How I’m Attacking Rounds 1-4 From Pick 9 in 2026 Fantasy Football Drafts

Drafting from the ninth overall pick in Fantasy Football puts you in an interesting spot this year.

Most of the truly elite wide receivers are likely going to be off the board by the time you’re on the clock, which has me leaning toward starting my drafts at running back. From there, I want to build a strong RB foundation before attacking wide receiver in Rounds 3 and 4.

Obviously, every draft is different and I’m not going to force these exact four players. But based on where guys are currently being drafted, this is how I’m attacking the first four rounds from Pick 9.

Round 1: James Cook, RB – Buffalo Bills

At Pick 9, I’m targeting James Cook.

With most of the elite-tier wide receivers likely gone at this point, I like grabbing one of the best running backs in football instead.

Cook is coming off a monster 2025 season in which he led the NFL with 1,621 rushing yards and finished with 1,912 yards from scrimmage.

He’s also been one of the most reliable fantasy running backs over the last couple of seasons, finishing inside the top 10 at the position in each of the last two years.

And there may still be room for his fantasy ceiling to grow.

One of the most interesting storylines coming out of Buffalo this offseason has been the possibility of Cook becoming more involved in the passing game.

That’s important because we’ve already seen him produce as a receiver. Cook caught 44 passes for 445 yards earlier in his career, so the ability is there.

He doesn’t need some massive receiving workload, either. If Cook continues producing at an elite level on the ground while getting a few more targets each week, it makes an already strong fantasy profile even better.

In an offense that’s going to consistently create scoring opportunities, I’m completely comfortable starting my draft with Cook at No. 9.

Round 2: Ken Walker, RB – Kansas City Chiefs

I like solidifying my running backs early, and Ken Walker is one of my favorite Round 2 targets.

The move to Kansas City is a major reason why.

Walker has always had the talent. Last season, he forced 61 missed tackles, fifth-most among NFL running backs, while generating 664 yards after contact.

Now he’s playing with Patrick Mahomes in an Andy Reid offense, and everything we’ve heard coming out of Chiefs camp suggests Kansas City plans on making him a major part of the offense.

Mahomes even singled Walker out when discussing players who have impressed him, highlighting his ability to turn what looks like nothing into an explosive gain.

“No. 9. You make a play out of nothing into a 20-yard gain.”

That’s exactly what Walker brings to this backfield.

He’s explosive, can create yards on his own and gives Kansas City a legitimate big-play threat at running back.

The passing-game involvement is another thing I’m watching. Walker has been involved as a receiver throughout camp, which could give him an even better fantasy ceiling if that carries into the regular season.

And when I look at the rest of this Chiefs backfield, I don’t see another running back who scares me away from Walker’s workload.

If I’m able to start my draft with James Cook and Ken Walker, I have two running backs I feel extremely confident about before I even get to Round 3.

Round 3: Zay Flowers, WR – Baltimore Ravens

After grabbing running backs in the first two rounds, I’m looking to start attacking wide receiver.

And Zay Flowers is one of my favorite targets in Round 3.

Flowers is coming off the best season of his career, finishing with 1,211 receiving yards, setting a new Ravens single-season franchise record.

He’s now posted consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and continues to establish himself as the clear No. 1 receiver in Baltimore.

The Ravens made their commitment to him pretty obvious this offseason, signing Flowers to a four-year, $140 million extension with $108 million guaranteed.

But what I really like for fantasy is how Baltimore can use him.

New Ravens head coach Jesse Minter had to prepare for Flowers as an opposing coach last season and talked this offseason about just how difficult he is to defend.

“He’s really, really hard to prepare for because he has the capabilities and the skill set to play all over the offense.”

Flowers can line up outside, work from the slot and be moved around with motion. That gives Baltimore plenty of ways to manufacture touches and favorable matchups for him.

And he’s still attached to Lamar Jackson and one of the better offenses in football.

Flowers has already established a strong fantasy floor. If we get another step forward in the touchdown department, there’s room for an even bigger fantasy season.

Getting him as my WR1 after starting Cook-Walker is exactly the type of build I’m looking for.

Round 4: Ladd McConkey, WR – Los Angeles Chargers

Round 4 is where I’m going right back to wide receiver, and Ladd McConkey is one of my favorite bounce-back targets this season.

We’ve already seen what McConkey’s ceiling looks like.

As a rookie, he caught 82 passes for 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns, immediately establishing himself as one of Justin Herbert’s top targets.

His production took a step back last season, finishing with 66 receptions for 789 yards and six touchdowns, but there was a pretty clear reason for the drop in volume.

Keenan Allen returned to the Chargers and led the team with 122 targets. That took a significant chunk of the passing-game opportunities that McConkey had access to during his rookie season.

Now Allen is gone, and those 122 targets are up for grabs.

That’s a big reason I’m buying back into McConkey this season. We’ve already seen what he can do when he’s one of the primary options in this passing game, and there’s once again a clear path for him to see that type of volume.

And now we’re adding Mike McDaniel to the equation.

McDaniel’s offense should fit McConkey extremely well. His offenses have consistently used motion and spacing to create favorable matchups and get playmakers the ball in space.

McConkey has already talked about his excitement for the new offense.

“I’m loving the offense, I’m loving what we’re doing and I know it’s only going to get more dynamic.”

Most importantly, Justin Herbert is still his quarterback.

McConkey went for nearly 1,150 yards with Herbert as a rookie. Last season, Allen returned and led the team in targets, and McConkey’s production dipped along with his opportunity.

Now Allen and his 122 targets are gone, McConkey has a path back to being one of Herbert’s top targets, and Mike McDaniel is taking over the offense.

That’s a situation I’m willing to bet on in Round 4.I’m willing to bet on the bounce back.

My First Four Rounds From Pick 9

If the board falls the way I’m hoping, I’m walking out of the first four rounds with:

Round 1 — James Cook, RB
Round 2 — Ken Walker, RB
Round 3 — Zay Flowers, WR
Round 4 — Ladd McConkey, WR

That’s an RB-RB-WR-WR start with two running backs I believe have legitimate top-end upside and two receivers who can give me strong production without having to spend a first- or second-round pick at the position.

I’m not forcing these exact four players if the value isn’t there. If someone unexpectedly falls, you adjust.

But from the ninth overall pick, this is the type of roster construction I’m looking for in 2026 fantasy football drafts.