Liz LozaSep 2, 2026, 07:00 AM ET
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Pithy quotes written in hot pink script. Video footage from late-night talk shows. Audio clips of live(ly) performances. The internet has attempted to celebrate Dolly Parton's memory with the volume and breadth befitting an icon.

Except there can never be enough for a person whose most adored trait was being too much. A living, breathing anomaly. Humble yet confident. Ambitious but kind. Petite and powerful. What made Dolly unique wasn't just that she did everything on her own terms and in her own way ... but that her unapologetic approach actually worked.

From shading Elvis to building an amusement park in the Smoky Mountains, Dolly's principles guided her business acumen. It's almost as if her conviction carried her career ... not the other way around.

Often in life, we spend so much time worrying about making the "right" decision that we forget why we're making it in the first place. For the intended result or for the enjoyment of the process? Ideally, both. Sometimes, the factors are so complex that decisions can't simply be influenced by fact. We gotta get into some feels.

We also have to acknowledge that we might whiff. Decision-making isn't a science. The algorithms and chatbots would like us to believe differently, suggesting (demanding?) that perfection is possible and efficiency is essential.

What they're missing is actual lived experience. A cellular understanding that the vector between choice and resolution does not, in fact, exist in a straight line. It's all swirly. Full of zigzags and beautifully jagged edges. Those spikes and slopes aren't just the data accrued but, also, lessons learned. Like Ms. Dolly said, "If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain."

Surrendering to fallibility makes room for ease. Viewing mistakes as opportunities -- rather than dead ends -- alters the trajectory of enjoyment. And all this relates to fantasy football.

For example, I could be totally wrong about Christian McCaffrey this year. Maybe he'll be the first running back in two decades to come off a 450-touch season (including the playoffs) and finish inside the top 10 fantasy producers at the position. The tomes of research I've uncovered suggest otherwise. That evidence hasn't stopped folks from screaming at the wind (and me). But my commitment to the facts in combination with my personal conviction keeps me from bending the knee.

It also keeps me smiling. Because there's satisfaction in standing 10 toes down when you've done the work. My fantasy team doesn't belong to the consensus. Yours shouldn't either. So draft with the confidence your squad deserves. Whether that's leaning into Christian Watson's volatility or eschewing Jakobi Meyers' floor, make this a signature season. And remember one more bit of wisdom from Dolly: "If you keep yourself out of the game for fear of losing, there is no way on this earth you're gonna win."

With that in mind, let's dig in for a closer look at the facts -- and feelings -- surrounding some of the biggest names in fantasy football this season.

Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens

Coming off career-low rushing numbers, Jackson's redraft stock has plummeted. A deeper dive into the numbers reveals massive bounce-back appeal at an all-time discount. Jackson battled hamstring, toe, ankle and back injuries throughout the past season, missing four contests and playing through the pain for a handful of others. Before suffering the initial injury in Week 4, Jackson averaged 27.6 FPPG and was on pace for 30 passing scores. Even in a down effort, the Ravens QB averaged 18.1 FPPG in the games he was able to finish.

Jackson enters 2026 fully healthy and primed for a rebound. Backed by the NFL's fifth-easiest strength of schedule, Jackson's aerial appeal skyrockets with the addition of a rookie pass-catching quartet: wideouts Ja'Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt, alongside tight ends Matthew Hibner and Josh Cuevas. This influx of young talent meshes perfectly with new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle's aggressive, big-play philosophy. A conservative projection of just 120 rushing attempts still easily clears his path back to a top-five fantasy finish. Given the two-round gap between Josh Allen and Jackson, the Ravens QB is a strong value at his current ADP of right around 35.

James Cook III, RB, Buffalo Bills

It wasn't Derrick Henry or Jonathan Taylor or Bijan Robinson who led the NFL in rushing yards last season. It was Cook. Amassing a career-high 1,612 rushing yards, Cook remained one of the slipperiest backs in the league, closing out the year as fantasy's RB5 in breakaway runs (16) and the RB7 in evaded tackles (77). Buoyed by an elite offensive line, the 26-year-old additionally managed 3.09 yards before contact (RB3, behind Jahmyr Gibbs and Blake Corum).

Ranking fourth at the position in scrimmage yards, Cook's ground numbers weren't the only stats to surge. The dual-threat talent also added 4.4 FPPG via receiving work. That's particularly noteworthy given new offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael's comments about getting Cook more involved in the passing game. Carmichael previously served as the New Orleans Saints' offensive coordinator when New Orleans selected Alvin Kamara in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft. Given Cook's projected volume, upside as a receiver and consistent weekly floor (only six games outside of the top 10 at the position in 2025), the Bills' RB1 is worthy of a first-round virtual selection.

