Fantasy Football Today - 2026 Fantasy Football Breakout Candidates | Way Too Early Predictions (FFT Express)

Episode Date: February 24, 2026

Jamey Eisenberg and Dave Richard dish their early breakout candidates. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hey, Ontario, come on down to BetMGM Casino and see what our newest exclusive the Price's Right Fortune Pick has to offer. Don't miss out. Play exciting casino games based on the iconic game show, only at BetMGM. Check out how we've reimagined three of the show's iconic games, like Plinkgo, Cliffhanger, and The Big Wheel into fun casino game features. Don't forget to download the BetmGM Casino app for exclusive access and excitement on the Price's Right Fortune Pick. Pull up a seat and experience the Price is Right Fortune Pick only available at BedmGM Casino. BetMGM and GameSense remind you to play responsibly.

19 plus to wager. Ontario only. Please play responsibly. If you have questions or concerns about your gambling or someone close to you, please contact Connects Ontario. At 1866, 531, 2,600, to speak to an advisor, free of charge. BenMGM operates pursuant to an operating agreement with Eye Gaming Ontario.

Time for some early breakout candidates here on Fantasy Football Today Express. Jamie Eisenberg, that's Dave. Richard, is giving us 10 breakout candidates for 2026. Obviously, this list will change. It's only the end of February. Dave's got some guys that he's targeting. All right, Dave, give me the first breakout candidate that we're looking. I'm actually going to give you 19 names.

And the first nine, we're not even going to talk about. They're obvious. They are rookies from last year. There are obvious breakout candidates from Ashton Gentie and Omar in Hampton. to the two stud receivers, Tedman-Mamma, Tetero-McMillan, Emeka, it would help if I could talk. Jackson, Dart, Cam Ward, Colson Loveland, Harold Fanon, Tyler Warren, they're going to be on everybody's breakout list.

Forget those names for now. I still have 10 names. This is an interesting year for breakouts, by the way, Jamie. I don't know about you, but there are a lot of names that I am into. And how about a fifth-year breakout at wide receiver? Maybe it's a 60-year, I guess it's a six-year. In the case of Devante Smith, What if AJ Brown leaves Philadelphia and the Eagles don't really do anything to replace him and they commit to Devante Smith as their number one wide receiver?

If he clears 15.5 ppr points, that's the best ever in his career. And I think he could do that if he was promised a ton of targets, stays healthy. Even if Philadelphia stayed conservative with the run, he could still fall into a higher target production if there's no AJ Brown there. So that's the first name off my list and kind of surprising to go with somebody who's not in their second year, third year, or fourth year in Devante Smith. I'm kind of curious to get your reaction to that. It certainly can be the case. You know, I think we always talk about some of these guys that have had early career success and then they fall off a little bit, you know, what category do they fall in? And I think this is certainly a guy that can have a almost a, you know, re-breakout type of season, especially if Dallas Goddard leaves on top of A.J. Brown leaving.

So there's a lot to love about about a situation. So yeah, for sure, somebody that will skyrocket up draft boards if Brown and Goddard are not there. Who's the next guy on your list? Let's go west. And I think I know which guy I want to take in Arizona between Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson. I'm going to surprise you. I think Michael Wilson is the breakout candidate in Arizona wide receiver and not Marvin Harrison, Jr. I talked about this last week on the show.

It's a new coaching staff. they've got no commitments or ties to either of these wide receivers. But what we saw from Michael Wilson, primarily when Marvin Harrison was off the field and Michael Wilson was getting a ton of targets, can't be ignored. And this coaching staff should try and figure out which one of these wide receivers they want to try and concentrate targets on when they're not targeting or when they're not asking their quarterback, rather, to target Trey McBride. And it's contingent on a lot of things, including what we hear out of training camp and who the quarterback is going to be in Arizona, what the offensive line. line is going to return like this year. How's that defense going to be?

Tons of factors. This is players. These are players on a way too early list. They belong on this list now. I don't know if either one of them are going to be there, but I thought Michael Wilson was sensational when given the opportunity. And if he continues to get opportunities, then of course he could have his best year ever.

Absolutely could. I'm more in the Marvin Harrison camp just because of what the targets were for him compared to Michael Wilson when both were healthy and active. Harrison was the guy that was featured there. I understand your point about the regime not necessarily being tied to Marvin Harrison. I did like the fact that they just had the groundbreaking on their new practice facility and they had a handful of players there.

Marvin was one of those players there. So I think he's going to be somebody that they view as a cornerstone of this franchise. I like to set up more for Marvin Harrison compared to Michael Wilson. But we'll see again how things shake out throughout the course of the offseason. All right, Dave, give me one more guy. Then we're going to take quick break. Let's do the exact same thing that we did in Arizona except in Chicago. Luther Burden Romo Dunzee and DJ Moore's attendance in Chicago could be a factor.

Colson Loveland, kind of like how Trey McBride is a factor in Arizona, maybe not to the same extent in Chicago, but that's going to be a factor. Both of these wide receivers had portions of the year where they were really good for fantasy. Which one do you think I'm more inclined to call a breakout? And which one are you more inclined to call a breakout? I believe you had burden on your list of the first nine that. that everybody's going to call a breakout. So I'm guessing you're going with Oduonze.

No, I'm going with Burton. I liked Burden. There were four games without Oduenzee when he averaged 6.5 targets per game. I'm confused. Is he part of the 19 or is not part of the 19? No, burden is not part of the 19. Oduonzee is not. For now I like burden as the breakout candidate.

