u/Always__Auctions

Greetings.

I am in the market for a new (or semi-used) car, and have been thinking an awful lot about getting an EV.

A friend of mine who would consider himself a "car guy," recently told me that he would recommend waiting until sometime after 2027 (or even later) before purchasing an EV.

His main reasoning was:

New battery and charging technology is coming, specifically sodium-ion, and solid state batteries. Additionally, he said, these new technologies will give EVs even more range, possibly in the 500-700 mile on a single charge.

I honestly didn't know enough about the subject to say much other than, "Oh, that's interesting."

He also mentioned that internal combustion/gas engines (and even hybrids to a lesser extent) have been holding their value much more significantly than EVs right now. He suggested that going that route right now for my purchase, would make more sense financially, at least until the new EV battery tech is here and has a few years to work all the kinks out.

Does he have a point? I'd love to hear some thoughts on this. Thank you all very much!

EDIT: Appreciate all the insight. One issue I am having is the fact that my insurance is likely to go up $200-$300/month if I purchase even a 2024 EV, like the Ioniq 6. My insurance now is quite cheap since my current car is 20 years old and I rarely drive it.

In the newest episode, we talk about players we feel are being undervalued in auction drafts, using AAV data straight from user-based mock drafts.

1. Dallas Goedert
   AAV the last 30 days
   1QB: $2 | SF: $3

It's not a huge sample size, but I do think it's noteworthy: in the 6 games that Goedert has played without either AJ Brown or Devonta Smith, he's averaged almost 6 targets and 14 PPR pts/g. In the last 30 days, his AAV has been steady at $2 or $3. I probably wouldn't go any higher than $3 for him, but he could prove to be an excellent value late in drafts. Smith and Makai Lemon are both dealing with hamstring injuries, and Lemon has a history of hamstring ailments, going back to his time at USC. It might be difficult for Goedert to score 11 TDs like he did last season, but he's cheap enough that the value is absolutely there, and a player who could definitely finish top 10 again. If you're punting on TE, Goedert makes a ton of sense.

2. Tank Bigsby
   AAV the last 30 days
   1QB: $1 | SF: $1

There have been rumors, some have even suggested it's been an open secret during training camp, that the Eagles want to lighten Saquon's workload during the season. Other than Blake Corum, Bigsby might be the most valuable RB handcuff. The Eagles traded two draft picks to acquire him (one of which was a 4th rounder), and even though Barkley has remained healthy, BIgsby would slide right in as a high RB2 if Saquon misses any time. And while he might not get any more than a 35% snap share outside of an injury, his auction price has never exceeded more than $1. That's the type of player at cost that has the potential to be a league winner, so why not throw a buck his way? There's a chance you could even snatch him off waivers.

3. Cyrus Allen
   AAV the last 30 days
   1QB: $1 | SF: Undrafted/Waivers

Allen's a bit of a dart throw, however, anytime your QB is Patrick Mahomes, drafters should definitely be interested. Reports and practice videos of Allen are both really encouraging. He's only been drafted once in any mock thus far ($1), and he could even supplant Xavier Worthy as the Chiefs' WR2, behind Rice. Is Rice even on the Chiefs next year? If Allen comes out the first month of the season and is averaging around 6 or 7 targets/g, he might be a real factor this year. He's all upside right now with absolutely zero risk, and that type of player is giving me all the feels!

Other players discussed:

Rome Odunze
Tony Pollard

Recorded prior to the Jordan Tyson news, but Juwan Johnson should also be considered.

In our newest episode, we discussed players we feel are being overvalued right now in auction drafts. We focussed primarily on RBs, and used prices/AAV from the last 30 days to speak on the most recent data.

1. Johnathan Taylor
   1QB: $46 | SF: $36

Taylor feels a bit overvalued to me right now. He's the 5th most expensive RB in 1QB formats, and 6th most expensive in superflex. What worries me is that I don't think Daniel Jones will run as much this year, and their field stretcher, Alec Pierce, seems weeks away from being in football ready shape. I think it's feasible that opposing defenses are likely to crowd toward the LOS more often, knowing that Jones and Pierce will be limited. Talylor's FPTS per game also show a stark contrast in wins vs loses. Taylor averaged over 31 pts in wins, whereas only about 13 in games where the Colts lost. Vegas has their win total set at 7.5. I think in general, the team is due for some regression, considering they were 7th in points per game and 8th in total points scored. There are several RBs that are cheaper than Taylor right now, such as Chase Brown, and Kenneth Walker that I prefer.

