RADIO
Jake Ferguson Difficult to Trust at His Current Draft Cost
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson finished as the TE8 in 2025, but the context of how he arrived there makes him a difficult player to trust, even at his current ADP of TE13. Through the first seven weeks of the season, with five-time Pro Bowler CeeDee Lamb missing time with a high ankle sprain, Ferguson served as a crucial piece of the Cowboys' offense, making six touchdown grabs and pacing as the top tight end in fantasy to begin the year. However, once Lamb returned to form, Ferguson caught only two more touchdowns over his final 10 games and was barely usable as the TE22 the rest of the way. With Lamb and George Pickens both healthy and in the lineup, Ferguson has little chance of ever serving as more than a third option in the passing game, arguably making the second half of last year more representative of his fantasy profile. While Ferguson's insurance upside is obvious, without an injury ahead of him, he could fail to provide usable fantasy weeks with any consistency in 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dalton Schultz Should Again Be Part of the Streaming Conversation in 2026
Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz saw more than 100 targets and made a career-high 82 catches on his way to a TE11 finish in 2025. Rarely flashy, Schultz is a player who consistently earns the trust of his quarterbacks, and he has now finished as a TE1 in five of the last six seasons despite topping five touchdown catches only once in that stretch. A reliable target-earner, Schultz has caught at least 50 passes in every season since taking over as a full-time starter in 2020, providing a safe fantasy floor at a position where that is often enough. While he has turned in a top five weekly finish only twice in the past two seasons, Schultz has never strayed far from usability. Although he only enters the year as RotoBaller's TE24, it should come as no surprise when he once again enters the weekly streaming conversation in 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jauan Jennings a Potential Late-Round Value in 2026 Drafts
Following an injury-marred final season with the 49ers, wide receiver Jauan Jennings was met by a cooler-than-expected free agent market before eventually signing a one-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings, and should Minnesota's offense take a step forward in 2026, as many are projecting, Jennings could prove to be a tremendous value in the closing rounds of fantasy drafts. The battle at quarterback between free agent acquisition Kyler Murray and disappointing third-year player J.J. McCarthy will undoubtedly be a point of focus when the Vikings take to the field for their first public practice of training camp on August 1, and the result will have an obvious impact on a Vikings receiver room looking to put a forgettable 2025 season behind them. Justin Jefferson remains one of the league's premier talents, but with Jordan Addison profiling more as a big-play threat than a consistent target-earner, and tight end T.J. Hockenson yet to return to his pre-injury form following a 2023 ACL tear, an important chain-moving role could be had by Jennings in Kevin O'Connell's offense. At RotoBaller's WR59, Jennings will be a player to monitor throughout training camp, and if his draft price holds, he should be seen as a late-round target with standalone value and multiple paths to an increased role.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Malik Washington a Potential Redraft Breakout in 2026
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington, who is 25 years old, is currently slated as the team's No. 1 wide receiver on the depth chart after the Dolphins traded away Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos during the offseason. Washington, who is now entering his third NFL season, was a sixth-round pick in the 2024 draft and does not profile as an alpha wide receiver on a team; however, he finds himself in a unique situation where he's at the top of the depth chart and in line to outperform his ADP because of it. The Dolphins brought in Malik Willis to be under center, and he showed some upside in his relief duty for Jordan Love over in Green Bay with the Packers. RotoBaller ranks Washington as the WR82 in the rankings, and fantasy managers in redraft formats searching for a late-round gem could just find it in Washington should he get a projected No. 1 wide receiver volume.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Xavier Legette has Fallen Off of Fantasy Draft Boards
A first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette has yet to deliver on his lofty draft capital, and he appears to be trending in the wrong direction heading into Year 3. With the top two spots on Carolina's receiver depth chart locked up by Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker, Legette finds himself battling for a rotational role with free agent acquisition John Metchie III and 2026 third-round pick Chris Brazzell II. With the Panthers taking part in this year's Hall of Fame Game, training camp practices have already begun in Charlotte, and the battle for the team's third receiver spot will be one to monitor. Though even if Legette emerges as a runaway winner, the role could still hold little value in Carolina's low-passing-volume offense. Held to only 35 receptions and 363 yards a season ago, fantasy expectations remain low for Legette, and he falls outside of RotoBaller's top 300 players for 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
