Fantasy football targets for 2026 draft: top 10 players to know

Show summary Hide summary

• Why Jahmyr Gibbs is worth a top-two pick in fantasy football drafts
  • What makes Gibbs the safe upside play
• CeeDee Lamb: target this top WR at the end of round one
  • Reasons to grab Lamb even if you draft late in round one
• Why Derrick Henry looks like a second-round bellcow candidate
  • Draft takeaways for Henry
• Cam Skattebo and Malik Nabers: mid-round running back and receiver gambles
  • How to approach these injury-reduced ADPs
• TreVeyon Henderson: draft him in the fourth round and expect league-winning upside
• Jameson Williams and Mike Evans: value WR options with TD upside
  • What to expect from Williams and Evans
• Jordyn Tyson and Dallas Goedert: smart bench and TE choices for depth and touchdowns
• Quarterback strategy: why Kyler Murray is a late-round QB target worth considering
• Why Brandon Aubrey is my one guaranteed roster add at kicker
  • Kicker drafting tips

Draft day can feel like a collision between hope and reality. You enter the room with a short list of fantasy football crushes — the players you picture hauling your league trophy — but by the time the first round spins around, many of those names have disappeared.

Winning comes down to timing and probability: knowing which stars are likely to be available at each turn, and which sleepers could fall into your lap if you draft from a particular slot. Below I lay out a practical plan for landing high-upside targets at realistic spots in your draft, using ADP trends and roster context to guide each pick.

Why Jahmyr Gibbs is worth a top-two pick in fantasy football drafts

If you’re drafting first or second, you face a binary choice between two elite rookie/young talents. In my book, Jahmyr Gibbs edges out the competition if you can pick that early. Gibbs pairs explosive receiving skills with a backfield role on a team that should give him consistent passing-game work, plus a favorable early-season slate.

What makes Gibbs the safe upside play

• Reliable passer at quarterback reduces scoring volatility.
• Balanced offensive line and playcalling that uses backs as receivers.
• High touchdown and target upside compared with other backs in the same draft tier.

CeeDee Lamb: target this top WR at the end of round one

The top five fantasy locks often include a handful of elite receivers and the two best running backs. But starting around pick No. 6, the field opens up. CeeDee Lamb is a high-floor wideout who frequently makes it to the tail end of the first round, especially in 12-team formats.

Reasons to grab Lamb even if you draft late in round one

• Offensive game scripts force his team to throw often — he’ll see volume.
• Consistently high target share; reliable red-zone presence.
• Good value when defensive upgrades around the team remain uncertain.

Why Derrick Henry looks like a second-round bellcow candidate

Your second-round decision is often the most consequential: dozens of players justify the pick, and each carries a distinct risk profile. The case for Derrick Henry centers on role security. With a coaching staff that historically prefers conservative, run-heavy game plans and an offense that lacks other major rushing threats, Henry should see volume carry after carry.

Draft takeaways for Henry

• High carry share means weekly floor in PPR and non-PPR formats.
• Coaching philosophy points to a workhorse role rather than a committee backfield.
• Good second-round value for managers who prioritize guaranteed touches.

Cam Skattebo and Malik Nabers: mid-round running back and receiver gambles

Two names stand out as under-the-radar but high-upside picks: Cam Skattebo at running back and Malik Nabers at receiver. Both are coming off injuries, which suppresses their ADP and creates windows for savvy drafters.

How to approach these injury-reduced ADPs

• Skattebo: touchdown scorer with big-play upside — ideal as a mid-round lottery ticket.
• Nabers: more volatile due to injury history but capable of breakout receiver numbers; he’s typically being drafted several spots earlier on ESPN than Skattebo.
• Strategy: prioritize positional scarcity — RBs disappear faster than receivers, so consider taking Skattebo if the choice is between them.

TreVeyon Henderson: draft him in the fourth round and expect league-winning upside

Right now Henderson’s ADP sits around the early-to-mid 60s on many platforms — the kind of slot where you can pick him in the fourth round. Projection models peg him initially as a split-time back, but in practice his combination of vision, burst and finishing ability could force a heavier workload.

If Henderson breaks out of a committee and becomes the primary back, the manager who secured him in round four effectively nets a second first-round caliber asset for the roster.

• ADP signals suggest undervaluation relative to his projected touches.
• Coaching staffs often reward explosiveness with increased snaps once it shows on tape.
• High ceiling makes him a late-round target with early-round impact potential.

Jameson Williams and Mike Evans: value WR options with TD upside

The wide receiver pool is deep this season, so you can afford to wait and still land difference-makers. Jameson Williams flashed major growth last year, and reports from training camp back that up; his team also faces an easier schedule from a fantasy perspective, which amplifies his value at a shorter ADP. Meanwhile, Mike Evans often catches a bad rap about route depth — but his touchdown production at the goal line is elite.

What to expect from Williams and Evans

1. Williams: realistic mid-round pick with breakout potential and a favorable early slate.
2. Evans: touchdown machine who typically falls into late-round value — expect double-digit TD upside.
3. Both players offer different forms of reliability: volume for Williams, red-zone efficiency for Evans.

Jordyn Tyson and Dallas Goedert: smart bench and TE choices for depth and touchdowns

Not every draft pick needs to be a weekly starter on day one. Jordyn Tyson lands in one of the best rookie environments possible: an accurate, underrated quarterback and a top-tier complementary receiver reduce pressure and create favorable matchups. He carries low risk and a high reward profile as a late-round flier.

At tight end, I prefer grabbing a dependable starter rather than hunting a late breakout. Dallas Goedert becomes more appealing if his team’s top receiver is absent or drawing defensive attention, increasing targets for the reliable TE. Good quarterback play and a soft schedule further enhance his ceiling.

Quarterback strategy: why Kyler Murray is a late-round QB target worth considering

The modern fantasy draft often rewards managers who wait on quarterback. Last season’s results showed several QBs drafted late finishing among the top scorers. This year, a deeper sleeper pool makes it sensible to target upside over early security. Kyler Murray represents a high-ceiling option with a star receiver who can flip games — he’s a viable pick in the later rounds if you prefer to load up at running back and wide receiver early.

• Waiting for QB can net elite value in rounds 8–12.
• Pick a QB whose upside matches your roster-building strategy — Murray fits an explosive, upside-first plan.
• Combine a late QB with high-floor RB/WR starters to maximize weekly consistency.

Why Brandon Aubrey is my one guaranteed roster add at kicker

Kickers are volatile, but there’s a comfort in certainty. I’m planning to draft Brandon Aubrey early among kickers because his team generates long-range scoring opportunities frequently. When the offense stalls inside opponent territory, a reliable leg like Aubrey’s translates into consistent fantasy points.

Kicker drafting tips

• Target kickers on high-scoring teams with aggressive red-zone play.
• Consider stadium and weather influences if your league uses outdoor-heavy schedules.
• Secure a starter with leg strength and a high attempt volume rather than chasing single-game boom weeks.

You might also like:

• 2026 NFL draft: three teams that botched their picks
• Fantasy football 2026: 5 red-flag players to avoid
• Fantasy baseball sleepers: mid-round picks that could win your league
• New York Jets trade deadline 2025: how their fire sale reshaped the NFL
• Brendan Sorsby: 3 teams that fit in the NFL supplemental draft