Fantasy Football 2026 Advice and Player Predictions
Get expert Fantasy Football 2026 advice with player predictions, sleeper picks, and draft strategies for the upcoming NFL season.
The quick list
- Best overall: Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, for managers willing to spend on a proven target-share bet at a scarce position.
- Best value: Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson, for managers seeking a usable WR3 outcome without requiring him to become the team’s No. 1 target.
- Best for premium tight end layouts: Los Angeles Rams tight end Terrance Ferguson, for two-tight-end and deep-roster leagues that can absorb a volatile second-year projection.
- Best format-specific quarterback: Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, for six-point passing-touchdown and passing-yardage-bonus leagues.
- Best late running back swing: Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Bhayshul Tuten, for managers who can roster contingent backs rather than needing a Week 1 starter.
- Best regression fade: Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert, for managers avoiding a price built on repeat touchdown efficiency.
- Best volume bet at receiver: Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith, for full-PPR leagues where a 120-target path matters more than touchdown predictions.
What fantasy managers are actually deciding
The useful question is not whether a player can break out. Almost every NFL starter has a plausible path to outperforming his draft slot. The decision is whether that path depends on repeatable usage, an injury, an unlikely efficiency spike, or a depth-chart assumption.
That distinction runs through the 2026 advice from ESPN Fantasy and NBC Sports’ Rotoworld panel. The better calls begin with role, offensive environment and scoring settings. The weaker ones start with a memorable finish, a contract headline or a touchdown total that is difficult to reproduce.
Draft price matters, but none of the supplied discussions provides specific average draft positions. That means the proper comparison is not “take Player X in Round Y.” It is whether each player deserves to move ahead of comparable options at his position.
For fantasy purposes, “layout” means league settings: one or two quarterback spots, one or two starting tight ends, PPR scoring, and bonuses for passing production. A player can be correctly valued in one format and mispriced in another.
Comparison table
| Option | Draft-price case | Role and usage case | Best league layout | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brock Bowers, Raiders TE | Pay for an elite tight end | Clear best pass catcher in a thin Raiders receiver room | PPR, tight end premium, two-TE | Requires high-volume usage under a new starting QB |
| Terrance Ferguson, Rams TE | Late upside, not a foundational starter | Could be third target behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams | Two-TE, deep benches | Needs touchdowns or an injury-driven role increase |
| Michael Wilson, Cardinals WR | Value if drafted as WR3 or bench depth | Paid as a core receiver after 78 catches in 2025 | Best ball, three-WR, deep PPR | Trey McBride and Marvin Harrison Jr. limit target ceiling |
| Bhayshul Tuten, Jaguars RB | Contingent-back price only | Opportunity rises if LeQuint Allen Jr. misses time | Deep benches, Zero-RB builds | Chris Rodriguez can take early-down work |
| Dallas Goedert, Eagles TE | Avoid a touchdown-inflated cost | Productive player, but 11 TDs are difficult to repeat | Late TE2 only | Touchdown rate was far above career baseline |
| DeVonta Smith, Eagles WR | Worth a volume-based WR2 price | Five-year track record of target involvement | Full PPR, three-WR | Must prove he can handle lead-receiver attention |
| Jared Goff, Lions QB | Discounted in conventional scoring | Passing volume and touchdown production drive value | Six-point pass TD, yardage bonuses | Limited rushing production |
| Matthew Stafford, Rams QB | Same format-driven appeal | Pocket-passing volume in a high-scoring offense | Six-point pass TD, yardage bonuses | Lower floor if touchdown output dips |
| Joe Burrow, Bengals QB | Upgrade aggressively in pass-heavy formats | Elite passing skill with strong weaponry | Six-point pass TD, yardage bonuses | Less dependent on rushing than dual-threat peers |
| Brock Purdy, 49ers QB | Mid-tier value in bonus formats | Benefits when San Francisco creates yards after catch | Yardage bonuses, six-point pass TD | Production can hinge on receiver health and YAC |
| Michael Wilson, Cardinals WR | Value if cost stays outside top receiver tiers | Contract signals stable organizational investment | Three-WR, best ball | Contract does not equal target dominance |
The elite tight end bet: Brock Bowers versus Terrance Ferguson
Brock Bowers is the cleanest case in this group because the projection is based on an identifiable role rather than a hoped-for promotion. ESPN’s Fantasy Focus staff described him as Las Vegas’ best pass catcher, which matters more than whether he is formally listed as a tight end.
