![\"FantasyPros](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Draft-Wizard-2026.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nFantasy Football Breakout Candidates Experts Love<\/p>\n
What RB has the best shot of having a breakout fantasy football year in 2026 and why?<\/p>\n
Omarion Hampton (RB \u2013 LAC)<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cOmarion Hampton finished his rookie season as RB16 in PPG over nine games (5 touchdowns), but he faced a tough situation. The Chargers were gutted by injuries to their offensive line and to their starting QB. The rookie RB dealt with his own injuries as well. But Hampton flashed enough upside to be worth buying into as a fantasy RB1 breakout behind a healthier\/revamped OL in 2026 with Mike McDaniel stepping in as the Chargers\u2019 new offensive coordinator. The former UNC product played four games with a 79%-plus snap share, averaging 17.5 PPG. The Bolts RB received bell-cow-level usage, averaging 17.3 touches per game (tied for top-12 at the position). Also played four games with five or more catches (7th in receptions per game at 3.6). PFF ranked him as the 8th-best graded rusher, finishing 11th in yards after contact per attempt (3.34). McDaniel\u2019s RB target shares in 4 years as Dolphins HC: 3rd, 7th, 3rd, and 3rd. I\u2019m also not overly concerned about Keaton Mitchell<\/a>\u2018s 3-5 touches per game. He has never seen more than 12 touches in a contest. And I\u2019d be surprised if we don\u2019t see Hampton hit the ground running, given he faces the Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders to open the 2026 season.\u201d \u201cThe pieces are in place for Omarion Hampton to soar into the rare air of elite fantasy RBs. Last season, the Chargers were beset by injuries, including Hampton, which derailed his fantasy prospects before he even had a chance to get started. The good news is that Hampton is healthy now. In addition, starting tackles Rashawn Slater<\/a> and Joe Alt<\/a> are also healthy and should provide valuable blocking to help the Chargers\u2019 offense take a huge step forward in 2026. With his ability to shed tackles and catch the ball out of the backfield, Hampton has the rare combination of talent and volume potential to be a rare fantasy bell-cow. If he can stay healthy, the sky is the limit for Omarion Hampton in 2026, imo. Honorable mention- Jeremiyah Love<\/a>.\u201d \u201cI think Omarion Hampton is a shoo-in RB1 this season. We\u2019ve seen what a featured back can do in a Mike McDaniel offense, with his RB1 finishing as the RB5 in three consecutive seasons (Mostert, Achane, Achane). Now McDaniel gets Hampton with first-round draft capital, an elite athletic profile, and rookie production that compares favorably to Jahmyr Gibbs<\/a> and Bijan Robinson<\/a>. Hampton averaged 16.2 PPR points per game in the seven games where he played more than 50% of the snaps, giving us an early glimpse of his fantasy ceiling. If the Chargers offense takes the leap I expect, Hampton has as good a chance as anyone to finish as the overall RB1 in fantasy football.\u201d Jonathon Brooks (RB \u2013 CAR)<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cMy answer for this has been and remains Jonathon Brooks. Brooks has had enough time recuperating from his second torn ACL that he should enter camp this season and Week 1 fully healthy. Chuba Hubbard<\/a> lost his starting job to Rico Dowdle<\/a> last season, and Carolina let him walk in the offseason. Outside of Brooks and Hubbard, Carolina has only Trevor Etienne<\/a> and A.J. Dillon<\/a> on the roster, so Carolina is heavily betting on Brooks to return to his collegiate form. Brooks could pull an Uncle Rico from last year and steal Hubbard\u2019s starting job in 2026. Just to remind everyone about the talent that Brooks has, in 2024 (his final collegiate season), he ranked 21st in yards after contact per attempt, ninth in elusive rating, and 21st in yards per route run (per PFF). I\u2019ll be drafting Brooks a ton this season.\u201d \u201cAmong the sleeper RBs who have yet to provide significant fantasy value, Jonathon Brooks is probably the best bet for a breakout. It might only be a matter of whether Brooks can stay healthy after tearing his right ACL twice \u2014 once in college, once in his rookie year \u2014 but there\u2019s optimism that the latest repair will keep Brooks\u2019 knee intact long-term. The Panthers let Rico Dowdle<\/a> walk and didn\u2019t make any significant additions at RB. Incumbent lead back Chuba Hubbard<\/a> averaged 3.8 yards per carry last year and was replaced by Dowdle in the starting lineup midway through the season. Brooks is a former second-round draft pick who showed some serious juice as Bijan Robinson<\/a>\u2018s replacement at the University of Texas. I think a healthy Brooks takes Hubbard\u2019s job.\u201d Bhayshul Tuten (RB \u2013 JAC)<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cFor me, it\u2019s Bhayshul Tuten. Tuten\u2019s value couldn\u2019t be nicer as the 25th RB off the board in the 5th round of drafts. For that value, you\u2019re staring down RB1 upside in Liam Coen\u2019s offense that just helped a 27-year-old Travis Etienne<\/a> to a PPR RB10 overall finish last season and a nice payday as the crown jewel of free agency for Kellen Moore and the New Orleans Saints. While it\u2019s unlikely Tuten sees as much work (and touchdowns \u2013 6) through the air as Etienne did, he\u2019s well-positioned to be the 1A back on an offense that was injured and off-balance in a still-productive 2025. I\u2019m expecting a massive return on your RB25 investment this season, with a pretty safe floor, regardless.\u201d \u201cIf it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, chances are, it\u2019s a duck. Bhayshul Tuten checks all the boxes for a breakout RB in 2026. We have a hyper athletic player who was sought after by the current regime in last year\u2019s draft. The incumbent veteran is now in New Orleans, leaving Tuten competing with former sixth-round pick Chris Rodriguez Jr.<\/a> There is a narrative that CRod is Liam Coen\u2019s guy. However, if he really was his guy, why did they make a push for JK Dobbins<\/a> before settling for CRod? Someone was always going to be added to this backfield, and CRod is one of the least scary veterans they could have signed. Tuten was very effective on the goalline last season, scoring four times on six carries inside the five. If he continues to thrive on the goalline and is the only back with a three-down skillset, we could be seeing an Austin Ekeler<\/a> situation coming to fruition.\u201d \u201cBhayshul Tuten has all of the ingredients fantasy managers would want when trying to create a breakout candidate. One, Tuten is headed into his second professional season with very limited tread on his tires in what should be a great Jaguars offense that averaged 27.9 points per game in 2025. Two, Tuten finds himself in an RB room void of a true workhorse after Travis Etienne<\/a>\u2018s departure this offseason. Three, his competition for touches is, for now, not too challenging, with Chris Rodriguez acting as his main competitor. A 1,000-yard rushing season is firmly on the cards for Tuten, and is right now extremely affordable as the RB25 in half-PPR ECR.\u201d Bucky Irving (RB \u2013 TB)<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cAfter a disaster of a season, considering the offensive firepower, the Bucs should be leaning on Bucky Irving going into 2026. Kenneth Gainwell<\/a> hasn\u2019t done much statistically or analytically in his entire career and is being paid below the starting RB salary. The new OC from the Falcons ranks top-5 in RB rushing attempts both years and gave 15 rushing touchdowns to his RBs last year. A poor coaching staff and preseason injuries hurt his breakout chances last year, but the sky is the limit in 2026. Every analytic and stat from his rookie year indicates he will excel when given the opportunity.\u201d Ashton Jeanty (RB \u2013 LV)<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cAshton Jeanty is going to finish as the RB1. I think the upgraded line and the eventual Fernando Mend0za era are going to be huge for the Raiders. Generational talent on a rising team. Take the shot, dawg. Reach for Jeanty.\u201d Blake Corum (RB \u2013 LAR)<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cBlake Corum is an ideal candidate for a 2026 breakout, especially given how efficient he was on limited touches last year. Serving as a highly productive complementary piece to Kyren Williams<\/a> in 2025, Corum logged 145 carries for 746 yards while quietly ranking fourth among all qualified backs with an elite 5.1 yards per carry. He fully recaptured his pre-injury explosiveness under Sean McVay. While his minimal passing-game usage (just 8 catches) keeps him primarily pegged as an early-down hammer, his structural upside is immense if Williams misses any time. Heading into Year 3 and high organizational trust, Corum provides a concrete path to elite fantasy production wrapped in a high-end handcuff profile.\u201d David Montgomery (RB \u2013 HOU)<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIs it possible for a 29-year-old running back to have a breakout year? I believe so, and that player is the newly signed starter for the Houston Texans, David Montgomery. Montgomery has shown the ability to run between the tackles, and, even with Jahmir Gibbs being the passing focus in Detroit, he has shown that he can catch the ball out of the backfield. The opportunities will increase in Houston due to his elite pass-blocking ability and lack of top-end talent. Houston signed him to be their workhorse back, and if that comes to fruition, he will easily outperform his current RB24 ranking and could rush for 1,200 yards, 10+ touchdowns, and add 500 yards in the air, all of which could make him a player on many championship teams!\u201d What WR has the best shot of having a breakout year in 2026 and why?<\/p>\n Jaylen Waddle (WR \u2013 DEN)<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIf Jaylen Waddle doesn\u2019t return to his prior form under Sean Payton, I\u2019ll eat my hat\u2026 as the kids say. In 2022, Waddle benefited from a perfect storm of a Tyreek Hill<\/a> nuclear season, a Mike McDaniel scheme master class, and a not-so-terrible Tua Tagovailoa<\/a>. Of course, since that PPR WR8 overall finish, he\u2019s managed to finish as just the WR34, 46, and 24 over the past 3 seasons. But Waddle\u2019s talents haven\u2019t diminished. And the speed he was known for when he was selected as the 6th overall player in the 2021 NFL Draft is still very much alive. In Denver, Waddle is set to thrive. A WR1 season is very much in the range of outcomes for a wideout in his prime in Mile High.\u201d Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR \u2013 ARI)<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cA lot of fantasy analysts are writing Marvin Harrison Jr. off as a bust. I think that\u2019s a mistake. Arizona has a new head coach this season, Mike LaFleur. LaFleur comes over from Los Angeles under the tutelage of offensive wiz Sean McVay. McVay\u2019s offense features a pass-oriented attack, the same one where a fantasy star WR named Puka plays. In addition, the Cardinals added more juice to the offense with RB Jeremiyah Love<\/a> and bolstered their line with Guard Chase Bisontis<\/a>. With a consensus ranking at WR 32, Harrison seems cheap given his talent and the potential of an improved Cardinals\u2019 offense in 2026.\u201d Ricky Pearsall (WR \u2013 SF)<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI know we\u2019ve been down this road before, and it\u2019s precarious, but I\u2019m calling this the season that Ricky Pearsall finally stays healthy and breaks out in a big way for the 49ers.\u00a0Pearsall is reaching make-or-break territory. Last year was another injury-marred campaign, as he was limited to nine games played with a PCL sprain that plagued him all year, essentially. Pearsall still flashed when he was on the field, with four top-24 weekly finishes in those nine games (WR20, WR11, WR21, WR22). Last year, Pearsall only drew a 17.4% target share, but he averaged 58.7 receiving yards with 2.02 yards per route run and 0.103 first downs per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). Last year, among 109 qualifying receivers, Pearsall ranked 23rd in yards per route run and 22nd in first downs per route run. On a per-route basis, Pearsall was excellent. Yes, Mike Evans<\/a> was added to this offense along with Christian Kirk<\/a> and De\u2019Zhaun Stribling<\/a>. I don\u2019t see Kirk or Stribling impacting Pearsall\u2019s role and volume in this offense if he can stay healthy. If Pearsall can finally put together a full, healthy 17-game season, this could be his time to shine.\u201d \u201cRicky Pearsall. I\u2019m happy to bet on an ultra-athletic former first-round pick who\u2019s been waylaid by injuries but has shown some intriguing flashes. Pearsall was shot in a robbery attempt in late August of his rookie year, so he missed the early part of the season and never really got full traction, but he had 14 catches for 210 yards and two touchdowns in the 49ers\u2019 last two regular-season games. Last year, Pearsall went over 100 yards in two of his first three games. Then he injured his PCL in Week 4, didn\u2019t come back until Week 11, and wasn\u2019t himself upon his return. But once again, Pearsall flashed at the end of the season, with 11 catches for 181 yards in the last two regular-season games he played. Mike Evans<\/a> is expected to be San Francisco\u2019s lead receiver, but Evans will be 33 this season and has dealt with injuries the last two seasons. Star TE George Kittle<\/a> turns 33 in October and is coming back from a torn Achilles. Pearsall is a worthy breakout candidate.