10 League-Winning Fantasy Football Players You NEED to Draft in 2026 (Ep. 2143)

August 20, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

“I’m starting with a four now,” Fitz says near the end of this episode, referencing his age, and it lands as a quiet reminder that the FantasyPros crew has been doing this long enough to have seen a lot of trends come and go. But the core of the conversation is about identifying the ten players who can win your fantasy league in 2026—not by being safe, but by having a realistic path to massively outperforming their draft cost. The three hosts, Ryan Warmley, Pat Fitzmaurice, and Jake Seeley, each brought a different lens: Fitz focused on early-round force multipliers, while Jake targeted deeper ADP outliers who could dramatically outkick their draft slot.

The Running Backs: Opportunity, Injury, and a Changed Offense

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What you'll learn

1 (01:04) **Show Intro & Format** - Host Ryan Warmley introduces Pat FitzMorris and Jake Seeley; the show will cover 10 league-winning players with no position restrictions, mixing early-round force multipliers and deeper ADP swings.
2 (03:47) **FitzMorris #1: Kenneth Walker III (RB, Chiefs)** - Walker is poised for a huge role as the Chiefs' lead back after leaving Seattle, with Andy Reid's history of producing elite RB seasons.
3 (08:41) **Seeley #1: Malik Willis (QB, Dolphins)** - Willis offers massive rushing upside as a late-round QB, with a path to a top-10 finish even with mediocre passing stats.
4 (15:43) **FitzMorris #2: Brock Bowers (TE, Raiders)** - Bowers has elite WR-level production potential, making him a league-winner even at a second-round ADP.
5 (20:49) **Seeley #2: Jonathan Brooks (RB, Panthers)** - Brooks is rising fast in ADP after Chuba Hubbard's injury, with the potential to be a bell-cow RB2 or better.
6 (27:11) **FitzMorris #3: Jalen McMillan (WR, Buccaneers)** - McMillan is the alpha receiver in Tampa with Mike Evans gone, and a toe injury is creating a discount.
7 (33:27) **Seeley #3: Tyler Allgeier (RB, Cardinals)** - Allgeier is a boring but valuable late-round RB who could be a season-long starter if Jeremiah Love's high ankle sprain lingers.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

Ryan Warmley Pat Fitzmaurice

Show Notes

Who are the fantasy football players who could actually win you your league in 2026?

Ryan Wormeli, Pat Fitzmorris and Jake Ciely break down 10 players with legitimate league-winning upside, ranging from early-round stars to late-round sleepers who could massively outperform their ADP.

Kenneth Walker III could be headed for a monster workload in Kansas City, while Malik Willis brings one of the most intriguing late-round rushing ceilings at quarterback. Brock Bowers could take another massive step forward, Jonathan Brooks could emerge as Carolina's lead back, and Emeka Egbuka has a chance to become Tampa Bay's true WR1.

If you're preparing for your 2026 fantasy football draft, this is a show you don't want to miss.

Timestamps: (May be off due to ads)

Intro - 0:00:00

Kenneth Walker III - 0:02:48

Malik Willis - 0:07:38

FantasyPros Draft Assistant - 0:14:15

Brock Bowers - 0:14:41

Jonathon Brooks - 0:19:48

Emeka Egbuka - 0:26:10

Signed Colston Loveland Jersey Giveaway - 0:30:31

Tyler Allgeier - 0:30:57

Luther Burden III - 0:36:06

Makai Lemon - 0:43:21

2026 FantasyPros Fantasy Fest - 0:48:01

Jameson Williams - 0:48:34

KC Concepcion - 0:54:42

Finding Players with Upside - 0:58:25

Outro - 1:02:22

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