CeeDee Lamb Looking for a Bounce-Back Season After Injury-Plagued 2025
Dallas Cowboys superstar wide receiver CeeDee Lamb finished as the WR20 last season after he had three consecutive top-10 finishes in 2022-2024. He had a high ankle sprain that cost him earlier in the year, and with the addition of George Pickens, Lamb's upside was capped to some degree in a high-powered Cowboys offense. As we look ahead to 2026, Lamb profiles as a slam dunk first-round pick. He was efficient when he played, ranking ninth in the NFL in yards per route run (2.41) and 12th in explosive rating, and although his opportunity and productivity lacked compared to years past, he is a prime candidate to bounce back due to his track record, projected workload, and talent. Lamb remains a top player in both redraft and dynasty formats, and fantasy managers should be looking to target him if possible.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rashee Rice a Potential Week-Winner Being Drafted as a WR2
On a per-game basis, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice has become one of the most consistently dominant fantasy performers, though unfortunately consistency is not often a word associated with the fourth-year player. Injuries and suspension have caused Rice to miss 22 of his team's last 30 games, though he finished as a top 10 fantasy receiver in five of his eight appearances in 2025, four times topping 19.5 half-PPR points. Dating back to the end of his rookie season, Rice has scored at least 14 points in 12 of his last 18 games, twice falling short of that mark in games he left early with injury. The Chiefs made no drastic changes to their wide receiver room this offseason, and with two-time MVP Patrick Mahomes II potentially wanting to get the ball out quickly as he regains trust in his surgically repaired left knee, Rice could again see heavy volume as a trusted underneath target. At RotoBaller's WR16, it's possible that Rice's off-field concerns and checkered injury history are shading his draft profile more than the product he's actually delivered when on the field, and he could prove to be one of the biggest steals of 2026 drafts.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jaxson Dart a Strong Target in Both Dynasty and Redraft Formats
New York Giants 2025 first-round quarterback Jaxson Dart flashed plenty of fantasy upside in 2025, finishing as the QB14 on the season, throwing for 2,272 yards, 15 touchdowns, five interceptions, while seeing 86 rush attempts for 487 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on the ground. He played in 14 games, and if he continues to be this effective on the ground and takes a step forward in his passing efficiency, he is a clear breakout candidate with the upside to finish top-five at the position. The Giants are expecting Cam Skattebo to start the season after his season was cut short in 2025, and recent news on Malik Nabers (knee) is that he was not placed on the PUP list on Thursday, a great sign he will be back earlier than expected and should only help Dart improve in the passing game. Dart profiles as a strong play in redraft formats and a top option at the position in dynasty formats, given his age (23) and his rushing upside.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ja'Tavion Sanders Unlikely to Factor into 2026 Fantasy Draft Plans
Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders was limited to only 12 games in 2025 as he dealt with a high-ankle sprain early in the year before breaking his fibula in Week 17. While he showed some promising flashes, whether because of his injuries or an offensive system that has not asked much of its tight ends in the passing game, Sanders was never a consistent contributor, failing to reach 35 receiving yards in any game after Week 2 and being held out of the end zone until Week 16. Sanders is fully recovered from his late-season injury, and while the Panthers did not make any meaningful additions to the position through free agency or the draft, head coach Dave Canales has never had a tight end reach 50 receptions, 500 yards, or five touchdowns in his time as play caller for either the Panthers or Buccaneers. Despite his obvious physical abilities, any calls for a Year 3 breakout from Sanders involve a fair amount of wishful projection, and he is likely a player that will start the year on waivers in most 2026 redraft leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jonah Coleman a Top Target for Rebuilders in Dynasty Formats
The Denver Broncos selected running back Jonah Coleman out of Washington in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL draft, and he is slated to be the team's RB3, behind J.K. Dobbins (foot), whom they just re-signed to a two-year contract, and behind RJ Harvey, whom they spent second-round draft capital on in 2025. Coleman profiles as more of a bowling-ball-type running back, standing at 5'8 ", 220 lbs. Over his past two collegiate seasons at Washington, he accumulated 27 touchdowns, 54 receptions, 531 receiving yards, and 1,811 rushing yards. He profiles as a true bell-cow back with receiving upside and has received comparisons to guys like David Montgomery of the Houston Texans. For the 2026 season, he will be buried on the depth chart and likely won't be relevant in the first half of the season barring injury; however, the Broncos are not committed to Dobbins long-term and Harvey did not capitalize on his from an efficiency standpoint in 2025, so Coleman is a top target in dynasty formats, specifically for teams who are rebuilding or just need to get younger at the running back position.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Shedeur Sanders's QB Battle to Carry into Training Camp
