Tier 6: The “Is This a Pigeon?” Tier (Continued)
You aren’t sure if they’re a superstar or role player, but you’re starting them.
81. Emmett Johnson, RB, KC (RB32, ▲8)
It’s a rather shallow rookie class from a fantasy football perspective, but there are still valuable assets as long as you keep your expectations in check. Emmett Johnson has playmaking ability as a pass catcher, reading the field, and slipping past defenders. But he lacks elite speed (his 4.56 40 was the worst among RBs at the combine) and sits a bit undersized at 5’11”, 200-ish lbs. That said, he handled one of the heaviest workloads in the country without missing a day in 2025. He’ll be a committee back in the pros, and his fantasy value will be heavily reliant on ending up in a situation where he can slot in as the pass-catching back from day one. Johnson is a late-round pick in redraft and a late first, early second-round pick in dynasty.
UPDATE (5/20): “Heavily reliant” works out from time to time, and Johnson couldn’t have ended up in a better situation. If he takes over that Kareem Hunt/3rd down back role, he’ll have weekly FLEX viability (while simultaneously throwing cold water on my Kenneth Walker RB3 take).
82. Jonah Coleman, RB, DEN (RB33, ▼4)
If I were to describe Jonah Coleman in one word, it would be…
WHAMMY! A power runner with a well-rounded skillset that should keep him on the field at all times. He extends plays with his elite vision and had a strong 3.86 yards after contact in 2025. His YAC actually dropped from 2024 to 2025, likely due to Coleman playing through a knee injury. The slightly suppressed production may actually be underselling his true potential. Coleman’s lack of explosive speed and below-average size shouldn’t keep him from being a Day 2 selection. He profiles as a true three-down back thanks to his excellence in pass protection, but he’s not the type of elite pass-catching back who will add 50 catches a year. Likely not a fantasy starter early in the season, but could end up inside the top 24 before the season’s end.
UPDATE (5/20): There’s no doubt in my mind that Sean Payton hates fantasy football. Why else would he add Coleman to a backfield already occupied by the recently resigned J.K. Dobbins, last year’s 2nd round pick R.J. Harvey, and the solid but unspectacular Jaleel McLaughlin? All four will have fantasy-viable weeks, but good luck guessing which ones. I wouldn’t fade him completely, as Dobbins has had issues staying on the field, and Harvey is neither efficient nor explosive.
83. Kyle Monangai, RB, CHI (RB34, no change)
Kyle Monangai is a name you need to remember for 2026 because, even playing second fiddle to D’Andre Swift, he scored five touchdowns and posted double-digit fantasy points in all but two games in which he had at least 10 touches. Monangai has mouth-watering upside, and even with Swift sticking around, I love Monangai as a solid FLEX with upside for spike weeks. We’ve seen two backs be fantasy-viable in a Ben Johnson offense before.
84. Jonathon Brooks, RB, CAR (RB35, ▲9)
Out of sight, out of mind. People forget too easily how highly touted Jonathan Brooks was coming out of Texas. Rico Dowdle is a free agent who likely won’t return, and Chuba Hubbard is the guy I said had literally zero explosive runs. Brooks is one of my favorite sleepers for 2026.
UPDATE (4/5): The Panthers lost Rico Dowdle but “added” AJ Dillon this offseason, which makes me even more confident in Brooks’ bounce-back potential.
85. Isiah Pacheco, RB, DET (RB36, no change)
Isiah Pacheco is fun to watch run the football. He looks like a toddler running away from his parents because it’s bedtime. Sadly for Pacheco, his fantasy value has officially gone night-night. Among running backs with at least 100 rushing attempts, Pacheco had the second-lowest explosive run rate and was one of two players under 4%. If this is the end, I’ll never forget you, Isiah Pacheco. You’ve ruined me for trying to spell Isaiah for the rest of my life.
UPDATE (4/5): It is not the end. Depending on where his ADP lands this summer, I’m intrigued by Pacheco cosplaying in the David Montgomery role. New Lions OC Drew Petzing‘s run game has produced with much less talented backs than Pacheco. If you’re able to get him outside the top 150, sign me up.
