Now that the NFL Draft is in the books, we’re entering the quiet part of the offseason. No more rookie landing spot debates. No more free agency chaos. No meaningful football until training camps and preseason games. That means it’s officially fantasy football mock draft season. Let’s take a look at my recent mock draft from the No. 1 spot.
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Fantasy Football Mock Draft
1.01: Ja’Marr Chase (WR – CIN)
Not overthinking this one. As long as the Joe Burrow–Ja’Marr Chase connection is intact, Chase has to be considered the top pick in PPR formats. You can also make the case for Bijan Robinson here.
2.12: Saquon Barkley (RB – PHI)
At the round two/round three turn, I knew I wanted to grab my RB1 and another strong receiver. Landing Saquon Barkley at pick 2.12 was ideal.
3.01: Garrett Wilson (WR – NYJ)
Don’t sleep on Garrett Wilson in 2026. In the seven games he played before his injury, he finished as a top-15 fantasy receiver four times — and that was with horrific quarterback play.
Geno Smith returning to the Jets is not Tom Brady walking through the door, but it is a major upgrade over Justin Fields.
4.12: Kyren Williams (RB – LAR)
Added another workhorse to my running back room with this pick. Kyren Williams was the RB10 in fantasy points per game last season, marking his third straight year finishing inside the top 15.
Blake Corum did eat into his playing time a bit, but Williams still held onto the valuable red-zone role. That matters a lot in fantasy.
5.01: Tucker Kraft (TE – GB)
This pick comes with risk, as Tucker Kraft is recovering from an ACL injury. There’s a chance he is back by Week 1. If not, we should see him within the first month of the season.
When healthy, Kraft could be a major steal. He finished as the TE1 twice and inside the top 10 in five of the eight weeks he played.
6.12: David Montgomery (RB – HOU)
David Montgomery should enter 2026 as the lead back in Houston. Yes, Woody Marks is there and will get work, but Houston didn’t trade for Montgomery to have him sit on the bench.
Even in a down year with Detroit, Montgomery still bested Marks in explosive run rate, missed tackle rate, rushing success rate, yards after contact and yards per route run. That is a strong RB3 profile.
7.01: Carnell Tate (WR – TEN)
My favorite rookie receiver landed in an ideal fantasy spot. Carnell Tate should see volume right away and has a real chance to become Cam Ward‘s go-to target early in the season.
Wan’Dale Robinson and Calvin Ridley are also in Tennessee, but neither should usurp Tate for the No. 1 WR role.
8.12: Dak Prescott (QB – DAL)
Dak Prescott was by far the best quarterback on the board. He continues to be a reliable fantasy option year after year.
After the Cowboys’ Week 10 bye, Prescott finished as a top-12 fantasy quarterback in six of his final eight games, averaging just under 22 fantasy points per game. That is excellent value in round eight.
9.01: Sam LaPorta (TE – DET)
An injury derailed Sam LaPorta‘s 2025 season, but I’m betting on the talent. We already saw the upside during his rookie season when he took the league by storm with 889 yards and 10 touchdowns.
As a backup tight end with bounce-back potential, I had no problem taking the shot on LaPorta’s upside this late.
10.12: Tyler Allgeier (RB – ARI)
Drafting Jeremiyah Love may hurt Tyler Allgeier‘s stock, but I still think Arizona has plans for the former Falcon. Love was drafted fourth overall, so he’s obviously the future, but Allgeier still makes sense as a late-round handcuff.
If Love struggles early or misses time, Allgeier could step into a valuable role.
11.01: Jayden Higgins (WR – HOU)
Jayden Higgins is in line for a potential breakout. Stefon Diggs and Christian Kirk are gone, and we still don’t know what to expect from Tank Dell.
As of now, Higgins looks like the clear No. 2 WR in Houston. At this point in the draft, I’m betting on upside.
12.12: Denzel Boston (WR – CLE)
I know taking Cleveland offensive players can be a tough pill to swallow, but this offense got a major makeover. The offensive line improved, Todd Monken is now the head coach and this system should be more aggressive in pushing the ball downfield.
Denzel Boston is a great fit. He is tall, physical and has excellent ball skills — exactly what this Browns offense needs, whether it’s Shedeur Sanders or Deshaun Watson under center. This is another high-upside pick.
13.01: Dylan Sampson (RB – CLE)
Back-to-back Browns players aren’t ideal, but Dylan Sampson has value in PPR formats. He was a more effective pass-catching option than Quinshon Judkins, and Judkins is coming off an injury.
That could open the door for Sampson to see extra playing time early, especially on passing downs.
14.12: Kyler Murray (QB – MIN)
Kyler Murray was horrendous last season, but now he gets a fresh start under quarterback whisperer Kevin O’Connell. O’Connell helped revive Sam Darnold‘s career, and there’s a chance he can do the same for Murray.
If they figure it out, Murray could have a massive year with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings catching passes from him.
15.01: Brandon Aubrey (K – DAL)
I try to leave every draft with Brandon Aubrey, even if that means taking a kicker a round earlier than everyone else. Aubrey scored 15+ points in eight weeks last season and 18+ points five times.
That is the same number of 18+ point weeks as Jordan Love. I’ll take that kind of production from a kicker every time.
16.12: Pittsburgh Steelers D/ST
At this point, I’m taking the best available defense. Ideally, I want a D/ST with strong matchups in the first couple of weeks of the season, and Pittsburgh fits that mold.
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