The Perfect Early Round Draft Strategy for 2026 Fantasy Football

Ron Stewart positions AJ Brown as a tier-three pick in the one-two turn if you've already taken a running back early and don't want to go RB-RB, or if all top running backs are wiped. In hero RB builds, if Brown falls to the 2-3 turn, Stewart says "you jump on that" as a priority target ahead of secondary-tier WRs. In a sample draft, Brown is the realistic second-round pick after Jamar Chase in round one; paired with Chase, he provides two locked-in stud receivers that enable flexibility elsewhere in the draft, supporting a modified zero-RB approach.

Ron Stewart identifies Amari Cooper as an elite receiver option that pairs well with Jonathan Taylor or CMC in hero RB builds; notes that pairing Jonathan Taylor with Amari Cooper and Hampton creates one of the strongest ways to start a draft.

Elite WR option available at picks 108–109 in early-round draft strategy. The source states 'You can get an Aman Ross Stain Brown or James Cook at the 108 or the 109,' positioning him as a strong alternative to CMC or Jonathan Taylor at that range. St. Brown is also tiered alongside James Cook and JSN at the 110–112 range, described as 'a really strong pick in a strong offense with the potential to unlock his receiving upside this season.'

Austin Ekeler was one of the two top overall point scorers at running back in 2021, appearing at the one-two turn alongside Jonathan Taylor; this historical example illustrates how elite RB availability at the turn can shape draft strategy and outcome variance year-to-year.

Ron Stewart ranks Bijan Robinson in the S tier as a core pillar of hero RB draft strategy. Stewart states "Gibbs and Bejon at the 101 are just too good to pass on" due to elite tier positioning that allows flexibility at the 2-3 turn to target elite WRs or alternative RBs.

Blake Corum is highlighted as a handcuff to Kairen Williams; if Williams goes down, Corum would match the production of elite round-two RBs like Kenneth Walker or Marian Hampton, illustrating the value of handcuffing elite RBs and finding replacement-level production outside early rounds.

The source is 'not really budging much' on Breece Hall's valuation; positioned as a running back the source would not downgrade on even if injury concerns emerge. If people get scared about ankle or groin injuries and Hall slips to the 3-4 turn, the source would feel good about drafting him there as a potential value pick alongside Justin Jefferson and Chase Brown.

Selected in sample draft as part of Chicago Bears offensive bet. Ron Stewart states 'We take Brian Thomas. Now that we have wide receivers through the flex,' indicating Thomas is a value target in the hero RB build to fill WR slots after securing RB1 and RB2. However, at 5-6 turn pricing, the source suggests receiver valuations feel 'a little bit rich' at that turn, implying potential overvaluation at that ADP.

Ron Stewart identifies Brock Bowers as a premium early-round tight end target and tier-three pick in the one-two turn if you've already taken a running back early and don't want to go RB-RB, or if all top running backs are wiped. In hero RB builds, if Bowers falls to the 2-3 turn, Stewart says "you jump on that" as a priority target ahead of secondary-tier WRs like Nabers and Pickens. Bowers can be paired with a first-round running back like Christian McCaffrey or Jonathan Taylor as a round-two pick to create a strong early-round foundation. Stewart uses Bowers in a sample draft at pick 206 (second round) alongside CMC, noting that with an anchor first-round RB locked in, the strategy is to "hammer the wide receivers" thereafter, avoiding the RB dead zone.

Williams is stacked with Roma Odunze in the source's dream 1.10 start, positioned to benefit from Odunze's receiving upside. The source notes that if Odunze is going to crush, then so is Caleb Williams, indicating a QB-receiver stack strategy for leverage.

Ron Stewart describes Carnell Tate as a fine pick but suggests that the 5-6 turn pricing feels a little bit rich for receivers at that turn, implying Tate may be overvalued at that ADP.

Running back option that can be paired with Gentry and Brian Thomas as an alternative to the Henderson-Price hero RB build in draft rooms uncomfortable with that strategy.

CeeDee Lamb is expected to be selected before Drake London in RB-hungry leagues despite London's consensus ranking push, reflecting how positional scarcity at RB drives WR selections earlier than consensus ADP in competitive drafts. Positioned as a tier-three wide receiver option in the one-two turn alongside Jefferson and Devon Achane through Derrick Henry, he's a recommended pick if you've already taken a running back early and don't want to go RB-RB, or if top running backs are wiped. The source identifies Lamb as a high-end wide receiver who can fall to the 107 or 206 pick in the second round, guaranteeing that drafters picking at 107 or later in the first round will have access to either a falling Lamb or an elite running back option. Taken ahead of all running backs besides James Cook in the source's draft strategy, he is positioned as a top-tier early-round pick that can return to you in a running back hungry room from the 1.10 pick.

