The NFL Draft is in the rearview, and now it is time to turn attention towards the upcoming season. Best Ball drafts have been taking place for a few weeks, and some players have already had dramatic changes in their average draft position. This is a look at this week’s biggest risers and fallers.
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2026 NFL Best Ball ADP Risers
RB Sean Tucker, Buccaneers | ADP: 193.1 | +14.9 Picks
The Buccaneers should have one of the most exciting offenses in football once again. Baker Mayfield is poised for another big season with a wide receiver corps of Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan, Emeka Egbuka and Ted Hurst. However, the bigger question is at running back. Bucky Irving had a breakout rookie season, but only played in 10 games last year due to injury. Irving then got shoulder surgery this offseason, which is keeping him out of OTAs. While he is expected to be ready for training camp, there is growing concern about Irving’s durability.
Further down the depth chart are Kenneth Gainwell and Sean Tucker. Tucker is the rising name in fantasy circles who would step into the RB1 role if Irving misses time. Gainwell is a veteran, known for his pass-catching ability out of the backfield. He could be the week-to-week backup for Irving if he is healthy. However, it could be Tucker who jumps him on the depth chart if the Buccaneers need a new down-to-down back. Tucker took on that role a bit last season and had an incredible game in Buffalo, where he rushed for 106 yards and scored three touchdowns. Sean Tucker could be the insurance that Bucky Irving drafters need.
RB Jonathon Brooks, Panthers | ADP: 112.6 | +7.6 Picks
Jonathon Brooks is one of the hottest names so far this offseason. Rico Dowdle was Carolina’s leading rusher last season, but he is now in Pittsburgh. That makes it an open RB1 competition between Jonathon Brooks and Chuba Hubbard. Hubbard was expected to win that battle as the team’s clear RB2 last season, but Brooks has been raved about by people watching the Panthers’ offseason workouts. Brooks was a second-round draft pick out of Texas by Carolina in 2024. However, Brooks had a tragic start to his NFL career. He missed the first few weeks of his rookie season while recovering from an ACL injury suffered in his final year of college. Just three games into his NFL career, he re-tore that same ACL in his right knee. That caused him to miss the rest of his rookie season and all of last season.
Now, after playing just three games in his first two seasons in the NFL, Brooks is ready for his moment. He has shown up to OTAs fully healthy for the first time in his career and has put on a show. Clearly, the biggest question around Brooks is whether or not he can make it through a season healthy. However, if he does stay fit, he has a chance to be the Panthers’ starting running back all season. At the very least, he should play a big role in the offense while splitting carries with Chuba Hubbard.
2026 NFL Best Ball ADP Fallers
RB Mike Washington Jr., Raiders | ADP: 197 | -7.4 Picks
Mike Washington Jr. was a fourth-round pick out of Arkansas this year. Washington is a great athlete and was a 1,000-yard rusher for the Razorbacks last year. He was brought in to back up last year’s top-10 pick, Ashton Jeanty. The Raiders are trying to get Fernando Mendoza as many weapons as possible. There was some serious excitement around Washington that caused his stock to bump after getting drafted. However, that excitement has cooled off as the Raiders have made it clear that Ashton Jeanty will be their bell cow this season.
That should not have been in doubt, due to the fact that Jeanty finished seventh in the NFL in carries last season as a rookie. That is despite the Raiders having a terrible offense that was constantly trailing last season. This year’s team will hopefully take a step forward with Fernando Mendoza and Klint Kubiak at the helm. That should lead to Jeanty being much more productive with his touches. As long as Jeanty is healthy, there likely won’t be much of a role for Washington. Last season, Geno Smith was Las Vegas’ second-leading rusher with just 109 yards. RB2 Raheem Mostert had just 104 yards. This is Jeanty’s backfield as long as he is fit.
QB Anthony Richardson Sr., Colts | ADP: 231.4 | -4.3 Picks
Anthony Richardson could be headed out of Indianapolis this offseason. The former top-five pick was never able to prove himself to the Colts. He was given a real chance in 2024-25, but could not establish himself as the starter. Last season, Richardson lost an offseason QB battle with Daniel Jones, resigning himself to the backup role. Even when Jones went down with an Achilles tear, it was rookie Riley Leonard and fresh-off-the-couch Philip Rivers who were given a chance to start for the Colts, rather than Richardson after he suffered an eye injury.
There was some optimism among Richardson fans that he could win the starting job back this offseason while Jones recovers from his Achilles injury. He was even given QB1 reps to start the offseason. However, that is largely due to the fact that Jones is not healthy enough to be a full participant yet. Jones is expected to be healthy to start the season, and based on how well he played last season, that job is his if he is healthy. Indianapolis is also ready to give Riley Leonard a chance as the QB2, leaving no room for Richardson. If the Colts can get anything for him in a trade, they would take it. Richardson is either relegated to a QB3 role this season or will be traded somewhere to remain a backup. Either way, any hope of him being a starter this season has gone out the window as quickly as it came.
