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

by Mike Vadala

Published On: December 6th, 2025

One way for us to get ahead in dynasty leagues and pick up on some value is to “zoom out” and look at where teams are headed in 2026. What teams could see significant changes, directionally, personnel, or otherwise? Today, we’ll dive into the AFC West division and what the future might hold for each team.

Dynasty Download Looking Ahead To 2026: AFC West Edition

Denver Broncos (10-2)

2025 Season:

The Broncos are leading the AFC West this year, sitting at 10-2, and the defining element of this team is that they make the plays necessary to win. There have been many in-game ups and downs for this team, and you could certainly say they are battle-tested in close games. Nine of their twelve games have been decided by just four points or less. There surely is some luck factored into a season like this, but we should also tip our caps to veteran head coach Sean Payton and sophomore QB Bo Nix. These two have a chemistry that undeniably brings out the best in each other. Nix is willing to take risks and make real-time decisions to keep plays alive, and Payton has the experience and decision-making you need to keep games close in the NFL.

Expiring Contracts/Cap Space:

The Broncos are projected to be middle of the pack for cap space in 2026. The Broncos also have a few key starters with contracts set to expire after this 2025 season. LB Alex Singleton, C Luke Wattenberg, LG Alex Palczewski, and DE John Franklin-Myers all could eat into the Broncos’ already limited cap space. This means Denver is most likely to build out its team through the NFL draft and maybe make one or two free-agent splashes. However, it’s possible they won’t make any free-agent moves, as re-signing their starters will be the team’s priority.

Positions To Address:

With somewhat limited cap space for a young team, the positive outlook is that they have a really great core already, and don’t have any truly glaring positional needs. Sean Payton seems to pride himself on finding diamonds in the rough who can contribute in very specific ways. He doesn’t ask players to do much beyond their specialties on the field, which makes it easier to put together a roster that doesn’t shine on paper but still competes and finds ways to win games. If they happen to address the RB or WR positions this offseason, that could point to either a new fantasy-relevant role in this offense or an even murkier situation than we already have in Denver. I find it very difficult to make deals for Broncos’ players directly, but they are definitely fun to take on as a throw-in. As we’ve seen, this offense can be fun at times, and we’re just waiting for someone to prove themselves worthy of a prominent role.

Dynasty Analysis/Implications:

Embed from Getty Images

In fantasy, it is important to remember that Sean Payton does not like us. Since Payton was hired in Denver, the Broncos’ offense has flowed through a different player from week to week, with many of the least relevant fantasy football names you’ll ever see. It will be hard ever to predict who will be Sean Payton’s backfield flavor of the day, or who Bo Nix is targeting most in a given game. However, we have to remember never to fade a team or player in dynasty completely. Every player has a value that makes sense for them, so see if you can catch one of your league mates selling Broncos; you might be able to find a price that works for both of you. If somehow you’re able to figure out which one of these receivers is the next Michael Thomas, or which back is Alvin Kamara, or which tight end is Jimmy Graham, you’ve got a massive steal. On the flip side, I think the fantasy community has been searching for that in Sean Payton’s offenses for a while now, and nobody in Denver has really made themselves stand out from the pack.

Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)

2025 Season:

The Chargers’ 2025 season had some serious promise to be one of the better teams in the league, but injuries have left this team scratching and clawing to stay in the playoff race. The Chargers lost all-pro tackle Rashawn Slater this offseason, and Joe Alt has missed time for multiple stretches this year. For a team that sees offensive linemen as offensive weapons, it really hurts two of your biggest weapons on that line. Jim Harbaugh and Justin Herbert both have the personalities to keep on punching regardless of the hand they’re dealt. Still, it has been a tough time keeping Herbert clean this year, and it’s hard not to see the hand injury as being related to their missing offensive linemen.

Expiring Contracts/Cap Space:

Despite the bad luck and injuries this team’s fans have endured, this is a very exciting time for the LA Chargers. The Chargers are projected near the top of the pack for 2026 cap space, with a potential $100 million to spend on improving this team. Not only that, but their starters with expiring contracts are few in number and not the most impactful players on the field, so the team may not even be motivated to re-sign them. The most important player who could leave this team after the season is veteran Khalil Mack. Mack still plays at a high level, but it wouldn’t be terribly surprising if the team lets him sign with another team. He’ll be turning 35 in February and will likely be looking for the best contract he can get. Others that may warrant a re-sign are WR Keenan Allen, TE Tyler Conklin, LG Zion Johnson, DT Teair Tart, and CB Benjamin St-Juste. The team could realistically sign most of these players and still have money to spend on improving this roster. 

