When and where: Week 13 in Arizona Key additions: HC Mike LaFleur, G Isaac Seumalo , RB Tyler Allgeier , DT Roy Lopez , WR Kendrick Bourne , QB Gardner Minshew Key subtractions: QB Kyler Murray , S Jalen Thompson, DT Dalvin Tomlinson , DL Calais Campbell , LT Kelvin Beachum , RT Jonah Williams Last season: The Cardinals, the franchise with the second worst winning percentage among active NFL teams, lost more games in 2025 than in any season in franchise history The question for this team: Which QB are the Cardinals drafting in April? The Cardinals season is already over. This is a team in a contract dispute with Jacoby Brissett , who led the team to one win in 12 starts in 2025. Brissett isn’t wrong to hold out, he’d probably make more money as a backup on another team, at the least he would have the benefit of no longer being on the Cardinals, a franchise that has charged players for the food they have given them. At the same time, the Cardinals also aren’t wrong to not give Brissett any additional money, they have Gardner Minshew and 3rd round pick Carson Beck to tank with. They don’t need Brissett, nobody does. There’s really no point in discussing the 2026 Arizona Cardinals. This is a team with the 6th most dead money (virtually the same as the Eagles) for 2026, and yet the 5th most cap space for 2026. According to Over The Cap, 24.8% of the Cardinals cap space is from rookie contracts, the most in the league. Over a third of the Cardinals salary cap for 2026 is being used on nobody on the roster. They’re not trying to compete this year. They want to lose this game and as many games as possible and have first shot at a bunch of QBs who a lot of people thought were going to be 1st round picks this past April. Good luck!
Atlanta Falcons running back Brian Robinson Jr. failed to reach 100 carries for the first time in his career in his lone season with the 49ers in 2025. With injuries hitting the team hard, four-time All-Pro Christian McCaffrey was one of the few players to stay healthy wire-to-wire, limiting Robinson's opportunities in what has long been viewed as one of fantasy's most valuable insurance roles. In signing a one-year deal with the Falcons, Robinson again finds himself as a high-value handcuff, this time to two-time Pro Bowler Bijan Robinson, who has not missed a start through his first three seasons in the league. While the incumbent Robinson has seen heavier usage year after year, there has still been enough remaining opportunity for his primary backup to see some standalone fantasy value, with Tyler Allgeier averaging 117.9 fantasy points across their three seasons together. A new coaching staff in Atlanta could ultimately prove to make any past workload splits moot, but as RotoBaller's RB46, Robinson Jr. is projected to have some flex appeal in 2026 with obvious week-winning upside should an unfortunate injury force him to take on a larger role
My Top 250 2026 Fantasy Football Rankings are live here , but we need to spend extra time on the first three rounds, where our winnings are mostly made. It’s nearly impossible to come back from a dud pick in these beginning rounds, and if you drafted Jaxon Smith-Njigba in Round 3 last year, then you were in the money. Today’s half-PPR focused column looks at just the first 12 picks in my rankings, with 13-24 and 25-36 editions of this column coming later this week. Stay tuned. Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL season Jahmyr Gibbs, RB1, Lions Gibbs is my 1.01 in half-PPR after finishing fourth overall last year in fantasy points over replacement per game, despite splitting time with David Montgomery (now on the Texans). Gibbs has averaged 25.1 half-PPR points in eight games that Montgomery has missed or played in under 25% snaps, and he should set career highs in volume. Isiah Pacheco only signed for $1.8M this offseason on a one-year deal, a sign that his role will be a lot smaller than Montgomery's. At the same time, there are other changes to the Lions offense. They have a new OC in Drew Petzig, who was doing some cool things with the Cardinals, specifically in the run game. They also re-tooled their offensive line with mauling veteran C Cade Mays and experienced first-round RT Blake Miller. The Lions OL was average to even below average last year, but they should get back to moving bodies in 2026. Bijan Robinson, RB2, Falcons Tyler Allgeier has never missed a game since Bijan Robinson was drafted, so we don't have the obvious on/off splits that we have with Gibbs sans Montgomery. But I'd imagine Bijan's numbers would be outrageous without Allgeier. Bijan was the RB3 on RB8 usage last year with Allgeier, who handled 10 inside the five-yard line carries to Bijan's 11. I will vomit if Bijan is the RB19 in goal-line carry share again. As a