JJ Zachariason’s 5 Must-Draft Players for Fantasy Football 2026

JJ Zachary notes that seeing A.J. Brown running crossers through the middle of the field is a positive sign of increased offensive creativity compared to last season, suggesting a shift in how the team utilizes its playmakers.

JJ Zachary suggests that Philadelphia's recent draft picks, including Ainias Smith, are part of a strategic plan to increase offensive creativity and allow players to move across the formation, moving away from previous limitations.

JJ Zachary identifies the 'Amon-Ra St. Brown layup role' as the ideal offensive fit for Luther Burden, noting that the Lions' scheme is designed to get players in space to maximize after-the-catch production.

JJ Zachary uses Anthony Richardson as a benchmark for a usable but volatile fantasy profile where elite rushing ability provides a reliable floor for the quarterback.

JJ Zachary views Ashton Jeanty as a high-upside prospect who belongs in the same tier as Jonathan Taylor and James Cook, citing his predictive weighted opportunity metrics and the favorable offensive environment under Clint Kubiak.

JJ Zachary identifies Bhayshul Tuten as a high-ceiling target in the fifth or sixth round of drafts, citing his success at the goal line and strong collegiate production as a two-time second-team All-ACC selection and Senior Bowl invitee.

JJ Zachary suggests Bo Nix as a late-round quarterback option to pair with Malik Willis, providing fantasy managers with a strategy to secure stability by drafting two quarterbacks.

JJ Zachary suggests pairing Malik Willis with Brock Purdy in fantasy drafts to balance the high-upside, volatile nature of Willis with the stability that Purdy provides at the quarterback position.

JJ Zachary recommends Chase Brown as a high-upside target due to Cincinnati's stable offensive environment. Brown maintained strong peripherals even during early-season struggles (78% rush share, 13% target share) and surged to 21 PPR points per game once Joe Burrow returned. Zachary prefers Brown's pass-catching profile over backs with higher rush shares but lower target potential, noting his market similarity scores align with 2014 DeMarco Murray and 2016 Le'Veon Bell. Despite being a day-three pick, his multi-year production proves he is a legitimate NFL player.

JJ Zachary is pessimistic about Chris Rodriguez Jr.'s fantasy outlook due to his inability to catch passes. Rodriguez has caught fewer than 10 passes in his NFL career, and historical data for running backs with similarly low reception totals in their first three years shows they rarely become fantasy-relevant, making it unlikely he exceeds a 5-6% target share.

JJ Zachary identifies McCaffrey as a true league-winning asset who remains a central part of the offense; despite age and injury concerns causing a slight dip in efficiency last year, he would be a top-tier pick comparable to Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs if his health for a full 17-game season were guaranteed.

JJ Zachary mentions Colston Loveland as a potential alternative to draft alongside or instead of Luther Burden when managing range-of-outcome risks in drafts.

JJ Zachary views Courtland Sutton as a perennially overvalued player whose presence in the Denver offense creates unnecessary ambiguity. Zachary expresses skepticism toward the market's gravitation toward Sutton, arguing that concerns regarding a usage split between him and Jaylen Waddle are overstated and that Waddle is the superior fantasy option.

JJ Zachary notes that the absence of DJ Moore in the offense creates a clearer path for Luther Burden to command 'layup' targets compared to other receivers like Rome Odunze.

JJ Zachary acknowledges that while some sharp players are fading Achane at his current cost due to concerns about the Dolphins' play-calling and quarterback situation, Achane remains a phenomenal talent coming off a 20-point-per-game season with upside to excel as the clear target earner.

JJ Zachary references Drake Maye as the consensus late-round quarterback target from the previous season, serving as a historical benchmark for how the fantasy community identifies high-upside rushing quarterbacks.

JJ Zachariason notes that based on his top 10 historical comps, Emeka Egbuka projects as a top-five wide receiver in points per game, with the model consistently identifying him as a high-value prospect and a benchmark for high-tier talent.

JJ Zachary distinguishes Garrett Wilson from other receivers in his draft range, noting that Wilson possesses a more established floor compared to other prospects whose ceiling outcomes may differ.

JJ Zachary identifies J.K. Dobbins as a good player within the Chargers' running back rotation who could be a major riser this year, potentially scoring 14 touchdowns and having a massive rushing season.

JJ Zachary acknowledges the criticism that Jalen Hurts does not throw to the middle of the field, but suggests that recent draft picks and a shift toward more creative offensive usage indicate potential for improvement in this area.

JJ Zachary suggests that the Lions' offense could feature a mix of Amon-Ra St. Brown-style slot work and Jameson Williams-style big plays, creating a high-ceiling environment for the team's receivers.

JJ Zachary is very high on Jaylen Waddle, noting that his ADP is suppressed by the presence of Courtland Sutton. Waddle is a year-six receiver entering his peak production years, joining a Denver offense that consistently ranks in the top 12 for wide receiver target share and averages over 33 pass attempts per game. Zachary emphasizes that the team's significant investment—trading a first, third, and fourth-round pick—guarantees Waddle will be a focal point of the offense.

JJ Zachary identifies John Hightower as an interesting value play at his current ADP.

JJ Zachary highlights Johnny Wilson as a draft pick to watch in Philadelphia, noting the team's intent to use him creatively within the formation as part of a broader shift in offensive philosophy.

JJ Zachary uses Juju Smith-Schuster as a historical benchmark for elite day-two wide receiver prospects within his model.

JJ Zachary references Justin Fields' 2022 season, where he finished as the QB5 with 17 passing touchdowns, as a realistic ceiling for quarterbacks with high rushing volume.

