Superflex or Flex? Karabell's 2026 Rankings Just Dropped — And QBs Are Everything
It's August, which means one thing in the fantasy football world: Eric Karabell's rankings are live, and they're already sparking debates. Updated Aug. 5, these 2026 flex and superflex rankings are built for PPR leagues, with a clear message — in superflex, quarterback is king.
You might scroll through and do a double take when you see low-end QBs ranked ahead of established RB2s and WR2s. Don't panic. That's the superflex reality. If your league lets you start a second QB, those passers carry insane scoring value, and Karabell's board reflects it.
Top of the Superflex Board: Allen Leads, Maye Crashes the Party
Josh Allen sits alone at QB1, followed by Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts and Joe Burrow. No surprises there. But Drake Maye at QB5? That's a bold statement for the Patriots signal-caller, leapfrogging Jayden Daniels and every other quarterback not named Allen, Jackson, Hurts or Burrow.
The non-QB elite isn't far behind. Ja'Marr Chase is the first non-quarterback off the board at No. 7 overall, with Puka Nacua, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Amon-Ra St. Brown locking down the top wideout tier. Jahmyr Gibbs leads the running backs at 11 overall, just ahead of Bijan Robinson, Jonathan Taylor and De'Von Achane.
The Superflex Middle Rounds Are QB-Heavy — And That's the Point
Dak Prescott, Brock Purdy and Patrick Mahomes all land in the teens, with CeeDee Lamb and Justin Jefferson just behind. If you're in a superflex league, this is where the board gets weird on purpose. Guys like Jaxson Dart, Justin Herbert, Matthew Stafford and Trevor Lawrence are all ranked ahead of RBs like Chase Brown and Ashton Jeanty.
Want a sleeper? Matthew Stafford at QB12 could be an absolute steal if he keeps slinging it for the Rams. And keep an eye on Jaxson Dart — the Giants QB at QB10 is one of the biggest risers on this board.
Standard Flex? No Problem — The Board Adjusts
If you play standard flex, Karabell has you covered with a separate set of rankings that removes QBs entirely. There, Ja'Marr Chase takes over the top spot, followed by Puka Nacua, JSN and Amon-Ra. Gibbs and Bijan lead the running back charge, with CMC and Derrick Henry lurking in the top 15.
The tight end hierarchy is clear, too: Trey McBride and Brock Bowers are the only tight ends inside the top 25 overall in superflex, while Colston Loveland, Tyler Warren and Harold Fannin Jr. round out the TE1 tier.
The Bottom Line
This is a living document, so expect movement as news breaks and training camp battles shake out. But if you're drafting today, the message is simple: in superflex, stock up on QBs early. In standard flex, trust the elite receivers and don't sleep on Gibbs as the RB1. Karabell's rankings are your cheat sheet — use them, argue with them, but don't ignore them.