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Pittsburgh Steelers owner and president Art Rooney II said on Sunday that he expects veteran free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers to decide on whether he wants to re-sign with the team before next month's NFL draft, according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Although the future Hall of Famer hasn't been rumored to be talking to any other teams since the start of the new league year in March, it remains unclear whether he wants to return for a 22nd NFL season under old head coach Mike McCarthy. The 42-year-old four-time MVP and 10-time Pro Bowler threw for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in 16 regular-season starts to help lead Pittsburgh to the playoffs, but he was demolished in the Wild-Card round of the postseason and finished as the QB19 in fantasy scoring. If Rodgers returns to run it back with McCarthy, he'll have more receiving help in Michael Pittman Jr., but he'd still be more of a low-end QB2 in superflex leagues with limited upside at the end of his illustrious career. The risk of injury is as high as ever with Rodgers, although he missed just one game in the last two seasons after tearing his Achilles in 2023 with the Jets.

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The New York Giants are releasing kicker Graham Gano (neck) on Sunday, sources told Connor Hughes of SNY. Gano will hit the open market after kicking in just six games for the Giants in 2025 due to groin and neck injuries. When the 38-year-old veteran was available, he made nine of his 10 field-goal tries (1-for-1 from 50-plus yards) and was a perfect 9-of-9 on his extra points. He will now hit the open market after being with the G-Men for each of the last six seasons. Before that, he spent three years in Washington and another seven with the Carolina Panthers. With the move, the Giants will save $4.5 million in salary cap space in 2026. Former Miami Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders is now in line to serve as New York's primary placekicker next year with Gano gone. In his 16-year career, Gano has made 83.8% of his field-goal tries, including going 46-for-67 from 50-plus yards. It's possible that Gano will consider hanging up his cleats as he nears 40 years old.

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A contract extension for San Francisco 49ers All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams could be imminent, according to general manager John Lynch. "I would say in the last week, it's kind of intensified," Lynch said at the NFL owners' meetings. "And feel like we're on the precipice of something good happening." There were several reports in the last month that the 49ers could end up trading or releasing Williams if they couldn't agree to terms on a new deal. Lynch hasn't qualified the negotiations with Williams' camp as contentious at all, but said the situation required "nuance" because of his age (37). Despite his age, the former first-rounder (fourth overall) by Washington in 2010 out of Oklahoma has been a 12-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro in his 15 years in the league. Williams is still a high-end left tackle, so locking him up for what will likely be his final contract in the NFL will be a big boost for quarterback Brock Purdy and the rest of head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense.

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San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said that he expects defensive lineman Nick Bosa (knee) to be back from his ACL tear for training camp this summer, according to David Lombardi of The San Francisco Standard. Bosa had surgery last September for a torn ACL that he suffered in Week 3. Since the injury occurred so early in the year in 2025, the 28-year-old All-Pro pass-rusher has a shot to be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season, depending on how he looks in training camp and the preseason. Getting Bosa back will be a massive boost to what was a totally banged-up defensive unit last year. The five-time Pro Bowler is a high-end IDP fantasy pass-rushing option when fully healthy, but he's high-risk, high-reward because of his lengthy injury history. Bosa led the league in sacks with 18.5 in 2022, and he has 64.5 sacks in his 85 games played over his seven NFL seasons. Twice in his career, though, Bosa has played in fewer than five games in a single season due to injuries.

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San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch expects defensive lineman Mykel Williams (knee) to be back from his ACL tear for training camp this summer, according to David Lombardi of The San Francisco Standard. However, Lynch acknowledged that Williams' recovery could take a little longer since he tore his ACL a month and a half into the season after pass-rusher Nick Bosa did. Williams also tore the lateral meniscus in his right knee in Week 9. The 21-year-old pass-rusher was the 11th overall pick last year out of Georgia. He played in nine games in his rookie campaign and had 20 tackles (11 solo), four tackles for loss, three QB hits, one sack, and a fumble recovery. We won't be surprised if the Niners play it very safe with Williams during training camp, but barring a setback, he will have a shot to be ready to play in Week 1 of the 2026 season.

