Fantasy Football draft prep: FFT team reveals their most drafted players and why they’re targeting them
We’re in the thick of draft season and your Fantasy Football drafts may very well be going down this weekend so there’s no better time to sharpen up your preparation than now. I have two of my most important auction drafts this weekend and I can’t wait to get the bidding going. With your drafts approaching, I wanted to rally the troops on Fantasy Football Today and get a hold of their most-drafted players thus far. So let’s cut right to the chase — these are the players FFT can’t stop drafting. These are the players that each of our writers on FFT has drafted most so far in the (near hundreds) of drafts they’ve completed to this point.
Jamey Eisenberg’s 10 Most Wanted!1. Kyler Murray, QB
His Round 7 ADP on CBS is excellent, and he has top-five upside with his improved receiving corps. I’m excited to see Murray back healthy and making plays with his legs again.
2. Kenneth Walker III, RB
It sounds like he’s headed for a bigger role in the passing game under new coordinator Ryan Grubbs, which is exciting. And he’s a great Hero-RB target if you start WR-WR with your first two picks.
3. Drake London, WR
I’m excited about his third-year breakout with Kirk Cousins as the new quarterback in Atlanta. He’s someone I target in all leagues in early Round 2.
4. Chris Godwin, WR
Moving back to the slot should allow Godwin the chance to soak up more targets and produce at a high level again, and he also says he’s finally healthy after dealing with knee issues the past two seasons. He’s an easy WR3 to target with top-20 upside.
5. Rico Dowdle, RB
If he becomes the best running back in Dallas then you have a steal with someone you can draft after the first 100 picks. I’m hopeful Dowdle can become a weekly starter in all leagues.
6. Dalton Kincaid, TE
He’s my No. 5 tight end, but he could be the best Fantasy tight end this season. With the Bills needing to replace over 240 targets from last year, Kincaid should be a go-to guy for Josh Allen and potentially lead Buffalo in targets.
7. Khalil Shakir, WR
Kincaid could be the No. 1 receiver in Buffalo, although I hope it’s Keon Coleman since the rookie has more upside. But Shakir is a great reserve receiver to draft after No. 100 overall, and he could emerge as a weekly starter in three-receiver leagues.
8. Jameson Williams, WR
Williams will hopefully be a third-year breakout now that he’s headed for a bigger role in Detroit this season opposite Amon-Ra St. Brown. I’m hopeful Williams gets at least 100 targets, and he could develop into a weekly starter in all leagues.
9. Jayden Daniels, QB
If I miss on Kyler Murray then Daniels is my next target. I’m excited to see what he can do in his rookie campaign, and he should be a difference maker for Fantasy managers with his rushing prowess.
10. Brian Robinson Jr., RB
One of my favorite players to draft all offseason, I expect Robinson to be the best running back for the Commanders this year. Austin Ekeler might be washed up at 29, and Robinson should dominate carries while still getting plenty of catches this season.
Dave Richard’s Two Must Gets1. Josh Jacobs, RB
When he’s given a strong workload, he’s averaged north of at least 15 PPR points per game. Matt LaFleur has given at least one running back 15-plus touches in 67 of 83 regular-season games he’s coached with the Packers. Do the math.Â
2. Brock Bowers, TE
The Raiders offense will be better because of Bowers — he gives them a legitimate mismatch against linebackers and safeties and can even do some exotic stuff near the goal line. The Raiders’ meandering quarterbacks will fall in love with Bowers’ short- and mid-range routes, and defenses won’t cover him heavily as long as Davante Adams is there. Plus, his ADP is literally at 100th overall, which means we’re not drafting him anywhere near his ceiling.Â
Adam Aizer’s Fantastic Four1. Alvin Kamara, RB
I’m mostly targeting Kamara in full PPR leagues. He has been a Top 6 RB per game in two of the last three seasons while averaging less than 4.0 yards per carry in both of those standout seasons. He doesn’t need to be efficient to be a Fantasy stud, and now you can get him Round 4.Â
2. Tee Higgins, WR
Forget what you saw last season from Higgins as he and Joe Burrow were almost never healthy at the same time. In 2021 and 2022, we saw a guy who can get around 15.0 PPR Fantasy Points per game when he is healthy (he left three games very early with injuries in 2022 and it crushed his per game averages). He’s a steal in Round 5, and if Ja’Marr Chase misses any time Higgins becomes a Top 10 WR.Â
3. Caleb Williams, QB
Williams is QB15 in average draft position, but he has Top 8 potential. I think he could rush for 300 or more yards and a handful of touchdowns, plus he’s throwing to a great group of wide receivers. Draft Williams and pair with Brock Purdy, Tua Tagovailoa or Jared Goff to give yourself a mix of upside and floor.Â
4. Josh Palmer, WR
Palmer has a good chance to lead the Chargers in all receiving categories, and you can get him after Round 10. He’s not going to win you your league, but he is going to be a dependable bye week replacement and maybe even a solid Flex option for you.
