RADIO
Caleb Williams Continues to Trend Upward in Ben Johnson's System
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams had an incredible breakout campaign in his second NFL season, partly due to the team's new offensive system led by first-year head coach Ben Johnson. Williams finished the 2025 regular season with 3,942 passing yards, 27 passing touchdowns, and seven interceptions. All three of those numbers set new career-highs, and although his interception total did increase from Year 1 to Year 2, he still did a great job limiting turnovers. He was also a threat on the ground, tallying 383 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. Williams is a strong candidate to take another big leap during his third season. Last year was terrific, for sure, but there's definitely a possibility that he could hit 4,000 passing yards and 30 passing touchdowns in 2026. He certainly has a strong supporting cast that can help him reach those marks. Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III both look like potential franchise receivers, and Colston Loveland has emerged as one of the league's most impressive young tight ends. Plus, the leadership of Johnson should also allow Williams to remain a top-tier fantasy quarterback for many years to come. He's firmly entrenched as a high-end QB1 in dynasty leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Colts Won't Pick Up Anthony Richardson Sr.'s Fifth-Year Option
Unsurprisingly, the Indianapolis Colts will not pick up the fifth-year option for quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr., a source told Mike Chappell of FOX 59. The fifth-year option was considered a long shot for Richardson, who was selected fourth overall in 2023 out of the University of Florida. If the Colts had picked up Richardson's fifth-year option, he would have been guaranteed $22.483 million in 2027. The 23-year-old signal-caller has struggled with injuries and inconsistency in his three years with the organization and has been benched twice. With the Colts signing Daniel Jones (Achilles) to a two-year extension this offseason, it's been made clear that Richardson is no longer the future in Indy, which is why he has requested a trade. The Colts are willing to deal Richardson at the right cost, but nothing has materialized yet. If A-Rich stays with the Colts, there's a chance he could open the 2026 season as the No. 3 behind Jones and Riley Leonard. His dynasty/keeper stock has reached rock bottom.
Source: FOX 59 - Mike Chappell
Source: FOX 59 - Mike Chappell
Browns "Would Love" to Have QB Situation Decided Before Training Camp
Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken said on the Ken Carman Show that he "would love to" have a starting quarterback named before training camp, according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic. "But I'm not there yet, so I can't say that. We've been on the field three days," Monken added. The QB competition this offseason is between veteran Deshaun Watson (Achilles), who hasn't played since 2024, and second-year QB Shedeur Sanders, who was predictably inconsistent as a rookie in eight games (seven starts) after falling all the way to the fifth round last April. Early reports suggest that Watson, who is looking fully healthy, has the early edge. In the long term, Sanders makes the most sense, but Monken may prefer to go with the experience of Watson over a developing Sanders in 2026. Watson was a three-time Pro Bowler with the Texans from 2018 to 2020, but he has not looked the same in his three seasons played with Cleveland. Whoever wins the Browns' QB job this summer will merely be a low-end QB2 play in superflex fantasy leagues.
