Coach: Matt LaFleur 5 PPG
QB: Jayden Daniels 29 PPG
It was a season of horrors for sophomore QB Jayden Daniels, who just couldn’t stay healthy. He suffered a left knee sprain, right hamstring strain, and dislocated elbow. His loss ruined the chances of the Commanders fielding a competitive team, and the squad regressed back into irrelevancy after a shocking NFC Championship appearance. Daniels was an incredible dual-threat weapon, but I’m a bit hesitant to just copy/paste his 2024 stats, as what got him in trouble early last year was issues with his legs. Will he regress a bit as a runner? I think it’s probable to stay healthy. He’s so slight and injury concerns will likely be an issue through his career. For now, he’s a top 10 projection, but the ceiling here is a 33-35 PPG outcome.
RB/WR/TE: James Cook 28 PPG, Jaxon Smith-Njigba 24 PPG, Quinshon Judkins 20 PPG, Chris Olave 17 PPG, Rome Odunze 16 PPG 6th men: Chuba Hubbard 16 PPG, Travis Hunter 15 PPG, Michael Wilson 14 PPG, Jordan Addison 14 PPG, Jordyn Tyson 13 PPG, Chris Rodriguez 12 PPG, Jalen McMillan 11 PPG
We got another delicious season from James Cook, whoooooo maybe/kinda/sorta is on this way to a better career than his older brother Dalvin? Conversation for another day. He was given an elite workload, as the 190-lb back should now be the trademark name to put to rest that 200-lb backs can’t succeed as featured runners. On just 57% of the snaps (20th among RBs), he ranked 3rd in carries per game (18.18), 1st in rushing yards per game (95.35), 23rd in receiving yards per game (17.12), and 7th in total TDs (.82). 309 carries is nothing to sneeze at. Cook has back-to-back seasons of double-digit rushing scores, pointing to quality usage inside the 5 (ranked 11th in this metric with .94 carries per game). As we head into year 5, it should be more of the same, as Cook is locked up long term and has proven himself to be one of the more consistent and healthier backs in the league. He is a pillar of a championship-contending team.
What an arrival for Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who went nuclear after receiving the reins as their #1 receiver. It was even better than most people anticipated, finishing as last year’s WR1 and IFL’s #9 RB/WR/TE. He checked every statistical box, ranking 6th in targets per game (9.75), 3rd in receptions per game (7), 2nd in receiving yards per game (105.47), and 9th in TDs per game (.59). JSN is locked into top-5 usage moving forward and has showcased a complete package as a do-it-all receiver. To make matters better, he’s never missed a game. He’s as stable of a fantasy asset as there is.
The 2025 offseason was marred by issues for Quinshon Judkins, as he was arrested for domestic violence in July. It took him a minute to join the team, but police declined to file criminal charges. Once he was at full speed, he was given a healthy number of carries, finishing 8th in the NFL in attempts per game (16.43), but 22nd in rushing yards per game (59). He wasn’t utilized much as a pass catcher with only 26 receptions, but at least wasn’t a total zero. Judkins profiles well for our .4 per carry league and makes for a fine 2/3 RB/WR/TE even in the horrible Cleveland offensive conditions. Just stay off the trainer’s table and out of legal trouble.
It’s taken a long time, but we finally received a full season that was worthy of Chris Olave’s talents. He’s dealt with difficult offensive conditions and a litany of injury issues, but 2025 showed what his ceiling looks like. Olave finished 5th among WRs in targets per game (9.75), 6th in receptions per game (6.25), 9th in receiving yards per game (72.69), and a competent 9 TDs. Olave signed a long-term deal through his age-30 season with the Saints and has an excellent offensive mind, led by HC Kellen Moore. I’m curious to see what his target share looks like with top-10 WR Jordan Tyson in tow, and whether QB Tyler Shough can provide fantasy value for two wide receivers. So long as Olave stays healthy (big IF), he’ll be back in the top 15 wide receivers again.
