By SCOTT FELTS
Anyone could just list the top four or five players at each position and say go draft these guys, but that’s not exactly what this article will provide. With most of these positions, I will mention the top players, but will also mention a couple of guys further down the draft list that you can get at a great value and should pursue. With kickers and DSTs usually being drafted in the final rounds, I’ll talk more about the top options for each of those positions with just a couple that could outperform. I’ll also provide some context and reasons why the top guys are worthy of that title.
Just a reminder that ADP simply means where the player is currently being drafted as leagues get up and going. Need a refresher on that or any of the other key terms and concepts to fantasy football? We’ve got you covered.
Let’s get started with one of the most important positions for your team.
Quarterbacks
Josh Allen: Allen has finished as the QB1 or QB2 overall in six straight seasons. In the last three seasons, the highest drafted quarterbacks outside of Allen have been Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson. Allen outscored each of them by five to six fantasy points per game in each of the last two seasons. He’s just a step above the rest of the quarterbacks.
Lamar Jackson: Jackson is still an upper-tier fantasy QB … just be careful not to overreach for him. After an injury-plagued 2025, Jackson should be an obvious bounceback candidate in fantasy. In three of his six seasons before 2025, he finished in the top three at QB. Playing through injury last year he did take a step back as the QB20 in fantasy points per game during weeks 9-18, but if he slips in your draft and does rebound, he could be a league winner if you take the chance others won’t.
Drake Maye: Many projections have Maye as a top five QB with upside to finish even higher. The Patriots added offensive weapons for him in AJ Brown and Romeo Doubs and that’s coming off a season where he was QB3 in points per game. Last season Maye was 12th in rushing yards per game and seventh in red zone carries per game among QBs, so he can score in multiple ways.
Brock Purdy: Many people pass on Purdy to their own detriment. He is a reliable mid-range QB1 with the tools to finish even higher, especially relative to his ADP. Over the last three seasons he has finished fifth, 10th, and sixth among QBs in in fantasy points per game. Last season among 38 qualifying QBs, Purdy was also sixth in passing yards per game, ninth in yards per attempt, 12th in accurate throw rate, and third in fantasy points per dropback.
Kyler Murray: Now that Murray has officially been named the starter in in Minnesota, his draft value is even greater. He’s averaging around the 17th quarterback off the board and, if he stays healthy, he will easily be a top 12 quarterback at season’s end with the weapons in Minnesota. He only played in five games in 2025 but in the previous six seasons, he never had finished lower than QB12 in fantasy points per game.
Running Backs
Jahmyr Gibbs: Gibbs is not only the top running back but should be the top player off the board in almost every draft. Gibbs has led the NFL with 38 touchdowns over the last two seasons while playing on the Lions with David Montgomery, who scored 20 touchdowns in that time span. Montgomery was traded to Houston this offseason, meaning Gibbs will be getting a lot more opportunities in the red zone. Gibbs also has at least 52 catches in all three of his NFL seasons, and no running back in 2025 hit 20+ miles per hour more often than Gibbs.
Bijan Robinson: Robinson finished as the RB3 overall in 2024 and RB2 in 2025. His 708.5 PPR fantasy points over that timeframe trail only Gibbs at running back, along with one quarterback and one wide receiver. Robinson totaled 1,416 yards after the catch over the last two seasons while making defenders miss 179 tackles.
Christian McCaffrey: CMC was last season‘s top fantasy scorer in PPR where he had a whopping 102 receptions, 2,126 total yards, and 17 touchdowns. His 416.6 fantasy points were the most by a running back since … McCaffrey himself back in 2019. In fact he claims three of the highest fantasy finishes by a running back since he entered the league in 2017. If he stays healthy, he’s well worth drafting anywhere you take him.
Kyren Williams: For whatever reason Williams draft’ stock has been going the wrong direction, but in a strong Rams offense and with the ability to get him in round three or four, the value is certainly there to have him as your RB2 with RB1 output. Blake Corum shouldn’t scare you away; in weeks 7–18 last season, Williams still saw 63% of the red zone rushing attempts and he finished the season RB10 in fantasy points per game.
