

Thu Feb 5 5:49am ET
Field Level Media
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Call it a comeback. And better make it two.
Super Bowl LX sets up as a recall of recent great teams colliding Sunday on the home field of the San Francisco 49ers.
It's a repeat of Super Bowl XLIX in February 2015 that swung from a Seattle Seahawks celebration to a confirmation of the New England Patriots' dynasty when Malcolm Butler intercepted Russell Wilson pass at the goal line with 20 seconds left.
"It hasn't come up one time," Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said of the Super Bowl rematch.
Almost everything has changed on both sidelines in the decade since that game. Neither team was even in the playoff field last season.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft called a leadership audible and restored the championship standard in New England, placing three-time Super Bowl champion Mike Vrabel atop the organization pecking order, and the new head coach guided a stunning turnaround in 2025.
Vrabel, a former linebacker under Bill Belichick, has resurrected the franchise and partnered with the second-youngest Super Bowl starting quarterback ever, 23-year-old Drake Maye, to move New England to the doorstep of a league-record seventh Lombardi Trophy.
"The organization has set a standard," Vrabel said. "The Patriots organization, Robert and Jonathan (Kraft), have set a standard for this organization that this is what the expectation is. We understand that, we embrace that."
Seattle shifted from Pete Carroll at the end of the 2024 season, and longtime general manager John Schneider restocked in tandem with Macdonald, 38. The second-year coach and defensive-minded mad scientist won 14 games in the 2025 regular season, earning the top seed in the NFC with reclamation project Sam Darnold starring in the vast shadow of Seattle's sledgehammer defense.
Darnold threw 25 touchdown passes in his first season with the Seahawks. He opposes Drake Maye, the No. 3 pick in the 2024 draft, who produced numbers once expected of another famous Patriots passer with a fully stocked ring finger. Maye finished ahead of Darnold in most passing categories. He had 31 touchdown passes, 4,394 yards and a league-leading 113.5 passer rating with a pair of rookies starting on the left side of a fully revamped offensive line.
Maye has harped on running the ball, and Vrabel continues to preach balance in the long preamble to Super Bowl LX. But numbers could set up in Seattle's favor.
The Seahawks have a streak of 28 consecutive games without allowing a 100-yard rusher and big plays are a pipe dream -- only 15 plays of 20-plus yards -- because of the speed and versatility of the back seven and the ability of Macdonald to generate pressure with his front four. They were stingy on first down and excelled on third down, when the crosshairs are largely centered on the pocket.
New England had allowed Maye to be sacked 15 times in the playoffs.
"We've got to stay connected," Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said. "It's kind of like synchronized swimming. If one of them is different than the other, you usually have a bad play. We're going to be put to the test. They will twist and stunt, a really violent team."
Seahawks defensive tackle Leonard Williams is a terror inside, and six Seattle defenders have at least 40 QB pressures. Williams leads the team with 65 followed by DeMarcus Lawrence with 58. While Seattle's dynamic personnel and playmaking mix is getting headlines, the Seahawks were far from flawless in 2025. They allowed 27 points to the Rams in the NFC Championship Game and needed an offensive explosion to edge the same team 38-37 in the regular season.
McDaniels said he's not afraid of leaning on his young players. He recalled being in the press box as an assistant coach in the 2001 season when a young Tom Brady made his Super Bowl debut and beat the St. Louis Rams.
"That was a great example of a young player being put in a situation where (coaches) could have let the game go to overtime," McDaniels said. "Those are the types of situations players live for. Drake has had to deal with those types of circumstances this season, and we've only gotten his best football."
Maye registered 11 multiple-TD games in the 2025 regular season. He has taken only one loss since Sept. 21, compiling a 16-1 record since then. Maye leads the Darnold, 29, in career postseason wins, and their combined five playoff victories were all collected last month.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the league with 1,793 passing yards and was the target of 163 of Darnold's 477 passes in the regular season. He logged 119 receptions and 10 touchdowns. Smith-Njigba had 10 catches for 153 yards and a touchdown in the NFC Championship Game. On film, Vrabel is still hunting for a major weakness.
