Tom Strachan | Sun, Aug 2nd 2026, 7:25am EDT

Fantasy Football Mock Draft: How to Approach Pick 1.01 (2026)

August means one thing and one thing only: Fantasy football season is truly here. We’re already seeing a constant stream of new information and, sadly, season-ending injuries. There hasn’t been much movement in the first round, however, but there are important notes to get to. If you have the 1.01 in your fantasy draft, or you’re just scoping out what the competition might do, this is the complete guide to the 1.01 pick. Now is the best time to practice your strategy with a fantasy football mock draft.

Fantasy Football Draft Strategy: Pick 1.01

Players to Consider at 1.01 Fantasy Football Draft Pick

These players will likely be available when you make your selection:

The top five picks seem to be fairly locked in for early redraft and best ball formats. That isn’t to say that things won’t change. Quite often, as redraft season gets going, we see some players pushed up, but the general consensus is that this top tier is quite interchangeable.

Typically, the running backs are interchangeable at 1.01, and the order of the wide receivers varies.

Players to Target at 1.01 Fantasy Football Draft Pick

Bijan Robinson (RB – ATL)

Last year’s PPR RB2 in fantasy points per game, and now free from Tyler Allgeier, Bijan Robinson feels primed to take a big step forward in 2026.

Allgeier tied Robinson for 43.5% of the team’s carries inside the 5-yard line last season, and had 32 carries inside the red zone, compared to Robinson’s 35. The Falcons did add Brian Robinson Jr. in free agency, but they weren’t rushing to add a second body to this backfield, waiting almost two weeks before adding their second back.

Robinson led the league in missed tackles forced (75), with 27 more than any other player, while also ranking in the top five in rushing yards, explosive run rate and yards per carry, while topping the league in yards after contact per attempt (3.06).

Where Robinson can take the leap is simple — touchdowns. Robinson scored only seven rushing touchdowns, which resulted in the lowest touchdown rate (2.4%) among the top seven running backs in fantasy. Nobody else was below 3%.

The situation with Bijan Robinson is worth watching during the next few weeks, in case we get word that Brian Robinson could play more than expected, similar to Allgeier. For now, confidence should be high.

One small note that is worth considering: Robinson is currently ‘holding in’ at training camp. Attending, but not participating in the physical side of the camp, while waiting for what we expect to be a record contract at the position.

In years gone by, we’ve seen holdouts and contract standoffs result in negative performances when returning to the field. It’s still very early, and if the situation is resolved soon, it shouldn’t be a problem, but if things drag on, it might be best to consider the downside.

Jahmyr Gibbs (RB – DET)

Another young running back who has seen things clear out behind him is Jahmyr Gibbs, with the departure of David Montgomery and only Isiah Pacheco added to the running back room. The reality is that Pacheco has gone under four yards per carry in each of the last two seasons, has missed time in each of the last three seasons and has recorded more than 19 receptions just once in the past four seasons.

Perhaps a change of scenery helps Pacheco find his feet again, but Gibbs has the clearest avenue he’s ever had and is coming off a career-high 94 targets. Gibbs has had over 50 receptions in each of his three seasons in the NFL and averages 13 total touchdowns per season. With more touches, Gibbs could be one of the highest-ceiling plays in fantasy football.

The only real concern could be if one of offensive coordinator Drew Petzing’s former Cardinals running backs is released and signs with the Lions. Would they be good enough to harm Gibbs’ ceiling?

Like Bijan Robinson, Gibbs is also ‘holding in’ awaiting a new contract. Hopefully, both issues will be resolved soon.

Ja’Marr Chase (WR – CIN)

The Bengals might have slightly improved their defense, but they’re unlikely to become a unit that consistently allows them to move away from the passing game, and that continues to be excellent news for Ja’Marr Chase.

For two consecutive seasons, Chase has led the league in targets with 175 and 185, respectively. Chase also has two years with 1,400+ receiving yards, and his consistency is worth paying for. Much of Chase’s ceiling is tied to Joe Burrow ‘s health. In games with Burrow at quarterback since Chase was drafted, he averages 0.78 touchdowns and 20.67 PPR points. In the games without Burrow, those numbers drop to 0.33 touchdowns and 15.48 points.

