2026 Fantasy Football: AFC West Division Breakdown

As the fantasy football season nears, it’s time to preview the NFL divisions in terms of fantasy. In this article, we take a look back and ahead at each team in the AFC West, while also highlighting the fantasy-relevant players you need to know for the 2026 season.

We are diving into the AFC West Division that offers plenty of fantasy talent, potential breakout players, and some interesting situations to monitor heading into the season.

AFC West 2026 Divisional Breakdown

Denver Broncos

Looking Back at 2025

The Denver Broncos had a dominant season in 2025, making it all the way to the AFC Championship Game. Bo Nix had another solid year for fantasy but suffered an injury during the playoffs. The run game started off with veteran J.K. Dobbins, who ran well but suffered another season-ending injury. Rookie RJ Harvey helped your fantasy lineups despite poor efficiency, as the Broncos backfield remained a startable asset. Courtland Sutton put together another respectable season as a WR2, while we also saw a mini breakout from Troy Franklin. The Broncos’ players were solid for fantasy in 2025, but none were true difference-makers for your lineups.

Looking Forward to 2026

Heading into 2026, we can only hope that Bo Nix can return to form and perform at a high level. It may help with the addition of Jaylen Waddle, giving Nix that elite talent at receiver. There is still Courtland Sutton, and hopefully either Troy Franklin or Pat Bryant can take another step forward. The run game should be interesting with the Broncos bringing back J.K. Dobbins to split time with RJ Harvey. That split is going to be something to watch since Dobbins was the guy last year before getting hurt. Plus, the addition of Jonah Coleman could make this backfield even more crowded if he gets involved.

Fantasy Relevant Players

Bo Nix, QB

Third-year quarterback Bo Nix is hopefully ready to dominate in 2026. The Broncos gave Nix an elite-level receiver in Jaylen Waddle to help take his game to the next level. Nix offers consistency in the passing game while adding a strong rushing element for fantasy. If you prefer to wait on quarterback, Nix is going in the double-digit rounds and could be a great target. He still offers top-five fantasy upside in 2026.

Jaylen Waddle, WR

Jaylen Waddle lands in a new situation with the Broncos after years in Miami. This could be an upgrade for Waddle and help him get back to some of the success he had earlier in his career. He doesn’t need 150 targets to be elite, but the Broncos need to get him the ball and allow his speed to take over. He has missed 7 games over the last 3 years, so hopefully the injuries stay away. Waddle has solid WR2 value if things go right.

Courtland Sutton, WR

Veteran Courtland Sutton has benefited over the last two years from being the WR1 on the Broncos. He has averaged 127 targets over the last two seasons, giving him top-30 fantasy value. It will be interesting to see if he can maintain that high target share with Waddle now on the field. The good thing is that Waddle doesn’t need a massive workload to produce, so Sutton should still be able to maintain FLEX value in leagues this season. His current value as a top-seven-round pick may be drafting him closer to his ceiling.

Fantasy Football Question Marks

J.K. Dobbins, RB

Veteran J.K. Dobbins returned to the Broncos after having success last season. Unfortunately, Dobbins would sustain another injury. Prior to the injury, Dobbins was touching the ball 3-to-1 more than RJ Harvey was. He is going to be behind PFF’s No. 1 offensive line heading into the 2026 season. Dobbins should likely get the early-down work and possibly the red-zone usage, which would make him a valuable RB3 for a fantasy team. The fact that he has never stayed healthy for a full season makes me want to just allow someone else to take him.

RJ Harvey, RB

Second-year running back RJ Harvey should start the season as the backup to J.K. Dobbins. Harvey looked inefficient as a runner last season, especially after taking over as the starter, with just 2 of 7 games over 4.0 YPC. He was a solid pass-catching back, which is likely his role to start this season. He has more value in PPR leagues. Bringing back Dobbins and drafting Jonah Coleman gives me concerns for the already 25-year-old back. Despite the elite offensive line, Harvey will be a risky pick to draft.

Fantasy Long Shots

Troy Franklin, Pat Bryant, Evan Engram, Marvin Mims Jr., Jonah Coleman 

Long shots to produce this year would likely have to be the receivers Troy Franklin, Pat Bryant, and Marvin Mims Jr. They all have some interesting skill sets, but with Waddle and Sutton there, I wouldn’t expect them to see over 60 targets this year. One would likely need an injury to happen to be able to push for more targets. Evan Engram has looked like a shell of himself with the Broncos and isn’t close to a tight end worth considering right now. Jonah Coleman is very interesting, and I have heard good things about him in camp so far, but he will be the RB3. He’ll need an injury to happen, which could be very possible, but we can’t predict injuries, so just remember his name.

