April 8, 2026

The Houston Texans picked up the 2027 fifth-year option on All-Pro defensive end Will Anderson on Wednesday, a source told ESPN's Field Yates. Anderson will be due $21.512 million in 2027, and he's now extension-eligible. Picking up Anderson's fifth-year option was a no-brainer after he produced 23 sacks in the last two seasons. The 24-year-old was taken with the third overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft out of Alabama, and he has emerged as a high-end pass-rusher for a strong Texans defense. In 17 regular-season games in 2025, Anderson had a career-high 54 tackles (35 solo), a career-high 12 sacks, 20 tackles for loss, 23 QB hits, three pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries (one returned for a touchdown). Going into his fourth year in the NFL, the two-time Pro Bowler will once again be a popular defensive-line target in IDP fantasy formats. Anderson finished as the No. 6 defensive lineman in IDP formats in 2025.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Field Yates

April 8, 2026

The Houston Texans exercised the 2027 fifth-year option on quarterback C.J. Stroud on Wednesday, a source told Field Yates of ESPN. Stroud is now due $25.904 million next season and is extension-eligible. Despite another disappointing season in 2025 in his third year in the league, the Texans remain committed to the former second overall pick in 2023 out of Ohio State. The 24-year-old signal-caller really impressed as a rookie, throwing for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, and only five interceptions in his 15 starts. However, he has come back down to Earth over the last two years, and Houston's porous offensive line hasn't helped his cause. In 14 regular-season starts in 2025, Stroud completed a career-high 64.5% of his pass attempts, but that led to a career-low 3,041 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight picks. Better offensive-line play and Year 2 leaps from wideouts Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel will be needed for Stroud to bounce back into QB1 territory for fantasy football purposes.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Field Yates

April 8, 2026

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington emerged from a crowded wide receiver room to become a fantasy playoff winner in 2025. With the team currently on track to return the same group of pass-catchers for 2026 (along with additional contributions from Travis Hunter, who ended his rookie season on IR), questions of where Washington will fit into the target pecking order have his dynasty value severely suppressed. After finishing as the WR3 over the final three weeks of 2025, Washington is going around the 10th round in dynasty startups. Including Jacksonville's playoff loss to the Bills, Washington's four-game stretch of 38 targets, 26 receptions, 454 yards, and three touchdowns saw him triple the next closest Jaguars wide receiver in both yards and touchdowns. Tight end Brenton Strange was second on the team in both categories over that stretch, tallying 154 receiving yards and two scores. While the expectation is for Washington to fall back to the pack, he potentially offers the most appealing blend of volume and upside in an ambiguous offensive situation, and should the lingering rumors of a Brian Thomas Jr. trade amount to movement, Washington's value will spike as the remaining big-play threat in Jacksonville.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 8, 2026

After being selected in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins experienced the rare third-year breakout in 2023, sandwiching two WR9 finishes around a 1,000-yard, seven-touchdown campaign in which he missed five games. Due to the late breakout, the 27-year-old Collins is slowly approaching the age cliff, and following a historic rookie season from C.J. Stroud that had him and Collins pegged as one of the most valuable stacks in dynasty, the quarterback play in Houston has fallen off significantly. Durability has become a concern, with Collins missing nine games over the past three seasons, but when healthy, he is still as impactful as almost any receiver in the game, topping 2.7 yards per route run since 2023 and scoring a touchdown on nearly 10% of his catches. Collins and Stroud can absolutely recapture some of their early career magic, and if they do, it could open a sell window for the 6'4", 215-pound difference-maker. Multiple 1,000+ yard seasons are still on the table for Collins, but his yards after catch have dropped from 6.9 to 5.3 to 4.6 over the past three seasons, and Father Time tends to catch up faster to big-bodied receivers than those who win purely with speed and separation.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 8, 2026

Through the first two seasons of his career, Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze has failed to consistently deliver on the promise that made him the ninth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He spent his rookie season battling for targets with veterans DJ Moore and Keenan Allen, and by year two, it was the rookie tandem of Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III. With Caleb Williams yet to top 4,000 yards, that division of labor has led to disappointing production from Odunze, but the flashes have been there to support the case that he could still become a fantasy gamebreaker. Through the first four weeks of 2025, Odunze was the WR3 in Half-PPR formats, and reports out of Chicago indicated that new head coach Ben Johnson, figuring out in real-time just how good his young receiver was, loaded his plate with additional responsibilities. Odunze's game slowed, and nagging injuries eventually led to missed time, allowing for the late-season breakouts of Loveland and Burden. Loveland alone saw 25 targets in the team's two postseason games, leading many to believe he will become the focal point of Chicago's passing offense in 2026. While Loveland could realistically lead the team in targets, and Burden's yards per route run had him among the league's elite as a rookie, Odunze's downfield usage should still provide the highest weekly ceiling, especially if he sees an increase in catchable targets in a year that many are calling for a monumental step forward from Williams.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 8, 2026