Those aren’t terrible numbers, but the lack of touchdowns hurts. Burrow is fully healthy this offseason, and the ceiling is the name of the game at the top of the draft. Lock Chase in for another WR1 overall season.

Best Format-Specific Picks at 1.01

Best PPR Selection: Jahmyr Gibbs
Best Half-PPR Selection: Jahmyr Gibbs
Best Non-PPR Selection: Jahmyr Gibbs

Superflex Notes

In higher-stakes Superflex contests on the Fantasy Football Players Championship (FFPC) platform, we’re seeing Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs go at picks 1.01 and 1.02, ahead of Josh Allen.

This is due to the range of quarterbacks available in the second and third rounds, such as Caleb Williams, Trevor Lawrence and Dak Prescott. Still, Allen is a very comfortable 1.01 selection with 41 rushing touchdowns in his last three years.

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Players to Avoid at 1.01 Fantasy Football Draft Pick

Puka Nacua (WR – LAR)

Last season was by far Puka Nacua‘s most complete year in the NFL, with 10 receiving touchdowns. That was one more than he’d managed in his first two years combined. Touchdowns aren’t always sticky, though, and before committing to Nacua this early, we have to consider that more in-depth.

Stafford had a career-high 7.7% touchdown rate in 2025 — 0.9% higher than any other year in his career and 0.7% higher than Brock Purdy and Lamar Jackson, who tied for the second-highest rate. It’s not unusual to see that kind of efficiency regress.

The Rams were kept in passing scripts as their secondary struggled at times, but they’ve made additions there this year, with the notable trade for Trent McDuffie, and the defense in general should be stronger with Myles Garrett now a Ram.

We also have to consider that nine of Nacua’s 17 end-zone targets came in games when Davante Adams played fewer than 60% of the snaps. Adams was an end-zone hog when healthy, but it’s hard to project which way his health will go in 2026.

The Rams and Nacua aren’t actively negotiating a contract, despite Nacua being eligible, and the price will likely go up if they wait. But Nacua seems unfazed and is participating in training camp, seemingly happy to wait until next year for it to be resolved.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR – SEA)

Efficiency is always a concern when looking year to year for fantasy football, and it’s hard to ignore how efficient Jaxon Smith-Njigba was in 2025. Smith-Njigba ranked fifth in targets, but was second in receiving yards (1,794). Four of his touchdowns came on passes of 20+ yards downfield, on which he had an absurd 60% catch rate. Smith-Njigba averaged 2.10 fantasy points per reception on those passes.

Only Smith-Njigba and Alec Pierce (2.02) were above 1.80 among wide receivers with 10+ targets 20 yards downfield. Sam Darnold played out of his mind, and the Seahawks ran pure. They didn’t add any notable name-brand wide receiver, but re-signing Rashid Shaheed to a big contract could give him more opportunity to be involved, with a full offseason to learn the playbook.

Tory Horton should be healthy, who, despite playing only eight games, finished with five receiving touchdowns, with only AJ Barner (six) and Smith-Njigba (10) scoring more.

Roster Constructions to Consider at 1.01 Fantasy Football Draft Pick

Most people will likely lean towards the running back position at the 1.01, which sets you up for either a Hero RB build or a RB/RB start. Starting with one of Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs likely allows you a Dual RB build with Kyren Williams, Jeremiyah Love or Breece Hall as your second running back.

Your wide receiver room likely starts with your WR1 being George Pickens or Rashee Rice. Contrast that with a Hero RB start of Robinson or Gibbs and then a combo of Brock Bowers, Pickens or Rice.

Running back tends to dry up quicker than usual this year, but only having one wide receiver through three rounds can leave your wide receiver room struggling to catch up.

Fantasy Football Mock Draft From the 1.01 Pick

We used our FREE fantasy football mock draft simulator to show you an example of a draft from the 1.01 position. You can sync your league for free and mock draft against your fantasy football league settings to prepare more specifically for your draft. Here’s how our fantasy football mock draft from the 1.01 position turned out for a half-PPR league.

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