2. De'Von Achane
   1QB: $42 | SF: $35

I've been pretty adamant this entire offseason that I'm out on Achane this year. I really don't want to rehash everything but suffice it to say, I think the Dolphins are going to stink this year, limiting Achane's upside, particularly in the TD department. In 1QB formats, Achane is the 10th most expensive RB, and tied for the 5th most expensive in superflex. I should note that Achane's price has been trending downward in both formats, however, I just don't want to invest that much of my budget on a guy on a crappy team. If I'm wrong about Achane, and he finishes as a top 7 RB, everyone's free to call me an idiot and say, "I told you so," but I think it's more likely that he's somewhere closer to RB 12, still a good season, but not what is price reflects and what drafters are hoping for. Though unlikely, but if his price continues to dip, I would reconsider. As now, I'm not buying.

Other players discussed:

CMC
Bucky Irving
Jadarian Price

Hey, everyone!

Now we break down the five players whose AAV has fallen the most over the last month. Using AAV data from the last 30 days of auction mock drafts across both formats, I tracked which players' prices were rising and falling. I then compiled the data from all seven mocks, and we discuss the five biggest risers and why we think their prices are falling.

5. Chris Godwin
   Early Avg. $9
   Late Avg. $6
   33% decrease

The main issues with Godwin is his age and concerns about his injury. Before his ankle injury in 2024 year, Godwin was putting up amazing numbers (20 PPR pts/g), but he's 30 years old now, and fantasy drafters might be asking, "What have you done for me lately?" Godwin should clearly be the #2 target getter in TB, and his low price could turn into a really nice value, especially if you draft him just as a flex player in mind. If he can just get to 10 or 11 PPR points a week for your team, then he may just end up being a nice, late steal.

4. Kyle Pitts
   Early Avg. $6
   Late Avg. $4
   33% decrease

I'm a little surprised that Pitts' price is less than Harold Fanin's in both formats. The Falcons brought in Tommy Rees to be their new OC, who was the OC in Cleveland last year, and now Kevin Stefanski is the head coach, who has a really good history with TEs. The Falcons have a bad defense, so Pitts could see a lot of volume late in games. Maybe drafters are a little worried about the QB situation, or that Pitts' best games was when London was injured. He's the clear cut #2 receiver in the offense, and I'm going to be interested to see where his AAV settles once real drafts roll around.

3. Sam LaPorta
   Early Avg. $8
   Late Avg. $5
   38% decrease

LaPorta's price the past 30 days is even more baffling to me than Pitts'. They're both $7 in SF, but in 1QB he's a little more, $8 for LaPorta and $5 for Pitts, so a bit more of a divide there. In a previous episode we did, I pointed out that Detroit is tied for second for implied point total per game, and I think LaPorta has a chance to lead the league in TDs for TEs. I typically like to wait to draft my TEs late, but if his price remains where it is, or even continues to fall as it has been, I'd definitely be willing to throw out some extra bids out for him. I think he's going to have a really great season, so his falling AAV gets me excited.

2. Josh Downs
   Early Avg. $9
   Late Avg. $5
   44% decrease

I think that if Daniel Jones hadn't gotten injured, and was 100% healthy going into the season, Downs' price would not be where it's at. Jones has been fully cleared for training camp, however, so maybe we see a little bounce back in price for Downs. If Jones' rushing does turn out to be limited, or can't throw far down the field as much, Downs (and Warren) could benefit from some shorter passes in the slot. Michael Pittman's 111 targets are also up for grabs. I think like Godwin, you just draft Downs in mind with low expectations as a flex and hope he outperforms his cost. 

1.Alec Pierce
Early Avg. $10
Late Avg. $5
50% decrease

I don't want to be repetitive but pretty much everything said about Downs can also be said of Pierce, although Pierce is working back from ankle surgery, so it's easier to see why his price has dropped as much as it has. Plus, we really haven't gotten any positive reports yet, so we'll just have to see what he looks like in training camp. Interestingly though, over the last 30 days, Pierce and Downs are only separated by no more than $2. If Pierce and Jones both play the majority of the season at near 100%, there is major boom potential. It's a big "if," however.

