Estimated reading time: 30 minutes
Free agency started one week ago, and most of the major moves have been made. Every team that needed a starting quarterback, running back or tight end has addressed the position. There are plenty of veteran players who will still find backup jobs. There are also a few starting-caliber wide receivers remaining, but they might need to wait until after the NFL Draft, given the depth at the position in this draft class.
To break down the free-agent movement, here are the players whose fantasy values have risen or fallen due to recent signings and trades. These winners and losers are based purely on fantasy football implications and do not consider contract value, trade costs or real-life team impact. This article also includes the moves that were announced in the days leading up to the legal tampering period.
Winners
RBKenneth Walker III,Kansas City Chiefs
Walker has been among the NFL's best running backs on a per-play basis over the past three seasons. His 93.7 PFF rushing grade in that span is tied withDe’Von Achane for the best mark at the position, and his 77.3 receiving grade ranks 11th among running backs with at least 1,000 snaps. In all, he has produced the second-highest PFF overall grade (93.2), only behindDerrick Henry.
This hasn’t led to as much fantasy success as fantasy managers hoped, particularly this past season. Walker split the Seahawks' backfield work withZach Charbonnet, who is the 12th-highest-graded running back over the past three seasons. Charbonnet notably played in goal-line situations, costing Walker several touchdowns. The Seahawks‘ offense also deprioritized running backs in the passing game, leading to both Walker's and Charbonnet's receptions per game being cut in half.
Walker lands with the Chiefs, who lostIsiah Pacheco to the Detroit Lions and Kareem Hunt is unlikely to re-sign. The Chiefs also signed third-down specialist Emari Demercado, pairing him with Brashard Smith as the backups.
Kansas City was the second-most pass-heavy team last season, throwing on two-thirds of plays. The Chiefs have thrown on at least two-thirds of plays in five of the past six seasons. Kansas City has also consistently passed more at the goal line than most teams.
Walker will be a fantasy starter at a minimum. He has graded well as a receiver on a limited sample size, and Kansas City tends to throw to running backs more than most teams. Walker probably won't play consistently on third downs after the Demercado addition, but Walker could play during two-minute drills, as he did in 2024. That would help him go from an RB2 to an RB1. If Andy Reid opts to run more than in the past, Walker has top-five potential.
RBRachaad White,Washington Commanders
The Commanders used four running backs last season, as Chris Rodriguez Jr. andJacory Croskey-Merritt were the early-down backs, while Austin Ekeler and Jeremy McNichols were the receiving backs. Washington seemed to be a favorite to land a top running back in free agency or draft Jeremiyah Love.
Ekeler is an unsigned unrestricted free agent. Rodriguez was a restricted free agent whom Washington decided not to tender. Rodriguez immediately signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, leaving Croskey-Merritt and a recently re-signed McNichols as the only running backs from 2025 on the roster. Washington added Jerome Ford shortly after signing White, likely giving the team its four running backs for the 2026 season.
The fact that the Commanders have four veterans makes it unlikely they will invest heavily in a rookie. White has been the highest graded among the four running backs in terms of both rushing and receiving. This makes White the favorite to be the lead back. He's one of the few running backs who was a backup in 2025 but is expected to be a starter this season.
While Croskey-Merritt will likely mix in at times on early downs, and Ford or McNichols at times on third downs, White should be the favorite to lead the backfield in touches. If the Washington offense is playing well enough, that could mean White is a fantasy starter.
RBEmanuel Wilson,Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks were the final team that needed a running back.Kenneth Walker III left in free agency, andZach Charbonnet tore his ACL in the playoffs. He didn’t have surgery until late February. With the usual eight-to-12-month recovery, that puts his return at late-October at the earliest and not until the 2027 season at the latest. Even if Charbonnet returns this season, he likely won’t be as effective as usual until 2027.
This meant Seattle had an opening at running back to begin the season. The Seahawks only have four draft picks and may not want to use one on a running back.
