fantasy football 🏈 for @ftnfantasy - @FSWA award winner 🏆 - previously @PFF - invented the Fantasy Wins Added metric - my tweets are my opinions
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Articles by Tyler Loechner
FTN’s ‘My Guys’: Favorite Fantasy Football Targets For 2026
Summary Best Fantasy Football Targets in 2026 feature strong Bears upside: Rome Odunze and Colston Loveland are highlighted as affordable Bears options with bounce-back and versatility potential. Receivers and backs with clear path to fantasy relevance: Parker Washington and Rashee Rice are favored for upside and target share in high-powered offenses.
Long Shots to Finish Top 10 in Fantasy Football in 2026
August 24, 2026
The Most Explosive Players in Fantasy Football for 2026
Another year of fantasy football, and another year of saying that consistency is overrated. You want points, baby. Lots of them. More specifically, you want players capable of dropping a stupid number of points in a given week. That means accepting some volatility along the way. Last year, Ja’Marr Chase was the poster boy for this exercise. The best WR in fantasy was also the least consistent one. This year, it’s Jahmyr Gibbs.
Fantasy Football Rankings Cheat Sheet Update for Superflex (July 24, 2026)
Limited-time offer Your FTN access is ending soon Your subscription is currently canceled, but you still have time to keep your access before it expires. Stay with FTN and save {{discount}} Accept this offer to resubscribe now and keep your FTN tools, rankings, projections, data and premium content active without interruption. By accepting, your subscription will be reactivated using the available discount.
NFL Underdog Best Ball Fantasy Football Rankings 2026
Our 2026 best ball fantasy football rankings for Underdog are ready to help you dominate best ball fantasy football drafts all summer long. These NFL player rankings are updated on a regular basis. In our latest update, Saquon Barkely rises, Bijan Robinson barely holds onto the top spot and Ricky Pearsall cracks the top 100. Get an FTN Pro sub today to unlock the full set of best ball rankings as well as all of our fantasy football rankings from the most accurate experts in the world.
NFL DraftKings Best Ball Fantasy Football Rankings 2026
Our 2026 best ball rankings for DraftKings are ready to help you dominate best ball drafts in the biggest best ball contest with three millionaires set to be crowned. These player rankings are updated on a regular basis. Get an FTN Pro sub today to unlock the full set of best ball rankings as well as all of our fantasy football rankings from the most accurate experts in the world. (Updated June 6, 2026) 1. Bijan Robinson, RB, ATL (RB1) 2. Ja’Marr Chase, WR, CIN (WR1) 3. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, DET (RB2) 4.
Top 3 Fantasy Football Quarterback Bust Candidates
These are the fantasy football quarterback busts you want to circle as risks at their current ADP heading into 2026 fantasy drafts. Important note: For this “busts” article, all QBs are being drafted inside the top 12 right now. It’s not fair to call QBs you aren’t expecting to even be your starter to be a bust. And, obviously, most of the names in the QB1 range are good. The issue isn’t whether these players can produce in fantasy — it’s just price vs. risk. Check out our QB sleepers for 2026.
Top 5 Fantasy Football Quarterback Sleepers Led by Tyler Shough and Jaxson Dart
These are the fantasy football quarterback sleepers you want to circle if you plan on going late-round QB in 2026 fantasy drafts. A few housekeeping items: I’m only including QBs drafted outside the top 12. So guys like Trevor Lawrence don’t count. Get FTN’s fantasy football rankings (the most accurate in the industry) so you find these values before everyone else. ADP: QB19 Sough was legitimately usable down the stretch last year.
NFL Underdog Best Ball Fantasy Football Rankings 2026
Our 2026 best ball rankings for Underdog are ready to help you dominate best ball fantasy football drafts all summer long. These NFL player rankings are updated on a regular basis. Get an FTN Pro sub today to unlock the full set of best ball rankings as well as all of our fantasy football rankings from the most accurate experts in the world. (Updated May 29, 2026) 1. Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons (RB1) 2. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions (RB2) 3. Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals (WR1) 4.
