Way-Too-Early 2026 Fantasy Football Mock Draft
Updated: Friday, January 2, 2026The 2025 NFL season isn't over yet, but for most, the fantasy football season has ended in Week 17.
Hopefully you finished with a title (or two or more), but either way, it's (arguably) never too early to look ahead to how fantasy drafts may play out for next season.
Disclaimer: This one-man, three-round fantasy football mock draft is based on half-PPR scoring. All statistical references are also based on half-PPR scoring, unless otherwise noted.
If you're looking for my 2026 fantasy football rankings, those will be posted Monday.
Without further ado, here are how the first three rounds of a 2026 fantasy football draft would play out if I were making all of the picks.
2026 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Round 1
1.01. Bijan Robinson, RB1, Atlanta Falcons
Robinson leads the NFL in yards from scrimmage (2,255) this year and since entering the NFL three seasons ago (5,605). Over the past three seasons, he also leads all running backs in targets (258), receptions (195), and receiving yards (1,728). The talent, versatility, and durability make him an easy choice for me at 1.01. The sky's the limit either way but especially if the Falcons don't re-sign Tyler Allgeier, who has a team-high eight rushing touchdowns and will be an unrestricted free agent in March.
1.02. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB2, Detroit Lions
The third-year back has racked up 3,655 yards from scrimmage and 37 touchdowns in 33 games over the past two seasons. Fantasy managers may have felt let down in the playoffs with RB32, RB13, and RB38 performances in Weeks 15-17, respectively, but Gibbs has as much upside as any back. He was the only running back with three games of 170-plus scrimmage yards and multiple scores in 2025.
1.03. Christian McCaffrey, RB3, San Francisco 49ers
Should CMC be the RB1 and 1.01 in 2026 drafts? After all, he finished 2025 (Week 17) as fantasy's RB1? Going into the final game of the season, McCaffrey is four receptions shy of the century mark with 2025 being his third career season of 2,000-plus YFS and 17 touchdowns. Even if McCaffrey averages the most fantasy points per game in 2026, he turns 30 in June (vs. Robinson/Gibbs entering age-24 seasons) and has played single-digit games in three of the past six seasons. All three backs are elite, but Robinson and Gibbs feel safer.
1.04. Ja'Marr Chase, WR1, Cincinnati Bengals
One year removed from a triple-crown receiving season (127/1708/17), Chase's year-over-year numbers were down in part due to Joe Burrow's injury (Weeks 3-12). There are other wide receivers worth considering as the WR1, such as Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Puka Nacua, etc., but Chase remains my WR1 as he enters his age-26 season.
1.05. Puka Nacua, WR2, Los Angeles Rams
Nacua leads the NFL in receptions (119) and YPG (109.3), and he has set career highs across the board in 2025. With Davante Adams (hamstring) also out a couple of games, Nacua has been especially dominant in four December games — 33/620/5 on 48 targets. While predicting injuries is a fool's errand, Nacua's physical and fearless play style perhaps makes him more vulnerable to missing a game (or more) due to injury.
1.06. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR3, Seattle Seahawks
Through three NFL seasons, Smith-Njigba has essentially broken out twice as the former Ohio State receiver has averaged 36.9, 66.5, and 106.8 yards per game, respectively. JSN is certainly in the same tier as Chase and Nacua, but the difference comes down to quarterbacks (Joe Burrow and Matthew Stafford vs. Sam Darnold) and philosophy. Smith-Njigba leads the NFL in receiving yards despite Seattle ranking bottom five in pass attempts through Week 17. (By contrast, the Bengals and Rams both rank top five.)
1.07. Jonathan Taylor, RB4, Indianapolis Colts
It's a shame (for many reasons) that Daniel Jones tore his Achilles when he did. Provided he's back with the Colts and ready for the 2026 reason, it bodes well for Taylor's 2026 outlook. Over the past four games including when Jones sustained the injury early in Week 14, Taylor has averaged only 3.3 YPC and 6.8 Y/R (compared to 5.7 YPC and 8.7 Y/R before then). He led RBs in fantasy points (23.3/G) through Week 13 and has averaged nearly 10 fewer since then (13.6).
