2026 Fantasy Football Free Agency Preview
· Yahoo Sports
The NFL Combine has come and gone, and free agency is right around the corner. We have already seen some teams make cuts and trades to get cap compliant or address holes in their roster.
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The 2026 NFL Draft class isn’t one that is going to have a major impact on fantasy football, which means we will need to try to identify some players whose situations can change (and hopefully improve) with new landing spots. Below you’ll find a free agency preview through the lens of fantasy football in 2026. Fantasy Football Free Agency Preview
Quarterback
Tier 1: Potential Fantasy Difference MakerMalik Willis
When it comes to fantasy football, there is just one quarterback in the current (keyword) free agent class who has the potential to move the needle in 2026: Green Bay Packers backup Malik Willis.
The 2022 third-round pick had five games with the Packers, during which he logged a 60% or higher snap share. In those games, he completed 79.7% of his passes for 869 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions. He also added 32 carries for 221 yards and three touchdowns in those games.
Willis is far from a slam dunk to succeed given his limited sample size, but he’s also the closest thing to a fantasy difference maker you’ll find in free agency and the draft this offseason.
Tier 2: Potential Waiver ClaimDaniel Jones, Aaron Rodgers
Both Daniel Jones and Aaron Rodgers are free agents after successful one-year stints with the Colts and Steelers, respectively, in 2025. However, neither can be considered a fantasy difference maker in 2026 for different reasons.
For Jones, he started out the season on fire in Indianapolis, ranking as the QB8 through Week 13. During that stretch, he was putting together a career year, completing 68.0% of his passes for 3,101 yards and 19 touchdowns with eight interceptions. He also added 45 carries for 164 yards and five touchdowns. Unfortunately, a torn Achilles tendon ended his season early.
The timing of that injury puts the start of his 2026 season in doubt. And even if he does return, it is fair to expect him to struggle out of the gate, especially as a runner. That hampers his upside in fantasy.
Conversely, Rodgers continues to be a better real-life quarterback than a fantasy asset going forward. The 42-year-old completed 65.7% of his passes for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions with Pittsburgh, but finished as the QB26 in fantasy points per game (14.6) among quarterbacks with six games played.
Tier 3: Trade/Cut CandidatesKyler Murray, Tua Tagovailoa, Kirk Cousins, Mac Jones, Justin Fields, Anthony Richardson Sr.
The lack of quarterbacks in free agency and the draft could lead to starting opportunities for four of the quarterbacks listed above. Kirk Cousins is expected to be released at the start of the league year. Mac Jones will be a popular trade target for teams after a successful starting stretch for the San Francisco 49ers in 2025.
The Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins will have decisions to make regarding Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa, respectively. Both teams would love to trade them away to get rid of their gigantic contracts, but neither will likely find suitors. That could lead to both teams eating massive cap hits to release the players or sucking it up and making it work for one more year.
Of these options, the most enticing one is Murray. A foot injury ended his season after Week 5, but prior to that, he was on pace to throw for 3,270 yards, 20.4 touchdowns and 10.2 interceptions plus 588.2 rushing yards and 3.4 rushing scores. He has plenty of limitations as a passer, but his rushing ability makes him an interesting fantasy option if he’s a starter in 2026.
Fields and Richardson are available as well, but they aren’t going to be starters in 2026. Maybe the right coach and backup opportunity can set them up for future success, but don’t count on anything in the coming season.
Tier 4: Unlikely to Matter… but Could be RelevantTrey Lance, Zach Wilson, Tyler Huntley, Sam Howell
The stage is set for teams to settle on reclamation projects in 2026, especially after Sam Darnold won a Super Bowl with the Seahawks. The four options listed above were either highly drafted (Trey Lance and Zach Wilson) or have starting experience at the NFL level (Wilson, Tyler Huntley, Sam Howell). All of them are under the age of 30, which means they could have something left in the tank.
None of these quarterbacks should be viewed as a long-term starter, but any of them could be a bridge quarterback to help teams get to the highly touted 2027 class for a cheap one-year deal.
