NFL fantasy football news and player signals for Friday, May 22, 2026

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Davis Mattek expects Charbonnet to face 'basically no resistance' in the week 17 Seattle-Carolina matchup. If he returns from his ACL tear and wins the starting role, Mattek views him as 'really undervalued' because Carolina will 'get ran roughshod over' by Seattle, creating a favorable rushing environment for the Seahawks offense.

Davis Mattek names Shaheed as a Seattle player expected to face 'basically no resistance' in the week 17 game against Carolina, where the Panthers are projected for an 18.5-point implied team total. Shaheed is positioned as a beneficiary of a dominant matchup environment.

Even if Brooks is the starting running back for the Panthers in week 17, the source does not expect him to perform well given the unfavorable Seattle-Carolina matchup; the Panthers are projected for an 18.5-point implied team total and the source expects the game to 'suck,' with Seattle expected to 'get ran roughshod over' Carolina.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba is expected to face 'basically no resistance' in the week 17 game against Carolina; positioned as a beneficiary of a favorable matchup where the Panthers are projected for an 18.5-point implied team total and the source expects Seattle to dominate.

Jaylen Waddle is a player the source has been drafting heavily, but the Broncos-Patriots Week 17 matchup makes him less attractive; the source expects a lot of running in this game based on the teams' previous playoff meeting, which was a horrible, unwatchable, sloppy mess outdoors; the poor game environment reduces his appeal despite his overall quality.

Trey Tucker is positioned to benefit if the Raiders-Cardinals game becomes a fantasy bonanza, assuming the Raiders do not sign a wide receiver free agent over the next couple of weeks; the source identifies this as the leading candidate for a 'who cares bowl' that goes insane with yards and touchdowns.

Michael Wilson is positioned to benefit if the Raiders-Cardinals game becomes a fantasy bonanza; the source identifies this as the leading candidate for a 'who cares bowl' that goes insane with yards and touchdowns, given both teams' low projected win totals and poor defenses.

Marvin Harrison Jr. is positioned to benefit if the Raiders-Cardinals game becomes a fantasy bonanza; the source identifies this as the leading candidate for a 'who cares bowl' that goes insane with yards and touchdowns, given both teams' low projected win totals and poor defenses.

Jaylen Nailor is positioned to benefit if the Raiders-Cardinals game becomes a fantasy bonanza, assuming the Raiders do not sign a wide receiver free agent over the next couple of weeks; the source identifies this as the leading candidate for a 'who cares bowl' that goes insane with yards and touchdowns.

Trey McBride is a high-end fantasy option in the Raiders-Cardinals dome game stack with two very bad defenses; the synchronicity between the high-end running back (Jeremiah Love) and high-end tight end (McBride) is notable.

Jeremiah Love is a high-end fantasy option in the Raiders-Cardinals dome game stack with two very bad defenses; Davis Mattek wanted to rank this game higher but was held back by quarterback uncertainty.

Jonathan Taylor is the primary expensive player in the Colts-Browns stack; outside of him, everyone else is quite cheap, making the stack easy to correlate with Josh Downs and Concepcion.

Davis Mattek is 'really really really really really hoping' for a good version of Daniel Jones returning from an Achilles injury in the Colts-Browns game; quarterbacks are very cheap in this stack, making Jones easy to correlate with Josh Downs and Concepcion if there is a significant lean on his starting status later in the season.

Stowers is among the draftable options from the Eagles-49ers game stack, which projects as a 45.5-point total with potential for shootout upside if the 49ers defense regresses year-over-year.

Goedert is among the draftable options from the Eagles-49ers game stack, which projects as a 45.5-point total with potential for shootout upside if the 49ers defense regresses year-over-year.

Christian Kirk is among the draftable options from the Eagles-49ers game stack, which projects as a 45.5-point total with potential for shootout upside if the 49ers defense regresses.

