Dynasty Stock Market: Overlooked Future Starters
Who are the IDPs that could step into a bigger role in 2026?
Every season, somebody in the fantasy space dusts off the old “contract-year motivation” angle. It makes sense on paper that a guy chasing a deal plays with a little extra juice, maybe sticks in the same system, and keeps paying off for us in fantasy. And if he walks? That’s no big deal, as long as he lands somewhere else where he can remain productive. That’s sometimes as far as our line of thinking gets.
What we don’t spend nearly enough time considering is what their departure means for the guys remaining on the roster. Too often, we get blindsided, with benches already maxed out, and we overlook the depth guys who suddenly turn into waiver-wire gold. Then we’re left blowing big chunks of FAAB or draft picks to chase them.
That’s how we miss the early signs on guys like Dee Winters, Tuli Tuipulotu, Moro Ojomo, or Daiyan Henley—guys who felt like afterthoughts until the path cleared and they were suddenly thrust into the limelight.
This year, we’re going to try to help you stay ahead. Here’s an early dive into the players who might not matter for fantasy today but have the upside and the opportunity to matter once the guys ahead of them move on after the 2025 season.
Danny Stutsman, LB, NO
Trying to predict Demario Davis’ retirement has turned into a pointless exercise, but for the sake of argument, let’s say he calls it a career, or latches on as veteran depth somewhere else, once his existing Saints contract runs out in 2026. Given the Saints’ cap crunch, their hand might be forced.
If Davis is no longer on the New Orleans roster in 2026, the door may open for Danny Stutsman, who entered the NFL with the résumé of a three-year starter at Oklahoma, piling up production and flashing the instincts that suggest he’ll get a real shot to start at the next level. If he holds up in coverage, great. If not, he’s just another thumper waiting to get exposed. All we need to be concerned about for now is whether, and how, he gets a shot at a bigger role.
Jack Kiser, LB, JAC
For reasons that remain unclear to this writer, and probably to Devin Lloyd himself, the Jaguars just haven’t demonstrated that they trust the former first-rounder to be an every-down starter. His role dipped last season, and even at the start of this year, he was mostly an afterthought.
That changed in Week 3, when he logged a season-high 93% of the snaps. The result? Eight tackles, two interceptions, and a game-winning performance against the San Francisco 49ers that earned him Defensive Player of the Week honors. Did we foresee that happening? No, but we did think he’d be impactful this season.
James Gladstone and Liam Coen would be wise to find a way to keep Lloyd around. But with Foye Oluokun locked into a three-year extension signed in 2024, and with Lloyd’s deal expiring in 2026, the writing seems to be on the wall. And if he moves on, the door opens for either Jack Kiser or Ventrell Miller to step up in Jacksonville.
Jordan Magee, LB, WSH
No one in fantasy circles is talking about Jordan Magee. He’s logged only 29 defensive snaps since being drafted in 2024 and is buried behind Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner. But inside Washington’s facility, the reviews are glowing.
Head coach Dan Quinn in 2024:
“I’d say the speed and athleticism is what jumps out to me. He’s got a rare quickness and short-area burst to him that the really good linebackers have. He plays square and he’s got real speed, so we’re going to push him hard in those spaces. But he’s off to an excellent start.”
Defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. in 2025:
“He’s been showing great call command.”
Linebacker Bobby Wagner in 2025:
“I think that’s been the biggest thing, watching him prepare, watching him really get comfortable and confident within the defense, so I’m excited to see where he’s going to take it.”
We take coach- and player-speak with a pinch of salt, but stack them together and it feels like more than just lip service. With Wagner at 35 and on an expiring deal, Magee has a real shot at becoming a bigger part of the defense as early as next year.
Nick Herbig, EDGE, PIT
I’ll admit this one bends the “rules” of the article, because neither T.J. Watt nor Alex Highsmith is in a contract year. But rather than beg forgiveness, I’ll point out that Highsmith, as good as he is when he’s on the field, is hurt yet again. Nobody’s celebrating that fact; he’s been one of our favorite EDGE2s for a while, but at this point, it’s tough to believe he’ll ever last 17 games. And you have to wonder if the Steelers are thinking the same thing behind closed doors.
Two factors could push Pittsburgh toward a split. One: Highsmith’s cap number jumps to a hefty $18.6 million in 2026, an eye-watering price to pay for a player who can’t stay on the field. Two: Nick Herbig continues to make his case. He had 5.5 sacks as a rookie, he’s producing again in 2025, and his PFF pass-rush grades through three years rank among the best of any young edge rusher.
Before next season starts, the Steelers may decide the younger, cheaper, and healthier option is the sensible way forward.
J.T. Tuimoloau, EDGE, IND
J.T. Tuimoloau, our preseason rookie EDGE8, was never supposed to be an instant-impact player. He was always a long-term stash, destined to spend his first year stuck behind a crowded defensive line in Indy. The traits are undeniable, though. Mike Woellert previously praised his explosive first step and relentless motor, and he has the draft capital to suggest that the Colts clearly see him as part of the future.
Year 2 could be a turning point. Samson Ebukam, Kwity Paye, and Tyquan Lewis are all in contract years. The odds are that at least one stays, but not all three. The Colts didn’t spend a second-round pick on Tuimoloau to keep him buried forever. His time is coming.
Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, S, ARI
For a defense short on star power, safety isn’t high on the Cardinals’ list of problems. Taylor-Demerson has mixed in this season and has played well, but he’s still the third option behind Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson.
Truthfully, that’s how it should be at this point.
Next year could be different. Thompson is heading into the final season of his deal, and Arizona has bigger priorities elsewhere. If he walks, Taylor-Demerson almost certainly inherits the starting job. Hell, he could even exceed our expectations and emerge as the starter this season.
Be sure to subscribe to The IDP Show on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube.
 | A guest post by
|