Coach: Kevin Stefanski 4 PPG
QB: Josh Allen 33 PPG
Josh Allen delivered another stellar season, continuing to show elite traits as both a passer and a rushing QB. Similar to Lamar, Allen’s fantasy value hinges on keeping his rushing output alive, particularly his rushing TDs inside the redzone. For three straight seasons, he’s had over 12 rushing TDs, keeping his PPG well over 30. As a passer, Allen ranks below league average in passing yards (20th with 216 per game), 1.47 passing TDs (17th), and 13 giveaways. As Allen ages, keep an eye on his rushing output. If it begins to taper off, we could see his fantasy value take a dip. For now, at age 30, he’s our clear-cut QB1, with week-winning ability on his own.
RB/WR/TE: Alec Pierce 16 PPG, Quentin Johnston 15 PPG, Tyjae Spears 12 PPG, Khalil Shakir 12 PPG, Keon Coleman 9 PPG 6th men: Mike Gesicki 9 PPG, Caleb Douglas 8 PPG, Dawson Knox 8 PPG
There was an offseason drumbeat that Alec Pierce was gonna get a fat paycheck, but man did he cash in with a 4-year $114 million contract. That puts him in the Higgins/Waddle/DJ Moore pay range, which is wild considering he’s never commanded over 84 targets 4 years through the league. No one knows him better than Indy, however, so they must have big plans after shipping away former #1 WR Michael Pittman to Pittsburgh. Pierce is profiled as a top-off-the-defense type player coming out of Cincinnati, but he’s developed his route running over the years. The Colts feel like he’s ready for a heavier load. Keep an eye on his ankle issue throughout the preseason, as he had left ankle surgery in late March with a 4-6-month recovery. I’m slotting him into Pittman-style production in PPG til we see what the Indy offense looks like in 2026.
It’s been a slow and steady ascent for 4th-year Pro Quentin Johnston, whose drop issues became a long-standing joke in his rookie and sophomore years. Those began to subside in year three, and despite struggling with injuries (concussion, hamstring, groin), he was arguably the Chargers’ best receiver. QJ’s profile is tantalizing as a 6’2” freak athlete and has back-to-back seasons of 8 TDs. He also received 6.07 targets per game (39th among receivers) and 52.50 receiving yards per game (34th). If the targets stay consistent and he can stay off the trainer’s table, he should find himself in the back-end startable range, with a breakout into the top 20 receivers possible.
It was supposed to be so much better for Tyjae Spears, but he’s been stuck behind Tony Pollard and on a tragically bad Titans squad. Last year’s narrative started with a high ankle sprain in August and never found his footing. His stats looked remarkably like the two seasons prior, and he continued to operate as their preferred pass-catching back. With a new OC Brian Daboll in town, there could be some change in their usage (there was some interesting opportunity change in week 1 of the preseason), but at this time, it’ll probably be the same ol’ shit. Spears is best viewed as a handcuff, with the dart-throw startability.
We know what Khalil Shakir is likely to provide: quality bye-week production. He’s the Bills slot receiver and isn’t capable of doing much else. That certainly has value in one of the NFL’s most potent offenses and benefits from chemistry with Josh Allen. DJ Moore and other young receivers may siphon targets away from Shakir, but he’ll likely slide back to his 90-100 targets and 4 TD season again.
Keon Coleman has gone full on busto through two years, and it’s trending that he’s going to wash out in Buffalo. There have been trade rumors for the 2024 33rd overall pick, but the Bills have not bitten. He’s slated to stay in Buffalo for two more years, but it doesn’t appear they know how to utilize him correctly. Unfortunately, there won’t be many innovative ideas coming onto the team with Joe Brady (and really Josh Allen) running the offense. He’s best seen as an end-of-bench stash, but is probably best left on waivers.
PK: Chris Boswell 10 PPG
PN: Jeremy Crawshaw 11 PPG
DT: Jordan Davis 16 PPG, Calijah Kancey 14 PPG (Zach Sieler 13 PPG)
Who had it on their bingo card that Jordan Davis would reach starter status as an IDP DT before Jalen Carter? That’s why we play the game, folks. 72 total tackles, 4.5 sacks, and a TD get the job done for a DT2 overall finish, and it was just in time in a contract year. Davis, a massive 336 lbs DT, never showed anything remotely close to starter relevance until last year, but it’s always encouraging to see high tackle numbers in our tackle-heavy DT league. With only 8 pressures last year, the 4.5 sacks will be difficult to replicate, but he should have the same usage as in 2025. He’s now slotted in as a top 10 option in a Derrick Brown mold.
Calijah Kancey hasn’t been able to put it all together as a vastly undersized DT. He tore his pectoral in week 2 of last year and didn’t return until the last week of the season. In pretty much a lost year, we’re heading into year 3 in make-or-break territory. Kancey is a critical piece for a Bucs d-line that has been poor since their Super Bowl win in 2021. Kancey is at the center of this, and there is still hope that this quick-twitch lineman can become a top 10 interior player. As an undersized guy, it’ll be tough for him to ever be a tackle machine, but we’ve seen weirder things happen. For now, I think we’ll see 35-40 tackles and 7-8 sacks if he can finally put together a full season. That’ll be startable as a low-end DT1.
