When I first saw the title of this article, I had to pause and consider which route to take. Fantasy football drafts are notoriously fickle beasts — no two are alike. Even when the exact same managers sit around a table with the same players available, no two drafts will be identical mirror images of each other.
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Last Fantasy Football Draft Picks to Target
Selecting a final pick in your draft could come down to team construction, a player slipping through the cracks (or vice versa, such as the Ashton Jeanty/Mike Washington injury news from yesterday) or one’s desire for risk/reward with handcuffing running backs. No single player is a blanket option, regardless of the scenario.
Perhaps the simplest answer is a kicker or defense/special teams in standard-style snake drafts, depending on which position is left for you to address.
Like most analysts, I prefer to address every position slot on my team except those two first, and fill out my bench with upside stashes capable of breaking out, should the chips fall correctly. In a perfect scenario, my last draft pick would likely come from one of those two specific areas.
Instead, I suppose, we should rephrase this title to:
“Who to Target as a FLEX-Worthy Stash for Your Last Draft Pick”
That somewhat narrows down the possibilities.
As I alluded to earlier, final roster selections will depend on what happened earlier in the draft.
Perhaps you went with a Zero RB strategy and filled up on wide receivers and tight ends early, and want to select a third-string running back who could take over the job if an injury happened to someone else on the depth chart?
Maybe you went with the Hero RB approach for a more balanced roster and are just looking for someone with the most upside left on the board?
In smaller leagues, selecting an elite player at the one-off positions (quarterback and tight end) may have put you in a hole for depth elsewhere. Your final selection could be a rookie wideout who has flashed in training camp but needs time to establish rapport with his quarterback.
I’ve long been a proponent of handcuffing running backs (selecting an immediate, established backup of elite players that allows you to navigate injuries at the position more easily and avoid overspending on the waiver wire). Some agree with this philosophy; others feel that it cuts into their bench depth by focusing on specific teams. Your stance on handcuffing could also determine your final selection.
With that in mind, I’d further narrow down the title to: “Who to Target at Each Position for Upside With Your Final Draft Pick” due to the variables listed above.
Let’s dive in, shall we?
Quarterback
In most standard-size formats (I work off of the default 12-team setting), about two-thirds of the league will select a backup quarterback, and a third will punt the position in favor of adding a FLEX option instead. Working with that mindset, here is my favorite signal-caller, who is ranked outside the top 18 in the expert consensus rankings (ECR).
Jordan Love (QB – GB)
Jordan Love is coming off consecutive mid-QB2 finishes, with near-identical fantasy point totals (244.9 and 241.1). Currently ranked QB19, Love projects for a modest rebound in his totals this season, up to 268 points, which would have allowed him to finish as the QB14 last season.
Call me more optimistic. Yes, the Packers lost some wide receiver talent, with the departures of Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks. I don’t see that as a detriment. If anything, that clears up target allocations, thrusting Jayden Reed and Matthew Golden into the limelight.
Tight end Tucker Kraft is set to return after missing half of last season with a torn ACL suffered in Week 9. Prior to that, he was the TE1 in fantasy points per game at the position. Running back Josh Jacobs enters his age-28 season and has hardly practiced due to a groin strain.
Jacobs also has unresolved off-field issues hanging over him and is a disciplinary risk. When given the opportunity to pass, Love enjoys looking downfield, and increased snap totals from Golden and Reed will let him push the ball further.
After finishing 19th in the league last year with 439 pass attempts, I could see Green Bay using a more balanced offensive approach and relying less on their running game. It may seem like an eternity ago, but Love finished as the QB5 during his first full season in 2023, when he was finally given a chance to start. Love is being drafted as a mid-QB2, but has QB1 upside.
Alternative Options: Tyler Shough, Daniel Jones
Running Back
Jonah Coleman (RB – DEN)
I can already hear the Twitter mentions in my timeline. “Wait a minute, Evan, didn’t you say that you wanted to avoid the Denver backfield in a different article, and you’ll rest easier knowing you don’t need to deal with it”? Yes. I did. Specifically, I was referring to the decision to choose between J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey, factoring in their current ADP costs.
