Dynasty Fantasy Football Rankings - August 2026
- Kev Wheeler
- 50 minutes ago
- 34 min read
The Process
Dynasty Fantasy Football rankings can be interpreted in many ways. Right now and during the season they will be focused on winning championships without destroying long-term value. In the spring these rankings will be ranked as if we are using them for a start-up draft. During the winter these rankings will reflect trade value with a scaled 3-year outlook.
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Dynasty Becomes Redraft During the Season
Many dynasty fantasy football players forget that the entire objective of playing this game is to actually win championships. Dynasty addicts can become more interested in building their teams for the long term and forget this is really a week-to-week kind of game. We are not going to throw caution to the wind, but we need to keep our eyes on the prize.
Dynasty Fantasy Football Rankings
When examining these dynasty fantasy football rankings take into consideration that we are looking at positional ranks, not flex or overall rankings. Rookies will be added periodically, with most being added after the NFL Draft. The emphasis on scouting for rookies is one of the most exciting parts of dynasty fantasy football. Preparing for rookie drafts is an integral part of team management in a dynasty league. A major influence on a rookie’s value is draft capital and the situation of the team that drafts him.
Quarterback
When ranking quarterbacks for dynasty fantasy football we can take a VERY long-term outlook (5-10 years) while factoring what type of QB we are examining. We always want a QB that is going to give us a nice rushing floor, but we must keep in mind that rushing production is also the first thing that fades away as players get older.
Josh Allen has finished each of the past six seasons no worse than second among quarterbacks in fantasy points. Despite seeing less passing volume the past two seasons (14th or lower in pass attempts both years), the 2024 NFL MVP has finished in the top 10 in passing TDs six seasons in a row and remains a major threat rushing (top five in carries and rushing TDs among quarterbacks all eight seasons of his career). Allen's 21.4 fantasy points per game in 2025 was actually his lowest since 2019, but it was still enough to lead the position.
Lamar Jackson is set up for a rebound season after an injury-plagued 2025. Jackson started the season strong (26-plus fantasy points in each of his first three games) but left Week 4 because of an injury and wasn't the same once he returned in Week 9 (13.5 fantasy points per game in his final nine outings). Jackson's rushing was down, but that was likely a product of him not being healthy, considering his scramble rate (8.4%) remained high. Jackson has a new coach (Jesse Minter) and play caller (Declan Doyle), but his supporting cast is otherwise similar to 2024 in which he paced all quarterbacks in fantasy points.
Drake Maye is entering his third NFL season and second full season as New England's starter. The 2024 No. 3 draft pick is fresh off a breakout 2025 campaign in which he finished in the top five among quarterbacks in pass completions, yards and TDs, as well as rush attempts and yards. Maye led the league in completion percentage (72%) and yards per attempt (8.9), trailing only Josh Allen in fantasy points (351.9), fantasy points per game (20.7) and top-10 fantasy weeks (10). The NFL MVP runner-up will need to overcome a tougher schedule, but the additions of AJ Brown and Romeo Doubs should give a boost to the passing game. The 24-year-old's combination of passing talent and rushing ability have him well positioned for another top-five fantasy season.
Drake Maye was a 74% passer for 2474yds in the 1st half of games in 2025. This was the best rate for any QB for either half in both metrics. He also had the 7th most drop-backs of any QB in either half, the 2nd most TDs, the most scrambles, and 2nd most points per opportunity. There could be a higher ceiling with better opponents in the future.
Jayden Daniels is looking to bounce back after appearing in only seven games due to injury last season. The 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year began his career by tossing 25 touchdowns and rushing for 891 yards and six scores in his first season. He wasn't quite as dominant when healthy last season (16.3 points per game, compared to 20.9 in 2024), but he remained a major factor with his legs (58-278-2 in seven games, three of which were partial appearances). Daniels' supporting cast is underwhelming and he'll be working with a new playcaller David Blough.
Jalen Hurts threw for a career-high 25 touchdowns last season, but his rushing production was way down (105-421-8 after delivering at least 139 carries, 605 yards and 10 TDs in each of the prior four seasons). Hurts' fantasy production dipped, as his 18.7 points per game was his lowest as a starter and ranked eighth at the position after three straight top-five campaigns. Hurts' supporting cast remains strong despite losing AJ Brown, and new playcaller Sean Mannion very well could add some juice back to the offense.
