Top 5 Fantasy Football Wide Receivers for 2026 (Way Too Early Rankings)
January 9, 2026Must-Have Fantasy Football Players for 2026
Must Have Fantasy Football Players for 2026
Must Have Fantasy Football Players for 2026
5 Players You NEED on Your Roster (Way-Too-Early Rankings)
Fantasy football never stops — and if you’re serious about winning your league, you don’t wait until August to start thinking. You prepare early, you think differently, and you stay ahead of the sheep.
If I were drafting right now in January, these are the five must-draft fantasy football players for 2026. Not hype picks. Not copy-and-paste rankings. These are players based on trend, usage, talent, scarcity, and trajectory.
Before we dive deep, here’s the quick list 👇
🔥 Must-Have Fantasy Football Players for 2026 (Quick List)
Tyler Shough (QB) – The breakout quarterback nobody is pricing correctly
Jahmyr Gibbs (RB) – The best running back talent in football
Harold Fannin Jr. (TE) – Consistency wins at tight end
Ashton Jeanty (RB) – Production despite the worst situation imaginable
Bijan Robinson (RB) – The safest elite anchor in fantasy football
Now let’s break this down the right way.
Why “Must-Have” Players Matter in Fantasy Football
Fantasy championships aren’t won by rankings alone. They’re won by:
Identifying scarce positions
Drafting players trending up, not players priced at their ceiling
Understanding context (usage, contracts, offensive direction)
Avoiding the trap of “last year’s stats”
Every year, people draft names. Winners draft situations and trajectories.
Let’s get into it.
1️⃣ Tyler Shough (QB) – The Quarterback You Get Before the Breakout
Most fantasy managers wait on quarterback — and that’s fine if you know what you’re doing. But when you can identify a quarterback before the breakout, that’s how you steal value.
Tyler Shough finished QB26, which immediately causes casual players to dismiss him. That’s a mistake.
Why Tyler Shough Is a Must-Have in 2026
Took over after Spencer Rattler imploded
Didn’t become the starter until Week 8
Finished strong when games actually mattered
Late-Season Fantasy Production
Week 17: 21.8 fantasy points
Week 18: 21.9 fantasy points
That’s weekly QB1 production — not flukes.
Shough did this with:
Limited weapons
Devon Vele as a WR2
No offensive stability early in the season
Now zoom out.
The Quarterback Landscape Is Aging
Stafford: aging
Rodgers: done
Goff: capped ceiling
Darnold: not the future
Fantasy football rewards ascending players, not nostalgia.
If you play:
Superflex
2QB leagues
Dynasty
Tyler Shough is a must-roster quarterback before his price explodes.
Jahmyr Gibbs is getting better each season! (Photo by Charles Brock/Icon Sportswire)
2️⃣ Jahmyr Gibbs (RB) – The Best Running Back Talent in Football
Let’s slow this down.
Jahmyr Gibbs finished:
RB3 overall
366 PPR fantasy points
With only 243 rushing attempts
That should scare you — in a good way.
Why Gibbs Has Not Even Hit His Ceiling
David Montgomery siphoned:
158 rushing attempts
8 touchdowns
Yet Gibbs still dominated.
Gibbs 2025 Production:
1,123+ total yards
13 touchdowns
Elite efficiency
Explosive playmaker
Durable
Now ask yourself:
👉 What happens if Montgomery leaves or fades further?
Gibbs becomes a 300-touch running back — and that’s when league-winning seasons happen.
Key Fantasy Truth:
Running backs are:
Scarce
Committee-based
Rare workhorses
Gibbs checks every box:
Talent
Usage efficiency
Contract motivation
Youth
If you want a league-winning RB, Gibbs is non-negotiable.
3️⃣ Harold Fannin Jr. (TE) – Consistency at a Chaos Position
Tight end is a mess in fantasy football.
You don’t need 25 points.
You need 10–15 points every week.
That’s how you win.
Harold Fannin Jr. Rookie Season:
TE6 overall
107 targets
72 receptions
186.4 fantasy points
6’4”, 241 lbs
He was selected in the third round of the draft by his team, so they like him.
That’s not accidental production.
Why Fannin Is a Must-Have
Rookie consistency (rare for TEs)
Reliable weekly usage
Red-zone presence
Physical profile built for durability
You can wait on tight end if you know who you’re targeting — and Fannin is that guy.
He gives you:
Stability
Upside
Weekly confidence
That’s all you want at tight end. Harold Fannin cannot be ignored in 2026 fantasy football.
4️⃣ Ashton Jeanty (RB) – Proof Talent Wins Over Situation
Let’s be clear.
Ashton Gentry played behind:
One of the worst offensive lines
Poor quarterback play
Defensive stacked boxes
A bad team
And still finished:
RB11
266 rushing attempts
975 rushing yards
10 total touchdowns (5 rushing, 5 receiving)
That’s elite context-adjusted production.
Why Jeanty Is a Must-Have
Volume already proven
Three-down skillset
Receiving upside
The situation can only improve
Fantasy football is about betting on improvement.
If Jeanty does THIS in a bad situation, imagine what happens with:
Even a league-average O-line
Slight offensive improvement
That’s how RB1 seasons happen.
Ashton can really dominate in 2026 (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire)
5️⃣ Bijan Robinson (RB) – The Safest Elite Anchor in Fantasy Football
If you draft early, you want:
Safety
Volume
Durability
Elite talent
That’s Bijan Robinson.
Bijan 2025 Season:
RB2 overall
Elite efficiency
Minimal committee interference
Consistent weekly floor
Unlike other “safe” picks, Bijan combines:
Youth
Usage
Talent
Durability
No guessing games.
No, hoping for a breakout.
No workload questions.
Fantasy Draft Reality
Early picks should not be gambles.
Bijan is the anchor you build around — especially in a league where running backs are disappearing into committees.
Final Thoughts: How to Use This List
This is not about drafting names.
It’s about drafting edges.
The Pattern You Should Notice
Quarterback trending UP
Running backs with volume + talent
Tight end consistency
Scarcity over hype
Fantasy football is won by:
Thinking ahead
Ignoring consensus
Drafting before the market adjusts
These five players are must-haves because they give you leverage.
Want to Win in 2026?
Draft running backs early
Anchor QB properly
Wait on tight end with a plan
Stop copying rankings
Start thinking like a winner
Fantasy football 2026 is closer than you think.
Stay ahead and make sure you are subscribed to this #1 fantasy football podcast and YouTube channel!
