These 5 Players are must-haves for 2026!

If you’re doing fantasy football the right way, you don’t wait until August to “figure it out.”

You do the work right now in the offseason, so when draft season comes, it’s easy breezy.

That’s the mindset I teach here:

Train hard. Draft easy. Win leagues.

In this episode, I’m giving you four players I’m all in on for 2026 fantasy football — one at each key position:

• Quarterback

• Running Back

• Wide Receiver

• Tight End

These aren’t just random names. These are players I believe are undervalued now, and will become obvious later once the offseason dominoes fall: free agency, the NFL Draft, depth chart moves, and camp buzz.

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Who’s ONE player you’re all-in on this year — no holding back?

Let’s get into it, but before we do, make sure you get 16 Rounds here and win your leagues this year: 16 Rounds Draft Solution.

Why Offseason Research Wins Leagues

Most fantasy managers are casuals.

They show up late August, copy the default rankings, draft name value, and then wonder why their team collapses by Week 6.

But offseason fantasy players — the ones reading this in February — are building a massive advantage because you’re doing the hard part early:

• Identifying mispriced players

• Predicting role changes

• Finding the “before it’s cool” value pockets

• Getting ahead the ADP movement

When news hits, and ADP rises, you’re not guessing — you’re executing.

That’s how you win.

Tyler is great, must have sleeper value in 2026 (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)

QB I’m All In On: Tyler Shough (Yes, I Said It)

Let’s start with quarterback — and I’m going value hunting.

I’m all in on Tyler Shough (and yes, I call him “Shuff”… rough, tough, same rules — don’t fight me).

Here’s why he’s a strong offseason target:

1) He Finished Strong (Which Matters More Than Early-Season Noise)

A lot of young or newly integrated quarterbacks don’t look great early because they’re still learning:

• NFL speed

• timing

• playbook

• protection calls

• defensive disguises

But what I care about is how they looked late, when the game slowed down for them.

And Shough got consistent in the back stretch. That matters because it suggests:

• The coaching staff began trusting him

• The offense opened up

• He started managing mistakes better

• His fantasy floor stabilized

2) Youth Movement = Opportunity

We’re watching the “older QB era” fade:

• Rodgers types

• Wilson types

• stopgap vets

Teams are transitioning.

In fantasy football, opportunity isn’t always about being elite — sometimes it’s about being the guy who gets the job, holds it, and stacks steady production.

3) He’s a Perfect QB2 / Superflex Value

I’m not saying he’s prime Mahomes.

I’m saying this:

If you can get Shough as a cheaper QB2 with upside, especially in Superflex, that’s a roster build advantage.

In formats where managers panic-draft QBs early, being calm and taking value later is how you win.

Fantasy takeaway: Shough is a strong offseason “buy” because the market is slow to trust late-season growth — but the smart money watches trends.

Ebuka will Boom in 2026! (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire)

WR I’m All In On: Emeka Egbuka (The Volume Shift Is Coming)

At wide receiver, I’m usually not emotional.

WR is the position where value pops up later… but there are still a few names you want early because they’re sitting on a potential role explosion.

One of those names is Emeka Egbuka.

Here’s why.

1) It’s Not a Talent Problem — It’s a Volume Problem

When people fade a receiver, they usually assume:

• “he’s not good.”

• “he can’t separate.”

• “he’s not a #1”

That’s not what this is.

Egbuka’s issue is opportunity and target competition.

When the target tree is crowded, fantasy production gets squeezed — even for talented receivers.

2) The Mike Evans Domino Matters (Big)

This is the key part of the equation: the offseason movement.

If Mike Evans moves on (or even declines further / misses time), that opens the door for Egbuka to step into a bigger role.

And once a receiver becomes a clear top-two option (or the #1), fantasy managers always react late:

• ADP rises

• hype builds

• “Experts” suddenly “discover” him

But you want the value before it becomes popular.

3) The Breakout Profile Is There

Egbuka is one of those receivers who can jump into:

• 120+ targets

• red zone usage

• weekly WR2 floor with WR1 spike weeks

Fantasy takeaway: If offseason news breaks the target competition open, Egbuka is the type of WR that goes from “nice” to “league winner.”

