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 NFC East, while also highlighting the fantasy-relevant players you need to know for the 2026 season.
We are diving into the NFC East Division that offers plenty of fantasy talent, potential breakout players, and some interesting situations to monitor heading into the season.
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NFC East 2026 Divisional Breakdown
Dallas Cowboys
Looking Back at 2025
The 2025 Cowboys were a mediocre football team, but for fantasy, they were still able to provide plenty of weekly starters. We saw the breakout of George Pickens, who put up over 1,400 receiving yards. The same can be said for Javonte Williams, who finished as an RB1 in 2025. CeeDee Lamb managed a decent season despite dealing with injuries, while Dak Prescott and Jake Ferguson put up respectable numbers at their positions. Overall, it was a group of players worth starting in many fantasy lineups throughout the season.
Looking Forward to 2026
In 2026, the Cowboys are running it back again, as they were able to keep George Pickens for another year and signed Javonte Williams to a three-year contract. The main core of the offense remains intact, giving them a chance to build off what they did last season. We hope we can get another strong season from this group of players, as they should once again provide plenty of fantasy-relevant options in 2026.
Fantasy Relevant Players
Dak Prescott, QB
Veteran Dak Prescott is one of the best values among quarterbacks for the 2026 season. He is a great Round 8/9 pick in drafts due to the elite weapons surrounding him, and he offers safe, consistent production for fantasy football. Unless one of the top quarterbacks falls to a great value, Prescott should be your target in drafts.
CeeDee Lamb, WR
The Cowboys’ WR1 CeeDee Lamb should reclaim his role as the top receiver in the offense. If you remove the games Lamb missed, he would have had more targets than George Pickens in the games they played together. Lamb was dealing with a high ankle sprain, which led to a decrease in production throughout the season. I’d forget about his down 2025 season and expect him to bounce back in a big way. Lamb is still worth drafting in Round 1 as one of the top receivers in fantasy football.
George Pickens, WR
Breakout 2025 receiver George Pickens is looking to prove he deserves a big contract after the 2026 season. Pickens is currently going in the middle of the third round of drafts. I’m not overly concerned with Pickens, but a change in target share could take him from a mid-WR1 to something lower than his current ADP. Drafting Pickens does come with some risk, but his upside can still be elite in 2026.
Javonte Williams, RB
Javonte Williams returns to Dallas with a well-deserved contract. Going into the new season, Williams will look to have another workhorse-type year. Williams was 11th in carries and fifth in red-zone attempts last season. That is the biggest upside for Williams, as he is going to have plenty of opportunities to score touchdowns once again. He also doesn’t have a backup who is going to consistently steal carries from him. Williams offers RB1 upside in the third round of drafts and is one of those must-draft values at his current price.
Fantasy Football Question Marks
Jake Ferguson, TE
Tight end Jake Ferguson is a decent fantasy option if you decide to wait until the later rounds at the position. He has been inconsistent throughout his career, with two top-10 seasons and two finishes outside the top 30. Despite finishing top 10 in 2025, I’d expect some regression with a fully healthy CeeDee Lamb back in the fold. In the three games Lamb missed, Ferguson scored four of his eight touchdowns for the season. After Week 9 last year, he also managed just 27 receiving yards per game. Ferguson is mostly a steady tight end when everyone is healthy, with more upside if someone gets hurt. He is going late enough in drafts that he is still worth taking to get a piece of this Cowboys offense.
Fantasy long shots
Malik Davis, Emari Demercado, KaVontae Turpin, Ryan Flournoy
Javonte Williams’ backups, Malik Davis and newcomer Emari Demercado, likely won’t have consistent roles, especially if they are splitting the backup duties. Davis is probably the handcuff to own if you were going to choose one. WR3 Ryan Flournoy has been talked up during training camp, but unless an injury occurs ahead of him, I don’t see him being much of a fantasy threat. The same can be said for KaVontae Turpin and all the speed he brings to the offense.
New York Giants
Looking Back at 2025
The 2025 Giants were not a great overall team, which eventually led to them making a change at head coach. They tried to get something out of Russell Wilson early in the season, but that experiment failed. That opened the door for first-round quarterback Jaxson Dart, who flashed plenty of potential as a rookie, especially with his rushing ability. Fellow rookie Cam Skattebo would dominate during an eight-game stretch before suffering a terrible injury that knocked him out for the season. Star receiver Malik Nabers was also lost early to a major ACL injury. One of the bright spots was a breakout season from Wan’Dale Robinson, who led the team with 140 targets. It was an injury-plagued season for the Giants, but there were still some shining moments that gave hope for the future.
