Tell your friends (just not your leaguemates until next week)

by Mike Vadala

Published On: December 27th, 2025

In this week’s dynasty download, we’ll be breaking down the AFC North. For each team, I’ll include a summary of that team’s 2025 season, review the key starting players who will be up for a new contract, highlight what positions need to be addressed in the offseason, and finally give my thoughts on that team’s 2026 season from a dynasty perspective.

Dynasty Download Looking Ahead To 2026: AFC North Edition

Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6)

2025 Season:

The Steelers have had a rocky season thus far, but find themselves at the top of the AFC North. Despite leading the division, many NFL fans and media members aren’t ready to buy in just yet. One reason could be that many of the Steelers’ wins this season have come against mediocre or rookie QBs. Joe Flacco twice, Dillon Gabriel, Carson Wentz, Justin Fields, and Tua Tagovailoa were the opposing QBs for six of their nine wins.

Meanwhile, the Steelers have folded when faced with high-end QB play. Their six losses went to Josh Allen, Caleb Williams, Justin Herbert, Jordan Love, Joe Flacco and Sam Darnold. We’ll see if the narrative changes after their recent victories over Lamar Jackson and Jared Goff, but both players are on a downward trajectory, as their teams are likely to miss the playoffs this year. Ultimately, the Steelers could have a chance to prove themselves as contenders if they face a divisional matchup in Week 18 against the Baltimore Ravens. If they win this weekend, however, they can clinch the division and won’t necessarily need to face that test.

Expiring Contracts/Cap Space:

Cap Space: According to Spotrac.com, the Steelers are projected to have $70 million in cap space in 2026, which ranks 9th most in the NFL.

Expiring Contracts: 

Positions To Address:

Offensive Line, Wide Receiver

Dynasty Analysis/Implications:

Arthur Smith absolutely needs to be factored in whenever taking on a Steeler in fantasy football. The Pittsburgh OC is known for relying on his offense and the element of surprise, spreading the ball around to a variety of players, which can be frustrating for fantasy football. Under Arthur Smith this year, the Steelers have had a rotating door at TE, making three talented players a very frustrating play. All three TEs have scored in double digits in a given week, and all three have recorded zero fantasy points in a different week.

Embed from Getty Images

Even the team’s clear and away number one wide receiver, D.K. Metcalf, has put up some extremely disappointing numbers, like a two-catch performance in Week 9, and six games this year with only three receptions. A fun fantasy fit for the Steelers is to draft them in deep best ball leagues, as you never know who is going to get some fun play calls or packages from week to week, and you don’t have to worry about start/sit,s as a player with two touchdowns in Week 1 gets used as a decoy for the rest of the season.

Baltimore Ravens (7-8)

2025 Season:

The Ravens’ season has been tumultuous, mainly due to a hamstring injury to Lamar Jackson that kept him out for some of the season and seems to have limited him once he returned to the field. They’re still in the playoff hunt at 7-8 but are on the outside looking in, needing some help from other teams to get into the playoffs. This team had much higher hopes for the season, and recently hasn’t seemed to play with the same fire they did last year. 

It’s giving head, shoulders, knees and toes

[image or embed]

— Carly Manger (@cincodemanger.bsky.social) December 21, 2025 at 9:29 PM

Expiring Contracts/Cap Space:

Cap Space: According to Spotrac.com, the Ravens are projected to have $47 million in cap space in 2026, which ranks 14th most in the NFL.

Expiring Contracts:

Positions To Address:

Defense

Dynasty Analysis/Implications:

Embed from Getty Images

I expect the Ravens to bounce back from this tough season in 2026. Todd Monken and John Harbaugh have had a lot of success together (according to ESPN in 2024, the Ravens averaged 424.9 total yards per game, first in the NFL). Year three for the Monken offense being a down year is mainly due to Lamar Jackson’s injury, which left the team with Cooper Rush playing multiple games this year as the starting QB for Baltimore. With a summer to get healthy, I’m expecting Lamar to return to the elite level of play he displayed in 2024. I’d be happily taking discounts on Lamar Jackson and Zay Flowers, and taking some flyers on the young RBs in Baltimore as well, Keaton Mitchell and Rasheen Ali.

