Top 12 Bold Fantasy Football Predictions (2026) with John Hansen!

Antonio Williams is viewed as a minor option later in drafts but is not expected to significantly challenge McLaurin for targets on Washington.

Mayfield played hurt last year, suggesting he could see improved performance in 2026 if fully healthy, contributing to expected passing yard increases.

Baker Mayfield was playing hurt last year, which is being cited as context for why passing attacks may improve this season.

Baker Mayfield is mentioned as having low-end quarterback one upside and can be considered as a late-round quarterback option with potential.

Baker Mayfield is among 22 quarterbacks with low-end QB1 upside this year, representing exceptional depth at the position.

Brian O'Neill at right tackle is viewed favorably despite being in a contract impact situation.

Bowers is projected to finish as TE1 and outscore the TE2 by 3-5 points per game, with a 2022 Kelce or 2025 McBride-like dominant season.

Bowers is projected to outscore the tight end position by 3-5 points per game this season due to improved quarterback play and better play-calling from Clint Kubiak.

Bowers is not a traditional tight end but a wide receiver playing at the tight end position, with elite receiving ability and versatility.

Bowers is not a traditional tight end but rather a wide receiver that can be played at the tight end position, giving him unique positional flexibility.

Bowers' fantasy point ceiling is historically high, with only Rob Gronkowski having scored more fantasy points at the tight end position.

Only Rob Gronkowski has scored more fantasy points per game in his first two seasons than Bowers, making him historically elite among tight ends in their first two years.

Bowers has transcendent upside this season and the analyst is absolutely drafting him as much as possible in the second round.

Bowers is expected to see 5-7 catches every single week this season, indicating consistent high-volume usage.

Bowers is a steal in round three and even at the end of the second round, representing strong value for a tight end drafted that early.

Brock Purdy is cited as part of a strong quarterback position landscape heading into the season.

Brock Purdy has a career 6% touchdown rate and nearly nine yards per pass attempt, with a 7% touchdown rate in three out of four seasons, demonstrating elite efficiency under Kyle Shanahan.

Analyst projects Brock Purdy to finish as a top five quarterback in fantasy and throw a career-high in touchdowns, pushing into the high 30s compared to his previous career-high of 31.

Brock Purdy is QB5 in fantasy points per game over the last three years, outscoring Joe Burrow by one-tenth of a point, yet is being drafted at QB12-QB13 ADP despite consistently finishing in the top eight.

Brock Purdy's upside projection is 43 total touchdowns (37.5 passing, 5.5 rushing) if the 49ers have an ideal season, based on his 17-game pace from nine games played last year.

Brock Purdy finished top five in fantasy points per game and is going about a round or two behind Dak Prescott in ADP, which the analyst believes is a mistake.

Bryce Young is averaging only 180 yards per game passing in his entire career, and the analyst notes this is the one big thing that could hold Chuba Hubbard back, as Young needs to take a big step forward.

CJ Stroud is expected to struggle in 2026 as Arizona is in a rough spot.

Caleb Douglas is liked as a deep sleeper option in Miami's receiving corps.

Williams is positioned for improvement in year two with Ben Johnson as offensive coordinator, part of a broader trend of QB play caller upgrades.

Caleb Williams is in a really good environment and is part of the strong quarterback landscape this season.

Chris Bell is liked as a last-round best ball pick with potential upside as a stacking partner for Malik Willis.

Christian Darrisaw is the best left tackle the Vikings have had in decades and could be a top-three left tackle if healthy.

Christian Kirk will likely see reduced snap share (40-50%) compared to previous years and serve as a chain mover, but may need to play more early in the season with KD out, and the analyst likes having him in the offense because he makes plays.

Chuba Hubbard is a bold pick to finish as an RB2 in round seven; his past breakout seasons have been derailed by injuries (calf strain, admitted coming back too quick), but a clean bill of health should unlock his potential with 225+ touches expected.

Hubbard will be the pass-pro option early in the season over Jonathan Brooks, who is coming off two ACLs, and the analyst doesn't expect Brooks to get 200+ carries early despite the Panthers' running backs combining for 400+ carries and 90+ targets last year.

Hubbard is just one season removed from an RB15 finish with 293 touches and 11 touchdowns, and was top 10 in EPA per attempt and RB7 in yards after contact per carry in 2024.

Loveland has more target competition than Warren, which is cited as a reason why Warren could be ranked above him despite Loveland being a solid option.

When Darren Waller went down last year, Malik Willis threw it to Gregory Dosich, demonstrating Dosich's role as a big-bodied receiver in the middle of the field.

DK Metcalf had poor efficiency in 2025 with 1.46 yards per route run (43rd out of 76 WRs with 50+ targets), though he was 16th best against zone coverage at 2.40 yards per route run.

Metcalf's 1.46 yards per route run ranked only 43rd out of 76 WRs with 50+ targets in 2025, and he's projected to struggle with Aaron Rodgers' limited deep-throw ability (59th in ADoT, 46th in deep throw percentage).

Metcalf has never paid off his ADP in any year and is a boom-bust player better suited for best ball than season leagues, with inconsistent weekly production.

Donovan Jackson is viewed as very good as part of the Vikings' offensive line.

George Kittle is ahead of schedule in his Achilles recovery thanks to cutting-edge surgery, with the same doctor who treated Jason Tatum, and is expected to be fully healthy by November-December when fantasy football money is made.

J.J. McCarthy suffered an injury and has not played since, with Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell appearing to distance himself from McCarthy by 2026 despite being evasive in his praise during training camp and preseason in 2024.

The Vikings offense put a lot of pressure on J.J. McCarthy, and the team desperately needed a better run game to help even out the offense and take some pressure off the quarterback.