receiver, there's nothing really to say. He's amongst the best in the NFL and was the RB2 in receptions per game (4.6). That shouldn't change much, even if Zachariah Branch will be involved as a manufactured touch player now. What is changing is the play-caller. Entering from the Browns is Kevin Stefanski, who has adapted his offense to his personnel each season. It's unclear if this offense will be more geared towards Tua Tagovailoa's quick, precision style or towards Michael Penix Jr.'s downfield shot-play style. Either way, the ball is going to Bijan, Drake London and Kyle Pitts Sr. all game long. We saw late last year that without London, Robinson can get an outrageous volume, and that's the benefit of playing in an offense without depth. I'm a bit concerned about this OL paired with this QB tandem, but that shouldn't hurt Bijan's fantasy output much. He's locked into the top-five in all non-Superflex formats. Robinson’s market projections are nearly identical to Gibbs; 1,224 rushing yards, 599 receiving yards and 9.5 rushing TDs. Ja’Marr Chase, WR1, Bengals Chase is the WR1 on WR1 expected points in games with Joe Burrow healthy over the past three seasons, averaging 21.5 PPR points per game. The only receivers close to matching him over that span are Puka Nacua, Amon-Ra St. Brown, CeeDee Lamb and Malik Nabers. Two of them are downgraded by new competition (Lamb with George Pickens) or injury (Nabers). Burrow, Chase, Tee Higgins and Chase Brown are healthy right now, and the defense has at least added some pieces this offseason. It's not a surprise to see the Bengals fourth in projected points in the betting markets. Chase has a case as the 1.01 in full-PPR, too. The depth of WR has decreased because more teams are using TEs and running more, increasing the value of the truly elite WR1s. Pairing Chase with three RBs by the Round 6/7 turn is a great way to start drafts in 2026. Puka Nacua, WR2, Rams Nacua's 23.8 PPR points per game were 3.4 more than the WR2 overall (Jaxon Smith-Njigba) last season. Over the past two seasons, only Chase is in [... truncated ...]
One of the most interesting topics within NFL circles is player contracts. Nothing can motivate a player like knowing they could earn 50-plus million dollars based on their performance. I’ve got a list of players who are in the last year of their contracts, or, in some cases, are stuck on a franchise tag. They will have plenty of motivation in 2026 to cash in. Let’s get started with a player that is routinely drafted as the 1.01 in fantasy drafts! In any season, Bijan Robinson is always projected as a top-two running back for fantasy. This year, it is him and Jahmyr Gibbs at the top of the running back charts, but Gibbs still has a team option for 2027. Robinson will no longer have to contend with Tyler Allgeier for snaps; instead, he gets the far less imposing Brian Robinson Jr. as the RB2. Robinson took 19% of the carries last season, backing up Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco. Compare that to Allgeier, who took a staggering 29% of the carries for Atlanta last season. The runway is wide open for Bijan to capture even more redzone opportunities without Allgeier in the fold. He is headed for a big season and, eventually, an even bigger payday that will reset the running back market in the NFL. Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs watching Breece Hall and De’Von Achane secure big bags this offseason. pic.twitter.com/FZRCKygY5I — Rich Hribar (@LordReebs) May 14, 2026 We had the potential RB1 overall in fantasy, Robinson, listed above, but will we hear news of a new contract for stud wide receiver Puka Nacua soon? Nacua’s offseason started a bit rocky with the biting and whatnot, but he’s kept his name out of the headlines ever since his stint in rehab. Even while the Rams shift offensive philosophy and use more heavy sets with multiple tight ends, Nacua continues to eat. He has attended all offseason activities since completing his rehab, and it’s rare to see a player of Nacua’s caliber receive such small compensation. He’s still on his rookie contract, so his cap hit for 2026 will be $1,204,244. Compare that to Justin Jefferson, a similar player of Nacua’s caliber, who has a cap hit of $38,987,600. Nacua could be headed for a 2027 franchise tag, but his status will be important to monitor. As of early June, there has been no indication that Nacua could be paid like other stars, but that can always change. The drama in Dallas never ends with owner Jerry Jones, but will he give in to George Pickens with the contract the wideout wants? Pickens proved last year that all he needed was competent quarterback play to prove he can be an elite wide receiver in the league. After being stuck with Kenny Pickett, Justin Fields, Russell Wilson, and