Rest-of-season rankings: Walker, Shough on the rise while Maye, McConkey fall

Eric KarabellSep 22, 2026, 04:30 PM ET
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Each week, Eric Karabell ranks players by position based on their fantasy football value for the rest of the 2026 season. Use the information to optimize the players for their future potential and/or to gauge their value in trade. Eric’s top 100 can be found below the positions in this column.

Quarterback

Rankings changes: Wow. Serious injuries to the top two selections from the 2024 draft and a late 2025 first rounder are the story, as fantasy managers will miss the Bears’ Caleb Williams (hamstring), Commanders’ Jayden Daniels (elbow) and Giants’ Jaxson Dart (knee) for an undetermined length of time. Each was among our top 10 QBs. Perhaps the mercurial Williams will return far sooner, so he remains in QB2 range in these rankings, but the risk of reinjury is high. Dart may be lost for the season. Backups Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota enter the rankings, and they may be playing for months.

With three passers dropping in the rankings, nearly everyone else rises. The 49ers’ Brock Purdy, Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, Saints’ Tyler Shough and Lions’ Jared Goff are all in the top 10. The Panthers’ Bryce Young rises into safer QB2 territory, with room for more. The Patriots’ Drake Maye, last year’s No. 2 QB scorer, remains in the top 10, but perhaps not for long after two disappointing outings totaling 17.84 points. The Rams’ Matthew Stafford rebounds from Australia and is No. 11. It is quite amazing how quickly fantasy value changes in the NFL.

Pos. Rank	Ovr. Rank		Team	Bye	Next 3
1	20		BUF	7	LAC, NE, @LAR
2	42		BAL	13	@DAL, TEN, @ATL
3	43		CIN	6	@PIT, JAX, @MIA
4	44		PHI	10	@CHI, LAR, @JAX
5	60		DAL	14	BAL, @HOU, TB
6	61	UP	SF	8	ARI, DEN, @SEA
7	62	UP	KC	5	@MIA, @LV, BYE
8	63	UP	NO	8	LV, ATL, MIN
9	80	UP	DET	6	NYJ, @CAR, @ARI
10	81	DOWN	NE	11	@JAX, @BUF, LV
11	82	UP	LAR	11	@DEN, @PHI, BUF
12	94		JAX	7	NE, @CIN, PHI
13	95		LAC	7	@BUF, @SEA, DEN
14	NR		DEN	10	LAR, @SF, @LAC
15	NR	UP	GB	11	ATL, @TB, CHI
16	NR	UP	CAR	5	@CLE, DET, BYE
17	NR	DOWN	CHI	10	PHI, NYJ, @GB
18	NR		MIA	6	KC, @MIN, CIN
19	NR		IND	13	HOU, @WSH, @PIT
20	NR		TB	10	MIN, GB, @DAL
21	NR		HOU	8	@IND, DAL, @TEN
22	NR	UP	MIN	6	@TB, MIA, @NO
23	NR		NYJ	13	@DET, @CHI, CLE
24	NR		ARI	14	@SF, @NYG, DET
25	NR		TEN	9	@NYG, @BAL, HOU
26	NR		SEA	11	@WSH, LAC, SF
27	NR	UP	NYG	8	TEN, ARI, @WSH
28	NR	UP	WSH	7	SEA, IND, NYG
29	NR		PIT	9	CIN, @CLE, IND
30	NR		LV	13	@NO, KC, @NE
31	NR	UP	CLE	11	CAR, PIT, @NYJ
32	NR		ATL	11	@GB, @NO, BAL
33	NR	DOWN	WSH	7	SEA, IND, NYG
35	NR	DOWN	LV	13	@NO, KC, @NE
36	NR	DOWN	MIN	6	@TB, MIA, @NO
37	NR	DOWN	CLE	11	CAR, PIT, @NYJ
38	NR		SEA	11	@WSH, LAC, SF
39	NR	UP	CHI	10	PHI, NYJ, @GB
40	NR	UP	CHI	10	PHI, NYJ, @GB
42	NR	DOWN	ATL	11	@GB, @NO, BAL

Running back

Rankings changes: Volume is king, and no running back earned more in Week 2 than the Chiefs’ Kenneth Walker III. Will he stay healthy? That was an offseason concern, but so far he looks awesome and he continues rising into the top 10. For those that want Walker at No. 1 … c’mon, we are not there yet. Walker versus Bijan Robinson? It feels premature, though Robinson does drop a spot behind Jonathan Taylor to No. 3. Praise Walker, but if a Robinson investor offers him for Walker, do it.