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Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry said on Sunday that the team isn't trading All-Pro pass-rusher Myles Garrett, according to Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported earlier this week on the Pat McAfee Show that the Browns have been "adamant" that they aren't trying to move Garrett, who set the single-season NFL sack record in 2025 with 23 sacks in 17 starts, after modifying his contract to save some salary cap space. It would send a pretty bad message to Browns fans if they traded one of the best pass-rushers in the NFL the year after breaking the all-time sack record. The 30-year-old former first-rounder in 2017 out of Texas A&M will be back with the Browns this coming season to wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks across the league. Garrett is a physical freak and a beast on the football field with 125.5 career sacks in his nine NFL seasons. Unsurprisingly, Garrett will come off the board fast as a defensive lineman in IDP fantasy leagues.

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Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry said that he's hopeful that running back Quinshon Judkins (ankle) will be on the field "in some form or fashion" this spring, according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic. Judkins suffered a dislocated right ankle late in his rookie season in 2025 and had surgery. The 22-year-old former second-rounder in 2025 out of Ohio State should be ready in time for training camp this summer and the start of the 2026 regular season. There is no doubt heading into his sophomore campaign that Judkins will lead Cleveland's backfield, which also consists of Dylan Sampson and Raheim Sanders. In his first NFL season, Judkins had 827 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns on 230 carries over 14 starts, adding 26 catches for 171 yards through the air. The only thing holding Judkins back from being a strong RB1 for fantasy managers might be the Browns' offense, which figures to be led by either Deshaun Watson (Achilles) or second-year QB Shedeur Sanders.

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New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn told Judy Battista of the NFL Network that there is "no doubt about it" that Geno Smith will be the team's starting quarterback in 2026. "Listen, he's done it. I mean, those years in Seattle, when he was, I think, Comeback Player of the Year. Man, he was up for MVP early in the season. There's no doubt in my mind that we brought a competent starter here to this team," Glenn said. The 35-year-old veteran signal-caller was a Pro Bowler in back-to-back seasons with the Seattle Seahawks in 2022 and 2023, but in his lone season with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2025, it was ugly for Smith. He completed 67.4% of his passes for 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns, and a league-leading 17 interceptions in 15 starts. The Raiders secured the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft thanks to Smith, and the Jets might be hoping he can do the same for them going into the 2027 NFL draft as they search for their next franchise QB. Smith is merely a bridge option under center and should be considered a low-end QB2 in fantasy this fall with little upside.

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San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said that tight end George Kittle (Achilles) is doing "very good" in his recovery from a torn Achilles in the postseason and that the team is hopeful that he'll be ready to play in Week 1 of the 2026 season, according to Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group. Kittle will be managed carefully during training camp this summer, but "he's progressing at a good rate." The 32-year-old veteran tore his Achilles tendon in the team's Wild-Card round win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Jan. 11 and went under the knife a week later. Fantasy managers shouldn't take this as gospel that Kittle will be ready for the start of the regular season, as ESPN's Nick Wagoner reported over a month ago that the Pro Bowl tight end might not return until around Week 5. Kittle is a high-end TE1 option for fantasy managers when he's healthy, but the uncertainty around his injury going into 2026 will cause his price to drop. He finished as the TE11 in half-PPR scoring in 2025 with 57 catches for 628 yards and seven touchdowns in only 11 regular-season games played.

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TCU wide receiver Eric McAlister (foot) ran a 4.56-second 40-yard dash during his school's pro day earlier this week but was then forced to stop working out after running 15 routes, according to Tony Pauline of Yahoo Sports. Doctors diagnosed McAlister with a Jones fracture in his foot, according to sources. McAlister previously had a right-knee scope, which kept him from participating in the Shrine Bowl and the NFL scouting combine at the end of February. His injuries will surely affect his stock for next month's NFL draft, and it's uncertain when he'll be able to resume football activities. It's very possible that McAlister won't be ready for the start of the 2026 campaign this fall. McAlister had a Big 12-high 1,190 receiving yards and a career-high 10 touchdowns on 72 receptions in 13 games for the Horned Frogs in his senior year in 2025. In four collegiate seasons (two years at Boise State), McAlister had a combined 169 catches for 3,084 yards and 24 touchdowns in 48 games.

