Mock Draft!

By: Josh Frey-Sam

Two main strategies have begun to emerge in redrafts for 2026: Hero RB or Zero RB.

We’ve seen the running back position get pushed up the board and consume most of the first two rounds. That leaves us with two options: either join the rush and grab a top RB to anchor the position on your roster, or zig when everyone else is zagging and scoop up the elite WRs who fall.

It will be important that you go into your draft with this in mind, and be ready to adapt if things go awry.

You’ll see exactly what I’m talking about in the most recent mock draft that I did, although I still managed to leave with a rather balanced team.

I was drafting from the 1.04 for this 2RB, 3WR roster. See my explanation for each pick below.

1.04 Ja’Marr Chase: Three RBs off the board first, which pushes the No. 1 WR option to me. I strongly considered Puka, but went with Chase.

2.09 Derrick Henry: We’re now at the backend of the early rush on RBs, and there’s one elite and reliable friend still available. I really think Henry is going to feast again this season in Declan Doyle’s offence. Keep in mind, this offensive line is better, Lamar is healthy, Doyle learned under one of the best run designers in Ben Johnson, and this defence is going to have the Ravens in some positive, run-heavy game scripts. I’ll happily take the aging King while everyone expects the fall-off.

3.04 Emeka Egbuka: This was my biggest reach in the draft, and it probably will remain that way when real drafts roll around. I’m incredibly bullish on Egbuka this season, to the point where I’ve made a small futures bet on him winning Offensive Player of the Year. It’s wheels up for the second-year pro, and I believe he easily has top 10 upside.

4.09 Cam Skattebo: If there was one regret in this draft, it was that I selected Skatt over Zay Flowers. Not because I don’t like Skatt this season, but because I love Flowers. Nevertheless, I like Skatt as a strong RB2 this season, and in this format, selecting him afforded me the ability to really go crazy on pass catchers. Side note: I think the Ravens are going to be really, really good this year.

5.04 Colston Loveland: I’ve found that I’m more keen to pass on Loveland and wait another round for Tyler Warren, but in this draft Warren actually went ahead of Loveland. I opted to snag an elite TE, maintaining my balanced start.

6.09 Christian Watson: Watson simply feels mispriced this year. I understand that his injury concerns are built into his ADP and that people are still scared by him, but this man is paid and has a monster opportunity in front of him. With two stud WRs already on my squad, CWat is the perfect swing-for-the-fences selection who could pay major dividends.

7.04 Marvin Harrison: I’ve warmed up significantly to Marv in the last couple of weeks. Of course, there will continue to be concern for whether Jacoby Brissett will be the guy throwing him the ball all season, but this gives me an embarrassment of riches at the WR position now. Marv really could prove to be one of the better values in drafts this season.

8.09 Blake Corum: With two solid RBs already in the stable, I can now take swings at players with massive upside. Corum is the top handcuff in football once again this season. He’s a league-winner if Kyren Williams goes down.

9.04 Jonathan Brooks: Pretty much the same thought with Brooks, although I think he could take over the Panthers backfield without Chuba Hubbard suffering an injury. The upside is clear with Brooks, and a roster build like this puts me in a position to potentially see it.

10.09 Bo Nix: This is a strong season to wait on QBs, imo. Jaxson Dart has become one of my favourite targets if I’m opting to take one in the mid rounds, but also with the likes of Nix, Justin Herbert, Trevor Lawrence, Caleb Williams, Dak Prescott and Brock Purdy going in the eighth round or later, I just don’t see the need to push the envelope on that position this season.

11.04 Matthew Golden: This is like clockwork at this point. I’ve planted the flag that Golden is going to outplay his ADP significantly this season.

12.09 Kyler Murray: There’s no shot Kyler will be going this late in six weeks. Once it becomes clear that he’s locked up the starting job, his ADP will skyrocket. But, as it stands, he is one of the top values at his position.

13.04 Antonio Williams: There are a lot of fliers who interest me at the end of drafts. If you need a TE, Chig Okonkwo is a phenomenal pick; Denzel Boston is an OROY sleeper, IMHO; Malik Willis and Tyler Shough present as potential top 12 QBs; Adonai Mitchell is also fascinating after the hype that he and Geno Smith generated in OTAs.

Thanks for reading and, as always, have a great day.

Josh