Everything that happens in the NFL has additional context when viewed from a fantasy football perspective. From position battles to injuries and so much more, the news cycle will constantly affect player values in fantasy football.
Our Fantasy Football buzz file, with contributions from our ESPN fantasy writers and our NFL Nation reporters, aims to provide fantasy managers with the intel they need as news breaks around the league.
June 30: Why these three rookie receivers are climbing draft boards
Matt Bowen: After jumping into mock draft rooms while also going through our most recent mock at ESPN, I'm starting to focus on a group of rookie wide receivers I want in my lineup this fall.
Today, let's hit on three who are climbing my summer draft board based on player traits, anticipated usage and value.
Jordyn Tyson, New Orleans Saints: This is an ascending unit with an advanced playcaller in Kellen Moore, and the arrow is pointing up on second-year quarterback Tyler Shough. So, yes, I'm going to look at Tyson as the No. 2 target opposite Chris Olave. Tyson can stretch defenses vertically, and at 6-foot-2 he has the ball skills to win playmaking opportunities. Plus, in Moore's offense -- which features plenty of in-breaking concepts -- Tyson can get loose after the catch on rhythm throws from Shough. I see WR3 upside here, and you can draft Tyson in the middle rounds.
Makai Lemon, Philadelphia Eagles: With A.J. Brown now in New England, Lemon has a clear path to playing the No. 2 role behind top wideout DeVonta Smith in a Philly offense that will have more timing throws (and under-center snaps) for quarterback Jalen Hurts under new coordinator Sean Mannion. Lemon has the foot quickness to separate, and he will accelerate through the ball to create immediate space after the catch. He's a coverage manipulator in the route tree. We saw that on his USC tape. In that mock we did earlier this week, I drafted Lemon in the 10th round. Really good value here for a rookie who can produce some WR2 weeks this season.
Germie Bernard, Pittsburgh Steelers: Bernard is my late-round flier. He has the skills to play inside or outside, but I look at the Alabama product as a slot target in Mike McCarthy's offense. Remember, the slot receiver in McCarthy's system will see the ball, and Bernard, while he's not a vertical blazer, showed the ability to uncover on his SEC tape. Yes, Bernard has real competition for targets in Pittsburgh with DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr., but he can be viewed as a bench stash, especially in 12-team leagues. There's potential upside here as a chain mover for Aaron Rodgers in 2026.
June 29: Will Rashid Shaheed break out for the Seahawks in 2026?
Eric Karabell: A mere two members of the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks are going among the top 100 picks in ESPN average live drafts, and one of those fellows wasn't even on the team last season. That's Notre Dame rookie RB Jadarian Price, who should emerge with Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III off to the Kansas City Chiefs. Of course WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba is still a superstar, and one of the first players off the draft board. That's it! Nobody seems to want Seahawks players after that.
Consider WR Rashid Shaheed as a potential breakout option, and when we say "breakout," that doesn't mean stats like Smith-Njigba. It means perhaps he becomes relevant. Shaheed arrived in mid-season trade from the New Orleans Saints and made little fantasy impact for his new team, catching only 15 passes in nine games and scoring nary a touchdown, but he played a key role in the playoffs on offense and special teams. Shaheed, 27, signed a three-year, $51-million contract. The Seahawks will involve him far more this season.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports Shaheed enjoyed a "major spring" in the team's offseason program and QB Sam Darnold and Shaheed worked well together in spring practices, especially on throws in the intermediate passing game. Smith-Njigba hauled in 37% of Darnold's passes last season, an extraordinary figure not likely to be repeated. Next on Seattle's reception list was TE AJ Barner with 52 catches. WR Cooper Kupp caught 47 passes, roughly three per game. Shaheed is faster, younger, healthier and far more dynamic than Kupp, who is now 33. Consider 50 receptions easily attainable, and 75 realistic -- with at least five TDs -- making Shaheed a name to consider in the middle rounds.
June 26: Three players moving up, three moving down
Matt Bowen: Throughout the summer months, I'll make changes or tweaks to my preseason rankings. This is based on tape study, projected numbers and sometimes just a gut feel for the position. Here are my most recent changes, with three players moving up and three more moving down.
