April 7, 2026
By Daniel Cohen

The 2026 season starts later this month, which means the 2026 MVP watch will shortly be underway. Here’s a shortlist of the seven players, plus some honorable mentions, that I could see pushing for the award this season. 

Jeff Babbitt, Boston Glory

Jeff Babbitt finished third in voting last season, and as long as he plays a full season, there’s little reason to believe the 32-year-old won’t be in the conversation again in 2026. The two-time MVP has recorded 20-plus blocks in back-to-back seasons with Boston, and he remains as dominant as ever when given the chance to make plays downfield or punish defenses in the red zone. We saw him morph into an unstoppable reset handler at Championship Weekend last year, serving as an automatic safety blanket for Boston’s primary throwers, which proved vital in earning Glory their first title.

Babbitt’s a future Hall of Famer, no doubt. He’s cemented his legacy as one of the best UFA players of all time, and the argument can be made that he’s already earned Greatest Of All Time status. But maybe just one more MVP award, one more championship to really solidify the case would be the icing on the cake for the most impressive career in UFA history. 

Tobe Decraene, Boston Glory

Having won Rookie of the Year (2024), league MVP (2025), Championship Weekend MVP and a championship with Boston (2025), Tobe Decraene already looks like one of the most complete players in the UFA and he’s still just 22 years old. His combination of speed, vision, and composure makes him a nightmare matchup, and his evolution from Year 1 to Year 2 suggests his ceiling hasn’t even come into view yet.

The way he leveled up at Championship Weekend last season—he tossed a whopping 16 assists in two games as the team’s top thrower after leading the league in receiving yards—sets the stage for a true, do-everything type of year in 2026. The sky’s the limit, and it wouldn’t shock me at all to see him run it back this year. 

Daan De Marrée, New York Empire

The biggest blockbuster signing of the offseason, Daan De Marrée enters 2026 with enormous potential. Joining a New York Empire squad known for maximizing elite talent, it’s scary to think that De Marrée’s all-around skill set could reach new heights given that he finished as MVP runner-up in his rookie season.

We saw his two-way versatility shine throughout his rookie campaign with Chicago last year, which included a seven-game stretch where he averaged over nine scores, two blocks, and close to 600 yards per game. The numbers pop off the page, but what truly separates him is endurance; few players can maintain his level of impact across so many points, and that consistency is crucial in these MVP conversations. If New York leans into his strengths and puts him in high-leverage situations, De Marrée could lead the Empire into a deep playoff run.

Walker Frankenberg, Oakland Spiders

The top scoring contributor last season according to Shown Space (a platform that has put together some of the best advanced metrics in the sport), Walker Frankenberg has been ascending as an individual standout alongside the team’s success in recent years. He’s the only player that reached 40 assists and 40 goals last season (including playoffs), and he finished third in the league in total yards while coming in fourth for plus/minus. And among the top 50 scorers last year, he ranked first in individual offensive efficiency; the Spiders scored on 64 percent of their possessions when Frankenberg was on the field.

While he’s surrounded by talented players on one of the league’s best offenses, Frankenberg has managed to stand out at all levels of the field, whether he’s helping facilitate give-and-go movement, striking deep as an initiating cutter, or running dominators in the red zone. He embodies Oakland’s amped-up, youthful energy, and if his game continues to evolve, the Spiders should reach new heights in 2026.

Allan Laviolette, Carolina Flyers

The best thrower in the league, Allan Laviolette put on a show last season and would’ve pushed for the MVP award had Carolina managed to get in the playoffs. Adam Ruffner and I both had him as our midseason MVP in 2025, and he ended up finishing with the assist crown (he threw 67 last season) for the first time in his career. 

There’s no player right now better at bending, shaping, and zipping line-drive hucks out to space; Laviolette completed 32-of-37 of his 40-plus yard throws last season, giving him the highest huck completion rate of anyone with more than 15 attempts. He should once start the season as the featured centerpiece of the Flyers attack, at least until Tobias Brooks works his way back into the mix, and a bounceback year for Carolina could vault him to the top of the MVP list by the end of the season.

Austin Taylor, Atlanta Hustle

Austin Taylor was in the MVP conversation for the bulk of last season, only for a zero-assist performance in Atlanta’s semifinal loss to derail his campaign. Still, he’s arguably the top QB1 in the league heading into 2026, and the quarterback of what should once again push for best offense will always deserve MVP consideration.

Though the O-line lost Cam Brock this offseason, the addition of Will Selfridge gives Taylor another explosive receiver capable of burning defenders deep, and guys like Max Sheppard, Liam Haberfield, and Pat Earles could prove to be integral supporting cast members of the Taylor-led offense. Due to the all-around ability of some of these other candidates, his campaign feels largely tied to Atlanta’s success; if the Hustle can one-up themselves and make it to the championship game or even take home the title in 2026, Taylor is going to be the reason why.

Chad Yorgason, Salt Lake Shred

Chad Yorgason faces a unique challenge in his MVP pursuit: standing out on a roster loaded with contributors. Still, he has already shown he can break through that barrier, as he was firmly in the MVP conversation throughout last season. With last year’s playmaking counterpart Will Selfridge no longer in the mix, Yorgason could take on an even larger role as the big-play engine of a top five offense.

Switching to the O-line last year after three seasons flying around on defense, Chad leveled up his game and led the team in total yards (6,600) and scores (74), both marks ranking top six in the league. At just 26 years old, he appears to be entering his prime, combining elite athleticism with growing confidence and leadership that we’ve seen evolve throughout his career. If he can limit turnovers while remaining lethal as both a thrower and downfield receiver, he should be the driving force behind another Salt Lake Championship Weekend run.

Honorable Mention

Tobias Brooks, Carolina Flyers - If he plays enough games this year, I could see Carolina restructuring the offense around Brooks like we saw last year with Colorado; he averaged over 50 completions and 650 total yards per game in 2025, each mark ranking second best in the league. 

Travis Dunn, San Diego Growlers - Arguably the most consistent All-UFA talent in league history (seven consecutive All-UFA selections, tied with Ben Jagt for longest active streak), Dunn remains as effective as ever serving as the go-to scorer for an upward-trending San Diego squad.

Brett Hulsmeyer, Atlanta Hustle - A worlds-level talent capable of taking over any game, Hulsmeyer should once again be a force for an Atlanta team looking to build on their first South Division title.

Evan Magsig, Oakland Spiders - Similar to Frankenberg, Magsig has also been ascending with the franchise and as the featured O-line handler, he could just as easily be the driving force behind a Championship Weekend run in 2026.

Jack Williams, New York Empire - With a revamped offense potentially featuring Daan De Marrée and former First Team All-UFA selection Alex Atkins, Williams may have his best supporting cast in years and could thrive as New York’s primary facilitator.