2026 Fantasy Football: Malik Nabers and Christian McCaffrey Headline Do Not Draft List

Malik Nabers caught 109 passes for 1,204 yards as a rookie but faces a 2026 Do Not Draft status following ACL and meniscus tears.

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers enters the 2026 season as a primary fade after undergoing multiple surgeries on his right knee, including a spring procedure to remove scar tissue. During his rookie campaign, the LSU product recorded 109 receptions, 1,204 yards, and seven touchdowns, but he was limited to just four games last season following Week 4 ACL and meniscus tears. Despite an initial average draft position (ADP) in the top 10 at his position, Nabers remains a significant risk as his availability for September action is not yet guaranteed.

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey faces historical regression after logging over 900 snaps and 400 touches in 2025. McCaffrey earned Comeback Player of the Year honors by playing all 17 games and exceeding 400 fantasy points, yet statistics show that since 2000, none of the 13 running backs who recorded 400 carries in a season finished as a top-10 RB the following year. At 30 years old, McCaffrey’s workload is expected to be managed more cautiously by San Francisco, mirroring the 2025 decline of Saquon Barkley.

Quarterback Risks and Statistical Outliers

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has maintained a top-two fantasy ranking for six consecutive seasons, but his second-round ADP in 10-team leagues presents a high opportunity cost. Similarly, Drake Maye of the New England Patriots is highlighted for potential regression despite a 2025 season featuring 4,394 passing yards, 31 passing touchdowns, and 450 rushing yards. Maye’s 350 fantasy points were achieved without facing a top-10 defense, a trend that will shift significantly given the Patriots' 2026 schedule.

Jaxson Dart, a 2025 late-first-round selection for the Giants, started 12 games but missed time due to a concussion. His reckless rushing style contrasts with the perceived safety of Chargers starter Justin Herbert. In Washington, Jayden Daniels played only seven games last year while dealing with injuries to his wrist, elbow, knee, and hamstring. Meanwhile, Jordan Love of the Green Bay Packers remains limited by a scheme that keeps his passing volume below 30 attempts per game, and Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick for the Raiders, may sit behind Kirk Cousins to start the year.

Running Back Value and Backfield Splits

Kenneth Walker III joins the Kansas City Chiefs following a Super Bowl MVP performance with the Seattle Seahawks, but he never finished higher than RB15 in fantasy scoring during his four seasons in Seattle. Last year, Walker ranked 20th in rushing attempts as the Seahawks managed his health. In Los Angeles, Kyren Williams faces competition from Blake Corum, who averaged 5.1 yards per carry as a sophomore. Williams has recorded double-digit rushing touchdowns in three straight seasons, but his fifth-round ADP is threatened by Corum’s ascending role.

New England’s backfield features TreVeyon Henderson, but veteran Rhamondre Stevenson was the preferred option during the team’s January playoff run. Stevenson offers value several rounds after Henderson due to his pass-blocking and power-running utility. In Tampa Bay, Bucky Irving averaged only 3.4 yards per rush and scored one touchdown in 10 games last year. The Buccaneers added Kenny Gainwell, who caught 73 passes and averaged 4.7 yards per carry for the Steelers in 2025, making Irving’s sixth-round ADP questionable compared to Gainwell in Round 13.

Wide Receiver and Tight End Fades

Rashee Rice of the Kansas City Chiefs has appeared in only 12 games over the last two seasons due to injury and a suspension that included time in jail during his recovery from knee surgery. A.J. Brown, now with the Patriots, showed signs of decline late last season outside of a three-game stretch in November. Marvin Harrison Jr. continues to be drafted as a WR2 despite ordinary production since being the No. 4 pick in 2024.

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. finished as the TE2 last season, but 21% of his total points came in a single Week 15 game. Outside of that performance, he averaged 10 fantasy points and totaled two touchdowns. Dallas Goedert of the Eagles caught 11 of the team's 26 touchdowns last year, a massive spike considering he caught only 12 touchdowns in the four previous seasons combined. Given his injury history and the unlikelihood of repeating double-digit scores at age 31, he remains a fade at current costs.