It’s time for the annual tradition of foolishly making (fantasy) predictions on the NFL. The NFC is up first, where the Rams are the clear favorites. The Super Bowl is set for Los Angeles, and Sean McVay is loading up an All-Star roster adding Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald. But history points to a less obvious contender coming out of the conference.
NFC EAST
1. Philadelphia Eagles 11-6
2. Dallas Cowboys 10-7 (Wild Card)
3. Washington Commanders 7-10
4. New York Giants 6-11
Comments & Fantasy Predictions:
Eagles: Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley both bounce back with better fantasy seasons, although the latter eventually suffers an injury that leads to Tank Bigsby being an RB1 … DeVonta Smith fails to live up to his new lofty ADP, but Dallas Goedert is a top 10 TE … Dontayvion Wicks outscores Makai Lemon … Philadelphia lost its long-time offensive line coach but should experience addition by subtraction with Kevin Patullo gone. The Eagles win the division but exit the playoffs before the Championship Game.
Cowboys: Javonte Williams outscores Kyren Williams and Ashton Jeanty … Ryan Flournoy is a top 20 WR multiple weeks thanks to injuries, and Dallas emerges as a top 12 fantasy D/ST … Klayton Adams remains as play caller, while the move from Matt Eberflus to Christian Parker was one of the biggest coaching upgrades of the offseason. The Cowboys have the league’s fifth-toughest schedule despite missing the playoffs last season, but they upset the Lions in the NFC Championship Game.
Commanders: Jayden Daniels is a top three QB in fantasy points per game but misses more time with injuries … Jacory Croskey-Merritt emerges as Washington’s clear lead back, while Stefon Diggs outscores Terry McLaurin … The Commanders face the fourth-toughest schedule and will feel the loss of LT Laremy Tunsil.
Giants: Jaxson Dart is a QB1 when on the field but misses multiple games; Malik Nabers’ fantasy value increases during Jameis Winston’s starts … TightRope surgery, Najee Harris and Matt Nagy lead to Cam Skattebo being a fantasy bust … New York is due for regression after blowing an NFL record five games when leading by 10+ points last season, but the new coaching staff is a problem.
NFC NORTH
1. Detroit Lions 11-6
2. Chicago Bears 10-7
3. Green Bay Packers 10-7
4. Minnesota Vikings 8-9
Lions: Jahmyr Gibbs produces a top 10 RB fantasy season all time with David Montgomery gone. In leagues that allow bidding for draft slots, I would use 90% of my FAAB for pick #1 … Sam LaPorta catches twice as many touchdowns as Harold Fannin Jr … Gibbs wins Offensive Player of the Year, and Aidan Hutchinson wins Defensive Player of the Year … Detroit benefits from the league’s easiest schedule and is favored in 14 games. The Lions lose in the NFCCG.
Bears: Colston Loveland is fantasy’s TE1, D’Andre Swift is a top 12 RB, and Luther Burden is a top 20 WR … Caleb Williams becomes the first QB to reach 4,000 yards and 30 passing touchdowns in franchise history … The Bears have a much tougher schedule in 2026 and are due for major luck regression, although Chicago has the NFL’s best net rest advantage (15 days). Ben Johnson will feed families for fantasy managers and get the Bears to double-digit wins, but a tiebreaker leaves Chicago out of the playoffs.
Packers: Christian Watson is a top 15 WR, Jayden Reed is 25, and Tucker Kraft is a top five TE with Josh Jacobs not playing a down in 2026 … MarShawn Lloyd is an RB3 in fantasy, rarely seeing more than 15 touches while losing GL TDs to Kaleb Johnson … The Packers remain dangerous offensively, but Green Bay might have bottom three lines on both sides (at least until Micah Parsons returns). The defense and O line could be issues. A tiebreaker keeps the Packers out of the postseason.
Vikings: Kyler Murray is a top 10 QB, but his limitations as a passer make Justin Jefferson fail to live up to his ADP … AJ Barner outscores T.J. Hockenson … Demond Claiborne provides spike weeks for Best Ball Bros … Kevin O’Connell gets Minnesota’s offense back in gear with J.J. McCarthy out of the picture, but the Vikings finish in last place.
