Don't Be Sad It's Over, It's Dynasty SZN

Protein That Pops Off

Protein. You love it. You want it. And if you are chasing those gains, you’re definitely going to need it, pal. So, we looked at Pop-Tarts and thought, what if we added a pop of protein? The result: delicious frosted, gooey pastries with 10g of protein per serving that helps fuel you and taste ridiculously good. Train harder. Snack smarter. Pop off.

A New Metric Helps Measure Future WR Success

If there’s one thing we know about the Rookie Super Model, it’s that Dwain McFarland is constantly looking for ways to improve upon it. He’s taken a look at different data points to see if they might help further show the path to predicting future NFL success.

Unfortunately, Dwain has found that most stats don’t measure up, so he doesn’t ultimately include them in the model. But there is a recent metric that has shown value and is getting plenty of monitoring when it comes to a certain position:

For wide receivers, there is one factor I have been monitoring for two years now but haven't felt we have enough data to call one way or the other: career contested-target rate (CCTR).

Pro Football Focus (PFF) started tracking contested targets for collegiate players in 2017. That means we didn't have a full career view of most college football players in the database until the completion of the 2020 season. While the sample is still small, we now have five draft classes (2021 through 2025) that allow us to backtest the CCTR against their production in an NFL season.

Why is CCTR potentially a predictor of which wideouts will succeed on the NFL field? There is a growing sample size and players who have actually broken through like they have risen over defenders to make a tough grab. There are some surprises in there. ⤵️

NFL Draft 2026: Top 150 Big Board

It’s NFL Draft SZN, people! Are you not entertained? Gladiator references aside, we’re plenty fired up for the regular content that we’ll be providing you in the coming days, weeks and months leading up to that three-day fiesta taking place in Pittsburgh in late April. One piece in particular is Matthew Freedman’s latest Top 150 Big Board.

Big Boards are different from mock drafts in that they are a straight evaluation and ranking on talent. There are no looking at what the Saints need at pick No. 8 and directing a player there. This is straight ranking, so the eighth player in a mock may be lower or higher on a Big Board. There are several players on here who could be breakouts in the 2026 season. ⤵️

Brandon Aiyuk Offseason Dynasty Profile

The rise and fall of Brandon Aiyuk. It’s almost heartbreaking to run down the tale. First-round pick in 2020 out of Arizona State. Uneven rookie year where he was in and out of the doghouse, followed by getting his foothold in Year 2. The next two years the arrow pointed up, culminating in a 75-1,342-7 season where he was second-team All-Pro.

Then came a protracted contract negotiation that got resolved just before the 2024 season, during which he suffered a torn ACL after seven games. Now he’s heading away from the Bay Area, after GM John Lynch all but said he’d be released.

New start with a new team, but no football for almost two years by the time the 2026 season starts. How do we deal with that in Dynasty? Chris Allen and Jake Trowbridge finish their six-part series of Dynasty profiles on pivotal players. ICYMI, here are the other five:

• Tyler Shough

• Tyler Allgeier

• Parker Washington

• Javonte Williams

• Quentin Johnston

For Chris and Jake’s overview on Aiyuk, here you go.⤵️

Around The Watercooler

The latest fantasy and NFL gossip, news, memes and more from our merry band of football nerds …

☝️ From DII to the SEC to College Football Playoff semifinals, Trinidad Chambliss was granted one more year at Ole Miss.

📊 Quinshon Judkins now a top-12 RB? Our latest Dynasty Rankings.

👀 Can we get Drake London a little pass-catching help? Atlanta Falcons team needs.

🤝 Get to know the incoming rookies. Never too early for a dynasty mock draft!

🏈 A former head coach will assist Klint Kubiak in Las Vegas. Can’t hurt.

🏃🏽‍♂️ Dynasty Reddit wants to know: When should you trade away a mobile QB?

🌽 The Des Moines Bears?? I'm out unless they use Marcas Grant’s idea.

❤️ Jeremiyah Love could be in some great rookie company after the draft. Good landing spot, please.