There's a dark secret in fantasy football. An unfortunate undercurrent that runs through the pastime. Much like that cousin we all have who no one in the family talks about, this secret is rarely spoken of. But just because this secret is never spoken of doesn't mean it doesn't exist. And like so many sinister truths, the only way to confront it is to drag it from the blackness and into the light. To expose it.
Are you in your Truth Bomb shelter? Have rations and fresh water?
OK. Here goes.
Fantasy managers hate old people. More specifically, old NFL players.
On some level, it might just be ageism—the hubris of the young turning on the wisdom and benevolence of those of us who have the wisdom that only those who have experienced life's trials and tribulations can possess. Maybe some fantasy managers secretly hate grandma and want to push her down the steps.
Be nice to grandma. Sure, she gives you a hideous sweater every year for your birthday—in July. But she also makes a mean Snickerdoodle.
It's a tad ironic, given that more than a few of those managers are, you know, old people. And it's true that aging players are more likely to decline, because that's how aging works. But once many players get the arbitrary magic number of candles on their birthday cake, they become persona non grata to fantasy drafters.
Sometimes, that's wise. The phrase, "Father Time is Undefeated", exists for a reason, and that reason isn't (primarily at least) so that hack writers like me can overuse it. But oftentimes, fantasy managers write off aging pros too early. Pass up the chance to get value on draft day just because a player gets 10 percent off at IHOP.
Well, that's not going to be the case here. Here, some NFL geezers (relatively speaking) are going to get their due.
Dinner will be served promptly at 4:30 PM. It will be followed by the musical stylings of Engelbert Humperdinck.
2026 Aging Value Picks
QB Dak Prescott, Dallas
At 33, Prescott is hardly a dinosaur by quarterback standards. But when the regular season starts, he will be the fifth-oldest starter under center in the league—third if you don't count Geno "Commence the Benching Clock" Smith and Jacoby "Career Backup" Brissett. Prescott doesn't talk like an aging quarterback, though—while speaking to reporters at training camp, he had a new nickname for the offense in Dallas just like the kids use.
"A lot of times you have a lot of turnover, and we didn't have much turnover at all on our offensive side, right? We added some guys, and some younger guys are going to have to step up. So maybe we seasoned the group a little bit, and guys are getting older, but we're close to some historic things last year. Why can't we be? Let's be the greatest offense there is. You've heard the greatest show on turf and all the other different nicknames," Prescott said.
To be clear, "GOTI" is a nickname that sounds like your 80-year-old uncle came up with it. It's hella lame. But the Dallas offense isn't—the Cowboys were second in the league in total offense and seventh in scoring offense last year, and the unit is essentially the same in 2026.
Prescott has the same fantasy ceiling as Joe Burrow—available multiple rounds later on draft day.
RB Derrick Henry, Baltimore
This analyst is in full-on Eggo mode with Henry—I'm waffling so much that I have chocolate chips. On one hand, Henry will turn 33 in January and is the active career leader in carries (2,662) by a wide margin. On the other hand, Henry stiff-armed Father Time right in his wrinkled face last year, and new Ravens coach Jesse Minter told reporters that he's been amazed by how not old Henry looks in 2026.
"The way that guy goes about his business is really impressive," Minter said. "You play against him, and you realize how big he really is. And then he walks into your office, and man, for that dude to be playing running back with the size and skill set that he [has] is definitely one of a kind."
It can't be denied that Henry is a risky fantasy pick—there are numerous historical factors working against him at this point, and he's never been much of a factor in the passing game. But Henry was just 26 yards off the league lead in rushing last year, ranked second in rushing touchdowns and tied for second in yards per carry.
Time waits for no man. Unless that man is Derrick Henry.
