Tier 3: The “Skip Intro” Tier (Continued)
You know the plot, just start them.
21. Christian McCaffrey, RB, SF (RB8)
It was yet another season with an avalanche of injuries for the 49ers, but somehow Christian McCaffrey was the lone fantasy-relevant player to stay healthy the entire season. That led to a YUGE workload, with a career-high in targets and over 100 catches for the first time since he joined San Francisco. CMC came within 100 yards of becoming the first player in NFL history with two 1,000 rushing/1,000 receiving yards. But he was not the same ole’ CMC. He ranked 39th in yards per carry among qualifying backs and 37th in explosive run rate. For context, Chris Rodriguez and Kimani Vidal were higher. McCaffrey turns 30 in June, but he’s the type of talent like Derrick Henry who can and likely will buck the trend of production dropoff over 30. He’s no longer efficient or explosive, but he has the pass-catching chops to continue to be an RB1 for multiple years. His ceiling isn’t what it once was, but he sure does have that same sky-high floor.
22. Travis Etienne Jr., RB, NO (RB9)
I’m willing to admit when I’m wrong, and even though Travis Etienne Jr. (pronounced “Achane” (yes, actually)) finished as RB14 in points per game, I still think my process of fading him was the right one. Nobody could have seen Tank Bigsby‘s trade coming, and although ETN started the season en fuego, the same issues persisted. Etienne ranked 32nd in yards after contact, 27th in explosive run rate, and 22nd in yards per carry. So how’d he finish so high? Touchdowns, baby! Etienne had a career-high 13 touchdowns, with nearly half coming on another career-high of 6 touchdown receptions. Etienne came into the season with one career touchdown reception. Touchdowns are among the most volatile stats from year to year and nearly impossible to predict.
HOWEVER.
Etienne signed in one of the best possible scenarios for his fantasy value with the Saints. While Alvin Kamara recently restructured his contract and isn’t going anywhere, this isn’t the Kamara of even two years ago. I fully expect ETN to carry the majority of the load, and as we’ve seen with backs like Chase Brown and Kyren Williams, volume can make inefficient, non-explosive backs fantasy stalwarts.
23. Ashton Jeanty, RB, LV (RB10)
24. Saquon Barkley, RB, PHI (RB11)
The fabled curse of 370 did hit Saquon Barkley last season, but not as badly as you may think. His efficiency and explosiveness certainly weren’t the same. He ranked 20th among the 49 running backs with at least 100 carries in explosive run rate and 33rd with a 4.07 yards per carry, a far cry from 2nd in yards per carry and 4th in explosive run rate in 2024. But he was still a borderline RB1 and remained plenty involved in the offense, not missing a single game due to injury. I see him in the same boat as Derrick Henry: a back-end RB1 who will be drafted like a top-tier back, as in the past. If you can get him at an RB2 cost, I’m all for it. But the upside is no longer worth the first- or second-round price tag.
Tier 4: The Toy Story Tier
If they jump a tier, the buzz will last lightyears.
25. Javonte Williams, RB, DAL (RB12)
Javonte Williams signed a one-year deal with Dallas and made the most of it. The former Bronco finished the season as the RB12, averaging 15.2 points per game, and had the third-highest yards after contact (2.91) among backs with at least 100 rushing attempts. Williams was one of the league’s hottest backs to start the season, scoring 19 or more points in four of his first five games. He didn’t reach that mark again after Week 5, but he was as consistent as a ‘Now That’s What I Call Music’ tracklist, scoring 10+ points in all but three of his remaining starts. Williams is back with Dallas after signing a three-year, $24M deal this offseason. He’s proven to still have what it takes to be the ‘Boys bellcow and back-end RB1.
26. Brock Bowers, TE, LV (TE1)
Despite playing in just 12 games, Brock Bowers finished as TE11 in total points and tied Tucker Kraft and George Kittle for TE2 behind Trey McBride in points per game. With Fernando Mendoza (or Kirko Chainz) at quarterback and Las Vegas not adding any significant pass catchers, Bowers is right in the TE1 conversation. With Head Coach Klint Kubiak calling plays, Bowers gets the slight bump past Trey McBride (who lost OC Drew Petzing to Detroit).
27. Trey McBride, TE, ARI (TE2)
Trey McBride blew away the competition to finish as TE1 and averaged 18.6 points per game, 11th among non-quarterbacks. His targets increased by two per game with Jacoby Brissett, and the bigger difference was in the end zone: McBride had two end-zone targets in Kyler Murray’s five starts and 16 from Week 6 on with Brissett. With Brissett back in Arizona, McBride may actually be worth the risk, even if I don’t think I’ll draft him where he’ll be going. It’s highly unlikely, but if Brissett’s holdout drips into the regular season, McBride could slip a few spots.
