Nakatomi Plaza · 35th Floor · Sports Desk
Draft Night at Nakatomi
The full cheat sheet. 8 teams, full PPR, 2 flex, you pick 6th. Welcome to the party, pal.
Draft: tonight, 7:00 PM PT · Built Tuesday, September 8, 2026 · Season kicks off tomorrow
McClane walked every depth chart, every trade, every injury report. Your only job is to not blink.
The War Room Plan
pick 6 in an 8-teamerThe shape of an 8-team league
Only 8 QBs, 8 TEs, 8 DSTs and 8 Ks start. Everyone's starting lineup is stacked, so the edge is weekly ceiling and WR/RB depth for your 5 flex-eligible slots (3 WR + 2 FLEX). The waiver wire stays rich all year - churn your last two bench spots without mercy.
Round 1 - pick 6
You are taking whoever slides of JSN, Jefferson, CMC, Lamb (ECR 6-9; St. Brown and the big four go 1-5 most rooms). In this format a WR-heavy start is the edge, but CMC at 6 is never wrong.
Round 2 - pick 11
A.J. Brown, Drake London, Nico Collins, James Cook, Chase Brown zone. If Brock Bowers (overall 17) or Trey McBride (19) slides to you here, think hard - in a shallow league an elite TE is a weekly positional win.
Round 3 - pick 22
Saquon, Nabers, Kenneth Walker, Hampton. This is also where Josh Allen (26) and Lamar (31) start to tempt you. One elite QB is fine; two is a wasted pick.
Round 4 - pick 27
Rashee Rice, Jeanty, Zay Flowers, Garrett Wilson. Rice at a discount with Mahomes back is the board's best value pocket.
QB timing
If no top-4 QB falls to rounds 3-4, wait. Maye, Dak, Caleb are there in rounds 6-8 in an 8-teamer. And Mahomes sits at QB19 in the ECR - the ACL panic discount. Draft your starter late, stash Mahomes later, laugh in December.
TE timing
Bowers/McBride cost a 2nd-3rd. Pass there and Loveland goes rounds 4-6. Pass again and Isaiah Likely (TE12 ECR, Dart's security blanket) or Kincaid (TE15) are your late hammer.
D/ST and K
Rounds 17-18 only. Houston (DST1) is the one defense worth a round-15 reach; otherwise stream weekly. Kickers: Aubrey, Fairbairn, Dicker - take whoever is left in the final round.
Bench rule
Seven bench spots in an 8-team league = seven lottery tickets. No safe floors, no handcuffs to backs you don't believe in. Every bench pick needs a path to a starting job - that is what Ellis' vault below is for.
Quarterbacks
1 starter - depth is worthless, ceiling is everything▸Tier 1 - weekly league-winners
QB1 · overall ECR 31
Lamar JacksonBAL · QB
ECR QB1. Still the safest weekly ceiling in football; new OC Declan Doyle keeps the run game his.
QB2 · overall ECR 44
Joe BurrowCIN · QB
ECR QB2 with Chase WR1 and Higgins WR15 both healthy. Elite floor when the line holds up.
QB3 · overall ECR 54
Jalen HurtsPHI · QB
Tush push is still legal and Saquon keeps defenses honest. Top-3 lock by legs alone.
QB4 · overall ECR 26
Josh AllenBUF · QB
DS has him Week 2 QB1. DJ Moore gives him a real WR1; the rushing TDs are banked points.
Tier 2 - set and forget
QB5 · overall ECR 70
Justin HerbertLAC · QB
Hampton and McConkey raise the floor. Quietly ECR QB5; never wins you a week, never loses one.
QB6 · overall ECR 74
Dak PrescottDAL · QB
DAL was 2nd in passing yards per game last year and can lead the league. Tyler Smith's thumb (out 4-6 wks) is the one worry.
QB7 · overall ECR 63
Caleb WilliamsCHI · QB
Year 3 with Loveland, Burden and Odunze all ascending. The tools are all there.
QB8 · overall ECR 35
Drake MayeNE · QB
DS Week 2 QB2. AJ Brown is his alpha now and the deep ball is real. Legit top-5 upside.
Tier 3 - fine 8-team starters
QB9 · overall ECR 71
Trevor LawrenceJAC · QB
New-look JAX pass catchers (Parker Washington, Meyers, Tuten out of the backfield). Solid, not sexy.