*The current values are pulled directly from real-user completed mocks, making this the most accurate source available. They serve as the foundation for my annual AAV dataset.

The site updates after every mock and can be accessed here: AAV.

If you would like to join a mock draft, please DM. We are always looking for committed auction drafters!

Hello.

I'm thinking about buying a used 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6 and am curious about how well EV batteries hold up over time.

I don't drive much—mostly short trips around my neighborhood—so I'm wondering how that affects battery health. Does an EV battery degrade faster if it's not driven very often, or is that not a concern? Given my driving habits, would I be better off with a traditional gasoline-powered car?

I've also read that companies like Toyota are developing solid-state batteries with much longer driving range. Do those batteries also last longer, or is their advantage mainly the increased range?

Thanks for any insight!

We're hosting a live 1QB auction mock draft today at 2:00 pm ET.

Come jump on the stream and hang with us! This would be a great introduction to the format if you've never seen how an auction draft plays out in real time.

Come get your auction, or fantasy football questions answered, and see how the best drafting format works!

Hey, guys!

In our newest episode, we broke down the five players whose AAV has risen the most over the last month. Using AAV data from the last 30 days of auction mock drafts across both formats, I tracked which players' prices were rising and falling. I then compiled the data from all seven mocks, and we discuss the five biggest risers and why we think their prices are climbing.

5. Bhayshul Tuten
   Early Avg. $14
   Late Avg. $17
   21% increase

Tuten has been getting uber-hyped this offseason. I'm not sure there's another player the fantasy community is this excited about. You can make an argument for Parker Washington, Luther Burden or Colston Loveland, but Tuten is right in that mix. With Etienne now in NO, it seems pretty clear from reports, and what we've heard Liam Cohen say to reporters, that Tuten is stepping into the Jaguars' RB1 role. A 21% price increase over the last month is likely a sign his price will continue to rise come draft time.

4. Mike Evans
   Early Avg. $13
   Late Avg. $16
   23% increase

Evans' price has been pretty steady throughout July, but it has spiked as of late. He's kind of mixed in around that fourth tier of WRs in both formats. I think Evans is a good candidate to have a similar fantasy season like Davante Adams had last year. Right around 115 targets, and a bunch of TDs, especially in the red zone. His yardage total may not be stellar, but if he catches 10+ TDs, it probably won't matter. I don't think we'll see his cost get too much higher than this, so if you can snag him at WR3 prices, do it.

3. Rashee Rice
   Early Avg. $23
   Late Avg. $29
   26% increase

Rice's cost had a bit of a dip early this month, but it's shot back up. He's just outside the top 10 in both formats, and I do expect his price to reach that level again, especially now that he and Mahomes have both been fully cleared for training camp. With a 26% increase in the last 30 days, drafters are obviously back on board, and Rice is a player that I'm expecting fantasy managers to battle over during their drafts. I'd advise on budgeting close to $35 for Rice in 1QB leagues and around $30 in SF.

2. Emeka egbuka
   Early Avg. $19
   Late Avg. $24
   26% increase

With Mike Evans now in San Francisco, I think it's pretty easy to understand why Egbuka's price has gone up: he's going to be the top receiver in Tampa. He battled through a hamstring injury and Baker was really banged up last year. Both should be 100% and it's easy to see a path for Egbuka to see a ton of targets and have a major breakout year. His AAV is outside the top 15 in both formats right now, but I think drafters should expect it to settle there soon.

1. DJ Moore
   Early Avg. $13
   Late Avg. $17
   31% increase

Moore might have the lowest AAV of all the receivers we've talked about today, but it's also gone up the most in the last month. He's got much less target competition now in Buffalo and a major quarterback upgrade. FantasyPros have Moore outside of their top 24 receivers in their yearlong projections, but he's reuniting with his former OC Joe Brady when he was in Carolina so draft sentiment is getting high. He's the 28th most expensive WR right now in 1QB and 24th in Superflex. I'm not sure his price will get much higher, but there's definitely a good chance a manager or two will have Moore as one of their draft targets and be willing to pay a premium.

Stay tuned!!! The biggest fallers are coming soon!!!

*The current values are pulled directly from real-user completed mocks, making this the most accurate source available. They serve as the foundation for my annual AAV dataset.

The site updates after every mock and can be accessed here: AAV.

If you would like to join a mock draft, please DM. We are always looking for committed auction drafters!

In our newest episode, we discuss our favorite bargain players you can draft late and shouldn't cost more than a few dollars.

The three players I looked at each had a 30-day AAV of $2 or less based on seven auction mock drafts across both 1QB and Superflex formats.

1. Kyle Monangai

The Bears were tied with the Giants for 2nd as the heaviest run team in 2025, only the Bills ran more. What all three teams have in common is they have QBs who run, although Caleb was only 8th in QB rush attempts last year, about 4.5 per game. The Bears have the 10th highest implied point total per game, so plenty of scoring opportunities should be available. Monangai averaged just over 8 PPR pts/g over the course of the season, but in the seven games he got at least 10 rushing attempts, he averaged almost 80 rushing yards, and 13.5 PPR pts/g. He's been decent when he's given opportunities. We'll see if the Bears favor a more balanced offense this coming year in light of the emergence of Burden and Loveland, but being able to draft a player like Monangai, who was as involved as he was, for so cheap, seems like a good investment late in your auction draft.

2. Chig Okonkwo

In 2024, which was Jayden Daniels' rookie season, Zach Ertz finished as the TE7 in PPR. In the seven games Daniels played last season, Ertz averaged over 12.5 fpts/g. Okonkwo averaged just 4.5 targets per game last season. One additional target per game would put him on the doorstep of the top 10 in that category. He was 13th in total TE targets last year, so I don't think it would take very much to push him into that low TE 1 territory. He really doesn't need a lot to make a significant impact for fantasy and even if the Commanders sign Diggs, I think Okonkwo is a really good spot to pay off at his cost. If the Commanders don't sign another WR, then I think it's wheels up for Okonkwo.

3. Jayden Higgins

Higgins got much more involved during the Texans' second half last season. From week 8 on, he averaged 9.2 fpts/g. Certainly not eye popping numbers, but for a guy on a team that passed the 7th most in 2025, his fantasy production wasn't terrible, either. Higgins is going into his second year in the NFL, and I think if you're looking for a player that could make a big second season jump, he definitely qualifies. Though Nico Collins remained pretty healthy last season, only missing one game, he does have a bit of an injury history, recently missing 5 games in 2024. Higgins seems like a player you can easily draft late for a dollar or two and safely plug into your flex spot and expect 9 or 10 PPR points. And if Collins were to miss any time, he instantly becomes a solid WR2.

Other players we discussed:

Tyrone Tracy
Jonathon Brooks

*The current values are pulled directly from real-user completed mocks, making this the most accurate source available. They serve as the foundation for my annual AAV dataset.

The site updates after every mock and can be accessed here: AAV.

If you would like to join a mock draft, please DM. We are always looking for committed auction drafters!

In our latest episode, we discuss our 2026 TE strategies for auction drafts, as well as some of our targets and fades based on current AAV.

TE is a tricky one, and the main school of thought seem to be "great or late." I think it really depends on what type of roster you want to build, and how many starters you have. If you play in a league that only starts 2WRs and one flex, for example, you can probably afford to spend a little more on the position. You can be increasingly proactive and aggressive when you have fewer positions to worry about. If, on the other hand, your league starts 3WRs and multiple flex spots, perhaps you lean towards allocating resources there, and that's typically what I like to do. I won't avoid the most expensive TEs outright just because they're pricey. I'm always on the lookout for bargains, and adjusting your draft plan on the fly is important, especially during the draft when bids starts flying and the adrenaline is pumping.

I do usually recommend waiting until late to draft a TE, since it's one of the easiest positions to replace without needing to allocate much from your draft budget. The position has gotten deeper, perhaps the deepest we've seen in years, and the gap between mid-tier options continues to shrink.

The difference between the overall TE 6 and the TE 12 the past three seasons has been just over 2 fpts/g.

IMO, TE is not where you gain your biggest advantage, but it’s very easy to lose value by allocating too much of your budget there. That’s why waiting on TE fits nicely into the hero WR build I've been advocating for all summer. Spend up where scarcity exists, and save where replacement value is high.

