RADIO
AJ Barner's Scoring Role Gives Him Deep-League Sleeper Appeal
Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner turned a quiet rookie year into 52 catches for 519 yards and six touchdowns in 2025. He also scored on one of nine short-yardage carries, a small wrinkle Seattle could keep using near the goal line. Barner stayed on the field, playing 827 offensive snaps and starting every regular-season game while dealing with several injuries. Two offseason surgeries kept him out of spring practices, though he expects to be ready for training camp. That is the first thing to watch. Elijah Arroyo is the other. Seattle's 2025 second-round pick caught 15 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown in 13 games, and his receiving ability could cut into Barner's routes as he develops. Brian Fleury is now running the offense after previously coaching tight ends, so the position should remain involved. More involvement for Arroyo could be part of that, too. RotoBaller ranks Barner as the redraft TE27 and dynasty TE28. He is not a weekly starter yet, but the playing time and scoring role give him sneaky appeal in deeper redraft leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jaylen Wright Still Worth Stashing in Deeper Dynasty Leagues
Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright finally got a real workload in Week 14 last season, and the result was 107 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries against the Jets. It was also the only time his role truly opened up. Wright appeared in 10 games after a preseason knee procedure, finishing with 70 carries for 288 yards and two scores, plus five catches for 44 yards. Miami has not moved away from De'Von Achane. Quite the opposite. Achane handled 305 touches for 1,838 scrimmage yards in 2025, then signed an extension through 2030. Ollie Gordon II is still around as well, and his short-yardage work could keep this from becoming a clean one-for-one replacement situation. Wright does have the better fit for Achane's broader role if needed. That is enough to keep the 23-year-old rostered in deeper dynasty leagues. He is more valuable to Achane managers than as a standalone target, and there is little reason to expect steady redraft production without an injury ahead of him.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
James Conner Still Worth Holding for Dynasty Contenders
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner is no longer the engine of this backfield, but that does not make him useless to a contender. His 2025 season lasted only three games before a right foot injury required surgery. The 6-foot-1, 233-pound veteran finished with 32 carries for 95 yards and one touchdown, along with eight catches for 38 yards and another score. The last healthy sample was much more encouraging. Conner handled 283 touches for 1,508 scrimmage yards and nine touchdowns in 2024. Arizona kept him on a revised contract for the final year of his deal, then signed Tyler Allgeier and drafted Jeremiyah Love third overall. Love is expected to take over the lead role, and Allgeier saw plenty of first-team work during the spring. Conner should be healthy for training camp, but at 31, he is headed for a complementary role. RotoBaller ranks him as the dynasty RB61. Rebuilders should take a reasonable return instead of carrying him through another value drop. Contenders can hold. Conner has enough receiving ability and scoring history to matter if more work opens during the season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
D'Andre Swift a Vital Part of Bears Offense, Capable of More
Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift had career highs in rushing yards (1,087) and rushing touchdowns (nine) on 223 carries in 2025 while also catching 34 passes for 299 receiving yards and one touchdown. Swift and Kyle Monangai combined to become one of the league's top rushing tandems last season. They were the only pair of RBs to each rush for 750-plus yards, which helped the Bears finish with the third-best rushing attack in the league in head coach Ben Johnson's first year in Chicago. Johnson described Swift and Monangai as "a pretty formidable unit." "He's a dynamic player," Johnson said about Swift. "I've known that about him since he came into the league, firsthand up there in Detroit, and certainly last year I wasn't surprised about the year he had. So, is he capable of more? Absolutely. He absolutely is. He's a vital part of what we do here." Monangai's presence in the Bears' backfield definitely will keep Swift from being a surefire RB1 in fantasy, but Swift proved in 2025 that he can still be productive as a strong RB2 while sharing touches in Johnson's offense. At the very worst, fantasy managers in redraft leagues should target Swift as a high-end RB3/flex.
Source: ChicagoBears.com - Gabby Hajduk
Source: ChicagoBears.com - Gabby Hajduk
Rookie Jam Miller Competing for a Backup Role in New England
New England Patriots rookie running back Jam Miller will be competing for a backup role behind TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson in 2026 after he was selected in the seventh round in April out of the University of Alabama, according to Evan Lazar of Patriots.com. New England doesn't have a clear-cut RB3 on its roster like they did last summer with veteran Antonio Gibson. Lazar suggests it will be a four-man competition between Miller, Terrell Jennings, Lan Larison, and undrafted rookie Myles Montgomery for what will likely be one spot on the 53-man roster. Miller is a compact runner with good straight-line speed, and his experience as a core special-teamer early in his career at Alabama should help his cause. His best path to playing time as a rookie with the Patriots will be if Stevenson misses time due to an injury, so Miller can be avoided in redraft fantasy leagues in 2026. In dynasty/keeper formats, Miller is strictly a stash candidate in his first year if you have either Henderson or Stevenson rostered.
