JC Fantasy Football National Poll: Week 0

Welcome to the 2026 Season

Welcome back to JC Fantasy Football! It's the time of year when hope abounds, rosters look perfect, and every player is in the best shape of their life. Now we wait for the chaos of Week 1 to begin in just under a week!

This season is going to look a little different. Instead of five completely separate leagues producing five separate champions, all 54 managers are now competing in one national race. You will still play your regular schedule inside your own division, but every manager will also be ranked against every other manager in JC Fantasy Football through our weekly National Poll — think college football, but with considerably more waiver-wire arguments.

The National Poll will be updated every Tuesday morning throughout the regular season, so check back each week to see who is climbing, who is falling, which divisions are emerging as the strongest and, most importantly, who currently sits above the playoff line.

Week 0 is our preseason edition. No games have been played yet, so these rankings are based primarily on the strength and value of each drafted roster, how difficult each individual draft room was, and the manager’s historical JC Fantasy Football performance. New managers are not punished for being new, while managers with a proven history of contention receive some credit for demonstrating that they know how to manage a roster over an entire season.

Once the games begin, all of that preseason information will quickly fade in importance. What happens on the field will take over.

How the National Poll and Playoffs Work

During the regular season, the National Poll will evaluate much more than simple wins and losses. The model will consider head-to-head record, performance against the weekly league median, scoring, normalized all-play performance, strength of schedule, consistency and the scoring environment of each individual division.

That normalization is important. A 10-team division naturally distributes more elite players to each roster than a 12-team division does, and some draft rooms distribute talent much more evenly than others. The National Poll is designed to account for those differences instead of pretending every raw point total means exactly the same thing.

After Week 13, the Top 16 managers in the National Poll advance to the JC Fantasy Football Playoffs.

Those 16 playoff managers will then redraft before Week 14, with draft position determined by their final National Poll seeding. The playoff draft will also feature a third-round reversal, adding another strategic wrinkle to the race for the championship.

So while winning your division is great, there are no automatic playoff bids.

The goal is simple: Finish inside the national Top 16.

Before we unveil the first poll, here is how each of the five divisions looks coming out of draft night.

Division Outlooks

Division A

If Week 0 has a “group of death,” Division A has the strongest claim. It was a remarkably even 12-team draft in which very little premium value simply fell into someone’s lap, and the difference between the strongest and weakest finished rosters was smaller than almost anywhere else in the league. That means A managers may occasionally look less spectacular on paper than teams from smaller divisions, but they will have earned their production against deep weekly competition. The division also contains a ridiculous amount of historical pedigree: Jen Grantham, John Matey, Zac Grantham, Steven Matey and defending champion Trey Matey are all here, along with several other experienced managers. There are no obvious weeks where one of the contenders should expect to cruise. A team that survives Division A near the top of the standings is going to build a very strong National Poll résumé.

Preseason outlook: The toughest and most balanced division from top to bottom.

Division B

Division B may be the most interesting mixture of established managers and completely unknown quantities. April Marlow enters the season with one of the strongest combinations of manager pedigree and roster strength in the entire field, while newcomer Jay Robinson immediately drafted a team capable of competing nationally. Danielle Abbott also makes her JC debut with a roster that looks ready to score immediately. Several returning managers sit only a tier behind them, which makes B considerably deeper than simply looking at its top couple of teams would suggest. Because it is a 10-team division, the starting lineups are naturally stronger, so dominating this division will require more than simply having recognizable names. The middle of B could determine whether it sends three teams to the playoffs or twice that many.

Preseason outlook: Deep, dangerous and loaded with potential movement.

Division C

Division C has perhaps the widest collection of different roster-building philosophies. At the top, Todd Wilson combines a strong draft with enough historical evidence to begin the year at No. 1 nationally, while Allen Barnes and Michael Russo both drafted teams the model likes immediately. There is also an intriguing group just behind them featuring Aaron Crawford, Aiden Horn, Daniel Horn, Mallory Crawford and several others who could scramble the order quickly. Because C is a 12-team division, depth will matter more here than it does in the 10-team rooms; injuries and waiver-wire management could reshape this race very quickly. Nobody should mistake a lower preseason ranking in C for a hopeless roster. There simply was not as much excess talent available to go around.

Preseason outlook: A strong top tier with a large, volatile middle class.

