RADIO
Ty Simpson Could Fall Out of the First Round
ESPN's Seth Walder thinks Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson may fall out of the first round of the 2026 NFL draft, which starts this Thursday night. The Draft Day Predictor says Simpson has a 43% chance to be available at pick No. 33 to start Day 2 on Friday. The most likely spots for Simpson to go in the first round are at Nos. 16 (New York Jets), 21 (Pittsburgh Steelers), and 24 (Cleveland Browns). If Simpson doesn't get taken in the first round, the Jets (No. 33) and Arizona Cardinals (No. 34) are possibilities at the start of the second round. The draft predictor thinks there's a 91% chance that Simpson is off the board before pick No. 50. Many draft analysts were pretty confident last month that Simpson would be a first-rounder, but the buzz on Simpson being the second QB off the board in this year's class has faded since then. Wherever Simpson lands, he projects to be a developmental QB prospect that will sit and learn behind a veteran in his first season in the NFL.
Source: ESPN.com - Seth Walder
Source: ESPN.com - Seth Walder
Jeremiyah Love Could Unlock Commanders Offense
ESPN's Jordan Reid is mocking Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love to the Washington Commanders in the first round of this year's NFL draft at No. 7 overall. Love is widely considered the best overall prospect in this year's draft class, and he's an explosive playmaker waiting to happen. Reid believes that Love "would unlock multiple layers" of Washington's playbook that they couldn't access in 2025. Adding Love in the backfield would be a huge boost to quarterback Jayden Daniels as he looks to bounce back from an injury-plagued year in his second season in the NFL. Love rushed for 1,372 yards and a whopping 18 touchdowns last year for the Fighting Irish and had 39 runs of 10-plus yards, which was fourth-most in college football. A landing spot in D.C. would make Love quite attractive in both dynasty and redraft leagues in 2025. Other potential landing spots for Love in the top 10 picks in this year's draft include the Cardinals, Titans, and Giants. The Commanders could represent one of the best opportunities for the clear top RB in the 2026 NFL draft.
Source: ESPN.com - Jordan Reid
Source: ESPN.com - Jordan Reid
Doctors Think Nnamdi Madubuike Can Resume his Playing Career
Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike (neck), who suffered a season-ending and career-threatening neck injury in Week 2 of last year, underwent neck surgery last week that left his doctors believing he will be able to resume playing in 2026, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Madubuike has been taking part in the team's voluntary offseason program, but to what extent is unknown. When healthy, the 28-year-old nose tackle was a big part of the interior of Baltimore's defensive line, getting named to back-to-back Pro Bowls in 2023 and 2024. In that span, he had 99 tackles (59 solo), 19.5 sacks, 23 tackles for loss, 50 QB hits, and two forced fumbles in 34 starts. Getting the former third-rounder in 2020 out of Texas A&M back for the upcoming season would be a massive boost for the Ravens' defense, and it could affect their strategy in the upcoming NFL draft.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Kayshon Boutte Not Present for Voluntary Workouts
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said that wide receiver Kayshon Boutte is not present this week for the start of voluntary offseason workouts, according to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. The Patriots and Boutte have been in communication, but the 23-year-old wideout has chosen to stay away from the team after a report surfaced on Monday that Boutte's name has come up in trade talks as he enters the final year of his contract in 2026. The Pats signed former Packers receiver Romeo Doubs in free agency, and they are expected to complete a trade for Philadelphia Eagles pass-catcher A.J. Brown after June 1, making Boutte expendable. Boutte was the Patriots' sixth-round pick in 2023 out of LSU. He only appeared in five games in his rookie campaign, but he's gone over 500 receiving yards in each of the last two seasons, and he scored a career-high six touchdowns in 14 regular-season contests (10 starts) in 2025. If New England does indeed acquire Brown from Philly, Boutte's best chance for a boost in fantasy value will be via a trade to another organization.
Source: FOX Sports - Jordan Schultz
Source: FOX Sports - Jordan Schultz
Tetairoa McMillan Working on "Power" and Weight/Muscle Gain
Carolina Panthers second-year wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan said that he dropped 10 to 15 pounds during his rookie season in 2025 and got down to around 205 pounds, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. As a result, McMillan spent the offseason working on his "power" and weight/muscle gain. The 23-year-old former eighth overall pick out of the University of Arizona was named the Offensive Rookie of the Year after catching 70 of his 122 targets for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns in 17 starts in his first year in the league. McMillan immediately became quarterback Bryce Young's go-to target in the passing game, and his arrow is firmly pointing upward in dynasty/keeper leagues as he heads into Year 2. He should grow in offensive coordinator Brad Idzik's scheme in his second season after finishing last year as the WR15 in half-PPR scoring. In redraft leagues this fall, fantasy managers should consider McMillan a low-end WR1/high-end WR2.
Source: The Athletic - Joe Person
Source: The Athletic - Joe Person
Ashton Jeanty a Top Dynasty Buy Ahead of the NFL Draft?
