NFL Free Agency Fantasy Football Fallout: Kenneth Walker III, Mike Evans and more 2026 outlooks

To help you keep track of the top skill position players available in free agency, analyst Justin Boone has ranked them based on their projected fantasy football value in 2026. Here’s his look at the most important players you’ll be hearing about now that the legal tampering period opened on Monday and what their fantasy outlooks are moving forward.

The rankings will continue to be updated as news trickles out and players begin agreeing to deals — whether the player stayed put or found a new home.

1. Kenneth Walker III, RB – signing with Chiefs

Kansas City made a big splash on the first day of the legal tampering period, landing the Super Bowl MVP in Walker to help revamp a rushing attack that had gone dormant in recent years. The Chiefs have seen their team rushing yards fall from 19th in the league, to 22nd to 25th over the last three seasons. With Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt hitting free agency, the window was wide open for the front office to head in a different direction. Enter Walker, who had shown he was capable of being a fantasy starter when healthy in 2024, when he was RB12 in fantasy points per game.

Unfortunately, the Seahawks used him as more of a committee back for the majority of the 2025 campaign, until the stretch run, when Zach Charbonnet got injured. Over his final six outings (including the postseason), Walker averaged 128.5 scrimmage yards per contest and was a dominant force for the Seahawks. With this type of investment, it seems likely the Chiefs view him as a difference-making lead back who they’ll lean on, especially early in the season while Patrick Mahomes gets back to form coming off his ACL tear.

We know the talent is there for Walker and in this environment, he can finally emerge as a fantasy RB1.

2. George Pickens, WR — Cowboys’ franchise tag

Pickens is expected to stay in Dallas thanks to the franchise tag, but we should all be hoping a long-term deal gets done before the season. Given Pickens’ mercurial nature, it’s fair to question how playing on a one-year tag could impact his approach as the season goes on. If he avoids any contract distractions, we know how effective he can be in this offense after he finished as the WR6 in fantasy points per game last season.

3. Breece Hall, RB — Jets’ franchise tag

The Jets won’t be letting Hall leave New York, which is a disappointing development for fantasy managers. We’ve witnessed Hall averaging RB1 fantasy numbers multiple times — in his rookie season before he suffered an ACL tear and during the 2023 campaign when he regained his form late in the year and was the second-highest scoring fantasy RB behind only Christian McCaffrey. Unfortunately, the Jets’ struggles have lowered Hall’s fantasy ceiling and turned him into more of a boom-or-bust RB2.

4. Travis Etienne Jr., RB – signing with Saints

For the first time since entering the NFL, Etienne will be wearing a jersey without a Jaguars logo on it. The former first-round pick is headed to New Orleans on a four-year, $52 million deal that will make him the new starting running back for the Saints. Incumbent starter Alvin Kamara, who turns 31 in July, showed clear signs of decline over the last couple seasons and turned in career lows in several categories. Meanwhile, Etienne is coming off a bounce-back season where he finished as the RB10 in FPPG, with a big chunk of the credit going to Liam Coen’s arrival in Jacksonville. Fortunately for Etienne, Kellen Moore is an outstanding offensive mind and should get the most of his new 27-year-old back. This move spells the end of Kamara’s time as a fantasy starter and crushes the fantasy upside of younger backs like Kendre Miller and Devin Neal. But Etienne will be comfortably inside the top-24 running backs in my next rankings update.

5. Mike Evans, WR – signing with 49ers

It wasn’t long ago that the 49ers seemed set at receiver with Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel Sr., Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall. How quickly things can change. Pearsall might be the only member of that group still with the club at the start of the season, so finding reinforcements was a must. Evans was one of the top wideouts on the free agent market and should provide all the help the Niners need — as long as he can stay healthy.

The veteran will turn 33 this summer and is showing some signs of decline, but he’s still a very dangerous weapon — especially in the red zone. As long as his ADP stays realistic and managers aren’t valuing him like the old Mike Evans, he’ll be an intriguing pick in fantasy this year as a WR3 with upside if he can avoid another stint on injured reserve.

6. Alec Pierce, WR – returning to Colts

The Colts wasted no time locking down Pierce to a massive four-year, $116-million deal to keep him in Indianapolis. This comes after his first 1,000-yard campaign, where he also contributed six touchdowns and became an important part of the team’s passing attack. It’s worth noting that he did this on incredible efficiency, with just 47 catches. Shortly after this signing was reported, news arrived that Colts wideout Michael Pittman Jr. was being traded to the Steelers.

It’ll be interesting to see how this move impacts Pierce, who doesn’t profile as a true No. 1 receiver, but should see an uptick in targets with Pittman gone. Either way, it’s undeniable that Pierce has expanded his game over the last couple of seasons, but fantasy managers should still have reservations about whether he can continue to produce as a top-25 receiver — a feat he accomplished over the final 11 games last year. Clearly, the Colts believe he can. I’m a little more skeptical, viewing him as a fantasy WR3 with significant weekly upside, though Pittman’s departure increases his potential ceiling.

7. Kyler Murray, QB

Kyler is coming off a tough season with the Cardinals that ended early due to a foot injury. However, prior to getting hurt he failed to finish inside the top-15 fantasy QBs in any game this year. While he was a top-12 fantasy option on a per game basis every year of his career prior to 2025, his production has been headed in the wrong direction for six straight seasons, posting results of QB3, QB4, QB7, QB10, QB12 and most recently QB20. A fresh start is clearly needed for Murray and his rushing ability will keep him on the fantasy radar regardless of where he ends up, but his landing spot will ultimately dictate whether he deserves consideration as an upside fantasy asset moving forward.

8. Wan’Dale Robinson, WR – signing with Titans

One of the worst kept secrets heading into free agency was the likely reunion between Robinson and his former head coach Brian Daboll, who’s now the offensive coordinator in Tennessee. It’s a much-needed addition for a Titans’ offense in desperate need of playmakers in the passing game. After posting a bizarre 93-catch, 699-yard, three-touchdown stat line as a screen machine and short-yardage merchant in 2024, Robinson flashed more downfield ability last season. The 25-year-old quietly finished as WR21 in fppg with 92 catches, 1,014 yards and four touchdowns, including three 100-yard outings. While Robinson isn’t going to become a league-winner with the Titans, he will have a chance to rack up targets once again, making him a fantasy value as a WR3 with sneaky upside.

9. Kyle Pitts, TE — Falcons’ franchise tag

The Falcons are electing to keep Pitts on the franchise tag, which is probably the best thing for his fantasy outlook. However, it’s important to keep in mind the environment that led to his production spike in 2025. In the first 11 weeks, Drake London was active most of the time and Pitts was the TE21 in fppg during that stretch. Once London got hurt and eventually was eased back into the lineup, Pitts was the TE3 in fppg over the final eight weeks of the fantasy calendar. He also only topped 10 fantasy points six times and four of those happened when London was sidelined.

New head coach Kevin Stefanski is a positive addition for the Falcons’ tight end, but Pitts’ late-season surge comes with an asterisk. Consider him more of a low-end TE1 than the elite scorer he was down the stretch last season.

10. Malik Willis, QB – signing with Dolphins

Willis is the latest backup quarterback to parlay a series of strong relief appearances into a starting job in free agency. Now Miami is hoping Willis can be the next Baker Mayfield or Sam Darnold and give them a franchise QB after the Tua Tagovailoa era came to a disappointing end. While Willis still has a lot to prove as a real-life starter, his fantasy outlook is extremely bright anytime he’s on the field. We saw his rushing upside on display during his three starts for the Packers over the last two years and he finished as a top-seven fantasy QB in two of those three outings. Willis’ dual-threat ability will give him a chance to flirt with low-end QB1 fantasy numbers — just be mindful that the pass volume is likely to take a hit for the Dolphins. In those three starts, Willis only attempted 14, 19 and 21 passes — which will impact the fantasy ceilings for Jaylen Waddle and company.