While Seattle missed out on the first run of free agents, there were plenty of options for experienced veteran players, such asBrian Robinson Jr., Kareem Hunt,Jerome Ford, Jaleel McLaughlin,Nick Chubb, Michael Carter, or several others who ended last season on injured reserve but should be back before Charbonnet. Instead, they landed Wilson, who was a restricted free agent not tendered by the Green Bay Packers.
Wilson notably took over forJosh Jacobs for one game last season and ran 28 times for 107 yards and two touchdowns. Wilson went from someone who wouldn’t be drafted in fantasy leagues had he returned to the Packers to someone who could be drafted, depending on what else the Seahawks do at running back. There is still a chance Seattle adds one or more other veteran backs, which would leave Wilson in a committee.
RBAshton Jeanty,Las Vegas Raiders
Jeanty was the sixth overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, which should have helped him become a top-10 fantasy running back in his rookie season, but a lot went wrong for him outside of his control.
The Raiders scored 241 points last season, the fewest of any team. They earned a 53.0 PFF run-blocking grade, the third-lowest mark in the NFL. As a result, Jeanty averaged 0.6 yards before contact per carry, the second-lowest figure among running backs with at least 100 carries.
Still, he avoided 61 tackles in the run game, the fifth most among running backs. Jeanty notched a 92.3 PFF rushing grade last season on plays where he produced positive yards before contact, fourth-best among 25 running backs, which suggests he could be great in the right situation.
The Raiders made one of the biggest splashes of free agency by signing Baltimore Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum, who owns the sixth-best PFF run-blocking grade at the position over the past three seasons. His addition should go a long way toward helping Jeanty live up to his potential.
RBJahmyr Gibbs,Detroit Lions
Gibbs was a winner when the team traded awayDavid Montgomery. While Gibbs' share of touches and offensive snaps improved in 2025, Montgomery still took five touchdowns away from Gibbs on carries when the Lions were within three yards of scoring.
The Lions were inevitably going to add a second running back either in free agency or the draft, given their lack of depth remaining on the roster. There was a chance Detroit ended up with one of the top eight free agents or a mid-round draft pick on a running back. Instead, the Lions addedIsiah Pacheco on the second day of free agency to a cheap one-year contract. While there is still a chance Pacheco will play a high percentage of his snaps in short-yardage and goal-line situations, Gibbs is more likely to see end-zone touches now than when Montgomery was in the backfield.
Gibbs will be competing withBijan Robinson for the top spot in fantasy drafts. Robinson similarly lost his backup running back withTyler Allgeier signing with the Arizona Cardinals. The Falcons haven’t found a new backup yet, and that could determine which back is worth selecting at the top spot.
Pacheco is worth considering in the late rounds of fantasy drafts. While he is no longer a starter, if Gibbs suffers an injury, Pacheco would be worth starting in fantasy leagues, given the strength of the Lions' offense and offensive line.
WRLuther Burden III,Chicago Bears
The Bears made Burden a second-round pick in 2025, and he started his rookie season fourth on the Bears' depth chart. He eventually surpassed Olamide Zaccheaus and saw an even higher snap rate whileRome Odunze was out due to injury. Burden generated the third-most yards per route run (2.69), behindPuka Nacua andJaxon Smith-Njigba. He averaged 17.7 fantasy points per game from Weeks 14 to 17 despite dealing with injury during that time.
The Bears traded away the one wide receiver who was consistently ahead of Burden on the depth chart,DJ Moore, and Zaccheaus agreed to terms with the Atlanta Falcons. This should allow Burden to play in a full-time role. He finished fifth on the team in targets in 2025 but should be the favorite to lead Chicago in targets this year. Burden will be a top-30 wide receiver heading into fantasy drafts, as long as the Bears don’t make multiple moves to add to their wide receiver room.
WRDJ Moore,Buffalo Bills
The Bills endured an ever-changing wide receiver room last year, as eight of the team's wide receivers ran at least 100 routes. The only player to earn a PFF receiving grade above 65.0 was slot receiverKhalil Shakir. Moore was falling down the target priority order in Chicago and is now the top outside option for the Bills.
