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Fantasy football season is upon us, and with it comes a whirlwind of injuries, holdouts, trades, depth chart battles, and preseason performances. The constant stream of news from training camps can be overwhelming, leaving even the most dedicated fantasy managers feeling unsure about their draft strategies.
In this article, we'll simplify everything for you. We'll go round-by-round through every player drafted in the Top 120 picks in our updated Consensus Average Draft Position (ADP). You'll get the latest updates and insights you need to make informed decisions when you're on the clock this weekend.
But that's not all—we'll also highlight the news you should know on 20 late-round players whose fantasy stock is rising or falling based on recent developments.
- You can't go too wrong with any of the current first-rounders. With the possible exception of Ja'Marr Chase, each is healthy and ready to go for Week 1.
- Garrett Wilson is a priority target in the back quarter of the first round. He has WR1 overall upside this season.
- Don't ignore the latest buzz out of Los Angeles. There is reliable reporting hinting that the backfield will be more of a committee than those who have been drafting Williams in the second round would hope. He is off of my board until late in Round 3.
- Tank Bigsby had a surprisingly strong camp and may limit Travis Etienne's upside slightly.
- Samaje Perine is a solid pass-catching veteran who may eat into Isiah Pacheco's receiving upside. That being said, he is not exactly the scariest competition. If Pacheco's stock falls at all, it is only slightly.
- Brandon Aiyuk finally signed. His return to San Francisco is a negative for Deebo Samuel, who should probably be going closer to the end of Round 3 now.
- Josh Jacobs is the top running back to target in the third round. I would take Jacobs over three running backs who are being drafted in Round 2 (Williams, Etienne, and Pacheco).
- If there is one player I aim to leave every draft with right now, it is Malik Nabers. He should be going in Round 2. You can get him most of the time if you are willing to take him in Round 3.
- The Seahawks offense feels like a sneaky bet for a major breakout. There is a new scheme, and young talent like Kenneth Walker and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are emerging. It is worth targeting the top Seahawks' weapons at or above ADP.
- Round 5 is where you may decide between a top tight end or a high-end WR2. The round is loaded with excellent options at both positions.
- Rashee Rice still has a consensus ADP in the sixth round. However, he consistently goes in the fourth round in most recent drafts. It is not uncommon to see him in Round 3. I'd rather take a shot on Xavier Worthy a round later.
- Calvin Ridley looks poised to have a great season. Expect the Titans to build the offense around the player they just signed for more than $20M per year.
- Antonio Pierce's recent comments signal that he expects Zamir White to operate in a true workhorse role. The volume should be there, and White succeeded behind a similarly mediocre offensive line last season.
- Round 7 is a great spot to take a shot on a high-upside rookie wide receiver. This class is special, and the expectation is multiple rookie wideouts will emerge as instant-impact fantasy performers.
- It is interesting to see a second-year wide receiver with a first-round pedigree coming off a 10-touchdown rookie season falling so deep in drafts. Yet here we are with Jordan Addison. The Vikings have been a Top 5 passing offense, and Addison is the clear second option behind only Justin Jefferson. He is falling through the cracks as everyone chases the next big thing.
- Let's explore the Bengals' running backs a bit more since my take is difficult to convey in a short blurb. The base-level expectation should be a 50-50 split between Chase Brown and Zack Moss. Think Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren in Pittsburgh. However, there have been plenty of hints in player and coaching interviews that they are at least open to the possibility that Brown takes this job and runs with it. He gets referred to as "the upside guy," and Brown is the player the Bengals offensive linemen are vocally telling people they should draft in their fantasy leagues.
- Jerome Ford has not seen as much of an ADP boost as he should have, based on the latest news. Nick Chubb is on the PUP list, and we still have no firm timeline for when we can expect him back. Plus, D'Onta Foreman never made much sense as a serious challenger for playing time and ended up getting cut, leaving just Ford and Pierre Strong on the roster.
Sleeper Notes
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