The Most Must-Have Players in Fantasy Football This Year

There is no better time of year in fantasy football than draft season. For every manager in every league, hope springs eternal. Last year's glories are about to be repeated. Last year's disappointments are going to be cast aside.

Because everyone believes they will draft a championship squad.

It's still early in the summer. Granted, some fantasy diehards are already drafting (I may have made two picks in an online slow draft while writing this), but for most, this is the time to be doing research.

Make no mistake: Value is what creates those championship squads.

And whether it's a low-end weekly starter with elite upside or a later-round selection with solid starter upside, every player listed here is that kind of value.

You may want to write these names down.

QB Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack

ADP: QB11

Trevor Lawrence had himself a year in his first season with Liam Coen in 2025—over 4,000 passing yards, a career-high 29 touchdown passes and a fourth-place finish among quarterbacks in fantasy points.

Now, Coen told reporters he is hoping an improved deep passing attack and a stronger rapport between Lawrence and Brian Thomas Jr. will lead to an even more prolific offense in 2026:

"That chemistry with those two is so important because if we can be explosive with those down the field routes, being able to push the ball down the field with those two specifically, it truly unlocks what everybody else can do. Not only just what he and BT are able to do, it helps Brent Strange, it helps Parker Washington, it helps Jakobi Meyers, and it helps the run game. Because now it's like, okay, if we keep throwing over your head, now maybe you have to play more two high safeties, be able to lean coverage."

Lawrence has a loaded wide receiver corps. He was fantasy football's highest-scoring quarterback from Week 12 on last year—by a wide margin. He ranked in the top-10 among quarterbacks in rushing yards last year and tied for the second-most scores on the ground.

And he's available at the back end of QB1 territory in drafts.

QB Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

AP Photo/Stephen Brashear

ADP: QB12

Confession time. More often than not, this analyst waits to draft a starting quarterback. It's an easy strategy to get behind when guys like Matthew Stafford of the Rams are the last QB1 selected on average.

All Stafford did last year was lead the league in passing yards (4,707) and touchdown passes (46) on the way to being named the NFL MVP. Only Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills had more fantasy points among quarterbacks.

This year, Stafford is attempting to win a second Super Bowl and become the first quarterback ever to throw 40 touchdown passes four times.

Steven Ridings of Turf Show Times believes the 38-year-old can pull it off:

"Sean McVay has never been shy when it comes to getting his player a record. A fourth 40+ touchdown season will further advocate for Stafford's Hall of Fame resume. The Rams '13' personnel has been a catalyst for Stafford's effective play. Lastly, consistent rapport with Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, Colby Parkinson, Terrance Ferguson, and Kyren Williams gives Stafford every opportunity to have another monster year."

Stafford doesn't even need to hit 40 scores to return value at this asking price. But if he does and cracks the top five in fantasy points again, he's the kind of player who wins leagues.

RB Cam Skattebo, New York Giants

AP Photo/Butch Dill

ADP: RB19

Cam Skattebo came roaring out of the gate once he entered the starting lineup for the New York Giants. Over a month-long stint as the clear starter for Big Blue, he was a top-10 PPR back.

An ankle injury cut Skattebo's first season short, but he's expected to be a full-go for Week 1.

And as Adam Pfeifer noted for A Fantasy Life, a healthy Skattebo should receive a featured back's workload:

"From Weeks 4-7 last year, Cam Skattebo handled 60% of the carries, 85% of the short-down-and-distance snaps, 78% of the carries from inside the 5-yard line and 69% of the overall snaps. During that same span, he averaged 18.8 carries, 74 rushing yards, 4.3 targets, 33 receptions and 18.7 PPR points per game, good for RB8 in fantasy. Even with Tyrone Tracy returning from injury, Skattebo remained the clear starter."

It's not an especially difficult calculus. Touches equal opportunities for fantasy production. And there should be no shortage of those touches in 2026, both as a rusher and receiver. The Giants have also quietly assembled arguably a top-10 offensive line with the addition of guard Francis Mauigoa in this year's draft.

Skattebo has legitimate RB1 upside, but he's barely being drafted inside the top 20 at the position.

RB David Montgomery, Houston

AP Photo/Maria Lysaker

ADP: RB23

For the past few years, David Montgomery toiled in the shadow of Jahmyr Gibbs in Detroit. In each of the past three seasons, his workload and production decreased. Last year, he failed to tally 1,000 total yards for the first time in his career.

Now, however, Montgomery is the lead back in Houston after an offseason trade. And Derek Brown of Fantasy Pros expects a big-time bounce-back this season from the 29-year-old:

"Montgomery still has the juice to produce as a workhorse this season. Last season, he ranked 30th in missed tackle rate, but he was 12th in yards after contact per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). His receiving chops are also still alive and well, as he was also 22nd in yards per route run and 12th in first downs per route run. Many will worry that Montgomery will split Houston's backfield workload with Woody Marks this season, but I don't see that happening. Montgomery should absorb a workload close to what Joe Mixon saw in 2024. In 2024, Mixon ranked fifth in opportunity share, 14th in snap share, and 13th in carries among running backs, finishing with 281 touches."

In that 2024 season, Mixon finished 10th in PPR points per game. The last time Montgomery got 280 touches, he was a top-five fantasy back.

That's not bad for a guy barely being drafted as a low-end fantasy RB2.

RB Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans

AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez

ADP: RB30

Tony Pollard generates about as much enthusiasm from fantasy drafters as a trip to the dentist. His early average draft position is in the middle of Round 7, smack in the heart of the "RB Dead Zone."