My TE targets:

Dalton Kincaid
Current AAV (Last 30 days):
1QB $2 | SF $4

Admittedly, Kincaid is a higher injury risk than some other TEs. He's coming off a PCL injury, and over the last month, his AAV has been on a downward trajectory. I think the injury could be playing a role in how drafters view him, but his snap percentage might also be a factor. Kincaid missed a bunch of time last season. Looking at 2024, he only played a 58% snap share. 2023 was a little better at 63%, so perhaps he just isn't a full time player. But why I like him in auctions this year really just comes down to his price and the team he plays for. Kincaid is a good example of a low risk, high reward player. He was also the most efficient TE last season (0.27 TPRR, 3.19 YPRR). The Bills are tied for second with the Lions with the highest point total per game, and when Josh Allen is your quarterback, Kincaid has the potential to be a good fantasy TE for your team, even if he's not on the field as much as we'd all like. There's risk, absolutely, but you can pair him with another cheap TE (or two if you have a deep bench) and hedge your bet a little.

George Kittle
Current AAV (Last 30 days):
1QB $3 | SF $4

Almost everything I said about Kincaid can be said about Kittle, except for the part about his playing time. Kittle's been among the lead leaders in snap percentage for years now, and unlike Kincaid, he hardly ever comes off the field. His cost has never exceeded $6, which happened only once in the last month. Kittle might actually be my favorite TE target if you decide you want to avoid the highest priced guys and even some of the players in that $5-$10 range like Kraft, Fanin, and Pitts. We'll see what he looks like when training camp starts soon, and whether or not he's lost any of his explosiveness, but even with the injury concerns and his age, he's absolutely got top 5 potential. Like Kincaid, pair him with another high upside guy that won't cost you a lot, Gadsden, Likely, Okonkwo, or Brenton Strange all who could be considered breakout candidates.

My TE avoid:

Trey McBride
Current AAV (Last 30 days)
1QB $33 | SF $26

McBride may be a somewhat controversial name here, but over the last month, his AAV has eclipsed Bowers' for the most expensive TE in both formats and imo, that's pretty wild.  McBride's an absolute beast, no doubt, but I can't quite understand why drafters are willing to pay such a premium for him. Maybe folks are chasing last year's points and assume that with Jacoby Brissett likely starting the year, McBride's again an automatic 17 or 18 pts/g. The Cardinals were the league's most pass heavy team last season, so I expect some regression there, and while I think Brissett will start, Arizona could quickly pivot to rookie Carson Beck, especially if they find themselves out of playoff contention early on. It's plausible they could go 1-7 or 0-8 and make the switch to Beck, which would probably be a big negative for all the Arizona pass catchers. I'd say that If you're debating between McBride or Bowers and you find yourself in a position to draft Bowers for less, you should immediately pounce. Alternatively, you could save yourself quite a bit and draft someone like Loveland (currently 45% cheaper in 1QB; 30% cheaper in SF) or Warren (currently 65% cheaper in 1QB; 55% cheaper in SF) and probably still feel really good about your TE and even better about the money you saved!

Other players we discussed:

Harold Fanin
Isaiah Likely
Orande Gadsden

*The current values are pulled directly from real-user completed mocks, making this the most accurate source available. They serve as the foundation for my annual AAV dataset.

The site updates after every mock and can be accessed here: AAV.

If you would like to join a mock draft, please DM. We are always looking for committed auction drafters!

In our newest episode, we discuss our auction strategies for WRs heading into 2026.

Starting all the way back in May, I have been advocating fantasy managers go with a hero WR build this season, and a lot has to do with defenses running more zone heavy schemes. This causes offenses to adjust in ways we really have seen before, including a lot more heavy personnel packages.

What's more, looking at the top 15 WRs who played at least 8 games from 2023-2025, the overall decrease of targets per game is: -6.3%.

Another reason is the new kickoff rule. The field is getting shorter, making the need to pass less. Offenses are starting closer to the 35 yrd line. That extra field position has shortened drives, contributed to fewer punts, and is a huge factor behind the continued decline in passing volume. Teams need fewer yards to reach scoring range, making long, pass-heavy drives less necessary. Plus, it seems now that 50 yard, and even longer field goals, are becoming a lot more prevalent.

