Tier 2 (Continued): The “Skip Intro” Tier
You know the plot, just start them.
21. Brock Bowers, TE, LV
Despite playing in just 12 games, Brock Bowers finished as TE11 in total points and was tied with Tucker Kraft and George Kittle for TE2 in points per game behind Trey McBride. With a better quarterback (assumedly) in Fernando Mendoza, a hopefully better coaching staff and offense, Bowers is right in the conversation for TE1 in fantasy and should be one of the top three tight ends off the board. He’s not three.
22. Omarion Hampton, RB, LAC
Omarion Hampton was in line to become the next great rookie running back before suffering a sprained ankle that cost him nearly half the season. The former Tar Heel was on his way to his third straight 20-point game in Week 5 before leaving with the injury. Despite being eased back in upon his return, he finished the regular season strong. Hampton scored 14+ fantasy points in three of the Chargers’ final four regular-season games, even at less than 100%, and Kimani Vidal was involved. Najee Harris is likely gone after signing a 1-year prove-it deal that he never got a chance to, you know, prove it. Technically, Vidal is a free agent, but as an Exclusive Rights Free Agent, the Chargers can sign him to a minimal deal to bring him back. I expect Vidal to return and possibly a veteran signing to handle some of the grunt work, but Hampton should pick right back up as the bell cow and potential RB1 stud.
23. Ashton Jeanty, RB, LV
First off, if you’re reading this, I’m sorry, Nick Pollack. I convinced you to take him. I waxed poetic about Ashton Jeanty and why he’s worthy of a first-round pick, and you took him in the QB List Legacy League. For that, I will be forever remorseful. I knew the Raiders’ offensive line was going to be bad, but I didn’t expect it to be literally ranked dead last by PFF. Among running backs with at least 100 attempts, Jeanty had the second-worst yards before contact, second-worst success rate, and third-worst stuff rate. Thankfully for Jeanty, he’ll have a whole new coaching staff, almost certainly a new quarterback (hey there, Fernando Mendoza), and hopefully an improved offensive line. The talent is there. If Jeanty just gets decent run blocking, he can put up top-five fantasy numbers. If his ADP is suppressed due to scorned fantasy managers, Jeanty could wind up one of the steals of 2026.
24. Josh Allen, QB, BUF
Six straight seasons with a top-two finish. In the midst of his prime, there’s no reason not to rank and/or draft Allen as the QB1.
Josh Allen is good at football. Sometimes, it really is that simple.
25. Tetairoa McMillan, WR, CAR
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.
26. Drake Maye, QB, NE
Drake “Drake Maye” Maye is the only player in the conversation for 2025 MVP alongside Matthew Stafford. The former Tar Heel ended the regular season ranking first in completion percentage, yards per attempt, and passer rating, and threw the third-most touchdowns (behind Stafford and Jared Goff). Maye also has a bit of wiggle, adding 450 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. Depending on the scoring format, Maye finished second to Josh Allen by around 10 points. If any quarterback’s going to knock Allen from the QB1 pedestal, it’s going to be Maye.
Tier 3: The Toy Story Tier
If they jump a tier, the buzz will last lightyears.
27. Chris Olave, WR, NO
The Saints may have missed the playoffs, but a perfect storm of no running game, no real competition for targets (after Rashid Shaheed’s trade), and a team constantly playing from behind led Chris Olave to his best season. He finished fifth with 151 targets, caught 100 passes for the first time, and reached 1000 yards for the third time in four seasons. Among receivers with 100+ targets, Olave finished 17th in yards per target, 20th in yards per reception, and last in yards after contact. Only Olave and Davante Adams had yards after the catch under three. I foresee Olave having a hard time replicating his top 10 fantasy finish in 2026. He was a steal at his ADP last season, but he risks being over-drafted if he comes off the board among the top 12.
28. Garrett Wilson, WR, NYJ
The lone bright spot in yet another dumpster fire of a season for the Jets, Garrett Wilson played in just seven games due to injury. Despite playing in less than half the team’s games, he led the team in receiving yards with 395. It’s pretty simple with Wilson. He’s an elite talent who’d be a perennial WR1 overall candidate if he could get a quarterback with a cannon. But he keeps getting ones with Nerf guns. His 30% target share kept him afloat and likely will remain high no matter who the quarterback is in New York next season. The draft has gotten shallow at the top, so who his thrower of the football will be is still a question, and will be for quite a while.
29. Tee Higgins, WR, CIN
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.
30. Lamar Jackson, QB, BAL
It’s been said ad nauseam that Lamar Jackson never looked the same after an early-season hamstring injury stalled his scorching hot start to the season. But in the words of Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle, it’s true, it’s true. With the shocking news of John Harbaugh‘s firing came the revelation that Jackson and the offensive coordinator were rumored not to even be on speaking terms. Even in a “down” year, Jackson scored 23 total touchdowns in just 13 games. He’ll have a new head coach for the first time in his career and a new offense, but he’ll be heavily involved in the decisions on both. Jackson is still one of the elite fantasy quarterbacks, and any sort of discount offered would be free money.