Broncos rookie Jonah Coleman is among big risers at running back, though we lack confirmation of solid volume moving ahead (same with the Patriots’ TreVeyon Henderson). The Buccaneers’ Bucky Irving and Panthers’ Chuba Hubbard rise to RB2 status, as their reported timeshares appear to be rather one-sided. Aaron Jones Sr. is healthy and seeing volume. Don’t forget about the Saints’ Alvin Kamara and Seahawks’ Zach Charbonnet, and watch for injury updates on the Eagles’ Saquon Barkley.

Pos. Rank	Ovr. Rank		Team	Bye	Next 3
1	1		DET	6	NYJ, @CAR, @ARI
2	3		IND	13	HOU, @WSH, @PIT
3	5		ATL	11	@GB, @NO, BAL
4	7		BAL	13	@DAL, TEN, @ATL
5	8		BUF	7	LAC, NE, @LAR
6	9	UP	KC	5	@MIA, @LV, BYE
7	14		SF	8	ARI, DEN, @SEA
8	17		LV	13	@NO, KC, @NE
9	18		CIN	6	@PIT, JAX, @MIA
10	19		MIA	6	KC, @MIN, CIN
11	24		LAC	7	@BUF, @SEA, DEN
12	25		DAL	14	BAL, @HOU, TB
13	26	DOWN	PHI	10	@CHI, LAR, @JAX
14	32		ARI	14	@SF, @NYG, DET
15	33		NYJ	13	@DET, @CHI, CLE
16	34		CHI	10	PHI, NYJ, @GB
17	35		LAR	11	@DEN, @PHI, BUF
18	36	UP	TB	10	MIN, GB, @DAL
19	47		NYG	8	TEN, ARI, @WSH
20	67		JAX	7	NE, @CIN, PHI
21	68	UP	CAR	5	@CLE, DET, BYE
22	69	UP	NE	11	@JAX, @BUF, LV
23	83		HOU	8	@IND, DAL, @TEN
24	84	UP	MIN	6	@TB, MIA, @NO
25	85	DOWN	NO	8	LV, ATL, MIN
26	86	DOWN	SEA	11	@WSH, LAC, SF
27	87	DOWN	CLE	11	CAR, PIT, @NYJ
28	88	DOWN	NE	11	@JAX, @BUF, LV
29	96		CHI	10	PHI, NYJ, @GB
30	NR	UP	DEN	10	LAR, @SF, @LAC
31	NR		PIT	9	CIN, @CLE, IND
32	NR		GB	11	ATL, @TB, CHI
33	NR	UP	NO	8	LV, ATL, MIN
34	NR	DOWN	TB	10	MIN, GB, @DAL
35	NR		TEN	9	@NYG, @BAL, HOU
36	NR		WSH	7	SEA, IND, NYG
37	NR	UP	WSH	7	SEA, IND, NYG
38	NR		LAR	11	@DEN, @PHI, BUF
39	NR	DOWN	DEN	10	LAR, @SF, @LAC
40	NR	DOWN	CAR	5	@CLE, DET, BYE
41	NR	DOWN	PIT	9	CIN, @CLE, IND
42	NR	DOWN	SF	8	ARI, DEN, @SEA
43	NR		GB	11	ATL, @TB, CHI
44	NR		TEN	9	@NYG, @BAL, HOU
45	NR		JAX	7	NE, @CIN, PHI
46	NR	UP	PHI	10	@CHI, LAR, @JAX
47	NR		HOU	8	@IND, DAL, @TEN
48	NR	DOWN	DEN	10	LAR, @SF, @LAC
49	NR	UP	SEA	11	@WSH, LAC, SF
50	NR	DOWN	ARI	14	@SF, @NYG, DET
51	NR		LAC	7	@BUF, @SEA, DEN
52	NR	UP	NYJ	13	@DET, @CHI, CLE
53	NR	DOWN	LV	13	@NO, KC, @NE
54	NR		MIN	6	@TB, MIA, @NO
55	NR		BAL	13	@DAL, TEN, @ATL
56	NR	UP	KC	5	@MIA, @LV, BYE
57	NR		CIN	6	@PIT, JAX, @MIA
58	NR		ATL	11	@GB, @NO, BAL
59	NR		NYG	8	TEN, ARI, @WSH
60	NR	UP	SEA	11	@WSH, LAC, SF