\u201d Christian Watson (WR \u2013 GB)<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cChristian Watson has had breakout games but not a breakout year yet. First, it was the hamstrings, then it was the ACL tear, and this year, he was given the stamp of confidence with the new contract. He was given almost double what Reed was paid, and the Packers have historically waited until at least year 3 to feature receivers, which knocks Matthew Golden<\/a> out of the equation for this year. Two of the top 3 receivers in terms of yards are gone from this team, and the next most talented is coming off a late-season ACL tear. He ranked 11th in PFF grade last year, is entering the prime years for receivers, and has had ridiculous efficiency when on the field.\u201d \u201cChristian Watson could be the only player to ever return from an ACL injury better than before he was injured! He returned in week 8 of the 2025 season with 4 receptions for 85 yards, showing he didn\u2019t lose a step, and possibly gained one! He spent the rest of the season building chemistry with Jordan Love<\/a>, finishing with 35 receptions for 611 yards and 6 touchdowns (if he\u2019d played the entire year, those stats would\u2019ve doubled)! Gone are Romeo Doubs<\/a> and Dontayvion Wicks<\/a> and their 85 targets, leaving Watson at the top of the Green Bay wide receiver room and primed to have a major breakout, dare I say WR1 season, as the top target for Love in a potent Green Bay offense!\u201d Rome Odunze (WR \u2013 CHI)<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cRome Odunze showed WR1 upside last year. As long as he stays healthy, he will be the biggest benefactor of the post-DJ Moore<\/a> era.\u201d Josh Downs (WR \u2013 IND)<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThe fantasy community has already crowned Luther Burden as THE breakout receiver for this season. However, we have been overlooking the potential of Josh Downs. With Michael Pittman Jr.<\/a> now in Pittsburgh and Alec Pierce<\/a> continuing to recover from his offseason shoulder surgery, Downs is operating as the only established receiver so far in camp. Many have shaken their fist at the lack of utilization Downs has had in the past. However, this opportunity may force their hand into using him around the formation. Add in Daniel Jones<\/a> likely being more comfortable throwing short coming off his torn Achilles, and there could be a hefty dose of targets for the fourth-year receiver.\u201d \u201cMy easy answer is Josh Downs. The talent profile has been screaming breakout for two years now: a 0.25 career TPRR places him alongside some of the league\u2019s elite young receivers, and he\u2019s accomplished that while operating almost exclusively from three-wide sets. With Michael Pittman Jr.<\/a> gone, and coach Shane Steichen publicly discussing a more expansive role, Downs finally appears positioned for the full-time deployment that us truthers have been waiting on. The key nuance is that \u201cfull-time\u201d does not necessarily mean abandoning the slot; formation and personnel usage are two different conversations, and Indianapolis can easily keep Downs in the slot in 2WR looks while still dramatically increasing his snap share. If that happens, Downs has a legitimate path to leading the Colts in targets and emerging as one of fantasy\u2019s biggest winners in 2026.\u201d Emeka Egbuka (WR \u2013 TB)<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThe former Ohio State product had a tumultuous rookie campaign, finishing WR19 overall and WR31 in PPG with 9.7 half-PPR PPG across a full 17-game season. He commanded a 23% target share and 126 total targets (top 10 overall) \u2014 very strong for a first-year player \u2014 and averaged 55 receiving yards\/game with 6 TDs and 14 red-zone targets. Emeka Egbuka came out of the gates red hot and looked like a sure-fire lock to win offensive rookie of the year with a healthy Baker Mayfield<\/a>. Through Week 11, Egbuka was a top-10 fantasy WR. But, as in real life, success doesn\u2019t always remain linear. Injuries caught up with the Bucs, and Egbuka barely stumbled across the finish line. He ranked outside the top-60 WRs in PPG after Week 12. With some bizarre usage as well, such as running fewer routes than Jalen McMillan<\/a> late into the year. The saving grace was that the fantasy production fall-off was mostly volume-driven when Mike Evans<\/a> returned to the lineup. Egbuka\u2019s efficiency was still solid with the Bucs alpha WR1 back in the lineup, and that is encouraging as we project him forward. Tampa Bay heads into 2026 top 10 in both vacated air yards and targets, with the departure of Evans likely expanding Egbuka\u2019s role in his second year. The young WR\u2019s splits without Evans highlight just how much his role expanded in those situations. In games without Evans, Egbuka averaged: 8.5 targets per game (up from 6.25), 4 receptions per game (up from 3.4), 63 receiving yards\/game (up from 46.5), and 12.3 fantasy PPG (up from 10.4). New Bucs OC Zac Robinson has already compared Egbuka to Cooper Kupp<\/a> and said that he will likely settle into the Z-spot in the passing attack.