The BEST draft position for 2026 fantasy football drafts

Ian Hartitz ranks AJ Brown as his WR5 overall and notes he's falling a few picks off his true value at the round 2-3 turn, which he finds surprising. This positioning makes Brown an undervalued target in that range, representing a discount on a top-5 caliber receiver. Hartitz targets Brown as a preferred wide receiver option in double-wide-receiver strategies at the 2-3 turn if premium running backs are unavailable, and ideally wants him to fall to pick 101. Hartitz notes that drafting from positions one through five gives you a much better chance of securing Brown in round two.

A.J. Brown went in the middle of round three in Hartitz's mock draft, earlier than anticipated. His departure reduced the quality of the wide receiver tier available and contributed to Brock Bowers falling to a later round, suggesting AJB's ADP may be rising.

Ian Hartitz expresses skepticism about Amon-Ra St. Brown's ability to finish as a wide receiver one in 2026 despite three-to-four straight seasons of elite production; he questions whether St. Brown can achieve that overall WR1 season like Chase or Puka in a new offense, suggesting regression risk or uncertainty about his ceiling in the new system.

Hartitz secured Gibson as one of his two elite running backs early in the draft, establishing a strong RB foundation before pivoting to wide receiver.

Ian Hartitz highlights Bo Nix as a late-round quarterback (round 12) that can be targeted in the 101 draft position strategy, suggesting he offers value at that stage. Hartitz expresses enthusiasm about Nix remaining available in round 10, noting strong quarterback options available late in the draft.

Ian Hartitz selected Braelon Allen as a handcuff running back in the later rounds of a 104 Yahoo ADP half-point PPR mock draft. Hartitz noted 'Why not? I still think Isaiah Davis could come back,' indicating uncertainty about Allen's role but willingness to take him as a handcuff option.

Ian Hartitz advises against targeting Breece Hall at the round 2-3 turn due to injury concerns. He explicitly warns against chasing injuries in fantasy football, noting they will find you soon enough, making Hall a risky pick at that stage.

Ian Hartitz highlights Brock Bowers as a key target in round two, particularly from the 10-5 draft position, describing a strategy where you secure one of the top five running backs or wide receivers in round one, then land Bowers in round two, creating a best-of-both-worlds scenario. Hartitz emphasizes his 'super Bowers draft strategy' as a preferred approach. Bowers' scarcity at elite TE by the round 2 turn benefits the 101 pick strategy by allowing drafters to pivot to elite wide receivers at the round 2-3 turn instead of reaching for a second-tier tight end. Hartitz successfully drafts Bowers as part of well-constructed rosters that include premium wide receivers and Jamir Gibbs.

Brock Purdy lasted until round 10 in Hartitz's mock draft, demonstrating strong ADP value for a starting quarterback. Hartitz adheres to his rule of not taking a QB before round 10 and selected Purdy at that stage. In a separate 104-pick mock, Hartitz paired Purdy with Christian McCaffrey in a QB-RB stack, noting 'if you're going to do one, I should probably be with those guys,' indicating strong conviction on the pairing and Purdy's value.

Ian Hartitz explicitly fades Bucky Irving, stating 'I don't want Bucky Irving,' which is pushing him to prioritize wide receivers in his draft strategy. Earlier, Hartitz noted Irving is going in round 4 on Yahoo and represents better value than other running back options, but his later commentary reveals a shift to avoiding Irving in favor of WR depth.

Went off the board in the middle of round four in this draft simulation as part of a running back push.

Chase Brown is unlikely to be available at the 2-3 turn in most drafts; positioned as a premium early-round target that typically gets selected before that point.

Chris Godwin is noted as being a little bit banged up right now. Ian Hartitz raises the question of whether the ADP disparity between Godwin and DK Metcalf was too large to begin with, suggesting injury concerns may be impacting his value.

Ian Hartitz expects Chris Olave to miss approximately six weeks of the regular season with an estimated return around week 8, but positions him as set up for strong second-half value at the round 2-3 turn, comparing his potential to his late-season performance from the previous year. Hartitz selected Olave over Alvin Vizcaino Neighbors in the mockdraft, citing that Olave is healthier despite the two being ranked close together. Hartitz includes Olave in his core group of four wide receivers he truly believes could achieve top-12 seasons if things break right for them, alongside Jaylen Waddle, Christian Watson, and Parker Washington. Olave was selected as the WR1 in the mock draft, indicating Hartitz prioritizes him as his top wide receiver option.

