Hey!
Important one today. Every round of your draft has a strategy behind it this year and if you nail each round you're going to walk out of every draft with a real advantage.
Here's the round-by-round playbook for 2026:
Before The Draft
Don't roll in and wing it. Spend 5 minutes queuing up the players you actually want ahead of time.
The deeper you get into a draft, the less time you have to prepare when on the clock, that's when panic picks happen. Keep your queue updated and you'll always be ready…
Rounds 1-2
These rounds are all about reliability. Proven players, locked-in roles, good offenses, minimal risk.
The fork in the road: Hero RB or not? Hero RB means grabbing one stud RB early, then waiting several rounds before you take another. Both builds win if done right.
Round 3
This is where it gets fun. Start eyeing the elite mobile QBs, the guys who give you a rushing floor AND ceiling.
Otherwise, keep taking the best RB or WR on the board. This is one of those rounds with a clear tier cliff, if your guy is there, don't overthink it…
Round 4
In Round 4 I'm eyeing elite TEs like Loveland, grabbing a mobile QB if Lamar slides, or sticking to best-available RB/WR…
Round 5
This is where you get to be different. Remember George Pickens last year? Round 5 pick in most drafts and he finished as a Top 5 receiver.
Don't be scared to jump a few picks ahead for a player you truly believe in. Once you're past Round 5, ADP stops being predictive.
Keep taking best available RB/WR in this range, or consider taking Tyler Warren…
Round 6
Huge tip: you do NOT have to fill your starting lineup first.
The classic mistake is thinking "I need my TE spot before I take a 3rd RB." You don't. Just take the best player on the board. If you walk out with 5 RBs before touching a TE, great, you're stacking value.
In Round 6, target QBs like Jayden Daniels or Jalen Hurts. Otherwise, keep grabbing the best available WR/RB
Round 7
This is where I start tilting toward RBs over WRs. Not a hard rule, but RB value dries up quicker once you get past Rounds 7-9.
This is also where you start drafting in tiers, not just rankings…
Rounds 8-9
Still leaning slightly RBs over WRs. But these are prime rounds for a QB if you skipped the elite options early.
Think Brock Purdy, Mahomes or Kyler Murray…
Round 10
Two reminders here. Don't let bye weeks dictate your picks, you'll figure it out in-season. And always measure each guy against your personal rankings, not just ADP.
Round 10 is another strong spot for a QB if you've been waiting. Otherwise, keep scooping value at RB or WR…
Round 11
Still hunting best-available RB or WR here. Or this can be the range where you finally take your QB if you've been punting. Malik Willis and Kyler Murray are targets here…
Round 12
Tip: the later you take your QB2, the earlier you have to take your QB1.
In Round 12, target a late round TE if you’ve been waiting like Dallas Goedert or keep scooping RB/WRs…
Round 13
Prioritize younger players with upside in these rounds. Veteran role players might win you 1 random week, but they're not winning your league.
You want guys who could legitimately blow up: rookies, 2nd-year players, explosive athletes in new roles…
Rounds 14-18
Tip: Never draft a kicker. I don't care if your platform tries to force it.
Leave that last pick open and stream in a kicker before Week 1. News over the next few weeks might hand you a league-winning waiver add. Keep the flexibility…
In Round 14-18 keep snagging upside value picks like Tank Bigsby, Adonai Mitchell and Greg Dulcich
— Sal
P.S. Want me to help you win your fantasy league this year?