With the football season less than a month away, the Rotoworld Football crew got together with some other industry friends to go through a 15-round PPR mock draft show. The roster settings were as follows:
- QB
- RB (x2)
- WR (x3)
- TE
- FLEX
- DEF
- K
- Bench (x5)
Fantasy drafts are ramping up all across the country, possibly even the world. Here is a quick review of what went down and some of my favorite/least favorite picks to consider as you prepare to construct a roster to lead you to fantasy glory this season.
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You can watch the whole show here!
Rivers McCown - Rotoworld
- 1.01 - Jahmyr Gibbs (RB, DET)
- 2.12 - A.J. Brown (WR, NE)
- 3.01 - Chris Olave (WR, NO)
- 4.12 - Mike Evans (WR, SF)
- 5.01 - David Montgomery (RB, HOU)
- 6.12 - Drake Maye (QB, NE)
- 7.01 - Kyle Pitts (TE, ATL)
- 8.12 - Jordan Mason (RB, MIN)
- 9.01 - De’Zhaun Stribling (WR, SF)
- 10.12 - Denzel Boston (WR, CLE)
- 11.01 - Caleb Williams (QB, CHI)
- 12.12 - Texans DEF
- 13.01 - Zach Charbonnet (RB, SEA)
- 14.12 - Caleb Douglas (WR, MIA)
- 15.01 - Eddy Pineiro (K, SF)
First Pick: There isn’t much to think about when it comes to the 1.01 this year. Jahmyr Gibbs has been one of the most dynamic backs in the league since being drafted by the Lions in 2023. Despite sharing a backfield with David Montgomery every year he has been in the league, Gibbs has still averaged the second-most fantasy points per game (19.8 PPG) of any running back over that span, and was the RB2 and RB3 in fantasy points per game in each of the last two seasons. With Montgomery now in Houston, Gibbs is again set to see another heavy workload in 2026 that should be more than enough to position him for an overall RB1 finish.
Favorite Pick: The 49ers’ wide receiver room is in absolute shambles. In addition to losing Ricky Pearsall (knee) for the season early into training camp, the 49ers are also hoping that soon-to-be 32-year-old Mike Evans (who was curiously also drafted by this team) can bounce back from the injuries that limited him to just eight games last season. Evans has already missed a chunk of training camp due to a quad injury, which admittedly was classified as “very minor,” but my red flags are already raised. Even if Evans is healthy, it feels like there is plenty of room for rookie De’Zhaun Stribling to make an impact for the 49ers this season, and the early camp reports on the rookie have been glowing. The No. 33 pick in this year’s draft boasts a 4.36 40-yard dash and was an elite producer after the catch in his final two seasons, averaging over 6.5 YAC/REC over that span.
Least Favorite Pick: Generally speaking, I like what Rivers did with his team, but Mike Evans is a player I’ve been out on all offseason, largely because of last year’s injury troubles and the fact that he isn’t getting any younger. In addition to those concerns, Evans also totaled 34 or fewer receiving yards in five of the eight games he played last season, and he averaged a career-low 1.2 YAC/REC. If Stribling was already on Rivers’ radar, I would have preferred he pass on Evans for a player like Tetairoa McMillan or another player who could have a chance to further ascend this season.
Chris Allen - Yahoo!
- 1.02 - Ja’Marr Chase (WR, CIN)
- 2.11 - Nico Collins (WR, HOU)
- 3.02 - Kyren Williams (RB, LAR)
- 4.11 - DJ Moore (WR, BUF)
- 5.02 - Lamar Jackson (QB, BAL)
- 6.11 - Chris Godwin (WR, TB)
- 7.02 - J.K. Dobbins (RB, DEN)
- 8.11 - Dalton Kincaid (TE, BUF)
- 9.02 - Rachaad White (RB, WSH)
- 10.11 - Tyjae Spears (RB, TEN)
- 11.02 - Aaron Jones (RB, MIN)
- 12.11 - Braelon Allen (RB, NYJ)
- 13.02 - Ryan Flournoy (WR, DAL)
- 14.11 - Ravens DEF
- 15.02 - Jason Myers (K, SEA)
First Pick: If you’re not going to use the No. 2 pick on the Falcons’ RB1, the pivot to Ja’Marr Chase is the next most logical option. Chase has returned a top-five PPR season for his fantasy managers in four of his five years in the league and has been the WR1 in expected fantasy points in back-to-back seasons. The Bengals’ WR1 finished as the WR3 in fantasy points per game last season (19.7 PPG), but led all receivers in targets (186) while finishing second in receptions (125) and fourth in receiving yards (1,412). Regardless of who is under center, the Bengals consistently find a way to funnel targets to Chase, who averaged an absurd 14.6 targets per game in the five games Joe Flacco started while Joe Burrow was sidelined.
Favorite Pick: We’re now in the middle of a third-straight offseason where Kyren Williams seems grossly mispriced. While I understand the concern that Blake Corum could take more snaps/touches from Williams this season, the reality is Williams is also one of only six RBs over the last two seasons to see 300-plus opportunities, and he has finished as a top-10 RB in each of the last three seasons in total fantasy scoring. Williams is a safe bet to have the pass-catching role secured, and he’s among the most effective backs in the league at scoring inside the opponent’s five-yard line. His 52.5 percent touchdown rate in that area of the field since 2024 leads all running backs (min. 30 carries from that area of the field). The Rams’ offense is going to put up plenty of points. Williams and his fantasy managers should once again benefit from being the top back in an elite offense.
Least Favorite Pick: Fourth-year running back Tyjae Spears has yet to live up to the hype that made him the 81st overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Spears has seen just 18 percent of the Titans’ running back opportunities in his two years of sharing a backfield with Tony Pollard, and the 3.4 targets per game he has averaged over that span isn’t doing much to benefit fantasy managers. He’s a 10th-round selection, so it’s clear this is more of a handcuff pick than a player Chris is betting on to be an immediate contributor, but his inefficiency as a runner also has me skeptical that he’ll see a significant increase in touches even if Pollard were to miss time.
Denny Carter - Rotoworld
- 1.03 - Bijan Robinson (RB, ATL)
- 2.10 - George Pickens (WR, DAL)
- 3.03 - Malik Nabers (WR, NYG)
- 4.10 - D’Andre Swift (RB, CHI)
- 5.03 - Tetairoa McMillan (WR, CAR)
- 6.10 - Sam LaPorta (TE, DET)
- 7.03 - Josh Downs (WR, IND)
- 8.10 - Kenny Gainwell (RB, TB)
- 9.03 - Wan’Dale Robinson (WR, TENN)
- 10.10 - Dak Prescott (QB, DAL)
- 11.03 - Tank Bigsby (RB, PHI)
- 12.10 - Kayshon Boutte (WR, NE)
- 13.03 - Jonah Coleman (RB, DEN)
- 14.10 - Steelers DEF
- 15.03 - Cam Little (K, JAC)
First Pick: It’s not at all uncommon to see Bijan Robinson go in the top-two picks of drafts, but if he manages to slide to the third pick as he did here for Denny, it’s a “smash accept” scenario every time. Robinson has a legitimate case to be the No. 1 overall pick in all formats, as his elite rushing ability coupled with his ability in the passing game makes him the next closest thing we have to Jahmyr Gibbs. Robinson finished as the overall RB2 in fantasy points per game last season (22.2 PPG), and ranked second among all RBs in total opportunities (389). One player who has put a slight damper on Robinson’s upside in recent years is Tyler Allgeier, who, since 2023, has been on 29 offensive snaps when down inside the opponent’s five-yard line while vulturing nine touchdowns from Robinson in that area of the field. Allgeier is now in Arizona, and while newly added RB2 Brian Robinson could serve as the newest TD vulture, the hope is Bijan Robinson will see a few more touches in the most valuable areas of the field, leading to even more fantasy production.
Favorite Pick: There isn’t much that should stop Malik Nabers from outperforming his third-round ADP if he’s ready to go by Week 1. The star receiver has been working his way back from a torn ACL he suffered in Week 4 of last season, but he recently began working in 11-on-11 drills, and avoided the PUP list to open training camp. Nabers has been a target hog since entering the league in 2024. His 10.8 targets per game over that span is second only to Ja’Marr Chase (10.9), while his 33 percent team target share leads all receivers. Nabers is still playing in a non-contact jersey, but he seems to be trending in the right direction to be ready for Week 1. If he were cleared for full contact tomorrow, Nabers’ ADP would likely propel into the late-first/early-second round. His third-round price continues to feel like a massive value based on reports.
Least Favorite Pick: Wan’Dale Robinson left the Giants this offseason to reunite with former head coach Brian Daboll in Tennessee. Daboll was hired as the Titans’ offensive coordinator this offseason and played a key role in funneling Robinson 8.1 targets/gm over the last two seasons. I wasn’t high on the Titans as an ascending offense heading into the season, and Cam Ward‘s disappointing preseason debut certainly didn’t change those expectations. There are a lot of reasons to love Robinson as a potential PPR scam in a league that rewards a full point per reception, but even for all the targets that Robinson has seen over the last two years, he’s finished as a top-24 PPR receiver in just 27 percent of his games, with his average PPR finish on a per game basis coming in as the WR38.