Ian Hartitz views Chris Rodriguez as a potential RB1 in Jacksonville, indicating he sees him as a lead-back candidate with significant role upside and confidence in his offensive opportunity and production ceiling.

Ian Hartitz ranks Christian McCaffrey third overall pending resolution of a tightness issue, expressing no major alarm about the injury; he selected CMC as his round-one pick from the 10-6 position in a Yahoo mock draft, prefers him over Puka Nacua at the turn in 104 Yahoo ADP half-point PPR citing comfort with securing a premium RB to start, and stacked him with Brock Purdy in a QB-RB pairing, noting 'if you're going to do one, I should probably be with those guys.' The tightness monitoring and overall third-overall ranking reflect confidence in his elite tier status despite durability concerns.

Ian Hartitz selects Watson in round five as one of four wide receivers he genuinely believes could achieve top-12 seasons if circumstances align; part of his core group alongside Chris Olave, Jaylen Waddle, and Parker Washington. Hartitz also selected Watson over Parker Washington in round six of a 104 Yahoo ADP half-point PPR draft as part of his WR-heavy early strategy.

Chuba Hubbard's status is still being reflected in ADP updates as of mid-August; Yahoo ADP is still catching up to recent news regarding the Jonathan Brooks situation and its impact on Hubbard's role.

Ian Hartitz selected Colston Loveland in round four of a Yahoo mock draft from the 10-6 position but expressed regret about the pick due to a toe injury concern, noting he should have selected Mecca Ibuka instead because of Loveland's health status. However, in other draft contexts, Hartitz expressed enthusiasm about securing Loveland in round four, calling him elite value at tight end and noting he's one of only two early-round tight ends (alongside Brock Bowers) he's willing to break the late-round TE strategy for.

Ian Hartitz officially removed DJ Moore from his fade list after re-evaluating draft position and ankle injury status; he now believes the price is reasonable in rounds 5-6 and compares Moore favorably to Mike Evans tier. Hartitz lists DJ Moore as a tier-one wide receiver option for first-five-round drafting alongside AJ Brown, Malik Neighbors, Lab Mcconi, Luther Burton, and Mike Evans as part of an ideal early-round fantasy team construction.

DeAndre Swift has never finished worse than RB2 with explosive pass-catching ability in a loved offense; primary competition for touches (Khalen Kingsbury) could be at less than 100% upon return, supporting Swift's upside in the 4-5 turn. Swift is one of three primary round 4-5 running back targets if only one RB is taken in the first three rounds, alongside Travis Etienne and David Montgomery. Hartitz identifies Swift as one of three preferred RB targets in rounds 4-5 for second RB, willing to pivot away from WR for these three backs. Swift is also listed as a probable first-five-round running back target alongside Jamir Gibbs, positioning him as a tier-one option in early-round draft strategy for slots 1-5. Hartitz identifies Swift as part of a patch of running backs in rounds four and five that he would be willing to target when drafting from positions one through five, suggesting strong value in that range.

Hartitz considered Swift at the 4/5 turn but chose David Montgomery instead, noting the two are very close in his rankings. In round five, Hartitz would be comfortable drafting Swift if only two wide receivers were required to start, but passes due to the three-WR requirement in this league format.

DeVante Adams is ranked around wide receiver 23-25 currently, with some mindfulness given to age-related decline risk, though still viable in the mid-round range.

Hartitz projects Montgomery for 300+ touches in the Texans offense despite concerns about offensive line quality and aging talent profile; he likes the fact that the Texans should be a really good football team, making Montgomery a round 4-5 target for second RB in his ideal draft strategy. Montgomery is one of three primary round 4-5 running back targets if only one RB is taken in the first three rounds, alongside Travis Etienne and DeAndre Swift. Hartitz includes Montgomery as a probable first-five-round running back target alongside Jamir Gibbs and DeAndre Swift, positioning him as a tier-one option in early-round draft strategy. Montgomery is positioned as one of the patch of running backs in rounds four and five that Hartitz would be willing to risk it for in the 101 draft position strategy, suggesting he offers value at that stage. Hartitz selected Montgomery over DeAndre Swift at the 4/5 turn, noting the two are very close in his rankings but choosing Montgomery. Hartitz drafts Montgomery as a solid RB2 option to complement Jamir Gibbs, Brock Bowers, and four premium wide receivers in his balanced roster construction.

