FFT Express - What Did the Playoffs Change? Early 2026 Fantasy Rankings & Overreactions! (02/11 Fantasy Football Podcast)

Summary

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Fantasy Football Today Express: What Did the Playoffs Change? Early 2026 Fantasy Rankings & Overreactions!

Date: February 12, 2026
Hosts: Adam Aizer (A), Jamey Eisenberg (B)
Theme:
This FFT Express episode tackles the biggest early fantasy football questions for 2026—analyzing how playoff performances impact player values, first-glance at rookie QB battles, running back upside, and wide receiver shake-ups ahead of draft season. Adam and Jamey discuss major overreactions and early rankings shifts, with particular focus on post-playoffs outlooks and what NOT to overreact to for draft prep.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Jalen Hurts: Early 2026 Fantasy Quarterback Ranking

Timestamp: 02:43-03:48

• Jalen Hurts’ Struggles and Value:
  • Hurts had a disappointing playoff showing, continuing a late-season slump.
  • Analyst view: He’s still top-10, but upside is questionable if A.J. Brown is traded.
  • Jamey’s Early Ranking: QB9 with significant volatility in the 6–10 QB tier.

    “If he loses A.J. Brown, that's going to be tough to swallow. So right now, he's QB9 for me… I like Justin Herbert better… Jayden Daniels… Jackson Dart better than Jalen Hurts.” —Jamey (03:07)

  • Coordinator change may help (“losing Petullo… hopefully getting a new voice and new system will help”), but uncertainty lingers.

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2. Rookie (and Young) Quarterback Outlook: Drake May vs. Caleb Williams vs. Bo Nix

Timestamp: 03:48-05:28

• Favorite Young QB:
  • Jamey prefers Drake May (“It's Drake May, but Caleb Williams not far behind.”).
  • May’s upside linked to New England’s potential upgrades at WR (possible A.J. Brown trade).
  • Adam notes May outproduced Williams: “Drake May averaged almost three more fantasy points per game… Drake May had 103 rush attempts and Caleb Williams had 77.” (04:32)
  • Rushing ability is a big separator (“May rushed for 450 yards and four touchdowns” vs. “Can’t complain about 383 rushing yards” for Williams).
• Playoff and Late-Season Splits:
  • Adam provides late-season stats: Weeks 10–17, May outpaced Williams in PPG (24.7 vs. 21.3).

  “So a big edge to Drake May…[but] you could just see a scenario where Caleb's better…” —Adam (05:28)

  • Bears’ better receiving core helps Williams’ case.

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3. Ken Walker: 2026 Fantasy Value after Playoffs

Timestamp: 07:05-08:27

• RB Ascendance:
  • Drafted in the 3rd round of their early mock; Jamey is actually higher, advocating for him in the 2nd round.
  • Top-10 RB upside if he remains the feature back in Seattle, especially with Charbonnet (backup RB) facing extended recovery.

    “The sky's the limit for Walker if he returns… he averaged 23.1 PPR points per game [as the starter]. The only two players… better than him… were Christian McCaffrey and Puka Nakua.” —Jamey (07:54)

  • Injury history, new OC, and contract situation are risk factors but potential is enormous.

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4. Playoff Overreactions: Who Remains Unchanged?

Timestamp: 08:27–10:11

• Who didn’t move the needle regardless of the postseason?
  • Drake May: No change despite “a miserable postseason,” still top-3 for Jamey (“He had over 20 fantasy points in the Super Bowl, but clearly not his best stretch of games.” —Jamey, 08:43).
  • Justin Herbert: Adam’s pick (“…the whole end of the season for Herbert where I'm excusing basically everything.” 09:06).
  • JSN (Jaxon Smith-Njigba): “He had one good playoff game… Not gonna fault him for that.” —Jamey (09:38).
  • Ken Walker’s surge is believed, not dismissed as fluky.
• Injuries affecting playoff context:
  • “Drake May was pretty hurt in the Super Bowl, too, I think...certainly was dealing with a shoulder injury.” —Adam (09:54)
  • “Will Campbell, you know, the reports coming out that he played through… not being 100.” —Jamey (10:01)

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5. Chicago Bears WR Rankings for 2026

Timestamp: 10:11-11:22

• Rankings per Jamey:
  1. Luther Burden
  2. Rome Odunze
  3. DJ Moore

  “I go Burden one, Odunze two, Moore three…there’s more upside for…Ben Johnson’s guy.” —Jamey (10:17)

