RELATED: See Offensive Fantasy Predictions here
For hundreds of years, people have been equal parts fascinated and frightened by the ability of some to predict that which has yet to happen. To forecast the future. To peer into the mists of tomorrow and foresee events that have not occurred but will.
There was, of course, Michel de Nostredame (better known as Nostradamus) and his book Les Prophéties in 1555. Mother Shipton's prophecies. Kenneth Mackenzie, who was known as the Brahan Seer. Edgar Cayce and his Association for Research and Enlightenment.
Heavy stuff.
There are more recent examples as well, whether it was the poignant visions of Carnac the Magnificent or Miss Cleo's uncanny ability to predict whether Tammy would get that promotion she wanted while relieving Tammy of all of her money.
Yes. People actually called. Quite a lot of them.
Well, The Godfather has a secret to share with you, Dear Reader. A dark, terrible secret.
No, not that one. That goes to my grave with me. As it happens, I can see into the future as well.
It's not something I like to talk about, lest I be pelted with questions and requests. And to date, I have resisted the urge to use my powers to predict the Powerball numbers, because I am just that damn honest. This is a burden. Not a gift.
But it comes in handy sometimes.
Whether it's breakouts, busts, sleepers, or even the projections that are the foundation of Value-Based Drafting, success in fantasy football is all about predicting the future. Looking from the summer into the fall, and predicting which players will exceed expectations and who will fail to meet them.
And so, to help you find joy and happiness in the season to come, I have decided to use my powers, peer into my crystal ball (it doesn't really do anything, but it looks cool), and unveil some bold IDP predictions for 2026.
Now, if you'll excuse me, it's time for some ayahuasca and a good old-fashioned trance.
2026 IDP Predictions
Cleveland Edge Rusher Myles Garrett Will Become the First Player in NFL History to Record at Least 20 Sacks in Back-to-Back Seasons
Since sacks became an official statistic in 1982, there have been 13 players who have recorded at least 20 sacks in a season. One player (J.J. Watt) has done it twice—in 2012 and 2014. But no player since the incomparable Deacon Jones back in 1967 and 1968 (when sacks weren't official) has been able to duplicate the feat in consecutive campaigns.
That is going to change in 2026.
In 2025, Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns didn't just post 20 sacks—he set a new (official) high-water mark in the category with 23. Garrett is a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and an absolute game-wrecker. One of the most dominant pass-rushers who ever played. It doesn't matter that Garrett plays for a bad team. He's going to chase his own record in 2026. Set a new one by posting back-to-back 20-sack campaigns. And finish as the No. 1 defensive lineman in The Godfather's Default IDP Scoring for the second year in a row.
New York Giants Edge Rusher Abdul Carter Will Have More Sacks Than Teammate Brian Burns
Abdul Carter was the third overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but outside of a late-season surge where he had 3.5 sacks over a four-week span, it was a quiet rookie year—Carter had half as many benchings (two) as sacks (four). Meanwhile, teammate Brian Burns was a one-man wrecking crew—his career-high 16.5 sacks paced the NFC, and only the aforementioned Myles Garrett had more fantasy points among edge rushers.
This year, however, the script will be flipped.
This doesn't mean that I'm ranking Carter ahead of Burns—haven't had that much ayahuasca yet. But while Burns had a great year, it was also only the second time in seven years he had hit the 10-sack mark. Carter will now have a full NFL offseason under his belt, and his late-season surge came after the benchings. And Carter quietly led the league in quick pressures (under 2.5 seconds) in 2025. The youngster will take a big step forward this year—and lead the G-Men in sacks.