Using The Touchdown Crystal Ball

Get Draft Ready This Summer

It’s summer, which means that your fantasy drafts are right around the corner. That also means some really good spreads to enjoy with your friends as you pick your teams. Before you indulge, there’s another way to get ready for those drafts.

Start losing weight the right way through Hims today. Weight-loss treatment plans through Hims now include access to FDA-approved Wegovy® pills and injections to fit your lifestyle (no insurance required)—helping users lose up to 20% of bodyweight in 1 year.* It’s convenient, legit and refreshingly simple to get started. You’ll fill out an online assessment and, if a provider determines you're eligible, receive your prescription—you’ll also get a dedicated Care Team with 24/7 messaging and personalized support to guide you through treatment plans that fit your goals.

With a Weight Loss Membership, you can get started for just $39 in your first month, then $149/month thereafter.** Whether you’re chasing better energy, more confidence, or just want to feel more in control, Hims is here to help you stick to the plan (no matter if you go Zero or Hero RB).

We’re proud to have Hims as a Fantasy Life partner. Their support keeps this newsletter free, fun and full of trade panic and waiver wire regret.

_{*Along with a reduced-calorie diet and increased exercise. In a 68-week clinical study of Wegovy®, about 1 in 3 adults with obesity or with overweight and weight-related medical problems achieved 20% weight loss. Average weight loss achieved was 15%. Wegovy® is a registered trademark of Novo Nordisk A/S.}

_{**$149/mo price includes medication only, if prescribed. An active Hims Weight Loss Membership is required ($39 for the first month, auto-renews at $149/month thereafter). Membership is billed separately and does not include or guarantee a prescription. Medication is not available without a membership. Membership fee is not included.}

_{Not available in all 50 states. Prescription required. Weight Loss by Hims is a holistic program that includes nutrition support, technological tools, and medications prescribed based on what your provider determines is medically appropriate and necessary for you. See website for full details, important safety information, and restrictions. Wegovy® is a registered trademark of Novo Nordisk A/S.}

Fantasy

Around the Watercooler

Your favorite football nerds are back and bringing you the latest news, content and memes from the NFL universe …

📈 These rankings are WAY higher than ADP … and you should still smash draft.

⚡️ An electric offense and a third-year breakout on tap? Draft this WR ASAP.

🔮 Is the NFL MVP favorite the best bet on the board? There’s value there.

🆚 Nico Collins vs. George Pickens. A WR1 vs a WR2, but who’s the better click?

1️⃣ How are you drafting from 1.01 this year? The only way to do it.

Fantasy

Editors’ Picks

Only nine more Sundays until football is back. Time to lock in! We have you covered with our Fantasy Life Draft Guide, as well as our rankings and projections. And ICYMI, here is some more great content.

Proceed With Caution With Potential 2026 Busts …

We don’t dislike players.

We dislike ADPs.

That’s really what it comes down to when breaking down fantasy football bust candidates. Identifying players who may not live up to their draft position, especially with similarly projected players coming off the board a few picks later. It’s not fun to be a pessimist, but here are Adam Pfeifer’s top bust candidates for the 2026 season.

❌ Tetairoa McMillan | WR | CAR

Look. McMillan is an awesome player coming off a very impressive rookie year. And as crazy as it is to say about a 23-year-old sophomore wide receiver, I actually question the fantasy ceiling. 

70 catches, 1,014 yards and 7 touchdowns is a very strong season, especially for a rookie. But it didn’t exactly translate to a ton of fantasy upside on a weekly basis.

McMillan finished as WR16 overall and WR20 PPG. He finished as a top-12 wideout just twice all year long, while ranking outside the top-24 receivers in 12 of 17 weeks. Of course, to no one’s surprise, McMillan operated as the clear alpha in Carolina, sporting a 26% target share, while his 43% air yards share ranked fifth among all wideouts with at least 100 routes. Entering 2026, McMillan will once again lead this team in targets, while his 56% catch rate should improve. 

But can this overall passing attack improve?

The Panthers aren’t going to air the ball out very much. Last year, Carolina ranked 27th in pass rate over expected (-4%), while its 66% pass rate when trailing by four-plus points ranked 22nd. And while he’d occasionally show flashes, Young failed to reach 200—not even 300—passing yards in 12 of 17 games. And among 37 qualified quarterbacks, Young’s metrics didn’t exactly wow anyone:

• 30th in EPA/play (-0.03)

• 33rd in YPA (6.3)

• 22nd in CMP% (63.6%)

Again, no one should expect McMillan to struggle for targets in this offense. But it is also fair to wonder what the target share might look like with a fully healthy Jalen Coker, who made his season debut in Week 8. And following Carolina’s Week 14 bye, which included Carolina’s playoff game against the Rams, the usage was eyebrow-raising:

• McMillan: 23% target share, 18% TPRR, 25% EZ targets

• Coker: 22% target share, 19% TPRR, 32% EZ targets

On draft day, I’d prefer Jaylen Waddle, Garrett Wilson and Terry McLaurin over McMillan, all of whom are being drafted after him. 

Luther Burden Is Among The Best Dynasty Startup Picks

Dynasty fantasy football startup drafts remain one of the single-best events in all of fantasy football. You have your entire future ahead of you, and you can build your roster however you want. As we approach mid-July, here are my current favorite targets in single-QB dynasty startups based on current dynasty fantasy football rankings.

🔥 Luther Burden | WR | CHI

It sure seems like everyone in the fantasy space is excited about Luther Burden, and it's becoming incredibly easy to see why.

Currently valued as the WR17, Burden has the profile and trajectory to be a WR1 by this time next year, and I don't think that's even that hot of a take. Now that DJ Moore is in Buffalo, the path to becoming the No. 1 option for a Ben Johnson-led offense captained by Caleb Williams is wide open.

To be sure, the end-of-season numbers don't jump off the page. Burden appeared in 15 games and tallied:

• 60 targets

• 47 receptions

• 652 receiving yards

• 2 TDs

In fact, his single-best performance came in Week 17 (fantasy championship weekend) when he erupted for 8/138/1 on nine targets.

But this is how you know the fantasy community is getting smarter. Despite the outward numbers being pedestrian at best, his underlying metrics hint at elite upside. In a piece he penned earlier this offseason, Dwain McFarland showed how Burden compared to guys like Rashee Rice and Jaxon Smith-Njigba the year before each of them broke out.

You're going to want to read his analysis.

In fact, if you want more pro-Burden propaganda, make sure to check out his player page on our website. There's a ton of useful tools, insights and projections that are sure to keep you clicking "Draft" on Burden as often as you can.

The obvious concern for Burden is the talent around him. Fellow wideout Rome Odunze and rising star TE Colston Loveland are going to demand their own share of opportunities on this offense. In fact, our projections have four different players topping 190 PPR this season.

The Bears are going to feast for their fantasy managers this year, and Burden is going to be at the center of it.