Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride had high praise for the playmakers on the Cardinals' offense and said this is the year they break out. "We have so many playmakers on this offense with Marvin (Harrison Jr.), with (Michael Wilson), with me, with Jeremiyah (Love), with all these guys." "We're about to break out. This is the year it happens. Our talent is very underrated. Our offensive skill is one of the best in the NFL." McBride is entering Year 4 with Arizona and his first season under new head coach Mike LaFleur. The bad news is that LaFleur's offenses haven't favored tight ends in the past, with only one tight end totaling over 500 yards receiving in LaFleur's five years as an offensive coordinator. McBride is coming off a remarkable season, totaling over 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns on an NFL-record 126 receptions. McBride will need to overcome LaFleur's history with tight ends, as he should go off the board as a top two tight end in fantasy this season.

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. is missing crucial practice time because both quarterbacks, Tua Tagovailoa (undisclosed) and Michael Penix Jr. (knee), are not participating in team drills this week. With both quarterbacks absent from team drills and new head coach Kevin Stefanski implementing a new offensive system, Pitts and the entire offense could face challenges if Tagovailoa and Penix are unable to get the necessary reps in camp. Despite a breakout 2025 season, Pitts struggled with Penix under center, totaling only 38 receptions for 375 yards and one touchdown in 10 games. While Stefanski's offense has favored tight ends like David Njoku and Harold Fannin Jr., crowded competition in Atlanta with Drake London, Jahan Dotson, Zachariah Branch, and Bijan Robinson could make Pitts an avoid in fantasy this season.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. enters the 2026 season in a new offense, but receiver D.K. Metcalf has high hopes for the former Colts wideout. Metcalf said of Pittman, "The type of experience in the league who's been successful in another franchise comes over here, I think it's going to do wonders for our offense." In six seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, Pittman had 485 receptions for 5254 yards and 25 touchdowns in 95 games, despite poor quarterback play for most of his career with the team. Now he gets to play with future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Pittman is currently ranked WR41 in RotoBaller's fantasy football rankings, but if he can adjust to head coach Mike McCarthy's system, he could have a career year in Pittsburgh.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. will play all over the field in 2026, according to general manager John Lynch. When asked about Samuel's role for 2026, Lynch said, "You're going to see him in the return game, you're going to see him some at receiver, you're going to see him some at running back. We're going to use him all over the field, and we're really excited to have Deebo back." Samuel signed a one-year, $7 million deal to return to San Francisco, where he spent the first six seasons of his career, totaling nearly 6,000 scrimmage yards and 42 touchdowns in 81 games with the team. With young receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee) done for the season after electing to undergo surgery to repair his PCL, Samuel steps into a potential WR2 role behind Mike Evans. While Samuel is now 30 years old and has been trending downward in his career, he can still be a factor in fantasy and should be rostered in most fantasy formats.