The statement comes with positives and negatives. On the one hand, Atkins believes the sixth-round rookie is the favorite to start in three-wide receiver sets. On the other hand, Daniels’ fit is due partially to his blocking ability. Getting on the field is the first step toward fantasy-relevance, though. Daniels is a player to watch closely in the coming months.
A hamstring injury impacted Ferguson’s productivity late last season. The Rams’ “13-personnel revolution is here to stay,” which means Ferguson should see a solid snap total if he can win the starting role. Still, it is tough to predict whether a TE1 finish is realistically within his potential range of outcomes right now, given the Rams’ overall deep receiving corps.
Smith spent five seasons in college, including three at Stanford and two at Texas A&M. Smith (6'/208) rushed 44 times for 205 yards and four touchdowns in his final college season, and caught 4-of-5 targets for 18 yards. Former Cowboys star RB Emmitt Smith is EJ’s father.
Gaye entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Texans back in 2023. He was eventually waived and spent the last two seasons with the Titans and notched his lone career sack against the Texans in 2024. He has five career quarterback pressures.
Free agent RB Elijah Mitchell attended as well. Herbert appeared in three games with the Jets last year, rushing 16 times for 52 yards and earned three targets. Mitchell logged zero touches and earned one target, playing for the Patriots. The Eagles already have five running backs on the roster, so both players face uphill battles to snag a roster spot.
Banks’ fifth-year option would have netted him $12.633 million in 2027. Instead, this season, he will fight for “playing time with second-round pick Colton Hood and free-agent signing Greg Newsome in his way.” Banks broke up just one pass last season and allowed an 83.1 percent catch rate.
The news comes from Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy’s office, and notes that “the fan did not appear to be injured, nor did he seek medical attention at the game.” Metcalf already served a two-game suspension issued by the league, and the Steelers did not void Metcalf’s financial guarantees, so there is no reason to expect further punishment from the NFL. The fan in question still has a $100 million civil suit against Metcalf, which remains ongoing, but we see no reason to believe that it will impact his fantasy stock negatively at this time.
Free agent EDGE Isaiah Thomas is trying out for the Eagles as well. No, these are not the basketball players. Jordan, 28, played for the Buccaneers last year, earning a career-best 71.0 PFF pass-blocking grade via 464 qualifying snaps. It was his first time posting a 61.0 or better. Thomas played in two games for the Lions in 2024 via practice squad elevations and notched one quarterback pressure. The Bengals signed him after that, but he never took the field for them.
Mahomes has a chance to return in time for Week 1 after suffering season-ending ACL and LCL tears last year. It sounds like the plan is to rely on the run game and the defense for the first half of the season, as Mahomes “is working back from that injury.” For those concerned that the Chiefs might stick with that game plan all year, Veach adds that he hopes by “mid-season [or] late season, Pat’s in that groove and we have this thing cooking.” We believe he’s saying that the Chiefs intend to increase their passing frequency as the season progresses and we will continue to monitor Mahomes’ offseason participation. For now, RB Kenneth Walker looks like a safe bet to handle a hefty workload this year.
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes is currently rehabbing a season-ending knee injury, and although he has a chance to return in time for Week 1, it takes time for players to return to full strength. Enter new Chiefs RB Kenneth Walker, who Veach reminds us was the Super Bowl LX MVP. He adds that the team feels “real good” about the offensive line. Veach also indicates that the team intends to pass the ball more often as the season progresses, but if the run game is working, who’s to say they take the proverbial foot off the pedal? Walker warrants low-end RB1 treatment at this time. He is backed up by veteran RBs Brashard Smith and Emari Demercado, and fifth-round rookie RB Emmett Johnson. The depth chart order behind Walker will become clear in training camp.