Chase Brown is positioned as a strong early-round running back target and is mathematically locked in to the middle of the second round for drafters picking at 107 or later in the first round, alongside Devon Hentges, Saquon Barkley, Kenneth Walker, Marian Hampton, and Derrick Henry. Brown is featured in the source's 'dream start' from the 1.10 pick as part of a double hero RB build alongside James Cook. The source includes Brown as a strong pick option at the 3-4 turn if injury concerns push other players down the board, stating 'you can start a draft Justin Jefferson, Chase Brown, Bree Hall. I'd feel really good about that.' Brown exemplifies the lucky value RB found outside the first two rounds last year, representing one of the rare instances where elite RB production emerged outside the first two rounds.

Selected in sample draft to complete WR depth and satisfy the structural requirement of five to six wide receivers before the wide receiver cliff at approximately WR50. The source states 'then Chris Godwin to give us wide receivers through the flex plus one before the wide receiver cliff' and notes 'we have wide receivers to the flex plus one with Chris Godwin satisfying our requirement of five to six wide receivers before the wide receiver cliff happening at about wide receiver 50.' Godwin fits the target profile for flex allocation in early-to-mid round strategy.

McCaffrey's elite production significantly impacts draft position value; having the seventh pick with McCaffrey available gave a 23.4% chance of finishing top two out of 12 teams, compared to 8.5% with the 12th pick (average 16.7%). The source identifies him as a guaranteed elite option available at picks 107–109 in the first round, ranking him ahead of Jonathan Taylor at the 105–106 range as a preferred anchor running back for hero RB builds. He can be paired with Brock Bowers or Drake London in round two to create a strong draft foundation, or with Jonathan Taylor as a second-round pairing. However, the source cautions that if McCaffrey gets injured or underperforms as a 16-point-per-game back while you passed on elite wide receivers like Jamar Chase or Puka Nacua, you'll regret the early RB investment.

Ron Stewart uses Christian Watson at pick 606 (round 6) as a receiver option in a hero RB build, supporting the strategy of prioritizing elite early talent and receiver depth.

Ron Stewart uses Colston Loveland at pick 406 as an elite tight end option in hero RB builds; notes that taking an elite tight end at this spot is justified when receiver depth is already established early.

Selected at 4-5 turn in hero RB sample draft as RB2. Ron Stewart identifies Swift as a key target in the dead zone where hero RB builds must 'plug your nose' and make a pick, representing the tier of RBs available after elite options are gone.

Identified as alternative 4-5 turn RB option in hero RB builds; Ron Stewart states 'At that four five turn, this is where you can get your DeAndre Swift or your David Montgomery,' positioning Montgomery as equivalent tier to Swift for RB2 slot. Also available at 5.03 if Tyler Warren is taken at 4.10 instead of waiting for the 6.10 turn; described as a slight downgrade but acceptable if prioritizing tight end security.

Devon Achane was just below the 2+ WAR threshold last year, approaching elite impact status; he exemplifies the near-elite tier of RBs found in the first two rounds that can deliver monstrous seasons. Achane is identified as a premium 2-3 turn alternative in hero RB builds; the source states 'If somehow someway a Derrick Henry or Devon Achan get here, you jump on that as well,' indicating Achane is a priority target if he falls to the 2-3 turn.

Derrick Henry marks the cutoff point for consensus first-round running backs at ADP 207, making him a critical target for teams seeking to secure two premium backs before the run ends. The source identifies him as a running back option available at pick 207 in later rounds, making it comfortable to take elite wide receivers like Aman Rosane Brown at pick 108 knowing Henry will circle back as a viable option. He is a premium 2-3 turn alternative in hero RB builds; if he falls to the 2-3 turn, you jump on him. Henry is also positioned as one of the elite running back options mathematically locked in to the middle of the second round for drafters picking at 107 or later in the first round, alongside Devon Hentges, Saquon Barkley, Chase Brown, Kenneth Walker, and Marian Hampton. The source would elevate the 209/210 draft pick to S-tier or high-end A-tier if guaranteed to secure Henry at that spot, indicating strong conviction in his value and availability in that range.