Division D

Division D might have the highest ceiling at the very top. Eric Collier begins the year at No. 2 nationally with a roster featuring Jonathan Taylor, Saquon Barkley, Malik Nabers and Brock Bowers, and Tryten Kelly and Charissa Burkhead both open comfortably inside the playoff picture. Several experienced managers sit behind them, including Vikki Simpson, Lynn Burkhead and Kile Brandon. The challenge is that a 10-team division creates strong lineups everywhere, so simply having stars will not separate anyone for long. Managers who make better weekly lineup decisions and find the first major waiver-wire breakouts could rise rapidly here. D has enough quality rosters that its best teams should expect very little margin for error.

Preseason outlook: Possibly the league’s most dangerous collection of high-end contenders.

Division E

Division E produced the most unusual draft room of the five, but that should not be confused with saying the division itself is weak. What happened instead was a wider-than-normal distribution of draft value: several managers used very different positional strategies, and that allowed a handful of rosters to accumulate an extraordinary amount of skill-position talent. The result is a top tier that may be as explosive as any in JC Fantasy Football. Matt Billmeier, John Breeze, Kent Larson and Trey Reynolds all leave draft night with combinations that would make almost any manager jealous. The National Poll does account for the extra opportunity that was available in this particular room, but the players on those rosters still count — and if they perform, E could send plenty of teams into the playoff race. There is also tremendous opportunity for the rest of the division to close the gap through waivers and trades once the season begins.

Preseason outlook: The widest range of roster construction — and some absolutely loaded teams at the top.

The Week 0 National Poll

1. Todd Wilson — Division C

Todd Wilson opens the new era of JC Fantasy Football at No. 1, and this is not purely a draft-grade ranking. He has already demonstrated contender-level performance in previous JC seasons, including an excellent scoring and all-play profile in Division A, so the model has evidence that a strong roster is likely to be managed well. The headline of this draft is the Bijan Robinson, A.J. Brown and Brock Bowers opening trio, a foundation with elite weekly ceilings at three different positions. Finding Chris Godwin in Round 11 gives the roster another potentially useful piece without having to depend on him immediately. The biggest criticism is that an eighth-round Ravens defense used valuable middle-round capital that could have strengthened the RB/WR depth even further. At No. 1, there is nowhere to hide: this team is being projected not merely to make the playoffs, but to contend for the championship. To stay safely inside the Top 16, Wilson needs his elite core to stay healthy and one of Matthew Stafford or Jared Goff to provide steady quarterback production while he navigates a deep Division C.

2. Eric Collier — Division D

Eric Collier starts only a fraction behind the top spot and owns what may be the most intimidating first four picks in the entire league: Jonathan Taylor, Saquon Barkley, Malik Nabers and Brock Bowers. Collier is also a returning manager rather than an unknown newcomer, so the model gives some weight to an established JC track record. The biggest draft win is simple roster construction — elite RB production, a potential WR1 and an elite tight end were secured before the draft reached the middle rounds. Lamar Jackson in Round 6 then gives the roster enormous weekly quarterback upside without the kind of first- or second-round price paid for quarterbacks elsewhere. The concern is that the receiver depth behind Nabers, Zay Flowers and Rome Odunze is not quite as bulletproof as the names at RB, and this is a Division D schedule with several other nationally ranked teams. A No. 2 ranking creates championship expectations, not merely playoff expectations. If the stars stay available and one of the secondary receivers becomes a weekly difference-maker, this should be a Top-16 team from beginning to end.

3. Jen Grantham — Division A

Jen Grantham returns to the JC field with one of the strongest résumés in the league, highlighted by a championship season in Division A and multiple playoff appearances. That history is a major reason she rises above several teams whose raw draft grades were slightly higher. Her draft began with Bijan Robinson, George Pickens, Rashee Rice and Travis Etienne, then added Jalen Hurts at quarterback — an extremely balanced first five rounds for a 12-team room. Jayden Reed in Round 9 and Mark Andrews in Round 11 are the types of depth picks that can turn a good roster into a great one if either significantly beats his draft slot. The criticism is that Hurts, Kyler Murray and C.J. Stroud are a lot of quarterback inventory for a one-QB league, while Travis Kelce and Andrews also create some positional duplication that could have been another RB or WR. Division A will offer almost no easy path through the regular season. Grantham does not need everything to hit to make the Top 16, but she will need to turn some of that excess quarterback and tight-end value into usable weekly production, either through lineup decisions or trades.

4. April Marlow — Division B

April Marlow gets one of the largest pedigree boosts in the preseason model because her historical numbers have often been stronger than the final record alone suggested, and she has already shown the ability to reach the postseason. Now she gets to pair that managerial history with one of the best opening trios of the 2026 draft: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Justin Jefferson and Brock Bowers. Jayden Daniels in Round 9 is the highlight of the middle rounds and gives the roster enormous upside at quarterback without sacrificing early skill-position capital. The biggest question is whether some of the later picks were used too heavily on tight end, with Bowers already rostered before Harold Fannin and Travis Kelce were added. In a 10-team league, unused bench value can become expensive because opposing starting lineups are so strong. At No. 4, Marlow should be viewed as a playoff favorite, but the gap between “very good” and “Top 16 nationally” will come down to finding enough RB production behind Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price and RJ Harvey. If that position holds up, this roster has championship-level firepower.

5. John Matey — Division A

John Matey is one of the safest managers to give some preseason benefit of the doubt because his résumé includes a two league championships and multiple playoff appearances. His 2026 roster looks built to support that reputation, beginning with Christian McCaffrey and A.J. Brown before adding Jeremiyah Love, Tetairoa McMillan and Tyler Warren. Mike Evans in Round 6 could become one of the draft’s better veteran values if he remains a reliable weekly starter, and Jonah Coleman in Round 12 gives John another interesting late-round RB swing. The criticism is the amount of bench capital devoted to quarterback — Trevor Lawrence and Brock Purdy — plus a Round 13 defense, when additional RB/WR lottery tickets might have been more useful. More importantly, this roster has to survive Division A, where a good score may still produce a loss or a league-median defeat. John’s history says he knows how to survive a season, but his Top-16 path requires the veteran stars to stay healthy and at least one of the younger skill players to become a dependable weekly starter. If that happens, No. 5 may prove conservative.

6. Jay Robinson — Division B

Jay Robinson is one of the most fascinating teams in the entire poll because this is a newcomer with no JC résumé helping the ranking at all. The roster earned this spot on its own. Puka Nacua and A.J. Brown create an elite receiver foundation, Kenneth Walker supplies a high-end RB, and Lamar Jackson was added without spending one of the first three picks. The real draft highlight may be the collection of later upside — Josh Jacobs in Round 9, Michael Wilson in Round 10 and Quentin Johnston in Round 12 give this roster multiple ways to outperform its draft slot. The concern is volatility: Cam Skattebo, Quinshon Judkins, Kyle Pitts and Dalton Kincaid all carry varying degrees of uncertainty, and a top-six ranking assumes that several of those bets work. A newcomer does not get the historical safety net enjoyed by the managers above him. But if Robinson simply manages the roster competently and gets normal health from the stars, there is more than enough talent here to finish inside the Top 16.

7. Allen Barnes — Division C

Allen Barnes is another newcomer being thrown directly into the national spotlight on the strength of draft night alone. Puka Nacua, De'Von Achane, Javonte Williams and Chris Olave give this roster four legitimate difference-makers before the middle of the draft. Matthew Golden in Round 8 stands out as one of the more intriguing value selections, and Jonathon Brooks in Round 9 gives the roster another potentially useful RB without requiring him to be an immediate starter. The biggest question is quarterback investment: Trevor Lawrence arrived in Round 7 and Fernando Mendoza in Round 11, while some experienced teams were able to wait longer at the position. There is also a little more uncertainty in the back half of the roster than we see from the teams ranked above. Because Barnes has no prior JC results to lean on, the ranking will become extremely responsive to actual results once Week 1 begins. If the elite RB/WR core produces what the draft market expects, however, this team can absolutely remain in the playoff field.

8. Michael Russo — Division C

Michael Russo enters with very little meaningful JC history in the model, so this ranking is being driven overwhelmingly by the current roster rather than reputation. Christian McCaffrey and Derrick Henry are an intimidating RB pairing, while Rashee Rice and Malik Nabers give the lineup major receiver upside. Justin Herbert in Round 6 was a strong way to address quarterback after building the skill-position core, and Alvin Kamara in Round 12 is the sort of veteran depth piece that can become extremely useful during bye weeks and injuries. The major concern is age and health concentration: McCaffrey, Henry, Terry McLaurin and Kamara create more veteran risk than most teams in the Top 10, and Isaiah Likely is being asked to anchor tight end. This team could look unbeatable when everyone is active but may have a lower floor if injuries pile up. To stay inside the Top 16, Russo needs the veteran core to remain available and at least one of the younger depth pieces to emerge. The ceiling is obvious; durability will determine whether the ranking holds.