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Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet tore his ACL in a Divisional Round playoff win over the 49ers, making him extremely unlikely to be ready for the start of the 2026 season. The Seahawks watched Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III take a top-of-market deal with the Chiefs in free agency and have done little to address the running back position, heading into April's NFL Draft with Emanuel Wilson, George Holani, and Kenny McIntosh as the top healthy backs on the roster. Seattle holds the 32nd overall pick and has become a buzzy landing spot for whoever becomes the second running back drafted behind top prospect Jeremiyah Love. The team has reportedly hosted Jonah Coleman and Chip Trayanum on official visits, and depending on exactly how early they make a move at the position, Charbonnet could see a mid-season return to one of the most wide-open backfields in the league.

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Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. has seen his name floated in trade rumors since last season's trade deadline, despite repeated claims from the front office that they are not shopping their former first-round pick following a disappointing second season. After making 87 catches for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie, Thomas was held to 707 yards and two scores on only 48 receptions in 2025. Regardless of where he plays in 2026, he could be viewed as a buy-low candidate. Stuck in a muddled receiver room after a down year, he is currently being drafted as a low-end WR2 in dynasty startups, less than a year after topping out as a top-five receiver in most dynasty circles. The talent he displayed both in college and as a rookie is real, though motivation issues have hounded him since his time at LSU. Should he remain in Jacksonville, Thomas has the explosive playmaking abilities to regain the most fantasy-relevant role on the team, while a new home and a fresh start would likely also see his value spike.

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When the Washington Commanders spent a third-round pick on former quarterback turned wide receiver Luke McCaffrey in 2024, many fantasy managers feared he may have been over-drafted, but chased the draft capital and spent a late rookie pick on him anyway. Through his first two seasons in the NFL, he's accumulated only 371 yards on 29 receptions, though his usage and production were both on the upswing prior to a season-ending collarbone injury suffered in Week 9. McCaffrey scored the first three touchdowns of his career while averaging 18.5 yards per reception. Between Deebo Samuel and Zach Ertz, Washington looks set to enter 2026 without its two highest target-earners from 2025. While a healthy Terry McLaurin and the recently acquired Rachaad White and Chig Okonkwo will certainly help to fill that vacuum, McCaffrey could settle into a meaningful downfield role. In parting ways with Kliff Kingsbury, the Commanders promoted from within, naming 30-year-old assistant quarterbacks coach David Blough as their new offensive coordinator, meaning McCaffrey will have familiarity with the system and a potential inside track to claim some of those vacated looks.

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After injuries limited him to only five offensive snaps as a rookie, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson saw the field more in Year 2, but was still unable to take advantage of his limited opportunities, finishing 2026 with only two touchdowns and 166 yards on 12 receptions. A third-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Wilson has been a popular dynasty stash following a productive National Championship-winning senior season at Michigan, but having shown little to warrant the roster spot, he figures to be heavily dropped as dynasty managers clear space for the incoming rookie class. With the Steelers trading for Michael Pittman Jr. to pair with last season's prized acquisition, D.K. Metcalf, the Steelers now boast arguably their most potent receiving duo since Diontae Johnson and George Pickens, leaving Wilson fighting with a handful of capable pass-catching running backs and tight ends for any remaining targets. And with the quarterback position still unsettled heading into April, the quality of those sporadic looks will likely be incapable of sustaining fantasy relevance in the immediate future.

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Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid acknowledged quarterback Patrick Mahomes' (knee) progress from a torn ACL and LCL suffered late last year, but he did not commit to an exact recovery timeline, according to Judy Battista of the NFL Network. Mahomes posted a video of a throwing session on Wednesday, and he is hoping to be ready for a Week 1 return later this year after having surgery to fix a torn ACL and LCL in his knee. "He's doing great," Reid said. "He spends a ton of time in the building. ... He's in there for seven hours a day. It's showing, the progress. Now, to tell you a timeline? I mean, I know what he's striving for. We'll just see where it goes from there." The Chiefs' ability to bounce back on offense in 2026 depends heavily on Mahomes' recovery. If he's not ready for Week 1, the Chiefs could be in trouble, as Justin Fields is their current backup. Coming off major knee surgery, Mahomes will be riskier in fantasy football drafts this fall, dropping to more of a low-end QB1 signal-caller if he's on track to be ready for the start of the regular season.