Source: The Athletic - Zac Jackson
Source: The Athletic - Zac Jackson
Elijah Arroyo's Dynasty Stock Up Slightly After NFL Draft
Seattle Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo caught only 15 passes as a rookie for 179 yards and one score, but following a 2026 NFL Draft that saw nine tight ends selected through the first two days and 21 overall, he emerged as one of the few young tight ends unaffected by the historically deep class. Seattle was one of 16 teams that did not add to the position through the draft, and as such, Arroyo has seen his dynasty ranking rise to RotoBaller's TE26 as half the league's depth charts face added competition. While it will take more than just a changing landscape around him to maintain value, Arroyo's plus-athleticism and strong hands are what made him a 2025 second-round pick despite a checkered medical history. While he is still stuck behind AJ Barner on the Seahawks' depth chart, this recent draft is a clear indicator of the league's trending path towards more 12 and 13 personnel packages, and Arroyo could carve out a meaningful role under first-year offensive coordinator Brian Fleury, who has spent the past four seasons as the 49ers' tight ends coach.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tre Tucker Offers Limited Dynasty Value Despite a Lack of Competition
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker led the team in 2025 with 90 targets and 696 receiving yards. Of course, All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers was slowed by injury in the first week of the season, ultimately missing five games with a PCL sprain and bone bruise. Running back Ashton Jeanty also caught 55 passes as a rookie and could see a heavier workload in year two, but with the Raiders making few additions to the receiver room through either free agency or the draft, the spot of a third target earner is still very much up for grabs in Klint Kubiak's offense. Vegas signed Jalen Nailor to a three-year, $35 million deal and selected Malik Benson in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, adding to a room of Tucker and 2025 second and fourth-round picks, Jack Bech and D'onte Thornton Jr. While Tucker should earn starters reps again in 2026, his upside could be capped by a 37-year-old Kirk Cousins and a rookie Fernando Mendoza, and with only one year remaining on his rookie contract, the long-term plays in Vegas are more likely Nailor and Bech, before even addressing the loaded 2027 draft class. At RotoBaller's dynasty WR92, Tucker is not going to draw many suitors on the open trade market, but could be a useful throw-in as part of a larger deal.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jack Bech has a Clear Path for Growth in Year 2
The Las Vegas Raiders have made a near-total overhaul to a roster that went a league-worst 3-14 in 2025, but one position group that has gone largely untouched is wide receiver, which should provide ample opportunity for 2025 second-round pick Jack Bech to improve upon his rookie season. In his first year out of TCU, Bech caught only 20 passes for 224 yards with zero scores, but with Jalen Nailor representing Vegas's biggest addition through either free agency or the draft, the path to a larger workload is clear and obvious. Despite signing a three-year, $35 million deal, Nailor has never reached 30 receptions or 450 yards through four seasons with the Vikings, and he joins a wide receiver room that was led by Tre Tucker in 2025 with only 696 yards on 57 receptions. The top true receiver on the team is, and will be, tight end Brock Bowers, while running back Ashton Jeanty could be in line for the team's second biggest target share after making 55 catches as a rookie, but the rest of the receiving competition is not insurmountable. At RotoBaller's dynasty WR84, the 23-year-old Bech is a low-cost buy, and with the Raiders bypassing the chance to take Indiana's Elijah Sarratt in the fourth round of the NFL Draft, he could become the new big-bodied ball winner for first overall pick Fernando Mendoza.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jaydon Blue Will Need to Show More in Year 2 to Stick on Dynasty Rosters
Dallas Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue was a fifth-round pick in 2025, and after only one year in the league, he's already fighting for his roster life at the bottom of dynasty benches. Blue was a healthy scratch in 12 weeks as a rookie, and when he saw the field, he averaged only 3.4 yards per attempt. With Dallas extending Javonte Williams on a three-year, $24 million deal, meaningful reps will again be hard to come by, with Williams' 252 carries in 2025 ranking 10th in the league. Working in Blue's favor was one of the weakest running back draft classes in recent memory. With the Cowboys bypassing the position entirely, opting to spend most of their picks on defense, Blue's competition for primary backup duties will be fifth-year veteran Malik Davis, whose 2025 season was ended by eye and calf injuries, and fellow second-year player Phil Mafah. While the insurance role behind Williams offers little standalone value, an injury would make the Cowboys RB2 one of the more sought-after handcuffs in the league, so for dynasty managers with the luxury, the 22-year-old Blue should be held until news starts to emerge from camp about how the depth chart is shaping up.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Oronde Gadsden Looking to Expand on Rookie-Season Flashes