Three players moving up
Emeka Egbuka, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A hamstring injury in Week 6 derailed a hot start to Egbuka's rookie season (20.0 PPG in Weeks 1-5). However, I see a detailed route runner here who can separate at every level of the field. And with Mike Evans now playing in San Francisco, the door is open for Egbuka to emerge as the top target for Baker Mayfield. Egbuka is up to WR15 for me because of the breakout potential here in Year 2.
Travis Etienne Jr., RB, New Orleans Saints: In an ascending Saints offense, Etienne has the makeup of a solid RB2 who can produce some RB1 weeks in Kellen Moore's offense. Yes, Alvin Kamara could potential stay with the team, but that shouldn't impact Etienne's role as the lead back. With his dual-threat traits, Moore can get him loose in space as a pass catcher, plus Etienne can give managers 250-plus carries. I have Etienne slotted as my RB13.
Luther Burden III, WR, Chicago Bears: I had Burden in the WR30 range, but that felt too low. Remember, Burden averaged 15.2 PPG over his last four games in 2025, which includes the 27.8 points he dropped on the 49ers defense in Week 17. Dynamic in the route tree, with high-end ball carrier vision after the catch, Burden is an ideal fit for Ben Johnson's offense. Schemed targets and touches here. That's why I moved him to WR22 -- in front of teammate Rome Odunze.
Three players moving down
Bo Nix, QB, Denver Broncos: Nix is coming off the ankle injury that knocked him out of the playoffs, and Davis Webb is taking over as the primary playcaller for Sean Payton's team. Some variables here to think about: Nix has the potential to produce big weeks (five games of 20 or more points last season), but he's not an elite runner (three games of 40 or more yards rushing) and his lack of passing efficiency lowers his ceiling. He's a QB2 for me.
Aaron Jones Sr., RB, Minnesota Vikings: Availability concerns with Jones are real, as he's missed at least six games in two of his past three seasons. Plus, his production declined last season. Jones averaged only 9.9 PPG in 2025, and I see more upside on the tape with backup Jordan Mason in the run game. Jones is down to RB36 in my ranks.
Hunter Henry, TE, New England Patriots: I rostered Henry in multiple leagues last season. He averaged 10.5 PPG and had enough red zone usage (22 red zone targets, seven end zone targets) to provide weekly upside. However, with the Patriots adding receivers A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs to boost the perimeter passing game, I dropped Henry down to TE 17 in my current rankings. There's a lower ceiling for him heading into 2026.
June 25: Lawrence's late-season surge could be a sign of what's to come
Eric Moody: Trevor Lawrence is one of the better quarterback targets for fantasy managers who prefer to wait on the position in drafts. He is coming off the best fantasy season of his career, finishing as the QB4, and his second-half surge is what really stands out. From Week 12 on, Lawrence finished as the QB1 while averaging 26.3 fantasy points per game. From Weeks 14-17, Lawrence scored 117.9 fantasy points, the most among QBs during that stretch. That's when managers needed him most, with those games coming during the fantasy playoffs.
The biggest difference was Lawrence's rushing production. He ran for a career-high 359 yards and nine touchdowns, while also throwing for 4,007 yards and 29 passing TDs. That rushing TD total is the main regression concern. Lawrence had never scored more than five rushing TDs in a season before, so managers should not assume another nine rushing TD season is coming.
But even with some rushing regression, Lawrence is well positioned for success in Jacksonville in 2026. Liam Coen is back as head coach and playcaller, Lawrence is entering his second year in the system and the Jaguars have a deep group of pass catchers. Jacksonville's offense averaged 27.7 points per game last season, sixth best in the league, and it was even better late in the year. Over the final seven regular-season games, Lawrence had an 18:4 TD-to-interception ratio and the Jaguars averaged 34.4 PPG.
There is also room for Lawrence to continue to develop as a downfield passer. He attempted the sixth-most throws of 20+ air yards last season but completed only 36% of them, ranking 25th among qualified QBs. If Lawrence's chemistry with his receivers, particularly Brian Thomas Jr., improves, his ceiling could be even higher.
