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RotoBaller staff's league-winners for the 2026 fantasy football season. Expert draft advice and targets from RotoBaller, including Chris Olave, Trevor Lawrence, and more.
Finding a league-winner in the middle or late rounds of your fantasy draft can provide your team with a massive boost.
In this piece, we will spotlight some of the top "league-winners" you can find within these parts of the draft from members of our RotoBaller fantasy football staff, including Adam Koffler, Nick Mariano, Andy Smith, Andrew Ball, Dave Ventresca, and Austin Swaim.
Who will be this season's league winners? Let's dive in!
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Trevor Lawrence, QB - Jacksonville Jaguars
Lawrence finished as the overall QB4 in most formats last year and was one of six QBs to clear 20 points per game. Whittle that window down to starting in Week 5, and Lawrence was *the* QB1, averaging a full point per game more than anyone else (Lawrence: 22.9, Matthew Stafford 21.9, Josh Allen 21.2).
Yet, Lawrence is currently the consensus QB11 off of draft boards, with the No. 12 slot on ESPN providing the greatest discount. Did I miss a seismic shift in what the team offers through the air? Travis Etienne does not mean that much, or else the Bhayshul Tuten hype wouldn’t be so loud.
Parker Washington is ascending (I’d have written him up if so many hadn’t already!), Jakobi Meyers brings a steady possession skill set, Brian Thomas Jr. is one year removed from an 87-1282-10 rookie campaign and still taken near the top 30 WRs, and then Travis Hunter can mix in. Brenton Strange isn’t some game-breaking TE, but he doesn’t have to be!
More about that Week 5 swing was that, being his first true rushing breakout of the season, he gave us a pair of touchdowns and 54 yards on 10 carries. He then faced the Seahawks and Rams (both losses, seven sacks in each tilt) before the Week 8 bye, so things stayed muted.
Then Jacksonville goes 9-1 down the stretch, losing only to Houston’s elite defense. The Meyers trade pans out, BTJ and Strange return from injuries, and Liam Coen’s creativity plays. Amidst the greater passing volume, Pro Football Reference shows no drop in TLaw’s on-target rate, with a three-percentage-point dip in the bad throw rate.
The first overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft turns 27 in October and remains squarely in his prime. If you’re in a league where folks hoard QBs, then I’m happy to snag Lawrence near the market price. If you’re lucky enough where a 10- or 12-teamer means managers truly stick to one, then you can be one of the last to pluck a signal-caller and sit back with a smile.
- Nick Mariano
Jadarian Price, RB - Seattle Seahawks
Yahoo ADP - 66.1 (RB26)
Kenneth Walker is gone, and Zach Charbonnet is recovering from ACL reconstruction he had on February 20th (of this year!).
Considering it takes most running backs 9-12 months to return to action, it seems likely Charbonnet, at a minimum, starts the 2026 season on the PUP. That would put him out at least four games.
Even when Charbonnet does eventually return, there's a good chance he's not anywhere near the same player he was before his ACL tear. That, combined with the fact that he'll be taking touches away from Holani, not Price.
That leaves the Seahawks with George Holani, Emanuel Wilson, and Price, the team's first-round pick this year.
Holani has been with the team for a couple of seasons now, but he's racked up just 97 total yards on 28 career touches.
And while the team has complimented his pass-protection skills, he lacks the vision to be a solid ball carrier in the NFL, hence his career 3.32 yards per carry.
Wilson, like Price, just joined the team this offseason. But he's been dealing with a hamstring injury and has been running mainly with the second-team offense throughout camp.
Holani's lack of pedigree, Wilson's injury, and Charbonnet's recovery have opened the door for Price to have a big role right out of the gate.
Mike McDonald and the coaching staff can't stop gushing about the guy.
Former Notre Dame RB Jadarian Price got a segment on Hard Knocks tonight. The first-round pick is *really* impressing his new coaches and teammates in Seattle.
"Dang, No. 8 is fast." — Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald
(via @new_era72) pic.twitter.com/j7joNcurKA
— Jack Soble (@jacksoble56) August 6, 2026
And now Sam Darnold is singing his praises.
