When preparing for your fantasy football drafts, knowing which players to target and which to avoid is important. The amount of information available can be overwhelming, so a great way to condense the data and determine players to draft and others to leave for your leaguemates is to use our expert consensus fantasy football rankings compared to fantasy football average draft position (ADP). In this way, you can identify players the experts are willing to reach for at ADP and others they are not drafting until much later than average. Let’s dive into a few notable fantasy football players experts love to draft.
- 2026 Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Fantasy Football Dynasty Rankings
- Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer
- Best Fantasy Football Rankings
2026 Fantasy Football Draft Advice: Players Experts Love
Let’s look at a few player our expert consensus has ranked well above their current ADP.
Michael Pittman Jr. (PIT) — WR39, Overall RK90 | ECR vs. ADP: +13
Michael Pittman Jr. quietly remained productive in 2025 despite losing ground to Alec Pierce in the Colts offense and dealing with declining efficiency. Now in Pittsburgh, Pittman projects as a reliable possession receiver who could quickly become Aaron Rodgers‘ preferred underneath target. His fantasy ceiling may be limited compared to DK Metcalf‘s splash-play upside, but Pittman’s volume and red-zone involvement should keep him firmly in the WR3 mix in a pass-happier offense led by HC MIke McCarthy. If the Steelers lean heavily on quick-game concepts, Pittman could easily lead the team in receptions/targets.
– Andrew Erickson
Josh Downs (IND) — WR42, Overall RK97 | ECR vs. ADP: +20
Josh Downs is good. PFF’s 20th-highest graded WR in 2025. And for the second straight year…the Colts slot WR was hyper-targeted at a 24% clip. That led all Colts WRs and TEs in 2025. And he creates separation. Per Fantasy Points Data…Downs ranked 20th in average separation score. Downs has been limited because of a lack of high-end route participation, but a late-season route bump could suggest more of Downs in a full-time role in 2026….after the team traded Michael Pittman Jr. to the Steelers.
– Andrew Erickson
Wan’Dale Robinson (TEN) — WR44, Overall RK101 | ECR vs. ADP: +13
Wan’Dale Robinson quietly delivered a breakout campaign in 2025, finishing as a top-20 WR in points per game while cementing himself as one of the most underrated volume earners. The former Giant expanded beyond his underneath role, seeing more downfield usage while surpassing 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in his career. Now reunited with Brian Daboll in Tennessee, Robinson profiles as a natural fit alongside young QB Cam Ward thanks to his separation skills and reliability underneath. His massive target-earning profile gives him sneaky upside, especially in full-PPR formats where volume is king.
– Andrew Erickson
Jayden Higgins (HOU) — WR49, Overall RK124 | ECR vs. ADP: +32
We should always be looking to take swings on talented second-year wide receivers for fantasy football, and Jayden Higgins fits the bill as a possible late-round breakout candidate for 2026. Last year, in Weeks 8-18, Higgins had seven finishes as a WR3 or better in weekly scoring. During that stretch, Higgins, among 119 qualifying receivers, also ranked 24th in target per route run rate (24%) and 38th in first downs per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). During those 11 games, among the same group of 119 receivers, Higgins was also 28th in yards per route run and 25th in route win rate as a perimeter receiver. If C.J. Stroud can at least be a league-average passer in 2026, Higgins could be a weekly WR2/3 or flex option. He also has contingent upside if Nico Collins misses any time.
– Derek Brown
Tyler Shough (NO) — QB20, Overall RK125 | ECR vs. ADP: +16
Second-round draft pick Tyler Shough was a pleasant surprise for New Orleans as a rookie. He now enters the 2026 season as the Saints’ undisputed starter, with an opportunity to prove that he can be the team’s long-term answer at quarterback. Spencer Rattler started the Saints’ first eight games in 2025, but Shough took over as the starter in Week 9 and guided the team to a 5-4 record down the stretch. Shough was QB12 in fantasy points per game from Week 9 through the end of the regular season, and he produced at least 17.1 fantasy points in each of his last six starts. The 26-year-old Shough completed 67.6% of his throws, averaged 7.3 yards per pass attempt, and had 10 TD passes and six interceptions. He also averaged 16.9 rushing yards per game and had three TD runs. It should be noted that only one of the teams Shough faced in his nine starts last season, the Rams, ranked inside the top 10 in DVOA against the pass. Still, it was an impressive half-season for Shough, and the Saints should have an easy schedule again in 2026. The Saints feathered Shough’s nest in this year’s NFL Draft by drafting WR Jordyn Tyson No. 8 overall. With Tyson and veteran Chris Olave, Shough has more than adequate pass-catching weaponry.
