With NFL free agency effectively over, it’s time to update the 2026 fantasy football rankings. Some players saw significant movement, and that’s the purpose here. I’m giving quick breakdowns on the Top 10 risers in the ranks, plus a few big losers and other situations of note. Also, we’re primarily focused on players changing teams (9 out of 10).

As mentioned, this ranking is about players who saw the biggest increase in value. Obviously, Justin Jefferson is better than anyone on this list, but going from a fringe WR1 pre-free agency to WR7 isn’t as significant as others.

Feel free to jump into the comments and drop your opinion or ask a question. It’s always fun to talk some fantasy football, no matter the time of year.

Winners

1. DJ Moore, WR, BUF: It was only two seasons ago that Moore was WR7 overall and WR12 in FPPG — with Justin Fields and Tyson Bagent at quarterback. That year was also the last time Josh Allen targeted one option more than 100 times (Stefon Diggs — 160). And Diggs was WR9 overall and WR15 in FPPG. Moore has a WR1 ceiling. In case you’re wondering, yes, both Luther Burden and Rome Odunze are Top 25 wide receivers now and winners themselves.

2. David Montgomery, RB, HOU: The new backfield lead for the Texans is coming off his first season without double-digit FPPG. Montgomery should cruise to 250+ touches, and he averaged 10.1, 15.9 and 13.7, respectively, his first three seasons in the NFL with the Bears, despite being volume-reliant. Woody Marks, who was extremely inefficient, falls to late-round backup, with value only if Montgomery gets hurt.

3. Romeo Doubs, WR, NE: Doubs has flashed and provides nice downfield upside. Drake Maye is Top 5 in nearly any category you can find pertaining to deep-ball performance, and the Patriots had the third-highest percentage of attempts of 20+ air yards (14.3%). If the Patriots don’t add a Day 1 or 2 wideout in the draft, Doubs can push for WR2 fantasy value.

4. Isaiah Likely, TE, NYG: Hopefully. Matt Nagy can focus on the passing game with Greg Roman heavily involved in the run game. Nagy obviously has a history with Travis Kelce, but we’ve also seen John Harbaugh deploy two tight ends and Nagy’s struggles in Chicago, which includes his tie to Darnell Mooney in 2021. Nevertheless, this feels like the Giants want Likely to be their No. 3 “receiver” at worst and maybe even No. 2 to Malik Nabers.

5. Kenneth Walker, RB, KC: Knocking on the RB1 door. The Chiefs got their guy, and we’re just two years removed from Isiah Pacheco as the RB15, overall and FPPG, while not even rushing for 1,000 yards as the Chiefs’ lead. You could argue Walker should be higher given his “bell-cow fantasy” value overall, but I had him as a solid RB2 even before the Chiefs signing. Also, in case you missed it, Pacheco is now backing up Jahmyr Gibbs in Detroit. Gibbs remains Tier 1 with Bijan Robinson.

6. Emanuel Wilson, RB, SEA: For now. Walker is gone, Zach Charbonnet (ACL) could miss much of 2026, and Wilson played well while filling in for Josh Jacobs last year. Wilson would be in the RB2 conversation if the Seahawks are done addressing the position (which would be a bit surprising).

7. Justin Jefferson, WR, MIN: His quarterback isn’t J.J. McCarthy. For all the jokes about Kyler Murray, in his seasons with at least 14+ games played, he did have Marvin Harrison in the Top 30 as a rookie, Christian Kirk and A.J. Green combined for 195-131-1,830-8 (Green also wasn’t a full-time starter and was 33 years old), and DeAndre Hopkins had a top-5 finish in 2020. Jefferson isn’t back in Tier 1, but he’s back to being a WR1.

8. Rachaad White, RB, WSH: The argument against White was volume reliance. The argument for White now is being the lead … of a timeshare and possible committee. It’s a boost, just not one to the RB2 tier or trustworthy consistency. Jacory Croskey-Merritt goes from potentially sneaking into the RB2 tier to remaining an RB3/4 — don’t forget the Jerome Ford addition, too.

9. Tyler Allgeier, RB, ARI: This signing and the restructuring of James Conner’s contract to keep him around point to low trust in Trey Benson’s effectiveness and role in 2026. Allgeier averaged 9.3 FPPG before Bijan Robinson became a Falcon, and that was with a slow start. Benson becomes undraftable.

10. Chris Rodriguez, RB, JAX: There is a lot of talk about a committee in Jacksonville, but Rodriguez should be the early lead, with short-yardage and goal-line work being shared, at minimum. Bhayshul Tuten is more explosive, and Rodriguez isn’t rocketing up the rankings, but he goes from undrafted to an RB3 flier.

Losers

Kenneth Gainwell, RB, TB: It’s not a massive drop, but Gainwell looked great last year, splitting the Steelers’ backfield with Jaylen Warren. Now, Gainwell replaces White, but Sean Tucker went from not being tendered to re-signing for $3.52 million. Bucky Irving already commands more of the touches than Warren does, and now Gainwell has to fend off Tucker eating into his work.

DK Metcalf, WR, PIT: The Michael Pittman trade was a great value for the Steelers, and Mike McCarthy loves running three-wide, so this was needed. For Metcalf, though, he’s coming off 99 targets in 15 games, with Calvin Austin being the second-highest wideout with 55  targets (14 games). Metcalf also just had a WR25 finish (WR26 in FPPG) while being targeted on 21.4% of his routes. It won’t get better with Pittman around, and McCarthy might not be done adding.

Chimere Dike, WR, TEN: Unfortunately, I called this one — Wan’Dale Robinson reuniting with Brian Daboll. We would have been happier for Dike if the Titans signed a Doubs or someone else to play primarily outside and affect Calvin Ridley and Elic Ayomanor. You know Daboll will feature Robinson as much as he can, and Ridley is back for whatever he can provide, plus Ayomanor will be in his second season and has interesting upside. Dike is buried.

Others

Cam Ward, QB, TEN: As mentioned with the Dike downgrade, Robinson gives Ward an exceptionally reliable weapon. The Titans worked on the offensive line, and now Daboll can get back to focusing solely on the offense and developing Ward. Given Ward’s ability, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him enter the QB Top 15 conversation in 2026.

Malik Willis, QB, MIA: Will Smith living room of Fresh Prince GIF. Sure, it’s exciting to see what Willis can do as a full-time starter after developing over the years, but as of today, he’s throwing to … double checks those notes … Tutu Atwell, Jalen Tolbert and Malik Washington. I’m pulling for Willis as much as — if not more — than anyone (went to Liberty for 1.5 years), but I can’t put him near my Top 15, unless they go wideout in the first round … and that would still be a maybe.

Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan, WR, TB: With Mike Evans leaving, Egbuka and McMillan are winners similar to the Bears WR duo of Burden and Odunze. They don’t get quite the bump of the Bears wideouts given Chris Godwin remaining as a top-two option, but Egbuka proved he has WR1 potential, and McMillan has flashed his upside more than once, including a team-best 9-7-114 line in Week 17 last year.

Fantasy Football Rankings: Post-Free Agency Update