Each year, we at ESPN Fantasy endeavor to help with your fantasy football draft prep, including sleepers lists and cheat sheets. Below, you will get the best of both worlds, as ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter offers up his personal list of early-, middle- and late-rounds targets in 2026 fantasy drafts.
Below are some players who are poised to be fantasy standouts this season. Obviously, they aren’t the only ones with a chance to excel, but this is a distinguishing part: These are some of the players who have a real chance to outperform their current average draft position (ADP). If given a choice at certain junctures in the draft, or in tiebreaker situations, these are players who will receive strong consideration.
In this space last season, one of the recommended middle-rounds values was wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and some of the later-rounds values included quarterbacks Drake Maye and Trevor Lawrence, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, and running back Quinshon Judkins.
I am in one 12-team league, in which some of these players will not need to be drafted, and one 16-team league, in which some of them might be more valuable. But again, these players hold strong value relative to their ESPN ADPs and are in a position to have productive seasons.
I hope this list is helpful. Good luck this season.
NOTE: For the purposes of this column, the round ranges listed are based on ADP relative to 10-team leagues: “early” refers to Rounds 1-4, “middle” to Rounds 5-11 and “later” to Rounds 12 or higher.
Quarterback
There’s nothing wrong with drafting a quarterback such as Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson early. But there is so much depth at the position this year that there can be strong values found in the middle-to-late rounds. This is why you’ll see no QBs listed as early-rounds targets below.
Middle rounds
Bo Nix, Broncos (ADP: 86.3): Nix’s ability to rack up fantasy points with his legs as much as his arm is underappreciated.
Caleb Williams, Bears (ADP: 92.2): His talent was on full display last season and, after a year in Ben Johnson’s offense, he should be even more improved.
Justin Herbert, Chargers (ADP: 106.0): Matched with Mike McDaniel as his offensive coordinator, Herbert could be in line for his best NFL season.
Later rounds
Tyler Shough, Saints (ADP: 155.4): He flashed as a rookie last season and is expected to make continued growth in Year 2.
Jordan Love, Packers (ADP: 158.0): Team officials are confident he’s set up to take the next step this season.
Daniel Jones, Colts (ADP: 158.2): Jones was one of the best fantasy QBs last season until he was injured — and now he looks to be healthy.
Running back
A case can be made to draft Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs with the No. 1 pick in fantasy football this season. There is talent sprinkled across the position, including some intriguing late-rounds picks.
Early rounds
Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions (ADP: 1.4): He might be the most dangerous offensive threat in the NFL, one with 38 touchdowns in the past two seasons.
Bijan Robinson, Falcons (ADP: 2.5): Robinson and Gibbs will — and should — be going 1-2 in almost every fantasy football draft.
Chase Brown, Bengals (ADP: 21.9): He is the lead back and a multipurpose threat in one of the highest-scoring offenses in the NFL.
Kenneth Walker III, Chiefs (ADP: 22.3): He has never finished higher than RB18 in a fantasy season, but he seems set to shatter that mark in 2026.
Omarion Hampton, Chargers (ADP: 25.3): When healthy last season, he was highly productive. If he’s healthy this season, he will be again.
Middle rounds
Bhayshul Tuten, Jaguars (ADP: 71.8): The Jaguars loved him coming out of college, and that hasn’t changed heading into his second season.
Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots (ADP: 83.1): Always overlooked, always productive.
Later rounds
Kenny Gainwell, Buccaneers (ADP: 116.5): Bucs have raved about the different skills he brings to the offense.
Blake Corum, Rams (ADP: 135.1): He will share work with Kyren Williams … and be drafted many rounds later.
Jordan Mason, Vikings (ADP: 138.9): The Vikings seem determined to get their run game going, and Mason will benefit.
Chris Rodriguez Jr., Jaguars (ADP: 165.6): Head coach Liam Coen has been a fan of Rodriguez since they worked together at Kentucky.
Jonah Coleman, Broncos (ADP: 169.4): Denver’s backfield is crowded, but some have compared Coleman to Maurice Jones-Drew.
MarShawn Lloyd, Packers (ADP: 170.1): Lloyd has never been healthy at the NFL level but was healthy this summer.
Wide receiver
At a time when the league is passing more than ever, there are receivers in every tier who can help fantasy teams.
Early rounds
Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals (ADP: 4.0): Chase has lofty touchdown goals for the season and the talent to match.
Puka Nacua, Rams (ADP: 5.2): He still has plenty on the line as he heads into the final year of his contract.
Justin Jefferson, Vikings (ADP: 12.1): As talented as any receiver in the league and poised for a bounce-back season.
Chris Olave, Saints (ADP: 31.1): He is expected to be the team’s leading receiver in a high-paced offense.
Middle rounds
DeVonta Smith, Eagles (ADP: 40.4): Minus A.J. Brown, there should be even more targets for the talented and tough Smith.
Ladd McConkey, Chargers (ADP: 50.1): With Mike McDaniel as his offensive coordinator, McConkey could become the focal point of the Chargers’ passing attack.
Luther Burden III, Bears (ADP: 76.2): Head coach Ben Johnson has compared Burden to Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Parker Washington, Jaguars (ADP: 93.3): Washington’s talents shined at the end of last season and again in training camp.
Later rounds
Wan’Dale Robinson, Titans (ADP: 113.4): Former Giants head coach and current Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll fed him the football in New York last season, and now he gets to do the same in Tennessee.
Jordan Addison, Vikings (ADP: 114.1): With Kyler Murray at quarterback, Addison should make many plays downfield.
Josh Downs, Colts (ADP: 136.6): The older brother of Cowboys rookie safety Caleb Downs. This Downs is set to make his own mark.
KC Concepcion, Browns (ADP: 144.1): Even as a rookie, he’s expected to have a prominent role in the Browns’ offense.
Ja’Kobi Lane, Ravens (ADP: 167.7): A third-round pick this past spring, Lane was the star of Baltimore’s training camp.
Caleb Douglas, Dolphins (ADP: 169.4): Everybody struggled to cover him at a recent practice against the Commanders.
Cyrus Allen, Chiefs (ADP: 169.5): One of the most talked about players at Chiefs camp this summer.
Kayshon Boutte, Texans (ADP: 170.7): The talent has always been there, and now he has the opportunity to be the WR2 in Houston.
Pat Bryant, Broncos (ADP: 170.6): Bryant looks ready to shine in his second season.
Ryan Flournoy, Cowboys (ADP: 170.9): CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens aren’t the only Cowboys receivers who will produce this season.
Tre’ Harris, Chargers (ADP: 171.0): Like Bryant, he is poised to make a jump in his second season.
Devaughn Vele, Saints (ADP: 171.5): Showed a connection with Shough last season, and it figures to continue this season.
Tight end
It feels as if this might be the deepest and most talented group of tight ends in a long time. There are great players early and values late.
Early rounds
Brock Bowers, Raiders (ADP: 24.3): It didn’t take long for new head coach Klint Kubiak to identify the top option in his offense.
Middle rounds
Colston Loveland, Bears (ADP: 45.0): Loveland’s targets in the Bears’ final four games last season: 10, 13, 10, 15.
Harold Fannin Jr., Browns (ADP: 75.0): Fannin stood out when he shared time with David Njoku last season, and now Njoku is no longer there.
Tucker Kraft, Packers (ADP: 88.8): He might not be full time until midseason, but even part-time Kraft is a threat.
Later rounds
Isaiah Likely, Giants (ADP: 127.4): Likely followed his head coach to the Giants in free agency so he can be the No. 1 tight end. There’s no Mark Andrews around to block him.
Terrance Ferguson, Rams (ADP: 165.6): Head coach Sean McVay has admired Ferguson’s talents since the team drafted him in Round 2 last year.
AJ Barner, Seahawks (ADP: 169.5): Those around the Seahawks have described Barner as an ascending player.
Gunnar Helm, Titans (ADP: 170.6): Like many in the Titans’ offense, poised to make a jump.
