February 16, 2026
Philadelphia 76ers forward/center
Jabari Walker intends to sign a new two-year deal with the team, according to Shams Charania of ESPN, after maxing out his games on a two-way contract. The 23-year-old averaged 3.7 points and 3.1 rebounds in 12.1 minutes across 45 games this season. With
Paul George suspended, Walker adds depth but will compete with
Dominick Barlow and
Trendon Watford for reserve minutes. Barlow is still the better deep-league gamble if the minutes settle in his favor, while Walker feels more like extra depth up front than someone you need to add in standard formats.
--Brian DailisanSource: Shams Charania
February 16, 2026
The New York Mets reached an agreement with free-agent outfielder
Mike Tauchman on a minor-league deal on Monday, league sources told Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The deal includes a non-roster invitation to major-league spring training. The 35-year-old veteran hit .263/.356/.400 with a .756 OPS, nine home runs, 40 RBI, and 44 runs scored in 93 games played for the Chicago White Sox in 2025 and will now head to the National League East to give the Mets more outfield depth. He made 73 appearances in right field, and the Mets have an open spot in right, with superstar
Juan Soto moving to left field. Top prospect
Carson Benge has a shot at making the Opening Day roster as a right fielder, but it's not set in stone.
Brett Baty,
Tyrone Taylor, and MJ Melenders are others who will be competing with Tauchman for playing time in right field this spring. At best, Tauchman could be on the strong side of a platoon in right for the Mets until Benge is ready.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal
February 16, 2026
According to Marc Stein, free-agent guard
Cameron Payne plans to sign a rest-of-season deal with the Philadelphia 76ers after securing a buyout overseas. The 31-year-old averaged 6.9 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 15.1 minutes across 72 games with New York in 2024-25 and posted 9.3 points and 3.1 assists in 19.4 minutes over 31 games with Philadelphia in 2023-24. Payne joins a crowded backcourt led by
Tyrese Maxey and
VJ Edgecombe, with
Quentin Grimes also in the mix. He projects as a deep-league assists streamer and insurance option, but consistent top-150 value remains unlikely barring injuries.
--Brian DailisanSource: Marc Stein
February 16, 2026
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back
Bucky Irving (shoulder) had offseason surgery on his shoulder, according to JoeBucsFan.com. Irving missed seven straight games last year from Weeks 5 through 12 with ankle and shoulder injuries. His ankle healed before his shoulder. The good news is that Irving's recovery and rehab are not expected to significantly impact his offseason preparation. Irving had 1,122 rushing yards and 5.4 yards per carry as a rookie in 2024, but his production dropped in Year 2 due to his injuries, as he finished with 588 rushing yards (3.4 yards per carry). The 23-year-old could have a bigger role in Tampa's backfield next season with
Rachaad White not expected to return in free agency, although the Bucs will probably prioritize adding RB depth after Irving's injury issues in 2025. Irving will have bounce-back potential for fantasy managers this year, but he'll also carry injury risk as an RB2 target.
--Keith HernandezSource: JoeBucsFan.com
February 16, 2026
Free-agent wide receiver
Tyreek Hill (knee) said on his Instagram account that he wants to continue playing in 2026, according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. "The Cheetah will be back," Hill wrote. The Dolphins released Hill on Monday and said that he "failed a physical" after suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 4 of last year that required surgery to fix a dislocated knee and multiple torn ligaments. The 31-year-old's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said that Hill is "progressing well" in his recovery and wants to play again. Although Hill seems motivated to continue his playing career, it's unclear if he'll be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 season this fall. Before he signs with a team on the open market, the soon-to-be 32-year-old is going to have to prove that he'll be ready to play at some point later this year. Hill was a Pro Bowler in each of his first eight NFL seasons, which included six 1,000-yard campaigns, but he's failed to reach that lofty mark the last two years and may not be the same explosive wideout upon his return from major knee surgery.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
February 16, 2026
Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said that right-hander
Kumar Rocker "looked really good" during a live batting practice session in camp on Monday, according to Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. "There was intent behind his live. Felt like he was on the gas pedal. The velo was up, the sinker was real. He threw a couple of four-seamers at the top. The slider and changeup were both effective for lefties. It was an impressive start," Schumaker said. The 26-year-old former first-rounder out of Vanderbilt made the starting rotation out of camp last year but struggled to a 5.76 ERA and 1.46 WHIP with 56 K's and 23 walks in 64 1/3 innings over 14 starts before eventually being sent to the minors to work on his mechanics. It appears that Rocker has fixed some things, although he's not a lock to be in the Opening Day rotation after the addition of lefty
