Hurts, Price among six league-winning fantasy football draft targets

MIAMI, Sept. 4 (UPI) -- Jalen Hurts and Jadarian Price are among my six league-winning targets in 2026 fantasy football drafts.

My other four must-have players are listed below. The list features a quarterback, two running backs and three wide receivers.

The group is in direct opposition to my five players to avoid on draft day, which can be found here. My full Top 200 rankings are available here. My quarterback, running back and wide receiver rankings are available here.

Many fantasy football league participants often print out cheat sheets with ranked players without additional research. My selections are made after analyzing past performances, injury history, strength of schedule, potential role in offense and more.

That data can help you decide between two players when you are on the clock. It also could be a difference maker when it comes to building a playoff-bound roster.

This group is not only filled with capable playmakers, it also features players I believe are being picked later than they should be in fantasy football drafts.

Jalen Hurts

Hurts was a Top-2 quarterback in fantasy points per game in 2022 and 2023. He was QB6 in 2024 and QB7 last season in that category.

The Philadelphia Eagles star is currently being picked as QB6 in the fifth round of many drafts. I think Hurts, who is No. 4 in my Top 20 quarterback rankings, is in for a stellar campaign in 2026.

The Eagles lost wide receiver A.J Brown, but still roster a wealth of capable playmakers and a healthier offensive line. They also have one of the most friendly schedules for fantasy football quarterbacks.

Hurts is set to play a league-high eight games against teams that ranked inside the Top 10 for most fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks last season. More than half (five) of those games are against teams that ranked inside the Top 5 for points allowed to the position.

He'll start the season against the Washington Commanders, who allowed the third-most points to quarterbacks. Each of his first three matchups are against teams that ranked inside the Top 10 for the most points allowed to the position.

Hurts should not only get you off to a fast start, but also should easily outscore several of the quarterbacks being taken in the neighborhood of his average draft position, or ADP.

Jadarian Price

I typically advise against selecting rookie running backs in fantasy football drafts unless they are taken in later rounds. Price has a palatable fourth-round ADP in many drafts. The Seattle Seahawks running back should be on everyone's radar due to his potential role and a friendly schedule.

The Seahawks' slate includes six matchups against teams that ranked inside the Top 10 for the most fantasy points allowed to running backs. They will take on four teams that ranked inside the Top 10 in that category, with two such matchups in the first two weeks of the season.

Price could perform like a low-end RB1 early on, making an immediate impact on your roster. He should be a stellar target for those looking to start drafts with elite wide receivers, but also could be paired with an elite RB1 to form a fantastic tandem.

Kyren Williams

Williams is one of the most undervalued running backs in fantasy football. The Los Angeles Rams rusher has an ADP in the third round of many drafts, but could easily provide RB1 value in what I think will be one of the top offenses in the NFL.

Williams carried a late second- early third-round ADP in 2025-26, when he finished the year as RB8 in fantasy points per game. He is currently being picked as RB14. The 2023 RB2 is a steal at that price based on his potential role for the Rams and favorable schedule.

The Rams' slate features six matchups against teams that ranked inside the Top 10 in points allowed to running backs in 2025. That total, which is tied for the second most in the league, includes four games against teams that ranked inside the Top 5 for the most points allowed to the position.

His six most favorable matchups occur within the first 10 weeks of the season and before his Week 11 bye, which also could make him a solid trade piece if your team needs additional help down the stretch.

Williams is inside the Top 10 of my Top 75 season-long running back rankings, but could finish inside the Top 5 player.

DeVonta Smith

Smith is among several undervalued wide receivers in fantasy football drafts. The Eagles playmaker his set to be his team's top option following the departure of A.J. Brown.

I expect better balance from the Eagles passing attack this season, with dynamic running back Saquon Barkley also experiencing a resurgence. Look for Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts to target Smith with regularity, putting him on the WR1 radar most weeks.

Smith has a second- to third-round ADP. He is a steal if he is available later in drafts. I wouldn't mind reaching for him earlier in the second round if you are deciding between the Eagles playmaker and wide receivers with other concerns.

The Eagles' schedule features an astounding nine matchups against teams that ranked inside the Top 10 for points allowed to wide receivers last season. That slate includes five matchups against teams that ranked inside the Top 5. Smith and the Eagles start the season with three consecutive wide receiver friendly matchups.

The schedule includes just one game against a team that ranked inside the Top 10 for the fewest points allowed to wide receivers.

Smith is being picked as WR14, but don't be shocked if he finishes the campaign inside the Top 10. He should provide WR1 value with regularity.

Tee Higgins

Higgins remains option No. 2 in Cincinnati, behind Bengals star Ja'Marr Chase. But I think project quarterback Joe Burrow to author his best season yet, putting both Chase and Higgins in WR1 territory.

Higgins is currently being picked as WR18. He finished last season as WR11 in points per game. He was WR4 a year earlier.

The Bengals have a very friendly schedule, and Higgins could be a steal at his current third round ADP. He is set to face a gauntlet that includes six games against teams that ranked inside the Top 10 in points allowed to wide receivers last season. A string of five consecutive such matchups are on his schedule from Week 7 to 11, when fantasy football teams are fighting for playoff spots.

The schedule includes just two games against teams that ranked inside the Top 10 for fewest points to wide receivers in 2025.

Higgins reached the end zone at least 10 times in each of the last two seasons. His consistent touchdown production, solid quarterback and expected favorable coverage and schedule should land him on everyone's radar.

He is a sneaky WR1/WR2 target with major upside.

Nico Collins

Collins was peppered with targets in 2025, when he drew a career-high 120 looks from Houston Texans quarterbacks.

I expect that trend to continue in 2026, with uncertainty at wide receiver behind Collins on the Texans depth chart due to injuries and integration of new personnel.

Collins finished last season as WR10 in points per game. He was tied for WR5 a year earlier, when limited to 12 games. He was tied for WR7 in 2023.

He is currently being picked as WR10, but is another guy who could outperform wide receivers being selected near him in drafts, like George Pickens, Chris Olave and Malik Nabers.

The Texans' schedule includes eight games against teams that ranked inside the Top 10 for the most fantasy points allowed to wide receivers last season. They will face three teams that ranked inside the Top 5 in that category with the first five weeks. Those stellar matchups are consecutive, from Week 3 to 5.

Collins is being slightly undervalued and could often finish weeks as the top pass catcher in fantasy football. He could easily finish the 2026 season as a Top-5 fantasy football wide receiver.