1.08. De'Von Achane, RB5, Miami Dolphins
Achane, who currently leads the NFL in YPC (5.7), has either set or tied career highs in touches (305), YFS (1,838), and touchdowns (12) in 2025. In addition, he has a total of 145 receptions over the past two seasons. Miami will enter the offseason with some question marks that could impact Achane including coach (Mike McDaniel likely to return?), quarterback (Tua Tagovailoa less likely to return?), etc.
1.09. James Cook III, RB6, Buffalo Bills
It was an eventful offseason for Cook, who signed a contract extension in August, but he delivered for the Bills and his fantasy managers. The fourth-year back currently leads the NFL in rushing (1,606 yards, 100.4 YPG). While he is shy of last year's 18 touchdowns, he now has 32 over the past two seasons and he has 101 more touches than he had last season. If this volume continues in 2026, he belongs in mid-Round 1 conversation.
1.10. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR4, Detroit Lions
St. Brown has at least 106 receptions and 1,161 yards in each of the past four seasons and double-digit scores in three consecutive seasons. In addition, he has finished as a top-three fantasy receiver in three consecutive seasons. Barring injury, he's nearly a lock for another top-five season.
1.11. CeeDee Lamb, WR5, Dallas Cowboys
Even though George Pickens had a monster season, Lamb's 82.5 YPG were the second best of his career. Excluding a seven-snap goose egg against the Chicago Bears in Week 3, Lamb had at least seven targets and either five catches and/or 50 yards in every other game he played this season.
1.12. Omarion Hampton, RB7, Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers lost both starting tackles (Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt) to season-ending injuries, and injuries to Hampton himself derailed much of his rookie season. Hampton has the size and versatile skill set to be a true workhorse. This may be (much) higher than you expected to see Hampton, but the former first-round pick could be poised for a breakout season in Greg Roman's run-heavy offense.
2026 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Round 2
2.01. Drake London, WR6, Atlanta Falcons
London missed five games in 2025 and he's had a couple of duds since returning to the field in Week 16. In his six-game span (Weeks 4-11) directly before missing a month, however, London had five 100-yard outings, a line of 44/651/6 and was fantasy's WR1 in PPG (20.9).
2.02. Trey McBride, TE1, Arizona Cardinals
In August, I ranked Brock Bowers ahead of McBride but preferred the relative value of the Cardinals tight end. The same (preferring the TE2 of the duo based on value) could be true in 2026. That said, McBride leads the NFL (not just tight ends) in receptions (119, tied with Puka Nacua) and also set career highs in yards (1,174) and touchdowns (11). One interesting note with McBride's 2026 outlook will be the status of quarterback Kyler Murray.
2.03. Malik Nabers, WR7, New York Giants
The benefit of Nabers tearing his ACL in September is improved odds of being close(r) to full strength to start the 2026 season. While his sophomore campaign was prematurely cut short, he finished his 2024 rookie season with 109/1204/7. Nabers is a target hog who has 205 targets in his first 19 career games.
2.04. Rashee Rice, WR8, Kansas City Chiefs
Between suspension and injuries, Rice has appeared in only 12 games over the past two seasons:
- 2025, Weeks 7-15: WR6 (tied) in fantasy PPG over that span among WRs (four-plus games)
- 2024, Weeks 1-4: WR4 in fantasy PPG from Weeks 1-3 (injured four snaps into Week 4)
While Patrick Mahomes will spend the offseason rehabbing a torn ACL, Rice has top-five upside when the duo is healthy.
2.05. Josh Jacobs, RB8, Green Bay Packers
Knee and ankle injuries have slowed him over the second half of 2025. That said, Jacobs has 535 carries for 2,258 yards and 28 touchdowns while adding 72 catches for 624 yards and two touchdowns in 32 games as a Packer. While Achane (the RB1 on this team) may have more upside, Jacobs has an extremly high floor and will likely handle a larger workload as this duo gives this squad a strong RB-RB start.
