Jun 22, 2026, 12:48 PM ET

After failing to record a single reception across his first 20 NFL games, San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges finished the 2025 season with 34 catches for 293 yards and five touchdowns on 46 targets across 17 games. The vast majority of Tonges' production came in the six games that superstar 49ers tight end George Kittle (Achilles) missed due to injury. With Kittle entering his age-33 season and coming off a torn Achilles that he suffered in January, Tonges could easily find himself playing a prominent role in the 49ers' passing game once again in 2026. However, the latest reporting on Kittle indicates that he is on track to be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 season. Across the 11 games where both Kittle and Tonges were active in 2025, Tonges played more than eight snaps just twice. Tonges could be worth stashing in deeper dynasty formats, but his production upside in San Francisco is virtually non-existent as long as Kittle can stay on the field.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

Jun 22, 2026, 12:38 PM ET

After recording over 1,500 scrimmage yards in his first season with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024, veteran running back Aaron Jones Sr.'s production took a tumble in 2025. Jones Sr. battled hamstring, shoulder, ankle, and hip issues and finished the year with 747 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns on 160 touches across 12 games. While Jones Sr. is back in Minnesota for the 2025 season, the expectation is that he will play a secondary role behind Vikings back Jordan Mason. With Jones Sr. entering his age-32 season, it makes sense for Minnesota to limit his workload. However, Mason has recorded just 28 receptions across 61 career NFL games. At the very least, Jones Sr. profiles as the obvious passing-downs back in Minnesota. If he has a healthier season in 2026, Jones Sr. could re-emerge as a 1B or even 1A back for the Vikings. Jones Sr. should no longer be considered a top-24 fantasy running back, but his current average draft position in redraft formats as the RB40 makes him a sleeper worth targeting.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

Jun 22, 2026, 12:28 PM ET

A third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Denver Broncos wide receiver Pat Bryant recorded 31 catches for 378 yards and a touchdown across 15 games (seven starts) as a rookie. The 23-year-old saw his involvement in the Denver passing game grow down the stretch of the season, as he averaged four catches and 45 receiving yards on six targets per game over his final five contests. However, Bryant's place in the Broncos' target pecking order took a hit over the offseason when the team traded for star wide receiver Jaylen Waddle from the Miami Dolphins. Entering 2026, Bryant appears to be battling with Troy Franklin for the WR3 role in Denver behind Waddle and veteran Courtland Sutton. In the immediate, Bryant's production upside is likely limited. Still, with Sutton entering his age-31 season in 2026, Bryant's eventual path to a significant role in Denver remains clear. For rebuilding dynasty managers, Bryant is a worthwhile target.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

Jun 22, 2026, 12:20 PM ET

Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco enters 2026 in a backup role behind star Lions back Jahmyr Gibbs. It's a new role for Pacheco, who spent most of his first four seasons in the NFL as the RB1 for the Kansas City Chiefs. However, Pacheco has struggled with both injuries and ineffectiveness over the past two seasons, missing 14 games and averaging just 3.8 yards per carry since the start of the 2024 campaign. In Detroit, Pacheco's touches will be limited as long as Gibbs remains healthy. Still, former Lions RB2 David Montgomery recorded 908 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns across 17 games in 2025. If Pacheco can assume a similar role as the thunder to Gibbs' lightning, he could be a productive player for fantasy managers in 2026. Pacheco's handcuff appeal is obvious as well, as he profiles as the clear winner in the Detroit backfield if Gibbs suffers an injury. In redraft leagues, Pacheco could be a late-round sleeper to target in drafts.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

Jun 22, 2026, 12:11 PM ET

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed is entering his first full season with the team after being acquired from the New Orleans Saints at the 2025 trade deadline. Shaheed's production fell off a cliff following last year's trade, as he recorded 15 catches for 188 yards and zero touchdowns across nine games with the Seahawks after hauling in 44 receptions for 499 yards and two scores across nine games with the Saints. Nevertheless, Seattle re-signed Shaheed to a three-year, $51 million contract in March. As a result, he'll enter 2026 in the mix for the team's WR2 spot behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba, along with veteran Cooper Kupp and youngster Tory Horton. With a full offseason to integrate himself, Shaheed's role in the Seahawks passing game seems likely to expand. In dynasty formats, managers may have a buy-low window on Shaheed ahead of the 2026 season.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller

Jun 22, 2026, 10:03 AM ET

As veteran running back Najee Harris continues to work his way back from the Achilles tear that ended his Chargers career after only three games and 15 carries, he remains a free agent ahead of NFL training camps. After four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Harris took a one-year, $5.3 million deal in what proved to be a modest 2025 market for running backs. Limited in his first training camp with the Chargers following a bizarre Fourth of July eye injury, he tore his Achilles coming out of his stance on a routine play and has since been rehabbing the injury that has historically sapped the explosiveness out of running backs, particularly those on the wrong side of the age cliff. A first-round pick in 2021, Harris is now 28 years old, and while a running back injury somewhere across the league could provide him a chance to return for his sixth season, expectations of a fantasy revival remain low for RotoBaller's dynasty RB82.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jun 22, 2026, 9:49 AM ET

A sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. caught only 11 passes for 108 yards as a rookie, and he could now be fighting for his roster spot heading into Year 2. At 5-foot-8 and 170 pounds, Horn's role in his first season was largely limited to clear-out routes and a handful of catch-and-run gadget plays, but with the team drafting Chris Brazzell II in the third round of the NFL Draft and adding John Metchie III through free agency, those responsibilities could go elsewhere in 2026. Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker are locked into the top two spots on the depth chart, while 2024 first-round pick Xavier Leggette offers big-bodied depth behind them, and with Horn making limited special teams contributions as a rookie, he could be hard-pressed to earn a roster spot as a sixth receiver. Even if he does stick around with Carolina or latch on with another team after training camp, Horn is not a player who needs to be considered for fantasy at RotoBaller's dynasty WR144.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jun 22, 2026, 9:37 AM ET

In the conversation of the best pure runner in the league as recently as three years ago, four-time Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb has been unable to return to form since the devastating knee injury that ended his 2023 season, and the 30-year-old former second-round pick remains unsigned ahead of 2026 training camps. In his first full season back since the injury, Chubb played 15 games for the Houston Texans in 2025, but lacking the contact balance that made him one of the game's true elites through his first five seasons with the Browns, he ran for only 506 yards on 122 carries. Prior to the injury, Chubb had averaged 5.3 yards per carry in his brilliant career, but that number has fallen to 3.7 in his 23 games since. While a running back injury somewhere across the league could keep the door open for him to return for a ninth professional season, Chubb has fallen to RotoBaller's dynasty RB99, and his days of fantasy relevance appear to be squarely behind him.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jun 22, 2026, 9:26 AM ET

Following a 2024 rookie season in which he handled himself admirably in an insurance role, San Francisco 49ers running back Isaac Guerendo took a sizable step backward in 2025, and now he could be on the outside looking in when it comes to a roster spot in 2026. With four-time All-Pro Christian McCaffrey limited to only four games in 2024, Guerendo ran for 420 yards and four touchdowns on a 5.0-yard per carry average, but in his second season, he failed to record an offensive snap despite being active for 14 games. The primary backup role in 2025 went to Brian Robinson Jr., and a fully healthy McCaffrey rarely left the field. With Robinson no longer on the team, the high-value handcuff role could come down to a training camp battle in which Guerendo may not be able to participate. After tearing a pectoral muscle during an offseason workout, there's a belief that Guerendo may not be ready to return until late in training camp, giving a seismic advantage to 2025 fifth-round pick Jordan James and 2026 third-round pick Kaelon Black in the competition for primary backup responsibilities. An older prospect coming into the league, Guerendo turns 26 before the start of camp, and if RotoBaller's RB97 is unable to work his way back to meaningful playing time in year three, which at this point looks like an uphill climb, there's very little chance of him restoring dynasty value.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jun 22, 2026, 9:13 AM ET

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs has predominantly been used out of the slot through his first three seasons in the league, but following the departure of Michael Pittman Jr. via trade to the Steelers, the 5-foot-9 former third-round pick could be moved all over the formation. The Colts committed $84 million in guaranteed money to presumed number one receiver Alec Pierce following a career year in 2025, but behind him, the table is set for Downs to step into an expanded role. Downs was seen lined up on the outside throughout mandatory minicamp, routinely making plays regardless of which quarterback was running the offense, and head coach Shane Steichen told reporters, "I think Downs, his role will step up a little bit more - more targets for him." The 24-year-old Downs is RotoBaller's WR44 for 2026, and, set to reach free agency in 2027, he could be the next Colts receiver to see a massive payday.--Patrick McGrath
Source: Andrew Moore

