We are still a couple of months away from the heart of fantasy football draft season, as most leagues won't be selecting teams until August. That doesn't mean it's too early to start preparing.
With football season approaching, excitement is already building for training camps, preseason storylines, and, of course, fantasy drafts. While plenty will change between now and Week 1, it's never too early to start identifying the players who should be at the top of your board.
Here are our top five fantasy options at every position heading into the 2026 season.
Quarterback
1) Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills)
Allen has been fantasy football's gold standard at quarterback the past six years. During this span, the Buffalo Bills superstar has finished in the top two among all quarterbacks every season, thanks to his heavy passing volume and rushing touchdown production. The offseason acquisition of wide receiver DJ Moore should elevate his passing stats, keeping Allen the top option to target at the position.
2) Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens)
Injuries are always a concern with him, but Jackson, the 2024 fantasy MVP finalist, is in a prime position for a bounce-back season under new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. Under fresh leadership and Doyle's plan to build around heavy play-action, Jackson should be fully utilized as a passer, and his dynamic running ability will continue to produce substantial fantasy points.
3) Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders)
Daniels was on track for a breakout sophomore season, but multiple injuries shortened his year to just seven games. Despite the limited playing time, Daniels produced 8.3 rushing attempts per game when healthy, remaining a reliable dual-threat for fantasy owners. He is fully cleared for the 2026 season and will have a new offensive system under coordinator David Blough, who is expected to elevate his passing efficiency while keeping his rushing threat intact.
4) Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals)
Despite injuries in past seasons, Burrow remains a top option at quarterback. He started only eight games last year but still threw 17 touchdowns before a turf toe injury sidelined him for nine games. When healthy, Burrow provides highly stable passing stats that can boost weekly fantasy totals.
5) Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles)
Hurts' rushing scores were down in 2025, slipping to eight touchdowns total. On the passing side, though, he produced a career-high 25 touchdowns. Hurts has a new play-caller this season in Sean Mannion, who plans to expand the play-action and running game. Philadelphia parted ways with A.J. Brown but brought in Makai Lemon, who can play the slot and be a nice companion piece for DeVonta Smith. Hurts has been an excellent goal-line producer thanks in part to the Tush Push, so with improved play-calling this year, fantasy points should follow.
Running Back
1) Bijan Robinson (Atlanta Falcons)
This is admittedly a close one between Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs. Despite sharing carries last year with Tyler Allgeier, Robinson finished as the overall second running back in fantasy. With Allgeier gone and new head coach Kevin Stefanski in town, Robinson is projected for a significant increase in touches this season and gets the slight nod.
2) Jahmyr Gibbs (Detroit Lions)
Gibbs broke the fantasy scales last year, posting a stellar 5.0 yards per carry. Gibbs had 18 total touchdowns, ranking second behind Jonathan Taylor. With David Montgomery traded to Houston, Gibbs will be the unquestioned backfield leader, providing plenty of yards and touchdowns.
3) De'Von Achane (Miami Dolphins)
Miami underwent a complete roster overhaul this offseason, and Achane is now the key player they are building around. He has proven his pass-catching ability, averaging over 70 receptions in the last two years, providing substantial fantasy value. The biggest concern for fantasy managers is the presence of an unproven Malik Willis at quarterback, which could limit the overall effectiveness of Miami's offense.
4) Jonathan Taylor (Indianapolis Colts)
Taylor led the NFL with 323 carries in 2025, converting them into 1,585 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns. He was fantasy's top running back, though a Daniel Jones injury ended up derailing the team's offensive efficiency down the stretch. With Jones on track to be ready for Week 1, Taylor's high-volume, goal-line-heavy role makes him a nice anchor for any fantasy roster.
5) Christian McCaffrey (San Francisco 49ers)
McCaffrey always carries a high-risk, high-reward profile because of his injury history. However, he stayed relatively healthy in 2025, playing all 17 games and recording more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage while leading the league with 413 touches. He could easily finish higher on this list, but age and a potentially changing workload cloud his outlook. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has publicly stated that the team needs to keep McCaffrey healthy and has indicated that his touches will be managed more carefully moving forward.
Wide Receiver
1) Ja'Marr Chase (Cincinnati Bengals)
When Chase is paired with a healthy Joe Burrow, a massive volume of targets follows. Last season, he posted a 32.23 percent target share, ranking among the league leaders. Owners should also remember that Chase captured the NFL's receiving Triple Crown in 2024 with 127 catches, 1,708 yards, and 17 touchdowns. The biggest risk is Burrow's health, though Chase still produced impressive numbers even when playing with backup quarterbacks, totaling 1,412 yards and eight touchdowns in those games last season.
2) Puka Nacua (Los Angeles Rams)
Nacua put together an All-Pro campaign in 2025, drawing 166 targets to lead the NFL with 129 receptions. His exceptional body control helped him turn that workload into 1,715 receiving yards and an average of 13.3 yards per catch. Playing alongside MVP Matthew Stafford in a high-volume passing offense, Nacua remains a premium fantasy asset and should be high on all draft boards.
3) Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Seattle Seahawks)
Fresh off a Super Bowl title and an AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year award, Smith-Njigba is a locked-in top-five draft option and a strong candidate to finish as fantasy football's top receiver. In 2025, he delivered a historic campaign, recording 119 receptions, 1,793 yards, and 10 touchdowns. A minor regression is possible this year with offensive mastermind Klint Kubiak departing for Las Vegas, and new play-caller Brian Fleury may need time to settle into the role.
