April 9, 2026
Cincinnati running back
Chase Brown enters his fourth season with the Bengals, and seemingly his fourth season with lingering questions about his job security. The Bengals pick 10th in the upcoming NFL Draft and recently hosted Notre Dame prospect
Jeremiyah Love on an official visit. Most draft analysts believe Love will be gone long before Cincinnati is on the clock, so if that is the case, or if the Bengals opt to address the bottom-dwelling defense that has held them back for years, Brown could emerge as one of fantasy's biggest winners from night one of the draft. A fifth-round selection in 2023, Brown has emerged as one of the most unheralded late-round success stories in recent years, finishing as the RB12 and RB8 over the past two seasons. While games won't be played for another five months, the Bengals appear to be heading into 2026 without any looming contract disputes and with their core of Brown,
Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and
Tee Higgins at full health, which could again make them one of the most potent offenses in the league. Brown enters the final season of his rookie deal, and should Cincinnati elect to wait until the later rounds to add to the running back room, dynasty managers can take that as a vote of confidence for the 26-year-old back who may still be ascending.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
April 9, 2026
Since being selected eighth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, Atlanta Falcons running back
Bijan Robinson has looked like one of the most talented backs in the league. In 2025, that talent translated through his usage and fantasy finish, ending the year as RB2 in PPR formats. His 79 receptions for 820 yards trailed only
Christian McCaffrey among NFL backs, while his 858 yards after the catch led the league across all positions. On the strength of his 99 targets in the passing game, he topped 380 opportunities for the second straight year. New head coach Kevin Stefanski and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees arrive from Cleveland, where
Nick Chubb was the clear focal point of Stefanski's early Browns offenses. Former Falcon
Tyler Allgeier, who has averaged over 172 opportunities of his own in the three years he shared a backfield with Robinson, has been replaced by
Brian Robinson Jr., who handled exactly 100 touches as the primary backup to McCaffrey in San Francisco last season. The former Robinson is still only 24 years old and has yet to miss a game in his professional career. Barring injury, he should continue to rank among the fantasy elite for the foreseeable future.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
April 9, 2026
Detroit Lions wide receiver
Jameson Williams' NFL career got off to a rocky start. Injury, suspensions, and one of the league's highest drop rates limited the former 12th overall pick to only 25 catches, 395 yards, and three scores through his first two seasons. Williams has since strung together back-to-back 1,000+ yard seasons and scored 15 total touchdowns since 2024, but he likely still has yet to reach his true ceiling. A large part of Williams' turnaround has been gaining his coaches' trust and being used in a wider variety of ways. Rather than just relying on his speed to chase down go balls, Williams has become one of the most dangerous receivers in the league on crosser routes. His work with the ball in his hands has elevated his fantasy value, but he has acknowledged that he needs to get stronger to reliably work through traffic, and he has still been plagued by untimely drops and the occasional disappearing act. Five times in the past two seasons, Williams has been held to fewer than 10 receiving yards, combining for negative yardage across his three worst outings. His nine drops in 2025 marked a career high. Williams is RotoBaller's WR27 in dynasty rankings, but it's likely we've yet to see his best, and it should surprise nobody if that number continues to rise.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
April 8, 2026
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton said that re-signing running back
J.K. Dobbins "was a priority ahead of all others," according to Zac Stevens of DNVR Sports. It was very intriguing to hear Payton go out of his way and identify Dobbins specifically. This could be a sign that he'll continue to have a large workload in 2026, even with
RJ Harvey trending up ahead of his second season in the NFL. In his first season with Denver last year, Dobbins played in 10 games, tallying 772 rushing yards and four touchdowns. He ranked as the overall RB18 in half-PPR leagues before being shut down ahead of Week 11 due to a foot injury. The Broncos recently confirmed that Dobbins has fully recovered from the ailment and could have even played in the Super Bowl if Denver had qualified. Fantasy managers should prepare for the possibility of Dobbins and Harvey splitting touches next season. A shared backfield is never ideal for fantasy football, but we could still see both backs maintain fantasy relevance, given the productivity and anticipated success of Denver's offense.
--Andersen PickardSource: Zac Stevens
April 8, 2026
University of Miami offensive tackle prospect Francis Mauigoa (back) will attend Combine Rechecks on Friday to undergo additional imaging on his back, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Mauigoa experienced discomfort late in the NCAA season while dealing with a back issue that Rapoport described as "minor." All in all, the injury doesn't sound too serious, but additional imaging could be beneficial for all parties involved. More testing will allow teams to gain clarity into Mauigoa's injury status and any potential injury risks. Meanwhile, it will benefit the lineman himself because he can use the test results to reassure teams that he is healthy going forward. As Rapoport notes, Mauigoa says he is symptom-free, but he has nothing to hide and is willing to put teams at ease by undergoing imaging. PFF's latest big board ranks Mauigoa as the #7 overall prospect and #1 tackle prospect in this month's NFL Draft.
