RADIO
Jalen Hurts has Safe Floor and League-Winning Potential at Modest Discount
When veterans and rookies report for Philadelphia Eagles training camp at the end of the month, it will be quarterback Jalen Hurts' first extended opportunity to build chemistry with his new receiving corps. In trading away three-time Pro Bowler A.J. Brown, the Eagles are relying on a number of new faces to fill the ranks alongside incumbents DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert in an effort to rebound from a shaky 2025 offensive outing. Veterans Dontayvion Wicks and Hollywood Brown join rookies Makai Lemon and Eli Stowers in what could be a more balanced passing attack that allows Hurts to spread the ball around. Regardless of any criticism he's faced in recent years, Hurts has never failed to deliver for fantasy, finishing as the QB9 or better in each of the past five seasons despite playing under four different offensive coordinators in that span. Hurts is RotoBaller's QB6 in 2026, but in a year where so many different quarterbacks elicit strong reactions from the fantasy community, he has been seen regularly slipping into the later rounds of drafts, making him a near can't-miss pick with one of the safest floors at the position.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kayshon Boutte Stuck in Fantasy Limbo Ahead of 2026 Training Camp
New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte served as the team's most reliable downfield weapon in 2025, but there is little reliability to be found in his role for 2026. The subject of trade rumors throughout much of the offseason, Boutte remains with the team as the Patriots prepare to open training camp with their first public practice on Saturday, but major changes to the receiver room create questions of where he fits into an ascending offense. The Patriots traded for three-time Pro Bowler A.J. Brown after signing Romeo Doubs to a four-year, $68 million deal, and with both players spending the majority of their careers on the outside, Boutte could be pressed for playing time if he does indeed stick in New England. While a camp injury elsewhere could rekindle trade conversations and land Boutte in a more favorable situation, as it stands today, the former sixth-round pick holds little fantasy appeal in 2026 redraft leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
David Montgomery a Reliable Bell Cow Available Outside the Early Rounds of Drafts
For the first time since his final season with the Bears in 2022, Houston Texans running back David Montgomery enters the year as the unquestioned leader of his team's backfield. With the Texans thrown an offseason curveball last year by the mysterious foot injury of presumed starter Joe Mixon, they were forced to piece the position together with a combination of veteran Nick Chubb and rookie Woody Marks, neither of whom proved particularly effective for an offense built to play with a lead. Despite sharing the Detroit backfield with perennial Pro Bowler Jahmyr Gibbs for the past three seasons, Montgomery has remained fantasy-relevant through his continued usage near the goal line, and as a player with a proven history of handling heavy workloads, he allows Marks to slip back into a more natural pass-catching role. With a defense that can help to create positive game scripts in a hurry, Montgomery should serve as the closer that this Texans offense was sorely lacking in 2025, and as RotoBaller's RB21, he represents reliable value often available in the middle rounds of drafts.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Malik Willis a Low-Risk, High-Reward Swing at the End of 2026 Drafts
Over his six career starts, Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis has scored 8.5 fantasy points per game with his legs alone. While that sample size is almost unusably small, it's easy to get excited about what a full season might look like, particularly when considering his draft cost against some of the league's elite mobile quarterbacks. Willis is being drafted as a low-end second quarterback, all but eliminating the risk of banking on an unproven starter in what projects to be one of the league's least exciting offenses. With the Dolphins most dynamic playmaker, De'Von Achane, sharing the backfield with Willis, it could be easier for defenses to keep both players bottled up without a true downfield threat, but Willis faced a similar situation as a rookie in Tennessee, where he was able to top 40 rushing yards in two of his three starts with a receiving room consisting of Robert Woods, Treylon Burks, and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. If Willis can continue to make strides in the passing game while leaning on his legs to keep the chains moving, he could provide week-winning upside from the closing rounds of 2026 drafts as RotoBaller's QB21.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Sam LaPorta an Underrated Draft Target Outside the Top Tier of Tight Ends
With the continued emphasis being put on heavy personnel usage ahead of the 2026 fantasy season, a player flying surprisingly under the radar is Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta. In a relatively small sample size over the past two seasons, LaPorta has been the league's highest-scoring fantasy tight end on a per-route basis out of multi-tight end sets, and a new-look Lions offense should provide him plenty of opportunities to prove it's more than a fluke. With the Cardinals in 2025, new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing used an additional tight end at a higher rate than all but two current playcallers. With LaPorta's season lasting only nine games before a herniated disc in his back sidelined him for the rest of the year, it's easy to forget that he finished as the TE4 in three of his final four fully healthy games and was the TE7 at the time he hit injured reserve. The fourth-year veteran now finds himself in an offense seemingly built to take advantage of his catch-and-run abilities, and he could prove to be a difference-maker from the middle rounds of 2026 drafts.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dak Prescott Being Slept on Again in 2026
