Declan Doyle is the new OC in town, and he comes over from Chicago, where he was attached to the hip of Ben Johnson, an OC that I just waxed poetic about and is considered one of the best offensive minds in the sport.
That feels like a good thing. With him operating in this role, the Bears ranked third in YPA when throwing short of the sticks in 2025, and that just so happens to be a place where the former first-round pick thrives.
Should I Draft Zay Flowers in Fantasy Football?
Career, Targets Short of the Sticks
- 171 targets
- 139 catches
- 81.3% catch rate
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Yep, that’ll play. The players ranking in the Flowers range in terms of catch rate on those passes over that stretch are the receivers you’re drafting with all sorts of confidence this year:
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba (83%)
- Ja’Marr Chase (81%)
- Nico Collins (79.7%)
- Puka Nacua (79.5%)
Luther Burden is a different type of player, but he was identified as the most dangerous pass catcher on that offense and they schemed up magic for him on those shorter targets (31 catches on 35 targets).
The upside isn’t elite like those alphas, and I’m not arguing otherwise. But I will say that all of his pass-catching metrics level up a touch when Isaiah Likely is off the field (he’s a Giant now, so 100% of Flowers’ routes will come without that risk) and that he’s a soon-to-be 26-year-old who has seen his yards per route increase with each passing season.
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If you want to soft bet against Derrick Henry continuing to be DERRICK HENRY in his age-32 season (2,662 career carries) or want to bet on Lamar Jackson without spending up at the QB position, Flowers is the man for you.
Some view him as boring, and that’s resulted in him falling in some early drafts I’ve done. That’s a mistake you pounce on and ride to a championship.
Kyle Soppe’s WR Fantasy Rankings 2026
- Ja’Marr Chase | CIN
- Puka Nacua | LAR
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba | SEA
- Amon-Ra St. Brown | DET
- Nico Collins | HOU
- Drake London | ATL
- A.J. Brown | NE
- Justin Jefferson | MIN
- CeeDee Lamb | DAL
- Malik Nabers | NYG
- George Pickens | DAL
- Rashee Rice | KC
- Zay Flowers | BAL
- Jaylen Waddle | DEN
- Chris Olave | NO
- Ladd McConkey | LAC
- Tee Higgins | CIN
- Emeka Egbuka | TB
- DeVonta Smith | PHI
- Tetairoa McMillan | CAR
- Luther Burden III | CHI
- Terry McLaurin | WAS
- Garrett Wilson | NYJ
- Christian Watson | GB
- Jameson Williams | DET
- Rome Odunze | CHI
- Jakobi Meyers | JAX
- Michael Wilson | ARI
- Carnell Tate | TEN
- Parker Washington | JAX
- DJ Moore | BUF
- Marvin Harrison Jr. | ARI
- DK Metcalf | PIT
- Brian Thomas Jr. | JAX
- Quentin Johnston | LAC
- Davante Adams | LAR
- Stefon Diggs | WAS
- Jayden Reed | GB
- Josh Downs | IND
- Alec Pierce | IND
- Courtland Sutton | DEN
- Mike Evans | SF
- Michael Pittman Jr. | PIT
- Matthew Golden | GB
- Khalil Shakir | BUF
- Wan’Dale Robinson | TEN
- Rashid Shaheed | SEA
- Jordyn Tyson | NO
- Makai Lemon | PHI
- Romeo Doubs | NE