Kyle Dvorchak - Rotoworld
- 1.04 - Puka Nacua (WR, LAR)
- 2.09 - Brock Bowers (TE, LV)
- 3.04 - Rashee Rice (WR, KC)
- 4.09 - Cam Skattebo (RB, NYG)
- 5.04 - Quinshon Judkins (RB, CLE)
- 6.09 - Bhayshul Tuten (RB, JAC)
- 7.04 - Jonathon Brooks (RB, CAR)
- 8.09 - Makai Lemon (WR, PHI)
- 9.04 - Michael Pittman Jr. (WR, PIT)
- 10.09 - Khalil Shakir (WR, BUF)
- 11.04 - Trevor Lawrence (QB, JAC)
- 12.09 - Omar Cooper Jr. (WR, NYJ)
- 13.04 - Keenan Allen (WR, IND)
- 14.09 - Seahawks (DEF)
- 15.04 - Jake Bates (K, DET)
First Pick: Aside from the fact that he could still face a suspension from the league for incidents earlier this offseason, Puka Nacua remains as solid a fantasy pick as they come. Said offseason issues are a big reason why Nacua is likely to play out 2026 on the final year of his deal he signed as a rookie, which could provide some added motivation to the player who finished as last year’s WR1 and has never finished lower than WR6 in either of his three years in the league. No receiver has averaged more fantasy points per game than Nacua (20.1) since 2023, and his 29 percent team target share over that span is tied for fourth-highest in the league with guys like Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. As long as Matthew Stafford remains under center and Sean McVay continues calling plays, Nacua being drafted in the first round will be an annual tradition for years to come.
Favorite Pick: Second-year back Quinshon Judkins rushed for 230-827-7 as a rookie and surprisingly added another 26-171-0 through the air on 34 targets. While Judkins didn’t flash as an elite pass-catcher last season, the 26 receptions came as a bit of a surprise for a player who caught just 59 passes in 42 career games in college. While fellow second-year back Dylan Sampson is the better of the two pass-catchers, Judkins received praise from RBs coach Deuce Staley in training camp when Staley said he believes Judkins “can play all three downs” this season. The 35 snaps Judkins played on third down last season were only nine fewer than Sampson, as both were out-snapped on third down by Jerome Ford (113), who is now with the Commanders. With so many third-down snaps now up for grabs, it’s easy to envision Judkins out-playing his fifth-round ADP if he emerges as a true third-down back for the Browns. He was the RB26 in fantasy points per game last season, and finished as a top-12 back in four games. Even if he doesn’t earn a three-down role, Judkins’ floor is safe enough to be well worth the cost we see here.
Least Favorite Pick: I’m already resigned to the fact that I could completely regret fading Bhayshul Tuten in fantasy drafts this season, so why not double down and call him my least favorite pick of Mr. Dvorchak’s draft? Tuten is an explosive player who boasts an elite 9.24 RAS and blazed a 4.32 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine in 2025, and he stands to see an increased role with Travis Etienne now in New Orleans. Despite these very positive things, I’ve had a hard time getting on board with Tuten, whose biggest competition for third-down snaps remains on the team in LeQuint Allen. Allen totaled a forgettable 10 receptions for 54 yards last season, but his 146 snaps on third downs led the Jaguars’ backfield by a wide margin. Allen is still expected to serve in a similar role this season. Even more concerning is that Jaguars running backs ranked 22nd in combined targets (78) last season and 25th in routes run (365). In addition to Allen, head coach Liam Coen brought in Chris Rodriguez this offseason. Coen and Rodriguez crossed paths for one season during their time at the University of Kentucky, and Rodriguez fills the need for an early-down bruiser and goal-line back. Coen recently said in camp that he expects the backfield to use more of a committee approach this season, and it’s easy to envision Rodriguez leading the team in touches near the goal-line. If Tuten doesn’t have a significant pass-catching role and doesn’t see much work near the goal line, he’ll need to rely on hyper-efficient play to pay off at his price this season.
