Tier 6: The “Area 51” Tier (Continued)
There’s definitely something there, but will it stay hidden from the public?
61. Terry McLaurin, WR, WAS (WR27)
It wasn’t just Jayden Daniels who struggled to stay on the field for Washington. Terry McLaurin had injury issues of his own. But when he was on the field, he was the same ole Scary Terry, ranking sixth in yards per reception and 13th in yards per route run, despite playing more snaps with Marcus Mariota than with Jayden Daniels. His 10-touchdown season is likely a one-year wonder, but McLaurin is a perfect WR2 target who could come at a discount after a disappointing 2025.
62. Luther Burden III, WR, CHI (WR28)
The Bears have an embarrassment of riches at receiver, and that has allowed them to ease Luther Burden into the offense. From a ranking standpoint, Burden doesn’t stand out (he finished as WR48 in PPR), but when Rome Odunze missed, Burden took full advantage of the extra playing time. In games without Odunze, Burden averaged an extra three targets, three catches, 51 yards, and nine points per game. Additionally, Burden finished third in yards per route run, only behind Puka Nacua and JSN. Rome isn’t going anywhere, but Burden should continue to see his role grow and has the potential to be a fantasy force as early as the upcoming season. DJ Moore being traded to Buffalo skyrockets Burden’s floor, but likely also his ADP. Don’t buy all the risk and take him inside the top 20 or so receivers.
63. Christian Watson, WR, GB (WR29)
Christian Watson was easily the Packers’ most consistent pass catcher in 2025 and one of the best in the league. He ranked fifth with 2.67 yards per route run, third with 17.46 yards per reception, and fourth with 11.11 yards per target. Granted, Watson did so with Jayden Reed hurt for much of the season. But Watson’s numbers didn’t change all that much when they were both on the field. Watson saw virtually the same number of targets, caught the same number of passes, and averaged just four fewer yards with Reed, as well as a negligible 1.3 fantasy points less per game. Watson may head into 2026 underrated, with many expecting his breakout solely due to Reed’s absence. If that’s the case, buy that delicious dip.
64. DeVonta Smith, WR, PHI (WR30)
DeVonta Smith is one of those guys who’s a better NFL player than he is in fantasy. This isn’t me poo-pooing Smith’s talent; he’s a phenomenal football player. But his highest fantasy finish in points per game is WR15 in 2022. When he was “the guy” before AJ Brown came to town? His rookie season of 2021, where he finished as WR30. Smith doesn’t have top-10 potential with Jalen Hurts under center, even with the Eagles moving on from Brown. In 2025, Smith actually had more games under 10 points (10) than over (7). He’s a solid yet unspectacular WR2 who will sprinkle in some spike weeks, but has far too many duds to make it worth the price tag. If you’re searching for the Eagles WR1 for fantasy, he’s not the droid you’re looking for.
Tier 7: The “Is This a Pigeon?” Tier
You aren’t sure if they’re a superstar or role player, but you’re starting them.
65. DJ Moore, WR, BUF (WR31)
DJ Moore had the worst season since his rookie year and not so gracefully slipped into a more complementary role than the borderline alpha he came to Chicago to be. Moore was traded to Buffalo and immediately became the top option for Josh Allen and a rock-solid WR2. He fills the ginormous X-receiver-sized role in Buffalo and reunites with Joe Brady, with whom Moore had some of his most productive seasons in Carolina. Moore sits just outside the WR2 range. I’d be fine with him as my WR2 as long as I had a top-5ish WR1.
66. Kenneth Gainwell, RB, TB (RB26)
When one door closes, another opens, something something darkside…. Kenneth Gainwell caught 73 passes on his way to 1,000 combined yards and an RB2 season on his way to free agency and eventually, Tampa Bay. I hate it for my boy Bucky Irving, but I LOVE it for Kenny. Gainwell should be in a favorable position for fantasy purposes thanks to his pass-catching chops. The coaching staff has been waxing poetic about Gainwell’s skill set and how it’s identical to Irving’s. Expect a full-blown committee, and if Irving fails to stay on the field, Kenny G could be one of the best draft values in 2026. That sweet, sweet sax-a-ma-phone music is a potential RB2 that can be drafted at FLEX pricing.
67. Rico Dowdle, RB, PIT (RB27)
Rico Dowdle signed a 1-year “prove it” deal with the Panthers last offseason, and he proved it. He was a major part of the Panthers’ success and surprise playoff appearance, outperforming Chuba Hubbard in yards per carry, explosive run rate, forced-miss tackles, yards after contact per attempt, and the list goes on. It seems Dowdle wasn’t too happy with his questionable usage, per his social media posts after the playoff loss. Pittsburgh isn’t technically the situation I had hoped for, but it’ll do. While he’ll share the workload with Jaylen Warren, he’ll get plenty of run in Mike McCarthy‘s offense. I value Dowdle similarly to last season.
68. Jaylen Warren, RB, PIT (RB28)
Jaylen Warren ranked 13th in explosive run rate, sixth in yards after contact, and fifth in missed tackles forced per attempt. He’s involved in the passing game as well, averaging 46 catches over the past three seasons. But the addition of Rico Dowdle puts a rather large damper on Warren’s fantasy prospects for 2026. The move does more damage to Warren, who had the backfield all to himself for about 20 minutes when Kenneth Gainwell signed in Tampa. Warren should get plenty of work, but unless I can get him outside the top 25 backs, I’ll be avoiding him.
69. Rachaad White, RB, WAS (RB29)
Rachaad White signed with the Commanders, which I LOVE for his fantasy viability. He’s easily the most talented back currently on the roster and could be a serviceable FLEX with RB2 upside if he commands the most touches in Washington. (Yeah, I did the thing. What of it.)
70. Bucky Irving, RB, TB (RB30)
A lost season for Bucky Irving may have cost him more than just multiple games. It also cost him his role as the goal line back for the Bucs. He still showed flashes that made him one of the most dynamic rookies of 2024, but his struggles at the goal line opened the opportunity for Sean Tucker to steal the job, and he did. Irving ranked dead last in yards per carry among running backs with at least 100 carries and was seventh-worst in explosive run rate. The hopes of an offseason to get Irving healthy and the departure of White were the prerequisites for returning to form. Still, Tampa signed Kenneth Gainwell to replace him, planting a haymaker right to the gut of Bucky believers. Gainwell broke out bigly in Pittsburgh last season with 1,000 combined yards and an RB2 season, and honestly, it wouldn’t surprise me to see him end the season with more snaps in the Bucs backfield than Irving. Instead of the recipe for a bounce-back third season, Irving sadly has all the ingredients for a lukewarm soup that tastes like disappointment. That aroma of dismay lingering in the air is quickly shifting to straight-up poop soup. As of now, my dear Bucky is a full fade for me in 2026. He ironically drops one spot behind former teammate Rachaad White.
71. Blake Corum, RB, LAR (RB31)
Blake Corum. Fifth-highest yards per carry. Sixth-highest explosive run rate. Second-highest success rate. Still playing second fiddle to Kyren Williams. He started to see more work down the stretch, but until he supplants Williams on the depth chart, he’s a risky FLEX at best. He’s arguably the top handcuff heading into 2026.
72. Brian Thomas Jr., WR, JAC (WR32)
If Brian Thomas Jr. wasn’t the biggest bust of 2025, he was rubbing elbows with them. But fear not; all hope isn’t lost for our beloved BTJ. Early in the season, he 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 with 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 the 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 WR2/3 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.
73. Jordan Addison, WR, MIN (WR33)
Legal trouble for the third straight offseason has opened up an opportunity to draft Jordan Addison at a discount in 2026. It was dicey to try to rank him this offseason, but it appears there will be no sort of discipline that will cause him to miss games. With an ADP outside the top 100 at the time of writing, Addison is the classic low-risk pick that can reap championship rewards, as long as Kyler Murray is the starter, that is.
