Out team is beyond excited to announce that our 2026 Advanced Fantasy Football Draft Guide is now live in the WalterPicks app!
This is the most comprehensive guide we have ever released and is, in our opinion, the single best guide on the market. Reading it is the best thing you can do to set yourself up for draft success in 2026.
Chapters in the guide include:
PLUS more!
Here is an excerpt from the intro, written by our CEO Sam Factor:
Last year’s draft guide and live draft tool helped over 80% of WalterPicks subscribers make the fantasy playoffs and over 33% of subscribers make it to the fantasy football championship. I personally had one of my most successful fantasy seasons of all time following the advice in this guide and the live draft tool, placing 1st or 2nd in 6 of my 10 high stakes, highly competitive fantasy leagues.
My “Do Not Draft” list was almost perfect outside of James Cook and Kyren Williams, dodging massive busts like Chris Godwin, Sam LaPorta, Joe Mixon, and Isiah Pacheco. Meanwhile my players to target list included league-winners like Trey McBride, George Pickens, and Chris Olave.
Fantasy football is never a solved game because every season brings new dynamics: shifting player values, evolving offenses, and changing perception. What worked last year is not guaranteed to work this year. This is what makes it so fun. But make no mistake, fantasy football does require skill. Using the strategies outlined in this guide alongside the insights and projections in the WalterPicks app will help you become an advanced player who is a threat to win in any league!
This guide isn't going to be basic advice. This guide outlines my exact draft strategies for 2026. Built on data science, game theory, psychology, and some NFL team and player-takes. Myself and the other experts on the WalterPicks projections team have collectively put over 1,000 hours into this guide, and I’ll continue to update it daily leading up to the season as news and ADP shifts. This guide is how I'm going to win fantasy drafts in 2026, and how you can too.
If you’re looking for a sign to kickstart your fantasy research this year, this is it. Check it out now!
ADP Movers 📈📉
This is ADP Movers - a series where we tell you which players saw the biggest shifts in average draft position (ADP) + give you our analysis!
*Player ADPs taken from Underdog best ball drafts
Biggest Draft Risers 📈
| Player | Jul 5 | Jul 12 | Chg | % Chg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Mason RB | 123.7 (RB41) | 118.2 (RB40) | ▲ 5.5 | +4.4% |
| Chigoziem Okonkwo TE | 143.8 (TE16) | 141.0 (TE16) | ▲ 2.8 | +1.9% |
| Tank Bigsby RB | 166.5 (RB51) | 164.0 (RB51) | ▲ 2.5 | +1.5% |
| Rashid Shaheed WR | 134.3 (WR57) | 132.0 (WR56) | ▲ 2.3 | +1.7% |
| Quentin Johnston WR | 76.6 (WR37) | 74.6 (WR36) | ▲ 2.0 | +2.6% |
| Emeka Egbuka WR | 37.1 (WR18) | 35.3 (WR17) | ▲ 1.8 | +4.9% |
| Adonai Mitchell WR | 173.4 (WR71) | 171.7 (WR70) | ▲ 1.7 | +1.0% |
| Jalen Nailor WR | 148.8 (WR61) | 147.5 (WR61) | ▲ 1.3 | +0.9% |
| Jaylen Waddle WR | 46.1 (WR24) | 44.8 (WR23) | ▲ 1.3 | +2.8% |
| Jonathon Brooks RB | 103.2 (RB36) | 101.9 (RB36) | ▲ 1.3 | +1.3% |
| Josh Downs WR | 91.5 (WR43) | 90.2 (WR43) | ▲ 1.3 | +1.4% |
| Ricky Pearsall WR | 100.0 (WR46) | 98.8 (WR45) | ▲ 1.2 | +1.2% |
Some Jordan Mason buzz is beginning. The Vikings failed to invest in any significant running back this offseason so his only competition will likely be 31 year-old Aaron Jones. Mason was more efficient on the ground last season while ceding most of the receiving to Jones. Both are values right now, as consensus is a bit too low on this duo.
Emeka Egbuka continues to climb as he passes Malik Nabers in ADP. He is probably priced a tad high in best ball right now, being drafted ahead of some major upside plays like Luther Burden III and Jameson Williams. A top-20 target share in the league is likely for him though, and he should be a stable presence in any season-long lineup.
Shaheed and Mitchell each took another small jump this week. I made the case for them as breakouts in their first full season with a new team in last week’s newsletter.
Biggest Draft Fallers 📉
| Player | Jul 5 | Jul 12 | Chg | % Chg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malik Nabers WR | 35.0 (WR16) | 38.4 (WR18) | ▼ 3.4 | -9.7% |
| Chuba Hubbard RB | 74.2 (RB28) | 76.7 (RB29) | ▼ 2.5 | -3.4% |
| Jaxson Dart QB | 99.2 (QB13) | 101.0 (QB13) | ▼ 1.8 | -1.8% |
| Stefon Diggs WR | 133.9 (WR56) | 135.6 (WR57) | ▼ 1.7 | -1.3% |
| Travis Etienne RB | 30.8 (RB15) | 32.5 (RB16) | ▼ 1.7 | -5.5% |
| Brian Robinson RB | 169.5 (RB52) | 171.0 (RB52) | ▼ 1.5 | -0.9% |
| Jonah Coleman RB | 154.3 (RB47) | 155.8 (RB47) | ▼ 1.5 | -1.0% |
| Travis Hunter WR | 140.0 (WR58) | 141.5 (WR58) | ▼ 1.5 | -1.1% |
| Jakobi Meyers WR | 104.1 (WR48) | 105.5 (WR48) | ▼ 1.4 | -1.3% |
| T.J. Hockenson TE | 166.5 (TE22) | 167.9 (TE22) | ▼ 1.4 | -0.8% |
| Michael Wilson WR | 97.6 (WR45) | 98.9 (WR46) | ▼ 1.3 | -1.3% |
Malik Nabers continues to slide with his ADP starting to creep into the 4th round. Sam made a strong case for his upside two weeks ago. I remain skeptical about his injury status and will continue staying away.
Stefon Diggs fell this week with news that he settled a some off-the-field legal issues. Its difficult to say whether or not this will make it harder for him to sign with a team before the season begins. If he does sign with any team, he will instantly become a value at this price. Diggs had over 1,000 yards for the Patriots last season despite playing only 56% of snaps the entire season.
I expect Travis Hunter to fall further as we get closer to training camp. Every report this offseason has suggested he will be utilized more on defense, and he has 3 WRs clearly ahead of him in Jacksonville who have all generated positive buzz this offseason.