Patrick Daugherty - Rotoworld
- 1.05 - Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR, SEA)
- 2.08 - Jeremiyah Love (RB, ARI)
- 3.05 - DeVonta Smith (WR, PHI)
- 4.08 - Emeka Egbuka (WR, TB)
- 5.05 - TreVeyon Henderson (RB, NE)
- 6.08 - Jaylen Warren (RB, PIT)
- 7.05 - Jordan Addison (WR, MIN)
- 8.08 - Kyle Monangai (RB, CHI)
- 9.05 - George Kittle (TE, SF)
- 10.08 - Travis Hunter (WR, JAC)
- 11.05 - Woody Marks (RB, HOU)
- 12.08 - Jared Goff (QB, DET)
- 13.05 - Pat Bryant (WR, DEN)
- 14.08 - Chargers DEF
- 15.05 - Harrison Mevis (K, LAR)
First Pick: Jaxon Smith-Njigba finally broke out in 2025 after putting together two solid years in previous seasons. The arrival of Sam Darnold boded well for JSN in 2025, as he posted career highs in all major receiving numbers (119-1,793-10) while also finishing second in total air yards with 1,833, which was also a career-high. The departure of one-and-done offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak could threaten to upend some of what we saw from JSN and Darnold last season, but the hope is that years of working alongside Kyle Shanahan will have rubbed off on first-time OC Brian Fleury, who takes over as play-caller. Regardless of the situation at OC, JSN should have no trouble thriving in his second season with Darnold. His 36 percent team target share was the highest of any receiver in the league last year, and there’s not a receiver of note on Seattle’s depth chart who should be viewed as a threat to his target share this season.
Favorite Pick: With A.J. Brown now in New England, DeVonta Smith steps into the role as the Eagles’ WR1 for the first time in his career. Smith has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in three of his last four seasons, and likely would have surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in 2024 were it not for the fact that he missed four games. Among receivers with 400-plus targets since 2022, Smith’s 21.4 percent targets per route rate ranks 42nd among 84 receivers, but that number could be on the rise this season with Smith stepping into a lead role. Smith has been a top-24 PPR receiver on a per-game basis in three of his last four seasons, and should fit nicely in this receiver room RotoPat has assembled.
Least Favorite Pick: Strong touchdown production elevated Jordan Addison’s fantasy stock each of his first two seasons in the league. The Vikings’ WR2 totaled 20 touchdowns in his first 32 games but has yet to reach 1,000 yards and averages just 6.2 targets per game. Addison should rebound with Kyler Murray under center for the Vikings this season, but sharing a field with Justin Jefferson can still make targets hard to come by. Addison can be viewed more as a backup than a weekly starter on Pat’s roster, but I wouldn’t want to go into the season relying on him for weekly production.
Ian Hartitz - Rotowire
- 1.06 - Christian McCaffrey (RB, SF)
- 2.07 - Derrick Henry (RB, BAL)
- 3.06 - Josh Allen (QB, BUF)
- 4.07 - Colston Loveland (TE, CHI)
- 5.06 - Davante Adams (WR, LAR)
- 6.07 - Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR, ARI)
- 7.06 - Carnell Tate (WR, TENN)
- 8.07 - Quentin Johnston (WR, LAC)
- 9.06 - Jacory Croskey-Merritt (RB, WSH)
- 10.07 - Jordyn Tyson (WR, NO)
- 11.06 - Rashid Shaheed (WR, SEA)
- 12.07 - Tyler Allgeier (RB, ARI)
- 13.06 - Ray Davis (RB, BUF)
- 14.07 - Brian Robinson (RB, ATL)
- 15.06 - Kaelon Black (RB, SF)
First Pick: With Duke Johnson long retired, Ian decided to plant his flag on Christian McCaffrey with the No. 6 overall pick. Bold. McCaffrey bounced back nicely from his injury-plagued 2024 season to put together an elite 2025 campaign that saw him rank first in both expected fantasy points (401.9) and fantasy points per game (24.5) while also totaling the second-most receiving yards (924) in his career. McCaffrey’s absurd receiving production (102-924-7) was a flashback to the kind of production we haven’t seen since his days at Carolina, when he posted back-to-back 100-catch seasons in 2018 and 2019. He’s currently dealing with some muscle tightness that has sidelined him in camp, but assuming the 30-year-old back isn’t dealing with anything serious, the opportunity to take last year’s RB1 at this spot feels too good to pass up.
Favorite Pick: From Weeks 8 to 18, Colston Loveland was eighth among tight ends in routes run (205) and eighth in targets (41). He was also targeted on 27.7 percent of his routes, putting him in the top-10 in TPRR over that span. In addition to that strong streak to close out the regular season, Loveland also totaled 193 yards on 12 receptions in the Bears’ two playoff games while drawing an absurd 25 targets. If what we saw late last season is a sign of things to come for Loveland in 2026, the second-year tight end could push guys like Brock Bowers and Trey McBride for the overall TE1 finish next season.
Least Favorite Pick: I’m already on record saying I don’t have high hopes for the Titans’ offense in 2026, so I’m automatically low on rookie Carnell Tate despite his first-round draft capital and the fact that he’ll likely enter the season as the Titans’ WR1. The play of Cam Ward will need to drastically improve from last season, when he ranked 24th among 25 QBs (min. 300 pass attempts) in catchable pass rate (75 percent), and Ward’s 23.9 percent pressure-to-sack rate ranked third-highest among the group, as he took far too many drive killing sacks to lead to sustained offensive success, which inevitably hurts the upside of the pass-catchers we rely on for fantasy. The fact that Tate also has to compete with Wan’Dale Robinson for targets only further complicates his case for a strong rookie season, which he will need to pay off for this roster.
