The 2026 Official FFMastermind.com Draft Plan

RELEASED: Michael Nazarek - 7/13/2026

Editor's Note: Below you will find the 2026 Official FFMastermind.com Draft Plan for the first two rounds of a fantasy draft. If you'd like to read the sections covering the next eight rounds, please click HERE to order our 2026 Pre-Season Draft Guide.

In the past, subscribers have asked me to get into exact detail regarding how I draft and the specifics regarding how I analyze the draft, my team needs, and how the actions of owners around me cause me to alter (or move forward) with my Master draft plan. Thus, the official FFMastermind.com Draft Plan was born. This plan is developed to inform subscribers of how I actually "think on the fly" during a draft. As I've done the past dozen years, I'll go in rounds of two's and make distinctions for non-PPR and PPR leagues as well as the occasional QB heavy league. I can tell you I no longer play in basic scoring leagues and only play in 12-16 team leagues. Most of my leagues are PPR, but not all of them. Most leagues have ten starters, so I'll take you through the first 10 rounds of my drafting process. This initial version of the plan is based upon ADP taken in mid-July, 2026. I will be updating the plan throughout the next several weeks, as needed. Let's get right to the first round...

 

Note: (#) after player named is BYE week #.

 

ROUNDS #1-#2

 

Pick 1.01 - 1.06: There are three RBs and three WRs I'd choose from for this pick. The only way I would draft a QB here is if the league weighed QB heavy with 6-points per TD pass, and only if I knew I could NOT get a top 3 QB with my second round pick. As for my second round pick, if I have an elite STUD RB on my roster, then I'd likely take the best available WR with my next choice. If I took a WR in the first round, I'd take a RB in the second. In QB-heavy leagues, if I took a QB in the first round, I'd weigh the top remaining RBs and WRs. I'd take a top 3-4 RB ahead of an elite WR, but if they are gone, I'd probably take a top five WR.

 

Sample rosters after two rounds

PPR: RB Jahmyr Gibbs, DET (6), WR Nico Collins, HOU (8)

Non-PPR: RB Bijan Robinson, ATL (11), WR A.J. Brown, NE (11)

QB-Heavy: QB Drake Maye, NE (11), WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, DET (6)

 

Pick 1.07 - 1.12(14): You must assume that a top three RB won't be available when your turn arrives, and the top 4-5 WRs are also likely to be off the board. That gives you the option of drafting either RB Jonathan Taylor or a top 6-7 WR with your first pick. If a Tier #2 RB is there, I'd take him over a Tier #2 WR simply because there are less elite RBs than WRs. If I draft a RB first, I'd go with a WR in the second round. The opposite also stands. In non-PPR leagues, I really like RB Derrick Henry, who is sliding to the middle of the second round, so I'd grab the top WR available in the first round and then take Henry in the second. In QB-heavy leagues, I take a top eight QB first if you know he won't last until your second pick. I'd probably take a RB with my other pick unless a top three WR slides to me.

 

Sample rosters after two rounds

PPR: RB Jonathan Taylor, IND (13), WR Drake London, ATL (11)

Non-PPR: WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, DET (6), RB Derrick Henry, BAL (13)

QB-Heavy: QB Justin Herbert, LAC (7), WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, SEA (11)

 

ROUNDS #3-#4

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

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