Look, the 2025 fantasy season didn't just end; it imploded. If you’re staring at your roster right now feeling like you just watched a car alarm go off for four months straight, you aren't alone. Dynasty is a grind. It’s about the long game, sure, but "the long game" is getting a lot harder to play when the goalposts keep moving.
Honestly, the 2025 dynasty fantasy football rankings you see floating around the internet right now are mostly noise. People are overreacting to small sample sizes or, worse, clinging to "blue-chip" names that haven't produced in years. We need to talk about what actually matters for 2026 and beyond.
The Quarterback Reset: It’s Josh Allen and Then Everyone Else
Let’s be real. If you don't have Josh Allen, you're probably trying to figure out how to get him. He finished as the QB1 again because he’s a glitch in the matrix. But the real story of the 2025 season was the meteoric rise of Drake Maye in New England.
A lot of "experts" were skeptical. They said the Patriots lacked weapons. Then Maye went out and put up six top-12 finishes in his last 12 starts. He’s the real deal. In Superflex formats, he has climbed into the top three of most legitimate 2025 dynasty fantasy football rankings, trailing only Allen and maybe Lamar Jackson.
Then you have the "tumble" guys. J.J. McCarthy and Michael Penix Jr. had seasons they’d probably like to delete from the hard drive. McCarthy showed flashes late, but injuries and a Minnesota team that suddenly discovered they love running the ball capped his ceiling. He's a hold, not a buy. If someone in your league is panicking and selling Penix for a second-round pick? Jump on it. The talent is there, even if the situation in Atlanta felt like a fever dream last year.
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- Tier 1: Josh Allen, Drake Maye, Lamar Jackson
- Tier 2: Joe Burrow, Jayden Daniels, Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes
- The "Wait and See": Caleb Williams, Jaxson Dart (the Giants' new hope), and Bo Nix.
The Great RB Renaissance of 2025
For years, we heard "RB doesn't matter." Tell that to the guy who drafted Ashton Jeanty.
The 2025 rookie class was absolutely loaded with backfield talent. Jeanty landed with the Raiders and, despite the organizational chaos in Las Vegas, he looked like the second coming of Saquon Barkley. He’s the consensus 1.01 in rookie drafts for a reason. His 99.9 rushing grade from PFF isn't a typo. It's dominance.
But don't ignore the middle-tier guys who shifted the landscape. Omarion Hampton in Los Angeles (under the Chargers) and TreVeyon Henderson in New England provided immediate RB2 floors.
The Christian McCaffrey Problem
We have to talk about CMC. He's nearing 30. He was still the RB1 for most of 2025, but the wheels didn't just squeak; they started to wobble. If you are a contending team, you hold him until he retires. If you’re even thinking about a rebuild, you have to flip him now. His value will never be higher than it is today, even with the age cliff looming.
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Wide Receiver Volatility: Why MHJ Isn't the Top Dog (Yet)
If you took Marvin Harrison Jr. at the 1.01 last year, you’re probably a bit salty. Finishing as a WR3/WR4 most weeks while Michael Wilson and Trey McBride ate his lunch was not in the script.
The new "Big Three" at receiver for dynasty has shifted. It’s Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and—believe it or not—Malik Nabers. Nabers proved he can produce even with subpar QB play in New York. He is the engine of that offense.
- Ja’Marr Chase: Still the king. Tied to Burrow. High floor, astronomical ceiling.
- Justin Jefferson: The most consistent human on earth.
- Malik Nabers: Pure volume hog.
- Amon-Ra St. Brown: The PPR god who never takes a play off.
Then there's George Pickens. Moving to Dallas changed everything for him. He finally became the WR1 people dreamed of, and his dynasty value skyrocketed. He's now a top-12 lock in any serious 2025 dynasty fantasy football rankings update.
The Chicago Connection: Burden and Loveland
If you didn't watch the Chicago Bears in the second half of 2025, you missed the birth of a powerhouse. Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland took a few weeks to get going, but once Ben Johnson’s offense clicked, they were unstoppable.
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Burden is the "YAC king" in the making. He plays like a faster Deebo Samuel. Loveland, meanwhile, is the only tight end besides Trey McBride and Brock Bowers that I’m truly excited about for the next five years. The Bears' offense is going to be a fantasy goldmine in 2026.
Actionable Strategy: What to Do Right Now
Stop looking at "Total Points" from last year. It’s a trap. Look at Targets Per Route Run (TPRR) and Expected Fantasy Points (xFP).
If you want to win in 2026, you need to exploit the "rookie fatigue" that hits around February. Everyone is obsessed with the 2026 class right now. That means the 2025 rookies—guys like Adonai Mitchell or Xavier Legette who didn't explode immediately—can be had for pennies.
Your Offseason Checklist:
- Sell High on Aging RBs: If they are 27+ and aren't named Saquon or CMC, move them for 2026 1st rounders.
- Buy the "Post-Hype" Sophomores: Target Marvin Harrison Jr. if the owner is frustrated. His talent hasn't vanished; the situation just sucked.
- Corner the TE Market: If you don't have a top-5 TE, you are at a massive disadvantage. Trade for Colston Loveland or Brenton Strange (who broke out in Jacksonville) before their price becomes untouchable.
- Draft Capital Management: Don't trade your 2027 picks yet. The value of those picks will quadruple once we hit the 2026 season.
Dynasty isn't won in December. It's won in the dark months of the offseason when your league-mates are watching hockey and you're scouting targets per route run for a slot receiver in Tennessee. Stay aggressive, don't get sentimental about "your guys," and keep a close eye on the coaching carousels in Pittsburgh and Las Vegas.