The NFL season starts in less than three weeks, and the big wave of drafts in redraft leagues is upon us. What a time to be alive! Two of my favorite columns to write each season are this one, and its sister, Red Light: Players to Avoid (coming next).
Here’s a link to where you can find my other preseason fantasy football content here at Big Blue View, including my July rankings, sleepers, a Giants fantasy preview and much more: Fantasy Football Hub.
This column lists some of the players I’m most interested
in targeting. I’m looking to take these guys at or around their current Average Draft Position (ADP), or even a little earlier. You’ll notice that my rankings on almost every player listed in this column are either equal to or ahead of market. That’s the idea. This isn’t a breakouts or sleepers column, but rather a list of players who I think offer solid value at current pricing. If a player isn’t listed, that doesn’t mean I’m out on him. I can’t list everyone.
I’m not going to discuss first-rounders. I’m mainly focusing on players going AFTER the first 15 or so picks, but still inside the first 130. Rounds 2-10 of a draft are critical, as that’s where you’ll build the foundation of your starting lineup and top reserves. These rounds are all about finding good values and upside, while avoiding landmines. After Round 10 or 11, you’re getting deeper into your bench, and sleeper territory. For those who play in auction leagues, (a) bravo, and (b) I’m interested in the same players, if I can get them at a fair price.
Make sure to see my Sleepers columnfor players I like who are ranked outside the Top-130
ADPs listed are as of August 21, 2026, are a consensus of several sites, and are for Half PPR scoring. Rankings reflect Half PPR scoring, on a points per game basis, with Week 18 excluded. ADPs are a little all over the place right now – your mileage may vary.
GREEN LIGHT PLAYERS, 2026:
Quarterback
Jayden Daniels (ADP 64, my rank 58) and Jalen Hurts (ADP 70, my rank 60).
QB is insanely deep this year, and in one-QB leagues, there’s really no reason to take one early. You’re passing up on too much value elsewhere. But several rounds after Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson are long gone, if I can get one of the two remaining elite dual-threats in Round 6, I’m certainly thinking about it. The opportunity cost is manageable at that juncture, considering the QB points you could be getting on a weekly basis.
I like the addition of Stefon Diggs for Daniels, who was the QB4 in his rookie season (22.5 FPPG) before injuries derailed his 2025 campaign. Washington’s defense is still bad and Daniels and the offense are going to need to keep pace.
Hurts gets a lot of criticism as a thrower and that helps to make him underrated for fantasy. Bottom line: He hasn’t finished outside the Top-8 QBs in any of the last five seasons, and while the rushing TDs dipped last year to just eight, he’s still a good bet for double digit scores with the tush push in play. I’m not overly worried about the departure of A.J. Brown. Hurts is cash money for fantasy, and he hasn’t been this cheap in years.
Others: QB is so deep with quality this season, you can absolutely wait and then take one or two guys in the QB12-22 range and you’ll probably do just fine at the position. Streaming options will abound. In Superflex leagues, very good second QBs should be fairly easy to nab. I like any of high-upside Justin Herbert (ADP 88, my rank 82), Trevor Lawrence (ADP 89, my rank 83), Dak Prescott (ADP 91, my rank 85), and Jaxson Dart (ADP 92, my rank 93) in the Round 8-9 range, or if you want to wait even further while you continue to load up at other positions, Brock Purdy, Bo Nix, and Jared Goff (ADP range 113-125) are great choices in Round 10-11 (or later if they fall further).
Goff in particular is a terrific value at his ADP (125), if you want to wait until the final QB1s are being taken. He doesn’t run and isn’t an exciting pick. When you take him, your leaguemates will barely notice. But he’s been a very consistent (and healthy) low-end QB1 for fantasy since his arrival in Detroit. On top of that, the Lions have one of the league’s easiest schedules, their defense is perennially banged up and undermanned, and new OC Drew Petzing is a nice upgrade.
Running Back
I had some solid extra-base hits with my green light RBs last season, including Travis Etienne, Jr., Chase Brown, and D’Andre Swift. Here are some green lighters for 2026:
Kenneth Walker III (ADP 18, my rank 15) and Derrick Henry (ADP 19, my rank 11) are big name players who are in play for me starting around the 1-2 turn and certainly early in Round 2. Walker has a great opportunity to finally secure a workhorse role in Kansas City, with a QB in Patrick Mahomes who is coming off a torn ACL and figures to scramble less and dump it off more. Walker has never gotten much credit as a pass-catcher and I think he’ll outproduce expectations in that area. The key with him is health.
In two seasons in Baltimore, Henry has done nothing to make anyone think he’s slowing down. He’s averaged 5.9 and 5.2 yards per carry in his two seasons with the Ravens. Fine, he doesn’t catch passes. So what? When you top 3,700 rushing yards with 32 rushing TDs across two seasons, you’re fantasy gold. At his Round 2 cost, he’s a great choice as your RB1, or second stud RB in a back-heavy build. Father Time can keep waiting. King Henry owns him.
Chase Brown (ADP 15, my rank 16). No notes. Rinse and repeat for a back who does everything well and has minimal competition in a potent offense.
Omarion Hampton (ADP 16, my rank 18) is a player I like a lot this year too, in a Mike McDaniel offense and with his size and skillset. He’s going to visit the end zone quite a bit. But the bandwagon is full, the ADP is very high, and I don’t think I’ll get much of him given that I’m a little behind consensus, and have Waker, Henry, and Brown ahead of him.
In late Round 3, I’m in on Javonte Williams (ADP 31, my rank 27). He’s expensive for a player who was a late bloomer. But I like the situation, with an excellent offense and not that much competition for high-leverage touches. Let’s also run back Travis Etienne, Jr. (ADP 41, my rank 38). He’s in a great situation to produce in Kellen Moore’s fast-paced offense, and I’m not worried about Alvin Kamara (who is already banged up) siphoning off the high value touches. They paid Etienne a lot to go there and Kamara’s excellent career is at or near its end.