"Sudden, savvy, competitive," Vrabel said. "Really good play strength for his stature. He's really good at contested catches. Good route craft and understanding in zone and man. Great body control."
Maye insisted Wednesday his shoulder was fine after being limited last week. He was in Levi's Stadium the last time it hosted the Super Bowl -- February 2016, when the Denver Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers -- and the Patriots played at San Francisco last season. He said the preparation for the Super Bowl is mostly a normal week with a bonus hotel stay and practice at a foreign facility. Ah, youngsters.
"It's such a cool moment to be out here with the guys and the teammates," Maye said. "A chance to enjoy the moment together. The emotions will be a little bit higher on game day."
Vrabel's Super Bowl experience has been a common talking point in the Patriots' makeshift camp at the San Jose Marriott and Stanford University this week. Veteran defensive players such as cornerback Carlton Davis III (Tom Brady's teammate for Tampa Bay's Super Bowl win to cap the 2020 season) and defensive tackle Milton Williams (a winner with the Eagles 12 months ago) are helping keep younger players and newbies like 32-year-old wide receiver Stefon Diggs from emotional exhaustion with all of the pomp and circumstance on the Super Bowl periphery this week.
"His maturation process is second to none. One of the best I've ever seen from a quarterback position," Diggs said of Maye's calm. "He's still super young, which is crazy. He's had a lot of success, but as I have grown closer to him, I'm a huge fan of him. He's like a mini inspiration. To be that young, be that mature and be able to play at a high level is something that I always wanted when I was a young player. I'm just happy to be a part of this thing."
As expected with another defense-first head coach, Seattle also stresses the running game. Kenneth Walker III led the team with 1,027 rushing yards in the regular season, and he has added 178 yards and four touchdowns in two playoff games.
For the Patriots, Rhamondre Stevenson was second to rookie speedster TreVeyon Henderson in rushing in the regular season, but Stevenson climbed out of Vrabel's doghouse -- where he landed due to three fumbles -- to lead the NFL in rushing in the playoffs with 194 yards on 51 carries.
"We're always looking to find balance in our offense because you become more difficult to defend if the defense has to defend run-pass on every series in every situation," McDaniels said.
The Patriots finished the season sixth in the NFL in rushing with 128.9 yards per game after ranking 31st the first month of the season. Maye has been a problem for front sevens in the playoffs because of his mobility. Seattle can use rookie safety Nick Emmanwori as a spy to keep Maye's speed in check, but the Patriots know there are counters to that kind of chess move.
"There are weak spots in every coverage," Maye said.
Emmanwori sustained what Macdonald called a low ankle sprain Wednesday, but by Friday he was practicing in full and carries no game designation into Sunday. Seattle fullback Robbie Ouzts (neck) is questionable, as are Patriots defensive lineman Joshua Farmer (hamstring) and linebackers Harold Landry (knee) and Robert Spillane (ankle).
New England's interior defensive line tandem of Milton Williams and Christian Barmore, self-described QB predators, present a hurdle for Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak finding a comfort zone for Darnold. Seattle rookie left guard Grey Zabel will be vital in making the mission possible.
"Me and him, we come in hungry. We're like lions. We come to hunt," Barmore said. "And the whole D-line. Our goal is to dominate every time we're out there. It doesn't matter who it is, another day to line up and kick ass."
Darnold signed a three-year, $100.5 million deal with the Seahawks last March. He hasn't played for the same team or play-caller since 2022, his second year with the Carolina Panthers, when Baker Mayfield was named the starter. Darnold, the third pick in the 2018 draft, is on his fifth team but playing his finest football. However, he led all quarterbacks in turnovers -- six fumbles lost, 14 interceptions -- opening the door to doubts about his performance this week.
