The 2026 fantasy football season is just around the corner with training camps getting underway. One of the keys to building an elite fantasy football team is finding value in each round of your draft and coming away with the best option at each pick.
Therefore, let’s look at the best value in each round of a 12-team, 1-QB, PPR draft using FantasyPros’ average draft position (ADP). Remember, this isn’t a mock draft, so I’m not building a balanced team. Instead, I am looking for the best value in each round.
Top Fantasy Football Draft Values in Every Round
Round 1
James Cook (RB – BUF) | ADP: 10.8
Buffalo’s offense should remain the same after promoting Joe Brady from offensive coordinator to head coach this offseason. Therefore, James Cook is one of my favorite running backs to draft this year. He has improved every season of his career, totaling at least 1,000 rushing yards in three consecutive years, including an NFL and career-high 1,621 in 2025.
More importantly, Cook is one of six running backs to average 16+ PPR fantasy points per game in each of the past two seasons.
Round 2
Chase Brown (RB – CIN) | ADP: 19.8
Chase Brown finished as the RB10 in 2024, averaging 15.9 PPR fantasy points per game. Furthermore, he was the RB7 last year, averaging 16.6 fantasy points per game despite only playing half the season with Joe Burrow.
More importantly, Brown has been a touchdown machine on a high-powered offense, totaling 11 scores in back-to-back years. The Bengals did nothing to challenge his role as the featured guy this offseason, meaning fantasy players should expect another top-10 finish from Brown in 2026.
Round 3
Rashee Rice (WR – KC) | ADP: 26.3
Unfortunately, Rashee Rice has been in the news for all the wrong reasons this offseason. He served a 30-day sentence for violating his probation and had a clean-up procedure on his knee.
Hopefully, Rice doesn’t get suspended, and he is ready to play in Week 1. Last year, the superstar played in only eight games due to a suspension and an injury. However, he was outstanding when on the field, averaging 18.8 PPR fantasy points per game, scoring over 23.1 points in half the contests.
Round 4
Cam Skattebo (RB – NYG | ADP: 44.3
Hopefully, Cam Skattebo can stay healthy after suffering a gruesome ankle injury last year. The former Arizona State star was outstanding for fantasy players when healthy, ranking as the RB6 from Week 2 through Week 7.
Skattebo averaged 18.8 touches for 96.3 scrimmage yards, a touchdown and 19.1 PPR fantasy points per game, despite playing an average of only 64.2% of the snaps during the stretch. Skattebo could have a breakout season, especially if Malik Nabers isn’t ready to start the year.
Round 5
DJ Moore (WR – BUF) | ADP: 56.5
Despite never playing with an elite quarterback, DJ Moore has been productive, averaging 14+ PPR fantasy points per game in five out of seven seasons since his rookie year, though he’s never been a high touchdown scorer.
Meanwhile, the Bills have lacked a go-to wide receiver since Stefon Diggs was traded. Diggs finished as the WR9 in his final season in Buffalo, averaging 9.4 targets and 16.1 fantasy points per game. Moore could have similar success with Josh Allen under center.
Round 6
Rome Odunze (WR – CHI) | ADP: 61.8
Rome Odunze got off to one of the hottest starts last year, ranking as the WR3 over the first month, averaging 19.9 PPR fantasy points per game. Furthermore, he scored 15+ fantasy points in half of his games.
Meanwhile, DJ Moore is gone, and the Bears did nothing to replace him. While Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland are popular breakout candidates, Odunze could easily have a Jameson Williams-like top-12 finish if he sees the same 7.5 targets per game he got last season.
Round 7
Tucker Kraft (TE – GB) | ADP: 80.3
Thankfully, Tucker Kraft expects to play in Week 1 without limitation after suffering a torn ACL last year. He was the TE1 on a points-per-game basis over the first eight weeks of last season, averaging 16.2 PPR fantasy points per contest, the same average as Trey McBride.
Meanwhile, the Packers moved on from Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks this offseason without adding any meaningful additions. Kraft is my sleeper pick to end the year as the overall TE1.
Round 8
Justin Herbert (QB – LAC) | ADP: 89.5
Unfortunately, the Chargers’ offensive line was a mess last season because of injury. Rashawn Slater missed the entire year, while Joe Alt only played in six contests. Yet, Justin Herbert finished as the QB10, averaging 17.9 fantasy points per game, a higher average than Joe Burrow (16.8) and Lamar Jackson (16.5).
