Contract Years & How They Win Fantasy Football

Contract years: finding those players who are on the last year of their contract and want to make sure they get paid the big bucks. It’s a cheat code because it’s even more incentive for these players to go out there and give it their all and have the best season possible.

By William Dempsey · March 9, 2026

So let’s look at some of the players who are in the last year of their contracts who are also under the age of 27. It may be a while before the season starts, but this is the time when the real champs separate themselves. RB CHASE BROWN (CINCINNATI BENGALS - RB) | 16.62 PPG | 25 Y/O Joe Burrow, I know it’s weird for that to be the first words, but he’s the most important asset that the Bengals have, and when he’s there, everyone plays better. Chase Brown is no different. Although we did see later in the season, Chase Brown found his footing before Burrow got back. When Joe fully returned, we saw the Chase Brown that everyone expected to see. This past year, he averaged 4.4 yards per carry, 1019 yards, and 6 TDs. Those are just numbers, but I expect them to get a boost this next year and for him to finish as a top ten RB in fantasy football. DE’VON ACHANE (MIAMI DOLPHINS - RB) | 20.18 PPG | 24 Y/O The speed demon that is De’Von Achane is in his contract year, and if he is going to try and play better than he did last year, it’s very possible he finishes as a top-three RB. However, there are some concerns, mainly about this Miami offense and how this team will operate with the new head coach. Jeff Hafley, the new head coach, has said he wants to have a dominant run game, and if that’s true, then buckle up because Achane will break fantasy football in 2026. In this last 2025 season, he averaged a staggering 5.7 yards per carry, racked up 1350 yards, and 8 TDs. For me personally, he’s a top-tier option that should only be behind Jahmyr Gibbs and on par with Bijan Robinson. JONATHAN TAYLOR (INDIANAPOLIS COLTS - RB) | 21.31 PPG | 27 Y/O This one is admittedly scary, and there’s a couple of reasons for that. First off, Taylor having back to back seasons with more than 300 touches is not the best for his health and history is not on his side when it comes to the next season after that enormous amount of touches, along with being 27 and hasn’t had the most healthy of careers. Then again, we are talking about the guy who had multiple weeks with over 40 points in fantasy football. Just this past year, he had almost 5 yards per carry (4.9), 1585 yards total, and the most TD’s in the whole league, sitting at 18. He’s undeniably great, but do you trust his health? If you do, then he’s an obvious take. D’ANDRE SWIFT (CHICAGO BEARS - RB) | 14.29 PPG | 27 Y/O The Chicago Bears are one of the biggest surprises of this last season. Making it all the way to the divisional round in the playoffs is extremely impressive, especially with them having a 5-12 record in 2024. They are up there with the Patriots when it comes to turnaround seasons. Part of the reason this team looked so much better was its dynamic run game. Early on, we saw most of the touches go straight to Swift, but after a quick injury and an amazing performance by Kyle Monangai, the rushing game started to shift towards a committee. Even so, D’Andre would still put up some great games, and he will most likely continue to do just that. In 2025, he had 4.9 yards per carry, over 1000 yards, and 9 TDs. There are really only two concerns with D’Andre Swift: he’s not getting younger, considering he is 27 years old, and his potential continued split with Monangai. WR GEORGE PICKENS (DALLAS COWBOYS - WR) | 17.17 PPG| 24 Y/O In typical Dallas Cowboy fashion, they continue to NOT make their players happy, and they have decided to franchise tag George Pickens, allowing them to hold him for another year. Considering he was arguably better than CeeDee Lamb, he definitely deserved to get paid, and I'm sure he thinks he should’ve been respected more as well. If George can comeback this next year and not let the franchise tag bother him too much and channel that energy towards wrecking havoc like he just did, we might see him really give Lamb a run for his money for who is the true #1 there. Pickens had 93 receptions, 1429 yards total, and 9 TDs. This Cowboy receiving game will once again be a nightmare to deal with. DRAKE LONDON (ATLANTA FALCONS - WR) | 16.83 PPG| 24 Y/O The sad story for Drake London