\u201d Luther Burden III (WR \u2013 CHI)<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cLuther Burden has the tools for a second-year explosion in Chicago. Despite limited opportunities as a rookie in 2025, he posted an elite 2.69 yards per route run, showcasing absolute efficiency whenever the ball came his way. The massive catalyst for a 2026 breakout is the departure of DJ Moore<\/a>, which completely vacuums up a dominant share of targets to be split between Burden and Rome Odunze<\/a>, along with Colston Loveland<\/a>. With Ben Johnson<\/a> executing the offense and Caleb Williams<\/a> expected to take a monumental leap, Burden\u2019s game-wrecking elusiveness after the catch makes him an absolute lock for a high-volume breakout.\u201d Isaac TeSlaa (WR \u2013 DET)<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cDespite being the WR3 on the Detroit Lions depth chart, there is a pathway for Isaac TeSlaa to earn even more work in 2026. TeSlaa was a red zone monster down the stretch in 2025, scoring in four of his last six outings. Amon-Ra St. Brown<\/a> and Jameson Williams<\/a> are firmly entrenched atop the Lions depth chart, but injury can create opportunity, and TeSlaa would be in a prime position to cash in. Currently going undrafted and ranking as the WR70 in half-PPR ECR, he is a worthy dart throw that could hit big if given a greater opportunity in 2026.\u201d What QB or TE has the best shot of having a breakout year in 2026 and why?<\/p>\n Greg Dulcich (TE \u2013 MIA)<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cGreg Dulcich could be THE late-round tight end to draft in 2026. Last year, he was absolutely awesome when on the field. Among 59 qualifying tight ends, he was fifth in target-per-route-run rate (24%), second in yards per route run (2.64) and yards after the catch per reception (7.69), fifth in first downs per route run (0.110), and sixth in fantasy points per route run (0.50, per Fantasy Points Data). Miami is starved for capable pass catchers for Malik Willis<\/a>, and with only Will Kacmarek<\/a>, Seydou Traore<\/a>, and Ben Sims<\/a> behind him on the tight end depth chart, Dulcich should be the Dolphins\u2019 every-down tight end. I won\u2019t be surprised if he finishes the season as a TE1.\u201d \u201cGreg Dulcich was a popular name during his early years in Denver, but he never lived up to fantasy owners\u2019 expectations. After a brief stop with the Giants, he is now the TE1 for the Miami Dolphins. There could not be a more perfect situation for Dulcich than with a Dolphins team that many are expecting to contend for the top draft pick. Last year, the Dolphins had 474 passing targets, with over 200 of those going to players no longer on the team. Malik Willis<\/a> will be running a lot this year, will still have Achane to drop pass off to, but will need another reliable player to dump the ball off to if the Dolphins have any chance of moving the chains or scoring. That player will be Greg Dulcich<\/a>, who will be a steal for owners in either the last round of drafts or even off waivers!\u201d \u201cLooking at the current Average Draft Position, it\u2019s hard to say Colston Loveland<\/a> hasn\u2019t already broken out. Although he would be the answer for 98% of fantasy players (including myself), he is not the only answer. Greg Dulcich could find his long-awaited fantasy breakout on his second NFL team. So far, there have been multiple reports of the veteran TE being Malik Willis<\/a>\u2018 favorite target. Exactly how valuable Willis\u2019 top target is has yet to be determined. However, with two rookies and Malik Washington<\/a> competing for targets, Dulcich could be the second option behind De\u2019Von Achane<\/a> on this offense. With his career being derailed by injuries, a healthy season in this environment could provide decent fantasy production.\u201d Colston Loveland (TE \u2013 CHI)<\/a> | Isaiah Likely (TE \u2013 NYG)<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cColston Loveland started breaking out at the end of last season. I think he could take another step forward and enter the elite fantasy TE conversation, especially with departed veteran WR D.J. Moore, who left for Buffalo in the offseason. As for Isaiah Likely, when he had opportunities in Baltimore, he produced, and now the same coach he played for in Baltimore (John Harbaugh) brought Likely in to play for him in New York. It also sounds like the Giants are concerned about Malik Nabers<\/a> being ready for the start of 2026. I\u2019ve heard that Nabers might not be 100% until 2027. Likely could come in and play as a big slot WR for New York, who also lost WR WanDale Robinson in free agency.