Kansas City Chiefs

Looking Back at 2025

The Chiefs were surely a team not many wanted to have in fantasy but did because of the name value. Patrick Mahomes started off hot before suffering a torn ACL late in the season. The run game was very inefficient, as Isiah Pacheco dealt with another injury. Kareem Hunt once again took over as the starter but averaged only 3.7 YPC. The pass catchers were once again led by the aging Travis Kelce, but he wasn’t at the same level we’ve seen in years past. Rashee Rice missed half the season due to another suspension, while Xavier Worthy got hurt in Week 1 and never looked the same. With no running back over 700 rushing yards and no receiver over 600 receiving yards, it was a bad fantasy season for the Chiefs.

Looking Forward to 2026

All eyes will be on quarterback Patrick Mahomes and whether he can bounce back in 2026 after suffering the ACL tear. Mahomes hopefully has a better-skilled group around him this year. The addition of Kenneth Walker should finally give Mahomes an elite-producing running back, something he hasn’t had since the early days of Kareem Hunt. They also added Emmett Johnson, who brings strong pass-catching ability to the backfield. We are hopeful to get a non-suspended and healthy Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy for a full 17 games. The Chiefs may have also found a gem in Cyrus Allen, but we’ll wait to see how his role develops. Hopefully, we can also get one final productive season out of Travis Kelce as he enters his last year in the league.

Fantasy Relevant Players

Patrick Mahomes, QB

As many will have their eyes on Patrick Mahomes coming off a major injury, I feel the fantasy community has been down on him right now. Many forget that through the first eight games last season, Mahomes was the QB1 in fantasy. From Week 9 on, though, he would score over 17 fantasy points just once before suffering the injury. He reunites with his former OC Eric Bieniemy, who should hopefully help get Mahomes back to elite-level production, as the last time they were together, Mahomes threw for over 30 touchdowns. The injury has him going later in drafts, which could end up being a sneaky value for fantasy managers. Pairing him with a safer quarterback like Jared Goff would be ideal for the 2026 fantasy season.

Kenneth Walker, RB

New addition Kenneth Walker looks on a path to seeing a truly dominant fantasy season. Yes, everyone saw his 2025 playoff run where he dominated as the top back, but that’s not the whole picture. Walker has produced well throughout his career but has also dealt with injuries, and Seattle always seemed to feel like they needed to pair him with another back. The upside is that Walker could walk into 300-plus touches since the Chiefs’ backfield doesn’t have anyone who can truly compete with him for the starting job. But in the same breath, does the injury concern come back with an increased workload? Walker is a high-reward, high-risk second-round selection, but I like the pick much more if he can be your RB2 rather than your RB1.

Rashee Rice, WR

The Chiefs’ top receiver Rashee Rice comes into the season without a suspension looming and is on track to be healthy for Week 1. Rice is tough because he has been so good for fantasy when on the field, with 18 of his 28 career games going over 50 receiving yards. The issue is that he has played just 12 games over the last two seasons. Whether it’s suspensions or injuries, it’s hard to trust Rice to play a full 17-game season. In Round 3, he is still someone I’m not actively targeting, but if he falls into Round 4, that becomes a much better value. Rice is a high-upside receiver who still comes with plenty of red flags.

Travis Kelce, TE

The forever-aging Travis Kelce has not been the same player over the last three years but has still managed to average around 900 receiving yards and four touchdowns per season. As long as Patrick Mahomes is starting, you have to believe that connection will continue into 2026. Kelce is no longer a top-75 pick, but you can scoop him up later in drafts if you believe there is still something left in the tank. He offers solid value at his current price, but the elite upside is likely gone for the future Hall of Fame tight end.

Fantasy Football Question Marks

Xavier Worthy, WR

We saw some regression from third-year receiver Xavier Worthy last season. He suffered an injury in Week 1 that seemed to hurt his play throughout the year. It will be interesting to see how Worthy does with Rashee Rice on the field, since he has not produced as well when both are playing. There is some hope that OC Eric Bieniemy can use Worthy like Tyreek Hill as a true deep threat in this offense. Worthy is more of a bench-type receiver going in the double-digit rounds, but the upside is still cloudy for 2026.

Emmett Johnson, RB

Emmett Johnson seems to have won the RB2 job behind Kenneth Walker, which could be big for his fantasy value. Veteran Emari Demercado was cut, leaving the rookie Johnson with a clear path to the backup role. Johnson has strong PPR upside, which could come in handy during the season even if Walker stays healthy. Johnson is going late in drafts, which makes him a very interesting last-man-on-the-roster type of player to see if he can secure a consistent role in the Chiefs offense.

