Buy Production Now: The Best Dynasty Targets for Your 2026 2nds
Kevin looks at some assets you can trade for with your second round rookie picks.
The NFL Draft is right around the corner, and you can already feel it; rookie picks are starting to lose their shine. Everyone’s locked in on landing spots, hype cycles, and the next big thing… and that’s exactly where the edge is. Because while your league is chasing picks, you should be asking a different question: what can those picks actually turn into?
Second-rounders feel valuable right now. They’re flexible. They’re easy to move. But once you’re on the clock, that insulation disappears fast. You’re staring at a tier of players with more questions than answers, and suddenly that “value” doesn’t feel as real.
That’s the window. This is where you flip uncertainty into production. Where you take a pick that might hit and turn it into a player who’s already giving you points, already holding value, already helping you win. So in this piece, we’re not chasing rookies. We’re not talking about “who could be there” in the second.
We’re buying players. We’re attacking market inefficiencies. Identifying the veterans and overlooked assets that managers are willing to move for seconds right now, players that can swing lineups, stabilize rosters, and create real leverage. