Full Breakdown
2026 Fantasy Football Positional Rankings Released
5/6/2026, 2:49:01 AM
Core Release: Updated Rankings for Quarterbacks, Running Backs, and Wide Receivers
Matthew Berry’s “Way Too Early” tables for the 2026 fantasy season and Sports Illustrated’s quarterback list by Michael Fabiano were published in early May 2026. Berry ranks 70 players at each position; Fabiano offers a separate top-40 quarterback ranking. Both agree on the top three quarterbacks—Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Drake Maye—signaling consensus on elite talent.
Background: Offseason Moves Shaping the Lists
The 2026 NFL offseason featured several high-profile moves. Kyler Murray transferred from Arizona to Minnesota, Malik Willis became Miami’s starter, and Tua Tagovailoa signed with Atlanta to compete with Michael Penix Jr. Fabiano notes these changes make “the quarterback rankings look a bit different this coming season after a very active NFL offseason.”
Key Analysts & Outlets
- Matthew Berry – Senior fantasy analyst, NBC Sports, author of the “Way Too Early” rankings.
- Michael Fabiano – Fantasy football analyst, Sports Illustrated; co-host of the Fantasy Dirt Podcast.
- NBC Sports – Publishes Berry’s comprehensive positional tables.
- Sports Illustrated – Releases Fabiano’s focused quarterback ranking and commentary.
Top Rankings by Position (Data & Statistics)
Quarterbacks – Berry (top 10): 1 Josh Allen (BUF), 2 Lamar Jackson (BAL), 3 Drake Maye (NE), 4 Jayden Daniels (WSH), 5 Jalen Hurts (PHI), 6 Joe Burrow (CIN), 7 Caleb Williams (CHI), 8 Trevor Lawrence (JAX), 9 Jaxson Dart (NYG), 10 Brock Purdy (SF).
Quarterbacks – Fabiano (top 10): 1 Josh Allen (BUF), 2 Lamar Jackson (BAL), 3 Drake Maye (NE), 4 Jalen Hurts (PHI), 5 Joe Burrow (CIN), 6 Caleb Williams (CHI), 7 Jayden Daniels (WAS), 8 Patrick Mahomes (KC), 9 Jaxson Dart (NYG), 10 Dak Prescott (DAL).
Running Backs – Berry (top 10): 1 Bijan Robinson (ATL), 2 Jahmyr Gibbs (DET), 3 Christian McCaffrey (SF), 4 Jonathan Taylor (IND), 5 James Cook (BUF), 6 Ashton Jeanty (LV), 7 De’Von Achane (MIA), 8 Saquon Barkley (PHI), 9 Kenneth Walker III (KC), 10 Omarion Hampton (LAC).
Wide Receivers – Berry (top 10): 1 Puka Nacua (LAR), 2 Ja’Marr Chase (CIN), 3 Jaxon Smith-Njigba (SEA), 4 Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET), 5 CeeDee Lamb (DAL), 6 Justin Jefferson (MIN), 7 Drake London (ATL), 8 Rashee Rice (KC), 9 Malik Nabers (NYG), 10 Nico Collins (HOU).
Official Commentary on Rankings
Berry emphasizes the depth of talent across all three positions, noting the inclusion of rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza as the overall first-overall pick. Fabiano stresses that the “very active NFL offseason” has reshaped the quarterback hierarchy, especially with the relocation of established starters and the emergence of new franchise quarterbacks.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Both analysts agree on the top three quarterbacks, but diverge thereafter. Berry places Trevor Lawrence at #8 and Bo Nix at #14, while Fabiano ranks Patrick Mahomes at #8 and Bo Nix at #11. Dak Prescott appears at #11 in Berry’s list and #10 in Fabiano’s. No source provides a unified consensus beyond the top three, leaving the middle tier of rankings open to interpretation.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Coming out of the 2026 NFL draft, the Bills quarterback leads Lamar Jackson, Drake Maye and others in our top-40 ranks Michael Fabiano | Share on Facebook Share on X Add us as a preferred source Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen will be the first player drafted at his position in the majority of 2026 fantasy football drafts.” — Michael Fabiano, Sports Illustrated
- “Coming out of the 2026 NFL draft, the Bills quarterback leads Lamar Jackson, Drake Maye and others in our top-40 ranks Michael Fabiano | Share on Facebook Share on X Add us as a preferred source Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen will be the first player drafted at his position in the majority of 2026 fantasy football drafts.” — Michael Fabiano, Sports Illustrated
- “| Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Round 1 Rookie Winners and Losers | Round 2-3 Winners and Losers | Draft Grades | Veteran Winners and Losers | Rookie-Only Top 50 Dynasty Ranks | Rookie-Only Position Ranks in Dynasty The quarterback rankings will look a bit different this coming season after a very active NFL offseason.” — Michael Fabiano, Sports Illustrated
- “Kyler Murray has moved from Arizona to Minnesota, Malik Willis is the new starter in Miami and Tua Tagovailoa signed with Atlanta to compete with incumbent Michael Penix Jr.” — Michael Fabiano, Sports Illustrated
- “His weekly rankings and Start 'Em, Sit 'Em articles are must-reads for fantasy players.” — Michael Fabiano, Sports Illustrated
What’s Next
The rankings will guide the upcoming 2026 fantasy drafts, with early selections expected for the top-ranked quarterbacks and running backs. Both NBC Sports and Sports Illustrated plan to update their lists as preseason performances and training-camp reports emerge, providing fresh data for draft-day decisions.
