This is an excerpt from the 150+ page draft playbook that’s part of the Yahoo Fantasy Ultra subscription, Scott Pianowski offers quick-hitting blurbs on his biggest fades this draft season.
Fantasy Ultra features several top-notch tools including a draft strategy lab where you can test various approaches. If you’re looking to up your game this season, consider Fantasy Ultra.
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Draft targets by position
3 QBs
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Justin Herbert, LAC – Everything that was broken last year has been fixed, starting with OC Mike McDaniel.
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Dak Prescott, DAL – Likely a carnival team again (fun offense, leaky defense), and he’s tied to a pair of star WRs.
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Jared Goff, DET – Averaging 32 TD passes and 4,551 passing yards last fours years, late ADP a gift. Indoor-heavy schedule is one of NFL’s easiest.
5 RBs
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Bijan Robinson, ATL – Lucky you with an early pick; Robinson can repeat as a league-winner and just got a record-breaking deal.
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Jonathan Taylor, IND – Was smashing before the Daniel Jones injury; if Jones is cleared, green light on Taylor.
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Chase Brown, CIN – Set and forget for two straight years, plays in all packages, belongs in Round 2.
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Chuba Hubbard, CAR – A boring value veteran, but follow the touches and remember the 2024 return he provided.
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Blake Corum, LAR – Has a role no matter what, making him flex-worthy right away; one injury away from the moon.
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5 WRs
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Justin Jefferson, MIN – Pounce if he slides to Round 2. Kyler Murray and Kevin O’Connell will fix the offense.
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Ladd McConkey, LAC – Last season was an excused absence; OC Mike McDaniel should be good for him.
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Emeka Egbuka, TB – Runway is clear for him to become the team’s target hog; Mike Evans gone, Chris Godwin aging.
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Mike Evans, SF – Injury concerns already, but put on Earth to score touchdowns, and Kyle Shanahan knows how to scheme them up.
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Jalen Coker, CAR – Improved late last season and was paid accordingly, a screaming value late in drafts.
3 TEs
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Tyler Warren, IND – Similar sophomore upside to Colston Loveland, and a little cheaper when it comes to ADP.
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Kyle Pitts Sr., ATL – After a glorious TE2 breakout, he’s reasonably priced at TE8; Falcons have a narrow target tree.
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Juwan Johnson, NO – Breakout season followed the new contract, but oddly ignored by managers in the early market.
Draft fades by position
3 QBs
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Drake Maye, NE – Regression likely, schedule far more difficult, depth of QB pool makes value game appealing.
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Jalen Hurts, PHI – Rushing production took a significant hit last season, new receivers will need development time.
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Patrick Mahomes II, KC – Off a major knee injury, rushing will likely regress, sports-car offense parked for two years.
5 RBs
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Christian McCaffrey, SF – Usage overcame efficiency drop in 2025; running back is generally a young-man’s game.
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De’Von Achane, MIA – Talent leaps off screen but supporting cast is a problem; will Malik Willis throw to his backs?
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Quinshon Judkins, CLE – Not special as a receiver and game script could be a weekly problem, tied to a mediocre team.
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Bucky Irving, TB – Efficiency tanked last season, he has a shoulder issue and two talented backs are looming behind him.
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RJ Harvey, DEN – Dreamy touchdown rate as a rookie is surely to regress and the backfield looks like a three-headed mess.
5 WRs
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Malik Nabers, NYG – Market forces you to assume seamless return from ACL tear, hasn’t run many reps with Jaxson Dart yet.
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Tetairoa McMillan, CAR – Super talent, but Jalen Coker cuts into market share and QB Bryce Young caps upside of offense.
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Rashee Rice, KC – Health and off-field concerns build a worrisome floor, might be miscast in the second or third round.
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Jameson Williams, DET – Less consistent than most name receivers; late spike could be misleading with Sam LaPorta healthy again.
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Carnell Tate, TEN – Sensible long-term play but Wan’Dale Robinson will likely onboard quicker, given history with OC Brian Daboll.
3 TEs
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Harold Fannin Jr., CLE – Impact receivers could cut into his market share, and Cleveland’s QB room remains a jumbled mess.
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Tucker Kraft, GB – No denying the monster upside, but readiness is definitely a question with return from ACL tear.
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Dallas Goedert, PHI – Touchdown regression is a lock off 11 last season and his YPC fell to a new low.
Level up with Yahoo Fantasy Ultra
Want even more advice from Scott Pianowski and the rest of the Yahoo Fantasy supre team of analysts? Sign up for Fantasy Ultra and unlock over 150 pages of advice with our Draft Playbook, including …
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Aside from Scott’s top targets and fades, get top picks and players to avoid from some of your favorite analysts
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Justin Boone (the top in-season ranker of 2025) , Matt Harmon, Josh Norris, Joel Smyth and Hayden Winks
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In-depth positional and strategies for every draft pick range
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Sleeper and breakout candidates
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More than 125 player profiles
An Ultra sub also includes access to Yahoo’s Draft Strategy Lab, to mock draft like a champ with tons of tools, including filtering by my rankings or draft strategy style (like heavy RB).