Running back
Tier 1: Potential Fantasy Difference MakerBreece Hall, Travis Etienne Jr., Kenneth Walker III
(Javonte Williams would also be listed in this section, but he’s already re-signed a three-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys.)
Breece Hall, Travis Etienne Jr. and Kenneth Walker III all enter their free agency coming off strong seasons in committee backfields. All three backs finished 2025 with a snap share below 60% and an opportunity share below 30% in their final season with their respective teams. All three backs have shown a three-down skillset during the start of their careers.
The Jets have hinted they are exploring whether they will use the franchise or transition tag on Hall (likely to try and recoup a draft pick), which wouldn’t be ideal for his fantasy value. The Jets have a strong offensive line, but no quarterback and a head coach who is more than happy to utilize multiple backs.
Landing a tag will lead to a higher price and could lead to less ideal suitors given the price plus draft compensation.
Tier 2: Potential Waiver ClaimTyler Allgeier, Rico Dowdle, Kenneth Gainwell, J.K. Dobbins, Brian Robinson Jr., Rachaad White, Sean Tucker
Tier 2 of the running back free agents features players who all could see their fantasy stock rise in the right landing spot.
Players like Tyler Allgeier and Brian Robinson Jr. have been starters in previous seasons before taking on breather back roles in 2025 while remaining effective on the ground. Both players could have fantasy value if they land on a team like Denver that is looking for an early down rusher with goal line potential.
Players like Rachaad White and Kenneth Gainwell are excellent passing-down backs who are dangerous in space and can handle some workload in the backfield. Both players aren’t big enough to be a true workhorse, but they can have fantasy value on teams that want to give their quarterbacks better options in the checkdown game.
Dobbins was excellent in 2025, but his lengthy injury history could once again cause him to wait until the summer to sign. Rico Dowdle is coming off back-to-back seasons with 1,000 rushing yards and 200 receiving yards with two different teams, but he faded down the stretch in 2025.
The real wild card in this group is Sean Tucker. The former Tampa Bay Buccaneer was buried behind Bucky Irving and Rachaad White to start his career but showed that he can be an explosive rusher when given opportunities. He’s had a 50.7% rushing success rate the last two seasons with nine touchdowns scored on 136 rushing attempts, but he offers nothing as a pass catcher or blocker.
Tier 3: Unlikely to MatterIsiah Pacheco, Najee Harris, Austin Ekeler
Isiah Pacheco looked like a revelation in his first two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, averaging 4.7 yards per carry and a 53.6% success rate despite being a seventh-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, injuries have limited him to just 20 games the past two seasons and sapped his burst, leading him to average just 3.8 yards per carry, splitting time with Kareem Hunt.
Both Najee Harris and Austin Ekeler suffered torn Achilles tendons early in 2025. Both players could be ready early in the season, but neither can be trusted to make a fantasy impact if they land on a roster next season.
Wide Receiver
Tier 1: Potential Fantasy Difference MakerGeorge Pickens, Alec Pierce, Mike Evans
George Pickens is expected to receive the franchise tag from the Cowboys this offseason, which is a double-edged sword. On one hand, his return to the Cowboys would help him build upon a stellar season that saw him finish as the WR6 in PPR points per game (17.2) while finishing top 10 among receivers in targets (137), receptions (93), receiving yards (1,429) and touchdowns (9). On the other hand, the franchise tag without a long-term deal behind it could lead to a holdout, which could negative impact on his fantasy production next season.
Mike Evans is also set to hit free agency this offseason, fresh off his first career season with fewer than 1,000 receiving yards. Evans may not be the same downfield threat as he was in his earlier days, but he’s still a reliable weapon in the passing attack that can dominate in the red zone, especially for teams looking for an X receiver.
The wild card in this group is Alec Pierce. He has grown beyond his early role as a field stretcher and developed into a player who can win over the middle. That development is poised to make him a lot of money and arguably makes him the second-best wide receiver on the market. The Colts are considering franchise tagging him, which would take a big name off the free agent market.