June 24: Is MarShawn Lloyd being underrated in early drafts?
Tristan H. Cockcroft: Lloyd, a 2024 third-rounder, has had an exceedingly difficult time staying on the field in two NFL seasons to date. He has appeared in only one of 34 Green Bay Packers games during that time, held back by multiple hamstring issues, groin and hip injuries and appendicitis. And yet, despite Lloyd's numerous absences, there he sits, second on the team's projected running back depth chart following Emanuel Wilson's departure to Seattle.
It's a role that could become fantasy relevant in season, being that starting running back Josh Jacobs is now 28 years old, has 1,108 rushing attempts and 1,270 total touches on his legs over the past four seasons and could face discipline from the league following his arrest in May. The Packers seem to have high hopes for the speedy Lloyd, who has to this point of the offseason remained fully healthy and is showing the level of explosiveness the Packers hoped he would exhibit when they drafted him.
Chris Brooks, who averaged 4.6 yards per carry and ran for 10-plus yards on 11% of his attempts the past two seasons, represents Lloyd's primary competition for the role. Pierre Strong Jr., who spent most of last season on the Packers' practice squad, is another depth candidate.
Lloyd has been the No. 64 running back off the board, picked in only 3.4% of leagues, on average in ESPN drafts thus far, signaling his being beneath the cut in our standard format. If he continues to receive positive practice reports into the preseason, however, he'd elevate himself clearly ahead of the aforementioned competition into the No. 2 role and become a much more important insurance policy for Jacobs' managers in the process. Jot Lloyd's name down now, as he could become a strong wrap-up-round pick for those who draft closer to Week 1 or a pickup if your league drafts early.
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June 23: On which OTA standouts should you buy the fantasy hype?
Mike Clay: Our incredible team of NFL Nation reporters recently published a piece examining the biggest surprise players on each team during spring activities. Of the 32 players mentioned, 21 were players at the four main fantasy positions (QB, RB, WR, TE). Below is a very quick look at the players I'm buying the hype on, and those I'm fading.
On My Radar: Rachaad White, Terrance Ferguson
At cost (aka current ADP), I'm happy to generate some exposure to these two players. White could be the lead (and primary receiving) back in a good Washington offense. Ferguson has substantial competition for snaps in Los Angeles' deep TE room, but he could rise as high as Matthew Stafford's No. 3 target and can go very late in drafts.
Maybe in deep leagues: Greg Dulcich, George Holani
Dulcich has generally been a situational pass-catching tight end throughout his career, but the 26-year-old could lead Miami in targets due to major uncertainty at wide receiver. That still may only land him a fantasy TE2 output in a low-volume pass offense that may not find the end zone much. Holani's best case scenario appears to be an early-season committee with rookie Jadarian Price until Zach Charbonnet returns from injury.
Dynasty WRs Only: Zavion Thomas, Chris Brazzell II, Isaac TeSlaa, Ryan Flournoy, Bryce Lance, Malik Benson
Lots of fun names here, but none of these guys are likely to open 2026 higher than third on their respective team's WR depth chart. They'll hit for the occasional splash game, but consistent WR3/flex value is a longshot in the short term.
That's a no from me, dog: Brian Thomas Jr., Adonai Mitchell
Give me Parker Washington from the Jaguars' WR room. Thomas has upside (we saw it in 2024), but he's yet to play at that level with Trevor Lawrence under center. I'm fading his recent ADP spike. As for Mitchell, there's a lot of hype brewing for a receiver who could open the season as a starter, but who has to compete for targets with Garrett Wilson and first-round rookies Omar Cooper Jr. and Kenyon Sadiq in what projects as a below-average offense led by Geno Smith. Mitchell won't cost you much, but I'm aiming higher with my upside fliers.
Way off the fantasy radar: Devontez Walker, Isaiah Bond, Lewis Bond, DJ Uiagalelei, Josh Whyle, Dillon Bell, Devin Duvernay, Jacob Cowing, Tez Johnson
Receivers Walker, Johnson, Bell, Cowing, Duvernay and both Bonds are simply buried too deep on the depth chart to come close to consistent snaps, targets and fantasy output. Uiagalelei is battling for No. 2 QB duties behind Justin Herbert, while TE Whyle will be a situational player behind Tucker Kraft in Green Bay.
