Top Fantasy Forward Rankings for 2026-27: How to Attack the Elite Tier
The new top-100 forward list for 2026-27 confirms what most fantasy managers already feel: elite centers and multi-cat wingers will decide your season. But raw rankings only get you so far. You need to know how to treat superstars like Connor McDavid, how aggressive to be on breakout names like Macklin Celebrini, and when to balance upside with risk on injured stars and rookies. Let’s translate the rankings into concrete strategy for every format.
What’s New & Why It Matters
The rankings reaffirm McDavid as the clear-cut premier fantasy forward. His combination of role (top-line center, PP1 for the Edmonton Oilers) and category dominance keeps him in his own tier. In any format, your entire build shifts if you land him, because he provides such a cushion in goals, assists and power-play production.
Macklin Celebrini’s placement as a rising option for the San Jose Sharks is the biggest shakeup. He’s already viewed as a top-six, PP1 driver with massive upside on a rebuilding team that will funnel offense through him. That makes him a priority target in dynasty and a high-upside swing in redraft once the sure things are off the board.
Matthew Tkachuk remains one of the most valuable multi-category forwards. His role as a top-six winger and PP1 fixture for the Florida Panthers means you’re getting scoring, shots, and the kind of peripheral volume that can carry categories-heavy builds. The rankings underscore that he should be treated as a foundational piece, not just a nice-to-have winger.
On the risk side, Connor Bedard is flagged with an injury concern for the Chicago Blackhawks. His talent and top-six role are unquestioned, but his ranking is tempered by health uncertainty. That pushes him into a more volatile range where your risk tolerance and league settings should drive the decision.
Finally, Gavin McKenna shows up as a rookie forward to monitor for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He’s not yet in the same tier as Celebrini for immediate impact, but the fact that he’s highlighted at all signals meaningful upside, especially in deeper and dynasty formats where being early matters.
Fantasy Implications
Points-Only
In pure scoring leagues, your priority is stacking high-end point producers with strong power-play roles. McDavid is the ultimate example: a top-line, PP1 center who drives everything for Edmonton. If you roster him, you can afford to take more balanced or even slightly lower-ceiling forwards later because he gives you such a head start in points and power-play production.
Celebrini is where points-only managers need to make a judgment call. His ranking suggests he’s already viewed as a potential offensive centerpiece for San Jose. That means his ceiling is enormous, but you’re also exposed to typical young-player volatility and the limitations of a weaker supporting cast. In shallow points-only leagues, you can be slightly more conservative; in deeper formats, leaning into his upside makes more sense because replacement-level scoring is harder to find.
Tkachuk’s value in points-only is still strong, even if his true superpower is multi-category coverage. Florida’s PP1 deployment and his top-six role keep his floor high. He’s the kind of anchor who lets you later target more speculative scorers, knowing you’ve already banked a reliable 70+ point profile with strong power-play involvement.
Bedard is trickier. His offensive talent would normally push him into an aggressive range, but the injury note in the rankings is a clear warning. In points-only, where you can’t make up lost games with hits or blocks, missed time hurts even more. That makes him a better fit for managers who are comfortable with risk and willing to build depth at forward to cushion potential absences.
McKenna, as a rookie forward in Toronto, is more of a watchlist name than an automatic roster in standard points-only setups. If he lands a top-six role or meaningful PP time, his value can spike quickly, especially on a high-scoring team. Until that usage is confirmed, treat him as a speculative stash in deeper leagues rather than a must-roster in shallow formats.
Categories / Bangers
In multi-category leagues, the rankings highlight just how valuable Tkachuk is. His top-six, PP1 role with Florida, combined with his physical style, lets him contribute across goals, assists, power-play points, shots, and the traditional banger stats. Building around him allows you to chase pure scorers later without worrying as much about hits or PIM.
