FFT Express - UPDATED Breakout Players for 2026 Fantasy Football ! Heath Cummings’ Top Targets! (05/19 Fantasy Football Podcast)

Summary

Fantasy Football Today Express — Updated Breakout Players for 2026: Heath Cummings’ Top Targets

Release Date: May 19, 2026
Host: Adam Aizer
Featured Analyst: Heath Cummings
Podcast: Fantasy Football Today Express

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Episode Overview

In this episode, host Adam Aizer and analyst Heath Cummings dive into Heath’s freshly updated list of breakout fantasy football players for the 2026 season. The conversation focuses on high-upside draft targets across tight end, quarterback, running back, and wide receiver positions. Heath provides expert insights into why each player is poised for a leap in production, examining talent, opportunity, coaching changes, and underlying metrics. The episode is ideal for anyone seeking a competitive edge and looking to dominate their draft.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tight End Breakouts (02:02)

Heath highlights three tight ends who have the potential for career-best seasons:

• Sam LaPorta (Detroit Lions)

  • Already posted a TE1 season; career high is 14 points per game, but could exceed that under a TE-friendly offensive coordinator.
  • "[Sam LaPorta] has a chance to be better than the 14 points per game that is his career high." — Heath (02:09)

• Kyle Pitts (Cleveland Browns)

  • While considered a disappointment by some, Pitts is fourth in receiving yards among TEs since entering the league and now joins Kevin Stefanski, a play-caller with a history of maximizing TEs.
  • "Part of the Kyle Pitts has been an enormous disappointment is overblown... he has a better offensive play caller for tight ends in Kevin Stefanski now." — Heath (02:23)

• Isaiah Likely (New York Giants)

  • Gains a starting role under Matt Nagy, who brings experience running the Andy Reid offense. Could emerge as the second target on the Giants.
  • "Could be the number two target on the Giants." — Heath (02:38)

• Strategy Recommendation:

  • "Take two of these guys." — Heath (03:33)

  Tight End ADP:

  • LaPorta: TE7, going in the 90s (FantasyPros), round 8 on DraftSharks (03:10-03:35)
  • Pitts: TE8, similar range.
  • Likely: TE13, around round 11.

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2. Quarterback Breakout — Jaden Daniels (04:01)

• Averages 23 fantasy points in four full games as a rookie, without a single rushing touchdown.
• With Terry McLaurin and a healthy supporting cast, Daniels offers possibly the highest rushing upside at QB for 2026.
• "Jaden Daniels... could lead quarterbacks in rushing yards. I still think he has the potential in a given season, maybe it's not this season, to be the number one quarterback in fantasy." — Heath (04:01)

Notable Segment:

• Adam on Daniels’ per-game upside:
  "In those four games he averaged 23 fantasy points per game. 23.1 to be exact. And that was with zero rushing touchdowns." — Adam (04:29)

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3. Second-Year Running Backs with Breakout Potential (05:05)

Heath hypes the sophomore class, focusing on three RBs in excellent situations:

• Omarion Hampton (Miami Dolphins)

  • Joins Mike McDaniel’s offense — "a fantastic situation for him."
  • Displays significant pass-catching upside.

• Ashton Genti (Baltimore Ravens)

  • Despite a historically bad situation last year (ranked 734th out of 737 in yards before contact among RBs with 100+ carries since 2010), lands behind a better O-line this year.
  • Adam: "That is a massive offensive line problem. I hope it's better." (05:46)

• Quinshon Judkins (New England Patriots)

  • Has a path to lead the league in rush attempts, more likely to earn touchdowns and a hefty share of his team's carries.

Heath summarizes:
"Some people have felt like the rookie running back class was a disappointment. As rookies—I think we'll feel much better about them after year two." — Heath (05:39)

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4. Wide Receivers Ready to Break Out (07:22)

• Rashee Rice (Kansas City Chiefs)

  • Despite not finishing better than WR27 in total points, opportunity booms after Chiefs skip adding WR target competition.

  • "He actually comes out at wide receiver 5 in my projections and he has the chance to be a top two or three guy if he plays 17 games." — Heath (07:35)

  • Adam notes Rice's inconsistency vs. tough opponents: "He had three games last year against the Chargers, Texans, and Broncos and he did not crack... the most points he scored was 12.4 and in every other game he was over 18 fantasy points per game." (07:54)

  • Heath admits a tough schedule is a slight concern, "But I don't think my questions about Rashee Rice's schedule are as pressing as my questions about Drake London's quarterback." (08:36)

• Luther Burden (Chicago Bears)

  • Posts an elite 2.71 yards per route run in 2025.
  • With DJ Moore and Zagas both gone and Caleb Williams maturing under Ben Johnson, Burden projects as a top-20 WR with elite efficiency.
  • "Those are the guys I want to bet on." — Heath (09:45)

