But what if there were specific steps that could make a draft look nearly “perfect” when it was over? And what if those steps could be applied specifically to the 2026 season?

The following is a round-by-round account of what an ideal draft would look like in terms of constructing that perfect team. Ideally, never selecting a player when a half dozen players who have yet to be selected share almost equal value, while also never looking at a position afterward and seeing significant vulnerability. There is also an emphasis on players in the prime of their careers for upside purposes.

The process also involves tiering players based on specific projections and then identifying value in each round accordingly.

Let's imagine, then, that you have pick 1.06 in a 12-team redraft league. That's where I found myself a couple of weeks ago, drafting with mostly the same guys I've been drafting with for the past 33 years.

Now, let's get started!

Pick 1.06

My favorite pick here this season is going to be a wide receiver. I think the value at RB levels out after Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson are selected, and if Robinson or Gibbs were to be available at 1.06, it means you're playing in a non-competitive league. So, let's assume that's not the case.

The good news is that, in both PPR and non-PPR, there are four wide receivers who stand above the rest by most estimations, and one of those should fall to you here. So, assuming Gibbs, Robinson, and one other RB are taken between 1.01 and 1.05, you're going to land Puka Nacua, Ja'Marr Chase, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, or Amon-Ra St. Brown here.

For the sake of being specific, we'll take Nacua.

Picks 2.07, 3.06

A run on running backs is likely to happen in Round 2. As a result, the bottom is going to drop out of the RB position in terms of reliable value pretty quickly, even in, and maybe especially in, PPR leagues. As such, the next two picks in assembling a perfect team from this particular spot have to be RB-RB to avoid the aforementioned vulnerability at that position when the dust settles.

Roughly 18 running backs are going to see reliable volume before it becomes more of a guessing game, and getting two of those in the top 18 is critical here.

At 2.07, possible selections include the likes of Chase Brown, Kenneth Walker, Omarion Hampton, De'Von Achane, Kyren Williams, and maybe even Derrick Henry in a PPR draft. Even in an RB-crazy draft, one of those players should still be available.

I like the versatility of Brown and would take him here before turning to the next tier of RBs at 3.06. That tier likely consists of Breece Hall, Javonte Williams, Jeremiyah Love, and now Travis Etienne with the news that Alvin Kamara will be sidelined for nearly a month.

A "perfect" team also seeks to eliminate significant risk with respect to suspension or regression due to age, so let someone else take Josh Jacobs since other options are "safer."

I highly doubt Jeremiyah Love makes it to 3.06, but let's say Breece Hall does. Proven track record. Team is committed beyond just this season. Still in the prime of his career. And volume is nearly assured.

Now, you've got two reliable RBs to go with that elite WR.

Pick 4.07

So, what position also becomes scarce in terms of value at or around the middle of Round 4?

I would say tight end almost certainly, and there are two sophomores here who are going to command targets and be utilized in the red zone often this season who are ideal targets.

Like a quarterback going through his progressions post-snap, tight end is that first option if, and only if, Colston Loveland or Tyler Warren is available at this spot.

Beyond those two, the next tier is fairly large, and a second option for the pick would then be needed if Loveland and Warren were already taken.

With legitimate starting fantasy QBs going at least 10-deep this season, as they do most seasons, it would become a question of RB vs. WR. If your league forces you to start three WRs and a maximum of only two RBs, keeping the vulnerability mindset at the forefront would make WR the choice.

That said, if you are in a league that allows the flex position to be a third RB, that would probably be the better option given how much deeper the WR position is than all others sans quarterback.

Keeping all that in mind, we're going to go with Plan A, B, or C, knowing that all three options would keep your team on an ideal trajectory.

So:

A. TE Tyler Warren
B. WR Zay Flowers
C. RB Quinshon Judkins

Those would be my favorite picks at this spot if things stay predictable.

For me, a couple of weeks ago, the selection here was Cam Skattebo, but I have my doubts about him being available in most drafts as we go deeper into August.

For the sake of "perfection," however, we're going to pretend that Warren was available here and that he was selected.