Wide receiver

Rankings changes: Many star receivers delivered in Week 2, but the rankings movement at this position happened in the late-WR2 range, as the Panthers’ Jalen Coker, Packers’ Christian Watson, Broncos’ Jaylen Waddle, Jaguars’ Parker Washington and Browns’ Denzel Boston continue to add value. Perhaps they catch some early underachievers like the Falcons’ Drake London and Cowboys’ George Pickens soon. They have already passed the Chargers’ Ladd McConkey and Lions’ Jameson Williams.

Pos. Rank	Ovr. Rank		Team	Bye	Next 3
1	2		SEA	11	@WSH, LAC, SF
2	4		CIN	6	@PIT, JAX, @MIA
3	6		DET	6	NYJ, @CAR, @ARI
4	10		LAR	11	@DEN, @PHI, BUF
5	11		DAL	14	BAL, @HOU, TB
6	12		MIN	6	@TB, MIA, @NO
7	13		NO	8	LV, ATL, MIN
8	15		NYJ	13	@DET, @CHI, CLE
9	16	UP	PHI	10	@CHI, LAR, @JAX
10	22		HOU	8	@IND, DAL, @TEN
11	23	UP	LAR	11	@DEN, @PHI, BUF
12	27		BAL	13	@DAL, TEN, @ATL
13	28		CIN	6	@PIT, JAX, @MIA
14	29	UP	KC	5	@MIA, @LV, BYE
15	30	DOWN	DAL	14	BAL, @HOU, TB
16	31		ATL	11	@GB, @NO, BAL
17	37	UP	DEN	10	LAR, @SF, @LAC
18	38	UP	TB	10	MIN, GB, @DAL
19	39		CAR	5	@CLE, DET, BYE
20	40	UP	CAR	5	@CLE, DET, BYE
21	45	UP	JAX	7	NE, @CIN, PHI
22	46	UP	GB	11	ATL, @TB, CHI
23	48	DOWN	NYG	8	TEN, ARI, @WSH
24	49	UP	CLE	11	CAR, PIT, @NYJ
25	50	DOWN	LAC	7	@BUF, @SEA, DEN
26	51		SF	8	ARI, DEN, @SEA
27	52	DOWN	BUF	7	LAC, NE, @LAR
28	53		CHI	10	PHI, NYJ, @GB
29	54	DOWN	DET	6	NYJ, @CAR, @ARI
30	56	DOWN	WSH	7	SEA, IND, NYG
31	57	DOWN	WSH	7	SEA, IND, NYG
32	58	DOWN	CHI	10	PHI, NYJ, @GB
33	59		SF	8	ARI, DEN, @SEA
34	70		DEN	10	LAR, @SF, @LAC
35	71	UP	IND	13	HOU, @WSH, @PIT
36	72		ARI	14	@SF, @NYG, DET
37	73	UP	GB	11	ATL, @TB, CHI
38	74	DOWN	PIT	9	CIN, @CLE, IND
39	75		NO	8	LV, ATL, MIN
40	76	DOWN	ARI	14	@SF, @NYG, DET
41	77	DOWN	PIT	9	CIN, @CLE, IND
42	78		TEN	9	@NYG, @BAL, HOU
43	91	UP	PHI	10	@CHI, LAR, @JAX
44	92		JAX	7	NE, @CIN, PHI
45	93		MIA	6	KC, @MIN, CIN
46	97	DOWN	TEN	9	@NYG, @BAL, HOU
47	98		BUF	7	LAC, NE, @LAR
48	99	UP	NE	11	@JAX, @BUF, LV
49	NR		KC	5	@MIA, @LV, BYE
50	NR	UP	LV	13	@NO, KC, @NE
51	NR		NE	11	@JAX, @BUF, LV
52	NR		JAX	7	NE, @CIN, PHI
53	NR		TB	10	MIN, GB, @DAL
54	NR	UP	BAL	13	@DAL, TEN, @ATL
55	NR	UP	NYJ	13	@DET, @CHI, CLE
56	NR	DOWN	MIN	6	@TB, MIA, @NO
57	NR	DOWN	LAC	7	@BUF, @SEA, DEN
58	NR		CHI	10	PHI, NYJ, @GB
59	NR	DOWN	IND	13	HOU, @WSH, @PIT
60	NR	DOWN	CLE	11	CAR, PIT, @NYJ

