2026 Fantasy Football Draft Strategy From Pick 10: 10-Team PPR

Pick 10 requires a different mentality than every other draft spot.

You don't really have one pick at a time.

You have turns:

1.10 / 2.01

then:

3.10 / 4.01

then:

5.10 / 6.01

The advantage is obvious: I can take two players back-to-back.

The disadvantage is the 18 selections that happen before I pick again.

Because of that, I am more willing to take one of my favorite players slightly ahead of ADP from Pick 10 than from Pick 5.

If I love somebody and don't think he'll survive 18 more picks, waiting isn't an option.

1.10: James Cook

I'm taking James Cook.

This is one of my favorite same-player, same-coach projections.

Joe Brady ran Buffalo's offense the last two seasons before becoming head coach.

In 2025 Buffalo led the NFL with 159.6 rushing yards per game.

Cook won the rushing title with:

309 carries

1,621 rushing yards

12 rushing touchdowns

He also added 33 receptions.

Brady has specifically talked about making the system fit the players rather than forcing the players into one system.

Cook is evidence that philosophy works.

2.01: Think About the 19-Pick Wait

If one of my preferred first-round players falls, obviously take him.

Otherwise my favorite options include:

• Rashee Rice • Saquon Barkley • Derrick Henry • Chase Brown • Kenneth Walker III

At Pick 11, I am willing to take a player ESPN might have several slots lower.

Why?

Because I don't pick again until No. 30.

A five-pick "reach" isn't really a reach if the alternative is having zero chance to draft the player.

My Preferred Starts

Cook + Rice gives me RB/WR flexibility.

Cook + Barkley gives me two elite backs and lets me attack WR later.

Cook + Henry is aggressive at RB, but I'm not afraid of it if the value is right.

Don't draft a worse player just to make the roster look balanced after two rounds.

3.10 / 4.01: Now Fill the Gaps

Targets:

• Josh Jacobs • Javonte Williams • George Pickens • Tetairoa McMillan • Zay Flowers • DeVonta Smith • Josh Allen • Travis Etienne • Kyren Williams

If I started RB/RB, WR gets the tiebreaker.

If I started Cook/Rice, I can simply take the best two players.

This Is Why Turn Drafting Requires Planning

If Pickens and Etienne are my two favorite players here, take them both.

Don't take Pickens and then assume Etienne will still be there after another selection.

You control both picks.

Use that.

5.10 / 6.01: Still No Need to Panic at QB

Targets:

RB

• D'Andre Swift • David Montgomery • Jadarian Price

WR

• Jameson Williams • DJ Moore • Carnell Tate

TE

• Tyler Warren

QB if they fall

• Jayden Daniels • Lamar Jackson • Drake Maye • Jalen Hurts

DJ Moore + Joe Brady

This is another reunion.

Brady previously coached Moore in Carolina.

Now he gets him in Buffalo with Josh Allen.

That's what makes the situation intriguing.

The coach is already familiar with the player's route-running and YAC ability, but the quarterback environment is much stronger.

That's a reunion I'm willing to bet on.

7.10 / 8.01: Take the Two Players Who Won't Come Back

Targets:

• Parker Washington • Kyle Pitts • Sam LaPorta • Jaxson Dart • Mike Evans • Marvin Harrison Jr. • DK Metcalf • Michael Pittman Jr.

At the turn, I think about which two players I would be most upset to miss.

If LaPorta and Marv are my two best values, take them.

I'm not worried about what order they go in.

9.10 / 10.01: My Favorite Late-QB Turn

QB:

• Justin Herbert • Patrick Mahomes • Brock Purdy • Caleb Williams • Dak Prescott

RB:

• Jaylen Warren • Rico Dowdle • Kenneth Gainwell • Jonathon Brooks • Chuba Hubbard

WR:

• Xavier Worthy

Mahomes + Bieniemy

If Mahomes reaches this turn, my wait-at-QB strategy has done its job.

Bieniemy is back after serving as Mahomes' OC for both his 2018 and 2022 MVP seasons.

I'm getting a quarterback I know has league-winning upside without using one of the premium picks required to get him in previous years.

That's exactly the point of waiting.

11.10 / 12.01: TE and RB Depth

Targets:

• T.J. Hockenson • Josh Downs • Isaiah Likely • Dalton Kincaid • Jake Ferguson • Jordan Mason • Aaron Jones

Dalton Kincaid + Buffalo Continuity

The appeal here isn't some fake historical comparison.

It's continuity.

Joe Brady is still running the program.

Josh Allen is still the quarterback.

The offense is not learning a completely new system.

If Kincaid's talent finally turns into a larger role, this price gives me upside without needing him to break out for the pick to make sense.

13.10 / 14.01: Last Two Upside Picks

This is another place where drafting at the turn helps.

My targets:

• Chris Rodriguez Jr. • De'Zhaun Stribling • Juwan Johnson • Keenan Allen • Makai Lemon • KC Concepcion • Denzel Boston • Raiders pass catchers • Dolphins pass catchers

If QB is somehow still empty:

• Kyler Murray • Jared Goff • Tyler Shough • Baker Mayfield • Cam Ward

Cam Ward + Brian Daboll

Ward is my favorite extreme version of the wait-at-QB strategy.

He was the No. 1 overall pick in 2025.

As a rookie, he threw for 3,169 yards with 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Now he gets Brian Daboll.

Daboll was Buffalo's offensive coordinator during Josh Allen's development.

I'm not saying Ward becomes Allen.

What interests me is Daboll's experience developing a physically talented young quarterback.

Daboll has also said Ward was a major factor in choosing Tennessee.

Ward himself has talked about Daboll changing the way he sees the field.

At an extremely cheap fantasy cost, that's exactly the type of coaching bet I'm willing to make.

Round 15: Pick 150: Kicker

My kicker board:

• Brandon Aubrey • Cameron Dicker • Harrison Mevis • Ka'imi Fairbairn • Will Reichard

The turn changes one small thing here.

Because I pick 150 and then 151, I know nobody can steal a player between my kicker and defense.

So I don't have to overthink the order.

Take the best kicker available at 150.

Then take defense at 151.

Why Aubrey Is First

Range.

A drive doesn't have to get as close to the end zone for Dallas to generate a realistic field-goal attempt.

That creates extra scoring paths.

Why Dicker Is Close

I like the Chargers offense under McDaniel enough that I want Dicker attached to it.

Good offenses that occasionally stall in scoring territory create great kicker environments.

If They're Gone

Mevis, Fairbairn and Reichard are all fine.

I am not taking a kicker in Round 12 because Aubrey and Dicker disappeared.

The replacement value at this position is too high.

Round 16: Pick 151: Defense

My Week 1 pool:

• Chargers vs. Cardinals • Jaguars vs. Browns • Steelers vs. Falcons • Cowboys at Giants • Seahawks vs. Patriots • Titans vs. Jets

Take whichever matchup you like most from what remains.

Then be ruthless.

If the defense you draft has a bad Week 2 matchup, drop them.

If a defense on waivers gets to face a backup quarterback, pick them up.

If an offensive line loses multiple starters, attack it.

D/ST scoring comes heavily from:

• sacks • interceptions • fumbles • defensive touchdowns

Those are highly matchup-dependent events.

I don't need to predict which defense will be the D/ST1 over 17 weeks.

I need to predict which offense I want to attack this week.

That's why defense is the final pick of the draft.