RADIO
Keenan Allen a Free Agent Who Could Soon Find a Home
With NFL training camps right around the corner, one of the most high-profile free agents still on the market is veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen. Allen has played all but one of his 13 professional seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers, and the six-time Pro Bowler has the most receptions in franchise history. While a reunion with the Chargers still makes sense, Allen could be weighing his options and biding his time to see which opportunities present themselves in the wake of the unfortunate reality of training camp injuries. Since entering the league in 2013 as a third-round pick out of California, Allen has played in 177 total games, but only six of those have come in the postseason, so it's reasonable to think that playoff contention would sit high atop his list of priorities. Allen finished as the WR34 last season, and even without a known landing spot, he is more than worthy of a dart throw in the closing rounds of 2026 drafts.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Troy Franklin Falling Down 2026 Draft Boards
Through his first two seasons in the NFL, Denver Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin has seen solid but unspectacular production, totaling 93 receptions for 972 yards and eight touchdowns, with most of that coming in 2025. At only 23 years old, it would be unwise to think he does not have room for further growth, but now stuck on the deepest depth chart of his young career, a path to meaningful fantasy production could be difficult to find in 2026. Veteran Courtland Sutton is fresh off his second consecutive 1,000-yard campaign, and the team spent aggressively to acquire dynamic playmaker Jaylen Waddle via trade. Denver operated out of three-receiver sets at a rate above league average in 2025, but with a flatter talent distribution, it may have been easier to earn targets. With Waddle and Sutton all but locked into the top two spots, Franklin could find himself battling Pat Bryant and Marvin Mims Jr. for a tertiary role this year, with each offering a unique enough skill set to force a frustrating-for-fantasy rotation. At RotoBaller's WR85, Franklin should not fall completely off of draft boards, but he now profiles as little more than a late-round swing who can easily be dropped if he isn't reliably seeing work early in the year.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tyler Higbee No Longer Part of the Fantasy Discussion
Playing in only 10 games in 2025, Los Angeles Rams veteran tight end Tyler Higbee caught 25 passes for 281 yards, which was good enough for second among the team's position group. But even in the league's tight end-heaviest offense, that's not enough to keep him in the fantasy conversation for 2026. Last year's second-round pick Terrance Ferguson is expected to see an expanded role after picking up steam late in his rookie season, and Los Angeles spent another second-round pick on Ohio State's Max Klare in the 2026 NFL Draft, adding further depth behind presumed starter Colby Parkinson. Through 10 seasons played entirely with the Rams, Higbee has accumulated 27 touchdowns and almost 4,000 receiving yards, but he has dealt with numerous injuries in recent years and has not had a reliable fantasy presence since his TE9 finish in 2022. He is currently RotoBaller's TE40 and not a player of whom much is expected in 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Hunter Henry Still the Patriots TE1
New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry is still the team's unquestioned TE1 entering the 2026 season, even though the team added rookie Eli Raridon in April's draft, according to Evan Lazar of Patriots.com. Henry was below-average as a run-blocker last year, but he ranked seventh among TEs in receiving yards with a career-high 768 and had the second-most total EPA by a tight end at plus-72.4. The 31-year-old will once again be a trusted target for young quarterback Drake Maye as the two continue to develop strong chemistry. Raridon could be a possible successor to Henry and could have a big Year 1 role with New England, but as long as Henry is healthy, he'll be the Pats' top pass-catching TE. However, with the additions of receivers A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs, Henry is looking at a lower volume ceiling and floor in his sixth year in New England. Henry has had at least 419 receiving yards in all 10 of his NFL campaigns and is a solid red-zone target for Maye, but fantasy managers should target him as a midrange TE2 this year instead of a surefire TE1.
Source: Patriots.com - Evan Lazar
Source: Patriots.com - Evan Lazar
Drake Maye Building Chemistry With New Wideout Quickly
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye said on Thursday that he is quickly building chemistry with new wide receiver A.J. Brown before training camp begins, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN. "It has been awesome," Maye said. "I'm really looking forward to playing with him. I'm looking forward to getting to camp and building some chemistry. And I know there's already some there for me. You just gotta throw it near him, and he'll make a play." Although Brown had 1,003 receiving yards in 2025 in his final season with the Philadelphia Eagles, his relationship with QB Jalen Hurts and head coach Nick Sirianni soured to the point where they could not continue. The Patriots sent Philly a first-round pick in exchange for Brown this offseason, so they have a lot riding on Brown and Maye forming a strong bond in 2026 and beyond. On paper, Brown should thrive with Maye, who was the most accurate deep-ball passer in the NFL in 2025. Maye, meanwhile, has darted up to top-five status at his position in fantasy after a strong first full season as the Patriots' starter, which included a trip to the Super Bowl. RotoBaller has Maye ranked as the No. 4 fantasy QB for 2026.
