Denver Broncos — keep cultivating the young players
Denver’s season ended in a maddening way after a campaign that largely showed real progress. The Broncos’ defense was the defining unit in the AFC title game, consistently winning at the line and in coverage and clearly outplaying New England. The offense, though, never got going: with Jarrett Stidham doing what you’d expect from a reliable backup—executing Sean Payton’s early scripted plays well but offering little beyond them—the team managed only seven points against a Patriots defense that bent at times but didn’t break.
It’s tempting for fans to imagine a different outcome had starter Bo Nix been available, but the reality is Denver must build on the steps it took this year rather than dwell on what might have been. The club finished roughly middle of the league in efficiency and accuracy, and the incremental offensive upgrades begun this offseason — drafting RJ Harvey and Pat Bryant, getting a year out of Troy Franklin, and signing J.K. Dobbins and Evan Engram — represent the start of that push.
Dobbins looked like a solid pickup when healthy, but he slipped after the IR stint; Engram added a unique element but isn’t slated to stick around. The young receivers and skill players show promise but aren’t guaranteed to be frontline producers yet; Courtland Sutton has been inconsistent and will be entering his 30s, while Franklin and Bryant don’t yet project as clear WR1s. Adding a proven playmaker at receiver would make sense, and the team could also look for a dynamic, versatile tight end once Engram and Adam Trautman are gone.
The backfield is another area to watch for 2026 fantasy implications. Harvey flashed as a receiving threat and finished as a useful fantasy option, but Dobbins’ rookie stretch after Week 11 was underwhelming. Denver needs a more reliable, sustainable running-game dimension—whether that comes from Harvey stepping up, Dobbins returning to form, or the club adding a bigger, sturdier option remains to be seen.
Los Angeles Rams — mostly keep the core, but tweak around the edges
For the Rams, the clearest plan for next season is to largely stay the course on offense while making targeted changes. That feels unsatisfying only because sustainability is never guaranteed—especially when two of your most important players are older and have durability questions.
Matthew Stafford delivered one of his best seasons, showing no clear signs of an abrupt decline even as he approaches 38. Davante Adams provided huge red-zone value in his first year with LA, but he’s 33, missed time late in the year, and won’t be immune to the general age-related regression that hits many veteran receivers. The Rams’ passing attack is unusually concentrated among a few players, which is part of why it’s so potent for fantasy, but it also raises the stakes if any of those pieces slow down.
Los Angeles’ defense, particularly the secondary, was a vulnerability down the stretch and needs attention, but the offseason can’t focus on just one side of the ball. Kyren Williams and Blake Collymore (presumably the RB noted) are locked into the backfield contracts, and the offensive line could be reinforced, yet the team should aim to keep the starting quintet from the conference championship largely intact. With two first-round picks and the 13th overall selection, the Rams ought to consider adding another high-end pass-catcher or a tight end to support their 13-personnel tendencies—especially since Tyler Higbee is a free agent and rookie Terrence Ferguson has shown athletic upside but still needs polish.
Adding more receiving depth would hedge against Adams’ contract and age concerns while also protecting the offense from regression. The Rams’ priority should be to preserve their top-five offensive ceiling next year while patching holes that could derail another deep run.
Fan Take: These offseason directions matter because they show whether contenders will double down on continuity or aggressively reshape around aging stars—the choices will affect free agency, the draft, and fantasy player values heading into 2026. For fans, those moves signal whether teams are positioning for a sustained window of contention or preparing for a shorter, win-now cycle that could reshape league competitiveness.
