Tier 7 (Continued): The “Oops!… I Did It Again” Tier
You lose all my senses and can’t stop drafting these guys
101. Caleb Williams, QB, CHI
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. Even through the struggles, Williams finished as QB7 in points per game. He should be in the top ten quarterbacks off the board in 2026 and possesses QB1 overall upside, even if it’s a slim chance.
102. Tony Pollard, RB, TEN
Tony Pollard had the oddest late-season stretch, rushing for 500 of his 1082-yard season total in Weeks 14-18 to help a couple of people who were brave enough to pick him up and start him in the consolation playoffs. He’s still a non-factor for fantasy, and I’m not drafting him anywhere in 2026.
103. Bhayshul Tuten, RB, JAC
Bhayshul Tuten was causing some horns to be tootin when Tank Bigsby was traded to the Eagles, which I get. He had some splash plays and looked as if he could take over the backfield at times. But at the end of the season, the numbers were not great. Tuten ranked 33rd in yards per carry, 43rd in explosive run rate, and was slightly better but nothing special in missed tackles forced (15th) and yards after contact (14th). Even if Travis Etienne signs elsewhere, I doubt they give the keys to the kingdom to Tuten.
104. Matthew Stafford, QB, LAR
So we can all agree that Matthew Stafford‘s “back issue” in the preseason was a bunch of hogwash, right? What caused so many of us to fade him (including me) hurts that much more since he’s having arguably his best season and is likely to win the MVP. Stafford led the league in touchdowns and passing yards per game, and if he returns for another season, he’s still a QB1 for fantasy purposes. Considering his age, you run the risk of him falling off the cliff, but in Sean McVay‘s offense, I highly doubt that happens.
105. Jordan Love, QB, GB
Jordan Love threw the deep ball at the second-highest rate in the league and completed about the league average of 41%. It didn’t help that he was without one of his top deep threats for most of the season, as Christian Watson and Jayden Reed both missed significant time. But Love had some big games against poor defenses. Love played decently, but with the Packers’ running game and defense, Green Bay didn’t get into many shootouts. Love is a borderline QB1 who’s fine as your starter, but I don’t know if he’ll ever have to pass the ball enough to become an elite option.
106. Oronde Gadsden II, TE, LAC
Oronde Gadsden II is another of the multiple rookie tight ends who emerged for a stretch this season, scoring 12 or more fantasy points in four straight games in the middle of the season. That includes a 29.4-point performance against the Colts, followed by 18.7 versus the Vikes. It’s hard to take much away from the Chargers’ pass catchers in the second half of the season with Herbert battling a broken hand, but Gadsen should be considered a borderline TE1 with upside for 2026.
107. Jauan Jennings, WR, SF
Jauan Jennings wound up being the 49ers’ top receiver by default, which is good timing for him, considering he’s heading into free agency. He’s had back-to-back WR3 seasons, but at age 29 in July, I’m unsure what teams will be willing to pay him a significant amount for a major role. I’ll be taking a wait-and-see approach with him, but his rankings could change drastically this summer depending on where he ends up.
108. Bo Nix, QB, DEN
Bo Nix had himself another top-10 season for fantasy purposes, but was much more volatile than you’d like from your QB1. He did have a couple of four-touchdown games, but threw for one or zero touchdowns in 11 games and was under 250 passing yards in 11 games as well. He suffered a broken ankle on the second-to-last play of the Broncos’ victory over the Bills in the playoffs, but will be a full go before training camp.
109. Alec Pierce, WR, IND
Alec Pierce emerged as the Colts’ top wide receiver and one of the most explosive in the league. He led the league in average depth of target (19.4), yards per target (11.94), and yards per reception (21.34). He’s a free agent, but it sounds like the Colts are going to make a major push to keep him. To emerge from the logjam of pass catchers in Indy, he’s shown he can be a fantasy force even in a crowded receiver room. Pierce is my perfect WR3 target and someone I hope to draft a lot of next season.
Tier 8: The “Terms & Conditions” Tier
The talent is there, but you’ve gotta read the 50 pages of fine print.
110. Jayden Higgins, WR, HOU
Jayden Higgins had a disappointing rookie season, considering the opportunity that presented itself. Nico Collins, Christian Kirk, and Dalton Schultz all missed time, but Higgins was unable to carve out a role, in part due to the deficiencies of the passing offense.
111. J.K. Dobbins, RB, DEN
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 ten 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.
112. Brenton Strange, TE, JAC
Strange things are happening in Jacksonville, and that’s a good thing. Brenton Strange scored double-digit fantasy points in 50% of his games and is a solid backup option if you fade tight end early in drafts.
113. Jared Goff, QB, DET
Jared Goff didn’t need Ben Johnson after all. Well, at least not to put up fantasy points. Goff brushed off the haters and threw for 34 touchdowns, second only to Matthew Stafford‘s 46. He finished as a QB1 again and enters 2026 as a near must-start, as long as he’s indoors.
114. Kenneth Gainwell, RB, PIT
Kenneth Gainwell caught 73 passes on his way to 1,000 combined yards and an RB2 season, and he enters the offseason as an unrestricted free agent. The running back free-agent market is loaded, but Gainwell should be in a favorable position for fantasy purposes thanks to his pass-catching chops. If he lands in a favorable spot, warm up the saxophone for another FLEX-worthy season for Kenny G.
115. Tyreek Hill, WR, MIA
Given that the Dolphins are in full rebuild mode, Tyreek Hill is likely to be traded or cut this offseason. It’s an uphill battle for Hill to return to fantasy relevance, as the soon-to-be 32-year-old is recovering from a dislocated knee that tore multiple ligaments.
116. Jayden Reed, WR, GB
Jayden Reed missed most of the season due to a series of injuries, including a broken collarbone, but was able to return in Week 14. He’ll be among the Packers’ top pass-catchers in 2026 and should remain a volatile WR3/FLEX for fantasy purposes.
117. David Montgomery, RB, DET
We may have seen the last of Sonic and Knuckles in Detroit. Despite not missing a game for the first time in his career, David Montgomery had career lows in carries (158) and rushing yards (716), clearly taking a backseat in what once was a nearly 50/50 split backfield. A new team could be what’s best for his fantasy value.
118. Chuba Hubbard, RB, CAR
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 Jonathan 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.
119. Baker Mayfield, QB, TB
My fears about Baker Mayfield came to fruition, as touchdown regression pushed him right back to fringe fantasy starter status. Mayfield isn’t afraid to sling the rock, and even with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin potentially out of the picture, he still has plenty of talent at the receiver position. 2024 was an aberration, but he’s still a serviceable starter.
120. Tory Horton, WR, SEA
In a cruel twist of fate, rookie speedster Tory Horton had a two-touchdown breakout game in Week 9, just before the Seahawks traded for skill-set clone Rashid Shaheed. Luckily for Horton, Shaheed is an unrestricted free agent at season’s end, so Horton could carve out a deep-threat role if Shaheed leaves Seattle.
121. Xavier Worthy, WR, KC
It was a disappointing sophomore season for Xavier Worthy, who failed to have a single 100-yard receiving game and caught only one touchdown. The most disappointing aspect, however, was his inability to take advantage of the Rashee Rice suspension for any significant output. Worthy could find himself with yet another opportunity to do so, however, with Rice once again in legal trouble and his 2026 status uncertain.
122. Sam Darnold, QB, SEA
Sam Darnold proved his Minnesota resurgence wasn’t a fluke, finishing as QB14 in total points and leading the Seahawks to the #1 seed in the NFC. My gripe with Darnold from a fantasy perspective is that he’s not very good when he faces pressure, which is still true. But the Seahawks’ rebuilt offensive line made major strides and more often than not kept Darnold upright. Darnold faced pressure on just 31.7% of his dropbacks, fourth-lowest among quarterbacks who played at least 10 games. Darnold had some low-volume games that keep him from being a consistent starter, but he’s a borderline QB1 who’s perfect to pair with another quarterback to mix and match based on opponent.
123. Kendre Miller, RB, NO
Kendre Miller finally gets a head coach who doesn’t despise him for no apparent reason, starts to get the majority of touches, and tears his ACL. If Miller is healthy enough to return at the start of next season, he’s worthy of a dart-throw bench stash until you need space for bye-week replacements.
124. Juwan Johnson, TE, NO
Juwan Johnson tied with Tyler Warren for TE10 with 11.1 fantasy points per game. Johnson set career highs in targets, receptions, and receiving yards, and with Taysom Hill out of the picture, should see increased involvement in 2026. He’s a solid back-end TE1 with limited upside.
125. C.J. Stroud, QB, HOU
C.J. Stroud seems like a really good guy, but man, he’s fallen off hard since his rookie season. He missed a few games with a concussion and returned to play shaky football, throwing just eight touchdowns in his final six games. The upside is still there, but he’s more of an upside QB2 than an every-week starter in fantasy.
126. Deebo Samuel Sr., WR, WAS
Deebo Samuel Sr. will spend just one season in Washington, but he did enough to show he can still be a versatile piece for any offense. Samuel scored 17 or more points in five games, but his fantasy value will depend heavily on his landing spot. In the right situation, he can be fantasy viable in 2026.
127. Braelon Allen, RB, NYJ
Braelon Allen entered the season uber-hyped, only to have his season end in Week 4 with an MCL injury. If Breece Hall leaves in free agency and the Jets don’t add a significant piece to the backfield, Allen could be in line to be the Jets’ Week 1 starter. If that’s the case, he’ll offer sneaky upside.
128. Jake Ferguson, TE, DAL
Jake Ferguson had a nice little stretch as the TE1 overall from Weeks 2 to 5, but that ended quickly as soon as CeeDee Lamb returned. He finished as the TE11 in points per game and a solid TE1. If George Pickens doesn’t re-sign with Dallas, Fergie would see the biggest benefit.
129. Tyler Allgeier, RB, ATL
Tyler Allgeier, don’t you dare come back to Atlanta. Pretty please? I want to see what Bijan Robinson can do with a full workload. I also want to see what you can do with a full workload. The free agent-to-be has a nose for the end zone and is sure-handed, with zero career fumbles on 737 touches, but ranks 41st/49th in explosive run rate. If he lands in a favorable situation, Allgeier has RB2 potential.
130. Tyler Shough, QB, NO
For a quarterback known for his deep ball, it’s disheartening to see Tyler Shough have the third-worst deep throw completion percentage at 28.6% (min 25 attempts). As of now, it seems the Saints consider Shough their short-term/long-term answer at quarterback. While he was serviceable for fantasy purposes, temper expectations. He threw multiple touchdown passes in just three of 10 starts, posting a 10:6 touchdown-to-interception ratio, and threw for fewer than 250 yards in 50% of his starts.
131. James Conner, RB, ARI
James Conner has likely played his last snap for Arizona, as he’s a prime offseason cut candidate. Depending on where he lands, Conner could offer some FLEX viability, but his days as a reliable fantasy starter are over.
132. Dalton Schultz, TE, HOU
You know that Japanese takeout place your wife always suggests when you’re trying to figure out where to eat, and every time you complain, “Ugggghhhh. I don’t want that.” But when you inevitably agree and get the food, you realize it’s actually pretty good and have to apologize to your wife for doing it again? That’s Dalton Schultz. Since the 2020 season, he’s finished outside the top 18 just once and has finished as a TE1 four of the six seasons. I’m counting this year because he tied with Hunter Henry and Dalton Kincaid for TE13 in points per game, just .01 behind Juwan Johnson. Close enough for me. Schultz isn’t a guy you’re excited to draft, but if you fade the position, he’ll be a decent option more often than not.
133. Alvin Kamara, RB, NO
Forty-sixth in yards per carry. Thirty-ninth in explosive run rate. Third-lowest yards after the catch per reception among running backs. As much as it hurts to say, Alvin Kamara is toast, methinks. The Saints offered to trade him, and Kamara told the team he’d rather stay in New Orleans. A man of character, but not helpful for his fantasy value. Kamara could have some PPR FLEX value if he’s able to stay healthy, but he’s someone I’ll be avoiding in fantasy for the foreseeable future.
134. Brandon Aiyuk, WR, SF
I’m not ready to give up on Brandon Aiyuk. I have no idea what happened between him and San Francisco or why he didn’t report, but if he suits up in 2026, I am more than willing to take a shot on a 27-year-old who finished in the top 15 in his last two full seasons.
135. Cam Ward, QB, TEN
After struggling for nearly the entire season, Cam Ward began showing signs of life down the stretch. Ward failed to throw multiple touchdowns in a game until Week 13, but did so in his final four starts and began making flash plays like these.
What a drive for Cam Ward. Dropping dimes down the field. How bout that for deep accuracy!
6/7 for 69 yards and a touchdown on the drive, including completions of 25 and 30 yards. pic.twitter.com/tWPBis8rjE
— Justin Graver (@titansfilmroom) December 21, 2025
The Titans cleaned house and hopefully brought in a staff that will build the offense around Ward and give him time to throw. If you subscribe to the “Late Round QB” draft strategy, Ward could be worth a dart throw in 2026. But he’s not someone you’ll want to depend on.
136. Troy Franklin, WR, DEN
Troy Franklin appeared to have stolen the WR1 role from Courtland Sutton during a midseason stretch in which he ranked as WR8 from Weeks 7-11. Sutton reclaimed the role after the Broncos’ bye, but it was still an overall successful season for Franklin, finishing as the PPR WR31 and tied for the fifth most red zone targets in the league. With Sutton creeping up in age, Franklin is a worthwhile target who could still take over as Nix’s top option.
137. Jalen Coker, WR, CAR
Cokeheads, unite! Or something like that. Jalen Coker was in line for a major role in the Panthers’ offense before a surprise injury sent him to the IR right before the season started. He returned in Week 7, but it was in Week 11 that he started cooking a little something. Coker averaged 10.2 points per game and ranked 11th in yards per target. Not necessarily mind-blowing numbers, but solid considering the play of Bryce Young and the limited targets available. He’s a perfect complement to Tetairoa McMillan, and with improved play from Young, he could provide solid WR3 numbers.
138. Theo Johnson, TE, NYG
Theo Johnson‘s “Gronk” comparisons turned out to be somewhat exaggerated. Shocking, I know, but he was a favorite target of Jaxson Dart in the end zone, catching five of Dart’s nine touchdown passes. With the expectation that Todd Monken is in line to take over as offensive coordinator, Johnson could truly breakout in a system known for featuring tight ends.
Tier 9: The “Mustard Seed” Tier
The path to there if you have the faith to hold on.
139. Kyler Murray, QB, ARI
Kyler Murray‘s once sky-high ceiling has fallen all the way to the ground floor. The expectations that come with being the #1 overall pick are a tall order, and Murray just hasn’t been up to it. He appeared to be head and shoulders above the competition in the first two seasons in the league, but he’s thrown 15 or fewer touchdowns in three of the last four seasons, in part due to injury and also due to this year’s “soft benching.” It would be a knee-high narrative to say his career is finished; his peak may just happen to be at waist-level. Nothing official has been said, but the Cardinals are ready to move on this offseason. Murray is likely wearing another uniform in 2026. He’s also short.