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty was one of the hottest names in dynasty fantasy football just one year ago. The buzz around the Boise State product has cooled down slightly, and managers should capitalize on this opportunity to acquire the running back in dynasty fantasy football leagues. It felt like there was this perception during the regular season that Jeanty was inconsistent, or perhaps even underperforming. The former may be true, but the latter certainly isn't, as Jeanty finished his rookie campaign as the RB11 in PPR leagues with 975 rushing yards, 346 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns. The softened narrative was likely caused by the state of the Raiders' offense, as the team limped to a 3-14 record that was the worst in the NFL. That narrative will shift in the coming weeks as the Raiders embark on a new chapter with consensus No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza. The state of Vegas' offense is trending up, and Mendoza's presence should drive up the value of all Raiders skill players in fantasy football, including Jeanty. Plus, in a draft that is relatively sparse at the running back position, we don't expect the Raiders to bring in any major competition for the former first-round pick. All in all, Jeanty continues to trend up and should be in the conversation as a potential top-five fantasy running back in 2026. He has top-tier upside in dynasty fantasy football leagues, ranking as RotoBaller's overall RB3. Dynasty managers should buy now before it's too late.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tyler Shough Poised to Get a Wide Receiver Upgrade in the NFL Draft?
New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough was dominant after being installed as the starting quarterback last year, especially in the weeks following his team's bye. From Week 12-18, he had 10 total touchdowns and ranked as the overall QB5 in fantasy football. That type of production in an offense that didn't have very high expectations should instantly vault Shough into the top-12 conversation for the 2026 fantasy football season. Now, his value could soar even higher if the Saints add a receiver in the first few rounds of this week's NFL Draft. Most of Shough's production last year came from throwing to Chris Olave and Juwan Johnson. Both players showed major improvement in 2025, but adding another big name to this offense could be crucial for Shough's ascension into a weekly fantasy contributor. Many media outlets and mock drafts have linked the Saints to a Day 1 or Day 2 receiver. Such a selection would give a boost to Shough's value in dynasty leagues. Managers should look to buy low on Shough before the Saints improve his supporting cast via the draft.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Mason Taylor a Sneaky Buy in Dynasty Leagues as NFL Draft Approaches?
New York Jets tight end Mason Taylor showed flashes of upside as a rookie last season, and he's an intriguing buy-low candidate ahead of this week's NFL Draft. With two first-round picks, the Jets seem primed to select one of this year's top quarterback prospects -- if not on Day 1, then likely on Day 2. Adding a young quarterback not only gives the Jets a long-term upgrade over Geno Smith but also an improved passer for many of the team's young receivers, including Taylor. In fact, perhaps no position benefits more from a rookie quarterback than tight end. Taylor can be a reliable, short-distance outlet for the Jets' young quarterback, and the two could potentially form a strong rapport that transforms Taylor into a weekly TE1 option. There's a lot of value in trading for young pass-catchers who are about to get a quarterback upgrade. Taylor currently ranks as RotoBaller's TE16 in dynasty fantasy football, and he could jump to the top-12 range with an improved quarterback situation. The time to buy low on Taylor is now.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Devin Neal a Sneaky Buy Ahead of the NFL Draft
New Orleans Saints running back Devin Neal might be penciled into the third-string role for now, but he's a sneaky buy in dynasty leagues ahead of this week's NFL Draft. The Saints brought in Travis Etienne Jr. during free agency, blocking Neal from becoming the team's starting running back in 2026. However, there's still a path for him to fill the No. 2 role while maintaining fantasy relevance. As it stands, the Saints have a crowded backfield, making it unlikely that they'll spend a premium pick on a running back in this year's draft, which is sparse at the position. At the same time, Alvin Kamara's time in New Orleans seems to be coming to an end. We would not be surprised to see Kamara traded or released around the time of the draft, when key roster decisions are typically made. But even if he does stick around for another year, Kamara's role is declining. His 3.0 catches per game and 3.6 yards per carry last year both represented new career lows for the veteran. It would surprise nobody if Neal leapfrogged Kamara on the depth chart by the middle of the season, as the 22-year-old has intriguing upside as an impact running back. The Saints want to make Neal a long-term part of their backfield, so dynasty managers would be wise to buy low while he's still buried in the third spot on the depth chart.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ricky Pearsall Not Yet Ready to Make the WR1 Leap
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall struggled to stay on the field last season. When healthy, he typically operated as the Niners' No. 2 receiver behind Jauan Jennings. Although Jennings is expected to sign elsewhere in free agency, the 49ers replaced him with proven No. 1 receiver Mike Evans. The presence of Evans will block Pearsall from making a significant leap up the depth chart this offseason. With that said, there's still the potential for Pearsall to take strides performance-wise. He's coming off a frustrating season in which he played parts of just nine games, catching 36 passes for 528 yards and zero touchdowns. He might not emerge as a major touchdown threat over Evans, Christian McCaffrey, and George Kittle, but he's still due for a little positive scoring regression. Plus, he's a safe bet for between five and eight targets per game, when healthy. If Pearsall can stay on the field, the arrival of Evans won't be that big of a concern. The 25-year-old Florida product can still be a low-end WR3/flex in dynasty and redraft leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chris Brazzell II a Fringe First-Rounder in Fantasy Rookie Drafts
Tennessee wide receiver prospect Chris Brazzell II continues to turn heads ahead of the NFL Draft, with most mocks projecting him in the middle of the second round. As a redshirt junior in the SEC last year, Brazzell caught 62 passes for 1,017 yards and a conference-high nine touchdowns. He's viewed as an immediate No. 3 receiver in the NFL, with the upside to develop into an impactful No. 2 or even low-end No. 1. At 6-foot-4, he's a big-bodied receiver with large, reliable hands. He lacks the speed and elusiveness needed to blow by defenders, but he can still beat them in 1-on-1 situations with his size. From a fantasy perspective, Brazzell's outlook will depend on his landing spot. If he does slot in as an immediate No. 3, he might not have redraft appeal in 2026. However, there's plenty of dynasty upside here. As it stands, Brazzell is the #14 prospect and #8 wide receiver in RotoBaller's latest rookie fantasy football rankings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Is Tory Horton a Sneaky, Low-Cost Buy Before the NFL Draft?