Cincinnati Bengals (5-10)

2025 Season:

Much like the Ravens, the Bengals’ starting QB Joe Burrow missed the majority of the 2025 season with an injury, which led to a lot of turmoil on this Cincinnati team. Without Burrow there to keep the shootouts going, the Bengals’ defense was exposed this year as one of the worst in the league. For the Bengals, it’s time to divert all resources towards scouring college talent, because this team is in some trouble with cap space and needs some serious help on both sides of the ball.

‼️‼️‼️ BREAKING NEWS ‼️‼️‼️

Bengals QB Joe Burrow will need toe surgery that will sideline him a minimum of 3 months.

Per, Adam Schefter.

— 🏈Optimus FF News (@news.optimusfantasy.com) September 15, 2025 at 9:03 AM

Expiring Contracts/Cap Space:

Cap Space: According to Spotrac.com, the Bengals are projected to have $11 million in cap space in 2026, which ranks 18th most in the NFL.

Expiring Contracts:

Embed from Getty Images

Positions To Address:

Offensive line, Defense

Dynasty Analysis/Implications:

This team needs to make major improvements on the offensive line to keep their talented young core of Burrow, Chase and Higgins viable and healthy. These players are so talented that you’re going to want to target them regardless, but if they can improve this offensive line in the offseason, it’ll be wheels up for this offense as a whole, and you’ll want to target them all aggressively. 

Cleveland Browns (3-11)

2025 Season:

It’s been yet another dreadful season of football in Cleveland. Through Week 16, we’ve seen three different quarterbacks start games for the Browns, none of whom have been wildly impressive, but it may be hard to judge any QB in this offense that is lacking great OL play and top-tier pass-catchers. Now with a record of 3-12 and far out of the playoffs, the Browns are competing for the first overall draft pick in 2026.

Expiring Contracts/Cap Space:

Cap Space: According to Spotrac.com, the Browns are projected to have $7 million in cap space in 2026, which ranks 26th most in the NFL.

Expiring contracts: 

Embed from Getty Images

Positions To Address:

Wide Receiver, Offensive Line, QB

Dynasty Analysis/Implications:

When a team is this bad, it does usually make pretty clear which players on that team are fantasy assets and which are not worth touching. In this Browns offense, the obvious player to have for dynasty purposes is Harold Fannin. If you’re able to make a deal to acquire him, you could end up with TE1 production for many years to come.

Fannin has shown an ability to stay on the field in a variety of different looks and has looked electric after the catch this year. Just about every other player on this Browns team is a flyer, including Jerry Jeudy. Jeudy has always been a talented yet inconsistent player, and it will not be long until his age begins to depress his value. You don’t want to be caught holding the bag with Jerry Jeudy.

Mike Vadala is a dynasty analyst here at Optimus Fantasy, where you can find his updated dynasty rankings.

In this week’s dynasty download, we’ll be breaking down the AFC North. For each team, I’ll include a summary of that team’s 2025 season, review the key starting players who will be up for a new contract, highlight what positions need to be addressed in the offseason, and finally give my thoughts on that team’s 2026 season from a dynasty perspective.

Dynasty Download Looking Ahead To 2026: AFC North Edition

Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6)

2025 Season:

The Steelers have had a rocky season thus far, but find themselves at the top of the AFC North. Despite leading the division, many NFL fans and media members aren’t ready to buy in just yet. One reason could be that many of the Steelers’ wins this season have come against mediocre or rookie QBs. Joe Flacco twice, Dillon Gabriel, Carson Wentz, Justin Fields, and Tua Tagovailoa were the opposing QBs for six of their nine wins.

Meanwhile, the Steelers have folded when faced with high-end QB play. Their six losses went to Josh Allen, Caleb Williams, Justin Herbert, Jordan Love, Joe Flacco and Sam Darnold. We’ll see if the narrative changes after their recent victories over Lamar Jackson and Jared Goff, but both players are on a downward trajectory, as their teams are likely to miss the playoffs this year. Ultimately, the Steelers could have a chance to prove themselves as contenders if they face a divisional matchup in Week 18 against the Baltimore Ravens. If they win this weekend, however, they can clinch the division and won’t necessarily need to face that test.