--Andersen PickardSource: Ian Rapoport
April 8, 2026
Atlanta Falcons starting right tackle Kaleb McGary (leg) has decided to retire after seven years in the NFL, agent Collin Roberts told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. The 6-foot-6, 330-pound lineman was Atlanta's first-round pick back in 2019. He started 92 of his 93 career games, but he missed all of the 2025 season due to a serious lower left leg injury that he suffered during training camp last summer. As a result, his final NFL snaps came in 2024, when he started 16 games with a 73.8 PFF grade. He was particularly productive in run blocking, where his grade of 77.6 ranked 17th-best among 81 eligible tackles. Retiring after just seven years (and six active seasons) is a bit early for a lineman, but his future in the NFL looked complicated due to the serious leg injury and his ongoing recovery. Going forward, he'll be replaced at right tackle by Jawaan Taylor, whom the Falcons signed to a one-year deal on Wednesday.
--Andersen PickardSource: Jeremy Fowler
April 8, 2026
The Atlanta Falcons have signed free agent offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor to a one-year deal, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. The contract includes a base value of $5 million and an additional $1 million available in incentives. Taylor previously spent four seasons in Jacksonville and three seasons in Kansas City. He has started all 111 games in which he has appeared, including a dozen contests in 2025. Although he's a household name, the 28-year-old didn't deliver the greatest production last year. His 53.3 PFF grade ranked 10th-worst among tackles, and his 43.8 run blocking grade was second-worst. He was also flagged for 13 penalties, and he surrendered 20 pressures, five quarterback hits, and three sacks. Despite an iffy season, Taylor projects as a starting tackle in Atlanta, where he'll fill the void left by the retirement of starting right tackle Kaleb McGary.
--Andersen PickardSource: Adam Schefter
April 8, 2026
Penn State quarterback
Drew Allar struggled with accuracy and played in only six games in 2025 due to a fractured left ankle, but ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that some NFL scouts still "see major upside" in Allar. He previously garnered first-round buzz thanks to his 6-foot-5 frame and big arm, but it's tough to project where he'll go in the 2026 NFL draft because of his abbreviated final season with the Nittany Lions. "He's my favorite quarterback in the draft outside of Mendoza," an NFL coordinator said. "In the right system, he can be great. He's got everything as far as tools. His footwork is an absolute mess. But improve his footwork, and he can take off. He deserved better than what he got at Penn State." If Allar lands in the right spot with a coordinator that can improve his footwork, Allar could be a nice dynasty/keeper target if you miss out on
Fernando Mendoza or
Ty Simpson.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
April 8, 2026
ESPN's Adam Schefter recently said that he expects Alabama quarterback
Ty Simpson to be a first-rounder in the 2026 NFL draft, but ESPN's Jeremy Fowler says that enough scouts have a second-round grade on him to make him an early Day 2 possibility. Simpson's draft stock is all over the map, as he's expected to go anywhere from No. 10 overall to No. 30 in the first round. The primary concern is his lack of experience, as he didn't become a starter at Alabama until his senior season in 2025. He played well early on last year but struggled late, ultimately finishing with 3,567 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and only five interceptions in 15 games played. Nobody is really expecting Simpson to come in right away in the NFL and be great, and one veteran NFL scout called Simpson "a mix between
Jared Goff and
Mac Jones." Simpson made "a lot of NFL throws" at Alabama, which will help his development at the next level, but fantasy managers in redraft leagues shouldn't expect him to be in play as a starter in 2026, even in superflex leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
April 8, 2026
Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken said he was "fired up" about the team's quarterback competition after the start of the voluntary offseason program this week, according to Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer. "You couldn't ask for a better start for the quarterbacks," Monken added.
Shedeur Sanders,
Deshaun Watson (Achilles), and
Dillon Gabriel are in the team's QB room with the NFL draft coming up in a few weeks. Sanders and Watson, who is recovering from a twice-torn Achilles tendon, will be competing for the starting job under center this summer. The Browns aren't tipping their hand as to who has the edge, but with Watson's contract expiring after the 2026 season, it makes sense for the Browns to give second-year QB Sanders the first shot at starting this fall. Sanders fell all the way to the fifth round in last year's draft, but he ended up making seven starts while throwing for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Whoever wins the job in Cleveland will be considered a low-end QB2 option in superflex fantasy leagues with a questionable Browns receiving corps.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Cleveland Plain Dealer - Mary Kay Cabot
April 8, 2026
Former Texas A&M wide receiver
KC Concepcion is on a visit on Wednesday with the Cleveland Browns, a source told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. The Browns are expected to be very interested in taking Ohio State receiver
Carnell Tate with the sixth overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft, but if they don't, Concepcion could be in play with the 24th overall pick later in the first round. Concepcion will also have top-30 pre-draft visits with the Miami Dolphins and Las Vegas Raiders, two other teams desperate for wideout depth going into the 2026 season. In his final collegiate season and first with the Aggies in 2025, Concepcion caught 61 passes for a career-high 919 yards and an SEC-high nine receiving touchdowns in 13 games played. His elite playmaking abilities -- he also had a rushing touchdown and two TDs as a kick returner on special teams -- would make him a candidate to push for a WR2 role immediately in Cleveland in 2026 if he is selected by the Browns.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
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 HernandezSource: 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 HernandezSource: 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 McGrathSource: 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 McGrathSource: RotoBaller
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