Hayden Winks - Yahoo!
- 1.07 - Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR, DET)
- 2.06 - Omarion Hampton (RB, LAC)
- 3.07 - Breece Hall (RB, NYJ)
- 4.06 - Travis Etienne Jr. (RB, NO)
- 5.07 - Rome Odunze (WR, CHI)
- 6.06 - Jalen Hurts (QB, PHI)
- 7.07 - Brian Thomas Jr. (WR, JAC)
- 8.06 - KC Concepcion (WR, CLE)
- 9.07 - Dallas Goedert (TE, PHI)
- 10.06 - Jayden Higgins (WR, HOU)
- 11.07 - Isaiah Likely (TE, NYG)
- 12.06 - Ka’imi Fairbairn (K, HOU)
- 13.07 - Mike Washington Jr. (RB, LV)
- 14.06 - Kyler Murray (QB, MIN)
- 15.07 - Eagles DEF
First Pick: The Amon-Ra St. Brown experience continued to feed fantasy managers in 2025, even with former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson in Chicago. The Sun God saw a career-high 175 targets last season and caught 117 passes for 1,401 yards and 11 touchdowns. Since entering the league in 2021, St. Brown has never caught fewer than 90 passes in a season, and he is the only receiver to put up multiple seasons of 100-plus receptions, 1,200-plus yards, and 10-plus touchdowns since 2023. In fact, he’s done that for three straight seasons while finishing as the WR4 in fantasy points per game in each of those years. A true model of consistency, there’s no reason to believe St. Brown can’t pay off at his ADP again in 2026.
Favorite Pick: One of my favorite later-round sleepers is KC Concepcion, who may not qualify for sleeper status by the time training camp concludes. The rookie first-rounder who drew comps to Deebo Samuel during the NFL Draft has received nothing but praise throughout the offseason and training camp, and head coach Todd Monken recently said he would like the offense to get him the ball “as often as we can.” It’s the exact kind of thing fantasy managers want to hear about explosive young talents like Concepcion, who caught three passes for 27 yards in the Browns’ first preseason game and also found the end zone on a 14-yard rushing touchdown. Concepcion’s fantasy stock has only gone up this offseason. Despite not having a quarterback of note to throw him the ball, I’m confident in Monken’s ability to utilize the best weapon on his team enough to make him fantasy relevant at some point.
Least Favorite Pick: One of my favorite later-round options at tight end this season is Isaiah Likely, who Hayden selected in the 11th round. Hindsight is always 20/20, but given Hayden’s decision to go with Likely later in the draft, I would have preferred to see him go with somebody other than Dallas Goedert in the ninth round. To his credit, Goedert finished as the TE6 in fantasy points per game last season and has finished as a top-12 fantasy TE on a PPG basis for five straight seasons. The 5.5 targets per game Goedert has averaged over that span ranks 17th among all tight ends, and his career-high 11 touchdowns last season played a big role in carrying him last year. Prior to last season, Goedert had never produced more than five touchdowns in any season.
Zachary Krueger - Rotoworld
- 1.08 - Jonathan Taylor (RB, IND)
- 2.05 - De’Von Achane (RB, MIA)
- 3.08 - Tee Higgins (WR, CIN)
- 4.05 - Josh Jacobs (RB, GB)
- 5.08 - Terry McLaurin (WR, WSH)
- 6.05 - Harold Fannin Jr. (TE, CLE)
- 7.08 - Jayden Daniels (QB, WSH)
- 8.05 - Courtland Sutton (WR, DEN)
- 9.08 - Xavier Worthy (WR, KC)
- 10.05 - Alec Pierce (WR, IND)
- 11.08 - Jakobi Meyers (WR, JAC)
- 12.05 - Dylan Sampson (RB, CLE)
- 13.08 - Tyrone Tracy Jr. (RB, NYG)
- 14.05 - Rams DEF
- 15.08 - Evan McPherson (K, CIN)
First Pick: Whether it’s by sheer talent alone or the fact that the Colts have never really attempted to add an RB of note behind him, Jonathan Taylor consistently feels like as safe a bet as any first-round RB. The 27-year-old back has totaled 300-plus touches in each of the last two seasons and was the fantasy RB3 in expected fantasy points last season. Taylor’s 18 rushing touchdowns led all running backs last season, while his 73 percent rushing share also ranked highest among RBs. Pushing Taylor for touches this season are 2025 fifth-round DJ Giddens and 2026 seventh-rounder Seth McGowan. Neither back should stand in the way of Taylor’s opportunities, meaning a clean bill of health is all he should need for another top-five fantasy season.