In Buffalo, Moore is reunited with head coach Joe Brady, who was the Carolina Panthers‘ offensive coordinator from 2020 to 2021. Moore had two of his four best seasons in receiving yards per game when he was a wide receiver in Brady’s offense.
Moore has also been plagued by inaccurate quarterback play throughout his career. Caleb WIlliams,Justin Fields,Baker Mayfield,Sam Darnold, P.J. Walker, Cam Newton and Kyle Allen have all yielded sub-59% accuracy rates in each season as Moore's quarterback. The one above-average season Moore has had from a quarterback in terms of accuracy was Teddy Bridgewater in 2020, at 61%.Josh Allen produced a 66.1% accuracy rate last season and has been at 59% or better in each season since 2020.
Moore is on track to see a higher target rate and more quality passes in Buffalo, allowing him to remain a fantasy starter, with the upside of being a top-20 option if everything goes well.
WRMike Evans,San Francisco 49ers
Evans was a free agent who seemed likely to return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or land with a team fighting for a championship. Most plausible destinations would have ended Evans' days as a fantasy starting wide receiver.
Instead, Evans joins the 49ers, who have a great offense and were also in need of help at receiver.Brandon Aiyuk will be released, andJauan Jennings seems likely to sign elsewhere, leavingRicky Pearsall and Demarcus Robinson as the top wide receivers. This move allows Evans to play his usual X role while Pearsall plays Z and Robinson features in the slot.
A big part of Evans’ fantasy value is his ability to score touchdowns. Jennings led the team in end-zone targets last season (nine), while tight endGeorge Kittle finished second (five), despite missing significant time. Kittle is likely to miss the start of the season, so Evans should be the team’s top red-zone threat. He should see more targets and more red-zone opportunities compared to if he re-signed with Tampa Bay or signed with a team like Buffalo.
WRJosh Downs,Indianapolis Colts
Downs has spent his entire career as a slot-only receiver withAlec Pierce as the X receiver andMichael Pittman Jr. as the Z receiver. Pierce signed a new four-year deal with the Colts at the start of the tampering window, and Indianapolis traded Pittman to the Pittsburgh Steelers shortly after.
The Colts might not be able to sign a notable wide receiver, in which case they will need their remaining players to step up. Pierce will undoubtedly see more targets after his big contract, but Downs may also take on a larger role. In particular, he could begin playing in two- and three-receiver sets.
Downs has generated an 82.9 PFF receiving grade over the past three seasons, which ranks 26th among wide receivers. With more routes and more targets, Downs could become a consistent fantasy producer.
WRsDrake London,Atlanta Falcons, Malik Nabers, New York Giants, Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins and Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders
These four wide receivers have been the top option on their team recently when healthy, and all four teams needed a wide receiver. Darnell Mooney and Tyreek Hill were released, while Wan’Dale Robinson and Deebo Samuel didn’t re-sign in free agency.
All four teams decided to take chances on multiple lower-priced free agents. The Falcons added Olamide Zaccheaus and Jahan Dotson, the Giants signed Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin III, the Dolphins brought in Tutu Atwell and Jalen Tolbert, while the Commanders added Dyami Brown and Van Jefferson.
None of these wide receivers is a threat to the target share of the top wide receivers. It also means they are unlikely to add another free agent wide receiver, and it’s less necessary they invest in a wide receiver in the draft.
All four of these wide receivers were going to be fantasy starters regardless of what else they did at wide receiver, but the addition of these cheaper veteran wide receivers was the best-case scenario to maximize their fantasy value. This is similarly good news for the eight free agents, as any one could emerge as the second option on their team’s wide receiver depth chart. If that offense is playing well enough, that gives them a slight chance of eventually becoming a fantasy starter.
The entireMinnesota Vikings passing game
The Vikings offense scored nearly 100 fewer points in 2025 than in 2024, finishing with over 1,000 fewer passing yards, after a quarterback change fromSam Darnold toJ.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer. This resulted in a decline in production by the rest of the Vikings' offense.Justin Jefferson averaged nearly 30 fewer receiving yards per game, whileT.J. Hockenson andJordan Addison fell by 15 yards per game each.
