We're going to start this column off with a revelation.
Value is important in fantasy football.
It's earth-shaking, to be sure.
It's not exactly a state secret that value matters on draft day—that having a successful draft hinges in no small part on selecting players who will outperform their asking price in the season to come while avoiding players who fail to meet expectations. Stocking up on bargains while avoiding disappointments.
The thing, value changes as we move through the summer—or at least the perception of value changes.
The darling of fantasy drafters in June can be persona non grata by the middle of August. Players go from the penthouse to the outhouse and then back to the penthouse again—sometimes in the blink of an eye.
It can be caused by injury. By changing circumstances around that player. Sometimes, a player's stock can rise (or fall) just because the fantasy football community wills it to be so.
We can be an odd bunch sometimes.
Staying abreast of the changing stock of fantasy players as we move through the summer has a value all its own. Sure, it's wise to keep up to date on changing player prices in their own right, but the why can be just as important.
Is a rise or drop in price justified? Or are fantasy managers overreacting (it has been known to happen) for better or worse? Are players shooting up boards to the point where the value (there's that word) is priced out of them? Or does a discount potentially create an opportunity for, you know, value?
Sorry. Sometimes I can't help it. Value.
See?
This first one is admittedly a little subjective—the fantasy landscape is relatively quiet now compared to the seismic shakeups we'll see as training camp gives way to the preseason.
But for the first of a few times between now and Week 1, we're going to look at some players who are already playing Chutes and Ladders and attempt to discern which ones in 2026 will present the best chance on draft day for…um…
Value.
Stock Up
QB Lamar Jackson, Baltimore
To be clear, Jackson's fantasy ADP isn't going anywhere barring an injury to Buffalo's Josh Allen; on average, he'll be the second quarterback selected in fantasy leagues. And as Ravens tight end Mark Andrews told reporters, Jackson is taking well to Declan Doyle's new offense in Baltimore.
"This is a different offense than we've been a part of since we got into the league — it's totally different than anything we've done," Andrews said. "I think [Jackson's] going to make it his own, adapt to it and be the best that there is. That's the type of person that he is, and that's the type of guys and coaches that we have. I think that's a scary sight when you see Lamar Jackson adding new things to his repertoire."
Isn't Declan Doyle a character on Sons of Anarchy? If he wasn't, he should have been.
Positive reports about Jackson will only reinforce his asking price, and it's undeniable that his fantasy ceiling is astronomical. But the concerns raised by last year's injury-marred dud are still there, whether fantasy managers want to see them or not.
RB Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville
Tuten has been one of the more talked-about mid-round running backs in fantasy from the moment that the Jaguars didn't aggressively try to replace Travis Etienne Jr. after he bailed for New Orleans in free agency. Now, with Chris Rodriguez Jr. sidelined by a foot injury, pundits like Ross Kelly of CBS Sports are highlighting Tuten as a true breakout candidate this year.
"Tuten is a home-run threat in an offense in need of playmakers as he had the fastest 40-yard-dash time of any running back in the 2025 draft class," he said. "Etienne had nearly 1,400 total yards and 13 touchdowns a year ago, and Jacksonville loves to run the ball, ranking eighth in attempts in 2025."
The potential issue with Tuten is his surging popularity; his ADP at Footballguys has been steadily climbing. It's going to keep climbing so long as Rodriguez isn't out there, but if he does seize the lead role for a 13-win team that likes to run the ball, that RB25 ADP is going to look like a bargain.
WR Luther Burden III, Chicago
There isn't a wide receiver in all of fantasy football who has been a bigger hype darling this year than Burden. Breakouts have been breathlessly predicted from the moment D.J. Moore was traded to Buffalo, and Bears head coach Ben Johnson only fanned the flames when he raved about Burden's offseason to date while speaking to reporters.
"Just how he's approached his offseason," Johnson said. "He's still developing and growing his route tree. Coach [Antwaan Randle] El and Isaiah Ford — they've done a phenomenal job with him working to develop those things. Speed cuts to sharp breaks, releases, things of that nature. He's been extremely coachable. I'm really happy with him."
Burden is talented, to be sure. He finished his rookie season strong, including an 8/138/1 line in Week 17. And he's going to see a big bump in targets this year. But his asking price is all the way up to just outside the top-20, ahead of players like Washington's Terry McLaurin and Denver's Jaylen Waddle.
TE Tucker Kraft, Green Bay
Kraft was one of fantasy football's most productive tight ends in the league last year on a per-game basis before a torn ACL ended his season. However, early indications are that Kraft will be a go for the season opener, and Ethen Hutton of Athlon Sports expects Kraft to be Green Bay's primary passing-game target if that's the case,
"With Doubs out the door, Kraft will join elite company at his position as his offense's primary target on pass downs," he said. "His efficient route-running, consistent hands and overall production will force head coach Matt LaFleur to operate his passing attack through Kraft, a promising sign for an offense that has endured plenty of drop concerns over the past few seasons."
Kraft has moved back inside the top-five tight ends in ADP, and if the news continues to be positive, he may give Tyler Warren of the Colts a run for the No. 4 spot. That's not unreasonable—Kraft was third among tight ends last year in PPR points per game in 2025 and averaged over 15 yards a catch.
