The 2026 preseason has barely wrapped up Week 2 games, and already we’re seeing some absolutely wild swings in fantasy football draft boards. The biggest surprise? Rookie receiver De’Zhaun Stribling for the 49ers, whose ADP climb could honestly be one of the greatest we’ve ever seen in fantasy history.
Stribling’s Rocket Launch and the Niners’ Injury Woes
Seriously, this kid is on a tear. Over the last three weeks alone, Stribling’s ADP has shot up more than 40 spots, pushing him into the tenth round of drafts. If you remember, the Niners took him 33rd overall in April, and honestly, whether you believed in that pick then or not, it’s getting super clear why they did it. He posted another great outing in Week 2 of the preseason, snagging four catches for 46 yards on five targets. What’s driving this insane rise? It looks like the rest of the roster in San Francisco is dealing with some persistent soft tissue injuries, which means Stribling is getting every opportunity to shine. With Mike Evans, George Kittle, and Christian McCaffrey still on the roster,assuming they all stay healthy,it’ll be interesting to see his ultimate ceiling, but right now, Stribling is legitimately exciting sleeper territory.
Rookies on the Move: Washington Jr. and Croskey-Merritt
He’s not alone in his rapid ascension though. Raiders rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. is another one who’s absolutely flying up draft boards. He’d already jumped more than a full round in just the past week! Then there’s Jacory Croskey-Merritt, or “Bill” as the fantasy community knows him, from the Commanders. He’s a curious case, dealing with a minor lower-body injury, and Washington also added Stefon Diggs at wide receiver recently. Rachaad White, the other main back, is also dealing with a minor hamstring strain, so Bill’s rise might be more about a shift in perception, maybe from Justin Boone’s sleeper article. Even with a likely split workload with White, if that Commanders offense over-performs, Croskey-Merritt could totally be a viable RB2 or weekly FLEX play.
Don’t Sleep on These Other Risers
Beyond the headliners, a few other guys are making noise. Jonathon Brooks is steadily climbing the ranks, up another 10.1 spots this week, as Chuba Hubbard battles an injury. Panthers head coach Dave Canales even said Brooks and Hubbard will start in a committee, giving Brooks a real shot at the lead role. Keep an eye on Jordan Mason, Braelon Allen, and MarShawn Lloyd, all depth RBs pushing up as other starters deal with injuries or question marks. And let’s not forget Texans tight end Dalton Schultz, who’s cracked the top 150. With Jayden Higgins out for the season, Schultz has a seriously underrated chance to become a TE1 and a top target in Houston.
With Week 3 of the preseason about to kick off, these ADP shifts are only going to get crazier. If you’ve got drafts coming up, you better be watching these guys, because their value is changing by the minute. Are you ready for some football? We are!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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