However, per Nathan Jahnke of Pro Football Focus, there could be significantly more upside with Pollard than there first appears:

"Most of Pollard's rate stats have been average, but there are signs he is a very good running back held back by his situation. He has averaged 3.3 yards after contact per carry over the last four seasons, tied for fourth-best among running backs with at least 500 carries, behind only De'Von Achane, Derrick Henry and Bijan Robinson. His 1.1 yards before contact per carry rank tied for fifth-worst over that span. He has also generated explosive plays at a high rate, earning a +1.0 run grade on 4.2% of his carries, eighth-best among running backs."

That situation should be better in 2026, whether it's along the offensive line or in the passing game. Pollard has quietly eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards in four straight seasons. He has averaged 43 catches the past three years and has consistently low-end RB2 fantasy numbers.

If Pollard can better that finish in 2026, he'll be a godsend for managers who attack other positions early on draft day.

WR Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman

ADP: WR20

Emeka Egbuka's rookie season was a tale of two years. He had the look of a superstar early on when he was a top-10 receiver over the season's first half, but his numbers tailed way off from there as his target share dwindled.

The situation has changed in Tampa Bay this year, though, and SI's Michael Fabiano believes fantasy managers are going to get a lot more of that early-season Egbuka in 2026:

"Egbuka looked like he was going to break out as a rookie, scoring 20-plus fantasy points in three of his first five games. The wheels fell off after that, though, as he scored double digits just twice the rest of the season. That was partially due to the returns of Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan, not to mention a midseason hamstring ailment. With Evans signing in San Francisco, I love Egbuka to become the top option in Tampa Bay's passing attack."

Evans is gone. Godwin is now 30 and has missed significant time over the past two years. There is an excellent chance Fabiano is right and Egbuka emerges as Tampa Bay's No. 1 receiver.

And if that's the case, top-12 fantasy numbers are well within his reach.

WR Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars

AP Photo/John Raoux

ADP: WR33

Given Trevor Lawrence was already included here, it shouldn't be all that surprising to see the other half of the pitch-and-catch duo Coen was raving about listed here as well.

As a rookie in 2024, Thomas was a force—87 catches, 1,282 yards, 10 scores and top-five fantasy numbers. But the bottom fell out last year, when he caught 48 passes, barely topped 700 yards and scored twice. He was WR42 in PPR points.

That is not ideal, but Colin McTamany of FTN expects Thomas to rebound in the season to come:

"Thomas should still assume the majority of snaps as the primary outside receiver for the 2026 Jaguars. That's where he lined up on a team-high 337 snaps (76.6%) last season. Again, in just 14 games, Thomas led all Jaguars with 1,315 air yards, which ranked 19th league-wide. Thomas' 14.5-yard average depth of target also ranked fourth among pass catchers with at least 50 targets. He also drew 6.5 targets per game, tied with players such as Tee Higgins and Michael Pittman Jr."

Thomas didn't forget how to play football. And with all due respect to Parker Washington and Jakobi Meyers, they are neither the vertical or red-zone threats that Thomas is.

Will he crack the top five again? Maybe not, but the potential is there for Thomas to obliterate his low-end WR3 price tag.

WR Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts

AP Photo/David J. Phillip

ADP: WR48

If you're an old-school fantasy manager who likes to load up on running backs early, you're going to need a later-round wideout target with the potential to become a reliable weekly starter.

Enter Josh Downs of the Indianapolis Colts.

Two years ago, he was quietly targeted over 100 times, catching 72 of those targets for 803 yards and five scores. And with Michael Pittman Jr. now in Pittsburgh, Downs is now the Colts' No. 2 wide receiver and primary slot receiver.

Per Matt Donnelly of Rotoballer, that has the potential to be a winning combination:

"With (Daniel) Jones returning from an Achilles injury, there is a good chance that the Colts offense will get the ball out of their quarterbacks' hands more quickly than normal until his mobility returns to full. In that case, quick, short passes in the intermediate area will be essential. With Downs' ability to create separation, he will be looked to early on. What makes Downs a strong breakout candidate is the combination of the 111 vacated targets left behind by Michael Pittman Jr.'s offseason departure. With that departure, Downs will be afforded even more opportunities to operate from the slot. Last season, Pittman ran more than 30% of his routes from the slot. Downs is nearly indefensible from that area of the field."

Alec Pierce may have the bigger name in Indianapolis, but it's Downs who presents the opportunity to be a bigger value.

TE Isaiah Likely, New York Giants

AP Photo/Seth Wenig

ADP: TE12

Once you get outside the top-10 tight ends, there's a lot less certainty. That's the risk of fading the position in drafts.

But there isn't a tight end in fantasy with more fantasy upside relative to cost than Isaiah Likely of the New York Giants—if he hits.

There's zero guarantee that will happen. Likely's career high in receiving yards is 477. He's never been targeted more than 60 times in a season. But that was playing second fiddle to Mark Andrews in Baltimore.

Now, Likely is John Harbaugh's new No. 1 TE with the Giants—and he could be busy in his new home, according to Yahoo's Cory Bonini:

"The fit makes sense, especially since Wan'Dale Robinson left for Tennessee, which removes the most reliable target from last year's offense, and Malik Nabers is still working back from a torn ACL. That creates room for Likely to quickly get involved, especially in the short and intermediate areas where young quarterbacks often lean on tight ends. Aside from the obvious John Harbaugh connection, offensive coordinator Matt Nagy is known to frequently incorporate tight ends into his designs."

Likely is already building a rapport with Jaxson Dart. Nabers may not be ready for Week 1 and, even if he is, he won't be 100 percent. We've already seen what Likely can do when he's featured in the passing game.

Gary Davenport is a two-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year. Follow Gary on X at @IDPGodfather.