I'm sorry. So is burden part of the original nine or is burden in the next 10? I'm mentioning him now. So he's part of the next 10. Okay. Go ahead. I've just, I think the way that he finished the year.

How could I say the things I said about Michael Wilson and not say that about Luther Burton? More importantly, this coaching staff did draft Luther Burton. They did not draft Romo Dunzee. NFO Dunzee is going to be pigeoned into the outside role and Burden can work in the slot, work outside, do a lot of gimmicky stuff. Then it's all going to lead to more opportunities.

And burden in his second year should be able to develop and be really, really good. So we've talked about this recently. Adam and I have. I don't think you were on the show or maybe it was an express episode where Adam brought up about O'Donzei's first half of the season compared to his second half of the season when he was injured and what burden was able to accomplish the second half of the season then when O'Donzee came back at the end of the year.

I think the one thing that Adam brought up was that his route participation rate dropped a little bit for burden when O'Donzee was healthy. My counter to that was what O'Donzee did in the first half. There was no Colston-Levelin really as a significant part of the offense. So I think there's a lot to like about both those guys in the sense of DJ more potentially gone, I think would be the biggest boost for both of them.

I'm more in the burden camp, but for exactly the reason you said, like this is the regime that drafted him, targeted him earlier than I think some people expected. And what we saw in terms of flashes and what he can do, I think there was much more upside in the favor of Luther Bernd. Now, I'm going to take a quick break.

When we come back, we're going to go rapid fire through the rest of Dave's list. I think we only got through three, so we got seven more to go. So we're going to take a break here on Fantasy Football Today Express. All right, we're back. All right, Dave. So let's give me the names, and I'm going to pick two more guys that we'll discuss.

So give me the other seven names of the breakout candidates. We're kind of on the same wave like that. Let me do it this way. I'm going to give you three wide receivers, and then we'll do the names for the remaining four. Alec Pierce, Ricky Pearsall, Parker, Washington. All three breakout candidates, which one is your favorite of those three? Well, I think the one that hasn't really broken out yet, or at least had significant flashes of breakout potential,

or has plagiar potential, hasn't shown breakout. statistics yet is Ricky Pearson. So let's talk about it. Four games with seven or more targets last year, 13.5 or more PPR points in each of them. We're saying this about a lot of wide receivers today. If they get targets, they can get numbers.

It means opportunity is necessary. It means staying on the field is necessary for Ricky Pearson. But if the 49ers don't have George Kittle to start the season, maybe they not only move on from Brandon Ayuk, but also Joanne Jennings, they might need somebody to be that steadying force in the passing game. And Pierce all could be that guy. They lower the aid out a little bit.

They raise the target volume. They make him a focal point. Easy guy to go after with a mid-round pick. We'll see where Pierce ends up. And we can talk a lot more about his breakout potential when he signs a new deal after being a free agent or stays in Indianapolis. Michael Pittman, excuse me, is released as a salary cap casualty. And Parker, Washington, look, great stretch of games last season.

and we'll see what role he fills for the Jaguars if Brian Thomas stays on the team and what Travis Hunter's role is in that receiving court as well. All right, what are the last few names that we got? Here are the last four names, and you're going to get a stat for me with the last name that I give you. Trey Benson, basal tutant running back, Orronday Gadsden, and Isaiah likely at tight end. And Isaiah likely has nine career games with at least six targets. Jamie, 12 and a half PPR points in eight of the nine games for Isaiah likely.

Get this guy to a team where he's. he can be part of the offense and not an ancillary piece where he's only going to get three targets per game. You're hoping that he catches a touchdown. Let him go out there and be a playmaker for a team. To me, that's one of the easier breakouts to forecast. We were hoping that the Ravens move on from Mark Andrews, and he would be that guy for Baltimore. They signed Andrews last year to a three-year contract extension. Maybe he follows John Harbaugh to the Giants and is that guy for Jackson Dart. Maybe he goes to Atlanta, which is a destination that I think a lot of tight ends would prefer because of Kevin

DeFancy and what he's done for tight ends there if they decide to move on from Kyle Pitts. All right, I want to ask you just one quick question and then we'll end our Express episode today. So if we get to the summer through free agency, through the draft, and we find out that the Cardinals are naming Trey Benson. They're starting running back because they've moved on

from James Connor and the Jaguars let Travis E.N. go and Bachel Tutin is they're running back for 2026. Which of those two guys do you like better? Tutton. I really love the talent. I love the offense in Jacksonville. I think it's only going to get better. I think Tutin can be good catching passes out of the backfield as well.

Not that Benson can't do that, but I'm a little bit worried about Benson's health. And I'm almost certain that whoever they have in Arizona, there will be somebody else taking significant work away. That will be a two-headed monster. Yeah, I think it would probably be the same in Jacksonville, but I agree with you. I think Tutin definitely has a higher ceiling. And yes, you got to worry a little bit about Benson's health. Just frustrating that when James Connor goes down, Benson doesn't stay healthy, not able to show us. or showcase what his skills could have been

as the lead running back to the Cardinals, but maybe he'll get that chance in 2026. All right, great list, Dave. We'll talk about more breakout throughout the rest of the offseason and get some more sleepers and bust as well. This has been another fun episode of Fantasy Football Today Express.

For Dave, I'm Jamie. Thanks for watching and listening.