Favorite Pick: One of the best values at tight end from last season could again be a tremendous value for fantasy managers in 2026. Harold Fannin Jr. broke out for 72-731-6 as a rookie last season and proved to be one of the best target earners at his position on a per-route basis. His 0.247 targets per route run narrowly beat out Trey McBride for the best TPRR of any tight end (min. 50 targets), while his 30.6 missed tackles forced rate also led the position by a very wide margin. The Browns have plenty of concern at quarterback, but Fannin thrived despite drawing targets from a forgettable cast of signal-callers last year. Assuming head coach Todd Monken still has plans to heavily feature Fannin in the passing game, last year’s TE8 could see notable improvements on last year’s performance.
Least Favorite Pick: The downside to an RB-heavy start is that you constantly find yourself playing from behind at receiver. Because of this, I made an off-brand move of taking Alec Pierce in the 10th round after he plunged a few rounds past ADP. In addition to taking a player I’m not particularly high on, the fact that Pierce has been sidelined with an ankle injury all offseason makes his selection by me even more of an off-brand move. Pierce underwent ankle surgery in March, but the timeline for his return has grown increasingly muddy since GM Chris Ballard said on July 28th that he was a “week or two” away from returning to practice. He’s far from my preferred pick in any draft, but the upside Pierce provided fantasy managers last season is hard to ignore, and for a team in need of help at the position, I decided to take a shot on him still finding a way to suit up at or around Week 1.
Scott Pianowski - Yahoo!
- 1.09 - James Cook (RB, BUF)
- 2.04 - Chase Brown (RB, CIN)
- 3.09 - Zay Flowers (WR, BAL)
- 4.04 - Luther Burden III (WR, CHI)
- 5.09 - Parker Washington (WR, JAC)
- 6.04 - Tony Pollard (RB, TENN)
- 7.09 - DK Metcalf (WR, PIT)
- 8.04 - Blake Corum (RB, LAR)
- 9.09 - Chuba Hubbard (RB, CAR)
- 10.04 - Travis Kelce (TE, KC)
- 11.09 - Juwan Johnson (TE, NO)
- 12.04 - Brock Purdy (QB, SF)
- 13.09 - Jalen Nailor (WR, LV)
- 14.04 - Bo Nix (QB, DEN)
- 15.09 - Lions DEF
First Pick: After signing a four-year contract extension last year during training camp, James Cook rewarded the Bills’ faith in him by leading the NFL in rushing yards (1,621) while also finishing fourth in yards from scrimmage (1,912) and fifth in total touchdowns (14). Cook’s 56 percent rushing share was well ahead of the other running backs he shares a backfield with, while his biggest threat for touchdowns came from Josh Allen, who rushed for 112-579-14 with 11 of those scores coming from inside the opponent’s five-yard line. Despite Allen’s touchdown-vulturing ways, Cook still finished as the RB6 in fantasy points per game (18.1 PPG) and finished as a top-10 RB in fantasy points over expected for the third year in a row. Barring an unexpected shift in Joe Brady’s offensive philosophy this season, Cook, who is among the most efficient backs in the league, should be primed for another highly productive fantasy season.
Favorite Pick: A groin injury in training camp put a scare into fantasy managers a few weeks ago, but the Bears seem optimistic that Luther Burden will be ready to take the field in Week 1 to begin his second-year breakout. Much like Colston Loveland, Burden also enjoyed a nice stretch late in the season. He averaged 65.0 yards per game from Weeks 14 and into the playoffs, while also averaging an excellent 25.8 percent TPRR. With D.J. Moore now in Buffalo, both Burden and Rome Odunze stand to see an increase in targets this season. Burden flashed enough playmaking ability last season to make him one of my favorite picks in 2026 fantasy drafts.
Least Favorite Pick: DK Metcalf has made a name for himself as a big-play receiver downfield. During his final two seasons with the Seahawks, Metcalf’s 13.3 air yards per target ranked fourth highest among all receivers (min. 200 targets), but he saw that number drop to 10.6 AY/TGT last season playing with Aaron Rodgers, whose 3.7 average depth of target on completed passes (compADOT) ranked dead last among 29 QBs (min. 300 dropbacks) last season. Metcalf still averaged 12.5 PPG last season for fantasy managers and finished as a top-24 PPR receiver in 40 percent of his games, but with Michael Pittman Jr. now in town, replicating those numbers could become far more difficult, especially if Metcalf is asked to do more downfield with a QB who seems unwilling to push the ball at this point in his career.
