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Put your headset on, open your mock draft lobby, and get ready to coach your fantasy football team this fall. Whether you’re joining a standard fantasy football league or exploring best ball formats, this game has become more popular over the last 35 years, letting you control an imaginary team of real NFL players. If you’ve never participated, it can seem overwhelming. Here’s a guide to use as a fantasy football cheat sheet when drafting your team this year.
How Does Fantasy Football Work?
The rules differ depending on your league preference. Whether you’re in a keeper league or a standard format, most guys play with a points-per-reception (PPR) or half-PPR system. This format simply means a player earns a point (or half a point) with every catch they make.
Fantasy football now engages over 30 million players annually, with AI-driven draft tools and real-time analytics shaping the game.
With this system, your wide receivers, tight ends and running backs become more valuable. Each player also earns points when they gain yards or score touchdowns. The NFL has become a more offensive-friendly league, so there are more opportunities than ever to put up big-time points.
Each week, you’ll face one of the opponents in your fantasy football league. If you win enough games, you may make the playoffs. These last few rounds occur in the weeks leading up to the NFL’s last regular season games. Imagine standing tall among the 29.3 million players nationwide as you claim a championship trophy.
How to Draft Your Fantasy Football Team
Winning the trophy at season’s end starts in your draft. Your first few picks make all the difference, so give these guys the most attention. Here are your priorities when picking up players.
Running Backs
While the running back position has evolved, elite backs still offer tremendous value in fantasy football. In 2026, Bijan Robinson, and Jahmyr Gibbs headline the top tier, with both earning massive extensions in the offseason. Christian McCaffrey remains elite, though it’s always a question whether he’ll stay healthy all season.
The good running backs will likely go early, so which ones should you prioritize? Here are the top fantasy football tailbacks in most rankings:
- Jahmyr Gibbs – Detroit Lions
- Bijan Robinson – Atlanta Falcons
- Christian McCaffrey – San Francisco 49ers
- De’Von Achane – Miami Dolphins
- Jonathan Taylor – Indianapolis Colts
- James Cook – Buffalo Bills
- Ashton Jeanty – Las Vegas Raiders
- Saquon Barkley – Philadelphia Eagles
- Omarion Hampton – Los Angeles Chargers
- Derrick Henry – Baltimore Ravens
The shortage of stellar running backs means you should take one of these guys if you see them on the board. Don’t pass up the opportunity to have a guy like Saquon Barkley, considering he has been a top running back in fantasy football for multiple seasons.
Wide Receivers
Wide receivers continue to dominate scoring in modern fantasy football drafts, especially in PPR formats. Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson remain elite, while Jaxon Smith-Njigba emerged as the top guy in Seattle last year. CeeDee Lamb, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Puka Nacua round out a deep pool of WR1 options.
Who are the other wide receivers to watch for in the draft? These guys are must-see TV, so get your finger foods and flat-screen TV ready to watch them on Sundays:
- Ja’Marr Chase – Cincinnati Bengals
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba – Seattle Seahawks
- Puka Nacua – Los Angeles Rams
- Amon-Ra St. Brown – Detroit Lions
- Justin Jefferson – Minnesota Vikings
- CeeDee Lamb – Dallas Cowboys
- Chris Olave – New Orleans Saints
- Nico Collins – Houston Texans
- Rashee Rice – Kansas City Chiefs
- A.J. Brown – New England Patriots
Quarterback
Quarterbacks who can run and pass are fantasy gold. Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen remain top-tier, while Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix bring exciting dual-threat upside. Joe Burrow and Jalen Hurts are reliable scorers, though Drake Maye made a case last year why he should be the top signal caller.
Don’t stress about quarterbacks in the first few rounds of your mock draft. However, value picks can offer high fantasy points if drafted strategically. The ability to score touchdowns makes them even more effective. Here are the QBs to prioritize on your fantasy football cheat sheet:
- Josh Allen – Buffalo Bills
- Lamar Jackson – Baltimore Ravens
- Drake Maye – New England Patriots
- Jayden Daniels – Washington Commanders
- Jalen Hurts – Philadelphia Eagles
- Joe Burrow – Joe Burrow
- Dak Prescott – Dallas Cowboys
- Trevor Lawrence – Jacksonville Jaguars
- Justin Herbert – Los Angeles Chargers
- Caleb Williams– Chicago Bears
Don’t draft your quarterback too early because you might miss out on some key skill players. Wait until some come off the board before scooping up one of these QBs.