After the fiasco that was the past two years of DJ Moore, the Bears have moved him onto greener pastures. That sets the stage for a year 3 breakout of former top 10 pick Rome Odunze, who has yet to showcase the consistency of that draft pedigree. Odunze dealt with a stress fracture in his foot, which kept him out of the last five games of the regular season. He actually still led the team in targets despite this. How high is his ceiling in Ben Johnson’s offense? Is he the clear-cut pass catcher on this team and should we start regarding him as a top 10 WR? It’s in the range of outcomes, but with Loveland and Burden vying for targets, he may struggle with consistency. For now, he’s projected with a modest 16 PPG projection, but the ceiling here is much higher. He was a top 20 target earner with Moore in town; he could very well enter the top 10 in 2026.
PK: Cairo Santos 9 PPG
PN: AJ Cole 9 PPG
DT: Jalen Carter 16 PPG (Zach Sieler 13 PPG, Milton Williams 13 PPG)
I’ve had my doubts about Jalen Carter as a fantasy asset, but I think we’re gonna see him fully put together to be a consistent fantasy starter. After an insane spitting incident that led off the 2025 season, Carter posted decent numbers through week 13. He missed 4 more games and had shoulder issues, which reportedly restricted him to being 100% as a run defender. Still, even in 11 games, he was a serviceable pass rusher. I think we’re possibly in the territory of a player like Quinnen Williams, who will have 1-2 career years where it all goes right and he’s a fantasy force. I worry we won’t get the tackle-heavy numbers to warrant being a top 5 option. (especially in the current scheme) In year 4, we could finally see a breakout, and that is the hope to get him over 6 sacks for the first time in his career.
DE: Laiatu Latu 15 PPG, Odafe Oweh 13 PPG (Mykel Williams 9 PPG)
It wasn’t super flashy or particularly sexy, but Laiatu Latu provided fantasy owners a decent EDGE2 season. It comes with some red flags, though. Last year, he posted just 46 tackles in 16 games (ok, but not great) and hit 8.5 sacks on 26 pressures. Not bad for a year two player, but I doubt he’ll achieve 3 INTs again, pointing to possible regression unless we see him take another step forward in year 3. (extremely possible) I like Latu as more of a mid-range EDGE2 in the short and long term. He’s going to receive all the opportunity he can handle to turn into a defensive force for the Colts.
It’s been a bit of a roller coaster ride for Odafe Oweh, who is on his third team in less than a year. He started 2025 on the Ravens, only to be traded midseason to the Chargers to fill out their EDGE room. He is now slated to start for the Commanders, who are in desperate need of EDGE help. Oweh has largely been a bye-week filler type player, who maxed out as a high-end EDGE3 in 2024 with the Ravens. In this new scheme, it’s possible we get some better output, but I think we would have seen more already. He’s best suited for bye-week duties.
LB: Blake Cashman 20 PPG, Sonny Styles 17 PPG, Alex Singleton 16 PPG, Devin Bush 16 PPG (Patrick Queen 16 PPG, Leo Chenal 9 PPG)
Blake Cashman (iconic name), has been an elite IDP producer for us when he’s healthy. That’s often the rub with Cash$$$, but he loves to soak up tackles when he’s on the field. Despite missing 4+ games, he still finished 9th in total tackles. He added 2 sacks and 1 FF on top, producing at a top-5 PPG clip. He’s slated to be the man in the middle in Minny for one more year and then will take his talent to free agency for his age 31 season.
Sonny Styles… man, he’s got one hell of a name. Just rolls off the tongue and fun to say. Styles was taken 7th overall by the Commanders in April’s draft and is fully expected to man the middle of their defense from day one. The 6’5”, 243-lb blue-chip has started for the Buckeyes the past two seasons and had help from two other incredible talents in Caleb Downs and Arvell Reese. All of them were selected in the top 15. He wasn’t quite in the tackle-eater category in college, but there was so much talent around him, he probably didn’t need to be. Styles profiles as a quality linebacker who’ll slide right into 120-140 tackles and 4-5 big plays over a season. That’ll get him high-end LB2 billing and provide exactly what his IFL GMs ask for.
