General auction strategy
Enter every auction with tiers rather than a single strict ranking. This helps avoid reaching when a positional run occurs. Set a maximum bid for your top targets before bidding opens and stick to that number even in noisy rooms. Two common builds tend to succeed: a stars-and-scrubs approach, spending 60-70% of the budget on three or four difference-makers and filling the rest with low-cost dart throws; and a balanced approach, keeping most bids under $30-40 and constructing a roster of six or seven dependable starters. Regardless of approach, never spend more than 70% of the budget on three players, or the back half of the roster may be left to chance.
Nominate players you don’t want early to drain rivals’ budgets while your targets sit untouched. Late in the draft, flip the script and nominate $1 players aggressively to squeeze managers with thinner budgets out of bench value.
QB
Top quarterback target: Josh Allen, priced around $28-30 depending on format. The depth behind him is strong, so paying up early can cost you at other positions with comparable weekly upside. Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow occupy the next tier, around $14-16, offering strong production at a discount compared with Allen. If the board reaches Jared Goff or Bo Nix in the $1-4 range, the value gap between top and mid-tier QBs may make waiting the stronger play.
RB
Running back remains the strongest position in auction formats. Bijan Robinson leads standard and half-PPR, with values around $59-61, followed closely by Jahmyr Gibbs. Other elite backs like Christian McCaffrey, Jonathan Taylor, and Saquon Barkley form a tier that can anchor a stars-and-scrubs build.
Mid-tier backs priced in the $15-25 range can be attractive, especially those with a clearer path to touches, but committee situations can erase that value quickly. Ashton Jeanty stands out as a value in this range due to a cheaper price tag relative to similar point projections.
WR
Wide receiver depth is strong this year, making patience valuable. Top targets include Ja’Marr Chase and Puka Nacua, priced in the $52-59 range depending on format, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and CeeDee Lamb just behind in the $44-51 range. After the top tier, prices flatten, making mid-to-late round acquisitions more appealing. Drake London, George Pickens, and Chris Olave sit around $27-37, while Malik Nabers could be a discounted name around $20-23 due to quarterback uncertainty rather than talent.
TE
Tight end strategy splits into two clear tracks. Brock Bowers and Trey McBride sit atop the position, valued around $24-33 depending on format, offering a reliable weekly edge if you pay up. Alternatively, you can fade the position entirely. In the mid-to-late range, Tucker Kraft and Colston Loveland sit around $16-23, providing solid floors at a fraction of the cost. Depth behind them has improved this year, so late-draft value at $5 or less remains possible for usable starters.
K
Kickers should be the last dollar spent. Top options run around $2 in most formats, with little point difference between a $2 kicker and a $1 kicker by season’s end. Streaming based on weekly matchups often yields better value than paying a premium for a name.
DST
Defensive units are priced consistently low, typically around $2, with teams like the Texans, Seahawks, and Rams offering affordable options. Because defensive scoring can be unpredictable, overspending on the top units often isn’t worth it. Treat the defense as a placeholder and plan to stream based on the schedule and favorable matchups.
Superflex
Superflex changes the auction economy because two starting quarterback slots increase demand for quarterbacks without adding more passers to the pool. Expect top quarterbacks to push into the high price range, with values around $45 for the very best, and others like Justin Herbert and Jayden Daniels priced in the mid-to-high $30s. Budget roughly 35-45% of the total spend on quarterbacks before bidding begins, since a one-quarterback approach in superflex would leave a substantial hole at the position.
IDP
In IDP formats, scoring emphasizes tackling for linebackers, which shifts value away from purely defensive frontline names. Linebackers like Jordyn Brooks and Jack Campbell sit around $15-16, with Cedric Gray and Roquan Smith in the $12-14 range. Defensive linemen and defensive backs generally price lower, with top names around $9-11. It’s essential to balance spending across six starting IDP spots and to leave room for inexpensive, yet productive, late-round picks.
Printable one-page fantasy football auction value cheat sheets
Cheat sheets are available in multiple formats:
– Overall (Half-PPR)
– PPR
– Half-PPR
– Standard / Non-PPR
– Superflex (Half-PPR)
– IDP overall
– IDP by position
These resources are updated to reflect current auction values and can help guide bidding decisions.
Note: This guidance reflects typical auction dynamics for 2026-style rosters, emphasizing tier-based bidding, disciplined budget management, and strategic timing of nominations. Use the cheat sheets to tailor your plan to your league’s specific settings and scoring rules.
