the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots. The 23-year-old made only 10 starts in his first NFL action, completing 57.6% of his 243 pass attempts for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions while taking 27 sacks. The Vikings quickly rethought their plan at QB this offseason and signed former first overall pick Kyler Murray. With Murray expected to open the 2026 campaign as the Vikings' starter, McCarthy's dynasty fantasy value has taken a massive hit, and he's now ranked as the No. 31 QB in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings. Murray isn't a lock to run with the starting gig in Minnesota -- his injury history is lengthy -- but McCarthy showed last year that he has plenty of developing to do still, and he may not get that opportunity again with the Vikings.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Pro Football Reference