New Fantasy Football 2026 Mock Draft Strategy and Cheat Sheet for Opening Rounds

The NFL preseason is nearing its conclusion, which means that fantasy managers will soon transition from mock drafts to the real thing. However, there's still time to cram in a few mock drafts to help put the finishing touches on preseason preparation.

Of course, getting the most out of mock drafts requires more than making a few practice picks. Smart managers use a variety of tried-and-true strategies to glean the most useful information.

Here, you find a look at some of the top strategies for mocking the early rounds, along with a cheat sheet for the key early-round targets and the results of a mock draft conducted with FantasyPros' Mock Draft Simulator .

Make a Big Board Beforehand and Don't Stop With One Mock

This one might seem obvious. However, some managers really will run a single mock, be happy with the results, and deem themselves ready for their actual draft. The problem is that no two drafts are ever the same, and the odds of perfectly mirroring that lone mock are practically zero.

By running multiple mocks, managers can try out different strategies, which they should. This should provide an idea of the best ways to land the most value on a personalized big board. Does doubling up on RBs early leave you lacking at WR while going WR first consistently yields a more balanced roster? That's valuable information to have heading into a live draft.

And, yes, you should look to set your own draft board before digging into mock drafts. Fantasy rankings are great, but you're going to feel much better about your team when you land players you personally believe in.

Working through multiple mocks can also help you plot out a pivot plan, which every manager should have. Anyone who plays fantasy long enough will eventually run into that draft where a rogue manager reaches heavily at a position and sparks a very unexpected run.

In such a scenario, the best managers pivot instead of making panic picks.

If you decide your goal in the early rounds is to start with some combination of two RBs and a WR, it's good to have a backup plan for if/when that strategy is no longer viable. Try a zero-RB approach or an RB-TE-WR strategy to see which Plan B best meshes with your preferred results.

We're certainly not saying that you have to treat mock drafts like it's AP psychology. However, it's good to have a notepad handy when running through mocks.

For one thing, it's wise to keep tabs on how different strategies are stacking up. It's also a good idea to note any draft trends you start to notice during your mock-drafting journey.

Have you noticed that favorite sleeper slowly rising up the draft order? Tracking his draft range can help you avoid missing out in your live draft.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seattle Seahawks

Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers

Omarion Hampton, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase is trending as the top overall pick in many fantasy formats. He's certainly worthy of the hype, but this also means that managers picking as late as fourth have a realistic chance of grabbing Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs or Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson.

Given the scarcity of true high-volume backs in 2026, managers should feel very good about kicking off a draft with either Robinson or Gibbs—who finished second and third, respectively, among RBs in point-per-reception (PPR) leagues.

Middle 4: Puka Nacua or Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Last season, Los Angeles Rams wideout Puka Nacua and Seattle Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba finished first and second, respectively, among WRs in PPR leagues. They're trending below Chase this preseason because Joe Burrow is healthy. However, both receivers could again finish in the top two.

Nacua and Smith-Njigba are excellent players to target in the middle of Round 1, should either be pushed out of the top five.

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is trending as a late-first-round pick, which leaves managers with a prime opportunity to buy low.

Yes, Jefferson had a down year as Minnesota's offense stumbled through the 2025 season. However, he finished the previous season as WR2 and should be poised for a bounce-back campaign with Kyler Murray taking over at quarterback for the Vikings.

Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers