Josh Jacobs is a proven bell cow and three-down running back. Since being drafted, he has handled substantial offensive workloads. Jacobs is a slashing runner with quick footwork and lateral agility to knife through the defense. He has the play strength to finish runs and punish defenders. Can't forget about his value in the passing game out of the backfield. Jacobs isn't an elite running back, but he is a well-rounded back and starter.

Setting career highs in receptions and touchdowns, Dallas Goedert was an impressive part of the Eagles' inconsistent offense last season. Maximizing his impact as a red zone target, 10 of his 11 touchdowns came inside the 20-yard line, and he was still a threat to get open deep down the field. Goedert is one of the smartest tight ends in the game and consistently found where the defense wasn't and made them pay. Whether it's finding soft spots, running routes with pace and intention, or knowing where the pursuit defender is after the catch, Goedert's brain is the biggest weapon in his arsenal. Blocking isn't why he's on the field, but in Sean Mannion's offense, he'll need to bring it and show that he can hold his own. Goedert set the stage for another impactful season, and without AJ Brown around, he'll still have an important role in this passing attack.

Travis Kelce isn't the athlete he used to be, but he's still the best space finder at the tight end position in the NFL. He looked much better a season ago than in 2024 in terms of movement, and he recorded his highest yards-after-catch-over-expected (+34) since 2022. The mind is always working, and that's why he and Patrick Mahomes have created one of the greatest connections of all time. The future Hall of Famer handled over 100 targets again last year, gained over 800 yards, and probably should have had more. Kelce's snaps should decrease as the Chiefs manage his workload heading into what we expect to be his final NFL season, but one thing remains true: he'll find a way to get open.

Chris Olave's coming off a career year in 2025. Finding a cleaner bill of health was a key ingredient, along with rookie QB Tyler Shough. Olave played at a high level for the Saints' offense. He ran great routes with intent and little wasted motion. His speed set up cornerbacks, creating vulnerable angles for him to attack with his route stems. He had 100 receptions for 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns. Every defense knew he was the Saints' primary target, and he continued to produce with a first-year QB at the helm.

De'Von Achane has defied the odds set against smaller-framed running backs in the NFL. The Dolphins leaned on his playmaking ability as both a runner and a receiver. He has established himself as one of the league's premier playmakers. Achane accounted for 1,838 total yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns. His game is built on vision, acceleration, change of direction, and elite open-field speed. He finished the year second in outside-the-tackle rush attempts behind Bijan Robinson. The Dolphins' star is dangerous from anywhere on the field. He is a big-play waiting to happen. In the passing game, Achane is a threat on screens or aligned as a wide receiver running routes into the play concept. Pass protection reps were limited to 34 snaps; he ran more routes than stayed in the pocket.

The Colts' plan for Tyler Warren is simple: get him the ball in space and target him down the field. He's a special player with the ball in his hands, and he showcased that early on for Indy with 505 of his 817 yards after the catch last season, with physicality and quick feet to get upfield. The former top-15 pick uses his hands well away from his frame, but contact in the catching window forced more incompletions than expected. He's a versatile playmaker and will line up all across the formation for the Colts, bringing his work ethic with him. The offense changed after Daniel Jones' injury, and his role didn't have the same impact as earlier in 2025. Warren will be a focus of the offense again this season, and the connection with Jones will only get better.

With multiple knee injuries last season, David Njoku's impact after the catch and in route running took a hit. He couldn't get up to speed as quickly, and the Browns wanted to shield him from further injury by involving rookie Harold Fannin Jr. more in the passing game. He made up for what he lacked in explosiveness with physicality and ball skills, coming down with nine of 12 contested catch opportunities and turning three into touchdowns. Njoku is an excellent and versatile in-line blocker with the tools to be an asset in the run game for his new team. If he's healthy, Njoku could be looking at one of the best seasons of his career with quarterback Justin Herbert.

DJ Moore is an underrated, versatile, and athletic playmaker. The veteran receiver is an impact player with how diverse his usage has been. Moore is a good, reliable route-runner with a strong feel for leverage and spacing. He is a physical receiver before and after the catch. He powers through tackles and deploys a good stiff arm in space. Moore took handoffs as a traditional running back for the Bears last season and had success. His hands and ball skills are outstanding. Moore attacks the ball with the aggression that gives quarterbacks confidence to target him. He does a lot of things well and deserves to be mentioned as a tier 2 receiver in the league.

One of the rising stars at the wide receiver position in the NFL, Nabers' 2025 season was limited to four games due to a torn ACL. Pre-injury, he was an explosive route-runner who changed directions suddenly. Nabers moved around the Giants' offensive formations and served as a coverage indicator with pre-snap motions. He displayed springy athleticism, rising over defensive backs and making circus-like catches down the field. Everyone's in wait-and-see mode regarding his recovery from two knee surgeries and an unknown timetable for his return. If he returns to a fully healthy and athletically explosive version of himself, Nabers will be higher on this list.

Jaylen Waddle is one of the league's most dynamic receiving threats. He is alignment-versatile and can hurt opposing defenses from anywhere. When Tyreek Hill went down with an injury, Waddle stepped in and filled his shoes as the Dolphins' WR1. He accounted for 42.8% of the Dolphins' air yards this season per Next Gen Stats. Waddle's speed and route-running will stress defenses vertically and horizontally. He is a smaller-framed receiver, and he's battled nagging injuries over the years. When healthy, he is a stick of dynamite that can blow up with a quick light of his fuse.

