Liz LozaMar 25, 2026, 07:00 AM ETCloseLiz Loza is a writer for fantasy football, women’s basketball and betting at ESPN. Liz also appears on “Fantasy Football Now” and contributes to the Fantasy Focus Football podcast.Multiple Authors
Woody: Kyler Murray could signal the end of J.J. McCarthy in Minnesota (2:21)Damien Woody, Mike Tannenbaum and Dan Graziano discuss Kyler Murray signing with the Vikings and how that could affect J.J. McCarthy’s career in Minnesota. (2:21)
Change. It’s inevitable. And in the NFL, it’s constant. From a historic number of coaching changes to nagging injuries to roster shake-ups, the churn is real. As we flip the fantasy calendar to the 2026 season, we’re here to catch you up on the most impactful fantasy news of the offseason. Here’s to not just playing the game, but playing it while in the know.
Despite his status as the winningest head coach in franchise history (180 regular-season and 13 postseason victories), the Baltimore Ravens cut ties with Harbaugh after 18 seasons. The 63-year-old was without a head coaching gig for all of 11 days before New York signed him to a five-year commitment. Harbaugh is now tasked with bringing a winning culture back to the Big Apple. That’s no small feat given that the team has registered just two playoff appearances in nearly a decade.
The Steelers added CB Jamel Dean, RB Rico Dowdle and WR Michael Pittman Jr. in free agency. Given McCarthy’s penchant for running the ball and clock management, the offense doesn’t figure to look terribly different from its previous iteration(s). Interestingly, DraftKings Sportsbook has set a line of 8.5 wins for the upcoming regular season. Pittsburgh managed a 10-7 record in 2025.
The Cardinals accumulated a whopping 15 wins over three seasons under the Jonathan Gannon/Drew Petzing regime. Regardless of the reasons — from a rebuild to key injuries — three straight seasons under .500 will result in any coaching staff being shown the door. Enter LaFleur, who ascended the ranks under the tutelage of Kyle Shanahan before working with Sean McVay as the Rams’ offensive coordinator since 2023.
See more 2026 NFL coaching hires here, including Kevin Stefanski in Atlanta, Jesse Minter in Baltimore, Jeff Hafley in Miami, Robert Saleh in Tennessee and Todd Monken in Cleveland.
After a breakout rookie campaign (18.2 FPTS/gm, WR6), Nabers emerged as a top-five positional pick for fantasy managers in 2025. His presence, particularly given Wan’Dale Robinson’s departure, is crucial to the Giants’ success this upcoming season. His availability and progress over the summer will be key in determining his 2026 ADP. Mike Clay currently has the star wideout ranked inside of his top 10 players at the position.
Nabers wasn’t the only Giant to sustain a season-ending injury in 2025. Skattebo underwent emergency surgery shortly after experiencing a gruesome right ankle dislocation, which included an open tibia fracture and ruptured deltoid ligament, in late October. Despite the severity of the injury, Schoen expects the bruising back to be ready in time for the start of the team’s offseason program in April.
Grab a big ol’ bucket of popcorn because the Murray versus J.J. McCarthy QB battle figures to be pure cinema. Stunted by injuries and failure to progress as a passer, Murray was released by the Cardinals after seven tumultuous seasons. He was signed by the Vikings just 24 hours later. Given Murray’s experience, it’s reasonable to believe he’ll edge out his 23-year-old competitor for the starting gig.
Murray averaged 19.4 fantasy points per game over his 87 career starts as a Cardinal, with 30% of that production coming via his legs. With Kevin O’Connell calling the plays and surrounded by a bevy of talented pass catchers (Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson and Aaron Jones Sr.), Murray should have all the tools necessary to wholly fulfill his QB1 fantasy potential. That is, of course, if he can stay on the field.
The first running back to earn a Super Bowl MVP victory in 28 years (Terrell Davis, 1998), Walker is taking his ring to a town that, prior to 2025, had been stockpiling hardware. Signed to a three-year deal valued at $45 million ($28.7 million fully guaranteed), Walker is expected to be Kansas City’s primary ball carrier, particularly given the expiration of Kareem Hunt’s previous deal and with Isiah Pacheco off to the Detroit Lions.
Click HERE for a complete fantasy guide to all offseason signings including Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos, DJ Moore to the Bills, Travis Etienne Jr. to the Saints and David Montgomery to the Texans.
The defensive-minded coach tapped Matt Nagy to command the Giants’ offense. Born out of the Andy Reid coaching tree, Nagy figures to install a West Coast offense, intent on developing QB Jaxson Dart and further unlocking WR Malik Nabers’ alpha potential. Expect a mix of designed runs and RPO reads for Dart, providing the QB with an elevated rushing floor and more defined throws. There’s room for optimism, but fantasy managers should temper expectations as Nagy has struggled to consistently deliver, particularly when separated from Reid. Nagy managed a 34-31 regular-season record as head coach of the Chicago Bears from 2018 to 2021. His second stint as offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs proved more successful, though Reid remained the team’s primary offensive playcaller during that span (2023-25).
