The NFL Players Association released its annual Rising Stars list on Tuesday and the first overall pick of this year’s draft is one of the players at the top. Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza is No. 1 on the list of the 10 rookies that the NFLPA projects to be future members of the Top 50 list of licensed player product sales. There is also a list of 10 players with NFL experience who have not been on the Top 50 and it is topped by Saints quarterback Tyler Shough. Mendoza is followed on the list by Cowboys safety Caleb Downs, Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love, Titans wide receiver Carnell Tate, Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon, Commanders linebacker Sonny Styles, Saints wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, Giants linebacker Arvell Reese, Ravens wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane, and Buccaneers edge rusher Rueben Bain. The list of veteran players also includes Bears tight end Colston Loveland, Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker, Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, Cardinals tight end Trey McBride, Dolphins running back De’Von Achane, Bills running back James Cook, and Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez
A third-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane is entering his rookie season with a chance to carve out a role in his team's passing game immediately. Across 11 games at USC in 2025, Lane recorded 49 catches for 745 yards and four touchdowns. The Ravens have a clear WR1 in Zay Flowers, but the team received underwhelming production from current starting outside wideouts Rashod Bateman and Devontez Walker in 2025. Along with fellow rookie Elijah Sarratt, Lane could emerge as a key downfield target for Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson if he performs well in training camp and the preseason. Baltimore also has a new coaching staff in place entering 2026. New play-caller Declan Doyle could look to open up the team's passing game a bit more, which could lead to more fantasy production overall from Ravens wide receivers this season. As the WR95 by current redraft ADP, Lane could be a sleeper name for fantasy managers to target at the end of drafts
After recording 49 receptions for 745 yards and four touchdowns across 11 games in his final collegiate season at USC, wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Lane is one of two prominent rookie wideouts on the Baltimore roster, as the team also selected Elijah Sarratt in the fourth round. Entering his first NFL season, Lane should have a chance to emerge as an immediate contributor. Zay Flowers is Baltimore's clear WR1, but presumed WR2 Rashod Bateman is coming off a 2025 season in which he was both inconsistent and injured. With a new coaching staff in place, the Ravens could be looking to turn the page and go with their younger pass-catchers. Baltimore has typically been one of the NFL's run-heaviest offenses in the Lamar Jackson/Derrick Henry era, which could put a ceiling on Lane's fantasy production. Still, Lane has a clear pathway to a fantasy-relevant role in Baltimore and should be a target for dynasty managers who are focused on the long term
Baltimore Ravens new head coach Jesse Minter said that All-Pro running back Derrick Henry will need to adjust to terminology changes this year under new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. The Ravens made some big changes in the offseason, firing long-time head coach John Harbaugh and adding Minter, who will be in his first year as a head coach in the NFL in 2026. Previous offensive coordinator Todd Monken left to become the Cleveland Browns' head coach. Henry and the other Ravens' offensive playmakers have expressed excitement about Doyle's new scheme as they look to bounce back from a frustrating 2025 season that ended without a playoff appearance. The 32-year-old Henry has a lot of tread on his tires after 10 years in the NFL, but he managed his seventh 1,000-yard season (fourth straight) in 2025 and will once again be Baltimore's featured back in his 11th campaign. He's RotoBaller's No. 8 fantasy RB for 2026 and should come off the board in the second round of drafts
It’s easy to get lost in the flurry of offseason news cycles, but not every transaction will pay out the dividends that NFL agents and GMs are forecasting. Before teams start lining up against each other this fall, FanDuel’s odds on NFL teams to make the playoffs are a useful measure of how well the market thinks each team’s offseason maneuvering has improved their chances of playing meaningful football in December and January. In the AFC, bettors see Lamar Jackson , Patrick Mahomes , and Joe Burrow all leading their teams back into the tournament. In the NFC, it’s a little more complicated. Seven teams make the playoffs from each conference, but each of the four division winners is guaranteed a spot – and last year’s 8-9 NFC South champ took a playoff spot from multiple 9-8 teams. The market is forecasting a similar scenario this season. The Dallas Cowboys (-102) and the Chicago Bears (+110) both have better odds of finding their way into the playoffs in general, but the Buccaneers (+140) would leapfrog them into the tournament