Jonah Coleman is the RB52 in ECR and can be taken at the very end of drafts in non-dynasty formats. Unlike Dobbins or Harvey, who excel in one area and lack in the other, Coleman is a more well-rounded prospect who could be thrust into fantasy relevance if (or when) either incumbent player is hurt.
Coleman was the fourth running back selected in this year’s draft, and Denver’s coaching staff has been effusive in their praise for him since joining the team. Described as someone who has “turned plenty of heads” and “doesn’t feel like a rookie,” Coleman was only given a handful of touches this preseason before being pulled to the sidelines.
When asked why Coleman only received a handful of carries, Sean Payton said, “I’ve seen enough, and trust my instincts. I didn’t need to see additional evidence of what I’ve been seeing for three weeks,” with a giant grin.
Borrowing a statistic from Warren Sharp, Coleman was hit at or behind the line of scrimmage on 43% of his carries in college, but 71% of his rushing yards came after contact, leading the entire draft class.
This is a player who can break tackles at will, is an excellent pass blocker (a trait important for rookies to see an increase in snaps) and is an adept receiver. When Dobbins succumbs to injuries again (this is a when, not an if), Coleman’s value will skyrocket.
Denver’s offense will see the field plenty thanks to the strength of their defense, and if they opt to more of a clock-management style in 2026, Coleman stands to benefit.
Alternative Options: MarShawn Lloyd, Emmett Johnson, Nicholas Singleton, Kaytron Allen
Wide Receiver
Malachi Fields (WR – NYG)
When looking at the landscape of deep options to consider, I knew that the first 80 or so players would immediately be thrown out the window, since wideout is the most picked-apart position in fantasy football. When one needs a deep sleeper, one needs to go digging.
Out of the Tier 8 or later options, Malachi Fields represents the option with the highest floor, able to step into a situation and contribute right away. Outside of Malik Nabers, the Giants don’t have a major threat at the position. Darnell Mooney was signed to a one-year “prove it” deal in the offseason, but hasn’t been making plays in training camp or preseason games.
Veteran Darius Slayton has had multiple opportunities to ascend this depth chart over the last few seasons, but prolific drops in key situations make him difficult to trust. Fields was hand-picked by the current John Harbaugh regime, and beat reporters have steadily reminded us that the front office wants Fields to win this job.
Fields has been the most impactful receiver on the team. A big-bodied 6-foot-5 deep threat with outstanding blocking skills, Fields is the picture-perfect fit for this offense as a support piece in the passing game. With Wan’Dale Robinson‘s departure vacating so many targets, one has to imagine that the bulk of those would be split between Fields and tight end Isaiah Likely.
As someone who follows this team closely, I’m happy to share that nearly every day out of training camp, Fields made some sort of highlight-reel play, and his connection with quarterback Jaxson Dart is quickly being cemented. He won’t ever be a high-volume target, but as a red-zone threat and seam stretcher? Absolutely.
Alternative Options: Antonio Williams, Germie Bernard, Ja’Kobi Lane, Chris Bell, Pat Bryant
Tight End
Juwan Johnson (TE – NO)
Anyone who happens to need a tight end outside of the top 12 options, look no further. Juwan Johnson has quietly been in the league since 2020 and has been steadily improving as a viable fantasy option over the last three seasons, culminating in his TE10 finish last year, on the heels of a 77/889/3 split.
When New Orleans made the decision to deal Rashid Shaheed to Seattle, Johnson became the second read in the passing game behind Chris Olave.
The Saints’ decision to spend their first-round selection on Jordyn Tyson out of Arizona State dumped a bucket of cold water on Johnson’s 2026 outlook, but a lingering hamstring issue will cause Tyson to miss at least the beginning of the season.
New Orleans is a team that will need to pass early and often to stay competitive, and as a PPR option with moderate target upside, fantasy managers would do well to add him as a solid backup option or bye-week fill-in.
Alternative Options: Hunter Henry, T.J. Hockenson, Brenton Strange, Terrance Ferguson
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