The fantasy soccer offseason is heating up with NFL free company upon us and the potential for big-time trades at any time. This column is designed to be a one-stop store for quick-hitting evaluation of essentially the most impactful participant motion.
ESPN Fantasy writers Matt Bowen, Tristan H. Cockcroft, Eric Karabell, Liz Loza and Eric Moody supply their insights into what every transfer means for a participant’s fantasy worth in 2026, and Mike Clay provides his projections for every participant.
Bounce to: RB | WR
Operating again
March 2: Lions commerce Montgomery to Texans
Fantasy influence: Constructive
Karabell: David Montgomery, 28, thrived in his first two seasons in Detroit in a timeshare with star Jahmyr Gibbs, scoring 25 speeding touchdowns, however his function and quantity decreased in 12 months 3, particularly over the ultimate eight weeks. The Lions determined to maneuver on, clearing Gibbs for extra quantity and manufacturing, and positively one now could make the case for him as the primary operating again — and maybe participant at any place — off the PPR draft board for 2026. In spite of everything, Gibbs was already a top-three PPR RB the previous two seasons. Extra touches can be thrilling for all.
Montgomery ought to return to 200-plus touches in Houston — maybe pushing promising Woody Marks apart a bit — however there could be a receiving-minded operating again to be named later serving to him out, too. Sans veteran Joe Mixon (foot) for all the season, no Texans operating again reached even the low bar of 25 receptions, with all the crew combining to catch solely 54 passes. Montgomery caught 54 passes for the 2020 Chicago Bears, however he averaged solely 25 receptions per his three Lions campaigns.
The Texans may not be completed including to their backfield, looking for a third-down choice. Marks delivered six double-digit PPR efforts (although he didn’t rush for 75 yards in any recreation) throughout his rookie season regardless of little pass-catching relevance, so including Montgomery to the crew is dangerous information for him. Then once more, Marks had his likelihood; he scored two speeding touchdowns all season. Montgomery has scored a number of speeding touchdowns 9 instances.
This commerce aids Montgomery’s inventory, although. Solidly constructed at 5-foot-11 and 230 kilos, count on the Texans to make the most of the seven-year veteran on early downs and close to the objective line. Don’t count on double-digit touchdowns, as a result of the Texans are actually not the Lions’ equal when it comes to offensive expertise, scheme, creativity or teaching. Nonetheless, earlier than this transfer, we couldn’t make a case for Montgomery, the No. 27 PPR RB scorer final season, as even a secure RB3 for the 2026 draft. Now we will dream about RB2 manufacturing.
Large receiver
March 5: Bears commerce DJ Moore to Payments
Fantasy influence: Constructive
Bowen: With ESPN’s Adam Schefter reporting that the Chicago Bears are buying and selling extensive receiver DJ Moore to the Buffalo Payments — which can turn into official firstly of the league 12 months — let’s talk about the fantasy implications for each golf equipment.
In Buffalo, Moore fills a necessity as a quantity goal for quarterback Josh Allen in new head coach Joe Brady’s offensive system. Moore, who caught 50 of 83 targets for 682 yards and 6 scores in 2025, will see a bump in utilization with the Payments, utilizing his bodily traits to play by contact whereas creating separation to the ball.
Moore might be a three-level route runner underneath Brady, too. He’ll be urgent defenses vertically and operating the in-breakers, along with the screens and unders that cater to his explosive run-after-catch capacity. When paired with Allen, Moore must be seen as a WR2 who can produce breakout weeks.
Again in Chicago, we all know in regards to the emergence of extensive receiver Luther Burden III, displaying flashes of his high-level playmaking capacity late in his rookie season. Burden, who had a breakout recreation in Week 17 versus the 49ers (27.8 factors), is an electrical mover and a simple slot in Ben Johnson’s system. That is the multilevel velocity and the ball provider imaginative and prescient in area.
Burden’s function will elevate in 2026, becoming a member of extensive receiver Rome Odunze and tight finish Colston Loveland as the highest targets for quarterback Caleb Williams. We might see any of those three gamers taking the lead week-to-week relying on the sport plan and/or opponent. However as we sit right here now in March, Loveland might be in my TE1 ranks, whereas I am going to pencil in Odunze as a mid-tier WR2 with Burden as an upside WR3 who has the flexibility to submit some WR1 weeks.