Fantasy Long Shots

Brashard Smith,  Cyrus Allen, Tyquan Thornton, Noah Gray 

Brashard Smith likely comes into the season as the RB3 and won’t have much of a role unless an injury occurs ahead of him. Fifth-round pick Cyrus Allen has some interesting upside, but he would also likely need an injury to have a breakout rookie season. Tyquan Thornton opens the season as the WR3, but let’s see how long he can hold onto that role. Noah Gray could also have some fantasy value if an injury occurs to Travis Kelce, but for now, he remains more of a backup tight end.

Las Vegas Raiders

Looking Back at 2025

Bringing in Geno Smith to stabilize the quarterback position did not go according to plan at all. They drafted Ashton Jeanty, but he didn’t have much help to work with, averaging under 4.0 YPC. Brock Bowers would get hurt and miss time last year despite playing well when he was on the field. Tre Tucker set career highs but still led all Raiders pass catchers with only 692 receiving yards. Jakobi Meyers was traded midseason, while their 2025 rookies did not show much flash.

Looking Forward to 2026

The Raiders are laying the foundation for the future, so we may be a year or two away from seeing elite production from the entire offense. Drafting Fernando Mendoza as the future will hopefully go well, but until then, it seems Kirk Cousins is going to get another chance to start this year. The concerning news surrounding Ashton Jeanty’s ankle will have everyone nervous, while rookie Mike Washington Jr. is going to try to make this backfield more of a split rather than Jeanty being a complete workhorse. Brock Bowers is healthy and ready to rock and roll. We will have to see if Tre Tucker can take another step or if newcomer Jalen Nailor can show why the Raiders paid him to come to town.

Fantasy Relevant Players

Brock Bowers, TE

Brock Bowers is the best Raiders player to have for the 2026 fantasy season. Bowers is the TE1 right now and has the opportunity to see 140 targets this season. While he dealt with some injuries last year, he still managed to finish as the TE4 in fantasy points per game. He is likely a late second-round pick, but if he falls into Round 3, he is an auto-add as a potential difference-maker at the position for your fantasy team.

Ashton Jeanty, RB

Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty has some big question marks heading into the season after suffering a low-to-middle ankle sprain. The good news is that he hasn’t been placed on the PUP list or IR as of yet, so there is some encouragement that the Raiders believe he could be good to go before Week 4. Jeanty was getting ready for a big workhorse season, but they may take their time with him coming off an injury so close to the start of the season. He should still see the majority of the work, but don’t be surprised to see backup Mike Washington Jr. work in more. Jeanty feels like a safer Round 3 selection rather than where he was going in the early second round. He still has top-12 upside in 2026, but the injury does give off some orange flags.

Fantasy Football Question Marks

Tre Tucker, WR

The Raiders’ WR1 Tre Tucker has been getting some decent hype this offseason. He has slowly improved in each of his seasons and now gets to work with two quarterbacks who are probably the best passers he has played with over his short career. The team can’t force the ball to Brock Bowers all the time, so Tucker has a chance to see 100 targets this season. He is more of a double-digit-round type of selection, if anything, but he could provide some FLEX value or, more likely, be a solid bye-week replacement option.

Mike Washington Jr., RB

Backup running back Mike Washington Jr. has a chance to make an impact early with Ashton Jeanty banged up with an ankle injury. Washington brings 4.3 speed with a 228-pound frame and dominated during the preseason, averaging 7.1 YPC on 23 carries. There is a chance he could start the first week or two of the season and have a meaningful role in the offense. He is still going in the double-digit rounds, making him a necessary handcuff to Jeanty but also a great upside player for those going with a Zero RB approach in drafts.

Jalen Nailor, WR

Jalen Nailor is very interesting to see if he can eventually overtake Tre Tucker. The Raiders’ new regime paid to bring him to the team, and he has performed when given the chance. In five of eight games where he saw at least five targets, Nailor put up double-digit fantasy points. While he won’t be the No. 1 target in the offense, he could carve out a bye-week role for fantasy managers. He is worth keeping an eye on in Week 1 to see how the target share plays out.

Fantasy Long Shots

Kirk Cousins & Fernando Mendoza, QB

I don’t see the Raiders quarterbacks having a major impact on fantasy lineups in 2026. Veteran Kirk Cousins is going to start the season, but for how long, we don’t know. He has not looked all that impressive since returning from his Achilles injury and has a downgrade in terms of offensive talent compared to the Falcons offense he played with over the last few seasons. Based on what we saw during the preseason, Fernando Mendoza still has a ways to go before becoming a reliable fantasy option. For now, this is a quarterback room I’m staying away from in fantasy drafts.

