Travis Etienne Among Early Risers in Fantasy Football 2026 ADP
In today's Fantasy Life Newsletter, presented by Xfinity, an early look at ADP for 2026, Ty Simpson profile and Dallas Cowboys team needs.
In today's Fantasy Life Newsletter, presented by Xfinity:
We know this is that funny time of the year where the lessons learned from the previous season are still fresh in our minds, yet how can we apply them to the season ahead when we won’t be drafting for around six more months?
Well, you’re in luck because you can take a peek at next season through our early expert rankings and the updated ADP tool. The latter has been populated with the most up-to-date Underdog best ball rankings, because you better believe that people are already drafting in those streets. What is interesting is that while the Underdog ADP is current on our tool, the ADPs for other providers like Yahoo and Sleeper are the 2025 edition. So you can see who’s moving up or down back when we were drafting last season.
We know that we still have to go through free agency and the NFL Draft, but there are plenty of players who have very interesting ADPs that could rise and tumble in the months ahead. We thought we’d share a few.
Early 2026 ADP Observations
Ja’Marr Chase (ADP: 3.7 / WR2 / Last Year on Yahoo: 1.6): While his targets jumped from 175 in 2024 to 185 last season, his receptions stayed fairly even (127-125). His yards and TD receptions went from 1,708 and 17 to 1,412 and 8. Still amazing numbers, but it shows what he’s capable of in a full season with Joe Burrow and in one where he missed nine games. See where Matthew Freedman placed Chase in this mock draft.
Matthew Stafford (ADP: 98.8 / QB14 / LY: 114): What does leading the NFL with 4,707 passing yards, 46 TDs and tying for a QB3 finish get you the next year? Just a bump up 15 slots, but out of the top 12 QBs who are likely starters in 12-team fantasy leagues. Yes, he doesn’t run—1 rushing yard, that’s not a typo—and there should be passing TD regression. But he’s still throwing to Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, and Sean McVay is still calling plays for him.
Travis Etienne (ADP: 37.2 / RB17 / LY: 101.4): Etienne is not going to sneak up on anyone after posting 1,107 rushing yards (11th) with 7 TDs and a receiving line of 36-292-6 for the surprising Jaguars. What will be interesting is his landing spot in free agency. If he somehow ends up on another high-powered offense looking to feature him—suitors will be plenty—his current ADP might be low.
Colston Loveland (ADP: 43.1 / TE4 / LY: 117.6): Are we really going to fall for that late-season breakout afterglow that a handful of players get? People will remember that TE2 finish in Week 17 that won some people titles. Loveland’s spotlight grew even bigger after he caught 8 balls for 137 yards against the Packers in the Wild Card round. Now he’s zoomed up to the fourth TE off the board, but going in a range where Zay Flowers, DeVonta Smith and Lamar Jackson are also being drafted. It’s quite the Year 2 leap, but the price may be worth it for this rising TE.
What’s not to love about Jaxon Smith-Njigba in dynasty? He just finished a spectacular season with 119 catches, 1,793 receiving yards and 10 TDs. He was the engine for the Seahawks’ amazing Super Bowl, and was even named NFL Offensive Player of the Year. He’s not yet 24. He’s just entering his prime! We’re looking at potentially at least a five-year run of consistent greatness. That’s exactly what the Xfinity 5-Year Price Guarantee means for your wallet: 5 years. The same price. No contracts or commitments. Just peace of mind knowing your connection, and your cost, will go the distance. Sports can be unpredictable, but your internet price doesn’t have to be. Get a reliable price for the most reliable, fiber-powered WiFi. Only with Xfinity.
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Ty Simpson Scouting Profile: Arm Talent & Off-Script
So much of the talk about the NFL Draft so far is that it’s Fernando Mendoza at the top, and that maybe one more QB could join him in the first round. That player is Ty Simpson, the Alabama signal-caller who took the Crimson Tide to the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff … where they were dismantled by Mendoza and his Indiana juggernaut. Now Simpson is coming out after just one year of starting in college. Ian Hartitz broke him down, starting with some of Simpson’s strengths:
The highs were HIGH: Simpson's second game of 2025 against UL Monroe saw him complete all 17 of his pass attempts—an SEC record for most completions without an incompletion in a game. He was also nearly perfect against Wisconsin (24/29, 382-4-0), and sure looked like he belonged in the Heisman race with consecutive multi-TD performances against Georgia, Vanderbilt, Missouri, Tennessee and South Carolina. Things didn't go overly smoothly the rest of the way, and that matters in the evaluation, but at his best, Simpson's combination of pinpoint accuracy from the pocket, arm talent and mobility stresses defenses at all three levels of the field.
Ian also got into the question marks, including Simpson’s age (24), and yes, even the comps. One or two are amusing, though eventually they do make sense. ⤵️
We’re all friends, right? Good, then you’ll allow a slight departure from finding a fantasy football angle wherever possible that we aim for in our fair newsletter. Because when talking about the Dallas Cowboys’ team needs for 2026, it’s all on one side of the ball. And it’s entirely because Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens—Jerry, PLEASE re-sign him—are so good on their side of the ball and created so many fantasy points for us, we can’t find anywhere they need to improve the offense. Though re-signing Javonte Williams would set this group up to run it back for another assault on the league.
Ian Hartitz took a peek at where the Cowboys could improve on a defense that allowed more points (511) than any other team in the NFL. For context, only the Rams SCORED more (518) than the amount of points the Cowboys allowed. Yes, time to get working on all three levels so the Big D isn’t just for Dallas. Though we did enjoy so many of those Cowboys shootouts. ⤵️