DE: Andrew Van Ginkel 19 PPG, Gregory Rousseau 13 PPG (Josh Sweat 13 PPG, Alex Wright 12 PPG, Kayvon Thibodeaux 11 PPG)
It was an injury-marred 2025 for AVG, but he was the same old stud muffin deluxe when healthy. There are few things more beautiful than watching Gink fake a rush and pick off a pass on a screen play. Even through 11 games, he tallied 7.5 sacks, including a prolific fantasy playoff run that saw him tally 3 sacks and 4 straight games over 17 points. So long as he stays healthy, he should be locked in as a top 16 option alongside budding star Dallas Turner.
Old Gregory Rousseau has been in the league for 6 years, but is still 26! The Bills love to draft em young. Anywho, Rousseau has been a pretty consistent projection in the Sean McDermott years, as he’s been a core part of the rotation along the defensive line. New DC Jim Leonhard comes in from Denver, who also enjoys utilizing a pass rush rotation in a similar vein. Rousseau is around the top 25 in pressures on an annual basis (29 last year) and hovers around the 50 tackle mark. He’s never exceeded 8 sacks in any season, but it’s certainly possible we’ll see a career year at some point in his late 20s. For now, he’s slotted into his usual projection as a low-end EDGE2.
LB: Zaire Franklin 16 PPG, Frankie Luvu 14 PPG
Zaire Franklin has been a mainstay in IDP lineups since 2022, but his production took a tumble last year, relegating him to a low-end LB3. His tackle totals dropped by almost 50 despite not missing a game, and he registered only 3 big plays, down from 10 the year prior. He was traded to Green Bay in the offseason, and there is hope that last year was an aberration. Tackles are the most important factor here. He must return to his 160+ tackle days if he’s to be worth the contracts he’s being paid in the IFL. (especially the 2-year $30 million Tiff is paying him) Modest progression is baked into the PPG, and he’s slotted as a top 32 option.
After getting clarity in training camp about his usage, Frankie Luvu appears to be playing inside for most of his snaps and will be calling the plays for the Commanders defense. The ceiling hinges on how often he plays off the edge, and as we saw last year, he can make him borderline unstartable. I think we’re in line for a progression back into a usable/consistent PPG, but I’m not ready to bump him back into more than a low-end LB2. The 9th-year UDFA from Washington State keeps pressing on. 110 tackles and 3-5 sacks is the expectation.
CB: Daxton Hill 11 PPG, Maxwell Hairston 10 PPG, Riq Woolen 9 PPG
Daxton Hill was a quality floor play at corner, posting some of the highest tackle numbers. Hill finished with 88 tackles, 1 INT, and 11 PDs, good for CB15 in 2025. He also has a 100+ tackle season as a safety for the Bengals, so you know this guy isn’t afraid of contact. He makes for a fine option again on a team that loves to get into pass-happy game scripts.
While it’s not set in stone, it appears Maxwell Hairston is going to be a starting boundary corner for the pass-happy Buffalo Bills. We’ve seen Bills corners slay for fantasy on occasion, and Hairston is certainly worth a roster spot. (especially given he can be taxied) We got a part-time role from their first-round pick last year after sitting out the first seven weeks, so we’re heading into the season blind as to what his IDP capabilities are. For now, he’s a starting option on opportunity.
It’s been a hot minute since Riq Woolen has been a fantasy-viable corner, but he’s certainly got a shot in Philly. He’ll be playing opposite of stud muffin CB Quinyon Mitchell and will likely be tested often. He’s been a double-digit PD corner every season, but hasn’t exceeded 50 tackles since 2023. If he can stay on the field, he could hit these marks again.
S: Jalen Thompson 13 PPG, Eric Murray 12 PPG
It’s been a quality 8-year career for Jalen Thompson, who, like his former teammate Frankie Luvu, came from Washington State and was a UDFA. (Mike Leach was their HC too; times were great) Now on his third contract, Thompson will be a deep safety for an improving Dallas defense that has an intriguing 1st-year DC, Christian Cowboys. (he’s also their youngest coordinator in franchise history) Thompson has largely been a S2 through the course of his career, posting 90-100 tackles and 3-4 big plays annually. Let’s hope that continues in Dallas.
Eric Murray is the JAGiest safety to ever do it. (which is fitting, cause he plays for the Jaguars) He’s a stable vet who can provide not-embarrassing play, but is not a ceiling raiser for a defense. Since 2016, he’s never provided more than 3 big plays in a year and has maxed out at 75 tackles. He’s a bye-week filler option.
Off: Seattle Seahawks 13 PPG
PPG: 282
W-L: 2-15
X-Factor: What does the team’s foundation look like this time next year?
In a reset year, Tiff is looking to put herself in position to build a competent squad in 2027 and beyond. Philly has Josh Allen, Alec Pierce, and Jordan Davis as a mini-foundation, and the 2027 draft will help shape the team’s future. There is depth at DT and EDGE, which can help meld the team into her vision too.
