The Worst 2026 Fantasy Football Picks in Every Round

September 2, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

In the Ringer Fantasy Football Show’s episode on the worst picks in every round, Danny Heifetz, Danny Kelly, and Craig Crawlback take the opposite approach from their usual best-picks advice: they identify the players whose average draft position (ADP) feels too high, the ones that give them the “ick” at cost. The goal is not to say these players are bad, but to warn that if you see them on your draft recap, the hosts will be worried. The conversation is grounded in a specific set of conditions—half-PPR scoring, a 12-team league, and ADPs drawn from FantasyPros’ amalgam of Yahoo, Sleeper, and other platforms—and the logic is driven by team context, injury risk, and the difference between a player’s real-life talent and his fantasy ceiling.

Round One: Jonathan Taylor’s Split Personality

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What you'll learn

1 The Worst 2026 Fantasy Football Picks in Every Round
2 (01:19) **Episode Introduction** - Hosts Danny Heifetz, Danny Kelly, and Craig Crawlback introduce the concept: following up "best picks" with "worst picks" in each round based on average draft position
3 (03:39) **Round 1: Jonathan Taylor** - The consensus worst first-round pick due to Colts' regression risk and Taylor's historic boom/bust splits
4 (07:55) **Round 2: Devon Achane** - Risk at pick 13 due to Dolphins' tanking/rebuilding and uncertain offensive environment
5 (10:27) **Drake London Concern in Round 2** - Michael Penix Jr.'s ACL history creates uncertainty about London's QB situation for the full season
6 (15:33) **Round 3: Malik Nabers** - Injury concerns and self-reported lack of full health make him the worst pick in this range
7 (19:57) **Round 3: Jeremiah Love** - Rookie running back with high ankle sprain on a bad Cardinals team creates three strikes

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

This is the guys’ eighth recording in seven (work)days. They’re starting to get pissed at each other, mostly, but they also hate a bunch of players (at cost) in every round of 2026 fantasy drafts. Let’s get to it:

(02:37) Round 1

(06:53) Round 2

(14:28) Round 3

(21:59) Round 4

(24:32) Round 5

(28:27) Round 6

(31:29) Round 7

(38:06) Round 8

(42:05) Round 9

(49:35) Ringer Fantasy League Update

(01:13:21) A Brand New Special September Song Month

Reminders:

1. RANKINGS LAST UPDATED AUGUST 27: https://theringer.com/fantasy-football/2026-preseason⁠

2. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @ringerfantasyfootball. Heifetz also posts his cat a bunch on @dannyheifetz.

3. Craig's Millennial Bangers Playlist is ⁠HERE⁠!!

4. Don’t miss out on our Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/BrcmaHFdqd⁠

Verizon Simplicity Plan. One plan. One price. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠verizon.com

Hosts: Danny Heifetz, Danny Kelly, and Craig Horlbeck

Producers: Cameron Dinwiddie, Abou Kamara, Carlos Chiriboga, Nikhil Behal, and Austin Gayle

The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit ⁠https://www.fanduel.com/playwithaplan⁠ to learn more about the resources and helplines.

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