SportsLine model flags Nabers and Cook as 2026 fantasy busts
The prediction engine, which previously identified Washington Commanders receiver Terry McLaurin’s underperformance in 2025, has downgraded both players below their average draft positions due to injury concerns and statistical inefficiencies.
SportsLine has released its 2026 fantasy football rankings, utilising a predictive model that simulated the upcoming NFL season 10,000 times to identify potential underperformers. The analysis specifically targets New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers and Buffalo Bills running back James Cook as players likely to fall short of their average draft position (ADP). The release comes as training camps commence ahead of the season kickoff on 9 September 2026.
The model ranks Nabers outside the top 15 wide receivers, placing him below peers such as DeVonta Smith, Nico Collins, and Zay Flowers, despite his selection around pick No. 30 in standard drafts. This conservative projection stems from Nabers’ recent anterior cruciate ligament tear and a subsequent follow-up procedure in the spring. Furthermore, the Giants are anticipated to implement a run-heavy offensive scheme under coordinator Matt Nagy, which the model suggests reduces Nabers’ viability as a second or early third-round selection.
James Cook presents a similar case for caution, with the model ranking him as the tenth running back, significantly lower than his ADP of No. 12 overall. Although Cook has recorded two productive seasons, the algorithm cites a higher fumble rate during the previous campaign and a lack of elite receiving utility out of the backfield as primary factors. Consequently, SportsLine advises managers to consider Cook a late-second or third-round option rather than a first-round asset.
The report underscores the model’s historical accuracy by referencing its 2025 prediction regarding Washington Commanders receiver Terry McLaurin. Prior to the 2025 season, the model identified McLaurin as a risk, a call that proved prescient when the receiver recorded career lows in receiving yards (582) and touchdowns (3) following a season where he had previously amassed nearly 1,100 yards and 13 touchdowns.
SportsLine’s predictive engine has a documented history of identifying both high-value sleepers and busts, including past projections for A.J. Brown, Jonathan Taylor, and C.J. Stroud. For the 2026 season, the model lists Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson, and Ja’Marr Chase as top-tier assets, while urging managers to avoid the flagged players to mitigate draft risk.
