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With the 2026 NFL season set to kick off on Wednesday, September 9, fantasy football managers are gearing up for draft season. The upcoming campaign features a host of elite talents, including Josh Allen, Jonathan Taylor, and Puka Nacua, who are expected to dominate early-round selections. Meanwhile, running backs Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs are among those holding out for contract extensions, adding an extra layer of uncertainty to draft boards.
Success in fantasy football often hinges on identifying undervalued sleepers and rookies while avoiding players who underperform relative to their average draft position (ADP). To that end, SportsLine's advanced computer model, which has a strong track record of predicting breakout and bust candidates, has released its 2026 fantasy football rankings and cheat sheets. The model previously forecasted Terry McLaurin's disappointing 2025 season, when the Commanders receiver fell well short of his top-50 ADP, posting career lows in receiving yards (582) and touchdowns (3) after a standout 2024 campaign.
Key Bust Predictions
One of the most notable busts identified by the model is New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers. Despite being drafted around pick No. 36, the model does not rank Nabers among the top 15 receivers, placing DeVonta Smith, Nico Collins, and Zay Flowers ahead of him. Nabers is recovering from a torn ACL and a subsequent spring procedure, making his availability for the season opener uncertain. Additionally, the Giants' offensive coordinator Matt Nagy is expected to emphasize the running game, further diminishing Nabers' fantasy appeal in the second or early third round.
Another significant bust prediction involves Buffalo Bills running back James Cook. Cook, who has an ADP of No. 12 overall and is the fifth running back taken on average, is ranked just 10th by the model, behind players like Derrick Henry and Chase Brown. The model suggests Cook should be selected in the late second or third round. While Cook has posted back-to-back impressive seasons, finishing as the RB6 last year, his higher fumble rate and limited receiving role, combined with Josh Allen's propensity to score touchdowns, make him a risky first-round pick.
The model is also fading one of the first five receivers off the board, ranking that player barely inside the top 10 and labeling him a potential bust. To uncover this player and access full 2026 fantasy football rankings, cheat sheets, and sleepers, managers are encouraged to visit SportsLine. The model's proven history includes identifying A.J. Brown as a sleeper in 2020, predicting Jonathan Taylor's breakout in 2021, and correctly forecasting C.J. Stroud's regression in 2024.
For those preparing for drafts, the 2026 PPR ADP (via CBS) shows Jahmyr Gibbs (1.50) as the top pick, followed by Bijan Robinson (1.79), Ja'Marr Chase (4.17), Puka Nacua (4.29), Jonathan Taylor (5.67), Jaxon Smith-Njigba (6.33), Christian McCaffrey (7.00), Amon-Ra St. Brown (9.04), De'Von Achane (10.96), and James Cook (11.79). With the season fast approaching, leveraging data-driven insights could be the key to avoiding costly draft mistakes.
Originally reported by cbssports.