Five Up-and-Coming Offenses for 2026 (Fantasy Football)
It may seem like a thousand years ago, but hopefully you had a chance to catch the Ballers’ Top 10 Things to Remember for 2026 episode back in March. Coming in hot at #7 was that bad teams ruin good players – and it makes sense, right? If your WR #1 is on a team that’s trailing half the time or the QB has a turnover problem and can’t connect to save their life, how will your WR have enough action to mean anything for your fantasy team? Well, what if we flip this on its head: good teams help… bad players? Maybe it’s not exactly 1:1, but you get it. Betting on players with good offenses will give you more opportunities for success.
In this article, we’re going to look at teams who are starting to find the light after years of digging their players deeper and deeper into fantasy never-land. They’ve been bad for so long they might be off your radar, off your league-mates’ radars. That means now is the time to capitalize. Let’s see what we can dig up for these five teams.
Chicago Bears
Ahead of the 2025 season, the Chicago Bears landed the belle of the ball, Ben Johnson. After going 5-12 in 2024, they were desperate to turn things around – and they did. Under Ben Johnson, the Bears won their first NFC North title since 2018. That’s not to say they looked perfect. They were tied or trailed on 65% of their offensive snaps for the season, only showing up in the last quarter where Caleb Williams seemed to remember how to play football again. Regardless, this team is full of exciting offensive weapons – especially if Williams can get his completion rate out of the doldrums.
Namely, two rookie stars and one Year 2 breakout stand out from the rest. We’ll start with Mr. Loveland (Colston Loveland, TE), who came alive in the second half of the season. Loveland clearly won the favor of Ben Johnson as he had at least 15% of the team’s targets in each of the final nine games, ending with 713 total receiving yards. It was a strong showing for the rookie TE, who could very likely lead the team in targets in 2026.
Where you’ll find some debate is between the Bears’ two leading wide receivers, Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III. Last year Rome came in hot right out of the gate, averaging 17.4 points through the first four games…then the bye week hit. It was a full 180. He was inconsistent and unreliable and then he was injured, missing the last five games. Now we wonder, were the first four games a fluke? On the flip side, rookie WR Luther Burden III started off slow but stepped up when it counted – in the playoffs. He was incredibly efficient with the ball, averaging 2.69 yards per route run, but he only earned a 13% target share on the season. With DJ Moore traded to the Buffalo Bills, targets will open up significantly, but the question is, are you team Jason or team Mike?
Jacksonville Jaguars
It’s no secret that the Jaguars have been riding the struggle bus the last few years. It has felt like the offense has never taken off with the once-lucrative Trevor Lawrence aka “Horse Child” (Jason) leading the way. That is until Liam Coen entered the chat. Opposite to the just-discussed Colts, the Jags started off slow and then went nuclear after their bye week, resulting in a division win for the first time since 2022.
Going into the 2026 season, Lawrence is looking like a solid QB pick. He wrapped up the 2025 season with 4,000+ passing yards, 29+ passing TDs, and 9+ rushing TDs, putting him in a tier with Josh Allen. Even if/when he takes a dip this year, we’re looking at a back-end QB1.
Cue the running backs. Bhayshul Tuten is a potential boom candidate in 2026 as Travis Etienne Jr. headed off to the New Orleans Saints and Tank Bigsby left for the Philadelphia Eagles. They brought in Chris Rodriguez Jr. who might have an in with Coen from their Kentucky days, but for now, Tuten is looking like their lead guy.
The wide receiver room starts to get more ambiguous. You have the absolute letdown of 2025, Brian Thomas Jr., who basically played no part in the Jags’ success last year. He disappeared despite the team’s success, ending as the WR44. Parker Washington looked like he was becoming Horse Child’s bestie after Travis Hunter’s injury in Week 8, but then, the team went and signed Jakobi Meyers in the offseason, adding a three-year extension. It’s hard to say how this will shake out this season, but with their low draft prices you can take a shot and afford to be wrong. If you’re right? You’ll be on the fast track to fantasy victory.
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Indianapolis Colts
Do you remember what we thought of the Indianapolis Colts going into the 2025 season? Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones were battling it out for the starting QB role, and no one was very optimistic about either situation. Fast forward to their bye week and they’re 8-2 with Daniel Jones at the helm. Jonathan Taylor was averaging 25.9 points per week, Alec Pierce was finally coming alive, ending his 1000-yard season with an average 21.3 yards per reception, and it looked like Tyler Warren was all he was cracked up to be.
Now, Daniel Jones ended his 2025 season with an Achilles injury that could signal a slow start in 2026. But we’ve seen what this squad can do when they’re firing on all cylinders, and I want in.
Tennessee Titans
The Titans have won six games in the last two seasons and were 31st in total yards in both offense and defense in 2025. It doesn’t get much worse so there is no room to go but up, right?
There are definitely some positives to speak of here. Brian Callahan has exited the building and Robert Saleh is going to take another shot at a head coaching gig, with former New York Giants head coach, Brian Daboll as his offensive coordinator. The addition of Daboll is exciting. You saw what he did with Jaxson Dart and that fledgling offense. Can he help turn things around for Cam Ward? Maybe. Plus, the Titans are taking steps to bulk up the weapons for the second-year QB.
Speaking of Daboll, the Titans signed Wan’Dale Robinson in free agency. The two have history in New York and Robinson will likely start off the season leading the team in targets. Who will end the season as the leader? That depends on this year’s 4th overall pick, Carnell Tate, who joins the team from Ohio State.
This team has the longest odds of significant success in 2026, but there is enough potential here to take shots in the late rounds of your drafts.
New Orleans Saints
Speaking of coaches who can turn things around, welcome to the show, Mr. Kellen Moore! Kellen Moore’s offenses often rank inside the top-10 in plays per game and pace of play. That means more opportunities for your guys to get points. Despite that, Moore’s first year with the Saints was looking like another year of disappointment in New Orleans…until Tyler Shough stepped in. Did anyone have that on their 2025 Bingo card? Shough went 4-1 in his last five starts, averaging 20 fantasy points and 27 rushing yards per game. It was nice to see this team wake up with Shough under center, and with talented targets around him, Shough is looking like a promising, inexpensive add to fantasy rosters in deeper leagues.
The addition of first-round rookie pick Jordyn Tyson adds more depth to the WR room, where Chris Olave has had a couple of rocky years due to concussion concerns. Last year, it looked like he was back to form with 100 catches and 1,163 yards. Can we get another full season, Chris? Please! With Tyler Shough hitting a 70% completion rate last year, I want one of these guys.
Remember now, we’re looking ahead, not behind. The man you know and love, Mr. New Orleans, Alvin Kamara was touring senior living communities while the Saints signed Travis Etienne Jr. in the offseason. Last year, Etienne Jr.’s momentum skyrocketed with the rest of the Jaguars team after the Week 8 bye. He averaged 17.5 fantasy points per game and scored more than six receiving touchdowns on fewer than 40 receptions. Etienne Jr. will bring life back to this running game and could be the perfect complement if Shough can continue his hot streak.
Final Thoughts
You’re not going to win your fantasy season by continuing to play it safe. You can make bets on players while anchoring to tried-and-true strategy. The tried-and-true strategy: targeting good offenses. The bet: new coaching regimes with good track records, first-round rookie wide receivers, second-year QB breakouts. Do you want to play it safe, or do you want to win your fantasy football season?