Kenny Gainwell: For a player being drafted right around 100th overall and as the 35th running back, Gainwell has a real chance in his new home of Tampa Bay to give RB2 scoring output and far exceed his draft value, especially if Bucky Irving misses any time. Early word out of camp was that Gainwell and Irving could be near a 50-50 split and Gainwell has high PPR value as a pass catcher out of the backfield. In 2025 during weeks 11–18 he was RB7 in fantasy points per game due to being third in target share, second in receiving yards per game, fourth in yards per route run, and first in first downs during that span.
Jaylen Warren: Warren should be a viable RB2/flex target who should benefit as Aaron Rodgers’ checkdown back, which will help in PPR leagues. Last season he set career highs in carries, rushing yards, and total touchdowns. He ranked sixth in missed tackle rate, ninth in yards after contact per attempt, and 12th in rushing success rate. If Rico Dowdle misses time due to injury, Warren will be a must-start weekly option and he’s being drafted as RB26 in most leagues currently.
Wide Receivers
Ja’Marr Chase: Chase finished as WR1 in 2024 and WR4 in 2025 (with one missed game). He’s topped 1,400 yards three times in five seasons and has 54 touchdowns in 78 games which averages about 12 per season. He receives a ton of targets from his QB Joe Burrow and is one of five players you could conceivably take first overall this season.
Puka Nacua: Puka finished last season as the WR1 overall and second-highest scorer in all of fantasy. He led the league with 129 receptions, logged 1,715 receiving yards and scored 10 touchdowns. Having the reigning and defending league MVP at QB won’t hurt.
Jackson Smith Njigba: JSN is the Seahawks’ clear-cut target in the red zone. He was last year‘s overall WR2 and could definitely be there again this season. He should not be any lower than the third WR taken off the board.
Stefon Diggs: Now that Diggs has signed with Washington, most analysts see him as a useful WR3 with WR2 upside. Diggs is coming off a quiet 1,000-yard season with the Patriots last year and will be the number two target behind Terry McLaurin for Jayden Daniels. Signing with Washington late has kept Diggs’ ADP around WR50, which is a steal. He was WR23 in fantasy points per game last year.
Michael Wilson: Wilson‘s new coach Mike LaFleur spent the past three seasons as the Rams’ offensive coordinator and has said Wilson will play the Nacua role for the Cardinals. That’s good enough for me at his current ADP of WR41. Last season, counting the games Marvin Harrison Jr. missed and weeks 16 and 17, Wilson had a 27.5% target share, 105.6 receiving yards per game and averaged 23.3 PPR points per game, which is elite WR1 level production and efficiency. He won’t do that weekly over the entire season, but it’s certainly a player with less name recognition that you should not overlook.
Alec Pierce: Pierce coming off of an ankle injury that has lowered his ADP (WR42) below what his abilities demand. If you’re able to draft him as a WR3-4 for your team he could certainly be a surprise player for you by seasons end. With Michael Pittman now gone from Indianapolis, Pierce’s targets will rise. Among 109 qualifying receivers last season he was 12th in receiving yards per game and 16th in yards per route run.
Tight Ends
Trey McBride: McBride is one of fantasy’s safest elite TEs, but last year‘s numbers should decrease. Someone will likely beat you to him by overreaching, assuming that he will match last year‘s numbers, but if he falls to a reasonable position around or outside the top 25 overall, snatch him quick. He will be like having an extra WR12 on your roster but eligible to play the TE position. He outscored every TE in fantasy points per game by 3.9 last season by running 156 more routes than any other TE.
Brock Bowers: Bowers finished as the highest-scoring TE in fantasy in 2024. His 2025 season was ruined by injuries and a terrible Raiders’ offense, but don’t let recency bias cloud your mind. Bowers and McBride are the only tight ends to log target rates over 24% and catch rates over 70% the past two seasons and McBride has more targets to compete against in his offense than Bowers.
Colston Loveland: If Chicago features Loveland like they did late last season, he could end up the top-ranked fantasy tight end in the league by season’s end. If he makes it to the back end of round three or lower, don’t pass him up. In weeks 16–20, he was the Bears WR1 with a 25.6 target share, 81.6 receiving yards per game, and 17.2 PPR points per game. There’s one less target in Chicago this season with DJ Moore gone so look for his target share to increase and challenge Roman Odunze as the lead pass catcher for Caleb Williams.
