I'm thinking Jacksonville is going to be a key team to try to get right for the 2026 season. They've got a lot of talented players, but (I think) a whole lot of questions in terms of rankings, too.
This was the hottest team in the league the second half of the season. After going 5-3 the first nine weeks, they went 8-1 the final nine. Most importantly, in fantasy terms, they went from averaging 22 points per game to 33. That differential of 11 points was the biggest in the league.
| TEAM OFFENSE, 1ST VERSUS 2ND HALF | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W-L (1st) | Pts (1st) | W-L (2nd) | Pts (2nd) | Diff |
| Jacksonville | 5-3 | 22.0 | 8-1 | 33.1 | 11.1 |
| San Francisco | 6-3 | 21.6 | 6-2 | 30.4 | 8.8 |
| LA Rams | 6-2 | 26.1 | 6-3 | 34.3 | 8.2 |
| New Orleans | 1-8 | 15.3 | 5-3 | 21.0 | 5.7 |
| Atlanta | 3-5 | 17.9 | 5-4 | 23.3 | 5.5 |
| New England | 7-2 | 26.3 | 7-1 | 31.6 | 5.3 |
| Houston | 3-5 | 21.0 | 9-0 | 26.2 | 5.2 |
| Tennessee | 1-8 | 14.4 | 2-6 | 19.3 | 4.8 |
| Cleveland | 2-6 | 15.8 | 3-6 | 17.0 | 1.3 |
| NY Giants | 2-7 | 21.9 | 2-6 | 23.0 | 1.1 |
| Miami | 2-7 | 20.0 | 5-3 | 20.9 | .9 |
| Cincinnati | 3-6 | 24.0 | 3-5 | 24.8 | .8 |
| Baltimore | 3-5 | 25.3 | 5-4 | 24.7 | -.6 |
| Seattle | 6-2 | 28.9 | 8-1 | 28.0 | -.9 |
| Carolina | 5-4 | 18.9 | 3-5 | 17.6 | -1.3 |
| Chicago | 5-3 | 26.9 | 6-3 | 25.1 | -1.8 |
| Buffalo | 6-2 | 29.4 | 6-3 | 27.3 | -2.0 |
| Washington | 3-6 | 22.3 | 2-6 | 19.4 | -3.0 |
| Detroit | 5-3 | 29.9 | 4-5 | 26.9 | -3.0 |
| Denver | 7-2 | 25.0 | 7-1 | 22.0 | -3.0 |
| Arizona | 3-5 | 22.5 | 0-9 | 19.4 | -3.1 |
| Dallas | 3-5-1 | 29.2 | 4-4 | 26.0 | -3.2 |
| Pittsburgh | 5-3 | 25.3 | 5-4 | 21.7 | -3.6 |
| Tampa Bay | 6-2 | 24.6 | 2-7 | 20.3 | -4.3 |
| Las Vegas | 2-6 | 16.5 | 1-8 | 12.1 | -4.4 |
| Minnesota | 4-4 | 22.8 | 5-4 | 18.0 | -4.8 |
| LA Chargers | 6-3 | 23.9 | 5-3 | 19.1 | -4.8 |
| Green Bay | 5-2-1 | 25.8 | 4-5 | 20.6 | -5.2 |
| NY Jets | 1-7 | 21.0 | 2-7 | 14.7 | -6.3 |
| Philadelphia | 6-2 | 26.0 | 5-4 | 19.0 | -7.0 |
| Indianapolis | 7-2 | 32.2 | 1-7 | 22.0 | -10.2 |
| Kansas City | 5-4 | 26.1 | 1-7 | 15.9 | -10.2 |
Needless to say, it's an offense to invest in for the 2026 season. But there are significant questions.
Travis Etienne is gone, which makes second-year back Bhayshul Tuten the incumbent running back. But they signed Chris Rodriguez in free agency, and while that's not a big name, he got a two-year deal averaging $5 million per year. That at least suggests he'll get a chance to start, or at worst a one-two punch. Rodriguez a little bigger and more effective as a runner last year, Tuten faster and more experienced in the passing game.
At wide receiver, Parker Washington was best the second half of the year. Jakobi Meyers was very good after coming over at the trade deadline (and he signed a big contract extension in December). And Brian Thomas is the former first-round pick who had the big rookie season, but he was 3rd-best of those guys the second half of last year.
There have been some trade rumors around Thomas, which Jacksonville has mostly stamped out, but you never know. They've also got Travis Hunter (although reports have him playing more defense than offense this season).
It's a team I'll be watching closely in the preseason, figuring out where the value (0r potential pitfalls) are. Because it looks like it will definitely be one of the best offenses; just the beneficiaries that aren't certain.
--Andy Richardson
