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After a breakout rookie season in which he totaled over 1,500 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns in 2024, Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving recorded an underwhelming follow-up campaign in 2025. The 23-year-old recorded 865 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns on 203 touches, and missed seven games due to foot and shoulder injuries. In the offseason, Tampa Bay signed veteran back Kenneth Gainwell to a two-year, $14 million contract. Gainwell recorded 73 receptions for 486 yards on 85 targets as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025, so he figures to take some work away from Irving in the Buccaneers' passing game at the very least. After Irving's injury-plagued 2025, Tampa Bay could be prioritizing keeping him healthy throughout the season by limiting his touches on a game-to-game basis. Irving still carries significant fantasy upside in dynasty formats, but he profiles more as an RB2 than a sure-fire RB1 heading into 2026.

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After being named the MVP of Super Bowl LX while playing for the Seattle Seahawks in February, running back Kenneth Walker III landed a lucrative three-year, $43 million contract in free agency from the Kansas City Chiefs in March. Even while losing carries to fellow Seahawks back Zach Charbonnet (knee) throughout 2025, Walker III still finished the season with 1,309 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns on 252 touches. In Kansas City, Walker III profiles as the clear RB1 and could surpass the 300-touch mark for the first time in his NFL career. Injuries remain a slight reason for fantasy managers to take caution with Walker III, as he missed 10 games over his first three seasons as a pro. The Chiefs' offense could also struggle early in 2026 as star quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee) works his way back from the torn ACL that ended his 2025 campaign. Still, Walker III's value in dynasty formats is surging as he enters his first season in Kansas City.

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Denver Broncos Owner and CEO Greg Penner said that quarterback Bo Nix (ankle) is "ahead of schedule" and "doing very well" in his recovery from ankle surgery, per Zac Stevens of DNVR. Nix suffered a fractured ankle in Denver's AFC Divisional round win over the Buffalo Bills that ended his 2025 postseason run prematurely. However, it sounds as though the 26-year-old is on track to be a full participant with the team throughout the summer. Across 17 games in 2025, Nix completed 63.4% of his pass attempts for 3,931 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. His ability to impact games with his legs is a big part of his fantasy appeal, as he's rushed for 786 yards and nine touchdowns on 175 attempts through his first two NFL seasons. Nix also got some additional pass-catching help this offseason when Denver traded for former Miami Dolphins wideout Jaylen Waddle. As long as he continues to progress well with his recovery, Nix profiles as a borderline fantasy QB1 heading into 2026.

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The number 19 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka recorded 63 receptions for 938 yards and six touchdowns on 127 targets across 17 games. The 23-year-old stepped into a larger role in the Tampa Bay offense than might have been expected immediately after he was drafted, as Buccaneers wideouts Mike Evans, Chris Godwin Jr., and Jalen McMillan all missed significant time due to injury. Heading into 2026, Evans has departed the Buccaneers for the San Francisco 49ers in free agency, and Egbuka looks like the clear WR1 in Tampa Bay. Egbuka's overall stat line from 2025 was weighed down by a quiet close to the year, as he averaged just 4.25 targets per game over his final four games played when the Bucs' wide receiver room was at its healthiest. Now that he's in a clear leading role, Egbuka could easily emerge as a fantasy WR1 as soon as 2026. He profiles as a top-12 wide receiver in dynasty formats.

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In his first season as a member of the Seattle Seahawks in 2025, veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp hauled in 47 receptions for 593 yards and two touchdowns on 70 targets across 16 games. While Kupp was finally able to make it through a full season after missing 18 games due to injury between 2022 and 2024, his production declined sharply from his peak years as a member of the Los Angeles Rams. Fellow Seahawks wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba emerged as one of the best pass-catchers in the NFL in 2025 and should continue to dominate targets in Seattle in 2026. The Seahawks also re-signed wide receiver Rashid Shaheed to a lucrative three-year contract in free agency, which could push Kupp even further down the target pecking order. While Kupp is still a trustworthy veteran whose role in the Seattle passing game is unlikely to be completely minimized, his fantasy value in dynasty formats is fading rapidly as he enters his age-33 season.

