There are still plenty of quality free agents available—including quarterbacks like Kyler Murray still yet to find a home—and things will change with the 2026 NFL Draft. However, it’s a good time to give quick, instant reactions from a fantasy perspective for notable signings through the first wave of free agency.
Quarterback
Malik Willis, Dolphins
Willis signed a three-year, $67.5 million deal with the Dolphins, and despite perhaps not being a roster that’s positioned to win—he does have a couple of big-time playmakers in De’Von Achane and Jaylen Waddle to target. Based on what he can do as a runner and the flashes shown in Green Bay, Willis should carry plenty of upside as a late-round option at quarterback.
Tua Tagovailoa, Falcons
There is no indication right now whether Tagovailoa or Michael Penix Jr. will have the advantage in a potential quarterback competition, but the third-year passer coming off a torn ACL gives Tua a big opportunity throughout the offseason and into the summer. Whoever starts will be in a great spot behind a top offensive line and with excellent skill-position talent.
Running back
Kenneth Walker III, Chiefs
Fantasy owners have been frustrated by inconsistent usage for Walker, but the Super Bowl run showed how dominant he can be as a workhorse—which Kansas City paid him to be for them. Considering the history of success for running backs in Andy Reid’s offense, Walker is an exciting RB1.
Travis Etienne Jr., Saints
The status of Alvin Kamara is a wild card for this year with retirement or a trade sounding like a possibility, but Etienne was signed to be the feature back for Kellen Moore—and he’s been similar to Walker in terms of the talent not always being fully featured. If the Saints add another wideout this offseason to open things up, watch out.
J.K. Dobbins, Broncos
Denver was unable to upgrade the backfield after checking in on Travis Etienne Jr., but Dobbins is a solid fallback option after he averaged 5.0 yards per carry for them in 2025. The veteran has a chance to pick up where he left off with RJ Harvey arguably being a better fit in a complementary role.
Rico Dowdle, Steelers
Dowdle wanted an opportunity to start somewhere coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and unfortunately didn’t get it—but Pittsburgh does offer him what should be a very even split with Jaylen Warren. The familiarity with head coach Mike McCarthy will only help, and Dowdle has quietly caught 39 passes in back-to-back seasons as well, including with Dallas and McCarthy in 2024.
Kenneth Gainwell, Buccaneers
Bucky Irving is entrenched as the lead back for Tampa Bay, but we saw them rotate in Rachaad White and Sean Tucker quite a bit last season—and Gainwell was surely told he’ll be heavily involved for them. We could see a situation like the one Gainwell thrived in with Pittsburgh due to him sharing a similar skillset with Irving (as was the case with Jaylen Warren).
Tyler Allgeier, Cardinals
Arizona bringing back James Conner on a restructured deal gives this the makings of a full-blown committee, but Allgeier has been very familiar with outside-zone runs—a big part of new head coach Matt LaFleur’s scheme—dating back to his time at BYU. Depending on how Conner looks in the summer, there could be a path to low-end RB2/FLEX value for Allgeier.
Isaiah Pacheco, Lions
The Lions needed a replacement for David Montgomery after trading him to Houston, and Pacheco’s hard-charging running style is an ideal fit for Dan Campbell’s squad. However, the skillset as a pure runner doesn’t quite match Montgomery, so Pacheco will be more of a handcuff—especially with Jahmyr Gibbs getting featured more than ever in 2025.
Wide receiver
Alec Pierce, Colts
Pierce signed a massive four-year, $114 million deal to remain with the Colts, and it was followed up with Michael Pittman Jr. being traded to the Steelers—opening the door for the NFL leader in yards per reception over the past two seasons to be fed more targets. A strong connection with Daniel Jones should make him a high-upside WR2 option with a raised floor.
Mike Evans, 49ers
San Francisco felt like the perfect landing spot for Evans if he was indeed leaving the Bucs, and that’s where he signed—giving Brock Purdy a big-bodied target on the perimeter. We would say the best-case scenario is Evans having legitimate WR1 value by being a force in scoring territory like Davante Adams was for the Rams last season.
Romeo Doubs, Patriots
Doubs headlines the signings made on the second day of the legal tampering period with a four-year, $70 million deal—and he should be the clear No. 1 receiver for Drake Maye this season. Volume is the only thing that held Doubs back in Green Bay as he played in a rotating group, but the Patriots should feature him heavily (and at all three levels of the field) under Josh McDaniels.
Rashid Shaheed, Seahawks
It felt like Shaheed might be headed elsewhere this offseason, but the Bills instead traded for DJ Moore as perhaps his top landing spot—so he’s back with Seattle on a three-year, $51 million deal. The offensive production should only improve with a full year in Seattle, and they might even try to open things up coming off the Super Bowl win.