The Raiders named Kirk Cousins their Week 1 starter over first overall pick Fernando Mendoza after Cousins completed 76.5 percent of his preseason passes across two games. The decision emphasized experience and leadership, not draft pedigree. [8] That does not guarantee Bowers a career year, but it reduces uncertainty around the opening offense.
Fantasy Focus floated the aggressive prediction that Bowers could exceed 135 receptions, which would require nearly eight catches per game across a 17-game season. That is a ceiling outcome, not a baseline projection, but the target competition makes the logic understandable.
Terrance Ferguson is a different kind of bet. ESPN’s panel pointed to his second-round draft pedigree, red-zone work and vertical usage, then projected a possible top-12 tight end finish in Year 2. The Rams’ projected offensive ceiling was central to that argument.
The problem is that Ferguson needs efficiency. Behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, he is not the offense’s first read by design. He can work as a late tight end in deeper formats, especially where managers start two tight ends, but he should not be drafted as though volume is already secure.
The running back sleeper: Bhayshul Tuten needs more than one opening
The ESPN mailbag correctly treated the top-10 running back call for Jacksonville’s Bhayshul Tuten as a hot take. Tuten may have an opening because Jaguars back LeQuint Allen Jr., not “Laquent Allen,” suffered a soft-tissue injury and missed the rest of training camp. [1]
Still, Allen’s injury does not automatically turn Tuten into a workhorse. Jacksonville also has Chris Rodriguez, a power runner with a connection to coach Liam Coen from Kentucky. The relevant tape-and-role question is who handles short-yardage and early-down carries, not simply who sits atop a fantasy depth chart.
That makes Tuten a contingent upside selection. He suits rosters that can wait on an uncertain workload, not managers who need a stable RB2 immediately. A top-10 finish would require more than Allen missing time, it would likely require Tuten to win meaningful passing-down work as well.
That is especially important against the broader running back market. Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson remain the consensus top two in 2026 PPR rankings, with Jonathan Taylor, Christian McCaffrey, De’Von Achane, James Cook III, Chase Brown, Ashton Jeanty and Omarion Hampton regularly appearing among the top options. [5] [6]
Tuten belongs in a fundamentally different draft conversation. He is not a safer alternative to that group. He is a lower-cost outcome bet whose value depends on workload clarity arriving later.
Touchdowns are not a role: the Dallas Goedert fade
Dallas Goedert’s 2025 stat line is exactly the kind of result fantasy managers tend to overread. He scored a career-high 11 touchdowns, but ESPN’s Liz Loza noted that 18 percent of his catches became touchdowns, compared with a 7 percent rate over the rest of his career.
That is not an argument that Goedert cannot score. It is an argument that touchdowns are a weak foundation for projection when the player has not previously sustained that conversion rate. A repeat of 11 scores is possible, but it should not be treated as the expected outcome.
The Eagles also have several ways to redistribute red-zone opportunities. Saquon Barkley can absorb goal-line work, while an expanded receiver room can dilute targets. That makes Goedert viable as a later tight end, but dangerous if his draft price assumes another top-five finish.
DeVonta Smith has the volume argument Goedert lacks
The more defensible Philadelphia breakout argument is DeVonta Smith. ESPN’s Loza noted that Smith has topped 100 targets in every season except 2024, when he missed time, and has averaged nearly seven targets per game over five NFL seasons.
