Coach: Dave Canales 4 PPG
QB: Daniel Jones 27 PPG
In what was perhaps the biggest surprise of the first half of the 2026 season, Daniel Jones was playing at a top-10 QB level. His fantasy prowess was there as well, combining passing efficiency with some rushing upside. Unfortunately, he tore his Achilles in Week 14 and was lost for the season, compensating for a leg fibula fracture he sustained a couple of weeks prior. Jones tallied 239 passing yards per game (8th among QBs) and 1.46 passing TDs per game (20th), along with 5 rushing TDs in 13 games. Reports state that he’s looking like he never sustained an injury and there is optimism he can return to function this offense to a playoff berth. For fantasy, I think we’re looking at a fringe top 10 season again and should make for a fine low-end QB1.
RB/WR/TE: Tyler Warren 19 PPG, Kyle Pitts 17 PPG, DJ Moore 16 PPG, Isaiah Likely 15 PPG, Michael Pittman 14 PPG 6th men: Zach Charbonnet 16 PPG, Isiah Pacheco 14 PPG, Jalen Coker 11 PPG, Ryan Flournoy 9 PPG
It’s incredibly rare to have a rookie like Tyler Warren. From the jump, the dude is playing 88% of the snaps (5th among TEs), which is insane at TE. He excels as both a receiver and a blocker, and in the early going before Daniel Jones went down with injury, he was cooking as a top 32 RB/WR/TE. The end-of-season single-digit output cooled the momentum, but Warren should be getting much more love than he’s gotten this offseason. The Colts have a real chance to surprise the league again this year if everyone stays healthy. Warren is chief among them as potentially their primary pass catcher. Look for him to finish in the Bowers and McBride tier as the 3rd overall tight end and flirt with a 20 PPG season.
When Kyle Pitts entered the NFL at 20, many expressed patience with his development. Through injury and ineffectiveness, many (including myself) have expressed skepticism that he could ever reach the heights put before him as the 4th overall pick in 2021. Finally, through a pedestrian 3 years after an encouraging rookie season, Kyle Pitts returned to the top 32 RB/WR/TEs. It wasn’t without its faults, including a month of scoring 12 points or fewer; he’s back in the saddle as a startable asset. Pitts went nuclear to finish off the season, dropping 4 straight games of 23 points or more, including a 60-point Week 15 that will go down in fantasy playoff history. There is hope progression can continue, especially in consistency. Without that 60-point game, we’re likely having a different conversation about him as a back-end starter, but instead he’s in the long-term plans for the Falcons and for fantasy managers alike.
After struggling for fantasy relevancy on 140 targets in 2024, DJ Moore went full busto with a pathetic 12 PPG in 2025. The Bears somehow got a 2nd round pick for him, as the Bills GM (who should be heavily scrutinized, Brandon Beane) feels that he has the capability to be a quality alpha receiver. I obviously have my doubts. Effort issues and talent limitations loom large on Moore, as do the past couple of seasons that have seen the Bills spread the ball around to their plethora of pass-catchers. That being said, they haven’t had a #1 receiver since Stefon Diggs since 2023, so target distribution will favor Moore, likely into the 120-130 range. That will put him back on the starting line, and hopefully with Josh Allen at QB, he can provide a starting-caliber season.
It was 4 years of edging for Isaiah Likely owners, who suffered through a painstaking rookie contract with the Ravens. Stuck in a run-heavy scheme as a backup TE, Likely never received opportunity to be a consistent fantasy starter. Those days are ova. Likely signed a 3-year, $40 million contract with the Giants, which, iconically, was just 200(ish)k higher than his former teammate Mark Andrews. (Likely is the 4th highest paid TE in APY) This is shaping up to be a breakout season delux as their #2 receiving option. What that amounts to is TBD, but Likely is being overlooked as a 100+ target earner on an improving offense. Perhaps 15 PPG is even too low, but let’s see him do it first before we anoint him into the top 5 TEs.
Long gone are the 140-150 target days early-career Michael Pittman, as he’s largely settled into a fine real-life WR2 through the past two years. He was traded to the Steelers in the offseason, sent to compete with another large human in DK Metcalf. Aaron Rodgers actually has an average offensive environment for his pass catchers, which gives hope that both Pittman and Metcalf can at least be startable in good matchups. He should flirt with 100-110 targets again, but it may prove difficult to provide consistency with a well-past-his-prime Rodgers leading the way.
PK: Jason Myers 10 PPG
PN: Logan Cooke 10 PPG
DT: Derrick Brown 16 PPG
Since a step forward in 2023, Derrick Brown has produced elite tackle numbers among DTs. He is a high-motor guy who tackles at a high rate, keeping his floor high as a locked-in top 10 option. While Brown has rarely been a pass rush specialist, he set a career-high 5 sacks in 2025. In our tackle-heavy format, Brown is still plenty valuable, and there aren’t many options who provide a better floor than the former top 10 pick.
