For this exercise, I’m working off a 1QB, 12-team, 0.5 PPR dynasty startup draft, and the ADPs do vary for standard scoring and full PPR. Let’s take a look at fantasy football draft values to target in every round of a dynasty startup.
ADP Values in Each Round of Dynasty Startup Drafts (2026 Fantasy Football)
Malik Nabers (WR – NYG): 1.9
Malik Nabers is coming off a torn ACL, but he appears to be ready to go, and the Giants found their quarterback while Nabers was on the mend. After posting 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns in his rookie campaign, Nabers looked like one of the best receivers in the NFL. I fully anticipate he will be back to that level this season, and getting him late in the first round is good value.
Justin Jefferson (WR – MIN): 2.2
Considered the best receiver in the NFL over the last few years, it doesn’t feel right to see Jefferson going in the second round, even if it is warranted. Even with the struggles at quarterback last season, Jefferson has cleared 1,000 yards in each of his six NFL seasons. While I don’t believe Kyler Murray offers his best path back to stardom, it will likely be a vast improvement on what we’ve seen from the quarterback room recently. If it is JJ McCarthy, that means he’s earned the job and is improving, which would be encouraging as well. Regardless, Jefferson is an absolute stud and a player you just don’t pass up in the second round.
Emeka Egbuka (WR – TB): 3.6
The third round is littered with great players, varying in age and position, making it a pivotal round of startup drafts. Emeka Egbuka stands out to me as the player likely to emerge from this group and be a centerpiece of your dynasty roster. Although he cooled off in the second half of the season, the entire Bucs offense sputtered down the stretch, and Egbuka is a first-round draft pick coming off 938 yards and six touchdowns in his rookie campaign. The rookie finished with the second-most deep targets and the second-highest unrealized air yards. He saw a 57.5 percent catchable target rate, highlighting Mayfield’s struggles in the second half of the season. I anticipate that connection being much stronger this season. With franchise icon Mike Evans departing in free agency, the door is open for Egbuka to take the crown.
Rashee Rice (WR – KC): 4.7
Get this: After just turning 26 years old and coming off a season in which he finished as the WR5 in half-PPR PPG, the WR1 for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs is going in the mid-to-late fourth round of dynasty startup drafts. Obviously, context is required, considering Rashee Rice has been involved in issues off the field and has battled injuries in the first three years of his NFL career. He was limited to eight games last season after serving a suspension and suffering a concussion, and was somewhat reliant on his red zone usage. He does not come without risk, but Mahomes loves targeting him, especially in the red area, and as Travis Kelce nears the end, Rice has taken over as the offensive engine in the middle of the field. These are the types of picks that can jumpstart a contending dynasty team from day one and into the future.
Caleb Williams (QB – CHI): 5.4
Depending on the league, I don’t mind pushing quarterback off and building the rest of my roster, but quarterback is as important as ever, particularly in standard or half PPR scoring versus full PPR. Caleb Williams is currently being drafted in the fifth round as the ninth quarterback off the board and represents the end of the group with elite upside. He took a step forward in his first season with Ben Johnson, finishing as the QB7 in PPG while throwing for 3,942 yards and 27 touchdowns. He ran for 388 yards after hitting 489 in his rookie campaign, but he found the endzone with his legs three times compared to zero as a rookie. The Bears’ offense is bursting with playmakers next to Williams, as Colston Loveland has already emerged as a top tight end, while Rome Odunze and Luther Burden are massive breakout candidates. With Ben Johnson calling the shots, Williams has the upside to clear 4,000 yards passing and 500 rushing, a feat accomplished by just five quarterbacks in NFL history.
Devonta Smith (WR – PHI): 6.8
DeVonta Smith‘s ADP has been on the rise, but he’s still going too late and will continue to rise when the A.J. Brown trade becomes official in a few weeks. Makai Lemon is a great prospect, but Smith will be the clear top target and will be utilized downfield far more than Lemon. In his five games without Brown over the last three seasons, Smith has averaged 87.8 yards per game in those contests, which would equate to 1,493 over a full 17 game season. The offense will look different going forward, and those numbers are by no means a lock, but he has shown he can operate as a true number one option. At just 27 years old, he’s got plenty of runway left to continue ascending.