Bears Offensive Outlook Under Ben Johnson (09:45–10:48)

• Adam: The Bears hired Ben Johnson, whose Lions offenses have consistently run the most or second-most plays in the last three years, indicating strong projected play volume.
• Heath: "His offenses have averaged 1,119 plays per season. Last year, the NFL median was 1,052, so it's almost a full game's worth of plays more than average." (10:09)

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• "Take two of [the tight ends]." — Heath, on drafting from the breakout TE group (03:33)
• "Some people have felt like the rookie running back class was a disappointment... I think we'll feel much better about them after year two." — Heath (05:39)
• "He actually comes out at wide receiver 5 in my projections... can be a top two or three guy if he plays 17 games." — Heath, on Rashee Rice (07:35)
• "His offenses have averaged 1,119 plays per season. Last year, the NFL median was 1,052." — Heath, on Ben Johnson’s fast-paced playcalling (10:09)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:02 — Tight End discussion: LaPorta, Pitts, Likely
• 04:01 — Jaden Daniels as QB Breakout
• 05:05 — Second-year RBs: Hampton, Genti, Judkins
• 07:22 — Wide Receivers: Rashee Rice, Luther Burden
• 09:45 — Bears offensive pace under Ben Johnson
• 10:09 — Statistical breakdown of Ben Johnson’s offenses

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Final Thoughts

Heath’s breakout list blends proven upside, favorable coaching changes, and opportunity for volume. His advice emphasizes positional value (TE) and the importance of targeting players with clear paths to expanded roles and efficiency upgrades. The episode offers clear actionable targets for fantasy drafters in 2026, backed by specific stats, context, and a thorough knowledge of team situations.

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Listen to the full episode for additional context, player comparisons, and deeper strategy talk on maximizing draft value.

Transcript

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[A]

Updated breakouts from Heath Cummings right now on Fantasy Football Today Express. All right, what's up everybody? Welcome to the show. So Heath just published his updated breakouts last week. Let's recap some, maybe all of them. Who do you want to start with?

[C]

Let's start with the tight ends. It would be unfamiliar to no one who's been listening to our show, but I do think Sam Laporta, Kyle Pitts, Isaiah, likely all three with have an opportunity to have career years with new offensive coordinators who have traditionally thrown the ball to tight ends a lot. Laporta has already been a, I think the tight end one overall one season, but I, I think he has a chance to be Better than the 14 points per game that is his career high. And, and probably Nerf Jameson Williams in the process. Kyle Pitts, like I, I think part of like the Kyle Pitts has been an enormous disappointment is overblown. He has the fourth most receiving yards amongst tight ends since he entered the NFL. He's very good. He has a better offensive play caller for tight ends. And Kevin Stefanski now he could be a top five tight end. And then Isaiah likely finally getting a chance to be a full time player again. Going to follow his former head coach with Matt Nagy coming in, who's run the Andy Reid offense the past few years. Could be the number two target on the Giants.

[A]

All right, so Sam Laporta at tight end 7. Kyle Pitts is tight end 8. I'm looking at fantasy pros, ADP. Both those guys are going pretty late in the 90s.

[C]

They are the reason I cannot draft Trey McBride or Brock Bowers in round two or early round three. Because I don't think the gap's big enough for a five round difference in ADP.

[A]

Then likely is round 11. He's tight end 13.

[C]

Take two of these guys.

[A]

Okay. And I don't, I mean I'm just surprised. Let me just real check draft sharks real quick. It's really surprised to see Laporta that low in the 90s. But let me see if. Yeah, he's 80. He's 85th on draft sharks. So that's the first pick of round eight. That's pretty damn good. I mean I feel like he goes in around six, maybe seven of our drafts. So good stuff there on Sam LaPorta. All right, who's next in your breakouts list?

[C]

Jaden Daniels, with the re breakout average, 23 fantasy points per game as a rookie, could lead quarterbacks in rushing yards. Terry McLaurin and he should both be healthy this year. I think Chigo conquo gives him a little more after the catch than Zach Ertz did. Jaden Daniels, I was way too high on him last year and he got hurt and it stunk. But I still think he has the potential in a given season. Maybe it's not this season to be the number one quarterback in fantasy.

[A]

Jaden Daniels only played 100 of the snaps four times. Only had four games where he played, you know, mo pretty much every snap. Even if he. The other games he didn't even come close to that. It wasn't like he had a 96 game whatever. In those four games he averaged 23 fantasy points per game. 23.1 to be exact. And that was with zero rushing touchdowns. So I love this one and maybe you could say he's the reason why I never draft Josh Allen or something like that or Lamar Jackson.

[C]

You know, I, I almost said I wouldn't be surprised on the I wouldn't be surprised show that I wouldn't be surprised if he was better than Drake May this year but I didn't think that was bold enough. But I wouldn't be.

