Coach: Zac Taylor 5 PPG
QB: Jalen Hurts 28 PPG
We’re seeing a slow evolution of young QBs as they mature into middle age, and they are showing signs of slowing in their fantasy value. We have discussed Lamar’s rushing slippage and Josh Allen’s value, which continues to be propped up by his. Next up is Jalen Hurts, whose profile fits into this conversation as well. Like Lamar, he saw a steep drop-off in rushing production, but his can’t be attributed to injury. Since 2021, Hurts has scored double-digit rushing TDs along with 140+ attempts and over 600 yards. Last season, that dropped dramatically to 105 carries, 421 rushing yards, and 8 TDs. While his passing numbers went up just a bit compared to 2024, it wasn’t enough to post an elite QB season as we’ve seen in the past. Heading into his age-28 season and dealing with another OC transition, there are rumblings that this could be Hurts’ final season as a starter if he doesn’t get it together as a more efficient passer. He ranked 23rd in passing yards (201), 20th in completion percentage (64.80), and 27th in completions (18.38). For now, he’s still on that top 10 QB borderline, but Sean Mannion has his work cut out for him on a team that sees its OC as a redshirt job.
RB/WR/TE: JK Dobbins 19 PPG, George Kittle 19 PPG, George Pickens 18 PPG, Tee Higgins 17 PPG, Zay Flowers 15 PPG 6th men: Blake Corum 13 PPG, Pat Freiermuth 12 PPG, Jack Bech 10 PPG, Jerry Jeudy 10 PPG, Cade Otton 10 PPG, Tre Tucker 9 PPG, Jaylen Wright 9 PPG
It was the quintessential JK Dobbins season, who has yet to play in a full 17-game season. Since 2020, Dobbins has injured himself in some form or fashion every year. HOWEVER, when he plays, he’s startable, putting fantasy owners in a quandary when determining his valuation. In 2025, JK led a timeshare in Denver, with 52% of the snaps (28th in the NFL), 15 rushing attempts (14th), and a quality 77 rushing yards per game (7th). He was a zero in the passing game, but for a .4-point-per-carry league like the IFL, his profile plays well. Owning Dobbins means having insurance prepared one way or another, but when he’s on the field for 2026, you can count on him being a #3 RB/WR/TE.
It was a year of brutality for stud muffin delux (in more ways than one) George Kittle. He endured a hamstring strain in week 1, effectively knocking him out for 6 weeks, and then tore his Achilles in the wild-card round of the playoffs. It feels like his body just needs a rest. He is questionable to start the year, and it’s possible he begins the season on the PUP list. He’s one of those guys tho who feels like he’ll beat traditional recovery timelines, but at 32, it may be best to play it safe and fight to be 100% for the big games in November/December. Kittle is still at the pinnacle of the position, an ideal blend of blocker and receiver that disguises what the offense can do on any given play. He finished top 5 in receptions, receiving yards, and total TDs per game among tight ends, and he’ll likely do it again once healthy. He’s locked and loaded for a top 32 season in PPG for a team that just needs to fooking stay on the field.
It was the breakout many were waiting for from George Pickens. After being stuck in the grimy confines of Arthur Smith’s offense, Pickens was dealt to Dallas, who still kept their high-flying ways despite another OC playcaller change. Pickens finishes as the WR5, with 5.47 receptions per game (9th in the NFL), 84 receiving yards per game (4th), and .53 TDs per game (14th). The major thing that sticks out is Pickens just outpaced Lamb upon his return in Week 7, averaging a nearly identical 19 PPG to 17.7 PPG. With Dallas’ offense expected to continue to cook, look for Pickens to produce quality RB/WR/TE #3 numbers.
We saw Tee Higgins struggle last year because he didn’t have superstar QB Joe Burrow until Thanksgiving. That led to unstartable production, as he scored over 20 points only 3 times. That was even with 10 TDs(!), keeping him at least in the bye-week filler conversation. Burrow is back, and fingers fucking crossed they can both stay healthy. We know what Higgins is when all is well, and that is a #4 RB/WR/TE for a playoff offense. He’ll provide a quality floor with some boom weeks when he can hit on a TD or two. He’ll get 100-110 targets, flirt with 1,000 yards and double-digit TDs.
Zay Flowers did well to post a 15 PPG season through a season where Lamar Jackson wasn’t right for most of the year. He posted career highs in receptions (86), receiving yards (1211), and tied his career high with 5 receiving TDs. We’re three years in with Flowers, and I think we have a good idea of his ceiling. I don’t see a path to another gear here in a run-heavy environment, but he’s a decent option if the expectation is a back-end offensive guy or a bye-week filler.
PK: Harrison Mevis 8 PPG
PN: Michael Dickson 9 PPG
DT: Kenny Clark 9 PPG (Nnamdi Madubuike 13 PPG, Peter Woods 9 PPG)
Kenny Clark was the player added into the Micah Parsons deal, hoping that would provide a stabilizing piece to the interior. It turned out he was just an average role player at this stage of his career, and the Cowboys ended up trading for Quinnen Williams a few weeks later. Clark is known for his run defense, but has 3 seasons of 6 or more sacks. About to be 31, he’s at best a bye-week filler, but should probably be left on waivers. He played 748 snaps in 2025 and recorded 37 tackles and 3 sacks.
