Fantasy Football Mock Draft: How to Approach Pick 1.02 (2026)

If you’re drafting from the 1.02, or just sneaking a look at what your competition might do, then this is the draft guide for you. We’re seeing significant news around the top of the draftboard for the first time in months and it has the potential to change how things are shaking out. We’ll get into the targets, fades and a fantasy football mock draft showing the ideal build.

Fantasy Football Draft Strategy: Pick 1.02

Players to Consider at 1.02 Fantasy Football Draft Pick

Here are players that are at the top of ADP when you make your selection:

This year, there isn’t a strong consensus 1.01 emerging so far. We’ve had years where the first overall pick was an auto selection, but people are incredibly split on the two running backs, with plenty of experts leaning either way. There are also those preferring to push the running back position and take the elite and consistent production Ja’Marr Chase gives.

Players to Target at 1.02 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 five-yard line, and had 32 carries inside the red zone, compared to Robinson’s 35. The Falcons did add Brian Robinson in free agency, but they weren’t rushing to add a second body to this backfield, waiting almost two weeks before adding their second B. Robinson. Bijan 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, yards per carry, and leading in yards after contact per attempt (3.06). Where Robinson can take the leap is simple, it’s touchdowns. Robinson scored only seven rushing touchdowns, which resulted in the lowest touchdown percentage (2.4%) among the top seven running backs in fantasy. Nobody else was below 3%. The only real hole in Robinson’s profile is that we’re projecting a lot of touchdowns and that can be risky. On the 4th of August, Bijan signed a market-resetting deal among running backs, adding three years and $75M onto his contract. According to The Athletic, “The deal makes Robinson the highest-paid running back in NFL history with the base value worth $22.25 million per year, and the extension includes $51 million in guaranteed money.” Robinson hadn’t been practicing while the deal was hashed out, but will now have plenty of time to ramp up to full speed.

Jahmyr Gibbs (RB – DET)

Another young running back who has seen things clear out behind him is Jahmyr Gibbs, who saw David Montgomery move on, and only Isiah Pacheco was brought in. The reality is, Pacheco has been below four yards per carry in each of the last two seasons, has missed time in each of the last three, and has only once in four years had more than 19 receptions. Perhaps a change of scenery helps him 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. One way to consider this argument is, which backup do you believe steals more work, Pacheco or Brian Robinson? Gibbs, much like Bijan, hasn’t practiced so far through training camp while he waits for his own contract. One that you would expect looks similar to Robinson’s, but with an extra million here or there. There is the potential for concern if Gibbs’ hold-in drags on longer that it affects how drafters see him. After all, we’ve seen plenty of players come back from these standoffs to below average performances, but we’re still over a month away from the season starting and things could move quite quickly now that Robinson has provided the framework for a deal.

Ja’Marr Chase (WR – CIN)

The Bengals might have improved their defense slightly, but they’re unlikely to become a unit that allows them to move away from the passing game consistently, and that continues to be excellent news for Ja’Marr Chase. For two consecutive years, Chase has led the league in targets with 175 and 185, respectively. Chase also has two years with 1400 or more receiving yards, and his consistency is worth paying for. Much of Chase’s ceiling outcome is linked to the health of Joe Burrow. In games with Burrow at quarterback since Chase was drafted, he averages 0.78 touchdowns and 20.67 PPR points. In the games without him, that drops to 0.33 and 15.48 points. Those aren’t terrible numbers, but the lack of touchdowns hurts. Burrow is fully healthy this offseason, and ceiling is the name of the game at the top of the draft. Lock Chase in for another WR1 overall season.

PPR Selection: Jahmyr Gibbs
Half PPR Selection: Jahmyr Gibbs
Standard Selection: Jahmyr Gibbs

If Gibbs is off the table, then leaning towards Bijan Robinson slightly ahead of Chase is no bad thing. These two running backs look completely ready for legendary seasons.

Superflex Notes

In higher-stakes superflex contests on FFPC, we’re seeing Bijan and Gibbs go at the 1.01 and 1.02, ahead of Josh Allen. This is due to the range of QBs available in the second and third rounds for those picks, which include Caleb Williams, Trevor Lawrence and Dak Prescott. Still, Josh Allen is a very comfortable click here with 41 rushing touchdowns in his last three years.

Players to Avoid at 1.02 Fantasy Football Draft Pick

Puka Nacua (WR – LAR)

2025 was by far Puka Nacua’s most complete year in the NFL, with him scoring ten receiving touchdowns, which 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 highly, 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. We know Adams was an end zone hog when he was healthy and on the field, but knowing which way his health goes in 2026 is hard to project. Ultimately, with the defensive improvements and chances of regression, it seems too costly to take Nacua this highly.

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. JSN ranked fifth in targets, but was second in receiving yards (1794). Four of his touchdowns came on passes 20 or more yards downfield, of which he had an absurd 60% catch rate. Smith-Njigba averaged 2.10 fantasy points per reception on those passes. Only he and Alec Pierce (2.02) were above 1.80, among wide receivers with 10 or more targets 20 yards downfield. Sam Darnold played out of his mind, and the Seahawks ran pure. They haven’t added any major competition, but re-signing Rashid Shaheed to a big contract could allow him more opportunity to be involved with a full off-season to learn the playbook, and Tory Horton should be healthy, who, despite playing only eight games, finished with five receiving touchdowns, with only AJ Barner (6) and Smith-Njigba (10) having more.

Roster Constructions to Consider at 1.02 Fantasy Football Draft Pick

Most people will likely lean towards the running back position at the 1.02, taking whichever of Gibbs or Robinson falls, which sets you up for either a Hero Running Back build or a Dual Running Back selection. Starting with one of Robinson or Gibbs likely allows you a Dual RB build with Jeremiyah Love or Kyren Williams as your second running back. Your wide receiver room likely starts with your WR1 as George Pickens or Rashee Rice. Contrast that with a Hero RB start of Robinson or Gibbs and then a combo of two from Trey McBride, George Pickens, Rashee Rice.

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

Fantasy Football Mock Draft From the 1.02 Pick

We used our FREE fantasy football mock draft simulator to show you an example of a draft from the 1.02 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 1.02 position turned out.

We started with a classic Hero RB build, taking Bijan Robinson in Round 1, and then waiting till Round 7 for our second RB. Loading up on elite talent at QB and TE and making sure our WR room didn’t get left too far behind.

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About Author

Tom Strachan

@NFL_Tstrack

I'm a fantasy football addict, particularly in love with best ball and DFS. I can often be found scrutinising ADP and looking for edges in the best ball streets.