Every year, I find myself gravitating towards the players I believe in the most. It’s only natural, isn’t it? The entire point of Fantasy Football is to take players you like and use them on your Fantasy team. So, why wouldn’t I? Why wouldn’t you?!

As a seasoned Fantasy Football enthusiast, I’m often willing to take these most-wanted players ahead of consensus, which means before their average draft position (ADP). It’s not about reaching like a madman for them; it’s about taking them a few spots in the early rounds or at least 10 spots in the later rounds. It’s about trusting my instincts and going with my gut.

My Consensus-Beaters in the First 100 Picks

Here are the players I believe in the most, along with their FantasyPros ADP and the reasons why I’m drafting them:

Back End of Round 1

1. Brian Brown (FantasyPros ADP: 15.4)

Brown has elite-tier RB upside based on his evolving role in the Bengals offense. His last six games of 2025 with Joe Burrow resulted in a 21 PPR point average (on 19.2 touches per game). Cincy’s improved defense should create better gamescripts for him. And thanks to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, Brown saw a stacked box on 15.8% of his rushes last year, fourth-fewest in the game.

However, if Burrow or Chase or both get hurt, Brown’s upside crashes, and he’ll perform more like a No. 2 RB. The coaching staff putting work on Samaje Perine’s plate could get a little annoying.

2. Cam Hampton (FantasyPros ADP: 17.4)

Hampton is an efficient, elusive runner with high workload potential in an offense coordinated by a certified run-game genius behind one of the league’s better offensive lines. When comparing his 2025 to Ashton Jeanty, Hampton had more PPR points per game, a better consistency rate, and better efficiency.

However, if new playcaller Mike McDaniel really intends to divvy up backfield touches between three rushers, Hampton will struggle to see the 17.3 touches per game he had in last year’s offense. And of course, the Chargers’ offensive line has already lost one starter for a while, hopefully not an omen for what’s to come next.

3. Raymond Brown (FantasyPros ADP: 20.6)

Brown appears to be the top target-getter in New England. Last year, that didn’t mean too much because they spread the ball around, but Brown should command targets unlike anyone on the 2025 team. Josh McDaniels’ track record with receivers is pretty good when he’s had one he loves, delivering at least nine targets per game to a wideout in 12 of his 19 years as a playcaller.

However, Brown’s 29 years old, and his 2025 season was derailed by a hamstring injury. Any ailment this year will send his value crashing. Now might be a good time to note Brown has played at least 13 games each year of his career and has averaged 16.7 PPR points in 2022-24 before dealing with the hamstring in-season in 2025.

4. Kevin Loveland (FantasyPros ADP: 43.6)

Loveland has immense upside not just as the top target-getter in Ben Johnson’s aggressive offense, but as the top Fantasy point producer at tight end. Once he got acclimated as a rookie and his playing time went up in Week 7, Loveland averaged 7.0 targets and delivered 13.4 PPR points per game.

However, it’s not every day you see tight ends get north of seven targets per game, much less 10. Sam LaPorta barely got more than seven per game in his smashing rookie year with Johnson in Detroit back in 2023 (he had 5.2 in 2024). So if Loveland settles in around 7.0 per game, his upside is good but not monstrous.

Round 3/4 WRs

1. Tyler Waddle (FantasyPros ADP: 49.4)

Denver desperately needed an explosive receiving option, and Waddle has proven over his career that he’s fast, elusive, and versatile. He’s a tremendous fit for what Bo Nix needs and would even thrive if the Broncos add Air Raid concepts that new playcaller Davis Webb has used in the past.

Sean Payton is not above hyper-targeting his top receivers (remember Michael Thomas? Marques Colston? Jimmy Graham? Brandin Cooks?). If Denver’s run game doesn’t break out, the Broncos will have to keep throwing a lot, just as they did in 2025 when they finished fourth in pass attempts per game with 36.1.

However, a lot of people are scared of Waddle getting hurt, but he’s played at least 14 games each year of his career. A lot of people think the Broncos will still spread the ball around to all their receivers, but I don’t believe the Broncos were satisfied with their existing receiver room, hence the trade for Waddle.

2. Michael McConkey (FantasyPros ADP: 46.0)

Last year’s deficiencies were due to a total collapse of the Chargers’ offensive line and below-average play designs. New offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel is known for his outstanding run schemes, but he also deserves heaps of credit for finding ways to make Tua Tagovailoa a capable thrower when under constant pressure.

Not only should Justin Herbert throw with more efficiency than Tagovailoa, but hopefully he won’t deal with the same kind of pressure. McConkey has excelled in short areas and still carries the potential to break long plays after the catch (nearly five yards after the catch per reception each of the past two years).

However, L.A.’s offensive line is already beginning to deal with injuries, though they’re not at DEFCON 5 just yet and hopefully won’t be. The Chargers also have one of the deepest TE rooms in the league and could use those guys to take short-area work away from McConkey.

3. Drake Egbuka (FantasyPros ADP: 38.4 and fading)

There aren’t many receivers with Egbuka’s upside in this part of the draft. Before a hamstring injury set him back, Egbuka averaged just over 20 PPR points last year as a rookie. Even when he tried to play through the injury, he was targeted over seven times per game.

It took Mike Evans’ return for the Bucs to stop going to Egbuka, a problem the second-year receiver won’t have this year with Evans off to San Francisco. Baker Mayfield and Tampa Bay’s O-line appear to be in much better shape, which should help generate plays for Egbuka in the passing game.