Buy In On Chase Brown And Others In Fantasy Football Drafts
In today's Fantasy Life Newsletter, presented by Mike's Harder.
We just hired your favorite fantasy analyst’s favorite fantasy analyst to join the team at Fantasy Life.
Eagle-eyed readers will recognize the name, Zain Dhanani. He’s the guy I’m often referencing when passing along an obscure and valuable fantasy nugget in these newsletters. He’s a news hawk—woah, double birds of prey references in the same ‘graph!—and an absolute animal when it comes to sifting through the firehose of fantasy information.
In his debut article for the site, he put together nine training camp storylines he’s buying for 2026 fantasy football.
A few highlights:
- The Parker Washington drumbeat is so loud that I’m personally calling it a gong beat. Zain is all-in.
- Chase Brown shouldn’t be the forgotten RB in Round 2. I’m buying.
- Maybe we shouldn’t be fully fading Isaiah Likely? Zain makes a good case here.
For his six other players to buy based on training camp noise, click on the full article here:
Inspired by Zain, I’ll share three other health-related drumbeats I’m buying in drafts:
Malik Nabers - Things turned around quickly for Nabers. He avoided the PUP list and has participated in nine of the first 10 practices. ESPN’s Jordan Raanan reports he’s on track for Week 1 vs. Dallas barring a setback.
Fantasy spin: This is the best-case scenario for a player coming off an ACL repair. Before his injury in Week 4, he averaged an absurd 17.7 PPG and 83.7 YPG, which led to a top-5 Utilization Score among WRs. I’m blindly clicking any time I see him in the late second round. He can easily return Round 1 value.
Chris Godwin - Godwin has looked sharp and smooth throughout the offseason and has been a full participant most days. Coach Todd Bowles and beat writers have described him as looking like his pre-injury self.
Fantasy spin: Dwain has him as a Tier 6 WR along with Mike Evans, Davante Adams, Terry McLaurin and DJ Moore … except he goes 40 picks after those other guys. He’s a screaming buy.
George Kittle - Kittle remains on the PUP list, but watch this video and tell me he’s not moving at an elite level. Sources and teammates all say he’s ahead of schedule.
Fantasy spin: We previously highlighted why his eight-month return from Achilles is possible. Even if he starts slow or isn’t available Week 1, he’s way too cheap to pass up in drafts. To say I’m “scooping him up” would be an understatement. I’d go as far as to say I’m “slurping up the dipperino.”
Draft Strategy
Forget about the holidays. We know that fantasy football draft season is “the most wonderful time of the year.” Ssssh, don’t tell the family.
You get to put your stamp on your roster with the players you select. Your draft strategy will tell the story. So many people are talking about going RB-heavy in the early rounds to lock in their studs. Well, that’s going to leave some sweet options at wide receiver like Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb and Amon-Ra St. Brown who are too hard to pass up. If you’re into tight ends, but don’t want to pay the Round 2 price tag on Brock Bowers and Trey McBride, can we talk you into George Kittle almost 90 picks later? And don’t get us started on elite quarterback strategy when we can wait to get Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff well after pick 100. They’re both projected for well over 4,000 passing yards and 30 TDs. Not bad consolations late in drafts.
Mike’s Harder: Made with Real Character. Sometimes you have to go a different path to lock in a winning strategy.
Around the Watercooler
The latest fantasy and NFL gossip, news, memes and more from your favorite football nerds …
👀 Matthew and BenchwarmerBran find players ready to break out.
❓This tier of WRs has question marks. Will they answer?
🔨 Our tools are among the best values in fantasy. Here’s how to access them.
9️⃣ Be savvy at the 1.09. After WRs are set, late-round TE?
↗️ How many passing yards for Drake Maye? Crush the over.
🙀 Superflex is a different animal. Don’t force it at some positions.
🚫 This Bronco could leave you busted. Avoid these RBs.
😱 Potential suspensions for Josh Jacobs and … Puka Nacua!?
💉 Alec Pierce got a second PRP injection? Nope, not so fast.
😆 Things are going great in San Francisco. Fights and substations.
🔮 Who’s winning the NFC South? Pick em options.
🙌 Tee up these WR2 options in dynasty.
💤 Mine for value in dynasty startups. Sleepers abound in middle rounds.
📰 Potential starting RB missing practice time. Latest updates.
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We Have a New QB1 for the Minnesota Vikings
It’s not like there was purple smoke released to the sound of Let’s Go Crazy outside of US Bank Stadium, but the Vikings have put it out into the world that they have a new quarterback. His name is Kyler Murray. Remember him? He won the Heisman Trophy in 2018 and then was the No. 1 pick of the Arizona Cardinals the following year. He won OROY that season, but the lows have been more numerous than the highs ever since. Now he gets a new start with the loaded Vikings offense.
How will this new QB impact the Vikings skill position players? Adam Pfeifer answered the question for Murray, as well as top wideouts Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. For J-Jettas especially, the QB upgrade is necessary to pay off the first-round ADP. ⤵️
Guillotine LeaguesTM Mock Draft From 1.08
We love mock drafts, all shapes and sizes. If you haven’t tried our Draft Champion, it’s a must for draft szn. You can set up different roster sizes and settings. Then do it again to get it just right.
Justin Carlucci got in the hot seat—or chopping block?—to try a mock draft for Guillotine Leagues. Selecting from the 1.08, his draft strategy was solid and very much took into account the 18-team format. See how he did. ⤵️
Are These WRs Worth Risking The Chop?
With so many players still having big question marks around them, Marcas Grant and Tipp Major stepped up to the chopping block to see if four WRs in particular are worth the price tag … and the risk of feeling the blade. They also make the case for and against several other players. Make sure to subscribe to the CHOP Podcast YouTube channel to catch every episode. ⤵️
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