Here's an interesting stat I found using teamrankings.com: starting from the 2020 season, there's been an almost 9% decline in the average number of pass atts per game. That comes out to be about three fewer passes per game.

Ultimately for auctions, finding a WR who gets 10+ targets per game is becoming harder, and offenses are consolidating targets more and more. My recommendation is to buy one “alpha” WR, a target hog like Chase or Puka who defies the trend. They’re worth the high auction price in a league whose offensive philosophy is shifting, and look for later value in your WR2 and WR3.

We also highlighted a few of our WR targets and avoids based on their current AAV.

My targets:

Terry McLaurin
Current AAV:
1QB $19 | SF $14

McLaurin's current price is a bit puzzling to me, though it has been rising as of late, particularly in 1QB, so maybe drafters have caught on. His horrific 2025 season, the absolute worst of his career, probably has a lot to do with why I think he's still being a bit undervalued. He missed seven games, and Jayden Daniels was also sidelined for more than half the year.

But even so, on a 17-game pace, McLaurin would’ve still been flirting with top-24 WR production even in a down environment.

Both McLaurin and Daniels are healthy heading into 2026, and I think he’s positioned for a strong bounce-back. McLaurin's clearly the Commanders’ top receiving option, and unless they bring in someone like Diggs or Aiyuk, he could easily see 8+ targets per game, and maybe around 140 total.

Most sites rank the Commanders' defense close to last, so they're likely to be in plenty of negative game scripts, which definitely helps McLaurin’s fantasy outlook.

Not sure his price will remain this low, especially in SF formats by the time we get to drafts, but even if it goes up a little, that's still great value for a #1 receiver on what's likely to be a very friendly fantasy environment. If you're able to draft him around his current price, you're pretty much playing with house money.

Michael Pittman Jr.
Current AAV:
1QB $8 | SF $3

I think we're going to see Pittman have a similar year to his 2022 fantasy season, when he was a junior. In that season he had 99 receptions, on 141 targets, just under 1,000 yards, 4 TDs, and finished as the number 20 overall receiver in PPR.

Rodgers had one of the lowest aDOTs last year of any QB and he likely isn't going to be launching many passes downfield. I think he's going to rely on short, quick throws, which will benefit Pittman the most.

Pittman's current price is ridiculous value for a player, I think, you'll be able to play each and every week as a consistent WR3, and who will provide a steady 10-12 FPTS/G.

My avoid:

Malik Nabers
Current AAV:
1QB $34 | SF $30

As things stand today, I'm not touching him.

Most, if not all of the fantasy football injury analysts, believe that Nabers is not only likely to open the season on the PUP list, but could also need another 4-6 weeks of a gradual ramp-up before returning to full strength. If that timeline holds, you're looking at him being significantly limited through roughly weeks 8-10. Even if he's back to 100% for Weeks 11-17, that's still not enough for me to justify paying his current price.

The one thing I will say is that Giants do have a pretty favorable schedule during that late span, so maybe Nabers becomes an intriguing trade target if the team that drafts him starts off something like 1-3, and looking to make a deal.

Absolutely love Nabers for 2027, but I'll let someone else draft him this year at today's price.

Other players we discussed:

Tetairoa McMillian
Chris Godwin
Luther Burden

*The current values are pulled directly from real-user completed mocks, making this the most accurate source available. They serve as the foundation for my annual AAV dataset.

The site updates after every mock and can be accessed here: AAV.

If you would like to join a mock draft, please DM. We are always looking for committed auction drafters!

In our newest episode, we discussed our RB auction strategies for the 2026 season.

Whether I'm drafting in a 1QB or Superflex league, my preferred roster construction is a robust RB build. I'll be prioritizing the position and can easily see myself spending around half of my budget on my two starting running backs. The biggest reason is that there's tremendous value and depth at every other position, arguably more than we've seen in years. Difference-making RBs become scarce very quickly, and they're by far the hardest position to replace.

Another reason I'm investing heavily in RBs is a trend we've seen developing across the NFL. Defenses have shifted toward zone-heavy schemes, and offenses have responded by leaning into heavier personnel packages and the run game. In 2025, more than half of NFL teams used zone coverage on at least 70% of their defensive snaps, and I wouldn't be surprised if that number grows even higher. In fact, I think we should expect it. As a result, WR targets per game have declined, while RB touch volume has remained remarkably consistent. To me, that combination makes high-volume running backs even more valuable in fantasy this season.

