Every year as the NFL season gets closer, millions of us go through the same ritual: get together with friends, order too much pizza and wings, have a few drinks and spend a couple of hours arguing over players we will probably be trying to trade six weeks later.

The draft board looks a little different in 2026. Running backs have moved back to the top in a big way. The current FantasyPros consensus ADP has RBs occupying each of the first five picks - Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, Jonathan Taylor, Christian McCaffrey and James Cook. Robinson is coming off a season in which he led NFL running backs with 79 receptions and 820 receiving yards, another reminder of just how valuable the true three-down backs have become.

That does not mean you should blindly follow the rankings. When players are close together or in the same tier, trust your own judgment, your league's scoring and how you want to build your roster. Here are my updated 2026 draft rankings. Use them as a guide, find the value when it presents itself and enjoy the food, drinks and inevitable draft-night mistakes along the way.

Good luck, and feel free to reach out to me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any specific questions or comments that you might have. We are now broadcasting our topical fantasy football podcast, The Fantasy Finish Line, on YouTube throughout the regular season. Tune in!