We all make mistakes. Sometimes they happen in life, at our jobs or even when playing fantasy football (believe it or not). It’s important not to dwell on these mistakes and, instead, learn from them. Our Yahoo fantasy football analysts are sharing one thing they did in 2025 that they aren’t going to carry into 2026 for fantasy.
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Stop being dogmatic about prices
Over the years I’ve become especially value-driven with my salary cap drafts. I’m trying to leverage the market, I’m trying to find under-appreciated players. There’s nothing wrong with that strategy, but often I come out with rosters that are more about leftovers than they are about players I actually like. This year I’m going to try to remember that it’s okay to “overpay” occasionally for a player I really believe in, or a player I especially need at the time. Plus, heck, you’re supposed to assemble a team you’re going to enjoy following for several months. Don’t forget to have some fun with it, too. — Scott Pianowski
Believe I’m smarter than a good play-caller on his handpicked quarterback
It’s probably a bit of a stretch to call Daniel Jones Shane Steichen’s handpicked guy but at the same time, it was pretty clear that the Colts were putting their thumb on the scale to make him the heavy favorite in last year’s camp competition. Regardless, I allowed my own bias about how Jones had played over the last couple of seasons to essentially prevent a ceiling outcome from even crossing my mind. I ended up losing out on chances at significant value for multiple Colts players—many of whom I had been a long-time defender of like Alec Pierce and Michael Pittman Jr.—late in fantasy drafts. Generally, if a sharp play-caller like Steichen taps a reclamation project passer who has shown positive signs in their career, we should be open to the possibility they bring some ADP beats up along with them. This season, I’m keeping my mind open to Kyler Murray reviving the Vikings offense, should he indeed prove to be Kevin O’Connell’s Week 1 starter. — Matt Harmon
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Understand that Year 3 players are still young, even if they haven’t broken out yet
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the perfect example — working behind or next to DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett for his opening two seasons. Very few memorable plays stood out. His role was more restricting than we hoped. It was easy to think we already knew what he was as an NFL player. Nico Collins was another perfect example back in 2023. But before the Year 2 breakout there was the Year 3 breakout. Before we believed the best fantasy assets performed at their peak player immediately, we actually had some patience — especially in new situations. Whether that be a seismic coaching staff change in the form of a new play-caller, a new starting quarterback they are attached to or a sociable shift in the pecking order — and sometimes even all of the above. So Rome Odunze, Marvin Harrison Jr., Ladd McConkey, Xavier Worthy and Jonathon Brooks… you are on my radar. — Josh Norris
Over-factoring injury concern for late-round draft picks
If you want to fade Malik Nabers or Joe Burrow because of injury concerns, I get it, they’re going early and there’s still a lot of talent left on the board. However, once we get into the later rounds, it should become much less of the thought process. If a player has a clear projected volume advantage compared to other later picks, such as Chris Olave being the No. 1 WR in New Orleans, that should be the focus. The risk to upside payoff is well worth it at that point of the draft. This season also comes with late-round options that have proven to have plenty upside alongside their increased injury risk. Dalton Kincaid at TE11, Jonathon Brooks at RB36, Jordyn Tyson at WR34 or Christian Watson at WR29. They could be a zero, but if they hit, the impact is much more of a difference-maker than the risk of them being late-round dud. — Joel Smyth
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Be bolder when nitpicking rookie roles out of training camp
It’s scary to be the negative one about a rookie’s role in camp and preseason because there’s very clearly upside, but there is also the realism of the cost that must be factored in. Last year, there were negative signs in August on TreVeyon Henderson (44th overall ADP), Travis Hunter (57th), RJ Harvey (60th), Matthew Golden (66th), Kaleb Johnson (79th) and others just outside the top-100 overall. This group as a whole busted, and if we took them a little more seriously, rather than just rolling with “What if?!”, then we’d be on the players who were literally 1-2s spot behind them like Jameson Williams, Zay Flowers, Chris Olave and Patrick Mahomes. We all knew those players were great players without playing time concerns. If those rookies turned out to be those players long term, then that would be the top 20th percentile outcome. It’s okay to feel like you’re missing out on rookies if both things are true: 1) their ADPs are high, 2) their playing time seems uncertain. I’m eager to keep reading about Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price, Carnell Tate and Makai Lemon this month. — Hayden Winks
Second-guess drafting an entire backfield when all its RBs are available in the late rounds
Last year, every Cowboys running back was being taken outside of the top 100, but many people in the fantasy community, including myself, were reluctant to spend multiple late-round picks on that group. In hindsight, Javonte Williams ended up being one of the best values in fantasy, finishing as the RB13 in per game scoring. Drafting players from ambiguous backfields is something I do often, so the fact Williams slipped through the cracks is still baffling. Never again.
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This year, we have several RB depth charts in a similar position — with the Commanders (Jacory Croskey-Merrritt, Rachaad White, Kaytron Allen) and the Vikings (Jordan Mason, Aaron Jones, Demond Claiborne) all being drafted after the first 100 picks are off the board. Even the Broncos trio (J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey, Jonah Coleman) tends to be available in the ninth round or later. Don’t hesitate to fire multiple deep shots at the same backfield in hopes of landing yourself a starting back at a massive discount, regardless of how you feel about their outlooks. — Justin Boone
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