Also, rumor has it that Pacheco wants people to start calling him “Taz” as a nickname. No, I don’t think I will.
86. Nicholas Singleton, RB, TEN (RB37, ▲5)
It hits me right in the feels when a top prospect returns to school and falls flat on their face, sending their stock plummeting. That’s exactly what happened to Nicholas Singleton, and then some. Not only did he have the worst season of his college career in 2025, but Singleton fractured his foot at the Senior Bowl while attempting to recoup some of his draft stock, instead causing him to miss most of the week as well as the combine. But he’s an explosive downhill runner and aggressive receiver, and if he ends up on an elite zone-running team, like San Francisco, Houston, or Denver, his draft-day fall could be the best thing that ever happened to him. He likely finds himself with a late-mid round ADP in redraft, and early second round in dynasty.
UPDATE (5/20): Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears are officially on notice. Singleton is the best talent of the three, and I expect him to completely take over this backfield by Week 6 or so.
87. Josh Downs, WR, IND (WR36, ▲8)
We’ve been teased with production from Josh Downs when given the targets, and there’s a good chance he’ll see a bump in 2026. Alec Pierce is a free agent, and Michael Pittman’s contract is structured to make him an easy cut with little dead cap, with the expectation he’ll move on this offseason. It’s a near virtual lock that at least one won’t be back, and if neither is, Downs could be in line for a significant target share in 2026.
UPDATE (4/5): Pierce returns to Indy, but Pittman does not, giving Downs a chance to be a regular piece of the offense. Don’t ignore him.
88. Wan’Dale Robinson WR, TEN (WR37, ▼1)
Wan’Dale Robinson caught 1,000 yards for the first time in his career and was the only receiver on the Giants worth rostering. Had Malik Nabers been healthy all season, Robinson likely wouldn’t have achieved the feat. But he showed what he’s capable of with enough volume and enters the offseason as a free agent. With Harbaugh and co. coming to New York, it’s unclear what their level of interest is in bringing him back. But wherever he lands, if Robinson can get a decent target share, he’s a solid WR3/WR2.
UPDATE (4/5): Robinson followed his former head coach to Tennessee, where he should be force-fed much like he was in 2025. He’ll be a PPR-scam WR2 if he and Cam Ward click. Maybe a safety blanket-type player like Robinson is exactly what last year’s first overall pick needs.
89. Brian Thomas Jr. WR, JAC (WR38, ▼1)
If Brian Thomas Jr. wasn’t the biggest bust of the year, he was rubbing elbows with them. But fear not, all hope isn’t lost for our beloved BTJ. Our expectations just have to be adjusted. Early in the season, he simply didn’t look like himself, dropping passes and, dare I say, looking scared to take hits. But after returning from injury, he got some of his swagger back and started showing his skill set by making some incredible catches like this one.
BTJ ONE-HANDER WOW.
INDvsJAX on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/nWfaYRE4nw
— NFL (@NFL) December 7, 2025
Thomas finished 13th in yards per reception and totaled 23 deep targets, tied for fifth-most with multiple receivers despite playing in two fewer games than the rest of that grouping. After the Jags traded for and extended Jakobi Meyers and drafted Travis Hunter, there’s little chance he’ll be the top-12 receiver we saw at the back end of his rookie season. It’s time to accept BTJ for what he isn’t: a top 10 elite fantasy receiver. However, that doesn’t mean he’s not a valuable fantasy asset; we just need to adjust our expectations. BTJ is more of a volatile WR2 with tremendous upside in an ever-improving Liam Coen Jacksonville offense. He could wind up being a value if scorned fantasy managers go full BTJ fade in 2026.
90. DK Metcalf WR, PIT (WR39, ▼1)
It’s long past time we had a conversation about DK Metcalf. He’s easily one of the most athletic receivers in the league, but it’s been quite a while since we’ve seen the top end of his upside. His first year in Pittsburgh was not great, Bob, with just two games over 100 yards, his first season under 60 receptions since his rookie year, and a career-low 850 receiving yards. Granted, that was on an Arthur Smith-run offense led by the ghost of Aaron Rodgers, but the Steelers cleaned house and will have a new coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterback (maybe). We have no idea what this offense is going to look like, but regardless, it’s hard to be bullish on DK for fantasy purposes.
