2026 First Fantasy Football Thoughts: AFC/NFC East

by Michael Nazarek - 7/16/2026

My First Thoughts series returns this month for 2026! The 4th of July has come and gone and training camps are starting to open very soon. The first cut of our Pre-Season Draft Guide has been released, so the plan for this series is to whip through all 32 teams by the end of the month. As in years past, this series of articles will begin in the East and I'll work my way West. Let's get right to it, there's a lot to discuss...

 

AFC EAST

 

Buffalo Bills: The Bills failed to make it to the Super Bowl again, but the team is still a threat to win it all in 2026. Stud QB Josh Allen remains a top-notch fantasy producer in the league, so there is no issue here, although his WR corps remains in flux. Still, he's talented enough to remain elite via his rushing, especially near the goal. In the running game, RB James Cook returns, while backups RB Ray Davis and RB Ty Johnson will continue to steal some touches here and there. Of course, the primary threat to scoring chances for Cook always remains Allen. Still, the extension the Bills gave Cook led to more of a workhorse role last season, making him a clear RB1 for fantasy. In the passing game, the Bills looked for an upgrade and got one by acquiring WR D.J. Moore from the Bears. He will be the WR1 for the Bills, but is likely to be only more of a WR2 for fantasy at best in 2026. Slot WR Khalil Shakir returns to fill the WR2 job, while the rest of the corps will likely only make minor impacts for fantasy, including WR Keon Coleman, WR Joshua Palmer, WR Mecole Hardman, and rookie WR Skyler Bell. At tight end, 4^th-year TE Dalton Kincaid returns as the starter, while TE Dawson Knox and TE Jackson Hawes also return to siphon targets here and there. At this point, Kincaid's injury history keeps him a big risk to draft as anything more than a TE2 with upside. At kicker, PK Tyler Bass returns after missing the entire 2025 with a serious injury. If healthy, he could push to be a PK1 again, but there is risk in drafting him.

 

Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins missed the playoffs again in 2025, and chose to blow up their roster this off-season. Gone is QB Tua Tagovailoa, WR Tyreek Hill, WR Jaylen Waddle (trade), and TE Darren Waller. The team has a new head coach and signed QB Malik Willis to try to recapture the excitement of winning football. While Willis has shown some promise, he is still very raw and word is that he had trouble learning the system in Miami this off-season. As a result, he is a fantasy sleeper at best this summer. In the running game, 4^th-year RB De'Von Achane will start and returns as a solid RB1 for fantasy regardless of the QB situation due to his workhorse role. RB Jaylen Wright and RB Ollie Gordon II return to back him up. In the passing game, WR Malik Washington is one of the few veterans who returns with some experience. Others added to the roster include WR Jalen Tolbert and WR Tutu Atwell, making this one of the league's weakest WR corps. None of the three WRs mentioned should make much of a fantasy impact in 2026. That said, a few rookies could make some noise down the road to include WR Chis Bell and WR Caleb Douglas. At tight end, veteran TE Greg Dulcich returns as the new starter. He made a surprising impact late in 2025, but will have to develop quick chemistry with Willis to do so this season. Rookie TE Will Kacmarek and TE Seydou Traore will provide depth at TE. PK Zane Gonzalez looks to be the new kicker in 2026, but won't see enough scoring chances for real fantasy value.

 