Expiring Contracts/Cap Space:

Cap Space: According to Spotrac.com, the Steelers are projected to have $70 million in cap space in 2026, which ranks 9th most in the NFL.

Expiring Contracts: 

Positions To Address:

Offensive Line, Wide Receiver

Dynasty Analysis/Implications:

Arthur Smith absolutely needs to be factored in whenever taking on a Steeler in fantasy football. The Pittsburgh OC is known for relying on his offense and the element of surprise, spreading the ball around to a variety of players, which can be frustrating for fantasy football. Under Arthur Smith this year, the Steelers have had a rotating door at TE, making three talented players a very frustrating play. All three TEs have scored in double digits in a given week, and all three have recorded zero fantasy points in a different week.

Embed from Getty Images

Even the team’s clear and away number one wide receiver, D.K. Metcalf, has put up some extremely disappointing numbers, like a two-catch performance in Week 9, and six games this year with only three receptions. A fun fantasy fit for the Steelers is to draft them in deep best ball leagues, as you never know who is going to get some fun play calls or packages from week to week, and you don’t have to worry about start/sit,s as a player with two touchdowns in Week 1 gets used as a decoy for the rest of the season.

Baltimore Ravens (7-8)

2025 Season:

The Ravens’ season has been tumultuous, mainly due to a hamstring injury to Lamar Jackson that kept him out for some of the season and seems to have limited him once he returned to the field. They’re still in the playoff hunt at 7-8 but are on the outside looking in, needing some help from other teams to get into the playoffs. This team had much higher hopes for the season, and recently hasn’t seemed to play with the same fire they did last year. 

It’s giving head, shoulders, knees and toes

[image or embed]

— Carly Manger (@cincodemanger.bsky.social) December 21, 2025 at 9:29 PM

Expiring Contracts/Cap Space:

Cap Space: According to Spotrac.com, the Ravens are projected to have $47 million in cap space in 2026, which ranks 14th most in the NFL.

Expiring Contracts:

Positions To Address:

Defense

Dynasty Analysis/Implications:

Embed from Getty Images

I expect the Ravens to bounce back from this tough season in 2026. Todd Monken and John Harbaugh have had a lot of success together (according to ESPN in 2024, the Ravens averaged 424.9 total yards per game, first in the NFL). Year three for the Monken offense being a down year is mainly due to Lamar Jackson’s injury, which left the team with Cooper Rush playing multiple games this year as the starting QB for Baltimore. With a summer to get healthy, I’m expecting Lamar to return to the elite level of play he displayed in 2024. I’d be happily taking discounts on Lamar Jackson and Zay Flowers, and taking some flyers on the young RBs in Baltimore as well, Keaton Mitchell and Rasheen Ali.

Cincinnati Bengals (5-10)

2025 Season:

Much like the Ravens, the Bengals’ starting QB Joe Burrow missed the majority of the 2025 season with an injury, which led to a lot of turmoil on this Cincinnati team. Without Burrow there to keep the shootouts going, the Bengals’ defense was exposed this year as one of the worst in the league. For the Bengals, it’s time to divert all resources towards scouring college talent, because this team is in some trouble with cap space and needs some serious help on both sides of the ball.

‼️‼️‼️ BREAKING NEWS ‼️‼️‼️

Bengals QB Joe Burrow will need toe surgery that will sideline him a minimum of 3 months.

Per, Adam Schefter.

— 🏈Optimus FF News (@news.optimusfantasy.com) September 15, 2025 at 9:03 AM

Expiring Contracts/Cap Space:

Cap Space: According to Spotrac.com, the Bengals are projected to have $11 million in cap space in 2026, which ranks 18th most in the NFL.

Expiring Contracts:

Embed from Getty Images

Positions To Address:

Offensive line, Defense

Dynasty Analysis/Implications:

This team needs to make major improvements on the offensive line to keep their talented young core of Burrow, Chase and Higgins viable and healthy. These players are so talented that you’re going to want to target them regardless, but if they can improve this offensive line in the offseason, it’ll be wheels up for this offense as a whole, and you’ll want to target them all aggressively. 

