Fantasy Football Rankings 2026

The early 2026 fantasy football rankings are here — and I’m not doing this “copy/paste consensus” nonsense.

This list is NON-QB (no quarterbacks included), and it’s built for fantasy managers who want to win leagues, not win arguments on Twitter. These are the players I believe have the best chance to finish as top overall fantasy scorers in 2026 based on:

• Volume profile (rush attempts + targets)

• Role security (do they own the offense or share it?)

• Talent + efficiency

• Scoring environment

• Durability and weekly floor

And yes — this is early. The NFL Draft, free agency, camp battles… all of that will shift the board. But the winners in August are the people who started thinking in February.

Let’s count it down from 10 to 1.

Quick Format Notes (So You Know What You’re Reading)

• Scoring assumption: PPR-friendly thought process (because receptions matter)

• No QBs: This is strictly RB/WR/TE

• Early rankings disclaimer: These rankings will evolve as depth charts become real

Here are your Top 10 Fantasy Football Players for 2026:

1. Bijan Robinson
2. Jahmyr Gibbs
3. Jaxson Smith- Njigba
4. Ashton Jeanty
5. Saquon Barkley
6. James Cook
7. Ja’Marr Chase
8. Jeremiyah Love
9. Omarion Hampton
10. CeeDee Lamb

Now let’s dig into each player below and discuss why they are on top! You can also watch the full video below for the deep dive on these rankings with the Counselor.

10) CeeDee Lamb (WR) — The “Bounce Back” Alpha

CeeDee Lamb belongs in early 2026 fantasy football rankings because he checks the #1 box that matters: he can lead the league in targets when the offense is functioning properly.

Even if the Cowboys change pieces around him, Lamb’s path to elite fantasy output is always the same:

• Target dominance

• Red-zone usage

• Game scripts that force volume

When you draft a WR early, you’re buying weekly floor + spike-week ceiling. Lamb is still one of the safer bets to deliver both when Dallas plays through him the way they should.

Why he’s top 10: True alpha WR1 profile — and those are scarce.

CeeDee is set for a big bounce back. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire)

9) Omarion Hampton (RB) — The “If He Gets The Keys” Breaker

Omarion Hampton is the type of name that can look “too aggressive” early… until the season starts and everyone realizes the workload was staring them in the face.

Why Hampton has top-10 potential:

• First-round-ish investment type of usage profile (teams don’t draft backs high to ignore them)

• He fits the modern fantasy cheat code: volume + efficiency

• If the backfield becomes less committee, his ceiling explodes

The key variable: Does he get true feature-back usage, or does the staff rotate touches? Kimani Vidal was a factor last year when Hampston went down. I wonder how much volume Vidal will see next year. I still believe Hampton will see the bulk share of the work. 70/30 split in favour of Hampton!

Why he’s top 10: RBs who can realistically threaten 275+ touches always belong in this conversation.

8) Jeremiyah Love (RB, Rookie) — The “Rookie League Winner” Swing

Every year, one rookie RB flips leagues.

Not all rookies — one. The one who lands in the right situation and gets fed. In his last two college seasons, he ran for over 1200 yards and combined for over 20 TDs in each of those seasons. He is a workhorse and battle-tested.

Jeremiah Love is the type of prospect archetype that fantasy managers dream on because:

• Explosiveness + burst

• Workhorse traits if the landing spot cooperates

• Modern RB value comes from being usable on all downs (including receiving)

Important reality check: Rookie RB value is 90% landing spot.
If he lands where he can be “the guy,” you’ll see the ADP rise fast.

Why he’s top 10: Because if he hits, he’s a top-5 RB type outcome — and those are league-winners.

7) Ja’Marr Chase (WR) — The Target Monster You Don’t Overthink

Ja’Marr Chase is the simple pick. He is the WR1 no matter which team he is on, and he will continue to be the alpha with the Bengals in 2026. I do expect a decline as he led all WRs with 185 Targets. As long as he stays healthy, he will continue to produce on a high level.

You don’t get cute with elite WRs who can:

• Dominate targets,

• turn short catches into explosives,

• and score from anywhere.

Chase is one of the few WRs that can finish as the overall WR1 and threaten top-5 overall non-QB fantasy points.

Why he’s top 10: Massive ceiling, weekly floor, and he’s always one play away from a 30-burger.

James Cook has proven he is a true RB1 Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire)

6) James Cook (RB) — The “Safe RB With Real Upside”

James Cook has quietly become what fantasy players chase every year:

• reliable touches

• strong weekly scoring environment

• real receiving value

Cook is the type of RB who doesn’t need 30 carries to produce because he can get there through:

• efficiency

• receiving work

• offense-driven TD chances

Why he’s top 10: Safe role + high-scoring offense = consistent RB1 output. There is no competition that will step in and take his job away.

5) Saquon Barkley (RB) — The “Still Has The Juice” Bet

Saquon Barkley is still one of the most talented backs in football.

