Biggest Positional Holes Left To Address This Offseason

So much movement, and yet still so many question marks. The NFL offseason is in full effect and has brought fantasy football managers lots to digest thus far. Plenty of franchises have made impactful signings and trades (which you can follow using our tracker) with plenty more comin’ down the pike, but to be fair, most of the “high-impact” names are already off the market now. Teams looking to bolster their ground game or add reliable pass-catchers are running low on options. And those quarterback-needy squads? Woof, good luck. Fortunately, the 2026 NFL Draft starts April 23, and names like Brandon Aiyuk of the San Francisco 49ers are out there on the trade market (or the “get released and then sign elsewhere” market). But until any of those events happen, we’ve got all sorts of ambiguous situations around the league to sort through in this exercise. Who still needs the biggest help? Strap in, friendos — it’s readin’ time. Join me in unpacking the most glaring holes left to be plugged throughout the rest of the NFL offseason: (All stats per our NFL StatsHub unless otherwise noted)

Biggest Remaining Holes for Fantasy

Biggest NFL Backfield Question Marks

Seattle Seahawks

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s the double-whammy! Not only did reigning Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III pack his bags for Kansas City on a three-year, $43.05 million contract in free agency, but let’s not forget that Zach Charbonnet tore his ACL in the playoffs on the road to the title. Big void! As of this writing, the top running back on the Seahawks is Emanuel Wilson. Credit where it’s due: The former Packers’ depth piece is not some rando schmuck. The ex-UDFA is coming off back-to-back efforts with at least 500 scrimmage yards and earned every bit of his deal worth up to a reported $2.1 million. Wilson was so good in 2025, actually, that he finished tied for fourth best in yards after contact per attempt (2.8) and fifth best in power run success rate (81.8%) among 52 running backs with at least 100 carries last season. Still, we’re talking about someone who’s handled double-digit carries in a game just eight times as a pro. Though Charbonnet will come back from injury eventually, it’s going to be a while — dude popped that knee in January, and most ACL injuries take in the ballpark of a year to come back from. Even if the bruiser can suit up closer to the nine-month mark, that’s putting him back at practice at the beginning of the regular season. So what, November… maybe? That’s what fantasy managers are lookin’ at? Seattle’s got some thinking to do. Is Wilson enough?

Minnesota Vikings

This one technically isn’t a roster hole… yet. Minnesota appears poised to run it back with the tandem of veterans Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason in 2026. Good idea? We can debate that here in a sec, but it does mean that the Vikings are the only team featured in this exercise to not lose a key weapon from their highlighted position group this offseason — continuity is fun! The issue, however, is that this approach is, in effect, a continuation of mediocrity. As presently constructed, the #Skol attack will be relying on a backfield that ranked 16th in EPA per attempt (-0.032) and 14th in rushing offense DVOA (-3.9%) last season. Certainly better than sitting 18th and 20th in each respective measure in 2024, sure, but this offense could use some more oomph in order to keep up with the rapidly improving NFC North around them. Ultimately, the main question is whether Jones can be counted on as a lead back at this stage of his career entering his age 31 season. He recently restructured the final year of his contract (lowering his base salary from $9 million to $5.5 million) to stick around, but that only postpones the inevitable. Jones is quite likely gone in 2027, and as for Mason, he’s only got one year remaining on his deal until he walks out the door as a 28-year-old. Is this really all they got? Fact is, the future is not currently on the roster. Getting younger at running back must be a top priority for this franchise in next month’s NFL Draft. For their sake, let’s hope it’s addressed with one of the pair of third-rounders (82nd and 97th overall) the Vikings have at their disposal. Someone who carries a complementary speed element, like Penn State’s Nick Singleton or Mike Washington Jr. from Arkansas, would fit the bill quite nicely in this system.