given their ranking as the NFC South team with the best odds. Baltimore Ravens (-350) The Ravens are favorites to make the playoffs out of the AFC despite a down season from Lamar Jackson’s squad last year. The biggest changes will come in the headsets, as Jesse Minter returns to Baltimore after developing his defensive coaching philosophy under Jim Harbaugh with Michigan and the Chargers . Minter brought on 29-year-old Declan Doyle to revitalize the offense after he spent last season learning under Bears HC Ben Johnson. They also added depth across the D line, starring Trey Hendrickson , Calais Campbell , and second-rounder Zion Young. Their 3rd- and 4th-round picks, wideouts Ja’Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt, will also get chances to be difference-makers early. Kansas City Chiefs (-184) The Chiefs were playing outside of the playoff picture before Patrick Mahomes’ knee injury ended his 2025 season early, but the market still sees Kansas City as the team to beat in the AFC West. Andy Reid brought back Eric Bieniemy to support the offensive coaching staff, swapped out both tackles, and signed Kenneth Walker III to help establish the run game. They also added Justin Fields and Garrett Nussmeier to a QB room that is expected to see action early. Steve Spagnuolo’s defensive unit lost both of their starting corners, but reloaded with free agent safety Alohi Gilman and first-round pick Mansoor Delane. Cincinnati Bengals (-174) The Bengals finished last season with just six wins after another injury shortened Joe Burrow’s season. The front office responded to their QB’s public challenge by investing heavily in the defense, including Dexter Lawrence , Boye Mafe , and Jonathan Allen along the line; and safeties Bryan Cook and Kyle Dugger in the back end. Despite the down season for the team overall, Chase Brown emerged as another star on offense by rushing for over 1,000 yards. Detroit Lions (-200) Dan Campbell’s team has the third-highest odds of returning to the playoffs despite finishing at the bottom of the NFC North last season. They spent the offseason remaking their offensive line, shifting Penei Sewell to left tackle and signing Cade Mays , Larry Borom , and drafting Blake Miller in the first round. Campbell brought on Drew Petzing to run the offense, which returns the majority of its skill talent, and replaced David Montgomery with Isaiah Pacheco as the bruising back behind Jahmyr Gibbs . They also extended LB Jack Campbell , and gave him the keys to a defense that just couldn’t stay healthy last year. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+140) Tampa Bay lost a tiebreaker to the Panthers to miss the playoffs last season, and they’re currently the best bet to represent the NFC South this year. They bolstered their defense through the draft (Rueben Bain Jr., Josiah Trotter) and free agency ( Alex Anzalone ). The offense lost Mike Evans , but still has great receiver depth with Chris Godwin , Emeka Egbuka , [... truncated ...]
No suspense here, folks. Lamar Jackson was not at the Ravens’ OTAs on Tuesday, giving Tyler Huntley , Skylar Thompson, and undrafted rookie Diego Pavia more opportunities in full-team reps. None particularly stood out, though Huntley, as usual, was all smiles, all day, especially when he faked out the entire defense on a QB keeper and laughed at how much open space there was on the left side. On the other end, the Ravens’ new-look group of pass-catchers made a number of plays throughout practice. Zay Flowers often looked like the best player on the field and certainly the most dynamic athlete. Rookie wideouts Ja’Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt each took their turn in the spotlight, with Lane making a few second-level grabs over the middle and Sarratt consistently finding space against zone coverage. There was less to see from rookie tight ends Matthew Hibner and Josh Cuevas. The 6-foot-5, 251-pound Hibner passes the eye test, and his all-around abilities could help him quickly find a role in the Ravens’ new offense. Head coach Jesse Minter noted how Hibner was more of an inline blocker during their shared time at Michigan, but evolved into a more versatile pass-catcher in SMU’s spread offense. That combination of skillsets should give him a good shot at seeing the field as a rookie, especially when the Ravens want to threaten defenses in multiple ways out of 12 personnel. Cuevas did not look bad; he just did not stand out. With Durham Smythe expected to take on a sizable blocking role, the Alabama project could get edged out of the picture as a rookie. Cuevas was responsible for one of the last highlights of the day, part of a series of practice-ending competitions that Minter said are designed to encourage the team to “be at their best when the best is needed.” On Tuesday, individual offensive and defensive players squared off to throw a medicine ball as far as possible with the losing side doing push-ups. Sarratt beat fifth-round corner Chandler Rivers, Cuevas bested 2025 UDFA Kaimon Rucker , and Vega Ioane completed the offense’s sweep over Zion Young. I’m not sure what I found the most amusing: the offense collectively exploding with each win, Ronnie Stanley wanting to count out the defense’s push-ups military-style, or Ja’Kobi Lane celebrating Ioane’s win with a backflip. Like Hibner, rookie running back Adam Randall passed the eye test, both with his 6-foot-3, 232-pound frame and his downhill explosiveness as a ballcarrier. 