The Candidates to Be the Overall TE1 in 2026
Summary McBride is the favorite: The volume is already elite. Bowers is the threat: Better quarterback play could close the gap. Loveland is the breakout: The Bears treated him like a featured option late. The following tiers of tight ends aren’t a one-for-one prediction of 2026 TE rankings — but it’s a close cousin. This is a look at TEs by tier based on realistic chances — some much more realistic than others — to finish as the overall TE1 in fantasy football in 2026.
The Candidates to Be the Overall WR1 in 2026
The following tiers of wide receivers aren’t a one-for-one prediction of 2026 WR rankings — but it’s a close cousin. This is a look at WRs by tier based on realistic chances — some much more realistic than others — to finish as the overall WR1 in fantasy football in 2026. If a wide receiver is going to truly threaten for the top spot, he either needs target dominance, touchdown upside, or elite efficiency — and probably all three. Let’s get to it.
Rankings All Week 17 Game Stacks for Best Ball 2026
May 16, 2026
The Candidates to Be the Overall RB1 in 2026
The following tiers of running backs aren’t a one-for-one prediction of 2026 running back rankings — but it’s a close cousin. This is a look at RBs by tier based on realistic chances — some much more realistic than others — to finish as the overall RB1 in fantasy football in 2026. We know the formula by now. If a running back is going to truly threaten for the top spot, he either needs to dominate carries, goal-line work, and be a major factor in the passing game.
5 Late Best Ball Picks To Get On Underdog Instead of DraftKings
Here are your early values on Underdog best ball fantasy – when compared to DraftKings ADP. These aren’t necessarily smash picks, but if you are going to draft them, make sure you do it on Underdog, where you get a steep discount. Early best ball fantasy football ADP is not perfectly efficient. In fact, that doesn’t really happen until August. We are drafting in May, depth charts are far from set. But platform gaps matter.
The Candidates to Be the Overall QB1 in 2026
The following tiers of quarterbacks aren’t necessarily a prediction of 2026 quarterback rankings. This is simply a look at the QBs who have a realistic chance — some much more realistic than others — to finish as the overall QB1 in fantasy football in 2026. We know the formula by now. If a quarterback is going to truly threaten for the top spot, he either needs to be an alien-level passer or bring legitimate rushing production to the table. Ideally both. Let’s get to it.
2026 NFL Draft Wish List: NFC West
If you wanted a fantasy football-inspired wish list for the NFC West for the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft April 23-25 in Pittsburgh, you’re in luck. We’ll look at each team’s needs and discuss potential wish list players for each franchise, especially for those early picks.
Updated NFL Underdog Best Ball Rankings: Christian McCaffrey Back in Top 5 (April 18)
April 18, 2026
2026 NFL Draft Wish List: NFC South
If you wanted a fantasy football-inspired wish list for the NFC South for the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft April 23-25 in Pittsburgh, you’re in luck. Over the next few weeks leading up to the draft, we’ll look at each team’s needs and discuss potential wish list players for each franchise, especially for those early picks.
2026 NFL Draft Wish List: NFC North
We’re back with a fantasy football-inspired wish list for the NFC North for the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft April 23-25 in Pittsburgh. Over the next few weeks leading up to the draft, we’ll look at each team’s needs and discuss potential wish list players for each franchise, especially for those early picks.
Best Ball Fantasy Football Sleepers: 3 WRs Who Did More With Less
Not every fantasy sleeper has to be one injury away from relevance. Sometimes the better bet is just the wide receiver who already played well in limited opportunities. Raw volume is still king in fantasy football, but when you’re trying to find the next ADP riser before the market fully catches up, the best place to look is at efficiency. All three of these receivers had under 100 targets last…
2026 NFL Draft Wish List: NFC East
If you wanted a fantasy football-inspired wish list for the NFC East for the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft April 23-25 in Pittsburgh, you’re in luck. Over the next few weeks leading up to the draft, we’ll look at each team’s needs and discuss potential wish list players for each franchise, especially for those early picks.
