12 Players to Not Draft At Their Current ADP

by: Michael Nazarek

Editor's Note: Below you will find a good portion of this special article. If you'd like to read the entire piece, please click HERE to order our 2026 Pre-Season Draft Guide.

Each summer, I offer the official FFMastermind.com Draft Plan, so premium subscribers know who I like along with a solid draft strategy they can tailor their draft towards. But what about the players I don’t like? Well, smart fantasy drafters don’t rule anyone out. After all, it’s more about value than anything else beyond your drafting strategy. As such, I’m going to offer twelve players who I would NOT draft at their current ADP. I wrote this article last year and among the players I listed in it were... WR Tyreek Hill, MIA; WR D.J. Moore, CHI; WR Xavier Worthy, KC; WR Travis Hunter, JAX; WR Jaylen Waddle, MIA; WR Cooper Kupp, SEA; WR Brandon Aiyuk, SF, and WR Michael Pittman, IND. In other words, I think I hit the mark for each of these players I listed (8 of 12). This week, I will offer one player for each of the first 12 rounds in a 12-team draft. Now, you may have already seen me draft a few of the players on this list, but not at their current ADP. Remember, it’s all about value and I'm assuming this is a 12-team PPR league. Let’s get right to it...

 

ROUND #1:

 

WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, SEA - His current ADP in classic re-drafter PPR leagues is 1.06. There's no doubting the huge breakout JSN had in 2025, but this is 2026. He lost his offensive coordinator and the team just extended WR Rashid Shaheed, who is set to have an expanded role in the passing game. In addition, opponents will be game-planning to take JSN away, especially due to the loss of RB Kenneth Walker in the running game. I might consider JSN if he slides to the end of round #1, but in the middle? NO. At this time, I'd much rather take a consistent and very SAFE WR Amon-Ra St. Brown instead. Remember, you can't win your league in the first round, but you can certainly lose it!

 

ROUND #2:

 

WR Justin Jefferson, MIN - His current ADP in classic re-drafter PPR leagues is 2.01. This is an easy call to make. Yes, he is very talented, but wide receivers are only as productive as their QB. Yes, QB Kyler Murray is an upgrade from QB J.J. McCarthy, but from his days in Arizona, Murray struggled to get the football to WR Marvin Harrison Jr. on a regular basis. Murray, simply put, is an inaccurate passer at this stage of his career. While Jefferson will improve on his numbers from 2025 with Murray, I find it tough to believe he warrants an early second round choice. Frankly, I'd rather take a STUD RB at this point in the draft (i.e. RB Chase Brown) over an inconsistent Jefferson.

 

ROUND #3:

 

RB Jeremiyah Love, ARZ ® - His current ADP in classic re-drafter PPR leagues is 3.01. This is another easy call to make. While I love the long-term prospect of Love becoming a STUD RB for fantasy, the Cardinals didn't pay RB Tyler Allgeier big bucks to ride the pine. Love may still start (or not), but when drafting in the 3.01 spot, there is no way I'm drafting a rookie who is not a lock for a workhorse role immediately. Nope. This is not a situation I want any part of in 2026! One player to draft instead, if he's on the board, would be RB Derrick Henry.

 

ROUND #4:

.
.
.

As mentioned atop this release, if you like to read the entire article, please click HERE to order our 2026 Pre-Season Draft Guide.

back to top of page