Gary Davenport

There is no better time of year in fantasy football than draft season. For every manager in every league, hope springs eternal. Last year's glories are about to be repeated. Last year's disappointments are going to be cast aside.

You can't win in the NFL without talent—recent New York Jets teams are proof of that. But coaching matters, too: assemble a strong roster and pair it with an overmatched staff, and that team still isn't going to do much winning—just ask the Cleveland Browns.

Fans tune in to NFL games to watch stars. They want to see Lamar Jackson rip passes and evade pass-rushers, Jahmyr Gibbs turn a simple counter play into a touchdown, Ja'Marr Chase leap over a defender and haul in a score, and Myles Garrett chase down a quarterback.

We have reached another benchmark in the NFL offseason. At this point, most teams have wrapped up OTAs and mandatory minicamps. When the league's players next gather, it will be for training camp in earnest.

Risk is a part of fantasy football, just like draft day, the waiver wire and emotional breakdowns.

The calendar has turned to July, and America's 250th birthday is this weekend. There would be celebrations and barbecues galore if it wasn't for the searing heat across the country.

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Things are about to get real. Granted, it's still a while before the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks open the 2026 NFL season on

The running back position is seeing something of a renaissance in the NFL.

Gary Davenport The running back position is seeing something of a renaissance in the NFL. For years, it's a position that has become more and more devalued.