The Arizona Cardinals selected Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft on Thursday evening. There was a lot of speculation that the Cardinals might trade out of the third overall pick in this year's draft, but they ended up holding onto it and going with the top overall talent in this year's draft. The Cardinals were just too enamored with Love, even though they already have RBs Tyler Allgeier, James Conner, and Trey Benson on their roster. The 20-year-old is a fantastic athlete, and his stats for the Fighting Irish the last two years were off the charts. Love can do it all, as evidenced by a total of 2,497 yards and 35 rushing touchdowns on 362 carries in his final two seasons at Notre Dame. He added 55 receptions for 517 yards and five touchdowns in 28 total games. He's dynamic, explosive, and a home run hitter at every level, and he should give the Cardinals franchise plenty of juice. Despite Arizona's crowded backfield, Love will be the No. 1 overall pick in rookie-only dynasty drafts. Love's redraft fantasy value in 2026 will be a bit more volatile as he works to find a substantial role alongside Allgeier, Conner, and Benson. With the selection of Love, the Cardinals could be looking to trade away one of their other RBs.

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The Las Vegas Raiders officially selected Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft on Thursday night. What we've known for months is finally official. The 22-year-old Heisman Trophy winner led Indiana to an undefeated season in 2025 and the national championship by completing 72% of his 379 pass attempts for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns, and only six interceptions in 16 games played. He was also a threat on the ground, carrying the ball 90 times for 276 yards and seven touchdowns. Running back Jeremiyah Love should come off the board first in rookie-only dynasty drafts, but Mendoza should be 1.02 in superflex leagues. The Raiders signed veteran Kirk Cousins to serve as a short-term bridge as the Raiders ease Mendoza into the NFL spotlight, but Mendoza should take over the starting gig under center in Vegas sooner rather than later. Mendoza will have a high-end fantasy ceiling in dynasty/keeper leagues because of his elite accuracy, quick release, and excellent decision-making skills. He's not quite a high-end dual threat as a rusher, but he should have a safe floor in the long-term. The Indiana product has been compared to both Cousins and Jared Goff for his ability to pick a defense apart from the pocket with pinpoint accuracy.

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The Tennessee Titans selected Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft on Thursday night. This one wasn't really expected, but running back Jeremiyah Love came off the board the pick prior to the Arizona Cardinals. It's a big move for the Titans on offense to try to help young quarterback Cameron Ward improve in Year 2 in offensive coordinator Brian Daboll's scheme. Tate's selection by Tennessee will make it much more difficult for new wideout Wan'Dale Robinson to continue being a PPR beast. The 21-year-old Tate is known for having excellent contested-catch abilities while also being a smooth route-runner with reliable hands. The Titans don't have a great track record with selecting receivers early in drafts, but Tate could be an exception. In dynasty/keeper leagues, Tate is going to come off the board early in rookie-only drafts, although his long-term upside could be tied to the fate of Ward. In his three seasons with the Buckeyes, Tate maxed out with 52 receptions, 875 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns in his 39 games played.

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According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, several teams have checked in on the status of Houston Texans' top wide receiver Nico Collins. Schultz noted that many teams in the league believe Collins is seeking a contract adjustment, which could open the door to a trade. However, at this time, a trade remains "highly unlikely." Collins has spent his entire NFL career with the Houston Texans since joining them in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Michigan. After a slow start to his career, the wideout turned in a massive Year 3 breakout when he totaled 1,297 yards with a career-best eight touchdowns. In 2025, Collins caught 71 passes, the second-most of his career, for 1,117 yards and six scores. With Houston, Collins figures to remain the focal point of the passing attack and remain a low-end WR1 for fantasy in the upcoming campaign.

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Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland had just 11 catches for 116 yards and no touchdowns through six games in his rookie season in 2025. But Loveland slowly became a bigger part of the Bears' offense in the second half and showed why Chicago took him 10th overall in the 2025 draft. By season's end, he had 58 catches for 713 yards and six touchdowns in 16 regular-season games, which led the Bears in all categories. After the offseason trade of receiver DJ Moore, Loveland figures to have an even bigger role in his sophomore season in head coach Ben Johnson's passing attack. The Michigan product is fully ready for an expanded role in Year 2 and is embracing the challenges it will bring. "I wouldn't want it any other way, obviously," Loveland said of the gathering attention. "It means I'm doing something right. I have to continue to do that. But like I said, we've got weapons, so whether you want to focus in on one dude or not, there are weapons all over." Going into his second year in the NFL, Loveland is a top-five fantasy TE in dynasty/keeper leagues.