9. Tryten Kelly — Division D

Tryten Kelly is a returning JC manager whose past seasons have shown enough upside to earn a meaningful preseason boost, even though the résumé is not as decorated as the champions near the top of the poll. The 2026 build is extremely receiver-friendly: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ladd McConkey and Emeka Egbuka give the roster three exciting weekly options around Chase Brown and Kenneth Walker. Sam LaPorta in Round 7 is another potential advantage at a position where several teams waited much longer. The lowlight is that the quarterback room of Matthew Stafford, Jaxson Dart and Tyler Shough comes with more uncertainty than the QB situations of most Top-10 teams, and the RB depth behind the primary pair is not overwhelming. Division D also contains Eric Collier, Charissa Burkhead and several other serious teams, so simply being good will not guarantee a smooth record. This roster needs one quarterback to become a trustworthy weekly answer and the young receiving corps to live up to its billing. If both happen, Kelly has enough balance to stay comfortably above the playoff line.

10. Danielle Abbott — Division B

Danielle Abbott makes her JC Fantasy Football debut already ranked in the national Top 10, which tells you how much the model liked her draft. Ja'Marr Chase, Omarion Hampton and Drake London provide an excellent first three picks, while Travis Etienne and Drake Maye give the roster a stable early starting structure. Chuba Hubbard in Round 10 and Jakobi Meyers in Round 14 are especially useful depth pieces for a team that already had most of its starting lineup established. The criticism is that Tucker Kraft came fairly early in Round 6 and Dak Prescott became a second quarterback in Round 9, meaning some middle-round capital did not go toward RB/WR depth. Abbott also has no historical JC performance to stabilize the ranking once games begin — the model will learn who she is very quickly. Top 10 is a major preseason compliment, but Division B has enough good teams that she will need to score immediately. If Maye delivers and the Chase-London combination performs like an elite receiving tandem, this newcomer should have a legitimate playoff roster.

11. Charissa Burkhead — Division D

Charissa Burkhead is a returning manager with playoff experience, and the roster gives her a very realistic chance to add another appearance. Bijan Robinson and Drake London create an Atlanta-centered foundation, while Drake Maye, Tetairoa McMillan and a Round 5 Breece Hall give the lineup plenty of upside. The main concern is some duplicated quarterback and defensive investment later in the draft, but there are few glaring holes in the starting group. In a tough Division D, Burkhead needs her young receivers to develop quickly and Hall to reward the fifth-round investment; if they do, No. 11 should remain safely in the playoff conversation.

12. Earnest Vincent — Division B

Earnest Vincent returns with a roster that looks built for weekly consistency: Jonathan Taylor, Chase Brown, Rashee Rice and Jaylen Waddle form a strong skill-position base, and Justin Herbert in Round 6 was a nice quarterback value. The model particularly likes the upside of TreVeyon Henderson and some of the later RB swings behind the starters. Houston’s defense in Round 9 was somewhat aggressive, and the roster will need Colston Loveland to provide enough production at tight end. A solid veteran season with normal health should put Vincent firmly in the Top-16 race.

13. Zac Grantham — Division A

Zac Grantham has one of the stronger long-term contender profiles in the field, including multiple playoff appearances and several seasons near the top of Division A. CeeDee Lamb, Chase Brown, Ladd McConkey and Lamar Jackson give him a balanced, high-upside foundation, while Chuba Hubbard in Round 7 adds useful RB depth. There are not many glaring draft mistakes here, although the receiver depth will need Emeka Egbuka and the veteran options behind him to deliver. The biggest obstacle is simply Division A: Grantham probably has a Top-16-caliber roster, but he will have to prove it against one of the deepest schedules in the league.

14. Vikki Simpson — Division D

Vikki Simpson is an experienced manager who has been around the playoff picture before but still enters 2026 looking for the signature championship run. Christian McCaffrey, Justin Jefferson, Derrick Henry and Rashee Rice give this roster an absurdly recognizable first four rounds, and Bucky Irving in Round 8 could be a major value if he earns enough work. Brock Purdy in Round 5 and George Kittle in Round 6 were more expensive than the model preferred, and the veteran-heavy core carries some durability risk. If those stars stay on the field, this roster has more than enough weekly ceiling to remain inside the Top 16.

15. Matt Billmeier — Division E

Matt Billmeier is already a proven contender, including a 10-win playoff season in the historical data, and his current roster is one of Division E’s most explosive. Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson on the same fantasy team is a ridiculous starting point, and Brian Thomas in Round 9 adds even more receiver upside. The concern is that the RB room relies heavily on Chase Brown and several younger or less-certain options such as Jeremiyah Love, Quinshon Judkins and Bhayshul Tuten. The E draft-room adjustment keeps Billmeier from ranking even higher, but if one or two of those backs hit, this could easily become a Top-10 team.