Darnold said his oblique strain, an issue that crept up before the divisional playoffs, is vastly improved with the two-week break between conference title games and the Super Bowl. He said he is not in the mindset of proving anyone wrong by winning Sunday.
"All of the hard work and dedication leads to this moment," Darnold said.
--Jeff Reynolds, Field Level Media
The Carolina Panthers re-signed starting safety Nick Scott on a one-year deal worth up to $3.25 million on Saturday, agents Jeremy Appledorf and Ed Wasielewski told Joe Person of The Athletic. Scott is one of the leaders of defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero's scheme, and he was second on the team last year with a career-high 111 tackles (64 solo). In addition to his 111 tackles, Scott had an interception, three pass breakups, and a fumble recovery in 17 regular-season starts in his second year with the team. The 30-year-old former seventh-round pick by the Los Angeles Rams in 2019 out of Penn State finished as the No. 33 defensive back in IDP fantasy scoring in his seventh year in the NFL. He will return to Carolina's secondary again next season and start opposite Tre'von Moehrig. Scott has 355 career tackles (216 solo), five interceptions, 14 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 108 games (48 starts).
From RotoBaller
The New York Jets re-signed running back/return man Kene Nwangwu to a one-year, $2 million deal on Saturday, a source told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Nwangwu will receive $1 million guaranteed and can earn up to $3 million with incentives. The 28-year-old former fourth-rounder in 2021 out of Iowa State by the Minnesota Vikings didn't see a single carry in only two games with the Jets in 2024. He had a slightly bigger role last year, seeing 13 rushing attempts for 49 yards. Nwangwu only has 40 carries for 137 yards (3.4 yards per carry) and no touchdowns in his five years in the NFL, so fantasy managers shouldn't really expect much of him in 2026 behind Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, and Isaiah Davis. He hasn't been much of a factor on offense, but Nwangwu had 604 yards and a touchdown on 18 kickoff returns for Gang Green in 2025. The Jets will hope he can continue to excel on special teams as a returner.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars two-way player Travis Hunter (knee) saw nearly a 2:1 offense-to-defense snap-count split in his rookie campaign and appeared to be on the verge of a breakout before an LCL knee injury ended his season in Week 7. With reports out of Jacksonville that Hunter will spend year two as a full-time defensive back with part-time offensive usage, the 22-year-old has slipped outside the top-100 dynasty players in consensus rankings. The Jaguars remain adamant that they will not trade receiver Brian Thomas Jr., creating a bit of a bottleneck at the position with Jakobi Meyers and Parker Washington, and making Hunter more valuable to the team on defense. Even in IDP formats, cornerbacks often rely on outlier seasons to gain fantasy relevance, and Hunter's limited work at receiver might not be enough to make him anything more than a late-round upside-play.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | The Giants have signed wide receiver Darnell Mooney. Dynasty Analysis: Mooney signed a one-year deal worth $10 million, so that's hardly a drop in the bucket. The money alone makes you believe he's going to get ample playing time alongside Malik Nabers. It seems reasonable to think Mooney, Darius Slayton and Calvin Austin all kind of cancel each other out, especially with the Giants also bringing in Isaiah Likely but Mooney may end up being the best bet for production. In the end, this might be a signing better in reality than fantasy as it does little other than cloud the receiver room further for the Giants. Mooney remains a fringe roster option in a dynasty league.
Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum was PFF's third-highest graded running back over the final six weeks of the 2025 season, with only Derrick Henry topping his five rushing touchdowns over that span. With the Rams making a concerted effort to preserve Kyren Williams for an eventual playoff run, Corum saw his involvement rise by nearly four touches per game from the first half of the season to the second. With reigning MVP Matthew Stafford returning for one more season, and Los Angeles already pushing their chips in for another title run, Corum and Williams could be in line for even closer to a 50/50 regular-season workload split. At worst, Corum should be one of the most valuable fantasy handcuffs in 2026, though he could realistically carry standalone flex value into his third professional season.