Further down, I’m green lighting David Montgomery (ADP 48, my rank 44), D’Andre Swift (ADP 50, my rank 45), Rhamondre Stevenson (ADP 74, my rank 66), Jonathon Brooks (ADP 88, my rank 80), and Jordan Mason (ADP 100, my rank 91). All are attractively priced RB2s/Flexes, in my view.
Montgomery should be the workhorse on a team with a stellar defense and limited receiving weapons. Their O-line isn’t great, but the opportunity is. Just look at what Joe Mixon did in this offense two seasons ago. The Bears figure to get into plenty of shootouts and Swift is positioned to repeat what he did last season. Stevenson isn’t going away, and is criminally underpriced. Brooks is a flier given that he’s never been healthy, but the price is attractive for someone who might get lots of work and showed a ton of talent in college. Chuba Hubbard is already banged up. Mason is very cheap for a player who has a good chance to be the top RB in what should be an improved offense.
Wide Receiver
The injury bug strikes again. Damn. Three receivers who I planned on highlighting in this column have gotten hurt in the preseason (Emeka Egbuka, Jordyn Tyson, and Jayden Higgins). Higgins is done for the year (ACL), unfortunately. I’ll reevaluate the other two as we get closer to the season, but if they’re good to go Week 1, they’re likely still going to be green light plays for me, at cost.
I think a lot of receivers in the first 4-5 rounds are pretty fairly priced. Here are some I like most, at ADP:
A.J. Brown (ADP 21, my rank 21). I’m a little concerned that Howie Roseman, who is the best G.M. in the NFL, let Brown walk. What does he know? Both health and motivation are potential concerns with Brown, who is now 29. But here is what I do know: New England lacked an elite receiver last season, and their QB not only led the NFL in completion percentage (72%), but he also led in yards per attempt (9.5). That’s a truly insane combo platter that hasn’t been talked about enough. If Drake Maye can get anywhere close to the league lead in those two categories again, that’s great news for Brown, who has always been able to win downfield and make big plays.
Chris Olave (ADP 28, my rank 25) is a bargain in Round 3, and especially with Tyson likely to miss at least the start of the season, and possibly a lot more if he can’t figure out his chronic hamstring issues. Think Christain Watson, early in his career. I trust Kellen Moore’s offense, and the team just doesn’t have a lot beyond Olave. His target share should be among the highest in the league, and assuming he can stay healthy he should build on his WR8 finish from last season.
Ladd McConkey (ADP 43, my rank 39), Jaylen Waddle (ADP 47, my rank 42), D.J. Moore (ADP 51, my rank 46), and Terry McLaurin (ADP 56, my rank 50) are some of my favorite WRs in Rounds 4 and 5 (plus Egbuka), and a round or two later, I like Christian Watson (ADP 66, my rank 55), and Rome Odunze (ADP 64, my rank 62). The reasons for my vote of confidence vary, but I think all are well positioned to lead their teams in targets and catches, and all are in offenses that should score plenty. Odunze is going a full round behind teammate Luther Burden III (and it was almost a round more than that before Burden got hurt) and I think the hype train for Luther’s year two breakout has gone slightly off the rails.
Brian Thomas Jr. (ADP 78, my rank 74) is a forgotten man, and is going just behind teammate Parker Washington. I can’t get behind that and don’t mind gambling on his talent and big play potential in Round 7.
As we get down towards the double digit rounds, a couple of guys I like most at their very affordable cost are Michael Wilson, Chris Godwin, Jr., Josh Downs, and Jayden Reed. My ranks on all four are ahead of ADP.
Note: There is plenty of good value at WR after Round 10, so be sure to see the Sleepers column.
Tight End
Big hits for me last season were George Kittle and Tucker Kraft (until he got hurt). Here are my favorite values this year:
I think both Colston Loveland (ADP 42, my rank 42) and Tyler Warren (ADP 49, my rank 51) are attractively priced, but I prefer a number of RBs and WRs in the same range. I probably won’t get too much of either one unless they fall, in which case I’m happy to pounce. The good news is that there are a bunch of TEs going many rounds later who I’m happy with as my TE1. And if they don’t work out, there are sleepers who could be viable streaming options.
Sam LaPorta (ADP: 69, my ranking: 64) is a player I like a lot this season and especially with a price near the 6/7 turn. I’m generally all-in on the Lions for fantasy this season, and while he’s no Trey McBride, LaPorta has strong receiving chops and new OC Drew Petzing clearly knows how to involve a pass-catching TE in his offense.
Further down, I think George Kittle (ADP 94, my rank 87), Dalton Kincaid (ADP 102, my rank 99), Isaiah Likely (ADP 104, my rank 108), and Mark Andrews (ADP 116, my rank 111) are all good upside plays that won’t cost you a lot. Any of these four could easily end up finishing as Top-10 TEs this season.
I was more bullish on Likely when his ADP was a round later, but I still like the opportunity for him to finally deliver as a TE1, on a team with dusty receivers after Malik Nabers, whose health is uncertain. Kittle is only eight months removed from a torn achilles and is 33, but he’s a crazy bargain if he’s still got it, and the receiver room in San Francisco isn’t exactly the picture of health or youth. Kincaid is finally past the PCL injury that plagued his early seasons and is a good breakout candidate. Andrews has less competition this season and has always been a red zone favorite for Lamar Jackson. He may not catch as many passes as the rest in this group, but I won’t be surprised if we look up in January and he’s among the touchdown leaders at the position.
Those are the green light plays for 2026. Stay tuned for the column of warning and whining —The Red Light list, coming soon.