June 22: Why Rachaad White should be on your radar
Eric Karabell: Nary a Washington Commanders running back finished last season among the top 20 fantasy scorers at the position, but that hardly means this offense struggled to run the football. In fact, only three teams rushed for more yards (Bills, Ravens, Bears). Rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt led Washington with 805 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, but he scored double-digit fantasy points only twice in the final 12 games, leaving fantasy managers quite unimpressed.
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn certainly seems quite impressed with new RB Rachaad White, who he named late last week as one of the team's standout performers of OTAs and minicamp, though he stopped short of naming the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers starter as Washington's starter. Then again, who would realistically stand in White's way? Croskey-Merritt, smaller than White and lacking receiving chops (he caught nine passes in 17 games!), was inconsistent and fumbled four times. Kaytron Allen, Jerome Ford and Jeremy McNichols are Commanders, too, but lack White's achievements.
It may be time for fantasy managers to better appreciate the 27-year-old White and the prime opportunity he boasts to become a sleeper of a RB2 option. After all, White finished among the top 10 running backs during the 2023 season, when he combined 1,539 yards from scrimmage with 64 receptions and nine total touchdowns. Then the team drafted dynamic Bucky Irving. White went from 336 touches in 2023 to 367 touches over the following two seasons combined. The Commanders signed the free agent White to a steal of a $2 million contract for one season. Motivation should not be an issue.
Sure, a Washington offense led by running QB Jayden Daniels will be something new for White, but high volume, especially in the passing game seems likely. White boasts 205 catches in his four-year career, turning 11 of those receptions into touchdowns. His current ADP of No. 34 at running back and outside the top 100 overall offers excellent value, especially with how White has performed so far for his new team and wowed his coaching staff.
No Commanders running back has rushed for 1,000 yards since Antonio Gibson in 2021 -- and this offense is led by a running quarterback -- but still, White feels undervalued. Follow his progress this summer and do not be afraid to take a chance on someone who everyone loved only three seasons ago.
June 18: Reportedly returning to health, is a return to fantasy prominence next for Lions' LaPorta?
Liz Loza: Sam LaPorta was a partial participant at the Detroit Lions' mandatory minicamp earlier this week and is "trending the right way," per coach Dan Campbell. The 25-year-old tight end was sidelined for the final eight weeks last season and is working his way back from herniated disk surgery. Prior to the injury, LaPorta was averaging nearly 12 fantasy points per contest (TE9). While that was an improvement on his per-game production from 2024 (10.9 fantasy PPG), it's a far cry from the numbers posted during his first pro campaign (14.1).
Despite sagging stats in successive seasons, the Detroit brass doesn't seem deterred. The team is expected to ink an extension with the former Iowa standout in the coming weeks. There is also optimism that with the arrival of new OC Drew Petzing, who runs an exceptionally tight end-friendly offense, LaPorta could return to his rookie form. Given the depth and talent of the team's available pass catchers, however, it's unlikely that LaPorta will manage an elite target share, particularly in the red area of the field.
Currently the seventh tight end being selected, LaPorta is coming off the board in the eighth round of fantasy drafts. With health and consistent volume a concern, the ADP is fair. Still, bolstering a different position remains alluring, as potential breakout candidate Bhayshul Tuten and undervalued vet Mike Evans are both available in the same round. Plus, value at tight end can be mined into the double-digit rounds, with sleeper darling Isaiah Likely and previous fantasy football buzz mention Jake Ferguson both falling outside of the top 100 fantasy players selected.
June 17: Josh Downs is a smart late-round target
Eric Moody: Josh Downs isn't the kind of pick that gets people excited on draft day, but that's exactly what makes him intriguing.
His 2025 season was underwhelming. Downs caught 58 of 88 targets for 566 yards and four touchdowns, and his role took a hit once Tyler Warren became a bigger part of the offense. The Colts also leaned more into heavier personnel, which reduced Downs' snaps and limited the quick, underneath targets that usually fuel his fantasy value.