Mason Rudolph, fantasy managers were blessed to witness a fully unlocked Pickens in 2025. Cowboys WR George Pickens said he’s not disappointed that he did not get a long-term deal. He doesn’t plan on holding out. He will be at training camp. He said he didn’t attend voluntary OTAs because he was listening to his agent. “What’s important to me is winning. Like I said… pic.twitter.com/YbKpEFfPEa — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) June 16, 2026 You may dislike quarterback Dak Prescott, but he is far better than the aforementioned signal-callers. CeeDee Lamb had complications with a high ankle sprain last season, which forced Pickens into a more featured role, and he did not back down. The wildest part is that Dallas always waits before offering a big contract, even if it bites them. I would not be surprised if Pickens gives us another big season, and we’re talking about another tag situation for the superstar receiver in 2027. Another star player playing out the last year of his rookie contract! The Bengals, a franchise with a history of frugality, will face a big decision regarding running back Chase Brown. Brown has been a revelation ever since emerging from his quiet rookie season. After handling just 58 touches with one touchdown in 2023, he has scored 22 touchdowns across the past two seas
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Any backup running back on a 53-man roster is mere moments away from fantasy viability. In dynasty, it is vital to stack your roster with running backs that can find their way into meaningful snaps and help you gain value on your roster. Here is a list of 10 veteran handcuff running backs to roster in dynasty heading into the 2026 season. After an RB31 finish in fantasy points per game (FPPG) in his rookie season, Tyrone Tracy followed up that campaign with an RB30 finish in fantasy points per game (FPPG), averaging 10.7 fantasy points in each season. It was not until Cam Skattebo ‘s season-ending injury in Week 8 last year that Tracy saw a drastic increase in his opportunities. After Week 8, Tracy finished as the RB16 in overall fantasy points, compared to his RB46 finish between Weeks 1 and 8. Jaxson Dart & Tyrone Tracy extend the Giants lead DALvsNYG on FOX/FOX One https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/IljLcEB2Yc — NFL (@NFL) January 4, 2026 With Skattebo still rehabbing the ankle injury that ended his rookie season, Tracy will likely see meaningful work at running back if Skattebo is unable to be fully healthy come the start of the season. The Giants also seem likely to feature a run-heavy offense, which should mean more work for Tracy even if Skattebo is healthy. Last season, Woody Marks equally shared opportunities in the Texans’ backfield with Nick Chubb , averaging a meager 9.4 FPPG. The Texans traded up to select Marks, whose 90th-percentile 12.14% college target share suggests he profiles best as a satellite back rather than a featured runner. With Houston adding David Montgomery this offseason as their bell-cow back, Marks will likely slide into his intended third-down pass-catching back role. Hopefully, the reduced role will increase Mark’s efficiency, allowing him to remain relevant in fantasy. Tyler Allgeier signed a free agency contract with the Arizona Cardinals to be their starting running back in 2026. The Cardinals then, surprisingly, selected blue-chip prospect Jeremiyah Love with the No. 3 overall pick, relegating Allgeier to a timeshare at best. Allgeier is familiar with backing up an elite running back prospect, as he shared time with Bijan Robinson in Atlanta for three seasons. Allgeier was able to maintain fantasy relevance as Bijan’s backup and will likely do the same as Love gets acclimated to the league. Buying low here is a prudent move. Emanuel Wilson RB1 #wow pic.twitter.com/dolD9ET4nB https://t.co/tyVBF4mIHk — ᴅᴏxx ⚡️ (@new_era72) March 12, 2026 The Seahawks signed Emanuel Wilson from the Packers this offseason. Wilson has quietly strung together two consecutive seasons with over 500 total yards. While first-round rookie Jadarian Price joins him in the Seahawks backfield while incumbent Zach Charbonnet recovers from a torn ACL, Wilson should see lots of work as part of a committee. He makes for a good dynasty target for those looking to get sneaky RB2 production to start the season. News out of OTAs suggests that Malik Davis is the RB2 on the depth chart behind Javonte Williams . While Williams had a great bounce-back season last year, he has struggled with injuries throughout his career. Davis is a pure handcuff-only play who has flashed capability last season. If Williams gets hurt again, Davis is in line to be the go-to running back in an elite offense, which is typically a recipe for fantasy success. Recent news has Will Shipley on the roster bubble to make the Eagles’ 53-man roster. This means that former Jaguars back Tank Bigsby is likely the man behind Saquon Barkley to start the season. Barkley has been relatively healthy the past several seasons, though he is coming off his worst fantasy finish since 2021. Barkley is also on the precipice of his age-29 season, the age at which most running backs begin to decline rapidly in efficiency. While Bigsby is not taking Barkley’s job any time soon, the Eagles may look to give Bigsby some more opportunities, as he flashed good eff