Carolina Panthers

Well, folks, you ready for #JonathonBrooksSZN? Seems Carolina might be after watching 2025 rushing leader Rico Dowdle depart for Pittsburgh on a two-year, $12.25 million contract. There’s definitely a void left behind, although we’d be remiss not to remind everyone that Chuba Hubbard still has three years remaining on his 2024 extension. The Canadian export projects as the current backfield leader, but for how long exactly? Financially, the Panthers would be goofy not to use the guy they’re paying $8.7 million in average annual value as their featured piece, but last season saw the former Oklahoma State standout battle injury and garner considerably less effectiveness as a rusher. Hubbard’s on shaky ground. Head coach Dave Canales needs to make sure there’s juice behind Bryce Young, and the current alternative hasn’t appeared on a football field since December 2024. For those who don’t remember, the aforementioned Jonathon Brooks has been an afterthought following his second torn right ACL in a 13-month stretch as a rookie. Yep, it’s the same one he popped in college at the University of Texas, and it’s limited Brooks to only 11 total touches in three games played to date in his NFL career. Can the former 46th overall pick in the NFL Draft live up to his capital? Perhaps, but it’s a bit of an unknown for the now-23-year-old. The investment in Brooks may well be enough for the Panthers to view this as a “solved problem,” and if they’re comfortable with what they’ve got, kudos. Still fair to wonder how much can be expected of an athlete over two years removed from meaningful contact, though. Carolina probably doesn’t belong in this exercise, but it’s alright to call a spade a spade.

Biggest NFL Wide Receiving Corps Question Marks

Miami Dolphins

All right, this could take a while to set up if we’re not careful. There’s been a lot going on with the South Beach dwellers over the past several months, and rehashing the path to getting here would be a burdensome task. Instead, here’s the TL;DR version of the Dolphins’ offseason:

• Step 1: Blow Up The Team, Hire a New Coaching Staff and Front Office
• Step 2: Dump Tua Tagovailoa, Sign Malik Willis as the new quarterback
• Step 3: Trade Away His Only Reliable Pass-Catching Weapon in Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos
• Step 4: ???

All caught up. On top of releasing veteran Tyreek Hill this offseason, the new Miami regime made quick work of ensuring Willis has absolutely no one of note to throw to in 2026. Waddle just Tuesday got turned into the 30th overall pick and the Broncos’ third- and fourth-rounders in the upcoming NFL Draft. Makes sense for an aggressively rebuilding team, fine, but what of fantasy managers? Doesn’t GM Jon-Eric Sullivan care about our needs at all? Shame! Seriously, though, Willis is in for a rough go. With all due respect to recent acquisitions Tutu Atwell and Jalen Tolbert and incumbent Malik Washington, this Dolphins’ receiving corps is a nightmare. Tight end Darren Waller is also gone from last year’s roster, too, leaving Greg Dulcich as the projected starter in that spot — it really do be De’Von Achane and nobody else… for now. Miami is almost guaranteed to add talent through the Draft and currently holds seven picks in the first three rounds. Odds say the “top” Dolphins receiver ain’t on the roster yet.

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons almost snuck in here for running back, too. Whoever ends up becoming the backup to powerhouse Bijan Robinson following the departure of newly minted Arizona Cardinal Tyler Allgeier will carry obscenely high contingent handcuff upside and be an important name for 2026 fantasy football. It’s not their biggest issue, though. Gotta focus on the hands this go-around. After releasing Darnell Mooney, who recently linked up with the Giants on a one-year deal worth up to $10 million, Atlanta could use some pass-catching help. The present options behind wideout Drake London look pretty damn bleak, although personally, I am rooting for a Jahan Dotson resurgence. The former first-round pick of the Washington Commanders inked a two-year, $15 million contract last week and finds himself with an opportunity to bounce back from his exile in Philadelphia. He was a fun prospect, and maybe the magic is still there. Of course, recent history tells us that wide receiver free agent deals don’t translate to fantasy the majority of the time. There’s a whole article of mine about it from last week worth checking out that adds more context, but that’s all the essential knowledge required. Dotson probably ain’t it. Helping their cause is tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. returning on the franchise tag, but that’s assuming new head coach Kevin Stefanski is committed to truly featuring the guy. If he isn’t, then who else is catching passes on this squad? Gotta solve WR2 at some point.

Las Vegas Raiders

Existing issue, sure, but it’s worth reiterating how much work the Raiders still have yet to do to best prepare for their new quarterback. Vegas is all but locked into selecting Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, the 2026 Heisman Trophy winner, first overall at this point. Get ready to speak all-you-can-eat buffets, buddy — this is your new home. But beyond all-world tight end talent Brock Bowers, who’s going to be around to handle these lobs from the youngster?