DE: Nick Bosa 20 PPG, YaYa Diaby 13 PPG
Nick Bosa was rearing to go last year after back-to-back 30-point efforts. Then another ACL tear hit and his 2025 was ruined. The younger Bosa bro is still kicking, but like his older and longer-nosed relative, injuries have piled up. 2026 is the year to return to dominance. What should we expect from him moving forward as he begins to exit his prime? 2026 is the stage for that evaluation. For now, he’s a top 5 EDGE with 50-60 tackles and 14-15 sacks.
YaYa Diaby has largely outperformed expectations since joining the Bucs in 2023. He profiles as an adequate #2 pass rusher, routinely finishing in the top 20 in pressures (32 in 2025, 15th in the NFL). Despite weighing in at 270lbs, his run defense and tackling prowess have been a bit of an issue, and it’s caused the Bucs to yearn for more juice on the edge. YaYa will absolutely still be a starter for the Bucs, likely opposite 1st-round rookie Reuben Bain. Diaby is best served as a low-end EDGE2, but double-digit sacks and 50+ tackles are well within range.
LB: Patrick Queen 16 PPG, Derrick Barnes 15 PPG, Ventrell Miller 15 PPG (Leo Chenal 9 PPG)
We are probably on the last legs of the Patrick Queen saga, who the Steelers gave a 3-year deal in 2024. It was immediately scrutinized, and it’s largely capped this defense’s ceiling since then. Queen is an inefficient tackler and playmaker and has relied on opportunity to pay his IDP bills. Last year’s 120-tackle, 2 big-play season saw him finish at LB26, and that’s about where he’ll land again. The 2027 free-agent market will be another big test of where the NFL values his services. He’s still only 27; that may help.
It’s been the Anzalone/Campbell show in Detroit for several seasons, but Derrick Barnes did well to carve himself a role in this day and age of nickel defense. He played 940 snaps in 2025, many of which came on the EDGE with light depth at the position. He didn’t post startable stats, but that could change if he’s primed to start in the middle next to Jack Campbell. He’ll have to overcome Malcolm Rodriguez and rookie Jimmy Rolder for full-time opportunity AND not be a hybrid player on the EDGE. With many things working against potential value, I have concerns he’ll get there, but he’s a worthy flyer on upside alone.
Ventrell Miller found himself in a heated training camp battle with Brandon Combs, which hasn’t been completely resolved as we head into Week 1. The job still appears to be Miller’s, but they’ll both likely play, knocking Miller’s IDP upside a bit. As Devin Lloyd owners from 2025 know, this LB2 spot was frustrating to follow, but perhaps Miller can have better tackle efficiency. We got a taste of that during Miller’s rookie year on extended opportunity, so I’m optimistic he’ll be startable from the jump.
CB: Michael Jackson 12 PPG, Jamel Dean 11 PPG
Michael Jackson hehe’d to Neverland, completing his second straight quality IDP finish. With no DC or environmental changes, I’m expecting another top-16 finish. It’ll be tough to replicate his 4 INTs, 19 PDs and 1 TD, but he should be able to continue his 70(ish) total tackle numbers.
We’ve gotten quite a few decent seasons from Jamel Dean since being drafted in 2019 by the Buccaneers, and now it is time to see what he’s made of in Pittsburgh. He’s slated for a starting boundary role, which isn’t the greatest spot for IDP success, but worth a start in a good matchup. He’s consistently posted around 50-60 tackles and 6-9 PDs annually. That’s where I have him again.
S: Grant Delpit 13 PPG, Tyler Nubin 13 PPG, Reed Blankenship 11 PPG
After some early career injury issues, Delpit has stabilized as a decent top 20(ish) safety. Last year, however, his tackle numbers took a steep step back (111 tackles in 2024 versus 89 in 2025), likely due to the breakout of rookie Carson Schwezinger. Delpit’s usage is incredible, playing 75% of his snaps in the box and slot. A top 16 season is in the cards with that usage, and he should be started most weeks.
We’re a couple years into Tyler Nubin’s career and the returns have been up and down. For IDP, he’s been right in line with serviceable starting safety numbers. The start of last year wasn’t great, however, posting over 14 points once prior to week 14. He also suffered a season-ending neck injury, but appears to be 100% heading into week 1. This is a massive year 3 for Nubin, and his pedigree/upside has him as a decent bet to return to the top 32. Let’s hope he can flirt with 100+ tackles and 2-3 big plays.
Reed Blankenship has fallen off the IDP radar the past couple of years. His tackle numbers took a tumble and he hasn’t exceeded 83 total stops since 2023. The former UDFA from Middle Tennessee signed his first free agent deal with the Texans and is slated to be a starter there. Safeties in Houston haven’t been known to be must-starts, so I think he’ll slide back into the bye-week filler range. A change of scenery doesn’t hurt the range out outcomes, however.
Off: Jacksonville Jaguars 13 PPG
PPG: 299
X-Factor: How healthy and productive are Kittle/Bosa?
W-L: 4-13
Floyd jumps into the season with some encouraging young players/prospects to track. Jack Bech hype has been encouraging and may finally have a playcaller who’ll use him properly. Perhaps we’ll finally see Freiermuth used in a fantasy-friendly role under new HC Mike McCarthy. And let’s hope we can see Nnamdi Madubuike return to play. The offense has quality starters and some depth, but the defensive back end and depth are concerning. Leo Chenal and Christian Rozeboom lost opportunities to youngsters through the offseason and training camp. It could be another season of development in Atlanta.