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The Arizona Cardinals have expectations of not being one of the league’s worst clubs for a second consecutive year. GM Monti Ossenfort worked overtime this offseason to address the weak spots and bring in new players to replace those who left the team. Training camp is approaching, and the air will be very clear on the final 53-man roster, and who is in and who is out. The focus will then be on which players will fit best at all positions. RELATED: TIME TO THINK ABOUT MICHAEL WILSON There are many good-to-great players on this year’s roster, and still some problem areas. But there is one player on offense and defense, plus special teams, who can change the narrative and perhaps be the difference in games. Here’s the list: While most would point to the quarterback position as being the key component to success this year, the fact is, QB Jacoby Brissett is a roller coaster right now, and the starting position is up for grabs. The running game should be the main focus anyway, with the new guys, Jeremiyah Love and Tyler Allgeier , with a dose of James Conner thrown in. The offensive line is redesigned for the run game, and guys love to run block. This does cut down on the number of passes thrown. But the passing game still needs to be successful and prevalent when called upon. The ideal situation would be for the rushing attack to consume 65%-70% of plays. Whether that becomes true for each game will be determined as the season rolls along. The offense will get back to featuring two tight end sets. That requires two exceptional bodies to man the positions. The passing game needs to be the complement and not the focus. In order to do this, the offense will require qualified pass catchers. WR Michael Wilson had a breakout year last season. What was supposed to happen was that Marvin Harrison would be the darling of the receiver room. After all, name a college football accolade, and Harrison is displaying that award on his father’s fireplace mantel. The player who will be this year’s offensive “X” factor is receiver Michael Wilson. It is realized that the MVP of the offense will once again become TE Trey McBride . Nobody is disputing this. But it is Wilson who will become the juice to get the offense’s motor going. Harrison was supposed to have a couple of Pro Bowls by now, and did have a decent year during his first year in the league. But Harrison didn’t even make the NFL All-Rookie roster, and is having a problem staying healthy. He came to the desert as a huge playmaker, but is his health going to be an issue every season? Wilson was second on the Cardinals in pass receptions last year behind McBride. He had 126 targets with 78 receptions for 1,006 yards and scored seven times. The bonus with Wilson is that he is an outstanding pass catcher with size, but he is also an excellent blocker. A lot of receivers act like they are going to get in the way of a defender and only want to catch the ball, but won’t block. But Wilson is able and willing to do the dirty work. There are plenty of candidates for the defensive “X” factor. Both S Budda Baker and EDGE Josh Sweat fit this description probably more than any other players. With the defensive tackle position being a group with a bunch of new names, that unit should be considered solved as far as being able to stop the run. And this may continue all season. Linebacker may be a concern. Is Cody Simon ready to start this year? How will the new guy, Jack Gibbens , find his place? There are high hopes that rookie Karson Sharar will develop sooner rather than later. Can Zaven Collins finally become that All-Pro he was projected to be? The area that needs the most attention, however, is middle linebacker. Mack Wilson is the defensive “X” factor. The reason is that going into training camp, this group is viewed as a strength. Wilson was the team’s leading tackler until he became injured with a rib injury in Week 9. The Cardinals have the luxury of having some really good li
