Issue #298: Fab Fives
By Derrick Ernst
August 06, 2026
QB
Most of you probably remember that for the last few offseason’s I dragged on our Fab Five series to multiple issues. Not this year. I figured I can be brief and still get the points I needed across. Plus, most of your are here to see the names — any explanation for my decisions is bonus. Last year, for each position, I implemented a format of one stud, one flyer, and three that fit in-between. Lets do the same this go around too.
Josh Allen, BUF (Stud): No surprise here. I’ve said everything I’ve wanted to say. The one thing I will mention (again) is know your league. I would suggest grabbing him in R2, but his ADP is early-R3. If your league leans QB’s early, don’t wait or else you’ll regret it.
Joe Burrow, CIN: When healthy, he's the TDF prototype: pass attempts up the wazoo. With two top WR’s and a top RB, it’s no surprise. In seasons he’s played 16+ games he’s never finished worse than QB8 (three of six seasons).
Trevor Lawrence, JAX: I said last season that Coen would unlock a new side to his game the way he did for Baker. A quiet QB4 finish says he did. When I talk about drafting two QBs, he’s the ideal bill for a trustworthy backup.
Bo Nix, DEN: He’s morphing into a mirror imagine of D. Brees, maybe not so prolific through the air, but just as productive. Sean Payton won’t be setting Nix up for failure anytime soon.
Tyler Shough, NO (Flyer): His last three games of '25: QB10, QB7, QB4. Small sample? He was top-12 in five of the final eight. A sneaky performance nobody chose to notice. Now add T. Etienne and J. Tyson with C. Olave. I’m listening.
RB
Bijan Robinson, ATL (Stud): Yes, I lean Puka #1 overall, but I wouldn’t blame you if you see it otherwise. Bijan has had about as good a start to a career as one could have. It’s likely to continue. Spend your brainpower elsewhere.
Javonte Williams, DAL: Does he even exist? I have heard NOBODY mention his name — that’s the kind of under-the-radar talent TDF feasts on. Last season, he wasn’t far off bell cow territory in a RB room that hasn't meaningfully changed. Traditionally I'd tell you DAL's fantasy value lives at WR, but given what Williams did last season and what you'll pay for him, I'd say RB this time.
Quinshon Judkins, CLE: CLE is typically a team to avoid except for the occasional RB, and Judkins is the occasional RB. I grew fond of his game as last season went on, and in the games he played he was a ball hog — exactly what we look for. Yes, he's coming off injury, but he's an R5 pick I want more than most of who’s going around him at that price.
Kyle Monangai, CHI: I said it a few months ago and I’m keeping my word: Monangai is my favorite sleeper of ’26. He and Swift combined for almost 400 carries behind one of the league’s best offensive lines. Swift had the better statistical year, but Monangai was just as productive with the looks he got — 200 attempts + targets. Swift is going three rounds sooner and is in the final year of his contract. I think the tide turns at some point this season.
Jordan Mason, MIN (Flyer): Get ready for his skillset to be unlocked. He's been an underrated rusher his whole career by way of playing backup — 5.1 YPC across 61 games. He was the more proficient runner than A. Jones last season and both are sitting at a value, which tells me the fantasy community can't decide what to make of them. In a KOC offense that doesn’t hand RBs volume, I'd rather have the explosiveness than the tried vet.
WR
Puka Nacua, LAR (Stud): If you land the #1 overall pick, he's my guy. I don’t care if rankings have him 4-8 overall — tell me who's been better since he entered the league? D. Adams found the end zone every 4.3 catches last year. That's not a trend, that's a coin flip that kept landing on heads. I’m expecting a trend reversal there too and for some to fall to Puka.
Jaylen Waddle, DEN: I spent the spring comping Waddle to the guy across from him (Sutton). So why am I in on him now? Because Payton went and got him. Remember what I say about coaches hand picking their guys — that's a game plan, not a depth chart move. I think the gap between Waddle and Sutton widens as the year progresses.
Michael Pittman, PIT: Rodgers averaged 6.7 yds/att last season, the lowest of his career. So why is the market paying up for the guy who runs deep? Metcalf's career YPC is 14.4. Pittman's is 10.8. Aka Pittman is the outlet in an offense that isn't stretching the field and he’s many rounds cheaper than DK.
Michael Wilson, ARI: ARI led the league in pass att/gm last season. Wilson finished as WR12 as the second option. I see it this way: MHJ is D. Adams — redzone dependent, boom or bust. Wilson is P. Nacua — predictable targets, smoother production, more chances to score off volume. Imagine rostering two Nacua’s. That’s deadly and can be done.
Josh Downs, IND (Flyer): Pittman leaving puts 100+ targets up for grabs. Get this, in three seasons together, Downs has had more targets and receptions in every one versus his teammate, A. Pierce. Pierce's injury continues to linger and his deep speciality isn't so special in IND’s WR room anymore. Downs has a chance to make every Colt fan wonder why they paid Pierce as much as they did.
TE
Trey McBride, ARI (Stud): Even though I’ve enlisted M. Wilson, McBride is the best option ARI has on offense and he'll be that no matter who's under center. If you've got an early pick, there’s a world out there were you could go Puka in R1, Allen in R2 and McBride in R3. You’ve locked in TBOTB at three positions and could literally hoard RBs for several rounds to follow.
Tyler Warren, IND: His story is similar to Downs: 100+ targets up for grabs via Pittman. Pierce stretches the field and Downs can only absorb so much. Warren doesn't need many more looks to lock up second in TE targets (likely behind McBride). His production took a dumpster dive when Jones got hurt. With him (unbelievably back), my belief is that they’ll pick up where they had left.
Tucker Kraft, GB: He was the lone bright spot on a team that finished 14th in PPG last season and disappointed at nearly every position. My rule with this current Packers team is that you don't draft any of their guys as your "1" at a position, with the exception of Kraft. He was TE1 for a stretch last year before tearing his ACL in Week 9. Over those weeks, GB targeted TE’s 25% of the time, close to best in the league.
George Kittle, SF: CMC is the best player in fantasy when he's on the field. Kittle is the same way for TEs. Excluding his rookie year, he’s played in 14+ games in six of eight seasons. In each of those seasons he’s finished TE5 or better — every one of them. He (and Kelce) is being ranked as if his career is going to fall off a cliff. That's a mistake.
Mark Andrews, BAL (Flyer): With Likely gone, I like Andrews' chances of getting back to form. Everyone has given up on him, which means you can get him on the cheap. BAL's game should look a lot like it has in the past, new coaching staff or not. In the years Lamar has started 15 or more games, Andrews has finished as TE4, TE5 (x2), and TE12.
Comments