100 days to kickoff: the MVP picks, breakout sophomores, and injury timelines that will define 2026
The season opens September 9 with a Super Bowl LX rematch. Here's the state of the league at the 100-day mark, from Mahomes' comeback to the moves that just reshaped three contenders.
The 2026 NFL season is 100 days away, opening September 9 with Patriots-Seahawks, a rematch of Super Bowl LX. Here's where the league stands as training camps approach: the MVP field, the comebacks, the sophomores ready to jump, and the offseason moves that just changed the math for several contenders.
Who's the MVP field?
Five names lead the tier: Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, Drake Maye, and Matthew Stafford. The boldest call is Mahomes winning his third MVP off a knee surgery, helped by a rebuilt offensive line and the addition of Kenneth Walker III. Caleb Williams is the dark-horse pick to win it in year two of Ben Johnson's offense. Maye's inclusion reflects how seriously the league takes his rookie-year completion-percentage title, and the receiver help arriving in New England.
Which injury timelines matter most?
Several stars are racing the calendar. Patrick Mahomes is on an aggressive nine-month timeline from an ACL/LCL injury, targeting Week 1. Malik Nabers is aiming for Week 1 after a second surgery on his ACL and meniscus. Micah Parsons faces an extended timeline from an ACL tear and is a candidate for the PUP list. Zach Charbonnet could return midseason for Seattle. The health of these four shapes the floor and ceiling of four would-be contenders.
Which young players are poised to break out?
The sophomore class headlines it. Cam Ward gets a better supporting cast and Brian Daboll in Tennessee. Falcons edge Jalon Walker is tagged for double-digit-sack potential in year two. Cardinals cornerback Will Johnson is projected to develop into an A-tier corner. On the fantasy side, Kyler Murray is called a sleeper with his best supporting cast since 2020 in Minnesota, and Giants tight end Isaiah Likely has a clear path to a bigger role away from Baltimore.
Which offseason moves just changed the math?
Three stand out. The A.J. Brown acquisition by the Patriots is described as finalized, giving Drake Maye the No. 1 receiver his offense lacked. A Brandon Aiyuk trade from the 49ers is expected. And the contract dramas are live: Lamar Jackson's extension talks with the Ravens have stalled, and George Pickens wants a long-term deal from the Cowboys after his 1,429-yard season. Each of these reshapes a roster that expects to contend.
What are the boldest team predictions?
Four big swings. The Ravens are projected to be the last undefeated team thanks to a soft early schedule. The Texans are picked to earn the AFC's No. 1 seed and reach their first Super Bowl on the strength of an elite defense. The Lions are called to go worst-to-first in the NFC North with a healthy roster and an easy schedule. And the season-opening Patriots-Seahawks rematch frames the whole thing: the two teams that played for the title last year meet again in Week 1.
Players in this story
Sources
- ESPN: 100 days to the 2026 NFL season - predictions, injuries, more
