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Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate should make an immediate impact in fantasy football, regardless of which team selects him in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday. Tate was never the No. 1 receiver at school, but he still impressed with 103 catches, 1,608 yards, and 13 touchdowns over his last two seasons. He is such a talented prospect that he will most likely be the top rookie receiver in fantasy football, no matter where he ends up. Speaking of landing spots, at the moment, the Cleveland Browns are the favorite to select him, followed closely by the Washington Commanders. Both of those teams are in need of a wide receiver splash, and Tate offers tremendous upside as a potential franchise star. He's the #1 wide receiver and #2 overall prospect in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rookie rankings. He's also the overall WR15 in dynasty leagues.

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The NFL says it has been "closely monitoring all developments" in the matter surrounding Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr., according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. On Thursday, Pearce entered into a six-month pre-trial intervention program that will result in all charges being dismissed if all conditions are met, according to attorneys Jacob Nunez and Yale Sanford. It would result in no jail time for Pearc and no admission of guilt. The 22-year-old was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding police, and resisting an officer with violence to his or her person, but this deal could clear Pearce of all charges. Even though Pearce won't be charged with any crimes if he follows through with the intervention program, it doesn't mean the NFL won't suspend him at some point during the 2026 season. After being taken late in the first round last year out of Tennessee, Pearce had 26 tackles (17 solo), 10.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, 16 QB hits, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in 17 games for Atlanta in his first year in the NFL in 2025.

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The Baltimore Ravens are picking up wide receiver Zay Flowers' fifth-year option, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Flowers will earn $28 million in 2027. This was a no-brainer move for Baltimore, especially after Flowers earned Pro Bowl honors in each of the last two seasons while combining for 160 receptions (234 targets) for 2,270 yards and nine touchdowns in 34 regular-season games in 2024 and 2025. The 25-year-old was originally taken with the 22nd overall pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft out of Boston College. Flowers had a 77-858-5 line on 108 targets over 16 starts in his rookie season before reaching the 1,000-yard mark in each of the last two campaigns. Although the Ravens' passing offense hasn't been all that great in Flowers' time with the team, he has led the team in receiving in each of his three years in the league. If both he and quarterback Lamar Jackson can stay healthy in 2026, Flowers could build on his numbers from last year, which included a career-high 1,211 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 17 starts.

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Washington prospect Denzel Boston is expected to be the fifth or sixth wide receiver selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, and given the premium placed on the position, that could come as early as Thursday night. With elite receivers almost never hitting the open market and NFL WR2s making upwards of $20-30 million per year, there is a premium on hitting on the position through the draft. With the fifth year of team control afforded to first-round picks, it's no coincidence that an average of more than five receivers have been selected in the first round since 2020. Boston profiles as a big-bodied possession receiver, an archetype that has seen more misses than hits in recent years, particularly in the range of the draft where he's expected to hear his name called. He is currently falling into the mid-to-late range of the first round in dynasty rookie drafts, with landing spots expected to further sort out the nebulous tier of players going after Jeremiyah Love and the Big Three receivers.

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Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion may profile as a slot-only player to begin his NFL career, but he has both the size and versatility to play across the formation and the game-breaking ability to reward any coach who gets the ball into his hands. With several receiver-needy teams picking at the tail end of the first round, it seems unlikely he will get through Thursday night of the NFL Draft without hearing his name called, and if paired with the right playcaller, he should waste no time in finding the field in a meaningful way. Concepcion is currently slotting in around pick five through seven in single-quarterback dynasty rookie drafts, and without having to spend a top-of-the-board pick on him, his return on investment could be clear and immediate. Concepcion is RotoBaller's dynasty WR37, but the right landing spot could lead to one of the bigger post-draft spikes in the class.

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USC wide receiver Makai Lemon is expected to hear his name called early on Thursday's opening night of the NFL Draft, with few pundits anticipating him getting past the New York Jets at pick number 16. Lemon played over 75% of his collegiate snaps out of the slot, and historically, slot-only receivers to earn that type of early draft capital have not translated cleanly to fantasy. In Lemon's case, though, he plays much bigger than his verified 5'11", 192-pound size, and as a bona fide target-earner, he has the nuance and creativity to both create separation before and add yards after the catch. There is a reason he is most commonly compared to Detroit's Amon-Ra St. Brown, a player whose fantasy value has grown right alongside his evolving usage. While Carnell Tate comes into the NFL having never been the primary receiver on his own team, and Jordyn Tyson's injury history is extensive, Lemon may have the easiest time overcoming his own perceived flaws, and he has a realistic possibility to emerge as the fantasy receiver to roster from the 2026 draft class.

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Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza has been the anticipated first overall pick for months, and on Thursday night, when the 2026 NFL Draft opens, the Heisman Trophy winner and National Champion will officially become a Las Vegas Raider. The Raiders have made moves all offseason to set their young investment up for long-term success. New head coach Klint Kubiak is fresh off a Super Bowl win with the Seahawks, and the team made Tyler Linderbaum the highest-paid center in NFL history. Vegas also signed veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, who should allow Mendoza some runway to learn behind the scenes. In the right atmosphere, which the team has clearly made strides to build around him, Mendoza has the play style, size, and makeup to enjoy a long and successful NFL career. How that translates to fantasy impact may be a different story. While he is a capable runner in got-to-have-it situations, Mendoza will not reliably add fantasy points with his legs, which is why he is not even locked in as a top-two selection in superflex rookie drafts. While the Raiders appear to be getting a player who can grow into the face of the franchise, he will enter the league as RotoBaller's dynasty QB16, and his fantasy ceiling may ultimately top out as a midrange QB2.

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With several running back-needy teams selecting within the first 10 picks of the NFL Draft, Notre Dame prospect Jeremiyah Love will not have to wait long to hear his name called on Thursday night. Considered by many to be the top overall talent in the class, Love has been linked to the Giants, Commanders, Titans, and most recently the Cardinals, who pick at third overall. Historically, running backs receiving top-10 capital in the NFL Draft have seen immediate fantasy success, and Love should be no exception. In a class with no other can't-miss offensive prospects, Love is deserving of the first overall pick in rookie drafts of all formats, and having yet to take an NFL snap, he is already RotoBaller's dynasty RB4.

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The Indianapolis Colts are targeting training camp for defensive tackle DeForest Buckner's (neck) return to the field after he had surgery on his neck in 2025, according to JJ Stankevitz of Colts.com. "He's in a really good spot," general manager Chris Ballard said. Buckner originally injured his neck in Week 9 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he returned for just one game in Week 16 against the San Francisco 49ers. As long as the 32-year-old veteran doesn't have any setbacks with his neck in training camp this summer, he should be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season in early September. Buckner is a former seventh overall pick in 2016 out of Oregon, and he's made three Pro Bowl teams while being named a first-team All-Pro once, so if he's fully healthy, he'll be a big part of Indy's defensive line. He had only four sacks in 10 games last year, but Buckner has racked up 71.5 sacks over 10 NFL seasons with the Giants and Colts.

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Free-agent DE Cameron Jordan's (Saints) return to the New Orleans Saints could be impacted by what the team does at the position during the 2026 NFL Draft, according to general manager Mickey Loomis.

From TheHuddle

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders was the first quarterback to take reps during team drills at voluntary minicamp on Wednesday, according to Kelsey Russo of the Browns' official website. Although Sanders opened the workout, the Browns rotated through quarterbacks, with Deshaun Watson and Dillon Gabriel also getting heavily involved. "We were just rotating who was first reps," head coach Todd Monken said. "It was set up in a way for us to get a look at all of them. The plan was to have Shedeur have a few more reps, but to let Deshaun and Shedeur both have reps with the ones." We can't read too much into the breakdown of drills more than four months ahead of the regular season, especially when the difference in the number of reps was marginal. At the same time, it's interesting to see Monken establish a sort of pecking order, allowing Sanders, the less-experienced quarterback but incumbent starter, to get the first nod over Watson (Achilles), who has more experience but is returning from a lengthy injury absence.

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Louisville wide receiver prospect Chris Bell (knee) is working his way back from an ACL tear that he suffered in November 2025. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports that Bell's agent and doctor told him that the NFL Draft prospect "is running 18+ MPH and ahead of schedule in rehab." This would seem to suggest that Bell might be ready for Week 1 of his rookie season in 2026. The ACL tear certainly impacted Bell's draft stock, but Rapoport said that he expects the 21-year-old to be a Day 2 pick (second or third round). Aggregate mock draft data from NFLMockDraftDatabase.com seems to agree, ranking Bell as the #55 prospect in this week's draft. He was a multi-season contributor at school, amassing 144 catches, 2,061 yards, and 12 touchdowns over the last three years (38 games). He's the #17 prospect and #9 wide receiver in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rookie rankings.

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Miami quarterback Carson Beck has a chance to be selected in the first round of this week's NFL Draft, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com. In a conversation on the Rich Eisen Show, Pelissero said that he "can't 100% rule out" the possibility of Beck being a first-round pick. Even if Beck doesn't hear his name called within the first 32 picks, Pelissero indicated that the quarterback prospect is essentially a lock to be selected higher than most analysts and mock drafts are projecting. Up until recently, Beck was a projected fourth-rounder, according to aggregate data compiled by NFLMockDraftDatabase.com. However, on Wednesday, his projected draft position skyrocketed to #65, placing him just on the fringe of the second and third rounds. It's a shocking turn of events, but perhaps not as surprising as it seems given the thinness of this year's quarterback class. Beck was a three-year starter in college and completed an ACC-high 72.4% of his passes for 3,813 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions at Miami in 2025. Fans should now expect to hear his name called in the middle of Day 2, but we also can't rule out a late first-round pick if a team wants to guarantee an extra year of control in his rookie contract.

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New Orleans Saints RB Alvin Kamara's status on the roster may be impacted by what the team does at the position during the 2026 NFL Draft, according to general manager Mickey Loomis.