Wideout Tre Tucker is certainly a fine player, but not exactly the person you’d want as the de facto WR1 in an offense, as evidenced by how he ranked among 38 receivers with 90-plus targets in 2025 in various efficiency metrics:

• 15th in catchable air yards rate (83.8%)
• Eighth in drop rate (8.8%)
• 37th in yards per route run (1.2)

Those numbers admittedly tell an incomplete story, although they paint enough of a picture to drive the point home. Similar concerns stem from Jack Bech, the Raiders’ second-round pick from last year. Although he received Day 2 capital, ex-head coach Pete Carroll and company insisted on keeping 2025’s 58th overall pick limited to a 33.2% snap share and 32.0% route share as a rookie in order to accommodate Tyler Lockett for some godforsaken reason. Personal assessment and up-close viewing of Bech during his time down at the Senior Bowl aside, it’s anyone’s guess as to how he’ll actually do with meaningful playing time. We just don’t know, though he’s got my vote. Oh, the Raiders also signed former Vikings receiver Jalen Nailor this offseason. Can’t forget that blockbuster. Really shaping up to be a scary bunch, isn’t it?

Biggest NFL Quarterback Question Marks

Arizona Cardinals

This one’s quick, thankfully. Most expected the release of Kyler Murray coming at some point, and now, Arizona has time to get things cookin’ in a new direction. The good news is that Jacoby Brissett is still under contract with the Cardinals. After taking over for the injured Murray from Week 6 onward, the journeyman signal-caller ranked second in passing yards per game (280.5) with a 1.9% turnover-worthy throw rate sitting sixth best among all NFL quarterbacks. New head coach Mike LaFleur is in good hands if he chooses to roll with Brissett in 2026. If not, newly acquired backup Gardner Minshew could also be a serviceable starter and brings four seasons of experience with eight or more starts under his belt. What the Cardinals do at quarterback next season seems solved. It’s the 2027 and beyond of it all that’s the question. Despite holding the third overall pick in the upcoming Draft, this rookie class doesn’t offer much in the way of pro-ready quarterback help. Unless general manager Monti Ossenfort wants to send a Godfather offer to Vegas for that No. 1 spot, there’s no real chance of the Cardinals getting their future ace early on. That said, remember they also hold the second pick of the second round (34th overall) and could feasibly trade back into the first. Alabama’s Ty Simpson, maybe?

New York Jets

The only real flaw in a potential Simpson solution for Arizona is the fact that this AFC East struggle bus could take the ex-Crimson Tide QB with the 16th overall pick. Yes, the Jets are in a tough spot these days, and it’s a team that desperately needs a franchise leader. Too bad things didn’t work out with that USC kid from a few years back. What’s he been up to? Sam somethin’?

At any rate, New York is staying busy trying to solve this problem. Having traded Justin Fields to the Kansas City Chiefs for a 2027 sixth-round pick recently and having picked up Geno Smith from the Raiders for peanuts, we can’t say they’ve done nothing to reshape the room. But anyone who thinks bringing in a guy who turns 36 in October is enough to stand pat is a goofus. That’s not to say head coach Aaron Glenn hitches his wagon to Simpson definitively, although it might not be a bad idea to gear up for a job-saving QB stab at some point soon. Clock’s tickin’.

Pittsburgh Steelers

For the love of god, just don’t do Aaron Rodgers again. Please. Save us all from that hell. Albeit under the tutelage of former OC and Nepo Baby Supreme Arthur Smith, the Steelers floated the seventh-fewest air yards per game (232.1) in 2025 on the arm of a 42-year-old with a 7.6% explosive play rate (28th among 38 qualified quarterbacks) to his name. Translation: Pittsburgh’s air presence was horrible, and we don’t need to run it back with a former MVP well past his prime. The fact that Rodgers’ old friend from Green Bay is in charge now means squat. Optimism for the influence of Mike McCarthy and the fact that he’s actually successfully called a decent offense in the last decade (unlike the Steelers) aside, how much can simply updating the operating system do? This proverbial computer isn’t going to be very powerful with Rodgers as its processor. It’s a shame, too, because Pittsburgh’s dealings on the defensive side of the ball (shoutout Jaquan Brisker) this offseason have been awesome. C’est la vie, déjà vu, etc.