The NFL’s 2026 Top 100 list is stacked with skill, talent, and Pro Bowl-caliber ability. Players voted for it ahead of the 2026 campaign.
With that in mind, let’s look at the five biggest risers from last year’s list.
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5 biggest risers in the NFL’s 2026 Top 100 List
1. James Cook, Running Back – Buffalo Bills
James Cook has gone up 69 spots from No. 89 in the 2025 list to No. 20 on the 2026 list. The Buffalo Bills star is ranked among the best running backs in football entering Year 5.
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Cook has spent his entire professional football career with the Bills. He started out as Devin Singletary’s backup on Sean McDermott’s offense, finishing his rookie season with a stat line of 89 carries for 507 yards and two rushing touchdowns in 16 games.
Since then, Cook has secured his spot among the most important running backs in the NFL. He has recorded three consecutive Pro Bowl nods, one rushing touchdown award, one rushing yards award, and a maiden second-team All-Pro selection.
James Cook is the biggest riser in the NFL Top 100 List by virtue of his importance in the Bills offense. He’ll look to help new head coach Joe Brady and Josh Allen reach the Super Bowl for the first time since 1993.
2. Christian McCaffrey, Running Back – San Francisco 49ers
Christian McCaffrey has gone up 67 spots from No. 73 in the 2025 list to No. 6 in the 2026 list. The San Francisco 49ers superstar has reclaimed his spot as one of football’s best RBs entering Year 10.
McCaffrey endured the most injury-filled season of his San Francisco 49ers career in 2024. The perennial Pro Bowler played in just four games as the 49ers missed out on the postseason.
It raised questions about whether he’d ever get back to his Offensive Player of the Year form. McCaffrey answered those questions emphatically as he dominated defenses in the 2025 campaign.
McCaffrey played in every regular-season game for the first time since he switched from Carolina to San Francisco. He amassed a stat line of 311 carries for 1,202 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, earned a Pro Bowl nod, first-team All-Pro honors, and the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award.
As such, it didn’t come as a surprise when Christian McCaffrey’s peers voted him as the sixth-best player entering the 2026 campaign. McCaffrey will now look to bring back Super Bowl glory to the 49ers and win the most important trophy in professional football.
3. Trey McBride, Tight End – Arizona Cardinals
Trey McBride has gone up 52 spots from No. 65 in the 2025 list to No. 13 in the 2026 list. The Arizona Cardinals star is the game’s highest-ranked tight end entering Year 5.
McBride entered the 2025 season fresh off being named the 65th best player in the league by his peers. He then earned his second Pro Bowl nod and a first-team All-Pro selection while posting a stat line of 126 receptions, 1,239 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns in 17 games.
Trey McBride is entering the 2026 season as the undisputed best tight end in professional football. He’ll look to lead the new school as Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and Mark Andrews enter the twilight of their illustrious careers.
4. Puka Nacua, Wide Receiver – Los Angeles Rams
Puka Nacua has gone up 34 spots from No. 41 in the 2025 list to No. 7 in the 2026 list. The Los Angeles Rams wide receiver is the game’s second-highest-ranked wide receiver entering Year 4.
Puka Nacua dropped eight places in the NFL’s 2025 Top 100 List following a turbulent previous campaign. He was still ranked among the game’s best 50 players while catching passes from perennial Pro Bowler Matthew Stafford.
Nacua reminded the league of his elite pass-catching by amassing a stat line of 129 receptions, 1,715 yards, and 10 touchdowns in 16 games. He was a key component of Sean McVay’s offense as the Rams had a deep postseason run before losing to Seattle in the NFC Championship round.
Puka Nacua has earned two Pro Bowl nods, one first-team All-Pro selection and one second-team All-Pro nod. He’ll look to break more records and potentially lead the Rams to Super Bowl LXI, which will occur at SoFi Stadium.
5. Will Anderson Jr., Defensive End – Houston Texans
Will Anderson Jr. has gone up 34 spots from No. 46 in the 2025 list to No. 12 in the 2026 list. The Houston Texans’ DE is among the game’s premier defensive talents entering Year 4.
Anderson is fresh off an All-Pro selection. The Houston Texans superstar amassed a stat line of 54 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, and three forced fumbles, helping DeMeco Ryans’ team to another playoff berth.
Anderson is the third-highest-ranked defensive end entering the 2026 campaign. He’s also fresh off signing a three-year, $150 million contract extension with the Texans. He’s now one of the highest-paid non-quarterbacks in football.
Will Anderson Jr. has reached the playoffs in every season as a pro. He’s played in two postseason games in all three campaigns, and will look to make a deeper playoff run in the 2026 season.
Edited by Nick Igbokwe