\u201d \u201cIsaiah Likely has never had a 500-yard season in the NFL, but he\u2019ll get a chance to become a major contributor for the Giants this year. Likely has flashed serious potential. He had nine catches for 111 yards and a touchdown in the Ravens\u2019 nationally televised season opener against the Chiefs in 2024, and Likely almost had a second touchdown at the end of regulation but couldn\u2019t keep both feet inbounds on a near-circus catch. Likely is out of Mark Andrews<\/a>\u2018 shadow in Baltimore and has a chance to be the Giants\u2019 No. 2 target earner \u2013 and perhaps their No. 1 target earner in the early part of the season if Malik Nabers<\/a> hasn\u2019t fully recovered from a 2025 ACL tear that required cleanup surgery in spring of 2026.\u201d Kyle Pitts (TE \u2013 ATL)<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cCan we call it a breakout if the player in question has already broken out twice? I say we can if the general public continues disrespecting the talent. And that\u2019s exactly what is happening with Kyle Pitts, the consensus TE8 so far this offseason. Last year\u2019s TE2 overall exploded down the stretch, carrying many managers to their championship matchups. And, he\u2019s now got a new offensive-minded coaching staff that knows how to put tight ends in position to succeed. Add to this that the run game should still set up the passing game and that the addition of Tua Tagovailoa<\/a> promises to prioritize the short game and accuracy, and the recipe for another Pitts gem is already written. Don\u2019t let strange biases against a player keep you from grabbing the value. Kyle Pitts<\/a> broke out as a rookie. He broke out again 3 years later in a tough situation. Now, he\u2019s poised to break out as an upper-echelon TE that you can rely on for years to come. Book it and bank on Pitts in 2026.\u201d Sam LaPorta (TE \u2013 DET)<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cSam LaPorta has kind of had a breakout already, but has not been recognized as a top tight end in the league yet. The Lions have a new OC who is experienced and led the NFL in pass attempts by a large margin last year. His tight end even set a record for receptions in a year in 2025. David Montgomery<\/a> is gone, and when targets don\u2019t go to running backs, they usually go to tight ends. His competition is reduced this year, and if there were an injury to St Brown or Jameson, he would be close to Bowers in value.\u201d Caleb Williams (QB \u2013 CHI)<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cCaleb Williams is a popular pick here, but it\u2019s for good reason. This Bears team is legit Super Bowl contenders, and this Ben Johnson O has just scratched the surface of what it can do in this league. The Williams MVP chatter is warranted.\u201d Chig Okonkwo (TE \u2013 WAS)<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cChig Okonkwo has had 50-plus catches in three straight seasons. He has a highly durable NFL injury history, appearing in all 17 games in each of his first four professional seasons. Now, the super-underrated tight end has Jayden Daniels<\/a> throwing him the ball after signing a LUCRATIVE free-agent deal with the Washington Commanders (3 years for $27 million). Okonkwo\u2019s YAC-ability and potential to be the No. 2 target in the nation\u2019s capital are teeing him up to break out in 2026. The YAC metric for tight ends was one of the reasons I was drawn to Tucker Kraft<\/a> over the last two years. Okonkwo: 3rd in YAC\/reception in 2025 (6.2) & 1st in YAC\/reception as a rookie in 2022 (7.8).\u201d Brenton Strange (TE \u2013 JAC)<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cBrenton Strange is primed for a breakout in 2026 after the Jaguars fully committed to him as one of their focal points. Taking over the primary tight end role last season, he caught 46 passes for 540 yards in just 12 games. Jacksonville just backed up this late-season surge by signing him to a massive three-year, $48 million extension, cementing his high-volume role in Liam Coen\u2019s ascendant offense. Operating as Trevor Lawrence<\/a>\u2018s clear safety blanket, his jump in route participation makes him a lock to smash his previous 60-target ceiling and command elite PPR volume.