Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams took massive strides in his second professional season, his first under head coach Ben Johnson, and he is now a borderline top-five quarterback in dynasty startups. The 2024 first overall pick finished as the QB5 in 2025, while seemingly leaving plays out on the field. His 58.1% completion rate didn't even crack the top-50, and his slow starts repeatedly left the Bears fighting from behind late in games. While the possibility exists that Chicago could falter in 2026, unable to rely on miracle finishes, there's also a chance the Bears are just scratching the surface of what Ben Johnson's vaunted offense is capable of. With one more year to shape the team's personnel to his scheme and mold said scheme to William's unnatural athleticism, it's possible QB5 still might be buying low.

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir has put up strikingly similar stat lines over each of the past two seasons, averaging 93 targets, 74 receptions, 770 yards, and four touchdowns as the top wideout in what is usually thought of as a high-powered offense. While Shakir has provided a safe fantasy floor for the better parts of the past three seasons, it's unlikely he takes a huge leap forward in year five and would likely benefit from a more naturally fitting supporting role. After publicly disparaging 2024 second-round pick Keon Coleman, the Bills have been repeatedly tied to wide receivers in what projects to be a very strong draft class. Any high-profile additions to the position will likely find work at the expense of Coleman. At the same time, Shakir could benefit from softer coverages while still seeing five to seven looks per game. While he will likely never profile as a fantasy league-winner, Shakir's floor is secure and could actually rise if Buffalo's offense can take a step under new head coach Joe Brady.

Las Vegas wide receiver Tre Tucker has seen his average depth of target drop precipitously through each of his first three seasons in the league, leaving many questioning whether the Raiders have truly taken advantage of his 4.4 speed. With incoming head coach Klint Kubiak coming off a Super Bowl season with Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba, he'll need to rely more on scheme than personnel if he hopes to succeed in his early days in Las Vegas. Kubiak employed rookie Tory Horton sparingly but effectively as a downfield weapon in Seattle, but he was not able to strike the same chord with fellow speedster Rashid Shaheed following a midseason trade. The Raiders offense will presumably run through tight end Brock Bowers and running back Ashton Jeanty, but Tucker still profiles as Vegas' de facto number one receiver. Hints of how Kubiak elects to use him should come as early as free agency and the draft, but Tucker will be an intriguing name to monitor heading into 2026 training camps.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker saw a career high of 86 carries in 2025, and although his efficiency dipped drastically from his 2024 sophomore campaign, he could see an expanded role in 2026. With fifth-year back Rachaad White scheduled to hit free agency, and a weak incoming rookie class, Tucker should slot in as Bucky Irving's primary backup/change-of-pace back. New offensive coordinator Zac Robinson has already compared Irving to Bijan Robinson, whom he rode to a league-leading 2,298 yards from scrimmage with the Falcons in 2025. The unspoken silver lining is that, in Robinson's two seasons in Atlanta, backup running back Tyler Allgeier averaged 671 yards and over five touchdowns while working behind arguably the most talented back in the league. Where Tucker will need to make significant strides to stay on the field is in the passing game. He averaged an abysmal 0.58 yards per route run in 2025, his second time below 0.7 yards through his first three seasons. If Robinson can tap into Tucker's game-breaking speed and boost his efficiency while working him into the passing game, the fourth-year back could be in line for a minor breakout.