The Raiders have endured the highest coaching turnover in the NFL since 2002. Kubiak will aspire to buck the trend, becoming the team’s sixth permanent head coach since 2015. Fresh off a Super Bowl victory as the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator, wherein he lifted Seattle’s points per game (up from 20 in 2024 to 25.5 in 2025) and offensive efficiency (from 19th in 2024 to 13th in 2025), Kubiak figures to install a QB-friendly offense that relies on play-action and utilizes a wide zone running game.
Kubiak admitted at the NFL combine that he’d like to give RB Ashton Jeanty a “wingman,” suggesting a shared backfield approach similar to the one Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet experienced in 2025. Although that could mean fewer touches for the sophomore running back, Jeanty’s efficiency should increase. Thankfully for fantasy managers, TE Brock Bowers’ ceiling should be exploited under Kubiak, as he is likely to take on a “joker” role in the offense. Key to all of this, of course, is expected No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza’s ability to successfully transition to the pro level. That said, Kubiak’s wide zone scheme — which will marry the run and pass game together — should be viewed as a bonus for Mendoza’s early-season development.
On Buffalo’s staff since 2022, Brady is set to succeed Sean McDermott in large part due to his effective work with Josh Allen. Under Brady, Allen has strived to limit turnovers, increase rushing output and improve his overall efficiency. Motivated to capitalize on a legitimate Super Bowl window, Brady will need to build around Allen and further develop offensive consistency. The addition of WR DJ Moore figures to help in this endeavor, providing Allen with a proven No. 1 WR who can successfully deliver on deep in-breakers and shots downfield. That said, Brady remains an “everyone eats” evangelist. Expect him to spread the ball around while continuing to employ an explosive rushing attack.
LaFleur brings a completely new approach to Arizona’s offense, predicated on maximizing the offensive line in order to establish a high-volume passing attack, buoyed by an explosive running game. This more modern and receiver-friendly approach should provide Marvin Harrison Jr. with a lift in production. With more reduced formations and pre-snap movement, LaFleur can employ the “Cooper Kupp model” to scheme for MHJ, allowing the hopeful WR1 to better showcase his high-end physical tools. If LaFleur can successfully unlock MHJ’s potential and further encourage Jacoby Brissett’s belated breakout, then fans should nickname him the Great Redeemer by the season’s end.
Touching the ball 252 times (RB20) in Seattle, Walker’s timeshare with Zach Charbonnet suppressed his fantasy ceiling. Still, the 25-year-old finished the season as fantasy’s RB22 overall (11.3 FPTS/gm, RB27). He also ripped off 10 runs of 20 or more yards (RB3, tied with Jahmyr Gibbs). Interestingly, Pacheco didn’t record a single run of 20 or more yards, and Hunt managed just one. Intent on upgrading the team’s backfield, Reid figures to capitalize on Walker’s speed and explosiveness, making the back a top-14 positional option for fantasy purposes.
It’s hard to imagine a better landing spot for the vet, who inked a three-year deal with the 49ers after 12 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. An injury-riddled 2025 (hamstring, clavicle) prevented the 32-year-old from attaining a 12th consecutive campaign of 1,000 receiving yards. That could be evidence of decline, but given the lack of competition he’ll face in San Francisco and noting Kyle Shanahan’s playcalling savvy, Evans figures to bounce back in 2026. He’s likely to emerge as a value pick with WR2 fantasy potential by the fall.
Woody: Kyler Murray could signal the end of J.J. McCarthy in Minnesota (2:21)Damien Woody, Mike Tannenbaum and Dan Graziano discuss Kyler Murray signing with the Vikings and how that could affect J.J. McCarthy’s career in Minnesota. (2:21)
Damien Woody, Mike Tannenbaum and Dan Graziano discuss Kyler Murray signing with the Vikings and how that could affect J.J. McCarthy’s career in Minnesota. (2:21)
Liz LozaMar 25, 2026, 07:00 AM ETCloseLiz Loza is a writer for fantasy football, women’s basketball and betting at ESPN. Liz also appears on “Fantasy Football Now” and contributes to the Fantasy Focus Football podcast.Multiple Authors
CloseLiz Loza is a writer for fantasy football, women’s basketball and betting at ESPN. Liz also appears on “Fantasy Football Now” and contributes to the Fantasy Focus Football podcast.
Jump ahead Coaching carousel | Injuries to track | Free agency frenzy