JJ Zachary compares Jaylen Waddle's historical efficiency (2.59 and 2.63 yards per route run in 2022-2023) to Justin Jefferson's elite production levels.

Keaton Mitchell is described by JJ Zachary as the perfect fit for the speedy running back role utilized by the Mike McDaniel coaching tree.

JJ Zachary uses Keenan Allen as a historical benchmark for elite day-two wide receiver prospects within his model.

JJ Zachary expresses liking Kenneth Walker as a player but notes that his situation has changed, introducing ambiguity regarding his role for the upcoming season.

JJ Zachary highlights Kyren Williams as a prime example of a day-three running back who overcame initial prospect concerns through consistent, high-level production. Zachary argues that once a player establishes a multi-year sample of high-level performance, their original draft capital becomes irrelevant for fantasy evaluation.

JJ Zachary expects the Chargers' offensive scheme to be beneficial for Ladd McConkey, noting that he will likely be on the field more frequently in various personnel groupings, including two-wide and 13 personnel, due to the team's heavy usage of motion. However, Zachary notes that McConkey carries specific red flags common to receivers in his draft range.

JJ Zachary uses Lamar Jackson as a statistical benchmark for rushing production, noting that Jackson has averaged approximately eight points per game via rushing throughout his career. JJ Zachary uses Lamar Jackson as a statistical benchmark for rushing production, noting that Jackson averages approximately eight points per game via rushing over his career, which provides context for the high rushing output seen from other dual-threat quarterbacks.

JJ Zachary is high on Luther Burden, ranking him among the best day-two wide receiver prospects ever alongside Keenan Allen and Juju Smith-Schuster. Despite a low year-one PPG, his yards per route run efficiency is historically elite, ranking third since 2011 and comparable to early-career Odell Beckham Jr. and Martavis Bryant. Zachary expects him to thrive in a Ben Johnson-led offense, potentially filling an Amon-Ra St. Brown-esque 'layup' role that maximizes his after-the-catch ability, making him a potential WR1.

JJ Zachary identifies Malik Willis as an easy draft target due to his elite rushing floor. In three starts with Green Bay, he averaged 58 rushing yards and a touchdown, translating to 12 points per game via rushing—significantly outpacing Lamar Jackson's career average of eight points per game. If he provides even average passing production, Zachary expects him to be a low-end QB1 or high-end QB2.

JJ Zachary mentions uncertainty regarding the backfield split for MarShawn Lloyd, noting that it is currently difficult to project his usage.

JJ Zachary cites Martavis Bryant as a historical benchmark for elite yards per route run efficiency, placing Luther Burden in a similar statistical bucket. JJ Zachary cites Martavis Bryant as a historical efficiency benchmark, noting that Luther Burden's yards per route run rate is among the best since 2011, sitting alongside Bryant and Odell Beckham Jr.

JJ Zachary cites Odell Beckham Jr. as a historical benchmark for elite yards per route run efficiency, placing Luther Burden in a similar statistical bucket. JJ Zachary cites Odell Beckham Jr. as a historical efficiency benchmark, noting that Luther Burden's yards per route run rate is among the best since 2011, sitting alongside Beckham and Martavis Bryant.

JJ Zachary notes that Pat Bryant saw increased usage down the stretch last season as the team moved away from Troy Franklin in the Z-receiver role.

Raheem Mostert is cited by JJ Zachary as a historical archetype for the type of speedster running back utilized in the current offensive scheme.

JJ Zachary views Rome Odunze as a viable draft alternative to Luther Burden, suggesting that drafters can hedge their exposure by taking both players in different drafts, though he notes Odunze may have to fight harder for targets.

JJ Zachary points out that Saquon Barkley's outlook is currently uncertain due to the team's new offensive coordinator, making it difficult to project his exact role for the upcoming season.

JJ Zachary identifies Tank Bigsby as a year-two breakout candidate, citing a strong production profile and advanced metrics that outperformed Travis Etienne in EPA per rush, yards after contact per attempt, and success rate. Zachary argues that Bigsby's 2023 yards-per-carry was suppressed by heavy usage in short-yardage and goal-line situations.

JJ Zachary compares Luther Burden's prospect profile to Tetairoa McMillan, noting that both were highly rated by his model. JJ Zachary uses Tetairoa McMillan as a prospect benchmark, noting that the model places Luther Burden in the same high-tier bucket as Egbuka and McMillan based on draft capital and profile.

JJ Zachary notes that McBride is a polarizing pick currently being drafted in the third or fourth round of PPR leagues; the uncertainty stems from whether the Cardinals' offense under LaFluer will lean into a tight end, given that McBride holds the record for most receptions by a tight end in a single season.

JJ Zachary notes that Troy Franklin struggled in the Z-receiver role last season, failing to prove he could handle press coverage or blocking duties, which led to his reduced usage and the team moving toward other options like Pat Bryant down the stretch.

JJ Zachary notes that Jaylen Waddle's target share was historically limited to around 23% in previous offenses because he was playing alongside Tyreek Hill.

JJ Zachariason identifies Xavier Legette as a target because his market score ranks him as a fringe WR1 (WR9-10), despite subjective concerns regarding the Panthers' run-heavy offense and Bryce Young's situation.

JJ Zachary maintains a bullish stance on Zay Flowers, predicting he will set the Baltimore Ravens' single-season franchise record for receptions. Despite a rising ADP (WR14), Zachary confirms he still views the price as reasonable given the potential for a breakout season.