Before diving into player analysis, I wanted to put together a roster from the 1.07 to show how I’d approach one of the more unpredictable draft slots in 2026 fantasy football. Picking in the middle of the first round forces you into some difficult decisions almost immediately. The Tier 1 running backs are usually gone so you are making a decision on roster construction and how to balance value with positional scarcity. It also means you’re often reacting to runs rather than dictating them.
In this fantasy football mock draft, I focused on grabbing proven producers who have slipped below their expected draft cost while mixing in a few upside bets later in the draft. I also managed to grab several players I believe are being undervalued heading into the season. I did make a few missteps, but that is why practice drafting is important. Here’s how the draft unfolded and why I made each selection.
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Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 10-Team, 1 QB, Half PPR
1.07: Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR – DET)
This is a ridiculous value for St. Brown, and I need to acknowledge that, in a lot of leagues, he will be long gone by now. St. Brown is arguably in the most stable offensive environment in the NFL. He plays 12 games indoors, and Detroit rarely takes the foot off the gas offensively. Over the past three seasons, he has averaged 159 targets per season, and that type of market share is impossible to pass up.
2.04: Saquon Barkley (RB – PHI)
I think Barkley could have a bounce-back year, and he is being underrated. After he was going 1.01 in drafts, most fantasy owners will rightfully feel burned by him this year. After a monster 2024, he experienced regression last season, but it would be hard to blame him for that. He still registered over 1,400 total yards and finished as the RB14 in points per game. I think this presents a nice buy-low opportunity in redraft where Barkley is slipping down boards and into Round 2.
3.07: George Pickens (WR – DAL)
I haven’t rostered Pickens much over his career, mostly because he is too high variance for my liking in redraft leagues. He was somewhat streaky last year, but he still registered at least 65 receiving yards in 12 of 17 games. Relevant to fantasy production, his spike weeks were such that they could win a matchup. Pickens finished as a WR1 for the first time in his career, and there is no reason to think a repeat is out of the question. He is still behind CeeDee Lamb for targets, but he should contend for WR1 status.
4.04: Kyren Williams (RB – LAR)
In a vacuum, Williams in Round 4 is a screaming value, and one I am coming around to targeting here. Blake Corum is going to eat into his overall workload, but the quality of touches clearly favors Williams. The Rams have one of the most prolific offenses in the NFL, and Williams handled 63% of the red zone rushing attempts last year. Williams has been an RB1 for three years running, and yet he is in a tier with guys who are RB2’s. Like Barkley, buy the dip.
5.07: Terry McLaurin (WR – WAS)
McLaurin is a target of mine because he doesn’t have much competition for targets of his. The Commanders’ passing game is essentially McLaurin and newly signed Stefon Diggs. A healthy Jayden Daniels will work wonders for McLaurin’s production. Before 2025, he had been the model of health and consistency, posting five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and only missing one game. As he enters his age-31 season, McLaurin is probably more of a WR2 with upside even with Diggs being signed.
6.04: Lamar Jackson (QB – BAL)
I think Jackson is appropriately priced here as the third quarterback off the board after Josh Allen and Drake Maye. You have to factor in his injury history and his decline in rushing production, but there is reason for cautious optimism. Declan Doyle is the new offensive coordinator and early returns are favorable. He comes from the Ben Johnson coaching tree, so I think we will see them use Jackson in ways we haven’t seen before. Will that mean he has fewer designed runs? Probably, but I would imagine they will use more RPO and get Jackson on the edge to stress defenses. That could create plenty of opportunities for him to use his legs while not taking big hits in the middle of the field. I am expecting a big season from the Baltimore offense and Jackson will be the catalyst.
7.07: Marvin Harrison, Jr. (WR – ARI)
I think Harrison is one of the most mispriced players in fantasy drafts. Fantasy managers are a reactive bunch. People are going to see the missed games in 2025 and the disappointment relative to his draft position over the course of his first two seasons. Those are salient data points, but Harrison is still just 24 and Arizona is going to have to throw the ball a lot. Jacoby Brissett is not capable of leading them to the playoffs, but he is capable of putting up solid fantasy numbers. Harrison will benefit from that, and he could see 150 targets this season. I get the risk and why people will avoid him. However, in the 7th Round, as a WR3, I will bet on the talent.
8.04: DK Metcalf (WR – PIT)
Metcalf’s first season in Pittsburgh was probably close to what we should have expected. The hype that the Steelers finally got an alpha receiver was never realized as Metcalf was a borderline WR2/WR3. That was partially a product of Mike Tomlin’s inability to generate anything offensively in the name of winning nine games the safe way. Now the Steelers get an offensive-minded coach in Mike McCarthy who should give a boost to every skill position player. I don’t know if Metcalf will ever be a 100-catch receiver, but he established career-lows in receptions and yards, things I believe will be remedied in 2026.
9.07: Courtland Sutton (WR – DEN)
Sutton continued to be the preferred target in Denver last year, giving him remarkably similar numbers as he put up in 2024. He was also still involved in the red zone, as he scored seven touchdowns. The Broncos added some target competition for him, so it remains to be seen whether or not his market share will take a dip, but it is a decent bet that it does. Drafting Sutton as a WR4 and hoping for him to be a WR3 is probably the best way to approach him this year.
10.04: Kyle Pitts (TE – ATL)
This seems late for Pitts, but the concerns about the quarterback play in Atlanta are giving his stock a hit. That is a legitimate concern, but it should be noted that Tua Tagovailoa was able to get Mike Gesicki and Jonnu Smith career seasons. In fact, it might work to Pitts’ advantage to have someone like Tagovailoa who can’t push the ball down the field. A repeat of 2025 would probably be the ceiling, although there isn’t much in the way of competition for targets, as low value as they might be.
11.07: Kenneth Gainwell (RB – TB)
12.04: Chris Rodriguez (RB – JAC)
13.07: Tank Bigsby (RB – PHI)
14.04: Mark Andrews (TE – BAL)
15.07: Evan McPherson (K – CIN)
In Rounds 11-13, I secured some high-value handcuffs. Gainwell may end up getting 180 touches in Tampa Bay, and Rodriguez is intriguing in the late rounds. I don’t think Jacksonville is sold on Bhayshul Tuten, and Rodriguez could be who they ultimately turn to. I also grabbed Mark Andrews to pair with Lamar Jackson in the event the Baltimore offense plays to its ceiling. When looking at a kicker, I first look at guys who kick indoors and then try to invest in good offenses. McPherson checks the second box.
Jason Kamlowsky is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Jason, check out his archive and follow him on Twitter @JasonKamlowsky.