Ian Hartitz selected Derrick Henry as his round-two pick in a Yahoo mock draft from the 10-6 position, demonstrating confidence in securing two elite running backs early in the draft from that position. Hartitz views Henry as unlikely to be available at the 2-3 turn in most drafts, positioned as a premium early-round target that typically gets selected before that point.

Ian Hartitz notes that if DeVonta Smith could fall back to the 4/5 turn, that would be 'pretty sweet,' though he acknowledges it's unlikely. This indicates Hartitz views Smith as undervalued at his current ADP.

Ian Hartitz notes that DK Metcalf has been priced as the boomer wide receiver three throughout his career, suggesting his ADP may undervalue him relative to his consistent production potential.

Ian Hartitz identifies Drake London as a receiver who regularly falls into the round 2-3 turn range, making him a reliable target in that draft window. London is part of Hartitz's preferred group of receivers to acquire at the turn.

Isaiah Likely is positioned as a round 10 tight end option in the 101 draft position strategy, described as a boring but available target at that stage alongside Jake Ferguson and Jawan Johnson.

Ian Hartitz lacks confidence in Jadarian Price due to Charbanet's return, suggesting reduced role or opportunity in the offense.

Jake Ferguson is mentioned as a tight end option available around round 10 in the 101 draft position strategy, grouped with Isaiah Likely and Jawan Johnson as available targets at that stage.

Hartitz expresses strong enthusiasm for Jaylen Coker as a sleeper wide receiver option, calling him 'the biggest cokehead out here,' suggesting significant upside potential relative to his draft position.

Hartitz identifies Javonte Williams as a potential round 3 RB option contingent on resolving legal issues. If legal problems are cleared, Williams becomes a viable target at that stage, representing a conditional opportunity in play at round 3 as a potential running back option if building with two RBs in the first three rounds.

Ian Hartitz identifies Javante Williams as a viable round-three option when drafting from the 10-5 position after securing a top-five player and Brock Bowers, suggesting he's a reliable mid-round target in this draft strategy.

Ian Hartitz identifies Jaden Higgins as a good sleeper option in the later rounds, viewing him as undervalued relative to his draft position and potential production.

Jaden Reed is mentioned as one of the wide receiver targets available in the round six and beyond range in Ian Hartitz's draft strategy for the 101 draft position. He remains available in round eight and is noted as one of the remaining viable wide receiver options alongside Josh Downs.

Ian Hartitz positions Jaylen Waddle as a breakout wide receiver candidate going slightly earlier than the 4-5 turn, representing upside at that stage. Hartitz is hyping Waddle in rounds 5-6 and explicitly states he believes in Waddle, positioning him as a preferred WR target in that range. Hartitz includes Waddle in his core group of four wide receivers he truly believes could achieve top-12 seasons if things break right for them, alongside Chris Olave, Christian Watson, and Parker Washington. Waddle was selected in round five as part of Hartitz's heavy wide receiver investment in the middle rounds.

Available in round five as a running back option, though Hartitz notes he's 'not bad' but doesn't select him, preferring to continue addressing wide receiver needs.

Ian Hartitz advises against targeting Jeremiah Love at the round 2-3 turn due to injury concerns. He explicitly warns against chasing injuries in fantasy football, noting they will find you soon enough, making Love a risky pick at that stage.

Jonathan Brooks is selected by Ian Hartitz in round eight as one of the top running backs available at that stage, though Hartitz acknowledges it is very unlikely he will be available in most real drafts due to rising ADP; Brooks is noted as potentially unavailable at his current draft position as he rises in rankings.

Jordan Tyson is sidelined, which impacts tight end availability and strategy in the 101 draft position approach; his absence creates opportunity for other tight end targets like Terence Ferguson.

