Blog

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — If College Football Playoff titles were decided on lack of sleep, Oregon would probably be a shoo-in to win the national championship.

“I’m tired,” said Will Stein, Oregon’s 36-year-old offensive coordinator, which isn’t a surprise when you consider that he’s trying to get ready for Thursday’s CFP quarterfinal against Texas Tech while preparing to be Kentucky’s head coach on a full-time basis as soon as the Ducks’ season ends.

Advertisement

“I’ve got a light job and a night job,” said Tosh Lupoi, the Oregon defensive coordinator who is taking over as head coach at Cal, his alma mater. “When the [game planning] duties are done, late at night and early in the morning, just trying to do anything possible to put us in a good position for the future.”

There’s nothing particularly new about coaching staffs having to balance postseason preparation with impending change. Tennessee dealt with it in 1998 when defensive coordinator David Cutcliffe took the Ole Miss job before the Vols played Florida State in the BCS championship game. Dan Mullen was on his way out the door to Mississippi State in December of 2008 while trying to get Florida’s offense ready to play Oklahoma for the national title. Nick Saban frequently had coordinators in transition during Alabama’s CFP runs — including one, Lane Kiffin, who was dismissed from offensive coordinator duties before the national title game nine years ago because he was too distracted with his new duties at Florida Atlantic.

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning himself dealt with this in December of 2021, having taken his current job amidst a national title run at Georgia where he was defensive coordinator.

“The hotel we’re staying at this week, I remember hiring my strength coach in that hotel during the same process of preparing for the Orange Bowl,” Lanning said. “It’s kind of a full-circle moment but I’m very appreciative of the detail they’ve put in. A lot of long nights and not a lot of sleep, but I tell our staff, you sleep when you die.”

What’s unusual, though, is having both coordinators getting ready for the exits — a huge compliment to Oregon’s program — in this new, 12-team playoff world where a potential national title run would tie up coaches until Jan. 19. Meanwhile, the transfer portal opens on Jan. 2, meaning both of Oregon’s coordinators could be in the unenviable position of trying to rebuild rosters at their new school while also having to prepare for a CFP semifinal on Jan. 9.

Advertisement

In some cases, that means Lupoi or Stein could be recruiting in the portal against their current employer — or each other.

Stein, in fact, told Yahoo Sports that he’s heading straight from the Orange Bowl to Lexington so that he can work on the transfer portal Friday regardless of result.

“There’s a lot of buckets to fill at both places,” he said. “That’s what I signed up for. It’s a first-world problem.”

Lanning insists nothing has changed about the way Oregon prepared for this game, that both outgoing coordinators have been 100 percent focused on their current jobs when they’re in the building. If the Ducks lose to Texas Tech, they will not use distraction as an excuse.

Advertisement

“I think they both recognize they’d never have the opportunities they have if not for the players at Oregon,” Lanning said. “They feel like they owe it to our players to give their absolute best on the way out.”

Still, the mere existence of this situation highlights one of the major flaws in college football’s calendar. The coaching carousel now takes place in November and early December. With a 12-team playoff now and a strong possibility it will expand to 16 (or more) in the future, it’s common sense that more schools will enter the CFP with coaching staffs that are being picked apart.

Obviously, this was a huge topic in the first round as well with Tulane’s Jon Sumrall and James Madison’s Bob Chesney heading to new jobs at Florida and UCLA, respectively. Ole Miss’ issues have been well-documented over the last month with Kiffin leaving for LSU, prompting the school to bar him from coaching in the playoff.

Advertisement

But college football does not have to shrug its shoulders and accept that this is merely a cost of doing business.

“I think there’s absolutely a better way,” Lupoi said. “Ultimately, I’m going to operate within the schedule we have. I don’t have a choice in that, so no sense in complaining. But it would be amazing when we’re in these opportunities to go compete for a championship to devote all our time towards that. With the portal being where it is during the playoffs, it’s a very difficult thing to comprehend. That’s the schedule but it sure would make a lot of sense to not have them going at the same time.”

Lupoi said he’s leaning a lot on Cal general manager Ron Rivera and director of player personnel Marshall Cherrington to be ready for the opening of the portal but admits it’s been a challenge to balance both duties.

Lanning said his preferred solution would be for the CFP to wrap up on New Year’s Day. Even if that would require the college season to move up a week and start in late August, Lanning believes college football should utilize every Saturday in December to get in the four playoff rounds without the two-week break between the conference championship games and the first round and the 12-day break between the first round and the quarterfinals.

Advertisement

Having this staccato postseason schedule has also helped the NFL to take over Saturdays in December. Extending the season well into January makes it difficult for college football to sustain momentum and interest as the NFL playoffs gear up.

“Our national championship game is Jan. 19,” Lanning said. “That’s really hard to envision as a coach that’s going out and trying to join a new program and start a staff. It’s hard for players to understand what continuity looks like and where they’re going to be at and to manage that with visits, the portal and everything else that exists. The clear way to do that is to bump the season up and make sure these games happen a lot faster.”

There’s something about the turn of the year that makes us all pause and think about how to make positive changes in our lives. It could be the calendar flip, but it translates to fantasy basketball, too. Or perhaps I’m just in way too many leagues. Either way, seeing “Week 11” in your fantasy basketball league and realizing, wait — we’re nearly halfway through this thing can be shocking. —

The New Year brings reflection with some sense of urgency. And after assessing my squads across multiple leagues, I’ve found a resolution worth committing to: being more active in the trade market.

Advertisement

Trade smarter, not harder

If your fantasy team is stuck in neutral or sinking toward the bottom of the standings, the waiver wire alone won’t save you. It’s time to think bigger.

Assess the field. Which teams are overloaded in assists but weak in big-man stats like boards or blocks? Where do you have leverage? Roster imbalance across the league is inevitable — use it to your advantage.

And don’t guess. It’s not perfect, but utilize Yahoo’s trade market under the research tab to help formulate some trade ideas. The Yahoo Fantasy Trade Market provides a real-time snapshot of trade values and top movers. It’s a scouting report for deal-making, and it helps you gauge what it might take to pull off that swing trade. You have to sift through some noise, but it’s a decent baseline to get going.

Trading is strategy (and fun)

There’s always that balance with trades — figuring out the right time to move on from a player who’s been playing well, or whether it’s worth taking a shot on someone who’s underperforming. Selling high can feel uncomfortable, but sometimes it’s what sets your team up for the long haul. And buying low? It could change your season, or not work out at all.

Advertisement

That’s just part of the game and timing is everything. Shooters shoot!

Just don’t be that manager sending B.S. offers. No one wants to open a trade proposal full of bench guys for their best players. Keep it fair and reasonable. We’re all grown, we’re all busy. Respect people’s time and if you want to deal, make a competitive offer. Show the other manager you understand their needs, too.

Remember, it’s a negotiation, not a heist. The back-and-forth should be part of the fun – not an instant dismissal.

Midseason moves matter

The season is about 40% complete. The contenders are separating from the pretenders and we’re approaching the moment where every move counts. Got off to a slow start? There’s still time to fix it. Made a bad draft pick? Trade out of that business. This is the part of the season where you can still reshape your roster for a playoff push.

Advertisement

If you’re sitting eighth or ninth in your league — or even lower — one or two savvy trades could flip the script.

If you’re on top? Stay proactive. If you’ve built a comfortable margin, start thinking about how the playoff schedule will look. Depth, balance and planning ahead win championships.

Resolution Recap

This year, I’m resolving to trade more — and trade better. Use your resources. Know your leverage. Don’t be afraid to take risks. Oh, and have fun. Now go make a move!

The new year is here and, as we keep pushing in the regular season, now we get to the fun part. We know about teams’ identities, what they do well and what they struggle with. A new year brings a new opportunity, a new set of goals, a chance to reset. Let’s take a look around the league to see what should happen more (or less) for all 30 teams going forward.

Jump to: ATL • BOS • BKN • CHA • CHI • CLE • DAL • DEN • DET • GS • HOU • IND • LAC • LAL • MEM • MIA • MIL • MIN • NO • NY • OKC • ORL • PHI • PHX • POR • SAC • SA • TOR • UTA • WAS

Show anything that resembles multiple efforts on defense. It would be more fun to highlight the career years from Jalen Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Onyeka Okongwu if the Hawks were defending. Heading into the last day of 2025, the Hawks have lost 11 of their past 13 games with opponents averaging 127.2 points a night and shooting 50.4% from the field. The Hawks may want to keep the ball in front on closeouts and avoid overhelping; take the stairs instead of the elevator.

Advertisement

Practice mindfulness and live in the present. By that I mean Boston should stick with the process that’s pushed it to third in the East until the wheels fall off. Coach Joe Mazzulla has this team ready to compete on a nightly basis. The Celtics lead the NBA with the fewest turnovers per game (12.3), while 66.3% of their field-goal attempts and 64.4% of their points have come from Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard and Anfernee Simons. Everyone else knows his role, takes the opportunity and works to contribute. Resist the urge to bring Jayson Tatum back, please.