2023 fifth-rounder Rasheen Ali also had a nice day. It will be interesting to see how much they factor into the Ravens’ backfield rotation this year. The Ravens were without arguably their three most impactful players on Tuesday: Jackson, Kyle Hamilton , and Nnamdi Madubuike . Hamilton was present but not in uniform, as was linebacker Teddye Buchanan , who is working his way back from a torn ACL suffered in December. After practice, Minter said that he had been in touch with Jackson and expected him back soon. He also noted that Jackson “has been one of the leaders of our offseason program.” Madubuike has been participating in the offseason program, too, but his exact status remains unknown following neck surgery in April. The team has been cautiously optimistic in their sporadic updates, but nothing will have the same impact as seeing the seventh-year defensive tackle on the field. The defensive line room was also missing Calais Campbell , John Jenkins, and Travis Jones . Rounding out the list of absentees are cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Chidobe Awuzie , wide receiver Rashod Bateman , and outside linebacker Adisa Isaac . Those are largely standard veteran absences except for Isaac, a 2024 third-rounder who spent most of his career injured with just four appearances as a rookie and none last year. Linebacker Jay Higgins and cornerback Bilhal Kone , who are both recovering from torn ACLs, participated in drills but no full-team work, as did guard Andrew Vorhees . Kone and Vorhess both spent
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Rookie WR Ja'Kobi Lane could step into a significant role for the Ravens in 2026, potentially starting opposite Zay Flowers. The team has lacked a consistent No. 2 receiver, and Lane's size and red-zone ability make him an attractive option for Lamar Jackson, especially after Isaiah Likely's departure
Ravens head coach Jesse Minter said the team expects to "take advantage" of Ja'Kobi Lane's abilities in the red zone. Lane had the largest hands (101/2 inches) and second-largest wingspan (803/4 inches) at the combine. "When you watch Ja'Kobi in the red zone make catches, that's a vision that our coaches were like, 'Man, we could really take advantage of that,'" Minter said. "So, I think you're always looking for the best players. Oftentimes, I do think size is a requisite to be a really good player." Baltimore hasn't had many true red zone threats for Lamar Jackson to utilize
The Baltimore Ravens have selected WR Ja'Kobi Lane with the No. 80 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Lane, a 6-4, 200-pound receiver out of USC, heads to the Ravens to provide depth at receiver for QB Lamar Jackson. He finished with 745 receiving yards last season and finished tied for fifth in FBS with 12 receiving touchdowns in 2024. He was also the Las Vegas Bowl MVP that season after catching seven passes for 127 yards and three touchdowns. He posted 4.47 speed at the Combine and, while he only started 17 games at the collegiate level, gives the Ravens a larger target opposite Zay Flowers. Lane, on paper, appears to be a good value pick at number 80 for a team needing receiver help
The Ravens selected Lane in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 80th overall. Lane spent his entire three-year college career in USC, with 2024 being arguably his most productive season with 43 catches for 525 yards and a team-leading 12 touchdowns across 13 games. He saw his receiving numbers increase in 2025 (49 catches for 745 yards), though he hauled in only four touchdowns across 11 games. Lane stands tall at 6-foot-4 with a long catch radius and large hands, and he also excelled as a blocker in the run game. He had issues separating from defenders in college and lacks experience on special teams, but that might not matter, as a strong offseason and training camp could establish Lane as the Ravens' WR3 behind Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman (illness)
The Baltimore Ravens selected USC wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane in the third round of the 2026 NFL draft at No. 80 overall. Lane has good size at the position at 6-foot-4 and 208 pounds. Lane had a career-high 12 touchdowns in his sophomore season for the Trojans in 2024 and finished his collegiate career with a 49-745-4 line in 11 games last year. Unsurprisingly, he offers a big catch radius and is a prototypical X receiver that should really help Baltimore's offense in the red zone. The Ravens really needed the help through the air behind Zay Flowers after another disappointing season from Rashod Bateman in 2025. Depending on how Lane develops in training camp and the preseason, and how much chemistry he can develop with quarterback Lamar Jackson, he has the potential to open his rookie campaign as the WR2 behind Flowers. With the landing spot in Baltimore, Lane will have plenty of long-term upside for dynasty/keeper managers, and he could become a touchdown-dependent flex in redraft leagues in 2026
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