Heath Cummings’ Favorite Five1. James Cook, RB
Cook is my most drafted player in real drafts so far. I expect the Bills to lean into their run-heavy approach from the second half and I expect Cook to set career-highs in receptions and touchdowns. The lack of talent at wide receiver on this roster could lead to an Aaron Jones like season from Cook.
2. Rashee Rice, WR
I can’t stop drafting Rashee Rice as of late. Every day we get closer to the start of the season a suspension seems less likely, and if he’s not suspended he has legitimate top-10 upside. Rice had a 25% target share in his final six games of 2024 and has led all receivers by running more than 90% of the routes with Mahomes this preseason.Â
3. Trey McBride, TE
McBride is my number one tight end this season, which is pretty awesome for me because he regularly goes a round or two later than Travis Kelce and Sam LaPorta. McBride has an excellent chance to lead all tight ends in targets this year and the arrival of Marvin Harrison should make him much more efficient than he was last year.
4. Javonte Williams, RB
5. Jaleel McLaughlin, RB
I find myself drafting both Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin. Sean Payton’s Broncos led the NFL with a 32% running back target share last year and the backs combined for 506 opportunities. Williams in particular has seen his price held down by offseason reports, but he’s pretty clearly the lad back and McLaughlin’s role will lend itself to high efficiency. They’re both too cheap by at least two rounds.
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Jacob Gibbs’ Beyond The Boxscore Gems1. Nico Collins, WR
I have never clicked on Nico’s name and felt anything but immense satisfaction. It feels good to draft Collins. C.J. Stroud called Collins this generation’s Andre Johnson, and all of the historical analysis that I’ve done suggests Collins is absolutely deserving of that type of reputation. This Houston offense is set to erupt, and Collins is the WR who leads the first-team in routes run this preseason.
2. Ray Davis, RB
The Bills tried to find a cheap short-yardage back to complement James Cook — none of Damien Harris, Latavius Murray, or Leonard Fournette were the answer surprisingly — Round 4 rookie Ray Davis is the answer. Buffalo could have drafted weight room warriors Braelon Allen or Audric Estime to fill the role, but Davis was the choice. Why? He’s got the juice! The rookie is going to play a role for this offense and could play every down if Cook misses any time.
3. Bucky Irving, RB, Buccaneers
My favorite preseason watch, this rookie RB is a problem for opposing would-be tacklers. Rachaad White’s rushing efficiency has been far from inspiring. Irving can contribute on all three downs and just may if White’s play allows him any opportunity for the rook to see reps.
4. Ben Sinnott, TE
5. Luke McCaffrey, WR
I’ve got two more rookies for you! With Jahan Dotson’s failed preseason slot experiment ending in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, a 34-year-old Zach Ertz is all that stands in the way of Washington’s Round 2 and 3 selections playing major roles as rookies. Christian McCaffrey’s brother is a fluid mover for a 6-foot-2 player, and Sinnott has shades of Mark Andrews to his game. He’s easily my favorite TE from this draft class not named Brock Bowers.
