Week two of the 2026 NFL season officially concluded, and there were no shortage of fireworks and highlight-reel plays. Teams and players around the NFL are shining, while others have disappointed.
Even just two weeks in, numerous respectable takes could be thrown out regarding who the league’s best players are at each position, which teams could run the table and which teams are in for a long year. With that being said, who does not love some early season rankings and overreactions?
Best Team
Several teams have a case for this spot, including the Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, San Francisco 49ers and the reigning champion Seattle Seahawks. Ultimately, though, the Buffalo Bills take the cake as the league’s best team today. While the defense has been somewhat uninspiring, the Bills’ offense looks absolutely unstoppable behind quarterback Josh Allen’s historic start.
The Bills already topped two playoff-caliber teams: the Houston Texans and Detroit Lions. They scraped out a 36-31 win against Houston in a week one nail-biter and laid an offensive onslaught on the Lions, 41-31, in week two. No other team collected the same quality of wins as Buffalo has, leaving it in a league of its own for now.
Worst Team
It is difficult to put this tag on one team in particular after only two weeks, but the Miami Dolphins are currently the NFL’s bottom-feeder. Running back De’Von Achane is a star, and first-year starter Malik Willis showed flashes of stardom as quarterback. However, he was dealt little to no receiving threats downfield, and it was rough for Miami on both sides of the ball.
They were dominated in their first two games, losing 27-13 to the Las Vegas Raiders and 35-13 to the San Francisco 49ers. It will take some time for Miami to rebuild the roster as it recovers from the losses of its ex-head coach Mike McDaniel and star wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.
Best Quarterback
To no surprise, it is Josh Allen. As mentioned, he is the driving force behind the Bills’ hot start, as he performed absolutely incredible thus far. He ranks fourth in the league in passing yards with 582 and has a perfect 5-0 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He has also already rushed for 92 yards and an impressive four rushing touchdowns.
Allen was an absolute field general on all accounts two weeks in, and his rushing attack is Buffalo’s biggest x-factor. While it is early, Allen’s on pace for 170 rushing attempts this season, which would top his career-high by 46. That effectiveness as a rusher only amplified Buffalo’s high-powered offense and made Allen undeniable as the league’s top QB.
Best Running Back
The reigning Super Bowl MVP, Kenneth Walker III, starred in his first pair of games with his new team, the Kansas City Chiefs. Walker’s league-leading 290 rushing yards are sure to be haunting the Seattle Seahawks after they let go of their Super Bowl hero.
His prowess has bolstered the Chiefs’ offense by providing them an uber-athletic, explosive runner, something they have lacked in years past. Walker has looked like the best, most valuable RB in the league.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Between both wide receivers and tight ends, recent Super Bowl champion Jaxon Smith-Njigba left no room for debate as the league’s best pass catcher. Unlike Walker, Smith-Njigba is still with the team he won a ring with last season and carries the torch for Seattle.
Without Walker, the Seahawks had to rely on the passing game, and in turn heavily utilizing their star wide receiver. Smith-Njigba embraced that workload with open arms and currently leads the NFL in both receiving yards and touchdowns, with 277 yards and four touchdowns.
Best Defense
Just one year removed from a Super Bowl appearance, defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr has his New England Patriots defense at the peak of its powers early on this season. Led by one of the NFL’s best defenders, and arguably the best cornerback in the league, Christian Gonzalez, New England’s defense allowed just 16 total points through its first two contests.
Whether these teams and players live up to their superlatives, or these takes pan out horribly by season’s end, all that matters is that football season is back. The NFL was already a must-see program two weeks in, and promises to continue that trend all season long, as it always does.
