Fantasy Football 2026 Rankings: CBS Sports Model Drops Draft Prep Tools

CBS Sports Publishes Full 2026 Fantasy Football Draft Package

With the 2026 fantasy football season on the horizon, CBS Sports has released a comprehensive draft preparation package built around its in-house projection model. The release covers positional rankings for quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers and tight ends, along with tiered player groupings, average draft position data and printable cheat sheets.

The resource is aimed at giving managers a structured starting point before draft season gets fully underway. Having ADP figures alongside tier-based rankings lets owners spot value picks, identify where a player is being overdrafted and build a positional strategy before stepping into any live or mock draft.

What the Rankings Cover

The CBS Sports model organizes players into tiers rather than a flat numbered list, which reflects how draft value tends to cluster in real drafts. A running back ranked 10th overall may carry similar value to the player ranked 14th if they sit in the same tier, while a drop between tiers signals a more meaningful gap.

Quarterback rankings factor in both passing volume and rushing upside, which has grown in importance as dual-threat quarterbacks have become more central to fantasy scoring. Running back projections weigh workload, backfield competition and target share out of the backfield. Wide receiver tiers account for target volume, depth-of-target trends and red zone usage. At tight end, a position with steep drop-offs after the top handful of options, the model attempts to separate reliable starters from the large middle tier of streamers.

ADP figures included in the package reflect where the broader fantasy market is currently valuing each player, letting managers compare consensus opinion against what the model actually projects. Gaps between the two are where draft-day edges tend to appear.

Cheat Sheets and How to Use Them

The cheat sheet format is designed for quick reference during a draft, whether that draft runs on a tight clock or gives managers a few minutes per pick. Condensed positional rankings and positional scarcity notes allow a drafter to see at a glance which positions still have depth and which have thinned out.

For managers preparing for multiple leagues, cross-referencing the cheat sheet against individual league settings matters. A half-point-per-reception format shifts running back values compared to standard scoring, and a two-quarterback league completely restructures how early quarterbacks need to be targeted.

CBS Sports has made this material available ahead of the bulk of the draft season, giving fantasy managers time to study tiers, run mock drafts and refine their board before committing to picks that will shape their rosters for months.