16. Braxyn Smith — Division A

Braxyn Smith is a returning manager with plenty of JC experience, although the historical results have been more uneven than those of the perennial contenders surrounding him in Division A. The 2026 draft was excellent at the top: Puka Nacua, Omarion Hampton, Javonte Williams, Josh Jacobs and Tee Higgins create a strong starting core, with Makai Lemon providing another interesting upside piece later. The biggest inefficiency was spending on both Dak Prescott and Patrick Mahomes in a one-QB league while also using a late pick on Philadelphia’s defense. This is currently the final playoff team, and surviving Division A will require Smith to turn the roster’s depth into consistent weekly wins rather than merely looking good on paper.

— CURRENT PLAYOFF LINE —

17. Aaron Crawford — Division C

Aaron Crawford is a returning manager whose historical performance gives the model enough confidence to keep him immediately outside the playoff field. CeeDee Lamb, Ashton Jeanty, Jalen Hurts, Ladd McConkey and Sam LaPorta form an excellent starting nucleus, while RJ Harvey was an appealing Round 8 addition. The roster becomes thinner at receiver after the primary options, and some late picks were spent on a second quarterback and defense rather than additional skill depth. The path to the Top 16 is straightforward: if the stars perform normally and one additional flex option emerges, moving up one spot will not be difficult.

18. Steven Matey — Division A

Steven Matey already owns one of the league’s best recent accomplishments: a 2023 division title followed by another playoff appearance, so his manager pedigree is firmly established. Jonathan Taylor, Nico Collins and Trey McBride are a strong opening trio, and Brian Thomas in Round 8 plus Xavier Worthy in Round 12 give him fascinating receiver depth. The main criticism is spending on both Caleb Williams and Justin Herbert while also taking Seattle’s defense in Round 10. In Division A, Matey will need those middle-round skill players to become regular starters if he wants to climb back into the Top 16.

19. Tanner Harris — Division A

Tanner Harris is a returning JC manager with previous league experience, though his historical profile is not quite as consistently dominant as the champions above him. James Cook, Drake London, Cam Skattebo and Drake Maye give the roster a good foundation, and Alec Pierce in Round 8 was one of the better relative values on the board. The Texans defense in Round 10 was expensive compared with the skill players still available, and Kyle Pitts remains an important swing piece at tight end. Harris’ route into the playoffs is to get reliable production from the middle of the roster while surviving the weekly grind of Division A.

20. John Breeze — Division E

John Breeze returns to JC competition with some history in the league, although the recent sample is smaller than many of the managers ranked nearby. Jonathan Taylor, De'Von Achane, Kenneth Walker, Brock Bowers, Josh Jacobs and Jaylen Waddle give this team one of the most visually impressive six-player starts in the entire league, and DK Metcalf in Round 10 adds even more depth. The E draft environment makes that collection slightly less extraordinary than it would have been in another room, and the later rounds offer fewer obvious breakout bets. This team should score; the question is whether it can separate enough from the other stacked E rosters to remain nationally ranked.

21. Cindy Able — Division E

Coming off a season less than a proverbial yard from becoming league champion, Cindy Able is back and looking to dominate a new division. Jahmyr Gibbs, A.J. Brown, Nico Collins and Breece Hall give the roster tremendous early-round strength, while Garrett Wilson in Round 6 could prove to be an excellent value. Baker Mayfield in Round 5 was aggressive for a one-QB league, and drafting George Kittle after already securing Sam LaPorta created some positional redundancy. If the elite skill players carry the weekly scoring, there is absolutely a route from No. 21 into the Top 16.

22. Julius Foster — Division A

Julius Foster is a newcomer, so his Week 0 ranking receives no assistance from historical performance. He did not need much help after opening with Jahmyr Gibbs and Ashton Jeanty, then adding Josh Allen, DK Metcalf and Zay Flowers; Metcalf in particular represented excellent value relative to the room. The glaring criticism is the Rams defense in Round 6, an enormous amount of draft capital for D/ST, and Allen in Round 3 was also expensive in this format. Foster has plenty of starting talent, but cracking the Top 16 will require overcoming those lost middle-round opportunities while playing in the league’s toughest division.

23. Aiden Horn — Division C

Aiden Horn is another newcomer, meaning the model is essentially starting with a blank historical slate. Justin Jefferson, Chase Brown, Drake Maye, Colston Loveland, David Montgomery and Garrett Wilson give him plenty to work with, while Mark Andrews in Round 10 provides intriguing tight-end depth. Philadelphia’s defense in Round 7 and Buffalo’s defense in Round 14 used two roster spots and meaningful capital on the same position. If Horn can use waivers aggressively to turn those expendable spots into RB/WR depth, this roster is already close enough to the playoff line to make noise immediately.

24. Trey Matey — Division A

Trey Matey is the defending overall JC Fantasy Football champion and owns the strongest sustained contender résumé in the historical data, which is why the preseason model refuses to treat a mediocre draft grade as proof that the season is doomed. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Kenneth Walker, Chris Olave and Jaylen Waddle are a strong first four picks, and Jayden Daniels in Round 7 plus MarShawn Lloyd in Round 9 gave the roster useful value later. The concern is the aggressive run on Quinshon Judkins, Luther Burden and Jonathon Brooks in Rounds 5, 6 and 8, leaving more projection and uncertainty than most ranked rosters possess. History gets Matey into the Top 24; to reach the Top 16 in a brutal Division A, those upside bets have to become actual weekly production.

25. Kent Larson — Division E

Kent Larson is an experienced JC manager who has had solid seasons but has not yet established the same championship pedigree as the managers above him. The draft highlight is the incredible Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley, Malik Nabers, Chris Olave, Bucky Irving and Tee Higgins core, while taking both Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes was more quarterback investment than necessary. This roster has obvious Top-16 talent, and a good start plus smart use of that excess QB value could send Larson flying up the poll.

26. Daniel Horn — Division C

Daniel Horn enters as a newcomer, but Jonathan Taylor, Nico Collins, Breece Hall, Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins make the roster look anything but inexperienced. The main lowlight is spending later picks on a second quarterback and an early-ish Denver defense instead of more depth. If the veteran core stays healthy, a Top-16 debut season is completely realistic.

27. Trey Reynolds — Division E

Trey Reynolds returns with JC experience and drafted one of E’s flashiest lineups, highlighted by Puka Nacua, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Ashton Jeanty and Trey McBride, with RJ Harvey adding another upside swing later. The roster has fewer obvious weaknesses than its ranking suggests, but the E adjustment and a crowded national field mean Reynolds will need to turn that paper strength into immediate scoring to move into the playoff field.

28. Chad Skipworth — Division E

Chad Skipworth is a returning manager who is still looking to establish himself as a perennial contender. James Cook, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Kyren Williams and Cam Skattebo provide a very strong foundation, while Courtland Sutton and Marvin Harrison in the middle rounds give the roster depth. Jadarian Price was somewhat aggressive in Round 7, but a normal season from the top four would put Skipworth within striking distance of the Top 16.

29. Shane Able — Division B

Shane Able returns with previous JC experience but without the historical résumé of the league’s most established contenders. The draft highlight is an excellent Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ashton Jeanty, Kyren Williams and Breece Hall opening followed by Sam LaPorta, while using picks on both Matthew Stafford and Kyler Murray reduced some depth value. This is the kind of roster that could make the preseason ranking look silly quickly if the starting lineup clicks.

30. Raiden Weeks — Division B

Raiden Weeks has a limited historical sample compared with the longtime veterans, but James Cook, CeeDee Lamb and Malik Nabers give the roster a very strong top end and Jayden Reed in Round 10 was a nice value. The RB depth becomes shakier after Javonte Williams and Tony Pollard, so finding another dependable back is probably the clearest path toward the Top 16.

31. Lynn Burkhead — Division D

Lynn Burkhead has legitimate playoff pedigree, including a previous runner-up finish, and the best part of this draft was recovering from the opening pick to add Josh Allen, Nico Collins, Trey McBride, Mike Evans and Jaylen Waddle. Staying true to his brand, he took Jadarian Price at No. 4 overall, but if that pick pays off even reasonably and the veteran core carries the lineup, another Top-16 run is very possible.

32. Mallory Crawford — Division C

Mallory Crawford returns with JC experience and built a balanced roster around James Cook, Omarion Hampton and Lamar Jackson, with Courtland Sutton and Aaron Jones providing useful later value. The Rams defense in Round 4 was expensive, but enough talent remained on the board afterward that a strong waiver season could erase that mistake and push Crawford into playoff contention.

33. Dusty Glass — Division A

Newcomer Dusty Glass started strong with Amon-Ra St. Brown, Derrick Henry and Brock Bowers, giving him an excellent foundation, while Tony Pollard and Chris Godwin were useful middle-round values. Taking Bowers and Colston Loveland back-to-back reduced flexibility at other positions, but if the starting lineup survives Division A, this ranking has room to rise.

