2026 Fantasy Football Draft Strategy From Pick 4: 10-Team PPR

Pick 4 is one of my favorite spots because I can grab an elite WR and still have a realistic shot at a high-end RB at the 2/3 turn.

The early path:

1.04 → 2.07/3.04 → 4.07/5.04 → 6.07/7.04

Starting with Puka also gives me a stable enough WR1 that I don't have to force wide receiver immediately afterward.

1.04: Puka Nacua

I'm taking Puka Nacua.

Sean McVay has already shown us the role.

Puka finished 2025 with:

129 receptions

1,715 receiving yards

10 receiving touchdowns

He also added 105 rushing yards and another score.

That's why I like him so much in full PPR.

He's not dependent on just deep touchdowns.

McVay gets him the ball all over the formation.

The Rams also finished first in total offense, passing yards per game and offensive points per game last season.

I'm buying a massive role inside an elite offense.

2.07 / 3.04: RB Gets the Tiebreaker

Targets:

RB

• Saquon Barkley • Derrick Henry • Chase Brown • Kenneth Walker III • Breece Hall

WR

• Rashee Rice • Nico Collins

TE

• Brock Bowers

Because Puka already anchors WR, I like getting at least one RB here.

But I'm not forcing it.

If Rice falls badly, take him.

If Bowers falls, take him.

What I Don't Want

I don't want to turn "I should probably get an RB" into "I have to take the seventh-best RB on the board."

The entire point of starting with Puka is flexibility.

4.07 / 5.04: Add Starters Before You Add Luxury

My targets:

• Travis Etienne • Kyren Williams • Quinshon Judkins • Emeka Egbuka • Ladd McConkey • Jaylen Waddle

Josh Allen is also in play if he falls and I did not draft Bowers.

Kyren Williams + McVay

Kyren is another player where we don't have to invent a historical comparison.

He had:

259 carries for 1,252 yards and 10 rushing TDs

under McVay last season.

He also caught 36 passes.

Blake Corum earned 145 carries, so I'm not treating Kyren as an uncontested 95% backfield player.

But that's okay.

The goal isn't 100% of the backfield.

The goal is the valuable portion of an excellent offense.

6.07 / 7.04: Keep Building Your Weekly Lineup

Targets:

RB

• D'Andre Swift • David Montgomery • Jadarian Price

WR

• Marvin Harrison Jr. • Carnell Tate • DJ Moore • DK Metcalf • Michael Pittman Jr. • Jameson Williams

QB if one falls

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

By seven rounds, I ideally want multiple startable RBs and WRs.

If I've accomplished that and one of the QB stars falls, great.

If not, keep waiting.

8.07 / 9.04: Start Taking Discounts

Potential targets:

TE

• Kyle Pitts • Sam LaPorta

QB

• Jaxson Dart • Trevor Lawrence • Dak Prescott • Brock Purdy

WR

• Parker Washington • Mike Evans • Wan'Dale Robinson

RB

• Jaylen Warren • Rico Dowdle

The later we get, the less important the original blueprint becomes.

A draft is not a grocery list.

If somebody has fallen 20 picks, react.

10.07 / 11.04: Two Paths

This turn has two very good paths.

Path 1: Finally Take QB

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

Mahomes is particularly easy for me if he falls here.

Eric Bieniemy is back in Kansas City after serving as Mahomes' OC from 2018 through 2022.

That original stint included two Mahomes MVP seasons.

The Chiefs also averaged 30.1 points per game over Bieniemy's five seasons as OC.

Path 2: Keep Hammering RB Value

• Jaylen Warren • Rico Dowdle • Kenneth Gainwell • Jonathon Brooks • Chuba Hubbard • Jacory Croskey-Merritt • Rachaad White

If the entire league takes QB early and leaves these backs sitting here, I'm happy to continue waiting.

12.07 / 13.04: Solve TE or Add Another Lottery Ticket

TE

• Isaiah Likely • Dalton Kincaid • Jake Ferguson • Juwan Johnson

RB

• Jordan Mason • Blake Corum

WR

• Makai Lemon • KC Concepcion

Makai Lemon: Don't Force a Fake Historical Comp

This is a case where coach history isn't necessary.

Philadelphia spent major draft capital on Lemon and A.J. Brown's departure opened passing-game opportunity.

That's enough.

I'm betting on:

talent + draft investment + available targets

I don't need to pretend first-year OC Sean Mannion has some NFL history that doesn't exist.

That's part of using coach history correctly.

Round 14: Pick 137: Last Upside Pick

Targets:

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

C-Rod again stands out because Liam Coen has already coached him.

I'd rather draft a player whose role could explode than someone I know will get four touches every week.

Round 15: Kicker

My kicker group:

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

I'm waiting until this round because every bench RB/WR pick before this has a chance to become a weekly fantasy starter.

A kicker doesn't.

My Order

Aubrey is first because of his elite range.

Dicker is next because I want exposure to the Herbert/McDaniel offense.

After that, I'm comfortable with Mevis, Fairbairn or Reichard.

If somebody drafts my preferred kicker earlier, I don't chase the position.

I take the next one.

Round 16: Defense

My Week 1 pool:

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

I'm evaluating the opponent, not just the name of the defense.

If the Chargers have the matchup I want Week 1, I'll take the Chargers even if another D/ST is ranked higher for the full season.

Then I'll reassess before Week 2.

The goal is to continuously find:

• sacks • turnovers • bad offensive lines • inexperienced or mistake-prone QBs • low-scoring matchups

Do not waste an earlier pick trying to find the 2026 D/ST1.