A projection around 120 targets is more actionable than a prediction about touchdowns. Full-PPR formats reward the repeatable portion of Smith’s profile: route volume, catchable intermediate targets and a history of involvement regardless of weekly scoring variance.
The caveat is structural. Smith has often benefited from the complementary presence of A.J. Brown, whose physical profile affected coverages and matchup assignments. If Smith becomes the unquestioned No. 1 option, he will face a different set of defensive calls.
That does not make a top-five finish impossible. It makes top-12 a more measured target, because the volume is established while the lead-receiver usage remains a projection.
Quarterback value changes when the rules change
ESPN’s strongest strategic advice concerned unusual scoring settings. In a league with six-point passing touchdowns plus bonuses at 200, 300 and 400 passing yards, the normal premium on rushing quarterbacks should soften.
Jared Goff becomes more valuable because he has surpassed 4,500 passing yards and 30 passing touchdowns in each of the past three seasons, according to ESPN’s discussion. Matthew Stafford fits the same basic build: a high-volume pocket passer attached to a productive passing environment.
Joe Burrow is the clearest upgrade in that format. Passing scores count for the same six points as rushing touchdowns, so his lack of designed rushing becomes less damaging. The relevant advantage becomes touchdown volume, accuracy and a receiver group capable of turning drives into scores.
Brock Purdy is slightly different. His value comes partly from a scheme that manufactures yards after catch. The quarterback receives the fantasy credit, but the statistic does not always mean he created every yard through difficult throws or high-risk volume.
In ordinary four-point passing-touchdown leagues, these quarterbacks remain useful. In passing-bonus formats, they can leap tiers. That is why managers should read league scoring before importing overall rankings into a draft room.
Michael Wilson: contract signal, not a target guarantee
NBC Sports’ Rotoworld staff raised the right question after Arizona extended Michael Wilson. The Cardinals gave Wilson three years and $75 million, with $47 million guaranteed, after his career-best 2025 season. [7] That is meaningful evidence that the team views him as a long-term offensive piece.
It is not evidence that Wilson will lead Arizona in targets. Tight end Trey McBride remains the central receiving threat, and Marvin Harrison Jr. still has the draft pedigree and organizational incentive of a featured receiver. Contracts describe team valuation, not weekly route-tree hierarchy.
Wilson’s 2025 production, 78 receptions for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns, makes him more than a deep sleeper. [7] The practical fantasy case is a boom-or-bust WR3 who can beat that cost if Arizona maintains a pass-heavy approach and Wilson remains an every-down player.
The quarterback situation adds uncertainty. Jacoby Brissett’s presence could support a conservative, target-concentrated passing game, but no manager should assume a season-long quarterback plan simply from September depth-chart positioning. Wilson is appealing because his floor is better than a pure flier’s, not because his ceiling is guaranteed.
Who each option suits
Brock Bowers suits managers who want to pay for a role that is already visible. He is the best blend of talent, target scarcity and positional advantage in this group, particularly in PPR and tight end premium formats.
Terrance Ferguson suits managers in two-tight-end leagues or deep formats, where a volatile TE2 can have real lineup value. His case weakens in shallow leagues that allow managers to stream the position.
Bhayshul Tuten suits patient drafters building bench depth around uncertain workloads. He is a better fit for a Zero-RB roster than for a team asking him to open the season as a weekly starter.
Dallas Goedert suits managers only if his price reflects touchdown regression. The production risk is not that he disappears, it is that a normal touchdown rate turns a top-five result into a replaceable tight end season.
DeVonta Smith suits full-PPR managers who prefer target evidence over touchdown narratives. His floor comes from involvement, while his ceiling depends on how Philadelphia distributes No. 1 receiver responsibilities.
Jared Goff, Matthew Stafford, Joe Burrow and Brock Purdy suit managers who understand their scoring system. In standard leagues, wait for value. In six-point passing-touchdown and yardage-bonus formats, prioritize their passing volume earlier.