Harris (6’7"/330) is a long, space-eating interior defender whose game is built on size, leverage flashes, and steady year-over-year production growth, culminating in a 73.3 overall grade and 77.5 run defense grade in 2025. Harris logged 693 snaps with 24 total pressures (18 hurries, three sacks), showing incremental pass-rush development while primarily functioning as a gap-controlling interior presence. He uses his length effectively to clog passing lanes (two PBUs in 2025) and can generate knockback when he keeps his pads down, flashing the ability to displace centers and anchor against double teams. However, Harris’ high-hipped build and inconsistent pad level limit his ability to consistently win leverage, with stiffness in his lower half showing up when trying to redirect or counter reach blocks. His production profile remains modest for the snap volume, and his pass-rush plan can stall out once initial momentum is stopped, leading to more pressures than finishes. Harris projects as a developmental nose/1-tech whose size, length and improving consistency give him a path to early-down rotational value.
The last time we saw Claypool, he was trying out for the Bills. The former second-rounder did not make the team and was later revealed to have suffered a torn ligament in his toe. Claypool did not resurface with a team in 2025, but now has a chance to impress in the Packers minicamp in hopes of earning a training camp invite. At the peak of his powers, Claypool looked like a DK Metcalf clone. He totaled over 1600 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in his first two seasons with the Steelers, and was traded to the Bears during the 2022 season after falling out of favor in Pittsburgh. He will turn 28 this summer and could serve as decent depth for the Packers if he makes the team, especially as a replacement option for the oft-injured Christian Watson.
Downs is expected to be an immediate starter for a Cowboys defense that ranked 32nd in points allowed last season, while also allowing the highest yards per attempt. Downs is a versatile defender who excelled in both pass coverage and against the run while at Ohio State. He is one of six Cowboys to ink their rookie deals, with pass rusher Malachi Lawrence the only one yet to put pen to paper.
According to Marchand, CBS is the favorite to land Wilson, 37, if he were to walk away from the game and enter television, although CBS declined to comment when asked. If he does join CBS, it’s believed Wilson would join “The NFL Today,” CBS’s pregame show, which recently lost Matt Ryan after he was hired to become the president of football for the Falcons. The switch to TV would inevitably put an end to Wilson’s football career. Wilson recently met with the Jets to discuss a possible backup role with them this upcoming season, and spent most of the 2025 season backing up Jaxson Dart after starting the first three games of the season for the Giants. Wilson’s days as a starter are all but up in the NFL, as he’s gone from being a franchise quarterback to a journeyman who has been on three teams in the last four seasons. It wouldn’t be too surprising if he opted to hang it up at this point in his career.
Jones is recovering from a neck injury he suffered last season, which required a fusion surgery that took place in March. The decision to decline Jones’ fifth-year option likely stems from this injury, both in the short term and the long term. While some doubt has already been cast on Jones’ readiness to start this season, the Steelers likely also want to see how he holds up over the course of the season once he returns. The fourth-year tackle has started 38 regular season games for the Steelers since being drafted 14th overall by them in 2023. He’s allowed 20 sacks and 95 pressures in those games, per PFF, and earned a 59.0 pass-blocking grade last season — a career-high. Given the Steelers’ decision to select OT Max Iheanachor at No. 21 overall in this year’s draft, it’s possible they are already planning for a future that may not include Jones as their bookend left tackle.
Monken also says he’s “not there yet” when it comes to naming his QB, but it doesn’t sound like he’s against the idea of naming his preferred starter before camp. Recent reports have suggested that Deshaun Watson “looks healthy” and has the inside edge to win the QB battle over Shedeur Sanders, who struggled mightily his rookie season. The Browns have been on the field for three days during their first mini camp, with Watson leading the QB room thus far. The last time we saw Watson, he threw for 1,148-5-3 in seven games for the Browns, but missed all of last season due to a torn Achilles. He’s in the final year of his record-setting five-year, $230 million contract, and could earn the early nod if he impresses enough before camp.