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott threw for 300+ yards a league-leading six times on his way to a fourth straight top-eight fantasy finish in as many fully healthy seasons. Perhaps because of the three injury-shortened campaigns mixed into that stretch, Prescott does not get the credit he deserves as one of fantasy's most consistent, high-ceiling assets, again landing around QB10 by current ADP. On a per-game basis, Prescott has averaged 22.6 fantasy points per start dating back to 2019, a number that would have made him a top two quarterback in each of the past three seasons, and with arguably the league's top receiver duo of CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens returning for one more season together, the pieces remain in place for him to challenge for the top spot in 2026. Generally coming off the board in the middle to late rounds, Prescott is one of a handful of quarterbacks who make this a banner year to wait at the position, still offering league-winning upside at a low-QB1 discount.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Mike Evans Could Bounce Back in a Major Way with 49ers
When the San Francisco 49ers open training camp practices on Sunday, fantasy managers will get their first extended look at 13th-year wide receiver Mike Evans in his new home. For the first time since the Buccaneers selected him in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, he'll be playing for a new team, and after a string of injuries left him shy of 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in his career in 2025, he should have every opportunity to begin a new streak with the 49ers. Evans has long dominated with two or fewer wide receivers on the field, and with head coach and playcaller Kyle Shanahan deploying a fullback on more than 41% of his team's snaps a year ago, that is a situation the six-time Pro Bowler should find himself in often. Assuming sustained health for all three, a trio of Evans, Christian McCaffrey, and George Kittle has the ability to attack all levels of the defense and should find fantasy success in an offense projected among the highest scoring in the league. At RotoBaller's WR26, Evans is an underrated bounceback candidate in 2026 drafts.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tre Tucker a Best-Ball Option Who Could Find a Role in Lineup Leagues
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker led the team with 696 receiving yards in 2025, taking advantage of a depth chart that saw Jakobi Meyers traded away after Week 9 and All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers in and out of the lineup with a knee injury. With free agent receiver Jalen Nailor representing the most notable addition to the pass-catching group, Tucker should again be a featured piece of the Raiders offense under new head coach and playcaller Klint Kubiak. As offensive coordinator for the Seahawks, Kubiak was able to scheme up splash plays through heavy play-action usage, making Tucker a particularly interesting dart throw in best ball formats, though he could work his way into weekly flex discussions if Vegas can find cohesion under veteran Kirk Cousins and later first overall pick Fernando Mendoza. At RotoBaller's WR65, Tucker is likely to begin the year on waivers in many leagues, but he is a player to monitor throughout training camp, as his big-play ability can rack up fantasy points in a hurry.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Fantasy Expectations Low for Jack Bech's Second Season
Unable to rise to a position of relevance on a lackluster depth chart, Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jack Bech disappointed as a rookie, finishing his first season with only 224 yards on 20 scoreless receptions. A second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Bech was held outside the team's top five in all major receiving categories, and although the team made minimal improvements to a room that was led by Tre Tucker's 696 receiving yards, fantasy expectations remain low for the second-year player. Vegas signed former Viking Jalen Nailor to a three-year deal, and he is expected to form a tandem with Tucker in a Klint Kubiak passing offense likely to run through tight end Brock Bowers and running back Ashton Jeanty. When the Raiders take to the field for their first public training camp practice on August 2, Bech should have an advantage for what amounts to a fifth spot in the rotation, as his biggest competition will come from Dont'e Thornton Jr. and sixth-round rookie Malik Benson, but without a notable push for a regular place in two-receiver sets, he is unlikely to matter for fantasy as RotoBaller's WR96.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Darius Slayton has Shaky Long-Term Value
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton has seen his role in the offense drop in recent years. Over the last two seasons, Slayton has finished with fewer than 600 receiving yards both years. During that span, Slayton has scored a total of three touchdowns, which is fewer than in his 2023 campaign. The expectation was that Slayton would have a larger role once Malik Nabers (knee) went down, but that didn't really happen. Now, Nabers is expected to return at some point this season, and the Giants have added reinforcements. They've signed Darnell Mooney, Calvin Austin III, and Odell Beckham Jr. this offseason. The Giants also drafted Malachi Field in the third-round of this year's draft. There's becoming too many bodies in New York and not enough targets for everyone. The 29-year-old may get lost in the shuffle with all the new weapons for Jaxson Dart in 2026.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Keaton Mitchell Could be Low-Cost Trade Target