Tight End
Tight ends vary widely in value, with Brock Bowers and Trey McBride being the undisputed top two. However, despite his position as a frequent Super Bowl favorite on the Kansas City Chiefs, Kelce’s age and reduced usage are worth noting.
Travis Kelce — who plays on the Super Bowl favorite Kansas City Chiefs — used to be one of the best players in all fantasy sports. However, he’s not getting any younger. Other stars are rising, so you have some options for this position. Remember, tight ends also block on the offensive line, so they won’t always go for a catch.
Here are the best tight ends to watch for in the fantasy football rankings:
- Brock Bowers – Las Vegas Raiders
- Trey McBride – Arizona Cardinals
- Colston Loveland – Chicago Bears
- Tyler Warren – Indianapolis Colts
- Tucker Kraft – Green Bay Packers
- Harold Fannin Jr. – Cleveland Browns
- George Kittle – San Francisco 49ers
- Sam LaPorta – Detroit Lions
- Kyle Pitts – Atlanta Falcons
- Jake Ferguson – Dallas Cowboys
Defense and Special Teams
Most leagues require players to draft an entire team’s defense and special teams. Defenses can swing matchups, especially with turnovers and return touchdowns. The Texans, Seahawks and the Broncos lead the pack in 2026, followed by the Rams and Eagles.
Your draft strategy should include targeting kickers from high-scoring offenses. Defenses are tricky because they can be volatile. For example, the $9 billion Dallas Cowboys can provide a bunch of points through interceptions and fumbles. However, getting blown out by the 49ers makes them a liability for your weekly wins.
- Houston Texans
- Seattle Seahawks
- Denver Broncos
- Los Angeles Rams
- Philadelphia Eagles
- New England Patriots
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Baltimore Ravens
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Minnesota Vikings
Remember, the defense also includes special teams. So, a kickoff or punt return for a touchdown could provide unexpected points.
Placekicker
Kickers can make or break your team in 2026. They may give you 18 points one week and a goose egg the next. With the unpredictability, you want the top-tier guys if you can snab them.
Here are the best kickers in the NFL for this upcoming season:
- Brandon Aubrey – Dallas Cowboys
- Ka’imi Fairbairn – Houston Texans
- Cameron Dicker – Los Angeles Chargers
- Jason Myers – Seattle Seahawks
- Cam Little – Jacksonville Jaguars
- Jake Bates – Detroit Lions
- Harrison Butker – Kansas City Cheifs
- Eddy Piniero – San Francisco 49ers
- Chris Boswell – Pittsburgh Steelers
- Tyler Loop – Baltimore Ravens
What to Do After the Draft
You have your roster set for the season, but don’t forget to monitor player trades and weekly fantasy news. Use your phone number to set up alerts for injury updates and waiver wire pickups. If you want to win the championship, there are more tasks to put your team over the top. Here are the most critical post-draft assignments:
- Weekly adjustments: Each week, your players face a new matchup. How will your running backs fare against a great defense? You may need to rely on your bench and adjust your starting lineup. The bench is also critical if one of your starters is hurt, so pay attention to the weekly injury reports.
- Waiver wire: The NFL season brings surprises through rising stars. If they went undrafted in fantasy football, use the waiver wire to pick them up. Be the first to get there to ensure their roster spot.
- Trades: If you like to wheel and deal, trades could be fruitful for your team. Some cohorts may put a player on the trading block, so make a fair offer in return.
Drafting an Elite Fantasy Football Team for 2026
Fantasy football is fun because it makes you feel like a real coach. If you’re a casual NFL fan, this game turns you into an expert because you’ll intently watch all season. Beginners may think it’s intimidating, but our guide makes it much easier.
Original published date 8/21/2025 — Updated 8/25/2026
