Since bursting onto the fantasy scene as a rookie in 2023, Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has struggled to live up to the hype. Across 14 games in 2025, the 24-year-old completed 64.5% of his pass attempts for 3,041 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Stroud's fantasy upside is capped by his lack of rushing ability, as he's averaged 200 rushing yards per season in his NFL career and has four career rushing touchdowns. However, there may be reason to believe that 2026 can be his most efficient year as a passer since his rookie season. Houston made some key additions to its offensive line in the offseason, signing tackle Braden Smith and left guard Wyatt Teller in free agency and then using a first-round pick in the 2026 Draft on center Keylan Rutledge. The Texans should also get healthier seasons out of wide receivers Nico Collins and Tank Dell (knee) and have a pair of exciting young wideouts in Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. Stroud may never emerge as a fantasy superstar, but he still offers dynasty managers some upside while providing a solid QB2 floor.

With less than three months remaining before the start of the 2026 NFL season, veteran running back Joe Mixon is currently unsigned. Mixon missed the entirety of 2025 with a mysterious foot/ankle injury and was released by the Houston Texans in March. Mixon was a productive player as recently as 2024, recording 1,325 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns on 281 touches across 14 games with Houston. However, his current health status remains an open question, and he will also turn 30 years old this July. At this point, it seems possible that Mixon's NFL career might be over. Even if he latches on somewhere before the start of 2026, he will likely be in a complementary role. Given the circumstances, dynasty managers are probably safe to move on from Mixon.

A second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey finished his rookie season with 896 scrimmage yards and 12 touchdowns on 13 touches across 17 games (seven starts). Harvey was more productive as a receiver than a rusher, as he recorded 47 catches for 356 yards and five scores, but averaged just 3.7 yards per carry. He also struggled to carve out a consistent role in the Denver offense until Broncos back J.K. Dobbins went down with a season-ending foot injury in Week 10. Dobbins should be back to full health for the start of the upcoming season, and Denver also selected running back Jonah Coleman in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Harvey profiles as the primary third and passing-down back for the Broncos, but he may be hard-pressed to see much rushing work as long as Dobbins and Coleman stay healthy. Dynasty managers may want to explore selling high on Harvey ahead of a potential workload decline in 2026.

After recording 92 carries for 400 yards and two touchdowns across 17 games with the San Francisco 49ers in 2025, veteran running back Brian Robinson Jr. is entering his first season with the Atlanta Falcons in 2026. Robinson Jr. offered little standalone appeal to fantasy managers last season, as he spent the year in a backup role behind 49ers superstar Christian McCaffrey. Ironically, Robinson Jr. finds himself in a very similar situation in Atlanta behind Falcons back Bijan Robinson. There may be slightly more opportunity available to Robinson Jr. this season, as former Falcons back Tyler Allgeier collected eight touchdowns while playing alongside Bijan in 2025. Still, his greatest value to fantasy managers is as a handcuff option. Should Robinson suffer an injury, Robinson Jr. would profile as the clear lead back in Atlanta. He remains stash-worthy in dynasty formats entering 2026.