Early 2026 Fantasy Football FLEX Rankings: Redraft

January 21, 2026

RotoBaller's early 2026 fantasy football FLEX rankings for RBs, WRs, TEs in redraft leagues. 2026 tiered rankings give an early look at 2026 drafts at flex spots.

Yes, the 2025 fantasy football season just wrapped up, but many of us are already looking forward to the 2026 campaign. Deciding between players at different positions with similar outlooks is always a challenge, so we're here to get your early prep started with our 2026 fantasy football FLEX rankings. These rankings can also help you build a win-now team for dynasty leagues this offseason. Below, check out where Chris Olave, Tee Higgins, Breece Hall, Garrett Wilson, Tetairoa McMillan, Colston Loveland, Luther Burden III, Ladd McConkey, and Harold Fannin Jr stand, among all others.

These 2026 fantasy football FLEX rankings are put together by Nick Mariano, a top-accuracy industry ranker and the lead forecaster here at RotoBaller. The 2026 NFL rookies are not included in these rankings, but they will be added as updates are made constantly up until the NFL Draft, and after the draft as well.

Be sure to bookmark our fantasy football rankings portal and check back regularly for updates. Most importantly, our free mobile app is a must-have - download it and configure your push notifications. We deliver all the top NFL news, injuries, and fantasy analysis 24x7 with our free push notification alerts... all for free!

2026 Fantasy Football FLEX Rankings: Redraft

2026 Fantasy Football FLEX Outlooks, News

Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots

New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson hasn't scored a touchdown in two playoff games this year, but he has recorded 209 scrimmage yards on 33 touches. Stevenson had 16 rushing attempts for 70 yards and also caught all four of his targets for 11 yards in the Divisional Round win over the Houston Texans. The 27-year-old's 16 carries were the second-most he's had all year, with rookie TreVeyon Henderson carrying the ball 12 times for only 25 yards.

Fantasy managers should expect Stevenson to have another big role in the AFC Championship clash this Sunday against the Denver Broncos. His role makes him a top-three fantasy RB in playoff leagues, but the sledding could be tough on the road against a Broncos defense that allowed the fewest half-PPR points per game during the regular season.

George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (Achilles) said on Monday that he expects to return from his torn Achilles "well before November" while also saying he could play close to the 2026 regular-season opener, according to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. Kittle tore his Achilles tendon in the Wild-Card win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Jan. 11 and had successful surgery last week.

Kittle's Achilles tear was a best-case scenario because he suffered a "clean tear." "They didn't have to drill into my heel," Kittle said. "And where the repair was, there's more blood flow. And so it takes some time off the recovery time." The 32-year-old only played in 11 regular-season games due to injuries in 2025, although he was the TE3 in half-PPR fantasy points per game (12.1), catching 57 passes for 628 yards and seven TDs. While Kittle is optimistic about his recovery, fantasy managers should expect him to miss potentially half the 2026 season.

Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks

Updating a previous report, Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (knee) suffered a torn ACL in his knee in Saturday's Divisional Round win over the San Francisco 49ers, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Charbonnet will require surgery and will not only miss the rest of the playoffs, but he'll most likely miss most of the 2026 season as well, given the timing of his injury. Before tearing his ACL, the 25-year-old third-year back ran the ball five times for 20 yards. Kenneth Walker had 19 carries for a season-high 116 yards and three touchdowns with Charbonnet out.

It's a tough ending to Charbonnet's best season in the NFL, as he set career highs across the board during the regular season in carries (184), rushing yards (730), and rushing touchdowns (12). Walker should see a bigger workload the rest of the way in the postseason, with Velus Jones Jr. being elevated to the RB2 role.

Malik Nabers, New York Giants

New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen said on Tuesday that the hope is for wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee) to be ready for the start of training camp at the end of July, according to SNY. Nabers was less optimistic about his timeline to return from a torn ACL when he talked to the media after the Week 18 season finale, and Schoel also admitted that "things can change." The 22-year-old tore his right ACL back on Sept. 28 and didn't have surgery until late October.

Nabers is one of the best and most dominant young receivers in the game, and his fantasy upside is buoyed by the fact that he has a young, rising quarterback to work with for years to come in Jaxson Dart. However, fantasy managers may be hesitant to use a high draft pick on a player coming off a torn ACL, especially if he's not a full-go for the start of the regular season this fall. We'll keep very close tabs on Nabers' recovery all offseason.

Cam Skattebo, New York Giants

New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen said on Tuesday that running back Cam Skattebo (ankle) should be ready for organized team activities in the spring, according to Evan Barnes of New York Newsday. Skattebo's first NFL season ended in late October when he suffered a gruesome dislocated right ankle. The 23-year-old is already out of his walking boot, though, and should be ready for the start of training camp in the summer and the Week 1 regular-season opener, barring a setback along the way.

In his eight games played for the Giants in 2025, Skattebo had 101 carries for 410 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, adding 24 catches on 32 targets for 207 yards and three more touchdowns as a pass-catcher. The Arizona State product took over lead-back duties with the G-Men and should be their preferred option in the backfield again in 2026 if he's fully healthy.

Joe Mixon, Houston Texans

When asked whether he expects a future with running back Joe Mixon (foot, ankle) on Monday, Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said, "As of right now, I don't know that," according to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. Mixon didn't play at all during the 2025 season, yet the Texans managed to make the playoffs for the third straight year without him. The 29-year-old's future in Houston depends entirely on the health of his foot/ankle going into next season.

From a contractual perspective, Mixon is with the team through the 2026 season. Veteran Nick Chubb opened the year as Houston's primary running back before rookie Woody Marks took over in the second half. Even if Mixon recovers this offseason and is ready to go for the season opener this fall, he won't be guaranteed to get the RB1 job back with Marks around.

RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos

Denver Broncos rookie running back RJ Harvey had a disappointing showing on the ground in the Divisional Round win over the Buffalo Bills, carrying the ball six times for only 20 yards. Harvey helped his fantasy managers in PPR leagues by catching five of a season-high six targets for 46 yards through the air, though. Against a weaker Buffalo run defense, it was a disappointing performance for Harvey, who saw his lowest carry total since Week 10.

Things won't get any easier for the second-rounder going into a tough AFC Championship matchup against the visiting New England Patriots. Although Denver may put more of an emphasis on trying to get their ground game going now that starting quarterback Bo Nix (ankle) is out the rest of the way, it doesn't mean that Harvey will have success against a Patriots defense that allowed the fourth-fewest half-PPR points per game to RBs this year, including only eight rushing TDs.

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