Fantasy Spin: The Saints added Travis Etienne this offseason, so Kamara will likely receive a smaller role in the offense if he remains with the Saints. He should have interest from teams if he becomes available but may not be a starter for a team at this point. He can be rostered in leagues next season but may not be a starting option most weeks.

From TheHuddle

Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said that wide receiver George Pickens will play under the $27.3 million franchise tag in 2026, according to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports. "There won't be negotiations on a long-term deal," Jones says. Pickens has not signed the franchise tag, so he isn't under contract and can't be fined for missing voluntary or mandatory team activities. If Pickens' holdout drags into the 2026 regular season and he doesn't report, he could miss out on game checks of $1.5 million each week. The Cowboys and Pickens have until July 15 to work out a long-term deal. The Cowboys calling off extension talks doesn't sound like a good thing for the team or for Pickens. This could get messier in training camp and as the start of the season nears in early September. The 25-year-old had a career year with a 93-1,429-9 line in 17 games played in his first year with Dallas, and he will have a WR1 price in fantasy drafts this fall. Fantasy managers considering taking Pickens early in 2026 drafts should be wary of what is shaping up to be a messy contract situation.

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Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins (knee) was spotted on the field during Tuesday's voluntary minicamp, according to Browns beat writer Camryn Justice. It's a positive development after the second-rounder's rookie season was cut short by a knee injury. The Browns drafted the Ohio State star with hopes that he'd eventually take over for Nick Chubb as the team's primary back in Cleveland, and he quickly did in 2025, running for 827 yards and seven touchdowns on 230 carries (3.6 yards per tote) in 14 starts. The 22-year-old added 26 catches for 171 yards through the air on 36 targets. Judkins' presence on the field for the start of the voluntary offseason program is a good sign that he should be fully healthy for the start of the 2026 season. There's plenty to like about Judkins in the long-term, but he'll need to be more efficient in Year 2 in what could once again be a very inconsistent Browns offense if he wants to take the next step and become a reliable RB1 in fantasy football.

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New York Jets running back Isaiah Davis began the 2025 season as his team's RB3 behind Breece Hall and Braelon Allen. However, Allen went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 4, opening the door for Davis to play a more prominent role. Despite the opportunity, Davis finished the year with 422 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on just 64 touches across 16 games. Allen should be fully healthy for the 2026 season, pushing Davis back down the Jets depth chart. While Davis has been efficient (6.5 yards per touch) throughout the first two seasons of his NFL career, his pathway to fantasy-relevant playing time is currently difficult to see. As a result, dynasty managers may want to consider selling Davis for whatever value they can still get before it's too late.

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A third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson failed to carve out a role in his team's offense as a rookie. Across 10 games played, the 22-year-old recorded just 28 carries for 69 yards. He spent the year buried on the Steelers' running back depth chart behind Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell. While Gainwell departed Pittsburgh in free agency, the team brought in former Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle to replace him. As a result, Johnson appears to remain stuck in the RB3 role in Pittsburgh heading into 2026. While Johnson showed dynasty managers little reason for optimism in 2025, there would be little point in selling him now when his value is at its lowest. Johnson has the advantage of working with an entirely new Steelers coaching staff in 2026, which could provide him with the fresh start he needs. If Johnson can be had for pennies on the dollar, deep-league dynasty managers may want to consider buying very low on him.

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There is a possibility that the Atlanta Falcons trade tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. during the 2026 NFL draft this week, according to John Breech of CBS Sports. New Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham already admitted that the team will listen to offers for Pitts and other players. Breech thinks that if Atlanta is serious about trading Pitts, the Kansas City Chiefs should give them a call as they look to grab their next TE for life after Travis Kelce. KC currently has two first-round picks in this year's draft, and they would likely be able to get a deal done for Pitts by giving the Falcons one of those first-rounders. The Falcons don't have a first-round pick this year (and have only five total picks in the draft), and if they trade Pitts away, they'd free up $15 million in salary cap space for this season. Pitts finally broke out for fantasy managers in 2025 and was the TE2 overall in half-PPR scoring with 88 catches, 928 yards, and five touchdowns in 17 games. A move to KC would be attractive in the long-term, but with Kelce still around for another season, it would seriously hurt Pitts' 2026 redraft value.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf had an underwhelming season in his first year with the team in 2025, finishing the year with 59 receptions for 850 yards and six touchdowns on 99 targets across 15 games. Despite profiling as the obvious number one pass-catcher in Pittsburgh, Metcalf set career lows in both targets and receiving yards. To fortify their receiving corps, the Steelers swung a big trade for former Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. earlier this offseason. While Pittman Jr.'s presence could relieve some defensive pressure from Metcalf, it could also lead to Metcalf seeing yet another reduction in targets. Additionally, the Steelers quarterback situation currently remains in flux while the team waits for Aaron Rodgers to make a decision on whether or not he will play in 2026. Dynasty managers may not want to sell Metcalf at an apparent low point in his value, but there's a real possibility that his stock could sink even further as he enters his age-29 season.

From RotoBaller