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton was a fifth-round selection in 2025, and before a serious shin injury ended his rookie season after only eight games, he had shown some prowess as a downfield threat. While he and Sam Darnold were able to connect for only 13 receptions through Week 9, more than a third of those catches resulted in touchdowns, including two in his final game. With Horton out, the Seahawks sent fourth and fifth-round picks to acquire Rashid Shaheed and have since invested almost $35 million in guaranteed money to retain his services. Between Shaheed and Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle has guaranteed $154.7 million to the wide receiver position this offseason, and with a league-low four picks in the upcoming draft, it would stand to reason that their current receiver room of Horton, Shaheed, Smith-Njigba, and the soon-to-be-33 year old Cooper Kupp will look very similar to the one they take into the regular season. While the draft capital and money invested in Shaheed suggest he'll have the inside track to the boundary role opposite Smith-Njigba, he averaged only 1.5 receptions per game following the trade to Seattle. Horton showed flashes as a rookie, and he showed them early in the season, a strong indicator of success with rookie receivers historically seeing more involvement later in the year. New offensive coordinator Brian Fleury will succeed by getting his best players on the field, and in a receiver room whose talent falls off quickly behind Smith-Njigba, the competition for playing time should not be stiff enough to dissuade depth-seeking dynasty managers from inquiring about RotoBaller's current WR75.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Zach Charbonnet a Volatile Buy Heading into NFL Draft
Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (knee) has become one of the most interesting names in fantasy ahead of this week's NFL Draft. With Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III signing a top-of-market deal with the Kansas City Chiefs and Charbonnet recovering from the ACL tear he sustained in the team's Divisional Playoff win, Seattle heads into the draft with low-money acquisition Emanuel Wilson and 2024 undrafted free agent George Holani atop the depth chart. The expectation is that the Seahawks will add a running back early in the draft, creating a potential buy window for Charbonnet, but the team has a league-low four picks heading into Thursday, and with needs at corner and along both lines, they may opt to spend the 32nd or 64th pick elsewhere. With so little draft capital, the team won't have a ton of freedom to move around the board, and in a weak running back class, there's no guarantee of coming away with even a moderate difference maker. The 25-year-old Charbonnet is currently RotoBaller's dynasty RB25, but if Seattle is unable to make any meaningful additions to the room through the draft, that ranking will surely spike.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Can Emmett Johnson Sneak into First Round of Rookie Drafts?
Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson could be the second or third back to hear his name called in the NFL Draft, but he could just as easily slip into the fantasy wasteland of a Day 3 selection. Such is the nature of a running back class with no true difference makers outside of Jeremiyah Love. When and where the amorphous grouping of second and third-tier backs comes off the board will come down to what type of player each NFL team is looking for, but where Johnson stands out is that his pass-catching ability should make him attractive to any number of franchises. Johnson led all Power 4 running backs with 46 receptions in 2025, on a 15.1% target share, and he could immediately find a role as a dedicated pass catcher in an NFL offense. With so many running backs clustered together, landing spot is going to affect dynasty draft boards more than any year in recent history, but Johnson currently sits as RotoBaller's rookie RB4, and he has as strong a claim as anyone to slip into the tail end of the first round in most rookie drafts.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jonah Coleman Could Be a Steal in Second Round of Rookie Drafts
Washington running back Jonah Coleman was a fantasy darling early in the process, beginning his pre-draft journey squarely in the conversation to be the second running back off the board. With the NFL Draft just days away, he seems to have fallen out of favor, now being projected most commonly as a Day 3 pick. While Coleman is a well-rounded, between-the-tackles runner who brings strengths to the passing game as both a blocker and receiver, his lack of a top gear shows up repeatedly on film and was all but confirmed by his refusal to run a 40-yard dash at either the Combine or his Pro Day. There are some similarities to Cam Skattebo from last year's draft, as an early favorite whose straight-forward game may have been overanalyzed. At a compact 220 pounds, with unreal contact balance and a nose for the goal line, Coleman is a load to bring down, but the NFL will ultimately tell us how they feel about him with draft capital. Much like Skattebo last year, that may present an opportunity for dynasty drafters to land him later in rookie drafts than they probably should be able to.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
