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The San Francisco 49ers aren't financially motivated to move backup quarterback Mac Jones, who played at a high level in eight starts last year while filling in for an injured Brock Purdy. Jones also has a $3.07 million salary cap hit, and Purdy has missed time with injuries in all four of his seasons. However, it might be hard for the Niners to resist turning a budget-friendly free-agent pickup into a second-round pick. The Athletic's Jeff Howe suggests that San Fran "could rightfully be stubborn and hold out for a first-round offer." If a team strikes out in free agency and the NFL draft, it could circle back with the 49ers on Jones. The 49ers will likely only deal Jones if they receive an offer they can't refuse, and it's hard to imagine anyone offering a first-rounder for Jones, even if he did play well in 2025. With so many veteran QB options likely to be floating around on the open market this offseason, Jones' trade market right now isn't very strong.

From RotoBaller

The New York Jets are officially placing the franchise tag on impending free-agent running back Breece Hall on Tuesday, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. The tag in 2026 for RBs is set at $14.29 million. Both sides are motivated to get a long-term deal done by the deadline on July 15, but for now, Hall will be off the free-agent market in 2026. The 24-year-old former second-rounder in 2022 out of Iowa State would have been at the top of the RB market if he had reached free agency after running for a career-high 1,065 yards and four touchdowns on 243 carries in 2025. Hall added 36 receptions for 350 yards and another score in 16 games last year. For fantasy purposes, leaving New York would have been ideal, but Hall will return to Gang Green looking for a second straight 1,000-yard rushing season. It could prove difficult, depending on how the team addresses the quarterback position this offseason.

From RotoBaller

The Miami Dolphins are the most obvious connection to Green Bay Packers impending free-agent quarterback Malik Willis after they hired head coach Jeff Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan from the Packers. But The Athletic's Jeff Howe says not to overlook the New York Jets, whose $89 million in salary cap space is the third-most in the NFL, with $50 million more than any other team that would be in the free-agent QB market. Willis has the most upside of any free agent, but it remains to be seen if the Jets want to spend at the position after swinging and missing last year on Justin Fields. Demand could push Willis' projected market to two years and around $60 million. The Vikings and Falcons probably won't offer the most money, but they "could present better situations" that could lead Willis to a bigger contract down the road. Although Willis would be the guaranteed starter if he signs with the Jets, it won't exactly be an environment that will give him a ton of intrigue as a QB2 in superflex leagues.

From RotoBaller

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Jakobi Meyers broke out after being acquired midseason, providing plenty of optimism for his outlook in 2026 and beyond. Meyers had 39 catches, 442 yards, and three touchdowns over the final eight games of the regular season. He finished the year as the overall WR32 in PPR leagues despite a subpar start to the year in Vegas. It's unlikely the Jaguars envisioned Meyers becoming a No. 1 wide receiver when they traded for him, but that's the situation they find themselves in ahead of the 2026 campaign. Brian Thomas Jr. had a woefully disappointing second season, finishing behind both Meyers and Parker Washington in both catches, yards, and touchdowns. Meyers, Washington, Thomas, and, to some extent, Travis Hunter will all demand targets in the Jaguars' offense next season. This may not be the most traditional-looking receiver room, but if we were to place a ranking on the pecking order, we'd say that Meyers has an early advantage on the quest to be Jacksonville's WR1 in 2026.

From RotoBaller

Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (knee) is working his way back to full health after tearing his ACL during the 2025 NFL season. His road to recovery doesn't just concern the Packers, but dynasty fantasy football managers, too. Kraft was the overall TE1 in half-PPR leagues from Weeks 1 to 8, when he was healthy. Injuries can sometimes derail players' fantasy values, so his dynasty managers will hope that's not the case here. By all accounts, the 25-year-old is ahead of schedule and will be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 season. That's encouraging for his fantasy outlook, and even if he doesn't immediately return to TE1 form, we expect him to be a top option. There have also been rumors of contract talks between Kraft and the Packers, which would ensure year-over-year consistency that offers plenty of value in dynasty formats. Dynasty managers should look to buy low on Kraft coming off his injury, as he should be a top-five fantasy tight end for many years to come.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf had an inconsistent 2025 season, and his dynasty managers will be looking for him to bounce back with a little more reliability next year. One key factor in Metcalf's productivity level is out of his control: the Steelers' quarterback situation. At this point, it seems likely that Aaron Rodgers will return for another season, but that's far from official. Given how last season played out, we wouldn't be surprised to see Rodgers take his time before re-signing. A Rodgers return would be good for Metcalf in the sense that he wouldn't have to play with a lower-tier or rookie quarterback. However, we have already seen what a year of Rodgers and Metcalf looks like together, and it wasn't great. The veteran receiver was the overall WR26 in PPR leagues in 2025, finishing outside the top 24 for the second consecutive year. He had 59 catches and a career-low 850 yards while making six trips to the end zone. A glimmer of hope could be headed Metcalf's way if the Steelers bring in another established receiver. While a new pass catcher could take some targets away, it could also pull some defensive coverage off Metcalf. The Steelers' No. 2 receiver in 2025, Calvin Austin III, had a subpar season and rarely drew the opponent's top cornerback. Adding a more competitive option in the passing game could give defenses a headache and lead to more opportunities for Metcalf to use his size and physicality in one-on-one matchups. So while a Rodgers return isn't the best-case scenario for Metcalf, the 28-year-old receiver could still benefit and bounce back if the Steelers bring in other key weapons to strengthen their offense all around.