QB10 · overall ECR 103
Jared GoffDET · QB
Gibbs and St. Brown do the heavy lifting. High floor, capped ceiling, fine 8-team starter.
QB11 · overall ECR 58
Jayden DanielsWAS · QB
DS Week 2 QB3. Diggs and McLaurin is the best WR pair he has had. Injury history is the discount.
QB12 · overall ECR 95
Jaxson DartNYG · QB
Leans on his TEs; Likely connection was the story of camp. Rushing floor makes him startable now.
QB13 · overall ECR 104
Matthew StaffordLAR · QB
Nacua and Davante is a dream pairing but the back makes him week-to-week furniture. Stream, don't marry.
QB14 · overall ECR 120
Baker MayfieldTB · QB SLEEPER
SI's sleeper QB: was QB4 in 2024, QB12 hurt last year, and Egbuka is back. ECR QB14 is a discount.
QB15 · overall ECR 94
Brock PurdySF · QB
DS Week 2 QB6. The SF skill group is held together with tape, which caps him - but the system hums.
QB16 · overall ECR 114
Kyler MurrayMIN · QB
New era in Minnesota throwing to Jefferson and Addison. Scheme upgrade, prove-it year.
Tier 4 - streamers and stashes
QB17 · overall ECR 96
Bo NixDEN · QB
Waddle arrives as a real weapon. Year 3 jump is possible; the floor is still thin.
QB18 · overall ECR 130
Malik WillisMIA · QB
Miami's starter with Hill gone and Waddle traded. Streaming spot starts only - Achane is the offense.
QB19 · overall ECR 101
Patrick Mahomes IIKC · QB SLEEPER
THE discount of 2026: ECR QB19 off the ACL/LCL tear. FantasyPros calls the panic overblown. Stash him late and let the room laugh, then cry.
Running Backs
2 starters + flex - the scarce position, draft it heavy▸Tier 1 - the penthouse
RB1 · overall ECR 2
Jahmyr GibbsDET · RB
ECR RB1 and DS RB1. Montgomery is in Houston now - the backfield is his alone.
RB2 · overall ECR 4
Bijan RobinsonATL · RB
ECR RB2. Three-down bell cow in his prime; safest pick on the board after Chase.
RB3 · overall ECR 8
Christian McCaffreySF · RB
ECR RB3 at 30 with the Niners' WR room decimated - expect a monster target share. The hamstrings are the bet you make.
RB4 · overall ECR 20
De'Von AchaneMIA · RB
The whole Miami offense now: Hill gone, Waddle traded, Willis at QB. Massive volume, team-context risk.
RB5 · overall ECR 10
Jonathan TaylorIND · RB
ECR RB5, DS RB5. Steady 300-touch outlook; the Colts' QB play is the only drag.
Tier 2 - weekly RB1s
RB6 · overall ECR 22
Saquon BarkleyPHI · RB
ECR RB6. Off the 2,000-yard season; some regression baked in, still a top-8 lock.
RB7 · overall ECR 15
Chase BrownCIN · RB
ECR RB7. Cincy's every-down back in a Burrow offense - the TD equity is elite.
RB8 · overall ECR 25
Omarion HamptonLAC · RB
ECR RB8. Took the Chargers' lead job as a rookie and never gave it back.
RB9 · overall ECR 33
Derrick HenryBAL · RB
ECR RB9. Age 32, still the goal-line hammer. Zero passing-game role caps the PPR ceiling.
RB10 · overall ECR 14
James Cook IIIBUF · RB
DS Week 2 RB4. Buffalo's lead back with Moore stretching defenses. Underrated every year, produces every year.
RB11 · overall ECR 42
Javonte WilliamsDAL · RB
Dallas RB1 by default and by play. TD-heavy profile on a top-5 scoring offense.
RB12 · overall ECR 24
Kenneth Walker IIIKC · RB
KC's new RB1 - DS has him RB6 for Week 2, ECR RB12. Pacheco on IR; if the Chiefs line is healthy this is a league-winner at cost.
RB13 · overall ECR 28
Ashton JeantyLV · RB
Year 2 in Vegas. The talent is generational; the Raiders' blocking keeps him RB13 instead of RB5.
