We’re still far away from the 2026 fantasy football season, but it’s never too early to start your draft prep. If you’re into best ball, you can get your feet wet with super early drafts. By drafting early, you can capitalize on undervalued players before their prices rise.
That’s where this article comes in. We’re going to highlight three quarterbacks and two tight ends who are must-have picks right now. The focus here is on potential league-winners whom you should prioritize in drafts.
Must-Have Fantasy Football Quarterbacks & Tight Ends
As we get closer to draft season, I expect each of these five players to go earlier than their current average draft position (ADP). There’s going to be a lot of steam on them, especially after free agency and the NFL Draft, thanks to improved rosters.
Jayden Daniels (QB – WSH)
Recency bias is a hell of a drug. It’s like the entire football community has forgotten just how dominant Jayden Daniels was as a rookie. I get it, the Commanders were horrendous this past season. But it was a lost year, with Daniels and Terry McLaurin missing significant time due to injury.
I’m bullish on Daniels for a couple of reasons. For one, new offensive coordinator David Blough is a rising star who shot through the ranks. There’s a legitimate chance the Commanders landed on the next big thing in NFL play-callers. I expect Blough to put Daniels in a position to thrive in his third season.
Second, you can count on the Commanders making major roster improvements. I expect them to sign two of Daniels’ former college teammates, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and running back Rachaad White. That would boost the supporting cast enough to make Daniels poised for a resurgence in 2026.
Caleb Williams (QB – CHI)
Caleb Williams is my other must-have quarterback. He is a signal-caller who plays a very fantasy-friendly game, showcasing big-play ability in off-script situations, along with the rushing upside to put up monster games.
Expect Williams to be a lot more comfortable in Ben Johnson’s scheme as he enters his second year. You’re also likely to see second-year players like Colston Loveland and Luther Burden more involved.
With that in mind, we could see the Bears’ offense completely take off next year. Given the team context and player skillset, would it shock you if Williams finished as a top-3 quarterback? I think that’s firmly within reach.
Jaxson Dart (QB – NYG)
Jaxson Dart is a dual-threat quarterback who can make a major impact on the ground, making him particularly enticing for fantasy football. But what’s most intriguing is that he’ll finally have a chance to play with superstar wideout Malik Nabers, who missed most of the 2025 season with a torn ACL.
In Dart, we have another quarterback who plays a fantasy-friendly game, surrounded by an alpha number one wideout. There’s a lot to like here. There’s just one problem that gives me a slight pause.
While I love the John Harbaugh hire as the Giants’ new head coach, I’m not a fan of new offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. Just think of how the Bears’ offense looked with Nagy and Mitch Trubisky. With that said, this underwhelming hire isn’t enough to put me off Dart, given what he’s shown on the field. It’s just that I prefer Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams.
Brock Bowers (TE – LV)
Brock Bowers had a disappointing encore to his legendary rookie season. Part of that was due to injury, another part was because of poor coaching and the last part was due to a league-worst offensive line.
Expect that to change in 2026. Bowers is fully healthy, the Raiders are expected to hire a stud play-caller in Klint Kubiak as their new head coach and they’re going to address the offensive line. Bet on the Raiders drafting Fernando Mendoza first overall, so that’s another layer of intrigue.
Best of all, this will be one of the few drafts where you can get Bowers as TE2 priced instead of TE1, since Trey McBride is coming off such a huge year. The prudent move is to wait a few picks and target Bowers instead of McBride.
Colston Loveland (TE – CHI)
If you miss out on Brock Bowers, my other tight end target is Loveland. This is a player with 10th overall draft capital who exploded towards the end of his age-21 season. That kind of production at such a young age is intriguing.
Then you add in the fact that Loveland has a terrific combination of a talented quarterback and an elite play-caller. There’s a lot to like for the former Michigan standout as he enters his second season.
While Loveland will come at a premium price, this is the type of talented tight end worth betting on. In other words, make Bowers your Plan A and Loveland your Plan B this season.
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