We are in the midst of the NFL preseason, and some positions on teams’ depth charts are more fluid than others. This matters a lot in both redraft and dynasty fantasy football formats, as some veterans risk losing opportunities throughout this season. I am not saying coach speak is gospel, but certain players have the draft capital and/or “upside” to improve a team’s position group.
I am not wishcasting that these players lose their roles; however, the writing is on the wall for others on the roster to step up at a cheaper cost. And the churn of the NFL happens quickly, so here are five veterans’ situations to monitor throughout the 2026 season.
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*Contract information sourced from Spotrac, and fantasy points per game from PlayerProfiler, unless otherwise noted.
Tony Pollard | RB | TEN
Unrestricted Free Agent Year ➡️ 2027
Dead Cap / Cap Savings (Post June 1, 2027 release) ➡️ $0 / $0
Fantasy Points Per Game ➡️ 2025: 10.9 (#29) — 2024: 12.5 (#22) — 2023: 13.1 (#23)
Contract
Pollard enters his third season with the Titans, with a new coaching staff looking to improve the offense. Both Pollard and fellow veteran Tyjae Spears are unrestricted free agents following this season. Unfortunately, the poor offense has not helped Pollard’s fantasy production; however, he will turn 30 next season. The aging running back is not cooked, but the new coaching staff may be looking for a new recipe.
Past Performance
Coming into the league, Pollard played the change-of-pace back to Cowboys’ bell cow Ezekiel Elliott. Since 2023, Pollard has taken on a larger role, handling ~270-300 touches in each of the past three seasons. The efficiency Pollard showed in a smaller role didn't quite translate as his volume increased. Pollard was the RB-8 in 2022 (15.6 ppg), but the last three seasons have reflected a back-end RB-2 to RB-3.
Environment
As mentioned, the Titans have a new coaching staff, and they used draft capital and cap space this offseason to surround Cam Ward with some help. The notable addition to the Titans’ backfield is former Nittany Lion Nicholas Singleton, who was taken in the 5th round. The draft capital is not significant, but a Jones fracture in his right foot depressed Singleton’s value in the pre-draft process. I expect Singleton to get involved and wouldn't be surprised if, this time next season, the Tennessee backfield looks much different. Pollard may land in the back-end RB-2 territory for fantasy football, but unless he takes a steep discount, I expect the Titans to look to retool their running back room.
J.K. Dobbins | RB | DEN
Unrestricted Free Agent Year ➡️ 2028
Dead Cap / Cap Savings (Post June 1, 2027 release) ➡️ $2M / $8M
Fantasy Points Per Game ➡️ 2025: 11.6 (#26) — 2024: 14.8 (#18) — 2023: 11.7 (N/A)
Contract
After a one-year deal with the Broncos, Dobbins signed a two-year extension to remain with the team back in March. The deal is effectively a one-year extension considering how palatable the dead cap figure is after this season. This contract reflects Dobbins’ production since joining Denver while acknowledging his injury history.
Past Performance
Dobbins has been anything but consistent, putting up double-digit fantasy points per game since entering the NFL in 2020. Dobbins's biggest hurdle has been availability, as he has never played a full season. From 2022-2025, Dobbins has played in 47% of possible games. Much of Dobbins’ value is as a rusher and red zone back, as he earned approximately 15 carries per game on a 50% snap share, with at least one red zone carry in all but one game. When healthy, Dobbins is still an above-average runner who can be flex-worthy in a committee backfield.
Environment
The Broncos did extend Dobbins in the offseason, but they also spent 4th-round draft capital on a compact back out of Washington, Jonah Coleman. Here is a look back at my thoughts on this year’s rookie running backs, where I slotted Coleman as the RB-2. Adding Coleman speaks to Denver’s vulnerability at RB, as R.J. Harvey will serve as the pass-catching, explosive component of this backfield committee. Denver’s offense has improved under the leadership of Sean Payton, and by extension Davis Webb, as well as with Bo Nix at quarterback. And as Coleman’s role grows, it could mean Dobbins is wearing a different uniform as early as this time next year.
Jerry Jeudy | WR | CLE
Unrestricted Free Agent Year ➡️ 2028
Dead Cap / Cap Savings (Post June 1, 2027 release) ➡️ $8.9M - $16.6M / $4.6M
Fantasy Points Per Game ➡️ 2025: 7.1 (#61) — 2024: 14.2 (#21) — 2023: 8.9 (#55)
Contract
Jeudy signed a fairly lucrative three-year contract extension ahead of the 2024 season on the heels of his rookie deal expiring as a 2020 1st-round pick. During this time, the Browns have remained in QB purgatory without a clear direction as an offense. While Jeudy isn't an unrestricted free agent until 2028, the Browns may continue trimming their salary after the 2026 season. The cap savings are modest if Jeudy were released, so he may stick around another year, but I don't think he'll be on the Browns by the end of his contract.