140. Tre Harris, WR, LAC
Tre Harris made a couple of flashy catches but was overall a non-factor in his rookie season. The Chargers had a lot of mouths to feed, and an offense like that let Justin Herbert get eaten for lunch, so the subpar rookie season doesn’t come as much of a surprise. Keenan Allen is a free agent, but even if he returns, he turns 63 this offseason and faded down the stretch in 2025. Harris is a nice post-hype sleeper who can likely be had for next to nothing.
141. Tyrone Tracy Jr., RB, NYG
Tyrone Tracy had a late-season fantasy revival after losing the starting job to rookie Cam Skattebo. After a long season cut short by a gruesome ankle injury, Tracy initially shared the workload with Devin Singletary. But down the stretch, Tracy was the more productive of the two, finishing as RB23 in points per game from Week 12 on. There’s no changing of the guard; the Giants’ backfield belongs to Skattebo when healthy. But Tracy showed enough to carve out a role. If Todd Monken is indeed the Giants’ hire at offensive coordinator, that bodes very well for Tracy. Monken uses multiple formations with two backs on the field at the same time, opening up opportunities for Tracy to be fantasy relevant alongside Skattebo in 2026.
142. Dallas Goedert, TE, PHI
Dallas Goedert bounced back bigly in 2025. He finished as TE6 in points per game, but was heavily reliant on a career-high 11 touchdown catches. Goedert is a solid borderline TE1, but his value could skyrocket if the Eagles end up trading A.J. Brown and don’t acquire another pass catcher.
143. Rachaad White, RB, TB
Rachaad White is a free agent, and although he isn’t quite Bucky Irving, he could be a serviceable RB2 in the right offense if given a chance to start or close to it.
144. Travis Kelce, TE, KC
“Say you’ll remember Kelce
facing defense in press,
ready, set, hut, baby
Red jersey and Jordan cleats
Say you’ll draft him again
even if it’s not on your fantasy teams, ah-ah, ha”
Editor’s Note: Jay has been relieved of his duties.
145. Brian Robinson Jr., RB, SF
Brian Robinson Jr. was in line to lead the Commanders’ backfield before a surprise trade to the 49ers just before the season to back up Christian McCaffrey. Shockingly, McCaffrey handled nearly all the work, but Robinson is a free agent. It’s a strong free-agent class, so it’s doubtful Robinson finds work as an unquestioned starter. But if the power back finds himself in a prolific run offense with a decent workload, he can offer some FLEX appeal with RB2 upside.
146. Jalen McMillan, WR, TB
Jalen McMillan missed a significant chunk of the season due to a preseason neck injury, but returned in Week 15 to lead the Bucs in yards per route run, yards per target, and yards per reception. Mike Evans and/or Chris Godwin may not be on the roster this time next season, setting a path for McMillan to receive significant looks and jump into the top 150.
147. Bryce Young, QB, CAR
Bryce Young is one of the oddest fantasy quarterbacks I’ve ever seen play the game. He had nine starts with one or fewer touchdown passes, but added a couple of three-touchdown performances, including one game with over 400 passing yards! The Panthers have exercised his fifth-year option, so he’ll be back in Carolina at least for one more season. But I’m avoiding him in anything outside of Superflex leagues.
148. Jerry Jeudy, WR, CLE
Outside of a random week with a touchdown, Jerry Jeudy was a complete non-factor for fantasy purposes and will continue to be until the Browns get their quarterback situation figured out.
149. Jaylin Noel, WR, HOU
Jaylin Noel had back-to-back 11-fantasy-point games in the middle of the season, popped up for a 14-point Week 17, and was never heard from again.
150. Isaac TeSlaa, WR, DET
Isaac TeSlaa does nothing but catch touchdown passes, with six of his 16 receptions being scores. He’s fun to watch and a great story, but without knowing what type of offense the Lions will run, it’s hard to gauge the fantasy value of a team’s WR3 alongside an elite pass-catching tight end.