Jake Ferguson: If you are like me and generally pass on reaching for a TE, then Ferguson with his ADP of TE13 should be worth the wait as a safe, solid TE1. Last season he finished TE10 for the second time in the last three years. Among 54 qualifying tight-ends last season Ferguson was 16th in target share, 20th in receiving yards per game, and was second in red-zone targets behind McBride.
Isaiah Likely: Likely has been a TE darling for the last couple of seasons in Baltimore as Mark Andrews backup but now he moves to the Giants as their top tight end and could very well be the number two target behind Malik Nabers for a young Jaxson Dart. With his ADP around TE11, the number of targets and potential touchdowns could be well worth waiting for Likely.
Brenton Strange: I have targeted Strange as my TE2 in several leagues oftentimes pairing him with his quarterback Trevor Lawrence as my backup QB. Strange had a breakout season in 2025 as the TE17 in fantasy points per game, setting career highs in targets, receiving yards, yards per catch, and fantasy points per game playing in only 12 games. If Jacksonville had fewer targets at wide receiver, Strange would be a solid TE1, but as it is, he’s a great late round flier to stash on your bench, awaiting more opportunity through injury.
Defense/Special Teams
Houston Texans: Houston finished as DST1 in fantasy points per game last year. They finished fourth in drives ending in a turnover, third in interceptions and seventh in sacks. Their defensive roster is stacked and they added Caden MacDonald, Jadeveon, Clowney, and Reed Blankenship.
Denver Broncos: Denver was DST6 in 2025 allowing the fewest net yards per attempt and fourth fewest passing touchdowns. They were second in pressure rate and first in sacks. They haven’t lost any players and should be definitely in the top 10 mix for 2026.
Los Angeles Rams: Scary to think that the Rams were DST2 in 2025 and added Miles Garrett, Trent McDuffie, and Jalen Watson in the off-season. Lots of rumors are Aaron Donald may rejoin the team out of retirement, which would set this team on fire as a DST1 with a rocket.
Seattle Seahawks: Last year‘s nasty defense ranked third in DST3 after allowing the second fewest net yards per pass attempt, had the sixth highest rate of drives ending in a turnover, and generated the sixth highest pressure rate. They did lose a few players, but should still be an elite unit for 2026.
New England Patriots: The Patriots were DST8 in fantasy points per game last year and could easily be in the top 10 again in 2026. The Patriots allowed the 14th fewest net yards per attempt and the 12th fewest yards per carry. Additions of Kevin Byard and Dre’Mont Jones should help the back end of the defense continue to be the strength.
Kickers
Brandon Aubrey: Aubrey is by far fantasy football‘s top kicking target with fantasy pros calling him the gold standard among NFL kickers. Dallas signed him to a new four-year extension in the offseason. He was third in field goal attempts and fifth in extra point attempts in 2025.
Cameron Dicker: With the Chargers’ high-powered offense behind him, Dicker should finish in the top four of fantasy kickers easily in 2026. In 2025 he was fourth in field goal attempts and sixth best in field goal percentage.
Jason Myers: Myers led all kickers in total fantasy points last year and should remain near the top in points per game where he finished second. He’s easily a top five kicker for 2026. The Seahawks’ offense could struggle a bit this season, which would give Myers more chances at field goals.
Harrison Mevis: Mevis joined the Rams last season midway through the year and went 12 for 13 on field goals and a perfect 39 of 39 on extra points in nine regular season games and was perfect in three postseason contests. If his accuracy holds, he should easily rack up a lot of points for the Rams high-powered offense.
Cam Little: Little was K9 last year in fantasy points per game, but could easily outperform that in 2026, especially in leagues that reward more points for longer kicks. Cam holds the record for longest field goal in NFL history with 68 yards and even converted a 70 yard field goal during a 2025 NFL preseason game. Later in 2025 he added a 67 yard field goal in week 18, giving him the two longest field goals in NFL history.
Now that we’ve covered the players you should draft, who should you avoid? We delve into that next week in the Friday 5.