Ian Hartitz ranks Josh Allen 26th overall and considers pick 101 (early round 3) a reasonable spot to target him; he would not chase Allen into round 2 but believes it's a good value at that position, ahead of late-round QB strategy. Josh Allen will be available at the turn (rounds 2-3) in 2026 drafts, offering elite quarterback value at a position where consensus top-12 options are scarce early. Hartitz selected Josh Allen as his round-three pick in a Yahoo mock draft from the 10-6 position, indicating confidence in the quarterback as a mid-round target.

Josh Downs may be sliding in draft position after the Colts signed Keenan Allen, suggesting reduced target share or role opportunity due to the addition of another receiver to the offense.

Hartitz identifies Josh Jacobs as a potential round 3 RB option contingent on resolving legal issues. If legal problems are cleared, Jacobs becomes a viable target at that stage, representing a conditional opportunity in play at round 3 as a potential running back option for two-RB-in-three-rounds strategy.

Jawan Johnson is described as a great pick among the tight end options available around round 10 in the 101 draft position strategy, positioned favorably compared to Isaiah Likely and Jake Ferguson.

Ian Hartitz selects Katon Mitchell as a running back with high-end handcuff upside, emphasizing that Mitchell's production potential depends heavily on offensive environment and play-caller; the selection suggests significant ceiling if he gains a lead-back role.

Hartitz is comfortable taking Kenneth Walker as the last remaining RB at the 1-2 turn in 104 Yahoo ADP half-point PPR, viewing him as solid value when other backs slide. Walker was selected as RB2 in Hartitz's early draft position mock (104 pick) paired with Christian McCaffrey, with Hartitz noting confidence in the pairing: 'we think we're going to be good there' regarding the running back room of CMC and Walker. However, Walker is unlikely to be available at the 2-3 turn in most drafts, positioned as a premium early-round target that typically gets selected before that point.

Ian Hartitz selects Kyler Murray as a second quarterback option to add upside to the roster, viewing him as a valuable late-round QB pick with ceiling potential. Hartitz notes that having two shots at quarterback is fine, particularly when you have a higher upside option like Murray, even when the primary QB (Brock Purdy) is not in the top 10 for a reason.

Ladd McConkey is expected to go at the 4-5 turn and represents value as a wide receiver option in that range, positioning him as a mid-round target in Hartitz's draft strategy.

Luther Burden is getting a discount at the 4-5 turn despite being fully expected to be ready for week one, offering value at that stage. Ian Hartitz views him as a preferred wide receiver option in that range.

Hartitz targets Malik Nabers in round 3 of a 104 Yahoo ADP half-point PPR draft, noting higher ceiling potential compared to Chris Olave and citing Jordan Tyson's eventual return as a positive for the receiving corps. Nabers is also a fallback option in double-wide-receiver strategy at 2-3 turn if AJ Brown unavailable; positioned as a strong alternative wide receiver target.

Ian Hartitz views Marvin Harrison Jr. as a year-three prospect with uncertain upside and expresses reluctance to invest in the Cardinals offense early. He prefers waiting until round six or seven rather than drafting him in rounds three or four, indicating skepticism about early-round value and suggesting the player is overvalued at current ADP.

Mike Evans is currently ranked around wide receiver 23-25, but could push toward wide receiver one borderline status as early as week one or two. Age is a consideration for potential fall-off, though upside remains; Ian Hartitz gives mindfulness to the idea that older receivers could see decline, but Evans has the potential to outperform his current ranking. Hartitz also lists Evans as a tier-one wide receiver option for first-five-round drafting alongside AJ Brown, Malik Neighbors, Ladd McConkey, Luther Burden, and DJ Moore.

Mike Washington was selected as a handcuff running back in the later rounds of the early draft position mock (104 pick). Hartitz noted 'Give me a Mike Washington' as part of his strategy to load up on handcuffs in later rounds, emphasizing the importance of handcuffs given injury risk.

Ian Hartitz notes Nico Collins regularly falls into the round 2-3 turn range, making him a consistent target at that draft window. Collins is included in Hartitz's preferred group of receivers to acquire at the turn.

Ian Hartitz drafts Parker Washington in round five as one of four wide receivers he truly believes could produce top-12 seasons if things break right for them; part of a core group alongside Chris Olave, Jaylen Waddle, and Christian Watson.