Minnesota addedKyler Murray at quarterback, and he was the top quarterback on PFF's free agent big board. While Murray hasn’t been a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback in recent seasons, he’s had a 67.0-plus PFF passing grade in each of the last three seasons. Murray has experience with All-Pro tight endTrey McBride, who was TE2 in 2024 with Murray at quarterback full-time. In 2020,DeAndre Hopkins was WR4 in the only season both he and Murray were healthy for the full season.
Minnesota is expected to have a competition, which Murray is expected to win. If he doesn’t, that means that McCarthy has made significant strides this offseason, which is also good news for the receivers.
Murray was a top-12 quarterback in fantasy points per game from 2019 to 2024, and the Vikings' offense has generally elevated quarterbacks' fantasy values. For example, Darnold averaged four fantasy points more per game with Minnesota than Seattle, and Kirk Cousins averaged five more in Minnesota than Atlanta. Murray has a chance to be among the top fantasy quarterbacks this season, if all goes well.
TEChig Okonkwo,Washington Commanders
Most teams have kept their top receiving tight end from last season, which includes the Atlanta Falcons, Kansas City Chiefs,Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Miami Dolphins re-signingKyle Pitts,Travis Kelce,Dallas Goedert, Cade Otton and Greg Dulcich.Isaiah Likely moved to the New York Giants, but most other movement involving tight ends over the first two days was for second options in 12 personnel.
This left few opportunities for Okonkwo. One of the few spots for a starter was the Washington Commanders, where Zach Ertz is 35 years old. He tore his ACL late in the 2025 season and is a free agent. While Washington could have stuck with a combination of Ben Sinnott and John Bates, they instead paid Okonkwo to be their lead receiving tight end. He is generally making more money than the blocking tight ends and tight ends on their first contract but less than other veteran tight ends who are fantasy starters.
Okonkwo has shown some sparks of greatness. His 2.62 yards per route run led all tight ends with at least 150 routes in 2022, a mark that has only been surpassed once since then byDalton Kincaid with 2.79 last season. He also scored the fourth-most fantasy points by a tight end during the 2024 fantasy playoffs.
Okonkwo will only be a late-round sleeper option during fantasy drafts, but the combination of quarterback and opportunity for targets was better in Washington than most other potential destinations for Okonkwo.
Honorable Mentions
- The Saints signed running backTravis Etienne Jr. He should play significant snaps, but New Orleans' offensive line isn’t as strong as the Jacksonville Jaguars‘.
- The Denver Broncos were reportedly interested in several of the top running backs but instead ended up re-signingJ.K. Dobbins, who likely has more fantasy value with Denver than with other teams he could have signed with.
- The Buccaneers' wide receivers will no longer need to compete withMike Evans for targets. They still have plenty of competition on the roster, betweenEmeka Egbuka,Jalen McMillan,Chris Godwin, Tez Johnson and recently re-signed tight end Cade Otton.
- The Raiders signed wide receiver Jalen Nailor, who goes from the third wide receiver option in Minnesota to potentially the top option in Las Vegas.
- Former San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne signed with the Arizona Cardinals and should be their third wide receiver. While he shouldn't be targeted in most redraft leagues, he will be a popular waiver-wire target ifMichael Wilson orMarvin Harrison Jr. suffers an injury.
- The Kansas City Chiefs re-signed wide receiver Tyquan Thornton, while JuJu Smith-Schuster andHollywood Brown remain free agents. While Thornton was often fifth on the wide receiver depth chart when everyone was healthy, this suggests he could move up to third on the depth chart for this season.
- The Chicago Bears signed wide receiver Kalif Raymond. He’s currently penciled into the third spot on the Bears‘ depth chart. He is unlikely to have fantasy value unless there is an injury, but it seemed unlikely he would be as high as third on a team’s depth chart heading into free agency.
- Isaiah Likely is the new starting tight end for the New York Giants, reuniting with head coach John Harbaugh. Jaxson Dart threw a high percentage of passes to tight ends last season, and Likely will no longer be competing withMark Andrews. This makes Likely a fine sleeper tight end.
