The NFL schedule doesn’t mean everything for fantasy football. So much can change between now and the start of the season, let alone deeper into the year.

But it's the middle of May, and it’s fun to talk about.

All jokes aside, the schedule release is a fun day to brainstorm what potential fantasy football matchups will look like over the course of the season. And in best ball formats, we finally have bye weeks, as well as championship schedules to attack. So with the schedule officially out, let’s highlight some players who could stand to benefit in the fantasy football landscape and potentially rise up the fantasy football rankings.

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Fantasy Football Winners From The 2026 NFL Schedule Release

Quinshon Judkins | RB | CLE

We’ll see how good Cleveland’s opponents are at stopping the run in 2026, but honestly, I don’t even care about that.

I care about how good they are at scoring points.

Let me explain. Game script often plays a factor in what a running back can ultimately do on a weekly basis. But it especially impacts running backs who don’t offer a ton in the passing game. Because the Browns were once again a bad team last year, they found themselves trailing a lot, limiting Judkins’ volume. Last year, Cleveland ran 298 offensive plays when trailing by 10-plus points, the seventh-most in football. That did not bode well for Judkins’ late-game usage, as the rookie averaged just 3.7 fourth-quarter touches per game, which ranked 20th among all running backs. Judkins was Cleveland’s clear early-down option, but he ceded plenty of third-down/passing work to Dylan Sampson and Jerome Ford. According to the Fantasy Life Utilization Report, Judkins logged just 9% of the long down and distance snaps, as well as 11% of the two-minute opportunities. You’d love to see an uptick in both departments in his second year, but even if the usage doesn’t climb too much, this schedule could make up for it.

Don’t get me wrong. The AFC North is absolutely brutal. But outside of that, there is a lot to like with Cleveland’s slate of opponents in 2026. They’ll face arguably the weakest division in football in the NFC South, with the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers being at home. But they also face the Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Jets and New York Giants, all improving teams, but nothing that strikes any fear. Sure, we’re not even in June yet. But it appears there will be a handful of games this season where the Browns aren’t chasing points.

Jaxson Dart | QB | NYG

The Giants finally gave Dart the keys to the offense in Week 4, and once he took over, he flashed some serious fantasy upside. His 13% designed rush share was second among all signal callers, and during that span, Dart averaged 20.5 points per game (8th). And over the course of the season, Dart averaged the third-most fantasy points per dropback (0.66), proving how valuable rushing is for both floor and ceiling. 

A true breakout is on the horizon in year two, and this schedule certainly doesn’t hurt.

New York has some very favorable matchups on the docket, including home games against the Titans, Cardinals and Saints. Dart will post some huge games over the course of the season, but the playoff schedule could really make the difference. The Giants are on the road in both your fantasy semi-finals and championship week; however, those games are in Detroit and Dallas. Two games that should feature high totals, plenty of scoring and, especially in Dallas’ case, plenty of plays. Since 2023, the Cowboys have been tied for first in average seconds per snap (26.4), while ranking in the top two in plays per minute each of the past two years. Oh, and this past season, the Cowboys surrendered the third-most rushing yards per game to opposing signal-callers (23.4). 

Giants and Cowboys Week 17 stacks could make some noise in best ball formats.

New Orleans Saints

The Saints are a popular breakout offense for the 2026 fantasy football season. And it makes sense. Kellen Moore brings a fast-paced, fantasy-friendly scheme, Tyler Shough flashed as a rookie, and the team added Travis Etienne and Jordyn Tyson in the offseason. I’m a believer in this offense, and I’m also a fan of their schedule for the upcoming season. 

Playing in the weaker NFC South is a great start, but the Saints also get matchups with the Raiders, Cardinals and Bengals forgiving defenses. And perhaps most importantly, New Orleans will play nine games indoors, while the fantasy playoff schedule is very enticing, facing Tampa Bay, Arizona and Atlanta. 

Play volume, innovative play caller and a favorable schedule? Investing in the Saints in 2026 might be the move.

Patrick Mahomes ... Potentially?!

Perhaps this is true galaxy-brain thinking, but with the NFL scheduling the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos to kick off Monday Night Football, it sure seems like there’s a good chance they believe Mahomes (and Bo Nix) will be ready to roll. This would obviously have massive implications on Kansas City’s offense for fantasy purposes, most notably, solidifying Rashee Rice’s status as a top-tier fantasy wide receiver. 

I’m not saying. I’m just saying.

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