PPR Mock Draft for 2026 Fantasy Football (Every Pick Explained)
Kendall Valenzuela and Peter Overzet run a full 12-team, full-point PPR mock draft from the 8th slot, explaining every pick pick-by-pick using ESPN ADP. Their team ends up unusually running-back heavy early (James Cook, Chase Brown, Bijan-tier value Breece Hall) before pivoting hard to wide receivers and value plays like Tetairoa McMillan, Mike Evans, Tyler Warren, Parker Washington, Trevor Lawrence, Stefan Diggs, and Rashid Shaheed late. The central argument is to draft based on positional value and tier breaks relative to ADP rather than forcing a rigid roster construction or chasing stacks in redraft.
This episode is a full 12-team, one-QB, full-point PPR mock draft run by Kendall and Pete from the eighth slot on the Fantasy Life draft simulator, using live ESPN ADP. The central argument is that redraft success in 2026 comes from reverse-engineering scarcity: hammer running backs early because reliable ones vanish fast, then exploit a flat, expansive tier of wide receivers that stretches deep into the middle rounds, and stay flexible enough to pivot into value whenever ADP creates gaps rather than forcing positions or stacks.
The arguments
Break positional ties toward running backs in the first several rounds. Pete's framework is that wide receivers (especially rookies and best-ball darlings) are systematically overvalued in redraft ADP, while dependable, receiving-capable backs get scarce quickly. This led directly to taking James Cook over Justin Jefferson/Jonathan Taylor at pick 8, with both hosts agreeing Cook's expanding receiving role could unlock a level of production beyond his touchdown-dependent 2025 season.
Chase Brown over Omari Hampton despite Kendall's rankings preferring Hampton. Kendall had Hampton ranked ahead of Brown, but Pete flagged Miami's Keaton Mitchell buzz (McDaniel specifically discussing him as a receiving-game weapon) as a real threat to Hampton's passing-down floor, while Brown's role behind Cincinnati's Samaje Perine (declining target share) looks safer. Kendall came around, conceding he might flip his rankings.
Don't panic into positional runs — take the scarce asset even if it means stacking backs. With Devonta Smith/Chris Olave/A.J. Brown/Rashee Rice all gone in a cluster, Pete pushed a third straight running back (Breece Hall) over available second-tier receivers (Higgins, Garrett Wilson, Egbuka), arguing the WR pool at that point (Higgins, Waddle, Ladd, Zay Flowers) was flat enough that receiver could wait, while a pass-catching lead back like Hall was the truly scarce commodity. Kendall endorsed this explicitly as an example of exploiting value instead of filling lineup slots reflexively.
Josh Jacobs' suspension risk creates a legitimate discount, and Hall is a close but preferable alternative. Both hosts agreed Jacobs would be an early-third/late-second pick with zero legal uncertainty, but the unresolved risk pushed him behind Hall, whom they project for similar touches plus more catches.
Tetairoa McMillan is the "boring" correct pick over Zay Flowers, Waddle, and Ladd McConkie in a flat WR4 tier. Kendall favored McMillan for target-volume certainty in Carolina despite offense/QB concerns, while Pete added that McMillan is being unfairly penalized for entering the league as an already-finished product; both were wary of Zay Flowers' red-zone/touchdown history not supporting his new contract price, citing a colleague's (Dwayne's) newsletter research.
Tyler Warren is a clear tier break at tight end, distinct from Loveland/Fannin/Laporta. Pete argued Warren has alpha-target-earner upside as the focal point of his offense and is worth reaching for in redraft (unlike best ball, where cheaper streaming tight ends are fine), while Kendall admitted personal anxiety about being light on Warren exposure and cited his post-injury 12.9 PPG, 21% target share as justification once Daniel Jones returns.
Trevor Lawrence as a value quarterback pick because the Parker Washington bet was already made. Pete framed this as value and need aligning: having already speculated on Parker Washington's ascending role in Jacksonville, pairing him with Lawrence (part of a QB tier with rushing-upside ceiling) made sense — but both hosts stressed that in redraft, unlike best ball, you should never force a stack; only take it when ADP delivers it naturally.