Kyle Pitts had some truly lofty expectations to live up to coming out of Florida, and 2025 was an offensive explosion for the fifth-year tight end. He set career highs in targets, receptions, and touchdowns while playing over 200 snaps more than any previous year of his career. Pitts showed growth in nuance in route running, using more speed dilation and deception to get into space while still showcasing his top-tier athletic ability after the catch. He's a true three-level weapon, and the Falcons use him as such to maximize their passing attack. While Pitts isn't a game-changer as a run blocker and doesn't show the effort all the time, his power at the point of attack has improved, and on the move, he can be useful. But he's out there for one reason: to be a match-up problem.

Sam Darnold went from seeing ghosts to lifting the Lombardi trophy in 2026. He has revived his career over the last two seasons and proved that 2024 was not a fluke season. Darnold helped lead the Seahawks to a Super Bowl championship. He played with confidence and poise, complementing Seattle's elite defense. Darnold is a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback with the arm strength and accuracy to win games at times. He is best suited to be accompanied by a strong run game. Although he won a Super Bowl, that does not vault him to the top of the quarterback pyramid. Darnold has thrown 26 interceptions in two seasons. His decision-making under pressure and lack of ball protection are holding him back from leapfrogging his counterparts.

Jalen Hurts is one of the more maligned quarterbacks in the NFL. You either love him or hate him, but one thing's for certain: you have to respect him as a football player. Mentally, Hurts is built like an armored truck; it is difficult to get him off his game. Last season, he was great when facing the blitz, processing information quickly and getting the ball to his weapons. If his receivers are plastered, he'll activate his dual-threat quarterback card like in a Pokémon battle. Hurts is known for escaping pressure and becoming a dangerous runner in the open field. If he identifies one-on-one coverage on the outside, he will take the shot. Throwing in the middle of the field remains a concern in his game, but it's not a void in his skill set. Hurts will be without All-Pro and Pro Bowl-caliber WR AJ Brown; he can silence doubters with a strong 2026 season.

The Rams' 33-year-old wideout remains one of the best route-runners and separators in the league. He has outstanding knowledge of the game and instincts. He remains one of the league's best route salesmen. Adams may have lost a step in the speed and explosiveness department, but he makes up for it with craftiness and savvy route running. In the red zone, Adams is a weapon, using his space-creation and strong hands to cash in on end-zone targets. His prime is behind him, but Adams will give opposing cornerbacks all they can handle every week.

Zay Flowers isn't the traditional or prototypical No. 1 wide receiver, but he's established himself as "THE GUY" for the Baltimore Ravens. Flowers has the top-end speed and acceleration to make defensive backs rethink their approach. He's proven to defeat bump-and-run coverage and zone coverages. He is a smaller wideout, but he knows how to play the position at a high level. Flowers is an easy target to feed the football to because of his versatile playmaking.

When the Bears drafted Colston Loveland in the top 10 last year and paired him with Ben Johnson, we knew something special could happen. As a rookie, Loveland not only grew throughout the season as a blocker but was unlocked as a weapon in the passing game. He's an extremely gifted route-runner at his size, with post-catch speed and acceleration that create poor pursuit angles. The offense was flowing through him as the Bears entered the playoffs, and the former first-rounder took it in stride and helped lead the Bears on a run that nearly landed them in the NFC Championship game. He needs to work on a consistent get-off and attack mentality as a blocker, but the tools are there for Loveland to be a force at the tight end position for a long time.

Caleb Williams is the ultimate gamer and playmaker at the quarterback position in the league. He took steps forward and improved in multiple areas in year one of Ben Johnson's offensive system. Williams possesses the rare combination of great physical tools and an innate ability to make something out of nothing. He displayed his creative off-script playmaking again this past season, but his timing within the offense's structure was noticeably better. Williams displayed quicker processing when facing the blitz this season, getting to his reads more quickly and efficiently to take advantage of fewer defenders in coverage. He is still trying to find that happy medium and consistency with his accuracy. Williams has precision passes on tape and more than a few bad misses. He completed 58% of his passes last season; that mark must rise above 60% going forward. The game is slowing down, but he still needs to work on his processing and decision-making. Williams is an ascending player who is on the brink of stardom if he can iron out the correctable wrinkles in his game.

2025 was a strong season for Trevor Lawrence, as he threw for over 4,000 yards for the third time in his career and a career-high 29 touchdowns. After a 5-4 start, he engineered an eight-game winning streak that won the division and clinched a home playoff game. Lawrence was very effective in the short-passing offense. His arm talent was on display whenever he had to drive the football in the intermediate areas of the defense. Lawrence's legs are equalizers if flushed out of the pocket, and he puts them to good use. His decision-making must improve when under pressure. He threw a career-high 12 interceptions last season, and some of them were head-scratching. Cut down on low-red-zone turnovers going forward. Overall, Lawrence took steps forward last season. Jaguar fans and the Trevor Lawrence fan club should be excited and optimistic going into the 2026 NFL season.