RADIO
Quincy Milton III's boldest predictions for fantasy football ahead of the 2026 NFL season. His early calls for the 2026 NFL and fantasy football season.
The NFL offseason is almost over. Teams are running rookie minicamps, and training camp will be upon us soon enough. We are starting to get a good idea of how depth charts will shape up, which makes it easier to begin making fantasy football predictions. This hobby truly never sleeps.
At this point in the offseason, we can start to make bold predictions. Bold predictions are exciting because they give us a chance to fantasize about what could happen based on past results. These predictions can be either positive or negative. Players on the ascension or players on the decline can either fall off a cliff or explode.
Fantasy football is in a good spot right now with a lot of young talent in the fold. As such, if some of these bold predictions hit, we will be in a great position for fantasy moving forward. Let's dive in and see who could have a massive season, or a bit of a disappointment, in 2026.
Editor's Note: The FFPC Baby Gorilla Tournament is now open, featuring a $100,000 grand prize and a $675,450 total prize pool! This 12-team, Tight End Premium contest uses a 20-round draft format, with the overall winners determined by total points scored during Weeks 15–17. Get $25 to use toward your first entry by signing up through our link. Grab your team now! Sign Up Now!
Cameron Ward Finishes as a QB1
This selection hinges on massive growth for Cameron Ward in Year 2, but the Titans have done well to greatly improve the infrastructure around him. For starters, Tennessee has hired an experienced regime with new head coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll coming to town. That alone is enough to get excited about.
On the personnel side, the Titans offensive line should be light-years ahead of where it was in 2025. Saleh is a defensive guy who believes in the trenches. It is no surprise that he has built up this line. Additionally, the Titans selected Carnell Tate at No. 4. Tate has all the traits to be a true No. 1 wide receiver in this league.
The weapons around Ward suddenly look pretty good. Tate, Elic Ayomanor, Chimere Dike, and Calvin Ridley occupy the outside. Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears, and Nicholas Singleton should form a nice trio out of the backfield. Wan'Dale Robinson should be an X factor in the slot as a safety blanket for Ward.
With all of the newcomers in place, it is on Ward to perform. Ward was beginning to look like the franchise quarterback we believe him to be down the stretch of the 2025 season. He cut back on his interceptions and began throwing multiple touchdowns in games on a consistent basis. He looked like a player who had finally slowed down and let the game come to him.
Cam Ward 😤
📺: #SEAvsTEN on @NFLonFOX & NFL+ pic.twitter.com/I6KJwit5xa
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) November 23, 2025
Ward's performance against New Orleans in Week 17 was one to marvel at. His escape ability and overall talent were on full display in that game. He has officially shown us that he can do it; now, he must do it on a consistent basis.
Ward does not offer a ton with his legs, so his fantasy output will have to come on the heels of inflated passing numbers. However, all the ingredients are in place for that jump. He would not be the first second-year quarterback to go from an afterthought to the top of fantasy.
Carnell Tate Finishes as a Top-15 WR
If Ward is going to be a top-10 quarterback, then why not make Tate a borderline WR1 in 2026? Tate is going to step in as the clear No. 1 wideout in this offense. His target volume should be massive, and he should rack up plenty of yards this season. If the Titans offense truly does take a big step forward, then Tate's touchdown opportunities should be great as well.
Daboll is just two years removed from coaching Malik Nabers to a WR6 finish as a rookie. Several quarterbacks were throwing to Nabers during that season, including Daniel Jones. None of those quarterbacks is as inspiring as Ward’s potential. Look for Daboll to scheme excellent looks for Tate this year.
That Sayin deep ball is a thing of beauty 😮💨
Julian ➡️ Carnell for 57 yards ‼️ pic.twitter.com/gwwgxZZ1GB
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) November 1, 2025
We have watched this very scenario play out before. A rookie Ja'Marr Chase was fantastic for the development of a second-year Joe Burrow. Josh Allen teamed up with Stefon Diggs, and both players took massive steps forward. Tyreek Hill and Patrick Mahomes formed an unbeatable duo in Kansas City for a few years. The bottom line is that talented young quarterbacks and wide receivers often create fireworks.
Jonah Coleman Takes Over as the Lead Back in Denver
The Broncos made Coleman a fourth-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. There was no glaring need at running back with RJ Harvey, J.K. Dobbins, and Jaleel McLaughlin all in the fold. As such, the selection of Coleman speaks volumes to how the Broncos felt about him throughout the draft process.
Stylistically, Coleman is relatively similar to Dobbins. Both players are big backs who can operate well in short-yardage situations. While Dobbins figures to get the early crack at the most volume to start the year, Coleman could slowly eat into that volume as the season progresses.
Jonah Coleman opens the scoring for the Dawgs!