MacKenzie Gore this offseason. Improving against lefty hitters will be a big key if Rocker wants to have some success in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Kennedi Landry
February 16, 2026
Boston Red Sox first baseman
Triston Casas (knee) took ground balls during team infield drills at camp on Monday, according to Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. Casas said over the weekend that his rehab from knee surgery is going well. "Nobody thought I would be where I'm at right now," Casas said. The 26-year-old left-handed slugger is taking part in baseball activities, but he is behind the rest of the position players after suffering a season-ending knee injury last May. Not only is it unclear if Casas will be ready for Opening Day at the end of March, but he's not projected to be the team's starting first baseman after Boston acquired
Willson Contreras from the St. Louis Cardinals in the offseason. The designated-hitter spot could be a nice fallback option, but Casas will face competition there from
Masataka Yoshida and others. The former first-rounder had 24 homers in his rookie season in 2023, but he's managed 16 the last two years while dealing with injuries. Casas' prospect shine has worn off, and he's merely trying to get healthy and prove he deserves a spot in the everyday lineup again.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Boston Globe - Tim Healey
February 16, 2026
New York Yankees right-handed pitching prospect
Carlos Lagrange has impressed early in spring training and has a shot to win a spot on the Opening Day roster as a reliever, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. Lagrange doesn't have the best command, but his fastball is capable of hitting triple digits when he's fully built up, and the 6-foot-7, 248-pound Dominican hurler can also generate plenty of spin on the ball. "We're excited about him for good reason," manager Aaron Boone said. "I think Carlos has a very bright future." Lagrange is a consensus top-100 prospect, but he has yet to pitch at Triple-A. He had a 3.53 ERA and a 33.4% strikeout rate in 120 innings split between High-A and Double-A last year. Lagrange lowered his walk rate from 20% to 12.3% last year, but he's still on the wild side and has more developing to do. Boone has compared Lagrange to former reliever Dellin Betances, and with the Yankees short on sure things in their bullpen, the 22-year-old may get a chance in short stints out of the bullpen if he makes his major-league debut in 2026. He's an arm to watch.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
February 16, 2026
New York Yankees shortstop
Anthony Volpe (shoulder) got his hitting progression underway on Monday with some dry swings in camp, manager Aaron Boone told Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. Volpe also did some fielding drills, but the 24-year-old is being brought along slowly in spring training after having surgery to fix his left labrum in October of last year. After playing through a torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder for most of last season, Volpe will begin the 2026 campaign on the injured list and is expected to miss at least the first month. In the meantime, speedster
Jose Caballero should see most of the starts at the 6 in the Bronx, giving him some sleeper fantasy appeal early on. Volpe hit just .212 while playing at less than 100% in 2025, but he still managed to hit 19 homers, drive in a career-high 72 runs, and steal 18 bases in 153 regular-season games. He'll come at a discount because of his injury, but there's also a good chance we've already seen Volpe's ceiling.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
February 16, 2026
Indianapolis Colts running back
Jonathan Taylor was off to a fantastic start to the 2025 season, but a midseason quarterback change weakened the offense and reduced his upside. The superstar running back was the overall RB1 in PPR leagues from Weeks 1 through 10, scoring an absurd 17 touchdowns during that span. He also had four three-touchdown games over a span of eight weeks. He was slightly less productive after the bye, and his productivity took another step backward when
Daniel Jones (Achilles) tore his Achilles in Week 14. He still scored at least 12 points in four of his five games with
Philip Rivers and
Riley Leonard, but he was more of a low-end RB1 or high-end RB2 during that span. He can get back into the high-end RB1 tier with Jones healthy. In fact, he's an intriguing buy-low in dynasty leagues, and managers in redraft leagues should feel comfortable selecting him somewhere between picks 5-10 if Jones returns healthy for Week 1 of the 2026 season.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
February 16, 2026
Chicago White Sox corner infielder
Munetaka Murakami has impressed so far as he heads into his first season in the big leagues, according to Scott Merkin of MLB.com. "Mune is special, and I think you see immediately there's a level of confidence here amidst everything being new here," director of hitting Ryan Fuller said. Most of the 26-year-old's playing time in 2026 will come at first base, per manager
Will Venable, but he'll also see some time at the hot corner. The Japanese infielder could eventually pick up eligibility at both first and third base for fantasy managers this year, which would make him more attractive in AL-only leagues. Murakami had impressive power earlier in his career, but his power stroke has been down over the last few seasons, and he only played in 56 games in 2025 due to injury. The power is still there, but fantasy managers should have hesitations since he struggled to make consistent contact in Japan.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Scott Merkin
