NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said on Thursday that Las Vegas Raiders veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins is expected to mentor first overall pick Fernando Mendoza this year, and Cousins is expected to be the team's starter under center to kick off the regular season in early September. Rapoport also says that the Raiders hope Cousins can run the offense all year while Mendoza learns on the sidelines. In a perfect scenario, Mendoza would be ready to roll as the full-time starter in 2027. Given Cousins' declining play and elevated injury risk at 37 years old, it would be a surprise if he were the Raiders' starter in 2026 from wire to wire. The 22-year-old Mendoza should be the No. 2 pick in rookie-only dynasty/keeper leagues this year, behind only Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love. The Indiana product doesn't have a ton of dual-threat upside at the next level, but his accuracy in the pocket should give him a safe long-term fantasy floor while paired with offensive-minded head coach Klint Kubiak. In redraft leagues, Mendoza won't be as attractive in 2026, but he'll still have appeal as a QB2 with upside in superflex setups if Cousins falters or gets hurt.

From RotoBaller

Tennessee Titans rookie wide receiver Carnell Tate has the potential to emerge as the team's top option in the passing game rather quickly. The Titans selected Tate with the fourth overall pick in the NFL Draft on Thursday night, making him the first wide receiver off the board. It was a somewhat aggressive pick for a team that already has Wan'Dale Robinson, Elic Ayomanor, Chimere Dike, and Calvin Ridley. On the other hand, none of those four receivers are flashy alpha options in the passing game, whereas Tate has the opportunity to be an alpha receiver early in his rookie season. After all, he had 51 catches, 875 yards, and nine touchdowns at Ohio State last year. He offers a flashy, young pass-catching option for second-year quarterback Cameron Ward. Tate should have a large role from Day 1, ranking as a top-24 receiver in redraft leagues and a fringe top-12 receiver in dynasty formats.

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New York Jets tight end Keyon Sadiq has the potential to handle a large role right away. The Jets selected Sadiq with one of their three first-round picks on Thursday night, making him the first and only tight end off the board on Day 1. The Jets weren't heavily mocked to take a tight end, given that they already had 2025 second-round pick Mason Taylor on the roster. However, the selection of Sadiq showcases New York's desire to build out a young core on offense, presumably in preparation for drafting and installing a rookie quarterback next year. The Jets will pair Sadiq with Taylor, star wide receiver Garrett Wilson, and first-round receiver Omar Cooper Jr. in an offense led by quarterback Geno Smith this year. There are a lot of mouths to feed and Smith isn't the most reliable passer, but Sadiq's talent alone will make him an intriguing fantasy option. After all, he had 51 catches, 560 yards, and eight touchdowns just last year at Oregon. He immediately ranks as the overall TE9 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty fantasy football rankings.

From RotoBaller

Arizona Cardinals rookie running back Jeremiyah Love may initially find himself in a committee role given the crowded state of the team's backfield. The Cardinals selected Love third overall on Thursday night, and while he did fetch a hefty $50.5 million guaranteed contract, the existing players in Arizona's backfield should continue to have a role. James Conner is an established veteran who has shown that he can still contribute when healthy, and Tyler Allgeier managed to carve out a significant role alongside Bijan Robinson in Atlanta, so he can presumably do the same with Love in Arizona. Of course, Love represents the future in Arizona, and he's an immediate top-five running back in dynasty fantasy football. Even if we see a mix of him, Conner, and Allgeier to open the year, the Cardinals' goal will be to gradually get Love more involved so that he can handle at least 15-20 touches per game by the end of his rookie campaign. After all, he posted 3,014 scrimmage yards and 40 touchdowns over his final two collegiate seasons, so the sky is the limit.

From RotoBaller

New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson's role was threatened on Thursday after the organization spent its No. 4 overall pick on a pass-catching reinforcement. The Titans selected Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate with the fourth pick, making him the first wide receiver off the board. Tate was widely regarded as this year's top wide receiver prospect, and he should push to be the Titans' immediate No. 1 wide receiver. That's not ideal for Robinson, who signed a four-year, $70 million contract to be Tennessee's top option in the passing game. On one hand, the hefty contract confirms that the Titans do want to keep Robinson heavily involved. After all, his NFL experience makes him a valuable weapon in an offense with Cameron Ward, a second-year quarterback, and Tate, a first-year receiver. On the other hand, teams don't spend the No. 4 pick on a player who is going to ride the bench or play a partial role. Tate will be heavily involved from Day 1, operating as a WR2 or WR3 in fantasy football. That will likely push Robinson down to the low-end WR3/flex tier, especially in an offense that will continue to experience growing pains with Ward still adapting to the NFL. We're not very optimistic that Robinson will be able to replicate his WR14 finish from last season. As a result, managers should consider selling high on the 25-year-old in dynasty fantasy football leagues.

From RotoBaller

New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson (knee) now faces added competition after the organization made several additions to the offense during the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday night. The Jets made three first-round selections, including two key targets for quarterback Geno Smith. Oregon's Kenyon Sadiq joined the tight end room, and the Jets also traded up to acquire Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. We're not overly bullish about the state of this passing game with Smith throwing the football, but to their credit, the Jets have done a good job building a foundation of weapons around him. The bad news is that Wilson's dynasty value could take a hit. Accurate, valuable targets have been hard to come by in the Jets' offense in years past, and that was when Wilson was one of the only players to pass to. Now, Sadiq, Cooper, and even Mason Taylor and Adonai Mitchell will threaten to steal plenty of targets from Wilson, making him even more dependent on deep-yardage catches and touchdowns. He's still an uber-talented player, but the added competition will hurt his value in dynasty fantasy football.

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New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough finds himself in a fantastic position ahead of the 2026 NFL season. Shough had already boosted his dynasty value significantly with an impressive rookie season last year. Installed as the starter mid-year, Shough ended up totaling 10 touchdowns from Week 12-18, and he ranked as the overall QB5 in fantasy football during that span. That type of production in an offense that didn't have very high expectations instantly vaulted Shough into the top-12 conversation for dynasty and 2026 redraft leagues. Now, he's trending up once again after the Saints spent a premium first-round pick on a wide receiver. New Orleans drafted Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson with the No. 8 overall pick, making him the second pass-catcher off the board. It was impressive to see the Saints get such an elite weapon for Shough without having to trade up. Tyson is coming off a terrific two-year stretch at ASU in which he caught 136 passes for 1,812 yards and 18 touchdowns. Shough has plenty of key weapons at his disposal in 2026 and potentially beyond. Tyson is under team control through 2030, and while Chris Olave is headed into a contract year, he remains a prime extension candidate. Additionally, tight end Juwan Johnson is under contract through 2027. Plus, we can't forget that the Saints gave a four-year deal to Travis Etienne Jr., who will make Shough's life easier both in the running and passing games. Much credit is due to the Saints for their offensive improvements this offseason. The solidification of their offense gives Shough a steady floor and tremendous upside in both redraft and dynasty formats.

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Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson's value has rapidly faded away in fantasy football leagues. Once regarded as a promising, up-and-coming third-round pick, Benson has now fallen to fourth on the depth chart and could be a cut or trade candidate this summer. His outlook was already bleak after the Cardinals signed Tyler Allgeier to pair with James Conner, but Arizona's selection of rookie Jeremiyah Love with the third overall pick ultimately spells disaster for Benson. It's partly his fault, as he never seized any of the opportunities presented to him. He had just 350 scrimmage yards and one touchdown as a rookie in 2024, and a season-ending injury cost him the chance to lead Arizona's backfield last year. We wouldn't be surprised to see the Cardinals carry four running backs into the season, but Benson could be the odd man out as a potential healthy scratch every week. He can be dropped in shallower dynasty formats, and he belongs at the bottom of your bench in deeper leagues.

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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens is expected to sign the franchise tag in the coming days, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Because Pickens technically is not under contract with the Cowboys, he wouldn't be fined for missing any mandatory workouts this offseason. Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said earlier this week that the two sides won't work out a long-term contract extension, even though they still have until July 15 to get something done. Once the 25-year-old wideout signs the franchise tag, Dallas could look to trade Pickens, despite talk earlier this offseason that they want him around long term. The former second-rounder by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022 out of Georgia had a career year in 2025 in his first season with Dallas, catching 93 passes for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns as the team's leading receiver. The Cowboys might want to see a repeat from Pickens in 2026 before giving him a long-term deal, especially since they already have CeeDee Lamb. After his big season last year, Pickens will go as a WR1 in fantasy drafts this fall.

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Tennessee Titans quarterback Cameron Ward is fresh off a rookie season in which three of his four leading pass-catchers were also rookies, and with the selection of Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate with the fourth overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, his surrounding cast has only gotten younger and more dynamic. Tennessee spent big in free agency to acquire former Giants receiver Wan'Dale Robinson on a 4-year, $70 million deal following a 92-catch, 1,014-yard campaign in 2025. They are also expecting a return to health from veteran Calvin Ridley, who managed only 7 games before a broken fibula ended his season, but whose 43.3 receiving yards per game led the team. While leaning on the youngsters, Ward showed marked improvement down the stretch of his rookie season, throwing 10 of his 15 touchdowns from Week 11 onward, while adding both of his rushing scores. The Titans have seven picks remaining after making two selections on the first night of the draft. If they can address an offensive line that ranked as one of the least efficient in 2025 pass protection, Ward should continue making strides into Year 2, and Tennessee's offense as a whole could be among the league's most improved.

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Arizona Cardinals running back Tyler Allgeier signed a two-year, $12.5 million deal in the opening hours of free agency, and even if the landing spot featured somewhat of an ambiguous backfield, many called for a year-five breakout as he was finally able to escape the shadow of RotoBaller's dynasty RB2, Bijan Robinson. Having never taken an NFL snap, Notre Dame prospect Jeremiyah Love enters the league as RotoBaller's RB4, and with the Cardinals spending the third overall pick to bring him to the desert, Allgeier looks to again be relegated to change-of-pace duty behind a young bellcow. He has already shown he can have moderate success in the role, finishing as the RB34, RB42, and RB38 across the past three seasons while providing the occasional spike week and serving as the game's most valuable insurance back; however, Allgeier managers who were unable to sell on his free agency bump are likely frustrated to find him back in a similar situation. Allgeier topped out as the dynasty RB28 heading into draft weekend, but he will be 28 by the time he next has a chance to look for a larger role. He is still a must-roster player on the strength of the injury insurance he provides, but the hopes that he could become anything more in his second home went up in smoke only three picks into the NFL Draft.

From RotoBaller

Coming into the 2026 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns did not have a wide receiver on the roster who caught more than 50 passes or two touchdowns in 2025, but the team appears to have given the room an immediate lift with the drafting of Texas A&M receiver KC Concepcion with the 24th pick of the first round. Winner of the 2025 Paul Hornung Award, given to the most versatile player in college football, the 6'0", 196-pound Concepcion should find the field right away in a Todd Monken offense that saw Zay Flowers finish as the fantasy WR7 in their final season together in Baltimore. The rest of Cleveland's depth chart is currently comprised of the 27-year-old Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman, who has averaged 1.7 receptions per game across his last 15 outings. Concepcion's strongest competition for targets will likely come from tight end Harold Fannin Jr., fresh off a 72-catch rookie campaign, but the biggest hindrance to his early fantasy success will be the quarterback situation in Cleveland. Three different Browns starters in 2025 combined for 3,152 passing yards, better than only the New York Jets, along with 16 touchdowns and 18 interceptions, also bottom-three numbers. If Cleveland can get anything even close to league-average quarterback play from Deshaun Watson, now more than 15 months removed from his second Achilles tear, or a second-year Shedeur Sanders, Concepcion should make an immediate impact from the mid-first round of dynasty rookie drafts.

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Before the Philadelphia Eagles traded up to make USC prospect Makai Lemon the 20th pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, the 5'11", 192-pound slot receiver was nearly the selection of the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport. With the Cowboys believed to be on the clock ahead of them, the Steelers phoned Lemon to make their intentions known, but unbeknownst to either the team or the player, Philadelphia swapped picks with Dallas, moving up from their original spot at 23 by sending two fourth-round picks to their division rival. The last time the Eagles and Cowboys made a first-round draft trade, Philadelphia moved up to select wide receiver DeVonta Smith, with whom Lemon will now share the field. Fueling the expectation that Philadelphia will say goodbye to three-time Pro Bowl receiver A.J. Brown after June 1st, the Eagles acquired Marquise Brown and Dontayvion Wicks through free agency and trade, and they now add additional firepower through the draft with the 2025 Biletnikoff Award winner. With Lemon off the board, Pittsburgh used the 21st pick on Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor.

From RotoBaller

Dynasty | The Las Vegas Raiders selected QB Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick. Dynasty Analysis: While Kirk Cousins could still operate as a fine SuperFlex option through the early portion of 2026, the clock on Fernando Mendoza taking the field begins now. Recent NFL history has shown us that teams are much less willing to "redshirt" a top quarterback prospect, so we should assume the rookie sees the field sooner rather than later. Once that happens, Cousins' Dynasty value will crater back down into roster bubble territory.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Dynasty | The Raiders drafted Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick in the NFL Draft. Dynasty Analysis: As expected. The Raiders have Kirk Cousins and are reportedly more than ready to have him start the season under center and mentor Mendoza. Realistically, Fernando will start when he's ready or when the Raiders are out of contention next season. Look for him to make a push to start in the off-season and be ready to take the helm no later than after the bye week for Las Vegas. Mendoza may not have the ceiling of past 1.01 quarterbacks but he certainly seems like he has a high floor. Mendoza will be a top-three pick in 2QB drafts and a likely second rounder in conventional formats this Spring and Summer.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Dynasty | The Cardinals drafted Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with the third overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Dynasty Analysis: Smoke started to really get thick on this front during the day and Love ends up in the desert as a result. The Cardinals currently have James Conner, Tyler Allgeier, Trey Benson and Bam Knight but Love should take over the top spot on the depth chart in short order. Arizona simply took the best player available and we'll see how everything pans out for him on a team that hasn't had much success over the years. Love will be the 1.01 in just about any rookie draft this off-season and while he lands on a depth chart with a lot of players, he'll make an instant impact.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Dynasty | The Arizona Cardinals select RB Jeremiyah Love with the third overall pick. Dynasty Analysis: This is a huge, huge hit to Trey Benson, Tyler Allgeier, James Conner, and anyone else remaining in this running back room come the beginning of the year. Benson and/or Conner could end up off the team by September, but we'd have to think Allgeier is still here, considering they just nabbed him in free agency. It's hard to consider anyone on this squad as anything more than a desperation RB4 with how much work Jeremiyah Love is going to be taking on what is still a questionable offense.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Dynasty | The Tennessee Titans selected wide receiver Carnell Tate with the fourth overall pick. Dynasty Analysis: The Titans may have missed out on running back Jeremiyah Love, but they did well to build up their wide receiver room with contested-catch maven Carnell Tate. In addition to the free agent acquisition of Wan'Dale Robinson, we have the makings of a legit room to help build up quarterback Cam Ward. This should add more of a floor for Ward while also making his future a tad brighter. Ward is still locked into the QB2 range, but this is a great step toward more of a consistent SuperFlex asset.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Dynasty | The Tennessee Titans drafted wide receiver Carnell Tate with the fourth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Dynasty Analysis: Tate was taken fourth overall by the Titans in the 2026 NFL Draft. He'll still need to fend off players like Wan'Dale Robinson and Elic Ayomanor for targets but Tate has the pass catching chops to make an instant impact and his floor is extremely high. Tate should easily be a top three pick in conventional rookie drafts this off-season and while his success may ultimately rest in the development of Cam Ward, he looks like a really safe pick in a rookie draft. He should ultimately be the Titans top target ahead of Calvin Ridley in short order.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Dynasty | The New Orleans Saints select WR Jordyn Tyson with the eighth-overall pick. Dynasty Analysis: Chris Olave operated on an island through most of the 2025 season, with very questionable talent among the rest of the Saints' pass-catching group. Jordyn Tyson's skillset should help soak some of the defensive attention away from Olave for what feels like the first time in years, and let's not forget Tyler Shough flashed some good fantasy performances in the second half of last season. The selection might not turn Olave into a Dynasty WR1 but it helps solidify him (even further) as a WR2.

From Dynasty League Fantasy