Every team enters the offseason intending to improve its lot. The thing about that, though: That doesn’t necessarily mean trying to get better for the year to come, and it doesn’t necessarily mean trying to get better for fantasy football. And also, of course, sometimes teams just do it poorly. Some moves really make our fantasy lives easier, but some make them way harder. So now, with most of the biggest offseason moves behind us, let’s take a look at some of the best offseason moves for fantasy. These moves make our fantasy lives that much easier, or at the least that much more exciting. Wednesday, I looked at the worst offseason moves for fantasy (and for these purposes, we’re assuming A.J. Brown will be a Patriot this season).
Best Offseason Moves for Fantasy: 2026
All Systems Go for Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs
Gibbs and Robinson have been excellent running backs over their careers, but they’ve been (slightly) held back by the presence of their running mates (David Montgomery and Tyler Allgeier, respectively). But this offseason, the Lions shipped Montgomery to Houston in a trade, and the Falcons saw Allgeier head to Arizona in free agency. Both guys got replaced, but Isiah Pacheco (Detroit) and Brian Robinson Jr. (Atlanta) aren’t anywhere near as good as their predecessors. Last year, Allgeier scored 8 rushing touchdowns compared to Bijan’s 7. Montgomery ran for 33 touchdowns in Gibbs’ three seasons. Pacheco, Brian Robinson Jr. and other backups will probably get a few of those in 2026, but the stars are going to soak up the majority, and they’re the only two candidates to be the 1.01 in drafts this year.
Kenneth Walker III Gets His Shot
Walker’s been good in Seattle for the last few years, but the Seahawks never really unleashed him. He always had to fight for touches, and the 255 touches he got as a rookie in 2022 are still a career high. But now he’s in Kansas City, away from the Seattle system and away from Zach Charbonnet. The Chiefs’ system commands attention from the pass defense, and Patrick Mahomes doesn’t run very much. The best backup in Kansas City is either Brashad Smith or rookie fifth-rounder Emmett Johnson. Add it all up, and there is very little standing in Walker’s way for the 2026 season.
Justin Jefferson Gets a Quarterback
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 22: Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) lets the crowd know that it’s first down during a NFL game between the Minnesota Vikings and Houston Texans on September 22, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN. (Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire)
Kyler Murray isn’t Josh Allen or Patrick Mahomes. But he also isn’t J.J. McCarthy. McCarthy could scarcely have been worse year (realistically), and it took Jefferson from superstar to just a decent receiver. He set career lows last year in yards (1,048), touchdowns (2) and yards per game (61.6), the latter two his low marks by a very wide margin. The arrival of Jauan Jennings to San Francisco undercuts this a bit from a too-many-mouths-to-feed perspective, but Murray comes in looking at a last shot at another career payday, and if he knows where his bread is buttered (and he should), he’ll concentrate his attentions on a guy who was in the conversation for overall WR1 this time a year ago.
What Can Brown Do for You
(Does that tagline still resonate? It’s been a while.) Yes, I’m writing this in May, and officially A.J. Brown is still on the Eagles. But it certainly seems inevitable that he’ll be on the Patriots this time next month, so I’m going with it. Brown will immediately become the best receiver Drake Maye has ever had — the only other candidates are last year’s Stefon Diggs and college teammate Josh Downs. In Brown, Maye gets an elite WR1 option who he can rely on more than he had at any point last year. And in Maye, Brown gets a better passer than he had with Jalen Hurts, more willing to throw the ball down the middle, and without a DeVonta Smith to contend with, he should command the highest target share of his career.
2025 Rookies Get Weapons
Tyler Shough was decent as a starter last year despite almost nothing to work with after Chris Olave. Cam Ward was worse, though he had even less to play around with, especially after Calvin Ridley got hurt. Well, the Saints signed Travis Etienne Jr. and Noah Fant and drafted Jordyn Tyson, Bryce Lance and Oscar Delp. Meanwhile, the Titans signed Wan’Dale Robinson and Daniel Bellinger and drafted Carnell Tate. The jury’s still out on whether Shough and/or Ward can become fantasy factors, but their teams are doing their level best to give them every opportunity to do so.
We Can Finally Sort the Green Bay Receivers
GREEN BAY, WI – AUGUST 19: Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed (11) carries New England Patriots cornerback Shaun Wade (26) into the end zone during a game between the Green Bay Packers and the New England Patriots on August 19, 2023 in Green Bay, WI. (Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire)
The Packers have made a go of it the last few years with a mass of wide receiver options. Jayden Reed. Romeo Doubs. Christian Watson. Dontayvion Wicks. Matthew Golden. Savion Williams. Bo Melton. Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave at tight end. Heck, I think Donald Driver might have shown back up for a bit. It might have been good for their offense overall, but it made finding anyone to care about for fantasy very difficult. Well now, Doubs and Wicks are gone. Whenever he’s 100% again, Kraft is firmly ahead of Musgrave. Williams and Melton are afterthoughts. The pass-catching that we need to care about has been winnowed down to Kraft, Watson, Reed and maybe Golden if he can develop. For fantasy, it helps us focus our attentions. Draft Watson, draft Reed, draft Kraft if health reports are good. Monitor Golden. But there is way less to worry about now.