2.06. Brock Bowers, TE2, Las Vegas Raiders
Injuries and the team's offensive dysfunction made 2025 a season to forget for Bowers and his fantasy managers, but his talent and rookie production (112/1194/5) means it would still be reasonable to draft Bowers as the TE1 (ahead of McBride). His disappointing season, however, may provide fantasy managers an even steeper draft-day discount than this (the middle of Round 2) in 2026.
2.07. Ashton Jeanty, RB9, Las Vegas Raiders
Arguably making the situation even worse for those who rostered Jeanty, he delivered a massive 24-128-1 rushing line to go along with a 60-yard TD reception to finish Week 16 as fantasy's RB1 when it was likely too late. His rookie season was otherwise so underwhelming with that being the only game he reached 4.0 YPC from Weeks 6-17. The Raiders need to fix so much including their offensive line, but things can't get any worse for Jeanty in 2026.
2.08. Justin Jefferson, WR9, Minnesota Vikings
Speaking of how things can't get much worse in 2026, Jefferson may have been the most frustrating wide receiver to roster in 2025. Of course, others (i.e., the team's quarterbacks) were mostly to blame. Before 2025, Jefferson played more than 10 games four times. He reached the 1,400-yard mark in all four of those seasons. (Per Stathead Football, no other player has more than two 1,400-yard seasons since Jefferson entered the NFL in 2020.)
2.09. Nico Collins, WR10, Houston Texans
Since the Texans drafted C.J. Stroud second overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, Collins has three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. While his 2025 numbers are good (71/1117/6), he is averaging three-year lows in receptions (4.7) and yards (74.5) per game.
2.10. Saquon Barkley, RB10, Philadelphia Eagles
Like several other second-round picks in this mock, Barkley disappointed compared to ADP, expectations, and his previous year's production. Barkley rushed for 54 fewer YPG and 1.7 fewer YPC. Per PFF, Barkley's year-over-year numbers dropped for yards after contact per attempt (3.32 to 2.71), missed tackles forced (80 to 52), 15-yard runs (32 to 13), and elusive rating (64% to 52.2%). The offensive line issues also impacted his performance as yards before contact per rushing attempt dropped from 3.8 to 2.5, per Pro Football Reference. While he's unlikely to return to 2024 levels, improvement over 2025 levels would be a reasonable expectation for 2026.
2.11. Jeremiah Love, RB11, Rookie
How high will the Notre Dame running back be drafted in the 2026 NFL Draft? That's unclear given perceived positional value, but he's a consensus top-10 prospect in this draft class and a sure-fire first-rounder. The only rookie listed in my three-round mock, Love's landing spot will certainly matter (as we've seen this year with Ashton Jeanty). If the explosive and versatile back is drafted to be lead back for the Dallas Cowboys or Kansas City Chiefs, for example, Love's ADP in 2026 could jump a full round from here.
2.12. Derrick Henry, RB12, Baltimore Ravens
Henry began the season (18/169/2) where he left off in 2024 and was dominant in the fantasy playoffs (444 rushing yards and six touchdowns over the past three games). The production in between was less Derrick Henry-like, but his full-season numbers (1,469 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns) allowed him to finish as fantasy's RB7. He has 3,733 YFS and 34 TDs in two seasons with the Ravens. He turns 32 on Sunday night and there is at least some uncertainty about Lamar Jackson's status for 2026, but this may still be too low for King Henry.
2026 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Round 3
3.01. George Pickens, WR11, Dallas Cowboys
Following a career year (92/1420/9), it would be a surprise if the Dallas Cowboys let Pickens walk this offseason even if they have to use the franchise tag. (An interesting tidbit is that Pickens is represented by David Mulugheta, who also represents Micah Parsons. When asked if he'll speak to Pickens and/or Mulugheta, Jerry Jones said, "[p]robably both, but I certainly expect to be speaking with George." What could go wrong?)
3.02. A.J. Brown, WR12, Philadelphia Eagles
While his 66.9 YPG average is significantly lower than his first three seasons (85.8) in Philadelphia, Brown extended his streak of 1,000-yard seasons with the Eagles to four. The 28-year-old wideout has 78 catches for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns entering Week 18. Since he said fantasy managers should "get rid of" him, however, he's been more productive — 85.0 from Week 11 on vs. 51.0 YPG from Weeks 1-10.