Ian Hartitz ranks Puka Nacua as a top-four fantasy pick and tier-one round-one option, but expresses concern about his off-field behavior and injury history, urging him to 'stay healthy and avoid incidents' as he approaches a major contract. Hartitz states 'a lot of us are drafting you as a top four fantasy pick. Chill out, man,' indicating the positive ranking reflects confidence in his on-field talent despite durability and behavioral concerns.

Ian Hartitz selects Quentin Johnston in round 9 of a 104 Yahoo ADP half-point PPR mock draft, choosing him over available alternatives including Chris Godwin, Josh Downs, Stefon Diggs, and Jaden Reed. Hartitz notes there are many good wide receiver options available in that range, positioning Johnston as a viable mid-round target.

Ian Hartitz states he is out on Rasheed Rice but acknowledges the bull case for him. Rice has demonstrated WR1 production when healthy and eligible to play, though Hartitz's personal stance is cautious. The caveat about legal/eligibility issues suggests conditional upside that Hartitz is not banking on.

Ian Hartitz projects Rashid Shaheed to finish as a wide receiver one despite a new play caller in the Falcons offense; he acknowledges some regression is likely due to the historical dominance Shaheed showed under the previous system, but maintains confidence in his WR1 finish. Hartitz also identifies Shaheed as a good sleeper option in later rounds, suggesting undervalued upside potential despite the system change.

Ian Hartitz selected Ray Davis as a handcuff running back in the later rounds of a 104 Yahoo ADP half-point PPR mock draft, viewing him as a valuable handcuff option.

Ian Hartitz selected Rico Dowdle in round 7 of a 104 Yahoo ADP half-point PPR mock draft, viewing him as the Steelers' RB1 and preferring him over available WRs like Chris Godwin and Quentin Johnston. Later in the draft, Hartitz reiterated that Dowdle 'could very well be our flex' and highlighted the Steelers running backs as 'the guys I'm willing to kind of break that wide receiver streak for the most given the fact that it should be 1A 1B. They're reasonably priced and they both have huge handcuff upside.'

Hartitz selected Stefon Diggs in round eight as a wide receiver still ranked lower than his potential upside. Hartitz believes Diggs could be the 1A option on his team, though more likely 1B, making him a value pick at that stage. In a 104-pick mock, Hartitz specifically targeted Diggs, noting 'I don't see anyone after him' in terms of WR quality, and pushed his QB selection back one spot to secure him. Diggs was part of a strong receiver tier that included Burden, Christian Watson, Chris Godwin, and Quentin Johnston.

Ian Hartitz selected Tank Bigsby as a handcuff running back in the later rounds of a 104 Yahoo ADP half-point PPR mock draft. Hartitz noted 'This probably give me bad grades because I'm reaching on dudes, but you know what? YOLO. Let's go with Tank Bsby' and later reiterated 'Give me Tank Bsby' as part of his strategy to load up on handcuffs in later rounds.

Terence Ferguson is mentioned as a late-round lottery ticket tight end option in the 101 draft position strategy, recommended as a final-pick flier given tight end depth concerns from injuries like Jordan Tyson's.

Terry McLaurin is currently ranked around wide receiver 23-25, but could push toward wide receiver one borderline status as early as week one or two. Age is a consideration for potential fall-off, though upside remains; Ian Hartitz gives mindfulness to the idea that older receivers could see decline, but McLaurin has the potential to outperform his current ranking.

Ian Hartitz had Travis Etienne on his fade list in rounds 3-4 but acquired him in early round 5 multiple times in drafts; he is now a primary target in rounds 4-5 for second RB if only one RB is taken in the first three rounds, alongside David Montgomery and DeAndre Swift. Hartitz is willing to pivot away from WR for Etienne in that range.

Ian Hartitz targets Trey Harris as a late-round wide receiver pick, noting it's a recurring draft strategy he employs in mock drafts; the repeated targeting suggests Harris has consistent value in the final rounds.

McBride went earlier than expected in Ian Hartitz's mock draft simulation, coming off the board before the wide receiver run fully developed. Despite his early departure, the board still produced strong WR options and allowed Brock Bowers to fall to a later round.

Went off the board in the middle of round four in this draft simulation.

Ian Hartitz expresses concern that Woody Marks could cut into David Montgomery's anticipated touch volume in the Texans backfield, potentially making Montgomery's workload closer than the 300+ touches Hartitz projects for him.