Invest in yourself and what you have been doing. Seven of the Nets’ 10 wins this season have come this month. In December, they have held teams to 104.6 PPG, which is about five points better than the second-ranked Clippers (and the Celtics and Thunder) in that span. So, continue to build, give the effort defensively, allow room for the young guys to grow and enjoy the bucket-getting of Michael Porter Jr. and Cam Thomas.

Prepare for a shift or change. This is the year where you hand the keys to Kon Knueppel, leave no stone unturned to know what Brandon Miller is, and play Moussa Diabaté and Sion James to fill the gaps. You won’t have every answer, but it will be a letdown if you don’t find clarity.

Advertisement

It’s time for a journey of self-discovery. We’ve gotten used to the Bulls having a level of star power but just competing for the play-in, only for them to pivot, play with more youth, pace and tempo and … compete for the play-in. This team has two five-game win streaks this season and two losing streaks of five or more, and I would just like to see what the next step is outside of fun offensive basketball.

Change the pattern at the start of the year. Whether it has been their defense lacking consistency, the offense generally being a whole lot of Donovan Mitchell and 3s, or injuries breaking their rhythm, this has not been where the Cavs thought they would be entering 2026. With Darius Garland and Evan Mobley both being healthy again, maybe the Cavs can look within and remember who they are as a team. If the defense gets back to a certain level, and if the offense is able to get defenses in rotation to generate good looks, a run can be had.

Advertisement

Understand the future is now. It’s Cooper Flagg’s team. The rookie’s growth when it comes to aggression and patience is what the franchise needs to embrace for the rest of the season.

Build off the momentum of early success. The Nuggets enter 2026 with four of their five starters injured. But early on they displayed a high level of versatility on defense and a unique connection on offense; don’t let go of the rope. Nikola Jokić has been incredible, Jamal Murray has stayed consistent, and Aaron Gordon’s usage has added a different layer. The Nuggets must build and maintain until they get everyone back.

Advertisement

Show gratitude for the work you’ve put in and a belief that you have enough. No one expected the Pistons to be on top of the Eastern Conference to start 2026, so I’d resist the urge to swing for the fences and instead see how far this roster can take you. Cade Cunningham is one of two players in the NBA averaging 26-plus points, 9-plus assists and 6-plus rebounds (the other is Nikola Jokić), Jalen Duren has emerged as a consistent force, and the defense has elevated Detroit toward the top. Many a team has proven there is no problem with knowing exactly what you may need before you alter what you have.

It’s time to shake up this sitcom. The Warriors started 4-1 and have been fighting .500 ever since. They shouldn’t be 4-6 when Stephen Curry scores 30 or more points. So, buy in to the little things on both ends of the floor. Offensively, find a way to execute to avoid clutch games. On defense, build a consistency to give yourself some wiggle room. Set Jonathan Kuminga free and move forward.

Advertisement

Fix the clutch-time issues and lock in your lineups. Kevin Durant’s shot-making has been way too good and important for this team to fall short. The two-man game with Alperen Şengün has paid dividends throughout the season. Understand the attention those two will receive and, whether it’s Tari Eason or Reed Sheppard, continue to make teams pay. Learn the lesson now and let it pay off down the line.

Pascal Siakam, stay hydrated and get a journal for reflection. Everyone else, get well soon. Siakam has had an unbelievable year, but everyone misses Pacers basketball. I’m not sure the slippage on both ends is a proper reflection of who this team is at its core.

Advertisement

Remember your identity. Kawhi Leonard has sent a reminder of exactly what he does, and James Harden remains one of four players in the NBA averaging at least 25 points, 8 assists and 5 rebounds. You need defense around that to give yourself wiggle room offensively. The efforts of Kris Dunn, Nic Batum and a resurgent Brook Lopez have reopened a door. If that doesn’t move you, just feed Kawhi whatever he has been eating for the last two weeks.

Commit to habits that give you the best chance to win long term. We have seen brilliance from Luka Dončić, consistent growth from Austin Reaves and a return of LeBron James. At the end of the day, though, this team has limitations on the defensive end that it needs to take off the table. When the Lakers work to keep the ball in front, show early help and make multiple efforts defensively, they give themselves a chance. When they don’t, the margin for error is slim to none. If they want to make the most of their early start, they have to recommit to the little things.

Advertisement

Find an in-between on offense. The Grizzlies have found success within their offensive system, but must mix in what Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. bring to the table. The movement and flow has worked for pockets of the system; now add the drives of Morant, add the versatility of Jackson and make it all come together.

Continue to mix in pick-and-roll. The Heat lead the NBA in drives per game (61.9), with their ability to space the floor and continuously flow into drive-and-kick being the base of their offense. Adding more pick-and-roll for Norman Powell is a way to get defenses to react when they are able to keep the ball in front; keep Bam Adebayo involved; and flow into what’s kept pressure on defenses early on this season. It’s helpful to have pick-and-roll in your back pocket when size and length are keeping the drives in front.

Advertisement

Try their best to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo from leaving. It’s the start of a new year, full of new possibilities and good vibes that fill the room like a humidifier. If the Bucks can keep Antetokounmpo from leaving, whatever other resolution I’d put here would be the equivalent of committing to going to the gym and hitting snooze on the alarm clock on Day 2.

It’s Anthony Edwards’ time. There will be some bad losses, there will be some great wins, and the offensive improvements will be felt once the defense hits a consistent level. But Edwards is on a mission. Trust and believe in that.

Advertisement

Entrust Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears with minutes to grow. Fears always looks to get downhill, and Queen’s playmaking and driving ability open up movement. That should allow Trey Murphy and Herb Jones room to attack and get in the paint. Throw in the sudden nature of Zion Williamson attacking space, and you have a recipe to be an annoying team in the second half of the season.

Keep a balanced diet offensively. The commitment to pace, tempo and flow has empowered the Knicks’ roster. Seven Knicks players average 10 or more points per game. In December, the team had five or more players score in double-digits in 10 out of 13 games. The Knicks are 14-2 on the season when they have 28 or more assists and 9-0 this season when they have 30 or more assists. Jalen Brunson has led the dance, but consistent production throughout the team has allowed the Knicks to thrive.

Advertisement

Keep doing everything you’ve been doing (and do it better against the Spurs). This is a disruptive defense and a decisive offense led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the league’s Most Valuable Player.

Keep the faith offensively. The Magic went from averaging 120.9 points a night in November to 112.9 in December and, according to NBA.com, went from having the seventh-best offensive rating in November (119.5) to 26th in December (111.2). Desmond Bane’s drives and playmaking have been key, the aggression from Jalen Suggs and Anthony Black have helped elevate them, and the tempo opens room for quicker decisions from Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero. If they can get back to the decisive, out-of-the-mud offense, things could pay off in the playoffs with their defensive potential.

Advertisement

Commit to putting together the puzzle pieces. The Sixers have one losing streak of three games or more and one winning streak of more than three games. Tyrese Maxey has been a constant force on offense with his scoring and speed. A commitment to drive-and-kick and movement has opened a window for VJ Edgecombe to consistently contribute. It also gives wiggle room as Paul George returns to form. Live for the nights where you see Joel Embiid looking to drive the basketball and protect the rim. If they can put it all together, they may not be a team people want to see in the playoffs.

Stay low-key, stay under the radar. The Suns have quietly become a team no one enjoys facing. The defensive effort stands on its own, and Devin Booker has been moved around the court to attack in different areas. Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale have been key cogs of the lineup, and Dillon Brooks is no longer just staring you down in warmups; he’s staring you down with 3s and pull-up jumpers. The task was to be annoying; keep doing it.

Advertisement

Get the next steps from Shaedon Sharpe. A defensive base has been established in Portland, but the Blazers must ensure that their promising 22-year-old guard puts together the athleticism, scoring and playmaking with patience.

“The things which hurt, instruct.” Read all the inspirational quotes you can, hope you can get as much development from Keegan Murray as possible and don’t notice the DNPs surrounding Keon Ellis and Malik Monk at various points.

Nail down the blend of your talent and swing for the fences. Why not? Victor Wembanyama has been on a mission all year long. In his absence, they found 48 minutes of guard play from De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper. Get the most out of that, and keep pressure on offenses knowing Wemby can protect on the back end. The Spurs have defeated the Thunder three times; harness that and push forward.

Advertisement

Keep your balance offensively. RJ Barrett’s return from injury should slot everyone into their roles and get the Raptors back toward the level they displayed early. They can have a stronger starting lineup and better balance as they stagger. Those lineups should allow them to unlock Scottie Barnes as a roller on top of his ability to drive the basketball. Brandon Ingram’s shotmaking has continuously drawn attention from defenses and balanced the Raptors’ attack when they need to make plays.

Get back to winning games at home. In my 38 years on this earth, the Jazz have had a losing record at home only three times. Trust the offense and do the thing that will keep Will Hardy from cussing you out on social media.