Jadarian Price Earning Praise from His Quarterback https://t.co/t0OJaF7JIS
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) August 22, 2026
The Seahawks have an average implied total of 24.8 points this season and are favored in 14 of 17 games.
Price, who averaged 6.0 yards per carry and found the end zone 11 times running behind Jeremiyah Love last year at Notre Dame, figures to be in a great spot for early-season success considering the opportunity and lack of competition.
- Adam Koffler
Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears
Everyone loves the Chicago Bears' trajectory. Everyone loves Ben Johnson. And Caleb Williams. And second-year targets like Luther Burden III (groin) and Colston Loveland.
Is there a hidden gem whizzing past them that is actually the fantasy breakout candidate that many are digging for around this offense?
Obviously, a major factor coming into the offseason was Rome Odunze's foot, but it "hasn't been an issue" in camp, according to Dan Wiederer of The Athletic. The former top-10 pick out of Washington is ready to resume a top role in the offense -- and one that might have been underrated last year through no fault of his.
Only 48 of Odunze's 90 targets last year (53.3%) were deemed catchable as Williams struggled with accuracy. If we want pieces of the Bears offense in fantasy because of projected improvement, shouldn't that also trickle to Odunze?
.@CALEBcsw to @RomeOdunze. Like clockwork. pic.twitter.com/3pypMK0Ib4
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) August 6, 2026
Through Week 4 and prior to his foot injury, he had a team-high 33 targets, 13 more than anyone else on the team. The then-second-year wideout also posted 2.08 yards per route run (YPRR).
It's very possible that Burden's outstanding production down the stretch was quelled if Odunze was 100%. There was also unintentional favoritism in that 85% of Burden's passes were catchable. That's variance that will even out year to year.
Odunze grades out excellent in the formula I defined in the intro. Even with a bum foot, he was fifth in the NFL in aDOT (14.5) among guys with at least 50 targets. He tied Loveland for the team lead in red zone targets (12) despite missing five games.
I think he's Chicago's top pass catcher. That opinion is a little more popular now that Burden is projected to miss the beginning of the season.
- Austin Swaim
Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints were the fastest offense in football last season. It's a staple of a Kellen Moore offense. He's been a play-caller at the NFL level for seven seasons. His teams finished atop the list three times, inside the top four three other occasions, and the one anomaly is the Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia season.
A fast-paced offense is only beneficial if the talent on the field is actually, you know, good. Between Spencer Rattler, Audric Estime, Devaughn Vele, and more, there were plenty of replacement-level players taking snaps and getting touches. That's why the team ultimately finished as a bottom-5 scoring offense. Now entering his second season with the Saints, Moore has the right pieces in place.
Tyler Shough, who became a starter halfway through the season, averaged 260 passing yards and completed over 70 percent of his attempts from Week 10 through the end of the year. There were some hiccups in the red zone, but that's to be expected from a rookie starter whose third-string-running-back rushing attack wasn't intimidating opposing defenses near the goal line.
New Orleans added Travis Etienne Jr. to the backfield. He'll handle the majority of touches, letting the aging Alvin Kamara (when he's healthy) play a complementary role.
Outside of Chris Olave (who I promise we'll talk about in just a minute), New Orleans' next-leading wide receiver was Rashid Shaheed at 499 yards. He was traded to Seattle in the first week of November. The one after Shaheed? Vele at 293 yards.
That's why the front office handpicked Jordyn Tyson with the eighth overall pick in April's NFL Draft; a perfect prospect opposite Olave and a threatening second option through the air (and this is coming from a fan of Juwan Johnson, but he's not drawing defensive attention away).
But what makes you laugh also makes you cry. Tyson, who battled hamstring issues at Arizona State, suffered another one and is expected to miss two months. It's the Olave show once again.
Shough to Olave AGAIN. Third completion for them already.
Back-shoulder ball for a huge gain. https://t.co/X3wploioJV pic.twitter.com/jiD8Afv8fS
— NOF (@nofnetwork) August 18, 2026
The former Ohio State Buckeye was a respectable WR17 (14.9 PPR points) in games Rattler started. From Weeks 9 through 17 (Shough's starts), Olave racked up 18.8 PPR points, good for the WR3 behind only Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Olave's ADP has ticked up ever so slightly with the Tyson news, but he's still undervalued -- coming off the board alongside Malik Nabers and DeVonta Smith. Olave is my WR9, just behind A.J. Brown and ahead of George Pickens. Draft him at the 2/3 turn.
- Andrew Ball
Chase Brown, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
Chase Brown looked like the early-season bust when he totaled a low 9.8 PPR points per game over the first seven contests of the season. However, Brown quickly found his footing in the second half, posting an elite 21.2 PPR points per game over his last 10 games of the campaign, which made him the RB5 on a per-game basis.
Brown showed similar upside over his final eight games of the 2024 season (Weeks 9 through 17), when he averaged 20.9 PPR points per game.
The one recurring theme in Brown's fantasy production is his quarterback's health. When Joe Burrow is on the field, the Cincinnati offense is firing on all cylinders. However, Burrow's health is often a major concern. In 2025, Burrow appeared in just eight games, which includes the Week 2 game in which he exited early.
When he returned from his lengthy stint on the IR with turf toe, Burrow looked like his typical self, averaging 270 passing yards per game with a 15:5 TD:INT. From Weeks 13 through 18, Brown saw a hefty 5.2 targets per game (when Burrow was on the field), which not only raises his floor but also provides him with an RB1 outcome in PPR leagues.
As noted for the Rams (and Cowboys offense), Vegas projects this Cincinnati unit to be just as dominant in 2026. The Bengals have the fourth-highest implied points total on a per-game basis, which should provide Brown with ample opportunities to contribute in both the rushing and passing game.
Playing with a bottom-three defense that does not project to be much better in 2026 and no competition behind him (only Samaje Perine), Brown could flirt with a near-RB1 season with a healthy Burrow.
There is risk given Burrow's health, but his ceiling is on the level of Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs.
- Andy Smith
Jaylen Waddle - WR, Denver Broncos
Denver acquired Waddle in a trade with the Miami Dolphins this offseason. It was a splash move that saw the Broncos part with their 2026 first-round pick to acquire him. While Waddle has become more of an afterthought in some fantasy circles, he remains one of the better route runners in the NFL.
Per Fantasy Points Data Suite, among 275 players with 100+ routes run, Waddle ranked 15th in average separation score. His overall route win rate of 15.4% was also the 12th-best mark in the NFL.
These stats basically mean Waddle was getting open at an extremely high rate. Miami’s offense was just such a mess that the team couldn't consistently take advantage of Waddle’s superb play.
Tua finds Jaylen Waddle for six!
NEvsMIA on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/Mbvz4RbAU4
— NFL (@NFL) September 14, 2025
Coverage type didn’t matter either. Per Fantasy Points Data Suite, Waddle ranked 12th in win rate against both man and zone coverage. To put that into context, there were only five players who ranked in the top 12 in both last year. The full list is Mike Evans, Ricky Pearsall, Davante Adams, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Waddle.
Waddle’s presence will be a huge boost to a Denver passing attack that lacked consistent separators outside of Courtland Sutton last year. Pairing him with a strong offensive coach like Sean Payton is also a huge plus.
However, Payton has come under fire from some fantasy analysts in recent years for being too bland and spreading the ball around too much. Well, things could be different in that regard this year as Payton is handing off play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Davis Webb.
Webb was a highly coveted candidate for some head coaching gigs this offseason, but Denver gave him a raise, and Payton ceded play-calling duties to keep Webb with the team.
This is a huge development. Payton has been one of the best offensive minds in the NFL for two decades. If he is willing to cede play-calling duties to a first-time play-caller, then we have to assume Payton sees something special in Webb.
We’ll have to see if that’s the case, but this development should assuage any fears gamers had about Waddle joining an “outdated system.”
