2026 NFL Free Agency Moves & Fantasy Football Impact

2026 NFL Free Agency is here! It’s an awesome time of year where NFL rumors are flying, and fantasy football values are changing. Let us help you follow along with all of the notable 2026 NFL Free Agency transactions, along with the resulting fantasy football impact.

Fantasy Football Impact | 2026 NFL Free Agency Moves

Here is how 2026 free agency moves have impacted the fantasy football landscape. And check out our NFL Free Agency Tracker for all of the latest atest free agent movement and contract details.

2026 NFL Free Agency Moves & Fantasy Impact

Colts Re-Sign Alec Pierce

Alec Pierce was one of the most coveted free-agent receivers on the market, and the Colts decided that they couldn’t let Pierce get away.

The Colts are re-signing Pierce to a four-year deal worth a reported $116 million, as first reported by the Pat McAfee Show. The deal reportedly includes a $16 million signing bonus and $84 million in guaranteed money.

A four-year veteran, Pierce is coming off his finest NFL season to date. He had 47 catches for 1,003 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games. That came on the heels of an eye-opening 2024 season in which he had 37 catches for 824 yards and seven TDs.

Check out our full article for the fantasy impact of the Colts re-signing Alec Pierce

Chiefs Sign Kenneth Walker III

Walker finished last season as the RB22 in half-PPR, but the ranking doesn’t tell the full story. Just ask anybody who drafted Walker…and then watched him go NUCLEAR in the real-life NFL playoffs.

His fantasy production was heavily impacted by the committee with Zach Charbonnet, which often limited his volume despite elite efficiency.

When Walker operated without Charbonnet in the lineup, the upside was obvious (final three postseason games and Week 3 of the 2025 season).

23.4 half-PPR fantasy points per game during the postseason
22.0 half-PPR points in a 2025 regular-season game without Charbonnet

Those performances offer a glimpse/upside-down case of what Walker can do when given feature usage.

Check out our full article for the fantasy impact of the Chiefs signing Kenneth Walker III

Dolphins Sign Malik Willis

The Miami Dolphins are landing the top quarterback in free agency, agreeing to a three-year, $67.5 million deal with Malik Willis, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic.

The Willis signing marks a changing of the guard at QB for the Dolphins, who announced the release of Tua Tagovailoa hours before reaching an agreement with Willis.

A third-round draft pick of the Titans in 2022, Willis struggled early in his career. He made three starts for Tennessee as a rookie, completing 50.8% of his throws, averaging a meager 4.5 yards per attempt, and throwing no TD passes and three interceptions.

Willis didn’t make any starts for 2023. In August 2024, the Titans traded Willis to the Packers for a seventh-round pick in 2025.

The change of scenery did wonders for Willis, who thrived as the backup to Jordan Love.

Check out our full article for the fantasy impact of the Dolphins signing Malik Willis

Giants Sign Isaiah Likely

TE Isaiah Likely is signing a three-year deal with the Giants, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. It’s reportedly a $40 million deal that could be worth up to $47.5 million.

Likely had some big games for the Ravens, but the presence of veteran TE Mark Andrews kept Likely from having a sustained fantasy impact.

Likely’s best season in Baltimore came in 2024, when he had 42 catches for 477 yards and six touchdowns. He had a memorable performance against the Chiefs in the NFL’s 2024 Thursday-night season opener, with nine catches for 111 yards and a touchdown. Likely nearly had a second TD catch in that game at the end of regulation, but his toe came down out of bounds in the end zone, as the Ravens lost 27-20.

Likely has never drawn more than 60 targets in a single season, but he’s likely to surpass that target total with the Giants in 2026 if he can stay healthy.

Check out our full article for the fantasy impact of the Giants signing Isaiah Likely

Buccaneers Sign Kenneth Gainwell

Kenneth Gainwell lands in Tampa Bay with a two-year deal to work alongside Bucky Irving. Gainwell is coming off a career-best season as the RB19 in fantasy points per game, finishing with 187 touches and 1,023 total yards. He was particularly impressive as a pass-catching weapon out of the backfield, which is where he’ll likely make his money in 2026.

Check out our full article for the fantasy impact of the Buccaneers signing Kenneth Gainwell

Buccaneers Re-Sign Cade Otton

Cade Otton returns to the Bucs instead of testing the free agent waters. Otton should continue to operate as a trusted ancillary weapon in the Bucs passing offense. Depending on Mike Evans’ 2026 destination, Otton could ascend to the third spot in the pecking order behind Chris Godwin and Emeka Egbuka. Outside of a brief stint as a high-volume threat in 2024, Otton has been a forgettable TE2 for fantasy. Last year, he finished as the TE24 in fantasy points. Among 59 qualifying tight ends, he ranked 19th in target share and receiving yards per game, 45th in yards per route run, and 47th in first downs per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). Otton should be viewed as a run-of-the-mill TE2 for fantasy in 2026.
– Derek Brown

Falcons Sign Olamide Zaccheaus

WR Olamide Zaccheaus is going to sign with the Atlanta Falcons, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

It’s a homecoming for Zaccheaus, who spent the first four seasons of his career in Atlanta after signing with the team as an undrafted free agent in 2019. Over the last three seasons, Zaccheaus has bounced from the Eagles to the Commanders to the Bears. Zaccheaus had his best season with the Falcons in 2022, when he had 40 catches for 533 yards and three TDs.

Zaccheaus had 39 catches for 313 yards and two touchdowns for the Bears last season. He had 31 receptions in Chicago’s first eight regular-season games but only eight receptions in the Bears’ last eight regular-season games, as rookie slot receiver Luther Burden started to earn more snaps.

With WR Drake London, TE Kyle Pitts and RB Bijan Robinson likely to be big factors in Atlanta’s passing game, Zaccheaus is unlikely to be rosterable in most 2026 redraft leagues, barring an injury to one or more of the Falcons’ other pass catchers.
– Pat Fitzmaurice

Notable Trades & Fantasy Impact

Let’s take a look at the notable trades that have taken place and their fantasy impact.

Lions Trade David Montgomery to Texans

David Montgomery should take over as Houston’s workhorse back immediately, which turns Woody Marks into a high-end handcuff. Houston wants a workhorse running back, and Montgomery should absorb a workload close to what Joe Mixon saw in 2024. In 2024, Mixon ranked fifth in opportunity share, 14th in snap share, and 13th in carries among running backs, finishing with 281 touches.

Check out our full article for the fantasy impact of the David Montgomery trade

Bears Trade DJ Moore to Bills

A big winner from this move is Josh Allen, who finally gets the closest player to a No. 1 wide receiver the Bills have lacked since the departure of Stefon Diggs.

Moore brings a skill set that fits perfectly within Joe Brady’s offense. The two already have history together from their time with the Carolina Panthers, when Brady called plays in 2020 and 2021. During those seasons, Moore finished as the WR22 and WR19 in half-PPR, posting nearly 1,200 receiving yards in both campaigns while averaging 11.5 fantasy points per game, which would have ranked WR17 in 2025 scoring.

Check out our full article for the fantasy impact of the DJ Moore trade

Colts Trade Michael Pittman to Steelers

With Alec Pierce staying with Indy on a monster new deal, Michael Pittman is on the move. Pittman is headed to Pittsburgh to operate alongside DK Metcalf. He also got a new three-year deal in the process. We have no clue who the quarterback will be for Pittsburgh in 2026 (maybe Aaron Rodgers), but the Steelers will have a nice pass catching duo for whoever is under center.

Check out our full article for the fantasy impact of the Michael Pittman trade