Get buckets. Never stop getting buckets. Never ever stop getting buckets.

When it came to fantasy running backs, a weird thing happened in 2025 in that, well … nothing happened. What I mean is that almost every single year, the running back position sees huge, massive, seismic shifts. It’s the most volatile position in football because of injuries and the relatively short prime years the game’s stars enjoy.

[2025 Fantasy Exit Interviews: QB | RB | WR | TE]

It’s the whole premise behind backups and the Zero-RB movement; those strategies work when there is chaos at the running back position. But for the last couple of years, the position has really enjoyed a lot of stability.

Advertisement

2025’s top RB scorers (through 17 weeks)

1. Christian McCaffrey, 49ers — 356.9 half-PPR fantasy points

2. Jonathan Taylor, Colts — 334.4

3. Bijan Robinson, Falcons — 325.5

4. Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions — 309.6

5. De’Von Achane, Dolphins — 289.3

6. James Cook, Bills — 284.2

7. Derrick Henry, Ravens — 259.4

8. Kyren Williams, Rams — 235.7

9. Travis Etienne Jr., Jaguars — 231.6

10. Chase Brown, Bengals — 231.1

11. Javonte Williams, Cowboys — 225.3

12. Josh Jacobs, Packers — 219.1

The Other Shoe Never Dropped

All the bad stuff Zero RB’ers were waiting on largely died on the vine. Christian McCaffrey was supposed to be a massive injury risk. He didn’t miss a single game and finished in a familiar spot as the game’s top-scoring running back in PPR formats.

Advertisement

“There is absolutely no way in hell James Cook III is going to score at the rate he did last year!” He had 18 touchdowns last year; he has 14 through 16 games this year. He was the RB8 in 2024; he finished as the RB6 in 2025. That’s a giant DX crotch chop to you regression nerds!

The Curse of 370 was a dark, shadowy spectre looming over the shoulders of Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry entering drafts. And while there’s no question both backs saw noticeable dips in efficiency, the bite was largely de-fanged.

Sure, Saquon was a disappointment, drafted as the RB2 but finished as the RB14, but he wasn’t the reason why you lost. He played 16 games and while he whiffed during championship week, he had fewer than 8.5 PPR points in just three games this year. He wasn’t a league-winner like he was last year but he was a consistent contributor with a few spike weeks. You would’ve liked more given his draft price but overall, he was still a good player.

Advertisement

Derrick Henry had 16 touchdowns last year, another 16 this year and tacked on another 1,600 scrimmage yards onto his Hall of Fame tally. Henry’s biggest problem was actually that his coach forgot he existed for large portions of games. Oh, and by the way, he did this at the age of 31! Henry treated the 2025 season like he did the 2018 Jags, stiff-arming TWO negative narratives into the dirt.

Young Players Never Materialized

Rookies or sneaky second-year players always seem to jump to the forefront of the fantasy landscape — think Bucky Irving and De’Von Achane last year. But this year? There was a shocking lack of season-long, high-end production from young players.

Advertisement

Ashton Jeanty’s season was rocky as he posted five games of fewer than 8.5 PPR points, and while I thought he showed truly elite upside for stretches of games, the Raiders’ offensive line and coaching madness were too much for him to overcome.

Drafted as a top 6-7 running back (🫲6 7🫱) he finished as the RB13 on the season. Like Barkley, he wasn’t bad, he just wasn’t quite what we wanted in fantasy.

I was told Travis Etienne Jr. was actually terrible and that Tank Bigsby was going to take over the Jags backfield. Then Tank was traded, and then I was told this was a move to actually get Bhayshul Tuten the rock more so that he could overtake ETN. Meanwhile, Etienne just kept plugging away.

TreVeyon Henderson was downright dominant from Weeks 10-15, averaging 22.6 PPR points across those five games, but other than those handful of contests, he was largely unplayable as Rhamondre Stevenson consistently held onto the starting gig.

Advertisement

I thought Quinshon Judkins was going to take off but after a hot start, he cooled considerably. He averaged 15.5 PPR PPG from Weeks 2-5, then 10.8 PPG from Week 6 on, five times scoring single-digit PPR points.

Cam Skattebo could have been that guy but, unfortunately, he got hurt. Omarion Hampton and RJ Harvey were terrific down the stretch but were unplayable until distressingly late into the season.

Woody Marks, Kyle Monangai and Jacory Croskey-Merritt had their moments and will be intriguing players going into next year, but were at best role players this year.

And remember Kaleb Johnson??? Drafted as a high-upside, top-30 running back prospect, a player who should have been a perfect schematic fit apparently evaporated after Arthur Smith did his yearly nonsense.

Advertisement

The Biggest Surprises

Javonte Williams, Cowboys

I mentioned Etienne earlier and there’s no question him finishing as the RB10 through Week 17, after being drafted around RB30, is one of the season’s biggest surprises. That being said, there was no bigger out-of-left-field season than Javonte Williams in Dallas.

EVERYONE thought he was toast after injury-ravaged seasons in Denver but he announced his arrival in Week 1 in an island game with a 20-spot and just kept on producing. He carried teams to early-season winning records and even though he slowed a touch in the back half (going from 17.3 to 12.4 PPR PPG), he rarely crushed your team. He only had one single-digit PPR game after his Week 10 bye and finished the season as the RB11.

Advertisement

Rico Dowdle, Panthers

From Week 5 to 15, Uncle Rico was a top-10 fantasy back, averaging a whopping 17.4 PPR PPG. This was all found money as well, considering Rico was a running back taken outside the top 55 at the position. In the vast majority of leagues, he was a waiver wire hero. Before you consider this a fluky season, keep in mind, Dowdle has now put together BACK-TO-BACK 1,300-yard seasons for two different teams. Give this man his proper due.

Kenneth Gainwell, Steelers

It’s unfortunate Gainwell flopped during championship week (6.8 points in PPR) because otherwise, he was insanely productive. He’s still arguably the waiver wire pickup of the yea,r considering he’s the RB9 since Week 11. Despite the big finish, I have literally zero clue what this running back rotation looks like next year. It’s because of this lack of clarity I imagine he’ll still go in the later rounds of drafts next year, but we’ll see.

Advertisement

The Busts

Speaking of fantasy flameouts, Kaleb Johnson was the most notable rookie bust but despite all the consistency I’ve been yapping about, you can’t tell the story of a fantasy football season without harping on the guys who torpedoed your various teams.

Bucky Irving, Bucs

It’s generally a gentleman’s agreement that professional fantasy analysts don’t bring up injured players when talking about season-long disappointments but it’s worth noting that Bucky lost a lot of juice this year.

After impressing with a 5.4 yards per carry average as a rookie, Irving averaged a lowly 3.4 YPC this past year. That’s a massive dropoff. And this wasn’t just an injury issue. He averaged 3.3 YPC before the injury.

Advertisement

Add to Bucky’s slump was the fact that new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard refused to give him goal-line carries late in the year. Between Weeks 13-17, when Irving returned from injury, he had three carries inside the 10-yard line; Sean Tucker had seven such carries. Bucky, across nine games this year, scored just ONE rushing touchdown. Something to keep in mind for 2026.

Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs

A top-25 running back selection, folks thought they were investing in a solid floor guy, considering Pacheco was the clear lead back in what was supposed to be a more explosive KC offense this year. Well … none of that happened. Pacheco averaged an awful 6.7 PPR PPG in the 13 games he played this year. Kareem Hunt was arguably the better back in both real life and in the fake game.

Advertisement

Chuba Hubbard, Panthers

After a surprising breakout season in 2024, compiling 1,366 yards and 11 touchdowns in 15 games, the team added Rico Dowdle in the offseason. That, combined with an early-season injury that lingered, tanked Chuba’s entire 2025 campaign. He saw a nearly 50% reduction in yards (717) and scored just four times across 14 games. Drafted as a top-20 RB, he finished as the RB37.

David Montgomery, Lions

If you were expecting 2024 Ben Johnson usage in 2025 for Montgomery, you played yourself. He was solid early when the offensive line was healthy but from Week 6 on, he averaged just 8.2 PPR points per game; the RB35 in per-game scoring. He cracked double digits in just four of his last 11 games played.

Advertisement

It’s a slow drip but as Jahmyr Gibbs has ascended, Montgomery has gotten slightly fewer snaps, saw slightly fewer targets and, most importantly, saw a slight reduction in goal-line carries. That, combined with fewer scoring opportunities in general (DET went from 33.2 PPG to 28.9 PPG), meant he wasn’t scoring touchdowns at an absurd rate. It’s hard to see any of that bouncing back in 2026, especially as Montgomery is entering his age-29 season.