Despite any concerns, the reality here is that Denver did not trade a first-round pick for Waddle to be a rotational player. The Broncos have made it clear they have a specific vision for how he’ll be utilized in the offense. Waddle’s ability as a route runner should mean the Denver passing game runs through him. That should lead to a big season for Waddle, and don’t be surprised if he has a career year.
Target him in the early rounds of traditional redraft leagues and consider him a great buy in auction formats too.
- Dave Ventresca
Jalen Nailor, WR - Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders saw fit to give Nailor a three-year contract worth roughly $35 million, with $23M guaranteed, to bring some juice to an underwhelming receiver room. Klint Kubiak will surely orient the offense around Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty, but Nailor has no serious barriers to WR reps.
Tre Tucker was a 2023 third-rounder who has shown flashes, but it’s a low floor. Jack Bech was plucked in the second round last year, but only saw 29 targets as the Raiders used Meyers and Tyler Lockett when available. Dont'e Thornton Jr. never got going, and Malik Benson has some offseason hype, but has much to prove as a Day 3 pick.
So now we have Nailor, who ranked 25th out of 84 receivers (min. 250 routes run) in average separation score per Fantasy Points Data Suite. We’re out to paint Nailor’s talent, especially with how sideways the 2025 Vikings went, which led to only 29 catches for 444 yards and four TDs on 53 targets. He caught an eerily similar 28 balls for 414 yards and six scores in ‘24 on 11 fewer targets.
The broader picture you want to gather here is that even as the No. 3 WR on an up-and-down squad, Nailor made splash plays for 10 TDs and a 15.1 Yards-Per-Reception figure on 57 catches. He could easily be the most explosive WR for Kubiak and shouldn’t see the sideline in a thin group, yet he sits with a cheap WR61 ADP. Yeah, I’ll find out if this translates for a few pennies.
Nick Mariano
Dalton Kincaid, TE, Buffalo Bills
The argument for Dalton Kincaid is more theoretical than practical. He hasn't logged over 700 yards in any of his three seasons, and he hasn't secured more than 45 catches since his rookie year. There was once a time when Kincaid was viewed as the next great tight end prospect. It hasn't worked out that way.
It's not entirely his fault. A PCL injury in 2024 lingered into the 2025 season. The 26-year-old played just over a third of Buffalo's offensive snaps last season. His season-high mark was 55%.
From training-camp participants to reporters to the front office, the underlying message is the same: Kincaid is healthy and figures to be a vital piece of the Buffalo offense.
Connection between Josh Allen and Dalton Kincaid continues to flourish during team drills
Good to see Cole Bishop participating pic.twitter.com/A0ZtXhwDT8
— alex brasky (@alexbrasky) August 18, 2026
Dawson Knox has always been a deterrent to Kincaid receiving a full allotment of snaps. He's still around, so Kincaid may never get to the 80% we prefer. All I'm asking for is 65-70%, numbers close to his rookie season.
Couple an increased route participation with his efficiency, and a TE1 season is in Kincaid's future. Kincaid was first among qualified tight ends in yards per route run (3.19), targets per route run (0.27), fantasy points per route run (0.70), and yards per target (11.65). He also set a career-high in touchdowns. A 12.8% touchdown rate won't happen again, but it's notable for Kincaid's red-zone usage.
There will be ample opportunities, though. The Bills were fourth in yards and points per game a season ago. As long as Josh Allen is under center, you can expect 3-4 touchdowns a week from the Buffalo offense.
Kincaid's upside is too enticing. If you've been burned by him before (I am also in that camp) and can't stomach another season with him as your starter, there are safer workarounds.
Steady veterans, like Juwan Johnson and Dallas Goedert, are on offenses without pieces of their passing attack (Tyson and Makai Lemon). If you so please, pair one with Kincaid and confirm that Buffalo utilizes him differently this fall.
I predict you'll like what you see. He is, after all, in a contract year.
- Andrew Ball
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2026 Player Decisions. Today's focus is on specific players - Chris Olave, Chase Brown, Trevor Lawrence, Jaylen Waddle, Jadarian Price, Dalton Kincaid, Rome Odunze. These are some common searches for 2026 fantasy football drafts.
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