Looking Forward to 2026
The Giants brought in steady head coach John Harbaugh to bring experience and leadership to the team. There is plenty of hope that the Giants’ big three of Jaxson Dart, Cam Skattebo, and Malik Nabers can get healthy and perform at a high level this year. The team lost Wan’Dale Robinson but added tight end Isaiah Likely and drafted wide receiver Malachi Fields. There is plenty of youth on this team, so Harbaugh’s leadership will be important to steer them in the right direction. This team has the potential to have multiple fantasy starters in 2026.
Fantasy Relevant Players
Malik Nabers, WR
The Giants’ top player heading into 2026 has to be receiver Malik Nabers. Nabers is coming off a major injury that has been talked about a lot this offseason. He seems like he is on track for Week 1, so I wouldn’t be as worried about the injury in terms of fantasy drafts. He is worth a third-round selection with the risk that comes with him. If he is truly back to form, you’ll get a receiver who can see 150 targets and put up strong fantasy points for your lineup.
Jaxson Dart, QB
Second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart will look to take another step forward in his development. I’m not sure if we can fully trust Matt Nagy as an offensive coordinator, as he has produced several passing offenses that ranked 15th or worse. Dart, as a rookie, had nine of 12 games with 20-plus fantasy points. He has massive upside as a rusher, which is a big reason why many want to draft him this year. He also saw some upgrades at his pass-catcher spots, which could be big for his development. Dart offers plenty of upside in Rounds 8 to 9 and is worth drafting at that price. Injuries can be a concern, but his upside may outweigh that risk. He is best paired with a safer quarterback like Jared Goff.
Fantasy Football Question Marks
Isiah Likley, TE
New starting tight end Isaiah Likely finally gets a chance to be the starter. Likely’s upside as a tight end in this offense could be massive. It’s a small sample size, but in 14 career games where Likely had five or more targets, he was able to score 10-plus fantasy points in half-PPR in 10 of them. He is being hyped as the second target earner in the offense, where he could see close to 100 targets this season. I do hesitate a little because it took him changing teams to finally get this role, and I don’t think Theo Johnson just goes away either. Likely is that upside pick at tight end worth grabbing in Round 10.
Cam Skattebo, RB
Running back Cam Skattebo is someone I’m not targeting in many drafts. Coming off a major injury, it’s hard to trust that he can play 17 games with his physical running style. Granted, he had that stretch of games where he was really good, but in that Round 4/5 range, he is still someone I’d avoid. The Giants brought in a similar physical back in Najee Harris right before the season, and they still have Tyrone Tracy and Devin Singletary on the roster. There are just too many bodies in this backfield for me, so I’d look to avoid it in fantasy drafts.
Darnell Mooney, WR
Slot receiver Darnell Mooney could be interesting and is getting drafted after rookie Malachi Fields right now. Last year, Jaxson Dart targeted his slot receiver often in Wan’Dale Robinson. Mooney has given us WR3 value in fantasy before, so with a new team and plenty of targets open, I think the veteran could become a frequent target for Dart in this offense. Mooney is going late enough in drafts where he could be worth a final-round pick or become an early waiver-wire player to target.
Fantasy long shots
Malachi Fields, Odell Beckham Jr., Darius Slayton
While I like some of the hype around Malachi Fields, I don’t see him being a big target earner as a rookie. He could see a five-touchdown season, but I don’t think this veteran coaching staff is going to rely on a rookie to get the job done right away. Darius Slayton and Odell Beckham Jr. will likely need an injury to occur ahead of them to get consistent playing time. For now, these are players I’d rather take a wait-and-see approach with in fantasy.
Najee Harris, Theo Johnson, Tyrone Tracy
Theo Johnson will see some opportunities, but he is the clear backup to Isaiah Likely, so I wouldn’t expect much fantasy production. As far as the backfield is concerned, you could take late-round shots on Najee Harris, who isn’t confirmed for Week 1, or Tyrone Tracy, who may have been demoted in the rotation a bit. They both would have value if Cam Skattebo goes down, but if I draft Skattebo, I’d only handcuff him with whichever of Harris or Tracy is cheaper in drafts.
Philadelphia Eagles
Looking Back at 2025
The 2025 Eagles seemed like a sturdy ship that started to show some cracks, especially with the OC and A.J. Brown drama. It was another strong season led by Jalen Hurts, who continued to give fantasy managers QB1 production. Unfortunately, the writing was on the wall for Saquon Barkley to have a down year, and he did just that, but the offensive line also got banged up throughout the season. A.J. Brown caused some diva drama but still managed to reach 1,000 receiving yards, as did DeVonta Smith. Tight end Dallas Goedert would become a major red-zone threat, finishing with 11 touchdowns.
Looking Forward to 2026
The Eagles roster looks a bit different now and has a new OC in Sean Mannion, with hopes of turning the offense around. Saquon Barkley will look to rebound after a poor season, while DeVonta Smith turns into the WR1 with big expectations ahead of him. The team also brought in plenty of new faces, like receivers Makai Lemon and Dontayvion Wicks, along with Eli Stowers at tight end. There are big expectations for the Eagles to continue to be a major factor in fantasy lineups in 2026.
Fantasy Relevant Players
Jalen Hurts, QB
Quarterback Jalen Hurts may be in for a big change in 2026 under OC Sean Mannion, whose scheme features more under-center play from the quarterback position. Hurts has played around 80% of his snaps out of shotgun, so this is going to be an interesting change for him. He still has most of his pass catchers, outside of losing a WR1 in A.J. Brown, which may end up being for the best. Hurts remains a solid fantasy quarterback, especially due to his rushing floor and touchdown upside. Hurts is that safe-floor QB1 who everyone should aim to go after if the value falls right in drafts.
Devonta Smith, WR
DeVonta Smith is finally getting a shot as the WR1 in the Eagles offense. In games without A.J. Brown over the last two years, Smith has averaged seven receptions for 80 receiving yards. Smith can be a WR1 for the Eagles and in fantasy football. Outside of Dallas Goedert potentially getting more targets, there is no one, especially early in the season, who should stop Smith from seeing eight-plus targets consistently in this offense. If you go RB-heavy early and take DeVonta Smith in Round 4 as your WR1, you are in a good place.
Saquon Barkley, RB
I’m really in on the Eagles offense bouncing back in 2026. Barkley was bound to have a down 2025 season after his dominant year, but 2026 offers a chance for him to rebound. PFF ranks the Eagles’ offensive line as the second-best in the league heading into 2026. Barkley should remain a workhorse-type player despite his limited receiving value. He is a big target for me in Round 2 of fantasy drafts and still offers RB1 upside.
Dallas Goedert, TE
Dallas Goedert may not be on everyone’s must-draft tight end list, but he possesses some good upside without A.J. Brown there. Goedert averaged 13 fantasy points over his last four games without Brown. While some of that production came from touchdowns, he should remain a major red-zone threat for Jalen Hurts. The Eagles don’t have that big receiver who can consistently go up and get the ball, so Goedert could be that player in 2026. He is another late-round value option at the tight end position.
Fantasy Football Question Marks
Makai Lemon, WR
First-round pick Makai Lemon has fallen in terms of value for fantasy drafts. Lemon has been plagued by hamstring injuries, which have kept him out for most of training camp. Lemon is going lower in drafts now, so he may be worth grabbing in the double-digit rounds, but he could end up seeing more of a second-half breakout rather than producing right out of the gate. A big reason could end up being veteran Dontayvion Wicks, who has been doing well in camp and could keep Lemon’s snap count lower early in the season.
Dontayvion Wicks,WR
Newcomer Dontayvion Wicks comes over from Green Bay and is likely going to get time as the WR2 in the offense. Wicks has flashed at times throughout his career but has never been able to put it all together. While Wicks likely won’t be drafted in many fantasy drafts, he could be one of those early waiver-wire picks after seeing plenty of targets to start the season. There is still some untapped potential with the fourth-year receiver.
Fantasy long shots
Tank Bigsby, Hollywood Brown, Eli Stowers
While Tank Bigsby is getting some camp hype, this offense still belongs to Saquon Barkley. I don’t think there will be enough touches to make Bigsby a standalone fantasy option, but he is a good handcuff for Barkley owners in case of an injury. Hollywood Brown also joined the Eagles this offseason, and while he may offer a game or two of upside, I don’t see him doing much for fantasy consistently. Reports are that Eli Stowers could even be inactive on Sundays, as he has struggled in camp so far.
Washington Commanders
Looking Back at 2025
The 2025 Commanders regressed from their 2024 season. A big reason was that Jayden Daniels only played seven games due to injuries, leading to mediocre play from Marcus Mariota. They lost Austin Ekeler in Week 2 and were never able to find any consistency in the run game all year. Along with Daniels, Terry McLaurin would miss a handful of games, while Zach Ertz was also lost at some point during the season. The only real consistent option for fantasy was newcomer Deebo Samuel. The Commanders were the least startable team among the NFC East division.