has always been who is going to be throwing him the ball and how good they are going to be. His talent is up there with the best, so there is no reason to question that but with the Falcons set to release Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr. still recovering from his ACL tear, it’s unclear what the future QB future is going to be for the Falcons. They are hopeful for Penix to be able to play; they are still open to other options, so it’s important to keep an eye on what they decide to do. If London gets a competent guy who can air the ball out, he is an easy candidate for a top-five WR this upcoming year. He amassed 68 receptions, 919 yards total, and 7 TDs. Let's hope for both our sakes and Drake’s that he gets the QB he deserves. MICHAEL WILSON (ARIZONA CARDINALS - WR) | 12.98 PPG| 26 Y/O It’s painfully clear that Marvin Harrison Jr. is not the alpha WR in Arizona; funny enough, it really isn’t Michael Wilson, but that has nothing to do with his skill. The Cardinals just happen to have the best Tight End in the whole league, Trey McBride. Still, we did see Wilson start to take over in the Wide Receiver room over Marvin, and from week 11 onward, he became an amazing week to week start. So if this past year wasn’t a one off, he will 100% be a great pick in fantasy football and will be looking to do even better for that contract. In 2025, he had 78 receptions, 1006 yards, and 7 TD’s. To put in perspective just how scary his season was, he had 775 yards in the last eight games. If he started the season off the same way, he was on pace for a 1500-yard season. CHRIS OLAVE (NEW ORLEANS SAINTS - WR) | 16.75 PPG| 25 Y/O With Chris Olave, it’s important to note that for dynasty and redraft, this will operate differently. This is because Olave is a smart man and is prioritizing his health, and he has alluded to possibly retiring if he continues to get concussions, as he has in the past. So in redraft, he is sure to still go out there and be game breaking, but for dynasty trading for him or drafting him can be scary for your long term future. Though if he does stay healthy, Olave will be one of the best assets you could have in fantasy football that will bring you closer to grabbing that trophy at the end of the year. This past year, he was astounding with 100 receptions, 1163 total yards, and 9 TDs. TE SAM LAPORTA (DETROIT LIONS - TE) | 11.88 PPG | 25 Y/O Spoiler: the story for the next two guys is going to start out the same, this is because they are both coming off of some season-ending injuries. With Sam LaPorta, we saw him be the best tight end in the 2023 fantasy football season. That’s surely something. This is a big year for him, and the Lions have been using more than just one Tight End even when Sam is healthy. Given the opportunity, he will go out there and be that guy he once was. Let's hope for a healthy recovery for him so he can continue to play the game he loves, and we can watch him ravage those defenses. Before week 10, he recorded 40 receptions, 489 yards total, and 3 TDs. TUCKER KRAFT (GREENBAY PACKERS - TE) | 14.65 PPG | 25 Y/O For a short period of time, we thought we might be seeing a season of the tight ends. What Tucker Kraft was doing before his season-ending injury was just short of greatness. We all knew that there was talent in the tight end room at Green Bay, we just never knew who was going to be the guy. This year, that guy was Tucker Kraft. He is progressing well from his injury and is expected to be back for training camp. In those first eight weeks, Tucker Kraft has 32 receptions, 489 yards, and 6 TD’s. BRENTON STRANGE (JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS - TE) | 9.83 PPG | 23 Y/O Brenton is a very Strange case to understand. He has phases where he looks like the best receiver in Jacksonville, and then he will randomly disappear. However, with this being Brenton’s contract season, if there was ever a time for him to show up and show out, it would be now. I’m not saying to draft him early or make a crazy trade for him directly, but if you can draft him in one of the last few rounds or if you can make a trade in dynasty and try to add him in, then his upside could very well be worth it. In 2025, he had some decent numbers: 46 receptions, 540 yards total, and 3 TD’s. He is nothing to write home about, but when it comes to looking for possible upside, he might be that guy.

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