11. Rico Dowdle, RB – signing with Steelers

The Steelers simply don’t seem interested in having one defined workhorse back. The departure of Kenneth Gainwell created another opportunity for Jaylen Warren to take a step forward in fantasy, but the arrival of Dowdle will prevent that from happening — while also stifling Dowdle’s fantasy potential. At the midway mark last season, Dowdle looked like the ultimate league winner with a pair of outings where he eclipsed 200 scrimmage yards. Sadly, his production trailed off down the stretch but we’re still talking about a back who posted over 1,300 yards each of the past two campaigns for Dallas and Carolina. In Pittsburgh, he’ll reunite with his former Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy and be an excellent fit as a skilled ball carrier who can form a dynamic tandem with Warren. Unfortunately for fantasy, this pushes Warren and Dowdle into the risky RB3 range. Smart real life signing, but yet another move that will frustrate fantasy managers on a weekly basis.

12. Stefon Diggs, WR

Diggs is coming off an impressive season, but the Patriots have reportedly informed him that he’ll be released after the start of the new league year. It’s still notable that he was able to post 85 receptions for 1,013 yards as a 32-year-old receiver returning from an ACL tear — finishing as the WR29 in FPPG. The veteran wideout is definitely capable of producing in a meaningful way, even if he’s on the backside of his career. However, he’ll be looking for his fourth team in four years while also dealing with legal issues off the field, which might make some teams hesitant to sign him.

13. Kenneth Gainwell, RB – signing with Buccaneers

Tampa’s decision to not bring back Rachaad White or Sean Tucker left a big hole behind starter Bucky Irving. On one hand, it would have been great to see Irving take on more of a workhorse role, but a complementary back was always going to be a priority after his injury-plagued campaign in 2025. Gainwell is an outstanding real-life addition for the Bucs, as an overqualified backup who excels in the passing game. Gainwell quickly became a reliable target for Aaron Rodgers last year and starred when he was asked to make relief starts. However, without another Irving injury, Gainwell’s fantasy outlook will be kept in check as a flex option. Meanwhile, this takes some wind out of Irving’s sails, bumping him down into the fantasy RB2 range.

14. Tyler Allgeier, RB – signing with Cardinals

When Allgeier left the Falcons, it seemed like his intention was to find an offense where he would get a bigger role than the one he had behind Bijan Robinson in Atlanta. Perhaps that will be the case in Arizona, but he joins a backfield that already features James Conner (just took a pay cut to stay with the team after an injury-shortened campaign) and Trey Benson (coming off a serious knee injury of his own). Allgeier’s new contract is only a two-year, $12.25 million deal, which is far from starter money. I’d expect Allgeier to be in a committee with a fading Conner and an unproven Benson. With Allgeier not offering much as a pass-catcher, the path to a meaningful fantasy season is slim. Consider Allgeier a TD-or-bust RB3 flex option, until we know more about the health of Conner and Benson. This has the makings of a fantasy nightmare.

15. Jauan Jennings, WR

Jennings has popped up for some very strong stretches in San Francisco, but it’s hard to tell how much of his production (including nine TDs in 2025) are a product of Kyle Shanahan’s system. When Jennings missed time, we’ve seen journeymen wideouts like Kendrick Bourne and Demarcus Robinson step up with big performances. That makes me skeptical that Jennings will find significant fantasy success with a new squad.

16. Dallas Goedert, TE

Goedert is a talented tight end whose fantasy value has been kept in check while playing alongside two star wideouts in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. If he leaves Philadelphia, Goedert could surprise people even at 31 years old. Just don’t expect another 11-touchdown campaign, since that was twice as many as he’s scored in any other season.

17. Daniel Jones, QB – Colts’ transition tag

Jones was the QB8 in fppg through 13 weeks before tearing his Achilles in December. That’s worrisome for a quarterback who boosts his fantasy numbers on the ground, since he’ll almost certainly run less in his first year after the injury. If he returns to the Colts, which seems likely after the QB received the transition tag, there are question marks around the receiving corps with Alec Pierce’s free agency looming and Michael Pittman Jr. being rumored as a possible cut candidate.