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Across 16 games in 2025, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren recorded a career-high 1,291 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns on 251 touches. Warren began the year as the featured back in Pittsburgh before gradually moving into more of a timeshare with former Steelers back Kenneth Gainwell. While Gainwell departed Pittsburgh in free agency, the Steelers brought in former Carolina Panthers back Rico Dowdle to replace him. Dowdle is known for his ability to run between the tackles on early downs and in short-yardage situations, which could mean Warren will be siloed to a third-down role in 2026. While Warren has been an efficient player (career average of 5.3 yards per touch) throughout his time in the NFL, Pittsburgh has never quite trusted him to take on a full RB1 workload. As a result, Warren's fantasy value has traditionally been limited to low-end RB2/flex status. With Dowdle now in Pittsburgh, Warren's upside in dynasty formats remains capped.

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Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said that the team is "hopeful for a reunion" with veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, but he also said that they have talked with free-agent QB Kirk Cousins and his agent as another possibility for the backup role in 2026, per Rams beat writer Stu Jackson. The 37-year-old Cousins is on the open market after the Atlanta Falcons officially released him at the start of the new league year earlier this month. He's biding his time for the right situation, which could come in Los Angeles if Jimmy G departs. As Cousins nears the end of his career, he won't have any fantasy football appeal unless an injury to a starter forces him into action again. If he were to sign with the Rams, he'd be sitting behind reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford. The four-time Pro Bowler was benched in favor of Michael Penix Jr. in 2024 and then appeared in 10 games (eight starts) in 2025, throwing for 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions while going 5-3 as a starter down the stretch.

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Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said he's been staying in contact with franchise-tagged wide receiver George Pickens, but he "hasn't asked for or received assurances" that Pickens will be present for offseason workouts, according to Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The Cowboys and Pickens have until mid-July to work out a long-term contract extension after they placed the franchise tag on him. Minicamp and organized team activities are voluntary, so Pickens almost certainly won't be present for those if he remains on the franchise tag. The Cowboys won't be concerned about the star wideout unless he starts holding out of mandatory workouts at training camp this summer, which is entirely possible if the two sides don't work out an extension by the deadline in July. Pickens will be a WR1 in fantasy football drafts in 2026 after breaking out in his first year in Dallas with 93 catches, 1,429 yards, and nine touchdowns as Dallas' leading receiver.

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The Buffalo Bills officially picked up tight end Dalton Kincaid's fifth-year option on Monday, general manager Brandon Beane told Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News. Kincaid revealed after the season that he played through a PCL knee injury that has lingered since late in the 2024 season, which is why he was limited to a career-low 12 games in 2025. The 26-year-old former 25th overall pick in 2023 out of Utah finished last year with a career-low 39 receptions for 571 yards and a career-high five touchdowns on 49 targets. He caught nine passes for 111 yards and two more touchdowns in two playoff games on 11 targets for the Bills. The good news is that Kincaid didn't require offseason surgery on his knee. The bad news is that the Bills acquired receiver DJ Moore from the Bears in an offseason trade, bringing more target competition for Kincaid in his fourth year in the NFL in 2026. Although Kincaid is still Buffalo's clear No. 1 tight end, it's also not great that Dawson Knox returned on a new three-year deal.

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San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that the team is hoping that they can get something in return for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee), according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic. Shanahan is unsure when a potential trade might take place, and he also said, "I know we're in no rush to do that." The 49ers are still holding out hope of trading the disgruntled and injured former first-rounder. Once they've exhausted all those avenues, they are eventually expected to release him after signing him to a four-year, $120 million contract in August of 2024. Aiyuk played in only seven games that year, catching 25 of his 47 targets for 374 yards and no touchdowns before suffering a season-ending torn ACL. The 28-year-old out of Arizona State didn't play at all in 2025. The Niners are expected to eventually release him with a post-June 1 designation, and the Commanders have been the most rumored landing spot for Aiyuk if/when he's released. Aiyuk had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in the Bay Area before his injury in 2024, making him a high-risk, high-reward player going into 2026 fantasy drafts.

