Fantasy football season -- and the NFL regular season -- is here this week, and now it's time once again to be bold.
We gave you the sleepers to pick at your draft and the busts to avoid who are overvalued. And in this case? You need to swing for the fences and either hit a dinger or strike out.
That could mean zigging where others zag with a pick that surprises your fellow managers, or skipping a top name left on the board. So here are a bunch of what I think are bold predictions this year. If you don't think they're too bold? Well, then they're just predictions. But here are a handful of takes I have ahead of the 2026 season:
George Pickens will outscore CeeDee Lamb in fantasy points
I do think Lamb has all the talent in the world and may see more volume than Pickens. But it's Pickens who will command
more red zone looks and who will grab some long passes from Dak Prescott. Pickens will be WR8 to finish the year, and Lamb will be WR12.
Tyler Shough and Malik Willis will be top-12 QBs
I am drinking the Kool-Aid. Thanks to the Saints' offense and Shough's underrated rushing skills, the New Orleans QB explodes. As for Willis? Thanks to some Garbage Time (TM) and endless rushing yards every game, he'll break into the top group of quarterbacks this year.
Kenny Gainwell will be a top-15 running back
I don't have a ton of faith in Buck Irving and Gainwell has the pass-catching ability to snag a ton of passes out of the backfield in Tampa.
DeVonta Smith isn't a top-15 wide receiver
There's been a ton of hype around the new WR1 in Philly, but I have my doubts. Is he really built to be a top wideout? Are Jalen Hurts' preseason issues a problem? Will this team just run a billion times a game? Too many questions.
Juwan Johnson finishes TE7 in 2026
This isn't THAT outlandish. The former Oregon TE totaled 77 catches and 889 yards with three TDs in 2025. A few more red zone looks and an increase in work between the 20s and you've got a breakout.
Jayden Daniels finishes outside the top-10 QBs
I don't know what it is, but I don't love the vibes in Washington right now. The Laremy Tunsil injury isn't good. There are question marks about the WR room and the run game. With quarterback so deep this year, you can pass on Daniels.
Jeremiyah Love finishes outside the top-20 running backs
Another team with too many question marks on offense for me to have faith in a big-name rookie who's being taken so high (see Jeanty, Ashton last year).
MarShawn Lloyd finishes as a top-15 running back
Simple: We don't know when Josh Jacobs will be back and even if he does return, Lloyd will have proven he deserves the top job.
Jadarian Price won't match his ADP
The looming return of Zach Charbonnet and the presence of George Holani -- yes, George Holani -- will keep Price from doing too much in his first year with the Super Bowl champs.
Drake London won't match his ADP
A fairly bland take, but man, those Falcons QBs. Yikes.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: 10 bold fantasy football predictions for 2026, including a Cowboys WR take