28. Breece Hall, RB, NYJ (RB13)
Breece Hall is one of the most intriguing running backs heading into the 2026 offseason. The talent has always been there; he’s one of four running backs with at least 100 carries to have a 7% or higher explosive run rate. He’s been with the Jets. He has three straight seasons with over 1,300 total yards and is just two seasons removed from an RB2 overall finish. Gulp. He went back to the Jets. He’ll remain on “RB2 with upside” island.
29. Cam Skattebo, RB, NYG (RB14)
Cam Skattebo (the equivalent of a slobbering English bulldog puppy) had his rookie season cut short due to injury, but that didn’t stop him from becoming a fan favorite. Skattebo had the fourth-highest yards after contact among running backs with at least 100 rush attempts at 2.8. The Giants’ offensive line improvements played a part, as did having Dart at quarterback.
Skatt somehow dodged all the potential elite backfieldmates who could have cratered his fantasy value this offseason. With an improved o-line and only Tyrone Tracy Jr./Devin Singletary in the way, Skattebo, if healthy, should provide RB1 numbers. But for now, he’s just outside RB1 land.
30. Rome Odunze, WR, CHI (WR14)
As good as Rome Odunze looked to start the season, I was honestly shocked to see he had only two games over 20 points and finished as the WR28 in ppg. But there is more to the story than I think most realize. When Odunze suffered a stress fracture in his foot against the Eagles on Black Friday, it was revealed that he had been dealing with foot issues since October that had progressively gotten worse. It just so happens that October is when Odunze’s production started to drop. When healthy, he has the talent and role in an improving offense to become a top-10 fantasy receiver year in and year out. Odunze opted to let his foot heal instead of surgery, which has him adjusting to a “new normal” with the healing process slightly altering his foot structure. DJ Moore leaving for Buffalo does nothing but make Rome’s situation even better. Those 85 vacated targets have to go somewhere. Luther Burden has been the talk of the town, and rightfully so. He’s uber talented and is set to take a major step forward as well. But how easy everyone seems to forget Odunze was a top five receiver the first four weeks of the season. Between the two, I’m in Rome’s corner due to his involvement around the end zone. In three fewer games, Odunze had seven more red zone targets (11 to 4) and 10 more end zone targets (11 to 1). I’m drafting Odunze with no hesitation in 2026.
31. Drake London, WR, ATL (WR15)
Drake London ranked sixth with 2.61 yards per route run. Even though he played in only 12 games, catching 68 of his 108 targets for 919 yards, he still nearly reached 1,000 yards. Another ACL injury to Michael Penix Jr. threw Kirk Cousins back under center, and Penix’s underwent his third ACL reconstruction at the end of 2025. Atlanta added Tua Tagovailoa and hired Kevin Stefanski as head coach, not a terrible combo for the fantasy prospects of London. It’s hard to properly place a guy like London until we know who wins the starting job, and his propensity to get nicked up also leads London’s floor to further fall, my fair lady. He’s Nico Collins with a wider range of outcomes.
32. Derrick Henry, RB, BAL (RB15)
Derrick Henry isn’t from this planet. I’m pretty sure he eats barbed wire and poops concrete. He’s an absolute monster who is still smashing through defenders into his mid-30s, and he’ll continue to do so until he says he’s done. King Henry finished the season as RB8 with a 5.2 yards per carry (3rd highest) and the 6.8% explosive run rate (7th). But he is slowing down slightly (please don’t tell him I said that). His 2.39 yards per carry were the fifth straight season in which the number declined, and his second straight season under three. He’s aging as gracefully as Vanna White, but I’m afraid I won’t be drafting him among the top 12 backs next season. I’m much more comfortable having him as my RB2.
33. Chase Brown, RB, CIN (RB16)
Chase Brown is a great example of why it’s important not to get stuck in a take-lock. I was not in on Brown entering the season, at least where he was going at ADP. He’s been efficient and inexplosive over his career, propped up by volume. By midseason, it was evident that volume wasn’t going anywhere, and he added additional pass-game work to his repertoire. He still averaged just 4.39 yards per carry and had a 3.9% explosive run rate. However, he handled 61% of the team’s carries and set career highs with 69 catches, 89 targets, and five touchdowns. With the Bengals’ improved defense, there’s a chance the run game could be used more to grind out time late in a game they’re ahead. With no significant additions to the backfield, that likely means even more work for Brown.