We also discussed a few running backs we're targeting or avoiding based on their current AAV.

The first player I highlighted as a target is James Cook. If you miss out on Jahmyr Gibbs or Bijan Robinson, don't want to spend a quarter or even a third of your budget on one player (which is a perfectly reasonable approach), or have concerns about Christian McCaffrey's age, workload, and injury history, I think James Cook should be your top target. His current AAV is $43 in 1QB leagues and $36 in Superflex.

When you're spending up at RB, you want players attached to elite offenses, and Cook absolutely checks that box. Buffalo has an implied win total of 10.5, a top-five offensive line, and has consistently been one of the NFL's most run-heavy teams near the goal line. Josh Allen certainly contributes to that and will always steal some rushing touchdowns, but Cook still finished with the sixth-most rushing TDs last season. There's also been talk that he'll see an increased role in the passing game after drawing just 40 targets last year. If that number climbs to even 50, I think it's a significant boost to his fantasy value, and he absolutely has a chance to finish as the RB1 in 2026.

Another running back I'm targeting, especially later in auction drafts, is Kenny Gainwell. With an AAV of $6 in 1QB leagues and just $2 in Superflex, he looks undervalued to me. He's an excellent pass catcher, and since 2022, only Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers have targeted their RBs at a higher rate than Baker Mayfield. If Tampa Bay gives Gainwell and Bucky Irving something close to an even split, as some reports have suggested, Gainwell could very realistically average around five targets per game again. The Buccaneers didn't give him $14 million by accident. I'm extremely bullish on Mayfield and the entire Tampa Bay offense, and I think Gainwell has an excellent chance to return value for fantasy managers at his current price.

The one running back I'm avoiding at cost right now is Quinshon Judkins. His current AAV sits at $18 in 1QB leagues and $16 in Superflex, and that's simply too rich for me. Judkins produced RB1 numbers in only two games last season, and let's be honest, the Browns offense is going to struggle. Vegas has their win total at just 5.5 games. DraftSharks, Football Insights, Fantasy Points, and Sharp Football all rank Cleveland's offensive line dead last. Their defense also got significantly worse with Myles Garrett now in Los Angeles, meaning the Browns could find themselves playing from behind often. That would likely create more passing-down opportunities for Dylan Sampson late in games.

On top of that, Judkins played more than 65% of the offensive snaps in only two games last season, and he's coming off a brutal injury. He's a talented running back, but there are simply too many red flags at his current price for me to justify drafting him.

Other players we highlighted:

CMC
Jadarian Price
Tony Pollard

*The current values are pulled directly from real-user completed mocks, making this the most accurate source available. They serve as the foundation for my annual AAV dataset.

The site updates after every mock and can be accessed here: AAV.

If you would like to join a mock draft, please DM. We are always looking for committed auction drafters!

In our latest episode, we discuss 2026 QB strategies, and how we are approaching the position in 1QB and Superflex formats.

My recommendation for 1QB leagues is to sit on your hands and wait. Skip the top-tier QBs and put the bulk of your budget toward RBs and WRs, since they're much more valuable in 1QB formats. For example, you can save around 80% of your budget by pivoting to someone like Dak instead of Josh Allen. The savings become even greater if you wait for guys like Mahomes, Purdy, or Goff.

In Superflex leagues, I'm still generally targeting QBs a little further down the tier list. The one exception near the top, however, is Joe Burrow. He's a strong bet to lead the league in pass attempts (Dak is right there too, imo), and that kind of volume is always good for fantasy production. Burrow is the one semi-expensive QB I'd be willing to spend a few extra bucks on. I've also been pretty vocal about my affinity for Trevor Lawrence this year, and there are plenty of great values available with guys like Purdy, Mayfield, Goff, Shough, Love, and Kyler.

We also talked about a few QBs we're specifically targeting and avoiding based on their current AAV.

One QB in particular that I am avoiding solely based on cost right now is Justin Herbert.

