Fantasy Football Almanac 2026 Update: Behind the Scenes of the 2026 Guide
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Fantasy Football Almanac 2026 Update
I wanted to take a step back from the usual strategy posts and give a quick update on where things stand with the 2026 Fantasy Football Almanac.
The book is not ready yet, and I’m not opening it up for purchase at this point. But a lot of the foundational work is already complete, and this is typically the stage of the process where the structure of the entire book starts to take shape.
For anyone new to the site, the Almanac is built around role-based projections, coaching tendencies, and roster construction strategy — not just rankings. If you’ve read last year’s version or the breakdown in What Is the Best Fantasy Football Magazine (2025), the same core concepts will carry forward into 2026.
This post is simply a look at how the work progresses from January through March and what’s already been completed so far. I’ll be following up next week with a post about what will be coming. I’m making a few tweaks to the website to improve the reader experience. I am also in the process of finalizing Patreon/membership offerings as well. More news on that will come in April.
Fun Fact Here: I like to rotate the color I use on the standard version of the Fantasy Football Almanac book cover (standard version). A few years ago, a few years ago I started using a color from the Super Bowl champions (though if the champion is repeating – like the recent Chiefs, sometimes I use a different team color). This year is Seahawks green!
Quick Answer
The 2026 Fantasy Football Almanac is currently in progress, with foundational work already completed through March.
The book is not yet available, and key phases like NFL Draft adjustments and final projections are still ahead. At this stage, the focus is on building and refining the underlying data and structure that will drive the final version.
New to the Fantasy Football Almanac and want to see more?
At a Glance: 2026 Fantasy Football Almanac Progress
| Phase | Timeline | What’s Completed | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Cleanup | January | Workshare smoothing, injury adjustments | Creates accurate baseline for projections |
| Coaching Analysis | February | Head coach + OC evaluation (20 new OCs) | Defines offensive systems and usage |
| Early Projections | February | Initial projection modeling | Establishes starting framework |
| Free Agency Updates | March | Depth charts updated, player movement accounted for | Reflects current team situations |
| Player Profiles | March | 3-year lookbacks updated | Adds historical context to projections |
| Initial Writing | Late March | Stable teams written (e.g. Bills) | Speeds up final production timeline |
| Current Status | Now | Foundation built, writing underway | Ready for NFL Draft adjustments |
Table of Contents
January: Finalizing Workshare and Cleaning the Data
I thought you may be interested into some of the work that goes on to produce the Almanac and when that work takes shape. The process really starts in January, even though most people are focused on the NFL playoffs at that point.
Throughout the season, I’m tracking player usage — carries, targets, snap rates, situational roles — and how those evolve week to week. January is when all of that gets finalized and adjusted. The key part here is smoothing out the data to account for injuries. Many other publications look at year-long stats.
Raw season totals don’t tell the full story. A player who missed time or played through injury can look very different on paper compared to how they actually functioned when healthy. This step is about isolating what a player’s role looked like when they were truly part of the offense. You also have to take other injuries into account. Justin Herbert, for example, was a much better QB in 2025 when he had his starting offensive line blocking. It is rare to find a statistical engine that takes these factors into account for future projections.
It’s not the most visible part of the process, but it’s one of the most important. Everything else builds on this.
February: Coaching Changes and Early Projection Work
February is where things start to shift from historical analysis into forward-looking work. This year, there are 20 new offensive coordinators across the NFL, which is a significant amount of change in a single offseason. That matters because offensive systems are one of the biggest drivers (and I argue, the biggest driver) of fantasy production.
During this phase, I spend time breaking down coaching tendencies — how teams want to play, how they distribute touches, and how those systems may change with new coordinators in place. I take a deep dive into the coache’s career path to understand system influences. For example, a coach who studied under Josh McDaniels is going to naturally have a different strategic view than someone who studied under Sean McVay.
I also begin building the first version of projections.
These are not final projections, and they’re not meant to be. At this stage, they are simply a way to map out how different offensive systems might function based on what we know before free agency and the NFL Draft.
If you’ve read some of the strategy pieces on this site, like How to Identify Fantasy Breakout Players, this is where a lot of that context starts to come together behind the scenes.
March: Free Agency, Depth Charts, and Early Writing
March is where the process becomes more tangible. Free agency and roster movement begin to reshape depth charts across the league. This is when I update every team’s roster and adjust player roles based on new situations.
At the same time, I update each player’s statistical profile, including the three-year lookback that appears in the Almanac. This helps provide context beyond just the most recent season.
Once depth charts stabilize toward the end of March, I push through the first meaningful version of projections. This is also when writing begins — but only in situations where there is enough stability to do so.
Writing Stable Situations First
One of the advantages of this process is that not every team needs to wait until the NFL Draft to be written. Some offenses remain relatively stable, even through coaching changes.
For example, teams like the Bills are maintaining a consistent offensive identity under Joe Brady. That allows me to begin writing player outlooks with a reasonable level of confidence.
At this stage, I can usually complete:
- the quarterback
- the primary running backs
- the top wide receivers
- the tight end
I also finalize sections like key additions and departures, since most of that movement is complete after free agency. Will some of this change after the NFL Draft?
Yes, and that’s expected. If a team adds a key player at a position, certain sections will need to be revisited. But doing this early work allows me to move much faster once the remaining pieces fall into place.