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James Conner restructured his contract to return to the Cardinals in 2026, but faces a reduced role behind newcomers Tyler Allgeier and first-round pick Jeremiyah Love. While Conner may be content with a limited role, he has also been linked to trade rumors with running back-needy teams. His future with the Cardinals depends on his willingness to accept a backseat role or pursue a trade
Greetings, Falcoholics! It’s that time of the year again. The 2026 NFL season is quickly approaching, which means it’s fantasy football time. Fantasy owners from around the globe are prepping for their upcoming fantasy league drafts, so I will try to help the best I can. Since 2019, I’ve been predicting top sleepers from each NFL team to help you dominate your fantasy league drafts. You can revisit my picks from 2019 , 2020 , 2021 , 2022 , 2023 , 2024 , and 2025 by clicking the respective years. Before we take a look at this year’s sleeper list, let’s review the criteria. Each player chosen offers significant potential value for your fantasy team, based on points-per-reception (PPR) scoring format. While some names may be familiar, their average draft position (ADP) indicates they offer great value or are someone to keep an eye on. Let’s get started! WR Zay Jones (2025), RB Trey Benson (2024), RB Keaontay Ingram, (2023), WR Rondale Moore (2022), RB Chase Edmonds (2021), WR Andy Isabella (2020), QB Kyler Murray (2019) Cardinals’ receiver Michael Wilson had a breakout last season as Marvin Harrison Jr. dealt with an injury issue. Wilson is expected to play a Z receiver role in the Cardinals offense, similar to what Puka Nucua’s role is with the Los Angeles Rams . Even with a murky quarterback room, Wilson is being drafted around WR40 territory, and he will most likely finish much higher in terms of production. TE Kyle Pitts (2025), QB Kirk Cousins (2024), QB Desmond Ridder (2023), RB Tyler Allgeier (2022), WR Russell Gage (2021), TE Hayden Hurst (2020), TE Austin Hooper (2019) I expect Falcons’ rookie receiver Zachariah Branch to be a solid PPR play, even in year one. Branch excels on screens, quick slants, and short passes that he can turn up field for more yards. There’s obviously some other mouths to feed in the Atlanta offense, but Branch should be able to carve out a solid piece for himself considering where he’s currently expected to go in re-draft leagues, which is near the final rounds of the draft. TE Isaiah Likely (2025), WR Devontez Walker (2024), WR Rashid Bateman (2023), WR Devin Duvernay (2022), WR Rashod Bateman (2021), RB J.K. Dobbins (2020), RB Mark Ingram (2019) Justice Hill’s value is pretty high because he does something that starting running back Derrick Henry doesn’t do a lot, and that is catch passes. Hill is used in a lot of the Ravens’ third down plays and yet he’s someone you can get towards the end of your fantasy draft. If for some reason Henry misses time, Hill is a must-start. RB Ray Davis (2025), WR Keon Coleman (2024), TE Dalton Kincaid (2023), RB James Cook (2022), WR Gabriel Davis (2021), WR John Brown (2020), WR Cole Beasley (2019) The Bills have been trying to secure a top-flight receiver for quarterback Josh Allen for quite some time now. Bell has a real chance to make an impact for the team, as he is expected to surpass Keon Coleman on the depth chart who has largely been a disappointment for the Bills. Even with the addition of veteran D.J. Moore , Bell is someone to look at in upcoming league drafts with the team’s targets literally up for grabs. WR Jalen Coker (2025), QB Bryce Young (2024), TE Hayden Hurst (2023), TE Tommy Tremble (2022), QB Sam Darnold (2021), TE Ian Thomas (2020), WR D.J. Moore 2019) Following back-to-back ACL injuries, Jonathon Brooks is back to competing for touches in Carolina. With Rico Dowdle gone, Brooks has likely his final opportunity to make an impact on the Panthers and push for more of a role. Currently, his ADP is RB40 and if things go according to plan for him, Brooks will finish higher. WR Luther Burden III (2025), QB Caleb Williams (2024), RB Roschon Johnson (2023), QB Justin Fields (2022), WR Darnell Mooney (2021), WR Anthony Miller (2020), WR Allen Robinson (2019) Bears’ running back Kyle Monangai quietly made an impact in Ben Johnson’s offense in 2025, as he gained 5+ yards on 43% of his carries. With D’Andre Swift remaining as the team’
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by Ari Koslow | Cardinals Correspondent | Tue, Jun 9th 10:17pm EDT Trey Benson was working off to the side during mandatory minicamp on Tuesday. ( Theo Mackie on Twitter ) Fantasy Impact: Benson was also working off to the side during OTAs. He'll likely be off the fantasy radar with the Cardinals offseason additions of Jeremiyah Love and Tyler Allgeier. Participation report from Cardinals mandatory minicamp: Didn’t see at all: -RB James Conner -DL Kaleb Proctor Street clothes: -CB Garrett Williams -S Kitan Crawford -TE Tip Reiman -DL Walter Nolen Working on side w/ trainers: -RB Trey Benson -LB Karson Sharar Category: Injury Updates | More Trey Benson : News , Rankings , Projections , Stats