The source suggests Amari Demercado is not a necessary inclusion in Chiefs best ball stacks; the Chiefs offense is tier-1 but Demercado is not a priority target.

The source suggests Malik Washington is not a necessary inclusion in Bills best ball stacks; the Bills offense is tier-1 but Washington is not a priority target.

The source suggests Greg Dulcich is not a necessary inclusion in Bills best ball stacks; the Bills offense is tier-1 but Dulcich is not a priority target.

Allen could score 40 fantasy points in the Bills-Dolphins matchup if the Dolphins show offensive firepower, which would compel the Bills to perform better than expected. The source cites the Dolphins' weak defense as a key factor elevating Allen's ceiling; the Bills' massive team total makes them a tier-1 stacking option in best ball.

James Cook is identified as a core stack target for the Bills in a game with a massive team total; Davis Mattek emphasizes the Bills' scoring potential and the need to include them in stacks due to their high implied total, noting they could score 40 points without breaking a sweat.

Ted Hurst is identified as Davis Mattek's favorite later-round wide receiver target for the Buccaneers in the Rams-Buccaneers game (48.5-point total); this suggests strong value and upside potential in a high-total matchup.

Davis Mattek is definitely higher on Terrance Ferguson's offensive production than the market in the Rams-Buccaneers game (48.5-point total); this bullish positioning suggests upside relative to expectations in a high-total matchup.

Davis Mattek is higher on Kyren Williams' offensive production than the market in the Rams-Buccaneers game (48.5-point total); this bullish positioning suggests upside relative to expectations in a high-total matchup.

Kenneth Gainwell is a stack target for the Rams in a 48.5-point total game against Tampa Bay; Davis Mattek absolutely loves this matchup and notes the quarterback is optional in this stack. Gainwell is identified as a secondary piece alongside Davante Adams and Cade Otton.

Davante Adams is a primary stack target for the Rams in a 48.5-point total game against Tampa Bay; Davis Mattek absolutely loves this matchup and notes the quarterback is optional in this stack. Adams is identified as a core piece alongside Kenneth Gainwell and Cade Otton.

Cade Otton is a stack target for the Buccaneers in a 48.5-point total game against the Rams; Davis Mattek absolutely loves this matchup and notes the quarterback is optional in this stack. Otton is identified as a secondary piece alongside Davante Adams and Kenneth Gainwell.

Kmet (referred to as Loveland in the transcript, likely a transcription error for the Bears tight end) is a core stack piece in the Bears offense alongside Burden, Swift, and Williams; the source identifies the Bears as a second-favorite or favorite stack in best ball, with Kmet as a primary draftable asset in a very condensed offense.

A.T. Perry is only a consideration in deep 20-round best ball drafts on DraftKings; Davis Mattek does not recommend him for standard best ball stacks, indicating limited appeal in typical formats.

Rome Odunze (referred to as Burden in the transcript) is a primary draftable piece in Davis Mattek's Bears best ball stack in the Detroit-Chicago game (25.5-point implied total); Mattek identifies him alongside Colston Loveland, D'Andre Swift, Cole Kmet, and Caleb Williams as the core Bears stack, noting the offense is very condensed with no other draftable players after this core group.

D'Andre Swift is a primary draftable piece in Davis Mattek's Bears best ball stack in the Detroit-Chicago game (25.5-point implied total); Mattek identifies him alongside Rome Odunze, Colston Loveland, Cole Kmet, and Caleb Williams as the core Bears stack, noting the offense is very condensed with no other draftable players after this core group.

Colston Loveland is a primary draftable piece in Davis Mattek's Bears best ball stack in the Detroit-Chicago game (25.5-point implied total); Mattek identifies him alongside Rome Odunze, D'Andre Swift, Cole Kmet, and Caleb Williams as the core Bears stack, noting the offense is very condensed with no other draftable players after this core group.