Bucky Irving, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Undersized but ultra-aggressive, Irving tore up the back half of his rookie campaign, becoming a premier fantasy asset in the process. Unfortunately, his high-impact approach took a physical toll, causing injuries that derailed the bulk of his second season. The Oregon product missed seven games due to a midfoot sprain and simultaneous shoulder dislocation suffered in Week 4 of 2025. The shoulder issue ultimately required offseason surgery, causing a recovery process that stretched into 2026. Even though Irving did not miss any preseason action specifically due to the shoulder, there remains hesitation about his ability to handle a robust workload.

Enter Kenny Gainwell. Tampa Bay let Rachaad White walk and replaced him with Gainwell, who is fresh off a career season in Pittsburgh. The RB4 in catches (73) and the RB5 in receiving yards (486), Gainwell posted the highest percentage of fantasy points via receptions (62%) in 2025. Given that 53% (RB5) of Irving's fantasy points were earned through the air and just 47% of his virtual production came from the rush, Irving's totals figure to recede. Factor in Sean Tucker's propensity for goal-line touchdown poaching and Bucky's 2026 profile appears increasingly bleak.

Ladd McConkey, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

Who will be this year's JSN? It's a question I've been frequently asked over the spring and summer. While each season unfolds as its own unique expression and, therefore, such signature breakouts can't be guaranteed, identifying overlapping situations and players can be a useful exercise.

Much like Smith-Njigba, McConkey enters his third season boasting positional versatility and a history of being heavily targeted (over 100 looks in back-to-back efforts). While McConkey has done significant damage from the slot, his capacity to win across the formation aligns well with the arrival of new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. Just as Klint Kubiak expanded Smith-Njigba's route tree, McDaniel is primed to unlock a new tier of deployment for McConkey.

Anchored by Justin Herbert's deft arm talent and elevated by a swath of available targets -- inheriting the opportunities left behind by Keenan Allen, similar to the way JSN absorbed a void left by DK Metcalf -- McConkey stands at the precipice of a career-defining season. His underlying metrics prove he has the profile to capitalize on this workload, flashing exceptional efficiency and playmaking upside by averaging a stellar 2.79 yards per route run as a rookie. When stacked against the less-than-inspiring veteran wideouts typically available in the fifth round, McConkey's ceiling calls like a siren's song.

Mike Evans, WR, San Francisco 49ers

Already skipping reps, Evans is a dicey proposition entering his age-33 season. Hamstring and collarbone issues sidelined the vet for nine games in 2025. A change of scenery does not appear to have provided relief, as he has battled calf, quad and groin injuries thus far into training camp. Even when he does suit up, the physical wear and tear on his body appears to have caught up with his production. Evans posted career lows in yards per route run (a 33.3% drop from 2024) and fantasy points per catch last season. The dip in efficiency capped the impact of his previously high-value grabs.

On the other hand, the red area of the field is exactly where Evans has thrived, ranking third of 77 qualified WRs in percentage of points scored via TD (38.8%) over the past three seasons. Combined with learning a new playbook and facing a bottom-10 strength of schedule, Evans faces an uphill battle to rebound in 2026.

Rashid Shaheed, WR, Seattle Seahawks

Seattle re-signed Shaheed to a three-year, $51 million contract, signaling an increased role in the offense. The 27-year-old's previous experience in New Orleans indicates that he's up for the task. Shaheed averaged 11.6 FPPG alongside Chris Olave prior to being traded midseason. He also registered an impressive 22% target share (not much lower than Olave's 29% target share) from Weeks 1 through 9. Furthermore, Shaheed's 7.3 targets and 4.9 receptions per contest ranked 15th among wide receivers during that span.

Reports out of training camp suggest that the Seahawks plan to use Shaheed in the short-to-intermediate passing game, lifting the speedster's weekly floor above his usual deep-threat status. Because all other Seattle wide receivers -- outside of Smith-Njigba -- combined for a mere 82 catches, 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns last season, Shaheed has a massive opportunity to absorb that production and lock himself in as the team's clear-cut No. 2 WR. He is an absolute bull's-eye of a late-round dart throw in upcoming fantasy drafts.

Colston Loveland, TE, Chicago Bears

No need to waste your energy debating between Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III for Bears pass catchers -- Loveland is the guy to roster. Equal parts reliable and dynamic, the No. 10 pick from a year ago figures draw a significant number of the 150 looks vacated due to the departures of Olamide Zaccheaus (65) and D.J. Moore (85). A sudden mover for his size (6-foot-6, 248 pounds), Loveland wins at the catch point and remains a threat after the catch. He averaged an impressive 1.96 yards per route run (TE6) as a 21-year-old rookie.

Unleashed by Ben Johnson down the stretch, the Michigan standout emerged as fantasy TE2 (behind only Trey McBride) from Weeks 9 through 18 of last year. He averaged a heart-stopping 12.0 targets, 7.0 catches and 94.5 receiving yards over his final four games (including the playoffs). There's little reason to believe he won't pick up where he left off. A staggering mismatch over the middle of the field, Loveland has TE1 appeal. He's a prime target at the position in the fourth round of fantasy drafts.

Facts vs. Feelings: Should you be in or out on these seven players?

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