Coach: Mike Vrabel 6 PPG
QB: Bo Nix 28 PPG
We saw Bo Nix showcase enough to prove he can lead a team to a Super Bowl. Denver has an elite defense and playcaller, putting Nix in an excellent position to succeed when the environment is right. Nix finished as the QB7 last year, posting stellar health in the regular season. He largely finished as middle of the pack in the NFL across most counting stats, with 231 passing yards per game (13th), 1.47 passing TDs per game (18th), and 21 rushing yards per game (17th). I think this is where he’ll settle into as a fantasy producer. A borderline top 10 QB when things are going right for him and the Broncos. Eventually, we’ll see what his floor is when things… aren’t going so well.
RB/WR/TE: Chase Brown 22 PPG, Jaylen Warren 18 PPG, DeVonta Smith 18 PPG, Terry McLaurin 16 PPG, Jameson Williams 15 PPG 6th men: Rico Dowdle 15 PPG, Jordan Addison 14 PPG, Romeo Doubs 14 PPG, TJ Hockenson 13 PPG
Chase Brown was a workhorse in college at Illinois, and he’s gone right to being the same in Cincinnati. For two straight seasons, he’s carried the load for the Bengals as an unheralded and unsexy stud muffin delux. Fresh off his second straight finish in the top 15 RB/WR/TEs, and still on his rookie contract, he is one of the most valuable assets in the game today. A true dual-threat weapon, Brown is a PPR cheat code, ranking 5th in targets per game (5.18), 8th in receiving yards (25.71), and 8th in passing TDs (.29 per game). Brown only averaged 14 carries a game, ranking 22nd among starting running backs and 60 rushing yards a game (20th). Unless an injury were to happen to Brown, he’s shaping up to be a foundational piece for a championship IFL squad again.
Jaylen Warren was beating down the door for a starting opportunity and finally got it in 2025. He posted his first 300-point season and showcased that he has what it takes to have a 250+ touch season. The UDFA out of OK State held a 50% snap share with 13 carries a game (25th among RBs), 60 rushing yards per game (22nd), 21 receiving yards per game (15th), .5 TDs per game (25th), and 2.50 receptions per game (18th). That was under an old OC, but it appears that Mike McCarthy will still emphasize the run, especially with AARP Aaron Rodgers. Dowdle and Warren will be splitting the touches in a 1a/1b situation, so projecting a similar workload is the play here.
It’s been a long time coming, but we’re finally gonna see what it’s like to see the former Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith as the #1 wide receiver in an NFL offense. 2025 was not kind to Smith in fantasy, setting a career low in TDs (4) and a bye-week filler 13 PPG. We saw the Philly offense as a whole step back, while Goedert stepped up in the TD department, leaving Smith as a bit of a flop, especially in the second half of the season, not scoring over 20 points after week 7. What Smith can do in what should be one of the run-heaviest offenses is TBD, but 130+ targets and 7-8 TDs are back in play. He’s a fine mid-back-end starter.
It was a lost season for Terry McLaurin, who struggled with injuries and ineffectiveness without starting QB Jayden Daniels. F1 missed 7 games due to quadriceps and core muscle injuries and only posted one 20+ point game after his Week 13 return. Terry is back again in his 8th year as the Commanders’ WR1, and at this point, we know what he is. In the best of years, he’s a moderate to back-end starter good for #4 RB/WR/TE production, and in the off years (of which there are many in DC), he’s a wash. Let’s hope he can get back into the 120(ish) target territory and double-digit TDs like in 2024, where he set a career high 17 PPG.
We’re heading into year 5 for Jameson Williams, and it’s pretty clear what he is. He’s a solid #2 receiver who is incredibly important for an offense to stretch the field as a deep threat. In Detroit’s current offensive conditions, he won’t be more than a 110-target earner and poses a weekly risk for going full busto. He finished with 3.82 receptions per game (34th among WRs), 65.71 receiving yards per game (16th), and .41 TDs per game (21st). This is where he’s sat for back-to-back years, and it’s safe to expect a repeat performance in 2026.
PK: Will Reichard 10 PPG
PN: AJ Cole 10 PPG
DT: Zach Allen 16 PPG, Kobie Turner 16 PPG (Jonathan Allen 14 PPG)
Zachy boy was incredible last season, but why the fuq was he not better for fantasy? His pressures not only led DTs but finished 2nd among the entire league! Unacceptable!!!! 50 pressures and 7 sacks is generationally bad. He was the DT10, but he should be infinitely better in 2026 so long as progression hits. He’ll be a top 5 DT with even a modest progression. Also of note was his tackle regression from 61 in ’24 to 38 in ’25. Really odd season, but the stats are screaming they’ll improve.
It took a very long time for Kobie Turner’s season to take off, but after week 12, he was the second-best DT in the game. Turner benefits from a deep, talented defensive line, often overlooked for double teams, and cleans up plays for IDP production. He’s been an incredible asset for us from the jump, with 7 or more sacks and 48+ tackles through his first three years. There’s some uncertainty around Aaron Donald potentially returning, and that would likely take a large chunk of opportunity away. As it stands, he’s a fringe top 5 DT option and steady.
