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Who should I draft for fantasy football in 2026? Fantasy football outlooks for RJ Harvey, Rashee Rice, DK Metcalf, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Tyler Allgeier, Zach Charbonnet, Jakobi Meyers, Courtland Sutton, Jameson Williams, Dylan Sampson.
Who Should I Draft? Use this tool to assist you with some common 2026 fantasy football draft decisions regarding players like RJ Harvey, Rashee Rice, DK Metcalf, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Tyler Allgeier, Zach Charbonnet, Jakobi Meyers, Courtland Sutton, Jameson Williams, Dylan Sampson. We are here to help make these calls and build winning teams in 2026. Draft your optimal fantasy football teams for 2026 with our Who Should I Draft? tool. Compare up to four NFL players, and we tell you who to draft... all free!
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Fantasy Football Draft Outlooks
Below are some fantasy football outlooks written by our NFL team here at RotoBaller, bringing you their fantasy football analysis and advice on which players to consider drafting in 2026:
DK Metcalf, Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf has failed to return ADP value in each of the past two seasons. Most recently, in his first year with the Steelers, he finished as the WR26 after coming off the board around WR20. Heading into 2026 as RotoBaller's WR35, he could still struggle to reverse that trend even at the lowest ADP since his 2019 rookie season. In 2025, Metcalf was the most persistent deep threat in a passing offense that lived largely in the short to intermediate areas of the field.
At 42 years old, Aaron Rodgers ranked dead last among 33 qualified quarterbacks on intended air yards per attempt, finishing 1.6 yards below the league average. With Rodgers back in the fold for his 22nd and final professional season and the Steelers spending the offseason surrounding him with low-ADoT targets such as Michael Pittman Jr. and second-round pick Germie Bernard, there is no reason to expect a more aggressive downfield approach in 2026. In addition to adding more target competition, a philosophical shift to the Steelers' offense could create further obstacles to Metcalf's fantasy success.
With Arthur Smith still running the offense in 2025, only the Baltimore Ravens deployed three-receiver sets at a lower rate, which allowed Metcalf to reach a 33.5% first-read target share. With new head coach Mike McCarthy having last run a Dallas offense operating out of 11-personnel on more than 70% of their 2024 snaps, both Pittman and Bernard are likely to be on the field regularly, earning targets.
Metcalf is still the most naturally talented receiver on the roster, but in an environment not necessarily set up to take advantage of his skill set, he's fallen into the seventh round of 2026 drafts, and even at that range, the upside case is surprisingly difficult to make for a 6'4", 229-pound receiver who has three times topped 1,000 yards in a season.
Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks
One of the Seattle Seahawks' most productive skill players in 2025 was running back Zach Charbonnet (knee), but a January ACL tear in the team's NFC Divisional-Round game against the 49ers has created doubt about Charbonnet's early-season availability for 2026. He underwent surgery on February 20 to repair his left knee. According to NFL.com's Kevin Patra, head coach Mike Macdonald hasn't ruled out Charbonnet being available for Week 1, but it seems like an unlikely timeline - roughly nine months from the injury.
Seattle's championship-winning duo has been split up by both Charbonnet's injury and Kenneth Walker III's departure in free agency, so the team has reshaped its backfield with first-round rookie Jadarian Price and Emanuel Wilson joining George Holani (24 touches in 2025) in what seems to be an open, three-way competition. Considering that's an entirely unproven group, it is possible that Charbonnet, who totaled 874 scrimmage yards and 12 touchdowns in a reserve role behind Walker III, is the lead tailback when he's healthy and at full speed.
Still, that's a challenging timeline to project at this stage. His situation has also slightly changed, given that last year's offensive playcaller, Klint Kubiak, has departed for the head coaching job in Las Vegas. RotoBaller's overall PPR rankings slot Charbonnet at No. 204 overall due to the uncertainty, but he might be a worthwhile late-round dart if a more positive prognosis is provided closer to the preseason. In dynasty formats, it's likely optimal to hold Charbonnet to see if he can finally take advantage of a backfield without Walker III and assume the lead role.
Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (knee) has had a difficult time staying on the field in recent seasons. After missing 13 games in 2024 with a knee injury, he opened the 2025 season by serving a six-game suspension for his role in a hit-and-run incident. Rice then ended the 2025 season on Injured Reserve with a concussion.
This past offseason has been eventful as well, as the 26-year-old underwent knee surgery in May before being arrested and serving a 30-day jail sentence for violating his probation. Rice is expected to be ready to go for the start of training camp, but his fantasy profile is obviously riddled with both injury and off-field risk. Across the eight games he suited up for in 2025, Rice recorded 53 catches for 571 yards and five touchdowns on 78 targets. As long as he's on the field, Rice projects as the number one option in the passing game for Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Particularly in PPR-scoring formats, Rice's upside is significant. However, fantasy managers will have to weigh his availability concerns when choosing whether to rely on him as a key contributor. All in all, Rice projects as a high-ceiling, high-floor fantasy WR2 entering 2026 with some risk, in the event that he is not at full strength early on. Per reports, Rice is not expected to face any further discipline from the NFL. As a result, Rice's main concerns regarding his fantasy output are his health and his quarterback's status.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders
Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt is flying under the radar this offseason, which is the polar opposite of the hype he was receiving a year ago. Croskey-Merritt underperformed as a rookie despite rushing for 805 yards and eight touchdowns on 175 carries. That is solid production, especially for the situation Croskey-Merritt was put in.
