2026 NFL Season
Fantasy Football Draft Advice
I went full fantasy goblin mode on the offseason takes: 184 articles and videos turned into 1003 pieces of draft advice across 224 players & teams. Hydrate accordingly.
James Cook III is a high-upside RB target with elite rushing volume and touchdown equity, supported by a strong offensive line. Given his late first-round ADP and potential for a larger role in the passing game under a new coordinator, he presents excellent draft value.
- 07/20 Low A first-round price is difficult to justify given a rising fumble rate and limited receiving role, making him more appropriate in the late second or third round.
- 07/20 High Elite rushing volume, strong touchdown equity and a new coordinator with a history of feeding running backs in the passing game give him top-three upside at a late first-round cost.
- 07/15 High Most of an elite run-blocking unit returns after he led the league with 1,621 rushing yards on a career-high 309 carries, and the surrounding offense supplies strong touchdown upside despite a limited receiving role.
- 07/12 High A league-leading rushing season and likely workload preservation for the quarterback support another high-volume, efficient campaign.
- 07/12 High League-leading rushing production, a large carry share, and an uncontested backfield role support a strong draft priority with added passing-game upside.
Unanimous high-priority consensus across six July sources: A.J. Brown's departure makes Smith Philadelphia's clear WR1, with vacated target volume and expanded perimeter usage creating a realistic path to top-5 to top-10 production on top of an established WR2 floor. At a reported third-round cost, he profiles as strong value, backed by 19.3 PPR points per game on 7+ targets last season and proven output when Brown missed time. Risk is minimal; the only question is whether efficiency holds at the higher volume, while the volume spike itself raises his weekly floor.
- 07/19 High A.J. Brown's departure elevates him to Philadelphia's lead receiving role, and his production when Brown missed time supports top-10 upside at a third-round cost.
- 07/18 High He becomes Philadelphia's No. 1 receiver after A.J. Brown's departure and averaged 19.3 PPR points when he received at least seven targets last season. The expanded volume creates career-year upside.
- 07/16 High A.J. Brown's departure opens a significant volume increase, giving him a steadier WR2 floor even without requiring a dramatic efficiency jump.
- 07/14 High A.J. Brown's departure leaves little established receiver competition and creates a path to top-five fantasy production.
- 07/13 High Vacated target volume and more outside receiver usage create a realistic route to a much larger target share while preserving his reliable weekly floor.
- 07/12 High A clearer path to perimeter targets and a larger role after major receiver-room changes give him top-10 upside with a higher weekly floor.
Drake London is a priority target justified at an early second-round valuation due to an elite projection of 9.3 targets per game and minimal target competition. His demonstrated red-zone efficiency and strong physical profile support a high-end WR1 ceiling. Quarterback uncertainty remains the primary risk, offset by immense volume-based safety.
- 07/19 High A 9.3-target-per-game role supports an early second-round valuation, with health and improved quarterback efficiency offering another path to an elite season.
- 07/18 High Top-10 efficiency and PPR scoring last season continued his upward trajectory, while minimal target competition should preserve elite volume. His contested-catch and red-zone strengths support another high-end WR1 finish despite quarterback uncertainty.
Medium priority — draft Pearsall as a late-round WR4/WR5 target: he offers legitimate upside in an efficient passing offense but should be treated as a value pick rather than a dependable starter. Target him only at mid-WR4 ADP or later given repeated injury history and Mike Evans' presence; upside is substantial if healthy and given more snaps, but availability and role ceiling limit his floor.
- 07/17 Medium His price has fallen because of unusual and recent injuries, but he has shown weekly flex production when active and can benefit from Mike Evans drawing coverage in a strong offense.
- 07/17 Low Repeated injuries and Mike Evans' place above him limit immediate certainty, but his discounted price preserves late-round upside if he stays healthy.
- 07/16 High A first-round talent in an efficient passing offense has a clear path to more work, while a mid-WR4 cost prices in far more injury risk than role upside.
- 07/15 Low Injury history and limited touchdown production leave him better suited to a depth roster spot than a dependable flex or starting role.
Johnson profiles as a low-priority, late-round TE2 after a career year at age 29, with most sources flagging efficiency regression and significant short-area target competition from additions Jordyn Tyson, Travis Etienne, Noah Fant, and Oscar Delp. His 77-catch, 889-yard season, heavy route volume, and chemistry with Tyler Shough preserve low-end TE1 upside, aided by an unusually low touchdown rate that could positively regress. Target only at a steep discount as a TE2 with streaming appeal; avoid at his current low-end TE1 cost.
- 07/19 Low He posted 77 catches and 889 yards with immediate chemistry alongside Tyler Shough, while limited target competition and an unusually low touchdown rate leave room for growth.
- 07/18 Ignore His career year came at age 29, and the offense added Jordyn Tyson, Travis Etienne, Noah Fant, and Oscar Delp. Increased short-area target competition makes a repeat of 889 yards unlikely.
- 07/18 Low Three new pass-catching additions create substantial target competition after a career year built on serving as the offense's secondary option.
- 07/16 Medium Heavy route volume and top-seven production across several receiving metrics support low-end TE1 value, although a talented rookie could take some work.
- 07/14 Ignore Age, likely efficiency regression, and insufficient target volume make last season's production a poor basis for his current cost.