Tight end

Rankings changes: It may be panic time for investors of several top tight ends, as the Raiders’ Brock Bowers has yet to play, and the Bears’ Colston Loveland isn’t even averaging one fantasy point per game! (He has one reception for 3 yards). Try to be patient. We move the Chiefs’ Travis Kelce, Bills’ Dalton Kincaid and Texans’ Dalton Schultz up. The Panthers’ Darren Waller is interesting, and the Chargers’ Oronde Gadsden might be too. The Falcons’ Kyle Pitts Sr. has disappointed us again. Zach Ertz is again an Eagle, but potential investors must keep initial expectations in check.

Pos. Rank	Ovr. Rank		Team	Bye	Next 3
1	21		ARI	14	@SF, @NYG, DET
2	41		LV	13	@NO, KC, @NE
3	55		IND	13	HOU, @WSH, @PIT
4	64		DET	6	NYJ, @CAR, @ARI
5	65	UP	KC	5	@MIA, @LV, BYE
6	66	DOWN	CHI	10	PHI, NYJ, @GB
7	79		SF	8	ARI, DEN, @SEA
8	89	UP	BUF	7	LAC, NE, @LAR
9	90	UP	HOU	8	@IND, DAL, @TEN
10	100	DOWN	GB	11	ATL, @TB, CHI
11	NR		CLE	11	CAR, PIT, @NYJ
12	NR		NO	8	LV, ATL, MIN
13	NR	DOWN	NYG	8	TEN, ARI, @WSH
14	NR		BAL	13	@DAL, TEN, @ATL
15	NR		DAL	14	BAL, @HOU, TB
16	NR		MIN	6	@TB, MIA, @NO
17	NR	DOWN	ATL	11	@GB, @NO, BAL
18	NR		NE	11	@JAX, @BUF, LV
19	NR	UP	CAR	5	@CLE, DET, BYE
20	NR		PIT	9	CIN, @CLE, IND
21	NR	UP	LAR	11	@DEN, @PHI, BUF
22	NR	UP	DEN	10	LAR, @SF, @LAC
23	NR	DOWN	NYJ	13	@DET, @CHI, CLE
24	NR	DOWN	PHI	10	@CHI, LAR, @JAX
25	NR		JAX	7	NE, @CIN, PHI
26	NR	UP	LAC	7	@BUF, @SEA, DEN
27	NR	DOWN	CIN	6	@PIT, JAX, @MIA
28	NR		TEN	9	@NYG, @BAL, HOU
29	NR		LV	13	@NO, KC, @NE
30	NR	DOWN	WSH	7	SEA, IND, NYG
31	NR	UP	PHI	10	@CHI, LAR, @JAX
32	NR	DOWN	SEA	11	@WSH, LAC, SF
33	NR	DOWN	TB	10	MIN, GB, @DAL
34	NR	DOWN	NYJ	13	@DET, @CHI, CLE
35	NR		MIA	6	KC, @MIN, CIN
36	NR		GB	11	ATL, @TB, CHI
37	NR		CHI	10	PHI, NYJ, @GB
38	NR		PIT	9	CIN, @CLE, IND
39	NR		NO	8	LV, ATL, MIN
40	NR		LAR	11	@DEN, @PHI, BUF