34. Kile Brandon — Division D

Kile Brandon is one of the league’s longtime veterans and has produced winning seasons before. CeeDee Lamb, A.J. Brown, Omarion Hampton and Kyren Williams are a terrific first four, with Mark Andrews in Round 13 standing out late. Back-to-back quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert plus an early defense cost some depth, but this roster only needs better positional efficiency during the season to threaten the Top 16.

35. Michael Matey — Division A

Michael Matey has years of JC experience and multiple competitive seasons, and his Jefferson-Nabers-Garrett Wilson receiver trio may be the best feature of any roster ranked this low. The concern is that Jadarian Price and Parker Washington came in Rounds 4 and 5 and left the RB room dependent on several uncertain pieces. If TreVeyon Henderson or another back emerges, Matey can climb quickly.

36. Heath Strickland — Division B

Heath Strickland is a returning manager whose best draft work was building around Jahmyr Gibbs, Derrick Henry, Nico Collins, Emeka Egbuka and Tee Higgins, with DK Metcalf lasting until Round 9. Carrying Trevor Lawrence, Bo Nix and Jordan Love is more quarterback depth than necessary, but turning one of those roster spots into a useful RB could make this a much more complete playoff candidate.

37. Dustin Barnett — Division A

Dustin Barnett is a veteran who has had competitive seasons without becoming a permanent fixture at the top. De'Von Achane, Saquon Barkley, David Montgomery and Breece Hall give him an outstanding RB room, and Courtland Sutton was a useful Round 7 addition. The receiver depth is thinner than the backfield, so finding another reliable WR while surviving Division A is the key to climbing.

38. Ashton Matey — Division A

Ashton Matey already has playoff-level seasons on her résumé, and Ja'Marr Chase, Kyren Williams, DeVonta Smith and Bucky Irving provide a good starting point, with Jordan Addison and Brian Robinson adding later depth. The middle-round tight-end and defensive investments leave a little less flexibility than ideal, but this is an experienced manager with enough talent to outperform No. 38.

39. Colton Black — Division C

Colton Black has a smaller JC history sample than many veterans, but Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Drake London, DeVonta Smith, Josh Jacobs and Bucky Irving make the starting lineup interesting, with Brian Thomas in Round 10 offering additional upside. Tight end is less certain and the bench needs a breakout or two, but consistent quarterback play from Baker Mayfield could move this team toward the bubble.

40. Mark Handy — Division C

Mark Handy returns with JC experience and landed Amon-Ra St. Brown, Kenneth Walker and Jeremiyah Love before adding Zay Flowers, Davante Adams and DK Metcalf. The roster lacks a single glaring disaster, but it needs Caleb Williams and the tight-end group to deliver better-than-average production to make up ground on the stronger C rosters.

41. Robby Meek — Division C

Robby Meek is an experienced JC manager, and Ja'Marr Chase, Kyren Williams, Trey McBride, Travis Etienne and Jayden Daniels form a perfectly respectable core, with Josh Downs arriving late as useful depth. Spending two selections on defenses limited the bench ceiling, so the route upward is aggressive waiver management and hitting on one of the later RB/WR options.

42. Mark Bentley — Division B

Mark Bentley returns after previous JC seasons and starts with Saquon Barkley, Josh Allen, DeVonta Smith, Trey McBride and Bucky Irving, while Courtland Sutton in Round 10 could be useful. Allen in Round 2 and multiple defenses made the draft less efficient than it could have been, but there is enough premium talent here for a much better finish than No. 42.

43. Aiden Benge — Division D

Aiden Benge is a returning manager coming off a division title, with James Cook, De'Von Achane, Chris Olave, DeVonta Smith and Garrett Wilson making the receiver/RB core legitimately exciting. Jayden Daniels in Round 8 was a strong highlight, but the lineup is thinner at RB and tight end after the top options. Finding one waiver-wire starter could change the trajectory considerably.

44. Andy Miller — Division B

Andy Miller has been through several JC seasons without yet putting together a sustained championship-level run, but Bijan Robinson, George Pickens, David Montgomery, Ladd McConkey and Jalen Hurts give this team a much better ceiling than No. 44 sounds. The draft spent a lot of capital at TE/QB and needs more RB/WR depth, but a good first month could make Miller one of the poll’s fastest risers.

