Note: Check back throughout the NFL offseason as we’ll update this page with all the latest player movements worthy of mention for fantasy football 2026.

Kenneth Walker signs with the Kansas City Chiefs

Walker entered Monday as the consensus RB16 in FantasyPros ADP, but he’s moved to my RB10 after signing with the Chiefs. Kansas City is an ideal landing spot with little to no competition for touches, although the Chiefs will likely add a passing-down back. Walker should immediately become a focal point of an offense with Rashee Rice’s status in question and Patrick Mahomes returning from a torn ACL. The Super Bowl MVP has led all RBs in missed tackles forced per carry each of the past two seasons, while Kansas City ranked last in the category last year.

The Chiefs don’t boast a great offensive line, but their system (and having Mahomes with no RB threat) resulted in Kansas City’s running backs facing the fourth-fewest stacked boxes last season. The Seahawks faced the fourth most, so the explosive Walker should see more running room. Walker has durability and pass-protection concerns, but there’s undeniable fantasy upside as the Chiefs’ new lead back. Double-digit touchdowns are well within reach.

Walker now becomes a top-10 back and a second-round fantasy pick. He gets a slight edge over aging RBs Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry, although reasonable minds may disagree. Of course, this preliminary rank could move either way pending additional moves throughout the offseason (like where Jeremiyah Love gets drafted). — Dalton Del Don

There are mixed feelings about the K9 signing from fellow The Athletic fantasy football writers Michael Salfino and Andy Behrens, who offer their two cents below:

Maybe one of the top-five horrible contracts in free-agent history. Walker is a one-dimensional back who will get Patrick Mahomes killed. Mahomes will be compromised as it is. The Chiefs should have signed Travis Etienne or just traded for Breece Hall. — Michael Salfino

Walker is, of course, a terrific real-life addition to Kansas City’s offense, and his signing should be viewed as an acknowledgment of the limits of running back fungibility. Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco were a scandalously poor committee over the past two seasons. Walker represents an enormous upgrade. He’s a verifiable difference-maker, an easy top-12 fantasy back.

Let’s not pretend Walker is joining the 2019 Chiefs, however. KC ranked only 21st in scoring offense last year and 15th each of the prior two seasons. Remaining in Seattle probably would have been the best result for Walker’s 2026 fantasy value. But hey, change is fun. — Andy Behrens

Michael Pittman traded to Pittsburgh

The Colts signed Alec Pierce to a new contract and shipped Pittman to the Steelers in a deal that included a swap of late draft picks. Pittman quickly signed a contract extension with Pittsburgh, where he’ll now play outdoors and fight DK Metcalf for targets. The Steelers had a slightly higher pass rate (61%) than the Colts (60%) last season, but efficiency will suffer outside of Shane Steichen’s system.

Metcalf is an alpha in the red zone and led all Steelers pass catchers with a mere 99 targets last season, so Pittman figures to take a hit in volume. Quarterback remains an unknown in Pittsburgh, although Aaron Rodgers remains the favorite with Mike McCarthy now the coach. The departure of OC Arthur Smith could help WR stats in Pittsburgh, but this move is lateral at best for Pittman’s fantasy value. His consensus rank was the WR41 before the trade and is unlikely to move much after.

Meanwhile, Pierce gets a bump after re-signing in Steichen’s system and with Pittman departing.

Mike Evans signs in San Francisco

Evans opened his career with 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons, but injuries ruined his 2025 campaign. He’s clearly on the career downside at 32 years old, but Evans landed in a great spot for a big bounce back in 2026. Kyle Shanahan doesn’t force-feed his WR1, but targets are wide open in San Francisco. Brandon Aiyuk is assuredly gone, while Jauan Jennings is also likely to sign elsewhere. George Kittle underwent surgery on his Achilles’ tendon in January, and Ricky Pearsall has dealt with numerous injuries throughout his brief career. Christian McCaffrey is another year older and coming off 450 touches, so Evans could easily become a huge part of a highly efficient 49ers’ offense.

Evans performed well while on the field last season, and he perfectly fits San Francisco’s needs as Shanahan’s X receiver. He averaged 11.4 touchdowns over his previous five seasons before last year’s injuries, and the most serious one (broken collarbone, concussion) was more of a fluke. Evans was the WR26 in consensus ranks and the WR34 in Best Ball drafts before joining San Francisco, but he’s now my WR19. I’m much more likely to move him higher than lower throughout the summer.

Isaiah Likely signs with the Giants

Likely should be in line for a big role increase in New York, where he’ll no longer have to fight Mark Andrews for targets. Likely has averaged 10.7 fantasy points (0.5 PPR) during games without Andrews throughout his career, which would’ve ranked as the TE5 last season. With Wan’Dale Robinson gone, targets are wide open in New York outside of Malik Nabers, whose early-season status remains in question. That said, Nabers is the biggest target hog in NFL history when on the field, and Jaxson Dart limits the upside of New York’s pass catchers, given all the scrambling. Moreover, Theo Johnson has flashed and will retain a role.

Still, Likely has become the third-highest-paid tight end per year, so he’ll get targets. He was TE21 in consensus ranks before news of the signing, but Likely is now a borderline TE1 after following John Harbaugh to New York.

Malik Willis lands with the Miami Dolphins

Willis has been extremely efficient during his limited action, and his rushing ability juices his fantasy upside. He led the NFL in yards per attempt and expected points added per dropback over the past two seasons, when Green Bay was more successful with him on the field than off. Willis has averaged by far the most fantasy points per dropback among all active quarterbacks during his brief career, highlighting the importance of running QBs in fantasy.