Positions To Address:

The Chargers will need to spread their budget across the offensive and defensive fronts in this coming offseason, as this year’s injuries and inexperience have crushed this offensive line, and a true pass-rush presence would be very helpful to bolster this defense. They’re blessed not to have to address their offensive skill position players, so all of this team’s offseason moves should be boring ones for fantasy football that make the roster much stronger as a whole. They should be able to make all the additions they need and then some with their ample cap space, and they still own their first four draft picks in 2026. Tell Justin Herbert, help is on the way!

a group of people are standing in a room and one of them is saying `` help is on the way , dear ! '' .

Dynasty Analysis/Implications:

This team was looking ready to explode at the beginning of the 2025 season, and I think they can get back to that level of play. It would be wise to stock up on Chargers before next season begins. Their injuries at the offensive line will hold them back enough this year to hinder the ceiling production of this team, but don’t count out the talent on this roster. When this team gets Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater back, we’re going to see an offensive powerhouse. Ladd McConkey, Justin Herbert, Omarion Hampton, and Oronde Gadsden are all screaming buys as they should all be able to deliver much greater value than where the market has them today. The Chargers should be contending to win this division in 2026.

Kansas City Chiefs (6-6)

2025 Season:

The Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes dynasty isn’t over, but this surely is a down year for the team. With some inexplicable losses this year to lesser teams, this season needs to act as a wake-up call to the entire Chiefs’ organization. The Chiefs haven’t looked like world-beaters for the past two seasons. Last year, they were able to survive the season by running the ball, passing short to the flats and playing good defense. This year, the defense hasn’t been as dominant, and the run game isn’t nearly explosive enough to make this team a true contender without the explosive passing plays we came to know in the prime years of this dynasty. If you aren’t a Chiefs fan, you are happy to see this team floundering with a slim chance at the playoffs.

Expiring Contracts/Cap Space:

Embed from Getty Images

The Chiefs are expected to be in what we call “Cap Hell” in 2026, with a projected negative $31 million in available cap space. It gets worse, though, as they will also be losing several key starters if they aren’t able to re-sign them. Here are the Chiefs’ starters with contracts expiring after this season. TE Travis Kelce, WR Hollywood Brown, LB Leo Chenal, S Bryan Cook, CB Jaylen Watson, and RB Isiah Pacheco. Beyond the starters, this team has key backups, role players, and special-teamers whose contracts will also expire at the end of the year. Many teams have been able to get creative to get out of cap hell in the past, but this is a very tricky predicament for this Kansas City team.

Positions To Address:

It’s easy enough to see the Chiefs letting Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt walk after this season, as neither has provided any game-breaking traits. They should be able to easily find players at RB with equal skill through free agency, or potentially draft an RB in the early rounds who has more to offer than Hunt or Pacheco. If the Chiefs can re-sign only one player on this roster, it should be their young LB, Leo Chenal. He is a major contributor to this defense and is approaching his prime football-playing years. The most glaring weakness of Kansas City is its offensive line play. Look for them to draft OL early and often in the 2026 Draft.

Dynasty Analysis/Implications:

As much as many of us non-Chiefs fans would like it, the Chiefs are not going to fall out of the limelight any time soon. Mahomes is still a great QB, Andy Reid is one of the best coaches of the modern era, and the defense will still be bolstered by Chris Jones, who is one of the best DTs in the league. Worry not, though, because just as this team isn’t likely to fall to the back of the pack, I also do not see a rise back to No. 1 contender status. I think Kansas City is likely to stay in the playoff mix for years to come, but they definitely have roster and contract issues to address in the coming offseason. Rashee Rice is a great buy in this offense, as they have already shown that the game flows through him.

With Travis Kelce, Hollywood Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Tyquan Thornton all possibly leaving this team, there is a window of opportunity for Rice’s volume to increase past the already massive usage he’s had in the action we’ve seen.

Las Vegas Raiders (2-10)

2025 Season:

It’s neither surprising nor unfamiliar to see the Raiders at the bottom of the AFC West standings. This team has been hindered for years by ownership, management, coaches, and players alike. This year was never supposed to be about winning for the Raiders, but about a culture change. The Raiders brought in Super Bowl-winning coach Pete Carroll to lead this team and hopefully bring out the best in their young offensive talents, Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers.

Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem to have been the ideal fit for a team with players like Jeanty and Bowers. Carroll is an old-school guy, and Brock Bowers needs to be used with a new-age mentality and a creative offensive mind. Bowers’ season has been extremely disappointing, not only because of injuries but also because, in some games, it appears the offense forgets he exists. Jeanty has shown moments when you can see he is a special player, but this offensive line hasn’t been able to create holes that turn his talent into yards. Injuries haven’t helped the line either, as they’ve now got Jackson Powers-Johnson and Kolton Miller both on IR.

Expiring Contracts/Cap Space:

It’s no wonder the Raiders aren’t a very good team when you look at their contracts as a whole. They are allocating the second-lowest amount of money to player contracts among all NFL teams. This will leave them with the third-highest projected cap space in the NFL next year, at $120 million. They also do not have too many key players to re-sign. (Let’s face it, they don’t have very many good players at all.) The following starters’ contracts are expiring, but I don’t see any of them as payers that must be re-signed: DE Malcolm Koonce, LG Dylan Parham, CB Eric Stokes, LB Elandon Roberts, and LB Jamal Adams.

Positions To Address:

Embed from Getty Images

Everything. Okay, I’m half kidding, but this team has some serious needs across the roster, starting with the offensive line. Jackson Powers-Johnson was looking like a great draft pick before his injury, but even if he were healthy, he could only block one pass rusher on a given play. This team needs to improve its offensive line play across the board, and I’d expect them to do that through the draft and free agency. Brock Bowers is a great pass-catcher, but this team is lacking at the WR position. It would really help the Raiders find an alpha, go-to WR this offseason to take some of the gravity off Bowers and Jeanty.

The Raiders’ defense hasn’t been one of the worst defenses this year, but that’s about all I can say about them. They could use some more playmakers anywhere on this defense to support the vicious and infamous Maxx Crosby. Lastly, this team needs a QB of the future. I love Geno Smith and believe he can be serviceable for Las Vegas for another year. Still, eventually this team will need to move on from the 35-year-old veteran and bring in a QB to build around who will grow along with their young skill players like Jeanty and Bowers.

Dynasty Analysis/Implications:

Bad offenses can often make for undervalued dynasty assets, but Brock Bowers does seem impossibly difficult to pry away from fantasy managers. Still, it’s always worth a shot to offer a nice haul for Bowers, as he should be a fantasy stud for years to come. The best value on this team in terms of trade targets, however, is Ashton Jeanty.

Jeanty has struggled in his rookie year behind the Raiders’ shaky offensive line, and some short-sighted people are already claiming he’s a bust. That is not what I see when I watch Jeanty run. Jeanty looks every bit the part he was sold as when the Raiders selected him with the sixth overall pick last year; unfortunately, he cannot get any help from his offensive line. If they can put a line together, I’d expect to see Jeanty’s numbers increase dramatically – we’re talking top 10 RB upside. We know this team has a ton of cap space to add talent, and after taking a player like Jeanty, it would be foolish not to beef up this offensive line and really elevate the entire team. Unfortunately, “foolishness” has never been out of the realm of possibilities for NFL franchises, so take my advice with a grain of salt.

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

One way for us to get ahead in dynasty leagues and pick up on some value is to “zoom out” and look at where teams are headed in 2026. What teams could see significant changes, directionally, personnel, or otherwise? Today, we’ll dive into the AFC West division and what the future might hold for each team.

Dynasty Download Looking Ahead To 2026: AFC West Edition

Denver Broncos (10-2)

2025 Season:

The Broncos are leading the AFC West this year, sitting at 10-2, and the defining element of this team is that they make the plays necessary to win. There have been many in-game ups and downs for this team, and you could certainly say they are battle-tested in close games. Nine of their twelve games have been decided by just four points or less. There surely is some luck factored into a season like this, but we should also tip our caps to veteran head coach Sean Payton and sophomore QB Bo Nix. These two have a chemistry that undeniably brings out the best in each other. Nix is willing to take risks and make real-time decisions to keep plays alive, and Payton has the experience and decision-making you need to keep games close in the NFL.

Expiring Contracts/Cap Space:

The Broncos are projected to be middle of the pack for cap space in 2026. The Broncos also have a few key starters with contracts set to expire after this 2025 season. LB Alex Singleton, C Luke Wattenberg, LG Alex Palczewski, and DE John Franklin-Myers all could eat into the Broncos’ already limited cap space. This means Denver is most likely to build out its team through the NFL draft and maybe make one or two free-agent splashes. However, it’s possible they won’t make any free-agent moves, as re-signing their starters will be the team’s priority.