Philadelphia Eagles running back Tank Bigsby began his 2025 season as a Jacksonville Jaguar, with fantasy managers hoping he could carve out something close to a lead-back role. Those hopes were dashed early when a Week 2 trade sent him to an Eagles team that has now seen Saquon Barkley handle almost 23 opportunities per game over the past two seasons. While it became evident early that the former third-round pick was acquired largely for his work as a kick returner, those duties were eventually turned over to Will Shipley and Britain Covey, leaving Bigsby to function primarily as a change-of-pace back and as a direct backup to Barkley. While Bigsby's touches were limited, he was efficient with the work he got, averaging nearly six yards per carry and topping 100 total yards in his lone start of the season, a meaningless Week 18 game in which he also scored a touchdown. Heading into 2026, his role remains unchanged, but his value as an insurance back makes him a must-roster player in dynasty and even deeper redraft leagues. Philadelphia's offensive line still ranks in the top half of the league, and the 29-year-old Barkley's career-long durability concerns have only been amplified by the exorbitant workload he's received with the Eagles.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 8, 2026

When the Green Bay Packers made Matthew Golden only their sixth ever first-round wide receiver, and the first since 2002, many in the fantasy space feared he may have been overdrafted, and a disappointing rookie season did little to quell those concerns. Golden finished the 2025 season with only 361 yards on 29 receptions, and he failed to find the end zone until the Packers' lone playoff game, at least offering a glimpse of what a year two breakout could look like, also topping 80 yards for only the second time on the year. The list of NFL receivers who have become fantasy stars after similarly low-impact rookie seasons is not a particularly long one, and even those who were able to turn things around tended to show more than Golden's 1.35 yards per route run from 2025. The Packers allowed their leading receiver, Romeo Doubs, to walk in free agency, which should open a path to more work in two-receiver sets. However, both Christian Watson and Tucker Kraft, who each missed significant time last year, are expected to be healthier in 2026 and could help to maintain the fantasy jumble we've seen for years from Green Bay's wide receivers.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 8, 2026

Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis has failed to establish any sort of standalone value in fantasy football, leading to him being nothing more than a mid-range handcuff. The Kentucky product drew excessive hype during and after the 2024 NFL Draft, but he has yet to get on the fantasy radar consistently with RB40 and RB61 finishes. James Cook III's availability has been tremendous since he was drafted, but he did miss one game in 2024. During that contest, Davis exploded for 97 rushing yards and 55 receiving yards. The talent is indisputable, but the role is far from favorable and will require dynasty managers to exercise more patience. At this point, he's already 26 years old, so his role as a backup/handcuff isn't as intriguing when Cook is healthy for just about every game. Davis would only get onto the fantasy radar if Cook were to miss time next yar, and even then, managers would want to make sure the Bills don't prioritize Ty Johnson over Davis.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

April 8, 2026

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase had a terrific season in 2025 from a fantasy football perspective, ranking as the overall WR4 with 125 catches, 1,412 yards, and eight touchdowns. It was a step back from his overall WR1 finish in 2024, but at least he can still say that he was a top-12 fantasy receiver through each of his first five seasons in the NFL. What made Chase's 2025 stats even more impressive was the fact that he spent more than half of his games without Joe Burrow, instead catching passes from Jake Browning and Joe Flacco. If Browning and Flacco can support a top-five finish, then Burrow will certainly have no trouble doing it, too. The 29-year-old quarterback is healthy once again, which bodes well for Chase's potential to reclaim his spot as the top-scoring receiver in fantasy football.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

April 8, 2026

Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams had the backfield to himself for most of the 2025 season, and we could see a similar dynamic in 2026. The Cowboys re-signed Williams to keep him in tow as their primary ball-carrier. He's coming off a breakout campaign in which he finished as the overall RB12 with 1,201 rushing yards, 35 catches, 137 receiving yards, and a career-high 13 total touchdowns. That type of production typically earns a big role the following year, and Williams should continue to thrive with consistent volume. It's great news that the Cowboys' lead back faces minimal competition within his position group. Jaydon Blue, the current favorite to back up Williams, was a healthy scratch more often than not, playing in just five games. The Cowboys have a willingness to get running backs more involved in Year 2 after a patient rookie season, but Blue might need a little more time than that. As a result, Williams' track record as a low-end RB1 is simply too hard to ignore.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