74. Jaylen Waddle, WR, DEN (WR34)
The jury’s still out on what kind of upside we’ll see from Jaylen Waddle in 2026. But he was able to overcome the Dolphins’ issues this season to rank in the top 12 in both targets per route run and yards per route run. He’s at worst a WR2 with WR1 talent if things click in Denver. We wanted him out of Miami, but a crowded Broncos receiver room isn’t ideal for his upside. Waddle is a WR1 talent who very well could finish the season in the WR2 range. But based on the offense and target competition, his floor is much lower than it was in Miami. I didn’t think that was possible.
75. Jakobi Meyers, WR, JAC (WR35)
Jakobi Meyers went from an afterthought in Las Vegas to Trevor Lawrence‘s favorite target after a midseason trade to Jacksonville. Meyers averaged 12.4 points per game with the Jaguars from Weeks 10-17, and the team rewarded him with a three-year contract extension to keep him in Duval for a long time. He led the Jaguars with a 21.8% target share and was second to Parker Washington with 1.88 yards per route run. There will be plenty of mouths to feed, especially with the return of Travis Hunter. But Meyers appears to be a fixture in the offense and makes for a rock-solid WR3. Similar story with Meyers as with DJ Moore. His situation didn’t change much, but with the reshuffling of other receivers in this ranks update, Meyers is outside WR2 range for me.
76. Mike Evans, WR, SF (WR36)
Injury after injury led to the legendary 1,000-receiving-yard streak ending for Mike Evans. Evans played in just eight games in part because of a broken collarbone, and will be 33 at the start of the season. He had a league-low 1.33 yards after catch per reception in 2025. Which makes sense, as I view Evans as similar to Davante Adams last season, a solid WR2 with a few spike weeks. Another aging stud wide receiver heading for Cali to catch some West Coast sunshine and a couple of Tuddys.
77. Jordan Mason, RB, MIN (RB32)
I know, I know…I just can’t quit Jordan Mason. Aaron Jones is another year older, Mason ranked inside the top 10 in explosive run rate and missed tackles forced per attempt, and the Vikings’ offense has to improve, right? RIGHT?!
78. Jonah Coleman, RB, DEN (RB33)
If I were to describe Jonah Coleman in one word, it would be…
WHAMMY! A power runner with a well-rounded skill set that should keep him on the field at all times. 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. 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.
BUT…
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.
79. Justin Herbert, QB, LAC (QB5)
With Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator (the man who made Tua Tagovailoa look like a franchise quarterback) and a healthy and improved o-line, I’m fully back in on Justin Herbert. We’ve seen Herbert’s upside as recently as last season, when he threw 16 touchdowns in his first eight games. McDaniel has worked with Herbert on his footwork this season in hopes of speeding up his release, with the goal of creating more catch-and-run opportunities for the offense. Don’t let the gross finish down the stretch that reeked of injury and misfortune cost you the opportunity to acquire a 28-year-old quarterback in his prime with the potential for multiple QB1-caliber seasons. I’m not saying that’s Herbert’s future, but I’m not NOT saying it. Ya feel me?
80. Caleb Williams, QB, CHI (QB6)
Caleb Williams had his struggles, but man, when he was on, he was unstoppable. He rarely turns the ball over, but his sub-60 completion percentage is among the worst in the NFL. You could see how he progressed throughout the season, showing that Ben Johnson is working his magic on him. The Bears’ offensive line remains one of the best in the league despite losing Drew Dalman to retirement, and they hope to have found his replacement in either veteran Garrett Bradbury or center Logan Jones, whom they drafted in the second round. Even through the struggles, Williams finished as QB7 in points per game. He should be among the first quarterbacks off the board in 2026 and possesses QB1 overall upside.