Fantasy football bold predictions for every AFC East team: Drake Maye turns AJ Brown into an elite WR1

With the fantasy football season rapidly approaching, we are back with our hot takes. This time, we will be focusing on the AFC East. We will give you our hottest fantasy hot take for each team in the division.

New England Patriots

AJ Brown Will Finish As A Top Three Fantasy Wide Receiver

Drake Maye and AJ Brown are a match made in fantasy football heaven. Their skill sets complement each other perfectly, and we expect both players to raise the level of the other.

We wouldn't be shocked at all if Brown finishes as the WR3 overall. He is more talented than wideouts like Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. If Maye continues to play like an MVP, he could help Brown reach his ceiling after a career of playing with mediocre passers in run-heavy offenses.

Buffalo Bills

DJ Moore Will Finish As A Top 15 Fantasy Wide Receiver

The Bills traded for Moore this offseason, and it was their only big move to address what is viewed as their biggest need heading into the offseason. Buffalo is hoping their Super Bowl window is still open, so they are clearly expecting Moore to perform at a high level.

Fantasy owners seem to be down on Moore after a subpar 2025 campaign, and he can be had for a WR3 price. However, he has fringe WR1 upside as Josh Allen's top target. He's in line for a big season with his new team. Like Brown, he finally has a quarterback who can help him reach his ceiling.

Miami Dolphins

De'Von Achane Will Finish As The Fantasy RB1 Overall

There are concerns that Achane could take a step back this season because he is playing in a potentially terrible Dolphins' offense. However, we believe he will turn this disadvantage into an advantage.

Achane is going to lead both the Dolphins and all NFL running backs in receptions and targets this season. We wouldn't be shocked if he pushes 100 receptions. Combine that with his big-play ability and stick him in a backfield with an elite athlete like Malik Willis, and you have a recipe for fantasy success. If Willis is actually good, the offense could also far outperform expectations.

New York Jets

No Jets Player Will Finish Top 24 At Their Fantasy Position

At the risk of sounding like Jay Sherman, the Jets stink, Geno Smith stinks, and the whole offense is going to stink. Smith was a lateral move, and adding a bunch of weapons isn't going to make the offense better; it will just dilute everyone's fantasy value.

Breece Hall is going to be splitting snaps in a terrible offense, and Garrett Wilson has seen his share of Smith's 3,000 passing yards cut down, as this season they will also be throwing to rookies Omar Cooper Jr and Kenyon Sadiq, as well as Adonai Mitchell and Tim Patrick. Every year people inexplicably expect the Jets to be better, and every year they are still the Jets. That's not going to change this season because of a washed-up quarterback and some rookies.

More Fantasy Sports On SI News

• AFC West Fantasy Football Bold Predictions: Ashton Jeanty and Four Other Player Predictions No One Sees Coming
• 5 Fantasy Football Studs With WR3 ADPs Who Have WR1 Upside: DJ Moore Will Reach His Ceiling With Josh Allen
• 2026 Fantasy Football All-Sleepers Team: Pairing Kyler Murray With Alec Pierce Could Result In A Championship
• Malik Nabers Injury Update Opens The Door For 3 Giants Sleepers To Step Up As Jaxson Dart's Top Fantasy Target

This article was originally published on www.si.com/onsi/fantasy as Fantasy Football Bold Predictions For Every AFC East Team: Drake Maye Turns AJ Brown Into An Elite WR1.