Dave Richard just dropped his definitive 2026 Fantasy Football draft plan, and if you think you’ve got it all figured out with your Zero RB strategies or waiting on a QB, think again. The biggest piece of wisdom he’s handing down for this year is simple, powerful, and honestly, might just change how you see every single pick: **Buy the dip.** Forget all those cutesy strategy names people obsess over, because this is the real secret sauce to building a championship roster.
Forget ‘Zero RB’? Why ‘Buy The Dip’ Is Your Real Strategy
Richard isn’t just throwing out buzzwords; he’s got a crystal-clear playbook for what “buying the dip” actually means. First off, if a player unexpectedly slides in your draft and you get a shot at him, you don’t hesitate. You draft him. Simple as that. It’s about recognizing value when the league is sleeping on it. The second way to play this is when there’s been some bad news about a player pre-draft,an injury, an off-field incident, anything that messes with his perception but isn’t a catastrophic, season-ending deal. If the news isn’t bleak for his short-term future, and you’re not taking him at his pre-incident ADP, you snatch him up.
Not all dips are created equal, though. Richard’s breaking it down for us: it’s a dip if you’re getting an early-rounder four spots past their average draft position. Or, if it’s a mid-rounder, you want him 12 spots past his ADP. And that injury tag? If the news isn’t terrible and he’s going to be good for the majority of the season, that’s a dip you absolutely pounce on. This isn’t about rigid strategies; it’s about seeing true value when it stares you in the face.
Your Round 1 Blueprint: What To Expect (and Exploit)
Before you even think about “buying the dip” or anything else, Richard is screaming one thing: **know your league rules.** Seriously, you should know the ins and outs of your scoring system, lineup requirements, IR spots, and waiver rules long before you even glance at a player ranking. It’s foundational. Once you’re dialed in there, you can start eyeing that crucial first round.
For typical redraft one-QB leagues, Richard gives us a clear picture of what’s coming in Round 1. If you’re in a half- or full-PPR league, expect no more than five wide receivers to go off the board. That means the vast majority of your league will be grabbing running backs first, especially as you get to the back half of the round and the top four consensus wide receivers are long gone. If you’re looking to pivot to wide receiver, CeeDee Lamb is the first guy you should eye, with Justin Jefferson as a solid alternative. Now, if you’re in a non-PPR league, get ready for an RB stampede. You could see as many as nine running backs taken in that first round. It’s not about being “wrong” to zig when others zag; it’s about understanding the draft flow.
So, there you have it, straight from the expert himself. Forget the fancy names and trust the wisdom: know your rules, and when that sweet dip happens, you grab it. Your 2026 Fantasy Football championship might just depend on it. Get ready to draft like a champ.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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