From RotoBaller
Veteran tight end Mo Alie-Cox has agreed to a one-year deal that will keep him with the Indianapolis Colts for his 10th season. At 6'5" and 267 pounds, Alie-Cox is a red zone threat that must be accounted for, as evidenced by his 16 career touchdowns, but his most notable contribution is as one of the premier run-blocking tight ends in the league. Three-time Pro-Bowl running back Jonathan Taylor has topped 1,400 rushing yards and double-digit touchdowns in back-to-back seasons, and if the recently re-signed Daniel Jones can return to form following a season-ending Achilles injury, Taylor is a legitimate threat for the second rushing title of his career.
From RotoBaller
From Weeks 4 through 10 of the 2025 season, New York Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart was the QB3 across most fantasy formats. He would miss the next two weeks with a concussion and finish as QB13 across his 12 starts. He now enters 2026 with an improved supporting cast and a chance to take a massive leap in year two. The Giants have added tight end Isaiah Likely and wide receiver Darnell Mooney through free agency and are expected to see the returns of Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo, both of whom ended their season on injured reserve. Dart finished his rookie year with nearly 500 yards on the ground and nine rushing touchdowns, and his rushing prowess will continue to provide a safe fantasy floor, but with the notable upgrades to the weaponry around him, his upside case is as strong as any quarterback outside the fantasy elite.
From RotoBaller
Free agent wide receiver Darnell Mooney has agreed to a one-year deal with the New York Giants worth up to $10 million. Mooney was pegged as a popular sleeper candidate with the Falcons in 2025, but dealt with injuries and inconsistency and was unable to top 75 receiving yards in any of his 15 starts. He now brings an element of speed to a Giants' offensive unit that has already added tight end Isaiah Likely through free agency and is expected to have both Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo back from season-ending injuries. Quarterback Jaxson Dart's 11.9-yard ADoT in his final season at Ole Miss was among the highest in the nation, and he should benefit from the addition of another downfield threat.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton was a top-15 fantasy receiver for the second year in a row in 2025, but he was very inconsistent week over week and saw his role diminish as some of the Broncos' younger receivers stepped into larger roles. Sutton had eight games with at least 16.7 full-PPR points, but he also had four games with fewer than 5.5 fantasy points, which is far from ideal for someone being drafted as a WR2. He also had four different games with just one catch as the Broncos worked to feature Pat Bryant and Troy Franklin. Bryant, a rookie, registered at least seven fantasy points, three catches, and four targets in each of his last five games. Meanwhile, Franklin, a second-year receiver, had three games with at least 20 points and finished as the overall WR31. It may be too soon to predict that either Bryant or Franklin will completely outscore Sutton in year-long fantasy football, but the 31-year-old is definitely a riskier pick in 2026 given his teammates' ascensions. Sutton is best viewed as a low-end WR2 or high-end WR3 with a floor outside the top 36 receivers.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton continues to trend upward ahead of the 2026 season. Hampton is coming off an impressive rookie campaign and should now benefit from playing in a system led by offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. Under McDaniel's leadership last year, the Dolphins had the fourth-most rushing yards per carry, so we would expect Los Angeles to adopt a run-heavy system with similar success in 2026. Hampton had 380 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns through his first four games, but a midseason injury interrupted his progress and led to subpar results at the end of the year. Now that he's heading into his second season and is healthy, Hampton should take that next step forward and produce as a potential top-12 fantasy running back. He'll also benefit from having more protection in front of him, as the Chargers' league-worst offensive line added projected starters Tyler Biadasz and Cole Strange this offseason.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice has struggled with availability over the last two seasons, and he's likely hoping to re-find the productivity he demonstrated as a rookie back in 2023. Over the last two years, Rice has been held to just 12 total games due to injury and suspension. He managed to tally 571 yards and five touchdowns across eight games in 2025, but he only finished as the WR40 in PPR leagues. By the time he returned after his eight-week suspension, it was too late for many of his fantasy managers to get back into contention. Being available for 17 games in 2026 would be ideal for Rice and his fantasy managers, as he has the ability to produce 1,000 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Unfortunately, there's still plenty of risk associated with drafting him. Rice faces an unresolved lawsuit for domestic violence and could end up being suspended again. Much like last year, we could see Rice's status remain in limbo deep into the summer, leaving plenty of uncertainty and doubt for fantasy managers. There's top-24 upside here if Rice plays 17 games, but we could also see a scenario where he misses half the year once again.