From RotoBaller

Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins put together a strong rookie season, and he's making a push to be the team's No. 2 receiver in 2026. Higgins finished his first NFL campaign with 41 catches, 525 yards, and six touchdowns, including 111 yards and two scores over his final two games. The second-round pick was Houston's third leading receiver behind Nico Collins and Dalton Schultz. He established himself ahead of Christian Kirk, who is headed for free agency this offseason. Other names in the mix in Houston include Jaylin Noel and Tank Dell (knee). Higgins is already ahead of Noel in the pecking order, and he'll likely have an early advantage over Dell given that he hasn't played since the 2024 playoffs due to a very serious knee injury involving his ACL, MCL, LCL, meniscus, and kneecap. The 23-year-old Higgins was the WR47 in PPR leagues last year, which is likely his floor going forward. He has top-30 potential in 2026, especially if quarterback C.J. Stroud is able to bounce back from a down campaign. Higgins is a strong target in redraft leagues, and his buy window in dynasty formats will close real soon.

From RotoBaller

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (back) missed the final eight weeks of the 2025 regular season, and when he returns in 2026, he'll find himself in a new-look offense. The strong supporting cast remains in place (minus David Montgomery), but we expect to see a new offensive scheme and style of play after Detroit made a coaching staff change. The Lions hired former Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing to the same role, indicating we could see even more emphasis on the tight end position next year. Petzing helped pepper Trey McBride with targets last year; the 26-year-old was the TE2 in PPR leagues in 2024, and the TE1 last season. LaPorta is looking to return to that type of elite form. He was the TE1 himself as a rookie in 2023, but he dropped to TE8 in 2024 and TE27 in his injury-shortened 2025 campaign. When healthy last season, LaPorta averaged 4.4 catches, 54.3 yards, and 0.3 touchdowns per game. If Petzing places an emphasis on getting the tight end even more involved, he'll make a strong push to be a top-five fantasy option at the position in 2026. Because he's coming off an injury, he's an intriguing buy-low option in dynasty leagues, as well as an underpriced draft pick at his ADP in redraft formats.

From RotoBaller

Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift faced strong competition from rookie Kyle Monangai during the 2025 NFL season, but he managed to hold onto his lead-back role thanks to a productive campaign of his own. Swift benefited from new head coach Ben Johnson's offense, ultimately finishing the year with 1,087 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns, both career highs. He also caught 34 passes for 299 yards and another touchdown through the air. Swift's snap share had dipped to just above 50% by the end of the season. Still, over the final six weeks, he had 13.5 carries per game, 1.7 receptions per game, and five total touchdowns. Monangai had a strong season of his own and should take on a bigger role next year, but Swift showed that he deserves to continue to lead this backfield, at least for the time being. He'll need to continue playing well to fend off Monangai in his second season. Swift is still an attractive RB2 option in redraft leagues, but the eventual threat of Monangai taking over -- even if not imminent -- makes the veteran running back a sell-high candidate in most dynasty formats.

From RotoBaller

Dynasty | The Vikings are reportedly considering moving on from quarterback JJ McCarthy. Dynasty Analysis: Such is life in today's NFL as you don't get too much time to prove yourself. McCarthy was simply awful last season and unfortunately, the Vikings have really hitched their wagon to him for two seasons after he was injured during his rookie campaign. Players like Kyler Murray, Kirk Cousins, and yes, even Geno Smith are being thrown out as possible replacements. At this point, it's looking like it would be a surprise to see McCarthy back as the starter in Minnesota next season as there's an awful lot of smoke coming out of Minnesota.

Dynasty | The Lions have traded running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans. Dynasty Analysis: The Lions will receive a 2026 fourth-round draft pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick, along with offensive lineman Juice Scruggs in exchange for Montgomery. It's a great landing spot for Monty who should have no problem taking over the backfield with Woody Marks failing to impress consistently, Joe Mixon on his way out and Nick Chubb not expected back. Expect his ranking and ADP to increase as he's only 28 years old and looks like a player who should get at least 75% of the touches next season.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

The Houston Texans plan to release veteran safety Jimmie Ward (foot) after his contract tolled last year on the Physically Unable to Perform list, a league source told Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. Ward was scheduled for a $2.75 million base salary in 2026. Ward didn't play a single snap for the Texans in 2025 and had foot surgery in December. The 34-year-old veteran defensive back is nearing the end of his career and probably won't have a strong market in free agency this offseason. By cutting Ward, the Texans will save $750,000 in salary cap space for this season. The former 30th overall pick in 2014 by the San Francisco 49ers out of Northern Illinois, Ward only played in 20 games in his time in Houston since the start of the 2023 season, and he recorded 98 tackles (65 solo), five tackles for loss, three interceptions (one returned for a TD), seven pass breakups, and a forced fumble.

