FFT Express - Players Dave Richard Can’t Stop Drafting in Mock Drafts! (06/29 Fantasy Football Podcast)

Summary

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Fantasy Football Today Express

Episode: Players Dave Richard Can’t Stop Drafting in Mock Drafts!
Date: May 29, 2026
Host: Adam Aizer
Guest: Dave Richard
Theme: The repeat “must-have” players Dave Richard keeps drafting in 2026 fantasy football mock drafts—across wide receiver, tight end, running back, and quarterback. Insights, strategy, and player tiers for every round.

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Episode Overview

This rapid-fire episode spotlights the specific players fantasy analyst Dave Richard simply cannot stop drafting in his mock fantasy drafts. He organizes his favorites into positional tiers, offering clear rationale for each selection and insights into overall draft strategy—especially for those targeting value, upside, and consistency in every round.

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Key Discussion Points and Player Groups

1. Wide Receivers Dave Can’t Stop Drafting

Timestamps: 02:03 – 04:03

• Group Highlighted:

  • Devonta Smith
  • Tetaro McMillan
  • Emeka Egbuka (often referred to as “Abuka”)

• Reasoning:

  • Dave targets this cluster because each can "turn into top 12 wide receivers." They're ranked in the WR12-WR15 range for Dave – clear upside if you miss out on the elite tier.
  • For auction drafts, Dave plans to "load up on running backs and then spend for specifically those three wide receivers and not get any from the elite tier, but I think these are all three wide receivers that could get fed nicely and turn into top 12 wide receivers."
  • Devonta Smith as Philadelphia’s potential WR1 if A.J. Brown departs—projected for 8+ targets per game.

• Dave’s Ranking:

  1. Emeka Egbuka (Abuka)
  2. Tetaro McMillan
  3. Devonta Smith
  • Notable mention: T. Higgins ("is in that group as well" but Egbuka is at the head of the class).

• Draft Strategy:

  • "I can't stop drafting at least one of those three receivers in every draft I'm in." (03:27)

Quote:
"I think these are all three wide receivers that could get fed nicely and turn into top 12 wide receivers." — Dave Richard (02:28)

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2. Tight End Strategy

Timestamps: 04:05 – 06:19

• Primary Approach:

  • Dave is generally waiting a little longer at tight end (not the usual “wait way late”).
  • Ideally targets:
    • Trey McBride
    • Brock Bowers
    • Colston Loveland
  • However, if those three are gone, targets:
    • Tyler Warren
    • Harold Fannin
    • Sam LaPorta ("he should be in this group as well")

• Reasoning:

  • Warren and Fannin showed promise as rookies; LaPorta fits perfectly within Detroit’s offense for 2026’s expected volume. Dave doesn’t even consider them “fallbacks”—they’re true targets if missing the very top tier.

• Strategic Take:

  • "If you miss out on McBride, you miss out on Bowers—don't panic. Miss out on Loveland—don't panic either because you've got one of these three tight ends waiting for you in that round four or five range." (05:01)
  • He prefers them for their upside over veterans like Travis Kelce or Isaiah Likely at current ADP.

Quote:
"I just think that they've got a lot more upside than Likely, who, very, very, very few games in his career where he's had a lot of targets." — Dave Richard (05:42)

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3. Running Backs for the Middle Rounds

Timestamps: 07:59 – 09:57

• Group Highlighted:

  • Jadarian Price (Seattle)
  • Chuba Hubbard (Carolina)
  • Bashel Tutin (Jacksonville)

• Ranking Among Them:

  • Price is Dave’s favorite, “a really good fit for what Seattle wants to do,” expected to lead the backfield (08:35).

• Reasoning:

  • "All three of these guys are going to have an opportunity theoretically at the beginning of the year to get off on the right foot and lead their backfields. Obviously things could happen in training camp..." (08:15)
  • Prize, especially, could see substantial volume given Seattle's offensive setup, coaching changes, and RB injuries.