From RotoBaller
The Los Angeles Chargers have re-signed quarterback Trey Lance to a one-year deal worth up to $6.75 million, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Lance continues to operate in a depth role, as he has made just 16 appearances (six starts) since being drafted third overall by the San Francisco 49ers in 2021. He backed up Justin Herbert in Los Angeles last year, making four appearances and one start. He finished the year 0-1 with a 47.4% completion rate, 226 passing yards, zero touchdowns, and one interception. He also rushed for 85 yards on the ground. Lance isn't a very flashy name, and the $6.75 million maximum value of his deal likely has a much lower base rate with plenty of playing time-based incentives. He's avoidable in all fantasy leagues as long as Herbert remains healthy, and even if the starter misses time, Lance wouldn't be a very appealing streamer.
From RotoBaller
The Philadelphia Eagles are expected to move wide receiver A.J. Brown this offseason, with Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk now describing a trade as "inevitable." At this point, it sounds like it's truly a matter of when -- not if -- Brown will be dealt. June 1 remains a popular date being thrown around, as trading Brown after that point would result in significantly fewer salary cap consequences for the Eagles. As a result, we may see trade rumors continue to run rampant for another two-and-a-half months. Which teams might be in on Brown, though? Florio reports that the Rams, who were previously seen as a top landing spot, have "tapped out of the talks." It would have been an interesting fit anyway, given that Los Angeles already has Puka Nacua and Davante Adams on its roster. Instead, Florio writes that the Patriots are viewed as the favorite to acquire Brown, with one NFL source predicting "that the Patriots will be the eventual destination." That would make more sense than the Rams; although New England signed Romeo Doubs this offseason, they're still in search of a No. 1 receiver after releasing Stefon Diggs. Reuniting Brown with head coach Mike Vrabel would pay dividends for the Patriots' offense, and it would also solidify quarterback Drake Maye's status as a top-three quarterback in fantasy football.
From RotoBaller
The Tennessee Titans and wide receiver Calvin Ridley have agreed to a restructured deal that will keep the veteran in Nashville for the 2026 season, according to Tom Pelissero. Ridley signed a top-of-the-market four-year deal in 2024, but has yet to make a meaningful impact in Tennessee, dealing with poor quarterback play over parts of the past two seasons and missing ten games to injury in 2025. Perhaps no offense in the league looks different than the Titans since the signing of that deal, with three of the team's four leading receivers in 2025 being rookies and the team bringing in a new head coach and offensive coordinator to guide Cam Ward in 2026. The new regime recently added Wan'Dale Robinson in free agency, a move likely to push the 31-year-old Ridley into more of a situational role as Chimere Dike, Elic Ayomanor, and tight end Gunnar Helm all look to take a year-two leap.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor finished 2025 as the RB2 despite a late-season injury to quarterback Daniel Jones that allowed defenses to stack the box against him for the final month of the season. He is currently valued around RB7 and coming off the board near the 3/4 turn in dynasty startups. Still only 27 years old and on pace for nearly 2,200 yards from scrimmage and 24 touchdowns prior to the Jones injury, Taylor is in play for the overall RB1 in 2026, making him an obvious buy for contenders or drafters starting with a win-now approach. Recent reports have indicated that Jones could be ready for the start of the season, and aside from the loss of Michael Pittman Jr., who was shipped to Pittsburgh for a late-round pick swap, the Colts offense will look quite similar to the unit that began 2025 on a historic tear en route to a 7-1 start.