Source: ESPN Boston - Mike Reiss
Source: ESPN Boston - Mike Reiss
Puka Nacua Could be a Candidate for the Franchise Tag in 2027
CBS Sports' Joel Corry makes the case that Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua could be a candidate for the franchise tag in 2027 as he heads into the final year of his rookie deal in 2026. Based strictly on his production through his first three years in the NFL -- 313 catches, 4,191 yards and 19 touchdowns in 44 regular-season games -- the case can be made that the 25-year-old deserves to be the highest-paid WR. The former fifth-rounder in 2023 led the league with 129 catches for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns (all career highs) in 2025, and his 107.2 receiving yards per game led the NFL. Nacua's 313 catches are the fourth-most ever in a span of his first three seasons, behind only Justin Jefferson (324), Michael Thomas (321), and Amon-Ra St. Brown (315). Only Jefferson (4,825) has more receiving yards through three seasons than Nacua. Questionable off-the-field decisions last year have jeopardized Nacua's big-time payday in the future. He could still get a new deal before the start of the 2026 regular season, but it remains to be seen if the Rams are comfortable with that yet. Either way, Nacua is the unquestioned top fantasy wideout going into this season with veteran QB Matthew Stafford back for another campaign.
Source: CBS Sports Joel Corry
Source: CBS Sports Joel Corry
KC Concepcion a Potential Late-Round Gem in 2026 Drafts
With training camps set to open at the end of the month, a position battle that all fantasy managers should be paying close attention to is at the top of the wide receiver depth chart for the Cleveland Browns. The Browns spent one of their two first-round picks on Texas A&M receiver KC Concepcion before using another top 40 selection on Denzel Boston, adding the rookies to a room in which veteran Jerry Jeudy is looking to rebound from a disappointing 602-yard campaign. While Cleveland has steadily assembled a dynamic core of playmakers, the quarterback spot features its own battle to watch between second-year pro Shedeur Sanders and a redemption-seeking Deshaun Watson. While neither inspires much confidence at this point in their respective careers, whoever wins the job would do well to get the ball into the hands of players who can create yards after the catch, an area where Concepcion stood out in college. Nearly half of his 919 receiving yards in 2025 came after the catch, and if he is able to carve out something close to the Zay Flowers role in Todd Monken's offense, Concepcion could be a late-round gem as RotoBaller's WR49.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Amon-Ra St. Brown Remains One of the Safest Picks in the First Round of 2026 Drafts
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has steadily finished as the fantasy WR3 in each of the past three seasons, and there is little reason to believe he'll stray far from there in 2026. Even with the late-season emergence of teammate Jameson Williams, who topped 1,000 receiving yards for the second straight year, St. Brown remains the unquestioned lynchpin of Detroit's high-powered passing offense, earning an already staggering 31.3% target share and an even more unreal 37.5% share in the red zone. Without the threat of pulling the ball down and running, nearly all of Jared Goff's dropbacks translate to passing production, allowing him to lead the NFL in both passing yards and touchdowns over the past four seasons, and with St. Brown his most trusted target, the four-time Pro Bowler remains one of the safest picks in fantasy. St. Brown is RotoBaller's WR5 and a player who should continue to shift matchups throughout the 2026 season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Emanuel Wilson Not the Seahawks Running Back to Target in 2026 Redraft Leagues
After three seasons with the Green Bay Packers, running back Emanuel Wilson signed a one-year, $1.6 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks. At the time, the team had just lost Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III through free agency, and with Zach Charbonnet tearing his ACL in a January playoff game, the door was temporarily open for Wilson to see a meaningful role after averaging 4.5 career yards per carry, primarily through change-of-pace work and the occasional spot start. Since then, the Seahawks spent their first-round pick on Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price, while Charbonnet was spotted doing rehabilitation work on a side field during the final practice of mandatory minicamp in June. With George Holani also still on the roster, even a best-case scenario for Wilson involves a muddled timeshare with low prospects of hitting for fantasy, but with Price reportedly taking on a larger role throughout those non-padded sessions, a more likely scenario would see the rookie handling lead back responsibilities early in the year. At RotoBaller's RB57, Wilson is not a player who needs to be targeted in 2026 redraft leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tyquan Thornton an Attractive Later-Round Pick in Best-Ball Drafts
After three disappointing years in New England, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton enjoyed the most productive season of his young career in 2025, serving as the primary vertical threat in a Chiefs offense that has stagnated in recent years. Since the departure of Tyreek Hill in 2022, two-time MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes II had seen his air yards per attempt on a steady decline, and while that number sat at only 7.0 in 2025, it still represented a slight uptick over his previous two seasons. While he caught only 19 passes in his first season with the Chiefs, Thornton was easily the most explosive piece of an offense whose most reliable playmakers tended to operate underneath, averaging more than 23 yards per reception and adding three touchdowns to his 438 yards. The team's most impactful receiver, Rashee Rice, is expected to be cleared of the legal situation for which he already served a six-game suspension, while 2024 first-round pick Xavier Worthy should be healthier after a frustrating, injury-marred sophomore campaign, but neither possesses Thornton's ability to consistently stretch the field. While his production may come in more unpredictable spurts, Thornton should benefit from further developed chemistry with Mahomes, and he is a worthwhile selection in the later rounds of 2026 best ball drafts.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Will Shipley an NFL Depth Piece with Little Fantasy Value