DE: Maxx Crosby 20 PPG, Josh Hines-Allen 17 PPG
What a roller coaster of an offseason for Maxx Crosby, who appears to be staying put in Vegas for the time being. After being traded to Baltimore for a bushel of picks, the Ravens failed his physical and rescinded his trade, only to sign Trey Hendrickson in free agency. That sparked rampant conspiracy theories that the Ravens got cold feet, and honestly, it makes sense. Crosby continues to be an absolute animal as a top 10 option as a tackle producer, top 20 in sacks (10), and top 25 in pressures. Crosby will continue to get elite IDP treatment, but as the sack/pressure numbers slowly tick down, his PPG may decline as well.
We need more production from Josh Hines-Allen next year. Progression should be coming for him hard, especially if he can recreate finishing 5th in the NFL with 46 pressures. His 8 sacks and 49 tackles are incredibly disappointing for IDP purposes, but he’s had plenty of seasons registering 60-70 tackles. JHA, however, has often struggled to convert pressures to sacks, and the past couple of seasons have seen him post less than 50 stops and exactly 8 sacks. I still think a better season is on the horizon, and he’ll return to the top 16.
LB: Jamien Sherwood 18 PPG, Tremaine Edmunds 17 PPG, Jaylon Carlies 13 PPG
Would you have guessed that Jamien Sherwood finished 7th in combined tackles last year? Probably not. But he did, notching his second stellar IDP campaign. Sherwood is a volume eater and the quintessential linebacker who isn’t necessarily good, but has opportunity. He’s recorded 5 big plays through 5 years. He’s locked into a starting role through 2027 and will play a complementary role to the ageless Demario Davis. I expect him to stay in the LB1 conversation, but he may take a small step back next to the savvy vet.
Tremaine Edmunds was having a career year in Chicago before a groin injury knocked him out for a month. Averaging a robust 20.5 PPG, it was a welcome sight for a guy who was an inefficient tackler for the first 7 years of his career. Edmunds, surprisingly, wasn’t retained by Chicago, was released, and quickly signed by the Giants on a 3-year deal. Somehow, only 28 and entering his 9th season, Edmunds should man one of the middle spots in NYC into his early 30s. Edmunds and rookie Arvell Reese form one of the freakiest duos at LBer in the NFL.
One of the biggest IDP storylines of the offseason has been who will start at linebacker for the Colts. That is still VERY much in the air, but Jaylon Carlies has made a compelling case. Projected to be a starter before last year’s injury woes ruined his chances during training camp, Carlies has remained healthy and proven himself to be their best coverage backer. He has been running with the starters, and I’m projecting him to be the #2 alongside CJ Allen (eventually he’ll beat out ADG) through the season. We’ll see what the snap share looks like, particularly on run downs, but Carlies is going to be a factor here due to his coverage ability. The ceiling is up for debate, but he’s on the starting borderline heading into week 1. Post hype breakout delux.
CB: DaRon Bland 12 PPG, Ja’Quan McMillian 11 PPG
DaRon Bland is an IDP stud muffin when he is on the field. Unfortunately, he’s struggled to do so the past couple of years. Many of us remember his 2023 season, when he had an incredible 9 ING, 5 TDs, setting a TD record for a corner. Through 12 games in 2025, Bland averaged a robust 14 PPG, with a staggering 73 total tackles. That’s stud muffin deluxe status, and if the Cowboys have a mediocre defense again, Bland has shown he’s a willing tackler.
Ja’Quan McMillan is the slot corner for the Broncos and plays around 70% of snaps weekly. He’s a decent tackle producer on this opportunity, but did regress a bit with 25 fewer stops. The big plays were aplenty, with 2 FF, 2 INTs, 4 sacks, and a TD. McMillian will need to eat up tackles to remain startable, but he’s capable. He’s on the fringes of starting corners.
S: Nick Emmanwori 16 PPG, Jeremy Chinn 15 PPG, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren 13 PPG (Ji’Ayir Brown 11 PPG)
It started out slow, and Nick Emmanwori got injured, but holieeeee fuq did he deliver after the Week 8 bye. He posted only two games under 10 points from that moment on and 3 games of 27 points or higher. Despite missing three games, he finished with 81 tackles, 1 INT, and 2 sacks. His 16 PPG would have been top 5 in the safety leaderboard over a full season, and playing many of his snaps in the box/slot will lock him in for a top 10 season. Auto start delux.
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.
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is the next of the big slot revolution, stemming from what is becoming a secondary hotbed in Toledo. Over his college career, he tallied 214 tackles, 5 INTs, and 9 FFs, showcasing big-play ability. The 6’3” safety should be heavily involved as a box safety/slot cornerback hybrid. What his snap share out of the gate remains to be seen, but there is potential for an Emmanwori-sized impact if his opportunity is similar.
Off: Baltimore Ravens 12 PPG
PPG: 312
W-L: 6-11
X-Factor: The ceiling of the offense.
To be a fan of Will’s team, look no further than the tight end. The big 3 of Likely, Warren, and Pitts form a dynamic trio. Defensively, the squad has a championship-level defensive line and safety room. While there are some ceiling concerns on offense and defensive depth, Will can make some noise and compete for another long line of playoff berths.
