Fantasy Football: Able to choose your pick in your draft? Here's Joel Smyth's favorite spots to select from in 2026
Fantasy football draft season is here! If you have the opportunity to choose your draft slot, choosing the correct one can make or break your season. Joel Smyth breaks down his favorite draft slots for each common league setting in 2026.
1.01 - In some seasons, such as 2025, the top four or so draft picks are all seen as pretty even, making it advantageous to get the better value and draft from the middle. At the end of the day, the No. 1 fantasy asset is the largest advantage there is. This year I believe the clear best shot at that is Jahmyr Gibbs, making my favorite draft pick the 1.01 in all formats.
In games without David Montgomery in 2024, Gibbs averaged 30.4 fantasy points per game. On top of all this, I like the end of Round 2 and early Round 3, while a late Round 4 pick is not as much of a drop off as the first couple rounds.
1.02 - Bijan Robinson is still on another level as a top fantasy RB. It's a great backup option if the 1.01 is taken, with the small potential of Gibbs still being there. Especially in half-PPR, early RBs are everything.
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1.06 - Middle-round picks are the most ideal for roster construction. If you have the 1.12, it's tough to build out a full team without reaching on different positions. The 1.06 allows you to take the best player available and be patient for values. It sets you up well early with being the end of my top tier of the three best WRs and RBs, while being in a sweet spot in Round 2, especially for RB value.
1.10 - 1.12 - Not only, in my opinion, are the late firsts much worse than the early and middle picks this season, but I also don't see as much of an advantage at getting an early second-round pick versus a mid-second. The positive is It makes it easy to go RB-RB if that's your desire, but with seven current RBs going in Round 2, it's usually there for you if you want it. Once it finally gets back at the end of the third round, the fantasy stars become much less certain. The difference between an early third and a late third is George Pickens to Tetairoa McMillan.
What happens if you're playing in a 10-team league?
Middle Rounds - Once you go down to 10 teams, the middle-round picks get a value increase again. The middle of Round 2 is nearly identical to the early second with fewer drafters, and gives a much better pick in Round 1 and 3.
1.09 - For a 10-team league, that ninth overall pick is much closer to the wrap around point then the middle. James Cook is the projected ninth pick, which I don't mind at all, but the early second becomes difficult. You have the next tier of WRs in CeeDee Lamb and Justin Jefferson, alongside RBs who are more fit for PPR leagues like De'Von Achane and Chase Brown. The eighth overall pick is very similar.
What changes if it's a PPR league?
In PPR leagues, Picks 10-12 aren't as much of a disadvantage, but still not favorable with the second round becoming a little deeper, and the RBs lasting further into the middle and end of Round 2, especially in surplus for 10-team leagues.
1.08/9 - In 12-team leagues, Pick 8 and 9 stay strong, getting receiver value from the mid-first round range, a bump and a prime Round 2 selection.
