Dallas Cowboys impending free-agent wide receiver George Pickens is expected to receive the franchise tag. If the two sides aren't able to work out a long-term contract by the deadline on July 15, Pickens would remain under the tag for the 2026 season. The Athletic's Jon Machota reports that Dallas is "not interested in trading the star wide receiver." "We want George here. It's really important to us," executive vice president Stephen Jones said. It's possible that the 24-year-old wideout might not attend the team's offseason program if/when the franchise tag is slapped on him, but the bottom line is that Pickens most likely will be playing in Dallas again for the upcoming season. The former second-rounder by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022 out of Georgia broke out with a career year in his first season with the Cowboys, catching 93 of his 137 targets for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns. Pickens will be firmly in the WR1 picture going into 2026 fantasy drafts.

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The Athletic's Chad Graff writes that the New England Patriots "will make a call soon" on wide receiver Stefon Diggs' future, and it could mean cutting the 32-year-old veteran or restructuring his contract as early as next week. Diggs is set to carry a $26.5 million salary cap hit this year, and his contract guarantees him $6 million if he's on the roster on March 13. New England is in a tough position, as Diggs became the first Patriots receiver in six years to top 1,000 receiving yards in a season, and it would be counterproductive for quarterback Drake Maye if the team were to cut their best WR. A league source expects the Pats to cut Diggs, unless they're able to "dramatically lower his cap hit with a reworked contract." If the Patriots do cut Diggs, Graff expects them to look at Mike Evans or Alec Pierce (if he's available). The other free-agent options at WR are not great.

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The Houston Texans are expected to make a "push for a top running back in the free-agent market," but the Houston Chronicle's Jonathan M. Alexander also suggests the team could look to trade for Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane this offseason as they look to improve their RB room. In free agency, Kenneth Walker III, Travis Etienne Jr., and Rico Dowdle could all be targets. The Dolphins aren't exactly looking to trade Achane, though, and they want to build around him with their new front office and coaching staff, so the 24-year-old isn't exactly going to come cheap. Achane was the RB6 in half-PPR scoring in 16 games last year, accumulating 1,350 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 238 carries while also adding 67 receptions on 85 targets for another 488 yards and four touchdowns. He'd arguably become even more promising in fantasy football with a trade to Houston, although Woody Marks will have a role after a strong rookie campaign in 2025.

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Signing defensive end Will Anderson Jr. to a contract extension that will make him one of the highest-paid pass-rushers in the NFL is a "priority" for the Houston Texans this offseason and could come "soon," according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Anderson was the third overall pick in the 2023 draft out of Alabama, and he's been a Pro Bowler in two of his three seasons while also being named the Defensive Rookie of the Year. The 24-year-old pass-rusher has 23 total sacks the last two seasons, including a career-high 12 in 17 regular-season games in 2025. Anderson also had a career-high 54 total tackles (35 solo), 20 tackles for loss, 23 QB hits, three pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries (one returned for a touchdown). He was a big reason the Texans had the No. 1 defense in the league last year, and he'll be a popular defensive end target in IDP fantasy leagues this fall.

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Cincinnati Bengals impending free-agent DE Trey Hendrickson returning to the Bengals next season is not out of the question, according to director of player personnel Duke Tobin.

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Carolina Panthers QB Andy Dalton hasn't been a subject of trade talks with any team, according to general manager Dan Morgan on the Thursday, Feb. 26 episode of The Pat McAfee Show.

Fantasy Spin: Entering his 16th NFL season, Dalton would be acquired as a bridge to a younger quarterback in the trade market. He's going into his fourth season in Carolina with a 1-6 record as a starting quarterback backing up starting quarterback Bryce Young. Dalton's fantasy value in 2026 would be in case he's traded as a clear bridge starter, or if he's pressed into action following an injury to the quarterback ahead of him.

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Carolina Panthers general manager and president of football operations Dan Morgan said on the Pat McAfee Show on Thursday that he hasn't talked to any teams "about a trade, but if the possibility did come up, I would talk to Andy." ESPN's Adam Schefter reported this week that the Panthers have been getting calls on the availability of veteran quarterback Andy Dalton. While the Panthers may not be looking to trade Dalton at this moment, it sounds like Morgan isn't opposed to it, especially after telling McAfee that the organization wants to "get a little younger and more athletic" at the backup QB position. The 38-year-old is going into the second year of a two-year, $8 million contract he signed with Carolina in February of 2025. At best, Dalton could be a veteran bridge QB for a team that loses out in free agency and is desperate at the position.