Ron Stewart uses DeVonta Smith at pick 306 in a sample hero RB draft to establish two strong receivers alongside JSN, providing elite receiver depth that allows flexibility to take an elite tight end like Colston Loveland later.

The source targets DK Metcalf as a wide receiver fill in the flex position within a zero RB draft strategy, part of the plan to build depth at receiver and tight end to offset running back weakness.

Drake London is positioned as a premium 2-3 turn target in hero RB builds and a tier-three pick if you've already taken a running back in round one and don't want to go RB-RB. The source rates him ahead of Jeremiah Love, Kairen Williams, Bree Hall, and Josh Jacobs. If London is taken early by another drafter (e.g., pick 203), it allows the source to build around Jonathan Taylor or Christian McCaffrey with elite receivers like Amari Cooper and Hampton, creating one of the strongest draft starts available. The source states 'if...Drake London [gets here], you jump on that,' indicating London is a priority target if he falls to the 2-3 turn.

The source targets Garrett Wilson as one of two strong receivers to double-tap in the 1.12 turn as part of a hero RB build strategy, indicating confidence in Wilson's value at that draft position.

Selected in 2-3 turn in hero RB sample draft alongside Malik Nabers. Ron Stewart targets elite WRs at this turn after securing RB1 at 1.01, with Pickens representing the tier of players to prioritize if premium options (Brock Bowers, AJ Brown, Drake London) are unavailable.

The source expresses discomfort with Dobbins as an RB2 option in a hero RB build strategy; while the strategy works, having someone better than Dobbins in the RB2 spot would feel more comfortable and secure.

Chase is ranked in tier one alongside Gibbs, Bejian Robinson, and Puka Nakua as a better pick than Jonathan Taylor or Christian McCaffrey; he is the number one wide receiver for a top-six scoring offense with an easy upside path to 20+ PPG, making him a league-winning player at a cheap cost relative to elite RBs. The source positions Chase as an elite wide receiver who should be taken at pick 105 in a doomsday scenario where McCaffrey and Jonathan Taylor are both gone by picks 103-104, emphasizing that taking an elite player like Chase is preferable to settling for a weaker running back like James Cook. The source explicitly takes Chase at pick 103 in the sample draft, demonstrating strong conviction in his value and availability, and groups him in the same tier as Puka Nacua.

Jalen Hurts is mentioned in the context of wide receiver production, as the source notes that Puka Nakua and Jamar Chase are top-six wide receivers for top-six scoring offenses with easy upside paths to 20+ PPG. The source identifies JSN (Jalen Hurts) as one of the guaranteed elite options available at the 107, 108, or 109 pick in the first round, alongside Christian McCaffrey and Jonathan Taylor, ensuring that drafters in this range can secure a top-tier player on the wrap-around into the second round.

James Cook is the only running back ranked ahead of CeeDee Lamb and Justin Jefferson in the source's draft strategy, positioned as a premium tier-two pick with RB1 overall upside. The source has Cook in a tier ahead of Aman Rosane Brown, Jonathan Taylor, JSN, and Christian McCaffrey. Cook is available at picks 108-109 and is the source's 'dream' pick at 1.10, where he could fall in consensus drafts. The source states Cook is 'a really strong pick and a strong offense with the potential to unlock his receiving upside this season.' Cook was a fortunate breakout from round three or four last year, representing one of the rare instances where elite RB production emerged outside the first two rounds. However, the source explicitly avoids Cook at pick 105, stating he is 'so much worse than the top four running backs' and that elite wide receivers should be prioritized instead at that range.

Williams is selected as a primary wide receiver target in a hero RB build sample from pick 105, part of a strategy to hammer wide receivers after securing an elite tight end and first-round running back. The source also lists Williams as one of the fun 5-6 turn receivers expected to go in sharp leagues, and positions him as a round-five/six target in running-back-hungry draft rooms, offering value at that stage when early RB scarcity drives demand.

The source is not big on Javonte Williams in the late three-four round area, stating 'I'm not big into Javvante Williams' when discussing running back options after taking a wide receiver and running back in early rounds. While he exemplifies value in the tenth round as a mid-to-late-round RB that can improve win probability for teams picking late in round one, the source explicitly avoids him in the 3-4 turn alongside Josh Jacobs and Kairen Williams.