34. Tetairoa McMillan, WR, CAR (WR16)
Had it not been for the inconsistent play from quarterback Bryce Young, Tetairoa McMillan could have easily finished as a WR1 in his first season in the league. Tet ended the season as WR16, catching 70 of 122 targets for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns. Nothing to be mad about, but enough to show his upside if there had been consistent quarterback play. McMillan had the fifth-highest yards per reception despite Young ranking third-lowest in yards per game and yards per attempt. To put it clearly, Young had a worse quarterback rating than soon-to-be-former Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Tet is set to take a step forward in his sophomore season if he can get some stability from the quarterback position. He’s an excellent WR2 with a relatively safe floor and top-10 upside if he truly breaks out.
35. De’Von Achane, RB, MIA (RB17)
Tua’s gone. Waddle’s gone. Tyreek Hill is gone. De’Von Achane is the last weapon standing in Miami, and not one I want to invest a whole lot of draft capital in. Yes, he had a second consecutive top-five fantasy finish in 2025. Yes, Achane was the only running back in the NFL with a double-digit explosive run rate this season, handling a career-high 238 rushing attempts to reach 1350 rushing yards, his first 1,000-yard season. But there are serious concerns heading into 2026.
Mike McDaniel and his running-back-friendly offense are out the door, as is Tua Tagovailoa and his tendency to dump off passes (74% of his pass attempts were under nine yards). So much of Achane’s fantasy value comes from the passing game, where he’s averaged 72 catches, 540 receiving yards, and five receiving touchdowns over the past two seasons.
The talent is elite and will remain so, but I’m afraid that Achane will be priced too high for my liking and carries a significant risk of being a bust in 2026. If he remains among the top 12 backs off the board, I won’t have a single share. I know the drop his harsh, but that offense is going to be so, so bad.
36. Kyren Williams, RB, LAR (RB18)
I just don’t get Kyren Williams. He isn’t particularly efficient or explosive, yet somehow he ends up as an RB1 seemingly every season. Out of the 49 running backs with at least 100 carries in 2025, he was 11th in yards per carry and 1st in success rate, which is defined by how often the running back picks up positive yardage by converting downs. The thresholds are at least 40% on 1st down, 60% on 2nd down, and 100% on 3rd or 4th down. Guess who was second? Teammate Blake Corum. So is the success rate due to the scheme or the skill? That’s the hard part here, and at least to me, Corum looks like the much better back on the field. Williams ranked 21st in explosive run rate (Corum 6th) and 25th in missed force tackles per attempt to Corum’s 11th. The one critical stat Williams did best Corum in was yards after contact per attempt (Williams 18th, Corum 25th). Williams has shown me enough where I can no longer fade him at all costs, but I wouldn’t pay an RB1 price tag for him, especially the way Corum played down the stretch.
Tier 5: The GigaPet Tier
Vintage studs and hungry pups who need just a little hourly care.
37. Josh Allen, QB, BUF (QB1)
There’s zero reason to knock Josh Allen off his pedestal heading into 2026. Six straight seasons with a top-two finish. In the midst of his prime, the addition of DJ Moore, and consistency in the offense with Joe Brady‘s promotion to Head Coach all work in Allen’s favor. Don’t overthink it. Allen = QB1 overall.
38. Lamar Jackson, QB, BAL (QB2)
Lamar Jackson never looked the same after an early-season hamstring injury, but even in a “down” year, he totaled 23 touchdowns in just 13 games. He’ll have a new head coach for the first time in his career, as the Ravens hired Jesse Minter to take over for the long-tenured John Harbaugh, who in turn hired Declan Doyle as his OC. The 29-year-old is the youngest offensive coordinator in the league, and his system is expected to be a fast-paced, pre-snap motion-heavy offense with an emphasis on explosive plays. If things click, Jackson could be headed for another MVP. He is still one of the elite fantasy quarterbacks, and any sort of discount offered would be free money.
39. Tee Higgins, WR, CIN (WR17)
Tee Higgins is among the five receivers to have eight or more touchdowns in each of the past two years. Higgins reaching that mark may be the most impressive of the bunch, considering he missed multiple games due to concussions and was without his starting quarterback for most of the season. Joe Flacco was a step up from Jake Browning, but he’s still no Joe Burrow. Higgins will occupy his typical high-end WR2/low-end WR1 status again in 2026.
40. Sam LaPorta, TE, DET (TE3)
Sam LaPorta finished the season as TE7 in points per game before a herniated disc ended his season in Week 10. New offensive coordinator Drew Petzing comes to Detroit from Arizona, where his offense produced one of the greatest fantasy tight end seasons of all time with Trey McBride. We back up with LaPorta, bab-bay!