Not every player on a fantasy football roster will win you your league, but every one of them should serve a distinct purpose. Obviously, the expectations for your first few selections are higher than for the late-round darts you throw, but every move should have a calculated reason behind it—and that’s the case Katz makes.
The idea is simple, but the execution requires some nuance.
Fantasy Football Drafting: Winning The Late Rounds
The specific names matter less at this point in the draft than basic strategy. I think Katz said it well in his piece:
“Ask yourself a couple of honest questions. Did you load up on earlier-round players who carry injury or situational risk? If so, it might be worth spending a pick on one safe, boring option you can plug straight into your lineup when something goes sideways. Are your starters rock solid instead? Then forget safety altogether and start swinging for the fences.”
Spot on. You’ve put in the work to build your roster up to this point, and now your job is simple: isolate your needs, strengthen your weaknesses, and call it a day.
READ: 2026 Fantasy Football Rankings
Your roster construction will dictate the names you ultimately click as draft night wears on, but I do want to highlight a few players going outside the top 100 overall that I land on the most.
- Jordan Mason: With 395 carries on his NFL resume, Mason’s 5.1 yards per carry is impressive. This pick is more of a bet against Aaron Jones (who posted just two touchdowns on 132 carries last season with a disappointing 4.2 YPC), and we know that mobile QBs can help drive running back efficiency. His price is going to rise with time, but for now, he’s a must-draft.
- Tank Bigsby: He was impressive in his first season with the Birds, and Saquon Barkley has cleared 280 touches in four consecutive seasons. We’ve seen Bigsby be productive when given the keys to a backfield. Behind this offensive line, I think he is a top-20 running back in any week where he holds the RB1 role—something I can’t say with confidence about other running backs in this tier.
- Rashid Shaheed: He was asked to fit into an offense that was humming and fill in the blanks on special teams. Shaheed was a great addition to this team last year, and now, fresh off a Super Bowl title, they’ve had the time to scheme around his strengths. His average touchdown reception length (48.2 yards) is longer than that of any other qualified active player, and I’m very comfortable speculating that we will see more of that skill on display in 2026.
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: Free Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator
Go get your guys in this range. I’d rather spend an extra few pennies of ADP to get a player I believe in than try to squeeze every ounce of value out of a profile at the risk of losing him.
Would you be more likely to negotiate when buying a new car (Round 1 pick) or buying lunch (Round 12 pick)?