What it means for your roster
- Draft: If a top-tier RB and WR are similarly ranked in rounds 1-4, default to the running back — the hosts argue scarcity favors backs in current redraft ADP.
- Target James Cook as a potential value over Jonathan Taylor given expanding receiving-work expectations; Pete said he may rank Cook ahead of Taylor entirely.
- Discount Josh Jacobs slightly for suspension risk but don't avoid him outright — both hosts view the risk as already priced in appropriately.
- Draft Tetairoa McMillan ahead of Zay Flowers/Waddle/Ladd in that flat WR tier; be skeptical of Zay Flowers' price given his weak red-zone/touchdown history relative to his new contract.
- Prioritize Tyler Warren over late-round tight ends like Fannin/Loveland if you want a start-every-week option rather than a streaming committee.
- Speculate late on Jonathan Brooks, Parker Washington, Stefan Diggs, Matthew Golden, and Rashee (Rashid) Shaheed as bench stashes/value swings — Shaheed specifically was flagged as a ~30-pick discount versus best-ball ADP, worth scooping before hype closes the gap.
“This is exactly how I was hoping this would play out.” — Peter Overzet
Players in this episode
↑ Taken over Justin Jefferson/Jonathan Taylor as a 1st-round value; hosts think added receiving work could unlock an even bigger season and may rank him ahead of Jonathan Taylor.
→ Discussed as a near-equal alternative to Chase Brown but hosts worry Keaton Mitchell could siphon receiving work under Mike McDaniel.
↑ Preferred over Omarion Hampton for safety; seen as a rock-solid RB2 selection with Samaje Perine not a threat to his role.
→ Would rank ahead of Breece Hall without legal/suspension risk; still viewed as a solid value given the discount, with Marshawn Lloyd as competition.
↑ Called a surprise value pick in round 3/4 as a bell-cow pass-catching back; drafted as a de facto flex/RB3 to build a three-RB start.
↑ Drafted as a value QB paired naturally with Parker Washington; hosts like his fit with Liam Coen and rushing upside for a higher weekly floor than last year's slow start.
↑ Picked over Zay Flowers/Waddle/Ladd McConkey as the top of a flat WR tier; expected to command 10+ targets/game and lead the Panthers in targets easily.
↓ Hosts cooled on him due to a newsletter stat showing poor red-zone/touchdown scoring rate that doesn't justify his post-contract price.
↑ Seen as a tier break at TE4, potential top-3/4 tight end and alpha target earner; risk flagged if Daniel Jones (QB) were to get hurt, based on last year's split without Jones.
↑ Called a 'smash' pick as the clear alpha target earner in a banged-up 49ers-adjacent... actually Bucs offense; expected to score a lot of touchdowns despite minor camp injury news.
↑ Buzziest camp name in fantasy; hosts believe Jacksonville is signaling he'll be the focal WR, taken as a major value versus his higher best-ball ADP.
→ Speculative bench stash with RB2 upside if he wins the backfield job over Chuba Hubbard; risky given prior ACL tear but cheap enough (RB4) to gamble on.
↑ Preferred over Wan'Dale Robinson and Jordan Addison as a safe, high-target-share WR3/flex with Aaron Rodgers throwing to him, projected 100+ targets.
↓ Considered a slightly worse/riskier version of Pittman since he lacks a clear runway with Carnell Tate and Calvin Ridley also competing for targets.
↑ Drafted immediately after signing with Washington; projected as WR2 behind Terry McLaurin with 107 targets, seen as a value before ADP catches up.
↑ Chosen over Rashid Shaheed/Deebo Samuel based on strong training camp hype videos as a late-round upside swing.
↑ Taken as an upside swing based on belief Jordan Love will air it out more this season in a more pass-heavy Packers offense.
↓ Considered as a value pick but Kendall drew a personal line and declined to draft him.
→ McDaniel reportedly plans to use him significantly in the passing game, which could cut into Hampton's receiving role.
↑ Drafted as a major value (pick 161) versus a ~130 ADP in best ball; Saints reportedly planning to integrate him more as a complement to Chris Olave/JSN this year.