- The Dolphins re-signed tight end Greg Dulcich, who could be their lead receiving tight end this season, as Darren Waller is also a free agent and hasn’t re-signed. Dulcich's 80.6 PFF receiving grade in 2025 ranked 11th best.
- The Cardinals signed Gardner Minshew to be their new backup quarterback. This makes it clearer that Jacoby Brissett could be their starting quarterback, as they likely aren’t bringing in any more significant competition. This is also good news for wide receiver Michael Wilson and tight end Trey McBride, as both players excelled from a fantasy perspective with Brissett at quarterback.
Losers
RBBucky Irving,Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Among the five running backs who averaged more than 20 touches per game last season, four finished among the six leaders in fantasy points. The other was Irving, who missed seven games due to injury and wasn’t as effective as in his rookie season, but the touches were there.
Josh Grizzard was one-and-done as the Buccaneers‘ offensive coordinator, but luckily, he was replaced by Zac Robinson, who spent the previous two seasons as the Atlanta Falcons‘ offensive coordinator. He coachedBijan Robinson, who is one of two running backs to average 20 or more touches per game in each of the past two seasons.
While Zac Robinson spoke highly of Irving, comparing him to Bijan Robinson, the team also signed Kenneth Gainwell to a two-year contract. Gainwell graded out better as a receiver than bothRachaad White and Irving last season, suggesting Irving’s target rate will take a hit this season. Gainwell is also a notably better pass blocker than anyone in Tampa Bay last season.
Gainwell’s deal is reportedly for $14 million across two years. That is more money than some starting running backs who have moved past their rookie deal. His contract also suggests that he will play significant snaps. Luckily, the contract isn’t so massive that Irving can't outplay Gainwell and earn more playing time.
The Buccaneers also tendered Sean Tucker after initial reports that they would not be tendering him. Tucker took the majority of goal-line opportunities when he and Irving were both healthy. The Buccaneers have a new offensive coordinator, so that won’t necessarily be the case this season, but losing both receiving downs and goal-line snaps would be detrimental to Irving’s fantasy value.
RBTrey Benson,Arizona Cardinals
New Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur had been the Rams‘ offensive coordinator, and for the past three seasons, the Rams used more man-run concepts than any other team. They deployed man concepts on 40% of their runs, while no other team finished above 30% over the past three seasons. The Cardinals have been right around league average, at 17%.
This seemed to be good news for Benson, who averages 5.3 yards per carry on man runs, while Conner was much better on all other concepts. It was thus expected that Conner would be released and Benson would have a chance to be the starter.
Instead, Arizona restructured Conner’s contract, assuring his return to Arizona. The team also signedTyler Allgeier, who excels on outside zone runs, rather than man runs.
This is bad news for all three running backs because we could have some kind of three-man committee in Arizona. However, these moves also suggest LaFleur’s offense will look very different from the Rams' offense of the past three seasons, which means it won't benefit Benson. The fact that the team brought back Conner and added Allgeier also suggests that Benson isn’t a big part of their plans.
RBWoody Marks,Houston Texans
Marks won the Texans‘ starting job overNick Chubb in Week 10 of the 2025 season and never let go. He showed some sparks that he could be the long-term starter, including running 19 times for 112 yards and a touchdown in the Texans' wild-card victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, Houston traded for Lions running backDavid Montgomery just before free agency.
The investment in Montgomery was big enough that it's clear he will have the first shot at the starting job. Marks appeared best suited for a receiving-down role when coming into the league, so it’s possible Montgomery will have an early-down role while Marks handles third downs.
Montgomery is more of a winner than a loser from the move, as he will now see more volume with Houston. It's worth noting that he is going from one of the best offensive lines to one of the worst. Lions running backs averaged 1.8 yards before contact in 2025, tied for third best. Texans running backs averaged 1.1, which tied for seventh worst.
RBOmarion Hampton,Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers kicked off free agency on Thursday by signing former Baltimore Ravens running backKeaton Mitchell, who is one of several running backs that was slated for restricted free agency but not given a tender.