April 8, 2026

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin continues to face minimal competition for volume ahead of the 2026 season. McLaurin finished last year with 38 catches, 582 yards, and three touchdowns across 10 games. Missing seven weeks hurt his fantasy stock, but he made the most of his opportunities when on the field, especially in a low-volume passing offense. Moving forward, the offensive scheme should be McLaurin's only concern. The next receivers on the Commanders' depth chart are Van Jefferson, Treylon Burks, and Luke McCaffrey, so it's not like McLaurin needs to panic about his job. In fact, managers might see him as a buy-low target in dynasty leagues since the Commanders' revamped passing offense could funnel through him. All in all, he's a high-end WR2 with WR1 upside in redraft leagues, and he could be an intriguing buy-low candidate in dynasty formats, given his bounce-back potential.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

April 8, 2026

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is coming off his best fantasy season since 2021, and there's a real chance that he could continue to trend upward going forward. Herbert was the overall QB10 in fantasy football last season, tallying 26 passing touchdowns but throwing 13 interceptions. It was his highest interception total since, ironically, that aforementioned 2021 campaign. Managers should be optimistic about the future outlook of the first-round pick, given the state of the offense. For starters, the Chargers hired offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, a potential play-calling mastermind who can maximize the upside of his players. The Chargers also made a concerted effort to bolster their league-worst offensive line. Now, Herbert will have Cole Strange and Tyler Biadasz in front of him, and he should also get star tackles Rashawn Slater (knee) and Joe Alt (ankle) back from injury. The only glaring subtraction is wide receiver Keenan Allen, but Herbert should still have plenty of reliable targets in Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and Oronde Gadsden III. With a solidified offense around him, Herbert can be a top-10 fantasy quarterback with top-five upside in 2026 and beyond. He's an intriguing target in dynasty leagues this offseason.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

April 8, 2026

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins continues to trend up across fantasy football. He posted a career-best WR15 finish in 2025, catching 59 passes for 846 yards and 11 touchdowns. The reception and yardage totals weren't amazing, but his tendency to find the end zone allowed him to solidify himself as a high-end WR1 on a consistent basis. Higgins had such a productive season despite playing without quarterback Joe Burrow for more than half of his games. As Burrow missed more time due to injury, Higgins was forced to catch passes from a combination of Jake Browning and Joe Flacco. It wasn't the greatest quarterback play, but the 27-year-old still contributed, oftentimes bailing out his quarterbacks with spectacular catches down the field. Higgins has proven capable of handling a more versatile route tree, and we're intrigued about his ability to continue posting double-digit targets while seeing a bump in catches and yards with Burrow fully healthy. Given that Higgins has top-12 upside going forward, he's an intriguing offseason trade target in dynasty leagues.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

April 7, 2026

New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, who is unhappy with his current contract and has demanded a trade, is expected to demand $30 million annually, a source told Connor Hughes of SNY. The Giants gave Lawrence a four-year, $90 million extension in 2023 that made him one of the five highest-paid defensive tackles in the league. But at $20 million per year, he's now the 12th-highest-paid interior defensive lineman. The decline in Lawrence's production in 2025 (only half a sack) will likely prevent him from resetting the market at the position, but he's still going to ask for plenty. Another front-office source could see Lawrence demanding as much as $35 million a year on a new deal because of the salary cap increase this year. Most external sources expect the two sides to work something out, possibly before the NFL draft starts on April 23, but head coach John Harbaugh also said that "no one is untradable."--Keith Hernandez
Source: SNY - Connor Hughes

April 7, 2026

The Houston Texans acquired linebacker Marte Mapu from the New England Patriots on Tuesday, a source told Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. The two teams are also swapping late-round picks in the 2027 NFL draft. Mapu will head to the AFC South division after spending his first three years of his NFL career in New England, totaling 89 tackles (53 solo), half a sack, three interceptions, 12 pass breakups, and five forced fumbles in 44 games (10 starts). The 26-year-old former third-rounder in 2023 out of Sacramento State had 25 tackles (18 solo), one interception, five pass breakups, and a forced fumble in 17 regular-season games (zero starts) in 2025. Mapu will most likely fill a role on special teams in Houston and can be ignored in IDP fantasy football leagues in 2026.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Houston Chronicle - Jonathan M. Alexander