The NFL offseason is moving quickly. With the 2026 NFL Draft now complete, teams across the league are preparing for training camp, which means fantasy football season is right around the corner.

To get an early look at how drafts could unfold, ESPN released a 10-team 2026 fantasy football mock draft featuring analysts Field Yates, Eric Karabell, Mike Clay, and Liz Loza. The draft followed a traditional snake format, with each analyst selecting players as they would in a real fantasy league.

For fans of the Detroit Lions, the mock draft made one thing clear: if you want Lions stars on your fantasy roster in 2026, you will likely have to draft them early.

Jahmyr Gibbs Goes Early in Round 1

Jahmyr Gibbs was selected No. 2 overall by Karabell, going right after Bijan Robinson of the Atlanta Falcons, who was taken first by Tristan H. Cockcroft. The early run on running backs continued when Matt Bowen selected Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers with the third pick.

It is not surprising to see Gibbs selected so high in early 2026 fantasy football drafts. Running backs often dominate the top of the board, and Gibbs’ dual-threat ability as both a runner and receiver makes him one of the most valuable players in fantasy.

Gibbs finished fourth among all fantasy players in 2025, totaling 366.9 fantasy points according to ESPN scoring. His current average draft position (ADP) sits around 2.6, meaning he is expected to be selected within the first three picks in most leagues.

The explosive running back delivered several massive performances last season. Gibbs posted four games with 38 or more fantasy points, including a remarkable 60.9-point performance in an overtime victory over the New York Giants. In that game, he recorded 264 total yards and three touchdowns, one of three contests where he scored at least three times.

Improved Lions Offensive Line Could Boost Gibbs

Heading into the 2026 season, Gibbs will run behind a revamped Detroit offensive line. The unit now features center Cade Mays, with star lineman Penei Sewell shifting to left tackle and rookie first-round pick Blake Miller taking over at right tackle.

Considering Gibbs produced elite numbers despite inconsistent offensive line play last season, the improved protection could make him even more valuable in fantasy. He may also see an expanded workload after no longer sharing as many snaps with former Lions running back David Montgomery.

Amon-Ra St. Brown Also Selected in the First Round

While the draft opened with three straight running backs, wide receivers dominated the rest of the first round, accounting for five of the remaining seven selections.

Among them was Amon‑Ra St. Brown, who was taken No. 9 overall by Eric Moody. He was the fourth wide receiver selected, just ahead of CeeDee Lamb of the Dallas Cowboys. That selection aligns closely with St. Brown’s current average draft position of 8.5.

St. Brown delivered another elite fantasy season in 2025, totaling 324.0 fantasy points, which ranked third among wide receivers. He finished behind Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who won Offensive Player of the Year while helping the Seattle Seahawks capture the Super Bowl.

The Lions’ star receiver was the only player in the NFL to finish in the top five in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. He recorded 117 catches (5th), 1,401 receiving yards (5th), and 11 touchdowns (tied for 2nd).

Other Detroit Lions Fantasy Draft Picks

Several other Lions appeared later in the mock draft:

Jameson Williams – Round 6 (WR24)

Sam LaPorta – Round 8 (TE7)

Isiah Pacheco – Round 12 (RB42)

Jake Bates – Late Round (K8)

One notable absence was Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Despite finishing second in the NFL with 4,564 passing yards and 34 touchdown passes last season, he was not among the 15 quarterbacks selected in the 16-round mock draft.

Lions Playmakers Could Be Early Fantasy Targets

With the 2026 NFL season approaching, fantasy football managers are already preparing their draft strategies. If you are hoping to build a roster around Detroit’s offensive stars, you may need a high draft pick.

Gibbs is expected to be selected almost immediately, and St. Brown will not be far behind, making both players premium fantasy football targets for 2026.