Presented as an alternative running back option in zero-RB builds if drafters are concerned about Jeremiah Love's ankle injury. Grouped with Kairen Williams and Josh Jacobs as fallback running back choices when Love becomes a fade.

Guaranteed elite WR option at picks 107–109 in early-round draft strategy. The source states 'You can get a guaranteed CMC, Jonathan Taylor or JSN at the 107,' and uses JSN in a sample draft at pick 107 as an anchor wide receiver in a hero RB build. JSN is also tiered alongside James Cook and Amon-Ra St. Brown at the 110–112 range as a strong pick with value potential in consensus drafts.

Smith is ranked in the same tier as Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jaxon Smith-Njigba at the 110-112 range, positioned as a strong early-round pick in a strong offense with potential to unlock receiving upside.

Waddle is selected as a primary wide receiver target in a hero RB build sample from pick 105, part of a strategy to hammer wide receivers after securing an elite tight end anchor (Brock Bowers) and first-round running back. The source uses this build to avoid the RB dead zone by locking in a workhorse back early and aggressively stacking receivers.

Ron Stewart positions Jaylen Warren as a viable round-five/six target in running-back-hungry draft rooms, offering value in later rounds when early RB scarcity drives demand.

Ron Stewart positions Jeremiah Love as a high-end third-round pick despite recent injury concerns (ankle). Love is excluded from tier-three consideration at the one-two turn due to injury and ADP positioning—ESPN has him at pick 202, but he'll realistically be a third-round pick by draft time on Sleeper or Yahoo. In the tier-three area (alongside Lamb, Jefferson, and Devon A Chan through Derek Henry), Stewart has no problems with Love as a third-round target. Love is banged up but still rates as a high-end third-round RB option. Stewart is "not really budging much" on Love's valuation; if injury concerns (ankle or groin) scare off other drafters and Love falls to the 3-4 turn, Stewart would feel good about drafting him there as a value pick alongside Justin Jefferson and Chase Brown. In a zero-RB build sample, Stewart targets Love at 3.03, though he flags ankle injury as a reason to pivot to alternatives (Kairen Williams, Javvante Williams, Josh Jacobs) if scared off.

Jonathan Taylor was one of the two top overall point scorers at running back in 2021 at the one-two turn, illustrating how elite RB availability shapes draft strategy year-to-year. The source identifies him as a guaranteed elite option available at picks 107–109 in the first round, ranking him second to CMC at the 105–106 range as a strong anchor running back for hero RB builds. He can be paired with Amari Cooper and Hampton to create one of the strongest draft starts, or with Christian McCaffrey in round two for a strong foundation. However, the source cautions that if Taylor underperforms as a 16-point-per-game back while you passed on elite wide receivers like Jamar Chase or Puka Nacua, you'll regret the early RB investment. The source ranks him below Chase and Puka in tier one due to the superior upside paths of elite wide receivers.

Ron Stewart uses Jonathan Brooks at pick 706 (round 7) as an RB2 option to provide two nice RB2 options in a hero RB build, supporting the strategy of elite early receiver and tight end selection. Brooks may also be available at the round 5–6 turn in RB-hungry draft rooms instead of Henderson or Price, potentially pushing drafters toward Kairen Williams in round three.

Late-round QB option (round 10+) in hero RB builds. The source recommends punting QB through round 9 and then selecting from a pool of late-round options including Jordan Love, stating 'We don't take a quarterback through nine rounds. We will punt the position and figure out something later at in round 10 plus whether you want that to be...a Jordan Love.' Love is also mentioned as a viable option when drafting two quarterbacks late to ensure coverage through the season.

Ron Stewart uses Josh Downs in a sample draft as a wide receiver through the flex position, supporting the hero RB build strategy of prioritizing elite early talent and receiver depth.

Josh Jacobs is positioned in a tier below the tier-three options (Lamb, Jefferson, Devon Achane, Derrick Henry, Brock Bowers, AJ Brown, Drake London); the source rates him alongside Kairen Williams and Bree Hall as a lower-tier option. The source explicitly states 'I'm not big into Josh Jacobs' when discussing running back options after taking a wide receiver and running back in early rounds. Jacobs is presented as an alternative running back option in zero-RB build strategies, grouped with Kairen Williams and Javvante Williams as fallback choices if drafters are concerned about Jeremiah Love's ankle injury. Historically, Jacobs was a 2+ WAR running back in 2021, representing one of only two instances of elite-impact RBs found outside the first two rounds.

