Jonathon Brooks Looking For Healthy Return

That sound you hear is the steady drumbeat on Panthers RB Jonathon Brooks.

If that name doesn’t sound familiar, it’s because the 22-year-old RB has played only three NFL games over his first two seasons after battling multiple ACL tears. He touched the ball only 12 total times over that span, the last of which came in Week 14 in 2024.

But now he’s fully healthy, turning heads at camp, and slowly creeping his way up draft boards.

Believing in Jonathon Brooks

It’s particularly interesting to me how the insiders and coaches are talking about Brooks. There isn’t the usual veteran deference you’d expect for the other RB on the roster, Chuba Hubbard. Instead, they are talking about “expectations” for Brooks to be the lead back.

It’s fair to be skeptical about a player who has barely sniffed the field, but both the words and actions—they let Rico Dowdle walk in free agency—from the team would seem to indicate that they think Brooks is ready to be the guy.

The reason Brooks is particularly interesting to me is because of how few tantalizing upside-RB profiles there are in the double-digit rounds.

Sure, I think guys like Kenneth Gainwell and Rachaad White are solid selections, but you know exactly what you are going to get from that archetype.

One framework I like to use to evaluate true RB upside is asking the question, “Where could we be drafting this guy next year if they have a monster season?

In the case of Gainwell and White, not that much higher than their current prices.

But a guy like Brooks? With his prospect profile and lack of tread on the tires? He could easily be a third-round pick next year if he delivers on this internal hype.

There’s still a lot of fragility here—and I do agree that there are some nice arbitrage versions of Brooks even later in drafts—but I’m willing to grade him on the curve of the 2026 sleeper RB options. And in that context, he’s a premium target in Zero & Anchor RB builds.

A QB NEEDS A PUSH TO LIFT OFFENSE TO FANTASY GOODNESS

Fantasy Life Projections: Get Ahead of Your League

While many of your leaguemates have taken a break from fantasy football—what are the NBA Finals?—you’ve followed free agency closely, watched every pick of the NFL Draft and memorized last year’s player stats and fantasy finishes. The next frontier: projections.

See how close Ja’Marr Chase, Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are projected to finish this season. And how far Trey McBride and Brock Bowers are ahead of the TE12. Hint, a lot! The Fantasy Life projections are the advantage you need before fantasy draft season.

TAKE ME TO THE FANTASY LIFE PROJECTIONS

Around the Watercooler

Stay up to date without spending hours scrolling for news. Catch up with the latest and greatest around the Fantasy Life and NFL ecosystem …

👀 Who will be this season’s JSN? The verdict is in …

🏆️ Matthew’s Top 150 for 2026 fantasy football. Clues for Ride or Die in here?!

🥊 Play the Rocky theme song, as this QB scales the steps back to fantasy prominence.

🧐 Evaluating the defensive side of the ball, is more than a vibe.

😰 How about the season AFTER the season after a big workload? Still got it.

💤 A pair of rookie WRs are dynasty sleepers. A vet, maybe not so much.

🦇 Get the skinny on this breakout player. Lined up for big things.

🤔 A “minor setback for a major comeback.” A Travis Hunter update from Liam Coen.

💪 Juicy nuggets on David Montgomery and Jaylen Waddle. Big seasons coming?

🤔 TD regression is a real thing. Then again, the volume might be there.

😉 When sniping happens in fantasy drafts, payback is real.

Emeka Egbuka Rises, De’Von Achane Falls

We’re approaching the middle of June, and you still think it’s too early to look at fantasy football rankings? Think again.

NFL OTAs, coachspeak and everything in between have players moving up and down the board. Let’s dive into some of the biggest takeaways from Ian Hartitz’s latest rankings update and what’s driving the movement.

📈 Emeka Egbuka | WR | TB

Ian’s Ranking: WR19 (+4)
FL Consensus: WR23

If Emeka Egbuka had finished the season as the WR3 over the final five weeks, how early would we be drafting him? Much earlier than his current ADP (39.9, WR20), that’s for sure.

Instead, Egbuka started his rookie campaign as the WR3, averaging 20.1 points per game over the first five weeks and ranking as a top-10 WR through the first 10 weeks, then fell off the face of the planet after a series of injuries. Leaving a sour taste in the mouth of managers who he helped get into the playoffs, only to abandon them during, Egbuka’s price is a gift on current draft boards.

The departure of Mike Evans vacates 23% of last season’s targets and with a full offseason of health under his belt, Egbuka is primed to assume the WR1 role in his second season in the offense, and it’s really as simple as that, per Ian: “[I’m] trying not to overthink Round 1 rookie who did good things for half his rookie year and is now looking at more volume.”

📉 De’Von Achane | RB | MIA

Ian’s Ranking: RB12 (-4)
FL Consensus: RB8

De’Von Achane is one of the biggest fades among our staff and arguably the biggest loser of the fantasy football offseason. He’s the only reliable weapon on what is shaping up to be a bottom-three offense in the NFL with the thinnest group of pass catchers.

So, Achane should get peppered with passes, right?

Maybe, but have we seen any coach other than Mike McDaniel sick enough to feed a back of Achane’s size such a voluminous role? Not really, and McDaniel is now across the country. Plus, Malik Willis running the offense could lead to fewer checkdown passes, given Willis’ tendency to use his legs (15% scramble rate, 6.7% checkdown rate). It’s hard to find a QB more opposite of what Achane has become accustomed to in Tua Tagovailoa.

It won’t be hard for defenses to key in on Achane, and with expected negative game script for just about the entirety of the season, Achane's floor/ceiling combination feels incredibly fragile. He’s an easy fade at the Round 1-2 turn for me this summer.

For more movers in Ian Hartitz’s latest rankings update … ⤵️

Kendall’s Mailbag: Most Drafted Players

So who are you drafting? Many a fantasy football expert gets this question from the community this time of year. Their listeners and followers just want to know if someone is willing to put their money where their mouth is. Though that analogy never made sense. Money, ewwwww! Anyway, Kendall Valenzuela got a series of questions from the SiriusXM audience for her weekly mailbag, and she came through as always. Even providing several players she’s been clicking already. See if they match up with what you’re doing. ⤵️

THIS ROUND IS A QB GOLD MINE

Battle is Brewing in Carolina

We’ve already talked up above about who could be THE post-hype sleeper for the coming season. Well, Ian and Dwain broke down the RB battle in Carolina between Jonathon Brooks and Chuba Hubbard even further. And they talked a little about Bryce Young, Tetairoa McMillan and company, too. Make sure to subscribe today and don’t miss an episode of the Fantasy Football is Life Show.

MAKE OR BREAK SEASON FOR BRYCE YOUNG?