RB14 · overall ECR 43
Kyren WilliamsLAR · RB
ECR RB14 with Corum carving a bigger slice late last season. Still the starter, still a PPR asset.
Tier 3 - RB2s with real roles
RB15 · overall ECR 45
Travis Etienne Jr.NO · RB
Took Kamara's job in New Orleans outright. Fresh start, plus passing-game role - sneaky RB2.
RB16 · overall ECR 50
D'Andre SwiftCHI · RB
Cleared-out Chicago backfield; Monangai is the only threat. Volume RB2 with weekly flex floor.
RB17 · overall ECR 39
Breece HallNYJ · RB
ECR RB17, DS RB13. Contract-year burst candidate; the Jets' offense is still the Jets' offense.
RB18 · overall ECR 53
Bucky IrvingTB · RB
Tampa's lead back, but Gainwell lurks on passing downs. Solid RB2 with a capped ceiling.
RB19 · overall ECR 55
Cam SkatteboNYG · RB TRAP
TRAP FLOOR: Najee Harris signed to steal early-down and goal-line work. Name heat from last year, committee reality this year.
RB20 · overall ECR 59
David MontgomeryHOU · RB
Now in Houston after the trade. Early-down bruiser role intact; rookie Woody Marks nips at the passing work.
RB21 · overall ECR 69
Rhamondre StevensonNE · RB
DS Week 2 RB16 vs ECR RB21. Maye's checkdown king; volume is safe, explosiveness is not.
RB22 · overall ECR 40
Jeremiyah LoveARI · RB
Arizona's starter with Conner on IR and Benson done for the year - but his own high-ankle had him 50/50 for the opener. High risk, real reward.
RB23 · overall ECR 60
Quinshon JudkinsCLE · RB
Cleveland's clear RB1 on a run-first rebuild. Volume is king even when the offense is bad.
RB24 · overall ECR 72
Jaylen WarrenPIT · RB
Pittsburgh's starter with Dowdle behind him. Efficient, elusive, never quite bell-cow usage.
Tier 4 - flexes and committees
RB25 · overall ECR 64
Jadarian PriceSEA · RB
Seattle's guy until at least Week 5 with Charbonnet on PUP. A strong September makes this a timeshare, not a rental.
RB26 · overall ECR 65
Bhayshul TutenJAC · RB
Crowned by the community after Etienne left JAX, but Rodriguez has matched his camp reps. Red-zone role is the question.
RB27 · overall ECR 81
Tony PollardTEN · RB
Tennessee's lead back on paper; Spears keeps eating the passing downs. Low ceiling in a bad offense.
RB28 · overall ECR 82
Rico DowdlePIT · RB
Pittsburgh's handcuff with standalone flex weeks. Warren has never held a full season's load.
RB29 · overall ECR 106
MarShawn LloydGB · RB SLEEPER
SLEEPER: Jacobs is on the Commissioner's Exempt List (court 9/10, suspension likely). The GB job is Lloyd's until it isn't. Free upside in round 12+.
RB30 · overall ECR 97
Chuba HubbardCAR · RB TRAP
TRAP FLOOR: week-to-week hamstring, and Brooks is lurking. Carolina's backfield could flip by October.
RB31 · overall ECR 93
Kenny GainwellTB · RB
Tampa's passing-down back. PPR scam play if Irving misses time.
RB32 · overall ECR 102
J.K. DobbinsDEN · RB SLEEPER
Denver's lead back at an RB32 price. RB1 talent, rookie-season-only health record. Coleman was drafted as the scheme fit behind him.
RB33 · overall ECR 118
Aaron Jones Sr.MIN · RB TRAP
TRAP FLOOR: 31 years old and Mason out-efficiencied him last year. The takeover watch is on.
RB34 · overall ECR 92
RJ HarveyDEN · RB
Denver's committee piece. Needs a Dobbins injury to matter - which history says is coming.
RB35 · overall ECR 87
Jonathon BrooksCAR · RB
Week 1 uncertain and Hubbard is hurt - the CAR job could be his by Halloween if the knee is finally right.
RB36 · overall ECR 113
Jordan MasonMIN · RB SLEEPER
SLEEPER: 91.3 PFF rush grade over four years, top-10 among qualifiers. SI and PFF both project him passing Aaron Jones.