Los Angeles changed offensive coordinators to Mike McDaniel this offseason. In Miami, he built an offense entirely off speed, asDe’Von Achane, Raheem Mostert,Tyreek Hill,Jaylen Waddle,Jonnu Smith and Darren Waller were all among the fastest players at their positions. In Los Angeles, he inherits several fast skill players, but no one with elite top-end speed.
There were no unrestricted free agents with significant playing time who were faster than Hampton, aside fromBreece Hall, who was given the franchise tag by the New York Jets. However, Mitchell was faster than Hampton last season, per tracking data.
Mitchell has only been used sparingly over the last three seasons, but he’s averaged 6.3 yards per carry, 4.1 yards after contact per carry, and a first down or touchdown on 30.6% of his runs; all second-best among running backs with 100 or more carries.
Hampton is still the favorite to be the starter, but Mitchell should see more playing time in Los Angeles than he did in Baltimore, and will make it harder for Hampton to finish among the top-10 running backs.
RBJordan Mason,Minnesota Vikings
Mason appeared destined to joinBhayshul Tuten andZach Charbonnet as running backs who could see less competition for touches in 2026. There were reports that the Vikings would release or tradeAaron Jones. Minnesota similarly missed out on all of the top free-agent running backs, and all of the remaining options were unlikely to provide as much competition for touches.
Instead, the Vikings and Jones agreed to a pay cut, allowing him to stay in Minnesota. Mason was the higher graded of the two running backs, particularly in the run game. Mason had an 82.9 PFF grade compared to Jones' 69.5. Despite this, Jones played 57.8% of the offensive snaps over the last four weeks of the season compared to Mason's 18.4%, while Zavier Scott, Ty Chandler and fullback C.J. Ham also played some snaps.
Jones is 31 years old and has missed time due to injury in two of the last three seasons, so there is still a chance Mason can be a fantasy starter at some point this season. However, it will be harder with a healthy Jones, whom the Vikings trusted late last season, compared to a mid-round rookie or some other free agent.
WRD.K. Metcalf,Pittsburgh Steelers
Metcalf’s first season with the Steelers didn’t go as expected. He tallied his fewest receptions and receiving yards per game since his rookie season. His six receiving touchdowns were tied for the second-lowest mark of his career. He failed to reach his usual marks, despite no one else on the roster surpassing 500 receiving yards.
Pittsburgh has undergone several changes this offseason, starting with new head coach Mike McCarthy. The team moved on from running back Kenneth Gainwell, wide receiverCalvin Austin and tight endJonnu Smith — three of the offense's top seven players in receiving yards. However, Pittsburgh traded forMichael Pittman Jr., giving the wide receiver room a significant boost.
While Pittman is similarly sized to Metcalf, Pittman has a notably lower average depth of target with a higher target rate in his career. The wide receivers in Mike McCarthy’s offenses who have been successful from a fantasy perspective have been more like Pittman than Metcalf. Pittman’s average depth of target more closely resembles that ofCeeDee Lamb, Amari Cooper, Donald Driver,Davante Adams and Randall Cobb, while Metcalf’s more closely resembles that of Michael Gallup, Brandin Cooks, Jordy Nelson, Greg Jennings and James Jones.
Both wide receivers should find success in the offense, but it is no longer a guarantee that Metcalf will be the Steelers' top target earner.
WRKayshon Boutte,New England Patriots
The Patriots employed a unique wide receiver rotation last season. Kayshon Boutte was the lead X receiver whileKyle Williams was his backup. Mack Hollins played mostly the Z role, andDeMario Douglas played in the slot, butStefon Diggs also played over 50% of the offensive snaps, taking over half of the 11 personnel snaps away from Douglas while also taking a third of the Z snaps in both two- and three-receiver sets from Hollins.
New England released Diggs, creating a void in the wide receiver room. The Patriots missed out on some of the top wide receivers in free agency, which was good for the other receivers in New England, but ended up with Doubs, who played primarily in the slot to start his career with the Green Bay Packers and has been their starting X receiver the last two seasons.