• Role in Draft Strategy:

  • "If he's my number two running back, I don't love it...But if he's my number three, all these guys are great number three running backs." (08:54)
  • Each has overlooked opportunity and upside at mid-to-late-round value.

Memorable Comparison:
"I can't stop drafting at least one of those three in every single draft I'm in." — Dave Richard (09:08)

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4. Wait-on-Quarterback Approach

Timestamps: 10:00 – 11:44

• Targeted Veterans & Value QBs:

  • Matthew Stafford (recent MVP, trusted system and weapons)
  • Justin Herbert
  • Trevor Lawrence
  • Patrick Mahomes (inexplicably falling in ADP)
  • Caleb Williams, Brock Purdy (added by the host)

• Rationale/Philosophy:

  • "There are so many quarterbacks that you can make the case for as 22 to 25 fantasy point per game guys in six-point[per pass TD]."
  • Suggests there’s little need to overpay. Waiting allows you to grab similar production later, freeing early picks for other positions.

• Host Adam notes:

  • "If you wait to pick 100: Justin Herbert, Caleb Williams, Brock Purdy, Stafford..." (11:24)
  • Mahomes was QB3 per game but is going 123rd overall—likely to rise in ADP before season.

Quote:
"Why overpay for something in life when you can get something similar at a discount?" — Dave Richard (10:47)

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On WRs cluster:
  “I can’t stop drafting at least one of those three receivers in every draft I’m in.” — Dave Richard (03:27)

• On tight end upside:
  “These are still really good tight ends. I don’t even want to call them fallback options. I think they’re worth targeting if you don’t get one of those first three tight ends at a fair value.” — Dave Richard (04:49)

• On RBs:
  “If he’s my number two running back, I don’t love it... But if he’s my number three running back, all these guys are great number three running backs. I’d be pretty happy with them.” — Dave Richard (08:54)

• On late-round QBs:
  “I love the idea of getting somebody like Stafford who, just coming off a huge year, still has great receivers, still in a great offense and might be a little bit ticked off after what the Rams did in the draft.” — Dave Richard (11:12)

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Timestamps of Import

| Segment | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------|:---------------:| | WR group intro & rankings | 02:03 – 04:03 | | Tight end group and draft approach | 04:05 – 06:19 | | RB cluster and depth strategy | 07:59 – 09:57 | | Wait-on-QB approach & targets | 10:00 – 11:44 |

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Tone & Style Highlights

• Language: Direct, enthusiastic, detail-rich. Dave’s tone is friendly, conversational, and confident, occasionally joking with Adam and providing energetic justifications for his “must-have” fantasy targets.
• Vibe: Fast-paced, highly actionable—designed for listeners making live draft decisions.

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Summary Takeaways

If you want a sharp, repeatable draft plan for 2026, Dave Richard recommends clustering picks by tiers of high-upside WRs (Egbuka, McMillan, Smith), mid-round breakout candidates at RB (Price, Hubbard, Tutin), and targeting value-packed tight ends and quarterbacks in the middle rounds. His message: know the depth at each position, wait for value, and don’t overpay for big names if you can get equal or greater upside later—especially at quarterback and tight end.

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Transcript

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[Fantasy Football Today Express Host]

Players Dave Richard can't stop drafting in mock drafts right now on Fantasy Football Today Express. All right, you got a lot of these guys. A lot of guys keep drafting.

[Dave Richard]

I kind of have groups of players, small groups, not a bunch of names. It's going to be easy to follow along, but let's say like like the first group, a group of three wide receivers. Devonte Smith, Tetaro McMillan, Ameka Buka. Would love to have all three on my fantasy teams. And maybe when I do some auction drafts, my plan will be to load up on running backs and then spend for specifically those three wide receivers and not get any from the elite tier, but I think these are all three wide receivers that could get fed nicely and turn into top 12 wide receivers. There are wide receivers 12 through 15 in that range. For me, right, round three is the time to go after them. I think they all have a chance to take a step forward and play in the case of Buka and McMillan, better than they did overall last year. In the case of Devonte Smith as the number one white out in Philadelphia, assuming A.J. brown's gone, fully expect him to see eight targets per game and be very, very good.