Jun 21, 2026, 4:02 PM ET

A first-round pick of the Denver Broncos in 2019, tight end Noah Fant has never quite lived up to the hype with which he entered the league, and the latest chapter in his eight-year career saw him sign a two-year, $8.8 million deal with the New Orleans Saints at the start of 2026 free agency. Playing in 15 games for the Bengals in 2025, Fant caught 34 passes for a career-low 288 yards, and in New Orleans, he's now part of a deep tight end room that could make it difficult for him to see much more than a complementary role. Veteran Juwan Johnson was one of only eight tight ends to see triple-digit targets in 2025, and the Saints spent a third-round pick on Georgia's Oscar Delp in the 2026 NFL Draft. While New Orleans should again have one of the most high-volume passing attacks under head coach Kellen Moore, there are a growing number of mouths to feed, with eighth overall pick Jordyn Tyson joining 2025 second-team All-Pro Chris Olave, and running back Travis Etienne Jr. coming aboard as one of the splashier signings of free agency. Buried on the depth chart and not a strong enough blocker to force his way onto the field, Fant is RotoBaller's dynasty TE51 and not a player to expect much from as he enters his age-29 season.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jun 21, 2026, 3:49 PM ET

A second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins saw his usage steadily ramp up over the back half of his rookie season, and after standing out in a non-contact minicamp setting, big things are expected of him in Year 2. Higgins has reportedly impressed teammates and coaches alike with added muscle and increased play speed, and he could become a fixture on the outside opposite two-time Pro Bowler Nico Collins. In seven of his final 11 games of 2025, Higgins either caught at least five passes, racked up 50-plus yards, or scored a touchdown, topping 9.0 half-PPR fantasy points in six of those outings. After middle-of-the-pack finishes across most offensive categories, meaningful improvements are expected of a Texans unit that added running back David Montgomery and should see further development from not only Higgins but fellow 2025 Day 2 pick Jaylin Noel. At RotoBaller's dynasty WR44, Higgins is a relatively low-cost trade target who could see his price rise precipitously should the drum beat continue to grow louder when the team reconvenes for training camp.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jun 21, 2026, 3:36 PM ET

When the Arizona Cardinals signed quarterback Jacoby Brissett to a two-year, $12.5 million deal in 2025, it was presumably to serve as the backup to two-time Pro Bowler Kyler Murray. With the relationship between Murray and the Cardinals deteriorating shortly after that, Brissett ended up starting the final 12 games of the 2025 season and now finds himself as a bridge quarterback for either 2026 third-round pick Carson Beck or whoever the team hands the reins to in 2027. Seeking a guaranteed commitment in line with the elevated role, Brissett skipped all voluntary offseason activities and did not participate in team drills during mandatory minicamp. While a lot can still happen in the three months leading up to the Cardinals' Week 1 matchup with the Chargers, only a full split from the team would drastically alter Brissett's dynasty value ahead of the 2026 season. Brissett is 33 years old and potentially holding the final starting opportunity of his career, and with the Cardinals signing running back Tyler Allgeier in free agency and spending the third pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Jeremiyah Love, it's unlikely that he sees the type of passing volume he did a year ago. Still a usable second or third quarterback in superflex leagues, Brissett is RotoBaller's dynasty QB31.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jun 21, 2026, 3:26 PM ET

Despite two top 25 finishes in the past three seasons, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren has never seen a preseason ADP inside the top 30 running backs, and that continues to be the case heading into 2026. Warren is currently the consensus RB30 following his RB16 finish in 2025. With the Steelers committing $5 million in guaranteed money to free agent Rico Dowdle, Warren's weekly ceiling appears capped in what could be close to a 50/50 workload split, though he is no stranger to sharing the Pittsburgh backfield. His career-best season came with teammate Kenneth Gainwell trailing only Christian McCaffrey, Bijan Robinson, and Jahmyr Gibbs in running back receptions, while his RB25 finish in 2023 saw him end the year more than 100 carries behind Najee Harris. Dowdle perhaps represents his most well-rounded running mate to date, but nothing the fourth-year player can do should be enough to keep Warren off the field and away from his own fantasy-relevant touches. Capable of matching ADP expectations in a true committee split, Warren's upside far exceeds that of other backs taken in his range when considering the full backfield takeover that could befall him in the event of an injury to Dowdle, and he represents some of the best value from the middle rounds of 2026 drafts.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Jun 21, 2026, 3:13 PM ET

Since being selected first overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, only injuries have been able to slow Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. Over his past 25 starts, Burrow has averaged 2.4 touchdown passes per game, and in a fantasy space largely dominated by quarterback mobility, he is one of the few players who can routinely challenge for a QB1 finish on arm talent alone. While the notable improvements made to a Bengals defense that ranked among the worst in the league could put him in more favorable game scripts and ultimately lower his ceiling, Burrow comes into 2026 healthy and still surrounded by one of the NFL's premier pass-catching units. Burrow is RotoBaller's QB5, but if the Bengals offense can stay intact in a way that it has rarely been able to do in recent years, he is as safe a bet as any to lead the league in touchdown passes and could easily outperform ADP.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller