Tier 5 (Continued): The “Area 51” Tier
There’s definitely something there, but will it stay hidden from the public?
61. 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. 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.
UPDATE: The hopes of an offseason to get Irving healthy and the departure of White were the prerequisites for returning to form, but 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.
62. 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, Bob. 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 (14). Even if Travis Etienne Jr. signs elsewhere, I doubt they give the keys to the kingdom to Tuten.
UPDATE: Etienne has headed to Nola, and as of now, Tuten is the top back on the depth chart. Whether he still is after the draft will decide what range his ranking lands. As the lead back, Tuten is easily in the top 20 RBs for me.
63. Mike Washington Jr, RB, FA
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.
NFL Comp: Uncle Lenny/Leonard Fournette
64. 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 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: Back with the Broncos, I love Dobbins as your RB3/FLEX.
65. Jaylen Warren, RB, PIT
Jaylen Warren could go into 2026 unrated once again. But I won’t make the same mistake I did and be one of the people underrating him, as I was in 2025. 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. The emergence of Kenneth Gainwell may have masked how good Warren was. Gainwell is a free agent in 2026 and could end up elsewhere, especially with the drastically changing scenario in Pittsburgh. Warren is a fantastic RB2 target who may be able to be had at an RB3 price tag.
UPDATE: 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.
66. Jonah Coleman, RB, Rookie
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. A late-round pick in redraft and a second-rounder in dynasty.
NFL Comp: Chris Carson
67. Jaylen Waddle, WR, DEN
It’s hard to rank any of the players on teams that have cleaned house of their coaching staff and, more than likely, their quarterback as well. Jaylen Waddle is one of those guys. Tyreek Hill is technically still on the roster, but I expect Miami to cut him with a new offensive coordinator and a new quarterback. The jury’s still out on what kind of upside we’ll see from 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 the new-look Dolphins offense.
UPDATE: We wanted him out of Miami, but a crowded Denver receiver room isn’t great for his upside. Waddle remains a WR2 with upside, but his floor is much lower than it was in Miami. I didn’t think that was possible.
68. Jayden Daniels, QB, WAS
Considering he dislocated his non-throwing elbow in an injury that looked much worse than it was, Jayden Daniels’ season could have been much worse. Daniels scored multiple touchdowns and gained 250+ total yards in every game he started and finished. Offensive Coordinator Kliff Kingsbury departed the team, much to the chagrin of Daniels. But Washington hired David Blough (whom Daniels has a close relationship with) to replace him, and it’s expected that Washington will maintain a similar style of offense as Daniels’ first two seasons. Daniels’ stature and propensity to take big hits have some concerned about his long-term viability in the league. But at least for 2026, Daniels has a full offseason to get healthy and stabilize the offensive system despite his new offensive coordinator, David Blough. That name again is Mr. Blough.
69. Justin Herbert, QB, LAC
Justin Herbert came out of the gates blazing, throwing 16 touchdowns in his first eight games. But as the already suspect offensive line began to drop like flies due to injury, Herbert had less and less time to throw, and eventually ended up with a broken hand. Herbert had only two games with multiple touchdown passes after Week 9, but he still finished as a QB1. If the Chargers can shore up the o-line and give Herbie some time without pressure, there’s potential for a push into the top five.
UPDATE: I’m fully back in on Herbert. The cost has risen a smidge with the hiring of Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator, the man who made Tua Tagovailoa look like a franchise foundational quarterback. The Chargers’ o-line should be much improved, starting with returning linchpins Alt and Slater, the signing of Pro Bowl center Tyler Biadasz, and almost assuredly addressing the guard position in the early rounds of this year’s draft, potentially in the first. We’ve seen Herbert’s upside as early as last season. 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 potential for multiple QB1 overall seasons. I’m not saying that’s Herbert’s future, but I’m not NOT saying it. Ya feel me?
70. Trevor Lawrence, QB, JAC
Trevor Lawrence finally put it all together and had the best season of his career under Liam Coen. Lawrence recorded 38 touchdowns and threw downfield a butt ton, ranking second in deep attempts and first in deep yards per game. He has a loaded receiver room with Jakobi Meyers, Brian Thomas Jr., Parker Washington, and Travis Hunter. Coen seems to have finally unlocked Lawrence, helping him achieve his first top-five fantasy season, and nothing suggests he’ll slow down in 2026.
71. Drake Maye, QB, NE
Drake “Drake Maye” Maye was the only player in the conversation for 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 gonna be Maye.