McDavid remains elite in categories as well because of his shot volume and power-play dominance, but he doesn’t bring the same physical edge as Tkachuk. If you start with McDavid, it’s smart to prioritize wingers later who can add hits and blocks so you’re not forced to chase peripherals on the wire all season.
Celebrini’s categories value will hinge on how quickly he adapts to the NHL game and how much volume he can generate on a weaker Sharks team. His ranking suggests optimism, but he’s more of a pure scoring and power-play bet than a guaranteed banger. In categories formats, he’s best paired with safer multi-cat pieces so you’re not overly reliant on one young forward to carry your offense.
Bedard’s injury watch tag is especially important in categories leagues. If he misses time, you lose not just goals and assists but also shots and special-teams production. Managers who invest in him should plan to compensate with durable, volume-heavy forwards elsewhere in the lineup.
McKenna is a classic categories wildcard. If he sticks in Toronto’s top six and sees PP time, he could provide sneaky value in shots and power-play categories. Until that role is clear, he’s better treated as a streaming or bench option in deeper categories formats, with the understanding that his value could jump quickly if his usage spikes.
Dynasty / Keeper
Dynasty is where the rankings really change how you should think about these forwards. McDavid is still the gold standard; nothing about his placement suggests any decline in long-term value. In keepers, you simply don’t move him unless you’re getting a package that dramatically improves your depth, and even then you should run it through the NHL Trade Analyzer before pulling the trigger.
Celebrini’s elevated status for San Jose makes him one of the most important long-term assets in fantasy. As a top-six, PP1 forward with a franchise-player trajectory, he should be aggressively targeted in dynasty via trades before he fully breaks out. Once he delivers a big season, the acquisition cost will skyrocket.
Bedard’s injury note in the rankings is a reminder not to overreact to short-term health concerns in dynasty. His role with Chicago and long-term offensive upside remain elite. If his ranking dips at all because of current injury worries, that can actually create a buy window where you acquire a future cornerstone at a slight discount.
McKenna is flagged as a prospect to watch in Toronto, which is exactly the type of profile you want to stash on the back end of a dynasty roster. The upside of a productive forward on a high-powered offense is worth the patience, especially if your league rewards long-term planning with deep benches or farm spots.
Tkachuk, while not as young as the pure prospects, still carries multiple prime years of elite multi-cat production. In dynasty and keepers, he’s the archetype of a player you lock in and build around rather than shop aggressively, unless your team is in a full rebuild and you’re extracting a massive return.
Who to Add / Stream / Watch
- Connor McDavid – Add/Build Around (all leagues): The rankings confirm he’s still the premier fantasy forward; if you can acquire him, your entire roster construction becomes easier.
- Macklin Celebrini – Aggressive Add (dynasty, deep redraft): Projected as a top-six, PP1 focal point for San Jose with huge upside; worth paying a premium in long-term formats.
- Matthew Tkachuk – Core Multi-Cat Add (categories): Top-six, PP1 role in Florida plus elite peripherals make him a foundational piece in bangers leagues.
- Connor Bedard – Risk-Reward Add (all formats): Injury note adds risk, but his talent and role in Chicago justify an aggressive stance if you can handle volatility.
- Gavin McKenna – Watchlist/Stash (dynasty, deep leagues): Highlighted as a breakout candidate in Toronto; stash where benches allow and be ready to move quickly if his role expands.
Fantasy Takeaways
- Connor McDavid remains the most valuable forward in fantasy; treat him as a singular asset and build your roster around his strengths.
- Macklin Celebrini’s rise in the rankings makes him a priority long-term target, especially in dynasty formats where upside is king.
- Matthew Tkachuk’s combination of scoring and banger stats in Florida makes him one of the safest and most impactful multi-category anchors.
- Connor Bedard’s injury flag should shift him into a calculated-risk tier; pair him with durable forwards to protect your floor.
- Gavin McKenna is a forward to stash or closely monitor in Toronto, with the potential to become a high-impact fantasy option if his role grows.
Source: NHL.com. See the original for full details.