Positions To Address:

With somewhat limited cap space for a young team, the positive outlook is that they have a really great core already, and don’t have any truly glaring positional needs. Sean Payton seems to pride himself on finding diamonds in the rough who can contribute in very specific ways. He doesn’t ask players to do much beyond their specialties on the field, which makes it easier to put together a roster that doesn’t shine on paper but still competes and finds ways to win games. If they happen to address the RB or WR positions this offseason, that could point to either a new fantasy-relevant role in this offense or an even murkier situation than we already have in Denver. I find it very difficult to make deals for Broncos’ players directly, but they are definitely fun to take on as a throw-in. As we’ve seen, this offense can be fun at times, and we’re just waiting for someone to prove themselves worthy of a prominent role.

Dynasty Analysis/Implications:

Embed from Getty Images

In fantasy, it is important to remember that Sean Payton does not like us. Since Payton was hired in Denver, the Broncos’ offense has flowed through a different player from week to week, with many of the least relevant fantasy football names you’ll ever see. It will be hard ever to predict who will be Sean Payton’s backfield flavor of the day, or who Bo Nix is targeting most in a given game. However, we have to remember never to fade a team or player in dynasty completely. Every player has a value that makes sense for them, so see if you can catch one of your league mates selling Broncos; you might be able to find a price that works for both of you. If somehow you’re able to figure out which one of these receivers is the next Michael Thomas, or which back is Alvin Kamara, or which tight end is Jimmy Graham, you’ve got a massive steal. On the flip side, I think the fantasy community has been searching for that in Sean Payton’s offenses for a while now, and nobody in Denver has really made themselves stand out from the pack.

Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)

2025 Season:

The Chargers’ 2025 season had some serious promise to be one of the better teams in the league, but injuries have left this team scratching and clawing to stay in the playoff race. The Chargers lost all-pro tackle Rashawn Slater this offseason, and Joe Alt has missed time for multiple stretches this year. For a team that sees offensive linemen as offensive weapons, it really hurts two of your biggest weapons on that line. Jim Harbaugh and Justin Herbert both have the personalities to keep on punching regardless of the hand they’re dealt. Still, it has been a tough time keeping Herbert clean this year, and it’s hard not to see the hand injury as being related to their missing offensive linemen.

Expiring Contracts/Cap Space:

Despite the bad luck and injuries this team’s fans have endured, this is a very exciting time for the LA Chargers. The Chargers are projected near the top of the pack for 2026 cap space, with a potential $100 million to spend on improving this team. Not only that, but their starters with expiring contracts are few in number and not the most impactful players on the field, so the team may not even be motivated to re-sign them. The most important player who could leave this team after the season is veteran Khalil Mack. Mack still plays at a high level, but it wouldn’t be terribly surprising if the team lets him sign with another team. He’ll be turning 35 in February and will likely be looking for the best contract he can get. Others that may warrant a re-sign are WR Keenan Allen, TE Tyler Conklin, LG Zion Johnson, DT Teair Tart, and CB Benjamin St-Juste. The team could realistically sign most of these players and still have money to spend on improving this roster. 

Positions To Address:

The Chargers will need to spread their budget across the offensive and defensive fronts in this coming offseason, as this year’s injuries and inexperience have crushed this offensive line, and a true pass-rush presence would be very helpful to bolster this defense. They’re blessed not to have to address their offensive skill position players, so all of this team’s offseason moves should be boring ones for fantasy football that make the roster much stronger as a whole. They should be able to make all the additions they need and then some with their ample cap space, and they still own their first four draft picks in 2026. Tell Justin Herbert, help is on the way!

a group of people are standing in a room and one of them is saying `` help is on the way , dear ! '' .

Dynasty Analysis/Implications:

This team was looking ready to explode at the beginning of the 2025 season, and I think they can get back to that level of play. It would be wise to stock up on Chargers before next season begins. Their injuries at the offensive line will hold them back enough this year to hinder the ceiling production of this team, but don’t count out the talent on this roster. When this team gets Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater back, we’re going to see an offensive powerhouse. Ladd McConkey, Justin Herbert, Omarion Hampton, and Oronde Gadsden are all screaming buys as they should all be able to deliver much greater value than where the market has them today. The Chargers should be contending to win this division in 2026.