📺 @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/EgWsSIDZKf
— Washington Football (@UW_Football) September 7, 2025
Dobbins has never been a master of health. You never want to predict injury, but let's be honest, Dobbins has never played a full season in his career, including missing seven games in 2025. When he is on the field, he is quite effective, but the Broncos likely felt like they needed to insulate themselves against his potential absence at some point this year.
Denver has already signaled that Coleman may receive short-yardage opportunities early in the season. If he is effective in that role, the team could look to expand his role. If he receives additional opportunities through injuries or other avenues, Coleman will have a legitimate path toward the No. 1 spot on the depth chart by season's end.
Omarion Hampton Finishes as a Top-5 Running Back
Omarion Hampton's 2025 season was marred by injuries and a lack of opportunities. Hampton began the season splitting time with Najee Harris, but he began to emerge once Harris went down with an Achilles injury. Unfortunately, Hampton's own ankle issues held him back from achieving his full potential in 2025.
Now in Year 2, Hampton is the clear No. 1 running back in Los Angeles for the Chargers. Kimani Vidal is still in the fold, but he figures to be more of a backup than a true committee member. Hampton should receive plenty of rushing and receiving volume on a team that projects to be very good.
Omarion Hampton finds the end zone to extend the Chargers lead
LACvsDAL on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/SR9MHL7Ge9
— NFL (@NFL) December 21, 2025
The most exciting piece of this puzzle is the addition of offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. McDaniel has had great success in his running schemes. From his days in San Francisco to his excellent running games in Miami, McDaniel's schemes are tried and true. He will bring that savvy to Los Angeles, where there already exists a fantastic offensive line and quarterback.
McDaniel has been the architect behind the emergence of Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane in recent years. There is no reason to believe he cannot do the same for Hampton.
The running back position has a lot of old guard players who will fall out of the upper echelon at some point. Hampton is perfectly positioned to replace them at the top.
Kyren Williams Does Not Finish as an RB1
Kyren Williams is on a nice run of three straight RB1 finishes. He was the RB7 in 2023 and 2024, and the RB9 in 2025. He has been remarkably consistent in that span, recording no fewer than 1,144 rushing yards or 10 touchdowns in a given season. His passing game volume has also been consistent, averaging 34 receptions per season.
Unfortunately for Williams, there is a new kid in town. Blake Corum emerged as a legitimate threat to Williams' workload in 2025. Corum rushed for 746 yards and six touchdowns in his own right. At times, Corum looked more explosive than Williams as well. Corum does not add much in the passing game, but the Rams are not going to just stop handing the ball off to him.
KYREN WILLIAMS.
📺 @NFLonFox | #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/d5uF99ymCI
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) October 12, 2025
Where Corum figures to hurt Williams the most is in the touchdown department. Williams' 10 rushing touchdowns in 2025 were a great number, but it was also his lowest total over the past three seasons. Corum did not emerge until the back half of the season, with five of his six touchdowns coming in Weeks 13 through 16, suggesting that more poaching could be on the way.
The Rams spoke for many years about getting Williams some help, and they appear to have found it. Both of these players are adept at punching the ball into the end zone, and Los Angeles should not have to rotate either off the field when it gets close to the end zone. Williams should still be an RB2 this season, but be wary of making him your RB1.
Four Saints Will Finish as Fantasy Starters
Don't look now, but New Orleans' offense looks like a force to be reckoned with. Quarterback Tyler Shough, running back Travis Etienne Jr., and wide receivers Chris Olave and Jordyn Tyson form the core of skill-position players who go far deeper. This offense should be fantastic in Year 2 under head coach Kellen Moore.
All four players are well-positioned for solid-to-great finishes in fantasy. Etienne and Olave especially should be excellent options at their respective positions, with Etienne possessing top-5 potential. Tyson is a rookie whom the Saints targeted with the No. 8 selection in April. He should receive the ball early and often.
The magic that is Chris Olave 🪄
📺 #ATLvsNO Sunday at 3:25 PM on FOX pic.twitter.com/u5qXEatrnx
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) November 17, 2025
Of course, this all hinges on the success of Shough in Year 2. Shough already displayed solid ability as a rookie. He was poised in the pocket, and his savvy as both a runner and a thrower was great for fantasy and real life. If the Saints had not gotten off to such a poor start with Spencer Rattler under center, Shough may have very well led this team to the playoffs.
What is more, Kellen Moore is known for his high-tempo offenses. High-tempo offenses produce a lot of plays, which, in turn, provide plenty of chances for players to rack up stats.
This is an offense to target, and one that should have plenty of sleeper potential. You will want a piece of this offense at minimum, but there is a chance that New Orleans produces several fantasy-relevant players.
More Fantasy Football Analysis
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!