Meanwhile, Los Angeles improved its offensive line this offseason and hired Mike McDaniel as their new offensive coordinator. While he likely won’t have a career year, expect a bounce-back season from Herbert.
Round 9
Patrick Mahomes (QB – KC) | ADP: 103.3
Despite suffering a significant knee injury at the end of last year, Patrick Mahomes is on pace to play in Week 1. Last season, the superstar was quietly one of the top quarterbacks in fantasy football despite never having a healthy receiving corps.
Mahomes was the QB2 over the first 13 weeks, averaging 21.1 fantasy points per game, totaling 23.1+ points in eight out of 12 contests. While Mahomes might get off to a slow start, expect him to have another top-10 finish this year.
Round 10
Jared Goff (QB – DET) | ADP: 119.5
Jared Goff has never been a fantasy superstar. Yet, the veteran has always been a solid top-12-ish quarterback since getting traded to Detroit.
Last season, Goff finished as the QB12, averaging 17.5 fantasy points per game despite the Lions having multiple play-callers and issues along the offensive line. Furthermore, Goff is the only quarterback to have at least 30 passing touchdowns in each of the past three seasons, including 34 last year, the second-highest total of his career.
Round 11
KC Concepcion (WR – CLE) | ADP: 128.8
Cleveland made massive changes to its wide receiver room this offseason, using two of their first three draft picks on KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston.
However, the former Texas A&M star is my favorite Browns wide receiver for 2026. Head coach Todd Monken spent the past three years coaching Zay Flowers in Baltimore and should see similarities with Concepcion. Therefore, the rookie will likely lead Cleveland in targets, getting a meaningful number of designed touches.
Round 12
Tyler Shough (QB – NO) | ADP: 136.5
Last year, Tyler Shough was the QB4 over the final six weeks, averaging 20.1 fantasy points per game. Furthermore, he had four top-12 finishes during that stretch.
More importantly, the Saints made him one of the biggest winners this offseason. They improved the offensive line by signing David Edwards. New Orleans also added Travis Etienne Jr., Jordyn Tyson and Bryce Lance to go with Chris Olave, giving Shough several options in the passing game. Expect him to build on his rookie year success.
Round 13
Jalen McMillan (WR – TB) | ADP: 152.5
While fantasy players should be excited about Emeka Egbuka, don’t forget about Jalen McMillan. Unfortunately, the former Washington star only played in the final four contests last season because of injury, averaging 7.5 PPR fantasy points per game.
However, McMillan was a star to end his rookie year, averaging 6.2 targets, 1.4 touchdowns, and 19.8 fantasy points per game over the final five regular-season contests. Don’t be surprised if McMillan pushes the aging Chris Godwin for the No. 2 wide receiver role.
Round 14
Chig Okonkwo (TE – WSH) | ADP: 157.3
Chig Okonkwo is in line to finish second on the Commanders in targets behind Terry McLaurin this season. Last year, the veteran set career-highs in receptions (56), targets (79), receiving yards (560) and PPR fantasy points per game (7.3), despite playing on an awful Tennessee Titans offense.
Yet, Okonkwo thrived late in the season as Cam Ward developed, averaging 12.7 fantasy points per game during the fantasy playoffs. Even if Washington adds Stefon Diggs, Okonkwo should have his first career top-12 finish.
Round 15
Jalen Nailor (WR – LV) | ADP: 173.5
The Raiders’ passing game will flow through Brock Bowers. However, the team has a wide-open competition for their No. 1 wide receiver role.
Jalen Nailor should be the favorite to win that job after being Las Vegas’ only meaningful addition to their wide receiver unit this offseason.
Last season, Nailor averaged 13.9 PPR fantasy points per game in the four contests with at least five targets. Furthermore, Nailor is a scoring machine, posting a 17.5% receiving touchdown rate over the past two seasons in Minnesota.
Round 16
Emmett Johnson (RB – KC) | ADP: 191.3
Even after signing Kenneth Walker III to a massive contract in free agency, the Chiefs spent a mid-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Emmett Johnson. The rookie could see enough volume to be a FLEX option in deeper leagues.
Yet, the former Nebraska star’s fantasy value primarily comes as Walker’s handcuff. Unfortunately, the star running back has struggled to stay healthy when given a featured workload. Therefore, Johnson will have must-start weeks this season when Walker inevitably misses time.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.