45. DJ Billmeier — Division E

DJ Billmeier is an experienced returning manager, and Bijan Robinson, Derrick Henry, George Pickens and DeVonta Smith give him four very usable building blocks, with Mike Evans in Round 7 adding veteran value. Quarterback and tight-end investment was a little scattered, but if Kyle Pitts finally becomes a dependable weekly advantage and the stars stay healthy, Billmeier can work into the middle of the national race.

46. Aaron Quarles — Division B

Aaron Quarles returns with league experience and drafted an excellent Christian McCaffrey, De'Von Achane, Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson opening, with Marvin Harrison and Patrick Mahomes providing later upside. He punted tight end completely, but we assume that the model will quickly adjust Quarles up the rankings once the team adds a starter for Week 1.

47. Nathan Nunley — Division E

Nathan Nunley is a returning manager with a relatively short JC résumé, and Omarion Hampton, Drake London and Tetairoa McMillan give the roster a promising young core after Lamar Jackson. Jackson at No. 1 overall and Philadelphia’s defense in Round 7 were costly investments, but smart waiver work can replace some of that lost depth and keep Nunley competitive.

48. Darren Tankersley — Division D

Darren Tankersley is a returning veteran who went 6-8 in the most recent historical season available, and Puka Nacua, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Ashton Jeanty and George Pickens give him a spectacular top four. The problem was positional concentration afterward — Dak Prescott and Joe Burrow back-to-back, followed later by multiple tight ends and defenses — but that also means trades and waivers offer a clear way to rebalance the roster.

49. Tammie Simms — Division C

Tammie Simms has previous JC experience and began with Saquon Barkley and Josh Allen before finding Jameson Williams and Jordan Addison later. Houston’s defense in Round 3 was a major opportunity cost and the roster spent considerable capital at QB, TE and D/ST, but a strong waiver season could still uncover enough skill-position depth to make the team competitive.

50. Robert Buchanan — Division D

Robert Buchanan is a newcomer, so this ranking is not a judgment on any previous management history. Ja'Marr Chase, Javonte Williams, Cam Skattebo and Tee Higgins provide a legitimate offensive foundation, with Chuba Hubbard and Josh Downs adding later value. Caleb Williams in Round 2 and a ninth-round defense made the roster harder to build around, but newcomers can move faster than anyone once actual results replace preseason assumptions.

51. SJ Buchanan — Division D

SJ Buchanan enters without an established contender résumé in the historical model, but Jahmyr Gibbs gives the roster an elite centerpiece and Josh Jacobs in Round 7 plus Makai Lemon later provide upside. Colston Loveland and Stefon Diggs in Rounds 2 and 3 were aggressive compared with the surrounding market, so the clearest route upward is for those early bets to outperform expectations.

52. Dwayne Landry — Division E

Dwayne Landry is a newcomer, and Josh Allen plus Rashee Rice give him two legitimate weekly weapons, while some later skill-position selections provide room for growth. Using the third and fourth rounds on the Rams and Broncos defenses greatly reduced the amount of offensive talent available afterward, but active waiver management gives Landry an opportunity to rebuild that depth throughout the season.

53. Beverlye Landry — Division E

Beverlye Landry is also a newcomer, and there are still pieces to like — CeeDee Lamb is an elite centerpiece, with David Montgomery and several useful receivers behind him. Joe Burrow in Round 1 followed by defenses in Rounds 3 and 5 made the roster construction difficult, but Week 0 is only a starting point and finding early waiver breakouts could change this ranking significantly.

54. Israel Flores — Division C

Israel Flores is a returning JC manager, and any roster beginning with Jahmyr Gibbs has a player capable of carrying weeks almost single-handedly; George Pickens and Emeka Egbuka also give the team receiving upside. Spending Rounds 2 and 4 on Dak Prescott and Patrick Mahomes and Round 8 on Pittsburgh’s defense left fewer premium skill players than the rest of the field, but No. 54 means there is nowhere to go but up — and actual football has a habit of making preseason rankings look foolish very quickly.

The Race Starts Now

There you have it folks, the Week 0 National Poll! Some managers will look back at these rankings in December and wonder how they were ever ranked so low. Others are probably going to wish we had stopped the season right here.

That is the fun of a preseason poll!

Beginning next week, reputation and draft grades start giving way to actual results. Wins matter. League-median results matter. Scoring matters. How you perform against every other roster in your division matters. Your schedule matters. Consistency matters. And each Tuesday, all 54 teams will be reshuffled accordingly.

The only ranking that ultimately matters is the one after Week 13.

Top 16 advance. Everybody else watches.

Check back every Tuesday morning for the updated JC Fantasy Football National Poll.