February 16, 2026
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver
Jaxon Smith-Njigba continues to trend up after a historic third season in the NFL. He made a Pro Bowl for the second consecutive year, exploding for 119 catches, 1,793 yards, and 10 touchdowns. As a result, he ranked as the overall WR2 in full-PPR leagues and was named the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year. In some situations, this may be an intriguing opportunity to sell high, but that's not the case with Smith-Njigba. He's just 24 years old and should only continue to improve within the coming seasons. There could be more OPOY awards in his future, and he'll remain a real threat to finish as the overall WR1 in fantasy football. He's one of the top dynasty players and should be a top-four pick in 2026 redraft leagues.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
February 16, 2026
Houston Texans running back
Nick Chubb is likely in the final stage of his career after an underwhelming season with the team. Chubb hasn't been the same since his ACL and MCL tears in Cleveland in 2023. After seven years in Cleveland, he joined the Texans for the 2025 season to operate as their No. 1 running back ahead of
Woody Marks. The veteran was held in check early in the season, though, and Marks ended up taking over the backfield. Chubb finished the year with a modest 506 rushing yards and three touchdowns, ranking as the overall RB54 in PPR leagues. His 5.9 points per game represented a new career low, and it has become evident that he's not going to be a major fantasy threat going forward. He's slated to hit free agency this offseason and will presumably end up signing somewhere as a backup -- presumably somewhere with an established, younger lead back. It'll be tough to trade Chubb for anything at this point in dynasty leagues, but he's definitely not a "buy."
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
February 16, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers running back
Najee Harris (Achilles) missed most of the 2025 season due to a torn Achilles, and he's scheduled to hit free agency for the second offseason in a row. Harris parlayed a solid four-year stint with the Steelers into a one-year deal with the Chargers last offseason, but he was held to just 86 scrimmage yards across three games before suffering his season-ending injury. It was a big change from his time in Pittsburgh, where he had never missed a game through four seasons. He played well there, ranking as a top-24 fantasy running back every season. He peaked as a rookie in 2021 when he was the overall RB3 in PPR formats. Given his injury recovery, Harris likely won't sign a contract that would allow him to be a lead-back somewhere. In all likelihood, he'll offer a solid veteran presence while splitting snaps with a younger, less-established running back. His days of being a must-start fantasy running back are over, but he can still be a strong RB3/flex depending on the situation. He's worth holding in most dynasty leagues.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
February 16, 2026
New York Mets right-hander
Christian Scott (elbow) threw just over 30 pitches and hit 95 mph during a live batting practice session in camp on Monday, and manager
Carlos Mendoza was impressed with his cutter, according to Laura Albanese of Newsday. However, Scott's availability for Opening Day in late March is still uncertain. "It's good to see him back on the mound, competing and being himself," Mendoza said. The 26-year-old had Tommy John surgery in September of 2024 and missed the entire 2025 season. Scott is a big part of the Mets' future, but he has minor-league options remaining, and his workload will be closely monitored after his long layoff, so it's probably unlikely that he'll open the 2026 season in the big-league rotation. In his major-league debut in 2024 before being shut down, Scott had a 4.56 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 39:12 K:BB in 47 1/3 innings over nine starts.
--Keith HernandezSource: Newsday - Laura Albanese
February 16, 2026
The Orange County Register's Bill Plunkett reports that everyone in the Los Angeles Dodgers' projected starting rotation has thrown live batting practice in camp to hitters except left-hander
Blake Snell (shoulder). The 33-year-old two-time Cy Young winner has only played catch in the first week of camp and has yet to throw off a mound, either, as part of the "smarter" approach that he's taking this spring. "He's playing catch. He's throwing. Once he gets off the mound, throws a pen, faces some hitters, we'll know more. But obviously, he's not there right now. Until he gets off a mound, I just really don't know," manager Dave Roberts said on the likelihood of Snell being in the Opening Day rotation. Snell missed the first four months of last year with left-shoulder inflammation and admitted he was gassed after an expanded workload in the postseason. He still has plenty of strikeout upside and isn't actually injured this spring, but it seems more likely than not that the Dodgers will slow-play him to begin the 2026 campaign. Snell makes for a risk/reward No. 2 fantasy starting pitcher.