RB37 · overall ECR 109
Rachaad WhiteWAS · RB
Now in Washington as the passing-down back. PPR floor play only.
RB38 · overall ECR 115
Jacory Croskey-MerrittWAS · RB
Washington's early-down thunder. TD-dependent flex.
RB39 · overall ECR 107
Blake CorumLAR · RB SLEEPER
SLEEPER: McVay's history is one bell cow, and Corum carved real work late last year. Stash before the split gets obvious.
RB40 · overall ECR 134
Tyler AllgeierARI · RB
Arizona depth behind a 50/50-ankle rookie starter. One tweak from weekly RB2 work.
Wide Receivers
3 starters + flex in full PPR - this is where 8-team leagues are won▸Tier 1 - the penthouse
WR1 · overall ECR 1
Ja'Marr ChaseCIN · WR
ECR WR1 overall. The triple-crown receiver with Burrow healthy. First overall pick material.
WR2 · overall ECR 3
Puka NacuaLAR · WR
DS Week 2 WR1. Stafford's spine is the only thing between him and 150 targets.
WR3 · overall ECR 5
Amon-Ra St. BrownDET · WR
ECR WR3. The sun god: 100-catch floor, double-digit TDs, boring and beautiful.
WR4 · overall ECR 6
Jaxon Smith-NjigbaSEA · WR
ECR WR4. Seattle's undisputed alpha now - Kupp is here to mentor, not to take targets.
WR5 · overall ECR 9
CeeDee LambDAL · WR
ECR WR5. Tyler Smith's thumb is the only blemish on a 160-target season.
WR6 · overall ECR 7
Justin JeffersonMIN · WR
ECR WR6. Kyler Murray is a real upgrade on last year's QB carousel. Written off too early every year.
WR7 · overall ECR 16
Chris OlaveNO · WR
ECR WR7. New Orleans' only proven weapon; target monopoly on a bad team is still a WR1.
WR8 · overall ECR 13
Nico CollinsHOU · WR
ECR WR8. Houston's clear alpha; Dell's return only thins the double teams.
Tier 2 - weekly WR1s
WR9 · overall ECR 12
Drake LondonATL · WR
ECR WR9, DS WR7. Penix-to-London is the whole Falcons passing game.
WR10 · overall ECR 21
DeVonta SmithPHI · WR
ECR WR10. With AJ Brown traded to New England, Smitty is Hurts' WR1. Career year loading.
WR11 · overall ECR 18
George PickensDAL · WR
ECR WR11, DS WR10. Dallas' 1B who plays like a 1A half the season. Tyler Smith injury slightly dents the whole pass game.
WR12 · overall ECR 11
A.J. BrownNE · WR
The Patriot era begins: ECR WR12, DS WR8 as Maye's alpha. New scenery, same dominance.
WR13 · overall ECR 29
Zay FlowersBAL · WR
ECR WR13. Baltimore's target leader; new OC Doyle keeps the volume.
WR14 · overall ECR 30
Garrett WilsonNYJ · WR
ECR WR14. Perennial 'better QB play' candidate; the talent is top-5, the situation is not.
WR15 · overall ECR 37
Tee HigginsCIN · WR
ECR WR15. The best WR2 in football attached to Burrow. Injury-prone, weekly WR1 when active.
WR16 · overall ECR 34
Ladd McConkeyLAC · WR
ECR WR16. Herbert's guy; year-3 polish on a 110-catch profile.
WR17 · overall ECR 27
Rashee RiceKC · WR
ECR WR17, DS WR11. Mahomes is back and Rice is his short-area king. Buy the discount before it closes.
WR18 · overall ECR 36
Tetairoa McMillanCAR · WR
ECR WR18. Bryce Young's alpha as a rookie and the connection was real. Year-2 leap candidate.
WR19 · overall ECR 32
Jaylen WaddleDEN · WR
Now a Bronco: ECR WR19. Nix's new deep threat; fresh start after the Miami rebuild.
WR20 · overall ECR 23
Malik NabersNYG · WR
ECR WR20, was a pre-season injury worry (PFN 9/7) but checks in fine. Dart loves him. Buy the dip.
