Legendary Sickos: The Best Picks in Best Ball for 2026

Rodgers is draftable as a late-round quarterback pick (10th round or later) to fill out tournament production, particularly in superflex formats where the source is taking a decent amount of exposure. Spending a last-round pick on Rodgers if his move becomes official is a way to get quarterback production cheaply in back-weighted production tournaments.

Mayfield is part of the source's core QB window where they are ahead on ADP. The source notes that Mayfield historically exemplifies the pattern of late-round QBs being drafted cheaply before spiking in value: "Baker used to be really cheap, then he spikes." The source has Mayfield a little bit ahead of ADP in their 2026 rankings.

Nix is part of the source's core QB window where they are ahead on ADP.

The source ranks Bowers as tight end two in best ball and states they will have heavy allocation to Bowers in best ball drafts, indicating strong conviction and preference for the player at his current price point. Bowers represents a market flip opportunity where the source has moved away from McBride as the consensus tight end one and now prefers Bowers as the second-best tight end option at his ADP.

Purdy is part of the source's core QB window where they are ahead on ADP; grouped with Nix, Stafford, Kyler, Goff, Love, and Baker as QBs the source believes are undervalued relative to their projected production.

Stroud is ranked 127 by the source versus ADP in the 140s, making him undervalued on paper; the source believes he is too talented in a vacuum for his price despite recent struggles. Main concern is the Texans' offensive line and DeMeco Ryans' conservative run-heavy scheme that limits Stroud's upside, but the source sees bounce-back potential and notes Stroud is the only QB outside the core window they are decently ahead on ADP for.

Stroud is going at ADP 140 and fits the general vibe of mid-tier QB options. While not exciting, he's shown upside as a young, productive pocket passer. The source sees him as a viable late-round QB who can win tournaments in DFS and has a solid profile despite only a couple years of production.

Priced at a level where he'd really like to be in the mix for tight end one to justify the draft capital. Unlike Fannin (pick 90), who only needs to reach the TE2–TE5 tier, Loveland has a much higher bar and is priced more aggressively, requiring elite-tier production to be a hit.

Dak Prescott is way ahead on ADP according to the source's rankings, part of a tier with Herbert and Mahomes that the source is significantly ahead on. The source wants to take Prescott in drafts as part of the QB window strategy, indicating preference for Prescott as a target alongside Herbert.

Historical tight end production reference; Waller played all games and was at 13.9 PPR points per game, finishing tight end two. This production tier—where a tight end actually matters—is the bar for Fannin's upside and the tier where Fannin is priced to make the cut.

Displaced by Fannin at tight end; Njoku doesn't currently play in the NFL. If Fannin had not been drafted, Njoku would likely be back on the Browns as the starting tight end this season, but Fannin buried him so badly that he's not even on a team right now. Fannin took the job from a legitimately good NFL veteran tight end. Njoku's departure from the Browns is cited as a positive development for Fannin's target share and offensive role; removal of a competing pass-catcher in an already target-limited offense creates more opportunity for Fannin to accumulate targets and touchdowns.

Kittle's price is surprisingly low given the severity of his injury, its timing, and his age; the source finds this pricing shocking and implies he offers value relative to injury risk and age-related decline expectations. Historically, Kittle was at 15.9 PPR points per game, establishing the elite tier of tight end production alongside Kelce.

Fannin identified as the primary breakout tight end candidate poised to leap into the elite tier (McBride/Bowers level) in 2026. The source cites his rookie production in a disastrous Browns offense with historically poor QB play as evidence of star-level talent. Despite being drafted in the 80s in 2025, the source projects him to rise to the 2-3 turn in 2026 due to anchoring effect and improved QB situation. Key upside: Fannin produced 12+ targets per game and huge games despite worst-case offensive environment; with David Njoku gone and potential QB improvement, the source expects significant TD upside beyond target volume. The source has no downside concern at current price other than injury. Fannin took Njoku's job so decisively that Njoku doesn't even play in the NFL right now—if the Browns had not drafted Fannin, Njoku would likely be back as the starting tight end.

Goff is part of the source's core QB window where they are ahead on ADP; grouped with Purdy, Nix, Stafford, Kyler, Love, and Baker as QBs the source believes are undervalued relative to their projected production.

Jayden Daniels is available in the sixth round and represents premium QB upside at a significant discount compared to Josh Allen. The source likes this value positioning for Daniels as part of the QB window strategy, where the wide availability of premium upside QBs at discount prices makes higher-priced alternatives like Allen prohibitive.

Love is ranked at 103–106 ADP and is part of the source's core QB window where they are ahead on ADP; historically used to be drafted cheaply before spiking in value, similar to the Baker Mayfield pattern.

Josh Allen is a really tough click in the current QB environment due to his draft price relative to available alternatives. The wide QB window and availability of premium upside QBs at discount prices—such as Jayden Daniels available in the sixth round—makes Allen's cost prohibitive.

