Tier 4 (Continued): The GigaPet Tier
Vintage studs and hungry pups who need just a little hourly care.
41. Tyler Warren, TE, IND
Will the real Tyler Warren please stand up? The stud rookie started as an offensive rookie-of-the-year candidate, averaging 13.6 points per game over the first 10 weeks. But from Week 11 on, that dropped to 7.5 PPG. His point-per-game struggles came before Daniel Jones‘ season-ending injury, so it can’t be pinned on that. With the defense playing well and Jonathan Taylor running the ball, Indy didn’t have to air it out much in the middle of the season. With such a loaded group of pass catchers, it came as no surprise that someone would inevitably get left out. The good news for Warren is that both Alec Pierce and Michael Pittman Jr. are free agents. While it’s still too early to know for sure, it sounds like the Colts would re-sign at most one of the receivers. So there should be plenty of targets to go around. Jones is also a free agent, however, and is recovering from a torn ACL, so there are a lot of question marks for the Colts offense as we head into the offseason. But Warren should be fine and will be a target of mine if there’s any sort of dip in draft cost.
UPDATE: Jones is back in Indy, and Pittman isn’t. Arrow up for Tyler Warren.
42. Colston Loveland, TE, CHI
Although the rookie tight end didn’t have his first double-digit game until Week 9, he finished as a TE1 for the season thanks to seven of 10 games with 10+ down the stretch. Cole Kmet was much more involved early in the season, but Colston 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.
UPDATE: DJ Moore being shipped outta town probably impacts Loveland more than anybody with more targets available. I still fear Loveland gets overdrafted, but he should easily finish as a TE1 in 2026.
43. Quinshon Judkins, RB, CLE
Quinshon Judkins had the fourth-lowest yards per carry, ranked 40th in explosive run rate, and had just one game with over 100 rushing yards. But I’m not ready to give up on him just yet. As disheartening as the Browns’ pass game was, teams loaded up against the run when they played Cleveland. Judkins ranked 46th of 49 in yards before contact (min 100 carries) and had the highest stuff rate in the NFL. He faced 7+ men in the box at the highest rate in the NFL (95%) and was one of five backs who faced a stacked box 54% or more of their carries. He was finally starting to get more involved in the passing game before suffering a gruesome dislocated ankle and fractured fibula in December. As awful as that sounds, it was a best-case scenario injury-wise, as he’s expected to be ready for Week 1 of 2026. If Judkins can get a little more room to work with, he can put up solid RB2 numbers.
44. De’Von Achane, RB, MIA
De’Von 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. A second consecutive top-five fantasy finish, yes. But there are some concerns heading into 2026. Mike McDaniel and his running-back-friendly offense are out the door, as is Tua Tagovailoa and the 74% of pass attempts under nine yards. The tendency to dump off passes. 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. At the time of writing, Miami was still searching for a head coach, and some of the names being interviewed were not conducive to fantasy production. The talent is elite and will remain so, but his role could change drastically if the offensive philosophy shifts to one that doesn’t pass the ball or one that is pass-happy. I’m afraid that Achane will be priced too high for my liking and carries a significant risk of being a bust in 2026.
UPDATE: Tua’s gone. Waddles gone. Who knows if Tyreek Hill will be. But Achane is the last weapon standing in Miami, and not one I want to invest a whole lot of draft capital in. If he remains among the top-12 backs off the board, I won’t have a single share.
45. TreVeyon Henderson, RB, NE
If you read any of my work last season, you know how much I love TreVeyon Henderson‘s skill set. His frustrating usage in 2025 was a flame-throwing display every time he took a 50+ rushing touchdown to the house. But I fear that Rhamondre Stevenson isn’t going away anytime soon. Stevenson was actually the more explosive runner of the two and forced more missed tackles. Stevenson was also the better pass catcher, with higher yards per route run and yards after contact. Hendo was plenty good, as evidenced by his 5.6 explosive run rate and #1 yards before contact. That boy is fast. But Stevenson is signed through 2028 and the apple of Mike Vrabel‘s eye. His presence caps Henderson’s top-10 potential.
46. Emeka Egbuka, WR, TB
I’ve been playing fantasy football since the late 90s, and I can’t remember another rookie season quite like Emeka Egbuka‘s. The dude went bonkers early in the season, with three games over 20 points in his first five (including a 30-burger), averaging 15.4 points per game from Weeks 1-8. The second half of the season was ugly, and he ain’t got no alibi. From Weeks 10-18, Egbuka’s PPG dropped by nearly half to 8.1. His struggles weren’t due to target share, either, as he had seven or more in seven of 10 games and more than nine thrice. Once Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan returned, his target share dropped to 13.5, but Egbuka still had the second-highest yards per reception and the highest yards after the catch per reception on the team. Evans left for San Francisco, and I still believe in Egbuka’s talent. Plan on drafting him wherever you can get him as a WR2.
47. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, ARI
Marvin Harrison Jr. is an enigma. He had the fourth-most end zone targets among all players, even with teammate Trey McBride ahead of him, but had just two touchdowns through the first eight weeks. Coming out of the bye, Harrison scored in back-to-back games… then had an emergency appendectomy. Harrison didn’t play all that badly in 2025, but the combination of his unreal hype coming out of college and Michael Wilson playing like Jerry Rice has a lot of people down on MHJ heading into 2026. But with a new offensive system and likely a new quarterback, hope still remains for Harrison to achieve his elite pedigree. He’s a buy-low for me.
UPDATE: Kyler Murray’s departure from Arizona is the best-case scenario for MHJ’s career, and Jacoby Brissett returning as the starter for 2026 isn’t the death knell that many think. Brissett had an undeniable connection with Michael Wilson and tight end Trey McBride. But I bet you didn’t know Marv only played three full games with Brissett as a starter. Week 7, which admittedly wasn’t great, with two catches on six targets for 58 yards. But he probably shouldn’t have been playing after suffering a concussion just a week prior. After a Week 8 bye, Marv had two straight games where that “generational prospect” potential started to flash. A combined 22 targets, 10 catches, 129 yards, and two touchdowns. Just when things started to click, Marv had to have an emergency appendectomy. He did return and technically played in three more games, but over 60% of snaps just once. Don’t hear what I’m not saying. I don’t think he’ll ever live up to the 1st-edition base-set Charizard, graded PSA 10, mint-level expectations placed upon him coming into the league. But some legitimately think Wilson is the best receiver on this team and value MHJ as a low-end WR2. He’s still just 23 years old.
48. 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. Stafford’s back, so Adams slots right in as a solid WR2 who will help win you some weeks when he catches a couple tuddys.
49. 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 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. Like all the Lions I’ve blurbed so far, his value fluctuates greatly depending on who’s their new offensive coordinator. He’ll always have that boom upside, but how regular a bust he’ll be is still up in the air.
UPDATE: New OC Drew Petzing should attack downfield plenty, keeping Jamo right around the same value as last season.
50. 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, 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.
Tier 5: The “Area 51” Tier
There’s definitely something there, but will it stay hidden from the public?
51. Terry McLaurin, WR, WAS
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.
52. Luther Burden III, WR, CHI
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 as DJ Moore transitions into more of a complementary receiver in the twilight of his prime, Burden should continue to see his role grow and has the potential to be a fantasy force as early as the upcoming season.
UPDATE: 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.
53. DJ Moore, WR, BUF
DJ Moore had the worst season since his rookie year and is not so gracefully slipping into a more complementary role than the borderline alpha he came to Chicago to be. Moore has a pretty hefty price tag and is a realistic cut or trade candidate, especially with the emergence of Rome Odunze, Luther Burden, and Colston Loveland. Depending on where he lands next season, Moore is likely a boom/bust WR3 with limited upside.
UPDATE: Moore was traded to Buffalo and immediately becomes 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.
54. Makai Lemon, WR, Rookie
Makai Lemon played all over the field at USC, but profiles more as a slot receiver in the pros. He’s a YAC-monster who breaks tackles like the Kool-Aid man busting through some random family’s living room wall. This year’s Biletnikoff Award Winner (Best College Receiver) has good hands and solid on-field speed but lacks explosiveness off the line. Lemon seems to always find the soft spot versus zone, but struggles against press coverage. His limited wingspan and smaller stature (5’11”, 190-ish) keep his catch radius, well, small. Regardless, Lemon is a first-round pick in the NFL Draft and could easily wind up the first receiver off the board. He would have to land in the right system to become an Amon-Ra St. Brown-like PPR stud, but he has the after-the-catch playmaking ability to have a top-15 season. Perfectly suited to be a 1a and form a dynamic duo with someone… say… Malik Nabers? Garrett Wilson? Early mid-round pick in redraft with upside. Early first-rounder in dynasty.
NFL Comp: Robert Woods aka Bobby Trees aka Robbie Plank aka Rob Lumber aka Bob Barker
55. Carnell Tate, WR, Rookie
Despite some controversy surrounding his official 40 time at the combine, Carnell Tate is not the undisputed top receiver in this class, yet most consider him to be. Whether he ran a 4.4 or 4.5 doesn’t really matter; speed isn’t his game. A high football IQ and unreal body control make up for Tate’s lack of explosiveness, melding with his wingspan and catch radius to create a high-point specialist who can come down with just about anything thrown at him. There’s some concern with his weight and dealing with the physicality of defensive backs in the pros, but he’s already a thicker, taller DeVonta Smith. Tate can bulk up and be just fine. His play style helps his ability to be productive if he winds up in a less-than-favorable situation with an inaccurate QB (Cleveland, anyone?). At worst, a WR2. His ADP is entirely dependent on the landing spot, but he’ll still be one of the first three rookie receivers taken in redraft and an early first-round pick in dynasty.
NFL Comp: DeVonta Smith
56. 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.
57. Mike Evans, WR, SF
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. Evans had a league-low 1.33 yards after catch per reception. Chris Godwin will be a year removed from his gruesome injury, and both Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillian will be a year further into their NFL careers. View Evans as similar to Davante Adams, a solid WR2 who will have a few spike weeks. The problem is that Evans has more competition for targets and nowhere near the touchdown upside.
UPDATE: Funny that comp is what I went with back in January, because the Adams in LA role is exactly what I project for Evans in San Fran.
58. DeVonta Smith, WR, PHI
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. Smith doesn’t have top-10 potential with Jalen Hurts under center, even if the Eagles move on from AJ Brown. He had more games under 10 points (10) than over (7). Smith’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.
59. D’Andre Swift, RB, CHI
In the words of Nick Pollack, “Swift Doesn’t Miss.” D’Andre Swift has never finished outside the top 24 running backs in points per game and finished as RB17 in 2025 despite sharing a backfield with a capable runner in Caleb Williams and a promising rookie in Kyle Monangai. Swift ranked in the top 10 in yards per carry and yards per reception and in the top five in yards after the catch per reception. His skill set makes him useful in fantasy even with a partial workload, and Swift likely heads into 2026 underrated once again. Be like Swift. Don’t miss on D’Andre.
60. David Montgomery, RB, HOU
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.
UPDATE: Sonic and Knuckles is no more, but Monty’s arrow is pointing straight up. Traded to the Texans, he’ll form a 1-2 punch with Woody Marks that likely sees at minimum 50% of the work for Montgomery, and the goal line touches as well. I don’t want him as my RB1, but I’d be more than happy to have Monty as an RB2.