91. Patrick Mahomes II, QB, KC (QB8, ▲1)
Patrick Mahomes looked like “Showtime” Mahomes (the worst nickname ever) through about Week 8, but the Chiefs’ offense sputtered from Week 9 until his season-ending ACL injury. Even if Mahomes can rehab quickly enough to return by Week 1, as he hopes, he could be without Rashee Rice (possible suspension) and Hollywood Brown (Unrestricted Free Agent). I firmly believe Mahomes has multiple elite fantasy seasons left in him. But given that he’ll be returning from an ACL injury, possibly have a new offensive coordinator, and have multiple new pass catchers, 2026 may be the calm before the storm of a late-career surge a la Tom Brady.
UPDATE (4/5): Mahomes had some of his most productive seasons under new/old OC Eric Bieniemy, including a 50-touchdown season in 2018. The addition of Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III should also elevate this offense as a whole, taking pressure off of Mahomes to do it all himself. Oh, and his pal Travis Kelce is here to stay as well. If there is any sort of draft day discount, I’ll be rostering a whooole lotta Mahomes in 2026.
92. Chuba Hubbard, RB, CAR (RB38, ▲10)
If you chased your kid for 15 or more yards this past year, you had more explosive runs than Chuba Hubbard. His efficiency wasn’t much better either, with 3.81 yards per carry and sub-2 yards after contact per attempt. Rico Dowdle is a free agent and seems unlikely to return to Carolina, but 2024 rookie Johnathan Brooks is trending toward being ready for next season. Hubbard likely has a role, as the Panthers won’t want to give Brooks a heavy workload right away, but don’t depend on Hubbard for anything more than a temporary FLEX.
UPDATE (4/5): Dowdle is gone, but was replaced by AJ Dillon. Hubbard’s value is unchanged.
UPDATE (5/20): Hubbard’s 10-spot rise from the last update has more to do with the sky falling around him, with situations deteriorating for guys like J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey, Mike Washington Jr., etc. The jump says more about the depth drying up at running back a tad faster than we may have anticipated for the 2026 fantasy season.
Tier 7: The “Oops!… I Did It Again” Tier
You lose all your senses and can’t stop drafting these guys.
93. Mike Washington Jr, RB, LV (RB39, ▼13)
The biggest winner of the NFL combine, Mike Washington Jr., showed up and showed out, running the fastest time among running backs with a 4.33 40-yard dash. Washington immediately broke down in tears after the run, stating, “I’m so emotional, man. I’ve worked my whole life for this.” If that doesn’t hit you right in the feels, I’m sorry for whoever hurt you. He’s as explosive as an afternoon trip to Taco Bell and can turn a small gain into a long touchdown with just one surgical cut. Washington will need to improve his pass protection and fumbling issues, but he’s easily the top riser heading into the draft. Everybody and their grandma is rooting for him.
UPDATE (5/20): If it wasn’t the worst landing spot possible, it’s close. The combine riser could have potentially reached RB2 viability had he landed somewhere he’d get a consistent workload. New Raiders Head Coach Klint Kubiak does run a two-back system, but Washington will be the 1b to Ashton Jeanty for the foreseeable future. He’s capped at a high-end FLEX.
94. Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, NE (RB40, ▲1)
I get why Mike Vrabel loves Rhamondre Stevenson. I didn’t during the season, but as I start my offseason process, looking back at season-long stats and watching film, the dude is just good. Top five in explosive run rate, missed forced tackles per attempt, and yards after contact per attempt. Vrable was smart to stick with him despite the fumble issues. The problem here is that he’s holding back my bae, TreVeyon Henderson. Both profile as RB2s with upside due to the shared workload, and Stevenson probably comes with the discount between the two.
95. Kimani Vidal, RB, LAC (RB41, ▲4)
Kimani Vidal surprised just about everyone, even his mom, with how well he played in place of Omarion Hampton. He averaged 13.5 points per game with Hampton out, though the metrics weren’t much to write home about (Vidal had the third-highest stuff rate, for example). Vidal is an Exclusive Rights Free Agent, meaning the Chargers can sign him to a minimal deal to bring him back. I expect Vidal back with the Chargers in a backup role, with a full offseason for Hampton to get healthy. But Vidal proved he can put up solid numbers if given the workload.