Among the top five wide receivers in New England, Doubs has the highest receiving grade over the last two seasons when lined up in the slot and also the highest grade when lined up outside and on the line of scrimmage, typical of an X receiver. Doubs has the lowest grade when lined up at Z.
The Patriots' new best lineup is Doubs at X, Hollins at Z and Douglas in the slot. Boutte will likely rotate in and still make some big plays throughout the season, but he will likely be less involved in the offense rather than more. Similarly, this isn’t great news for Williams.
QBsDerek Carr,Kirk Cousins,Anthony Richardson,Mac Jones
Heading into free agency, multiple teams could have been looking for a new starting quarterback. TheMinnesota Vikings signed Kyler Murray, Miami Dolphins signed Malik Willis, and the New York Jets traded forGeno Smith, taking three of the jobs, whileTua Tagovailoa landed with the Atlanta Falcons, where he andMichael Penix Jr. will compete. The Arizona Cardinals decided to stick with Jacoby Brissett while the Indianapolis Colts re-signed Daniel Jones.
This leaves only one clear opening: the Pittsburgh Steelers, but Aaron Rodgers seems likely to return.
This leaves several quarterbacks who were hopeful for a chance to start without a home. Derek Carr was considering coming out of retirement, Anthony Richardson and Mac Jones both would have preferred an opportunity to start, while Kirk Cousins would have also liked a starting opportunity.
There are still a few landing spots that give them a fighting chance. The Cleveland Browns plan on having a competition between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson, but a third quarterback may join that competition. The Raiders would like a veteran to start at the beginning of the season to ease Fernando Mendoza into action. The Colts could also need a quarterback if Daniel Jones isn’t ready for the start of the season. While these are OK situations, these quarterbacks would have rather been the starter in Miami, New York or Arizona.
Honorable Mentions
- The Dolphins signed quarterback Malik Willis. Only 7.6% of his dropbacks led to running back targets over the past two seasons, which is the second-lowest rate, behind only Anthony Richardson.De’Von Achane recorded 139.8 PPR points as a receiver in 2025, the fifth most among running backs. It’s unlikely he will yield as much fantasy value from receptions in 2026, unless the offense schemes them up more often.
- Pittsburgh Steelers running backJaylen Warren could lose carries after the team signedRico Dowdle. While Warren shared the backfield with Kenneth Gainwell last season, Dowdle is reuniting with head coach Mike McCarthy. This could relegate Warren to third downs and leave him with only a few carries per game, similar to the start of his career.
- The Seahawks re-signedRashid Shaheed, leaving Seattle with a very deep receiver room, which isn’t ideal for fantasy purposes.Jaxon Smith-Njigba,Cooper Kupp, Shaheed and Tory Horton were never healthy with Seattle at the same time last season, but they will be the top wide receivers next season. It will be hard for anyone outside of Smith-Njigba to be a fantasy starter, given the likely three-man rotation for one or two spots.
- Most mock drafts had Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love getting drafted with a top-10 pick by the Arizona Cardinals,Washington Commanders, New Orleans Saints or Kansas City Chiefs, but all three teams added to their running back room. This leaves the Tennessee Titans as the most likely landing spot. There are now higher odds that Love falls out of the top 10, lands with a below-average offense or has a significant veteran presence competing with him for playing time.
- New Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll inherited a team that relied heavily on rookies last season, but he brought in some old friends in free agency in slot wide receiverWan’Dale Robinson and tight end Daniel Bellinger from the New York Giants. They will make it much more difficult for slot wide receiver Chimere Dike and tight end Gunnar Helm to provide fantasy value this season.
- The Giants signed tight endIsaiah Likely, moving Theo Johnson from an occasional fantasy starter to someone who will not produce fantasy value.
- The Saints added tight end Noah Fant. While he’s been an NFL starter and a rotational player in the past, he will likely play only in two-tight-end sets with New Orleans. He will have value with the Saints if Juwan Johnson suffers an injury.
- The Falcons signedTua Tagovailoa, who should be the starter untilMichael Penix Jr. is healthy. Whoever is playing best will likely remain the starter. The uncertainty could leave both quarterbacks outside of the top 30 at the position in fantasy rankings.