Major Trades Impacting the NFL And Fantasy Football 2026
In today's Fantasy Life Newsletter, presented by Xfinity.
What. A. Day.
To quickly summarize:
- A.J. Brown was FINALLY traded to the Patriots, as long expected
- The Rams pulled off a blockbuster move for Myles Garrett
- The Giants signed like 19* different WRs yesterday
Let’s break it all down …
AJB to the Patriots
The Eagles sent their disgruntled star WR to the Patriots for a first-round draft pick in 2028 and a 2027 fifth-round pick.
We have fantasy fallout reactions for everyone involved …
Stock up for AJB. He doesn’t have to compete with a DeVonta Smith-level talent anymore and will get fed by Drake Maye.
» Full analysis of A.J. Brown joining the Pats.
It’s hard to spin losing AJB as a good thing for Jalen Hurts, but he’s cheaper than he’s ever been, and the team has been aggressive in bringing in more weapons. He’ll be fine.
» Full analysis on Jalen Hurts’ outlook.
This is great news for Smith, who can now become the alpha in the offense. He’s a legit talent who has been pigeonholed into a Robin role … but not for long.
» Full analysis on DeVonta Smith’s outlook.
Everyone moves up a notch on the target ladder in Philly, including rookie Makai Lemon.
» Full analysis on Makai Lemon’s outlook.
Garrett to the Rams
Um, what? Unlike the AJB move, no one saw this one coming.
The Rams gave up OLB Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick AND a 2029 third-round pick in exchange for Garrett.
It’s an insane haul that makes two things very clear:
- The Rams are all-in right now.
- The Browns are positioned to tank for a QB in 2027.
There isn’t a ton of fantasy spin here, but I think it’s fair to say the Browns will be throwing way more this year in negative game scripts, and their fantasy playoff opponents (including the Colts in Week 17) have a little easier draw.
» Full analysis of Myles Garrett joining the Rams.
The Giants added 3 WRs yesterday.
It might seem silly to include this on a day that featured two blockbuster trades, but the Giants adding JuJu Smith-Schuster, Odell Beckham Jr. and Braxton Berrios yesterday is legitimately concerning for Malik Nabers’ health.
At this point, it seems very likely that Nabers will open the season on PUP. It doesn’t help that he was seen limping to first base in a charity softball game over the weekend …
» Full analysis of OBJ returning to the Giants.
Years Of Guarantees With Josh Allen
If you’ve had Josh Allen in fantasy any year since 2020, you’ve been more than happy. He’s been the QB1 five times in that span, the only year he didn’t finish up top being 2022, when he fell all the way to QB2. He just finished his follow-up to his 2024 NFL MVP season with 3,668 passing yards and 25 TDs, adding 579 rushing yards and 14 more scores on the ground. Betting against him continuing his fantasy dominance for another five years would be ill-advised.
That’s exactly what the Xfinity 5-Year Price Guarantee means for your wallet: 5 years. The same price. No contracts or commitments. Just peace of mind knowing your connection, and your cost, will go the distance. Sports can be unpredictable, but your internet price doesn’t have to be. Get a reliable price for the most reliable, fiber-powered WiFi. Only with Xfinity.
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Around the Watercooler
The latest fantasy and NFL gossip, news, memes and more from your favorite football nerds …
🤩🥺 Who won in the A.J. Brown deal? And who lost?
👀 Matthew shares his thoughts now that AJB is in New England.
💬 And Kendall has ideas of her own. How high did AJB move up her rankings?
🔮 Our projections got an update. See who got larger and smaller shares.
🙌 JSN might be the overall WR1. Who says yes?
📆 The teams positioned for a quick rebuild. Nice hauls.
🏆️ He might be the butt of jokes now … but he used to be a fantasy legend.
🤦 Oh no … comedian Matt Rife almost ruined Rhamondre Stevenson.
💪 When looking for a QB2 in superflex leagues, this passer makes for a great option.
🕺🏻 Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson must be so excited at the Myles Garrett news, they just can’t hide it.
LA Rams Team Preview: Eyeing Super Return
As if there was anyone doubting that the Rams have their sights set on again being the home team at the Super Bowl, the Myles Garrett trade sure locked them in even more as the favorites to win it all. As long as Matthew Stafford is upright and pitching it to Puka Nacua, Davante Adams and a slew of TEs, and Kyren Williams and Blake Corum are eating up yardage, the Rams will have an elite offense. And the defense? See Garrett and Trent McDuffie deals. F— them picks, indeed.
We’ve got Ian Hartitz on the case, continuing his team preview series with the hotly contested NFC West. The Rams could win—or finish third. All we ask is that Stafford remains healthy to light up scoreboards all around. Here are additional Rams features:
Dynasty Mailbag: Timeline for Going from Rebuild to Contender
We know that in playing dynasty, that people are supposed to play the loooong game. But who has patience to wait very long before a rebuilding team can start to think of hoisting the league trophy? And all the bragging rights that go with it. Jake Trowbridge is back with the weekly dynasty mailbag, and he has this take on going from tank to title:
A rebuild can be done in a year if you’re diligent and focus only on getting the most pure value out of every trade, rather than fretting over specific positions. Also, if a rebuild takes more than a couple years, you probably just really like rebuilding. And your leaguemates told me that’s one of your best qualities. ⤵️
Buy in on These Breakout Offenses
There’s a new golden boy in Tinsel Town. There’s a young QB ready to pop that would make cooterdoodle very happy. And a QB getting a new start that could supercharge a stud WR. And that’s just a few of the breakout offenses that Dwain, Kendall and Ian are talking about in this episode. Make sure to subscribe to the Fantasy Life Show so you don’t miss an episode.