Tier 3 - strong WR2/3s
WR21 · overall ECR 48
Davante AdamsLAR · WR
ECR WR21 in the Rams' reunion with Stafford. Red-zone merchant; the yards come cheaper now.
WR22 · overall ECR 41
Emeka EgbukaTB · WR
ECR WR22. Was over 20 PPR ppg pre-injury last year (SI). Full-go for Week 1 per PFF. Smash spot.
WR23 · overall ECR 52
Jameson WilliamsDET · WR
ECR WR23. Detroit's field-stretcher; boom weeks, quiet weeks, same as it ever was.
WR24 · overall ECR 46
Luther Burden IIICHI · WR
ECR WR24, DS WR22, and out-ranks Odunze on the consensus board. On track for Week 1 per PFF. The hype is becoming real.
WR25 · overall ECR 56
Christian WatsonGB · WR
ECR WR25, DS WR17 - the sources LOVE him this week. Green Bay's downfield guy with no alpha ahead of him.
WR26 · overall ECR 57
Parker WashingtonJAC · WR
ECR WR26. Jacksonville's de facto WR1 out-ranking BTJ. The league is slow to this - you shouldn't be.
WR27 · overall ECR 47
Terry McLaurinWAS · WR
ECR WR27. Now the 1B to Diggs' 1A in Washington. Still Daniels' trust target.
WR28 · overall ECR 61
Rome OdunzeCHI · WR
ECR WR28. The talent is real but Burden passed him on the consensus board. Prove-it year.
WR29 · overall ECR 73
Chris Godwin Jr.TB · WR
ECR WR29, DS WR43 - the sources disagree hard. Egbuka took the alpha chair; Godwin's the steady vet on a prove-it deal.
WR30 · overall ECR 62
Mike EvansSF · WR TRAP
TRAP FLOOR: 33, new team (SF), hurt all camp, DS flags him a HIGH injury risk. The name out-ranks the body now.
WR31 · overall ECR 49
DJ MooreBUF · WR
Now a Bill: ECR WR31. Josh Allen's new WR1 could smash this rank - the past-volume case is gone, the upside case is real.
WR32 · overall ECR 77
DK MetcalfPIT · WR
Pittsburgh's WR1 in name; Pittman's arrival muddies it. TD-dependent WR3.
WR33 · overall ECR 66
Marvin Harrison Jr.ARI · WR
ECR WR33. Year 3 and still waiting on the breakout; Love's ankle means more early passing volume.
WR34 · overall ECR 78
Michael Pittman Jr.PIT · WR
Traded to Pittsburgh. Target hog becomes a deep threat's sidekick; the PPR floor survives.
WR35 · overall ECR 84
Courtland SuttonDEN · WR
ECR WR35. Waddle's arrival knocks him down a chair. Still Nix's red-zone guy.
WR36 · overall ECR 86
Wan'Dale RobinsonTEN · WR
ECR WR36, and the consensus says TEN's WR1 is HIM, not Ridley. Slot volume on a bad team is PPR gold.
Tier 4 - flex depth and dart throws
WR37 · overall ECR 88
Michael WilsonARI · WR
ECR WR37. Last year's sleeper hit; Arizona's WR2 behind Harrison.
WR38 · overall ECR 85
Josh DownsIND · WR SLEEPER
SLEEPER: ECR WR38 and Indy's WR1 over Pierce. JT keeps boxes honest. Cheap 90-catch season.
WR39 · overall ECR 89
Quentin JohnstonLAC · WR
ECR WR39. The drops never fully left; McConkey and Hampton eat first.
WR40 · overall ECR 67
Carnell TateTEN · WR
ECR WR40, DS WR31. Tennessee's rookie outside threat - DS likes his Week 1 matchup role more than consensus.
WR41 · overall ECR 80
Brian Thomas Jr.JAC · WR
ECR WR41. Last year's rookie sensation is now JAX's WR2 behind Parker Washington. Buy low if your room believes the depth chart.
WR42 · overall ECR 100
Jayden ReedGB · WR
ECR WR42. Green Bay's slot spark; Watson's emergence caps him.
WR43 · overall ECR 110
Jakobi MeyersJAC · WR
Now in Jacksonville. Glue-guy WR3 on every team he touches.