Cleveland Browns (3-11)

2025 Season:

It’s been yet another dreadful season of football in Cleveland. Through Week 16, we’ve seen three different quarterbacks start games for the Browns, none of whom have been wildly impressive, but it may be hard to judge any QB in this offense that is lacking great OL play and top-tier pass-catchers. Now with a record of 3-12 and far out of the playoffs, the Browns are competing for the first overall draft pick in 2026.

Expiring Contracts/Cap Space:

Cap Space: According to Spotrac.com, the Browns are projected to have $7 million in cap space in 2026, which ranks 26th most in the NFL.

Expiring contracts: 

Embed from Getty Images

Positions To Address:

Wide Receiver, Offensive Line, QB

Dynasty Analysis/Implications:

When a team is this bad, it does usually make pretty clear which players on that team are fantasy assets and which are not worth touching. In this Browns offense, the obvious player to have for dynasty purposes is Harold Fannin. If you’re able to make a deal to acquire him, you could end up with TE1 production for many years to come.

Fannin has shown an ability to stay on the field in a variety of different looks and has looked electric after the catch this year. Just about every other player on this Browns team is a flyer, including Jerry Jeudy. Jeudy has always been a talented yet inconsistent player, and it will not be long until his age begins to depress his value. You don’t want to be caught holding the bag with Jerry Jeudy.

Mike Vadala is a dynasty analyst here at Optimus Fantasy, where you can find his updated dynasty rankings.

In this week’s dynasty download, we’ll be breaking down the AFC North. For each team, I’ll include a summary of that team’s 2025 season, review the key starting players who will be up for a new contract, highlight what positions need to be addressed in the offseason, and finally give my thoughts on that team’s 2026 season from a dynasty perspective.

Dynasty Download Looking Ahead To 2026: AFC North Edition

Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6)

2025 Season:

The Steelers have had a rocky season thus far, but find themselves at the top of the AFC North. Despite leading the division, many NFL fans and media members aren’t ready to buy in just yet. One reason could be that many of the Steelers’ wins this season have come against mediocre or rookie QBs. Joe Flacco twice, Dillon Gabriel, Carson Wentz, Justin Fields, and Tua Tagovailoa were the opposing QBs for six of their nine wins.

Meanwhile, the Steelers have folded when faced with high-end QB play. Their six losses went to Josh Allen, Caleb Williams, Justin Herbert, Jordan Love, Joe Flacco and Sam Darnold. We’ll see if the narrative changes after their recent victories over Lamar Jackson and Jared Goff, but both players are on a downward trajectory, as their teams are likely to miss the playoffs this year. Ultimately, the Steelers could have a chance to prove themselves as contenders if they face a divisional matchup in Week 18 against the Baltimore Ravens. If they win this weekend, however, they can clinch the division and won’t necessarily need to face that test.

Expiring Contracts/Cap Space:

Cap Space: According to Spotrac.com, the Steelers are projected to have $70 million in cap space in 2026, which ranks 9th most in the NFL.

Expiring Contracts: 

Positions To Address:

Offensive Line, Wide Receiver

Dynasty Analysis/Implications:

Arthur Smith absolutely needs to be factored in whenever taking on a Steeler in fantasy football. The Pittsburgh OC is known for relying on his offense and the element of surprise, spreading the ball around to a variety of players, which can be frustrating for fantasy football. Under Arthur Smith this year, the Steelers have had a rotating door at TE, making three talented players a very frustrating play. All three TEs have scored in double digits in a given week, and all three have recorded zero fantasy points in a different week.

Embed from Getty Images

Even the team’s clear and away number one wide receiver, D.K. Metcalf, has put up some extremely disappointing numbers, like a two-catch performance in Week 9, and six games this year with only three receptions. A fun fantasy fit for the Steelers is to draft them in deep best ball leagues, as you never know who is going to get some fun play calls or packages from week to week, and you don’t have to worry about start/sit,s as a player with two touchdowns in Week 1 gets used as a decoy for the rest of the season.

Baltimore Ravens (7-8)

2025 Season:

The Ravens’ season has been tumultuous, mainly due to a hamstring injury to Lamar Jackson that kept him out for some of the season and seems to have limited him once he returned to the field. They’re still in the playoff hunt at 7-8 but are on the outside looking in, needing some help from other teams to get into the playoffs. This team had much higher hopes for the season, and recently hasn’t seemed to play with the same fire they did last year. 