Michael Wilson suits managers seeking a receiver with credible starting experience and a plausible expansion path. His extension makes him safer than a fringe roster player, but the presence of McBride and Harrison keeps him in the value tier rather than the cornerstone tier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the best tight ends to draft in fantasy football 2026?
The best overall tight end to draft is Brock Bowers of the Las Vegas Raiders, as he is the clear best pass catcher in a thin Raiders receiver room and fits well in PPR and tight end premium leagues. Terrance Ferguson of the Los Angeles Rams is a good late upside pick for two-tight-end or deep-roster leagues but requires touchdowns or an injury-driven role increase to break out. Dallas Goedert of the Eagles is considered a regression candidate due to an unsustainably high touchdown rate in 2025.
Which quarterbacks have the most value in 2026 fantasy football leagues?
Quarterbacks with the most fantasy value in 2026 are those who benefit from six-point passing touchdown and yardage bonuses. Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals is the top format-specific quarterback in such leagues, followed by Jared Goff, Matthew Stafford, and Brock Purdy, who also gain value in passing-volume and bonus-heavy scoring systems. Rushing ability is less of a factor for these quarterbacks compared to passing production.
What are the top sleeper picks for fantasy football in 2026?
Top sleeper picks include Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Bhayshul Tuten at running back, who is a contingent-back option if LeQuint Allen Jr. misses time, and Los Angeles Rams tight end Terrance Ferguson, who offers late upside in deep or two-tight-end leagues. Both require specific conditions—injuries or role increases—to realize their fantasy potential.
How should I adjust my fantasy football draft strategy for 2026?
Draft strategy should focus on players with clear, repeatable usage paths rather than relying on memorable finishes, contract headlines, or touchdown totals that are difficult to repeat. Consider your league’s scoring settings and roster layout carefully, as player value can vary significantly between formats such as one- or two-quarterback leagues and PPR versus standard scoring. Avoid overpaying for players with inflated touchdown efficiency or uncertain roles.
Which players are expected to regress or outperform in 2026 fantasy football?
Dallas Goedert is expected to regress due to an unusually high touchdown rate in 2025 that is unlikely to continue. Brock Bowers is projected to outperform based on his established role as the Raiders’ top pass catcher. Michael Wilson is valued as a stable WR3 option but may not lead his team in targets despite his contract extension. Bhayshul Tuten’s opportunity depends on the health of LeQuint Allen Jr. and competition from Chris Rodriguez.
How we researched this
This article was assembled from 5 video sources across 4 channels, 8 cited references.
Nothing here is based on hands-on testing. Where a figure or finding appears, it belongs to the source cited beside it, and the writing says so rather than implying otherwise. Every source is listed below so you can check it.
Sources
The HOTTEST Takes for the 2026 Fantasy Football Season | Fantasy Focus — NFL on ESPN
DOMINATE your Fantasy Draft with this last minute advice! | ESPN Fantasy — NFL on ESPN
Mike Vrabel on the Importance of Bringing the Patriots to the Pro Football Hall of Fame | All Access — New England Patriots
2026 Fantasy Football Sleepers, Breakouts and Busts | Rotoworld Football Show (FULL) | NFL on NBC — NFL on NBC
Robert Griffith Reacts To Best Games, Favorite Plays & Moments From NFL Career | Minnesota Vikings — Minnesota Vikings
LeQuint Allen Jr. to Miss the Rest of Training Camp - NFL News | Fantasy Football
Fantasy Football Sleepers 2026: 4 Players With Breakout Potential | FanDuel Research
6 Fantasy Football Sleepers With Huge 2026 Upside - The Us Sports
2026 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings | DIRECTV Insider
Fantasy Football Rankings, Tiers & Targets: Running Backs Overview (2026) - FantasyPros
Cardinals, WR Michael Wilson agree to reported 3-year, $75 million extension - Yahoo Sports
Raiders Name Kirk Cousins Starting Quarterback Over Fernando Mendoza | Fox Sports
Watch Fantasy Football 2026 Season Advice and Predictions on Youtube
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