Lawrence Jackson - Rotoworld
- 1.10 - Saquon Barkley (RB, PHI)
- 2.03 - Kenneth Walker III (RB, KC)
- 3.10 - Trey McBride (TE, ARI)
- 4.03 - Garrett Wilson (WR, NYJ)
- 5.10 - Jadarian Price (RB, SEA)
- 6.03 - Christian Watson (WR, GB)
- 7.10 - Michael Wilson (WR, ARI)
- 8.03 - Matthew Golden (WR, GB)
- 9.10 - Keaton Mitchell (RB, LAC)
- 10.03 - Joe Burrow (QB, CIN)
- 11.10 - Deebo Samuel (WR, SF)
- 12.03 - Alvin Kamara (RB, NO)
- 13.10 - Brandon Aubrey (K, DAL)
- 14.03 - Jerry Jeudy (WR, CLE)
- 15.10 - Cowboys DEF
First Pick: Saquon Barkley was never going to repeat the 2,000-yard rushing performance we saw from him last season, but the falloff he saw in 2025 resulted in the 2024 rushing yards champ finishing as the RB15 in fantasy points per game (14.6 PPG) last season. Some of Barkley’s struggles can be blamed on the Eagles’ offensive struggles, which resulted in the dismissal of OC Kevin Patullo after the team’s Wild Card loss to the Bears. Assuming the offense can rebound this season, Barkley should be primed for a bounce-back. The 29-year-old back remains the unquestioned RB1 of an offense that projects to be among the most run-heavy in the league and is backed by a top-five defense.
Favorite Pick: As the self-proclaimed original Keaton Mitchell truther, I’m always going to seek out and praise the drafter who took a shot on Mitchell in 2026 fantasy drafts. The explosive fourth-year back was quickly pursued by Chargers OC Mike McDaniel after the Ravens made the (egregious) decision to release him earlier this offseason, and he has put together a good training camp thus far, at times featured in social media clips in which he beats the secondary for long completions downfield. One of the closest physical comps we have in the league to Dolphins RB De’Von Achane, McDaniel’s pursuit of Mitchell makes a ton of sense and could result in him earning a meaningful change-of-pace role behind Omarion Hampton.
Least Favorite Pick: Playing in an offense that has proudly touted itself as not having a WR1, I have a hard time being high on second-year receiver Matthew Golden, who was already an underwhelming prospect in 2025 when the Packers selected him 23rd overall. Golden caught 29 passes for 361 scoreless yards as a rookie, and while the departure of Romeo Doubs should open up more opportunities for snaps and targets for Golden, it’s also hard to ignore the fact that he was never an elite target earner in college. His career 18.6 percent TPRR during his three collegiate seasons leaves much to be desired. Golden feels like a high variance play that is being set up to provide more bust weeks than boom weeks for fantasy managers.
Jennifer Eakins - 4For4
- 1.11 - Justin Jefferson (WR, MIN)
- 2.02 - Drake London (WR, ATL)
- 3.11 - Ladd McConkey (WR, LAC)
- 4.02 - Tyler Warren (TE, IND)
- 5.11 - Bucky Irving (RB, TB)
- 6.02 - Rhamondre Stevenson (RB, NE)
- 7.11 - Stefon Diggs (WR, WSH)
- 8.02 - Justin Herbert (QB, LAC)
- 9.11 - Chris Rodriguez (RB, JAC)
- 10.02 - Romeo Doubs (WR, NE)
- 11.11 - MarShawn Lloyd (RB, GB)
- 12.02 - Adonai Mitchell (WR, NYJ)
- 13.11 - Emmett Johnson (RB, KC)
- 14.02 - Broncos DEF
- 15.11 - Trey Smack (K, GB)
First Pick: One of the most disappointing draft picks of the 2025 season was Justin Jefferson, whose first-round ADP was rewarded with a WR30 finish in fantasy points per game, as Jefferson struggled through life with the likes of J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer under center. A perennial top-10 PPR receiver in every year prior, Jefferson posted just three top-12 PPR games last season and managed just two touchdowns on the year. The addition of Kyler Murray, which the Vikings hope will yield another Sam Darnold effect as we saw in 2024, immediately bolsters Jefferson’s fantasy stock for 2026, but a bad performance by Murray could result in the team turning back to McCarthy. This pick isn’t without risk, but Jefferson is a high-ceiling pick who could easily return to elite fantasy status if things work out with Murray under center.
Favorite Pick: After breaking out for 82-1,149-7 as a rookie, Ladd McConkey‘s second pro season was far more disappointing. He managed just 66 catches for 789 yards and six touchdowns despite playing in 16 games last season, as his catchable target rate took a massive hit. McConkey enjoyed a nice 87 percent catchable pass rate in 2024, but saw that number drop to 73 percent last year, which does a lot to explain last year’s massive drop-off despite the fact that he only saw five fewer targets last season. With Mike McDaniel now calling the plays, McConkey is a player I’m expecting big things from after last year’s disappointing outing.