Caleb Williams is a primary draftable piece in Davis Mattek's Bears best ball stack in the Detroit-Chicago game (25.5-point implied total); Mattek identifies him as the quarterback anchor alongside Rome Odunze, Colston Loveland, D'Andre Swift, and Cole Kmet as the core Bears stack, noting the offense is very condensed with no other draftable players after this core group.

Sam LaPorta is a primary draftable piece in the Lions' best ball stack against Chicago; the Lions carry a 24-point implied total in this game, which Davis Mattek rates as the number one overall game for stacking if played in Detroit. LaPorta is identified as a core stack piece alongside David Gibbs Jr. and Amon-Ra St. Brown, with no other draftable players after this trio.

David Montgomery (Gibbs) is a primary draftable piece in the Lions' best ball stack with a 24-point implied total in the Detroit-Chicago game. Davis Mattek identifies him alongside Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta as the core Lions stack. Additionally, the cold weather environment in Green Bay during Week 17 makes Mattek like Montgomery 'a little bit more' for stacking purposes, as the Texans-Packers game is expected to feature high rush attempts and low volume passing.

Amon-Ra St. Brown is a primary draftable piece in the Lions' best ball stack with a 24-point implied total in the Detroit-Chicago game. Davis Mattek identifies him alongside David Montgomery (Gibbs) and Sam LaPorta as the core Lions stack, rating this as the number one overall game for stacking if played in Detroit.

Chris Olave is a primary draftable pass catcher in the Saints' best ball stack. Davis Mattek identifies the Saints offense as 'your favorite best ball drafters favorite best ball draft stack' with Olave listed alongside Taysom Hill, Shaquille Leonard, and Juwan Johnson as the condensed receiving corps.

Dak Prescott anchors the highest-projected Week 17 dome stack. Davis Mattek states 'The Lamb-Dak stack is, I mean, basically like the highest projected week 17 stack that you can get every single time that is in a dome' with the Cowboys at a 27-point implied team total.

CeeDee Lamb is a core piece of the Cowboys offense in the Giants-Cowboys S-tier Week 17 game. Davis Mattek notes it is tougher to get Lamb and George Pickens together but can be done. The Lamb-Dak stack is 'basically like the highest projected week 17 stack that you can get every single time that is in a dome' with the Cowboys at a 27-point implied team total.

Tutu Atwell is a core piece of the Jaguars offense in the S-tier Commanders-Jaguars Week 17 game. Davis Mattek states 'I think they could be like a top five offense in the NFL' and explicitly lists Atwell as a player you should be drafting in this stack, with the game expected to be competitive and not a blowout.

Trevor Lawrence is a core piece of the Jaguars offense in the S-tier Commanders-Jaguars Week 17 game. Davis Mattek states 'I think they could be like a top five offense in the NFL' and explicitly lists Lawrence as a player you should be drafting in this stack, with the game expected to be competitive and not a blowout.

Travis Hunter Jr. is a core piece of the Jaguars offense in the S-tier Commanders-Jaguars Week 17 game. Davis Mattek explicitly lists Hunter as a player you should be drafting in this stack, with the game expected to be competitive and not a blowout, and the Jaguars projected as a top-five offense.

Brian Thomas Jr. (BTJ) is a core piece of the Jaguars offense in the S-tier Commanders-Jaguars Week 17 game. Davis Mattek states 'I think they could be like a top five offense in the NFL' and explicitly lists BTJ as a player you should be drafting in this stack, with the game expected to be competitive and not a blowout.

Malik Nabers is part of a concentrated Giants offense with condensed ADP in the S-tier Giants-Cowboys Week 17 game. Davis Mattek notes it is very easy to get Nabers, Kam Skadowbo, and Jackson Dart all on the same team in best ball drafting with no secondary players required, making the Giants a highly stackable offense.