Kansas City Chiefs (6-6)

2025 Season:

The Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes dynasty isn’t over, but this surely is a down year for the team. With some inexplicable losses this year to lesser teams, this season needs to act as a wake-up call to the entire Chiefs’ organization. The Chiefs haven’t looked like world-beaters for the past two seasons. Last year, they were able to survive the season by running the ball, passing short to the flats and playing good defense. This year, the defense hasn’t been as dominant, and the run game isn’t nearly explosive enough to make this team a true contender without the explosive passing plays we came to know in the prime years of this dynasty. If you aren’t a Chiefs fan, you are happy to see this team floundering with a slim chance at the playoffs.

Expiring Contracts/Cap Space:

Embed from Getty Images

The Chiefs are expected to be in what we call “Cap Hell” in 2026, with a projected negative $31 million in available cap space. It gets worse, though, as they will also be losing several key starters if they aren’t able to re-sign them. Here are the Chiefs’ starters with contracts expiring after this season. TE Travis Kelce, WR Hollywood Brown, LB Leo Chenal, S Bryan Cook, CB Jaylen Watson, and RB Isiah Pacheco. Beyond the starters, this team has key backups, role players, and special-teamers whose contracts will also expire at the end of the year. Many teams have been able to get creative to get out of cap hell in the past, but this is a very tricky predicament for this Kansas City team.

Positions To Address:

It’s easy enough to see the Chiefs letting Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt walk after this season, as neither has provided any game-breaking traits. They should be able to easily find players at RB with equal skill through free agency, or potentially draft an RB in the early rounds who has more to offer than Hunt or Pacheco. If the Chiefs can re-sign only one player on this roster, it should be their young LB, Leo Chenal. He is a major contributor to this defense and is approaching his prime football-playing years. The most glaring weakness of Kansas City is its offensive line play. Look for them to draft OL early and often in the 2026 Draft.

Dynasty Analysis/Implications:

As much as many of us non-Chiefs fans would like it, the Chiefs are not going to fall out of the limelight any time soon. Mahomes is still a great QB, Andy Reid is one of the best coaches of the modern era, and the defense will still be bolstered by Chris Jones, who is one of the best DTs in the league. Worry not, though, because just as this team isn’t likely to fall to the back of the pack, I also do not see a rise back to No. 1 contender status. I think Kansas City is likely to stay in the playoff mix for years to come, but they definitely have roster and contract issues to address in the coming offseason. Rashee Rice is a great buy in this offense, as they have already shown that the game flows through him.

With Travis Kelce, Hollywood Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Tyquan Thornton all possibly leaving this team, there is a window of opportunity for Rice’s volume to increase past the already massive usage he’s had in the action we’ve seen.

Las Vegas Raiders (2-10)

2025 Season:

It’s neither surprising nor unfamiliar to see the Raiders at the bottom of the AFC West standings. This team has been hindered for years by ownership, management, coaches, and players alike. This year was never supposed to be about winning for the Raiders, but about a culture change. The Raiders brought in Super Bowl-winning coach Pete Carroll to lead this team and hopefully bring out the best in their young offensive talents, Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers.

Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem to have been the ideal fit for a team with players like Jeanty and Bowers. Carroll is an old-school guy, and Brock Bowers needs to be used with a new-age mentality and a creative offensive mind. Bowers’ season has been extremely disappointing, not only because of injuries but also because, in some games, it appears the offense forgets he exists. Jeanty has shown moments when you can see he is a special player, but this offensive line hasn’t been able to create holes that turn his talent into yards. Injuries haven’t helped the line either, as they’ve now got Jackson Powers-Johnson and Kolton Miller both on IR.

Expiring Contracts/Cap Space:

It’s no wonder the Raiders aren’t a very good team when you look at their contracts as a whole. They are allocating the second-lowest amount of money to player contracts among all NFL teams. This will leave them with the third-highest projected cap space in the NFL next year, at $120 million. They also do not have too many key players to re-sign. (Let’s face it, they don’t have very many good players at all.) The following starters’ contracts are expiring, but I don’t see any of them as payers that must be re-signed: DE Malcolm Koonce, LG Dylan Parham, CB Eric Stokes, LB Elandon Roberts, and LB Jamal Adams.

Positions To Address:

Embed from Getty Images

Everything. Okay, I’m half kidding, but this team has some serious needs across the roster, starting with the offensive line. Jackson Powers-Johnson was looking like a great draft pick before his injury, but even if he were healthy, he could only block one pass rusher on a given play. This team needs to improve its offensive line play across the board, and I’d expect them to do that through the draft and free agency. Brock Bowers is a great pass-catcher, but this team is lacking at the WR position. It would really help the Raiders find an alpha, go-to WR this offseason to take some of the gravity off Bowers and Jeanty.