NFC SOUTH
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-8
2. New Orleans Saints 8-9
3. Carolina Panthers 7-10
4. Atlanta Falcons 6-11
Buccaneers: Baker Mayfield and Bucky Irving bounce back after injuries ruined their 2025. Irving finishes as a top 12 RB … Chris Godwin outscores Emeka Egbuka, while Ted Hurst outscores Jalen McMillan … Tampa Bay’s offensive line was devastated by injuries last season, but they enter 2026 as a possible top three unit. The offense should benefit from new OC Zac Robinson’s motion-heavy scheme, although more play action would be nice. The Bucs also have the makings of a potential top five defensive line after adding rookie Rueben Bain Jr. Tampa Bay plays in the conference’s easiest division, so a top seed isn’t out of the question; Mayfield to win MVP isn’t the craziest extreme long shot at 60/1.
Saints: Tyler Shough is a top 15 QB, and Juwan Johnson is a top 10 TE … Devaughn Vele produces spike weeks until Jordyn Tyson returns in Week 9 … Zay Flowers outscores Chris Olave, who’s drafted a round earlier … New Orleans has Kellen Moore and a potential top five offensive line in a winnable division. The Saints are due for regression after scoring a touchdown during an NFL-low 44% of their red-zone drives last season. However, the Tyson injury hurts, and the Saints’ defense could be bad.
Panthers: Jonathon Brooks and Chuba Hubbard are locked in a frustrating timeshare on a mediocre offense … Jalen Coker outscores Tetairoa McMillan … Carolina has the league’s hardest schedule and a lingering question at quarterback. The Panthers are favored in just two games entering the season and finish third in the NFC South.
Falcons: Bijan Robinson remains a joy to watch and puts up top three fantasy RB stats, but Atlanta’s QB situation limits his ceiling in 2026 … Kyle Pitts Sr. makes me look dumb for fading him thanks to new usage, but he’s stuck with Jack Strand starting at quarterback during the fantasy playoffs … James Pearce Jr.’s eight-game suspension really hurts an Atlanta team that struggles to create pressure, but quarterback is the Falcons’ biggest reason for their last place finish.
NFC WEST
1. Los Angeles Rams 11-6
2. Seattle Seahawks 10-7 (Wild Card)
3. San Francisco 49ers 10-7 (Wild Card)
4. Arizona Cardinals 4-13
Rams: Matthew Stafford throws 15 fewer touchdowns than last season, although Puka Nacua is fantasy’s WR1 in points per game … The Rams are the first team in NFL history with the reigning MVP and Defensive Player of the Year, although Garrett’s knee swelling is of mild concern. Los Angeles is projected to lead the league in scoring and is favored in all but one game (+1.5) this season despite having the sixth-toughest SOS. The roster has the most upside in football, but there’s fragility risk as well. The Super Bowl favorites win the division but fall short in the playoffs.
Seahawks: Jadarian Price is fantasy’s best rookie over the first half of the season but is stuck in a timeshare once Zach Charbonnet is back to speed … Jaxon Smith-Njigba offsets a drop in efficiency with increased volume, repeating as a top five WR … AJ Barner is a top 15 TE … The Seahawks just posted the best point differential (regular season + playoffs) for a Super Bowl winning team since conference realignment in 2002. However, Seattle is coming off a long season, will face a tougher schedule and moves from Klint Kubiak to first-time play caller Brian Fleury. The Seahawks win a wild card spot but don’t repeat as champs.
49ers: Brock Purdy is a top five QB, and Mike Evans is a top 10 WR in points per game … Kaelon Black and Jordan James split work when Christian McCaffrey misses time … Eddy Dinero is a top three kicker … Injuries continue to strike San Francisco at an abnormally high rate, and the team must travel an NFL record 38,105 miles this season. Myles Garrett (23) had more sacks than the 49ers (20) last season, so the return of a full-go Nick Bosa would be huge. Ultimately, health (including Kyle Shanahan’s brain after his accident) will determine a highly competitive NFC West.
Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr. mogs the haters who mocked his preseason drops and is a top 12 WR … Jeremiyah Love wins Offensive Rookie of the Year despite beginning his NFL career with a high-ankle sprain … Carson Beck starts during the fantasy playoffs, when Arizona has a highly favorable schedule following its bye (NYJ, @NO, LV) … The Cardinals are favored in just three games entering the season. Arizona has a bottom 10 offensive line and a bottom five defensive line and plays in the league’s toughest division, resulting in last place.
NFC Championship Game: Cowboys over Lions
AFC Preview coming soon.