--Keith HernandezSource: Orange County Register - Bill Plunkett
February 16, 2026
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on Sunday that outfielder
Aaron Judge (elbow), the reigning two-time American League MVP, will be a full participant when the team's full-squad workouts start on Monday at spring training, according to Jorge Castillo of ESPN. Judge dealt with a flexor strain in his right elbow and went on the injured list in late July, although he spent the minimum 10 days on IL before rejoining the club exclusively as a DH. Boone said Judge is scheduled to play in "four or five" of the team's first nine Grapefruit League games and will be built up to six innings before joining Team USA on March 1 for this year's World Baseball Classic. Judge's arm strength improved over time, and he returned to right field down the stretch and for the playoffs. Fantasy managers shouldn't have any injury concerns about Judge, who remained a beast at the plate in 2025 in both the regular season and the playoffs. Judge is ranked second overall at RotoBaller in fantasy, behind only
Shohei Ohtani.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jorge Castillo
February 16, 2026
Los Angeles Angels outfielder
Mike Trout made the transition to right field and also spent a lot of time as the designated hitter last year, but he's planning to return to his original position of center field in 2026, according to ESPN's Alden Gonzalez. "I just feel comfortable out there," Trout said. "I feel like I'm at my best when I'm in center." The Angels moved Trout to right field last year because he played in only 41% of the team's games due to injuries during a four-year stretch. The 34-year-old veteran became the team's primary DH after suffering a bone bruise in his surgically repaired left knee in late April. The three-time MVP lost around five pounds in the offseason in an effort to put less stress on his legs as he makes the transition back to center. Trout was one of the best players in the game from 2012 to 2020, posting a 1.008 OPS, 297 home runs, and 197 steals, but he's battled injuries the last five years and hit .232/.359/.439 with 26 homers and 64 RBI in 2025. He went 36 straight games without a homer at one point. Trout still has the skills to be impactful in fantasy, but the risk might not justify the reward for some.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Alden Gonzalez
February 16, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback
Justin Herbert remained productive during the 2025 regular season, but his ceiling was limited due to poor offensive line play in front of him. The 27-year-old racked up 3,727 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions across 16 games, finishing as the overall QB10 in fantasy football. This was his first top-10 finish since 2021. He added an additional two rushing touchdowns and a career-high 498 rushing yards. Herbert played in front of a worse offensive line this past season. In fact, the Chargers' offensive line ranked third-to-last in PFF's end-of-year rankings. The trenches figure to be an area of focus for the Bolts in free agency, and improved protection would aid Herbert in his quest to make strides as a passer next year. Assuming the Chargers have a productive offseason, it's fair to envision that Herbert will be a top-10 fantasy quarterback with top-five upside in 2026. He's a "hold" in most dynasty leagues at the moment.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
February 16, 2026
The San Diego Padres extended the contract of long-time head of baseball operations A.J. Preller on Monday, according to ESPN's Alden Gonzalez. The length of Preller's new deal is undisclosed, but it puts to rest any questions about whether he would be extended with the team's control up in the air. Chairman John Seidler said he has received "tremendous interest" in the team from potential buyers and stressed that the franchise would not move from San Diego. The 48-year-old Preller, who is heading into his 12th full season as the Padres' general manager, is considered one of baseball's most aggressive front-office executives. In his time in SD, Preller has acquired star players such as
Manny Machado,
Fernando Tatis Jr.,
Jackson Merrill,
Juan Soto,
Josh Hader,
Yu Darvish, and
Joe Musgrove. He has helped the team reach the playoffs in four of the last six years. Recently, with the Padres' payroll flexibility drying up since owner Peter Seidler's death two years ago, Preller has been forced to get more creative in roster construction.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Alden Gonzalez
February 16, 2026
The Cleveland Browns are hiring Atlanta Falcons passing-game coordinator Mike Rutenberg as their new defensive coordinator on Monday, sources told the NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Rutenberg will bring a lot of energy to Cleveland after previously working under Robert Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich. He'll have big shoes to fill as he replaces former DC Jim Schwartz, who resigned after not being named the Browns' head coach. Rutenberg has a solid base to build around with Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett leading the charge on the defensive line, but it will also be his first gig as a defensive coordinator in the NFL. Before coaching with the Falcons, Rutenberg coached with the San Francisco 49ers in 2020 and with the New York Jets from 2021 to 2024. The Falcons' defense ranked 13th in passing yards allowed and 13th in net yards per attempt last year under Rutenberg.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