Los Angeles Chargers running back Keaton Mitchell could be primed for a breakout campaign in 2026. Due to injuries and Derrick Henry, Mitchell wasn't able to fully unleash his skillset during his time in Baltimore. The 24-year-old has now moved on and signed a two-year deal with the Chargers this offseason. Mitchell has a clearer path to carries with Omarion Hampton as the only other legitimate threat on the roster. New offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel wasn't afraid to pound the ball with De'Von Achane in Miami. He has a few viable options in Hampton, Mitchell, and Kimani Vidal in Los Angeles. If Mitchell can prove he's healthy, there's a good chance he becomes the change-of-pace back behind Hampton. His fantasy value is likely only going to rise, so fantasy managers should target him now as a low-cost option before the season begins.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Jonathon Brooks Sees ADP Skyrocket
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks hasn't been much of a thought to fantasy managers over the last few seasons. In fact, Brooks hasn't played in a game since making three appearances during the 2024 season. The former second-round pick has been sidelined since then due to two knee injuries. The hope is that Brooks can put the knee injuries behind him and return to form in 2026. If healthy, there is a clear path for Brooks to become the No. 1 back in Carolina. Rico Dowdle is no longer with the team, and Chuba Hubbard is looking to bounce back after a lackluster 2025 season. The expectation is that Brooks will get a real chance to prove he's capable of being the top back in Carolina. He's only 23 years old and was an unstoppable force during his college days at Texas. Given the Panthers lack of depth at the position, it's not surprising to see Brooks ADP skyrocketing this offseason.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
DK Metcalf Likely to See Decreased Role
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf might be trending in the wrong direction in 2026. Metcalf was a two-time Pro Bowler in Seattle before getting traded to the Steelers ahead of the 2025 campaign. Metcalf was underutilized in Pittsburgh with 59 receptions, which was his lowest since his rookie season. He also finished with a career-low 850 receiving yards across 15 games with the Steelers. Metcalf was the top option in Pittsburgh and saw a team-high 99 targets last season. It doesn't help his case that 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers is under center again this season. The Steelers have also added Michael Pittman Jr. and drafted Germie Bernard in the second round of this year's draft. Metcalf has more competition for targets and the same quarterback as the season before. This is a recipe for Metcalf's stats to decline again in 2026.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Jordan Whitehead Fully Cleared to Resume his Career
Veteran free-agent safety Jordan Whitehead (neck) has been fully cleared to resume his football career after having neck surgery by Alex Vaccaro, his surgeon and the Philadelphia Eagles' spine specialist, according to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. Whithead had recent workouts with the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans and is expected to meet with other teams soon. The 29-year-old former fourth-rounder by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2018 out of the University of Pittsburgh suffered a serious neck injury in a car accident in January of 2025 and was forced to miss all of last season. In 2024 with the Bucs, Whitehead had 79 tackles (49 solo) and three pass breakups in 12 regular-season starts in his seventh year in the NFL. In his seven years in the league, Whitehead has been a strong tackler at the strong safety position, never having fewer than 69 combined tackles in a season while also racking up 11 total interceptions and 45 pass breakups in his 105 games played (101 starts). It remains to be seen if he'll land a starting role with a new team in 2026.
Source: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
Source: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
Tucker Kraft Could Open Training Camp on the PUP List
Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (knee) could begin on the Physically Unable to Perform list to open training camp in less than 10 days, according to Jason Wilde of Channel 3000. "The guess here is that he won't set foot on Ray Nitschke Field without a new deal in place," writes Wilde. Kraft is entering the final year of his four-year, $5.54 million rookie contract, and the Packers also hope to get an extension done with him early in camp, according to Jordan Schultz. He's slated to earn a $3.624 million base salary in 2026, which makes him the 36th-highest-paid TE in the league. Kraft will most likely be eased into camp, but all expectations are that he will be a full-go for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sept. 13 against the division-rival Minnesota Vikings. Before tearing the ACL in his right knee on Nov. 2 against the Carolina Panthers in 2025, Kraft was arguably the best TE in the league, catching 32 passes for 489 yards and six touchdowns on 44 targets in eight games. We'll be tracking Kraft's progress closely this summer, and if fully healthy, he will have a high ceiling as a high-end TE1 in fantasy.
Source: Channel 3000 - Jason Wilde
Source: Channel 3000 - Jason Wilde
