Mahomes Still Reigns, But Diggs' 2026 Outlook is Bleak
Mike Clay dropped his early 2026 PPR rankings, and if you’re anything like me, you’re already dissecting every name. It’s never too early to look ahead, especially when draft capital is on the line. Patrick Mahomes, surprise surprise, is still the QB1. The man threw for 4,183 yards and 27 touchdowns last season, even without a true WR1 for chunks of it. That consistency is gold in fantasy. Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts follow, which feels right. Allen’s rushing upside keeps him elite, and Hurts should bounce back from a slightly down 2025 where his passing numbers dipped to 3,600 yards.
Key Analysis
Running back is where it gets interesting. Bijan Robinson is the consensus RB1, and frankly, he should be. Atlanta finally figured out how to use him last year, giving him 300+ carries and 60 targets. He delivered 1,600 scrimmage yards and 12 scores. Jonathan Taylor at RB2 is a bit of a projection, hoping for a full, healthy season and a return to his 2021 form when he ran for 1,811 yards. Christian McCaffrey, even at his age, is still a top-five guy. He put up 1,400 total yards in 2025. You just can’t argue with that kind of production. Saquon Barkley in Philadelphia could be an absolute monster if he stays healthy; he averaged 4.7 yards per carry in 2024 with the Giants.
**The Receiver Shake-Up**
Breaking It Down
Here’s where Clay’s rankings get spicy, and honestly, a bit concerning for some familiar faces. Justin Jefferson is WR1, and that’s a given. He’s averaged over 1,400 yards a season since entering the league in 2020. Ja'Marr Chase and CeeDee Lamb round out the top three, both posting over 1,200 receiving yards in 2025. But then you get to Stefon Diggs. Clay has him outside the top 20, and I think that’s being generous. His move to Houston in 2024 was supposed to revitalize him, but his targets dipped to 120 and his production followed, finishing with just 900 yards. Nico Collins is clearly the alpha in Houston now, especially after his 1,300-yard, 9-touchdown 2025 season. Diggs is 32 by the time the 2026 season starts. That’s ancient in receiver years, and his role will continue to diminish. I wouldn’t touch him with a ten-foot pole in the first five rounds.
Tight end is still a wasteland after the top two. Travis Kelce, even heading into his age-36 season, is TE1. He’s coming off a 900-yard, 7-touchdown season in 2025. George Kittle is TE2, though I worry about his injury history. He missed three games last year. Sam LaPorta is firmly in the TE3 conversation after his breakout 2023 and solid 2024, but after that, it’s a dart throw. Trey McBride is a name to watch; he hauled in 80 catches for Arizona in 2025.
What This Means
Real talk: These rankings are a good starting point, but things change fast. Injuries, free agency moves we haven't even heard about yet, and coaching changes will all shake this up. But right now, the smart money is on drafting young, high-volume players, especially at running back.
My bold prediction for 2026: Anthony Richardson finishes as a top-five fantasy quarterback, throwing for over 3,800 yards and rushing for another 700. His rushing upside combined with a full season of development will be too much to ignore.