Joe Burrow will try to bounce back after injuries limited him to eight games in 2025. The 29-year-old has missed at least six games in three of his six pro seasons, including two of his past three. Burrow was still a starting-caliber fantasy quarterback when active last season (top-12 scorer in five of his final six games), but his ceiling was limited by a near complete lack of rushing (41 yards on 14 carries). Burrow was a top-five scoring quarterback in each of his past two full seasons, and coach Zac Taylor cut back a bit on his extreme pass-heavy playcalling last season.
Brock Purdy is looking to rebound after injuries caused him to appear in only nine games. Purdy played well in his limited season, scoring 17-plus fantasy points in seven of the nine games, including 26-plus points in three straight games during Weeks 15-17. A highly effective passer and solid contributor as a rusher, Purdy has quietly finished in the top 10 in fantasy points per game in each of the past three seasons. With a good supporting cast led by Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle (once healthy) and free agent addition Mike Evans, Purdy is an underrated back-end QB1 in 2026.
Trevor Lawrence is coming off a breakout 2025 season in which he ranked no lower than seventh among quarterbacks in pass attempts, completions, yards and touchdowns, as well as top 10 in carries, yards and TDs. He reeled off seven consecutive top-10 fantasy outings to finish the season. Lawrence continues to generate big volume, having finished in the top 10 among QBs in pass and rush attempts in each of his four full seasons. With a strong, deep group of pass catchers and Liam Coen back as playcaller, Lawrence is well positioned for QB1 production.
Patrick Mahomes followed up a pair of disappointing fantasy seasons (2023-24) with an elite start to 2025 (24.5 points per game during Weeks 1-8) and a disappointing finish that included 15.0 points per game during his final six games and a torn ACL in Week 15. Mahomes' efficiency has dipped the past three seasons, and while he made up ground as a rusher in 2025 (fifth among QBs in rushing yards and TDs despite three missed games), he might not be able to run as often this season as he recovers fully from the knee injury. Mahomes might be ready to play in Week 1, but even if he does, he hasn't been a consistent fantasy QB1 since 2022. With the addition of Kenneth Walker defenses may not be able to play the cover-2 shell against KC as often which should open up the deep passing game where Mahomes had thrived in his peak seasons. Mahomes has been forced to check-down most of the time over the past three seasons and hasn’t had a healthy receiving corps during that time.
Bo Nix has finished exactly seventh among quarterbacks in fantasy points during each of his first two seasons. Nix's passing efficiency needs to improve (career 6.5 yards per attempt), but his dual-threat ability has kept him in the weekly QB1 mix. Nix has finished both seasons no lower than 11th in pass attempts, completions, passing TDs, carries, rushing yards and rushing TDs. Last season, he provided a solid floor (11 games with 15-plus fantasy points), but his ceiling was low (four top-10 weeks). In 2026, he'll have a new playcaller in Davis Webb and an upgraded group of pass catchers with Jaylen Waddle added to the mix.
Caleb Williams took a big leap forward in 2025. Williams finished last season no lower than 11th among QBs in pass attempts, completions, pass yards, passing TDs, carries, rush yards, rush TDs and fantasy points per game. While Williams' completion percentage was one of the worst in the league (58%), his dual-threat ability and turnover avoidance (seven INTs both seasons) has led to solid fantasy output. The 2024 No. 1 draft pick has a good supporting cast in playcaller Ben Johnson and a trio of young pass catchers in Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland.
Dak Prescott is coming off a successful 2025 season in which he led the NFL in completions and ranked no lower than fourth in dropbacks, pass attempts, passing yards and passing TDs. Prescott appeared in all 17 games and has now finished no worse than 11th in fantasy points during all seven seasons in which he has played at least 16 games. Last season, his nine top-10 fantasy weeks were tied for third most at the position. Prescott is no longer much of a threat with his legs, but he should continue to put up big passing numbers with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens at his disposal.
Jaxson Dart is considered a strong 2026 breakout candidate by most analysts following an impressive rookie campaign in which he delivered eight top-10 fantasy weeks (tied for fifth most) despite playing in only 12 games. Dart was solid as a passer but elite as a rusher, finishing in the top five at the position in rushing attempts, yards, TDs and carries inside the 5-yard line. Dart's aggressive playing style raises concerns about his durability, and is a major reason we have him as a bust candidate. The new coaching staff led by John Harbaugh and a new playcaller in Matt Nagy does not give us optimism that he will develop as a passer. His supporting cast includes a hopefully healthy Malik Nabers and newcomers Isaiah Likely and Darnell Mooney, who seem to be more hype than substance.
Giants OC Matt Nagy said QB Jaxson Dart is “super talented,” but is experiencing “struggles” in training camp. According to Nagy, the Giants’ goals for Dart this offseason consisted of getting into the huddle, calling the play, getting up to the line of scrimmage, seeing the defense and playing fast. The New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard writes that Dart’s summer has not been “devoid of progress” because Dart has apparently mastered the first three items on the checklist — which seems like a fairly low bar to clear. Dart and his pass catchers have also reportedly struggled to connect downfield. Coaches like Nagy, pass game coordinator and QB coach Brian Callahan and senior offensive assistant Greg Roman dot coach John Harbaugh’s somewhat disconcerting staff. Dart is a talented player who may be able to overcome perceived schematic shortcomings. It would be really nice to see him perform well in the preseason, but Harbaugh has not yet revealed whether Dart will suit up this weekend. - Nic Bodiford
Sam Darnold 2025 numbers (rank among QB) via @ftnfantasy.com StatsHub:
4,048 yds (5th)
8.4 yds per attempt (2nd)
99.1 passer rating (11th)
67.7% completion rate (7th)
11.9% explosive rate (5th)
Dolphins Sign QB Malik Willis for $22.5M/Year. It's essentially a 2-year, $45M deal with a team option afterwards. That's a step up from Justin Fields' contract last year, yet below Sam Darnold's Seahawks deal.
In an extremely small sample of 159 plays, Willis is the QB1 in EPA per play out of 75 qualifiers over the past 3 seasons. He's also 1st in completion percentage over expected and 11th in success rate. Willis has real physical tools to work with beyond being a small-sample legend, and the well-run Packers seemed to really like him. Teams can’t be sure he will be their long-term starter given his inexperience, but Willis is an intriguing bridge for teams in uncertain situations like the Cardinals, Vikings, or NY Jets.
The Colts made a poor choice re-signing Daniel Jones. Jones Achillies tear is on the "throwing push-off side." Jones has also ended seasons with ACL and neck injuries.
NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe said the Falcons think QB Michael Penix (knee) “will be healthy at some point in training camp.” Penix underwent surgery to reconstruct a partially torn ACL after suffering the injury in November 2025. Tua Tagovailoa will get to work with the first-team offense until Penix is ready to practice, which could give Tagovailoa an edge in the competition. It seems likely that both players will start at times during the regular season.
Vikings signed QB Kyler Murray, formerly of the Cardinals, to a one-year contract.
Jets acquired QB Geno Smith and a 2026 seventh-round pick for a 2026 sixth-round pick.
Chiefs acquired QB Justin Fields from the Jets in exchange for a 2027 sixth-round pick.
NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe believes that the Browns will “likely” draft a wide receiver and a left tackle with their two first-round picks this year. The Browns’ quarterback competition is between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson, seemingly rendering Dillon Gabriel a locked-in backup. New HC Todd Monken certainly has his work cut-out for him.
Running Back
Dynasty Fantasy Football rankings for running backs aren’t very different from regular season rankings, although we tend to devalue running backs over 25 years old. Running backs tend to get injured more often than other positions and when an older RB gets injured it tends to be career ending or marks a sharp decline in production. In 2024 we saw a counter argument for this philosophy, but it was likely an outlier year, we shouldn’t expect the trend to continue. As soon as a running back turns 26 years old we will consider them to have a 1-year window.
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson was already our RB1, but his fantasy value is growing even larger following the team's offseason moves. The Falcons' allowed Tyler Allgeier to depart for Arizona in free agency, leaving Robinson as the only relevant name in Atlanta's backfield. That bodes well for the 24-year-old's chances to build upon an incredible 2025 in which he tallied 1,478 rushing yards, 820 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns even though Allgeier vultured eight touchdowns from him.
Jahmyr Gibbs has finished in the top 10 among running backs in yards per carry, routes, targets, receptions, touchdowns and fantasy points in each of his first three seasons. His 38 touchdowns over the past two seasons are four more than any other player. Gibbs has finished as a top-three fantasy back in each of the past two years, but he has yet to finish a season higher than seventh in touches. We could see that change this season with David Montgomery moving onto the Texans. The 24-year-old Gibbs is one of the NFL's top playmakers in one of its best offenses.
Ashton Jeanty is looking to take a leap forward after an uneven rookie season, in which the first-round pick enjoyed a ton of volume (seventh among backs in carries, targets and receptions) and played fairly well (eighth among RBs in forced missed tackle rate, per PFF) but struggled to overcome the awful Las Vegas offense. The good news is that the Raiders' offense should improve in 2026 with a better/healthier offensive line, a new coach in Super Bowl champion Klint Kubiak and a new quarterback in No. 1 NFL draft pick Fernando Mendoza. Jeanty has a clean path to a massive offensive role and is a strong bet to break out in 2026.
De'Von Achane has become one of the best running backs in the NFL. The 2023 third-round pick has scored 11 or more touchdowns in each of his three seasons and put up a career-high 1,838 scrimmage yards in 2025. Achane's elite receiving production is nothing new (he has finished in the top five among backs in targets and receiving yards in each of the past two years), but he made another leap forward as a rusher last season, finishing fifth at the position in rushing yards. His 5.62 yards per carry is best among qualified backs since he entered the league. The 24-year-old is eyeing his third straight top-five fantasy finish, but will face challenges in an overhauled Miami offense led by quarterback Malik Willis.
Jeremiyah Love was selected by the Cardinals with the No. 3 overall pick of April's draft. Love has good size and terrific speed (4.36 40-yard dash) to go along with a three-down skill set. He led this year's rookie class in both yards per carry (6.66) and yards after contact (4.16) while ranking second in forced missed tackle rate (3.5) during his collegiate career. He's a capable receiver, a competent pass blocker and protects the ball well (one fumble on 496 career touches). Love might have some competition for touches with the Cardinals acquiring Tyler Allgeier before the NFL draft.
Breece Hall was given the franchise tag during the offseason and will return for his fifth season with the Jets. Being in the Jets' stagnant offenses for the past two years, Hall has struggled to finishes of 17th and 21st in fantasy points per game among RBs, which was disappointing after top-eight finishes during his first two seasons. The 2022 second-round pick saw a dip in receiving work in 2025 (career-low 10% target share) but finished fourth in that category in both 2023 and 2024, so a rebound is possible with pocket QB Geno Smith now under center.
Jonathan Taylor enters the 2026 season having improved in fantasy points per game in each of the past three years. Last season, he delivered his best production since his huge 2021 breakout, as he paced the NFL in carries and TDs while finishing second in carries inside the 5-yard line (19) and fourth in fantasy points. He saw increased usage in the passing game, ranking in the top 10 among backs in routes, targets, catches and receiving yards, setting career highs in each. Taylor's season likely would've been even better had QB Daniel Jones not been injured, as the running back averaged 24.8 points with Jones but 12.9 without him. Jones is expected to be ready to play in Week 1, but at a diminished capacity.
James Cook signed a contract extension last offseason and was immediately given the biggest role of his career. The 2022 second-round NFL draft pick finished in the top five among backs in carries, rushing yards (league-high 1,621), touchdowns and yards per carry (5.25). The one limiting factor in Cook's fantasy output was a minimal receiving role (his 40 targets ranked 26th among RBs), but he still came through with a sixth-place finish in fantasy points. The 26-year-old is set to play the same role in Joe Brady's scheme and will be a candidate for his third straight double-digit touchdown output.
Kenneth Walker signed with the Chiefs after spending his first four NFL seasons with the Seahawks. Having worked in a committee most of last season, Walker was limited to only five touchdowns and 11.3 fantasy points per game (both career lows), but he still generated 252 touches and a career-high 1,309 yards. He has yet to finish a season better than 18th in fantasy points (12th on a per-game basis) and has missed at least two games in three of four seasons.
Omarion Hampton is primed for a breakout second season following an impressive but injury-shortened rookie year. During his nine appearances, he averaged 13.8 carries and 3.9 targets. He scored five touchdowns, averaged 15.1 fantasy points per game (13th best) and ranked third among backs in forced missed tackle rate, per PFF. With Kimani Vidal and Keaton Mitchell as his primary competition, Hampton has a clear path to lead rusher duties in 2026, and his targets only figure to increase with Greg Roman out and Mike McDaniel in as the team's playcaller. The offensive line will have star tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater back healthy, Hampton has elite upside.
Chase Brown’s 2025 season got off to a rocky start (10.1 fantasy points per game and one touchdown during his first seven games), but it turned around drastically down the stretch (21.2 points per game and 10 TDs during his final 10 games). The improvement coincided with Cincinnati's improved QB play, which should continue into 2026 with a healthy Joe Burrow. Brown has yet to finish a season higher than 16th in carries or rushing yards, but he has scored 11 TDs and has finished fifth in receptions in each of the past two years, both of which have resulted in top-10 fantasy campaigns. Brown was conceding touches to Gio Bernard during the back end of the season, but it certainly didn’t slow him down much.
Travis Etienne signed with the Saints after spending the first five seasons of his pro career with the Jaguars. The 2021 first-round pick has produced at least 1,399 scrimmage yards in three of the past four seasons and scored a career-high 13 touchdowns in 2025. Etienne has reached 1,000-plus rushing yards three times and has 35-plus catches in each of the past four seasons. Even if the Saints retain Alvin Kamara as a situational player, Etienne will have a clear path to feature-back duties in an ascending offense led by second-year QB Tyler Shough.
Christian McCaffrey finished the 2025 season leading all running backs in snaps, routes, touches, targets, receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns and fantasy points. McCaffrey's rushing efficiency wasn't great (3.86 yards per carry), and he's entering his age-30 season after handling 450 touches (including the playoffs) in 2025. The history of overworked backs suggests we should expect a step back in 2026. There's obvious risk here, but McCaffrey is an elite option whenever he's on the field.
Saquon Barkley is looking to rebound after a rough 2025 season. After producing 2,283 yards and 15 touchdowns on 378 touches in his first season with Philly, Barkley dipped to 1,413 yards and nine scores on 317 touches in 2025. Barkley fell from first among backs in fantasy points per game (22.5) to 15th (14.5). Now 29 years old, it's possible Barkley's best days are behind him, but he's still positioned as a clear feature back in a good offense that will have a healthier offensive line and a new playcaller in Sean Mannion.
Derrick Henry continues to defy the odds, playing at a high level despite now entering his age-32 season. In 2025, he finished second in the NFL in rushing yards, and his 24 carries inside the 5-yard line were easily the most in the league. Henry leads the NFL in carries inside the 5-yard line (42) and is second in touchdowns (34) since joining Baltimore prior to the 2024 season, and he hasn't finished lower than eighth among RBs in touchdowns since 2017. Henry continues to run at a high level (his 5.20 yards per carry last season ranked fifth among qualified backs), but he's still a nonfactor as a receiver (outside the top 45 backs in targets, catches and yards last season).
Josh Jacobs' 2025 season was marred by injury. While healthy during his first nine games, Jacobs picked up where he left off from a terrific 2024 season, averaging 21.1 touches and 19.6 fantasy points while scoring 11 TDs. After playing very limited snaps during Weeks 11 and 12, Jacobs wasn't quite the same, averaging 14.6 touches and 11.3 points while totaling three touchdowns in his final five games. Jacobs, 28, was still effective overall (PFF's fourth-highest-graded back) and has a clear grasp on lead-back duties in a good Green Bay offense that has afforded him 30 touchdowns (fifth most in the NFL) in 32 games. His legal issues have caused a 2-3 round drop in ADP making him an incredible value in the late fourth round or later.
Javonte Williams re-signed with the Cowboys following a successful first year with the team. After failing to produce a top-25 fantasy season during his final three years in Denver, Williams finished as the RB12 in 2025, setting career-best marks in carries, rushing yards, touches (287), scrimmage yards (1,338) and yards per carry (4.77). He also scored a career-high 13 touchdowns after totaling 16 during his first four seasons, and his 16 carries inside the 5-yard line were fifth most among backs. He did struggle in the receiving department, as his 2.7 yards per target was last among qualified RBs.
Kyren Williams continued to produce as the Rams' lead back in 2025. The 2022 fifth-round pick has produced 1,350-plus scrimmage yards in three straight seasons (including a career-high 1,533 in 2025), and he's one of 11 backs in NFL history who have scored 13-plus touchdowns in three of his first four seasons. Williams' carry share dropped quite a bit last season, but it was offset by a boost in efficiency, and he still averaged 15.5 fantasy points. Williams doesn't do much as a receiver having never cleared 36 catches in a season.
The Athletic’s Nick Kosmider reports the Broncos coaching staff believes RJ Harvey “is ready for a Year 2 jump.” Denver wound up bringing back JK Dobbins and most suspect that Dobbins will at least open as the lead back, as he did last year, but not paying a major premium for a back is probably an endorsement of the idea of Harvey breaking out in his second season.
Many analysts will tell you that Cam Skattebo is a Year 2 breakout candidate following an injury-shortened rookie season. The fourth-round pick first played a significant offensive role in Week 2 and went on to average 16.0 carries, 4.7 targets and 96.3 yards while scoring six TDs during his six full games. His 19.1 fantasy points per game during the span would've ranked sixth over the full season. The 24-year-old enters 2026 with a new coach (John Harbaugh) and playcaller (Matt Nagy), but his competition for touches are the same guys he beat out for work in 2025 (Tyrone Tracy Jr., Devin Singletary). It is our contention that Skattebo is completely overrated and cannot maintain his style of play without getting injured. He plays recklessly while being extraordinarily slow, which is not a great combo for maintaining health in the NFL.