DE: Brian Burns 19 PPG, Danielle Hunter 18 PPG
Brian Burns turned into an absolute animal for the Giants last year, slaying up a storm by registering 16.5 sacks on 41 pressures (6th in the NFL). His tackle numbers were solid too, sitting at 67 stops and chipping in 3 forced fumbles. Burns has settled into back-to-back tackle-heavy seasons for the Giants, and hopefully that continues with a new scheme and talent around him. His sack numbers are likely to decrease, but he’ll remain a top 10 option for the foreseeable future.
We got another delicious fantasy season from Danielle Hunter, who has provided IDP managers with an incredible 12-year career. Outside of the neck issue scare of 2020, he’s been a model of consistency, including 10 or more sacks in every healthy season sans 2021. His two years in Houston have been kind, posting 50+ tackles and between 12-15 sacks. While the tackle ceiling isn’t high in DeMeco Ryan’s scheme, Hunter is still one of the premier EDGEs and certainly should be mentioned more often in top 10 rankings. That’s where he’ll land again in 2026 as the 31-year-old climbs up the all-time sack list, currently at 114.5 sacks, ranking 37th. (For fun context: Myles is at 125.5, tied for 28th; Cameron Jordan is at 132 sacks, 22nd; and TJ Watt is at 115, 36th. The record holder is Bruce Smith at 200 total sacks.)
LB: Zack Baun 18 PPG, Kaden Elliss 17 PPG, DeMarvion Overshown 17 PPG
We got another quality IDP season from Zack Baun, who delivered a top 16 LBer performance in 2025. While we may remember a top 3 LBer performance in 2024, his solo tackle numbers took a dramatic dip from 93 to 64 despite not missing a game. He still racked up 6 big plays, so it’s not like he’s not still a foundational piece for an IDP team. I would keep an eye on his early-season numbers, as after the Week 10 bye, he only scored 20 points once. If that trend continues, we’ll have a different discussion on his value come 2027.
Kaden Elliss is returning home, back to the team that drafted him. He made a name for himself in Atlanta, posting 3 seasons of quality tackle numbers and at least 5 big plays each year. Last year, Elliss took a step back, playing more of a hybrid role along the defensive line. His tackle numbers regressed, and he barely exceeded 100 tackles for the first time since 2022. Now 31, we’ll see how long the 7th-rounder from Idaho can keep it up, but New Orleans will certainly be starting him through 2027 if all goes to plan.
It’s not set in stone, but DeMarvion Overshown appears to be one of Dallas’s full-time backers. It shouldn’t come as a surprise if you remember the ancient history of 2024: watching him ball out in his rookie season with 1 INT, 5 sacks, 1 FF, a TD, and 90 tackles before a multi-ligament knee injury. He didn’t return until week 11 in 2025 and wasn’t the same. If he can return to form, Overshown has the potential to be one of the breakout defenders of the season, but he comes with multiple injury flags dating back to college.
CB: Marcus Jones 13 PPG, Riley Moss 12 PPG
We all know the PR bump that Marcus Jones provides, allowing him to be a top 5 CB projection on an annual basis. Last year was another superb season, with 65 tackles, 3 INTs, 2 sacks, and 3(!) TDs. He is a slot corner delux that doesn’t play full-time snaps, but he doesn’t need to. He’s locked into another fun season for IDP purposes.
There are benefits to owning the corner opposite Pat Surtain, and it’s racking up the tackles and targets. Moss posted another CB1 season, with 80 tackles, 1 INT, 1 sack, and 19 PDs. While there have been rumblings of a shakeup in his role over the years, he’s staved off opponents and is largely locked in as the boundary corner. Expect another top 16 season.
S: Chamarri Conner 15 PPG, Xavier McKinney 15 PPG (Chauncey Gardner-Johnson 12 PPG)
Despite playing deep more often than a fantasy manager would like, Xavier McKinney continues to eat as a quality IDP safety. Last year was a 3-year low in tackles and big plays, but he still finished as the S8. A new defensive scheme is in town, but Xavier deserves our trust as an automatic weekly starter and top 16 option. He’ll easily get 100+ tackles and 3-5 big plays, with a ceiling in the 120s, 7-8 big plays.
Chamarri Conner transitioned to one of modern defenses’ hybrid positions in 2025, after spending the past year and a half as the Chiefs’ slot corner. He provided an excellent 15 PPG campaign, finishing as the S6 in total points. He was tackle-heavy, with 117 stops, 2 FFs, 1 INT, and 2 sacks. That’s exactly what you’d hope for from someone who spends the vast majority of his time in the box, often in slot corner, linebacker, and strong safety positions. Nothing has changed for his opportunity, and he should be a stud muffin for IDP purposes again.
Off: New England Patriots 13 PPG
PPG: 332
W-L: 10-7
X-Factor: Can the offense pump out enough points to remain in playoff contention?
Vic has quietly built himself a competent team ready to compete for another NFC West title. The offense has competent players with depth and some star power in Chase Brown. Defensively, this team really thrives, with studs across every position. Vic has shown the capability to build out a contender, and 2026 appears to be another shot at a run.