Oronde Gadsden II (TE – LAC): 7.3
The seventh round feels like a weak spot in startup dynasty drafts, but Oronde Gadsden stands out to me with the highest ceiling of the bunch. His ADP has dropped throughout the offseason with the addition of Charlie Kolar and may continue to slide after the Chargers’ recent addition of David Njoku. These additions, however, are likely to affect the receivers more than Gadsden. Mike McDaniel clearly wants to utilize plenty of two and three tight end sets, and Kolar and Njoku will allow Gadsden to move around the formation, rather than being stuck in-line. Kolar is an exceptional blocking tight end who is a capable pass catcher, while Njoku was recently pushed aside by Harold Fannin and sat on the shelf for two months of free agency. Darren Waller returned for a strong season in McDaniel’s offense last year while sharing the position with more blocking friendly players, and Gadsden showed a special blend of traits as a rookie, finishing third in yards per reception and fourth in yards per target. With Mike McDaniel scheming and Justin Herbert slinging, there’s plenty to go around for Gadsden. Take advantage of his devaluation and reap the rewards.
Christian Watson (WR – GB): 8.2
You won’t find many players with the upside of Christian Watson at this point in the draft. Not only did Watson return from an ACL tear in nine months, but he was electric upon his return to the field. He finished the season as the WR17 in PPG while seemingly taking over the WR1 role for the Packers. Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks both have new homes, and while I like Matthew Golden to take a leap, he’s unproven, and Jayden Reed exclusively plays out of the slot. Tucker Kraft will get his, but if Watson can stay healthy, we could see his dynasty value soar this season.
DK Metcalf (WR – PIT): 9.7
It feels like just yesterday DK Metcalf was in contention for the dynasty WR1 overall. It’s been five years, however, and a lot has changed since then. The market has finally let go of the hope that he gets back to that point. Still, he’s just 28 years old and was drafted at 36th overall in 2024 and 55th overall in 2025, both of which were the lowest ADP marks of his career. He’s now going 103rd overall, by far the lowest of his career, and represents a solid buy low opportunity. He’s the unquestioned top target for Aaron Rodgers, who is teaming back up with Mike McCarthy after the two made sweet music together for many years in Green Bay. The Steelers lack a long-term answer at quarterback, but last season was the first time Metcalf failed to hit 900 yards, and he still finished as the WR21 in half PPR PPG (minimum of 8 games played). The days of him being a WR1, let alone the WR1 overall, are long gone, but he is a strong WR3 for a dynasty startup team with upside for more.
Matthew Golden (WR – GB): 10.6
The overall production in Matthew Golden’s rookie season left a lot to be desired, but there were some bright spots, and the doors are wide open for a potential breakout in year two. His age, draft capital, and speed all justify a higher ADP than 114 overall, even after posting just 361 yards last season. His first NFL touchdown came in the Packers’ lone playoff game when he got loose for 84 yards and a score on four receptions, flashing the upside that made him the 22nd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. He battled shoulder and wrist injuries during the season, and his 70 percent catchable target rate tells part of the story. With Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks relocating, Golden is expected to start on the outside opposite of Christian Watson, with Jayden Reed playing out of the slot. His upside in the Packers offense necessitates a higher ADP than where he’s going, given the minimal risk in the 10th round.
Josh Downs (WR – IND): 11.10
It’s no secret that Josh Downs has been a very good and efficient receiver through the first three years of his career, while being hampered by inconsistent usage in the Colts’ offense and shaky quarterback play. He was PFF’s 20th highest graded receiver last season and generated a 24 percent target rate, best among all Colts pass catchers. Over the last four weeks of the season, Downs drew an average snap share of 80 percent across those four games, compared to 64 percent across his first 12 games of the season. The hope is that is a sign of things to come, particularly with Michael Pittman out of the picture. If Downs’ snap share is more in the 80 percent ballpark in 2026, combined with his efficiency metrics, this might be the year we see a true breakout. Turning 25 years old just before the season, he’s got many years ahead of him.
Jonathon Brooks (RB – CAR): 12.3
As a second-round pick in 2025, Jonathan Brooks entered the NFL coming off an ACL tear late in his final collegiate season. In just his third NFL game, Brooks tore his ACL yet again and has not seen the field since. He’s expected to be ready to go for the upcoming season and is a forgotten man in dynasty circles. He has a lot to prove, but is the clear favorite to backup Chuba Hubbard and has the talent to supplant him as the starter. Rico Dowdle, now a member of the Steelers, was able to take the reins from Hubbard last season, and if Brooks can get and stay healthy, he’s likely to far surpass the value of this draft slot.