Way-too-early fantasy RB rankings for 2026

1. Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions

2. Bijan Robinson, Falcons

3. Christian McCaffrey, 49ers

4. Jonathan Taylor, Colts

5. De’Von Achane, Dolphins

Advertisement

6. Saquon Barkley, Eagles

7. James Cook III, Bills

8. Chase Brown, Bengals

9. Omarion Hampton, Chargers

10. Derrick Henry, Ravens

11. Ashton Jeanty, Raiders

12. Bucky Irving, Bucs

13. Josh Jacobs, Packers

14. RJ Harvey, Broncos

15. TreVeon Henderson, Patriots

16. Travis Etienne Jr., Jaguars

17. Breece Hall, Jets

18. Kyren Williams, Rams

19. Kyle Monangai, Bears

20. Woody Marks, Texans

21. Javonte Williams, Cowboys

22. Rico Dowdle, Panthers

23. Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks

24. Tyrone Tracy Jr., Giants

The wide receiver position took some wild twists and turns during the 2025 NFL season. We saw big performances from superstars, with letdowns at all levels. The position was dominated by Year 3 to 4 wideouts; six of the top-12 scorers on a per-game basis were receivers in their third or fourth season.

This is an area of players’ careers to bet on going forward. The fantasy community is way too quick to label a player as “he is what he is” after just a couple of seasons in the NFL. Making those labels for a handful of these guys, particularly several of the names coming up in the “Best Performers” section below, was a losing bet in 2025. This will be a fascinating conversation to revisit in the offseason when analyzing the outlook for what was a disappointing — and not all due to factors within their control — crop of second-year receivers this past season.

Advertisement

2025’s top WR scorers (through 17 weeks)

1. Puka Nacua, Rams — 289.5 half-PPR points

2. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks — 289

3. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions — 246.1

4. George Pickens, Cowboys — 244

5. Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals — 231.5

6. Chris Olave, Saints — 219

7. Davante Adams, Rams — 192.9

8. Nico Collins, Texans — 190.7

9. Courtland Sutton, Broncos — 181.7

10. A.J. Brown, Eagles — 181.3

11. Jameson Williams, Lions — 177

12. Zay Flowers, Ravens — 172.5

The other thing you’ll note from the top scorers at the position is that the archetype of a leading receiver in today’s NFL is changing. Almost none of the top wideouts in the league are used as pure (or in some cases even mostly) X-receiver roles anymore. The league is now dominated by power slots like Amon-Ra St. Brown or guys who at least move around the formation. You still need to be a high-end man coverage-beating wideout to be the top target over an extended stretch for a healthy passing game, especially if you don’t have an elite quarterback, but the archetype of leading wideouts has slowly been evolving over the last few seasons.

Advertisement

It came to a head in 2025.

Another theme that’s more anecdotal than anything else is that it sure feels like wide receiver injury rates are on the rise. Again, that is more of a feeling than anything else. However, we watched a season where tons of big names missed time, which also happened in 2024, as well. There might be deeper issues at play but part of me wonders if this is also a consequence of modern passing games looking to take advantage of the middle of the field more than ever. If we’re going to deploy wideouts in this move-around fashion, they aren’t just going to be ducking out of bounds on boundary routes or taking hits on vertical routes from corners. You’re going to end up taking licks over the middle by bigger bodies, and the league is incentivizing these defenders to hit lower more than ever, based on the rules.

[2025 Fantasy Exit Interviews: QB | RB | WR | TE]

It’s one example, but I think about the knee injuries adding up for a guy like Garrett Wilson, who was deployed more in that move-around, over-the-middle fashion after being a pure boundary option in Aaron Rodgers’ style of offense in 2023 and 2024.

Advertisement

The final big picture note to make for this position: it’s time for a major market correction on the dominance WR holds in today’s fantasy game. This may not hold over the long term, but running backs have been outproducing wide receivers for each of the last two years. There were 20 flex-eligible players to score 14 or more half-PPR fantasy points per game this season. A whopping 13 of them were running backs, including seven in the top-nine scorers. I love studying and discussing wide receivers and when you hit on a mid-round gem, as we’ll discuss here, it’s a huge win. However, until we see the league meta shift back to what we watched in the late 2010s and early 2020s (if it ever does) we need to adjust the way we attack wide receivers relative to other positions.

Biggest Surprises

Christian Watson, Packers

The Packers’ receiver corps has been an object of sick fascination of mine for the last few seasons, because it’s a deep room with no clear leading man but the overall offensive environment lends itself to passing production. I spent so much time talking about the group in the offseason. Yet, one outcome I didn’t imagine was that Christian Watson would return midseason and play the best football of his career after tearing his ACL in January 2025. That is exactly what happened. Watson wasn’t being drafted in most leagues but finished as the WR16 in points per game.

Advertisement

Wan’Dale Robinson, Giants

I’ve been critical of Wan’Dale Robinson’s game during his NFL career but credit where it’s due, he took things to a new level this year. He’s seen 140 targets and caught 92 passes through 17 weeks this season, nearly identical to the 140 and 93 he had all of last year. This season, he’s already cleared 1,000 yards after finishing with 699 in 2024. Robinson took a career-low 56% of his snaps in the slot and averaged 8.5 air yards per target. He simply got better as an outside and downfield wideout in Year 4 en route to a WR21 points-per-game finish.

Quentin Johnston, Chargers

Very early on this season, it was apparent that Quentin Johnston was a different player than the guy we saw in Years 1 and 2. This coaching staff has a much better handle on how to involve him as a run-after-catch threat than what he was tasked with in his rookie season. Johnston wasn’t consistent throughout the entire season and did have down weeks, but he ultimately led the Chargers in yards per game (52.5) and touchdowns (eight). That counts as a surprise. He was the WR24 in points per game this season.

Advertisement

Michael Wilson, Cardinals

Michael Wilson was one of the pleasant-surprise stories in the wide receiver world this season. Quietly, Wilson has always been a player who has flashed some ability to be a starting outside receiver in the NFL:

When Marvin Harrison Jr. was removed from the lineup, the targets consolidated around Wilson and Trey McBride in a shallow group of pass catchers on an offense that was relentlessly throwing the football with Jacoby Brissett in negative game script. It was a perfect storm for passing production that was certainly a fantasy scam; the Cardinals won just one of Brissett’s starts.

Advertisement

However, Wilson can play and that was revealed this season. He ended the year as the WR26 in points per game.

Best Performers

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks

Jaxon Smith-Njigba went off the board in the third round of most fantasy drafts this summer and well outperformed those expectations. He averaged a whopping 3.72 yards per route run and gained a first down on 16.5% of his routes. It was one of the most efficient receiver seasons in recent years. He did it while working as an outside receiver in a new offense after previously being a slot-heavy option. Smith-Njigba’s ascension to elite status was a treat to watch.

Advertisement

George Pickens, Cowboys

Won’t get them all right; never will. However, George Pickens being one of the best picks you could make at wide receiver this season after being my biggest flag-plant player in my Draft Day Blueprint was a nice hit. Not only did Pickens get a boost by going to a pass-first offense in Dallas with a massive quarterback upgrade in Dak Prescott, he’s also gotten better in each of his pro seasons. Pickens was productive regardless of whether CeeDee Lamb was available or not. He finished the year as the WR6 in per-game scoring.

Chris Olave, Saints

One of the things I found out this summer whenever I put content out about him was that people thought Chris Olave was actually not good at football, in addition to the concussion concerns. Seemingly, the only reason for this was that he never had big games in fantasy or was a letdown pick relative to ADP.

Advertisement

It was absolute nonsense.

Always be ready to take advantage of these situations because it was pretty easy to see that was not true by the eye test, Reception Perception, advanced stats, etc. The bigger issue was never Olave; it was that he’d never played a full season in a well-designed offense or with a quarterback he had good chemistry with. Both of those boxes were checked by Kellen Moore’s system and especially Tyler Shough ascending to the starting job. Olave finished the fantasy season as the WR9 in points per game.

Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, Rams

Puka Nacua is the current WR1 in points per game and Davante Adams the WR8. It was an awesome year to draft a Rams wideout, as this passing tree was incredibly consolidated around these two options. The Rams’ push to more 13 personnel only increased the per-route target numbers for Nacua and Adams. You even got a slight August discount on both amid the Matthew Stafford back scares from training camp.

Advertisement

Biggest busts — and what needs to change for them to turn things around

Justin Jefferson, Vikings

Justin Jefferson is off to one of the best starts in NFL history for a wide receiver. And yet, he’s not impervious to a falloff in a bad offensive environment with poor quarterback play. Even when J.J. McCarthy started to stack some viable weeks toward the end of the season, it was a struggle to get Jefferson the ball on the difficult perimeter routes.

If we’re calling balls and strikes, Jefferson also left some plays on the field with drops. That can usually be mitigated if you have a functional passer, which Minnesota didn’t. We’ll either need to see a big jump from McCarthy or a serious veteran addition before getting Jefferson anywhere near his old status in fantasy rankings.