\u201d Gunnar Helm (TE \u2013 TEN)<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cGunnar Helm has intriguing upside that fantasy managers should take a good look at. Chig Okonkwo<\/a> is now in Washington, leaving the second-year man atop the Titans TE depth chart with Daniel Bellinger<\/a> and Kylen Granson<\/a> a part of that room. A Helm breakout would require Cam Ward<\/a> to take a massive step forward, but the ingredients are there for it to happen. The Titans have spent the majority of the offseason surrounding Ward with better talent, namely by bringing in Carnell Tate<\/a> and Wan\u2019Dale Robinson<\/a>. If Helm can fend off the competition and become a go-to target for Ward, he will be a name that gathers weekly attention for fantasy lineups.\u201d Subscribe:\u00a0YouTube<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Spotify<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Apple Podcasts<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0iHeart<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Castbox<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Amazon Music<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Podcast Addict<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0TuneIn<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2013 Andrew Erickson<\/a> (FantasyPros<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\u2013 Mark Ringo<\/a> (Sleepers and Busts<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\u2013 James Emrick-Wilson<\/a> (The Armchair Sports Corner<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\u2013 Derek Brown<\/a> (FantasyPros<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\u2013 Pat Fitzmaurice<\/a> (FantasyPros<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\u2013 Jeremy Shulman<\/a> (Fantasy Football Universe<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\u2013 Ellis Johnson<\/a> (FantasyPros<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\u2013 Ed Birdsall <\/a>(Talking Points Sports<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\u2013 Justin Weigal<\/a> (FantasySharks<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\u2013 Fantasy Football Goonz<\/a> (Fantasy Football Goonz<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\u2013 Lawrence Iacona<\/a> (The Architect\u2019s War Room<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\u2013 Adam Dove<\/a> (The Fantasy Couriers<\/a>)<\/p>\n![\"dynasty](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/dynasty_free_trial_tools.jpg\")
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\u2013 Jeremy Shulman<\/a> (Fantasy Football Universe<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\u2013 Mark Ringo<\/a> (Sleepers and Busts<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\u2013 Derek Brown<\/a> (FantasyPros<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\u2013 Pat Fitzmaurice<\/a> (FantasyPros<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\u2013 Justin Weigal<\/a> (FantasySharks<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\u2013 Adam Dove<\/a> (The Fantasy Couriers<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\u2013 Fantasy Football Goonz<\/a> (Fantasy Football Goonz<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\u2013 Ellis Johnson<\/a> (FantasyPros<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\u2013 James Emrick-Wilson<\/a> (The Armchair Sports Corner<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\u2013 Andrew Erickson<\/a> (FantasyPros<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\u2013 Lawrence Iacona<\/a> (The Architect\u2019s War Room<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\u2013 Ed Birdsall <\/a>(Talking Points Sports<\/a>)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/nfl_discord_fantasy_football.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2013 Derek Brown<\/a> (FantasyPros<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\u2013 Adam Dove<\/a> (The Fantasy Couriers<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\u2013 Ellis Johnson<\/a> (FantasyPros<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\u2013 Mark Ringo<\/a> (Sleepers and Busts<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\u2013 Pat Fitzmaurice<\/a> (FantasyPros<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\u2013 Jeremy Shulman<\/a> (Fantasy Football Universe<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\u2013 Justin Weigal<\/a> (FantasySharks<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\u2013 Fantasy Football Goonz<\/a> (Fantasy Football Goonz<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\u2013 Andrew Erickson<\/a> (FantasyPros<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\u2013 Lawrence Iacona<\/a> (The Architect\u2019s War Room<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\u2013 Ed Birdsall <\/a>(Talking Points Sports<\/a>)<\/p>\n![\"Fantasy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/fantasy_football_draft_cheat_sheet-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n