Adam Schefter's fantasy football cheat sheet: 2026 value picks

ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter published his 2026 fantasy football cheat sheet on August 28, listing early-, middle-, and late-round targets built to beat average draft position. With the NFL season now under two weeks away and draft season at its peak, managers can pair his personal picks with broader rankings to finalize rosters before Labor Day weekend.

Schefter groups players by round tier in 10-team leagues: early (Rounds 1–4), middle (5–11), and later (12+). He focuses on tiebreaker values—names who should outperform their ESPN ADP when choices are close. Last year's column hit on Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Drake Maye, Trevor Lawrence, Emeka Egbuka, and Quinshon Judkins. For more draft-season coverage, see our Streaming & TV Alerts hub.

Key Takeaways

• Schefter lists no quarterbacks as early-round targets, citing unusual depth at the position in 2026.
• Running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson anchor early values; Bhayshul Tuten and Blake Corum stand out in middle and late rounds.
• Wide receiver Parker Washington and tight end Harold Fannin Jr. are among Schefter's mid-round ADP beaters.
• CBS Sports' SportsLine draft bible flags Fannin as a potential bust at ADP 65, showing how experts disagree on the same names.
• Yahoo analyst Joel Smyth's pre-draft stats support Washington's breakout case and highlight Fannin's elite per-route efficiency.

Why did Schefter release his cheat sheet now?

Timing aligns with the final preseason weekend. CBS Sports notes the 2026 NFL season is under two weeks away and fantasy draft season is hitting its peak. Running backs still dominate early boards—Jahmyr Gibbs (ADP 1), Bijan Robinson (2), Jonathan Taylor (5), Christian McCaffrey (7), and James Cook (10) lead most PPR drafts.

Schefter plays in both 12- and 16-team leagues and notes some picks may go undrafted in smaller formats but carry real value in deeper ones. His full list is available on ESPN.

Which quarterbacks does Schefter target in the middle and late rounds?

Schefter sees no need to burn an early pick on Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson when value exists later. Middle-round targets include Bo Nix (ADP 86.3), Caleb Williams (92.2), and Justin Herbert (106.0). Later-round options are Tyler Shough (155.4), Jordan Love (158.0), and Daniel Jones (158.2).

Yahoo's Joel Smyth notes Shough ranked second among QBs with at least 10 carries in percentage of goal-line rushes (22.2%), hinting at scoring upside. Smyth also flags Kyler Murray's strong historical fantasy output and Kevin O'Connell's quarterback-friendly offenses as context for late-round QB streaming.

Who are Schefter's best running back values beyond Round 1?

Early-round backs include Gibbs (1.4), Robinson (2.5), Chase Brown (21.9), Kenneth Walker III (22.3), and Omarion Hampton (25.3). Middle-round value: Bhayshul Tuten (71.8) and Rhamondre Stevenson (83.1). Late steals include Blake Corum (135.1), Jordan Mason (138.9), and Chris Rodriguez Jr. (165.6).

CBS Sports' Josh Nagel lists Cardinals rookie Jeremiyah Love (ADP 24) as a bust—blocking concerns and Tyler Allgeier's goal-line role cap his ceiling. That contrast shows why Schefter's ADP-relative approach matters: the same draft weekend produces very different read lists.

Which wide receivers and tight ends should you target?

Schefter's early WRs include Ja'Marr Chase (4.0), Puka Nacua (5.2), Justin Jefferson (12.1), and Chris Olave (31.1). Middle-round standouts: DeVonta Smith (40.4), Ladd McConkey (50.1), Luther Burden III (76.2), and Parker Washington (93.3). Deep sleepers include Ryan Flournoy (170.9) behind CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens in Dallas.

Smyth's data backs Washington: in Jacksonville's final four games, he posted 454 receiving yards while Brian Thomas Jr. and Jakobi Meyers combined for 267. At tight end, Schefter likes Brock Bowers early (24.3), Colston Loveland (45.0) and Harold Fannin Jr. (75.0) in the middle, and Isaiah Likely (127.4) late. Smyth ranks Fannin first among TEs in multiple efficiency metrics, though CBS warns Fannin faces QB uncertainty and target competition from rookie receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston.