Josh Shepardson | Wed, Feb 25th 2026, 7:13am EST

Best Ball Draft Targets (2026 Fantasy Football)

Underdog best ball drafts for the 2026 fantasy football season opened earlier this month, and I already have 24 drafts under my belt. I’ve maxed The Little Board, a 20-max contest with a $3 entry. I’ve also picked four teams in The Big Board, a $10 contest with a max of 150 entries. The following players are on 17% or more of my rosters.

Most-Rostered Best Ball Players: Feb 2026 (Fantasy Football)

Quarterbacks

Josh Allen finished as the QB1 in fantasy points per game (24.2) in 2023, the QB2 in fantasy points per game (22.6) in 2024 and the QB1 in fantasy points per game (22) in 2025. If you eliminate Week 18 in 2024 and 2025, when Allen took the game’s opening snaps to extend his start streak before watching the rest of those games from the sideline, he scored 24.1 points per game in 2024 and 23.4 points per game in 2025.

Allen’s dual-threat ability gives him a high floor and high ceiling, and it doesn’t appear the tush push will go anywhere.

I don’t love the players around Allen’s average draft position (ADP), and I’m admittedly a Bills fan, making him an easy click. However, there are also non-fandom reasons for picking Allen around his ADP. His top incumbent stacking options have an ADP outside of the top 100, and gamers who speculate on some of the free agent wideouts, incoming rookies or possible trade candidates could end up with unique stacks with Allen if those speculative players end up in Buffalo.

My preferred roster construction features three quarterbacks, six to eight running backs, six to eight wide receivers and three tight ends. However, drafting Allen makes picking only one more quarterback, namely if they’re picked significantly earlier than their ADPs, easier to stomach.

J.J. McCarthy can’t be trusted as a QB2 on two-quarterback rosters. He’ll almost certainly face veteran competition for Minnesota’s starting quarterback gig. Nonetheless, last season was his first getting game action after missing his entire rookie season with a knee injury, and he played his best football at the end of the campaign.

McCarthy earned his two highest Pro Football Focus (PFF) passing grades in his final four games. Moreover, among 34 quarterbacks with at least 60 dropbacks from Week 14 through Week 18, McCarthy was 18th in PFF’s passing grade (72.3), second in big-time throw rate (8.9% BTT%) and tied for 13th in turnover-worthy play rate (2.8% TWP%).

McCarthy was also a contributor on the ground. According to Pro-Football-Reference, McCarthy averaged 18.1 rushing yards per game and scored four rushing touchdowns. He must clean up his sacks to stay healthy and avoid riding the pine, but McCarthy’s an intriguing QB3 in best ball and has a dirt-cheap ADP.

Trevor Lawrence flourished in his first season in Liam Coen’s offense. He scored over 20 fantasy points only twice before Jacksonville’s Week 8 bye. However, Lawrence was the QB1 in fantasy points per game (23.3) from Week 9 through Week 18, clearing 20 fantasy points per game in seven out of 10 contests. Lawrence also has a variety of stacking options with him.

Justin Herbert lost one of his starting tackles, Rashawn Slater, before the season even began. His other starting tackle, Joe Alt, had a snap share above 90% in only four games last season. According to the Fantasy Points data suite, Herbert recorded the following stats in the four games — Week 1 through Week 3 and Week 8 —that Alt was healthy enough to surpass a 90% snap share:

160 dropbacks
133 pass attempts
90 completions
67.7% completion rate
76.2% adjusted completion rate
1,087 passing yards (271.8 per game)
8.17 yards per pass attempt
7.67 adjusted net yards per pass attempt
9.2-yard average depth of target (aDOT)
9 passing touchdowns
2 interceptions
12 sacks (7.5% sack rate)
25 rush attempts (6.3 per game)
131 rushing yards (32.8 per game)
22.4 fantasy points per game

If Herbert averaged 22.4 fantasy points per game for the entire 2025 season, he would have finished as the QB1. Getting Slater and Alt back should do wonders for Herbert’s fantasy value. I intend to increase my exposure to him as I draft more pre-NFL Draft best ball squads.

Joe Burrow‘s exposure is largely tied to my exposure to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. He’s an excellent selection near his ADP with either or both of his superstar wide receivers.

Running Backs

I’ve written about many of the backs featured on the table throughout the offseason. I recently highlighted Mike Washington and Nicholas Singleton as undervalued rookies to target. I called Kenneth Walker III and Keaton Mitchell breakout candidates in late January, and Walker culminated his dominant postseason run by capturing the Super Bowl MVP Award.

I gushed about Jaylen Warren and Bhayshul Tuten as must-have running backs. I tabbed the Chiefs as an ideal landing spot for Kenneth Gainwell and sang the praises of Gainwell’s receiving chops and his career year on the ground for the Steelers in 2025.

James Cook and Derrick Henry are two high-profile names I’m often selecting. Cook won the NFL’s rushing crown with 1,621 rushing yards (95.4 yards per game) in 2025, with King Henry nipping at his heels (1,595 yards; 93.8 yards per game). They remain in place as the lead backs for the Bills and Ravens, respectively.

Cam Skattebo dazzled before suffering a grizzly season-ending right-ankle dislocation and further damage in Week 8. Still, he was the RB10 in half-PPR points per game (14.5), with a workhorse skill set if he can return to pre-injury form.

Rachaad White‘s 163.4 ADP in Underdog drafts makes him the RB51, which is a screaming value. He’s exceeded 750 scrimmage yards and logged at least 40 receptions in all four seasons in the NFL. White’s a weapon in the passing attack, which will almost certainly lead to at least a passing-down role for his future employer.

However, White also proved his durability, tallying 272 rush attempts as part of 336 touches in 2023. He’s also missed only one game in his career. It’s unlikely someone will sign White to be a bell-cow back, but he’s proven capable of handling the load. Again, his receiving chops elevate his floor and should at least make him a rock-solid pick at his ADP, with the upside for more, depending on his landing spot.

Tony Pollard got off to a slow start in Tennessee’s putrid offense, but his overall rushing production was decent after finishing with a flurry. According to the Fantasy Points data suite, among 60 running backs with at least 60 rush attempts in the regular season, Pollard ranked:

15th in rushing yards per game (63.6)
24th in yards per carry (4.47, his most since 2022)
23rd in yards before contact per attempt (2.17)
Tied for 26th in yards after contact per attempt (2.31)
Tied for 27th in explosive run rate (4.1%)
24th in expected half-PPR points per game (11.9)

The Titans could cut Pollard, which could lead to landing in a better offense. Yet, per Over the Cap, the Titans are first in effective cap space. Tennessee doesn’t need to cut Pollard. They need as many viable weapons in their offense as they can get, and after Pollard’s impressive finish to 2025, Brian Daboll might prefer to maintain him.

Wide Receivers

Khalil Shakir doesn’t have league-winning upside or anything resembling it. He’s a stacking partner of Josh Allen, though. Shakir has led the Bills in receptions and receiving yards in consecutive seasons.

Shakir was tied for the WR39 in half-PPR points per game (9.6) among wideouts who played more than eight games in 2024 and tied for the WR43 in half-PPR points per game (8.2) among those who played more than eight games in 2025.

Shakir is just the WR52 in ADP, and his low average depth of target (aDOT) resulted in a 76% catch rate in 2024 and a 75.8% catch rate in 2025. Shakir is a nifty glue guy whose greatest contribution to Underdog teams is offsetting the bust weeks of boom-or-bust, volatile wide receivers.

Not much went right for the Commanders in 2025. Terry McLaurin was sharp when he was healthy, though. Among 109 wide receivers with at least 200 routes in the regular season last year, McLaurin ranked:

Tied for 13th in air yards share (37.2%)
27th in target share (20.7%)
Tied for 23rd in targets per route run (0.24 TPRR)
27th in first-read rate (25.8%)
24th in receiving yards per game (58.2)
13th in yards per route run (2.38 YPRR)

McLaurin is Washington’s No. 1 wide receiver, and picking him is a bet on McLaurin being healthier in 2026 — he didn’t miss any games from 2021-2024 — and Washington’s offense recapturing at least some of its 2024 magic, when it finished 10th in yards per play (5.7) and fifth in scoring offense (28.5 points per game).

Denzel Boston (106.3 ADP) and KC Concepcion (125.7 ADP) are the cheapest of the expected first-round picks at wide receiver, per Grinding the Mocks. They could be best positioned to join quality teams picking at the end of the first round, and their ADPs will likely surge in best ball drafts after the NFL Draft if they’re picked in the first round.

Makai Lemon is the only one of the trio of him, Carnell Tate and Jordyn Tyson among my most-rostered wideouts. Still, I don’t have any strong leanings in his direction relative to the other two wideouts with potential early first-round capital. They’re all reasonably priced, and I’ll likely get more shares of Tate and Tyson in future drafts.

The NFL Mock Draft Database has a helpful consensus big board page, and Zachariah Branch (49th), Chris Bell (51st) and Elijah Sarratt (55th) all have top-60 rankings.

Bell is a unique player. According to PFF, among 94 FBS wideouts with at least 60 targets in 2025 in this year’s draft class, Bell was ninth in their receiving grade (83.3), tied for 12th in yards per route run (2.55) and had an 85.3% wide alignment, meaning he wasn’t getting many easier assignments from the slot.

Unfortunately, Bell suffered a torn ACL on November 22nd and had surgery in December. Bell could have been in the mix for the late first round if not for the injury. The big-bodied incoming rookie shouldn’t be drafted with early-season expectations in mind, but his ADP of 233.9 makes him a viable 20th-round pick with late-season potential.

Parker Washington became Jacksonville’s No. 1 wide receiver last season. His emergence, plus the acquisition of and extension awarded to Jakobi Meyers, has allowed the club to move forward with using Travis Hunter as a starter at cornerback. In 10 games after Jacksonville’s Week 8 bye, Washington rattled off the following stats:

75.1% route participation rate
31.5% air yards share
12.8-yard aDOT
22.1% target share
0.25 TPRR
26.3% first-read rate
67 targets (6.7 per game)
48 receptions (4.8 per game)
747 receiving yards (74.7 per game)
2.82 YPRR
5 receiving touchdowns
6 end-zone targets
4 receiving touchdowns on end-zone targets
12.8 half-PPR points per game
13.5 expected half-PPR points per game

Washington balled out, and his 72.9 ADP (WR36) isn’t reflective of how good he was to close out last season. He was even cheaper when I began drafting earlier this month.

Michael Wilson broke out last season. Even without cherry-picking his data after Kyler Murray was injured and benched, his numbers were rock-solid. Among 109 wide receivers with at least 200 routes in the regular season in 2025, Wilson ranked:

29th in air yards share (33%)
33rd in target share (19.1%)
26th in first-read rate (26.1%)
Tied for 44th in yards per route run (1.67)
Tied for 13th in receptions (78)
22nd in receiving yards per game (59.2)
Tied for 11th in receiving touchdowns (seven)
Tied for 23rd in end-zone targets (nine)
40th in first downs per route run (0.085)

I’m buying Wilson’s breakout.

The Raiders need help at wide receiver, and I’m not on an island connecting the dots of Rashid Shaheed potentially joining Klint Kubiak in Las Vegas. Even if Shaheed lands elsewhere, he’s showcased the ability to pile up yardage efficiently and take the top off defenses, albeit with underwhelming receiving contributions for the Seahawks after they traded for him last season.

Don’t let recency bias erase the memory of Shaheed’s 0.19 TPRR and 2.78 YPRR on 175 routes as a rookie in 2022 or his 0.25 TPRR and 2.17 YPRR on 161 routes in six games in 2024.

Jalen Coker is an ascending talent, bypassing 2024 first-round pick Xavier Legette on the depth chart. Coker started last season on injured reserve (IR), and he had fewer than 40 receiving yards in his first four games after being activated from IR. In his final eight games, Coker had the following numbers.

80% route participation rate
28.9% air yards share
10.6-yard aDOT
17.3% target share
0.19 TPRR
24.1% first-read rate
43 targets (5.4 per game)
35 receptions (4.4 per game)
462 receiving yards (57.8 per game)
2.03 YPRR
4 receiving touchdowns
3 end-zone targets
2 receiving touchdowns on end-zone targets
11.1 half-PPR points per game
10.1 expected half-PPR points per game

Coker is an exciting selection at his 117.8 ADP (WR53).

Tight Ends

Among 53 tight ends with at least 150 routes in the regular season and playoffs last year, Dalton Kincaid ranked:

8th in air yards share (18.2%)
1st in targets per route run (0.27)
1st in yards per route run (3.04)
1st in first downs per route run (0.147)
Tied for sixth in receiving touchdowns (seven)
1st in half-PPR points per route run (0.60)
1st in expected half-PPR points per route run (0.46)

Kincaid had a third-year breakout, and his efficiency was off the charts. Unfortunately, he was only the TE8 in half-PPR points per game (9.6) because he was 35th in route participation rate (45.7%).

Did Joe Brady limit Kincaid’s route participation rate because of his shortcomings as a blocker, his preference to mix in Dawson Knox and Jackson Hawes or because Kincaid was managing a PCL injury in his knee most of the season? It’s probably some mix of all of those factors.

Kincaid opted for rest and rehab instead of surgery for his knee issue after the 2024 season, and he’s taking the same route this offseason, which is somewhat scary. At the same time, I’m not a doctor.

If Kincaid was advised to rest and rehab it again, he could see a natural surge in route participation by staying healthier this year. Either way, he’s an affordable stacking option with Josh Allen and an enticing upside swing at tight end after the 100th pick in Underdog drafts.

Travis Kelce was buried in the Underdog rankings when the contests first opened for 2026. Gamers were concerned about him retiring. I wasn’t as concerned as my competition, and Kelce’s ADP has significantly climbed as drafters feel more comfortable with him returning in 2026.

Kelce expressed excitement about the Chiefs bringing back Eric Bieniemy as their offensive coordinator. Andy Reid said he’s communicated with Kelce. The veteran tight end could still hang up his cleats, but reading the tea leaves suggests he’ll be back in 2026.

Kelce isn’t the stud he once was, but he was still useful in fantasy football. In Patrick Mahomes‘ 15 starts last year, Kelce was the TE6 in half-PPR points per game (10.4). Rashee Rice is once again in the news for disgusting reasons. His ex-girlfriend filed a lawsuit in Texas alleging Rice repeatedly assaulted her from 2023 to 2025.

Kansas City already needs more talent at wide receiver, and a suspension for Rice could open up more opportunities for Kelce if the veteran tight end keeps playing.

Trey McBride and Brock Bowers are studs. They both have second-round ADPs. I love grabbing one of McBride, Bowers or Allen at quarterback, and I have paired Bowers with Allen twice. Getting at least one stud at one of the onesie positions creates flexibility for roster structure later in drafts.

Terrance Ferguson has some Kincaid to his game. He had only a 35.1% route participation rate as a rookie because he was in a crowded tight end room with Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen. Higbee is a free agent, and Parkinson is a candidate for a cut or restructuring.

Still, Sean McVay regularly used multiple tight ends, and removing Higbee from the mix could be massively beneficial for Ferguson’s route participation rate in his sophomore campaign. Ferguson’s 17.9-yard aDOT was 8.1 yards deeper than the second-highest mark among 53 tight ends with at least 150 routes in the regular season and playoffs last year.

Ferguson is a field-stretcher but also has red-zone prowess. Ferguson had only 31 targets in 15 games, and eight (25.8%) were in the end zone. Ferguson scored three touchdowns. He was tied for 18th among 53 tight ends with at least 150 routes in expected half-PPR points per route run (0.37). Ferguson is a breakout candidate in 2026.

The Ravens extended Mark Andrews during the 2025 season, and Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar are both set to hit free agency. No one will confuse Andrews for an asset as a blocker.

However, Andrews can benefit from running more routes if another organization prys Likely away from the Ravens in free agency. Andrews had a 62.9% route participation rate in 2025, and ticking that up into the 75% range could make him more than a touchdown-or-bust option. Additionally, Andrews has sneaky value as Baltimore’s tush-push player.

Eli Stowers might be a climber after the NFL Scouting Combine. He was 15th on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List this year. Feldman pointed out that Stowers tallied an 11’3″ broad jump, a 39-inch vertical and he reached a top speed of 21.43 miles per hour (mph).

Stowers could generate a massive relative athletic score (RAS). Moreover, among 34 FBS tight ends in this year’s draft class with at least 40 targets in 2025, Stowers was third in PFF’s receiving grade (85.3), tied for second in targets (85), second in receptions (62), first in receiving yards (769), first in yards per route run (2.55) and tied for ninth in receiving touchdowns (four).

Jonnu Smith is a cut candidate. According to Over the Cap, the Steelers can save $7 million with a $3.9 million dead cap hit if they cut him before June 1st. Smith was Pittsburgh’s least productive tight end after Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington.

Freiermuth paced Steelers tight ends in route participation rate (51.1%), air yards share (11.6%), target share (9.6%), receptions (42; 2.3 per game), receiving yards (504; 28 per game), receiving touchdowns (four) and end-zone targets (four).

Smith had a 44.6% route participation rate, and Washington had a 33.5% route participation rate. Freiermuth and Washington will likely both move up in Underdog ADP if Smith is cut. Unless the Steelers want Smith to stick around and he agrees to take a pay cut, it would be shocking if they didn’t take advantage of the cap savings by dumping him.

Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.

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