February 16, 2026
The Miami Dolphins released wide receiver
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine on Monday, a source told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. In addition to Westbrook-Ikhine, the Dolphins also released receiver
Tyreek Hill (knee) and pass-rusher Bradley Chubb. The 28-year-old wasn't much of a factor on offense for Miami in his lone season with the team in 2025, even with Hill suffering a season-ending knee injury in the first half. Westbrook-Ikhine finished with just 11 receptions on 20 targets for 89 yards and no touchdowns in his 15 games played in his sixth year in the NFL. It was a major disappointment after he had a career year in 2024 with the Tennessee Titans in 17 games, when he caught 32 passes for 497 yards and nine touchdowns on 60 targets. He should latch on eventually with a new team, but he'll be in a depth role and will face an uphill battle for fantasy relevance.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
February 16, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays left-handed pitching prospect
Ricky Tiedemann (elbow) has faced a long and challenging road in his recovery from Tommy John surgery, but he's back on the mound this spring and is "refreshed," according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. The Blue Jays are open to the 23-year-old southpaw building back up as a starter, but the door is also cracked open for him as a reliever in 2026. Before his TJ surgery in 2024, Tiedemann was dealing with bone chips in his elbow. It kept him from fully extending his elbow. He now has full motion in his elbow and new grips on his changeup and slider, putting him in a "more sustainable spot." "I feel amazing. Everything feels great," Tiedemann said. There is still plenty to like about Tiedemann long term, but fantasy managers in dynasty formats should expect heavy restrictions on his workload in 2026 since he's thrown only 140 innings since being drafted in 2021. It also wouldn't be a surprise if he starts the year at Triple-A Buffalo for more development.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Keegan Matheson
February 16, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies right-hander
Zack Wheeler (shoulder) threw out to 120 feet in camp on Monday for the first time since having surgery to address venous thoracic outlet syndrome, manager Rob Thomson told The Athletic's Matt Gelb. Wheeler continues to progress as planned, but it's unclear when the 35-year-old veteran will be ready to return to the mound, and the Phillies aren't expecting him to be ready by Opening Day in late March. In addition to having surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome on Sept. 23, Wheeler had a procedure in the middle of August to have a blood clot removed from near his shoulder. The good news is that Wheeler looked like his typical top-of-the-rotation self before being shut down last summer, going 10-5 with a 2.71 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 195 punchouts in 149 2/3 innings over his 24 starts. Wheeler has been one of the most reliable high-end starting pitchers in fantasy over the last few seasons, but he'll be a huge question mark in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Matt Gelb
February 16, 2026
MLB.com's Daniel Kramer writes that Seattle Mariners infield prospect
Colt Emerson, the No. 9 overall prospect at MLB Pipeline, will be given a legitimate chance to make this year's Opening Day roster, and it "seems a certainty that his housing carousel in 2026 will include residence in Seattle." Emerson is working out at all three infield positions in camp (shortstop, second base, and third base) as he did on his own in the offseason. He's a natural shortstop and has the plus defense needed to stick at the premium position long term as arguably the best defensive infielder in the M's system. However, Emerson won't be at the 6 this year unless
J.P. Crawford misses time due to injury. MLB Pipeline lists the 20-year-old as the "owner of the best hit tool in the Mariners system" as well, and his glove could elevate him into what general manager Jerry Dipoto calls "a sneaky five-tool guy." We won't have a clearer picture of Seattle's plan for Emerson to begin the year until later in spring training, but he's already a player that should be stashed in all dynasty/keeper formats, and he figures to make an impact at the big-league level at some point this year.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Daniel Kramer
February 16, 2026
Minnesota Twins right-hander