Herbert goes in a similar tier to Patrick Mahomes; younger and not coming off a direct injury but off an injury-marred campaign to his surrounding talent and offensive line. He benefits from offensive coordinator upgrade (Greg Roman to Mike McDaniel) and offensive line improvements (Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt returning healthy). He has rushing ability similar to Mahomes that provides peak ceiling upside with rushing juice—in peak ceiling games he can get 80+ rushing yards and a touchdown. The source believes now is the time to bet on Herbert as a QB2 candidate given his evolution as a player, surrounding talent, and coaching improvements; his price in rounds 7-9 of best ball is reasonable and represents significant value compared to historical draft capital. Herbert's ceiling is not baked in. Mahomes and Herbert are identified as two really strong ways to play the QB position this year.

Kyler is part of the source's core QB window where they are ahead on ADP; grouped with Purdy, Nix, Stafford, Goff, Love, and Baker as QBs the source believes are undervalued relative to their projected production.

Despite tearing his ACL while on track to be one of the best wide receivers on the planet, Nabers' upside of full recovery is more than baked into his current price; the source struggles to refute injury concerns but argues the ceiling scenario is undervalued relative to the downside risk already priced in.

Historical production reference for Fannin's potential tier; Andrews' second season produced 13.9 PPR points per game and finished tight end five. This tier of production—where a tight end actually matters—is the bar for Fannin's upside, and Fannin is priced where he can make that cut.

Stafford is part of the source's core QB window where they are ahead on ADP; historically was drafted very cheaply and delivered strong late-round value, throwing for 4,000+ yards and proving useful despite preseason pessimism about the Rams' offense.

Available at pick 90 in best ball drafts; the source views him as a really good pick in a vacuum despite not hammering him in actual drafts due to competing tight end options and draft flow. Fant is a target-heavy tight end who will run more routes over the course of the year; the source characterizes him as a pretty safe pick with attainable upside, comparing his projection to his rookie production with less positional competition.

Mahomes is significantly underpriced despite being Patrick Mahomes, coming off a torn ACL with all positive recovery reports suggesting he's on track for OTAs-level readiness and expected to play most of the season. He finished QB3 in Underdog points per game last year at 20.9 PPG (tied with Drake May), below Josh Allen (21.9) and Matthew Stafford (21.1), representing a discount relative to his prior performance in a similar or slightly improved offensive situation with Eric Bieniemy replacing Matt Nagy and Ken Walker replacing Kareem Hunt. In best ball, he's an ideal fit because he's not expensive early, may return reasonably early (missing only a couple games), and provides elite upside in the high-value final weeks (15-17) when playoff money is concentrated. The source made a deliberate bet on Mahomes at a discount, citing successful ACL recovery precedent with Breece Hall; expects functional mobility to be curtailed early in the season but projects return to form by season's end, emphasizing that Mahomes' arm is his primary tool so the injury impact is mitigated. His rushing ability is classified as Herbert-level mobility—intelligent scrambling and escapability rather than elite rushing production like Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen—but in best ball he can still provide ceiling lifts with occasional 70-yard rushing games or rushing touchdowns. The source double-tapped Mahomes at a turn with a stack of Rashee Rice and Ladd McConkey, viewing his ceiling as not baked in due to injury recovery. Mahomes and Herbert are identified as two really strong ways to play the QB position this year.

Despite offensive line and coordinator upgrades for the Chargers, the team continues to add depth at receiver (Brendan Thompson, Keeton Mitchell, Charlie Kohler) and is sniffing around additional weapons, suggesting the source is not bullish on Johnston's role clarity or target share. The continued depth additions make the source hesitant to click on Johnston despite the offensive talent improvements.

Rice will be available for the Chiefs offense as Mahomes' supporting cast, but the source characterizes him as a serious character concern—describing him as "demonic" and "just a really bad person"—suggesting off-field risk despite legal issues being "blown over for now." His presence in the offense is noted but with clear reservations about his reliability and conduct.

Historical elite tight end production reference; Kelce was tight end one that year at 16 PPR points per game, establishing the top tier of tight end production. Used as context for understanding that Fannin doesn't need to finish tight end one to be a hit, unlike higher-priced tight ends.

McBride was first in ADP and the source initially ranked him as tight end one, following market consensus. However, the market has flipped and the source now believes people are getting too bearish on McBride due to Carson Beck concerns. The source suggests the quarterback situation may be overblown—Beck is being treated like Brady Cook but is more comparable to Nick Foles, a middling quarterback who won a Super Bowl but was also bad. Despite the market shift, McBride remains a strong tight end option with legitimate upside if the quarterback narrative is overblown. The source also cites McBride as the benchmark for elite tight end talent that defines a season, using him as the standard for league-winning upside at the position.

Historical tight end production reference; Ertz was at 14.4 PPR points per game and finished tight end four. This production tier is part of the small group of tight ends who actually matter, which is the bar for Fannin's upside.