Fantasy football draft strategy: Who should I pick in the first round in 2026?

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 03: Amon-Ra St. Brown #14 and Jahmyr Gibbs #0 of the Detroit Lions pose for a photo before the 2026 NFL Pro Bowl game between the AFC and the NFC at the Moscone Center South on February 03, 2026 in San Francisco, California. The NFC won 66-52. | Getty Images The 2026 fantasy football season is upon us, which means we need to come up with a plan of attack for drafting our fake football teams. The last two seasons have been good for those grabbing a top running back in the first round. A lack of injuries and defenses taking away the deep ball have given those early round backs extreme value recently. This year will likely follow a similar path, as teams continue to take away the big play and force offenses to beat them on the ground and through quick, short passes. Sadly, we can’t predict injuries, which is just how things are. Last year many decided they wouldn’t risk picking Christian McCaffrey, but he went on to have yet another huge season, with nary a nick. Sure, running backs who get a ton of touches are going to be more susceptible to injury, but that’s the price you pay for that kind of usage. Who to pick No. 1? This question isn’t all that difficult this season. I love Bijan Robinson, but I do not love the Falcons overall offense. Robinson remains my No. 2 player overall, but Jahmyr Gibbs is set up for yet another great season on a good Lions offense. With twelve dome games and a defense that gave up the 10th-most points per game last season, the sky is the limit for Gibbs again this year. Are there any scenarios you should pick someone other than Bijan Robinson at No. 2 overall? I love Robinson’s game and at this point in his career he can overcome a mediocre offense. But, I could see a scenario where in full PPR leagues I go with Puka Nacua. His ability to soak up receptions is truly generational. The only thing that might hold me back is the fact that Nacua isn’t the brightest bulb in the box and he takes on a lot of punishment over the middle with all of this targets. He was the clear leader in receptions and yards last year despite missing a game. He had plenty of small injuries, but he played through them. Of course, there’s also a chance he gets some sort of suspension for his off-field transgressions. He’s a risky pick at No. 2 overall and most of the time I’m going to pick Robinson, but throwing Nacua and his upside into the mix is a risk that could pay off. Don’t worry about going RB-RB I mostly play in half PPR leagues and it does seem to be the most prevalent system out there. In that scoring system I am looking to get top running back(s) early. Even though I love the top receivers, I rather need receivers in the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th rounds than need running backs. The RB position falls off a cliff in the 4th round, but there are still solid receivers waiting to be scooped up. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to take Nacua, Ja’Marr Chase, JSN, and Amon-Ra St. Brown, but I’m not going to worry about getting running backs who I can count on to get their 20+ touches per game, as I love the WR tier with Chris Olave, Malik Nabers, George Pickens, DeVonta Smith, Tay Flowers, Tee Higgins, Emeka Egbuka, Ladd McConkey, Garrett Wilson, Jaylen Waddle, Luther Burden, Jameson Williams, and Parker Washington. If I can get two running backs in the first two rounds and then two receivers from this group, I’m super happy with how my draft is going. How high do we take Christian McCaffrey? This is a question I’ve gone back and forth on this off-season. We know CMC has dealt with several injuries in the past and has a tremendous amount of carries and receptions in his career. If McCaffrey gets injured this year it would not surprise anyone. He’s also seen his efficiency metrics take a downturn, which is partly him and partly the 49ers offense last year. So, there are valid concerns. Will anyone back besides Gibbs and Robinson compare to CMC’s workload and fantasy upside though? The answer is no. Backfields are split for the majority of teams, but we know that’s not the case with McCaffrey. And even when asked to take the team on his back last year, he didn’t break down despite 440 touches. It’s risky to be sure, but I’m willing to reach for CMC with the No. 3 pick ahead of Nacua and Chase. Running backs to target late in the first round Right now ADP has James Cook, Ashton Jeanty (injured), Saquon Barkley, De’Von Achane, Chase Brown, Omarion Hampton, Kenneth Walker and Derrick Henry from RB9 to RB18. These are the RBs you’ll likely be choosing between as you near the end of the first round. These aren’t all slam dunk guys, but they are solid. Of this group, I often take Cook or Barkley if they fall, while I’ll also reach a little for Walker, Hampton and Brown. Achane is a tremendous player, but he scares me in Miami’s tanking offense. He’s still a good second-round pick, but I’ll let someone else grab him in the first round or beginning of the second. Overall draft I go into most of my drafts wanting at least one running back in the first two rounds, with two being good as well. I then want to make up for missing the top wide receivers by grabbing my favorites in rounds 3-6, while keeping an eye out for tight end value and for a top QB to drop. If that top QB doesn’t drop, I’m fine with grabbing two later round QBs, especially if I have deep benches. In the later rounds, I also want to grab as many upside “sleeper” type running backs as lotto tickets. RB, RB, WR, WR, TE, WR, WR, QB, WR, RB, RB, RB, would be a start that feels right on paper. In one-point PPR I am more apt to take one of the stud receivers, but I still want to make sure I get a solid running back with Top 5 upside and I am still perfectly fine grabbing two running backs to start.

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