New England Patriots: The Patriots surprisingly made it to the Super Bowl in 2025, but lost to the Seahawks. Third-year QB Drake Maye returns as the clear starter and top 5 fantasy impact QB for 2026. QB Tommy DeVito will back up Maye this season. In the running game, RB Rhamondre Stevenson remains the likely starter, while RB TreVeyon Henderson will see significant action behind him. Both backs are RB3s for fantasy in 2026, but Stevenson should be the most consistent producer between the two, while Henderson is the home run hitter. In the passing game, WR Stefon Diggs is gone, as the team just acquired WR A.J. Brown from the Eagles in June. Brown remains a solid WR1 for fantasy, who should produce more consistently with a higher target share. WR Romeo Doubs was signed to start as the WR2, while WR Mack Hollins will likely be the WR3. Others returning for depth include WR Demario Douglas and second-year WR Kyle Williams. WR Kayshon Boutte is the odd man out, and will likely be traded or released late this summer. At tight end, TE Hunter Henry returns as the starter and high-end TE2 for fantasy. Rookie TE Eli Rridon will provide depth, as TE Austin Hooper was not retained. Second-year PK Andy Borregales is a solid PK1 for fantasy in 2026.

 

New York Jets: The Jets failed to field a winner again in 2025. QB Justin Fields is OUT, and QB Geno Smith is IN. HC Aaron Glenn returns to try to turn things around, but Smith is coming off a terrible season, so odds are not in the favor that this is the year the Jets will be good. In other words, I'd avoid Smith for fantasy in 2026. In the running game, RB Breece Hall was extended and returns as the starter. That said, RB Braelon Allen will siphon off enough touches to keep Hall from being a solid RB1 for fantasy. RB Isaiah Davis returns as the RB3 for the team. In the passing game, WR Garrett Wilson returns as the clear WR1 for the team, and a solid WR2 for fantasy, even with Smith at the helm. WR Adonai Mitchell returns as the team's WR2, while rookie WR Omar Cooper Jr. should fill the WR3 job. Veteran WR Tim Patrick, WR Arian Smith, and WR Isaiah Williams will provide depth. At tight end, second-year TE Mason Taylor will share time with rookie TE Kenyon Sadiq, who has a ton of talent. Sadiq should eventually take over the starting job. Veteran PK Jason Sanders was signed to kick, but will not see enough scoring chance for real fantasy consideration.

 

NFC EAST

 

Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys missed the playoffs last year... again. QB Dak Prescott returns as the starter and solid lower-end QB1 for fantasy. QB Sam Howell was signed to backup Prescott. In the running game, RB Javonte Williams was extended coming off a career season as the Cowboys workhorse starter. In fantasy terms, he's a solid RB2 for fantasy. Second-year RB Jayden Blue will battle RB Malik Davis for the primary backup job and handcuff to Williams. In the passing game, WR CeeDee Lamb and WR George Pickens formed one of the best 1-2 tandem WRs in the league in 2025. That should continue in 2026, since Pickens is set to play on the franchise tag. WR Jalen Tolbert is gone, as WR Ryan Flournoy is now the official WR3 for the team. He has a bit of sleeper status for fantasy owners in large leagues. Finally, WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR KaVontae Turpin, and WR Jonathan Mingo are rostered for depth. At tight end, TE Jake Ferguson returns as the starter, while TE Luke Schoonmaker will back him up once again. Ferguson is a lower-end TE1 for fantasy once again this summer. Veteran PK Brandon Aubrey returns and was extended as the best kicker in the league. This offense should score a lot of points again in 2026!

 

New York Giants: My favorite team continued to crash and burn in spectacular fashion in 2025. That said, there is hope with the hiring of new veteran HC John Harbaugh. Second-year QB Jaxson Dart showed he is the real deal as the new Giants full-time starter in his rookie season. If WR Malik Nabers (torn ACL) returns in time for week #1, Dart is a solid QB1 for fantasy. Otherwise, he is still a borderline starter for fantasy due to his talent and running abilities. In the running game, second-year RB Cam Skattebo (ankle) is expected to be fully healthy by September, making him a lower-end RB2 for fantasy with upside, while RB Tyrone Tracy remains his backup and solid change of pace option for the team. RB Devin Singletary returns as the RB3. In the passing game, WR Malik Nabers (knee) is iffy to return to action for week #1 at this point, but that could change. Bottom Line: When healthy, Nabers is a clear solid WR1 for fantasy, but his health makes him a risk to draft at his current ADP of the 4^th round in 12-team leagues. WR Wan'Dale Robinson left via free agency, leaving WR Darius Slayton, veteran WR Darnell Mooney, and rookie WR Malachi Fields to battle for the WR2 job. Fields could emerge as Nabers' temp replacement early in the season, giving him some solid sleeper value. Veterans WR Calvin Austin III, WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, and WR Odell Beckham Jr. will provide depth. Yes, OBJ is only a reserve WR at this point in his career. At tight end, TE Isaiah Likely was signed and should immediately start ahead of TE Theo Johnson. Likely is a borderline fantasy starter, as HC John Harbaugh really pushed the team to sign him via free agency from the Ravens. PK Ben Sauls is unlikely to score enough for real fantasy consideration this summer.