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A second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tre' Harris was largely blocked off from significant playing time as a rookie. Across 17 games, the 24-year-old recorded 30 receptions for 324 yards and one touchdown on 43 targets and spent most of the year as the Chargers' WR4 behind Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and Keenan Allen. However, the soon-to-be 34-year-old Allen currently remains unsigned, which could open up a path to a starting role for Harris in 2026. Additionally, Los Angeles faces a May 1 deadline to decide on whether or not to exercise Johnston's fifth-year option for the 2027 season. If the Chargers decline the option, Harris would almost certainly be the team's succession plan for Johnston in a starting role on the outside. For dynasty managers, buying low on Harris before the Chargers' long-term roster-building plans are out in the open could be a smart move.

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A fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. struggled to establish himself as a rookie. Across 15 games (eight starts), the 23-year-old recorded just 10 catches for 135 yards and zero touchdowns on 30 targets. However, Thornton Jr. should have a significantly improved offensive ecosystem around him in Las Vegas in 2026. The Raiders hired former Seattle Seahawks play-caller Klint Kubiak as their new head coach and are also widely expected to select University of Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the number one overall pick in the upcoming draft. Additionally, the Las Vegas wide receiver depth chart currently looks like an open competition for playing time between incumbents Thornton Jr., Jack Bech, and Tre Tucker, as well as free agent additions Jalen Nailor and Dareke Young. Thornton Jr. did not show much reason for optimism as a rookie, so fantasy managers should proceed with caution. However, he also stands out as a buy-low candidate who could likely be acquired on the cheap after his underwhelming 2025 campaign.

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New York Jets running back Braelon Allen (knee) suffered through a lost season due to injury in 2025 after he went down with a season-ending MCL sprain in Week 4. Leading into 2025, Allen was one of the buzzier running back names in fantasy circles due to reports that the Jets were planning for a more even workload split between him and fellow back Breece Hall. That obviously never came to fruition, and Hall wound up logging over 1,400 yards from scrimmage across 16 games. However, the Jets placed the franchise tag on Hall earlier this offseason, and the two sides have yet to come to a long-term extension agreement. If he can get back to full health, Allen could still feature heavily in New York's future plans at the running back position. For dynasty managers, now might be the best time to buy low on Allen.

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The 35th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Las Vegas Raiders right end Michael Mayer flashed some upside by hauling in 27 receptions for 304 yards and two touchdowns on 40 targets as a rookie. However, Las Vegas drafted superstar tight end Brock Bowers in the first round in 2024, blocking Mayer from the Raiders' lead receiving tight end role. Even in a season in which Bowers missed five games due to injury in 2025, Mayer still finished the year with just 35 catches for 328 yards and one touchdown on 50 targets. The 24-year-old is now entering the final year of his rookie deal with Las Vegas and has yet to establish himself as a tight end who is worthy of a significant role in his team's passing game. In the deepest of dynasty leagues, Mayer could be worth buying low on in case he winds up on a different team in 2027. Still, his dynasty value has never been lower than it is entering 2026.

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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver KaVontae Turpin has established an NFL role for himself as an All-Pro return man and a gadget piece on offense. Across 15 games in 2025, the 29-year-old recorded 26 receptions for 396 receiving yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 89 yards on 17 attempts. However, Turpin has not cracked 50 total touches in any of his four NFL seasons, limiting his fantasy utility. Heading into 2026, the Cowboys have three wideouts firmly ahead of Turpin on the depth chart in CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, and Ryan Flournoy. Dallas also made a significant free agent commitment to running back Javonte Williams, who profiles as a three-down workhorse. While Turpin's role on the Cowboys' roster is safe, he may not have a path to a consistent role in the Dallas offense in 2026.

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