Advertisement

Brian Thomas Jr., Jaguars

The 2025 season was a lost one for Brian Thomas Jr. right from the jump. He has likely played through injuries all season but also didn’t play well going over the middle of the field or consistently working through zone coverage. Those are requirements for NFL WR1s in today’s game. It was just a bad season for him, no way around it. The Jaguars eventually started rebuilding him by moving him into a mostly X-receiver role where he almost exclusively ran vertical and out-breaking routes. That move helps get the best out of Thomas but it’s a naturally low-volume and borderline sacrificial role in Liam Coen’s offense. Even if he’s healthier and cuts back on drops in 2026, he’s going to need a role change to get back to the production he had as a rookie.

Ladd McConkey, Chargers

Ladd McConkey falling from WR11 in ADP to WR37 in points per game was a huge bummer and something I didn’t see coming. As for why it happened, I think it is as simple as the pass-catching group was way more crowded in 2025 than anticipated, and the offensive line has, at this point, become untenable. You can’t run a normal passing game with it in its current state and I’m not sure they’ve done a good job coaching around it. McConkey is someone I’d be comfortable betting on as a rebound candidate if Keenan Allen isn’t back next season and guys like Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt return to the lineup at tackle.

Advertisement

Xavier Worthy, Chiefs

I’ve always been a skeptic of Xavier Worthy as a high-volume starting outside receiver. It’s fair to note he got hurt in Week 1 and that may have sunk his whole season but there wasn’t much evidence that he could be that guy in 2025. Worthy just doesn’t have the skill set as a separator to inhale a high target load at his size as a perimeter receiver. He needs role catering but that can’t happen in the Chiefs offense because Rashee Rice gets that treatment. I’d be hard-pressed to bet on Worthy bouncing back in 2026.

Way-too-early fantasy WR rankings for 2026

1. Puka Nacua, Rams

Advertisement

2. Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals

3. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks

4. Amon Ra- St. Brown, Lions

5. Drake London, Falcons

6. CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys

7. Malik Nabers, Giants

8. Rashee Rice, Chiefs

9. Nico Collins, Texans

10. George Pickens, Cowboys

11. Justin Jefferson, Vikings

12. Chris Olave, Saints

13. Tee Higgins, Bengals

14. A.J. Brown, Eagles

15. Davante Adams, Rams

16. Mike Evans, Bucs

17. Ladd McConkey, Chargers

18. Garrett Wilson, Jets

19. Tetairoa McMillan, Panthers

20. Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins

21. Jameson Williams, Lions

22. Rome Odunze, Bears

23. Luther Burden III, Bears

24. Emeka Egbuka, Bucs

Honestly, I can see why a quarterback wins the MVP every year. I know, that’s for real football. But on the fantasy football side of the shield, QB might be the only position where you can say the name of your starter, and folks can gauge how well your season went. Tell a friend you drafted Drake Maye and watch them smile, as if they already know you won your league.

[2025 Fantasy Exit Interviews: QB | RB | WR | TE]

And then mention to someone else that you had Patrick Mahomes and expect the opposite reaction.

Advertisement

2025’s top QB scorers (through 17 weeks)

1. Josh Allen, Bills — 374.5 standard fantasy points

2. Drake Maye, Patriots — 343.5

3. Matthew Stafford, Rams — 331.6

4. Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars — 326.8

5. Dak Prescott, Cowboys — 323.1

6. Caleb Williams, Bears — 305.7

7. Bo Nix, Broncos — 305.3

8. Jalen Hurts, Eagles — 305

9. Justin Herbert, Chargers — 299.8

10. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs — 295.7

11. Jared Goff, Lions — 288.9

12. Baker Mayfield, Bucs — 268.7

It’s not that the other positions don’t matter. Ask anyone with Derrick Henry. But we start more players with those non-QB designations. Meanwhile, as it is for most franchises, our rosters rise and fall with our QBs. So, let’s look at the best (and worst) of the 2025 season with the signal-callers in mind, and what we should be looking for next year.

Advertisement

OK, So What Happened Again?

It feels like a lifetime ago, but let’s rewind to August. You know, back when we all believed our draft day decisions would eventually lead us to a championship. But, of course, the market still had a say in how we built our squads:

I’ll say this. Hindsight has got to be 20/20 because my foresight is 20/200. Four of the QBs in this list ended the season on IR. Of the remaining eight, four missed significant time. And Baker Mayfield? Well, I’ll get to him in a bit.

However, there is at least one positive takeaway. We weren’t too far off base in categorizing these passers as potential QB1s. Besides, for most of them, their passing wasn’t the only allure. The Konami Code still reigns in 2025, and we saw that come to fruition throughout the first eight weeks of the season.

After 2024, we (and I’m using the royal “we” here) boosted hybrid signal-callers into the QB1 discussion. Two-thirds of the above list had top-12 marks in fantasy points per game as runners the prior year. And the same was true through Week 8.

Advertisement

Our starters were averaging 21.4 rushing yards per game (or 3.8 FPPG as runners). It’s why we were right to keep guys like Daniel Jones (QB13) and Jaxson Dart (QB14) on our fantasy speed-dials. A dual-threat ability still gives us the best shot at accessing a weekly ceiling at the position. Of the 22 instances where a quarterback scored more than 30 points (i.e., what won you your week), 13 of them featured a performance with at least six of those fantasy points (aka, a touchdown) coming from them running the ball.

However, as the NFL likes to do, chaos changed the landscape of the entire league.

Since the Colts are out of the playoff race, Indianapolis pulling 44-year-old, retired Philip Rivers back into action deserves more discussion. But we can save that for the offseason. However, the Colts’ problems weren’t too different than everyone else’s. Fifty-one different QBs had two or more starts this season. Reminder, there are only 32 teams. And as fantasy managers had to scramble through the minefield that was the waiver wire for viable passers, we had to evaluate not just the player, but their situation, too.

Advertisement

Some of the mid- and late-season heroes were like solving a problem in reverse. Nobody thought Jacoby Brissett would (or should) average 41.2 attempts per game. But Trey McBride was a consensus TE1, and Michael Wilson, as the lone WR, was whatever we thought Marvin Harrison Jr. would be. The same logic applied to Tyler Shough with Chris Olave and Juwan Johnson. With the production intersection at the QB spot, instead of looking at the production flowing out from under center, the pass-catchers would be the ones doing the heavy lifting.

In any case, let’s dig into a few specific players and see what we can take from this year and apply it to 2026.

The Biggest Surprises and Best Performers

Josh Allen, Bills

I recognize this comes on the heels of Josh Allen overthrowing his receiver for what would’ve been a game-winning two-point conversion. As a unit, the Bills’ WRs have generated the 12th-fewest receiving yards per game and rank 22nd or lower in touchdowns (11 total) and first downs (6.1 per game). Accordingly, Allen ranks just outside of the top 12 in passing yards per game (14th). However, his rushing ability remains unmatched both on the field and in the boxscore. With the leader of Bills Mafia leading all QBs in rushing yards and TDs, Allen will have yet another early-round ADP even if Buffalo waits another year to add to its receiving room.

Advertisement

Drake Maye, Patriots

Fantasy managers got enough of a glimpse of Drake “Drake Maye” Maye last year to understand his potential in fantasy. After taking over for Jacoby Brissett, the then-rookie averaged 34.1 rushing YPG and two TDs. The only hesitation was whether or not a pass-catching corps headlined by a 31-year-old WR coming off an ACL injury would be enough in Maye’s first full year. But as Maye sits in first among all QBs in EPA per dropback with Stefon Diggs and Hunter Henry, and none of his pass-catchers over 1,000 yards, his case to be the MVP isn’t outlandish.

Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars

A lot’s happened this season, but I remember Trevor Lawrence brushing off HC Liam Coen’s criticism like a son unbothered by their parent. Lawrence, unable to get in sync with either Brian Thomas Jr. or Travis Hunter, was a growing concern. But one Jakobi Meyers trade later, Lawrence is looking like the player we expected coming out of Clemson a half-decade ago, with the 11th-most passing yards per game (234.5). But the surprise part of the “2025 T-Law Experience” has been the rushing component. As we saw with Mayfield under Coen, Lawrence has hit career-high marks in yards (348) and scores (9) as a runner. With Thomas and Hunter (hopefully) contributing more next season, Lawrence should be a staple of the middle rounds in fantasy drafts.

Advertisement

Matthew Stafford, Rams

I had no idea what an ammortal chamber was until I saw one parked next to the Rams’ practice field in August. But I did understand what a back injury meant for a 37-year-old QB behind an average offensive line. Or at least I thought I did. Matthew Stafford has put together nothing short of an MVP season. He’s top-three in every stat, from passing success rate to yards per game, while setting a new career-high in TDs thrown in a single season. Sure, it benefits having Puka Nacua and Davante Adams (the King of Goal-Line Routes) on the opposite end of your throws. But defenses are still trying to get after Stafford. Teams have blitzed Stafford at the sixth-highest rate, but he’s taken the fewest sacks of any full season he’s played. We can debate if he plays in ’26 later, but this result was hard to foresee, given what we were hearing towards the end of summer.