3.03. Tee Higgins, WR13, Cincinnati Bengals
In the four games that Jake Browning either started or threw the most pass attempts, Higgins had 10 catches for 125 yards and two touchdowns on 23 targets. In the other 10 games, he had 43 receptions for 654 yards and eight scores. From Weeks 6 to 17 with Joe Flacco and Joe Burrow, Higgins was the WR8 in fantasy PPG (14.7).
3.04. Chase Brown, RB13, Cincinnati Bengals
Year-over-year numbers (16 games each season) have been nearly identical:
- 2024: 1,350 YFS, 283 touches, 4.8 yards per touch, and 11 TDs
- 2025: 1,366 YFS, 284 touches, 4.8 yards per touch, and 10 TDs
3.05. Bucky Irving, RB14, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Between injury (seven missed games) and performance, Irving's follow-up to 2024 was a disappointment. His YPC average dropped by two yards (5.4 to 3.4). Per Pro Football Reference, he averaged 2.7 yards before and 2.7 yards after contact in 2024. This year, those numbers each declined by a yard (1.7 both before/after contact). Most of his peripherals as a receiver improved year over year, but he averaged only 12.6 fantasy points on the year. (After emerging as the primary back in Week 10 last year, Irving closed the season with 16.8 PPG.)
3.06. Josh Allen, QB1, Buffalo Bills
Death, taxes, and Josh Allen finishing as fantasy's QB1 or QB2. From 2020 to 2025, Allen has finished as the QB1, QB1, QB2, QB1, QB2, and QB1, respectively. The only concern with Allen remains the relative weakness among the team's pass catchers, but Allen has an insane 41 rushing touchdowns over the past three seasons combined. Along with Jahmyr Gibbs, Derrick Henry, and Jonathan Taylor, Allen is one of four players with multiple rushing scores in five games this season. Over the past three seasons, only Henry (12) has more such games than Allen (11, tied with Gibbs).
3.07. Kyren Williams, RB15, Los Angeles Rams
Even with Blake Corum handling a much larger workload (139 touches) in his second season, Williams still finished as a top-10 fantasy running back in 2025. That allowed him to be more efficient as he averaged a yard more per touch in 2025. Despite the drop in touches (350 to 280), his YFS (1,481 to 1,452), receptions (34 to 33) and touchdowns (16 to 13) were very similar.
3.08. Davante Adams, WR14, Los Angeles Rams
Davante Adams continues to do what Davante Adams does: Score touchdowns! While the 33-year-old wideout has missed the past couple of games with a hamstring injury, he has a league-leading 14 touchdown receptions.
3.09. Chris Olave, WR15, New Orleans Saints
What a value pick Olave was in 2025! While concerns about his concussion history and the team's quarterback situation were reasonable, Olave has established new career highs in receptions (100), targets (156), yards (1,163) and touchdowns (nine) in 2025.
3.10. Cam Skattebo, RB16, New York Giants
Before sustaining a season-ending injury, Skattebo was finding his groove. He played only eight snaps in Week 1 and 11 snaps in Week 8 when injured. From Weeks 2 to 7, however, Skattebo was the RB6 (17.4 PPG). It's easy to appreciate his fearless play style and it's also fair to worry about greater-than-average injury risk because of it.
3.11. TreVeyon Henderson, RB17, New England Patriots
It took time for Henderson to get the workload that fantasy managers had expected, but he was outstanding in the second half. In the five-game stretch that also included New England's bye (Weeks 10-15), Henderson had 571 yards from scrimmage on 90 touches including 14 receptions and seven total touchdowns. He was the RB3 over that stretch. While Rhamondre Stevenson will still be heavily involved, it's possible that this slot is way too low for Henderson.
3.12. Tetairoa McMillan, WR16, Carolina Panthers
While there have been some ups and downs and Week 17 was a down (1/5 receiving on four targets), McMillan enters the regular-season finale only 71 yards shy of 1,000. Among wide receivers who played at least eight games, he was the WR19 in fantasy PPG.