[A]

All right, what's next?

[C]

The three second year running backs and everybody has one or two of these guys as their breakouts probably. But Omarion Hampton with Mike McDaniel there, that's a fantastic situation for him. Ashton Genti with Gary with Clint Kubiak there, it's a fantastic situation for him. Quin Sean Judkins I, I just recently said on a show that I wouldn't be surprised if he led the NFL in rush attempts. These guys do it in different ways. I think Genty and Hampton obviously have a lot more pass catching upside. I think Judkins is probably going to have a large, lot larger share of his team's rush attempts though and may score more rushing touchdowns than the other guys. Some people have felt like the rookie running back class was a disappointment. As rookies I think we'll feel much better about them after year two.

[A]

I saw an amazing stat on ESPN. So for Ashton Gente since 2010 we've had 737 seasons in which a running back has had a hundred carries, at least 100 carries. So 737 times we had a running back with 100 more carries since 2010. If you look at yards before contact, the average yards before contact. Astro Genti's season last year ranked 734th out of 737 running backs. That is a massive offensive line problem. I hope it's better. Should be with Linderbaum.

[C]

I think we can say for sure it's better. We don't know how much better.

[A]

Right? Exactly. Exactly. But he's obviously going to be expensive. People are expecting a big bounce back from from Genti and Heath included. All right, let's take a break and get a few more breakouts after this.

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[A]

So we've got three tight ends, three running backs, and who's the middle? Oh, Jaden Daniels. All right, anyone else you want to talk about here?

[C]

We got a couple wide receivers. I'm not sure Rashi Rice should actually count, but he's never finished better than wide receiver 27 in total fantasy points in a year. So I do think that we have to. The fact that the Chiefs really did nothing to add target competition for him means that the past three seasons when he's been a top 12 wide receiver in parts of each season should be our full season expectation. He actually comes out at wide receiver 5 in my projections and he has the chance to be a top two or three guy if he plays 17 games.

[A]

Yeah, it is just making him do it over a full season. Jamie didn't really seem bothered by this stat that I gave on Friday's show on CBS Sports Network, but he had three games last year against the Chargers, Texans and Broncos and he did not crack. I think this. I think the most points he scored was 12.4 and in every other game he was over 18 fantasy points per game. The Chief said he's got a pretty tough schedule. Obviously he faces the Chargers and the Broncos twice. I don't remember if they play the Texans, but he's got a tough schedule, a lot of good corners. Does it bother you at all to. To see him with a difficult schedule?

[C]

I. I don't like it and maybe it's a reason to take Drake London over him, but it's. I don't think my questions about Rashi Rice's schedule are as pressing as my questions about Drake London's quarterback.

[A]

What about your questions about Rushy Rice's quarterback? Do you have any of those?

[C]

Not for his. For himself. Yes. I'm sure Patrick Mahomes was on my bus list because I. My expectation is we're going to get to training camp and he's going to be healthy and everybody's going to start drafting him to be Patrick Mahomes.

[A]

I.

[C]

But the reason I'm not excited about him is because I think the rushing could disappear and I don't think that's worse for Rashi Rice.

[A]

Okay, fair point. Is that it? Anyone else?

[C]

Last wide receiver, Luther Burden. He's a top 20 wide receiver. His 2.71 yards per route run was one of the best marks ever last year. DJ Moore's gone along with Zagas. He shouldn't have mattered anyways, but he's gone. Hopefully Caleb Williams takes a step in his second year with Ben Johnson. I think it's possible if they just really concentrate this target share that Burden, Odunze and Loveland could all be good, but Burden and Loveland look like much more efficient pass catchers last year than what we've gotten from a Dunze so far. So those are the guys I want to bet on.

[A]

Okay, I'm just gonna check one thing here. I wanted to know how you feel about a team that ran. I think they ran the second most plays, but now I'm looking the year before, the Lions ran the most plays and the year before that the Lions ran the second most plays. So that's pretty good in terms of Ben Johnson's track record with running a lot of places. Do you project that for the for the Bears?

[C]

I have them projected to be amongst the league leaders. I always regress that play volume a little bit in the projections because it's not super sticky year over year, but it's been pretty sticky for Ben Johnson. I think he's yeah, I I that is a definite factor. His offenses have averaged 1119 plays per season. Last year, the NFL median was 1052, so it's almost a full game's worth of plays more than average.

[A]

You know what? I think I'm I had the I was doing the wrong search, but it ended up giving me basically the same results. Okay, so each of the last three seasons, Ben Johnson's offenses were first or second in plays run.

[C]

Yep.

[A]

Pretty cool. Thank you, Heath. Thank you all for watching and listening. This is Fantasy Football Today Express. We will talk to you next time on ffg.

[D]

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