Least Favorite Pick: Jenn might have had one of my favorite drafts of anybody in this lobby. While I truly take no exception to anything she did here, I’ll choose instead to touch on the selection of Romeo Doubs, who I think is fine as an end-of-the-bench type player here, but shouldn’t be viewed as anything more. Doubs signed a four-year, $68 million contract with the Patriots this offseason after spending his first four years in the league with the Packers. Last season he totaled 55 receptions for 724 yards and six touchdowns, and has gone for 600-plus yards in each of his last three seasons. All of these are respectable totals for a team’s WR2, but I wouldn’t expect him to see much more volume than he has in previous seasons now that A.J. Brown is in town. Even before the Brown trade, Doubs felt like a low-end WR2/high-end WR3 after landing in New England. He’ll likely land somewhere in the WR3/WR4 range at this point, and may not have much value outside of deeper fantasy leagues.
Matt Harmon - Yahoo!
- 1.12 - CeeDee Lamb (WR, DAL)
- 2.01 - Ashton Jeanty (RB, LV)
- 3.12 - Javonte Williams (RB, DAL)
- 4.01 - Jaylen Waddle (WR, DEN)
- 5.12 - Jameson Williams (WR, DET)
- 6.01 - Tucker Kraft (TE, GB)
- 7.12 - Jayden Reed (WR, GB)
- 8.01 - Rico Dowdle (RB, PIT)
- 9.12 - Jalen Coker (WR, CAR)
- 10.01 - RJ Harvey (RB, DEN)
- 11.12 - Jaxson Dart (QB, NYG)
- 12.01 - Dontayvion Wicks (WR, PHI)
- 13.12 - Cyrus Allen (WR, KC)
- 14.01 - Cameron Dicker (K, LAC)
- 15.12 - Jaguars DEF
First Pick: The combination of an awful defense and an offense that ranked sixth in neutral pass rate (58 percent) had CeeDee Lamb on a 17-game pace for 91 receptions for 1,308 yards and four touchdowns. While the touchdown output was disappointingly low, Lamb still did more than enough to put up a productive season despite playing opposite George Pickens, whose 93-1,429-9 season was everything fantasy managers hoped to see after his escape from Pittsburgh. The 8.4 targets per game Lamb averaged last season while sharing the field with Pickens was only a slight tick below the 9.4 targets per game he averaged from 2022 to 2024, when he was regularly finishing as a top-10 PPR receiver, so there’s reason to believe some positive touchdown regression is all Lamb needs to get back to form this season.
Favorite Pick: Jameson Williams is one of the few players in the league who possesses elite field-stretching speed but can also be counted on for 90-plus targets. The explosive playmaker has totaled 1,000-plus yards in each of the last two seasons and saw a career-high 101 targets last season while going for 65-1,117-7, all of which were career highs. Williams missed two games in 2024 and still managed a 58-1,001-6 line on 91 targets. Despite his ability to stretch the field, the Lions allow Williams to work in the intermediate areas and utilize his tremendous YAC ability to generate yards after the catch. His 7.5 YAC/REC since 2024 is good for the third-highest mark among receivers (min. 150 targets), while his 17.2 YPR is second only to Alec Pierce (21.8), whose production comes primarily on deep targets (20-plus air yards). Williams was a top-12 PPR receiver in 41 percent of his games last season, and should be in line for another big year after proving his 2024 production was no fluke.
Least Favorite Pick: Before suffering a torn ACL in Week 9 of last season, Tucker Kraft was stringing together yet another highly efficient season for his fantasy managers. Kraft had totaled four TE1 finishes in his first seven games played, and finished last year ranking first among TEs with an impressive 10.8 YAC/REC. Kraft avoided the PUP list to begin training camp, which is a great sign for his availability, but speaking with the media a few days ago, Kraft said the Packers will “probably” keep him on a snap count until the halfway point of this season. While it’s possible this does little to hurt his fantasy value as a player who was already thriving while averaging just 5.6 targets per game, it’s impossible to ignore the fact that a snap limit could put a hard cap on Kraft’s fantasy upside early in the season. It’s also hard to know if Kraft will look like the player we saw pre-injury, as it was his elite athleticism that played a big role in allowing him to produce the way he did even when he wasn’t one of the most heavily targeted tight ends in the league.
NOTE: Stats and information courtesy of PFF.com, RotoViz.com, ProFootballReference.com, NextGenStats.NFL.com, 4For4.com, FantasyPoints.com and RBSDM.com. All scoring is based on full-PPR leagues.