The Raiders’ defense hasn’t been one of the worst defenses this year, but that’s about all I can say about them. They could use some more playmakers anywhere on this defense to support the vicious and infamous Maxx Crosby. Lastly, this team needs a QB of the future. I love Geno Smith and believe he can be serviceable for Las Vegas for another year. Still, eventually this team will need to move on from the 35-year-old veteran and bring in a QB to build around who will grow along with their young skill players like Jeanty and Bowers.

Dynasty Analysis/Implications:

Bad offenses can often make for undervalued dynasty assets, but Brock Bowers does seem impossibly difficult to pry away from fantasy managers. Still, it’s always worth a shot to offer a nice haul for Bowers, as he should be a fantasy stud for years to come. The best value on this team in terms of trade targets, however, is Ashton Jeanty.

Jeanty has struggled in his rookie year behind the Raiders’ shaky offensive line, and some short-sighted people are already claiming he’s a bust. That is not what I see when I watch Jeanty run. Jeanty looks every bit the part he was sold as when the Raiders selected him with the sixth overall pick last year; unfortunately, he cannot get any help from his offensive line. If they can put a line together, I’d expect to see Jeanty’s numbers increase dramatically – we’re talking top 10 RB upside. We know this team has a ton of cap space to add talent, and after taking a player like Jeanty, it would be foolish not to beef up this offensive line and really elevate the entire team. Unfortunately, “foolishness” has never been out of the realm of possibilities for NFL franchises, so take my advice with a grain of salt.

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

One way for us to get ahead in dynasty leagues and pick up on some value is to “zoom out” and look at where teams are headed in 2026. What teams could see significant changes, directionally, personnel, or otherwise? Today, we’ll dive into the AFC West division and what the future might hold for each team.

Dynasty Download Looking Ahead To 2026: AFC West Edition

Denver Broncos (10-2)

2025 Season:

The Broncos are leading the AFC West this year, sitting at 10-2, and the defining element of this team is that they make the plays necessary to win. There have been many in-game ups and downs for this team, and you could certainly say they are battle-tested in close games. Nine of their twelve games have been decided by just four points or less. There surely is some luck factored into a season like this, but we should also tip our caps to veteran head coach Sean Payton and sophomore QB Bo Nix. These two have a chemistry that undeniably brings out the best in each other. Nix is willing to take risks and make real-time decisions to keep plays alive, and Payton has the experience and decision-making you need to keep games close in the NFL.

Expiring Contracts/Cap Space:

The Broncos are projected to be middle of the pack for cap space in 2026. The Broncos also have a few key starters with contracts set to expire after this 2025 season. LB Alex Singleton, C Luke Wattenberg, LG Alex Palczewski, and DE John Franklin-Myers all could eat into the Broncos’ already limited cap space. This means Denver is most likely to build out its team through the NFL draft and maybe make one or two free-agent splashes. However, it’s possible they won’t make any free-agent moves, as re-signing their starters will be the team’s priority.

Positions To Address:

With somewhat limited cap space for a young team, the positive outlook is that they have a really great core already, and don’t have any truly glaring positional needs. Sean Payton seems to pride himself on finding diamonds in the rough who can contribute in very specific ways. He doesn’t ask players to do much beyond their specialties on the field, which makes it easier to put together a roster that doesn’t shine on paper but still competes and finds ways to win games. If they happen to address the RB or WR positions this offseason, that could point to either a new fantasy-relevant role in this offense or an even murkier situation than we already have in Denver. I find it very difficult to make deals for Broncos’ players directly, but they are definitely fun to take on as a throw-in. As we’ve seen, this offense can be fun at times, and we’re just waiting for someone to prove themselves worthy of a prominent role.

Dynasty Analysis/Implications:

Embed from Getty Images

In fantasy, it is important to remember that Sean Payton does not like us. Since Payton was hired in Denver, the Broncos’ offense has flowed through a different player from week to week, with many of the least relevant fantasy football names you’ll ever see. It will be hard ever to predict who will be Sean Payton’s backfield flavor of the day, or who Bo Nix is targeting most in a given game. However, we have to remember never to fade a team or player in dynasty completely. Every player has a value that makes sense for them, so see if you can catch one of your league mates selling Broncos; you might be able to find a price that works for both of you. If somehow you’re able to figure out which one of these receivers is the next Michael Thomas, or which back is Alvin Kamara, or which tight end is Jimmy Graham, you’ve got a massive steal. On the flip side, I think the fantasy community has been searching for that in Sean Payton’s offenses for a while now, and nobody in Denver has really made themselves stand out from the pack.

Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)

2025 Season:

The Chargers’ 2025 season had some serious promise to be one of the better teams in the league, but injuries have left this team scratching and clawing to stay in the playoff race. The Chargers lost all-pro tackle Rashawn Slater this offseason, and Joe Alt has missed time for multiple stretches this year. For a team that sees offensive linemen as offensive weapons, it really hurts two of your biggest weapons on that line. Jim Harbaugh and Justin Herbert both have the personalities to keep on punching regardless of the hand they’re dealt. Still, it has been a tough time keeping Herbert clean this year, and it’s hard not to see the hand injury as being related to their missing offensive linemen.

Expiring Contracts/Cap Space:

Despite the bad luck and injuries this team’s fans have endured, this is a very exciting time for the LA Chargers. The Chargers are projected near the top of the pack for 2026 cap space, with a potential $100 million to spend on improving this team. Not only that, but their starters with expiring contracts are few in number and not the most impactful players on the field, so the team may not even be motivated to re-sign them. The most important player who could leave this team after the season is veteran Khalil Mack. Mack still plays at a high level, but it wouldn’t be terribly surprising if the team lets him sign with another team. He’ll be turning 35 in February and will likely be looking for the best contract he can get. Others that may warrant a re-sign are WR Keenan Allen, TE Tyler Conklin, LG Zion Johnson, DT Teair Tart, and CB Benjamin St-Juste. The team could realistically sign most of these players and still have money to spend on improving this roster. 

Positions To Address:

The Chargers will need to spread their budget across the offensive and defensive fronts in this coming offseason, as this year’s injuries and inexperience have crushed this offensive line, and a true pass-rush presence would be very helpful to bolster this defense. They’re blessed not to have to address their offensive skill position players, so all of this team’s offseason moves should be boring ones for fantasy football that make the roster much stronger as a whole. They should be able to make all the additions they need and then some with their ample cap space, and they still own their first four draft picks in 2026. Tell Justin Herbert, help is on the way!

a group of people are standing in a room and one of them is saying `` help is on the way , dear ! '' .

Dynasty Analysis/Implications:

This team was looking ready to explode at the beginning of the 2025 season, and I think they can get back to that level of play. It would be wise to stock up on Chargers before next season begins. Their injuries at the offensive line will hold them back enough this year to hinder the ceiling production of this team, but don’t count out the talent on this roster. When this team gets Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater back, we’re going to see an offensive powerhouse. Ladd McConkey, Justin Herbert, Omarion Hampton, and Oronde Gadsden are all screaming buys as they should all be able to deliver much greater value than where the market has them today. The Chargers should be contending to win this division in 2026.

Kansas City Chiefs (6-6)

2025 Season:

The Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes dynasty isn’t over, but this surely is a down year for the team. With some inexplicable losses this year to lesser teams, this season needs to act as a wake-up call to the entire Chiefs’ organization. The Chiefs haven’t looked like world-beaters for the past two seasons. Last year, they were able to survive the season by running the ball, passing short to the flats and playing good defense. This year, the defense hasn’t been as dominant, and the run game isn’t nearly explosive enough to make this team a true contender without the explosive passing plays we came to know in the prime years of this dynasty. If you aren’t a Chiefs fan, you are happy to see this team floundering with a slim chance at the playoffs.

Expiring Contracts/Cap Space:

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The Chiefs are expected to be in what we call “Cap Hell” in 2026, with a projected negative $31 million in available cap space. It gets worse, though, as they will also be losing several key starters if they aren’t able to re-sign them. Here are the Chiefs’ starters with contracts expiring after this season. TE Travis Kelce, WR Hollywood Brown, LB Leo Chenal, S Bryan Cook, CB Jaylen Watson, and RB Isiah Pacheco. Beyond the starters, this team has key backups, role players, and special-teamers whose contracts will also expire at the end of the year. Many teams have been able to get creative to get out of cap hell in the past, but this is a very tricky predicament for this Kansas City team.

Positions To Address:

It’s easy enough to see the Chiefs letting Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt walk after this season, as neither has provided any game-breaking traits. They should be able to easily find players at RB with equal skill through free agency, or potentially draft an RB in the early rounds who has more to offer than Hunt or Pacheco. If the Chiefs can re-sign only one player on this roster, it should be their young LB, Leo Chenal. He is a major contributor to this defense and is approaching his prime football-playing years. The most glaring weakness of Kansas City is its offensive line play. Look for them to draft OL early and often in the 2026 Draft.

