Professor John Bush and Dennis Michelsen are back for another edition of The Science of Fantasy Football. This week, they discuss how to use AI as a tool for Fantasy Football research. Specifically using AI, they discuss the biggest winners/losers in 2026 free agency. They also discuss the decline in Fantasy Football points in 2025 and whether it will change draft strategy in 2026. 

**Improved teams (biggest winners in 2026 free agency)**

Several teams made high-impact, high-value additions that addressed key needs, upgraded talent at premium positions, or secured bargains because other teams were eating dead cap money. Consensus standouts from analysts include:

- **Carolina Panthers** (top-rated across sources, A/A- grades): They overhauled their front seven with LB Devin Lloyd (3 years, $45M) and EDGE Jaelan Phillips (4 years, $120M), plus C Luke Fortner. This dramatically upgraded a defense that was already showing promise, accelerating their contention window after a surprise 2025 playoff run.

- **Baltimore Ravens** (B+/B- grades, clear winner): After the messy Maxx Crosby trade collapse, they pivoted smartly to sign EDGE Trey Hendrickson (4 years, $112M with $60M guaranteed) — a proven sack artist — plus G John Simpson and S Jaylinn Hawkins. They filled their biggest defensive hole at a better cost than the original plan.

- **Tennessee Titans** (strong spending, BETTER verdict): With huge cap space, they added WR Wan’Dale Robinson, DL John Franklin-Myers, CBs Alontae Taylor and Cor’Dale Flott. This raised the floor for young QB Cam Ward and remade the defense under new coach Robert Saleh.

- **Los Angeles Rams** (frequently cited as a top winner): They dramatically upgraded their secondary — the roster’s biggest weakness — by trading for CB Trent McDuffie and signing CB Jaylen Watson away from the Chiefs, plus other depth moves. With an already elite roster, this pushes them deeper into Super Bowl contention.

- **Minnesota Vikings & Atlanta Falcons** (QB carousel winners): Vikings got Kyler Murray at essentially the league minimum (Arizona absorbs most of his salary) to compete with J.J. McCarthy. Falcons landed Tua Tagovailoa affordably (Miami eats ~$54M dead money) as a bridge/starter while Michael Penix Jr. recovers. Both got proven starters on bargain deals.

- **New England Patriots & New York Jets** (BETTER verdicts): Patriots added WR Romeo Doubs and OL Alijah Vera-Tucker to support Drake Maye. Jets brought in QB Geno Smith, S Minkah Fitzpatrick, and multiple defensive pieces — clear upgrades at key spots.

Other notables with positive momentum: Houston Texans (RB David Montgomery + OL help), Buffalo Bills (WR DJ Moore trade), San Francisco 49ers (WR Mike Evans), and Las Vegas Raiders (C Tyler Linderbaum, LBs, etc., despite drama).

**Teams that have declined or struggled (biggest losers)**

These squads either lost more talent than they gained, overpaid, created holes, or got caught in cap/QB fallout:

- **Las Vegas Raiders** (widely called out as the biggest loser): Blindsided when the Ravens backed out of the Maxx Crosby trade (costing them draft picks and leverage), they’re now stuck with Crosby’s salary while other teams poached targets. Some later additions (e.g., Linderbaum) helped, but the overall perception and missed opportunities hurt.

- **Miami Dolphins** (WORSE verdict): Released Tua Tagovailoa (massive dead-cap hit), traded/lost Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Bradley Chubb. Replaced with depth pieces like Malik Willis and Tutu Atwell — a clear step back as they hit rebuild mode.

- **Indianapolis Colts** (C-/C grades, WORSE): Big-money extensions to WR Alec Pierce and QB Daniel Jones drew criticism as overpays; lost Michael Pittman Jr., multiple defensive starters, and created an edge-rusher hole. Mixed results at best.

- **Jacksonville Jaguars** (WORSE, limited activity): Lost key starters like LB Devin Lloyd, RB Travis Etienne, and multiple DBs with almost no meaningful additions. Relying heavily on the draft and projections.

- **Arizona Cardinals** (C/C+ grades): Released Kyler Murray (big dead money), added only depth veterans (e.g., RB Tyler Allgeier, G Isaac Seumalo). Setting up for a future QB rather than competing now.

Other teams that took steps back or treaded water poorly: Cincinnati Bengals (lost Hendrickson, replacement Mafe seen as downgrade), Green Bay Packers (D grade, multiple key losses in trades), Pittsburgh Steelers (WORSE, QB uncertainty), and Kansas City Chiefs (lost two top CBs despite adding RB Kenneth Walker).

Free agency is still technically open (and the draft will reshape things further), but the first wave has sorted the clear risers (Panthers, Ravens, Rams, Titans leading the pack) from the teams that lost ground. Many analysts note this was a relatively weak overall class, so smart value moves (like the QB bargains) mattered more than raw spending.