31. Kenneth Walker III, RB, SEA
There’s a running back who’s the reason for the teardrops on my guitar keyboard. Watching Kenneth Walker break tackles (first in missed tackles forced per attempt), run ever so explosively (second-highest explosive run rate), then get immediately lifted from the game for Zach Charbonnet was enough to make me want to drop-kick my TV. But the good news is it’s officially time to FREE KENNY WALKER. He’s a free agent, and I pray to sweet baby Jesus, in your fleece diaper and golden manger, that he signs with a team that will fully unleash the beast. He left some room for improvement in yards after contact, but even if it doesn’t improve much, his talent in other areas is enough to overcome it. It’s a similar situation to Breece Hall‘s. The talent is there; he just needs to go to the right situation. If Walker lands on a team where he’ll get most carries and a serviceable run-blocking line, he has darkhorse RB1 overall upside.
32. Colston Loveland, TE, CHI
Although the rookie tight end didn’t have his first double-digit game until Week 9, Colston Loveland finished as a TE1 for the season, thanks to scoring 10+ points in seven of 10 games down the stretch. Cole Kmet was much more involved early in the season, but Loveland had the typical rookie second-half surge. It helped that various receivers were dealing with injuries, but the cat is out of the bag, and he’s not going back in. (Side note: who puts a cat in a bag? Seriously!) Loveland will be one of the first tight ends off the board next season, and deservedly so. But don’t buy all the risk and reach for him in the early-middle rounds.
33. Chase Brown, RB, CIN
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 inefficient 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. He handled 61% of the team’s carries and set career highs with 69 catches, 89 targets, and five touchdowns. Where Brown lands in the rankings closer to the season depends on whether the Bengals add a significant piece in the backfield this offseason.
34. Bucky Irving, RB, TB
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, at least in the closing weeks of the 2025 season. 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. Rachaad White is a free agent, and if he leaves town, it could open up a few extra touches, but Tucker is more likely to be the beneficiary there. Bucky has an offseason to get healthy and will lead the Bucs’ backfield in 2026. But if Tucker continues to hoard the goal-line work, Irving’s ceiling is capped.
35. Ladd McConkey, WR, LAC
What a weird season it was for Ladd McConkey, kind of a reverse turd sandwich, if you will. He had a productive midseason stretch that was bookended by a whole lot of suck. McConkey failed to score 10 points in three of the first four weeks and in four of the final six, but in the middle of the season, he had five of six games over 14 fantasy points and a trio of 20-pointers. The Chargers’ offensive line was an injury-plagued mess, giving Justin Herbert no time and a broken hand to boot. McConkey was honestly being overdrafted as a WR1, but if he falls back into WR2 territory, he’ll be a nice value heading into next season.
36. Jameson Williams, WR, DET
Jameson Williams shed some of his boom-bust label and finished inside the top 12 for the first time in his career. But would he have done so if Sam LaPorta had been healthy all season? The world may never know, but Jamo put on a clinic this season, ranking third in yards per target and yards per reception, and fifth in yards after the catch per reception. While the Drew Petzing OC hire isn’t as conducive to fantasy production as say, Mike McDaniel would have been, we’ve seen what Jamo can do when given a significant role in the offense. He’ll always have that boom upside, but how regular a bust he’ll be is still up in the air.
37. Joe Burrow, QB, CIN
It was another lost season for Joe Burrow due to injury, and he was visibly frustrated with the state of the team toward the end of the season. He made a valiant effort to lead Cincy to an unlikely playoff berth and looked every bit the top-tier thrower of the football upon his return. Burrow heads into 2026 with arguably the best duo of receivers in the league, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see the team do whatever Burrow wants this offseason to appease him. He’ll once again be an elite fantasy option at quarterback as long as he’s healthy.
Tier 4: The GigaPet Tier
Vintage studs and hungry pups who need just a little hourly care.
38. Davante Adams, WR, LAR
If you’ve poked around these rankings for more than just a player or two, you’ll see this same stat repeated a few times. But any player who can repeat something as unpredictable as touchdowns is worth mentioning, and Adams is one of five who caught eight or more in each of the last two seasons. In fact, Adams has caught eight or more in six straight seasons. That being said, he’s no longer the alpha he once was, and that’s okay. His 14 touchdown receptions more than made up for it, but he had the second-lowest yards after the catch per reception among receivers with 50+ targets at 1.93. He basically became a goal-line receiver. There’s a lot up in the air with the Rams next season, and Adams’ production is heavily reliant on the return of Matthew Stafford. Assuming Stafford’s back, Adams slots right in as a solid WR2 who will win you some weeks when he catches a couple tuddys.
39. Saquon Barkley, RB, PHI
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 finishing second in yards per carry and fourth 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. He’s 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.
40. Zay Flowers, WR, BAL
Zay Flowers was solid overall through Week 13 but finished the season 🔥en fuego🔥. His 12.1 points per game nearly doubled to 20.3 over the final five weeks. How nice of him to lead all of his fantasy managers to the consolation bracket championship! I was a big fan of Flowers coming into the season, but the torrid end to the season bumped him into the top 10 in total points and just outside the top 12 in points per game. I fear that will inflate his ADP, which doesn’t belong. Baltimore cleaning house also means he’ll have a new offensive coordinator, and it may not be as fantasy-friendly for Flowers. Former OC Todd Monken’s offense is known for hyper-targeting WR1s. He’s too inconsistent to consider drafting as a WR1, but Flowers is a rock-solid WR2 who will have some spike weeks.