Fantasy Football 2026: Key Busts to Avoid in Drafts

The 2026 NFL regular season is set to begin on September 9, prompting Fantasy football owners to prepare for their drafts. Key players like Josh Allen and Bijan Robinson are expected to dominate draft boards, while identifying potential busts is crucial for success.

SportsLine's model, which has accurately predicted player performances in previous seasons, has simulated the NFL season 10,000 times to highlight players to avoid. Among the identified busts is New York Giants receiver Malik Nabers, who is recovering from an ACL injury and is not ranked among the top 15 receivers. Another player to watch is Bills running back James Cook, who is being drafted as a top-five running back despite being ranked lower by the model due to concerns about his fumble rate and competition for touchdowns.

Fantasy managers are encouraged to consult SportsLine's rankings and cheat sheets for comprehensive insights on players to target and avoid as they finalize their draft strategies.