When the Arizona Cardinals hired Mike LaFleur as their next head coach, they brought in a guy with proven offensive success, having run the same offense at several programs. While the OC of the Los Angeles Rams last year, their offense was ranked #1. That doesn’t happen by chance. It was LaFleur’s job to take the players supplied and meld a good offensive scheme and place players in position to become successful. LaFleur didn’t call plays, but did all of the other offensive coordinator jobs. RELATED: CARDINALS DRAFT JEREMIYAH LOVE IN ROUND ONE The running back room is busting at the seams with players – and talent. Most NFL clubs keep three running backs on their final roster. At times, a fourth athlete will be retained if they have become the club’s kickoff or punt return specialist, or have other special teams value, such as a designated gunner. Currently, the Cardinals’ running back room is as follows: James Conner (age 31), Tyler Allgeier (26), Bam Knight (25), Corey Kiner (24), Trey Benson (23), and Jeremiyah Love (21). Let’s face it: Kiner and Knight better find a usefulness on special teams. That leaves four players. Love will most likely become the new starting running back, and Allgeier is a talented runner who was once the Atlanta Falcons’ starter until they drafted Bijon Robinson in the first round. Allgeier was considered one of GM Monti Ossenfort’s big “splashes” in free agency this past March. Benson is still young, but unproven despite being a third-round draft pick in 2024. He had his opportunity to prove what he can do at the NFL level after Conner went down to injury in Week 3. But Benson only lasted a week until he suffered a meniscus injury in the Week 4 loss to the Seattle Seahawks that required surgery. That leaves Conner. Obviously, his age is the first notation. Not that he can’t contribute and produce into his 30s – he can. But he is also coming off a foot injury that eliminated his 2025 season. Don’t get this wrong: most foot injuries heal, and that’s about it. This type of injury isn’t lingering, such as a knee issue or Achilles tear. The point is coming. One of these will have to leave the desert. And since this is quite evident, the Cardinals should look into getting something in return. The first question is: Which player? One aspect of LaFleur’s offense will be the ability to run the ball. He requires it. He loves a running quarterback, needs a competent offensive line, good receiving help from several tight ends, and has to have exceptional running backs. Under former head coach Jonathan Gannon, the quarterback situation never became solved. The offensive play-calling was predictable and not consistent. After three years under Gannon and OC Drew Petzing’s tutelage, the offense was ranked at the bottom or middle of the pack in most categories this past season. Remember, Gannon was a defensive coach, so his focus seemed to be elsewhere, and the offensive production was a roller coaster as the team collected 14 losses in his final season. In the three years of Gannon and Petzing’s reign, the running game went from powerhouse to doghouse, while the passing attack improved each season. 2025: Total offense: #19 Passing offense: #7 Running offense: #31 2024: Total offense: #11 Passing offense: #18 Running offense: #7 2023: Total offense: #19 Passing offense: #26 Running offense: #4 LaFleur is a teacher. He wants his players to succeed on the gridiron, but mostly in life. His approach to the game, as well as his ability to teach concepts, invariably gets the best out of his players. His scheme is tried and true. It is based upon a heavy pre-snap motion with a wide-zone blocking rushing attack. Jet sweeps, bootlegs, play-action, short passes, simplicity for the quarterback, lack of penalties, several tight end sets, and getting holes for the running back to scoot through. He requires good pass-catching tight ends. He has to have accurate passers. He needs a solid offensive li