Low draft priority — target Ward only as a late-round flier or post-draft/waiver pickup rather than a standard draft selection. Preseason expert consensus leans low (two 'low' recommendations and one 'ignore') despite notes of improved weapons and a QB-friendly coordinator; plan to roster him at the end of drafts or via waivers rather than mid-round investment. Upside is a late-round sleeper with backup/bench ceiling, but the floor is likely waiver-eligible bench status.
- 07/13 Low A much stronger target group and Brian Daboll's coordination give his second season a clearer late-round breakout path.
- 07/13 Low Year-two development, improved weapons, a better line, and Brian Daboll's arrival give him a backup-quarterback ceiling beyond his draft cost.
- 07/13 Ignore A low per-game projection and likely waiver-wire availability make him a poor use of a late redraft pick despite offseason upgrades.
- 07/13 Medium Late-season fantasy improvement, upgraded pass catchers, and a more quarterback-friendly coordinator give him a reasonable path to outperform a sleeper price.
Low priority: treat Jack Bech as a late-round/bench flier rather than an early roster priority. Target only after established WR3s—expect draft value in the late rounds or as an undrafted free-agent pickup rather than in the middle rounds. Upside depends on earning routes in a third-receiver role, but the floor is low given uncertain volume and competition for targets.
- 07/17 Low Late-season usage growth and a depth chart without established target earners beyond Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty leave room for his volume-oriented profile to emerge.
- 07/12 Low His intermediate skill set fits the open third-receiver role better than the deep-speed alternatives, but he still needs to earn enough routes to matter.
High — Draft Nailor as a late-round flier with a clear path to be the team's top outside receiver and an expanded target role given quarterback familiarity and the primary defensive attention on the elite tight end. Target him in the final rounds (late-round ADP / sleeper tier); high upside as a breakout No.2 with a low floor if target volume fails to materialize.
- 07/17 Low A significant free-agent contract and limited receiver competition give his proven downfield efficiency a path to the No. 2 target role behind Brock Bowers.
- 07/16 High He has a clear path to be his team's top wide receiver, with the primary defensive attention likely focused on the elite tight end. Strong separation outside, purposeful red-zone usage, and a more creative passing offense make his late-round cost attractive.
- 07/15 High A substantial offseason contract and familiarity with the quarterback point to an expanded role, with a credible chance to finish second on the team in targets behind the top tight end.
Low priority — a late-round/undrafted flier: preseason consensus positions Holani as a cheap path into a Seattle backfield with potential passing-down work but no confirmed early-down role. Target only in the final rounds or as a post-draft waiver priority; high upside on receiving snaps but significant workload uncertainty and competition create a low floor.
- 07/13 Low First-team OTA reps and an unsettled Seattle backfield give him free insurance value behind a rookie who still must earn touches.
- 07/12 Low A cheap path into a backfield role and possible early passing-down snaps make him a deep sleeper, but his initial workload is uncertain.
Nabers is a low-priority target, with 13 of 15 sources fading him at a second-to-third-round cost following ACL and meniscus surgery that required a second procedure. A likely PUP start, slow ramp-up with Jaxson Dart, and increased target competition create genuine risk he misses the opening month and falls short of the top-15 finish his ADP assumes. Elite rookie target volume keeps him in play only at a significant discount, pending confirmation of his recovery in camp.
- 07/20 Ignore A likely PUP opening and a gradual return from injury could limit him through the first half of the season, making the current premium auction price too aggressive.
- 07/20 Low A third-round average price assumes a top-15 receiver finish, but his projected output trails several pass catchers available in the same range.
- 07/19 Ignore A complicated ACL recovery creates timing and durability uncertainty for a second-round-priced receiver, even though the offense should funnel targets his way when healthy.
- 07/18 Ignore Recovery from ACL and meniscus injuries has already required another procedure and limited offseason timing with Jaxson Dart. A more balanced offense and uncertain early-season workload create major risk at an early-round cost.
- 07/18 Low Recovery from ACL and meniscus surgery could cost him the opening month and delay a return to full form, while added target competition makes the injury-discounted draft price less attractive.
- 07/18 Low A serious knee injury creates a real possibility that he will miss the start of the season, making him riskier than healthier receivers available at a similar early-round cost.
- 07/17 Ignore A second knee procedure adds material recovery risk, and his falling price still does not fully account for the uncertainty.
- 07/17 Medium Elite talent still offers upside, but a slower knee recovery and missed offseason work make him a discounted value target rather than a safe fantasy WR1.
- 07/17 Ignore A second knee procedure and a slow rehabilitation description compound an already significant injury history, creating too much uncertainty at his cost.
- 07/17 Ignore ACL recovery uncertainty, typical first-year post-reconstruction production decline, and improved target competition make a top-10 receiver cost difficult to return.
- 07/16 High Elite early-career target and production totals create a buy-the-dip opportunity, though a torn ACL that required two surgeries adds meaningful recovery risk.
- 07/16 Low Two knee surgeries make it difficult to assume he will be fully effective even if he returns for Week 1, so his draft cost should remain discounted until training-camp reports confirm his recovery.
- 07/15 Low Recovery from major ACL and meniscus damage required a later cleanup procedure, leaving limited time to regain peak performance or build rapport with a quarterback who has struggled on throws beyond the sticks.
- 07/12 Ignore Multiple knee procedures and a likely slow ramp-up make his early-round receiver cost difficult to justify despite elite talent.
- 07/12 Low Recovery from a torn ACL creates Week 1 availability and performance risk, while added pass-catcher depth could keep his target share below the elite rookie-season level priced into drafts.