When you get him in a functioning offense with real scoring chances, Barkley can still produce:

• explosive plays

• high-value red zone touches

• receiving output that raises weekly floor

The main conversation with Saquon is always:

How much is he being asked to carry?
Because in fantasy football, we want the sweet spot: heavy enough volume to smash, not so heavy it breaks down by midseason.

Why he’s top 10: He still has league-winning weekly upside and can finish top-5 at the position if usage stays strong.

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

4) Ashton Jeanty (RB) — The “Volume + Contact Balance” Hammer

Ashton Jeanty profiles like the type of RB coaches trust:

• tough between the tackles

• contact balance

• consistent forward-moving runs

• goal-line potential

Fantasy managers love backs like this because even when the offense is messy, volume RBs can still post RB1 weeks. The Raiders will improve this o-line and offense, and Jeanty will benefit with volume, talent, and no committee. I expect a massive season from him this year.

Why he’s top 10: The RB position is about volume, and Jeanty screams “volume back.”

3) Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR) — The “Target Climb Is Real.”

JSN is a perfect example of why early fantasy football rankings matter: the market always reacts late.

When a WR truly takes the leap into:

• consistent high targets,

• high snap rate,

• and “first read” status,

The fantasy points follow.

If JSN continues trending toward being the clear engine in his passing game, he’s in the elite tier of WRs that can realistically finish top-5 at the position. That being said he could decline as well coming off such a high year.

Why he’s top 10: Ascending target share + route volume + talent = fantasy breakout staying power.

2) Jahmyr Gibbs (RB) — The “Efficiency Cheat Code”

Jahmyr Gibbs is the best RB in football. He is fast, elusive, durable, and can do it all!

He can score without needing brute-force volume because:

• He’s explosive

• He’s deadly in space

• He can rack receptions (high-value touches)

If the backfield situation becomes more Gibbs-heavy, his ceiling gets scary. Even in split usage, he can still finish as a top RB because receiving production is a multiplier. I hear that they want to ship off David Montgomery, and that would free up at least 100 more attempts for Gibbs.

Why he’s top 10: Elite talent + receiving upside = top-3 RB outcome.

Bijan is the clear cut fantasy football RB 1(Photo by Lee Coleman/Icon Sportswire)

1) Bijan Robinson (RB) — The Clear #1 in 2026 Early Rankings

This is the one I don’t hesitate on.

Bijan Robinson is my early 2026 fantasy football RB1 and overall non-QB #1 because he’s the full package:

• Volume

• Explosiveness

• Receiving production

• Touchdown upside

• Durability

And his 2025 production backs it up.

Bijan Robinson 2025 Stats (Why He’s #1)

• #3 in overall fantasy points

• 287 rushing attempts

• 1,478 rushing yards

• 5.1 yards per carry

• 7 rushing TDs

• 79 receptions

• 820 receiving yards

• 4 receiving TDs

• Durable/reliable availability

That’s not “good.”

That’s elite.

That’s the type of profile that wins fantasy leagues because it gives you:

• a high weekly floor (receptions + yardage)

• and the ceiling (multi-touchdown games)

Bijan isn’t just a runner — he’s a fantasy monster because he produces like a WR2 on top of being an RB1.

Why Bijan is #1:
Because in PPR formats, a durable RB who gets nearly 80 catches is the closest thing to an advantage you can draft.

Honorable Mentions (Just Missed My Top 10)

These are players who could easily rise into the top 10 as offseason news hits:

• elite TEs who separate from the pack

• WRs who become target hogs due to roster changes

• RBs who gain workhorse roles via draft/free agency shifts

(And yes — this is exactly why we update rankings throughout the offseason.)

How to Use These 2026 Fantasy Football Rankings Correctly

Most people misuse early rankings.

Here’s how smart fantasy managers use them:

1) Draft for Roles, Not Names

Roles create fantasy points. Names don’t.

2) Prioritize Touch Volume

Carries + targets > “highlights”

3) Don’t Pay Peak Price on Unstable Situations

If the player’s role depends on 3 things going right, that’s a fade.

4) Stack Your First Two Picks for Weekly Floor

Your first two picks should not be “hope.” They should be stability.

FAQ: 2026 Fantasy Football Rankings

Are these consensus rankings?

No. These are Counselor rankings — built around role, volume, and real fantasy win conditions.

Why no quarterbacks?

Because QB scoring varies wildly by format. This list is designed for the majority of drafts where QB is not the priority in Round 1.

Will these change after the NFL Draft?

Yes — rookies and depth charts will shift ADP and workload projections significantly.

Final Word

If you want to win in 2026, you start now.

While everyone else is waiting for August rankings, you’re already building the blueprint:

• who to target,

• who’s safe,

• and who can actually finish top-10 overall.

Now I want your input:

Who’s too high? Who’s too low? Who did I miss? Make sure you grab the 16 Rounds draft solution to be light years ahead of the sheep in your leagues!