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The Cowboys could certainly use a few more additions before the season starts. Trade for Jordyn Brooks The Cowboys did explore the idea of trading for the Dolphins linebacker, but those talks cooled off, a person familiar with the team’s thinking told The Dallas Morning News earlier this offseason. A trade for linebacker Dee Winters during the draft would make it likely the Cowboys’ interest in Brooks would’ve cooled off even more, right? Probably. But Brooks’ talent still bears watching. He was an All-Pro last season and a top-10 linebacker in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. Brooks is also entering the final year of a three-year contract. The Dolphins drafted multiple linebackers, including Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez . Could that be enough to lower his value and make a trade easier for the Cowboys? Trade for RB James Conner Conner ran for over 1,000 yards in both seasons he overlapped with Cowboys offensive coordinator Klayton Adams, who was Arizona ’s offensive line coach from 2023-24. A reunion would make sense, but once again — and say it with me — at the right price. Conner is 31 years old and coming off a season where he played for three games before a foot injury sidelined him for the rest of the year. He’s also entering the final year of his contract for a team that added two talented running backs this offseason in Tyler Allgeier and first-round pick Jeremiyah Love. The Cardinals also have a new head coach this season. The Cowboys have options for a second running back behind Javonte Williams . Conner wouldn’t be a bad addition at the right price. Here’s the rundown on the Cowboys’ preseason. FRISCO, Texas – The preseason opponents were announced along with the NFL schedule two weeks ago, but now we have official dates and times for the games. The Cowboys have announced the schedule for their three preseason contests, beginning with the defending champion Seahawks. The Cowboys will not only make a regular-season trip to Seattle in December, but they’ll also kick off the exhibition slate on Aug. 15 at Lumen Field. The Cowboys are expected to arrive in Oxnard for training camp in late July, so the trip to Seattle will come near the end of a nearly four-week stay. Camp is expected to wrap up on Aug. 21, when the team heads to Arizona for an Aug. 22 game against the Cardinals. Like the Seahawks, the Cardinals will also face the Cowboys in the regular season (Nov. 1 at home). How the media of one of the Cowboys’ opponents sees the team this year. The beginning of the Brian Schottenheimer era was an up-and-down first season highlighted by explosive offensive performances which were necessary counters to challenging defensive performances. Dallas played two overtime games in the first four weeks of the season, the second of which was the 40-40 tie with the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football in Week 4 in Packers defensive lineman Micah Parsons ’ first game against his former team, having been traded to Green Bay just before the start of the regular season. A three-game win streak following their Week 10 bye which included wins over the Eagles and the Chiefs moved the Cowboys to 6-5-1. Despite back-to-back losses to the Lions and Vikings, their playoff hopes remained alive entering Week 16 until a Philadelphia win over Washington to claim the NFC East title outright on Saturday, Dec. 20, officially eliminated them. Key changes Dallas parted ways with defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus after one season, during which it allowed the third-most total yards per game and second-most passing yards per game. He was replaced by Parker, who served as the Eagles’ passing game coordinator & defensive backs coach the last two seasons. Head coach Schottenheimer is entering his second season as head coach of the Cowboys, compiling a 7-9-1 record in Year 1. What to watch for Last season’s top two passing offenses squaring off, carrying over personnel continuity The Rams had the No. 1 passing offense in the NFL
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Allgeier was under the impression that the Cardinals gave him a two-year, $12.25 million contract to make them their starter, so safe to say he didn't expect Arizona to select Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love third overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. Still, that draft pick might more so be a problem for James Conner and Trey Benson. Allgeier can remain the technical starter in Arizona and a fairly useful fantasy asset even after Love's arrival, both because the Cardinals look like they intend to call a run-heavy offense and because Love is not built for running between the tackles at volume. If the Cardinals commit to running the ball 30 times per week between Love and Allgeier then it might be Allgeier who takes the higher carry count, if only because he'll take the most physically challenging carries and won't take many targets in the passing game. Allgeier is a tank who can clobber between the tackles indefinitely, and the Cardinals offense needs to express that threat if they're going to have any prayer in 2026. The Cardinals can put 15-to-18 carries and one or two catches on Allgeier in a given game and still have 12-to-15 carries and four or five catches for Love. Particularly with Arizona's weak quarterback room, this run-heavy vision is exactly what the Cardinals should have in mind this year. At the very least, the GM will have a tough time selling both the Love pick and the Allgeier contract if new coach Matt LaFleur can't find a way to make both players productive