[Fantasy Football Today Express Host]

And how do you rank those three?

[Dave Richard]

I've got a Buka at the top of the list and I. I'd have to double check my rankings to be sure. Why don't I do that in filibuster for about 15 seconds? Abuka is definitely at the top of the list. Did you see the highlight of him, by the way? He catches a pass literally like it's the ball is way behind him. It's a terrible throw, but he catches it one hand, runs to the end zone. Like everything that you could want to see from a healthy Emeko. Buka is right there. He's first, McMillan second. Devonte Smith is third. T. Higgins is in that group as well. I do like a Booka as the head of the class there. I can't stop drafting at least one of those three receivers in every draft I'm in.

[Fantasy Football Today Express Host]

And CBS AP right now, early adp, they're all going. They're going back to back to back. They have almost the same exact ADP all right around 36 overall at the 34 turn. Devonte Smith, Tedro McMillan and A. Mecca Abuka and then T. Higgins right after that. So, yeah, you could, you could in theory start your team with. With two running backs and maybe get two of those guys at the three four.

[Dave Richard]

Sweet. Yeah.

[Fantasy Football Today Express Host]

What's our next group?

[Dave Richard]

So this isn't me saying that I'm gonna wait a little bit on tight end. I will obviously get one of McBride, Bowers and Loveland if they're available at a fair price on draft day. Certainly don't want to reach for any of those three, at least not at this point. But I love the idea of waiting a little bit longer and getting Tyler Warren, Harold Fannin, and honestly, Sam laporta should be in this group as well. So I know we always say greater late for tight ends, and this is me going against that. These are still really good tight ends. I still think that, especially in the case of Warren and Fannin A lot more for them to do after what they did as rookies. Laporta just the fit in what Detroit's offense should be this year. I think he's going to end up playing a lot. I think that'll help improve his target volume. I think all three of these guys are good. I don't even want to call them fallback options. I think they're worth targeting if you don't get one of those first three tight ends at a fair value. So if you miss out on McBride, you miss out on Bowers. Don't panic. Miss out on leveling. Don't panic either because you've got one of these three tight ends waiting for you in that round four or five range.

[Fantasy Football Today Express Host]

Okay. You think it's better to take a tight end one of those three in rounds four or five rather than, you know, waiting for a Kelsey or Likely or something like that?

[Dave Richard]

I think they're more fun than Kelsey or Likely and there's things to listen. It could come to pass that they're two PPR points per game better than Isaiah likely on average over the course of the year. And that's not that big of a difference, especially compared to the four round gap that you might see between those types of tight ends and Isaiah Likely. But I just think that they've got a lot more upside than Likely. Who? Very, very, very few games in his career where he's had a lot of targets. He's done well with them. No guarantee that he's actually going to come through and do that. Which makes him actually somebody that I don't mind drafting. If I miss on all those first six tight ends likely. And I'm just thinking this out loud, he's somebody that I'm targeting. If I don't see a fair value at tight end. Maybe I'm in a draft where tight ends are going early. Tight end premium. Absolutely. I miss out on those guys. Isaiah Likely would be on my shopping list. So would Kelsey. So would Kittle. Frankly. If he's going to keep falling in drafts with his injury, somebody that can help me the second half of the season.

[Fantasy Football Today Express Host]

All right, we're going to take a break and get some more groups of players that Dave Richard keeps drafting in his mock drafts. We'll be right back on FFD Express.