4 Rookies To Draft in Best Ball Before The NFL Draft
If you wait for the NFL Draft to tell you which rookies matter in best ball, you are simply volunteering to pay retail price. Rookies are often overpriced in these early best ball drafts. And they may become even more overpriced after the draft (there’s always a “rookie push” post-draft from the hype). But the guys I’ll mention might never be cheaper than they are today. So if you want them, now is the best time to get in.
Updated NFL Underdog Best Ball Rankings (March 22)
March 22, 2026
Post-Free Agency NFL Underdog Best Ball Rankings (March 14)
March 14, 2026
Ricky Pearsall and 2 Other Potential WR Big Best Ball Winners in Free Agency
We tend to think of NFL free agency through the excitement of players landing on new teams and what it means for them and the other players already on the roster that get reshuffled. But what about the situations where the opposite happens? Nothing. Despite the lack of noise, the fantasy implications can be just as big. That’s where we’re looking today. In the vacated opportunities charts above, we see the 49ers with 30% vacated target share.
Ricky Pearsall and 2 Other Possible Best Ball Winners Before Free Agency
We tend to think of NFL free agency through the excitement of players landing on new teams and what it means for them and the other players already on the roster that get reshuffled. But what about the situations where the opposite happens? Nothing. Despite the lack of noise, the fantasy implications can be just as big. That’s where we’re looking today, with a help from our recent pre-free agency vacated opportunities guide.
Vacated Opportunities in Fantasy Football Before 2026 Free Agency
The 2026 NFL free agency is gearing up, and many players are set to find new homes — or maybe stay right where they are! But, assuming every unrestricted free agent wears new colors next year, let’s take a look at projected vacated opportunities to find the fantasy football gaps. What is “vacated opportunity”? For example, if the Patriots passed the ball 100 times last year, and 50 of those passes went to Stefon Diggs (set to be released), their vacated opportunity target share would be 50%.
3 WRs Who Smashed the Combine and Will Rise in Best Ball
CHESTNUT HILL, MA - OCTOBER 18: Skyler Bell #1 of the UConn Huskies runs for a touchdown after a catch during the college football game between UConn Huskies and Boston College Eagles on October 18, 2025, at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, MA. (Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire) The 2026 WR class had been described as deep during the college football season, and the NFL Combine results helped lock in that perception.
3 WRs Who Smashed the Combine and Will Rise in Best Ball
The 2026 WR class had been described as deep during the college football season, and the NFL Combine results helped lock in that perception. But which WRs did the most to improve their best ball outlook for 2026 fantasy football drafts? We took a look at TEs Saturday. Today, we’re zeroing in on the other pass-catchers of the class. In truth, probably all of these WRs are going to get the Combine boost. Everyone looks elite and awesome when running around in shorts with no defenders around.
3 TEs Who Smashed the Combine and Will Rise in Best Ball Original
The 2026 tight end group came into Indy with some real upside, and man, did some of them deliver. The athletic testing was off the charts — record-setting, literally. And that was especially true for guys who can stretch the field or win in the red zone, which is our kind of profile for best ball when you’re chasing boom weeks. These three names jumped off the page at this week’s NFL Combine.
Fantasy-Relevant 2026 NFL Franchise Tag Candidates
This article goes through every fantasy-relevant NFL player under consideration for the franchise tag heading into the 2026 NFL offseason. The franchise tag window opened Feb. 17 and closes March 3 at 4 p.m. ET. Teams usually try to lock in long-term deals before placing the franchise tag, though, so it often goes right up to the deadline. The Falcons plan to apply the franchise tag on Pitts. Who is ready for more pain (and more gain?).
3 Messy RB Rooms to Target in Best Ball
February 22, 2026
Mack Hollins and 3 Other Round 19-20 Best Ball Targets
Early best ball drafts are usually a complete s—tshow, and the final rounds of the drafts are where things get really, really thin. But we are here to help with some final-round targets for you to circle in these early 2026 best ball drafts. You aren’t going to lose your best ball league in the last rounds, but you can definitely win it – or at least give yourself a big leg up. The prime recent example would be Kyren Williams as a last-round pick in 2023. Let’s get right to it.
What to Do with Saquon Barkley & 2 Other Big Names Falling in Early Best Ball
As we look at early 2026 best ball ADP, we see a mix of assumptions: We’re reacting to last year’s box scores, injuries, breakouts and busts. Then there’s coaching changes, free agency and the draft (the last two of which haven’t happened yet!). But despite being flawed and far-from-done, early 2026 ADP sets the standard for the rest of the season. Today we’re looking at three big names with 2026 ADPs much lower than in 2025 — and figuring out what to do with them.
Early 2026 NFL Underdog Best Ball Rankings
February 14, 2026
Who Should Be 1.01 in 2026 Fantasy Football Drafts?
Each year at FTN — right after the Super Bowl — I identify who should be the first overall pick in next year’s (2026) fantasy football drafts. I picked Christian McCaffrey three years in a row before switching to Ja’Marr Chase last year. So who will it be this year? Let’s go find out.
Who Should Be 1.01 in 2026 Fantasy Football Drafts?
Each year at FTN — right after the Super Bowl — I identify who should be the first overall pick in next year’s (2026) fantasy football drafts. I picked Christian McCaffrey three years in a row before switching to Ja’Marr Chase last year. So who will it be this year? Let’s go find out.
Disaster Fantasy Football Draft from 2025
What would it look like if you drafted the worst fantasy football team back in August 2025? We already reviewed what the perfect fantasy draft from 2025 would look like — but how terrible of a squad could you have built? To keep this fun but also mostly realistic, we’ll assume you drafted right in the middle of Round 1 and that players might have fallen a few picks beyond ADP, but not too many. You’re feeling really good after Week 2, when Nabers goes off for 9 catches, 167 yards and two scores.
Perfect Fantasy Football Draft from 2025
What would it look like if you drafted the perfect fantasy football team back in August 2025? Yes, the below team could have been yours. To keep this fun but also mostly realistic, we’ll assume you drafted right in the middle of Round 1 and that players might have fallen a few picks beyond ADP, but not too many. Your leaguemates laugh at you for taking CMC a few picks before his ADP, and you laugh at your leaguemates knowing you just drafted the 2025 Fantasy Football MVP.
2025 Fantasy Football Awards
The 2025 fantasy football season is in the books, and it’s time to celebrate the year that was with fantasy awards for the NFL season. (We’re using half PRR as the settings and not counting Week 18 in these considerations.) We’re using Fantasy Wins Added to determine player value. We simulate (using real results, and realistic lineups) every single week of the 2025 fantasy season 100,000 times to determine how often every player is on winning or losing fantasy teams.
2026 FFPC Playoff Challenge Picks, Plays, Strategy
The Fantasy Football Players Championship Playoff Challenge is back for the 2025-2026 NFL season. The main event is a $200 entry fee with a top prize of $500,000 and $1.4 million in total prize money. There’s also a $35 entry fee contest with $100,00 to first. You can take a look at the official rules and scoring settings here, but the primary thing to know is that you will pick a total of 12 players — 1 QB, 2 RBs, 2 WRs, 1 TE, 4 flex, 1 K, 1 DST — but only one player from each team is allowed.
NFL Playoff Seeding Scenarios & Team Needs Entering Week 18 (2025)
As the NFL heads into Week 18, the playoff picture has cleared up significantly — but a few spots remain and the battle is most intense when it comes to seeding. Below is a team-needs breakdown of every remaining path to the postseason.
Week 18 NFL Fantasy and Betting Contract Incentives Tracker
Below is a complete Week 18 NFL fantasy and betting contract incentives tracking, detailing which players are chasing bonus cash and what they need to get it.
NFL Playoff-Clinching Scenarios & Team Needs Entering Week 17 (2025)
December 24, 2025
NFL Playoff-Clinching Scenarios & Team Needs Entering Week 16 (2025)
As the NFL heads into Week 16, the playoff picture remains unsettled across both conferences, with several divisions hinging on specific game combinations, cascading tiebreakers, and even potential strength-of-victory outcomes. Below is a team-needs breakdown of every remaining path to the postseason. Next week, we’ll take a look at what teams need for potential top seeds. For this week, we’re focused on simply getting into the dance.
Bronco Breakouts Coming? Fantasy Regression Candidates
November 26, 2025
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