Pablo Lopez (elbow) will undergo an MRI exam after leaving a live batting practice session early in camp due to elbow soreness, according to manager Derek Shelton. The Twins are just hoping it's a precautionary measure. It's not great news for the 29-year-old, who missed two months last year with a Grade 2 teres major strain. Lopez's 2025 season also ended early due to a strained right forearm in September. There's no official word on Lopez's status right now, but it wouldn't be a surprise if he's forced to miss the start of the 2026 regular season. The Venezuelan was an ace when healthy last year, going 5-4 with a 2.74 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with 73 strikeouts and 20 walks in 75 2/3 innings over his 14 starts, but durability is a major concern. In addition to his arm injuries last year, Lopez also missed three weeks in April with a hamstring strain. Lopez will be a risk/reward fantasy selection in upcoming fantasy drafts until we know more. Stay tuned.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Dan Hayes
February 16, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers utility man
Tommy Edman (ankle) will start the season on the injured list, manager Dave Roberts told Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. It's unclear when Edman might return to make his 2026 debut, but Roberts said on Monday that the team will take a "methodical" pace with the 30-year-old veteran after he had surgery in the offseason to address a nagging right-ankle injury that has bothered him for the last two years. Edman was slightly better during the regular season in 2025, but so far in his two seasons in Hollywood, he's hit an underwhelming .229/.280/.392 with a .672 OPS, 19 home runs, 69 RBI, 69 runs scored, and nine stolen bases in 134 regular-season games. He has won two World Series rings since joining L.A., but for fantasy purposes, he hasn't been very productive. Edman's IL stint to open the 2026 campaign makes him even less attractive in deeper mixed leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
February 16, 2026
The Jacksonville Jaguars announced on Monday that they re-signed running back
DeeJay Dallas to an undisclosed deal. Dallas appeared in only six regular-season games in 2025, split between the Carolina Panthers and the Jaguars. He only saw three rushing attempts for 21 yards and didn't catch his only target in the passing game. The 27-year-old also contributed on special teams, returning 12 kickoffs for 321 yards. He was a healthy scratch in the Wild-Card Round loss to the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs. Dallas most likely will face an uphill battle for playing time in Jacksonville in 2026, but he could have more of a chance for a role in the Jags' backfield if the team lets
Travis Etienne Jr. walk as a free agent. The former fourth-rounder by the Seattle Seahawks in 2020 out of Miami has a total of 124 rushing attempts for 538 yards and four touchdowns in his six years in the NFL with four different teams.
--Keith HernandezSource: Jacksonville Jaguars
February 16, 2026
The Athletic's Doug Haller believes that Arizona Cardinals running back
James Conner (foot) could be a salary cap casualty this offseason. Conner has been a major asset to Arizona's offense during his five years with the team and is among the most respected players in the locker room, but he's also coming off a severe foot injury that limited him to just three games in 2025. He'll turn 31 years old in May and is under contract through the 2026 season, and cutting him would save the Cardinals around $8 million. Cutting Conner would allow the team to use the extra money to find a younger replacement in the backfield. The Cardinals would face a $2.25 million dead-cap hit by releasing Conner if he's a pre-June 1 cut. Even though Conner had two 1,000-yard seasons before his injury last year, he will most likely struggle to find a prominent role as a lead back in either Arizona or somewhere else next season while coming off a serious injury.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Doug Haller
February 16, 2026
FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz reports that the Miami Dolphins' preference has been to find a trade partner for quarterback
Tua Tagovailoa, and Schultz's understanding is that the new regime doesn't "want it to drag too long." If the Dolphins can't find any takers on the trade market, a cut is "possible in the end." Miami has already started salary cap cuts this offseason, releasing both receiver
Tyreek Hill (knee) and pass-rusher Bradley Chubb on Monday. Tagovailoa could be next, although the team will exhaust all potential trade avenues first. The 27-year-old said it "would be dope" to get a fresh start with a new team in 2026 after another disappointing campaign last year in which he was benched late in the year for rookie
Quinn Ewers. Trading Tagovailoa won't be easy, though, after they signed him to a four-year, $212.4 million deal in July of 2024. The Dolphins would take a $99.2 million salary cap hit this year if they cut him before June 1, while releasing him after that date would allow them to spread out the cap hit over two years. It's pretty clear the former first-rounder has played his last snap in Miami, but he could compete for a starting role somewhere else in 2026, depending on where he lands.
--Keith HernandezSource: FOX Sports - Jordan Schultz
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