Campbell’s 18-year career is so long that he’s going back to a former team for a second time. He spent 2025 with the Cardinals after playing the first nine years of his career in Arizona. Now he returns to Baltimore, having previously played for the Ravens from 2020 to 2022. Campbell will turn 40 years old just before the start of the season. Even as the league’s oldest active defender, Campbell has managed at least five sacks in four straight seasons. He projects as a valuable role-player for the Ravens in 2026.
Fowler talked to league executives, coaches, and scouts about every team’s haul of rookies from the draft, so this may not come directly from the Seahawks. Still, it means that at least some people around the league don’t think Price will be a three-down back early in the year. Price struggled in pass protection and only caught 15 passes over three years at Notre Dame. He’s an explosive runner between the tackles, but his limitations are readily apparent on passing downs. Price will likely split work with George Holani out of the gates, making him more of an RB3 for Week 1.
Walker spent time with five different NFL teams and took regular season snaps with the Panthers (2020-22) and the Browns (2023). He initially entered the NFL as a 2017 undrafted free agent with the Colts, who kept him on the practice squad through 2019. He was then drafted by the XFL’s Houston Roughnecks in 2020 and parlayed a 1,338/14/5 passing line into a backup gig with the Panthers. He signed on with the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders in 2024 and remained with them through the 2025 season. He retires from the NFL, having thrown for 2,135 yards, six touchdowns and 16 interceptions, and run for 80 yards on the ground.
Emerson said he has been “cleared to do everything on the football field” after missing the 2025 season following an Achilles tendon rupture suffered last July. Emerson, 25, spent 2022-25 with the Browns, who drafted him with a third-round pick. He notched 20 pass breakups and four interceptions in his three healthy seasons.
Shipley published his expected depth chart today, with the 2026 NFL Draft now in the rearview mirror. He believes RB LeQuint Allen will once again be the top passing down back. Veteran RB DeeJay Dallas will duke it out with undrafted free agent rookie RB J’Mari Taylor for the last spot. The Jaguars return all nine offensive linemen from last season and add to the unit with third-round OG Emmanuel Pregnon. If Rodriguez and Tuten indeed split carries, both players could warrant RB3/FLEX treatment, though each player’s presence lowers the other’s upside. Shipley reported earlier this month that Tuten’s role and opportunity is going to see a major hike” this season.
Lemon’s $20.8 million deal is fully guaranteed and includes an $11.5 million signing bonus. The former USC wide receiver posted a 79/1,156/11 receiving line last year and brings inside-outside versatility to the Eagles’ offense. With WR A.J. Brown still on the roster, Lemon slots in as the No. 3 wide receiver. If and when Brown gets traded, Lemon should have the inside track for the No. 2 role, though he may have to fend off veterans, WR Dontayvion Wicks and WR Hollywood Brown, in training camp.
An October 2025 foot injury sidelined Van Ness for seven games and limited him to just six snaps in an eighth, yet the 24-year-old pass rusher notched a career-high 23 quarterback pressures last year. He has 11 sacks and 56 tackles through three NFL seasons. Van Ness will make up to $3.1 million this season and is slated to make $13.8 million in 2027. As is often the case when teams pick up a player’s fifth-year option, a long-term extension could also be on the way.
Key, 28, earned first-team All-Pro honors as a special teamer last year. His 20 special teams tackles led the NFL by two last year. The Chiefs signed Key as an undrafted free agent rookie in 2021. He was waived, having played zero snaps, before being signed to the Falcons’ practice squad in 2022. He was signed by the Broncos later that and eventually earned his current role as a special teams and began contributing on the field in 2023. He notched seven special teams tackles in 2024. Credit goes to assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi for getting the most out of Key last year.
Ioane gets a fully guaranteed $24.2 million deal with a $14.1 million signing bonus and a fifth-year team option. Ioane is expected to start in year one. He primarily played left guard at Penn State, but should be able to line up at right guard, if need be. Vega (6'4/320) earned an 87.0 PFF pass-blocking grade and a 78.6 PFF run-blocking grade last year.