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[Dave Richard]

All right, what's next Dave Running backs and obviously getting studs early is going to be an important part of my game plan for drafts this year, but I'm also going to look for running backs in the middle rounds as well. I really want to be loaded at that position in the next group of three. They are all ranked anywhere between RB24 and RB28 for me and this is after the Quinn, Sean Breeze Montgomery group of running backs Jadarian Price with Seattle, Chuba Hubbard with Carolina, Bashel Tutin with Jacksonville. All three of these guys are going to have an opportunity theoretically at the beginning of the year to get off on the right foot and lead their backfields. Obviously things could happen in training camp, but as I've been studying, specifically the Seattle offense and I haven't gotten to Carolinas yet, but I think I'll feel the same way when I get there. I think Price is a really good fit for what Seattle wants to do. They're basically keeping the same structure of their offense, but they're bringing the 49ers run game coordinator Brian Fleury to help make it take a step forward this year. And I don't know if this coaching staff really even has the choice of taking a lot of work off of Price's plate because Walker's not there, Charbonnet's banged up. I don't know if Charbonnet will even play much this year, if at all. And so getting Jadarian Price on my fantasy team. If he's my number two running back, I don't love it. I better be really good everywhere else on my roster. But if he's my number three running back, all these guys are great number three running backs. I'd be pretty happy with them. I can't stop drafting at least one of those three in every single draft I'm in.

[Fantasy Football Today Express Host]

All right, so that's Jadarian Price, Chuba Hubbard and Basil two. You have a favorite? Price.

[Dave Richard]

Price is my favorite of the three.

[Fantasy Football Today Express Host]

Okay. Would you rather have DeAndre Swift or those guys?

[Dave Richard]

Swift is ranked higher. I'd rather have him. I think he's a little bit safer. I love the offense that he's in. But you can make the case that all three of those guys have a little bit more upside because they're not going to begin the year rotating drives with Kyle Manangai. They might be rotating drives with somebody else. We just don't know yet.

[Fantasy Football Today Express Host]

All right, you got any more?

[Dave Richard]

I got a lot more. How much longer you want to go?

[Fantasy Football Today Express Host]

One more group.

[Dave Richard]

I think one more group. Quarterbacks wait on them because I'm, I'm, I'm doing this in every draft so far. Adam. I'm just waiting and waiting. And then. Oh, there's. There's Matthew Stafford who's the su. The league MVP in round nine around ten. There's Justin Herbert who. Not in every single draft, especially when you're drafting with Jamie. He's taking Herbert a little bit earlier, but he's in that same range. Trevor Lawrence is in that range. You can get Patrick Mahomes and another quarterback if you want to. I like waiting on the position this year, feeling like I'm stealing. Unfortunately, a lot of people are going to take quarterbacks either at fair value or even reach a little bit for the big name guys. And so I don't mind waiting a little bit on draft day and getting one, maybe two. It depends on my league size, quarterbacks for my squad. But there are so many quarterbacks that you can make the case for as 22 to 25 fantasy point per game guys in six point that you, you shouldn't have to overpay. Why overpay for something in life when you can get something similar at a discount at a different store, in a different place or in a different town. You get the drift. You get the point of what I'm saying. But I, I am waiting on quarterback and I love the idea of, of getting somebody like Stafford who just coming off a huge year still has great receivers still in a great offense and might be a little bit ticked off after what the Rams did in the draft to come back and play with some fire this year again.

[Fantasy Football Today Express Host]

Okay. Yeah. Looking at CBS ADP if you wait to pick 100 Justin Herbert, Caleb Williams, Brock Purdy Stafford.

[Dave Richard]

Trevor Lawrence didn't even mention Caleb or Purdy. Yeah, and they're in that group, too, for sure.

[Fantasy Football Today Express Host]

Mahomes was QB3 per game last year, I think, and he's going 123rd over 100.

[Dave Richard]

I'm. I'm gonna guess that'll change it. He's already working out in OTAs. If, if he is in training camp and he's rolling along just fine without restriction. And if Rashid Rice avoids any type of suspension, I bet that ADP goes way up.

[Fantasy Football Today Express Host]

All right, Dave, Richard, thank you very much, sir. We will talk to you next time. Have an awesome weekend, everybody. See you. See you on the other side on Fantasy Football Today Express, Dave is balancing a pen in between his nose and his upper lip. Very impressive stuff.

[Dave Richard]

Paramount podcasts.