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In his first season with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025, tight end Jonnu Smith recorded 38 receptions for 222 yards and two touchdowns on 54 targets across 17 games played. The 30-year-old's numbers dropped precipitously from his breakout season with the Miami Dolphins in 2024, when he hauled in 88 catches for 884 yards and eight scores. In Pittsburgh, Smith's upside is limited by a crowded tight end room that also includes Darnell Washington and Pat Freiermuth. Additionally, 2025 Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who is known for favoring formations that feature multiple tight ends, is no longer with the team. As a result, Smith may face an even more difficult path to playing time in Pittsburgh in 2026. Outside of 2024, Smith has just one other season in his nine-year NFL career with at least 50 catches and 500 receiving yards. It seems likely that his 2024 season will stand out as an outlier relative to his overall production, and Smith's dynasty value should be fading heading into 2026.

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Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson (knee) appeared to have a golden opportunity to emerge as a workhorse rusher once fellow Cardinals back James Conner (ankle) suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 3 of the 2025 season. Unfortunately, Benson suffered a knee injury the very next week that landed him on Injured Reserve and ultimately ended his year. A third-round pick in 2024, Benson has been an efficient rusher in a small sample through his first two NFL seasons, averaging 4.9 yards per rush attempt on 92 career carries. Provided Benson can get back to full health, 2026 may be the year that he emerges as the RB1 in Arizona. While Conner is technically under contract for 2026, Arizona could release him and save over $7 million against the cap this offseason. Even if Conner remains with the team, he will be in his age-31 season and coming off a serious ankle injury. At the same time, Benson remains a largely unproven player with durability concerns of his own, and the Cardinals will have a new coaching staff in place in 2026 that may be looking to add fresh blood in the backfield in either free agency or the upcoming draft. Still, Benson should have an opportunity to prove himself next season and could be a player worth targeting in dynasty formats, even coming off a lost year.

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Across 17 games in 2025, Tennessee Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo recorded 56 receptions for 560 yards and two touchdowns on 79 targets. The 26-year-old has established himself as a solid real-life player, as he's logged at least 50 catches in three straight seasons and has never missed a game in his NFL career. However, Okonkwo's fantasy upside has never quite materialized, as he's never reached 80 targets or topped three touchdown catches in a season. Okonkwo is now set to hit free agency and could be with a new organization for the first time in 2026. A change of scenery could be a positive development for Okonkwo's fantasy outlook, as Tennessee has fielded a miserable offense overall in recent seasons and also has a rising young tight end in Gunnar Helm. Still, Okonkwo has demonstrated a limited production ceiling to this point in his career, and there's no guarantee he will land in a true TE1 role with a new team. His fantasy value in dynasty formats is slowly declining heading into 2026.

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A fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Los Angeles Rams running back Jarquez Hunter played an extremely minimal role in all phases as a rookie. The 23-year-old was active for just five games and did not record a single touch on offense. Hunter's path to playing time is blocked in Los Angeles, as the Rams have arguably the best running back combination in the NFL in Kyren Williams and Blake Corum. In 2025, Williams and Corum combined for over 2,300 yards from scrimmage and 19 touchdowns. The pairing has also missed just one game combined over the past two seasons, and both are under contract through at least 2027. As a result, Hunter may need a change in scenery to work his way into a fantasy-relevant role. Even if one of Corum or Williams were to suffer a significant injury, the other is capable of taking on more of a workhorse role, which could still leave Hunter on the outside looking in for touches in Los Angeles. It's hard to say that Hunter can't eventually emerge as a productive NFL running back, as he's had no opportunity to prove himself either way. However, his fantasy value in dynasty formats is virtually non-existent heading into 2026.

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After topping 570 scrimmage yards in each of his first two NFL seasons, Denver Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin's production took a step back in 2025. Across eight games, the 25-year-old recorded 214 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown on 41 touches. McLaughlin was a healthy scratch on game day for much of the first half of the season, as he was stuck behind J.K. Dobbins (foot), RJ Harvey, and Tyler Badie on the Broncos' running back depth chart. McLaughlin got more opportunities to play down the stretch after Dobbins went down in Week 11 with a foot injury. Dobbins is now set to hit free agency, which could open up a path to playing time for McLaughlin in Denver. However, Harvey emerged as the team's lead back in 2025 after Dobbins went down and looks like the Broncos' clear RB1 of the future. For his career, McLaughlin is averaging fewer than seven touches per game and looks more like a complementary, change-of-pace back than a fantasy-relevant workhorse.

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Across 14 games in 2025, Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks recorded 30 receptions for 332 yards and two touchdowns on 46 targets. It was a disappointing year overall for the 24-year-old, as he posted the lowest receiving yards per game (23.7) and receptions per game (2.1) marks of his three NFL seasons. While Wicks has flashed upside at different points in his career, he's struggled to carve out a consistent role in Green Bay's equal-opportunity passing game. However, the Packers' pass-catching depth chart could get thinner in 2026. Wide receiver Romeo Doubs is set to hit free agency, and tight end Tucker Kraft (knee) could miss the start of the season as he recovers from a torn ACL. Still, Wicks would be competing with Packers wideouts Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, and Matthew Golden for playing time. Based on his inability to differentiate himself in 2025, Wicks' fantasy value in dynasty formats is trending in the wrong direction.

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Seattle Seahawks QB Sam Darnold is unlikely to be a candidate for a contract extension this offseason since he has two years left on his current contract.

Fantasy Spin: Darnold is coming off a Super Bowl championship and will likely be the long-term quarterback for the Seahawks if he continues to produce. He will probably be a No. 2 quarterback in most fantasy leagues next season.

From TheHuddle

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales, who is giving up offensive play-calling this year, said that quarterback Bryce Young will "increasingly be able to change plays at the line" when he recognizes mismatches with the opposing defense, according to Kassidy Hill of Panthers.com. "I love the strides we've taken in terms of the operation, how he gets us up there, makes great calls, fixes our protection problems, finding solutions in areas where we've talked about to take advantage of coverages, takes advantage of different fronts for run plays, and just wanting Bryce to continue to grow in the ownership of those things," Canales said. It's the next step in the former first overall pick's development as he heads into his fourth year in the league. The 24-year-old showed improvement in 2025, completing a career-high 63.6% of his passes for 3,011 yards and 23 touchdowns, which were also career-highs. Young will need to take another step forward in 2026 to be thrown into the QB1 conversation in fantasy.

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Seattle Seahawks impending free-agent running back Kenneth Walker III is a name that "I've heard floated around" as a player the Houston Texans may target in free agency, according to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. The Seahawks don't plan to use the franchise tag on Walker, who was the Super Bowl MVP, but that doesn't mean he won't re-sign with the organization. Coming off a strong postseason showing that led to a championship, Walker is expected to be one of the best available RBs on the open market if he makes it to free agency. He's projected to make somewhere between $12 million to $14 million per year and would likely sign a three- or four-year contract. The 25-year-old finally was able to stay healthy all year in 2025 and finished with 1,027 yards and five touchdowns during the regular season while splitting time with Zach Charbonnet. If he were to land in Houston, Walker would split time with second-year back Woody Marks.

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Las Vegas Raiders new head coach Klint Kubiak plans to use a committee backfield in his first year at the helm in 2026, saying that "it's important for Ashton Jeanty to have a wingman." "We definitely want to have a two-man show," Kubiak added. It's bad news for Jeanty's already declining fantasy football value after a disappointing showing in his rookie season. Kubiak split the load at RB last year with the Seattle Seahawks, too, using Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet in tandem on the way to a Super Bowl championship. Jeanty, the sixth overall pick last April out of Boise State, averaged just 3.7 yards per carry for 975 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 266 carries in 17 regular season games in a bad Raiders offense. The 22-year-old should have a better supporting cast around him, with the team expected to take Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall, but a backfield timeshare in Vegas will surely cap Jeanty's fantasy upside going into Year 2.

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Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard said that quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. (eye) is "trending in the right direction" as he recovers from an orbital fracture that he suffered during a "freak accident" during pregame warmups in 2025. Ballard also said that Richardson has "a ways to go," but "he's cleared to play, and the eye's getting better." The former fourth overall pick lost out on the starting QB competition to Daniel Jones (Achilles) last summer and has been granted permission to seek a trade this offseason. The dual-threat signal-caller has played in just 17 games in his first three NFL seasons due to injuries, but he turns just 24 in May and could be given another start at a starting gig with another organization. Richardson's eye injury will be a key factor in any potential trade, and he has a pricey $10.8 million salary cap hit this year. His time in Indy is likely over, and Richardson's dynasty/keeper value has never been lower.

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The Chicago Bears have received calls on WR DJ Moore, gauging his availability via trade.

Fantasy Spin: Moore seems to be thrown into trade talks every few months. If this talk leads to a trade, he has proven to be good enough to at least be a WR2, but landing spot could project him to a low-end WR1 in 2026.

From TheHuddle

The Indianapolis Colts have given quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. (eye) permission to seek a trade, a league source told Stephen Holder of ESPN. Richardson, the former fourth overall pick in 2023 out of the University of Florida, lost out on the QB competition to Daniel Jones (Achilles) last summer and then sustained a freak eye injury during a pregame incident in which he broke his orbital bone. In his first three seasons in the NFL, Richardson has completed only 50.6% of his passes for 2,400 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions while running for 634 yards and 10 touchdowns in 17 games (15 starts). With the Colts expected to re-sign Jones this offseason, Richardson's future with the Colts is very cloudy. He's still only 23 years old, so another QB-needy team could be willing to trade for him and give him a chance to win the starting job under center going into next season. A-Rich has elite rushing upside at QB, but durability and accuracy remain major concerns.

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