Fantasy Football Player Notes
2026 Half PPR Draft Rankings
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15.
Saquon Barkley
RB - (at NYG)
I tried to tell people last year, but few wanted to listen. After an insane 2024 season, Saquon Barkley was poised to come back down to earth some in 2025. Well, it happened. Barkley finished with 317 touches and 1,413 total yards as the RB14 in fantasy points per game. Part of this could be traced to natural regression, but also, Barkley had a decent dip in efficiency. In 2024, Barkley had an insane 3.55 yards before contact per attempt, which easily led all running backs (minimum 100 carries, per Fantasy Points Data). Last year, that number fell to 2.11, which was 23rd among 49 qualifying backs, essentially a league-average number. From 2024 to 2025, Barkley's explosive run rate dropped from 7.2% (fourth-best) to 4.6% (20th), and his yards after contact per attempt dipped from 2.26 (35th) to 1.96 (39th). Barkley lived off explosive runs and easily getting into the second level of defenses in 2024, but he found more uphill sledding last year. His volume should finish in the neighborhood of 300 touches with double-digit touchdown upside. That should lock him into top-15 running back status with possible top 5-7 upside if the offensive line can stay healthy and the Eagles' passing attack can also bounce back. If the aerial attack can get right, this team and Barkley will have more scoring opportunities in 2026 (last year, 28th in red-zone scoring opportunities per game).
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29.
DeVonta Smith
WR - (at NYG)
DeVonta Smith steps into the clear WR1 chair for the Philly passing attack. Over the last two years, in a VERY small sample, Smith has proven that he can handle it. In three games since 2024, without A.J. Brown on the field, Smith has commanded a 32.9% target share while producing 2.65 yards per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). Yes, I know the sample is tiny, but it is signal that Smith can command WR1-level volume and remain efficient while doing so. Last year, among 109 qualifying receivers, Smith was also 27th in separation and 28th in route win rate. Last year, Smith also drew a 22.7% target share while producing 2.03 yards per route run (22nd) and 0.089 first downs per route run (32nd). I expect all of those marks to improve in 2026 with Smith leading the way for Philly. He's a WR1/2 with some upside and an extremely high floor.
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62.
Jalen Hurts
QB - (at NYG)
Last year, the Eagles offense hit a rut, and Jalen Hurts finished with his worst season (QB8) in fantasy points per game since becoming the full-time starter in 2021. While Hurts was still heavily involved on the ground near the goal line (fourth in rushing touchdowns and second in red zone carries), he also finished with the second-fewest rushing yards per game (26.3) of his career. There are big-time questions about whether Hurts can bounce back this season after the struggles of last season, the loss of A.J. Brown, and the Eagles transitioning to another new offensive coordinator who could emphasize utilizing the middle of the field. Last year, among 45 qualifying passers, Hurts ranked 20th in yards per attempt, 18th in CPOE, 25th in highly accurate throw rate, and 15th in hero throw rate (per Fantasy Points Data). I'll be surprised if his rushing numbers don't rebound. The Eagles still have plenty of receiving talent in-house with DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert, and with their offseason additions of Makai Lemon, Eli Stowers, Dontayvion Wicks, and Hollywood Brown. I'm not shying away from buying the dip with Hurts despite the worries. Hurts has proven doubters wrong time and time again while improving as a player and passer along the way, going all the way back to college. Hurts still has top 3-5 upside in fantasy.
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106.
Makai Lemon
WR - (at NYG)
Makai Lemon enters the Eagles' depth chart as their possible WR2 this season behind DeVonta Smith. We have seen Jalen Hurts support multiple receivers in numerous seasons, so it wouldn't be a shock to see Hurts do it again this season and Lemon be a big beneficiary. Lemon finishes a productive collegiate career ranking sixth and 12th in yards per route run, ninth and 50th in missed tackles forced, and 60th and 28th in YAC per reception over the last two seasons (per PFF). Lemon is a solid WR4 to scoop up in drafts that could easily produce as a weekly WR2/3 during the heart of the fantasy season.
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118.
Dallas Goedert
TE - (at NYG)
Last year was the second time in Dallas Goedert's career that he's finished as a top-six fantasy tight end (TE6 in fantasy points per game). Goedert accomplished this by spiking a career-high a career high 11 receiving touchdowns. Last year, among 59 qualifying tight ends, Goedert ranked eighth in target share (18.4%), 33rd in yards per route run (1.43), 17th in receiving yards per game (39.4), eighth in first-read share (21%), seventh in red zone targets (15), and 21st in first downs per route run (0.083, per Fantasy Points Data). With A.J. Brown out of town, Goedert could easily be the clear second option in the Eagles' passing attack this season. I wouldn't rule out Goedert finishing as a top six fantasy tight end again in 2026. At his floor, he's a strong TE1 even with the additions of Hollywood Brown, Dontayvion Wicks, Makai Lemon, and Eli Stowers this offseason.
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145.
Tank Bigsby
RB - (at NYG)
Tank Bigsby is one of the best handcuffs in the NFL, and he won't get mentioned at the top of the conversation many times. Last year, among 65 qualifying backs, he ranked fourth in explosive run rate, second in missed tackle rate, and first in yards after contact per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). In the one game that he played more than 40% of the snaps (Week 18), we got to see what his fantasy value could be if Saquon Barkley missed any time. He logged 17 touches with 106 total yards as the RB9 for the week in PPR scoring. If you're looking for handcuffs to stash, Bigsby is one of the best.
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174.
Dontayvion Wicks
WR - (at NYG)
Dontayvion Wicks has been a separation-score and route-win-rate darling over the last two years, and could finally step into a bigger role this year in Philly. Makai Lemon is a talented rookie, but he's dealing with a hamstring injury, which has sidelined him for much of training camp. This could allow Wicks to get a runway as the WR2 opposite DeVonta Smith. If that happens, Wicks might not let go of the job. Over the last two years, Wicks has ranked third and 24th in separation score and sixth and seventh in route win rate among all wide receivers with at least 200 routes (per Fantasy Points Data). Last year, Wicks posted a 21% target-per-route run rate, 1.56 yards per route run, and 0.099 first downs per route run. Those are strong per-route metrics for a late-round dart throw that could emerge in 2026. I'll take last-round fliers on Wicks in a ton of my leagues.
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201.
Philadelphia Eagles
DST - (at NYG)
The Eagles were the DST11 in fantasy points per game last season. They should still be considered a strong DST1 for 2026. Their secondary is absolutely nasty and added Tariq Woolen this offseason to pair with Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis will anchor a defensive line that ranked 14th in pressure rate last year. The offseason additions of Arnold Ebiketie and Jonathon Greenard could help bump them back into the top ten in pressure rate this season.
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285.
Eli Stowers
TE - (at NYG)
The Eagles took Eli Stowers in the second round of this year's NFL Draft, 54th overall. Stowers won the John Mackey Award last year as the best tight end in college football, finishing his senior year at Vanderbilt with 62 catches for 769 yards and four touchdowns. Stowers had a 27% target rate last year and averaged an impressive 2.55 yards per route run. And like fellow rookie TE Kenyon Sadiq, Stowers is an athletic marvel. Stowers ran a 4.51 at the combine, and the former Texas state high school high-jump champion had a vertical jump of 451/2 inches. The 6-4, 239-pound Stowers might not be heavy enough to play as an in-line tight end, which could potentially limit his snaps. It's hard to project big things for Stowers in his rookie year when his usage and role are uncertain, but his athleticism and college production suggest he's capable of big things sooner or later.
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305.
Hollywood Brown
WR - (at NYG)
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318.
Will Shipley
RB - (at NYG)
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366.
Jake Elliott
K - (at NYG)
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406.
Dameon Pierce
RB - (at NYG)
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493.
Elijah Moore
WR - (at NYG)
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568.
Grant Calcaterra
TE - (at NYG)
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588.
Andy Dalton
QB - (at NYG)
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589.
Stone Smartt
TE - (at NYG)
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591.
Tanner McKee
QB - (at NYG)
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654.
Darius Cooper
WR - (at NYG)
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679.
Johnny Mundt
TE - (at NYG)
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687.
Cameron Latu
TE - (at NYG)
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704.
Britain Covey
WR - (at NYG)
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729.
Samori Toure
WR - (at NYG)
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766.
Carson Steele
RB - (at NYG)
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777.
E.J. Jenkins
TE - (at NYG)
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796.
Cole Payton
QB - (at NYG)
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841.
Ja'Quinden Jackson
RB - (at NYG)
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865.
Quez Watkins
WR - (at NYG)
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899.
Johnny Wilson
WR - (at NYG)
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990.
Danny Gray
WR - (at NYG)
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