WR44 · overall ECR 105
Jordan AddisonMIN · WR
ECR WR44. Jefferson's running mate; the off-field noise is priced in.
WR45 · overall ECR 126
Jalen CokerCAR · WR
ECR WR45, DS WR58. Carolina's WR2 in an ascending Young offense.
WR46 · overall ECR 90
Stefon DiggsWAS · WR SLEEPER
SLEEPER: signed with Washington Aug 7 after a WR17 season in New England. 83.3% catch rate led the league per NFL Pro. Rounds 9-10 theft.
WR47 · overall ECR 108
KC ConcepcionCLE · WR SLEEPER
SLEEPER: CLE's 24th-overall slot rookie, camp highlight machine, built for PPR. FP says lock in a weekly starter in the double-digit rounds.
WR48 · overall ECR 129
Khalil ShakirBUF · WR
ECR WR48. Allen's safety blanket; Moore's arrival costs him slot snaps.
WR49 · overall ECR 124
Matthew GoldenGB · WR
ECR WR49. Green Bay's first-round speedster from last year, still behind Watson and Reed.
WR50 · overall ECR 127
Romeo DoubsNE · WR
Now a Patriot. Maye's possession option behind AJ Brown.
WR51 · overall ECR 150
Tre TuckerLV · WR
ECR WR51. Vegas' WR1 on paper, but Nailor might be the better player. Cheap volume either way.
WR52 · overall ECR 131
Xavier WorthyKC · WR SLEEPER
SLEEPER: PFF's breakout call - the shoulder that limited him all last year is finally right, and KC's WR room is wide open behind Rice.
WR53 · overall ECR 122
De'Zhaun StriblingSF · WR SLEEPER
SLEEPER: SF's 33rd-overall pick; Kittle (ACL), Kirk (IR), Pearsall (done) and a fading Evans mean immediate routes for a top-3-scouted rookie.
WR54 · overall ECR 98
Alec PierceIND · WR
ECR WR54. Paid this offseason, but Downs is Indy's real WR1 now. Deep-league dart.
WR55 · overall ECR 112
Makai LemonPHI · WR
ECR WR55. Philly's rookie slot; needs a Goedert injury to matter this year.
Tight Ends
1 starter - elite is a weapon, the rest are streamers▸Tier 1 - the weekly positional win
TE1 · overall ECR 17
Brock BowersLV · TE
ECR TE1, overall ECR 17. The best player in Vegas and it's not close. Worth a 2nd in an 8-team league.
TE2 · overall ECR 19
Trey McBrideARI · TE
ECR TE2, overall 19. Arizona's target king; Love's ankle means even more early volume.
TE3 · overall ECR 38
Colston LovelandCHI · TE
ECR TE3. Year-2 leap already happened on paper - Chicago's whole pass game runs through him and Burden.
Tier 2 - solid TE1s
TE4 · overall ECR 51
Tyler WarrenIND · TE
ECR TE4. Indy's chain-mover; Downs and Warren is a cozy PPR pairing.
TE5 · overall ECR 76
Kyle Pitts Sr.ATL · TE
ECR TE5. Finally delivered last year; the annual 'this is the year' tax is gone, the price is fair.
TE6 · overall ECR 83
Sam LaPortaDET · TE
ECR TE6. Third wheel in Detroit's offense, elite company anyway.
TE7 · overall ECR 75
Harold Fannin Jr.CLE · TE
ECR TE7, DS TE5. Cleveland's most reliable pass catcher as a rookie. Volume lock in a rebuild.
TE8 · overall ECR 79
Tucker KraftGB · TE
ECR TE8. Love-to-Kraft is Green Bay's most efficient connection. Steady TE1.
Tier 3 - streamable
TE9 · overall ECR 117
Dallas GoedertPHI · TE
ECR TE9. Philly's third option; weeks where he's the first read are gold.
TE10 · overall ECR 128
Juwan JohnsonNO · TE
ECR TE10. New Orleans' safety valve behind Olave. Streamable TE1 weeks.
TE11 · overall ECR 99
Travis KelceKC · TE
ECR TE11, DS TE8. 37 years old and the sources still won't bury him. Fine - just don't pay the name tax.
TE12 · overall ECR 119
Isaiah LikelyNYG · TE SLEEPER
SLEEPER: 3yr/$40M from the Giants, and Dart targets the middle of the field like it's his job. TE23 ADP per SI - the steal of the TE board.