Late-round QB fallback option that may be available in round 10 or beyond. The source states 'You might even get someone in the 10th round like a Trevor Lawrence or Justin Herbert to fall back to you,' indicating Herbert is a viable late-round option in hero RB builds that punt QB through round 9.

Jefferson is ranked ahead of every running back after James Cook, including Saquon Barkley, Chase Brown, and others; the source argues that a top-six wide receiver like Jefferson is very valuable because WR12 last year scored only 14 PPG, making elite WRs a significant difference-maker in lineups. The source ranks Jefferson in tier three (back end of round one through middle of round two) and explicitly states he has Jefferson ahead of every running back except James Cook. Jefferson is positioned as a tier-three wide receiver option in the one-two turn alongside Lamb and Devon A Chan through Derek Henry; he's a recommended pick if you've already taken a running back early and don't want to go RB-RB, or if top running backs are wiped. The source identifies Jefferson as a high-end wide receiver who can fall to the 107 or 206 pick in the second round, guaranteeing that drafters picking at 107 or later in the first round will have access to either a falling Jefferson or an elite running back option. Jefferson is positioned as a potential second-round fallback option in running-back-hungry draft scenarios; he could fall back to pick 203 in such scenarios. The source targets Jefferson in the 1.12 turn as part of a strategy to double-tap strong receivers, and includes Jefferson as a strong pick option at the 3-4 turn if injury concerns push other players like Jeremiah Love or Bree Hall down the board.

Kareem Hunt is cited as an example of a waiver-wire or bench emergence last year who scored in the 15–16 PPG range, matching the production of high-end RBs and illustrating that replacement-level production can be found outside early rounds through handcuffs or late-round breakouts.

Kenneth Walker is positioned as an elite round-two RB option and appears in multiple draft scenarios; the source identifies him as one of the mathematically locked-in running back options available in the middle of the second round (picks 107–206) for drafters picking at 107 or later in the first round, alongside Devon Hentges, Saquon Barkley, Chase Brown, Marian Hampton, and Derrick Henry. Walker is also used in sample drafts at pick 206 as a falling RB value that pairs well with elite early receivers, and is available at pick 205 in later-round scenarios, supporting a hero WR build with strong RB depth.

Ron Stewart targets Kyle Pitts at the 7-12 turn as part of a hero RB build strategy, positioning him as a locked-in tight end anchor that allows flexibility at other positions.

Identified as late-round QB option (round 10+) in hero RB builds. Ron Stewart states 'We don't take a quarterback through nine rounds. We will punt the position and figure out something later at in round 10 plus whether you want that to be a Kyler Murray,' indicating Murray is a fallback option after punting QB through round 9. Also recommended as one of two QBs to draft late to ensure coverage through the season.

Selected in sample draft as part of Chicago Bears offensive bet. Ron Stewart states 'we get Swift, we get Luther Burton. I like just betting on the Chicago Bears offense with this team,' indicating Burden is a value target due to offensive upside and source conviction in Bears scheme.

Selected in 2-3 turn in hero RB sample draft alongside George Pickens. Ron Stewart targets elite WRs at this turn after securing RB1 at 1.01, with Nabers representing the tier of players to prioritize if premium options (Brock Bowers, AJ Brown, Drake London) are unavailable.

The source targets Matthew Golden as a late-round upside option in both hero RB and zero RB draft builds. In a hero RB strategy, Golden is positioned as an upside wide receiver swing candidate at the 7-12 turn to complement high-floor anchors. In zero RB builds, he's named in round 10 alongside Casey Conpsion and Xavier Worthy as a late-round lottery ticket option, representing upside potential in the back half of drafts.

Ron Stewart targets Michael Pittman as a nice high floor option at wide receiver in a hero RB build, providing stability to anchor the receiving corps.

The source positions Mike Evans as a round-five/six target in running-back-hungry draft rooms, offering value at that stage when early RB scarcity drives demand. Evans may be available at the 5-6 turn alongside Jameson Williams.

Washington is selected as a primary wide receiver target in a hero RB build sample from pick 105, part of a strategy to hammer wide receivers after securing an elite tight end anchor and first-round running back. The source also references Washington as a receiver expected to go off the board at the 5-6 turn in sharp leagues, used as a reference point for when other receivers at that turn become available.

