To win your fantasy football league, you need a draft plan that goes beyond the top 30 fantasy football running backs and wide receivers. Our Featured Pros are already mock-drafting to identify their must-have targets in this range and offer their favorites to help you dominate your leagues.
Must-Have Fantasy Football Draft Targets
What one RB outside the top 30 in the expert consensus are you hoping to end up with in all your leagues and why?
Jonah Coleman (RB – DEN)
“Jonah Coleman has the most upside of any RB after the top 30, if things break right for him, and he is being drafted around RB50. For being a running back that is essentially free in drafts, he is a J.K. Dobbins injury away (very likely each year) from having a shot at the lead role. At worst, he is likely sharing work in a split backfield with a scheme that is usually top of the league in RB targets. He was a 2nd round prospect entering last year before returning to school and playing hurt through the year. If the coaching staff liked what they had at RB, they wouldn’t have taken him with their 2nd draft pick as the 4th RB taken.”
– Justin Weigal (FantasySharks)
“Jonah Coleman will be one of my favorite picks in the last rounds of my drafts. We have seen rookie RBs emerge at the end of the seasons. J.K. Dobbins will start the season as the lead, and R.J. Harvey is there as well. Without a clear path, Coleman’s price will continue to be low. This is a good offense, and if Coleman gets his shot, he could have league-winning upside.”
– David Heilman (Dynasty Trade Calculator)
Keaton Mitchell (RB – LAC)
“Keaton Mitchell falling outside the top-50 running backs is insane. I’m trying to be as respectful as possible to the fantasy analyst community, but this is an absolute scandal. Mitchell was almost lab-built to operate within a Mike McDaniel offense. Stylistically, he’s a wonderful complement to Omarion Hampton. I’d certainly be willing to draft Mitchell a dozen spots higher than his expert consensus rank; he’s a good bet to handle high-value touches in a potential upper-tier offense.”
– Andy Behrens (The Deep Shot)
Javonte Williams (RB – DAL)
“I am targeting Javonte Williams (Ranked #40) as a must-have running back because he is coming off a career-best 2025 campaign where he started every game, recording 1,201 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. After signing a three-year extension with the Cowboys this past February, he is clearly locked in as their workhorse back. With Dallas prioritizing his development and surrounding him with promising young talent like Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe, Williams is positioned for another high-volume season, supported by a 4-star strength of schedule. He is a rare bell-cow back who provides the stable foundation necessary for a championship-winning roster.”
– Lawrence Iacona (Gridiron Experts)
Jordan Mason (RB – MIN)
“Even when Aaron Jones was younger, he had a difficult time staying healthy for a full season. He’s on the wrong side of 30. Jordan Mason is already in an RBBC, so he has value regardless, but if anything happens to Jones, he has the build and ability to be a bell-cow RB. The Vikings brought in Kyler Murray to compete for the starting QB gig. I expect him to win the job over J.J. McCarthy and propel the Vikings’ offense to another level. With a current consensus ranking at RB 38, Mason seems cheap given the possibility of Jones missing time and the potential of the Vikings’ offense becoming more explosive in 2026.”
– Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)
Jonathon Brooks (RB – CAR)
“It’s Jonathon Brooks, whose stock might already be on the rise with the news that he has looked sharp in the Panthers’ OTAs. Brooks tore his right ACL twice in a relatively short span, but it’s been almost 18 months since the second injury, and there’s reason to believe that the latest surgery — which reportedly used a technique that leads to a stronger reconstruction — can help avoid reinjury. Brooks was a highly regarded prospect coming out of the University of Texas, with an appealing combination of speed, vision, quick feet and pass-catching prowess. The Panthers didn’t draft a running back this year. Their projected starter is Chuba Hubbard, who had a big season in 2024 but has been a pretty average RB for the rest of his five-year career. Ranked RB46 in ECR, Brooks is inexpensive (for now) but has a chance to be impactful if he can stay healthy.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
Rachaad White (RB – WAS)
“I like targeting Rachaad White in Washington as the RB40 in ECR/ADP. The former Bucs RB has a really strong chance of capitalizing on the high-value touches in a Commanders offense led by Jayden Daniels (White’s former college teammate). Second-year RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt and 2026 6th-round draft pick Kaytron Allen hardly infringe on White’s role as an established pass-catching RB. White has caught 40 or more passes in four straight seasons, making him one of the league’s more reliable receiving backs. His fantasy resume is also better than most remember: RB7 overall finish in 2023, RB24 in PPG in seven games from Weeks 5-12 (10.1) and no finishes worse than RB38 in half-PPR. White improved some of his rushing efficiency marks last season (2nd in rushing success rate and EPA/rush) because he was solid in short-yardage and conversion attempts. That suggests to me the staff might view White similarly to Chris Rodriguez in those situations, but with the receiving ability adding a bonus (turning the last three-headed backfield into a much more manageable two-headed one). Obviously, the risk with White is that he has not been able to separate himself from Day 3 RBs in the past (Bucky Irving, Sean Tucker) completely, but that concern is more than captured in his ADP.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
Blake Corum (RB – LAR)
“There’s a lot of good backs outside the top 30, but give me Blake Corum at consensus RB34. We’re mostly dealing with committees at this stage, so give me a young, ascending talent on one of the best offenses in football with a desire to run. Corum looked good in limited work last season, averaging over 5 yards per carry and scoring 6 TDs. While Kyren Williams is still top dog in the LA backfield, Corum cut in significantly last season, and The Athletic’s Nate Atkins, who covers the Rams, has told us to “expect” a 50-50 split of the backfield due to Corum’s explosiveness that has him pushing for more work. Blake Corum has stand-alone flex appeal, and he’s one of the best handcuffs in the game should Williams go down. He’s currently very mispriced and should be flirting with a backend RB2 ADP by August.”
– Jeremy Shulman (Fantasy Football Universe)
Kenneth Gainwell (RB – TB)
“Kenneth Gainwell signed a two-year contract with nearly $10 million guaranteed after a career-best year in Pittsburgh (114-537-5 rushing; 73-486-3 receiving). With Bucky Irving sidelined after offseason shoulder surgery, Gainwell carries a better chance of locking down a role for new OC Zac Robinson.”
– Kevin English (Draft Sharks)
“It may not be the most exciting pick, but Kenneth Gainwell is primed for another productive season. Currently going as the RB37, Gainwell signed a 14 million two-year deal with the Bucs this offseason. That is more money than both Rico Dowdle and Tyler Allgeier received, despite Gainwell being listed as a “pass-catching” back. Last year, Aaron Rodgers peppered Gainwell with 85 targets. This year, he joins Baker Mayfield in a backfield that is very uncertain. Bucky Irving does not have a timeline to return to play, and this is the same offense that Rachaad White finished as the RB24 in 2024. I believe Gainwell is a better player than White in this role, and the money indicates that he will see weekly volume. Regardless of Irving being present or not, Gainwell is a sneaky back to finish inside the top 24 for the second consecutive year.”
– Ellis Johnson (FantasyPros)
J.K. Dobbins (RB – DEN)
“I’m trying to get J.K. Dobbins in all my drafts this year. Before he got hurt last year, he was an RB18 in half PPR leagues through the first 10 weeks. With the Broncos re-signing him and drafting Jonah Coleman in the 4th round, my guess is they don’t have too much confidence in RJ Harvey. So with all this and Dobbins being fully healthy this year (for now), I would expect him to be the RB1 in a very good Denver offense.”
– Joey Meinerding (Fantasy Dink)
Tony Pollard (RB – TEN)
“There are some serviceable starting RBs outside of the consensus top-30 to include: Tony Pollard, Rhamondre Stevenson, and J.K. Dobbins. Then there are some ambiguous backfields with the Vikings RBs, Commanders RBs, and Jaguars RBs. Any of these guys will be fine, but the one I want on my roster for this year is Tony Pollard. The man has four-straight 1,000 yard rushing seasons (2 with Dallas and 2 with Tennessee) averaging a respectable 4.48 yards per attempt (Y/A) and has averaged over 250 rushing attempts each season with the Titans with an average of over 35 receptions; even more impressive is his increased Y/A from 2024 (4.2) to 2025 (4.5) behind an offensive line that got worse over than same period. With Tennessee, Pollard has consistently been a top 16th or better RB in total rush attempts (top 10 avg), total rush yards (top 12 avg), and yards after contact (13th avg), and I expect those numbers to improve in 2026.”
