Fantasy Football Returns!
Hello everyone! Can you believe it? Fantasy football is back for another season! The NFL is gearing up, and it looks like we’re in for some exciting games. As long as there are football games to watch, I’ll be here with my drafting tiers for all you fantasy players out there. There’s a lot of drafting software you could use these days, but honestly, will any of it be free like my tiers? Probably not.
My tiers are similar to others you might find, but they come in a handy PDF format that you can print out! This new technology has really shaken up the fantasy football scene, and for me, having printed tiers is the way to go. It gives you a clear view of the draft with all the players and their positions grouped into tiers based on their value. You might want to give it a try!
On another note, Josh Jacobs has been placed on the exempt list by the league. We don’t really know how long he’ll be there or if he’ll face a suspension, as there haven’t been any solid updates yet. It’s a bit risky to draft Jacobs unless he falls to a point where it wouldn’t hurt our team too much if we had to drop him.
If Jacobs ends up missing some time, Marshawn Lloyd could see a significant boost. Although, I still question his health and the uncertain timeline surrounding Jacobs. I have this feeling that someone may take a chance on both of these backs earlier than I would feel comfortable with.
Also, Jordyn Tyson has landed on the PUP list to start the season, which means he will miss at least four games. This could be good news for Chris Olave and Juwan Johnson. Meanwhile, Alvin Kamara didn’t make the PUP list, but it appears he’s still going to miss some time early in the season, giving Travis Etienne a nice opportunity in fantasy leagues.
2026 Fantasy Draft Strategy
To kick things off, I really want to pick up two running backs from Tier 2. If I have the first or second pick, I’m going for Jahmyr Gibbs or Bijan Robinson. This strategy can give me a solid foundation in fantasy, with great upside, allowing me to choose the best option between a wide receiver and another running back afterwards.
Next, I’m a fan of the first three tiers of wide receivers. After securing my two running backs, I plan to dive into grabbing wide receivers from either Tier 2 or Tier 3, especially if any are still available.
Moving on, tight end is quite deep this year. I don’t feel the pressure to spend a high pick on one of the elite tight ends. I’ll likely go with someone from Tier 3. If I miss out on all the TEs in that tier, then I’ll probably take two tight ends to stream unless I’m working with a really short bench, in which case I’d look at the waiver wire.
For quarterbacks, I think there’s a lot of depth here as well. I’d love to have Josh Allen, of course, but it seems smarter to wait, particularly in leagues where QBs are often picked early. The QB I end up with will depend significantly on how the draft plays out. If I’m in the 6th or 7th round and a Tier 2 QB has fallen, I’ll snatch him. If not, I’m comfortable going with someone from Tier 4. Jaxson Dart, who falls into Tier 4, is someone I have to be cautious about; I’d want a backup since he has a habit of spending time dealing with injuries.
Lastly, I typically wait until the last couple of rounds to choose a kicker and a defense. This is a long-standing strategy that I firmly believe in. However, if Brandon Aubrey drops low enough, and I’m in a league that only starts QB, RB, RB, WR, WR, FLEX, K, and D/ST, then the kicker can impact a substantial portion of your total score each week. Aubrey is capable of some big weeks and average double digits in points, which could give me an edge. Just remember to check how your league scores for kickers. If there’s a bonus for longer field goals, definitely try to grab Aubrey.
