Fantasy Steals: Henry & Mahomes Headline ‘Do Draft’ List
Fantasy Football 2026: The Ultimate "Do Draft" Cheat Sheet for Beginners
By Eric Karabell | August 15, 2026
What is this article?
Think of this as your fantasy football shopping list. ESPN expert Eric Karabell shares the players he actually picks on his own teams—whether in practice drafts or the real deal. He explains who to target, when to grab them, and why they’re worth it, all in plain English.
The Big Picture: Two Positions, Two Totally Different Stories
Imagine you’re at a buffet. At the quarterback station, there’s so much good food you can’t go wrong. At the running back station, the best stuff disappears fast—and the leftovers are… questionable.
IMPORTANT: The Golden Rule for 2026
Quarterback is DEEP. Running back is NOT.
- You only need 1 starting QB, but 2–3 starting RBs (thanks to the flex spot).
- There are ~16+ QBs you’d be happy starting.
- There are maybe 10–12 RBs who get enough touches to trust every week.
→ Draft your running backs EARLY. Wait on quarterback.
Running Backs: The "Must-Get-Early" Position
Tier 1: The "Build Your Team Around Them" Guys
| Player | Team | Why He’s Special |
|---|---|---|
| James Cook | Bills | 342 touches → 1,912 yards + 14 TDs last year. Reliable volume. Going early Round 2—worth it. |
| Derrick Henry | Ravens | 8 straight seasons with 10+ TDs. Top-10 RB in 6 of last 7 years. He’s 32 but shows zero decline. |
| Omarion Hampton | Chargers | Rookie sensation with three-down skills. Instant workload. |
Pro Tip: If you leave your draft without at least two of these types, you’ll be scrambling all season.
Tier 2: High-Upside Starters (Rounds 3–5)
| Player | Team | The Scoop |
|---|---|---|
| Josh Jacobs | Packers | Bell-cow back in a great offense. Safe floor. |
| Chase Brown | Bengals | Explosive, catches passes, getting all the work. |
| Javonte Williams | Cowboys | Breakout alert! 1,201 rush yards + 13 TDs in 2025. Dallas offense = volume. Might be a steal in Round 4–5. |
Tier 3: Bargain Bin & Late-Round Gems (Round 6+)
| Player | Team | Why He’s Here |
|---|---|---|
| David Montgomery | Texans | Round 8 price tag. 29 years old, but finally a featured role in Houston. Low cost, solid RB2 upside. |
| Jadarian Price | Seahawks | Rookie bruiser. Kenneth Walker is gone. Seattle isn’t worried. 200+ carries, 10+ TDs very possible. |
| Kenny Gainwell | Buccaneers | Could outscore Bucky Irving. Pass-catching ace. Reach a round early if you want him. |
| J.K. Dobbins | Broncos | Injury history = risk. But if healthy? First 1,000-yard season incoming. RJ Harvey handles 3rd downs. |
| Rachaad White | Commanders | PPR gold mine. 70+ catches projected. Chris Rodriguez Jr. = early-down thumper (10+ TD upside). |
| Alvin Kamara | Saints | Late-round flier. Still catches everything. Vintage games still happen. |
Avoid: RB timeshares in New England, Pittsburgh, Carolina, Minnesota. Too many cooks in those kitchens.
Quarterbacks: The "Wait and See" Position
Remember: The difference between QB1 (Josh Allen) and QB10 (Jared Goff) last year? < 4 points per week. You don’t need to spend a top-50 pick here.
Eric’s Favorite QB Targets (by ADP Value)
| Player | Team | ADP | Why He’s a "Do Draft" Guy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brock Purdy | 49ers | Outside top 100 | QB6 in ’23 (4,280 yds, 31 TDs). Similar pace last year. Steal if he stays healthy. |
| Patrick Mahomes | Chiefs | Mid-round | Knee injury? He’ll play Week 1. Bet on 4,000+ yds / 30 TDs. Never bet against him. |
| Jared Goff | Lions | QB16 (!) | Top-10 QB four years running. 50% rostered. This makes zero sense. Grab him as your QB1 or high-end QB2. |
| Kyler Murray | Vikings | Late | Superflex leagues only. Healthy Murray = rushing + passing upside. |
| Tyler Shough | Saints | Very late | Sophomore with tools. Deep league / superflex dart throw. |
| Malik Willis | Dolphins | Very late | Running ability = fantasy floor. Miami offense can’t be that bad… right? |
Strategy: Draft 2 QBs late (e.g., Goff + Purdy). Stream matchups. Save early picks for RB/WR.
Wide Receivers: Deep, But Know the Difference
Good news: WR is deep. Bad news: Don’t overthink it. Grab your RBs first, then load up here.
"Do Draft" WR Targets
| Player | Team | The Pitch |
|---|---|---|
| Justin Jefferson | Vikings | Doesn’t need elite QB play. Just competent. Kyler Murray = competent. Near 2024 numbers likely. |
| Jordan Addison | Vikings | 70/911/10 as a rookie. ADP below all Jaguars WRs. Bargain. |
| Zay Flowers | Ravens | WR7 in scoring last year. ADP = WR17. Something’s off. Pair with 2 RBs in first 3 rounds = chef’s kiss. |
| Jameson Williams | Lions | Non-PPR lean (75 catches, not 100). But Goff + creative offense + easy schedule = TD explosion candidate. |
| Mike Evans | 49ers | 1,000+ yds / 11 TDs just 2 years ago (in 14 games!). Reliable WR2 floor at a discount. |
| Josh Downs | Colts | Pittman gone → targets galore. 4th-year breakout. Alec Pierce = injury risk. |
| Wan’Dale Robinson | Titans | Slot machine. 80+ catches in PPR even if yards are "empty." Volume = value. |
| Malik Washington | Dolphins | Late-round dart. Someone catches passes in Miami. Could surprise. |
Tight End: Stream or Target These Two
Eric’s philosophy: Build with RB/WR. Don’t reach for TE. But if you wait…
| Player | Team | Why He’s a Target |
|---|---|---|
| Tucker Kraft | Packers | Recovered from ACL. Week 1 ready. GB’s #1 pass catcher. ADP too low—should go near Harold Fannin Jr. |
| Mark Andrews | Ravens | 5× top-5 TE in 7 years. Bad 2025, but Likely is gone. Volume must rise. Top-10 upside. |
| T.J. Hockenson | Vikings | Low ADP. Healthy = TE1. |
| Dalton Kincaid | Bills | Low ADP. Josh Allen’s security blanket. |
| Hunter Henry | Patriots | Low ADP. Reliable veteran. |
Streaming Plan: If your TE struggles early, drop and pick up weekly favorites. The position is replaceable.
Try This: Mock Drafts Are Your Best Friend
Action Item:
Do 3–5 mock drafts before your real one.
- Test "RB-RB-RB" start
- Test "RB-WR-QB"
- Test waiting on TE
See how the roster feels. Adjust. Repeat.
Try ESPN Mock Draft Lobby
Summary: Your 2026 Draft Cheat Code
| Priority | Position | Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| 1⃣ FIRST 3 ROUNDS | RB, RB, RB/WR | Secure two volume RBs (Cook, Henry, Hampton, Jacobs, Brown, Williams). |
| 2⃣ ROUNDS 4–6 | RB/WR/WR | Fill RB3/flex + grab 1–2 WRs (Jefferson, Addison, Flowers, Williams, Evans). |
| 3⃣ ROUNDS 7–10 | QB, WR, RB depth | Draft 2 QBs (Goff, Purdy, Mahomes). Add WR upside (Downs, Robinson). Grab late-RB lotto tickets (Montgomery, Price, Gainwell, Dobbins). |
| 4⃣ ROUNDS 11+ | TE, DST, K, bench | Target Kraft or Andrews. Stream the rest. |
One Sentence Strategy:
"Load up on running backs early, wait on quarterback, sprinkle in wide receiver depth, and don’t overpay for tight end."
FAQ: Your Burning Questions, Answered Simply
1. Why is running back so much more important than quarterback this year?
Because you start 2–3 RBs but only 1 QB—and there simply aren’t enough RBs who get 20+ touches a game. The drop-off after the top 12 is a cliff. At QB, the 12th-best guy is barely worse than the 1st-best per week.
2. Should I really draft two quarterbacks?
Yes! In 1-QB leagues, drafting two mid-round QBs (like Goff + Purdy) lets you play matchups. One might get hurt or slump. It costs you almost nothing in draft capital but gives you a huge safety net.
3. What does "PPR" mean and why does it matter for guys like Rachaad White?
PPR = Points Per Reception. In these leagues, every catch = 1 point. White catches 70+ passes → that’s 70 free points before yards/TDs. In standard (non-PPR) leagues, catches don’t count—so he’s less valuable there.
4. I’m worried about Derrick Henry’s age (32). Should I avoid him?
He’s the exception, not the rule. 8 straight seasons with 10+ TDs. No statistical decline. If he falls to you in Round 2–3, run the card up. Just have a solid RB2 behind him.
5. Can I win my league if I ignore this advice and go "Zero RB" (no RBs early)?
You can—fantasy has variance. But historically, teams with two elite RBs win way more often. "Zero RB" requires hitting on multiple late-round RBs and WRs. It’s harder. This guide = the higher-percentage path.
Final Thought
Fantasy football isn’t about being perfect. It’s about giving yourself the best odds every week.
Draft volume running backs early.
Be patient at quarterback.
Enjoy the wide receiver buffet.
And have fun—that’s the whole point.
Good luck this season!
— Eric Karabell (and your new cheat sheet)
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