0:00:00

After what was essentially a redshirt rookie season, Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy struggled through his first year in a starting role in 2025, dealing with injuries and inefficiencies that kept him out of seven games. With the Vikings officially agreeing to a one-year deal with Kyler Murray on Thursday, McCarthy now faces legitimate competition for the starting job. Both first-round picks in their respective draft classes, with Murray going first overall in 2019, an upside case can be made for either player, though consistency has proven to be more of an issue for both. Head coach Kevin O'Connell has long been praised for elevating his quarterbacks, and with a solid supporting cast and playoff aspirations, he now has nearly six months to pull a starter out of the highly flawed but arguably most talented room he's ever coached.

From RotoBaller

Saints running back Devin Neal was a popular late-season waiver pickup in 2025 when injuries pushed him into a starting role from Weeks 13 through 15, but with New Orleans' signing of Travis Etienne Jr. to a four-year deal, he has to be viewed as one of fantasy's biggest fallers in the opening week of free agency. Neal handled 15 opportunities per game during his brief starting stint, scoring twice in those three games before a hamstring injury landed him on injured reserve to end the year. Now he profiles as a clear backup to Etienne, and with most of the obvious running back-needy teams already bolstering the position through free agency, there is no guarantee the Saints find a trade partner for veteran Alvin Kamara, potentially pushing Neal further down the depth chart.

From RotoBaller

Dynasty | The Giants have signed wide receiver Calvin Austin. Dynasty Analysis: Austin never did quite break out in Pittsburgh the way many thought he would but former Ravens Head Coach and now current Giants leader John Harbaugh has certainly seen a lot of him through the years. He seems like a poor bet to really replace Wan'Dale Robinson's production from the slot but he's still good enough to merit a roster spot in deep dynasty leagues.

The Buffalo Bills are signing free agent safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson to a one-year deal worth up to $6 million, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Gardner-Johnson, a seven-year NFL veteran, spent last season with the Houston Texans and Chicago Bears. Across 13 games (10 starts), he tallied one forced fumble, two interceptions, four passes defended, three sacks, and 66 tackles. He has never made a Pro Bowl, but he led the NFL in interceptions in 2022 and was a Comeback Player of the Year finalist in 2024. The former fourth-round pick currently projects as the Bills' primary strong safety, operating alongside free safety Cole Bishop.

Dynasty | The Washington Commanders have signed running back Rachaad White. Dynasty Analysis: White has proven to be serviceable in his time with the Bucs and while he's not a true workhorse, he should be a solid addition to Jacory Croskey-Merritt on the depth chart. However, his addition wouldn't do anything to stop the Commanders from taking Jeremyiah Love in the NFL Draft. We'll see what happens the rest of the way in free agency and with the draft, but this backfield seems far from complete.

ESPN's Rich Cimini writes that veteran quarterback Geno Smith is expected to replace Justin Fields as the New York Jets' bridge starter this year. Head coach Aaron Glenn is hoping to get enough wins out of Smith to stick around for a third year at the helm. The Jets signed Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract in March of last year, but he was not the answer under center. The 27-year-old former 11th overall pick by the Chicago Bears in 2021 out of Ohio State only made nine starts before being benched for veteran Tyrod Taylor. Fields, one of the better rushing QBs in the league, didn't run as much, and although he did limit his turnovers, he didn't help the Jets' offense much, throwing for 1,259 yards, seven touchdowns, and one interception in his nine starts. He had 71 carries for 383 yards and four touchdowns as a rusher. It would not be a surprise to see the Jets cut Field this offseason, which would save them $10 million in salary cap space in 2026.

The Indianapolis Colts have signed free agent defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. Terms and duration of the contract weren't disclosed, but it's likely a short-term deal, especially since Nnadi has signed a one-year contract in each of the previous four offseasons. That strategy paid off for him last year, as he initially signed with the Jets but then was traded to Kansas City, where he had spent his first seven NFL campaigns. With the Chiefs last year, he made 15 appearances (11 starts) while amassing 16 tackles and one quarterback hit. He's not a major pass-rush threat, tallying just one sack over the last four years. However, he still offers solid depth in the Colts' defense behind dependable veteran DeForest Buckner.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are signing defensive lineman A'Shawn Robinson to a one-year deal worth $10 million, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. The deal is fully guaranteed and represents a raise from the $8.5 million he was projected to earn in 2026 before he was released by the Carolina Panthers. Not only will the veteran lineman get a salary bump, but he'll also remain in an NFC South division that has served him well to this point. Through 33 games (32 starts) with the Panthers over two seasons, he amassed one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, eight sacks, 16 quarterback hits, and 145 tackles. In Tampa Bay, he projects to earn a starting spot along a Bucs defensive line that already features Calijah Kancey.

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye enjoyed plenty of success in 2025, including finishing as the MVP runner-up, ranking as the QB2 in fantasy scoring, and making it to the Super Bowl. It was a remarkable second season for the former first-round pick, and he'll look to follow it up with an equally dominant campaign in 2026. The biggest question mark for Maye is whether he'll have a receiving group capable of supporting his hefty upside. Stefon Diggs wasn't an elite receiver by any means last season, but he still carried the position group and offered plenty of reliability with big-play upside. However, Diggs was released, and the Patriots downgraded at wide receiver by signing Romeo Doubs to take his place. Making a splash at wide receiver -- like trading for A.J. Brown or even bringing back Diggs on a different deal -- would be great for Maye's fantasy aspirations. However, with his current receiving room, he may have trouble topping last season's 4,394 passing yards and 31 passing touchdowns.

From RotoBaller

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle finds himself in the middle of an evolving offense, and not in a good way. The Dolphins endured an ugly season of quarterback play from Tua Tagovailoa, and they replaced the former first-round pick with Malik Willis, who flashed upside in Green Bay but will likely start to get figured out by opposing defenses now that he's a full-time starter. Plus, Willis' top trait has been his mobility and physical running style, leaving some questions about his passing. All in all, that's not great news for Waddle. On the bright side, though, the former first-round receiver is headed for significant volume once again. Much like most of the 2025 regular season, Waddle will enter the 2026 season without Tyreek Hill in Miami's receiving room. Waddle is the No. 1 wide receiver in Miami, and between Tutu Atwell and Malik Washington, there's not much competition. Therefore, even though we're not sold on this offense in 2026, Waddle should still have a productive fantasy season while commanding a heavy target share every week. That type of role resulted in a modest stat line of 64 catches, 910 yards, and six touchdowns last season. We wouldn't be surprised to see him push for 75 catches, 1,000 yards, and another six-plus scores in 2026, keeping him in the mix as a mid-to-low WR2 for fantasy football purposes.

From RotoBaller

New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson has dealt with some poor quarterback play throughout his NFL career, and that might not change in 2026. New York recently struck a deal to acquire quarterback Geno Smith, taking on the final year of his hefty contract in exchange for a late-round pick. It's a move that signals the Jets want to have better quarterback play than last year, but still don't plan to be very competitive next season. Smith wasn't able to support very promising fantasy results from his receivers in 2025, as Jakobi Meyers was traded midseason and Vegas' top-scoring fantasy receiver was Tre Tucker (WR38). Make no mistake, Wilson should still be a fantasy WR2 when healthy; he was the WR15 in terms of fantasy points per game last year, but he missed more than half the season. He was also the overall WR10 with over 100 catches back in 2024, but that was with Aaron Rodgers as his quarterback. The bottom line is that Wilson will deliver fantasy-relevant results regardless of the quarterback situation, but his true ceiling will continue to be limited as the Jets roll out quarterbacks like Justin Fields, Tyrod Taylor, and now, Smith. He's best viewed in the WR16-WR24 range for 2026.

From RotoBaller

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) could be an appealing buy-low candidate in dynasty leagues as he works his way back from injury. Brooks missed the entire 2025 regular season due to a torn ACL that he suffered in 2024. Injuries have limited the once-promising running back to just three games through two NFL seasons. The former Texas product showed some promise when healthy, though. In Week 13 of the 2024 season, when the Panthers were still getting him up to speed, he handled six carries and also caught three passes for 23 receiving yards. Brooks should be healthy for training camp in 2026, and he could ascend into a significant role right away. Rico Dowdle departed the Panthers in free agency, leaving Brooks and Trevor Etienne in competition for a larger workload alongside Chuba Hubbard. While Hubbard has an early leg up on the competition, we would not be surprised to see both Brooks and Etienne get a fair crack at the job. Brooks could have low-end RB3/flex appeal if he locks up the backup running back role, and earning the starting job could put him in RB2 territory. 2025 showed that Chuba Hubbard isn't an every-down back, so Brooks would likely handle a sizable workload even if he split touches with Hubbard.