The Detroit Lions’ schedule for 2026 has officially dropped . If Detroit wants to improve upon their 9-8 season from the year prior, they need to not only win the easy games, but also win those toss-ups against tough foes and divisional opponents. While the Lions benefit on paper from a fourth-place schedule, winning in the NFL is no easy task. Pre-summer expectations go out the window once the regular season rolls around—what looks like an easy schedule in May could materialize into a gauntlet by season’s end. Let’s examine their slate of games to see which ones should be cakewalks and which ones could pose a significant challenge. While 2026 should be less of a train wreck for the Jets, they nonetheless remain one of the worst teams in the NFL and should be easy pickings for the Lions . There’s the added bonus that the Lions are playing them at home and early in the season—if the Jets are going to turn things around, it won’t happen this early. If anything, I wish that this was a road game in order to give Detroit a tougher opponent at home instead. Is Malik Willis enough to turn around a barren Dolphins team? I think not, but stranger things have happened before. As it stands, this should be a dominant victory for Detroit. A road game in Miami in November should yield modest temperatures as well. Unless De’Von Achane runs away with the game, this is a very winnable matchup for Detroit. Normally, I would rank a late-season game as a tougher matchup, as there is a higher likelihood of missing key starters. That being said, even a depleted Lions roster should outclass the Titans, barring a massive step forward from Cam Ward and company under new head coach Robert Saleh. I do think their defense could be sneakily good, however. With Jeremiyah Love, Trey McBride , Marvin Harrison Jr. , Michael Wilson , and Tyler Allgeier , the Cardinals have a fair number of weapons on offense that could scare the Lions defense. However, they have a major question mark at quarterback. I doubt that Jacoby Brissett is the answer, and it might take longer than Week 5 for Carson Beck to get a shot—even then, the rookie slid to the third round for a reason. The Panthers made the playoffs last season, but it was due to a paltry NFC South division resulting in an 8-9 team winning the crown. They lost one of their few spark plugs in Rico Dowdle to free agency, meaning that the offense will have to be carried by Bryce Young and Tetairoa McMillan . McMillan has promise, but time is running out on Young to show that he is more than a middling quarterback. Much like the Cardinals, the Falcons have a ton of offensive weapons but significant issues at quarterback. Unless one of Michael Penix or Tua Tagovailoa can run demonstrate some reliability, they may be a team forced to rely on the playmakers around them. Unlike the Cardinals, I think they can survive with subpar quarterback play thanks to Bijan Robinson , who can and will single-handedly carry that offense. The Lions draw the Giants for a late-season “Monday Night Football” tilt. While it seems like an easy victory for the Lions in May, a John Harbaugh-led Giants team could look significantly different by season’s end. For as bad as the Giants looked last season, the bulk of it can be placed on Brian Daboll at head coach and injuries to Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo . With Arvell Reese added to an already dangerous pass rush, they could be a team that outperforms low expectations. My hot take is that the Saints should run away with the NFC South title this season. Sure, that might not mean much when the Panthers won it with a losing record last year, but I genuinely think they have a high ceiling. Tyler Shough was quietly great in his rookie season, while the offense has only gotten better with the additions of Travis Etienne and Jordyn Tyson—the Saints defense is decent as well. A Week 1 home game is favorable for the Lions, who get to face a team that might not have found their groove yet. W
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Arizona Cardinals WR Michael Wilson had a breakout 2025 season, topping 1,000 yards and finishing as WR2 from Week 11. However, opinions are split on his future target share due to the return of QB Jacoby Brissett, the presence of RBs James Conner and Trey Benson, the addition of Tyler Allgeier, and the health of WR Marvin Harrison Jr. This creates potential buy-low or sell-high opportunities for Wilson in dynasty leagues
Data comes from cached Sleeper and KTC snapshots. Values update when the sync jobs run.
