Predicting 3 Overlooked Fantasy Football Stars in 2026

The NFL has a way of spawning new stars every season or even returning former stars back to the constellation.

That's what makes fantasy football so fun.

You never quite know who's going to take the leap. Or maybe you have doubts about a breakout performer following up with an even bigger effort the next season. Or perhaps you just aren't giving a player the respect their production commands.

Either way, the following three players all appear capable of shattering the expectations that the fantasy community seemingly has set for them.

Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers

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There are, on average, 12 quarterbacks being taken in front of Purdy right now, per FantasyPros. That feels like entirely too many.

For starters, it undersells what he has accomplished to this point. Here are his last three finishes in average fantasy points per game among quarterbacks: QB5 last season, QB12 in 2024 and QB8 in 2023. So, on those rankings alone, he is already a bargain.

Once you tack on his 2026 outlook, though, that's where he morphs into a potential fortune-changing bargain. Few quarterbacks have an array of playmakers like this: Christian McCaffrey in the backfield, George Kittle at tight end and a strong receiving group led by newcomers Mike Evans (historically, a 1,000-yard machine) and De'Zhaun Stribling (a rookie generating as much buzz as anyone this preseason).

Are there health risks among that aformentioned group? Absolutely. But that risk is being accounted for and then some by Purdy's discounted draft cost. If even most of those players remain upright, Purdy could be a top-five performer at the position.

Javonte Williams, RB, Dallas Cowboys

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Last season, fantasy folks needed some convincing about Williams' ability to thrive as a featured back. Then, he authored a 1,338-scrimmage yard, 13-touchdown effort on the league's seventh-highest offense.

But somehow the fantasy community still isn't totally onboard? While he's far from an afterthought (ADP: RB16), he also isn't costing the rate at which he produced last season (RB11).

Why can't he be even better this time around? Because his scoring slipped down the stretch (five touchdowns in his final eight outings)? That could've been simple variance and should not be regarded as some definitive change of direction.

This offense should be explosive once again, and Williams doesn't face much competition for carries. If he's a bell-cow back (287 touches in 2025), then he should be just as productive as last season and could certainly take another big step.

Jalen McMillan, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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A healthy McMillan can be a game-breaker. Granted, that player doesn't surface, but he is usually pretty spectacular when he does.

During his eight career contests with five-plus targets, he has tallied 38 receptions for 480 yards and seven touchdowns. What other receiver being drafted outside of the position's top 60 can essentially average 60 yards and a score?

Now, McMillan needs to stay on the field to post those kind of numbers, but every NFL player carries some degree of injury risk. And that includes his primary competition for targets with Mike Evans now out of Tampa in Emeka Egbuka, who is week-to-week with a toe sprain, and Chris Godwin Jr., who has played 16 games the past two seasons combined.

This aerial attack will put up numbers with Baker Mayfield at the helm, so there are several darts worth throwing here. You just don't really have to pay anything for the wager on McMillan's opportunity and upside.