Matt Bowen's 2026 Fantasy Hit List: The Players You MUST Target

Every summer, I build my fantasy football draft board. Mocks, film study, scheme trends — I dig into all of it. Why? Because I'm drafting players I believe in. Players with traits. Playmakers. System fits. High-floor anchors and high-upside game-changers. Plus, those late-round fliers where you just chuck the dart and pray. That's the fun part.

So here's my board, position by position, with the targets I love in redraft leagues this season. These are based on current ESPN ADP. I've got tiers, I've got breakouts, and I've got late-round lottery tickets. Let's get it.

Quarterbacks

Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals (ADP: QB6) — Calling Burrow a mid-tier QB1 is disrespectful. This is the league's best pocket passer, and he's got Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to throw to. When he played a full season in 2024, he averaged 21.9 fantasy PPG and tossed 43 touchdowns. Yeah, there are health questions, but if Burrow stays upright, he's a top-three QB. Sign me up.

Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears (ADP: QB11) — I'll take Williams all day as a fringe QB1. In his first year under Ben Johnson, he dropped 18.7 fantasy PPG and went over 20 in eight games. Now he's got another year in the system, and Johnson's play-calling is pure gold. Expect a full-on breakout. This is a league-winner waiting to happen.

Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints (ADP: QB19) — This is your upside QB2 stash. From Weeks 13-18, Shough was the QB4 with 117.5 fantasy points, scoring at least 17 in every game. He's a timing-and-location thrower in Kellen Moore's system, and he can run a bit, too (186 yards, 3 TDs). With Jordyn Tyson pairing with Chris Olave, Shough has the tools to push for QB1 territory.

Running Backs

Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts (ADP: RB4) — I'm taking Taylor over CMC and De'Von Achane if I'm picking mid-first. The guy led the league in carries (323) and rushing touchdowns (18) in 2025, while averaging 21.3 fantasy PPG. He also posted a career-best 46 receptions. With Daniel Jones back, Taylor is my RB1, no questions asked.

Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers (ADP: RB11) — Yeah, he only played nine games as a rookie because of an ankle injury, but Hampton flashed. Three games with 20+ fantasy points, 15.1 PPG. Now he's in Mike McDaniel's system with a beefed-up offensive line and heavy 21 personnel. This is breakout central. Get him.

Jadarian Price, Seattle Seahawks (ADP: RB26) — The Seahawks' backfield is crowded, but Price has the juice to emerge early. He averaged nearly 6.0 yards per carry last season and scored 11 rushing TDs. His vision and contact balance pop on tape. If he wins touches, you're looking at a steal.

Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings (ADP: RB43) — Aaron Jones has missed at least five games in two of the past three seasons. That's why Mason is my favorite insurance back. He dropped 23.6 fantasy points on the Bengals last year and had double-digit points in four of five starts. He fits Minnesota's zone run game perfectly. Draft him, stash him, start him when needed.

Wide Receivers

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks (ADP: WR3) — The best receiver I saw on tape last season. JSN led the league with 1,793 receiving yards and averaged 21.2 fantasy PPG. He can beat you short, intermediate, and deep — he led the league in receptions (18) and fantasy PPG (6.9) on 20+ air-yard throws. With Sam Darnold feeding him, he's a volume monster.

Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (ADP: WR18) — Mike Evans is in San Francisco, which means the door is wide open for Egbuka to become Tampa's top receiver. As a rookie, he had 68 catches, 938 yards, and 6 TDs, with four games of 20+ fantasy points. Baker Mayfield loves to sling it. Don't be shocked if Egbuka finishes top-10.

Luther Burden III, Chicago Bears (ADP: WR28) — Burden finished last season on fire, with double-digit points in three of his final four games, including a 27.8-point explosion in Week 17. With DJ Moore gone to Buffalo, the target volume is about to spike. Ben Johnson will scheme him open. Even with a minor groin injury, I'm buying. He's a WR2 with WR1 weeks.

Jordyn Tyson, New Orleans Saints (ADP: WR35) — Tyson is the perfect complement to Chris Olave. At 6-foot-2, he wins vertically and has serious ball skills. He can also create after the catch in Kellen Moore's system. With Tyler Shough's second-half surge, Tyson is a rock-solid WR3.

Wan'Dale Robinson, Tennessee Titans (ADP: WR43) — Robinson hit a career-best 13.6 fantasy PPG in 2025, with two games over 28 points. He showed more big-play ability, catching 13 balls on throws 15+ air yards downfield. In Tennessee, he's the slot guy for Cam Ward. In deeper leagues, he's a value pick.

Tight Ends

Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears (ADP: TE3) — I rarely draft tight ends early, but Loveland is the exception. Over his last five games as a rookie, he averaged 15.1 fantasy PPG, and he went off in the playoffs (12 catches, 193 yards in two games). He's a matchup nightmare, and Ben Johnson is going to use him everywhere. This guy can be a superstar.

Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys (ADP: TE12) — This is my go-to late-round TE pick. Ferguson scored 11.1 fantasy PPG last season, and he's a red-zone magnet. He had 23 red zone targets (plus 10 end zone targets) and scored 8 TDs. Over the past three seasons, he's got 51 red zone targets. In a potent Dallas offense, that's a starting tight end.

Isaiah Likely, New York Giants (ADP: TE14) — Now that he's out of Mark Andrews' shadow, Likely is a sneaky sleeper. He's a versatile move tight end who can get yards after the catch — 47.4% of his receiving yards have come after the catch. If the Giants feed him volume, low-end TE1 numbers are in play.

Late-Round Targets to Stash

Jalen Coker, WR, Carolina Panthers — From Weeks 11-18, Coker averaged 11.0 fantasy PPG and scored in three of his last four games. He's got vertical juice and can work the middle. A great late-round flier.

Jalen Nailor, WR, Las Vegas Raiders — Nailor scored 10 TDs on just 57 receptions over the past two seasons in Minnesota. Someone has to be the perimeter No. 1 in Vegas, and he's got the quickness to separate. Watch him.

Kaelon Black, RB, San Francisco 49ers — If Black wins the No. 2 job behind McCaffrey, you need him on your roster. He rushed for over 1,000 yards and 10 TDs at Indiana. He's a one-cut accelerator with late-round upside.

Germie Bernard, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers — The slot in Mike McCarthy's offense gets volume. Bernard isn't a blazer, but he knows how to get open. With DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. drawing attention, Bernard could be a sneaky PPR chain-mover for Aaron Rodgers.

Kaytron Allen, RB, Washington Commanders — I'm taking a shot on Allen late. If he wins the goal-line role in Washington, he's a scoring threat. He runs behind his pads and fights for yards. That's exactly what you want in the red zone. Keep an eye on him.

That's the list. Go smash your drafts, and let's take home some hardware.