Fannin will eat in 2026. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)

TE I’m All In On: Harold Fannin Jr. (The “Anchor” Potential)

Tight end is where fantasy leagues get decided quietly.

Because when you don’t have a difference-maker at TE, you’re basically playing:

“Hope my guy gets a TD” roulette every week.

And that’s not how I build winning rosters.

One tight end I’m watching hard — and I’m all in on at the right price — is Harold Fannin Jr.

1) Rookie Production That Actually Matters

When a tight end produces as a rookie, that’s a signal.

Because TE is notoriously slow to develop:

• blocking responsibilities

• route nuance

• reading coverages

• trust with QB

So if a young TE flashes early, it often means he can become a true fantasy anchor.

2) The Browns’ Target Landscape Is “Open.”

The Browns are not exactly loaded with locked-in elite receiving options.

That matters because a TE can become:

• a safety blanket

• a red zone weapon

• a high-volume chain mover

If Cleveland’s receiver room stays thin, Fannin’s route share and target share can remain strong.

3) The One Warning: Don’t Overpay

I’ll keep it real:

Sometimes these breakout rookie tight ends get overdrafted the next year.

We’ve seen the fantasy world do this repeatedly: a big TE season happens, and suddenly the price becomes “peak.”

So yes — I like Fannin. I’m all in on the player.

But I’m not all in on paying the most expensive version of him.

Fantasy takeaway: If Fannin’s ADP stays reasonable, he has the profile to be a weekly starting TE you don’t stress about.

Jeanty will be set up to boom in 2026. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire)

RB I’m All In On: Ashton Jeanty (The Situation Can Only Improve)

Now for the running back — and yes, I’m wearing the hat for a reason.

I’m all in on Ashton Jeanty for 2026 fantasy football.

This is the kind of player I love: elite talent who already produced despite a brutal situation.

1) He Was Productive in a Horrible Environment

Let’s talk real:

Bad offensive line. Question marks at QB. Offensive inconsistency.

And still, Jeanty produced. That’s the part that matters.

Because if he was already relevant in a messy situation, what happens when things improve?

2) The Raiders Have Nowhere to Go But Up

Teams like this don’t stay stagnant forever.

They improve one or more of:

• quarterback play

• offensive line

• play-calling

• overall scoring chances

And when an offense improves even modestly, the biggest fantasy beneficiaries are:

• the lead running back

• the primary target earner

• the red zone options

Jeanty is positioned to benefit the most.

3) The RB1/RB2 Build Potential Is Real

In a robust RB strategy, Jeanty is exactly the type of Round 1–2 RB I like:

• young

• durable

• explosive

• already proven he can handle workload

If you start a draft with something like:

Gibbs + Jeanty (example build)

That’s the kind of foundation that wins leagues because you’re dominant at the scarcest position: reliable RB production.

Fantasy takeaway: Jeanty is the kind of back who becomes “obvious” by mid-summer — and then everyone pretends they were always on him.

Recap: 4 Players I’m All In On for 2026

Here’s the quick list:

• QB: Tyler Shough — late-season consistency + QB2 value upside

• WR: Emeka Egbuka — talent is real, volume shift could launch him

• TE: Harold Fannin Jr. — potential anchor TE, but don’t overpay

• RB: Ashton Jeanty — already produced in chaos, situation can only improve

What You Should Do Next (Counselor Advice)

If you want to take advantage of these offseason edges, here’s what I’d do:

1) Track the Offseason Dominos

• Free agency moves (especially WR/RB)

• Draft capital (which teams invest in)

• Depth chart competition

2) Watch ADP Movement

You want these players before the market catches up.

3) Build a “Must-Have” List Now

Drafts feel chaotic when you don’t have a plan.

A plan makes draft season easy.

Your Turn: Who Are You All In On?

Now I want to hear from you:

Drop ONE player you’re all in on for 2026 fantasy football — no holding back.

And tell me why. I’m reading the comments and using them for future episodes.