From RotoBaller

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs is a candidate to get more involved on offense after the team traded away Michael Pittman Jr. earlier this week. Pittman's departure for Pittsburgh leaves Downs and the newly-extended Alec Pierce as Indianapolis' top two wide receivers. Pierce's $116 million deal indicates that he's the new No. 1 receiver on the Colts, but there's still plenty of room for Downs to exist and contribute. The 24-year-old had 58 catches, 566 yards, and four touchdowns last year. Those were subpar numbers, but part of the blame can be placed on the state of the Colts' offense during the back half of the season with Philip Rivers at quarterback. With Daniel Jones (Achilles) returning and Pittman shipped away, Downs will have a chance to return to his 2024 form, when he was the Colts' No. 2 receiver and finished as the overall WR35 in PPR leagues. A top-36 finish is well within reach for Downs in 2026, making him a potential buy-low dynasty option this offseason.

From RotoBaller

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee) finds himself alone atop the depth chart heading into the 2026 NFL season. Nabers is working his way back from a torn ACL, and when he returns, he won't face much competition for targets. Wan'Dale Robinson walked in free agency, and the Giants responded by signing Calvin Austin III, who had a very underwhelming season in Pittsburgh. New York does still have Darius Slayton, and while he's been known to deliver some solid performances from time to time, he lacks the consistent type of production that we saw from Robinson. Unless the Giants make an unforeseen wide receiver signing or trade (or prioritize the position in the draft), we should expect Nabers to be Jaxson Dart's primary target more often than not in 2026. Even coming back from injury, he has top-three wide receiver upside in fantasy football.

From RotoBaller

Free-agent LB Alex Anzalone (Lions) officially signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday, March 12.

From TheHuddle

Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider said on Seattle Sports Radio on Thursday that running back Zach Charbonnet's (knee) ACL surgery "went very well," and his "outlook is good." Schneider wouldn't provide a timeline for Charbonnet's recovery or a timetable for when he might be able to resume football activities. The 25-year-old tore the ACL in his knee during the Divisional Round win against the San Francisco 49ers, so given the timing of the injury, it wouldn't be realistic to expect Charbonnet to be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season. Typically, recovery from a torn ACL takes anywhere from eight to 12 months. Seattle's backfield is thin because of Charb's injury, and with Kenneth Walker III signing with the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency. If Charbonnet isn't ready in early September, the Seahawks could pair a rookie RB with both George Holani and newcomer Emanuel Wilson. Charbonnet's 2026 fantasy value is probably going to take a pretty big hit because of his injury, but when he's finally healthy, he could have a clear path to being the RB1.

From RotoBaller

The Kansas City Chiefs signed former Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado to an undisclosed one-year deal on Thursday, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Demercado had over 1,100 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns (three rushing) in his three years with the team, and he'll now join Kenneth Walker III in KC's new-look backfield going into the 2026 season. The 27-year-old former undrafted free agent out of TCU had a career-high 312 rushing yards on 44 carries in 13 games in Arizona in 2025, but he didn't find the end zone on the ground. Demercado added 13 receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown in an expanded role after both James Conner (foot) and Trey Benson (knee) suffered season-ending injuries. He never held a big role in Arizona's backfield, but he was productive when he touched the ball, averaging 6.5 yards per attempt on 126 carries. Demercado should have more upside as a stash candidate in deeper fantasy leagues while competing for backup duties with Brashard Smith.

From RotoBaller

Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider praised running back George Holani on Seattle Sports radio on Thursday, so it sounds like Holani will have a bigger role in 2026, according to John Boyle of the team's official website. Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III left in free agency to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs, and there's a good chance Zach Charbonnet (knee) won't be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season this fall after tearing his ACL in the Divisional Round win over the San Francisco 49ers. The Seahawks added former Green Bay Packers RB Emanuel Wilson in free agency for more backfield depth, but if Charbonnet isn't ready for Week 1 in September, Holani could be Seattle's RB1, depending on what they do in the upcoming NFL draft in April. The 26-year-old mostly worked on special teams in 11 regular-season games in 2025, carrying the ball only 22 times for 73 yards and one touchdown and catching both of his targets for 15 yards. Most likely, the Seahawks will pair a rookie RB with Holani and Wilson to begin next season while they wait for Charbonnet to heal.

From RotoBaller

Free-agent PK Zane Gonzalez (Falcons) officially signed with the Miami Dolphins Thursday, March 12. Financial terms were not disclosed.

From TheHuddle

Dynasty | The Seahawks have signed running back Emanuel Wilson. Dynasty Analysis: Wilson gets a one-year contract with Seattle but could be in line for some early season work with Zach Charbonnet recovering from a torn ACL. We'd expect Seattle to add some more depth through free agency (they've been rumored to be in on Brian Robinson) or the upcoming draft. However, Wilson is certainly a player to keep tabs on in the coming weeks and months as we've seen him be productive in stretches before.

From Dynasty League Fantasy