UPDATE (4/5): The backfield belongs to Hampton, but I like Vidal’s potential as a sneaky FLEX with McDaniel as OC. We saw multiple running backs have fantasy value during McDaniel’s time in Miami.
96. Woody Marks, RB, HOU (RB42, ▼4)
Woody Marks teased us a few times before taking over the Texans’ backfield by season’s end, but it wasn’t pretty. Marks had the second-lowest yards per carry among running backs with at least 100 carries and was tied with Chuba Hubbard and Emanuel Wilson for the lowest missed tackles forced per attempt. I think Marks will have a solid role in the Texans’ offense in 2026, but I expect them to add a back to help carry the workload.
UPDATE (4/5): I’m sorry, Woody Marks truthers (I’m looking at you, Eric Romoff), but fetch isn’t happening. The Texans’ deal for David Montgomery shows that, despite trading a 2026 third-round pick to move up for him, they don’t picture Marks as lead back material. I won’t roster him as anything more than an RB3/FLEX option.
97. J.K. Dobbins, RB, DEN (RB43, ▼16)
If J.K. Dobbins could just stay healthy, man, he’s a baller. His season was cut short again by a knee injury, but he was great in Denver. He ranked in the top 10 in yards per carry, rushing yards per game, explosive run rate, and missed tackles forced per attempt, and was third overall in explosive run rate. He had a one-year deal with Denver, so he’s free to sign with another team. If Dobbins gets an opportunity to start again, he’ll likely be a bargain-bin borderline RB2 worth taking a shot on.
UPDATE (4/5): Back with the Broncos, I love Dobbins as your RB3/FLEX.
UPDATE (5/20): The Broncos’ backfield has snip-snapped all offseason, and Dobbins looked like the winner after re-signing in Denver. Then Sean Payton went and drafted Jonah Coleman. Coleman profiles as the most complete back in the room, yet somehow more people are talking about how this hurts the rookie than how it tanks Dobbins’ value. I liked Dobbins as a solid RB3/FLEX before the draft, but now we’re looking at a three-headed committee with a 27-year-old back who’s had more injuries than I’ve had bad fantasy takes. Dobbins is still talented, but unless his ADP falls off a cliff, he’s someone I’m probably avoiding in redraft.
98. Quentin Johnston, WR, LAC (WR40, ▼1)
Quentin Johnston is one of the five I keep talking about. One of five receivers to score 8+ touchdowns over the last two seasons. Like his quarterback, Johnston started the season hot but cooled off significantly as the o-line play decayed. QJ has some upside, but the floor is rock bottom. He’s a prototypical boom-or-bust WR3.
UPDATE (4/5): MIKE MCDANIELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
99. Courtland Sutton WR, DEN (WR41, ▼7)
Courtland Sutton followed up his breakout 2024 by finishing five spots higher in points per game, moving from WR27 to WR22, even though he averaged 1.2 points fewer. I mention that as a reminder not to blindly follow player rankings from year to year; make sure to look at the actual stats for added context. That being said, Sutton brushed off a midseason takeover attempt from Troy Franklin to finish as the Broncos’ WR1. Sutton entered the Broncos’ Week 12 bye with four straight games under 11 points and came out of it averaging 16.5 ppg the rest of the way, finishing as a WR9 over that period. He’s getting a little long in the tooth, but if the Broncos don’t add any weapons this offseason, he’ll be in line for a third straight season as Bo Nix‘s go-to and a rock-solid WR2.
UPDATE (4/5): The Broncos surprisingly traded for Jaylen Waddle, pushing Sutton from solid WR2 territory to more WR3ish. That floor we once loved is gone.
100. Jordan Addison WR, MIN (WR42, ▼1)
Jordan Addison is in legal trouble for the third straight offseason. Could he face league discipline? Be traded? Cut? It’s impossible to properly rank Addison with so much in flux.