Herbert is currently the QB7 by cost in both formats, and he faces the league's toughest schedule over the first six weeks, according to DraftSharks. Outside of his first two seasons (QB9 and QB2), his best fantasy finish is last year's QB10. Unless you project him to finish at least as the QB5, it's hard to justify paying QB7 prices, especially with FantasyPros' consensus projections ranking him as the QB12 in total points. I'm not convinced the ROI will be there for auction drafters at his current cost.

*The current values are pulled directly from real-user completed mocks, making this the most accurate source available. They serve as the foundation for my annual AAV dataset.

The site updates after every mock and can be accessed here: AAV.

If you would like to join a mock draft, please DM. We are always looking for committed auction drafters!

In our newest episode, we break down a few players that drafters may want to target or avoid based on their 2026 schedules.

Players in order discussed:

Ladd McConkey
Caleb Williams
Michael Pittman Jr.
Trevor Lawrence
Sam LaPorta
Kyren Williams

My personal takes were to avoid Caleb, and target Lawrence and Kyren.

Caleb Williams

• Bears have the 6th hardest overall schedule
• 5th hardest overall schedule for QBs
• 2nd hardest schedule for QBs in weeks 1-8
• Three straight cold-weather games for fantasy playoffs (weeks 15-17)

Trevor Lawrence

• Easiest QB schedule starting week 8
• Should be in many competitive games
• May underwhelm to start (only one "positive" matchup before week 8); good mid-season trade target?

Kyren Williams

• Best overall RB schedule
• Second best RB schedule from weeks 1-8
• Sixth best RB schedule from weeks 9-14
• Third easiest RB schedule in fantasy playoffs
• Even better def leading to increased positive game-scripts?

* schedule stats courtesy of DraftSharks

AAV data shown in video is pulled directly from mocks completed by real users, making it the most accurate source available. The website is updated after every mock and is accessible here: AAV.

One of Donald Trump’s primary tactics is to float concepts on social media to accustom his followers to an idea before attempting to implement it. A prime example is the groundwork he is laying to declare a national emergency ahead of the midterms.

He has posted countless times that any election he or his endorsed candidates lose is "rigged." More recently, he framed the passage of the SAVE Act as a matter of "national security," which is nothing more than a pretext to suppress unfavorable votes.

Trump is undoubtedly aware that his handling of the war with Iran is universally unpopular both at home and abroad. With his and the Republican Party's poll numbers plummeting, he has likely been warned that Republicans are on track to lose the House, while the Senate remains an absolute toss-up.

So, my questions are:

1. Do you think Trump declares a "national emergency" ahead of the midterms, and if so, what would that look like?
2. If not, will he try something else he has suggested, such as deploying military to specific swing state polling locations?

I have a suspicion that Trump may be setting Vance up to take the blame for any political setbacks before 2028. If that's the case, could Trump withhold his endorsement from Vance and instead back Rubio as the Republican nominee? Do you agree?

1. Vance will be tied to the disastrous Iran deal and won't be able to distance himself from it, similarly how Kamala was to the Biden admin. Voters can't disassociate the two, especially since Vance has been a major presence in the negotiations.
2. Vance is extremely unpopular, even among MAGA voters. Trump knows this and will prefer to endorse Rubio who is seen as more "normal."
3. Trump, himself, said that he will blame Vance if the Iran deal fails. One could argue this was said in jest, but Trump doesn't take responsibility for anything. "Joking" or not, Vance will 100% get blamed.
4. Rubio has been largely absent from the public, which has led folks to suggest the admin is intentionally trying to keep him out of the fray and away from any negative press.

Hello. I'm looking for some new workout songs. Some of my favorites include:

Linkin Park - Lost, The Emptiness Machine, Heavy is the Crown, Up From the Bottom
Caskets - Glass Heart
Starset - Demons
Shining - Animal
Skillet - Feel Invincible
Fame on Fire - Plastic Heart
From Ashes to New - Panic
Papa Roach - Cut the Line
Adelita's Way - Invincible

I've tried a few times putting these into ChatGPT, but most of what it recommends just doesn't do it for me. Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks!

In the newest episode of Absolute Auction, we discuss some players heading into contract years. Will they have their best season for fantasy? They have millions of reasons to be extra motivated heading into 2026.

Join us Monday night for our first live auction mock of the year!!!

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Ask questions, comment on the draft, and engage in the witty banter!!!