Alex Singleton keeps chugging along as a viable IDP linebacker. All the way back in 2020, he received an opportunity from an injury-riddled linebacker room in Philadelphia and made the most of it. The UDFA from Montana State has thrived in our game since, sans 2024 when he tore his ACL early in the season. Last year was a regression in terms of solo tackles, taking a tumble from his 100+ solo days of the early 20s. He set a career high with 81 assists, which is curious given the talk of the transition to more assists being given out than solos by stat crews. Entering his age 32-33 season, Singleton’s time may be running out, but he’s still going to be a volume eater, which will keep him well within the range of startability. He’ll finish in the top 32, pending health. Btw, he’s signed through 2027.
After being cast aside as a bust by the team that drafted him, the Pittsburgh Steelers, Devin Bush has bounced around. He played for the Seahawks, then the Browns for two seasons, before landing a starter-worthy 3-year deal with the Chicago Bears. That’s where he’ll be through 2028 if all goes according to plan. Bush enters a situation that needs consistent/healthy linebacker play, which was sorely lacking with Edwards/Edmunds as the injury-laden tandem in 2025. He’ll pair up with Edwards this year, and I think it’s safe to expect him to post similar numbers as he did as a full-time option in Cleveland. That’s about 120-130 stops, with 4-5 big plays.
CB: Christian Gonzalez 11 PPG, AJ Terrell 11 PPG (Taron Johnson 10 PPG, Deommodore Lenoir 10 PPG)
Christian Gonzalez has posted back-to-back startable seasons for a cornerback. Last year, he tallied 69 tackles and 10 PDs in 14 games. Gonzo is not afraid to get in on a run play, even as a boundary corner. As time goes on and his reputation increases, we’ll see if he’s avoided more often. For now, he’s well within the range of starting corners.
AJ Terrell is in a prime spot for fantasy viability, as he’s a good corner, but not quite good enough to be avoided like the Surtain Plague. He sits right on the 11 PPG line, providing quality, but not auto-start production. Despite missing two games, he provided 68 tackles, 2 FF, and 12 PDs. We know what to expect from the 7-year Pro, and it should be more of the same in ’26.
S: Jeremy Chinn 15 PPG, DeShon Elliott 15 PPG (Alohi Gilman 13 PPG, Malachi Moore 12 PPG, Craig Woodson 12 PPG)
It’s been a roller coaster career for Jeremy Chinn, who some thought would be phased out as a starter in the NFL after Carolina benched him in 2023. He revitalized his career in Washington in ’24 and is now a multi-year starter for the Raiders, where he plays a high-value box role for fantasy. The former 2nd round pick from Southern Illinois is a UFA after this season, so we’ll see where he’s at long term, but he’s a good bet to finish as a top 16 safety again for a defense that’ll be on the field too much.
DeShon Elliott is an AFC Norther through and through. He started his career in Baltimore, grinding his way to a starting role. He then signed a starter-level deal with the division rival Steelers and is expected to retain that role in 2026. One item of note: he dealt with an MCL sprain, a severe hamstring tear, and knee hyperextension. He’s back to fully practicing and should slot into a high-end S2 with 100(ish) tackle expectations.
Off: Green Bay Packers 14 PPG
PPG: 336
X-Factor: In-season moves to supplement a competitive roster.
W-L: 11-6
Slow and steady often wins the race, and Nate has taken his time to build a team that has perhaps the best aura of any squad in the conference. Filled with fun/exciting/young players, this team has entered its championship-contending window. Jayden Daniels, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Judkins, Sonny Styles, and many more. This team shouldn’t be overlooked. First things first, however. Win the franchise’s first playoff game.
