Our guy Jaxon Smith-Njigba is already making waves across the league, and we’re not even out of July! New projections for the 2026 fantasy football season just dropped, and our very own JSN is right up there with the absolute elite, going off the board as one of the first picks in early drafts. This isn’t just hype, either. These rankings come from SportsLine, a proven computer model that ran the entire NFL season 10,000 times to get us ready for draft day.
The Simulator’s Uncanny Track Record Demands Your Attention
You gotta pay attention when a model nails things this consistently. SportsLine isn’t just throwing darts; this simulation has a serious track record. Last year, it called Daniel Jones to fully realize his potential in Indianapolis. He was QB10 before a Week 14 injury, eventually finishing QB17, but the model had him as a top-15 guy going into 2025. If you took a shot on Jones in fantasy, you know you were rewarded big time while he was healthy. That’s not a one-off, either. This same model crushed Jonathan Taylor’s monstrous 2021 season, absolutely nailed Rachaad White’s breakout in 2023, and even pinpointed Isiah Pacheco as a bust for 2025. They’ve been calling fantasy sleepers like A.J. Brown in 2020, Derrick Henry in 2019, Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara in 2018, and Davante Adams all the way back in 2017. When this thing talks, you listen.
JSN’s Early Draft Buzz and Who Else Is Popping Off
So, what are these 10,000 simulations telling us for 2026? Well, while NFL training camps are just getting rolling on Tuesday, the early Average Draft Position (ADP) is already firming up. The names flying off the board first on average are Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson, Ja’Marr Chase, Puka Nacua, our very own Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Jonathan Taylor. Seeing JSN in that group, among those monster names, tells you everything you need to know about the kind of season this model expects from him. It’s a huge look for the Emerald City! Another player generating serious buzz is Brock Bowers, who’s being picked as the TE1 in most early drafts with an ADP of No. 25. On the sleeper front, the model is calling out Buccaneers running back Kenneth Gainwell. He’s got an ADP of No. 100 overall, but he set career highs in Pittsburgh last year with 1,023 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns. He just joined Tampa as a free agent, replacing Rachaad White, and Bucs coach Todd Bowles already labeled him 1B to Bucky Irving’s 1A. Plus, Gainwell hauled in 73 catches last year, making him a serious threat in PPR.
The new PPR and non-PPR rankings, sleepers, and busts are all out there. With training camps kicking off, it’s time to dial in your draft strategy. Are you ready for JSN to carry your fantasy team to glory? Because the numbers are screaming it loud and clear.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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