He has looked the part (including on throws downfield) during his brief action, but there’s risk that Willis is this year’s Justin Fields (who was also paid). Willis’ impressive passing stats in Green Bay came during just 117 dropbacks and were likely aided by Matt LaFleur’s system. He’s never attempted more than 23 passes in a game, and Kurt Warner counted only 28 “real dropbacks” over the past two years. Willis will also be in a far less favorable situation in Miami (and his addition is bad news for Jaylen Waddle, as pass rates have plummeted when Willis starts). We’ve recently seen players with this profile (Anthony Richardson and Fields) fail miserably.

That said, Willis has clearly been going too low (QB22) in early Best Ball drafts, and his ADP is about to spike. There’s obvious risk of injury and benching (although the contract and familiar coaching staff should afford Willis a long leash), but he’ll be ranked as a weekly starter thanks to the rushing. The volatility makes Willis a riskier pick in Superflex leagues, but he’s up to QB12 on my board. — Dalton Del Don

Travis Etienne joins the New Orleans Saints

Etienne took control of Jacksonville’s backfield last season and never let go, finishing as fantasy’s RB13 in points per game. He averaged more than Saquon Barkley, Omarion Hampton and Ashton Jeanty, who all had significantly higher ADPs. Etienne has been productive in three of his four seasons outside of an injury-riddled 2024, and he’ll now act as New Orleans’ lead back.

Etienne could miss Liam Coen’s system, but he’ll join a Kellen Moore offense that quietly ranked first in pace last season. However, Alvin Kamara’s contract was recently restructured, so he’ll be a threat to steal touches. Etienne was the consensus RB19 in ranks entering Monday, as fantasy managers expected he’d act as the lead back wherever signed. He’ll likely settle in the RB15-20 range after joining the Saints, which doesn’t move the ADP needle much.

Etienne’s departure is fantastic news for Bhayshul Tuten, who could rival, if not surpass, Etienne’s fantasy value should Tuten get a full workload in Jacksonville. — Dalton Del Don

DJ Moore dealt to the Buffalo Bills

DJ Moore was an afterthought in the Chicago Bears’ offense in 2025, recording 50 catches for 682 yards — career lows in both categories. Josh Allen hasn’t had a star to throw to in a while. With Moore headed to the Buffalo Bills, fantasy managers have a lot to celebrate. Allen and Moore both get upgrades, while Bears youngsters Luther Burden, Colston Loveland and Rome Odunze get room to work.

Allen has a No. 1 wideout for the first time since Stefon Diggs left after the 2023 season. Say what you will about Khalil Shakir and the rest, but the Bills tried to let Allen’s talent boost the value of his wideouts, similar to how the Patriots operated with Tom Brady under center. That strategy doesn’t always work, and while DJ Moore has been inconsistent, his 2023 season (96 receptions, 1,364 receiving yards and nine TDs) illustrates his upside — especially now that he has Allen throwing to him. Moore won’t be drafted as a WR1 (top-12 wide receiver), but finishing with a 2023-like top-10 finish is well within reason. Shakir will remain a WR3/4 behind Moore and Dalton Kincaid, a volatile, touchdown-reliant, fringe TE1, as the Bills refuse to stop using Dawson Knox or two-tight end sets.

DJ Moore turns 29 in April and is due $24.5 million in cash in each of the next four years. His money for this year is almost all fully guaranteed, and $15.5 million for 2027 vests next week. So it’s essentially a two-year deal with team options for 2028 and 2029 for Buffalo. https://t.co/Vg6vB1Nodr

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 5, 2026

The other winner here is Burden. A healthy Odunze is obvious, too, as we saw his WR1 potential in the first half of the season, particularly the first four games. But we also saw Burden’s potential during the final four games and into the playoffs.

Moore’s leaving clears things out for Odunze and Burden to be top-25 wideouts with ceilings in the WR1 range. Colston Loveland was terrific late in the year, too, and while Cole Kmet isn’t gone (yet?), he’ll be in the top-10 tight end conversation. There is a risk that one wideout and Loveland are the main beneficiaries, or that Loveland ends up like Kincaid in a rollercoaster season, but Burden’s all-around ability means he could carry the least risk. — Jake Ciely

David Montgomery traded to the Houston Texans

For David Montgomery, March came in as a Lion, but went out as a Texan. Montgomery was dealt to Houston for two Day 3 draft picks and center Juice Scruggs.

Montgomery’s best fantasy season was in 2020, when he handled 301 touches in 15 games for the Chicago Bears. It’s one of two times Montgomery topped 1,000 rushing yards, and he added a receiving line of 54-438-2. Montgomery has three-down ability, but struggled to replicate his per-touch success until leaving for the Lions.

Now, Montgomery will be the lead for the Texans. Bell-cow work is unlikely, but he’s the better third-down and receiving option than Woody Marks, who finished as RB29 in PPR formats in his 2025 rookie campaign. Seeing 250 touches in 2026 is likely the floor for Montgomery, putting him firmly in the mid-RB2 range — the offense and O-line being the main concerns for his value. In his three seasons in Detroit, Montgomery finished in the mid-RB2 range twice (2023 and 2024) before dropping into the low-RB3 range (RB27) last season.

As for Marks, there is no guarantee he holds the timeshare role. He was one of the least efficient running backs last season, and, as mentioned, Montgomery is actually the better third-down option (including blocking). Marks has a chance to be the timeshare piece, but don’t be surprised if the Texans find another solution.

As for the others in Houston, Nick Chubb and Joe Mixon are done for fantasy purposes, unless they surface elsewhere as the backup — there are obvious health concerns for Mixon after he missed all of last season.

For the Lions, Jahmyr Gibbs was already in the top tier of running backs and now improves his argument as the No. 1 RB with Bijan Robinson. You can make a case for either, unless one of the Falcons or Lions brings in a significant replacement for free agent Tyler Allgeier or Montgomery, respectively. — Jake Ciely