We Plant Our Flags on These 9 Must-Draft Fantasy Football Players! (Ep. 2121)

August 9, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

The FantasyPros crew—Alfredo Brown, Pat Fitzmaurice, and Derek Brown—spend this episode identifying nine players they are willing to draft ahead of their current ADP. These are not simply players they like; these are "must-draft" targets they will reach for because they believe the market is undervaluing their upside. The conversation is structured by draft round tiers, with each analyst defending one pick per tier, and the reasoning is grounded in specific usage metrics, team context, and the psychology of when to prioritize ceiling over safety.

Early Rounds (1–4): Betting on Volume and Touchdown Regression

The first tier targets players who already produce but are being discounted due to a single missing variable: touchdowns. Zay Flowers is Pat's pick. Despite the Ravens having the fewest pass attempts of any NFL team over the last three years, Flowers managed 1,211 yards and a 29% target share. His touchdown totals (six, four, six) are low because he gets few red-zone targets (ten last year, thirty for his career). The bet is that new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle will increase that usage, or that even a league-average pass rate would push Flowers toward 130–150 targets. Derek calls him a "top-five upside" play, and Pat notes he keeps falling to the 3–4 turn in drafts, making him a comfortable value.

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What you'll learn

1 (01:20) **Zay Flowers (WR, Ravens) - Pat's Early-Round Must-Draft** - Pat kicks off the show by planting his flag on a wide receiver he's aggressively targeting in the first four rounds.
2 (03:38) **DeBRO & Alfredo Agree on Zay Flowers' Top-5 Upside** - The rest of the panel chimes in to reinforce Pat's pick, pushing the bullish case even further.
3 (04:46) **Javonte Williams (RB, Cowboys) - DeBRO's Mid-Round Must-Draft** - DeBRO defends a polarizing running back he believes is being disrespected by ADP.
4 (08:22) **Devontae Smith (WR, Eagles) - Alfredo's Early-Round Must-Draft** - Alfredo selects a wide receiver he believes is primed for a breakout with a new offensive coordinator and an increased role.
5 (11:34) **Jameson Williams (WR, Lions) - Pat's Mid-Round Must-Draft** - Pat makes a case for a receiver who finished the 2024 season on a tear.
6 (15:42) **Christian Watson (WR, Packers) - DeBRO's Mid-Round Must-Draft** - DeBRO picks a receiver he feels is being outright disrespected in drafts.
7 (18:35) **Josh Downs (WR, Colts) - Alfredo's Mid-Round Must-Draft** - Alfredo selects a slot receiver he believes will finally get the opportunity to be a consistent fantasy starter.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

Alfredo Brown Pat Fitzmaurice Derek Brown

Show Notes

Who are the players you just keep finding yourself drafting in 2026 fantasy football? The Fantasy Pros crew is planting their flags on nine players they simply don't want to miss out on, even if it means taking them earlier than their current ADP.

Alfredo Brown, Pat Fitzmaurice, and Derek Brown go round by round through their favorite targets, starting with Zay Flowers, Javonte Williams, and DeVonta Smith in the early rounds. Then they get into some of their favorite middle-round swings, including Jameson Williams, Christian Watson, and Josh Downs.

And when it comes to the later rounds, there are plenty of upside bets to consider. Kyler Murray, Stefon Diggs, and Tyler Shough all make the list, with the guys explaining why they think each player could significantly outperform where they're currently being drafted.

If you're getting ready for your 2026 fantasy football drafts, these are the players the guys keep finding themselves clicking on — and the ones they don't want to leave the draft without.

Timestamps: (May be off due to ads)

Intro - 0:00:00

Zay Flowers - 0:00:45

Javonte Williams - 0:04:12

DeVonta Smith - 0:07:55

Pristine Auction Giveaway - 0:10:14

Jameson Williams - 0:11:00

Christian Watson - 0:13:22

Josh Downs - 0:17:09

Hard Rock Bet - 0:20:25

Kyler Murray - 0:22:15

Stefon Diggs - 0:23:55

Tyler Shough - 0:25:54

FantasyPros Draft Simulator - 0:29:10

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