New Fantasy Football 2026 Mobile Cheat Sheet, Mock-Draft Strategy for Top Positions

The 2026 NFL season is rapidly approaching, and with it comes the arrival of Fantasy Football drafts.

Selecting the right players in the right positions is key to ensuring bragging rights and league championships.

Who are the top players at each position entering the season?

Find out with this preview.

Quarterbacks

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The top 15 quarterbacks entering the fantasy football season are:

1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
2. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
3. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
4. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
5. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
6. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
7. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
8. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
9. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
10. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
11. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
12. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
13. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
14. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
15. Drake Maye, New England Patriots

When drafting a quarterback for your team, it is of the utmost importance to maximize potential points, which is why the more mobile players are ranked ahead of traditional throwers.

Former league MVP Allen is the prototypical fantasy quarterback in that he can sling the ball around the field but also make big plays with his feet. He is a dual-threat quarterback with the potential to come away from any game with a multi-TD stat line.

He was the top-performing QB in fantasy last season, averaging 22 points per game, according to Fantasy Pros. There is no reason to suggest that he will not be at or near the top of the rankings at the conclusion of the upcoming season.

Caleb Williams may be the most intriguing player at this position following a huge bounce-back season that saw him rank sixth amongst quarterbacks, averaging 19 points per game. With a second year under head coach Ben Johnson, do not be surprised if the Bears signal-caller finds himself in the top five.

Be cautious with Drake Maye. Despite a top-two finish last season, the Patriots QB and MVP runner-up may suffer a decline, especially if teams find new ways to pressure him, as the Seattle Seahawks did in the Super Bowl. Even with wide receiver AJ Brown on board, managers taking the North Carolina export may be in for disappointment.

Running Backs

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The top 20 running backs are:

1. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
2. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
3. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
4. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
5. James Cook, Buffalo Bills
6. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles
7. Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders
8. Kenneth Walker III, Kansas City Chiefs
9. Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
10. Omarion Hampton, Las Angeles Chargers
11. De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins
12. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
13. Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals
14. Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys
15. Travis Etienne Jr., New Orleans Saints

The running back position has long been the most important in fantasy, thanks to players' ability to rush and receive, resulting in more points in PPR leagues, especially. Last season, Gibbs, Robinson, Taylor, and McCaffrey were the lifeblood of their respective teams, and they should be considered the elites at the position again ahead of the 2026 campaign.

Gibbs' explosiveness in the run and passing games gives him the highest ceiling and should make him the most coveted among managers. The Lions back had three 30-point games last season and one 44-point outing, per Fantasy Pros.

Taylor was the lone bright spot for the Colts following Daniel Jones' Achilles injury, while Robinson and McCaffrey thrived regardless of who was handing them the ball.

Kenneth Walker could be a breakout fantasy stud in 2026 for the Chiefs, giving the team its best, most consistent runner since peak Kareem Hunt. With Patrick Mahomes bouncing back from a torn ACL and MCL, do not be surprised if the hard-running back gets more touches early on.

Do not sleep on Etienne Jr. in New Orleans, where head coach Kellen Moore will likely use him in both phases of the offense. He should give second-year quarterback Tyler Shough an explosive safety blanket to dump the ball off to in high-pressure situations.

Wide Receivers

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The top 20 wide receivers are:

1. Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
2. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
3. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks
4. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
5. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
6. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
7. George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys
8. AJ Brown, New England Patriots
9. Nico Collins, Houston Texans
10. Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints
11. Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens
12. Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
13. Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams
14. Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
15. DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles
16. Malik Nabers, New York Giants
17. Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers
18. Drake London, Atlanta Falcons
19. Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers
20. Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears

Any of the top three wide receivers in the game would be reasonable as the first off the board at their position. Chase, Nacua, and Smith-Njigba are all game-changing, dominating wide receivers who put up big numbers.

While his usage out of the backfield was down compared to previous years, Nacua can add scoring based on his rushing ability. Both he and his divisional rival, Smith-Njigba, averaged over 20 points per game in PPR leagues last season, per Fantasy Pros.

Chase likely would have had quarterback Joe Burrow not suffered an injury that kept him out of action for months and left his fantasy production at the mercy of Jake Browning and Joe Flacco.

Dallas' high-octane passing game means Lamb and Pickens are both worthy top-10 choices at the position, while the return of second-year players Egbuka and McMillan should attract considerable attention based on their performances in their rookie campaigns.

Brown is a potential game-changer for the Patriots, but the offensive line and quarterback Drake Maye's ability to escape pressure may determine how prolific a season he has in year one with the franchise.

Tight Ends

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The top 15 tight ends are:

1. Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders
2. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals
3. Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers
4. Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears
5. Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts
6. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions
7. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
8. Terrance Ferguson, Los Angeles Rams
9. Dalton Kincaid, Houston Texans
10. Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons
11. Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns
12. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
13. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
14. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles
15. Isaiah Likely, New York Giants

It is Bowers and McBride, then everyone else when it comes to tight ends and fantasy. They are the elite of the elite, game-changing players who exhibit wide receiver-like tendencies, despite lining up as tight ends.

They are safety blankets for quarterbacks in Las Vegas and Arizona and can score from any spot on the field.

Bowers suffered from nagging injuries last season, but if he can regain his form from the previous year, he is a no-brainer at the top of the list. McBride was the league's best last season, averaging 18.6 points per game in PPR leagues, a full six points better than second-place finisher Kyle Pitts.

Speaking of Pitts, injuries to Atlanta quarterbacks Michael Penix and Tua Tagovailoa are worth keeping an eye on before selecting him too high and regretting it.

D/ST and Kickers

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Top 10 D/ST

1. Houston Texans
2. Denver Broncos
3. Los Angeles Rams
4. Philadelphia Eagles
5. Seattle Seahawks
6. Minnesota Vikings
7. New England Patriots
8. Los Angeles Chargers
9. Pittsburgh Steelers
10. Jacksonville Jaguars

Top 10 Kickers

1. Ka'imi Fairbairn, Houston Texans
2. Jason Myers, Seattle Seahawks
3. Cameron Dicker, Los Angeles Chargers
4. Chris Boswell, Pittsburgh Steelers
5. Bandon Aubrey, Dallas Cowboys
6. Cam Little, Jacksonville Jaguars
7. Eddy Pinero, San Francisco 49ers
8. Harrison Mevis, Los Angeles Rams
9. Tyler Loop, Baltimore Ravens
10. Jake Bates, Detroit Lions