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San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan hinted that the team might try to give star running back Christian McCaffrey more breathers in 2026 to keep him healthy and fresh, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. McCaffrey was the overall RB1 in fantasy football scoring in 2025 and is coming off a career-high 413 touches. The four-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro will turn 30 this summer, and although CMC is a game-changer when he's on the field, the Niners are being mindful about his workload, especially when considering his lengthy injury history in his nine years in the NFL. "I know that I don't want Christian to have to take all of that. It was amazing that he did and was able to do that. The reason it's so hard to get Christian out is because of how much he affects everything in the pass game, even when he's not getting the ball... But in order for us to be the running team we want to be, in order to have Christian be as good as he can be throughout the whole year, we've got to get someone to help him," Shanahan said. Even with a potential reduction in touches in 2026, McCaffrey will be a no-doubt RB1 target in the first round of fantasy drafts this fall.

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Atlanta Falcons new head coach Kevin Stefanski said that the team isn't going to rush quarterback Michael Penix Jr.'s (knee) rehab from a torn ACL that he suffered last season, according to Marc Raimondi of ESPN. The Falcons aren't putting a timetable on Penix this offseason after his season-ending knee injury in Week 11 of 2025. However, there have been reports that Penix is expected to be ready to return to action at some point in training camp this summer. By then, it could be too late for the former first-rounder out of the University of Washington if Tua Tagovailoa has already impressed the coaching staff in the competition for the starting QB job in 2026. Penix has torn the ACL in his knees already three times, dating back to college, so the Falcons have every reason to take it slow with the lefty signal-caller. Tua probably has the inside edge on the job in his first year in Atlanta, and Penix's lengthy injury history is ruining his dynasty/keeper stock. Depending on how Penix's rehab goes in the coming months, he could open training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list.

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Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said on Sunday at the league meetings that wide receiver A.J. Brown is a "member" of the team amid trade speculation this offseason, according to Tim McManus of ESPN. In January, Roseman said, "It is hard to find great players in the NFL, and A.J. is a great player. I think from my perspective, that's what we're going out and looking for when we go out here in free agency, in the draft, just trying to find great players who love football, and he's that guy." It's no secret that Brown was frustrated with the team's offense in 2025, which has fueled speculation that the Eagles would trade him this offseason. The New England Patriots have been the most commonly discussed destination, but Philly's asking price for Brown is very high, and the Pats also signed Romeo Doubs in free agency. Brown could still be traded, though, as the Eagles are financially incentivized to wait until at least June 1 to trade Brown. The 28-year-old three-time Pro Bowler had his sixth 1,000-yard season in his seventh year in the league, but he also had a career-low 12.9 yards per catch and was as inconsistent as you can get for fantasy managers for a 1,000-yard wideout.

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Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said that he expects running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) to be ready for organized team activities and minicamp, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. Brooks is a major question mark in dynasty/keeper leagues after tearing his right ACL for the second time last year. The 22-year-old got a late start to his rookie campaign in 2024 in Carolina after rehabbing his first torn ACL from college, and he only saw nine carries for 22 yards in three games before tearing his ACL again. He missed all of the 2025 campaign, but he's now ramping up to help the Panthers' backfield in 2026, potentially. And with Rico Dowdle leaving in free agency to join the Pittsburgh Steelers, Brooks could have a clear path to RB2 duties in Carolina this coming season behind Chuba Hubbard if he can stay on the field. If fully healthy, Brooks will compete with both Trevor Etienne and AJ Dillon for complementary work behind Hubbard in 2026.

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New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore said on Monday that "they'll go through the whole offseason process" regarding running backs Alvin Kamara (knee) and Travis Etienne Jr., according to Katherine Terrell of ESPN. Moore added that "you can find a role for everyone" and that if you look around the NFL, "plenty of running backs play." Kamara and Etienne are similar RBs in terms of their explosiveness, but Kamara is 30 years old and has finished the last two seasons on the sidelines due to injuries. Kamara ended the 2025 campaign with a knee injury, and a contract restructure this offseason led many to wonder whether he would retire from professional football. For now, Moore continues to say that Kamara is absolutely on the Saints' roster, but after the team signed Etienne to a four-year, $52 million deal, Kamara's role will certainly shrink if he doesn't hang up his cleats and stays in the Big Easy. The former third-rounder in 2017 out of Tennessee played in a career-low 11 games in 2025 and averaged a career-low 3.6 yards per carry for 471 rushing yards and just one touchdown. Believe it or not, but Kamara has never had a 1,000-yard rushing season in his nine years in the NFL.