TE13 · overall ECR 123
Jake FergusonDAL · TE
ECR TE13, DS TE10. Dak's third read on a pass-first team. Safe floor.
TE14 · overall ECR 133
Mark AndrewsBAL · TE
ECR TE14. The red-zone role is still his, the between-the-20s work is gone.
TE15 · overall ECR 111
Dalton KincaidBUF · TE SLEEPER
SLEEPER: was TE6 in ppg before the Week 10 hamstring last year; 1.8 yards/route trails only Kittle, McBride and Bowers since 2023 (NFL.com). TE1 upside at TE15 price.
TE16 · overall ECR 151
Dalton SchultzHOU · TE
ECR TE16. Stroud's security blanket; touchdown luck decides his week.
Defenses / Special Teams
last two rounds only - stream all season▸Tier 1 - worth the round-17 pick
DST1 · overall ECR 155
Houston TexansHOU · DST
DST2 · overall ECR 164
Los Angeles RamsLAR · DST
DST3 · overall ECR 166
Denver BroncosDEN · DST
DST4 · overall ECR 169
Seattle SeahawksSEA · DST
DST5 · overall ECR 173
Philadelphia EaglesPHI · DST
Tier 2 - stream candidates
DST6 · overall ECR 186
Minnesota VikingsMIN · DST
DST7 · overall ECR 187
New England PatriotsNE · DST
DST8 · overall ECR 185
Pittsburgh SteelersPIT · DST
DST9 · overall ECR 188
Jacksonville JaguarsJAC · DST
DST10 · overall ECR 191
Los Angeles ChargersLAC · DST
DST11 · overall ECR 192
Baltimore RavensBAL · DST
DST12 · overall ECR 202
Kansas City ChiefsKC · DST
Kickers
final round - do not reach▸Tier 1 - the only names to know
K1 · overall ECR 183
Brandon AubreyDAL · K
K2 · overall ECR 190
Ka'imi FairbairnHOU · K
K3 · overall ECR 189
Cameron DickerLAC · K
K4 · overall ECR 195
Cam LittleJAC · K
K5 · overall ECR 197
Jason MyersSEA · K
K6 · overall ECR 204
Eddy PineiroSF · K
Tier 2 - fine
K7 · overall ECR 207
Tyler LoopBAL · K
K8 · overall ECR 213
Jake BatesDET · K
K9 · overall ECR 219
Evan McPhersonCIN · K
K10 · overall ECR 227
Chase McLaughlinTB · K
K11 · overall ECR 231
Andy BorregalesNE · K
K12 · overall ECR 226
Cairo SantosCHI · K
Ellis' Sleeper Vault
late-round ceiling plays with a path to a starting job
Ellis - Keeper of the Vault
Eight-team benches are short, so every stash has to start games for you this year or get cut. These are the names with a real path: injuries ahead of them, camp takeovers, or a market that has not caught up. Bubby's got a good feeling about all of them.
QBs - the discounts ▸
QB19 · overall ECR 101
Patrick Mahomes IIKC · QB SLEEPER
THE discount of 2026: ECR QB19 off the ACL/LCL tear. FantasyPros calls the panic overblown. Stash him late and let the room laugh, then cry.
QB14 · overall ECR 120
Baker MayfieldTB · QB SLEEPER
SI's sleeper QB: was QB4 in 2024, QB12 hurt last year, and Egbuka is back. ECR QB14 is a discount.
QB24 · overall ECR 157
Bryce YoungCAR · QB SLEEPER
SLEEPER: extension-year leap with McMillan, Brazzell and Coker around him. FP's QB2 stash call - in 8-team 1QB he is a free streamer with top-10 weeks.
RBs - one injury from a starting job ▸
RB29 · overall ECR 106
MarShawn LloydGB · RB SLEEPER
SLEEPER: Jacobs is on the Commissioner's Exempt List (court 9/10, suspension likely). The GB job is Lloyd's until it isn't. Free upside in round 12+.
RB36 · overall ECR 113
Jordan MasonMIN · RB SLEEPER
SLEEPER: 91.3 PFF rush grade over four years, top-10 among qualifiers. SI and PFF both project him passing Aaron Jones.