Dynasty Analysis/Implications:

As much as many of us non-Chiefs fans would like it, the Chiefs are not going to fall out of the limelight any time soon. Mahomes is still a great QB, Andy Reid is one of the best coaches of the modern era, and the defense will still be bolstered by Chris Jones, who is one of the best DTs in the league. Worry not, though, because just as this team isn’t likely to fall to the back of the pack, I also do not see a rise back to No. 1 contender status. I think Kansas City is likely to stay in the playoff mix for years to come, but they definitely have roster and contract issues to address in the coming offseason. Rashee Rice is a great buy in this offense, as they have already shown that the game flows through him.

With Travis Kelce, Hollywood Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Tyquan Thornton all possibly leaving this team, there is a window of opportunity for Rice’s volume to increase past the already massive usage he’s had in the action we’ve seen.

Las Vegas Raiders (2-10)

2025 Season:

It’s neither surprising nor unfamiliar to see the Raiders at the bottom of the AFC West standings. This team has been hindered for years by ownership, management, coaches, and players alike. This year was never supposed to be about winning for the Raiders, but about a culture change. The Raiders brought in Super Bowl-winning coach Pete Carroll to lead this team and hopefully bring out the best in their young offensive talents, Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers.

Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem to have been the ideal fit for a team with players like Jeanty and Bowers. Carroll is an old-school guy, and Brock Bowers needs to be used with a new-age mentality and a creative offensive mind. Bowers’ season has been extremely disappointing, not only because of injuries but also because, in some games, it appears the offense forgets he exists. Jeanty has shown moments when you can see he is a special player, but this offensive line hasn’t been able to create holes that turn his talent into yards. Injuries haven’t helped the line either, as they’ve now got Jackson Powers-Johnson and Kolton Miller both on IR.

Expiring Contracts/Cap Space:

It’s no wonder the Raiders aren’t a very good team when you look at their contracts as a whole. They are allocating the second-lowest amount of money to player contracts among all NFL teams. This will leave them with the third-highest projected cap space in the NFL next year, at $120 million. They also do not have too many key players to re-sign. (Let’s face it, they don’t have very many good players at all.) The following starters’ contracts are expiring, but I don’t see any of them as payers that must be re-signed: DE Malcolm Koonce, LG Dylan Parham, CB Eric Stokes, LB Elandon Roberts, and LB Jamal Adams.

Positions To Address:

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Everything. Okay, I’m half kidding, but this team has some serious needs across the roster, starting with the offensive line. Jackson Powers-Johnson was looking like a great draft pick before his injury, but even if he were healthy, he could only block one pass rusher on a given play. This team needs to improve its offensive line play across the board, and I’d expect them to do that through the draft and free agency. Brock Bowers is a great pass-catcher, but this team is lacking at the WR position. It would really help the Raiders find an alpha, go-to WR this offseason to take some of the gravity off Bowers and Jeanty.

The Raiders’ defense hasn’t been one of the worst defenses this year, but that’s about all I can say about them. They could use some more playmakers anywhere on this defense to support the vicious and infamous Maxx Crosby. Lastly, this team needs a QB of the future. I love Geno Smith and believe he can be serviceable for Las Vegas for another year. Still, eventually this team will need to move on from the 35-year-old veteran and bring in a QB to build around who will grow along with their young skill players like Jeanty and Bowers.

Dynasty Analysis/Implications:

Bad offenses can often make for undervalued dynasty assets, but Brock Bowers does seem impossibly difficult to pry away from fantasy managers. Still, it’s always worth a shot to offer a nice haul for Bowers, as he should be a fantasy stud for years to come. The best value on this team in terms of trade targets, however, is Ashton Jeanty.

Jeanty has struggled in his rookie year behind the Raiders’ shaky offensive line, and some short-sighted people are already claiming he’s a bust. That is not what I see when I watch Jeanty run. Jeanty looks every bit the part he was sold as when the Raiders selected him with the sixth overall pick last year; unfortunately, he cannot get any help from his offensive line. If they can put a line together, I’d expect to see Jeanty’s numbers increase dramatically – we’re talking top 10 RB upside. We know this team has a ton of cap space to add talent, and after taking a player like Jeanty, it would be foolish not to beef up this offensive line and really elevate the entire team. Unfortunately, “foolishness” has never been out of the realm of possibilities for NFL franchises, so take my advice with a grain of salt.

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

By Published On: December 6th, 2025

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