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden had some historic moments as a rookie in 2025, and consistency will now be key to making him a reliable fantasy presence in Year 2 and beyond. His 164 receiving yards in Week 7 were the most by a first-year tight end in 40 years, while he was only the third rookie tight end since 1970 to top 300 yards across a three-game span, joining Kyle Pitts Sr. and Brock Bowers. The Chargers' tendencies were streaky under offensive coordinator Greg Roman, with the team averaging 39.2 pass attempts through the first seven weeks but only 29.4 the rest of the way. Now under Mike McDaniel, Gadsden brings rare tools to a scheme that has seen Jonnu Smith and a 33-year-old Darren Waller churn out week-winning performances over the past two seasons. With bookend tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater also expected back, there will be less of a need to pull Gadsden from the field in favor of blocking tight ends like the newly acquired Charlie Kolar. With the Chargers bypassing the position entirely in a loaded 2026 NFL Draft, Gadsden's jumbo slot role looks to be secure heading into year two, and at RotoBaller's dynasty TE10, it's possible he's still being slept on despite already showing a ceiling that few players in the league are capable of reaching.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Bengals Don't Pick Up Myles Murphy's Fifth-Year Option
The Cincinnati Bengals are not picking up defensive end Myles Murphy's fifth-year option, a source told Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer. However, the Bengals are hoping to still work out a long-term deal with Murphy at some point. The 24-year-old former 28th overall pick by Cincy in 2023 out of Clemson had a career-best season in 2025 in his third year in the league, tallying 52 tackles (28 solo), 5.5 sacks, six tackles for loss, 10 QB hits, three pass breakups, and a fumble recovery in 17 games played (10 starts). In his first two years with the Bengals, Murphy only had three sacks in 30 games played (zero starts). Murphy will head into the 2026 season in the final year of his rookie deal, but if he plays more like he did last year, the Bengals will surely be more open to a long-term extension for the 6-foot-5, 275-pound defensive lineman. He's off the fantasy radar in IDP formats.
Source: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Kelsey Conway
Source: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Kelsey Conway
Lions Decline Jack Campbell's Fifth-Year Option
The Detroit Lions declined the fifth-year option for linebacker Jack Campbell this week, according to Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News. Ironically, Campbell had the best year of his young career in 2025, when he had 176 tackles (89 solo), five sacks, nine tackles for loss, five QB hits, four pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 17 starts to earn Pro Bowl honors. But it wasn't enough to convince the Lions, so the former 18th overall pick in 2023 out of Iowa will now head into the final year of his rookie contract this fall. The 25-year-old has 100-plus combined tackles in each of the last two seasons and has contributed 8.5 sacks in 51 games (46 starts) while not missing a game in his first three years in the NFL. If Campbell has another strong season in 2026, look for the Lions to try to extend him before he reaches free agency next March. In IDP fantasy formats, Campbell was the No. 1 overall linebacker, with his 89 solo tackles ranking fourth, behind Jordyn Brooks, Cedric Gray, and Devin White.
Source: The Detroit News - Nolan Bianchi
Source: The Detroit News - Nolan Bianchi
Packers Pick Up Fifth-Year Option for Lukas Van Ness
The Green Bay Packers picked up the fifth-year option for edge rusher Lukas Van Ness (foot) on Thursday, a source told Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. It will guarantee Van Ness a 2027 salary of around $13.8 million. Despite missing around half of last season with a foot injury, the Packers appear confident that he'll be able to rebound this year and next year. The 24-year-old was taken by Green Bay with the 13th overall pick in 2023 out of Iowa, and he contributed 84 tackles (58 solo), 8.5 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, and 23 QB hits in 43 games (two starts) in his first three NFL seasons. Van Ness played in only nine games in 2025 due to his foot injury, finishing with 19 tackles (12 solo), 1.5 sacks, three tackles for loss, and seven QB hits. The Packers will be relying on two edge rushers coming off major injuries last year, as Micah Parsons (knee) attempts to recover from a torn ACL that he suffered in late December.