18. J.K. Dobbins, RB – returning to Broncos

Dobbins is back with the Broncos after a foot injury brought an early end to his 2025 campaign. Prior to getting hurt, Dobbins was the RB22 in fppg, with a rookie version of R.J. Harvey playing a part-time role that allowed him to be the RB33 during that same time frame. However, once Dobbins was sidelined from Week 11 on, Harvey broke out as the RB9 on a per-game basis (15.3 fppg) with four top-12 weekly finishes over his last six outings.

Dobbins returning might seem like a bad thing, but the reality is that the veteran hasn’t completed a full NFL season during his career. We should always avoid calling players injury prone, but Dobbins durability concerns seem like a foregone conclusion each year. While ADPs will factor in, Harvey is the Broncos back I’ll be targeting since he’s the most likely to be in my lineup when it matters most in the second half of the season. Dobbins could be a useful piece in the opening month or so; just make sure you trade him away before he hits the trainers’ table.

19. Rashid Shaheed, WR – returning to Seahawks

Shaheed made an obvious impact during the Seahawks’ Super Bowl run, even if his fantasy production was limited after he joined the team in a trade before the deadline. Don’t let that erase your memory when it comes to Shaheed’s potential. He was a WR3/flex option during the first half of the season with the Saints in 2025, the WR21 in fppg through five weeks in 2024 before getting hurt and he posted six top-20 WR fantasy finishes in 2023.

There’s a ceiling that has yet to be unlocked for Shaheed and he should find more fantasy success moving forward, even if it is just as a boom-or-bust flex option. Let’s just hope this doesn’t impede one of my favorite sleepers: sophomore Tory Horton.

20. Rachaad White, RB

White has definitely improved in recent years and had some quality starts when Bucky Irving missed time. However, as Irving’s absence grew longer, the Bucs eventually gave more work to Sean Tucker. Regardless of where White ends up, the 27-year-old remains a committee back who’ll need an injury to clear a path for him to be a fantasy starter.

21. Isiah Pacheco, RB – signing with Lions

Pacheco’s time in Kansas City had its moments but left a lot to be desired. Now, he’ll settle into a more suitable role as the Lions’ No. 2 running back – filling the void left by the David Montgomery trade. The 27-year-old Pacheco is more than capable of handling the power-back duties and giving the Lions most of what Montgomery brought to this offense. However, in recent years Montgomery’s role had been reduced and his fantasy impact was nowhere near what it was when he first got to Detroit. Jahmyr Gibbs has vaulted into a starring role and that will continue, even if Pacheco siphons off some touches in the Montgomery spot. If you’re breaking ties at the top of draftboards, Bijan Robinson remains ahead of Gibbs. Meanwhile, Pacheco should be viewed as a TD-or-bust RB3/flex with a significantly higher ceiling if Gibbs gets hurt.

22. Deebo Samuel Sr., WR

Though Samuel was the WR32 in fppg on the season, he was held under 10 fantasy points in eight of his last 11 outings. Now on the wrong side of 30, Samuel will be more of a depth contributor for an offense, rather than the star piece he was in years past. Adjust your fantasy expectations accordingly.

23. Brian Robinson Jr., RB

After joining the 49ers, Robinson became an afterthought in fantasy. However, he’s just one year removed from posting 1,101 scrimmage yards and nine total touchdowns while finishing as the RB21 in fppg. He’s more than capable of being the lead back and early-down grinder in a committee — if he chooses to leave San Francisco.

24. Tyreek Hill, WR

Though it might be jarring to see Hill this far down on any rankings list, we can’t ignore the serious injury he suffered last season, including a dislocated knee and multiple torn ligaments. If Hill suits up in 2026 (which is not a guarantee), it likely won’t be until later in the season, making him a late-round fantasy pick at best. Don’t be surprised if he stays on the market for a while, with teams being cautious about investing in an injured receiver who turns 32 in March.