Wan’Dale Robinson, Titans
Robinson has been a very good PPR asset with catch totals of 93 and 92 over the past two seasons, and the Titans were clearly his best spot to continue that success with Brian Daboll there as offensive coordinator. We’ll see what else Tennessee does at wide receiver this offseason, but Robinson will be a steady contributor fresh off a four-year, $78 million deal.
Jahan Dotson, Falcons
Dotson was one of our favorite free agent values, and the Falcons also saw his potential by striking quick on a two-year deal—making him the No. 2 wideout behind Drake London. The best thing for his upside might be Michael Penix Jr. winning the starting job and reestablishing the top-tier deep ball he had in college.
Jalon Nailor, Raiders
Nailor is thought to have had quite a few suitors, but he landed in Las Vegas on a three-year, $35 million pact—likely setting him up to catch passes from presumed No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza. For his career, Nailor has averaged 15.4 yards per reception, but we’ll have to see if the Raiders add a playmaker at No. 14 overall or early on Day 2.
Tyquan Thornton, Chiefs
The Chiefs obviously signed Kenneth Walker III and brought back Travis Kelce, but Thornton’s return shouldn’t go overlooked—particularly with Rashee Rice’s status now seeming to be perpetually in some doubt. The speedster basically saying he values a role more than money could be a sign the team will use him more moving forward.
Treylon Burks, Commanders
Burks showed the ability that made him a first-round pick when he got a shot last year in Washington, and a case could be made for him currently being their No. 2 wideout with Deebo Samuel Sr. gone. Health has long been the concern (and again, we need to see what happens in the draft), but Burks should be on the radar.
Kendrick Bourne, Cardinals
The Cardinals having Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson atop the depth chart at wide receiver and Trey McBride at tight end might make it difficult for Bourne to produce—but he showed as recent as last season that he can put up numbers with a bigger role (back-to-back games with 142 receiving yards in October). At this point, quarterback might be the bigger concern with Arizona having the most uncertain situation in the league.
Kalif Raymond, Bears
Luther Burden III is set to emerge as a fully featured weapon for Ben Johnson in 2026, but Raymond helps fill the void left by DJ Moore—and he produced under Johnson in Detroit with 9.4 yards per target from 2021 through 2024. He could have some solid games as the No. 3 wideout.
Olamide Zaccheaus, Falcons
Zaccheaus began his career as Matt Ryan was finishing up his time in Atlanta, so that time spent together probably played a role in the team bringing him back early in free agency. Still, it’s best to view him as a better real-life addition than fantasy option with everyone healthy.
Tight end
Isaiah Likely, Giants
Likely comes over to New York along with John Harbaugh—and we should reiterate what his head coach said about him before a foot injury derailed his 2025 campaign by stating “All-Pro” was the goal for the young tight end. A featured role with the Giants should make Likely a TE1.
Travis Kelce, Chiefs
As alluded to, the status of Rashee Rice is again up in the air (this time due to domestic violence allegations), so Kelce could be returning for a 14th season that sees him get monster usage between the numbers. Before last season when he finished with a 76/851/5 line and saw Patrick Mahomes tear his ACL, Kelce had 92+ receptions in all six seasons with Mahomes as the starter.
Cade Otton, Buccaneers
Otton hasn’t always seen consistent involvement with the Bucs, but Mike Evans leaving could open the door for him to have a larger role—and the team is counting on that being the case after a three-year, $30 million deal. Getting the touchdowns up (one last season after four in each of the previous two seasons) is key.
Greg Dulcich, Dolphins
There will be targets up for grabs behind Jaylen Waddle and De’Von Achane for Miami, so Dulcich—who emerged last December with 41+ receiving yards in all four games—will have a real shot at being a fantasy factor. The Dolphins are a virtual lock to add more weapons, but Dulcich is positioned well.
Noah Fant, Saints
Last year was somewhat of a quiet campaign for Fant as he was released right before camp by Seattle and then joined the Bengals—but he’s still just 28 and lands with a creative offensive mind in Kellen Moore. Depending on who the Saints add at wide receiver, Fant could have a decent role alongside Juwan Johnson.
Charlie Kolar, Chargers
Kolar was signed to a solid three-year, $24 million deal based largely on what he brings as a blocker, but the receiving upside shouldn’t go overlooked after he was stuck behind Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely in Baltimore. Catching passes from the fireball-throwing Justin Herbert in scoring territory can help the six-foot-seven Kolar, too.
Austin Hooper, Falcons
As is typically the case at tight end, touchdowns will be key in determining how much value Hooper can have behind Kyle Pitts Sr.—but there have notably been some whispers about a potential trade. Assuming that doesn’t happen, Hooper will be relying on his experience in Kevin Stefanski’s offense to make an impact in his second stint with the Falcons.