Source: Patriots.com - Evan Lazar
Source: Patriots.com - Evan Lazar
Tahj Brooks Competing for a Bigger Complementary Role in Bengals Backfield
Cincinnati Bengals running back Tahj Brooks only saw 16 rushing attempts for 45 yards and caught one of his two targets for nine yards in 16 games in 2025 after the Bengals took him in the sixth round out of Texas Tech. Brooks mainly saw work on special teams as a rookie and in mop-up duty on offense. Chase Brown is the unquestioned leader of Cincinnati's backfield going into the 2026 season yet again behind an offensive line that is returning all five starters from last year. Veteran Samaje Perine figures to lead the group behind Brown again in 2026, which leaves Brooks competing for touches as the RB3 for the Bengals. Most likely, Brooks will serve in more of a special teams role for the second straight year as a punt protector. For now, fantasy managers in single-year formats can ignore Brooks entirely. In dynasty/keeper leagues, he's merely a deep-league stash for insurance if you also have Brown on your roster.
Source: Bengals.com - Michael Hull
Source: Bengals.com - Michael Hull
Calvin Austin III Competing for Depth Role in New York
New York Giants wide receiver Calvin Austin III will merely be competing for a depth role with his new team this summer in training camp. Malik Nabers (knee), Darius Slayton, and Darnell Mooney are locked into the top-three receiver spots for the G-Men heading into the 2026 season, with Austin battling Odell Beckham Jr., JuJu Smith-Schuster, rookie Malachi Fields, and Isaiah Hodgins for a backup role. The 27-year-old Austin caught 84 of 143 targets for 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns in 48 games (16 starts) in his three seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers after he was a fourth-round pick in 2022 out of the University of Memphis. Austin currently appears to be ahead of OBJ and Smith-Schuster, with his primary competition likely to come in the form of Fields for the WR4 role in what should be a more balanced offense under new head coach John Harbaugh. Austin should be avoided in 12-team fantasy drafts this fall, with his only path to waiver-wire appeal early on likely coming if Nabers is not ready to play to begin the regular season.
Source: SNY - Alex Smith
Source: SNY - Alex Smith
Darnell Mooney All But Guaranteed Starting Slot Duties
SNY's Alex Smith writes that New York Giants veteran wide receiver Darnell Mooney is "all but guaranteed to be the starting slot receiver" in his first year with the team in 2026. Mooney will have big shoes to fill in replacing Wan'Dale Robinson, who caught 185 of his 280 targets for 1,713 yards and seven touchdowns the last two years in New York, in the slot. Mooney had a down year with the Atlanta Falcons in 2025 with 32 catches for 443 yards and only one touchdown on 72 targets in 15 starts, but he also has had two seasons near the 1,000-yard receiving mark in his career. Whether Mooney can become an effective sleeper target for fantasy managers this year will likely depend on how Malik Nabers (knee) bounces back from his torn ACL and how quickly rookie wideout Malachi Fields can get up to speed in his first NFL season as a big-bodied, down-the-field threat. Fantasy managers definitely shouldn't just assume Mooney is going to be peppered with targets like Robinson was. The G-Men will have a new offense under head coach John Harbaugh this year, which is expected to rely more on the ground game. Mooney is considered RotoBaller's No. 93 fantasy WR for 2026 in what could be a low-volume role as he competes for targets with Nabers, Darius Slayton, and tight end Isaiah Likely.
Source: SNY - Alex Smith
Source: SNY - Alex Smith
RJ Harvey Watching More Film as he Heads Into Year 2
Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey said he made it a point of emphasis to study more film of other successful RBs as he enters his second year in the league in 2026, according to Andrew Mason of Denver Sports. Harvey has studied footage of Christian McCaffrey, Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III, and Jahmyr Gibbs, in particular. "Just watching more film, watching other guys around the league, watching their film ... just trying to see things on film that they do, trying to help better my game," Harvey said. "In Year Two in the system, I feel way more comfortable and it's only going to get better from where I left off." Through his first 10 games, Harvey had five or fewer carries seven times with J.K. Dobbins dominating touches. Harvey took on a bigger role after Dobbins' season-ending foot injury, but he was mostly inconsistent, averaging 3.4 yards per rushing attempt in the final seven games of the regular season and 3.0 yards per tote in two playoff games. The 25-year-old former second-rounder could have more of a pass-catching role in head coach Sean Payton's offense in 2026, but the addition of rookie Jonah Coleman and the re-signing of Dobbins means Denver will likely go with a committee approach at RB. Harvey's fantasy stock has fallen after his first NFL season, but he could still be a useful RB3/flex option in PPR leagues at a lowered cost.
Source: Denver Sports - Andrew Mason
Source: Denver Sports - Andrew Mason
Jahmyr Gibbs Has a Clear Case as the Overall RB1 in Redraft Leagues
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs was one of the best players at his position in the NFL in 2025, recording 1,839 scrimmage yards and 18 touchdowns on 320 touches across 17 games. The 24-year-old averaged 5.0 yards per carry for the third consecutive season while also setting career-highs in targets (94), receptions (77), receiving yards (616), and receiving touchdowns (five). Entering 2026, Gibbs may play an even larger role in the Detroit offense after the team's offseason trade of veteran back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans. Gibbs is understandably valued extremely highly by current redraft ADP, typically being selected as either the first or second running back off the board. Gibbs' main competition, Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson, is also a fantastic player with monster upside. However, the offensive ecosystem around Gibbs in Detroit appears more stable than the ecosystem around Robinson in Atlanta, where there are major questions at the quarterback position. When splitting hairs between two elite options, that may be enough of a difference for fantasy managers to go with Gibbs over Robinson.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Has Dallas Goedert Become Undervalued by Current Redraft ADP?
Across 15 games in 2025, Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert finished as the TE6 in per-game PPR scoring by recording 60 catches for 591 yards and 11 touchdowns on 82 targets. The 31-year-old's fantasy production was largely fueled by a major spike in touchdown production, which has rightly led to expectations of regression in 2026. Across seven seasons with the Eagles before 2025, Goedert had averaged just 3.4 touchdown catches per season. However, the Eagles traded away star wide receiver A.J. Brown over the offseason and hired a new offensive coordinator in Sean Mannion, both of which could open up the team's passing offense and create more opportunities for Goedert. While fantasy managers should not expect him to repeat his TE6 production from a year ago, Goedert profiles as a value selection at his current redraft ADP of TE15.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Christian Watson's High-End Upside Makes him a Priority Target at Current ADP
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson missed the first seven games of the 2025 season while recovering from offseason knee surgery. However, the 27-year-old was a productive player upon his return, recording 35 catches for 611 yards and six touchdowns on 55 targets across 10 games. Entering 2026, the Packers' offseason subtraction of wide receiver Romeo Doubs could mean that Watson is the team's clear WR1. Green Bay still has several talented pass-catchers in wide receivers Jayden Reed and Matthew Golden, as well as tight end Tucker Kraft (knee). The team has also typically operated a run-heavy offense and utilized Watson primarily as a downfield option, both of which have limited his target volume in the past. Still, Watson has flashed high-end upside throughout his career, and the team recently committed to him in the form of a four-year, $92 million contract extension. As the WR29 by current redraft ADP, Watson is a risky selection but also one that could pay major dividends for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Theo Johnson May Be Re-Emerging as a Dynasty Buy-Low Target
New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson was a steady contributor to his team's passing game in 2025, recording 45 catches for 528 yards and five touchdowns on 74 targets across 15 games. Still, New York made a significant addition at the tight end position in free agency, signing Isaiah Likely to a three-year, $40 million contract. Given the team's financial commitment and Likely's familiarity with new Giants head coach John. Harbaugh from their time together in Baltimore, Johnson seems likely to open the year as the TE2 in New York. However, the Giants' wide receiver corps currently profiles as one of the weaker units in the NFL, particularly given star wideout Malik Nabers' (knee) uncertain health outlook. As a result, the team could lean into more two-tight end sets to get two of their better pass-catchers on the field at the same time. In dynasty leagues where his value has tanked following New York's acquisition of Likely, Johnson could be worth targeting as a buy-low candidate.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kyle Monangai's Dynasty Stock Surging Ahead of 2026
A seventh-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai recorded 947 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns on 187 touches across 17 games as a rookie. Monangai entered the season firmly behind veteran Bears back D'Andre Swift on the depth chart, but Monangai worked his way into a more even playing time split by the end of the season. From Week 12 through the end of the regular season, neither Bears running back played more than 59% or fewer than 41% of the team's offensive snaps. In 2026, both backs will likely play significant roles in what should be a very strong Bears running game. However, Swift will be a free agent at season's end and may not be in Chicago's long-term plans. Given his production as a rookie and his pathway to RB1 duties in Chicago, Monangai profiles as a clear dynasty buy ahead of 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Skyler Bell a Late-Round Redraft Sleeper to Target Entering 2026
Buffalo Bills rookie wide receiver Skyler Bell was one of the most productive pass-catchers in college football in 2025, recording 101 catches for 1,278 yards and 13 touchdowns across 13 games at the University of Connecticut. After being drafted in the fourth round this past April by Buffalo, Bell has a chance to emerge as an immediate contributor in the NFL. The Bills added veteran wideout DJ Moore over the offseason to a wide receiver corps that also features Khalil Shakir, Joshua Palmer, and Keon Coleman. However, Buffalo has been searching for high-impact wide receiver talent for the last several seasons. If Bell proves that he can be a difference-maker with a strong showing this summer, the Bills' incumbent wide receiver options will not hold him back from seeing the field. As the WR106 by current redraft ADP, Bell is a late-round sleeper for fantasy managers to target entering 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
