THIS. Not THAT. | Fantasy Football Dos and Don’ts for Success in 2026

by Wyatt Bertolone · Featured
Fantasy Football Dos and Don'ts

The 2026 fantasy football redraft season is here. I’ve been drafting all offseason and have studied each position relentlessly… so, lucky you! To help you prepare for your drafts, I’ve got a “Do” and a “Don’t” for every skill position in 2026.

PlayerProfiler is home to award-winning dynasty rankings and tools. Our Dynasty Deluxe package includes complete Dynasty Rankings, Rookie Rankings, Trade Analyzer, Draft Planner, Mock Drafts, and more. Check it out.

Fantasy Football Dos and Don’ts in 2026

Quarterback

We have a lot of great options at quarterback this year. The influx of high-end quarterback prospects in recent years has made the position deep with plenty of potential.

Do THIS | Wait on your quarterback

Those of us who have been playing fantasy football for a long time remember when the late-round quarterback strategy first became popular. At that time, the difference in the first few quarterbacks selected and those who could be taken at the end of drafts was minimal, and not enough to justify the ADP gap.

The emergence of quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen — great runners and passers — made that gap warranted. Now the pendulum has swung back. In your single-QB drafts, you can select players like Patrick Mahomes, Kyler Murray, Brock Purdy, and more who have elite ceiling potential.

Not THAT | Paying full price for an elite signal-caller

The biggest mistake you could make at quarterback is paying for a top-tier choice with an early selection. There are too many options you can take at the end of your draft that offer a ceiling not far from the top options. There’s no doubt that quarterbacks like Allen, Jackson, Drake Maye, and more should score more, but drafting any in the first few rounds is a bad idea.

You can easily fall behind at another position without gaining enough of an edge at quarterback to justify the choice. For example, you could draft Allen and Jalen Coker or Devonta Smith and Jared Goff. The latter is the better combo.

Running Back

The running back landscape has changed. Some great players aging out, and a poor class this offseason, has made it so that there are fewer value bets to find. 

Do THIS | Draft the real workhorses and high-end backs when you can

The workhorse (or bell cow) running backs are a dying commodity. After the first few rounds of drafts, the talent at the position takes a precipitous drop. Coming out of the first five to six rounds without two to three running backs on your team will make it hard to score enough points at the position to be competitive.

There will be the rare drafts in which a few running backs fall, allowing you a differing strategy, but it won’t be something you can count on. Drafters are too running back hungry in 2026.

Not THAT | Opting for a “zero running back” build

Zero RB strategies aren’t completely dead, but they’re close. There simply aren’t enough players going in the middle rounds with good paths to value. To make it even worse, far fewer late-round running backs look attractive than in years past.

Robust RB strategies, and those similar to it, are all the rage this season for good reason. Waiting too long to find points at the position will leave your lineup lacking, falling behind your league mates with little chance to catch up.

Wide Receiver 

Wide receiver is a position that is always deep these days. As the game has evolved, more top athletes have been pushed towards the position. This does not mean that elite ceiling can be found through the entire draft, though.

Do THIS | Go heavy on WRs in Rounds 3-5

This year it’s all about capturing two to three wide receivers in the Round 3 to 5 “pocket.” There are plenty of players who have legit top five upside at the position in this area of the draft. There are second-year breakouts, third-year bounce-back candidates, and proven producers with chances to have the best seasons of their careers.

Utilizing this strategy also works hand-in-hand with how you should draft running backs. Grab two high-end running backs in the first couple rounds, and then draft high-potential wide receivers in the next few.

Not THAT | Missing the potential upside

It’s simple. Don’t miss the pocket I talked about above. Wait too long to address the position, and you’ll lack the necessary ceiling at the position. You’ll be stuck drafting wide receivers that are more floor plays than anything, and you’ll be playing catch-up all season long.

More than likely, if you do miss the pocket, you’ll be relying on the free agency wire more than you’d like, and you’ll have trouble finding the ceiling you need. 

RELATED: Danger! | Fade These Running Backs Early

Tight End

Over the last few seasons, there’s been an influx of talent at tight end. Every season we try to convince ourselves that the position is deep, and every season we’re wrong. 2026, however, is different. 

Do THIS | Watch for valuable bargains

Tight end is interesting now. In years past, figuring out the position was easy. We’ve got so many great players to be excited about that we need to pick from. This year, find the discount between the best tight ends. The consensus top 9 tight ends are all young athletic playmakers. It’s not hard to sell yourself on any of them at the right price.

Thanks to that, your best course of action at tight end in 2026 is to identify your favorites among the top tight ends, and draft the ones you can find at a discount in your drafts. 

Not THAT | Missing early and hoping to strike gold late

In past seasons, the motto with tight ends was “great or late”, meaning either draft an elite one, or wait until the end of the draft to take a shot. The middle class of tight ends has been a trap for years. Times are different, though. Now we have players like Tucker Kraft, Sam LaPorta, and Harold Fannin Jr. All of them young, talented tight ends who’ve shown high-end ceilings and are being drafted in the middle rounds.

Any of them could easily finish as a top 3 player at the position, and no one would be surprised. This year, don’t wait to take a tight end. It’s not worth playing that game when there are so many great players.


For more articles from PlayerProfiler, check out the fantasy home page – NFL Fantasy | PlayerProfiler – Fantasy Football News & Media