ESPN published its 2026 fantasy football draft guide on Aug. 18, bringing rankings, cheat sheets, player projections, mock drafts, sleepers, busts, breakouts and strategy content together in one hub.
ESPN says the page will be updated throughout the summer.
What’s Inside ESPN’s Draft Guide
The guide links to a rankings hub with staff consensus rankings by position, as well as superflex, IDP, dynasty and individual overall lists.
It also includes quarterback and tight end tier resources from Matt Bowen. Bowen’s tight end tiers are designed to help readers identify where value drops off during a draft.
The mock-draft section covers a range of league types, including 10-team half-PPR, 12-team superflex, knockout, non-PPR and PPR formats.
One 10-team half-PPR mock addresses recent news involving Puka Nacua and Jordan Love, while the superflex mock drafts highlight the premium placed on quarterbacks when two can start.
Cheat Sheets Cover Multiple Formats
ESPN’s Cheat Sheet Central offers printable resources for PPR, half-PPR, superflex, non-PPR and dynasty leagues.
The PPR positional and top-300 sheets are also recommended for half-PPR scoring because ESPN says the rankings are extremely similar.
| Cheat Sheet | Best For | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|
| PPR Positional | PPR and half-PPR leagues | Overall rank, salary cap value and bye weeks |
| PPR Top-300 | Overall draft-value tracking | 300 players ranked by overall draft value |
| Superflex Top-300 | Leagues using an OP slot | Rankings that account for enhanced quarterback value |
| Dynasty | Keeper and dynasty formats | Top 240 players and 60 rookies, with draft information and ages |
The cheat-sheet hub also includes a beginner PPR sheet organized by round, non-PPR positional and top-300 sheets, a team-by-team projection guide and an NFL team depth-chart sheet.
Karabell’s Draft and Avoid Lists
Eric Karabell includes Derrick Henry and Patrick Mahomes among the undervalued players on his Do Draft list.
His Do Not Draft list identifies a young trio of New York Giants players among those he believes are being overvalued in drafts this summer.
The guide’s opening video also raises the question of whether fantasy managers should be cautious about drafting Mahomes.
Both the video and Karabell’s list are included among the guide’s draft-preparation resources.
Clay’s Running Back Discussion and Projections
A separate ESPN video features Mike Clay explaining why he is taking Jahmyr Gibbs over Bijan Robinson.
Clay’s team-by-team projection guide provides a downloadable breakdown for all 32 teams.
Additional Advice and Strategy
Beyond rankings and cheat sheets, the guide collects draft targets, sleepers, busts, breakouts, player projections and team-value analysis.
Its strategy section includes draft-planning guidance, advice for nontraditional formats, common mistakes to avoid and quarterback-drafting approaches.
Updates Through the Summer
ESPN says the guide will continue to be updated throughout the summer and encourages readers to check back for the latest content.