– Pat Fitzmaurice
Tyrone Tracy Jr. (NYG) — RB42, Overall RK126 | ECR vs. ADP: +12
Tyrone Tracy slots in as a strong handcuff this season. If Cam Skattebo is fully healthy, I expect him to lead New York’s backfield, but if he can’t stay healthy in 2026 (very possible), Tracy could be a plug-and-play RB2. Last year, Tracy had another nice run as the Giants’ starting back. In Weeks 10-18, he was the RB14 in fantasy points per game, averaging 18.7 touches and 95.5 total yards. Overall, among 49 qualifying backs, he ranked 27th in explosive run rate and 31st in yards after contact per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). If Skattebo misses any games, you’ll be glad you drafted Tracy.
– Derek Brown
Chris Rodriguez Jr. (JAC) — RB43, Overall RK127 | ECR vs. ADP: +30
Chris Rodriguez reunited with Liam Coen this offseason as he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Rodriguez and Coen spent time together during Coen’s one-year tenure as Kentucky’s offensive coordinator during the 2021 collegiate season. In that season, Rodriguez ran for 1,379 yards with 6.1 yards per carry and 12 total touchdowns. Rodriguez will look to build upon his brief run as Washington’s starter last season. In Weeks 10-18, he drew six starts while averaging 12.7 touches and 57.7 total yards as the RB31 in fantasy points per game. Rodriguez could be an early down and short yardage option for the Jags this year, as he won’t be contributing much in the passing game. Last season, he had only four targets and 30 receiving yards with Washington. He was quite good as a rusher, though ranking 12th in missed tackle rate and second in yards after contact per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). We’ll see how much Rodriguez can eat into Bhayshul Tuten‘s workload this season, but he’s a nice late-round pick in all formats.
– Derek Brown
Khalil Shakir (BUF) — WR51, Overall RK129 | ECR vs. ADP: +24
Khalil Shakir once again provided stability without much ceiling, finishing as a WR3/4 despite operating as one of Josh Allen‘s most trusted targets. His short-area role created a reliable weekly floor, but limited downfield and red-zone usage continued to cap his fantasy upside. The addition of DJ Moore adds even more competition for targets, making it difficult to project meaningful volume growth in 2026. Shakir still profiles as Buffalo’s safest receiver from a consistency standpoint, but fantasy managers should view him more as a floor-based depth option than a breakout candidate.
– Andrew Erickson
Jalen Coker (CAR) — WR52, Overall RK130 | ECR vs. ADP: +32
The Carolina passing attack will flow through Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker this season, especially with Chris Brazzell now missing up to eight weeks with a torn LCL. Last year, when Coker was at his healthiest (quad injury early in the year) during Weeks 13-19, he was challenging Tetairoa McMillan for the top spot in Carolina’s aerial attack. During that stretch, Coker had a 20% target share (McMillan 18.3%), 2.30 yards per route run (McMillan 1.78), four red zone targets (McMillan, one), and a 28.3% first-read share (McMillan 26.1% per Fantasy Points Data). In those six games played, Coker finished with at least 14 PPR points four times. Coker is a late-round priority for me this season. The massive divide between McMillan and Coker in ADP should not exist. Enjoy the value.
– Derek Brown
Late-Round Picks Experts Love to Draft
- Dylan Sampson (CLE) — RB49, Overall RK142 | ECR vs. ADP: +28
- Isiah Pacheco (DET) — RB50, Overall RK145 | ECR vs. ADP: +13
- Keaton Mitchell (LAC) — RB51, Overall RK147 | ECR vs. ADP: +30
- Tank Bigsby (PHI) — RB52, Overall RK148 | ECR vs. ADP: +34
- Cam Ward (TEN) — QB24, Overall RK151 | ECR vs. ADP: +15
- Adonai Mitchell (NYJ) — WR58, Overall RK157 | ECR vs. ADP: +67
- Dalton Schultz (HOU) — TE21, Overall RK160 | ECR vs. ADP: +15
- Tre Tucker (LV) — WR60, Overall RK161 | ECR vs. ADP: +67
- Jalen McMillan (TB) — WR61, Overall RK162 | ECR vs. ADP: +19
- Tre’ Harris (LAC) — WR66, Overall RK167 | ECR vs. ADP: +62
- Braelon Allen (NYJ) — RB55, Overall RK170 | ECR vs. ADP: +37
View the Best Fantasy Football Team Names
Fantasy Football Draft Rankings
Check out the consensus 2026 fantasy football draft rankings from our experts.
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio