Los Angeles Rams running back Jarquez Hunter was a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and a popular traits-based dynasty stash. At 5'10" and 209 pounds, Hunter is a near carbon copy of both Kyren Williams and Blake Corum, but profiling as the most explosive of the three, there were calls for him to immediately supplant Corum on the depth chart, especially after seeing so little from the latter as a rookie. Unfortunately, Hunter's rookie season was even less eventful, seeing the field in only five games, and even then, limited exclusively to a handful of special teams snaps. The blueprint for a year-two breakout in Sean McVay's system is already on display in what Corum did in 2025. Unfortunately for Hunter, said breakout was strong enough to create a true blockade to fantasy relevance. Williams and Corum are expected to split work again in 2026, and barring injury, there is no clear path to additional involvement, considering 2025 marked the first time in four seasons that McVay gave more than 77 carries to even a second running back. Dynamic abilities are what made Hunter one of the first Day 3 backs selected in a loaded draft class, so he should still be held by dynasty managers with a deep enough bench to do so, but until the environment in front of him changes, expectations should remain low.

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey burst onto the scene as a 2024 rookie, finishing his first season with 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns on a team-leading 82 receptions. He entered his second season priced as a low-end WR1 in both redraft and dynasty leagues as fantasy managers underestimated the impact of a returning Chargers legend. Keenan Allen came back to Los Angeles in 2025 as a 33-year-old veteran and promptly led the team in targets and receptions, operating primarily in the same short-to-intermediate parts of the field as McConkey. Heading into the NFL Draft, Allen remains unsigned, and McConkey should see every chance to thrive in new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel's rhythm-based scheme that will maximize his ability to add yards after the catch. Among players with at least a 60% snap share out of the slot, McConkey's 4.8 yards after catch average through his first two seasons already lands him near the top of the league, but McDaniel should repeatedly motion him into position to make even greater use of his 4.39-speed and return to something resembling his rookie form.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ryan Flournoy had some fantasy-relevant moments as a sixth-round rookie out of Southeast Missouri State, namely a six-catch, 114-yard outing in his first career start, filling in for the injured CeeDee Lamb. Unfortunately for Flournoy, when the Cowboys are at full health, the path to consistent fantasy contribution is obstructed from all sides. George Pickens was one of the biggest breakouts of 2025, and he appears slated to return for at least one more year on the franchise tag. Jake Ferguson was one of the most targeted tight ends in the league, and Lamb topped 1,000 receiving yards for the fifth straight year, despite missing three games. Impressively, Flournoy did lead the Cowboys in targets and receptions in a wild Week 14 loss to the Lions that saw him finish the game with 115 yards and a score in a week where Dallas had its full complement of pass catchers. Such flashes should not be unexpected from the big-bodied receiver in year two, but until the depth chart ahead of him thins out, Flournoy will be hard to trust with any sort of reliability outside of best ball formats.

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young entered the league with all the expectations of a number one overall pick, but through his first three seasons, consistency has evaded him. Carolina has exercised the fifth-year option on his rookie contract, giving the team two more years of affordable control and Young an additional chance to prove he's worthy of a massive pay raise. After a lackluster rookie campaign, Young was able to overcome a second-season benching in 2024, and with an improved surrounding cast, namely Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan, he put up his best statistical season to date in 2025, finishing year three with 3,011 yards and 23 touchdowns on a 63.6% completion rate, all career highs. Unfortunately, that increased production, modest as it was, still came with fits and starts. Young topped 200 passing yards only once through the first 10 weeks before throwing for a career high 448 yards in a Week 11 win over the Falcons. He then went on to average 175 yards per game the rest of the way, including a brutal 54-yard outing in fantasy championship week. Carolina will likely look to add more offensive firepower through the upcoming NFL Draft, and Young did establish a late-season rapport with his big-bodied slot receiver Jalen Coker, so the pieces could be in place for yet another step forward. Unfortunately, until he's shown he can regularly string together week-winning performances, he profiles as little more than a QB3 in superflex dynasty leagues.