The NFL season kicks off this week which means BYU fans will not only be able to cheer for the Cougars on Saturdays, but we'll be able to root on former Cougars in the NFL.
Today a total of 18 former BYU stars dot NFL rosters. Some of them are on active rosters while others are on practice squads or the injured reserve. Let's project what's going to happen over the next 17 games and how they are expected to perform this year. Stats are provided by Fantasy Pros unless otherwise indicated.
Offensive Players
Tyler Allgeier, RB, Arizona Cardinals - Projection: 395 rush yards, 163 receiving yards, 4 TDs
Fantasy Pros is projecting Allgeier to produce 558 scrimmage yards for his new team in the Arizona Cardinals. This total seems very, very low to me. While first round rookie Jeremiyah Love will likely get a lot of touches, Arizona's passing game will struggle meaning they'll need to pound the run. Tyler Allgeier played second fiddle to Bijan Robinson in Atlanta for the last three seasons and still averaged 793 scrimmage yards per season.
Prediction: Allgeier wildly exceeds projections
Chris Brooks, RB, Green Bay Packers - Projection: 408 rush yards, 114 receiving yards, 3 TDs
Now entering his fourth NFL season, Fantasy Pros is expecting a career year for Brooks. In his previous three seasons he has rushed for 106, 183, and 106 yards, respectively, with one career touchdown. Starting running back Josh Jacobs could miss a significant amount of time due to a domestic violence charge, and Brooks will have his career year.
Prediction: Brooks slightly underperforms relative to these high expectations
Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams - Projection: 117 receptions, 1,539 yards, 9 TD
Now entering his fourth NFL season, Puka's 95.3 receiving yards per game average is No. 1 in NFL history. Yes, Puka is the most productive receiver in NFL history! Fantasy Pros is projecting him to finish second in the NFL in receiving yards in 2026. He has the talent to exceed Fantasy Pros lofty expectations given last year's 129-1,715-10 monster season, but there has been a lot of off-field smoke surrounding Puka this year. He has also been dealing with a minor groin issue, and those are always concerning. I think he underperforms the 1,500 receiving yard plateau this year, but it will be due to injury of off-field issues.
Prediction: Underperforms relative to expectations due to games missed
Carsen Ryan, TE, Cleveland Browns - Projection: 4 receptions, 34 yards
Seventh-round rookies aren't entitled to anything in the NFL, including making a 53-man roster. The fist positive sign for Carsen Ryan is he did make the Browns' 53-man roster in his first NFL season. The Browns are a dumpster fire and I wouldn't be surprised if they prioritize the development of younger player like Ryan as the season rolls along. Look for him to exceed the minimal 4-34-0 projection from Fantasy Pros.
Prediction: Ryan wildly exceeds projections
Kingsley Suamataia, OG, Kansas City Chiefs - No stats projected
Offensive linemen don't generate traditional stats, but look for the third year pro to start all 17 games once again this year for the Chiefs, provided he's healthy.
Zach Wilson, QB, New Orleans Saints - No stats projected
As QB3 on the Saints roster and playing on a one-year minimal salary, Fantasy Pros isn't expecting Wilson to see the field this year. Incumbent starter Tyler Shough will take almost all of the snaps, provided he's healthy, and Spencer Rattler is ahead of Wilson on the depth chart. That said, Rattler is an up-and-down player and Shough isn't immortal and could miss some time, thus opening the door to Wilson taking at least a few snaps this year.
Prediction: Exceeds expectations, meaning he'll attempt at least one pass this year
Defensive Players
Zayne Anderson, S, Miami Dolphins - Projection: 79 tackles, 7 passes defended, 2 INTs
The sixth-year pro joined the Miami Dolphins this year and has earned the first starting gig in his career. The former special teams ace only has 36 career tackles, most of which have come as a gunner. But now entrenched as a full-time starter in Miami's secondary, he's going to rise to the occasion.
Prediction: Anderson has a career year and meets expectations
Jack Kelly, OLB, New York Giants - Projection: Zero tackles
While Jack Kelly made Fantasy Pros' spreadsheet, he has zero tackles attached to his name. That's hogwash! At minimum, Kelly will be a featured special teams player and rack up 10+ tackles there. Plus, he'll be a rotational linebacker to spell starter Arvell Reese at times, so look for 20 or more tackles in Kelly's rookie season.
Prediction: Kelly exceeds expectations
Khyiris Tonga, DT, Kansas City Chiefs - Projection: 35 tackles, 1.5 sacks
Registering 35 tackles and 1.5 sacks would be a career year for the sixth-year pro, but that's what the Chiefs are expecting from him after signing him to a 3-year, $21 million deal this offseason. His previous career high is 28 tackles and he only has half a sack on his career. Tonga's value is more of a block eater in the middle of the defensive line than one who racks up tackles, so I'll project he'll finish closer to 30 tackles and one sack this year.
Prediction: Tonga slightly underperforms to these projections
Kyle Van Noy, OLB, Minnesota Vikings - No stats projected
The veteran recently signed with the Vikings practice squad with the intent of getting up to game speed quickly and joining the active roster sooner rather than later. Last year with the Baltimore Ravens he had 20 tackles, two sacks, and 17 pressures.
Prediction: With no Fantasy Pros projections, I'll predict 28 tackles and three sacks
Fred Warner, LB, San Francisco 49ers - Projection: 114 tackles, 1 sack, 8 passes defended, 1 INT
When healthy, Fred Warner consistently puts up 130-plus tackles per year. The four-time All-Pro only appeared in six games last year due to injury, but is primed for a monster season this year. His 2025 injury was an ankle injury versus an ACL or Achilles, so the 29-year-old shouldn't be slowed. He'll fly past Fantasy Pros 114 tackles projection.
Prediction: Warner exceeds expectations
Special Teams
Ryan Rehkow, P, Cincinnati Bengals - No stats projected
Okay, fantasy projection websites don't include punters, but look for a Pro Bowl-type season from the third-year pro. His average of 50.5 yards per punt last year ranked third in the NFL.
Practice Squads/Injured Reserve
Mory Bamba, CB, New York Jets (PS)
Blake Freeland, OT, Cincinnati Bengals (PS)
Jakob Robinson, CB, San Francisco 49ers (PS)
Kedon Slovis, QB, Green Bay Packers (PS)
Brady Christensen, OL, Carolina Panthers (IR)
Tyler Batty, DE, Minnesota Vikings (IR)
Add us as a preferred source on Google