25. Isaiah Likely, TE – signing with Giants

We’ve all be waiting for Likely to get a chance to start after spending the first stretch of his career trapped behind Mark Andrews in Baltimore. The good news is that he’s finally out from Andrews’ shadow and following his coach John Harbaugh to New York. The bad news is that the Giants already have a decent tight end in Theo Johnson, whose status as a fantasy sleeper is all but destroyed by this news. With the Ravens, Likely’s usable fantasy performances became few and far between, but now he’ll have an opportunity to write his own story while catching passes from another exciting quarterback in Jaxson Dart. Count me among those who are very intrigued to see what Likely can do at the top of the Giants depth chart, especially with Malik Nabers recovering from a serious knee injury that could slow him down to start the season. Though Likely will probably settle in as a fantasy TE2, he has the ability to emerge as a top-12 option at the position if things go well.

26. Romeo Doubs, WR – signing with Patriots

Doubs seems like a consolation prize for the Patriots’ who are in the market for a No. 1 receiver for Drake Maye. Though the landing spot is solid attached to a good young quarterback, fantasy managers should be careful about over-inflating Doubs’ value. During his time with the Packers, Doubs was a spike-week star who would pop up for an occasional multiple-touchdown game, but remained relatively underwhelming for fantasy most weeks. That’s likely to continue in New England. Consider him a WR4/flex option, who will continue to make the Patriots’ receiving corps difficult to project week to week.

27. Travis Kelce, TE – returning to Chiefs

No surprises here as Kelce decides to stay in Kansas City. The long-time star finished as a top-eight fantasy tight end last year, but is showing more signs of decline entering his age-37-season. While he’s still capable of returning low-end TE1 production, fantasy managers should look elsewhere for a starting tight end. The ceiling is only going to drop further for Kelce and the uncertainty around Patrick Mahomes’ Week 1 health coming off a December ACL tear doesn’t help matters.

28. David Njoku, TE

Harold Fannin Jr. may have brought an end to David Njoku’s time in Cleveland, but the 29-year-old veteran was a top-six fantasy tight end in per-game scoring during the 2023 and 2024 campaigns. There’s another chapter yet to be written in his fantasy career.

29. Chig Okonkwo, TE

As you can see by this recent portion in the rankings, there are a lot of quality veteran tight ends hitting the market. Okonkwo isn’t a household name, but he’s caught more than 50 passes each of the last three years in Tennessee and posted at least 450 yards in all four of his NFL campaigns. He’s another tight end who’s still waiting to show us the best version of himself.

30. Cade Otton, TE – returning to Buccaneers

Otton might be a better real-life tight end than a fantasy one. Most of his startable fantasy weeks came when injuries ravaged the Buccaneers’ receiver room. So, seeing him return to Tampa Bay isn’t very exciting from a fantasy perspective. With so many intriguing tight end options in fantasy entering next season, Otton should be well off your radar unless we see injuries sidelined Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin or Jalen McMillan.

Best of the rest

31. Jalen Nailor, WR – signing with Raiders
32. Tua Tagovailoa, QB – signing with Falcons
33. Sean Tucker, RB
34. Najee Harris, RB
35. Keenan Allen, WR
36. Aaron Rodgers, QB
37. Kirk Cousins, QB
38. Darnell Mooney, WR
39. Marcus Mariota, QB – returning to Commanders
410 Christian Kirk, WR
41. Zach Ertz, TE
42. Darren Waller, TE
43. Jonnu Smith, TE
44. Emanuel Wilson, RB
45. Hollywood Brown, WR
46. Jahan Dotson, WR – signing with Falcons
47. Tyquan Thornton, WR – returning to Chiefs
48. Kendrick Bourne, WR – signing with Cardinals
49. Austin Ekeler, RB
50. Jerome Ford, RB

NFL Free Agency Fantasy Football Fallout: Kenneth Walker III, Mike Evans and more 2026 outlooks

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