6 Fantasy Football Players the Projections Love in 2026

Fantasy football projections aren’t designed to predict the future perfectly. They’re designed to remove bias.

That’s what made this discussion so interesting.

The FantasyPros crew dug into several players whose projections stand out compared to consensus rankings, creating opportunities for fantasy managers to identify potential values and hidden risks before draft season reaches full speed.

2026 Fantasy Football Projections Love These Players

Some of these names generated excitement. Others created healthy skepticism. But all six players offer insight into how projections view the upcoming season.

Let’s break down the biggest projection standouts and what fantasy managers should take away from each one.

Quinshon Judkins (RB – CLE)

Quinshon Judkins may be one of the biggest beneficiaries of projection-based optimism.

The discussion centered on expected volume, with projections forecasting a true bell-cow workload in what should be a run-heavy offense. The analysts pointed to Judkins’ fit within the offensive structure, highlighting his ability to handle a significant rushing workload while also contributing in the passing game.

The FantasyPros projections project more than 1,000 rushing yards, over 290 carries, and eight rushing touchdowns.

What’s notable is that even analysts who considered themselves aggressive on Judkins found the projections even more bullish than expected.

There was some caution, however.

Questions remain about his recovery from the injury suffered late last season, along with concerns about offensive line continuity. Even so, the overall expectation is that volume should not be an issue.

For fantasy managers, the takeaway is simple: the projections view Judkins as a foundational piece of Cleveland’s offense.

Colston Loveland (TE – CHI)

Few players generated more excitement than Colston Loveland.

Across projections, rankings, and analyst opinion, Loveland consistently appeared near the top of the tight end position. The projections forecast roughly 80 receptions, nearly 950 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns.

That’s already elite territory.

What made the discussion especially interesting was the belief that those numbers may not represent Loveland’s ceiling.

The analysts highlighted his strong finish last season, his growing role within the offense, and reports that Chicago is expanding his route tree. There was even discussion that Loveland could lead the team in targets despite sharing the field with multiple talented pass catchers.

One analyst noted that his personal projections actually produced Loveland as the overall TE1.

At a position where fantasy managers are constantly searching for difference-makers, Loveland appears positioned to deliver another major season.

Breece Hall (RB – NYJ)

The projections remain firmly in Breece Hall‘s corner.

Despite concerns from some fantasy managers about competition from younger backs on the roster, the discussion repeatedly returned to Hall’s talent and versatility.

The projections call for more than 1,500 total yards, nearly 50 receptions, and close to double-digit touchdowns.

Much of that confidence stems from Hall’s receiving ability.

Even if he doesn’t dominate touches at the same level as some workhorse backs, his pass-catching role creates multiple paths to fantasy production. The analysts also emphasized that Hall remains one of the league’s most efficient runners on a per-touch basis.

There was debate about whether New York would intentionally reduce his workload, but the consensus was clear: Hall remains one of fantasy football’s most talented all-around backs.

Jaxson Dart (QB – NYG)

Jaxson Dart produced perhaps the biggest disagreement between projections and rankings.

FantasyPros projections place Dart near the QB1 conversation, projecting roughly 3,600 passing yards, over 500 rushing yards, and nearly seven rushing touchdowns.

That’s the type of profile fantasy managers chase.

The concern is whether all the necessary pieces fall into place.

The discussion highlighted questions surrounding the offense, pass-catching depth, coaching, and overall development. There were also concerns about Dart’s physical playing style and the possibility of missed games.

Still, even analysts who questioned the projection acknowledged the upside.

That’s because rushing production remains one of the most powerful fantasy football tools available to quarterbacks. If Dart stays healthy and takes a step forward as a passer, the fantasy ceiling becomes very real.

He’s the classic high-risk, high-reward quarterback target.

Jameson Williams (WR – DET)

Jameson Williams sparked one of the more divided conversations.

The projections view him as a top-24 fantasy wide receiver, forecasting more than 1,000 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

Not everyone agreed.

The primary concern centers around target competition. A healthy Sam LaPorta, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Detroit’s overall offensive structure create questions about whether Williams can consistently function as the clear No. 2 option in the passing game.

There were also concerns about week-to-week consistency.

One analyst compared Williams to the classic boom-or-bust profile where season-long production looks strong, but predicting which weeks deliver those points can be frustrating.

The counterargument focused on efficiency. Williams doesn’t necessarily need elite target volume because of his ability to create explosive plays and generate fantasy production on limited opportunities.

That debate makes him one of the more fascinating receivers in fantasy drafts this season.

Rashee Rice (WR – KC)

No player generated more skepticism relative to his projection than Rashee Rice.

The projections are extremely aggressive, forecasting more than 100 receptions, over 1,000 receiving yards, and double-digit touchdowns.

On paper, that’s elite WR1 production.

The challenge is everything else.

The discussion repeatedly referenced concerns surrounding health, recovery, and uncertainty off the field. Analysts questioned whether the projections were properly accounting for those risks.

Even analysts who remain optimistic about Rice’s upside acknowledged the gap between his projection and his current range of outcomes.

The talent and opportunity remain appealing.

The uncertainty is what makes him difficult to evaluate.

For fantasy managers, Rice represents one of the biggest risk-versus-reward decisions of draft season.

What Fantasy Managers Should Learn From Projections

One of the most important themes throughout the discussion wasn’t about any specific player.

It was about process.

Projections are valuable because they remove emotional bias. They force fantasy managers to consider likely outcomes instead of relying entirely on personal preferences.

That doesn’t mean projections are always right.

In fact, several players on this list generated meaningful disagreement. But those disagreements often create the most useful fantasy conversations because they help identify where rankings, projections, and public sentiment differ.

Those gaps are where fantasy value is often found.

Fantasy Football Takeaways

Quinshon Judkins (RB – CLE) is projected for true workhorse volume and could become the centerpiece of Cleveland’s offense.
Colston Loveland (TE – CHI) generated some of the strongest enthusiasm in the discussion and may have legitimate TE1 overall upside.
Breece Hall (RB – NYJ) remains a high-end fantasy option thanks to his rushing and receiving combination.
Jaxson Dart (QB – NYG) offers significant fantasy upside because of his rushing ability, though risk remains substantial.
Jameson Williams (WR – DET) projects well but remains one of the more polarizing receivers because of target competition and weekly volatility.
Rashee Rice (WR – KC) carries elite projection-based upside but also significant uncertainty.
Loveland and Judkins were the players discussed with the most consistent optimism.
Rice and Dart generated the widest gap between projections and analyst confidence.