UPDATE: Maye led the Patriots to the Super Bowl, but it wasn’t pretty. Throughout the postseason, Maye had a 6:4 touchdown-to-interception ratio, lost four of seven fumbles, and was sacked a record 21 times. The inequities of the New England offensive line were in plain sight, putting a damper on an otherwise outstanding season. The Pats have swapped out Stefon Diggs for Romeo Doubs, but have been rumored to be in heavy pursuit of AJ Brown as well. As things stand now, I think Maye runs the risk of being severely over drafted in 2026 based on his 2025 numbers.
Tier 6: The “Is This a Pigeon?” Tier
You aren’t sure if they’re a superstar or role player, but you’re starting them.
72. Jakobi Meyers, WR, JAC
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 WR2.
73. Christian Watson, WR, GB
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.
74. Courtland Sutton, WR, DEN
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: The Broncos surprisingly traded for Jaylen Waddle, pushing Sutton from solid WR2 territory to more WR3ish. That floor we once loved is gone.
75. Sam LaPorta, TE, DET
Sam LaPorta finished the season as TE7 in points per game, but it was cut short by a herniated disc in Week 10. The offense will look different in 2026 with the Lions looking for a new offensive coordinator, but LaPorta should stay involved enough to remain a TE1 for fantasy purposes. He’s TE1 overall in points-per-mustache leagues.
UPDATE: New Offensive Coordinator Drew Petzing comes to Detroit from Arizona, where he helmed an offense that produced one of the greatest fantasy tight end seasons of all time with Trey McBride. We back up with LaPorta, ba-bay!
76. Kyle Pitts Sr., TE, ATL
Good things happen when you get Kyle Pitts the ball, and it finally seems like the Falcons have figured that out. It’s a little too late for Raheem Morris, but new head coach Kevin Stefanski wasn’t afraid to feature the tight end in Cleveland, a promising sign for Pitts’ future. Pitts finished in the top five in yards per route run and yards after contact per reception, setting career highs across the board and earning his first top-five fantasy finish. Kyle Pitts SZN was finally real, and it was spectacular.
77. 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.
UPDATE: Pierce resigned with Indy and has an even safer floor with Pittman heading to Pittsburgh. That floor becomes quite a bit lower if Daniel Jones isn’t ready to start the season and the Colts are forced to start one of Anthony Richardson or Riley Leonard.
78. Jaxson Dart, QB, NYG
It seems the New York Football Giants finally have their quarterback of the future in Jaxson Dart. What could have been for the Giants if he had started from day one and Malik Nabers had stayed healthy? Dart set multiple records in his rookie season: the first rookie quarterback with multiple games of 240+ passing yards, 60+ rushing yards, and two or more total touchdowns; the first quarterback to accumulate 1,800+ passing yards, 400+ rushing yards, and 20+ total touchdowns in his first nine career starts; and the first quarterback to score a rushing touchdown in five consecutive games. Oh, and new head coach John Harbaugh is here to help take Dart to the next level. He’ll need to work on protecting himself from big hits, but as long as Dart stays on the field, he’s a borderline QB1 with QB1 overall potential.
UPDATE: The Todd Monken thing fell through, but there’s still a lot to like with Dart in 2026. The Giants lost Wan’Dale Robinson but added TE Isaiah Likely in free agency, and are expected to address the receiver position in the draft. Dart has a wide range of outcomes, but one of the highest ceilings of all fantasy quarterbacks.
79. Rachaad White, RB, WAS
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.
UPDATE: White signed with the Commanders, which I LOVE for his fantasy viability. Where he winds up in rankings land depends on whether Washington drafts a running back and what kind of draft capital they invest. White is easily the most talented back currently on the roster.
80. RJ Harvey, RB, DEN
J.K. Dobbins was once again proving people wrong by holding off rookie RJ Harvey and having an excellent season in Denver before a season-ending injury in Week 10. Harvey stepped in and had some success, but he wasn’t particularly efficient or explosive. Dobbins ended the season with 5.05 yards per carry (seventh), 77.2 rushing yards per game (sixth), and a 7.8% explosive run rate (third). Harvey’s stats were, um, something. He had 3.7 yards per carry (42nd), 31.8 rushing yards per game (45th), and a 2.7% explosive run rate (42nd). Dobbins is a free agent, but he could certainly return to Denver; they signed him after drafting Harvey. Depending on what Harvey’s ADP turns out to be, he may be a full fade for me in 2026.
UPDATE: Dobbins is back, and the Broncos traded for Jaylen Waddle. The Felicio full fade of Harvey is on for 2026.