Let’s Hope Things Get Better Next Year

Baker Mayfield, Bucs

Mayfield carried a QB9 price tag and closed out the fantasy season as the QB15 in PPG. So, I might be stretching the definition of bust, but two top-12 finishes over the last two months feels like a letdown to me. However, the thing I’ll be looking for signs of is a less-aggressive passing scheme.

Advertisement

Mayfield’s passing aDOT was up to 8.8 air yards through the first three weeks of the season. That was at about the same time when his offensive linemen were dropping like flies. Luckily, he was hitting on his intermediate and deep shots to Mike Evans and Emeka Egbuka, but Mayfield was below Spencer Rattler in passing success rate. Plus, after Evans went down, there was no adjustment.

Egbuka just slid into the “Evans’ role,” forcing the rookie to play as the iso-X receiver on 71.9% of his snaps with a 12.3-yard receiving aDOT. So it’s no surprise that Mayfield’s EPA per pass attempt dropped, and the interceptions and sacks increased. And when both Evans and Chris Godwin Jr. returned, even with a bum (non-throwing) shoulder, there was no shift to make things simpler, bumping the Bucs’ first-round WR into a timeshare with Jalen McMillan.

Mayfield’s best season in Tampa came with him averaging over a yard less on a per-attempt basis (7.0). I’d expect him and the coaching staff to try to get back to more shorter-area concepts with their younger receivers in 2026.

Advertisement

Jayden Daniels, Commanders

Here’s my foolproof, two-point plan for Jayden Daniels to have a bounce-back season: stay healthy and add a receiver. Sounds simple, right? Well, maybe not the first part. A chest injury limited Daniels throughout some of his rookie campaign, and multiple ailments sidelined him this season. Regardless, even when he was out there, the downfield magic wasn’t on display as often, indicating the Commanders need another boost to their pass-catching corps. But not just any receiver will fit the bill.

Daniels threw to the perimeter on 44.1% of his attempts in 2024. And you can guess who was on the other end of those passes. Terry McLaurin hauled in 43 passes on the boundary for 696 yards and a hilarious 10 TDs. Daniels has still been throwing to that part of the field, but with McLaurin dealing with his own injuries, the Commanders’ entire receiver room hasn’t even totaled McLaurin’s TD mark from last year. The majority of their current group primarily works from the inside. Having a full season of McLaurin should help, but another contested-catch option for Daniels will ensure we get another top-10 campaign out of Washington’s QB1.

Lamar Jackson, Ravens

Go ahead and add Lamar Jackson to the list of players who could benefit from at least the first part of my strategy to fix Jayden Daniels. But the Ravens don’t need another wide receiver. If anything, they should lean into the personnel already on the roster.

Advertisement

Last season, Jackson was on an MVP trajectory, throwing dots to every eligible pass-catcher with a purple jersey. Accordingly, we saw career-high output from not just Zay Flowers, but the ancillary options like Rashod Bateman and Justice Hill. We even got a return to form for Mark Andrews, as he found the end zone 11 times. But the same formula didn’t work in 2025.

The Ravens ran 11-personnel on 40.2% of their plays (42.9% in ’24). That means, outside of Flowers, at least two of Bateman, Tylan Wallace and DeAndre Hopkins are on the field. And no disrespect to Hopkins, but asking the 33-year-old veteran to play 40.2% of the routes is a choice. And it’s especially confusing when you have not one, not two, but three TEs with a receiving skill set.

Advertisement

Baltimore already has an identity as a power run team with Jackson and Henry. Embrace it. The team could condense its personnel packages to focus on multiple TE sets, featuring both Andrews and Isaiah Likely (assuming Likely re-signs). Similar to how Seattle has kick-started its passing game, a dose of heavy fronts would entice defenses to respond with fewer defenders in coverage. The result? More open throwing lanes for Jackson.

Way-too-early fantasy QB rankings for 2026

1. Josh Allen, Bills

2. Drake Maye, Patriots

3. Lamar Jackson, Ravens

4. Jalen Hurts, Eagles

5. Jayden Daniels, Commanders

6. Joe Burrow, Bengals

Advertisement

7. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs

8. Brock Purdy, 49ers

9. Dak Prescott, Cowboys

10. Justin Herbert, Chargers

11. Jaxson Dart, Giants

12. Caleb Williams, Bears

The 2025 fantasy football season gave us two paths to succeeding at the tight end position:

1. Draft Trey McBride

2. Punt, play the value game

McBride’s smash year obviously left a mark. His 119 catches (and 161 targets) are both records for the tight end position. His 302.4 points in full-PPR scoring ranks fifth all-time, trailing Rob Gronkowski (2011), Travis Kelce (2020, 2022) and Jimmy Graham (2013). McBride ranked fourth on the Yahoo MVP list, the chart of the players most commonly on the top-500 teams in Yahoo Public Leagues. If you landed on McBride, you picked a winner.

Advertisement

But you need to power-scroll down that MVP list to find additional tight ends. McBride was on 37.2% of the best teams. After that, among the tight ends, we’re looking at Harold Fannin Jr. (11.8%), Kyle Pitts Sr. (11.4%), Brenton Strange (9.8%) and Darren Waller (9.0%). It can be argued that Strange and Waller are mostly on this list because they reflect how winning managers play, not that they necessarily drove winning managers to success.

Top TE scorers (through 17 weeks)

1. Trey McBride, Cardinals — 242.9 half-ppr points

2. Kyle Pitts Sr., Falcons — 158

3. Dallas Goedert, Eagles — 155.1

4. Travie Kelce, Chiefs — 152.5

Advertisement

5. Harold Fannin Jr., Browns — 150.4

6. Jake Ferguson, Cowboys — 146.1

7. Tyler Warren, Colts — 145.4

8. Brock Bowers, Raiders — 144.2

9. Hunter Henry, Patriots — 140.7

10. Juwan Johnson, Saints — 135.8

11. George Kittle, 49ers — 127.6

12. Dalton Schultz, Texans — 127.4

If you lump all the tight ends into the wide receiver bucket, McBride comes out as the WR5. He was the right answer here. But it’s tricky to guess where McBride’s story might be headed.

Kyler Murray hasn’t been able to deliver the ball to McBride consistently in the red zone, and although McBride and Jacoby Brissett had a wonderful couple of months this year, that’s not a sustainable business model. The Cardinals are 3-13 and might fire the entire coaching staff. Can they make things work with Murray, who’s at a crossroads at the end of his age-28 season? Brissett is 33, and for all his fun moments this year, Arizona went 1-11 on his watch.

Advertisement

McBride’s ADP will rise to the first or second round next year, and I don’t think I’ll pay the freight. But even mock draft season is a ways off. This is all a pencil sketch; nothing committed to ink yet.

[2025 Fantasy Exit Interviews: QB | RB | WR | TE]

The only tight ends within hailing distance of McBride this year on a per-game basis were the injured stars: George Kittle, Tucker Kraft and Brock Bowers. They played 10, 8 and 12 games, respectively. Kraft would have been a screaming right answer if he hadn’t suffered a torn ACL in Week 9.

Kittle also could have had a special season if health allowed for it. He’s sitting on 52-599-7 for his 10 games, and teammate Jake Tonges has a 24-293-5 log. It’s cheating to combine their stats because Tonges can also produce while Kittle is playing, but stick with the bit. The two tight ends combine for a lovely 76-892-12 line this year, which gets you to about 200 fantasy points. That would be TE2 on this board, or WR8 if you lump the tight ends with the wideouts.

Advertisement

Whatever they’re paying Kyle Shanahan, it probably isn’t enough. His passing-game pieces were consistently hurt all year, but he kept finding ways to win.

2025 Booms at Tight End

The Rookies: Fannin was a miracle worker in Cleveland, charting as the TE5 despite spotty quarterback play around him. I don’t know if Kevin Stefanski will survive after the year, but he was creative with Fannin from Day 1, to success. Tyler Warren (TE7) had a fast start and easily returned his ADP, while Colston Loveland (TE14) was more of a second-half star (three smash games after Week 8). Initially, I worried that the Bears took the wrong tight end, but that feels silly now. Oronde Gadsden II (TE17) was part of a crowded tree with the Chargers but had several useful weeks.

The success of this rookie group encourages us to be open-minded with future rookie classes. Kenyon Sadiq of Oregon is considered the No. 1 prospect for 2026.

Advertisement

The Comeback: Sometimes it’s hard to remember that Pitts is just 25. His season popped late in the year when Drake London and Michael Penix Jr. were both hurt; in one four-game sequence, Pitts rolled up a 31-395-4 line (including a three-touchdown explosion at Tampa Bay). Pitts timed the resurgence well, heading into his free-agent period. From out of nowhere, he finished TE2 this year. He was also second in targets (109), though that was a whopping 52 opportunities below McBride.

Old and Boring — but Useful: Time-honored touchdown deodorant was the story for Dallas Goedert (TE3), Jake Ferguson (TE6) and Hunter Henry (TE9); that trio combined for 25 spikes in all. The six-point plays were essential for Goedert and Henry, because they had just 82 and 80 targets, respectively.

The Sleeper: Juwan Johnson received a juicy extension before the year and if you followed the money, you were rewarded. Johnson pushed off to a strong start and it was a legitimate signal, the start of a useful (if not quite seismic) TE10 season. The Saints are looking up, with Kellen Moore a savvy hire at head coach and QB Tyler Shough an interesting player, no matter that he’s already 26.

Advertisement

2025 Busts at Tight End

Injuries, still the worst: Bowers didn’t return his second-round ADP because his health wouldn’t allow it, though Geno Smith was also a hindrance. Kittle and Sam LaPorta missed significant time, too.

Sometimes Old is just Old: The Broncos envisioned Evan Engram as the joker in their passing game, but the joke was on them. Engram scored just one touchdown and had 47 catches that no one remembers. T.J. Hockenson (51-438-3) wasn’t helped by a messy Minnesota QB room, but he doesn’t have much explosiveness left. He averaged just 8.6 yards a catch. The Ravens extended Mark Andrews for some reason, not sure why. Isaiah Likely isn’t exactly the same player, but he is five years younger. To be fair to Andrews, his lost season was also tied to Lamar Jackson, who was hurt midseason and ineffective after that.

Farewell to Kelce?

Travis Kelce deserves his own category, finishing up what’s likely his final NFL season. His TE4 finish this year was mostly about playing every game; a 73-839-5 log is solid but below his peak, obviously. He’s a walk-in Hall of Famer, and surely on the Mount Rushmore for all-time tight ends. (How about Rob Gronkowski, Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates and Travis Kelce as the Fab 4? I like the sound of that.)

Advertisement

If we examine the seasonal scans for Kelce at the bottom of his Football-Reference page, this is what we get: TE8, TE7, TE1, TE2, TE1, TE1, TE1, TE1, TE2, TE1, TE3, TE10, TE4. That’s just absurd. I still think peak Gronkowski was the best tight end in NFL history, but Kelce easily goes down as the best cumulative fantasy tight end in history.

Way Too Early 2026 TE Rankings

1. Trey McBride, Cardinals

2. Brock Bowers, Raiders

3. George Kittle, 49ers

4. *Tucker Kraft, Packers

5. Tyler Warren, Colts

6. Kyle Pitts Sr., Falcons

7. Harold Fannin Jr., Browns

8. Colston Loveland, Bears

9. Jake Ferguson, Cowboys

10. Dallas Goedert, Eagles

Advertisement

11. Juwan Johnson, Saints

12. Oronde Gadsden II, Chargers

The Dallas Cowboys are walking away from a player who once looked like the future of the franchise. The team reportedly released cornerback Trevon Diggs on Tuesday, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer.

The move comes just two years after the team signed Diggs to a five-year, $97 million extension.

The 27-year-old will be subject to waivers before hitting the free-agent market. Due to the nature of Diggs’ contract, a team would have to pay Diggs his $472,000 base salary for Week 18 and $58,823 if he’s active for the game, per ESPN’s Field Yates.

Advertisement

Since the rest of Diggs’ contract wasn’t guaranteed, the team that claims him wouldn’t be on the hook for the remaining roughly $55 million Diggs would have received over the next three seasons if he remained with the Cowboys.

The possibility of Diggs being cut at age 27 seemed extremely unlikely after his first few seasons in the NFL. After being selected by the Cowboys in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Diggs turned in a modest rookie season.

He burst onto the scene in his second year, however, leading the NFL with 11 interceptions. That performance earned Diggs the first of two straight Pro Bowl nods and made him a first-team All-Pro.

He followed that up with a strong third season, picking off three passes and earning another Pro Bowl appearance.

Advertisement

Coming off two straight excellent seasons, Diggs was given a five-year, $97 million extension from the Cowboys in July of 2023. That deal proved to be ill-timed. Diggs played in just two games that season, tearing his ACL in practice ahead of Week 3. He was off to a decent start, already registering an interception and three passes defended before going down for the season.

Though he was able to return in 2024 in time to play in Week 1, Diggs didn’t grade out well once back on the field, per PFF. After missing time late in the season with a groin injury, it was announced Diggs would sit out the remainder of the year to have surgery on the same knee in which he tore his ACL in 2023.

Advertisement

Diggs missed time in the offseason and training camp while recovering from surgery. He was able to return in time to play in Week 1, but once again posted poor metrics before a concussion sidelined him after just six games.

After sitting out eight games, Diggs returned to play in Week 16 despite the Cowboys already being eliminated from the playoffs. He registered six tackles in the contest. Diggs then played again just four days later, when the Cowboys took on the Washington Commanders on Christmas. Diggs played every single defensive snap for the Cowboys during that contest.

Five days later, the Cowboys decided to release the former All-Pro.

If Diggs was upset about the situation, he didn’t show it Wednesday. The cornerback released a statement, thanking the Cowboys’ organization, coaches and fans.

Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer also spoke about the decision Wednesday. While he wished Diggs the best, Schottenheimer said the release was a combination of multiple factors, including Diggs’ performance.

Advertisement

Schottenheimer also said there was an incident last week in which Diggs asked to stay in the Washington, D.C. area after last week’s game. Schottenheimer reportedly said no, but Diggs stayed anyway. Schottenheimer said that was one of many factors that led to Diggs’ release.

Diggs’ release came on the same day his brother, New England Patriots wideout Stefon Diggs, was charged with assault and strangulation stemming from an alleged incident Dec. 2.

Each new sporting year brings with it its own sense of the unknown. After all, what would sports be if we knew the outcome ahead of time?

2026 gives us one of the most packed sports schedules yet. Here are six burning questions tied to some of the biggest events:

Super Bowl LX (Feb. 8)

Question to answer: Will the 60th Super Bowl be a changing of the guard?

For fans of a certain age, Dec. 14, 2025, was a turning point of sorts in NFL history.

Advertisement

With the elimination of the Kansas City Chiefs from the postseason race, it guaranteed Patrick Mahomes would miss the playoffs, finally halting an iconic string of generational quarterback handoffs. Not since 1998 had an NFL postseason featured a field of teams without at least one of three Mt. Rushmore Super Bowl era quarterbacks.

No Mahomes. No Tom Brady. No Peyton Manning. No clue who this postseason runs through.

It’s a fitting setup for Super Bowl LX in February at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. As 2025 turns into 2026, the 60th rendition of the NFL’s biggest stage is teasing a mysterious matchup silhouette, with two of the AFC’s top seeds — the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos — being stewarded by a combination of second-year quarterbacks in Drake Maye and Bo Nix, and top-rung head coaches in Mike Vrabel and Sean Payton.

The intrigue at the top of the NFC side comes from the experience of two quarterbacks who have already made their mark on the game — the Los Angeles Rams’ Matthew Stafford, who won Super Bowl LVI, and the Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Hurts, who walked off with the hardware one year ago.

Advertisement

Even the favorites aren’t the overriding story, with the Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars and Patriots all streaking into the playoffs in the first season of their new head coaches, with both the Bears and Patriots pulling off the feat by vaulting from last-to-first in their respective divisions. And the San Francisco 49ers have been one of the stunning storylines of the season, overcoming a massive wave of offseason departures and in-season injuries to recover from 6-11 in 2024 to a playoff bid.

All of those storylines and parity have created a nirvana of sorts for the NFL, which set a record for the most-viewed regular-season game in league history on Thanksgiving, with the Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys obliterating the previous record of 42.1 million in 2022 and resetting the ceiling at a jaw-wagging 57.2 viewers.

The NFL is hoping for more of the same when it comes to this upcoming Super Bowl, which might as well be rebranded the Chaos Bowl given the number of teams that have a legitimate shot at winning it. As it stands, the league’s widening delivery platforms and embrace of gambling on the Super Bowl have resulted in three straight years of record-breaking audiences from 2023 to 2025. The aim is for 2026 to be the four-peat of raising the bar.

With this kind of parity and drama heading into the playoffs it’s doubtful many will be betting against it.
— Charles Robinson

2026 Winter Olympics (Feb. 6-22)

Question to answer in 2026: Are one-city Olympic hosts a thing of the past?

The 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics will mark the first Games co-hosted by multiple cities. Why is that important? Well, because it highlights the increasing difficulty of finding locations capable of hosting a winter event of this magnitude. In 2030, the host will be the French Alps, a geographically liberal designation for a Games that will take place from Haute-Savoie in the north all the way down to Nice, some 400 miles south. In 2034, the Winter Games head back to the very reliable Salt Lake City — designated Utah 2034 — with much of its infrastructure still very much in place from when it held the Games in 2002.

Advertisement

As for these 2026 Games, the biggest story will be the return of Lindsey Vonn, the legendary skier who retired six years ago but is making a comeback on a replaced knee at age 41. Mikaela Shiffrin will join her on the mountain, looking to redeem herself after a disastrous 2022 Games in Beijing where, well … best to not revisit that. NHL players are also back, though not the Russians, who are banned from team competition. And Chloe Kim will look to continue her domination in the women’s snowboard halfpipe with a third straight gold medal.
— Jay Hart

2026 World Baseball Classic (March 5-17)

Question to answer in 2026: Can Team USA get back to global prominence?