From RotoBaller
Titans running back Tony Pollard has quietly strung together four straight 1,200-plus-yard campaigns while scoring no fewer than five touchdowns. While Tennessee was one of the most aggressive spenders in the early waves of free agency, the backfield remains relatively unchanged from 2025. Pollard's role heading into 2026 again looks to carry underrated fantasy relevance, but there is no escaping the growing rumors tying Tennessee to Notre Dame prospect Jeremiyah Love with the 4th overall pick in the NFL Draft. With new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll's history of elevating quarterback play and increasing scoring opportunities, whoever lands the starting running back job for the Titans should find themselves in a suddenly attractive situation. Unfortunately for Pollard, the drafting of Love would all but signal the end of his week-to-week fantasy relevance.
From RotoBaller
Running back David Montgomery, recently acquired via trade by the Houston Texans, has had his contract upgraded by the team, with the two-year deal now worth up to $16.5 million. The revised contract, which features a $6.5 million signing bonus and heavy per-game active roster bonuses, signals that the Texans view him as their clear starter following a season in which rookie Woody Marks led the team in carries, but no back topped 200 attempts or more than 13 carries per game. Playing in a supporting role to Pro-Bowler Jahmyr Gibbs in Detroit, Montgomery has also failed to reach the 200-carry mark in either of the past two seasons, giving him relatively fresh legs as he prepares for his age-29 campaign.
From RotoBaller
Playing in parts of only nine games in 2025, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. put up the worst statistical campaign of his nine-year career, recording personal lows in receptions and yards, while his two receiving touchdowns were the lowest since his rookie year in 2017. Entering 2026, the Buccaneers will be without future Hall of Famer Mike Evans for the first time in over a decade, opening a target vacuum that Godwin could be first in line to fill. Godwin missed the first three games of 2025, opening a window for first-round pick Emeka Egbuka to form an early rapport with Baker Mayfield, but the chemistry faded down the stretch, and it was Godwin who received the second-most looks behind Evans over the final month of the season. One more year removed from the brutal ankle injury that ended his 2024 season, Godwin should see his target share and raw opportunities spike to the pre-injury count that saw him top 1,000 yards for five straight seasons.
From RotoBaller
Across 16 games in 2025, New York Jets running back Isaiah Davis recorded 422 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on 64 touches across 16 games played. The 24-year-old appeared to have a golden opportunity to carve out a more significant role in the backfield after fellow Jets running back Braelon Allen (knee) suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 4. However, Davis averaged just four touches per contest as he struggled to steal work away from Jets RB1 Breece Hall. Heading into 2026, Allen should be back in the mix, and New York recently placed the franchise tag on Hall. Barring injury, Davis appears likely to be buried on his team's running back depth chart. With a career average of 5.6 yards per carry, Davis maintains some dynasty upside, but he may need a trade out of New York to fully realize it.
From RotoBaller
Free agent wide receiver Christian Kirk is coming off the least productive season of his career in 2025, as he hauled in 28 receptions for 239 yards and a touchdown on 52 targets across 13 games with the Houston Texans. The 29-year-old was able to provide impressive production in the postseason, recording 10 catches for 164 yards and a touchdown on 15 targets across two contests. Still, Kirk has now recorded just two combined touchdown grabs over the past two regular seasons and has logged back-to-back years with fewer than 30 receptions. He's also had his struggles staying on the field in recent years, missing 18 games over the past three seasons. While Kirk should eventually find a home for 2026, it seems unlikely that he will be counted on to play a significant role in any team's passing game as he enters his age-30 season. Kirk's fantasy value in dynasty formats is fading after his production decline in 2025.
From RotoBaller