{
  "id": 5559175,
  "title": "Fantasy football draft strategy: Who should I pick in the first round in 2026?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/fantasy-football-draft-strategy-who-should-i-pick-in-the-first-round",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-04T12:15:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SB Nation",
    "slug": "sb-nation",
    "url": "https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/1124518/fantasy-football-first-round-draft-picks-strategy-2026"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The 2026 fantasy football season is upon us, and top running backs are highly valued in the first round. Injuries and defenses focusing on the deep ball have made these players extremely valuable. The question is who to pick in the first round. Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs are both strong contenders, with Gibbs being a top pick on the Lions' good offense. However, if you can't find Robinson, consider Puka Nacua, a top catch-and-run player, albeit with some risks due to his injury history and occasional suspensions. Running backs like Christian McCaffrey, while highly skilled, come with injury risks and inconsistent efficiency. If you want to take a chance, McCaffrey could be a solid No. 3 pick. Late in the first round, look at players like James Cook, Saquon Barkley, and De'Von Achane. They are solid options, but avoid risky players like Achane from Miami's tanking offense. Overall, aim to get at least one running back in the first two rounds and compensate for missing top wide receivers by targeting them in rounds 3-6.",
  "summary": "The 2026 fantasy football season is upon us, which means we need to come up with a plan of attack for drafting our fake football teams. The last two seasons have been good for those grabbing a top running back in the first round. A lack of injuries and defenses taking away the deep ball […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "SB Nation",
        "title": "Who should I pick No. 1 in my fantasy football draft this year?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/who-should-i-pick-no-1-in-my-fantasy-football-draft-this-year",
        "published": "2026-09-04T13:19:45.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}