Fantasy Football Best Ball Rankings - February 2026
- Kev Wheeler
- Jan 29
- 9 min read
Updated: Feb 1
Best ball is a version of fantasy football where all you need to do is draft a team and then watch the season play out. Your optimal lineup will be selected automatically each week, at the end of the week, the highest-scoring players are automatically inserted into the starting lineup spots. There is no roster management, no start/sit questions, no waiver wire, no trades. There are many types of best-ball leagues out there so it is very difficult to come up with a standard set of rankings.
Fantasy Football Best Ball
For years all of the biggest fantasy sites harped on not drafting early, urging people not to draft until August because of the unpredictability of what could happen during training camps. What they should have been telling you is not to visit their site or listen to them until August because they are just throwing darts at a board anytime before then.
The best players in the world start drafting in February and March, this year we started in January. By July we can draft blind-folded, we are the ones that have set ADP so they are merely drafting against we own previous biases. We have fine-tuned their rankings and/or projections to the point that they are as good as, if not better than the “Expert” consensus.
2025 Expert Draft
We are able to do this because we are constantly drafting in best-ball drafts. Not having to manage starting line-ups throughout the season is glorious! Best-ball allows us to participate in hundreds, or even thousands, of drafts.
Please follow on Bluesky for updates and discussion. You can let us know where you think we' are getting it wrong, it could help us improve our process.
Quarterback
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 dropbacks 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.
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)
Malik Willis
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.
Daniel Jones
Before the Achilles tear, the Colts were likely to re-sign him or franchise tag him as a backup plan. Now, the 1-year, $44M franchise tag feels untenable given he's uncertain to start Week 1 and his tear is on the "throwing push-off side." Jones has also ended seasons with ACL and neck injuries, so Jones is likely going to have to sign a prove-it deal with a middling franchise.
The Colts are still favorites to keep him, however. They don't have a 1st-round pick with the Sauce Gardner trade, and the available QBs are bleak.
Aaron Rodgers
The 42-year-old is likely to retire, but if he wants to play another year, he is still considered a top-32 NFL QB by the NFL nepotist decision makers. Says a lot about the lack of QB development in the NFL over the past decade.
Kyler Murray is a projected cut or trade candidate, not a free agent, but he is extremely unlikely to remain a Cardinal. They'll officially make that decision by March 15th when his 2027 base salary guarantees. The question is if they can find a trade partner by then, or be forced into releasing him. He’s going to be difficult to trade with his current contract and it is difficult to imagine a team wanting to take that on if they are actually trying to win.
Tua Tagovailoa is a projected cut or trade candidate, not a free agent. The details of his contract are below, but the Dolphins are largely debating if they should keep Tagovailoa as an extremely expensive backup or if they should chop up their $99M dead dollars in a few ways by releasing him.
Geno Smith is a projected cut or trade candidate, not a free agent. The Raiders will take a QB 1st overall and that prospect will start Week 1, barring disaster. The assumption is Geno Smith will either be their backup, or they'll save the remaining $8M in non-guaranteed money and release him, while eating $18.5M in dead money. The excuses for 2025 was a disaster OL with a nepo-baby OL coach, a fired college OC calling plays, and having sub-par receivers due to injuries and trades.
Kirk Cousins is a projected cut or trade candidate, not a free agent. The Falcons should have new leadership this offseason, and Cousins' release would save $22.5M against the cap. As a Falcon, Cousins is the QB30 in EPA per play and now he heads into his age-38 season. It's possible he will be pushed to retire because his arm strength and movement are simply not good enough after the achilles tear.
Justin Fields is a projected cut candidate, not a free agent. The Jets' contract was a total (predictable) disaster, and it'll come with another $10M in dead money this upcoming season. Fields needs to find a coaching staff that can use his skill or develop him in a way that will work in a system. He is too athletic to just disappear from the NFL.
Marcus Mariota
The 32-year-old quietly played decent ball with the Commanders in relief of Jayden Daniels, and since leaving the Falcons in 2022 as the starter, Mariota ranks a lot higher in the advanced metrics than you'd think; QB17 in EPA per play, QB5 in success rate, and QB2 in completion percentage over expected out of 51 qualifiers.
Running Back
The RB dead zone is back!!! You are going to want to get two running backs in the first three rounds in this current best ball meta.
Breece Hall
The franchise tag is $14M, and only Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey, Derrick Henry, and Jonathan Taylor make that much per year, the Jets would have to be complete idiots to match that based on their current direction. Hall is only 25 years old and a former 2nd-round pick, but Hall has averaged just 4.3 yards per carry on a 45% success rate since his ACL tear, racking up another 60 receptions per year as a well-rounded RB1. He is most likely to land in KC based on their interest before the trade deadline last season, but KC doesn’t like to pay RB’s so who knows.
Kenneth Walker is an explosive back but is only averaging 4.3 yards per carry on a 44% success rate, we can blame some of that on the Seahawks awful offensive line. Walker has improved as a receiver but has been subbed out on obvious pass downs for pass protection and injury concerns. Walker is likely to re-sign with the Seahawks with Zach Charbonnet tearing his ACL in January and Walker’s breakthrough performances in the playoffs.
Travis Etienne's 4.6 yards per carry in 2025 is near the top of the class, he's averaged 40+ receptions per year, and he's a former 1st-round pick. His market should be strong heading into his age-27 season.
Javonte Williams is good in protection, can catch the ball, and ran with some pop early in the season before things regressed later on. He ultimately ended the season with 4.8 yards per carry on a career-best 55% success rate. The Cowboys have no depth at RB and will likely have interest in signing him to a long-term deal, but may not have the wiggle room with the other holes in their roster.
Rachaad White was effective as a receiver for his first 3 seasons (54% success rate on 185 targets), then that went away without OC Liam Coen in 2025. White's rushing success rate went from 45% in his first 3 seasons up to 57% in 2025, despite playing behind an injured OL. White should be a well-rounded RB2 who can be trusted in the pass game. White is seemingly trying to sign with The Commanders to play with Jayden Daniels according to his social media posts.
Tyler Allgeier started his career with a 1,000-yard rushing season, but he has taken a back seat to Bijan Robinson since then. Allgeier has been a very effective compliment to Robinson for the past 3 seasons. His 52% career rushing success rate stands out, even if he's more of a short-yardage hammer than a well-rounded back. Former OC Author Smith could be on the lookout for Allgeier during the offseason.
Kenneth Gainwell carved out an interesting pass-first role with the Steelers this season, earning the trust of Aaron Rodgers, who would audible at the line of scrimmage to get him quick receptions all the time. His 4.6 yards per carry were a career-high, and he had a huge fill-in start when Jaylen Warren missed games. If Rodgers doesn’t return we could see Gainwell follow OC Author Smith to wherever he ends up.
Rico Dowdle averaged 4.8 yards per carry and has a 50% success rate throughout his career. His size makes him a quality short-yardage option at the very least, but he can play all three downs. Dowdle proved he's worth a real contract after settling for $2.7M with the Panthers, but given the current meta in the NFL we think he’s unlikely to get much more than that this season.
Brian Robinson enjoyed a career-high 4.6 yards per carry as Christian McCaffrey's low-volume backup, and he stayed healthy throughout. His 225-pound frame stands out as a low-volume hammer.
J.K. Dobbins will be forced into 1-year deals for the rest of his career due to his injury history. A lisfranc foot injury ended an efficient 2025 season (5.0 yards per carry), a new one after knee, ankle, and achilles injuries the seasons prior. Dobbins will be 28 years old in 2026.
Wide Receiver
D.J. Moore had career-low receptions and yards with Bears in 2025
Trading Moore before June 1st:
2026 Dead Cap: $12M
2026 Savings: $16.5M
Trading Moore after June 1st:
2026 Dead Cap: $4M
2027 Dead Cap: $8M
2026 Savings: $24.5M
George Pickens
The franchise tag is $28M, which is around Tee Higgins, Terry McLaurin, Brandon Aiyuk, and Garrett Wilson per-year money. If the Cowboys can't re-sign him to a monster deal long term, which they absolutely should and are incentivized to do with Dak Prescott's huge cap hit, then Pickens isn't going anywhere with the tag available.
Alec Pierce averaged a career-high 70 yards per game before Daniel Jones' achilles injury. His primary strength is as a single-high downfield threat with his speed and ball skills, but Pierce has flashed breaking route ability in smaller samples, too. He was expected to disappear when weak-armed Phillip Rivers took over the offense, but Pierce continued to produce which is why he is now garnishing a lot of interest.
Brandon Aiyuk gave up quite a bit of money by allowing the 49ers to void his contract guarantees. Finding a situation he is happy with will likely be more difficult than he imagines it will be given the mentality of NFL organizations.
Mike Evans could retire, but he still has enough juice to win at the catch point when he's healthy. It is difficult to imagine him not being on the Bucs, but they have quality receivers waiting to fill his shoes.
Romeo Doubs is a versatile WR that has played a lot of X receiver with some man coverage wins in the red zone in particular. His 40 yards per game is average, but Doubs' 58% success rate when targeted over the past two years is a confidence builder for QB’s and OC’s.
Rashid Shaheed has been one of the most explosive receivers on a per-target basis (9.3 yards per target). His speed and special teams value are obvious on tape, and he's flashed intermediate route running, too.
Wan'Dale Robinson set career highs in yards per game (63) and yards per reception (11.0) in a contract year. He was running more downfield routes, even if his long-term role is as a slot receiver. The Giants would be smart to re-sign him, but he could also follow OC Brian Dabol to Tennessee.
Tight End
Harold Fannin and possibly David Njoku:
Todd Monken's last decade as an offensive coordinator, and where those teams ranked in touchdowns to tight ends per @pffnatejahnke.bsky.social :
Buccaneers 2016-2018: 2nd (Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard)
Browns 2019: 4th (Ricky Seal-Jones and Demetrius Harris)
Georgia 2020-2022: 7th (Bowers)
Ravens 2023-2025: 1st (Andrews and Likely)
Drafting this early actually levels the playing field, although, admittedly, January drafting is pretty nuts. The unpredictability of where players will land, their role in new offensive systems, health/injury recovery, and overall schedule match-up strength are relative unknowns compared to later in the summer. Every bit of information I have can serve as an advantage over high-volume players that may be hedging their bets, and overloading on certain players.
Overall Rank
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