When the Cleveland Browns take to the field for their first practice of training camp on July 31, all eyes will be on second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders as he continues to battle for the starting job with veteran Deshaun Watson. New head coach Todd Monken declined to name a starter following a minicamp setting in which both players received praise from the coaching staff and media alike, and he could wait until deep into training camp to make his decision. The Browns will host a joint practice with the Bills in late August, and Monken may want to see how both Sanders and Watson perform in simulated action closer to what they'll face in the regular season before naming a starter. Despite eventually being named a Pro Bowler, Sanders completed less than 57% of his passes as a rookie while throwing more interceptions than touchdowns. In an improved offensive environment, he will need to show significant growth, first to win the job but then to matter for fantasy, and he is currently RotoBaller's QB34.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Isaac TeSlaa Emerging as a Sneaky Sleeper in Redraft Formats
Detroit Lions second-year receiver out of Arkansas, Isaac TeSlaa, has shown impressive physical and athletic gains this offseason and is poised to be a lock as the Lions' WR3. TeSlaa flashed quite a bit of upside in his rookie campaign, hauling in 239 yards on 27 targets, 16 receptions, and six touchdowns. He averaged 14.94 yards per reception last season and was a physical specimen at his 2025 NFL combine, ranking second in his class at the position in athleticism score, sitting at the 98th percentile in catch radius, at the 90th percentile in burst score, and at the 97th percentile in speed score. The Lions still have Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown as the clear No. 1 and No. 2 receivers, to go along with Sam LaPorta at tight end; however, TeSlaa should be deployed in three-wide receiver sets and serve as a red-zone specialist. RotoBaller ranks him as the WR69 off the board, and if either Williams or St. Brown were to miss time, TeSlaa would be viewed as a strong WR3 with upside.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ravens Looking to Involve Zay Flowers as Much as Possible
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers was the WR7 in 2025, and the impression he has made on new head coach Jesse Minter is obvious. In a recent sit-down appearance on The Lounge Podcast, Minter spoke glowingly of Flowers' character before touching on his versatility and the coaching staff's plans for him in 2026. Of his fourth-year receiver, Minter said, "He's not just a slot guy, he's not just an outside guy, he's not just a gadget guy. He can do everything... I look forward to him getting the ball in as many ways as possible. The more that guy touches the ball, the better we'll be." Flowers is RotoBaller's WR14 and has become somewhat of a sleeper in plain sight, having already shown a top 10 ceiling in a year that quarterback Lamar Jackson missed four games, and an apparent focal point of a new-look Ravens offense.
Source: The Lounge Podcast
Source: The Lounge Podcast
Cardinals Place Tight End Tip Reiman on PUP List
The Arizona Cardinals placed tight end Tip Reiman (ankle) on the Physically Unable to Perform list on Thursday for the start of training camp, according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. Reiman, a third-rounder in 2024 from the University of Illinois, played in just four games in 2025 in his second year in the league before suffering a season-ending ankle injury in Week 5 against the Tennessee Titans that landed him on Injured Reserve. The 24-year-old still isn't fully recovered from his ankle injury for the start of camp this week, but he can come off the PUP list at any point this summer. It is unclear if Reiman is in danger of missing the start of his third year in the NFL. In his first two years in Arizona, Reiman caught just nine of 12 targets for 55 yards and zero touchdowns in 21 games (12 starts). He's completely off the fantasy radar for 2026.
Source: AZCardinals.com - Darren Urban
Source: AZCardinals.com - Darren Urban
Lucas Havrisik to Compete With Rookie Trey Smack for Kicking Job
The Green Bay Packers cut veteran kicker Brandon McManus shortly after they took Trey Smack in the sixth round in April out of the University of Florida because they were pretty convinced that the rookie would be their opening-day kicker, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN. However, Smack had some rough days during the offseason program and missed multiple kicks, so the expectation is that there will be a head-to-head competition this summer in training camp between Smack and Lucas Havrisik. The 26-year-old Havrisik is a former undrafted free agent out of the University of Arizona who has made 19 of his 24 field-goal attempts (79.2%) and 26 of his 31 extra-point tries in 12 games in just two NFL seasons with the Packers and Los Angeles Rams. If he wins the starting placekicker job to begin the 2026 regular season this fall, it will only be to keep the seat warm for Smack.
Source: ESPN.com - Rob Demovsky
Source: ESPN.com - Rob Demovsky