J.J. McCarthy was third from last in catchable throw rate at 69% last year, with only Michael Pennix and Shadur Sanders posting lower rates, indicating significant accuracy and decision-making issues.

Jalen Nailor is described as a tremendous third receiver in the Vikings' top-tier receiving trio.

Jaylen Tolbert is fine as a flanker in Miami's receiving corps but is not a primary target option.

Jaden Daniels' injury concerns are legitimate; he missed twice as many games last year as in his previous six seasons combined, making him a risky investment despite his talent.

Jaylen Daniels was sixth in catchable throw rate in his rookie season and bottom five in turnover worthy throw rate, making good decisions and throwing catchable passes despite last year's injury struggles.

Jaden Daniels was sixth in catchable throw rate in his rookie season (two years ago), behind only Joe Burrow, Tua, Baker Mayfield, and Jared Goff, and was bottom five in turnover-worthy throw rate, indicating strong decision-making.

Jordan Love missed time last year, cited as context for potential improvement in passing attacks this season.

Love missed time last year but is expected to be available heading into 2026, positioning him to contribute to the expected increase in passing yards league-wide.

Jordan Mason is expected to be a bigger factor in the Vikings' running back room than people think.

Josh Allen was essentially the only quarterback worth drafting early last year, as other early-drafted quarterbacks either got injured or underperformed their ADP.

Josh Allen was the only quarterback who lived up to expectations last year; if you didn't draft him early, everybody else either got hurt or didn't live up to their ADP.

Herbert is expected to see a massive play caller boost with Mike McDaniel, positioning him for improved performance in 2026.

Justin Herbert is part of the improving quarterback landscape and is expected to take another step this season.

Justin Jefferson is part of one of the top three receiving trios in the league alongside Addison and Nailor.

Kyler Murray is expected to bounce back this season.

Kyler Murray will be a QB1 in 2026 due to a change of scenery with the Vikings, improved salary cap situation, and his historical consistency as a top-12 quarterback in four straight seasons prior to last year.

Kyler Murray is amazing at extending plays and scramble drills, with all of his rate stats being better than his overall performance suggests.

Kyler Murray has finished as a top 12 quarterback in four straight seasons prior to last year, consistently finishing around QB8 every single year with reliable fantasy production.

Kyler Murray is projected as QB17-QB18 for the upcoming season, with the analyst expressing confidence that he will hold this job all year unless he gets injured or is legitimately terrible.

John Hansen projects Kyler Murray to finish as a top 12 quarterback in fantasy, assuming he stays healthy and doesn't play significantly worse than last year.

Malik Washington is described as stinking and is not a viable fantasy option; the Miami receiving core is essentially a field stretcher with Atwell.

Malik Washington has failed to step up as a replacement target after the Tyreek Hill trade, with the team trying unsuccessfully to develop him for two years.

Malik Willis is among 22 quarterbacks with low-end QB1 upside this year and has made clear progress as a passer with a 94.3% catchable throw rate last year.

Malik Willis is mentioned as having low-end quarterback one upside and can be considered as a late-round quarterback option with potential.

Marcus Mariota played well last year as a backup and deserves consideration for another chance as a starter, providing a strong floor for Washington's offense if Jaden Daniels goes down.

Marcus Mariota is not anything special, though he provides a floor for the Browns compared to teams without backup quarterback depth.

Pitman is significantly undervalued at WR44-45 ADP and should be going very close to or ahead of DK Metcalf based on target share projections and fit with Aaron Rodgers' aging arm.

With 40% of targets gone from the Colts, Pitman—who saw about 90% of his targets in the short to intermediate area—is expected to be their true volume receiver.

Pitman is projected to outscore DK Metcalf by a few points per game and fits the current Colts offense and Rodgers' playing style better than Metcalf.

Pitman is projected to earn more targets than Amika Abuka, George Pickens, Roma Donavy, and T. Higgins this season, continuing his history as a consistent target earner.

Mike Evans is described as a touchdown machine in the context of Brock Purdy's 49ers offense.

Mahomes is coming back fully healthy and should be ready for week one, removing injury concerns heading into the 2026 season.

Ricky Pearsall has a chance to really break out in year three of his career with the 49ers.

Sam Darnold's career 3.5% passing touchdown rate and 6.5 YPA are inferior to Kyler Murray's rate stats, which have been better throughout his entire career.

T.J. Hockenson has been a buzzkill but is still capable at the very least for the Vikings.

Author projects Terry McLaurin to beat his ADP (end of 4th/early 5th round), have a career year, and finish as a top 12 wide receiver in fantasy points per game, with potential to reach 120-140 targets given the lack of target competition on Washington.

McLaurin is undervalued at his current ADP in the end of 4th/early 5th round and represents strong value given his historical production (five straight years of 1,000+ yards and 77+ receptions) and improved situation.

McLaurin will be the clear lead target on Washington with minimal competition from Trayon Burks, Antonio Williams, or Chico Conquo, and will move around the formation more under new offensive coordinator David Blau rather than being static at the X position.

Author's only concern with McLaurin is his age—he'll be 31 this season—which could impact his ability to capitalize on the improved situation.

McLaurin benefits from one of the best backup quarterback situations in the league with Marcus Mariota, who played well last year and clicked with McLaurin when Jaden Daniels was injured.

The analyst is all in on Terry McLaurin for 2026, expressing strong confidence in his outlook.

Lawrence is in an interesting spot in year two with Liam Cohen as offensive coordinator, expected to benefit from continuity and scheme familiarity.

Trevor Lawrence has taken time to develop but is expected to take another step this season as part of the improving quarterback landscape.

McBride is getting cheaper and is a pretty decent pick in the middle of the third round where he's trending down, though he's a significant tier below Bowers in projection.