  • Points to Burden’s breakout (when other WRs were out) and Moore’s drop due to diminishing target share.
  • All project as similar-range (outside top 24) options.
• Snap Share Worries:
  • Adam highlights: “Burden snapshare was disappointing…reminds me of Jaden Reed, just slot guy, can't really get on the field as much…” (10:55)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Hurts' 2026 Value:
  “I still think there's a lot to offer… a top-10 quarterback and…great value.” —Jamey (03:07)
• Perspective on Drake May’s Rushing Upside:
  “He just runs more. I wish we could see that from Caleb Williams. Such a great athlete...” —Adam (04:32)
• Ken Walker’s Fantasy Ceiling:
  “The sky's the limit for Walker if he returns… he averaged 23.1 PPR points per game.” —Jamey (07:54)
• On Postseason Overreactions:
  “So I'll go negative to no change. And that would be Drake May.” —Jamey (08:43)
• On Bears WRs:
  “I go Burden one, Odunze two, Moore three… all of them are outside my top 24.” —Jamey (10:17)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:43] – Jalen Hurts’ post-playoff fantasy ranking and A.J. Brown impact
• [03:48] – Rookie QB comparison: May vs. Williams vs. Nix
• [05:28] – Late season and playoff splits for young QBs
• [07:05] – Ken Walker’s fantasy draft value after playoff run
• [08:27] – Who’s postseason affected their stock the least?
• [10:11] – Bears WR hierarchy for fantasy and snap count concerns

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Overall Tone & Takeaways

The tone is conversational, candid, and analytical—typical for FFT. The hosts blend enthusiasm for breakout candidates with skepticism, cautioning listeners not to overreact based on limited playoff sample sizes. The show highlights opportunity, injury risk, and team context above mere recency bias, giving long-term perspective to fantasy managers prepping for 2026 drafts.

Useful for:
Anyone wanting actionable early rankings, insight on headline players post-playoffs, and a measured perspective for their dynasty/keeper or early draft prep.

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Transcript

[A]

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[B]

It would obviously change a lot, especially if Dallas Goddard leaves as A free agent. But I think you're looking at Jalen Hurts as probably something's going to be great value. I still think there's a lot to offer. He obviously has proven to be one of the better running quarterbacks during his tenure as a starter for the Eagles. And I don't think necessarily the coordinator change is a bad thing. I think losing Petullo and you know, hopefully getting a new, you know, voice and new system will help. But yeah, if he loses A.J. brown, that's going to be tough to swallow. So right now he's right now QB9. For me, that group of six through ten continues to shuffle around. But I like Justin Herbert better, for example, just with the addition of Mike McDaniel. I'm trying to think some other guys I like better. Jayden Daniels coming back from injury I think is a little bit better gamble just based on what his upside is and what he showed in his rookie campaign. Like Jackson dart better than Jalen Hurts right now just with again what he showed in his rookie campaign and, and what you know, hopefully will be a good system for him as well with coordinator change and certainly coaching change. So again, I think Jalen Hurts is going to be still a top 10 quarterback and end up being great value for 2026.

[A]

All right, question number two. Which young quarterback are you most excited for in fantasy out of this group? Caleb Williams, Bo Nix, Drake May.

[B]

It's Drake May, but Caleb Williams not far behind. I do want to see what the Patriots do to enhance this receiving core. You know, whether that's bring back Stefan Diggs or completely overhau and move on from Diggs and you know, bring in, you know, hopefully somebody that's, that's even better and hopefully and maybe younger, you know, so A.J. brown could be on the move there for all we know. But May showed with this group that he can be a pretty special fantasy quarterback. He still has the ability to make some plays with his legs. But Caleb Williams not far behind. I think with what he can do in year two for Ben Johnson. I like that a lot.

[A]

I think what upsets me, upsets me. Is there nothing wrong when I look at comparing Caleb Williams to Drake May. Drake May averaged almost three more fantasy points per game and six point per pass in touchdown leagues. But Drake May had 103 rush attempts and Caleb Williams had 77 in the regular season. They both played 17 games. But Drake May, you know, barely played in week 18 as I recall. He just runs more. I wish we could see that from Caleb Williams. Such a great athlete. I wish he would run a little bit more. Can't complain about 383 rushing yards, but he's got the potential to be a.500 rushing guard kind of guy. Drake may rush for 450 yards and four touchdowns.

[B]

I wonder in the second half of the season what their fantasy points per game would be because Williams really started to perform better down the stretch and certainly we're going to get a full year of a healthy Colston love. At least that's the hope. Like when you look at the two, you certainly, you definitely would take the Bears receiving core over the Patriots receiving core hands down.

[A]

There's no right it seems like, it seems like a silly question because everyone in the world is taking Drake May over Kayla Williams. But you could just see a scenario where, where Caleb's better and all right, so I won't count week nine because he played the Bengals and he scored 45 fantasy points against, you know, such a bad defense. So let's go weeks 10 through 17. We won't count week 18 and in those games, well, they were back to back overall. But but Drake May had a buy in there. So Caleb Williams averaged 21.3 and Drake may average 24.7. So a big edge to Drake may 13 touchdown passes for him. Caleb also had 13. What was the difference? Must have been rushing again. It was just, you know, I guess kind of similar stats. But Drake May did it in one fewer game. All right, next question for you, Jamie, will come after this commercial break. We'll take a break on FFD Express and we'll be right back.

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[A]

All right, great question here. Ken Walker win Super bowl mvp. And we just did a draft earlier today and he went in the third round, the middle of the third round. And the question is, what range do you have Ken Walker going heading into next season.

[B]

Just wrote a whole story on Ken Walker and what to expect this off season. Whether he stays or whether he goes. I made the case that he's a second round pick. So you started to list off some running backs when we were in the draft. Josh Jacobs, Saquon Barkley, Ashton Genty. I think it was after you took Chase Brown. Chase Brown's the, the last running back I would take over. Walker. He's a top 10 guy for me. Assuming that he stays in Seattle and, and whatever the rehab and recovery processes for Zach Charbonnet. ESPN reported at the time of the injury that we're looking at a long road back for him. So if Charbonnet can miss potentially half the season. In the four games, including the 49ers game, which is the one that Charbonnet left. So the four games where Walker was basically the featured running back for Seattle, he averaged 23.1 PPR points per game. The only two bet. The only two players in fantasy better than him non quarterbacks were Christian McCaffrey and Puka Nakua. So he's got that type of upside. All four games over 18 PPR points. So there's immense upside. We have to factor in his injury track record. You got to factor in the coordinator change. Clint Kubiak leaving to be the head coach of the Raiders. I just think the sky's the limit for Walker if he returns. So franchise tag contract extension. I think Walker could be in line at least for 20, 26 to be a very special fantasy option.

[A]

Here's a tough question, one to think about here. Which player's postseason performance changed absolutely nothing for you? Call this the Gabe Davis of questions. That four touchdown game, but it did that, that did put him on people's radar.

[B]

So I'll go negative to no change. And that would be Drake May. He had a miserable postseason. You know, did have over 20 fantasy points in the super bowl, but clearly not his best stretch of games. The four games that he played against arguably four best defense in the NFL of the Chargers, the Texans, the Broncos and the Seahawks. But I'm still drafting him as a top three quarterback. I think from.

[A]

I say, I'll say Herbert. I know it's only one game but like just the whole end of the season for Herbert where I'm excusing basically everything.

[B]

Yeah, you know, okay, yeah, excusing or I'm sorry, I want to, I want to put some thought into the Gabe Davis side of it. Maybe there's nobody that had that Type of. Yeah.

[A]

I mean, the only guy would be Walker, but we're not. But we definitely are believing it with Ken Walker.

[B]

I mean, look, the other side of the Drake May equation is also or same side is jsn. He had one good playoff game.

[A]

That's a great point. Yeah. What do you make of that? Nothing.

[B]

No, I mean, look, they didn't have to do much against San Francisco. He scored a touchdown in that game, had a great game against the Rams, and then comes into the super bowl and was hurt, so I'm not gonna fault him for that.

[A]

Drake May was pretty hurt in the super bowl, too, I think. Well, I. We don't know that for sure, but certainly was dealing with a shoulder injury.

[B]

And Will Campbell, you know, the reports coming out that he played through the end, you know, came back and played through not. Not being 100, so.

[A]

Yeah, absolutely. All right, I might have time for one more quick one.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

How about this one? Just rank these guys. Rank the Bears wide receivers for Fantasy. DJ Moore, Romo Dunze, Luther Burden.

[B]

I go Burden one, Odunze two more three, and we'll see if More stays on the team. But I think you look at Burden and what he hopefully will build off of that stretch that he played was without Romo Dunze. But I think there's more upside for him for the guy that Ben Johnson drafted. Odunze, I'm hoping what we saw in the beginning of the season can, you know, sort of he can get back to that level or at least close to it. You know, dealing with the foot injury that knocked him out for the second half of the season, at least the majority of it. And DJ Moore really just did not get the targets that I think he needs, so that's why he's third. But I think all of them are going to be drafted in a similar range. All of them are outside my top 24. I have burdened and Odunze right now, back to back. And DJ More about four or five spots behind him.

[A]

Okay. Yeah, I think just. Just worth mentioning. We'll talk about this throughout the off season, but when they were all healthy at the end of the year, after Burden had already broken out, Burden snapshare was disappointing. It reminds me of Jaden Reed, just slot guy, can't really get on the field as much as the other guys. And not. That's just not to be overlooked. Loveland played all the time. Odunze and More. They played more than.

[B]

Than Luther Bourbon and leveling clearly ahead of the receivers.

[A]

Yeah. All right. Well, didn't Burden go ahead of Loveland in the draft. We just did, like three picks or something. Actually, I think. Yeah, I think he did. Maybe not. Maybe one right after. I think they both went in the same round. All right. Anyway, find out Jamie's going to publish the results of the draft. Or you can just listen to the podcast we just did and we'll talk to you next time on Fantasy Football Today Express.

[B]

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