4) Amon-Ra St. Brown (Detroit Lions)
St. Brown is a statistically consistent receiver, producing three consecutive top-four wide receiver seasons in points per game. Detroit has replaced offensive coordinator John Morton with Drew Petzing, but St. Brown's role in the offense won’t be changing much. Detroit's offense continues to revolve around its elite playmakers, and St. Brown remains one of the focal points, making another 1,100-yard season and top-four fantasy finish well within reach.
5) CeeDee Lamb (Dallas Cowboys)
A high ankle sprain sidelined Lamb for three games last season, limiting him to 75 catches and only three touchdowns. Even with reduced volume, he still produced a 1,077-yard season, making him a prime candidate for positive regression in 2026. Before the injury, he had posted consecutive 100-reception, 1,100-yard seasons. A full, healthy season should put Lamb firmly back in the conversation as one of fantasy football's top receivers.
Tight End
1) Trey McBride (Arizona Cardinals)
McBride became the first tight end to record 100-plus receptions in consecutive seasons after the 2025 campaign. He was the clear No. 1 tight end in fantasy, averaging 18.6 points per game, with target totals trailing only Ja'Marr Chase and Amon-Ra St. Brown. McBride's targets may dip slightly this season with a new coaching staff and the additions of Jeremiyah Love and Marvin Harrison Jr., but he remains the top tight end option on the board.
2) Brock Bowers (Las Vegas Raiders)
Despite battling an early knee injury, Bowers earned a Pro Bowl nod with 64 catches for 680 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games. Kirk Cousins, who has leaned heavily on tight ends throughout his career, takes over at quarterback with rookie Francisco Mendoza waiting in the wings.
3) Colston Loveland (Chicago Bears)
Loveland was quite efficient as a rookie, posting 58 receptions for 713 yards and six touchdowns. He functions as a slot receiver at times, and with DJ Moore's departure, his target share is expected to rise, making him a primary option in the offense.
4) Tyler Warren (Indianapolis Colts)
Tyler Warren earned Pro Bowl honors in his rookie season with 76 catches for 817 yards. The Colts traded Michael Pittman this offseason, and I expect Warren to step up as a key part of the passing game.
5) Kyle Pitts (Atlanta Falcons)
Pitts has largely struggled to live up to expectations since entering the league, but 2025 marked a significant rebound as he set career highs in both receptions and receiving yards.
Defense
1) Houston Texans
Head coach DeMeco Ryans has built the league's most complete defense for fantasy purposes heading into 2026, thanks to minimal points allowed, a top pass rush, and offseason upgrades. Houston generates high sack numbers and forced turnovers that translate into easy weekly fantasy points for owners.
2) Denver Broncos
Not far behind Houston, Denver's front seven has led the NFL in sacks in each of the last two seasons. The Broncos also allowed the third-fewest points in the league last year, making them one of fantasy football's most reliable defenses. Their relentless pass rush consistently forces opposing quarterbacks into mistakes, creating the turnovers that drive fantasy production.
3) Seattle Seahawks
Seattle finished as fantasy football's top defense in 2025, recording 179.0 fantasy points and narrowly edging out Houston for the No. 1 spot. Led by a dominant secondary, the Seahawks thrive on creating chaos through turnovers and big plays. They have also shown an ability to turn those takeaways into defensive touchdowns, further boosting their fantasy value.
4) Pittsburgh Steelers
Led by a dominant front four including T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh is known for collapsing pockets without needing to blitz. The scheme provides stable weekly sack production and a low points-allowed total. With a healthy Watt and the third-easiest schedule in the NFL over the first eight weeks, Pittsburgh could be a great defensive option late in your draft.
5) Los Angeles Rams
This may be the best defensive unit in the NFL, with Myles Garrett, the league's all-time sack leader, arriving via trade. The Rams also upgraded their secondary by acquiring Trent McDuffie and signing Jaylen Watson. While fantasy managers may prioritize Denver, Houston, and Seattle earlier in drafts, waiting for the Rams could prove to be one of this year's best value picks at the position.
Kicker
1) Brandon Aubrey (Dallas Cowboys)
Aubrey is fantasy football's top kicker, hands down. In his first three seasons, he has finished first or second in fantasy scoring twice and third once. His elite leg strength gives him virtually unlimited range, creating scoring opportunities from distances few kickers can match.
2) Cameron Dicker (Los Angeles Chargers)
"Dicker the Kicker" is coming off a Pro Bowl season, converting 92.7 percent of his field goal attempts last season. Dicker holds the most accurate field goal career mark in NFL history at 93.5 percent. Drafting him all but guarantees you will not lose points to missed kicks.
3) Jason Myers (Seattle Seahawks)
Jason Myers led all NFL kickers in total fantasy points with 202.0, driven by a high volume of field goals and perfect extra-point execution. Myers is a great option for owners seeking volume security, having led the NFL in field goal attempts in two of the last three seasons.
4) Ka'imi Fairbairn (Houston Texans)
Despite missing two games in 2025, Fairbairn led the NFL with 12.9 fantasy points per game. He shows high accuracy inside 50 yards, going 35-of-35 last season, and connected on 9-of-13 attempts from beyond that range.
5) Cam Little (Jacksonville Jaguars)
Few kickers possess Little's range. He owns the two longest field goals in NFL history, a 68-yarder and a 67-yarder, including the AFC South-clinching kick last season. Playing in a rising offense under HC Liam Coen that can occasionally stall in the red zone, Little is positioned for another high-volume year.
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