The 2026 fantasy football season is upon us, which means we need to come up with a plan of attack to shape our fantasy football teams. The past two seasons have been good for top running backs in the first round. A lack of injuries and defenses taking deep balls have made early-round defenders more valuable lately.
This year could follow a similar pattern, with teams taking big plays, forcing offense down the field and passing quick, short passes. Unfortunately, we cannot predict the damage, it is the way things are. Last year, many decided not to risk picking up Christian McCaffrey, but he went on to have another great season, with nary a nick.
Of course, running backs who get more touches are more prone to injury, but that’s the price you pay for that kind of usage.
This question is not that difficult at this point. I like Bijan Robinson, but I don’t like the Falcons’ entire offense. Robinson remains my No. 2 player overall, but Jahmir Gibbs is set up for another great season in a good Lions offense. With twelve shutout games and a defense that allowed the 10th-highest points per game last season, the sky is the limit for Gibbs this year.
Are there any situations where you should pick someone other than Bijan Robinson at No. 2 overall?
I like Robinson’s game and he can beat a mediocre offense at this point in his career. However, I can see myself going with Puka Nakua in an entire PPR league. His ability to deepen his hospitality is truly generational. The only thing that might hold me back is that Naku isn’t the brightest bulb in the box and takes a lot of punishment in the middle of all these targets. Last year, despite missing one game, he was the clear leader in receptions and yards. He had a lot of minor injuries but he played. Of course, there is also the possibility of some form of suspension for off-field offences. He’s a risky pick at No. 2 overall and I usually pick Robinson, but throwing Naquan and his into the mix is a risk that could pay off.
Don’t worry about going RB-RB
I mostly play in half PPR leagues and it seems to be the most prevalent system out there. I’m looking to get the highest run(s) in that scoring system. Although I love top receivers, I’m looking for receivers in the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th rounds more than running backs. The RB position falls off a cliff in the 4th round, but there are still solid receivers waiting to be pounced on. That’s not to say I won’t take Naqua, Ja’Mar Chase, JSN, and Amon-Ra St. Brown, but I like the WR ranks with Chris Olave, Malik Nabers, George Pickens, DeVonta Smith, Tay Floins, Taygbu and I’m not worried about getting running backs I can trust to get their 20+ touches per game. McConkey, Garrett Wilson, Jaylen Waddle, Luther Burden, Jameson Williams and Parker Washington. If I can get two running backs and then two receivers from this team in the first two rounds, I’ll be very happy with how my draft goes.
How high should we take Christian McCaffrey?
This is a question I’ve gone back and forth with this season. We know that CMC has dealt with a lot of damage in the past and has a lot of carriers and accommodations in the works. It wouldn’t surprise anyone if McCaffrey got hurt this year. He’s also seen his efficiency metrics dip, which is partly due to him and partly to the 49ers offense last year. So, there are valid concerns.
Can any running back other than Gibbs and Robinson compete with CMC’s workload and fantasy? The answer is no. Backfields are divided for most teams, but we know that’s not the case with McCaffrey. And even when he was asked to carry the team on his back last year, they didn’t break even with 440 touchdowns. It’s risky to be sure, but I’m willing to reach for CMC with the No. 3 pick ahead of Naqua and Chase.
Run to the target late in the first round
ADP now has James Cook, Ashton Jeanty (injured), Saquon Barkley, Devon Achan, Chase Brown, Omarion Hampton, Kenneth Walker and Derrick Henry at RB9 through RB18. As the first round draws to a close, these are the breeders to choose between. These aren’t all slam dunk guys, but they are solid. From this group, I’ll usually take Cook or Barkley if they fall, and I’ll reach for Walker, Hampton, and Brown a bit. Achane is a great player, but I’m scared of Miami’s tanking offense. He’s still a good second-round pick, but I’d let someone else take him in the first round or early in the second.
I want to get at least one running back in the first two rounds, with two being good going into most of my drafts. I then want to make up for the top wide receivers by taking my favorite in rounds 3-6, watching for a tight final price and a top QB to fall. If that top QB doesn’t fall, I’m fine with two later round QBs, especially if I have deep benches. In the later rounds, I also like to catch a lot of flipped “sleeper” type running backs, like lotto tickets. RB, RB, WR, WR, TE, WR, WR, QB, WR, RB, RB, RB, would be a start that sounds perfect on paper.
I’m more than eligible to take one of the stud receivers with a one-point PPR, but I still want to make sure I get a solid run to top 5 and I’m still good with two running backs to start.