With training camps set to open at the end of the month, depth charts around the league will soon be tested, but one of the deepest rosters in the NFL still belongs to the Philadelphia Eagles, and at the running back spot in particular, third-year veteran Will Shipley provides a luxury to a team with title aspirations. Three-time Pro Bowler Saquon Barkley is firmly entrenched atop the depth chart, but with the 29-year-old back having accumulated more than 800 total touches across his first two seasons with the Eagles, the presence of Shipley and 2025 trade acquisition Tank Bigsby could allow him to keep fresh during the dog days of summer while each competes to carve out their own role. Through his own two seasons in Philadelphia, Shipley has carried the ball only 44 times for an unimpressive 131 yards, but his contributions on special teams boost his chances of sticking on the roster. While he carries little standalone fantasy value into 2026, Shipley would become a popular waiver add should an unfortunate injury strain the Eagles' impressive depth.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Aaron Donald a "Real Possibility" to Return to the Rams
The NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said on Thursday that there is a "real possibility" that defensive tackle Aaron Donald will unretire to play for the Los Angeles Rams in 2026. Donald is unsure right now what is going to happen, but he has been working out and lifting weights. The next step for the 35-year-old 10-time Pro Bowler and eight-time All-Pro is to determine whether he can get back into top-notch football shape to return to the form he was in before he retired in 2023. There's no real timeline for Donald to decide one way or another, and if he does show up at the Rams' training camp, it's unlikely to happen until late in camp. It's also possible that if Donald does return to the Rams this year, it might not come until during the regular season. If Donald suits up for L.A. to join All-Pro pass-rusher Myles Garrett in 2026, it will strictly be in a rotational role on the interior of the Rams' defensive line. In his last season in the NFL, Donald had only eight sacks and 53 tackles (28 solo) in 16 regular-season starts in his 10th year in the league.
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Marvin Mims Jr. May Need a Change of Scenery to Matter in Dynasty Formats
Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. is still only 24, but another major addition has made his 2026 role harder to trust. He finished last season with 37 catches for 322 yards and one touchdown, down from 503 yards and six scores in 2024. Denver then traded a first-round pick, among other selections, for Jaylen Waddle. Courtland Sutton remains, and Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant are also fighting for snaps. Mims will still matter to the Broncos because he is one of the NFL's better returners, but that does not help fantasy managers much. He played only 33% of Denver's offensive snaps last year, even before Waddle arrived. There is still a patience case in dynasty. Mims is 24, can create with the ball in his hands, and is entering the final season of his rookie contract. He has also acknowledged this could be his last year in Denver. Contenders should not count on him for 2026. Rebuilders with room should hold rather than sell for scraps, since a new team in 2027 may offer the receiving opportunity he has yet to find.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Trey Benson's Dynasty Appeal Is Fading in Arizona
Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson finally had a shot at replacing James Conner last September, then his own knee injury erased the opportunity. A meniscus procedure ended his season after four games. He had been productive in that brief run, taking 29 carries for 160 yards and catching 13 of 16 targets for another 64, but Arizona spent the offseason building around other backs. Conner reworked his deal to stay. Tyler Allgeier signed for two years. Then the Cardinals used the third overall pick on Jeremiyah Love, who is expected to rise to the top of Mike LaFleur's depth chart. Benson was still rehabbing during the offseason program, though the team expects him back for training camp. Even healthy, finding weekly work will be difficult. Love, Allgeier, and Conner are the obvious top three, and Benson has appeared in only 17 games across two seasons. The 4.9 career yards per carry keep a little intrigue alive, but this is not an automatic buy-low. Contenders cannot count on him, and rebuilders should be willing to move him for a useful return rather than wait for the depth chart to get even tighter.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Isaiah Davis Offers Only Deep Dynasty Stash Appeal in a Crowded Backfield
New York Jets running back Isaiah Davis made a little go a long way last season, but the depth chart never opened the way it seemed it might. After Braelon Allen suffered a season-ending MCL injury in Week 4, Davis moved into the No. 2 spot behind Breece Hall. His best day came in Cincinnati, where he turned 12 touches into 109 yards. That was the exception. Davis finished 2025 with 43 carries for 236 yards and 21 catches for 186 yards, only 64 touches in 16 games even with Allen out for most of the season. Now Allen is back, and the Jets signed Hall to a multi-year extension in May. Aaron Glenn still likes the idea of using all three, though offseason work had Hall first, Allen second, and Davis third. The efficiency is real. Davis has averaged 5.6 yards per carry through two seasons and can help in the passing game. The workload is the problem. He belongs on rosters only in deep dynasty leagues, and neither contenders nor rebuilders should be paying much to get him.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