RB32 · overall ECR 102
J.K. DobbinsDEN · RB SLEEPER
Denver's lead back at an RB32 price. RB1 talent, rookie-season-only health record. Coleman was drafted as the scheme fit behind him.
RB43 · overall ECR 135
Chris Rodriguez Jr.JAC · RB SLEEPER
SLEEPER: matched Tuten's camp reps, signed for 2yr/$10M, and his per-carry profile matches Henry, Bijan, CMC and Achane. NFL.com expects him favored in the red zone.
RB39 · overall ECR 107
Blake CorumLAR · RB SLEEPER
SLEEPER: McVay's history is one bell cow, and Corum carved real work late last year. Stash before the split gets obvious.
RB53 · overall ECR 142
Jonah ColemanDEN · RB SLEEPER
SLEEPER: Dobbins has never survived a full season and Payton drafted Coleman as the scheme fit. RB46, overall 142 - the best free RB lotto ticket on the board.
WRs - volume the market missed ▸
WR46 · overall ECR 90
Stefon DiggsWAS · WR SLEEPER
SLEEPER: signed with Washington Aug 7 after a WR17 season in New England. 83.3% catch rate led the league per NFL Pro. Rounds 9-10 theft.
WR38 · overall ECR 85
Josh DownsIND · WR SLEEPER
SLEEPER: ECR WR38 and Indy's WR1 over Pierce. JT keeps boxes honest. Cheap 90-catch season.
WR52 · overall ECR 131
Xavier WorthyKC · WR SLEEPER
SLEEPER: PFF's breakout call - the shoulder that limited him all last year is finally right, and KC's WR room is wide open behind Rice.
WR47 · overall ECR 108
KC ConcepcionCLE · WR SLEEPER
SLEEPER: CLE's 24th-overall slot rookie, camp highlight machine, built for PPR. FP says lock in a weekly starter in the double-digit rounds.
WR53 · overall ECR 122
De'Zhaun StriblingSF · WR SLEEPER
SLEEPER: SF's 33rd-overall pick; Kittle (ACL), Kirk (IR), Pearsall (done) and a fading Evans mean immediate routes for a top-3-scouted rookie.
WR60 · overall ECR 147
Denzel BostonCLE · WR SLEEPER
SLEEPER: CLE's 39th-overall rookie, 6-4 with a Nacua comp from Zierlein, already on the first team. Monken's red-zone favorite; Concepcion's running mate.
WR59 · overall ECR 177
Jalen NailorLV · WR SLEEPER
SLEEPER: likely Vegas' WR1 behind Bowers, 15.1 yards per catch and 10 TDs across 2024-25. SI: rare to find a WR1 past WR60.
WR73 · overall ECR 182
Ryan FlournoyDAL · WR SLEEPER
SLEEPER: PFF's WR15 of 2025 hiding as Dallas' WR3. One Lamb/Pickens injury from a 25% target share in the league's pass-heaviest offense.
WR71 · overall ECR 199
Ja'Kobi LaneBAL · WR SLEEPER
SLEEPER: Baltimore's 80th-overall rookie, 6-4 with a 40-inch vertical, and the camp rave of August. A shot at being Lamar's red-zone WR2 for nothing.
WR90 · overall ECR 249
Tank DellHOU · WR SLEEPER
SLEEPER: 23 PPR ppg over his last four healthy rookie games, back in full pads since Aug 5. Free in the final round, a must-add by mid-September per NFL.com.
TEs - the late hammers ▸
TE12 · overall ECR 119
Isaiah LikelyNYG · TE SLEEPER
SLEEPER: 3yr/$40M from the Giants, and Dart targets the middle of the field like it's his job. TE23 ADP per SI - the steal of the TE board.
TE15 · overall ECR 111
Dalton KincaidBUF · TE SLEEPER
SLEEPER: was TE6 in ppg before the Week 10 hamstring last year; 1.8 yards/route trails only Kittle, McBride and Bowers since 2023 (NFL.com). TE1 upside at TE15 price.
TE23 · overall ECR 153
Chig OkonkwoWAS · TE SLEEPER
SLEEPER: Washington's new TE with Daniels throwing it. 6.1 YAC per catch last year - the athletic upgrade on old-man Ertz (SI).