Model that nailed McMillan tabs Hampton, Willis for 2026 — SkimNews
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- SportsLine's model simulated the entire NFL season 10,000 times and released 2026 fantasy rankings featuring breakouts, sleepers, and busts just days before Patriots-Seahawks opens the regular season
- Omarion Hampton is the model's top breakout call: he jumps from a 2025 RB35 finish (737 scrimmage yards, 5 TDs in 9 games as a rookie) to an ADP of No. 18, with the model ranking him ahead of Kyren Williams and Javonte Williams despite those two going earlier on average
- Hampton's projection is supported by the return of Pro Bowl tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater, who combined for just six games last year, plus new center Tyler Biadasz giving Los Angeles one of the league's best offensive lines
- Malik Willis is flagged as a breakout QB after signing a 3-year, $67.5 million deal with Miami; his ADP sits at No. 154, yet the model ranks him above Sam Darnold, Kyler Murray, and Bo Nix, citing his rushing floor and pass-heavy game scripts
- Tetairoa McMillan anchors the model's credibility — it predicted he would outperform his WR28 ADP, and he delivered 70 catches for 1,014 yards and 7 touchdowns en route to Offensive Rookie of the Year and a WR17 finish in PPR
- An unnamed young tight end is ranked as a top-8 fantasy option by the model, ahead of Travis Kelce and George Kittle, with the player's identity locked behind a SportsLine subscription
Why it matters: For drafters making final roster decisions before Week 1, the model's low-cost flags — Hampton vaulting from RB35 to an RB1 projection and Willis going at pick 154 — offer potential league-winning value at minimal draft capital. The model's McMillan (2025), Jonathan Taylor (2021), and Derrick Henry (2019) track record lends real credibility to these calls heading into 2026 drafts.
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