Looking Forward to 2026
The 2026 Commanders will depend heavily on Jayden Daniels and whether he can stay healthy this season. The run game wasn’t improved much, as they will rely on Jacory Croskey-Merritt and newcomer Rachaad White. The receiving game added some talent around Terry McLaurin by drafting Antonio Williams and signing veterans Stefon Diggs and Chig Okonkwo. It’s a slightly improved offense, but for fantasy, it’s all about Daniels’ availability in 2026.
Fantasy Relevant Players
Jayden Daniels, QB
Star quarterback Jayden Daniels makes his return to the field in 2026 after an injury-plagued season. Everyone knows the potential upside Daniels can offer, as we saw it during his rookie season. The fear with his play style and frame has always been injuries, and those concerns came alive last year. Daniels’ rushing upside makes him an attractive option for fantasy managers in 2026, as he averaged 40 rushing yards per game last season. It’s not a matter of whether he can produce, but whether he can stay on the field. Daniels is a middle-round quarterback with elite upside but scary injury concerns. If you take Daniels, you may want to have an injury plan with another quarterback on your roster.
Terry McLaurin, WR
Veteran receiver Terry McLaurin is also looking to bounce back in 2026. The soon-to-be 31-year-old receiver has failed to play a full season, for the first time in years. Hopefully, a healthy McLaurin can bounce back with Jayden Daniels at quarterback in 2026, but there are concerns that the veteran has already reached his peak. He looks to be more of a high-end WR3 in fantasy if he can continue getting red-zone targets, but he has barely cracked 1,000 receiving yards in most seasons. I’d consider drafting him as your WR3 at best or just look to avoid him at his current cost.
Stefon Diggs, WR
The Commanders continue to plug the receiver hole with another 30-plus-year-old receiver in Stefon Diggs. Diggs played well last season as a slot receiver, which should be his role in Washington. We saw Deebo Samuel have a solid, consistent role for fantasy last year, so Diggs could offer something similar or even a little better despite playing at 33 years old. Compared to Terry McLaurin, you can get Diggs close to the double-digit rounds at a much better value with the potential for better production.
Fantasy Football Question Marks
Chigoziem Okonkwo, TE
Newcomer Chig Okonkwo joins the Commanders as their new starting tight end. The tight end position with Jayden Daniels has been solid, with an aging Zach Ertz finishing as the TE7 and TE18 over the last two seasons. Okonkwo is younger, faster, and more athletic, which could make him a sneaky sleeper pick among tight ends this year. Okonkwo isn’t likely to be drafted in many leagues, but that could end up being a mistake. Every year, a lower-ranked tight end seems to come out of nowhere, and Okonkwo could be that guy in 2026.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB
Starting running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt is the presumed starter for the Commanders in 2026. As a rookie last season, JCM was a disappointment after being a preseason hype player. He had four solid fantasy games, but they were mostly due to scoring touchdowns. When he didn’t score, he averaged only 4.4 fantasy points. Per PFF, the Commanders’ offensive line is ranked 32nd in the league heading into the season. Things could be better with Jayden Daniels back at quarterback, since a mobile quarterback can help the run game as well. Unless JCM makes major improvements, he is likely just a bench running back with limited upside, especially in the receiving game.
Rachaad White, WR
Veteran pass-catching back Rachaad White joins the Commanders with a chance to prove he should get paid next offseason. White has been known as a pass-catching back, with at least 40 receptions in each of his four seasons. While he has made improvements as a runner over the last few years, most of his fantasy value has still come through the receiving game. Similar to his teammate, he will likely be a bench player for fantasy teams, with a little more value in PPR leagues. In Daniels’ rookie year, his pass-catching back had only 35 receptions on the season, so there may not be a ton of upside for White. Like JCM, White is more of a double-digit-round player in fantasy drafts.
Fantasy long shots
Kayton Allen, Marcus Mariota, Antonio Williams, Luke McCaffrey, Ben Sinnott
Rookie running back Kaytron Allen is liked by many experts, but the two backs ahead of him would likely have to struggle for him to get a real opportunity. If Jayden Daniels gets injured, Marcus Mariota showed he can play well enough at times last season, but hopefully, we don’t see him on the field much in 2026. Former second-round pick Ben Sinnott may never get the opportunity to be the guy in Washington, especially with Chig Okonkwo now ahead of him.
The receiver options are interesting, especially rookie Antonio Williams, who was a prospect I liked coming out. With the veterans ahead of him, Williams may not get much of a chance to shine as a rookie. I like his future potential, but 2026 may not be the year we see it. Luke McCaffrey has also yet to establish himself as a reliable pass catcher the Commanders can trust.
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