Defense/special teams

Pos. Rank	Ovr. Rank		Bye	Next 3
1	NR		11	@WSH, LAC, SF
2	NR		8	@IND, DAL, @TEN
3	NR		9	CIN, @CLE, IND
4	NR		10	LAR, @SF, @LAC
5	NR		11	@DEN, @PHI, BUF
6	NR		13	@DAL, TEN, @ATL
7	NR		8	ARI, DEN, @SEA
8	NR		11	@JAX, @BUF, LV
9	NR	UP	6	@TB, MIA, @NO
10	NR	DOWN	10	@CHI, LAR, @JAX
11	NR		5	@MIA, @LV, BYE
12	NR		11	CAR, PIT, @NYJ
13	NR	UP	8	LV, ATL, MIN
14	NR		7	NE, @CIN, PHI
16	NR		11	ATL, @TB, CHI
16	NR	UP	13	@DET, @CHI, CLE
17	NR	UP	6	@PIT, JAX, @MIA
18	NR	DOWN	6	NYJ, @CAR, @ARI
19	NR	DOWN	10	MIN, GB, @DAL
19	NR	DOWN	7	@BUF, @SEA, DEN
20	NR	DOWN	13	HOU, @WSH, @PIT
21	NR		10	PHI, NYJ, @GB
22	NR		13	@NO, KC, @NE
23	NR		5	@CLE, DET, BYE
25	NR		7	LAC, NE, @LAR
26	NR		8	TEN, ARI, @WSH
27	NR		7	SEA, IND, NYG
28	NR		9	@NYG, @BAL, HOU
29	NR		14	@SF, @NYG, DET
30	NR	DOWN	11	@GB, @NO, BAL
31	NR		14	BAL, @HOU, TB
32	NR		6	KC, @MIN, CIN