– Avery Thrasher (The Branded Sports)
Rico Dowdle (RB – PIT)
“Perhaps the RB30 exact counts, but Rico Dowdle will be a must-have in every league. Dowdle was exceptional last year in Carolina and now finds himself in a Pittsburgh offense looking for more dynamism at the RB position. Dowdle also reunites with ex-Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy, who gave Dowdle his first real opportunity in a featured role in 2024 whilst the two were in Dallas. Dowdle is also a candidate to win this job outright over Jaylen Warren in 2026. At the price of RB30 and player overall 81 in half-PPR, fantasy managers should be all-in at that cost.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)
What one WR outside the top 30 in the expert consensus are you hoping to end up with in all your leagues and why?
DeVonta Smith (WR – PHI)
“I am all in on DeVonta Smith (Ranked #35), especially with the A.J. Brown trade to the Patriots appearing imminent as we approach the June 1 deadline. Smith is an elite route runner who proved his durability and efficiency in 2025, hauling in 77 receptions for 1,008 yards despite sharing the load. With the Eagles bringing in players such as Hollywood Brown and drafting Makai Lemon, the offense is evolving, but Smith remains the primary veteran stabilizer in the receiving corps, particularly with a 4-star strength of schedule for 2026. He is a dynamic YAC playmaker who is poised to see a significant target share increase and a massive fantasy ceiling in 2026.”
– Lawrence Iacona (Gridiron Experts)
Denzel Boston (WR – CLE)
“Denzel Boston is essentially free in drafts, going close to WR60 despite having Top-40 draft capital and a fairly easy path to lead his team in targets. We have watched Luther Burden, Ladd McConkey, Tee Higgins, and AJ Brown go in a similar range in the draft and be solid contributors in year 1. Maybe it’s because I had Boston as a mid-1st rounder and Concepcion rated as a 3rd rounder, but there is no receiver with nearly as much talent in this Browns WR room. The quarterback play is certainly questionable, but pure volume should push him into fantasy-relevant play.”
– Justin Weigal (FantasySharks)
Michael Pittman (WR – PIT)
“If Michael Pittman is seriously gonna be available outside the top-40 wide receivers, he might end up as my most heavily rostered player. He’s perfectly paired with end-stage Aaron Rodgers, a quarterback focused on short and intermediate quick-hitters. Pittman might very well end this season with 90 of the most forgettable receptions you’re ever gonna see. It’s an eat-your-vegetables draft pick without question, but very likely to deliver a profit.”
– Andy Behrens (The Deep Shot)
Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR – ARI)
“A lot of fantasy analysts are writing Marvin Harrison Jr. off as a bust. I think that’s a mistake. Arizona has a new head coach this season, Mike LaFleur. LaFleur comes over from Los Angeles under the tutelage of offensive wiz Sean McVay. McVay’s offense features a pass-oriented attack, the same one where a fantasy star WR named Puka plays. In addition, the Cardinals added more juice to the offense with RB Jeremiyah Love and bolstered their line with Guard Chase Bisontis. With a consensus ranking at WR 31, Harrison seems cheap given his talent and the potential of an improved Cardinals’ offense in 2026.”
– Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)
Makai Lemon (WR – PHI)
“If Makai Lemon (ECR: WR39) is being drafted as a WR4 in August, he’ll be on a lot of my rosters. The Amon-Ra St. Brown comparisons that accompany Lemon as he transitions from USC to the NFL are not far-fetched. Lemon is an electric slot man who shakes defenders with remarkable quickness off the snap, makes tough catches, and is tough to bring down once he has the ball in his hands. A.J. Brown‘s departure from Philadelphia is imminent. DeVonta Smith is a terrific receiver, but there might not be an enormous chasm between Smith’s numbers and Lemon’s this season. Smith should be productive right away, and he’s likely to be a value at cost.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
“While the Eagles offense remains questionable, buy in on the talent of Makai Lemon. Lemon showed elite production at the collegiate level, and now comes to Philly in a position to produce. With the expectation that A.J. Brown will no longer be a member of the Eagles in the not-so-distant future, Lemon should see the field right away and contribute to fantasy lineups off the jump. The real question with Lemon is, how far can he go? Lemon has true high-end WR2 to low-end WR1 breakout potential written all over him, if the Eagles offense can improve, making Lemon a home run choice for fantasy managers as the WR39.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)
Jordyn Tyson (WR – NO)
“The New Orleans Saints drafted Jordyn Tyson 8th overall in this year’s draft, arming their second-year QB with another pass-catching weapon. The 6-foot-2 and 203-pound WR broke out at the collegiate level at just 18 years old, and his dominance continued when healthy during his tenure at Arizona State. In 2025, he posted a league-leading 35% target share. In his nine healthy games, he finished second in the nation in targets. But Tyson battled through several different injuries that caused him to miss time, and that spooked some teams during the pre-draft process. Nevertheless, the Saints took a chance on the former Sun Devil because of his upside/fit in HC Kellen Moore’s offense. This unit is fast-paced and can support multiple fantasy assets. Last year, before Rashid Shaheed was traded to Seattle, both he and Chris Olave were seeing a ton of volume (combining for 17 targets per game). Shaheed was 15th in the NFL in WR targets. Tyson possesses alpha-level traits to be a WR1 at the next level after checking off nearly all the boxes of an elite WR prospect (young, target earner, dominant producer, early breakout age). This is a sneaky situation where Tyson could be the 1B to Olave’s 1A in 2026.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
“Jordyn Tyson brings some injury concerns, but he also brings massive upside. His role in the slot should bring him early success in this Kellen Moore offense. This offense ranked high in pass attempts, pace of play, and Tyson walks in to be a top-2 target. If Olave were to go down, he would be the #1 guy in this offense. If I had to bet on one of these Rookies finishing in the top-12, it would be Tyson.”
– David Heilman (Dynasty Trade Calculator)
Parker Washington (WR – JAC)
“I’m hitting the easy button on these questions, because who wouldn’t click Parker Washington right now at a WR41 price tag. Washington proved last season just how valuable he was to his offense and to Trevor Lawrence by earning 95 targets and catching 58 balls for 847 yards and 5 TDs. Other than Travis Etienne‘s 6 receiving TDs, Washington led the Jags in every one of those categories while coming just .1 yards short of Brian Thomas Jr.‘s yards per reception mark. What’s nicer, though, is his 2.2 yards per route run mark, which was good enough for 16th in the league. Currently, Washington is being drafted behind teammate Jakobi Meyers and just ahead of Michael Pittman and Jordan Addison. Last year’s WR27 is not getting the respect he deserves, especially considering the BTJ trade rumors are heating up and Etienne left town. Buy in now, before Washington jumps up boards this summer.”
– Jeremy Shulman (Fantasy Football Universe)
Josh Downs (WR – IND)
“Josh Downs still needs to prove he can handle more two-WR-set work after Michael Pittman‘s departure. But Indy’s thin depth chart makes that a fair projection, with Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Ashton Dulin, and rookie Deion Burks offering limited competition behind Alec Pierce. Downs enters his age-25 season in a contract year and already carries a WR29 finish in PPR points per game from 2024.”
– Kevin English (Draft Sharks)
Chris Godwin Jr. (WR – TB)
“I love Chris Godwin Jr. at his current ADP. He’s always played alongside Mike Evans, yet still has been able to be productive and fantasy relevant while healthy. With Evans gone and the ascension of Egbuka, Godwin’s role really doesn’t change in the offense. I don’t think Egbuka is as good as Mike Evans, so they will need to lean on Godwin even more this year. His being outside the top 30 WR board is a bargain.”
– Joey Meinerding (Fantasy Dink)
Wan’Dale Robinson (WR – NYG)
“Wan’Dale Robinson is the chickpea equivalent of fantasy production. No one gets excited about chickpeas, but that doesn’t change the fact that they are loaded with protein, fiber, and essential minerals. Furthermore, there isn’t a lot you can do to spice up the lackluster flavor, typically used as a complement to any dish. With the fourth overall pick, Carnell Tate, taking the lead role, Robinson is the perfect complement. Following his former head coach Brian Daboll, the two find themselves in Tennessee with a wide-open receiver depth chart. Over the last two years, Robinson was 10th and 7th, respectively, in targets, totaling 140 in each season. Cam Ward needs a reliable guy to get the ball to and keep the chains moving. This makes Robinson the perfect solution for steady fantasy production despite having little to no fantasy flair. Currently going as the WR45, he can easily chug his way along to a top 30 production and be a perfect weekly fill-in.”
– Ellis Johnson (FantasyPros)
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