Jayden Daniels is a core piece of the Commanders offense in the S-tier Commanders-Jaguars Week 17 game. Davis Mattek states 'I love drafting Jayden Daniels' and emphasizes that Daniels playing from behind against the Jaguars' defense is 'absolutely what we want' in best ball, as the Commanders are expected to have a god-awful defense and need to win the game, creating favorable game script for passing volume.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt is a core piece of the Commanders offense in the S-tier Commanders-Jaguars Week 17 game. Davis Mattek explicitly states 'I love drafting Jacory Croskey-Merritt' as part of the Commanders stack, with the expectation that Daniels playing from behind will create favorable volume opportunities.

Bijan Robinson is an absolute fantasy stud on the Falcons side in the S-tier Saints-Falcons Week 17 game. Despite the game having only a 44-point total, Davis Mattek highlights Robinson as a key player to target in this best ball stack, explicitly recommending drafting him alongside Drake London as core pieces of the Falcons offense.

The Packers have been Josh Jacobs-centric the last two seasons and it's worked well in the regular season, but they've gone out in hugely disappointing fashion in the playoffs.

The analyst views Jameson Williams as 'expensive Christian Watson,' suggesting Williams is priced higher than Watson despite similar upside profiles.

The Packers gave Watson a contract extension and stuck by him throughout his injuries, signaling organizational commitment that could pay major dividends.

Watson could have a 'semi Pickens-like scoring outburst' this year and end up as a no-brainer pick at ADP with double-digit touchdown catches and spike weeks that can win you a week.

Watson is currently WR29 in ADP and is a dynasty target; the analyst believes if he stays healthy for an entire season, he could be a really fun one.

The analyst is 'insanely bullish' on Watson as a middle-round target, believing his talent has always been elite and he finally has all situational obstacles cleared to succeed.

Watson was top-eight in yards per route run in two-receiver sets last year, showcasing elite downfield threat ability in the specific formations the Packers will use.

Watson fits perfectly into the Packers offense where he's almost never going to come off the field, representing a massive upgrade from having to share routes 60/40 with Dontayvion Wicks as he did over the last couple of seasons.

In games with 75%+ route share (13 career games), Watson averages 17.5 fantasy points per game, which would have ranked top-six among wide receivers last year, demonstrating elite efficiency when healthy and on the field.

Dak Prescott is one of the safest picks despite being listed as quarterback nine, with potential to vault into the top eight if injuries occur ahead of him.

Dak Prescott's accuracy numbers have returned to his career baseline after a down year two years ago when he was injured, with no age cliff or injury concerns expected.

Dak Prescott will have CD Lamb for the entire season rather than missing a quarter of it due to injury, and now has George Pickens as a top-10 receiver on the outside.

Dak Prescott is one of three quarterbacks projected for over 4,000 yards and has been a top-eight scorer in points per game in five of his past six seasons.

Justin Herbert should be a top-10 quarterback this year and belongs in the tier with other elite QBs, though he won't run as much as top-three fantasy quarterbacks.

Justin Herbert's combination with Mike McDaniel 'can go to the moon this year' with the addition of easy-button concepts alongside extended play opportunities.

Mike McDaniel discussed maximizing Herbert's yardage on quick releases (2.4 seconds or faster) by changing his footwork and eye placement, which should lead to more yards after catch opportunities.

Justin Herbert was quarterback two in overall scoring through nine weeks before Joe Alt's injury last year; with Alt, Raan Slater, Mike McDaniel, and Tyler Bottes, he has significant upside.

Justin Herbert selected at 11th pick in the seventh round might be the best value at quarterback on the board with two healthy first-round offensive tackles returning and Mike McDaniel as play caller.

Drake Maye was fourth in EPA per drop back when playing above-average defenses, including playoffs, suggesting his strong performance wasn't just against weak competition.

Drake Maye had 450 rushing yards (fourth most among QBs) and only 4 rushing scores last year, suggesting potential for 7-9 rushing touchdowns if red zone opportunities improve.