 

Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles followed up a championship season with a playoff year, but failed to repeat. In fact, the offense really struggled, so they fired the offensive coordinator. They have installed a new system, one which will hopefully help QB Jalen Hurts recapture the magic in 2026. Regardless, Hurts remains a solid QB1 for fantasy, mostly due to his running and scoring abilities. In the running game, RB Saquon Barkley regressed in 2025, but should perform better this season, ensuring a solid RB1 status for fantasy. RB Tank Bigsby returns as the primary back and handcuff for Barkley. RB Will Shipley is the RB3. In the passing game, veterans WR A.J. Brown was traded to the Patriots in June, leaving WR DeVonta Smith as the new WR1 for the Eagles. In fantasy terms, he is a borderline WR1, since his target share will increase significantly. WR Dontavion Wicks will be the new WR2, while rookie WR Makai Lemon will be the WR3, one with interesting sleeper value for fantasy. WR Hollywood Brown was signed for depth, as he could make a few big plays here and there. WR Johnny Wilson, WR Darius Cooper, and WR Elijah Moore round out the corps. At tight end, TE Dallas Goedert returns as the starter and remains a borderline TE1 for fantasy. Rookie TE Eli Stowers was drafted to take over as the starter in 2027, provided he grows and matures into the role. PK Jake Elliott returns, but remains only a middle of the pack kicker at best due to a lack of overall scoring chances.

 

Washington Commanders: Washington's 2025 season was wrecked by injuries to QB Jayden Daniels, RB Austin Ekeler, and WR Terry McLaurin. Daniels and McLaurin return in 2026 with the hope of a playoff berth come January. In fantasy terms, Daniels is an elite talent when healthy, so barring another injury, he remains a solid QB1 for fantasy. QB Marcus Mariota returns to back up Daniels. In the running game, Ekeler is gone, as RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt returns as the likely starter, while veteran RB Rachaad White was signed to provide a solid change of pace. Rookie RB Kaytron Allen will be the new RB3. In the passing game, WR Terry McLaurin is healthy and returns to lead the WR corps. He was extended late last summer, so he will get an entire training camp to recapture the chemistry he had with Daniels in 2024. McLaurin could easily surprise as a solid WR2 with low-end WR1 upside in 2026. WR Deebo Samuel is gone, as the team drafted WR Antonio Williams to play the slot. WR Treylon Burks returns to battle WR Dyami Brown and WR Luke McCaffrey for the starting job opposite McLaurin. I like Williams as an interesting latter round sleeper. At tight end, veteran TE Zach Ertz (torn ACL) was not re-signed, as the team pivoted to sign TE Chig Okonkwo. Okonkwo is a TE2 with upside sleeper status for fantasy this summer. TE John Bates and TE Ben Sinnott return for depth. Veteran PK Jake Moody will kick in 2026, but has little fantasy value due to a history of poor kicking accuracy.

 

That's a wrap for the two Eastern divisions. Be sure to join me over the coming days as I offer my First Thoughts on the other six divisions. All comments, complimentary or otherwise, are always welcome via our contact page. Let's talk fantasy football!

 

End.

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