5 value picks in fantasy football

Welcome to our rollout of fantasy football content for the 2026 season. To kick us off, we have 5 names worth paying attention to throughout training camp and into your upcoming fantasy football drafts.

Chase Brown: Smash Pick 

In weeks 13 and onward last season, coinciding with Joe Burrow’s return from Turf Toe, Brown averaged 22.3 points per game, registering him as the RB2 across the final 6 weeks of the season. Currently going as the RB10, talk out of the Bengals training camp has Brown being a heavily featured component of the offense. Noteworthy though is a reported shift in offense with the Bengals emphasizing under-center snaps and play-action for Joe Burrow, hoping to create more explosive plays. Whether or not this move proves beneficial for the Bengals remains to be seen. However with the offense projected to be amongst the highest scoring in the league, along with an improved defense, it is not unreasonable to expect Brown to surpass his RB10 price tag. 

David Montgomery: Safe Value 

Don’t overcomplicate it. Montgomery joins a backfield with a bell cow role waiting for him. With Texans Offensive Coordinator Nick Caley hoping to establish a strong run game and take pressure off C.J. Stroud, a lack of confidence in Woody Marks, and being paired with one of the league’s best defenses, the situation in Houston is very promising. Currently ranked as the RB23, Montgomery holds a lot of value at his current price. Whilst not the flashiest pick, Montgomery projects to be a very strong and reliable RB2 (with upside) heading into the coming season. 

Emeka Egbuka: Smash Pick

In weeks 1 through 5 last season, Egbuka produced an average of 20.48 points per game, putting up an impressive 25 receptions for 445 yards with 5 scores. The following week, Egbuka picked up a hamstring injury, and when paired with other injuries to key offensive pieces for the Buccaneers, the remainder of the season was one to forget. Now healthy, he is set to be the number 1 target for a motivated Baker Mayfield and new Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson, the latter who compared him to Cooper Kupp after working with the Rams from 2019-2023. Egbuka has a clear path for significant production ahead of him. Currently going as the WR18, there is still plenty of value with a high WR2, or even low end WR1, very much on the cards this upcoming season. 

Mike Evans: Buyer Beware 

At the time of writing, the Mike Evans quad strain is being reported as only a minor issue. About to be 33 years old, and entering the season under an injury cloud, there is a level of caution needed in upcoming drafts. In saying that, Evans is going to take the mantle as the 49ers clear WR1. Shanahan recruited him with a purpose, and I would not be surprised to see similarities of a Davante Adams 2025 season here in San Francisco. Should Evans have a clean bill of health entering the season, don’t be afraid to buy on this veteran receiver. Expect touchdowns, and expect Purdy to feed his new top target. I am big on Evans this season. 

Colston Loveland: Smash Pick 

Through the final four games of last season (including playoffs), Loveland had double digit targets in all four games. Drafted by Ben Johnson with a plan in mind, Loveland is one of the rare talents at Tight End where he can go out and win his own ball, almost playing as an alpha wide receiver. With another off-season to learn Johnson’s system, Loveland has been earning rave reviews out of training camp. Going as the TE3 in drafts, you can pick him up 20 picks after Bowers or McBride, whilst still having a strong chance to finish as the overall TE1. A no-brainer pick, don’t be afraid to take him in round 4.