Drake Maye led all quarterbacks in completion percentage over expected last year, a metric that typically regresses; he has the physical tools to run like Josh Allen but hasn't been used extensively in designed runs.

Drake Maye's arrow is pointing straight up heading into year two with Josh McDaniels, and he could finish as a top-one, two, or three quarterback despite some negative regression risk.

Jaylen Hurts is projected for 474 rushing yards and is expected to finish as quarterback six, which feels appropriate given the offensive changes.

Jaylen Hurts is less willing to take a pounding on rushing plays and short-yardage situations, making a return to double-digit rushing scores unlikely.

Jaylen Hurts has not been effective reading the field against zone coverage and ranks 85th of 88 eligible quarterbacks since 2020 in percentage of throws between the numbers below 15 air yards, indicating discomfort in certain areas.

Jaylen Hurts is now being drafted in the 60s-70s rather than 30s-40s due to concerns about his ability to return to top-three QB status without prime AJ Brown and with a new offensive coordinator.

Jaylen Hurts' fantasy success depends heavily on offensive line health and whether the Eagles can generate single-high looks through rushing success to help him against zone coverage, where he has struggled.

Jaylen Hurts' rushing touchdown regression from 7 in 2023 to 13 in 2024 is an outlier; baseline projection is around 8.5 rushing touchdowns with likely range between those two numbers.

Jaden Daniels has been a 'fantasy football printfest' even dating back to his LSU days, indicating consistent fantasy production.

Jaden Daniels has a low play action rate compared to peers like Caleb Williams and Jared Goff, requiring him to showcase elite speed and be at full health to match or surpass Josh Allen's upside.

Brandon Ayuk is currently undervalued at wide receiver 68 with an ADP of round 15, but he has the potential to contribute significantly if he finds a new team. He averaged 15.6 PPR points per game two years ago.

Malik Willis showed impressive throws last year and has the potential to be a starting fantasy quarterback, possibly finishing as a top 12 guy. His current ADP as QB 21 makes him a worthwhile late-round pick.

Wandale Robinson has the potential to lead the Titans in targets, averaging over eight targets per game in the past two seasons. He is a Brian Dable guy, which adds to his appeal in PPR leagues.

George Pickens is projected to have a breakout season, with a bold prediction that he will outscore CeeDee Lamb in the 2026 season.

Devon Achan is a player to avoid due to concerns about the offensive expectations of his team and his reliance on breaking big plays.

Tyler Warren is a tight end to watch, as he led his team in target share and has the potential to be a top option in the passing game.

Marvin Harrison Jr. is expected to see increased involvement in the offense with a new coordinator, making him a strong draft target.

Rome Odunze is a player to target in drafts due to his strong target share and potential for positive regression in touchdowns.

Kyle Pitts is coming off a career year, but there are concerns about the Falcons' offensive efficiency under new play caller Tommy Reese.

Drake London is viewed as a solid second-round pick, but there are concerns about the overall efficiency of the Falcons' offense.

Bijan Robinson is a consensus top two pick, indicating strong confidence in his potential despite concerns about the Falcons' offensive efficiency.

Justin Herbert has the potential to lead the Chargers to a top five offense under new head coach Mike McDaniel, who previously had success with the Dolphins.

Michael Trigg, despite being an undrafted free agent, has significant potential and could emerge as a valuable tight end for the Cowboys.

Oscar Delp is a great athlete with a chance to emerge in a crowded tight end room, potentially becoming a significant contributor for the Falcons.

Frank Reich has historically favored tight ends, with his teams ranking in the top 20 for tight end target share in 9 out of 10 seasons, suggesting Sadiq could see significant usage.

Since 2016, first-round tight ends have averaged a target share of 15.8%, which would place Sadiq around tight end 21 based on last year's data, but he could exceed that given his draft capital.

Kenyon Sadiq is a top 16 pick and has a strong case for being a productive tight end, especially given his landing spot and historical data supporting first-round tight ends' target shares.

