Man, if there’s one thing we hate to see, it’s one of our guys go down. And right now, former Seattle safety Coby Bryant is already sidelined, set to miss most, maybe all, of the 2026 season with a knee injury for the Chicago Bears. That’s a brutal blow for him and a stark reminder of what fantasy analyst Scott Pianowski is calling “carnival teams” in the NFL this year, squads built for offense-first, high-scoring shootouts. Get ready for some wild football, folks, because the defenses are looking shaky, and one of our own is already paying the price.
Get Ready for the Pinball Games
Pianowski spent most of his fantasy summers dreaming of these exact teams: fun offenses and leaky defenses. These are the setups we love in fantasy, teams that will play in high-scoring games more often than not. “First team to 40 wins?” Sounds good, right? These are the usual suspects, teams that have been carnival acts before.
The Dallas Cowboys are a classic example. They always feel like a real-life carnival, a glamour team with a bombastic owner and a flashy stadium. Nobody expects the modern Cowboys to go to the Super Bowl, but they are a fun watch. Dak Prescott remains one of the best value QBs to target, feeding high-end talents like CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, and Javonte Williams, all drafted early in every league. Jake Ferguson is a useful tight end. But that defense? It allowed 30.1 points a game last year and ranked dead last in DVOA. There’s some hope with DL Quinnen Williams around for a full season and new DC Christian Parker, plus some draft reinforcements, but it’s a long drive from worst to respectable. If Dallas challenges for a playoff spot, it’s because Prescott and friends kept the pedal pinned to the floor.
Then there are the Cincinnati Bengals. They are excited about DL Dexter Lawrence, their signature move in free agency. But Lawrence might not be able to fix this defense on his own. The Bengals ranked 31st, 25th, and 31st in yards allowed over the last three years, a unit that just can’t get off the field. Last year they slotted 29th in DVOA against both the run and the pass. All your play calls work in Cincinnati, apparently. On the other side, Joe Burrow runs a fun offense, distributing to Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Chase Brown. Nobody should be surprised that Cincinnati’s home opener with Tampa Bay has a 50.5 point total, the highest in Week 1. We’ll see plenty of big numbers from them this year, same as always.
Coby Bryant’s Bad Break Highlights the Problem
And this brings us back to our guy, Coby. In Chicago, head coach Ben Johnson, an offensive maestro, doesn’t lack for confidence. He’s talking about setting scoring records, and it makes sense. Caleb Williams improved significantly last year, and this offense has plenty of talent on the escalator. There is plenty of buzz. But the Bears might need to set those records to make the playoffs again, because the defense looks terrible. Last year, Chicago survived through a fortunate turnover count, which offset a defense that ranked 23rd in points allowed and 29th in yards allowed.
Seattle safety Coby Bryant was brought in to secure that secondary, but he is already down with a knee injury and will miss most, perhaps all, of the season. The Chicago pass rush was non-existent last year, and the Bears did nothing significant to improve it. Pianowski sums it up perfectly: “Get your quarters ready, pinball games are coming.” The Detroit Lions are also on the list, with their offense offering continuity and an indoor stadium, making it a “fantasy right answer.”
So, as we look to the fresh 2026 season, whether you’re building your fantasy roster or just getting ready for some wild NFL Sundays, these “carnival teams” are going to deliver drama. With guys like Coby Bryant already facing brutal injuries, it’s a stark reminder that these defensive units are going to get tested hard. Keep an eye on these games, 12s, because points are going to fly!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply