SportsLine Names Hampton, Willis as 2026 Fantasy Breakouts — SkimNews
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- SportsLine's computer model simulated the 2026 NFL season 10,000 times to produce fantasy rankings, and identified a young tight end as a top-8 option ahead of Travis Kelce and George Kittle — with the player unnamed outside the paywall.
- Chargers RB Omarion Hampton, whose ADP sits at No. 18 despite finishing as RB35 in PPR leagues last season, is slotted ahead of higher-drafted backs Kyren Williams and Javonte Williams, with the model citing his improved health and the returns of tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater plus new center Tyler Biadasz.
- Dolphins QB Malik Willis, signed to a three-year, $67.5 million deal after backup stints with the Titans and Packers, is ranked above Sam Darnold, Kyler Murray and Bo Nix despite an ADP of just No. 154 overall.
- Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan was last year's model-predicted breakout, finishing as WR17 in CBS Sports PPR leagues with 70 catches, 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns on his way to Offensive Rookie of the Year.
- Rookies Jeremiyah Love, KC Concepcion and Makai Lemon are cited as intriguing first-year breakout candidates, while veterans Johnathon Brooks, Rome Odunze and AJ Barner are flagged as potential value picks who could outperform their ADP.
- The model's past hits include A.J. Brown in 2020, Jonathan Taylor in 2021, Daniel Jones in 2025, Derrick Henry in 2019, and the 2018 call on Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara, alongside its correct prediction that C.J. Stroud would take a step back in 2024.
Why it matters: Fantasy drafters heading into Wednesday's Patriots-Seahawks regular-season opener get specific contrarian targets: Willis at No. 154 ADP ranked above QBs typically drafted 50 picks earlier, and Hampton ranked ahead of higher-ADP backs like Kyren Williams, both grounded in 10,000 season simulations rather than gut calls.
Ask SkimNews