Between the Winter Olympics in February and the World Cup over the summer, comes baseball’s most prominent international tournament, the World Baseball Classic. The tournament will feature pool play at four sites around the globe — Tokyo, San Juan, Houston and Miami — before concluding with the semifinals and championship game in Miami in mid-March. The WBC might not harbor as much history as the other iconic global sporting competitions — 2026 will mark just the sixth iteration of the tournament — but it has quickly escalated in popularity and importance among fans and players alike, priming the upcoming edition to be the most talent-rich yet.

Advertisement

A lot has changed in baseball since 2023’s dramatic finale, which featured Shohei Ohtani striking out Mike Trout to defeat Team USA and clinch the third title for Japan, including starkly different trajectories for those two main characters. Trout’s star power has unfortunately dimmed considerably, while Ohtani’s burns brighter than ever. But with Ohtani expected to headline Samurai Japan’s effort to retain its crown and a new wave of superstars leading Team USA — including Yankees captain Aaron Judge, Mariners standout slugger Cal Raleigh and Pirates ace Paul Skenes — a high-stakes USA vs. Japan rematch remains a tantalizing possibility.

That’s not to say those will be the only two teams making a push for the WBC title: Dominican Republic and Venezuela promise to feature a wealth of All-Star talent on their rosters. Puerto Rico and Mexico consistently perform well in international competition. And as with any tournament of this ilk, underdogs are sure to emerge from the 20-team field and perhaps topple some of the favorites. South Korea, Canada, Colombia and Italy project to have their best teams yet, heightening the likelihood of a thrilling upset at some point along the way.

All of it has the makings of another memorable few weeks of international baseball, a welcome jolt of high-stakes action leading up to MLB’s Opening Day on March 25.
— Jordan Shusterman

2026 WNBA collective bargaining agreement (date TBD)

Question to answer in 2026: How will the WNBA’s next collective bargaining agreement shape the future of women’s sports?

There is one aspect of the WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement negotiations that everyone involved has agreed upon from the start. It’s that the “transformational” document could change women’s sports forever. There will be no greater moment in the sport than the day a CBA is passed, and more critically, if it’s done in time for the 2026 season to begin on time. The league and union have already pushed the deadline twice, extending it to Jan. 9.

Advertisement

Women’s sports leagues and organizations have long followed the WNBA’s footsteps after it became the first to pass a CBA in 1999. They’re now paying close attention while players push for a revenue-sharing structure that would allow their salaries to increase as the business of the WNBA climbs. Yet, for as much attention as the money has garnered, there are down-ballot issues that could play significant roles.

Will the schedule and/or rosters expand? Will practice facility requirements be standardized? Will prioritization go the distance, preventing players from taking part in offseason leagues?

All of this is contingent upon a new deal being put in place. If the sides don’t come to an agreement, the league would not only begin its first work stoppage, but also enter dangerous territory. Alternative leagues like Unrivaled, AU Basketball and Project B could take advantage. And most pro leagues experience dips in fan interest upon returns from missed games, a step back the WNBA and its players won’t want to take after a decade of gains. The moment has never been heavier than it is ahead of the league’s 30th anniversary.
— Cassandra Negley

World Cup (June 11-July 19)

Question to answer in 2026: How will the USMNT fare in the biggest World Cup ever?

The stage is set for a breakthrough moment: a World Cup at home, a team finding its way under a renowned coach, a collection of European-seasoned players at a prime age … it all seems to be falling into place.

Advertisement

The Americans are keen to reach the quarterfinals after a 24-year wait, which would be not only a quantum leap for the program but a jolt for the sport in this country. With the expanded 48-team tournament in North America for the first time since 1994, the U.S. team will have the public’s attention. Here’s the best chance to advance multiple causes and springboard soccer to new heights.

Mauricio Pochettino, who has coached major European clubs but never a national team, has instilled a strong culture and deployed a tactical approach players have embraced. Growing in confidence, the U.S. team promises to be competitive and hard to beat. But is it good enough to make a deep run and galvanize the country?

Good results in recent friendlies have offered optimism, but friendlies are not feverish World Cup matches, where every mistake is magnified. Led by Christian Pulisic, a veteran core will seek to go one step further than four years ago in Qatar. Finishing first in a manageable group would set a favorable course, but the true test of American resolve would come in do-or-die knockout games.
— Steven Goff

UFC at the White House (tentatively June 14)

Question to answer in 2026: What should we actually expect from the UFC’s White House event?

From the beginning, it had the feel of a plan that had been spoken, suddenly and without much forethought, into immediate existence. A UFC event at the White House. On the White House lawn, in fact, with a hand-picked crowd watching from cageside and a live TV broadcast beamed out to the rest of us plebs. The phrase “bread and circuses” springs to mind.

Advertisement

But what should we actually expect from the UFC’s White House event? It’s a tricky question, mostly because we’re dealing with two of the all-time great hyperbole merchants in U.S. President Donald Trump and UFC CEO Dana White.

For instance, Trump recently told reporters the event would include “eight or nine championship fights, the biggest fights [the UFC has] ever had.” (There are only 11 divisions with titles that currently exist in the UFC.) He went on to claim that White is “holding back fights right now” in order to make this dream lineup possible. That would probably be unwelcome news to Paramount, the UFC’s new broadcast partner, which is paying roughly $1 billion per year for the broadcast rights and would probably not like to see the first six months of this deal stunted by title fight rationing.

There’s also the question of who will be there. According to White, tickets to this event will not be available to the public. It’s going to be a small and likely carefully curated crowd, likely not packed with genuine fight fans.

So what can we count on from this event? The one guarantee is it’ll be an all-out Trump lovefest. No pro sports organization has embraced this president more eagerly or enthusiastically than the UFC. When Trump attends UFC events, he gets an entrance on par with any UFC champion. One camera stays trained on him throughout the broadcast, ready to cut to shots of him reacting to every fight finish, like he’s Taylor Swift at a Kansas City Chiefs game.

Advertisement

If that’s what happens when the event takes place at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, just imagine how much the UFC will crank up that energy for an event at the White House that just happens to take place on or near Trump’s 80th birthday. The UFC may be the one bringing the cage and the fighters (and according to White, paying to repair the White House lawn once it’s over), but expect to be reminded many times over the course of the evening that it’s Trump who deserves the glory.
— Ben Fowlkes

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson returned to practice as a full participant Wednesday ahead of Sunday night’s AFC North title game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 8-8 Ravens and 9-7 Steelers will battle for the division crown under the lights of Acrisure Stadium.

Baltimore has confidence in backup Tyler Huntley, who helped the Ravens snap a four-game skid earlier this season and then kept their playoff hopes alive with a 41-24 road win over the Green Bay Packers last week. But they’d like to have their two-time NFL MVP playing with a trip to the playoffs on the line.

Advertisement

With Jackson’s practice appearance Wednesday, there’s a chance he has a full week of practice for the first time since Week 10. For reference, that was in the lead-up to a 27-19 road win versus the Minnesota Vikings on Nov. 9.

Jackson has since rarely participated in the first practice of the week. In fact, he did so only once from Weeks 11-17, and that was in Week 14 before Baltimore’s first matchup with Pittsburgh this season.

Jackson didn’t practice at all last week. He was sidelined by a back contusion he suffered during the first half of a Week 16 loss to the New England Patriots. Head coach John Harbaugh described the injury as a deep-tissue contusion last week.

Advertisement

Normally the most potent dual-threat quarterback in the NFL, Jackson’s mobility hasn’t been as lethal of a weapon this season, during which he’s juggled a collection of injuries.

First he missed three games with a hamstring injury. Jackson, whose 2022 and 2021 seasons were cut short by knee and ankle issues, respectively, was one of several Ravens players banged up early in the 2025 campaign, as Baltimore slumped to a 1-5 start.

After he returned in Week 9, he was sidelined and limited in practices with knee, ankle, toe and back injuries. But his absence against the Packers marked his first missed game since Week 8.

Advertisement

Harbaugh said Monday that Jackson’s status for the regular-season finale was “to be determined,” and he expected to know a lot more Wednesday.

“Our confidence in Tyler is a real big positive, a real plus,” Harbaugh said at the time. “But it doesn’t factor into whether Lamar plays. If Lamar’s ready to go, he’s playing. That’s it. For sure.”

Harbaugh said Wednesday that Jackson “looked good” in his return to practice.

The Ravens winning against the Packers and the Steelers losing against the Cleveland Browns last week set the stage for the Week 18 winner-take-all game in Pittsburgh.

Advertisement

Baltimore is just 3-5 in Jackson’s eight career starts against the Steelers, although the Ravens beat their arch-rival twice last season, including in the wild-card round of the playoffs.