Picks 5.06, 6.07

I'm still thinking that top tier of QBs runs 10-deep, so unless you're in an unusual league where quarterbacks are flying off the board early, you can wait until the seventh round, at least, to address it.

Assuming you've got two RBs, one WR, and one TE coming into this pick, WR becomes a must here, and then it's probably RB at 6.07.

Selecting a QB in Round 7 would mean you wouldn't have your RB3 until at least Round 8 if you pass on him at these picks, and that means picking an RB who is clearly second fiddle on his team rather than merely being in some sort of timeshare.

Favored options at WR for the 5.06 pick would be a tier that includes Terry McLaurin, Christian Watson, Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, D.J. Moore, and Mike Evans.

Of those, D.J. Moore is probably my favorite choice given who his QB is and the fact that he'll be an undisputed WR1 for his new team in Buffalo.

Turning then back to RB in the sixth round, you are going to be looking at RBs in equal timeshares such as TreVeyon Henderson/Rhamondre Stevenson, Jaylen Warren/Rico Dowdle, Chuba Hubbard/Jonathon Brooks, or J.K. Dobbins/R.J. Harvey.

Tony Pollard will likely also be available in most redrafts at 6.07, but he plays on such a bad offensive team that I would steer clear.

The upside of Henderson and the steadiness of Stevenson make them the top choice for me, and because I think Henderson will likely be taken already based on that upside, Stevenson is then the likely pick.

Pick 7.06

This is the quarterback pick, and depending upon how far QBs slide in your draft, you could be looking at a Jayden Daniels/Jalen Hurts selection here, or both of those QBs may have been drafted a round or two earlier.

Whatever the case, the tier beyond them features four QBs who share almost identical value: Caleb Williams, Trevor Lawrence, Dak Prescott, and Justin Herbert.

Williams, Lawrence, and Herbert are all working with clever play-callers, so the pick here is any of the above, with Prescott also being a good fallback option if a QB run preceding this pick wiped the position.

Two weeks ago, I selected Caleb Williams in this spot given his upside, and I see no reason to demean that choice here aside from Herbert being a bit "safer," given his longer track record.

Given the quality of QBs 11-19, I think a bit of risk is OK here, and Williams becomes the pick.

So, through seven rounds, your team looks like this:

QB: Caleb Williams
RB: Chase Brown, Breece Hall, Rhamondre Stevenson
WR: Puka Nacua, D.J. Moore
TE: Tyler Warren

The Finish

From this point forward, you're looking initially at bolstering the WR group, which is easily done given the depth at that position, and not waiting too long to take a second QB.

You are also staying true to your value tiers and rules regarding risk due to age or other factors.

By the end of Round 11, you want two QBs, four RBs, four WRs, and one TE. Keeping in mind current ADP trends, those four picks might then look like this, with personal favorites of mine listed for each spot:

8.07 - WR Michael Wilson
9.06 - WR Josh Downs
10.07 - QB Jordan Love
11.06 - RB Chris Rodriguez Jr.

In the final rounds, then, it would just be a matter of getting an RB handcuff for your most vulnerable RB (Breece Hall - Braelon Allen), a solid kicker and defense, and a couple of upside WR fliers that include at least one promising rookie, plus that second tight end.

Keeping all of that in mind, the following is your "perfect draft" - one that sticks to all of the guidelines noted throughout the article and doesn't compromise anything.

QB: Caleb Williams, Jordan Love
RB: Chase Brown, Breece Hall, Rhamondre Stevenson, Braelon Allen
WR: Puka Nacua, D.J. Moore, Michael Wilson, Josh Downs, De'Zhaun Stribling, Tre Harris
TE: Tyler Warren, Juwan Johnson
K: Cam Little
D/ST: Philadelphia Eagles

No position of vulnerability. No players outside of their prime years. No reaches based on positional tiers. Plenty of upside. Limited risk.

Truth be told, there's no such thing as a draft in which in-season success is guaranteed. But there is such a thing as perfect craftsmanship at the onset, and I hope this step-by-step look at the nuts and bolts serves you well in your drafts this fantasy season.

Good luck!