Insights from Yahoo’s Fantasy Football specialists consolidate the most significant takeaways from a tumultuous 2025 campaign – which principles will guide our strategies for 2026?
The foremost revelation this year? Context is king
Individual skill is merely the vehicle; the surrounding conditions provide the motive force. Enthusiasm for combine metrics and general buzz is high, but an inadequate offensive line can render even elite athletes ineffective. Ashton Jeanty received ample opportunities but faced a Raiders defensive line that consistently struggled. Justin Jefferson’s prowess remained undeniable, yet inconsistent quarterbacking made his targets elusive.
Initial impressions from the start of the season can also be misleading. Emeka Egbuka began strongly, only to decline as his role evolved. Luther Burden III started his rookie campaign slowly but became a league-winner as his involvement escalated toward the end.
Adjustments in coaching, player injuries, and roster changes — these are all environmental factors we must navigate. The prudent approach is adaptability. Rely on objective data from teams regarding snap counts, route participation, and red-zone opportunities. Discard outdated assumptions. Adjust more promptly.
Fantasy performance mirrors game-day realities, not pre-season predictions. For 2026, my focus will be on selecting the individual athlete, yet my investment will truly be in their surrounding environment. Unfailingly. — Ray Garvin
First-year tight ends are demonstrating rapid assimilation
While Sam LaPorta and Brock Bowers delivered standout rookie performances in recent years, their immediate impact seemed more like anomalies rather than indicating a broader shift. However, having observed the achievements of the 2025 tight end cohort, I am now prepared to reconsider the entire position group. A review of the top six pass-catching leaders among newcomers this season reveals that four are tight ends (Tyler Warren, Harold Fannin Jr., Oronde Gadsden II, Colston Loveland).
Naturally, there were fluctuations; Warren excelled earlier in the season (prior to Daniel Jones’ injury), while Loveland emerged later. Nevertheless, we must definitively abandon the notion that first-year tight ends cannot be significant fantasy contributors in their initial campaigns. The tactical approaches in collegiate and professional football are increasingly converging, thereby providing these skilled newcomers with enhanced prospects for rapid achievement. — Scott Pianowski
Target wideouts in their third or fourth year
In 2025, the wide receiver role was predominantly owned by athletes in their third to fourth professional season. A total of six individuals among the top-12 fantasy points per game at the position were in this experience bracket. The fantasy landscape often overlooks the potential for such players to achieve new levels of performance. Due to the increasing sway of dynasty league discourse, our tolerance for the development of younger talents has arguably diminished.
A common perception exists that a player’s capabilities are fully defined after merely two seasons. This outlook contributes to significant value opportunities for players such as Chris Olave and JSN this year, and Nico Collins in prior seasons. This particular profile of wideout should be a primary focus for selection in the middle rounds during the upcoming season and future campaigns. — Matt Harmon
The strategy of selecting quarterbacks in later rounds remains consistently reliable
Although I advocated for acquiring top-tier quarterbacks such as Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson during the off-season, their performance edge compared to other fantasy signal-callers was less pronounced than in prior years. Allen still maintained a two-point per game lead over his peers, but his margin was narrower than the previous season. Concurrently, Jackson’s season was hampered by health setbacks.
Simultaneously, a total of nine quarterbacks — chosen beyond the initial 100 selections in fantasy drafts — proved to be robust starting options. Matthew Stafford, Drake Maye, Brock Purdy, and Trevor Lawrence collectively comprised four of the top-six fantasy quarterbacks in terms of per-game scoring. Additional undervalued assets such as Jared Goff, Justin Herbert, and Caleb Williams likewise concluded the season as top-12 quarterbacks. Furthermore, Daniel Jones achieved QB8 statistics through 13 contests before sustaining an injury, and Jaxson Dart established himself as a top-10 fantasy choice after assuming a starting role in Week 4.
Despite being drawn to the premier signal-callers in 2025, the overarching strategy should consistently involve identifying overlooked quarterbacks in later rounds who possess a clear route to substantial output. — Justin Boone
When prior season disappointments find a new environment, emotional biases create opportunities
During this past offseason, I conducted an investigation into fantasy athletes’ recent peak seasons versus their Average Draft Position. The outcome was uncertain beforehand, yet it clearly demonstrated a principle: sentiment can depress ADP excessively. Travis Etienne Jr. ranked as RB3 in 2023; after merely one subpar season, his ADP plummeted to RB30 — positioned just after Kaleb Johnson. A new head coach, who had previously guided two fantasy RB2s, asserted that Etienne would be the primary back, but it appeared few desired him due to his impact on their 2024 rosters.
Michael Pittman Jr. presented a comparable scenario. His ADP was WR46, despite consistently achieving top-20 fantasy wide receiver status from 2021-2023. Javonte Williams, Chris Olave, Christian McCaffrey — numerous examples exist. This is not an endorsement to select players like Justin Jefferson, Kenneth Walker III, or Garrett Wilson indiscriminately, but rather to consider them should their circumstances undergo alteration.
For without evolution, there can be no different outcome. — Joel Smyth
Exercise patience with athletes when indicators are favorable
It’s understandable that we desire all our rostered talents to perform exceptionally from the outset, yet circumstances can evolve, necessitating a reduction in our forecasts. Nevertheless, if a player’s deployment appears to undervalue their actual output, I would advocate for forbearance in the upcoming season. Consider Chase Brown as an illustration.
Following Joe Burrow’s injury, the Bengals’ offense registered the lowest total yards per game. Despite this, Brown maintained a 15% target share and effectively monopolized the rushing workload, commanding a 59% share of carries along with all attempts from the goal line.
Given Head Coach Ben Johnson’s influence on Detroit’s ground attack, D’Andre Swift’s 61% rushing share as they entered their bye week positioned him favorably, assuming the Bears’ offensive unit could establish coherence.
From George Pickens topping the Cowboys in red-zone targets prior to CeeDee Lamb’s ailment, to Zach Charbonnet handling 90% of goal-line opportunities before Kenneth Walker III’s pre-season foot issue gained significant attention, there’s a tendency to prioritize apparent reliability over the genuine possibility of a game- or championship-altering athlete.
Therefore, while I will continue to rely on my elite performers, I will adopt a greater readiness to investigate individuals who commence the 2026 season with unimpressive showings. — Chris Allen