At the moment, I’ve been able to write about the majority of the NFL quarterbacks, starting running backs, top 1-2 wide receivers and top tight end for each team. Of course, the Almanac generally includes information on well over 400 players. Each team generally has information on 1 QB, 4 RBs, 5-6 WRs, 2-3 TEs and team defense. I’m toying with adding more information about independent defensive players, but I think that content will more likely live on this website.
Why Start Writing Before the NFL Draft?
This is probably the most common question I get when I explain the process. Why not just wait until everything is finalized?
The answer is that waiting would slow everything down.
What I’ve found is that getting a head start on stable situations allows the rest of the book to come together much more efficiently. Instead of starting from scratch in late April, I’m refining and adjusting work that’s already in place.
This approach is similar to how you should approach your own draft preparation.
You don’t wait until draft day to start thinking through decisions. You build a framework early and adjust as new information becomes available — something I walk through in How to Build a Balanced Fantasy Football Roster.
Where Things Stand Right Now
As of now:
- workshare data from the 2025 season has been finalized
- coaching changes have been analyzed
- early projections have been built and tested
- depth charts have been updated through free agency
- initial writing has begun for stable offenses
- NOTE: I have already identified a handful of “zombie” sleepers (i.e. players that are likely to be undrafted who could start for your fantasy team). As a reminder for new readers, players like Kyren Williams, Sam LaPorta and James Conner have made this list before.
- If you want more information on how to identify sleepers, check out Fantasy Football Sleepers vs Busts: How to Identify the Difference
There’s still a lot to be done, especially as we move through the NFL Draft and into the final projection phase, but the foundation is in place.
Draft Season Setup (A Small Note)
Even though the book isn’t ready yet, this is usually the time of year where people start thinking about their draft setup. Nothing complicated here — just making sure you have a clean environment when the time comes.
- Some leagues still prefer a rotating league trophy.
- Check Out My Favorite Trophy On Amazon
- If you’re curious, I’ve put together a full breakdown in Best Fantasy Football League Trophies.
- And if you’re planning to watch the NFL Draft or prep for the season, having a reliable setup at home helps keep everything organized. In my basement, I have a main TV and then two smaller TVs to either side so that I can have three screens going at once.
Key Takeaways
The 2026 Fantasy Football Almanac is already well underway, even though it isn’t ready for release yet. Most of the foundational work happens earlier in the offseason than many people expect, and that process is what drives the accuracy and structure of the final product.
The most important points from this stage include:
- The foundation is complete. Workshare data from the 2025 season has been cleaned and adjusted for injuries, creating a reliable baseline.
- Coaching changes are a major factor this year. With 20 new offensive coordinators, system changes will play a bigger role than usual in shaping projections.
- Early projections are built, not finalized. These serve as a starting framework that will be refined after the NFL Draft.
- Depth charts are current through free agency. Most major player movement has been accounted for heading into April.
- Writing has already started. Teams with stable offensive systems are being completed early to speed up the overall process.
- The NFL Draft will drive the next major updates. Player movement and new additions will require adjustments and rewrites in certain situations.
- The process is structured, not reactive. Each phase builds on the previous one, allowing for faster and more accurate final production.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the 2026 Fantasy Football Almanac be available?
The book is not available yet. At this stage, the focus is on refining projections, updating depth charts, and continuing the writing process. More clarity on timing will come after the NFL Draft, when most of the remaining uncertainty is resolved.
Why does the writing start before the NFL Draft?
Writing begins early for teams with stable offensive systems to build momentum and reduce the workload later in the process. While some sections will need to be updated after the draft, starting early allows for faster completion once final roster changes are known.
How much does the NFL Draft impact the Almanac?
The NFL Draft is one of the most important inflection points in the process. New players, depth chart changes, and shifting roles can significantly impact projections, which is why certain sections are revisited and adjusted after the draft is complete.
My Final Thoughts
The book isn’t ready yet, but the process is well underway. This stage is mostly about building the foundation — cleaning the data, understanding how teams are evolving, and starting to shape the projections that will ultimately drive the final version.
There will be more updates as things progress, especially after the NFL Draft when a lot of the remaining uncertainty starts to resolve.
For now, I just wanted to share where things stand behind the scenes. Check back next week for what is coming in 2026!
About The Fantasy Football Almanac
The Fantasy Football Almanac is an independent fantasy football publication built on structured analysis, tier-based rankings, and disciplined draft strategy. Every season, we evaluate coaching changes, offensive scheme shifts, usage trends, historical hit rates, and risk profiles to create a comprehensive draft framework designed to reduce mistakes and increase long-term consistency. The Almanac is not driven by hot takes or weekly hype cycles — it is built around probability, roster construction principles, and value-based decision-making.
While the analysis is detailed enough for experienced fantasy managers, the system is intentionally structured so beginners can apply it immediately. In fact, many first- and second-year players have used the Almanac’s tier models and draft frameworks to compete with — and often outperform — long-time league veterans. Whether you’re drafting from the early slot, managing turn picks, or navigating positional runs, the Fantasy Football Almanac provides a clear, repeatable process from Round 1 through your final pick.
For more information on Rankings, see our Fantasy Football Rankings hub which starts to see more year-focused rankings in June. Also be sure to check out the Fantasy Football Strategy hub for tips and tricks for both beginners and seasoned fantasy football veterans.
If you’re interested in picking up the Almanac, you can find it on Amazon. I recommend buying the DIGITAL (.pdf) version on my Shopify store: Get the Almanac.