Overall top 100

Rank		Team	Bye	Pos. Rank	Next 3
1		DET	6	RB1	NYJ, @CAR, @ARI
2		SEA	11	WR1	@WSH, LAC, SF
3		IND	13	RB2	HOU, @WSH, @PIT
4		CIN	6	WR2	@PIT, JAX, @MIA
5		ATL	11	RB3	@GB, @NO, BAL
6		DET	6	WR3	NYJ, @CAR, @ARI
7		BAL	13	RB4	@DAL, TEN, @ATL
8		BUF	7	RB5	LAC, NE, @LAR
9	UP	KC	5	RB6	@MIA, @LV, BYE
10	DOWN	LAR	11	WR4	@DEN, @PHI, BUF
11		DAL	14	WR5	BAL, @HOU, TB
12		MIN	6	WR6	@TB, MIA, @NO
13		NO	8	WR7	LV, ATL, MIN
14		SF	8	RB7	ARI, DEN, @SEA
15		NYJ	13	WR8	@DET, @CHI, CLE
16	UP	PHI	10	WR9	@CHI, LAR, @JAX
17		LV	13	RB8	@NO, KC, @NE
18		CIN	6	RB9	@PIT, JAX, @MIA
19		MIA	6	RB10	KC, @MIN, CIN
20	UP	BUF	7	QB1	LAC, NE, @LAR
21	UP	ARI	14	TE1	@SF, @NYG, DET
22	DOWN	HOU	8	WR10	@IND, DAL, @TEN
23		LAR	11	WR11	@DEN, @PHI, BUF
24		LAC	7	RB11	@BUF, @SEA, DEN
25		DAL	14	RB12	BAL, @HOU, TB
26	DOWN	PHI	10	RB13	@CHI, LAR, @JAX
27		BAL	13	WR12	@DAL, TEN, @ATL
28		CIN	6	WR13	@PIT, JAX, @MIA
29		KC	5	WR14	@MIA, @LV, BYE
30	DOWN	DAL	14	WR15	BAL, @HOU, TB
31		ATL	11	WR16	@GB, @NO, BAL
32		ARI	14	RB14	@SF, @NYG, DET
33		NYJ	13	RB15	@DET, @CHI, CLE
34		CHI	10	RB16	PHI, NYJ, @GB
35	UP	LAR	11	RB17	@DEN, @PHI, BUF
36	UP	TB	10	RB18	MIN, GB, @DAL
37	UP	DEN	10	WR17	LAR, @SF, @LAC
38	UP	TB	10	WR18	MIN, GB, @DAL
39		CAR	5	WR19	@CLE, DET, BYE
40	UP	CAR	5	WR20	@CLE, DET, BYE
41		LV	13	TE2	@NO, KC, @NE
42	DOWN	BAL	13	QB2	@DAL, TEN, @ATL
43	DOWN	CIN	6	QB3	@PIT, JAX, @MIA
44	UP	PHI	10	QB4	@CHI, LAR, @JAX
45	UP	JAX	7	WR21	NE, @CIN, PHI
46	UP	GB	11	WR22	ATL, @TB, CHI
47		NYG	8	RB19	TEN, ARI, @WSH
48	DOWN	NYG	8	WR23	TEN, ARI, @WSH
49	UP	CLE	11	WR24	CAR, PIT, @NYJ
50	DOWN	LAC	7	WR25	@BUF, @SEA, DEN
51		SF	8	WR26	ARI, DEN, @SEA
52	DOWN	BUF	7	WR27	LAC, NE, @LAR
53		CHI	10	WR28	PHI, NYJ, @GB
54	DOWN	DET	6	WR29	NYJ, @CAR, @ARI
55		IND	13	TE3	HOU, @WSH, @PIT
56		WSH	7	WR30	SEA, IND, NYG
57		WSH	7	WR31	SEA, IND, NYG
58		CHI	10	WR32	PHI, NYJ, @GB
59	UP	SF	8	WR33	ARI, DEN, @SEA
60	UP	DAL	14	QB5	BAL, @HOU, TB
61	UP	SF	8	QB6	ARI, DEN, @SEA
62	UP	KC	5	QB7	@MIA, @LV, BYE
63	UP	NO	8	QB8	LV, ATL, MIN
64		DET	6	TE4	NYJ, @CAR, @ARI
65	UP	KC	5	TE5	@MIA, @LV, BYE
66	DOWN	CHI	10	TE6	PHI, NYJ, @GB
67		JAX	7	RB20	NE, @CIN, PHI
68	UP	CAR	5	RB21	@CLE, DET, BYE
69	UP	NE	11	RB22	@JAX, @BUF, LV
70		DEN	10	WR34	LAR, @SF, @LAC
71	UP	IND	13	WR35	HOU, @WSH, @PIT
72		ARI	14	WR36	@SF, @NYG, DET
73	UP	GB	11	WR37	ATL, @TB, CHI
74	DOWN	PIT	9	WR38	CIN, @CLE, IND
75		NO	8	WR39	LV, ATL, MIN
76	DOWN	ARI	14	WR40	@SF, @NYG, DET
77	DOWN	PIT	9	WR41	CIN, @CLE, IND
78	DOWN	TEN	9	WR42	@NYG, @BAL, HOU
79		SF	8	TE7	ARI, DEN, @SEA
80	UP	DET	6	QB9	NYJ, @CAR, @ARI
81	DOWN	NE	11	QB10	@JAX, @BUF, LV
82	UP	LAR	11	QB11	@DEN, @PHI, BUF
83	DOWN	HOU	8	RB23	@IND, DAL, @TEN
84	UP	MIN	6	RB24	@TB, MIA, @NO
85	DOWN	NO	8	RB25	LV, ATL, MIN
86	DOWN	SEA	11	RB26	@WSH, LAC, SF
87	DOWN	CLE	11	RB27	CAR, PIT, @NYJ
88	DOWN	NE	11	RB28	@JAX, @BUF, LV
89	UP	BUF	7	TE8	LAC, NE, @LAR
90	UP	HOU	8	TE9	@IND, DAL, @TEN
91	UP	PHI	10	WR43	@CHI, LAR, @JAX
92	DOWN	JAX	7	WR44	NE, @CIN, PHI
93		MIA	6	WR45	KC, @MIN, CIN
94		JAX	7	QB12	NE, @CIN, PHI
95		LAC	7	QB13	@BUF, @SEA, DEN
96		CHI	10	RB29	PHI, NYJ, @GB
97	DOWN	TEN	9	WR46	@NYG, @BAL, HOU
98		BUF	7	WR47	LAC, NE, @LAR
99	UP	NE	11	WR48	@JAX, @BUF, LV
100	DOWN	GB	11	TE10	ATL, @TB, CHI

Rest-of-season rankings: Walker, Shough on the rise while Maye, McConkey fall

Quarterback

Running back

Wide receiver

Tight end

Defense/special teams

Overall top 100

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Quarterback

Running back

Wide receiver

Tight end

Defense/special teams

Overall top 100

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