Many fantasy football fans are still getting over devastating losses from the 2025 season. The best way to accomplish that, even seven months out, may be by looking ahead to next year. Here are the top 12 player rankings for the 2026 fantasy season.
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson can do it all. Robinson finished the 2025 campaign with nearly 1500 rushing yards, over 800 receiving, and 11 total touchdowns. The former Texas Longhorn is probably the most complete RB in the league, and at just age 24, he should not be slowing down anytime soon. Robinson’s rushing TDs dropped from 14 in 2024 to seven this past season, but with an offensive-minded coach in Kevin Stefanski, it should get back to double-digits in 2026. Fantasy owners can draft Robinson first overall with confidence.
The rushing yardage for Jahmyr Gibbs declined in 2025, but the 25 catch increase helped make up for it. Gibbs still ran for a respectable 1223 yards with 13 rushing TDs, while putting up a receiving line of 77/616/5. The Detroit Lions had numerous issues up front, especially towards the end of the season. That, unfortunately, led to Gibbs eclipsing four yards per carry only once in the last six games. The offensive line should be the main target for Detroit in free agency and/or the draft, which should lead to a more consistent fantasy season for Gibbs in 2026.
Despite the absence of starting quarterback Joe Burrow for over half the season, Ja’Marr Chase still posted excellent fantasy numbers. The Cincinnati Bengals’ star wide receiver had 125 catches for 1412 yards and eight TDs. If Burrow can stay on the field throughout 2026, Chase could again lead the league in receiving yards and touchdowns as he did in 2024. There are a few candidates to be the first receiver of the board in 2026 fantasy drafts, but as it stands, Chase is number one heading into next season.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba had a monster year in 2025, leading to Offensive Player of the Year honors. JSN finished with a league-leading 1793 receiving yards (eight all-time in a single season) and an even ten TD catches. The third-year man from Ohio State has cemented himself as one of the top-five receivers in all of football. The Valentine’s Day baby made owners fall in love with him as the biggest steal of the 2025 fantasy draft. There will be no doubting of JSN heading into 2026, and he should be off the board somewhere in the top five.
After dealing with some injuries in year two, Puka Nacua posted career highs across the board in his third season. Nacua led the league in receptions with 129, finished second with 1715 yards, and also snagged ten TD catches. The third-year man from BYU plays a very physical style of football, but at 6’2 and nearly 220 pounds, Nacua has the build to hold up. The first-time All-Pro should have close to a repeat performance in the upcoming fantasy season.
De’Von Achane is coming off his first 1,000-plus yard season in the NFL. The third-year man from Texas A&M ran for a career-high 1350 yards and eight touchdowns, while leading the league with 5.7 yards per attempt. Achane also continued to be a threat in the passing game, with 67 catches and four receiving TDs. With the Miami Dolphins’ uncertainties at quarterback and the release of WR Tyreek Hill, it could lead to them leaning on Achane even more in 2026.
Veteran RB Christian McCaffery had a career-high 311 carries in his ninth year, turning it into 1202 yards and 10 TDs. Run CMC also had his first 100-catch season since 2019, which led to another 924 yards and seven touchdowns. This type of workload for a back who has dealt with multiple injuries and will be turning 30 could equal some regression in 2026. That could still mean something in the range of 1700 total yards, 70 catches, and double-digit TDs, though, which fantasy owners could definitely live with from a mid-first-rounder.
Running back James Cook experienced no issues with the added workload in 2025. Cook had 102 more carries than he did in 2024, and turned it into a career high 1621 yards with 12 rushing TDs on 5.2 yards per carry. The Buffalo Bills have leaned more heavily on the run over the past couple of seasons, as this was Josh Allen’s second straight year with under 500 passing attempts. Even if the Bills add a receiver this offseason, Cook’s touches should remain around the same. Fantasy owners can expect Buffalo to continue to “Let James Cook”.
Two-time All-Pro Amon-Ra St. Brown once again looked excellent despite the Detroit Lions having struggles overall. St. Brown posted a line of 117/1401/11 in 2025, making it his third straight year with at least 115 catches and double-digit TDs. The former fourth-round pick from USC has essentially been the Lions’ number one receiver since the back half of his rookie year, and that should remain the case in 2026. St. Brown may not be the flashiest, but the outings are usually consistent to excellent every week.
Jonathan Taylor continued being the workhorse for the Indianapolis Colts in 2025. Taylor led the league in rushing attempts and rushing TDs, with 323 and 18, respectively, along with 1585 yards on the ground. The former Wisconsin Badger still looks great, and he is only 27, but the mileage could be somewhat concerning. Taylor had 300 or more carries in 2025, 2024, 2021, and basically all three years at Wisconsin.
The 2025 numbers are unlikely to be duplicated, but a slight decline from this past season still means another solid year for the bruising RB. All things considered, the late first round is probably a solid spot for JT in fantasy.
Running backs are supposed to slow down once they turn 30, but Derrick Henry has not received that memo. King Henry ran for 1595 yards and tied his 2024 rushing TD total with 16. It was also his second straight year with at least five yards a pop after going three years in a row without doing so. Age and miles will eventually begin catching up to the ten-year veteran, but potential regression in 2026 does not mean falling off a cliff, so to speak. Henry should remain a top-ten rusher and double-digit TD guy, making him a solid late first-round pick in fantasy football.
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb should return to form in 2026. Lamb was out of action for essentially four games in 2025, resulting in his lowest totals across the board since his rookie campaign. The former All-Pro did eclipse the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the fifth consecutive year on 75 catches, but only managed to find the end zone three times.
The Cowboys may decide to move on from George Pickens as well, since they would likely have to pay him WR1 money. That, plus being fully healthy, should result in Lamb once again being the 100-catch receiver fantasy players have become accustomed to seeing.
Making these projections is always challenging, especially this early in the offseason when there is still much to be determined. Progression and regression from certain players is likely, however, regardless of the transactions their teams make. RBs like Robinson, Gibbs, and Achane are young and on the rise, while McCaffrey, Taylor, and Henry have more miles and could decline from their 2025 performances.
As far as receivers, Chase, JSN, and Nacua all have cases to be the first WR off the board in fantasy football for 2026. I gave the nod to Chase, however, since he was still so dominant despite playing with a backup QB for most of the year.
Things could obviously change between now and September, but as of now, these are my rankings heading into the 2026 fantasy football season.
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