Fantasy Football Steals: Why You Must Draft Henry & Mahomes Now
Fantasy Football 2026: Your Cheat Sheet for Draft Day Success
Welcome to your ultimate guide for the 2026 fantasy football season! Whether you’re a seasoned pro or drafting for the first time, ESPN’s Eric Karabell breaks down exactly who to target, when to pick them, and—most importantly—why certain positions demand your early attention.
The Golden Rule: Running Backs First, Quarterbacks Later
Imagine you’re building a sandwich. Running backs are the bread and meat—you need them, and there aren’t enough good ones to go around. Quarterbacks are the lettuce—plenty of crisp options available later.
Why This Matters (The Numbers Don’t Lie)
| Position | Top Player | 20th Best Player | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| QB | Josh Allen (364.6 pts) | ~Jared Goff (297 pts) | 67.6 pts (4.2 per week) |
| RB | James Cook (293.6 pts) | RJ Harvey (198 pts) | 95.6 pts (5.6 per week) |
| RB | James Cook | Kyle Monangai (30th, 138 pts) | 155.5 pts (9.1 per week) |
KEY TAKEAWAy: The drop-off at running back is massive. At quarterback? Barely a hill. Draft 2–3 running backs in your first 4–5 rounds. Wait on quarterback.
Running Backs: The "Must-Have" List
Round 1–2: The Elite Anchors
These guys get the ball a lot (volume) and score touchdowns. Lock them in early.
| Player | Team | Why He’s Special |
|---|---|---|
| James Cook | Bills | 342 touches, 1,912 yards, 14 TDs last year. Reliable as sunrise. |
| Derrick Henry | Ravens | 32 years young. 8 straight seasons with 10+ TDs. Top-10 RB in 6 of 7 years. |
| Omarion Hampton | Chargers | Rookie sensation. Gets goal-line work and catches passes. |
| Josh Jacobs | Packers | New team, same workload. Proven bell-cow. |
| Chase Brown | Bengals | Emerging star. Dual-threat (rush + catch). |
Rounds 3–5: High-Upside Starters
| Player | Team | The Pitch |
|---|---|---|
| Javonte Williams | Cowboys | 1,201 rush yards, 13 TDs in ’25. Dallas offense = volume. Might be a Round 5 steal. |
| J.K. Dobbins | Broncos | Injury history, but if healthy? 1,000-yard upside. Harvey handles 3rd downs. |
Rounds 6–8: Smart Value Picks
| Player | Team | Why He’s a Bargain |
|---|---|---|
| David Montgomery | Texans | Round 8! 29 years old, new conference, but rushing TDs are money. |
| Rachaad White | Commanders | 70+ catches = PPR gold. Flex starter weekly. |
| Alvin Kamara | Saints | Late-round flier. Still catches everything. |
Late-Round Lottery Tickets (Rounds 9+)
- Jadarian Price (Seahawks, Rookie) — Bruiser, 200+ carries, double-digit TD upside.
- Kenny Gainwell (Buccaneers) — Could steal snaps from Bucky Irving.
- Chris Rodriguez Jr. (Jaguars) — Early-down grinder, 10+ TD potential.
Quarterbacks: Wait, Wait, Then Pounce
Rule of Thumb: In a 12-team league, 12 QBs start each week. There are 20+ viable options. Don’t reach.
The "Steal of the Draft" Tier (Rounds 8–10+)
| Player | Team | ADP | Why He’s a Bargain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brock Purdy | 49ers | Outside Top 100 | QB6 in ’23 (4,280 yds, 31 TDs). Similar pace last year. Borderline QB1 at QB2 price. |
| Jared Goff | Lions | QB16 | Top-10 fantasy QB 4 years running. 50% rostered. Consistency king. |
| Patrick Mahomes | Chiefs | QB3–5 | Knee scare, but playing Week 1. Bet over 4,000 yds / 30 TDs. Never bet against 15. |
Superflex / Deep League Flyers
- Kyler Murray (Vikings) — Legs + arm = high ceiling.
- Tyler Shough (Saints) — Rookie with tools.
- Malik Willis (Dolphins) — Running threat. Miami won’t be that bad.
Wide Receivers: Depth Exists, But Target These
PPR = Points Per Reception (1 pt per catch). Non-PPR = Only yards/TDs matter. Know your league settings!
Round 1–2: The No-Brainers
| Player | Team | Outlook |
|---|---|---|
| Justin Jefferson | Vikings | Needs competent QB play. Kyler Murray > competent. Near ’24 numbers likely. |
| Zay Flowers | Ravens | WR7 scoring, WR17 ADP. Lamar Jackson throws to him now. |
| Jameson Williams | Lions | 75 catches, TD upside. Detroit’s schedule = candy. WR1 ceiling. |
Round 3–5: High-Upside Value
| Player | Team | The Case |
|---|---|---|
| Jordan Addison | Vikings | 70/911/10 as rookie. ADP below Jags WRs fighting for scraps. Steal. |
| Mike Evans | 49ers | 1,000+ yds, 11 TDs two years ago (14 games). Reliable WR2 floor. |
| Josh Downs | Colts | Pittman gone. Downs = target monster. 4th-year breakout alert. |
Late-Round PPR Specials
- Wan’Dale Robinson (Titans) — Slot machine. 80+ catches = PPR floor.
- Malik Washington (Dolphins) — Someone catches balls in Miami. Why not him?
Tight End: Stream or Target These Two
Streaming = Picking up a new TE each week off waivers based on matchup. Works because TE is volatile.
The "Draft One, Sleep Easy" Guys
| Player | Team | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Tucker Kraft | Packers | ACL recovery on track. Top receiving option in Green Bay. ADP too low. |
| Mark Andrews | Ravens | 5 top-5 finishes in 7 years. Bad ’25, but volume must return. Top-10 upside. |
Late-Round Flyers (Stream if They Struggle Early)
- T.J. Hockenson (Vikings)
- Dalton Kincaid (Bills)
- Hunter Henry (Patriots)
Draft Strategy Cheat Sheet (Numbered Steps)
- Rounds 1–3: Grab two running backs. Ideally Cook/Henry/Hampton + one more.
- Round 3–4: Best available WR (Jefferson, Flowers, Williams, Addison).
- Round 4–5: Third RB (Williams, Dobbins, Jacobs, Brown) or elite TE (Kraft/Andrews).
- Rounds 6–8: WR2/WR3 (Downs, Evans, Robinson) + QB (Purdy, Goff, Mahomes).
- Rounds 9+: Fill flex, defense, kicker. Shoot upside on rookies (Price, Shough, Willis).
- Throughout: Mock draft! Try strategies. See how it feels. ESPN Mock Draft Lobby
Important Reminders (Callout Box)
DON’T:
- Draft a QB in Round 1–3 (unless superflex).
- Ignore bye weeks (but don’t obsess).
- Panic if your guy gets picked 1 spot before you.
DO:
- Know your league settings (PPR? 1QB/2RB/3WR/TE? Superflex?).
- Target volume (touches + targets).
- Have a Plan B (and C) for every pick.
- Enjoy the process! Draft day is the best day.
Summary: Your 2026 Draft Blueprint
| Priority | Position | Target Range | Key Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1A | RB | Rounds 1–2 | Cook, Henry, Hampton |
| 1B | RB | Rounds 3–4 | Jacobs, Brown, Williams, Dobbins |
| 2 | WR | Rounds 1–3 | Jefferson, Flowers, Williams, Addison |
| 3 | WR | Rounds 4–6 | Downs, Evans, Robinson, Washington |
| 4 | TE | Rounds 5–7 | Kraft, Andrews |
| 5 | QB | Rounds 8–10+ | Purdy, Goff, Mahomes |
| 6 | Bench/Upside | Rounds 9+ | Montgomery, Price, Gainwell, White, Kamara, Murray, Shough, Willis |
Bottom Line: Running back scarcity is real. Quarterback depth is fake news (it’s very real). Build your foundation at RB, sprinkle in WRs, wait on QB/TE, and have fun.
FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered
1. "What does ADP mean?"
Average Draft Position — where a player is typically picked across thousands of drafts. If Cook’s ADP is 8.5, he goes mid-Round 1 in 12-team leagues. Use it as a guide, not gospel.
2. "PPR vs. Non-PPR — how does it change things?"
- PPR: Reward catches. Target pass-catching RBs (White, Kamara, Cook) and slot WRs (Robinson, Downs).
- Non-PPR: Only yards/TDs matter. Prioritize deep threats (Williams, Evans) and goal-line RBs (Henry, Montgomery).
3. "Should I draft a defense or kicker early?"
Never. Stream them weekly based on matchups. Last 2 rounds only.
4. "What’s ‘superflex’?"
A league where you can start a QB in your flex spot. This makes QBs much more valuable. In superflex: draft 2 QBs by Round 6.
5. "How many running backs should I roster?"
At least 4, ideally 5. Injuries happen. Bye weeks happen. You’ll need 2–3 starters weekly + flex. Depth wins championships.
Final Word from Eric: "Try out some mock drafts and see how you feel!" — The best prep is practice. See you in the winner’s circle!
Article based on Eric Karabell’s "Do Draft" column (ESPN, Aug 15, 2026). All player analysis and strategy preserved. Formatted for clarity and beginner accessibility.