Indianapolis Colts running back DJ Giddens was a popular selection in rookie drafts last year because of his role behind Jonathan Taylor. Managers saw that Taylor had missed 16 games over the last three seasons and believed that Giddens could end up starting some games if the star running back missed time. The logic was sound, but Taylor ended up having one of the healthiest and most successful seasons of his career, logging 1,963 scrimmage yards and 20 touchdowns without missing any games. Giddens had 12 carries for 41 yards in Week 1, but he was limited to just six touches over the next six weeks as Taylor played the vast majority of the snaps. The rookie ended up being a healthy scratch for roughly half the season, as Indianapolis rotated him, Tyler Goodson, and Ameer Abdullah in depth roles. Giddens got back into action in Week 18, rushing for 30 carries on eight yards. In games where he played at least one-quarter of the snaps, Giddens averaged 10 touches and 3.55 yards per carry. He wasn't amazing by any means, but he flashed enough upside to suggest that the Colts could turn to him as Taylor's primary backup in 2026. Now, we're back in a familiar situation, with Giddens' fantasy value hinging on Taylor's availability. The Kansas State product should be viewed as an encouraging buy-low option in dynasty leagues this offseason, especially for managers who roster Taylor and want to also add his handcuff.

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry has consistently produced as a low-end TE1 in fantasy football, and he's due for another strong season in 2026 given his prominent role on offense. Henry showcased a strong rapport with quarterback Drake Maye last year, as the two connected for 60 completions, 768 yards, and seven touchdowns. Henry has now been the overall TE12 and TE9 over the last two years, largely thanks to his role as one of the top targets in New England. He could be headed for even more volume in 2026 after the Patriots released Stefon Diggs. Some of Diggs' 102 vacated targets will go to new signing Romeo Doubs, but the rest will be distributed to some of Maye's most trusted pass-catchers, including Henry. We would not be surprised to see him catch another six-plus touchdowns while turning in a top-10 finish next year. His 2026 outlook is too encouraging to sell high, but he's also a little too old to buy in dynasty leagues. At this point, dynasty managers should view him as a firm "hold."

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner took a major step forward in 2025, and he remains atop the depth chart heading into 2026. During his second pro season, Barner caught 52 passes for 519 yards and six touchdowns. Not only did he post new career-highs in all three categories, but he also held off any sort of rookie breakout effort from fellow tight end Elijah Arroyo. Coming into the season, it seemed like Arroyo was destined to ascend into the No. 1 role eventually, but that never came to fruition. From a fantasy perspective, Barner emerged as the overall TE14 in PPR leagues. Still just 23 years old, he's trending up in dynasty leagues and could push for a top-12 finish in 2026. The opportunity to buy low on him is running out, but you might still be able to acquire him at a discount if his current manager expects Arroyo to steal some of his volume going forward.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Cedric Tillman has been an appealing long-term dynasty option ever since being drafted in 2023, but given that he still hasn't broken out, managers are starting to lose patience. Tillman had plenty of opportunities to produce when healthy last year, filling the undisputed No. 2 role behind Jerry Jeudy. The quarterback play admittedly wasn't great, but Tillman's overall volume and production were still disappointing, all things considered. He ultimately played in 13 games last year, catching 21 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns. Across three years in the league, he has ranked as the WR118, WR90, and WR98. Tillman is heading into the final year of his rookie contract and could be worth dropping in dynasty leagues, especially as managers are forced to make tough roster crunch decisions with rookie drafts approaching.