Tier 2: Potential Waiver ClaimRomeo Doubs, Wan’Dale Robinson, Rashid Shaheed, Jauan Jennings, Deebo Samuel
Nobody in this group is capable of becoming a legitimate top option in a passing attack, but all of them can have fantasy value in the right landing spot. Both Romeo Doubs and Jauan Jennings have the makings of outside receivers who can move the chains and have a role in the end zone. Deebo Samuel’s best days are behind him, but he was still a solid WR3 in 2025 (11.8 PPR points per game) with four 20-plus- point weeks.
The players in this group who are most likely to ascend are Wan’Dale Robinson and Rashid Shaheed. Shaheed is a dangerous deep threat who has proven to be a solid route runner when needed. His speed with the right quarterback (Josh Allen or Patrick Mahomes) could unlock another level to his game.
Robinson is fresh off a WR17 finish in PPR scoring (13.6 PPG). He has back-to-back seasons with 140 targets and 90-plus receptions, but broke 1,000 receiving yards in 2025 thanks to an expansion of his role on offense. He had a career-high 8.5 average depth of target thanks to a career-best 32.7% of his routes coming from out wide.
Tier 3: Unlikely to MatterTyreek Hill, Keenan Allen, Christian Kirk
Tyreek Hill has the power of name recognition, but he suffered a multi-ligament knee injury and still needs another surgery. He may play in 2026, but his play will likely be very diminished. Both Keenan Allen and Christian Kirk serve their purpose as slot receivers and security blankets for quarterbacks, but neither has enough in the tank at this point to be more than a flex option in fantasy.
Tight End
Tier 1: Potential Fantasy Difference MakerKyle Pitts Sr., Isaiah Likely, David Njoku, Dallas Goedert
The Falcons have already stated they will use the franchise tag on KylePitts Sr., which makes him very interesting in fantasy. Kevin Stefanski’s offense frequently utilizes the tight end as the first target, giving Pitts a chance to build upon a strong 2025.
Both David Njoku and Dallas Goedert are getting past their prime, but both can still make plays (especially in the red zone) while healthy. Goedert was awesome in fantasy thanks to 11 touchdowns, but he posted the lowest yards after catch per reception of his career (3.9).
Njoku had his fifth straight season with four touchdowns despite playing 12 games, but could only muster 293 receiving yards, splitting duties with rookie Harold Fannin Jr.
The wild card in this group is Isaiah Likely, a popular breakout candidate every season who just hasn’t broken out. Likely finished top 10 among all tight ends in yards per route run (1.6) and slot rate (52.5%) despite splitting time with Mark Andrews. He could see a big role increase in free agency for teams looking to add dynamism to their offense.
Tier 2: Potential Waiver ClaimTravis Kelce, Darren Waller, Cade Otton, Chig Okonkwo
This group of tight ends could find themselves in interesting roles given the influx of 12 personnel sets sweeping the NFL. Travis Kelce is still deciding on playing next season and will certainly only do so for the Chiefs, so he is worth monitoring.
Darren Waller and Chig Okonkwo are both receiving-first tight ends who can create mismatches from the slot, especially in the red zone. Both players have been fantasy relevant in the past and can finish as top-10 options with the right landing spot.
Cade Otton is a player who is always under the radar but provides a steady floor. Over the last two seasons, he has averaged 84 targets, 59 receptions, 586 yards and 2.5 touchdowns per season. He finished as the TE12 in 2024, something he could replicate if he lands in an offense that is in need of a third option in the passing attack.
Tier 3: Unlikely to MatterTaysom Hill, Zach Ertz, Noah Fant, Tyler Higbee
There isn’t much to celebrate about this group, especially with an influx of young talent entering the NFL. Noah Fant is likely the only player in this group with enough athleticism to still make an impact, but he is coming off arguably his worst professional season (34 receptions for 288 yards and three touchdowns) with the Bengals.