But the setup looks different heading into 2026.
Michael Pittman Jr. is now with the Pittsburgh Steelers after finishing with 111 targets last season, leaving a lot of targets behind in Indianapolis. Downs is not going to absorb all of them, but he doesn't need to. He just needs to get back closer to the role he had in 2024, when he finished with 107 targets, 72 receptions, 803 yards and five touchdowns.
That's the case for drafting him.
Downs wins in ways that matter in fantasy. He separates, works well from the slot and gives the quarterback a reliable short area option. Downs may not be a big-play receiver like Alec Pierce or a red zone threat like Warren, but he can pile up receptions if the volume is there.
The Colts seem ready to put more on Downs' plate. General manager Chris Ballard praised Downs this offseason and made it clear the team wants to give him more chances. With Pittman gone, those chances should be there.
Downs is not a perfect fantasy target. The touchdown ceiling is limited, and the Colts still have other players who will command touches. But with Downs readily available in Round 10 of drafts, you are not selecting him to be an immediate starter. You're drafting him because he is projected for 100-plus targets and is not far behind Pierce and Warren in the Colts' target pecking order.
June 16: What do fantasy managers need to look out for with Rashee Rice?
Mike Clay: Rashee Rice was released from jail on Tuesday after serving 30 days for a probation violation. As it pertains to his 2026 fantasy football value, there are two things we need to monitor in the coming months:
1. Possible discipline. It appears unlikely that Rice will be suspended again and even if he is, it would certainly be substantially shorter than the six games he missed to open last season.
2. Health. Rice had a clean-up surgery on his right knee in May, though Andy Reid expects him to be ready for training camp.
Again, we'll need to keep an eye on Rice's status leading up to the heart of fantasy draft season, but there is little need for concern about his Week 1 availability as things stand.
The 2023 second-round pick is still eyeing his first full NFL season as a starter. He missed most of 2024 due to injury and appeared in only eight games last season (suspension Weeks 1-6, injured Weeks 16-18). He was productive when active, though, handling 9.8 targets per game and delivering five top-12 fantasy outings. With Patrick Mahomes also expected to be ready to roll for Week 1, Rice remains in the back-end WR1 mix in fantasy. With minimal concerns related to injury and suspension, he makes for a solid value in the middle of the third round of early drafts.
June 15: Bears backfield committee limits upside, but Swift still the top option
Matt Bowen: Are we overlooking the Chicago Bears backfield heading into the 2026 season? Maybe. But with two solid running backs, it does limit the fantasy ceiling of both D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai.
Swift quietly produced 14.3 fantasy PPG last season, while posting five weeks of 19 or more points. He added 39 receptions, too. And Swift is going to see around 15 touches per game, which includes red zone carries (he had 10 inside the 5-yard line last season). Swift gives you some juice on the perimeter and he has the ball carrier vision to produce on screens and underneath throws.
Monangai, the Bears' No. 2 option, is an ideal complement to Swift. He's the downhill hammer, with the short-area burst and contact balance to work through the wash on inside carries. Monangai scored 8.6 FPPG last season and his usage increased in scoring position. He had 16 goal-to-go carries, including 10 inside the 5-yard line. While Monangai doesn't have the same level of receiving traits as Swift, he can contribute on screens and checkdowns (18 receptions last season), and he's going to see close to 10 touches a week.
The run game under head coach Ben Johnson is a foundational piece of the system, as the Bears ranked third in rushing last season at 144.5 yards per game. Johnson's scheme is designed to create blocking advantages to the play side. We will see more two- and three-tight end sets this season as well, which can create backfield production.
Based on our recent Mock Draft Project at ESPN, Swift checked in at RB25, with Monangai at RB37. Sounds fair, right? This looks more like a backfield committee given the projected deployment and week-to-week touches.
Now, if I had to draft one? It's Swift. He can be a quality starter as a lower-end RB2/flex, while Monangai is a strong insurance back with the potential to make your starting lineup as a deeper-league flex this season.