Past Performance
Lauded for his route-running prowess as a member of the Crimson Tide, Jeudy didn’t post his first 1,000-yard season not until his 5th season. Availability is not the culprit for the so-so fantasy production, as Jeudy has not missed too many games in his six-year career. Jeudy’s two best seasons came in 2022 and 2024, where he finished as the WR-19 and WR-21, respectively. This appears to be Jeudy’s fantasy ceiling, but it remains to be seen if he can put together that level of production for two consecutive seasons.
Environment
The Browns made significant changes this offseason, including a coaching change and several size-able roster moves. Among those roster moves was the drafting of KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston. Here are some of my thoughts on these two rookies in the pre-draft process. Using such early draft capital on the same position speaks to the emphasis placed on improving the wide receiver room. Concepcion and Boston couldn’t be a better complement to one another, with the former a compact, explosive receiver and the latter a long, versatile receiver. I think adding these two rookies alongside Jeudy and Harold Fannin is huge for this Browns’ offense; however, I am most concerned Jeudy won't reach that WR-2 ceiling until he is in a different uniform.
Dallas Goedert | TE | PHI
Unrestricted Free Agent Year ➡️ 2027
Dead Cap / Cap Savings (Post June 1, 2027 release) ➡️ $8.2M - $10.0M / $0 (Void years)
Fantasy Points Per Game ➡️ 2025: 12.3 (#5) — 2024: 10.4 (#10) — 2023: 9.7 (#12)
Contract
Goedert received a one-year contract extension, which served as a thank you for his prior year's production and as a tool to reduce his cap hit due to void years in his contract. While those void years still exist, Goedert is slated to become an unrestricted free agent following this season. Goedert turns 32 in a couple of months, and I expect the rest of his career to consist of a series of short contracts like this offseason.
Past Performance
Despite his age and the overall Eagles’ offense in 2025, Goedert had his best fantasy season with 12.3 fantasy points per game and a whopping 11 touchdowns. Considering Goedert had never scored more than 5 touchdowns in any of his prior 7 seasons, it is safe to assume that this is not a sticky stat. However, since 2019, Goedert has never finished outside the top-12 in fantasy amongst the tight end position. This kind of consistency is notable considering the variability of tight end production outside of the top 2-3 players. But as he enters the twilight of his career, it is worth questioning whether the top-12 trend will continue.
Environment
The Eagles’ offense has been in flux since the end of the 2025 season, with the trade of A.J. Brown, the drafting of Makai Lemon and Eli Stowers, the addition of Dontayvion Wicks and Hollywood Brown, and the hiring of new play-caller Sean Mannion. Goedert remains a trusted pass-catcher for Jalen Hurts, but there could be a change in the Eagles’ offense. With a reduction in touchdowns, Goedert could have trouble increasing his target volume to compensate. Regardless of whether what your thoughts are on the Eagles’ offense as a whole for 2026, it’s a very real possibility that this is the beginning of phasing in Stowers and trimming Goedert’s target share. In this scenario, Goedert remains an important part of the offense, but his fantasy viability is diminished. And following 2026, there is no guarantee that Goedert remains in Philadelphia (see Zach Ertz’s exit).
Chuba Hubbard | RB | CAR
Unrestricted Free Agent Year ➡️ 2029
Dead Cap / Cap Savings (Post June 1, 2027 release) ➡️ $1.5M - $1.5M / $7.5M
Fantasy Points Per Game ➡️ 2025: 8.4 (#40) — 2024: 16.1 (#13) — 2023: 10.7 (#33)
Contract
Halfway through the 2024 season, a career year, Hubbard signed an extension keeping him in Carolina until he becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2029. Hubbard has served as a leader on the Panthers as they have churned through coaching and front office changes. The current, and seemingly long-term, head coach Dave Canales has spoken highly of Hubbard and despite a calf injury hindering his 2025 season. It’s important to note that the structure of Hubbard’s contract leaves a huge cap savings with reasonable dead cap if he were not on the roster this time next year.
Past Performance
Hubbard joined the Panthers as a 4th-round pick in 2021 and was not expected to threaten one of the franchise’s best running backs, Christian McCaffrey. Possibly the most notable accomplish for Hubbard is surviving the Matt Rhule era in Charlotte and sticking it out as the team righted the ship. Following the trade of McCaffrey to the 49ers in December of the 2022 season, Hubbard opened the 2023 season as the Panthers’ starting running back. And as previously mentioned, it was in 2024 when Hubbard had his breakout season finishing as the RB-13 in fantasy with 16.1 points per game. But there was one fact looming over the Panthers’ backfield, the drafting of Jonathon Brooks.
Environment
The Panthers injected life into the offensive line in 2024 by investing in Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis. This investment and the drafting of Jonathon Brooks in the same year pointed to the Panthers’ intention to emphasize the running game. Multiple knee injuries have thrown a wrench into Brooks’ availability, but optimism sustained regarding what he could do once healthy. Brooks has been a healthy participant throughout the offseason, while unfortunately Hubbard picked up a hamstring injury that hopefully does not impact his Week 1 availability. When both running backs are healthy, I expect a committee backfield, but if Brooks proves to be able to handle enough volume it could mean less for Hubbard. Hubbard’s leadership is invaluable to this Panthers team, but his fantasy production could take a step back as a healthy Brooks usurps his RB-1 role.
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