It’s giving head, shoulders, knees and toes

[image or embed]

— Carly Manger (@cincodemanger.bsky.social) December 21, 2025 at 9:29 PM

Expiring Contracts/Cap Space:

Cap Space: According to Spotrac.com, the Ravens are projected to have $47 million in cap space in 2026, which ranks 14th most in the NFL.

Expiring Contracts:

Positions To Address:

Defense

Dynasty Analysis/Implications:

Embed from Getty Images

I expect the Ravens to bounce back from this tough season in 2026. Todd Monken and John Harbaugh have had a lot of success together (according to ESPN in 2024, the Ravens averaged 424.9 total yards per game, first in the NFL). Year three for the Monken offense being a down year is mainly due to Lamar Jackson’s injury, which left the team with Cooper Rush playing multiple games this year as the starting QB for Baltimore. With a summer to get healthy, I’m expecting Lamar to return to the elite level of play he displayed in 2024. I’d be happily taking discounts on Lamar Jackson and Zay Flowers, and taking some flyers on the young RBs in Baltimore as well, Keaton Mitchell and Rasheen Ali.

Cincinnati Bengals (5-10)

2025 Season:

Much like the Ravens, the Bengals’ starting QB Joe Burrow missed the majority of the 2025 season with an injury, which led to a lot of turmoil on this Cincinnati team. Without Burrow there to keep the shootouts going, the Bengals’ defense was exposed this year as one of the worst in the league. For the Bengals, it’s time to divert all resources towards scouring college talent, because this team is in some trouble with cap space and needs some serious help on both sides of the ball.

‼️‼️‼️ BREAKING NEWS ‼️‼️‼️

Bengals QB Joe Burrow will need toe surgery that will sideline him a minimum of 3 months.

Per, Adam Schefter.

— 🏈Optimus FF News (@news.optimusfantasy.com) September 15, 2025 at 9:03 AM

Expiring Contracts/Cap Space:

Cap Space: According to Spotrac.com, the Bengals are projected to have $11 million in cap space in 2026, which ranks 18th most in the NFL.

Expiring Contracts:

Embed from Getty Images

Positions To Address:

Offensive line, Defense

Dynasty Analysis/Implications:

This team needs to make major improvements on the offensive line to keep their talented young core of Burrow, Chase and Higgins viable and healthy. These players are so talented that you’re going to want to target them regardless, but if they can improve this offensive line in the offseason, it’ll be wheels up for this offense as a whole, and you’ll want to target them all aggressively. 

Cleveland Browns (3-11)

2025 Season:

It’s been yet another dreadful season of football in Cleveland. Through Week 16, we’ve seen three different quarterbacks start games for the Browns, none of whom have been wildly impressive, but it may be hard to judge any QB in this offense that is lacking great OL play and top-tier pass-catchers. Now with a record of 3-12 and far out of the playoffs, the Browns are competing for the first overall draft pick in 2026.

Expiring Contracts/Cap Space:

Cap Space: According to Spotrac.com, the Browns are projected to have $7 million in cap space in 2026, which ranks 26th most in the NFL.

Expiring contracts: 

Embed from Getty Images

Positions To Address:

Wide Receiver, Offensive Line, QB

Dynasty Analysis/Implications:

When a team is this bad, it does usually make pretty clear which players on that team are fantasy assets and which are not worth touching. In this Browns offense, the obvious player to have for dynasty purposes is Harold Fannin. If you’re able to make a deal to acquire him, you could end up with TE1 production for many years to come.

Fannin has shown an ability to stay on the field in a variety of different looks and has looked electric after the catch this year. Just about every other player on this Browns team is a flyer, including Jerry Jeudy. Jeudy has always been a talented yet inconsistent player, and it will not be long until his age begins to depress his value. You don’t want to be caught holding the bag with Jerry Jeudy.

Mike Vadala is a dynasty analyst here at Optimus Fantasy, where you can find his updated dynasty rankings.

By Published On: December 27th, 2025

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