With the 2026 NFL Draft in the books and a little bit of downtime before OTAs and minicamps get rolling, it's a great time for an early overview of this season's fantasy football landscape.
Perhaps the most intriguing and uncertain aspect of any fantasy analysis at this point is where some of the top rookies will be slotted. No. 1 overall pick Francisco Mendoza is likely to start at quarterback for the Raiders, but can he produce from Day 1? And will RB Jeremiyah Love, drafted third overall, have as difficult an adjustment period in Arizona as Mendoza's new teammate Ashton Jeanty did last season?
Of course, there's also the annual debate of how the first round of fantasy drafts will shake out. Go heavy on running backs? Or grab a stud wide receiver?
Here is an early look at this season's projected top 150 overall fantasy players, courtesy of USA TODAY Sports' Elisha Twerski, followed by an analysis of some emerging trends.
The NFL Draft regularly produces its most memorable moments off the stage, when selections end with a handshake or embrace from the commissioner.See the moments when draft night emotions peak as Roger Goodell greets players hearing their names called.Above, Texas Tech Red Raiders linebacker David Bailey embraces NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after he is selected by the New York Jets as the number two pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium.
1 / 6Roger Goodell shares hugs with players on the NFL draft stageThe NFL Draft regularly produces its most memorable moments off the stage, when selections end with a handshake or embrace from the commissioner.See the moments when draft night emotions peak as Roger Goodell greets players hearing their names called.Above, Texas Tech Red Raiders linebacker David Bailey embraces NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after he is selected by the New York Jets as the number two pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium.
The NFL Draft regularly produces its most memorable moments off the stage, when selections end with a handshake or embrace from the commissioner.See the moments when draft night emotions peak as Roger Goodell greets players hearing their names called.Above, Texas Tech Red Raiders linebacker David Bailey embraces NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after he is selected by the New York Jets as the number two pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium.
Rankings reflect a scoring format that awards 0.5 fantasy points per reception.
Here are some key points from our first set of 2026 fantasy football rankings:
The pendulum keeps swinging back and forth at the front of the first round. Last season, WR Ja'Marr Chase was the consensus No. 1 ... but this time around, running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson lead the way. Receivers still dominate the first round though, with Chase third and eight of them among the overall top 13.
With questions at quarterback, Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson (a former consensus No. 1 overall pick himself) drops to 12th overall. If that holds up once we get into draft season, pairing Jefferson with Ashton Jeanty, DeVon Achane or TE1 Trey McBride (maybe even RB Christian McCaffrey) could be a phenomenal foundation for fantasy teams.
After a dismal offensive showing in 2025, several Philadelphia Eagles stars are ranked much lower than they were a year ago. Notably: RB Saquon Barkley (No. 23 overall/RB 10), WR A.J. Brown (No. 26 overall/WR 12), WR DeVonta Smith (No. 27 overall/WR 13) and especially QB Jalen Hurts (No. 69 overall/QB 7).
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Top 150 fantasy football players for 2026, including rookies, analysis