Jack Bech, Michael Mayer, Malik Benson

Second-year receiver Jack Bech was a disappointment last season, but there is some hope he can develop, although it’s a long shot. Backup tight end Michael Mayer could see more playing time after dealing with injuries last year. Head coach Klint Kubiak has run 12 personnel at a high rate over the last few years as an offensive coordinator. Malik Benson is an interesting young player, but he may not get much playing time this year with two veterans starting at receiver. He will likely be more involved in the return game during his rookie season.

Los Angeles Chargers

Looking Back at 2025

The Chargers dealt with plenty of injuries in 2025 that made this offense take a step back. Justin Herbert struggled once his offensive line got depleted, finishing with a career low in passing yards. Rookie Omarion Hampton only played a handful of games, which led to Kimani Vidal flashing a little bit in relief of Hampton. The return of Keenan Allen definitely made things more even across the board, as the team had three 700-yard receivers, with Ladd McConkey regressing and Quentin Johnston putting together a solid season. There was also a small stretch of games where rookie Oronde Gadsden flashed, showing some athletic upside in the offense.

Looking Forward to 2026

Fantasy Relevant Players

Justin Herbert, QB

Many are still holding on to the early days of Justin Herbert as this elite fantasy quarterback. While he has been top 12 in all but one season, we haven’t seen that top-five upside in more than just one season. Herbert has been given a gift with OC Mike McDaniel. While McDaniel has been hot and cold as an offensive mind, he has produced two top-four passing offenses, and he was doing that with an inconsistent starter in Tua Tagovailoa. Herbert blows Tagovailoa out of the water as an elite passer. As long as Herbert has a healthy offensive line, there is plenty of upside, as he was the QB4 through Week 8 last season before the line started to get injured. Herbert in the middle rounds of drafts should be a good upside quarterback to take right now.

Omarion Hampton, RB

Second-year running back Omarion Hampton looks like he is on the verge of a breakout season for fantasy football. Under OC Mike McDaniel, his offenses have had three seasons finishing top 10 in carries, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns. Hampton played nine games last year and had double-digit fantasy points in six of them. In this new run scheme, Hampton should be able to see a workhorse role for the Chargers. I wouldn’t be scared of the coaching staff saying all the running backs will have a role. Hampton’s talent warrants the second-round value he offers in drafts.

Ladd McConkey, WR

Many are expecting a bounce-back season from Ladd McConkey in 2026. With Keenan Allen gone, opening up 122 targets, we could see a bump in opportunity for the third-year receiver. Through the first nine games last season, he looked like a 140-target receiver until injuries piled up and the offense fell apart. McConkey is a solid third-to-fourth-round pick as your WR1 if you choose to go RB-heavy early in drafts. He should provide consistent fantasy production with a chance for some elite upside.

Fantasy Football Question Marks

Keaton Mitchell, RB

Backup running back Keaton Mitchell comes in as the RB2 to start the season. He has that elite speed in Mike McDaniel’s offense that gives you De’Von Achane vibes. Unfortunately, Mitchell has dealt with injuries in his short career, so that is concerning. He may not have a strong hold on the RB2 job with Kimani Vidal playing well in August. Mitchell offers boom-or-bust upside on your bench and should be drafted in the later rounds.

Quentin Johnston, WR

Former first-round pick Quentin Johnston comes in a bit under the radar for many fantasy managers. Johnston has put together back-to-back 700-yard and eight-touchdown seasons. He had 377 receiving yards and four touchdowns through his first five games last year before injuries started to slow him down. Unfortunately, injuries have plagued him throughout his career. With plenty of targets opening up, Johnston could have a big role in the Chargers offense, but many aren’t seeing it. He is a good upside pick in the later rounds of drafts who could end up being an upside FLEX option this season.

Fantasy Long Shots

Tre’ Harris, Kimani Vidal, Charlie Kolar, David Njoku, Oronde Gadsden 

Second-year receiver Tre Harris could end up seeing a mini breakout this year, but I haven’t heard much from him during training camp. Kimani Vidal won’t be drafted in many leagues, but don’t be surprised if he finds a role by midseason in this Chargers offense.

The tight end position is a total crapshoot right now. Many thought Oronde Gadsden was the tight end of the future after his rookie season, but the Chargers signed great blocking tight end Charlie Kolar and brought veteran David Njoku into the mix. You can’t really trust any of them until we see how their roles play out on the field. They should all go undrafted and are more of a wait-and-see approach for fantasy managers.