Source: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
Source: The Athletic - Matt Schneidman
Calais Campbell Returning to Ravens on One-Year Deal
Six-time Pro Bowl defensive end Calais Campbell, who played in Baltimore from 2020 to 2022, is returning to the Ravens on Thursday after signing an undisclosed one-year deal, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Campbell will turn 40 years old on Sept. 1, and he'll be heading into his 19th NFL campaign. The 39-year-old was taken by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round back in 2008 out of the University of Miami. He played for the Cardinals again last year, starting 17 games and recording 43 tackles (23 solo), 6.5 sacks, 16 QB hits, two pass breakups, and nine tackles for loss. Campbell has only had two seasons (2017 and 2018 with the Jacksonville Jaguars) where he had double-digit sacks, but despite his advanced age, he's had at least five sacks in each of the last four seasons with Baltimore, Atlanta, Miami, and Arizona. He's not going to be on the IDP fantasy radar, but Campbell brings plenty of experience and depth to a Ravens defensive line that has some injury question marks with Nnamdi Madubuike (neck) and Broderick Washington (Achilles). In his 18 NFL seasons, Campbell has 117 sacks in 278 regular-season games.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Makai Lemon Signs Four-Year Rookie Deal With Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles rookie first-round wide receiver Makai Lemon signed his four-year, fully guaranteed rookie contract on Thursday, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. The deal includes an $11.5 million signing bonus. The Eagles traded up with the division-rival Dallas Cowboys to take Lemon at 20th overall and steal them away from the Pittsburgh Steelers, who were reportedly ready to take Lemon at pick No. 21. The selection of Lemon only reinforces the expectation that the Eagles will trade Pro Bowl wideout A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots around June 1. Lemon, who stands at 5-foot-11 and 294 pounds, profiles as more of a slot receiver, but he could be moved around the offensive formation alongside DeVonta Smith. Lemon plays bigger than his size and has plenty of yards-after-the-catch potential in a Philly offense looking for a spark. As long as Brown ends up heading out of town, Lemon should have immediate value in single-year fantasy formats in 2026. In rookie-only keeper drafts this year, Lemon should be considered a top-five player.
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
George Kittle Trying to Return in Week 1
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan told ESPN that tight end George Kittle (Achilles) is "shooting to return" Week 1 against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams after tearing his Achilles tendon in the playoffs against the Philadelphia Eagles in January, according to David Lombardi of The San Francisco Standard. It's unclear if Kittle is actually on track to be ready for the season opener, but it's where he's aiming. Kittle suffered a clean tear of his Achilles, which is expected to allow him to return quicker than usual for someone with a torn Achilles. While Kittle is hoping to be ready for Week 1, there's still a good chance he won't be ready for the start of the 2026 season, which will make him a pretty risky and volatile high-end TE1 target in fantasy football drafts. If Kittle is not ready to go by Week 1, Jake Tonges will be in play as a streaming option at the position early on. The 32-year-old Kittle only played in 11 games last year due to injuries and finished as the TE13 in half-PPR scoring. When healthy, he's been one of the top TEs in the league, though, catching at least six touchdown passes in five straight seasons.
Source: The San Francisco Standard - David Lombardi
Source: The San Francisco Standard - David Lombardi
Chris Rodriguez Jr. to Lead the Jaguars in Carries?
John Shipley of Sports Illustrated has Jacksonville Jaguars running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. listed atop the team's RB depth chart ahead of training camp. His gut feeling says that Rodriguez will lead the team in carries, but then writes that he doesn't know if there will be "enough of a difference between his workload" and Bhayshul Tuten's. LeQuint Allen Jr. projects as the RB3 as the top passing-down back, while DeeJay Dallas and undrafted rookie J'Mari Taylor will battle for the RB4 spot. Travis Etienne Jr. is now in New Orleans, which was paving the way for Tuten to be an easy breakout candidate in fantasy football in 2026, until the Jags signed C-Rod. The 25-year-old got a two-year, $10 million deal from Jacksonville, and he has familiarity with head coach Liam Coen from their time at Kentucky. Tuten surely has plenty of explosive potential, but the team also likes Rodriguez's abilities as a tough inside runner. Rodriguez averaged 4.6 yards per carry in his three seasons with the Commanders, and he added seven total touchdowns in 13 games in 2025. Right now, both Rodriguez and Tuten are shaping up to be WR3/flex options every week in fantasy if their workload is split mostly down the middle.
Source: Sports Illustrated - John Shipley
Source: Sports Illustrated - John Shipley