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Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce hit free agency at the age of 25 after topping 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in his career. In a free agent class lacking proven studs, Pierce took advantage of his well-timed situation and agreed to a four-year, $116 million deal to return to the Colts. With Indianapolis trading away veteran wideout Michael Pittman Jr. on the same day, the team removed any questions about who their number one receiver would be moving forward. Pierce's competition for targets will not be insignificant, with tight end Tyler Warren topping 100 targets as a rookie and Josh Downs finishing 2025 with one more target than Pierce (with an additional game played). Where Pierce stands out, both for the Colts and as a potential fantasy league-winner, is through his usage. His 20.0-yard ADoT and 21.3 yards per reception were both second in the NFL behind only Tyquan Thornton, who got there on fewer than half the targets. If Pittman's 100+ vacated targets are divvied up even close to evenly between Pierce, Warren, and Downs, there is little doubt as to who will benefit the most. If Pierce can hit 1,000 yards on 47 receptions, something closer to a 70-catch season could put him among the true fantasy difference makers.

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Steelers wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. finished the 2025 season valued as a low-end WR3 in consensus dynasty rankings, but since the offseason trade that moved him from Indianapolis to Pittsburgh, he has fallen to the low WR4 range. Pittman will be viewed by most as the clear second option behind D.K. Metcalf in a Steelers offense whose current quarterback situation would have to be graded as incomplete, so the dip is understandable, but he will still play the entirety of the 2026 season before turning 30, and he has finished as the WR23 or better in four of the past five seasons. He has become a go-to option for a revolving door of Colts quarterbacks by being a big-bodied target who runs precise routes and is rarely out of place against zone coverage. Whether his next signal caller is an unproven first-round rookie or a surly veteran who expects things to be done in a very particular way, nothing about Pittman's game suggests he will not continue to be a reliable target-earner.

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New England running back Rhamondre Stevenson was on the field for more than twice as many snaps as rookie TreVeyon Henderson during the Patriots' four-game postseason run, indicating a heightened level of trust from the coaching staff when the games mattered most. Henderson already produced more than any rookie back in Josh McDaniels' system, and the expectation is that improved pass-protection in year two will make him harder to take off the field in critical situations. While that may be true, New England's run game as a whole is primed to take a massive step forward in Mike Vrabel's second season as head coach, resulting in a much larger pie to be split between his two primary backs. Almost every offensive move the team made in free agency signals a commitment to an improved and more physical running game. Alijah Vera-Tucker has struggled with devastating injuries throughout his career, but when healthy, he has been one of the most dominant guards in the league. Fullback Reggie Gilliam and blocking tight end Julian Hill both speak to the hard-nosed identity Vrabel is looking to establish, and in which Stevenson, who is being valued as a low-end RB3 in dynasty startups, should still have sneaky standalone value.

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Connecticut wide receiver Skyler Bell put up gaudy numbers in 2025, catching over 100 passes for 1,282 yards and 13 touchdowns, but the obvious caveat is that he did it as a 23-year-old fifth-year senior, playing against lower-level competition. Bell will turn 24 before ever taking a snap in the NFL, and at 6'0" and 192 pounds, he is slightly undersized, though he is solidly built and has shown the versatility to be more than a slot-only option. His film often shows him winning after the catch with straight-line speed rather than physicality or elusiveness, so his strong testing numbers are a reassuring sign that he wasn't just running away from lesser athletes of the G5 ranks. Like most receivers in this class, there are some holes in his profile, but he has enough working in his favor to make him an intriguing late-round pick in dynasty rookie drafts.

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Tennessee wide receiver Chris Brazzell III has been a name on the rise after measuring in at 6'4" and 198 pounds at the NFL Combine and proceeding to run a 4.37-second 40-yard dash, rising several spots in consensus dynasty rankings over the past month. He has the size and speed of a prototypical X-receiver, which is precisely how he was used at Tennessee. Brazzell's 94.3% of snaps taken on the boundary in 2025 was the highest among Combine invites, while his deep target rate also ranked near the top of the class. That type of college usage has translated to NFL success in the past, but it typically comes with more efficiency than Brazzell's 2.09 career yards per route run. Couple that with the fact that his most successful season came in Josh Heupel's receiver-friendly scheme, and Brazzell's role at the next level becomes all the more difficult to predict.

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