Daniel Jones's fantasy value is uncertain as he is being drafted lower than his previous performance suggests, but his athleticism could lead to a bounce-back season if he stays healthy.

Despite a strong supporting cast last season, Sam Darnold's fantasy production was limited, and he may struggle to replicate that success with changes in the offense.

Cam Ward has the potential for a significant jump in performance with new weapons and a better offensive scheme under Brian Dayball, making him an intriguing fantasy option.

With anticipated changes in the offensive scheme and improved offensive line, Bryce Young could see increased passing volume and fantasy production in his second year.

CJ Stroud's fantasy outlook is limited by a run-heavy offense and a strong defense, making it difficult for him to achieve higher fantasy production.

Baker Mayfield's performance is highly variable, and losing Mike Evans could further hinder his ability to produce consistent fantasy numbers.

Jared Goff has been reliable and could be an upside quarterback two, especially with a strong supporting cast and improved offensive line, making him a solid option in favorable matchups.

Jordan Love has the potential to perform similarly to quarterbacks like Trevor Lawrence and Dak Prescott, but his lack of rushing usage and the Packers' low volume offense limit his fantasy upside.

Malik Willis has shown potential in a small sample size, and with a two-year contract, he may have a chance to develop further, especially compared to other quarterbacks.

Despite being drafted early, there is overwhelming data suggesting Justin Fields has not performed well in previous seasons, raising concerns about his fantasy viability.

Malik Willis is currently ranked as quarterback 17, but he has the potential to outperform that ADP due to his rushing ability and the new offensive scheme that could maximize his strengths.

Matthew Stafford finished last season as the quarterback three in points per game and has the potential to replicate that success this year, especially with the addition of Puka Nacua and a healthy offensive environment.

Brock Purdy has consistently finished higher than his current ranking of quarterback 13 in points per game over the last three seasons, and he remains a reliable fantasy option despite a tougher schedule this year.

Kyler Murray is currently being drafted as quarterback 17, which is too low considering his potential upside in a new offensive environment with the Minnesota Vikings. He has the ability to win weeks for fantasy managers.

Trevor Lawrence is projected to finish as the quarterback 11, significantly improving from his previous ranking of quarterback 19 last year. He was the quarterback one in points per game from week seven to the end of the year.

Dak Prescott is projected for over 4,000 passing yards this season, and with a healthy CeeDee Lamb, he is expected to have a strong performance.

Justin Herbert is being drafted as the 11th pick in the seventh round, which might be the best value at quarterback on the board given the significant improvements in his offensive line and coaching staff.

Drake May's arrow is pointing straight up as he enters his second year with Josh McDaniels, and the addition of A.J. Brown could significantly enhance his performance.

Jalen Hurts has been less effective against zone coverage, and with the departure of A.J. Brown, his ability to perform at a top-three quarterback level is in question.

Jalen Hurts is projected to score around 8.5 rushing touchdowns this season, which is a significant drop from his previous high of 13 rushing touchdowns in 2024. This decline raises concerns about his overall fantasy value.

Jayden Daniels, despite injury setbacks last season, has the potential to finish as a top fantasy quarterback due to his previous performance and new offensive scheme.

Caleb Williams is being drafted as the quarterback six but has the potential to be a top fantasy performer due to his scrambling ability and arm talent.

Joe Burrow is projected to have the highest touchdown total at 32.5 and is expected to surpass 4000 passing yards, making him a strong fantasy option this season.

Despite injury concerns, Lamar Jackson has the potential to bounce back and return to his previous elite form, especially with a new play caller in Declan Doyle.

Lamar Jackson is currently being drafted as the 53rd overall player in the middle of the fifth round, a significant drop from last year's 29th overall selection.

Josh Allen is currently the quarterback one and 27th overall player, showcasing consistent performance over the last four seasons despite a slight dip last year.