Nakua is ranked in tier one alongside Gibbs and Bejian Robinson as a better pick than Jonathan Taylor or Christian McCaffrey; he is the number one wide receiver for a top-six scoring offense with an easy upside path to 20+ PPG, making him a league-winning player at a cheap cost relative to elite RBs. The source positions him as an elite wide receiver who should be taken at pick 105 in a doomsday scenario where McCaffrey and Jonathan Taylor are both gone by picks 103-104, emphasizing that taking an elite player like Nakua is preferable to settling for a weaker running back like James Cook.

The source groups Puka Nacua in the same tier as Jamar Chase at the bottom two picks (103 and 104), emphasizing strong conviction in securing one of these elite wide receivers in the second round. The source explicitly states positioning strategy to get a follower back in the second round to land one of these tier-one receivers, indicating Nacua is viewed as a premium target at that draft stage.

The source stacks Quentyn Johnston with Justin Herbert in a zero RB draft strategy, positioning the wide receiver as part of a quarterback-receiver stack to build depth at receiver.

Mid-round upside swing RB selected in sample draft as a detour option. The source states 'we take RJ Harvey just to give us another option, an upside swing behind DeAndre Swift,' indicating Harvey is a value target for late-round upside. The source also identifies Harvey as 'a potential mid-round detour option who can emerge down the stretch of the season and become an RB2 or flex contributor,' suggesting upside value in the fifth through twelfth round range where wide receivers are outscoring running backs.

Odunze is expected to 'crush' this season in the source's dream 1.10 start, with Caleb Williams stacked to him for upside leverage. He is positioned as a key receiving target in the Bears offense.

Barkley is ranked below CD Lamb and Justin Jefferson; the source passes on Barkley in favor of elite wide receivers due to the scarcity of top-six WRs and the flatness of the WR position beyond the elite tier. However, the source identifies Saquon Barkley as one of the elite running back options mathematically locked in to the middle of the second round for drafters picking at 107 or later in the first round, alongside Devon Hentges, Chase Brown, Kenneth Walker, Marian Hampton, and Derrick Henry.

Diggs is cited as a league-winning wide receiver breakout from round five or six in 2021, exemplifying how elite WR production can be found at a cheap cost in the middle rounds rather than forcing early-round RB selections. The source uses Diggs in a sample draft as a wide receiver through the flex plus one position, supporting the hero RB build strategy of establishing strong receiver depth to avoid fragile builds.

The source targets Tee Higgins as one of two strong receivers to double-tap in the 1.12 turn as part of a hero RB build strategy, indicating confidence in Higgins' value at that draft position.

Available in the ninth round, Etienne exemplifies the value strategy for offsetting poor draft position; he represents the type of mid-round RB that can bump up win probability for teams picking late in round one.

Late-round QB option available in round 10 and beyond. The source states 'You might even get someone in the 10th round like a Trevor Lawrence or Justin Herbert to fall back to you,' indicating Lawrence may be available even after round 10. Also mentioned as a viable option when drafting two quarterbacks late to ensure coverage through the season, with the source noting 'We can go Trevor Lawrence, Kyler Murray, whoever your flavor is, get two of them and then you are good to go.'

Ron Stewart positions Trey McBride as a tier-four option in the two-three turn. Stewart would feel really good coming away with Jalen Gibbs and then two of McBride, Jeremiah Love, Nico Collins, George Pickkins, Bree Hall, or Malik Neighbors. McBride is identified as an elite tight end option that may be taken early (round 2) in hero RB builds; if early-round reaches occur on McBride or Brock Bowers, it creates opportunity to pair Jonathan Taylor or CMC with elite receivers like Amari Cooper and Hampton.

Selected as a stud tight end in zero-RB builds; the source emphasizes that locking in a high-tier tight end early is crucial to the build's success, allowing for strong wide receiver and tight end production while being weak at running back. Can be taken at 4.10 if concerned he won't survive to the 6.10 turn, or at 6.10 if confident he'll be available.

The source names Xavier Worthy as a late-round upside player option in round 10 of a zero RB draft build, alongside Casey Conpsion and Matthew Golden, representing late-round lottery ticket potential.

Flowers was WR12 last year with 14 PPG, one of the lowest top-12 point-per-game seasons ever, illustrating how flat the WR position is beyond the elite tier and supporting the value of drafting elite WRs early. This production benchmark is used by the source to justify prioritizing top-six wide receivers like CD Lamb and Justin Jefferson over running backs in early rounds.