Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson seemed like an intriguing buy-low candidate in fantasy football entering this offseason, but his upside has been squandered following the Cardinals' backfield roster moves so far in free agency. The Cardinals restructured a deal to keep James Conner in Arizona, signed Tyler Allgeier, and also brought back Zonovan Knight. Their urgency to put pen to paper with three different running backs could spell disaster for Benson going forward, and even though he's not a cut or trade candidate, he could be falling out of favor in Arizona, where new head coach Mike LaFleur is starting to put his own print on the offense. In his second pro season last year, Benson, a former third-round pick, amassed 160 rushing yards and 64 receiving yards over four games (one start). Just as he was starting to take on a larger role with Conner injured, Benson suffered a knee injury of his own and missed the rest of the season. At this point, it seems like the best-case scenario for Benson is the third-string running back role, and even that's not guaranteed after Knight signed his deal. Dynasty managers should hold Benson for now; he has minimal fantasy football trade value, but at just 23 years old and one year removed from being a backup running back, it's too soon to cut bait entirely.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka has climbed up the depth chart and could open next season as Baker Mayfield's No. 1 target in the passing game. Legendary wide receiver Mike Evans recently signed with the 49ers after 12 years in Tampa Bay, leaving Egbuka and Chris Godwin Jr. atop the wide receiver depth chart. Both Egbuka and Godwin had their ups and downs last season, but the former has significantly greater upside and offers more of a threat to make big plays in contested one-on-one scenarios downfield. In other words, he edges out Godwin in terms of the superstar potential needed to fill the void of someone like Evans. The former Ohio State first-round pick finished his rookie campaign with 63 catches, 938 yards, and six touchdowns. He was the overall WR23 in PPR leagues, and that was after he came back down to earth during the second half of the season. Through the first five weeks of his rookie season, he had ranked as the WR3 in PPR leagues. Egbuka has already shown that he can be a top-five fantasy receiver, so we wouldn't be totally surprised if he returns to that form as the post-Evans era gets underway in 2026.

Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt currently sits atop the depth chart as the new league year gets underway. With Chris Rodriguez Jr., Austin Ekeler, and Jeremy McNichols all departing for free agency, Croskey-Merritt remains the lone holdover from Washington's 2025 backfield. That could change via free agency, the NFL Draft, or even a trade, but for now, it appears that Croskey-Merritt has an early leg up on the backfield competition for 2026. He's coming off a solid rookie season in which he amassed 873 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns. We should also note that it's not like Washington is just waiting to bring back some of its familiar faces, either. Rodriguez has already signed with Jacksonville, and it seems unlikely that Ekeler will return to Washington following his Achilles injury. Dynasty managers should hold Croskey-Merritt for now. Although he could be a buy-low candidate, there's also the risk of his value slipping if Washington does make a running back splash in the next month or so.

The Minnesota Vikings have released safety Harrison Smith, according to an announcement on the team's official website. Smith's release will be categorized as the post-June 1 variety, which allows the Vikings to release him immediately while still spreading his cap hit over two seasons. A defensive legend in Minnesota, Smith has spent his entire 14-year career with the Vikings, amassing 207 appearances, 203 starts, and six Pro Bowl nods. He remained effective at 36 years old last season, producing two interceptions, 10 passes defended, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, one sack, and 54 tackles. The Vikings' announcement describes Smith's release as procedural and leaves the door open for him to sign a different contract that would bring him back to Minnesota for a 15th season. If he does choose to continue his NFL career, he'll have the option to explore opportunities with all 32 NFL teams. However, it's difficult to envision him wearing anything other than purple and gold.