From RotoBaller

Missouri wide receiver KEvin Coleman Jr.had a modest performance at the NFL scouting combine, trying to sneak into the conversation as a potential Day 2 pick. Most mock drafts seem to have Coleman being selected on Day 3, and he likely needed a better Combine to significantly bump up his projected selection. In the end, Coleman had a 4.49-second 40-yard dash (24th out of 34 wide receivers) and a 10-foot, six-inch broad jump (18th out of 25 wide receivers). He ranks as the #41 rookie in RotoBaller's latest superflex dynasty leagues for football in 2026. The stats are a little more encouraging, as Coleman finished the year with 732 yards and nine touchdowns. He is a projected fourth-round pick and, at best, will be an end-of-draft option for many dynasty managers.

From RotoBaller

The Los Angeles Rams announced on Monday that they tendered exclusive-rights free-agent kicker Harrison Mevis and wide receiver Xavier Smith. Neither Mevis nor Smith will be allowed to negotiate with other teams this offseason. Mevis, 23, made his NFL debut last year and was impressive, making 12 of his 13 field-goal attempts (made his lone try from 50-plus yards) and all 39 of his extra-point tries in nine regular-season games. He finished the year ranked as the No. 8 fantasy kicker in terms of fantasy points per game at 8.3. In the playoffs, Mevis was a perfect 15-for-15 on field goals (six) and extra-point tries. The former undrafted kicker out of Missouri should enter the 2026 season as the favorite to be L.A.'s starting kicker, which will make him pretty attractive in fantasy football in one of the league's highest-scoring offenses.

From RotoBaller

Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston chose not to participate in most testing at the NFL Scouting Combine. Boston opted out of major drills, such as the 40-yard dash, and was only evaluated in the 20-yard shuttle and vertical jump. He finished the shuttle drill in 4.28 seconds, ranking third out of seven wide receivers. Meanwhile, his 35" vertical jump ranked 21st among 30 receivers. Draft critics seem to have mixed opinions on whether Boston should have completed more drills. On one hand, he posted a great stat line of 881 yards and 11 touchdowns in college last season, which could speak for itself -- or at least provide a lot more context than an individual Scouting Combine drill. On the other hand, for a healthy player without top-tier status, participating in more tests could have boosted his status among teams that weren't previously sold on him. For what it's worth, Boston still ranks as the #2 wide receiver and #5 prospect in RotoBaller's latest superflex rookie rankings for 2026.

From RotoBaller

USC wide receiver Makai Lemon is one of the most talented prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft, but character concerns could result in him falling down draft boards. Former NFL player Breiden Fehoko posted on X that he "talked to a scout just now who said he didn't know what Makai Lemon's motive was behind his combine interviews but whoever advised the kid needs to be fired. 'Absolutely bombed it.'" We can only put so much stock into an unconfirmed report from a non-established source, but it's worth noting that Fehoko's claims were echoed by some other media personalities in attendance at the Scouting Combine. It's unfortunate for the young prospect, who could be the first wide receiver off the board after posting 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns last year. Time will tell whether the pure talent allows scouts to overlook potential character concerns or if the developments of the past week will impact his draft stock.

From RotoBaller

Indiana quarterback and top NFL Draft prospect Fernando Mendoza continues to generate plenty of buzz. Even though the reigning national champion didn't work out at the Scouting Combine, he still attended for team interviews and media availability. With the draft less than two months away, it appears that Mendoza remains the consensus No. 1 pick in most NFL mock drafts. However, there's a bit of a discrepancy between NFL mock drafts and fantasy football mock drafts. In superflex dynasty leagues, managers will have to make a tougher decision between Mendoza or Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love at the 1.01 selection. Mendoza won the Heisman Trophy with 3,535 passing yards, 41 passing touchdowns, 276 rushing yards, seven rushing touchdowns, and six interceptions. He was elite, but his projected NFL landing spot -- the Las Vegas Raiders -- is less than ideal. The alternative is Love, who had 1,652 scrimmage yards and 21 touchdowns. Those are impressive numbers considering that he shared some of his snap share with Jadarian Price and also dealt with adversity after Notre Dame made a midseason coaching change. The decision of which player to draft at 1.01 will likely come down to managers' positional needs and Love's landing spot. For what it's worth, RotoBaller's latest rookie superflex rankings have Love at #1 and Mendoza at #2.

From RotoBaller

Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price put together an impressive performance at the Scouting Combine ahead of next month's NFL Draft. He finished with 21 reps in the bench press, which ranked fourth-most among running back prospects, and his 4.36-second 40-yard dash time ranked second. These results follow an impressive NCAA season that saw Price post 674 rushing yards, 87 receiving yards, and 13 total touchdowns. He has a nose for the end zone and averaged 6.0 yards per carry, showcasing a blend of scoring and yardage efficiency that should set him up for success in the NFL and in fantasy football. A potential second-round pick in the NFL Draft, Price ranks as the #31 running back in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for 2026.

From RotoBaller

Jacksonville Jaguars DT Arik Armstead could be a cap casualty this offseason, in the opinion of Bill Barnwell of ESPN.com on Monday, March 2.

From TheHuddle