Depth Chart Battles
Sometimes the difference between being a team’s WR2 and WR3 can mean seeing 80% of snaps vs seeing 60% of snaps. When that happens during the season, having a guy on your roster who sees a 33% jump in opportunities can really help your team. If you’re trying to manage bye weeks, or one of your normal starters misses some time. A surprise production boost from a wide receiver or running back on your bench could help you win those weeks leading up to the playoffs and move you from the outside looking in to a championship run.
Parker Washington started the 2025 season as Travis Hunter’s backup. After injuries on the defensive side of the ball, Hunter became a primarily defensive player. Parker Washington made the most of this opportunity, and after their bye week, Washington went from averaging 7.2 points per game to 14.9 points per game. If you picked up Washington early, or if you were in a pinch and claimed him on waivers, he probably helped you either avoid the toilet bowl or got you to the playoffs, and scored you 19 points in the championship. For 2026, Washington now looks like the first look in Jacksonville, and he’s the latest example of an in-season position battle that can change the fantasy outlook for a receiver room.
Luther Burden became the offseason sweetheart this year after posting incredible advanced metrics to finish last season. Burden quickly jumped up draft boards and is currently being drafted near the beginning of round five. Burden moved up the depth chart after DJ Moore missed time in December of 2025. Burden stepped in during his absence, and this offseason Moore was traded to the Buffalo Bills as they had found his replacement in Luther Burden. With the Bears’ goal of scoring more points per game than any team has in the past, Burden’s explosiveness could see him outproduce his draft price.
Jonathon Brooks enters the season as a player that many drafters are keeping an eye on. Brooks was the first RB drafted in 2024 and has hardly seen the field while dealing with two separate ACL tears in two consecutive seasons. Brooks enters year 3 and is expected to take this job over from veteran Chuba Hubbard. Hubbard lost his starting role and regained it last year while competing for touches with Rico Dowdle. This year Brooks looks to overtake Hubbard on the depth chart behind one of the most overlooked offensive lines in the league.
Blake Corum started taking more work from Kyren Williams in the back half of last season, increasing his snap percentage from 25% to as high as 46%. This trend could continue as some reports say Corum could be the 1A on the depth chart ahead of Kyren Williams by the end of the season. If you draft Corum in the 8th or 9th round and secure your RB3 for the first half of the season, he could turn into a solid RB1 or RB2 option down the stretch and into the playoffs.
Injuries and Recovery
One of the most painful experiences for fantasy managers is getting the notification that says their first-round draft pick will miss the rest of the season. You might as well call the whole season a loss. If you’ve been playing fantasy football for more than a couple of years, you know the feeling.
During training camp, fantasy managers panicked when reports surfaced that running back Ashton Jeanty was down on the field after diving for a ball. When he stood, he could not put any pressure on it. Players on the team gathered in a circle around him, praying the injury wouldn’t keep him off the field long-term. Fortunately, Jeanty suffered a sprained ankle instead of what some were guessing was a torn ACL or Achilles, which would have ended his sophomore season before it started.
The same week, video surfaced from Bengals camp of Ja’Marr Chase jumping for a contested ball and coming down awkwardly on his left leg. He began crawling toward the sideline before being helped to his feet, and then falling back to the ground once he was off the field. He was later seen walking off the field with some of his teammates, apparently fine. Reports later surfaced stating it was a hyperextension of the knee, and he shouldn’t miss any time because of it.
Saints rookie wide receiver Jordyn Tyson looked like one of the best receivers in this draft class. When reports surfaced that he strained his hamstring and would miss roughly two months of the season, his draft price plummeted. Tyson is a great option at the end of your draft this year. Yes, he’ll miss time; yes, he’ll need to ramp up as he returns; but once he’s back, he could be a great flex option. Most leagues have a dedicated IR roster spot, and if you can take Tyson with your last pick and add another option to your bench, you could be one step ahead come mid-November.
But it’s not just the injuries suffered leading up to the regular season and in training camp. Prior injuries and health conditions can also limit a player’s production. San Francisco 49ers superstar running back Christian McCaffrey was kept off the field in 2024 due to Bilateral Achilles Tendinitis that flared up during training camp. McCaffrey was drafted as though he would be ready to go in Week 1. McCaffrey didn’t see the field until Week 10. But his time on the field was short-lived. He played over 80% of snaps from Week 10 to Week 12, and left their Week 13 game against the Buffalo Bills early. He did not return for the rest of the season. Injuries can derail your fantasy team; avoiding them is just a matter of luck.
Knowing what’s going on around the league can be daunting. And keeping up with dozens of NFL beat reporters and staying in the know during camp and the regular season takes time and effort. You don’t need to know it all, but you need to find places where you can gain an advantage. If you can gain an advantage, you might find your friends calling you, Champion.
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