Fantasy Football Rankings 2026: Key Busts to Avoid

The 2026 NFL season is set to begin on September 9, following the Hall of Fame Game. Fantasy football owners are now preparing for their drafts, with notable players like Josh Allen and Jonathan Taylor leading the rankings.

SportsLine has simulated the upcoming season 10,000 times and has released its Fantasy football rankings, highlighting players to target and those 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 flagged is Bills running back James Cook, who, despite a strong previous season, is suggested to be a late-second or third-round pick rather than a first-round selection.

SportsLine's model has a history of accurately predicting player performances, including last year's underperformance of Terry McLaurin. The rankings also include insights on other potential busts and sleepers for the upcoming season.