Terrance Ferguson (TE – LAR): 13.6
It’s fair to question Terrance Ferguson’s role in the Rams offense, who retained Colby Parkinson, Tyler Higbee, and Davis Allen before drafting Max Klare in the third round of the NFL Draft. It’s clear that the Rams do not view Higbee or Parkinson as full-time players, and McVay wants to ‘heavy up’ on tight end, which is becoming a new trend in the NFL. McVay, however, has stated many times that the team would have drafted Ferguson in the first round last year had they been unable to trade back, and the head coach has consistently raved about Ferguson’s abilities. Every player in this range of the draft has major question marks, but the Rams lack a third option in the passing game, and Ferguson has all the traits to take that role by the horns as he enters his second season.
Chig Okonkwo (TE – WAS): 14.12
Another tight end value I love in this range of the draft is Chig Okonkwo, going with the last pick of the 14th round. Okonkwo has been a major breakout candidate over the last couple of years in Tennessee, but faced a limited snap share and subpar quarterback play. The Commanders made Chig a priority in the offseason as he replaces Zach Ertz, who was heavily involved in the offense, averaging 5.5 targets per game in his time in Washington. Okonkwo is younger and more athletic than Ertz and will see the best quarterback play of his career. The Commanders lack a number two option behind Terry McLaurin, a role which Chig may be the favorite for. The fifth-year pro has hit at least 450 receiving yards in all four of his NFL seasons and is consistently among the league leaders in yards after catch. This is a match made in heaven.
Kayshon Boutte (WR – NE): 15.1
Kayshon Boutte has quietly been very good for the Patriots since being selected in the sixth round in 2023. He’s held off many mid-round draft picks over the last few years and has been surprisingly efficient. He was the WR47 in PPG last season, but he led all receivers in fantasy points per target with 2.7. He finished first in yards per target with 12 and posted the sixth-highest yards per reception total at 16.7. With A.J. Brown expected to become a Patriot in a few weeks, Boutte is the forgotten man after the team added Romeo Doubs in free agency. There’s a chance Boutte gets traded to the Eagles and starts the season ahead of Makai Lemon, or he will stay in New England and battle Doubs for the WR2 role with MVP-level quarterback play. His upside is limited, of course, but he will continue to be productive and will always offer loads of contingent upside in the event of injuries ahead of him.
Adonai Mitchell (WR – IND): 16.9
It’s easy to forget that Adonai Mitchell is entering just his third season after becoming a second-round pick in 2024. He’s coming off a breakout second half of last season after being traded to the Jets. In his eight games with New York, Mitchell was the WR14 overall and in half point PPR ppg. That includes a goose egg in week 18 with quarterback Brady Cook throwing for 60 yards against the Bills. Geno Smith isn’t necessarily dragging anybody to glory, but he’s a clear upgrade over the Jets’ QB room last year. Gang Green added Kenyon Sadiq and Omar Cooper Jr. in the first round of the NFL Draft, but are we sure they will usurp Mitchell in the pecking order? The Jets are going to be bad again, but they will be much more capable and are in line to draft a franchise quarterback in next year’s draft, which should raise the ceiling and floor for every Jet in 2027 and beyond.
Tank Dell (WR – HOU): 17.9
Tank Dell is nearing health and will be back with the Texans at some point this season. There’s no telling how he will look after a traumatic multi-ligament knee injury, but we cannot forget the great football he was playing prior to the injury. This is the kind of talent you should be taking shots on this late in a startup draft.
Antonio Williams (WR – WAS): 18.2
Antonio Williams profiles as a slot receiver in the NFL and isn’t wowing anybody with his athleticism, but he’s been heralded as one of the best route runners in the class. He steps into a Commanders offense in desperate need of pass catchers and should start in the slot from day one. As a third-round pick, he will have an opportunity to be the Commanders’ number two target this season and beyond.
Michael Mayer (TE – LV): 19.3
The Raiders are expected to run more two tight end sets this season, and Michael Mayer can have an impact in the offense that is full of unproven receivers. More importantly, Mayer is a free agent after the season. As an early second round draft pick, Mayer will likely get an opportunity to start somewhere else next season. He’s worth a stash here.
Kyler Murray (QB – MIN): 20.7
I’ve never been a huge advocate for Kyler Murray, but this price tag is egregious. He’s the favorite to win the job in Minnesota and has proven how impactful he can be in fantasy football with a handful of QB1 seasons on his resume. Kevin O’Connell’s history suggests that Murray may even be the best version of himself with the coach’s tutelage. This is a no-brainer selection in the 20th round.