He was a 7th-round pick who was forced to sit out his final year of college due to an NCAA clerical error regarding his freshman year at Alabama State. Additionally, Croskey-Merritt was forced to be a focal point of the Commanders' offense after Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin battled injuries all season. In 2026, his situation has drastically improved with Daniels healthy, an improved offensive line, and a new offense that favors his running style. The Commanders did not acquire a big-name running back this offseason, which highlights their faith in Croskey-Merritt to take his game to another level.
Croskey-Merritt can take his biggest fantasy jump with his touchdown production. Similar to James Cook's situation in Buffalo, there is no overwhelming red zone threat through the air in the Commanders' offense. This gives Croskey-Merritt a clear path to hit double-digit touchdowns this season in an offense with lofty expectations. Croskey-Merritt is currently being drafted as an RB4 despite having achievable RB2 upside. After a full season back in football and being in a better offensive ecosystem, Croskey-Merritt is in a better position to live up to those high expectations from last season.
Dylan Sampson, Cleveland Browns
Many were disappointed by Dylan Sampson's landing spot with the Cleveland Browns in the 2025 NFL Draft, considering the same team selected another rookie, Quinshon Judkins (ankle), with a top-40 pick. Judkins' summer legal issues opened the door for Sampson to earn major snaps early last season. Still, he failed to truly separate from a committee that included Jerome Ford and Raheim Sanders.
He ultimately earned just 32 carries from Judkins' season debut in Week 2 to Week 16, where the starter suffered a dislocated ankle against the Bills. Sampson saw double-digit carries in both weeks that Judkins missed to end the season, but they resulted in more of the same efficiency issues that plagued him all year behind a miserable Browns offensive line. While the former Volunteers star managed a poor 2.7 yards per carry on the ground, he managed 8.2 yards per reception across 32 catches (on 40 targets).
That was a bit of a stunner when receiving was seen as a hole in his prospect profile after just 37 catches total in his final two seasons at Tennessee. With Ford departing for the Washington Commanders in free agency, Sampson now has a clear path to receiving work behind Judkins for 2026, and he's a premium handcuff should the star second-year back suffer another injury. Though uncertainty remains in Cleveland's quarterback situation as Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson battle it out during training camp. The arrow is undoubtedly pointed upward for the Browns' offense under new coach Todd Monken after massive overhauls to the offensive line and wide receiver rooms during free agency and April's draft.
Cleveland drafted wide receivers Denzel Boston, KC Concepcion, and OT Spencer Fano with their first three picks. Sampson isn't a priority in standard leagues. Still, catching passes will provide some weekly value in PPR formats, where he is ranked 178th overall at RotoBaller with a Sleeper ADP of 165. He's a candidate to be one of those late-round fliers at running back who becomes a weekly starter should an injury occur above him on the depth chart. It's worth noting that Judkins is progressing well in his recovery from an ankle injury, making Sampson mainly a handcuff for Judkins managers or an option in PPR or best ball formats.
Who Should I Draft - Fantasy Football Tool
Read more about the Who Should I Draft tool here:
2026 Player Decisions. Today's focus is on specific players - RJ Harvey, Rashee Rice, DK Metcalf, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Tyler Allgeier, Zach Charbonnet, Jakobi Meyers, Courtland Sutton, Jameson Williams, Dylan Sampson. These are some common searches for 2026 fantasy football drafts.
Using The Tool. This is a simple tool but very powerful. The first step is to enter the player names that you want to compare. In the first box, search for the first player name. In the second box, search for the second player name. Compare up to four NFL players at once, and then click the Who To Draft? button to see who the recommended draft picks are based on fantasy football rankings, projections, and more.
Improvements For Who Should I Draft? You may have noticed our Who Should I Draft? tool has gotten an overhaul. We've added lots of great features for you to give you as much information as possible to win your 2026 fantasy football drafts. You'll see NFL player tiles with bye weeks, stats and projections, ADPs, strength of schedule, enhanced search results with data to compare, and a slick interface. We hope you enjoy!
How It Works. Our RotoBaller staff puts together their preseason fantasy football rankings and projections based on their research, and update it constantly throughout the preseason. That information is the core data that is powering the decision-making in this tool. When you search for player names, you will only see those players that are ranked.
Scoring Formats. Fantasy football managers play in various types of leagues, and this tool allows you to choose whether it's PPR scoring, Half-PPR scoring, or Standard (Non-PPR) scoring. The second thing you want to do is to select the scoring format. There are three small radio buttons (small circles), so click on the scoring format you prefer. The results may vary based on the scoring format you select.
Popular Draft Searches. Curious to see some tough draft decisions for 2026? Below you will find a list of some popular Who Should I Draft? searches that RotoBaller readers are looking at. Click any of the links to see the result and recommendation.
Popular Player Comparison Searches - Who To Draft
Below are some popular searches and comparisons from our Who To Draft tool for 2026 drafts for RJ Harvey, Rashee Rice, DK Metcalf, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Tyler Allgeier, Zach Charbonnet, Jakobi Meyers, Courtland Sutton, Jameson Williams, Dylan Sampson:
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