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Los Angeles Rams HC Sean McVay says the team is 'still hopeful' that QB Jimmy Garoppolo will play for the team in 2026.

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Penn State running back Nicholas Singleton cooled off during his final season at school, but he remains an impact prospect heading into this week's NFL Draft. Singleton was a four-year contributor at Penn State, but his worst season was his senior year, which resulted in his draft stock dropping significantly. He had 4,448 scrimmage yards and 54 touchdowns at school, but just 768 scrimmage yards (albeit with 14 touchdowns) last season. It's unlikely that Singleton will be an every-down back in the NFL, but he still has high scoring upside and could be an impact fantasy option. As it stands, he's a projected Day 3 pick in the draft. From a fantasy perspective, he's the RB7 among rookies and the overall RB39 in dynasty leagues. He's presumably in play for more than half the teams in the NFL, so his landing spot could shift where he ranks in fantasy football.

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Indiana wide receiver prospect Omar Cooper Jr. continues to generate significant buzz ahead of this week's NFL Draft. According to aggregate mock draft data from NFLMockDraftDatabase.com, Cooper's consensus draft ranking has increased every week since the start of January. He went from ranking as the #93 prospect back in January to the #22 prospect today, just hours before the NFL Draft gets underway. He's currently projected as a mid-to-late first-round pick, but we can't rule out the possibility of him being selected in the first half of the first round. That's because there are a lot of wide receiver-needy teams picking within the first 12 slots. That includes a run of eight consecutive picks belonging to the Titans, Giants (twice), Browns, Commanders, Saints, Chiefs, and Dolphins, all of whom would benefit from a wide receiver upgrade. Cooper has quite the track record as a national champion in Indiana's Fernando Mendoza-led offense. Last season, he caught 69 passes for 937 yards and 13 touchdowns. He's the #5 wide receiver in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rookie rankings, as well as the WR50 in dynasty leagues.

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Vanderbilt tight end prospect Eli Stowers continues to trend upward ahead of this week's NFL Draft. The latest aggregate mock draft data from NFLMockDraftDatabase.com has a consensus ranking of Stowers as the #48 overall prospect, which is a significant increase from his ranking at #103 back in January. He's a projected second-round pick, but there's a chance that he could be selected late in the first round. One team that has been consistently linked to Stowers in mock drafts is the New England Patriots, who pick 31st overall. New England reportedly plans to exit the draft with a reliable pass-catching tight end, and Stowers fits that description. The Vandy product caught 111 passes for 1,407 yards and nine touchdowns over his final two seasons at school. He's the only player in RotoBaller's second tier of rookie tight ends, and he ranks as the overall TE15 in the latest dynasty fantasy football rankings.

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Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson is making a late surge up the draft boards ahead of the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night. According to aggregate mock draft data from NFLMockDraftDatabase.com, Tyson ranked as the #5 overall prospect back in January, but he fell as low as #15 earlier this month. However, he has climbed four spots over the last four days and now ranks #11 overall, including third among wide receiver prospects. Tyson was excellent in college, catching 136 passes for 1,812 yards and 18 touchdowns over his final two collegiate seasons (21 games). There are a lot of wide receiver-needy teams picking in the range of Tyson's mocked position, including the Titans, Giants, Browns, Commanders, Saints, Chiefs, and Dolphins. He's the consensus WR3 among rookies in fantasy football, and he ranks as the WR25 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty rankings.

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Oregon tight end prospect Kenyon Sadiq continues to generate plenty of buzz ahead of Thursday's NFL Draft. He's essentially a lock to be selected in the first round, but his exact landing spot remains unclear. Earlier this week, rumors swirled of Sadiq being heavily linked to the Carolina Panthers, who pick 19th. The latest aggregate mock draft data from NFLMockDraftDatabase.com ranks Sadiq as the No. 16 prospect, but his consensus mock position is No. 19 to the Panthers. Carolina is an interesting fit. On one hand, head coach Dave Canales has never placed much emphasis on featuring a tight end. On the other hand, the Panthers were trending up last year, and a true No. 1 tight end could help elevate their offense to the next level. Sadiq currently ranks as the No. 9 rookie in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings, as well as the overall TE9 in dynasty leagues.

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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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New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said he'll be present for the first three rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft and will miss the back half of the draft to spend time with family. He also said he's seeking counseling this offseason.

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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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