Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy continues to have some dynasty appeal, but he faces an uphill battle to earn immediate playing time. The Vikings brought in Kyler Murray to essentially light a fire under McCarthy, in hopes that he'll strengthen his candidacy for the starting role, either short-term or long-term. Although the Vikings are still optimistic that McCarthy can be their franchise quarterback for years to come, it's unlikely that he'll start right away in 2026, which means he lacks short-term fantasy appeal. He missed all of his rookie campaign in 2024, and he's coming off a frustrating 2025 campaign in which he totaled 1,632 passing yards, 15 total touchdowns, and 14 turnovers across 10 games. It's too early to consider dropping McCarthy in dynasty leagues, but we acknowledge that managers will need to exercise patience as they stash him on the bench while he occupies the backup role behind Murray.

Cleveland Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. finished his rookie season in 2025 as the overall TE6 in fantasy football, and he's only trending up. Fannin is expected to have the tight end role in Cleveland all to himself next year after David Njoku departed in free agency. If Fannin was able to finish as the TE6 with 72 catches, 731 yards, and six touchdowns while Njoku was in the mix, he could legitimately push for 100 catches and 1,000 yards in the post-Njoku era. Fannin's dynasty stock also gets a boost from his age. He's only 21 years old, which means he could be a top fantasy tight end option for many years to come. For now, he ranks as the TE5 in RotoBaller's dynasty fantasy football rankings, but he could jump into the top three if he finishes as the TE6 or higher once again in 2026. With that trajectory, he's an intriguing trade target in dynasty leagues, but it's probably too late for managers to acquire him at any sort of discount.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Jaylen Waddle's dynasty stock is trending up after an offseason trade that put him in a stronger offense and paired him with a more talented quarterback. Waddle was traded from the Dolphins to the Broncos, and while he will face some competition for targets from Courtland Sutton and Troy Franklin, this is a much better scenario for the Alabama product and his skill set. He projects as the No. 1 receiver in an upward-trending offense led by talented quarterback Bo Nix. Waddle's upside was limited for several years in Miami due to the inconsistent play of Tua Tagovailoa, but Nix offers him a very strong chance to post more than 1,015 yards for just the second time in his career. In addition to projecting as a high-volume receiver with high yardage totals, he should remain a solid weapon around the goal line, giving him touchdown upside in fantasy football. Despite finishing as the WR24 or lower in each of his last three seasons, Waddle's trade gives him top-15 receiver upside in dynasty fantasy football leagues. He's a very intriguing buy-low target for managers this offseason.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs has been trending up in dynasty leagues. The 24-year-old receiver's dynasty stock has benefitted from the Colts' decision to trade Michael Pittman Jr., which should leave Downs in line to start alongside Alec Pierce. While Pierce projects as the Colts' top receiver after his big payday, Downs has the potential to carve out a fantasy-relevant role. This offense is good enough to support two fantasy-relevant receivers for several years to come, especially as long as Daniel Jones is under center. Downs has ranked between WR35 and WR44 in each of his three NFL seasons, but we wouldn't be surprised to see him take a big step forward and post the best fantasy finish of his career in 2026. Downs set a new career low in catches, yards, and fantasy points last year, softening his price tag in dynasty leagues. Managers should take advantage of this discount and send out trade offers for the UNC product before his potential Year 4 breakout.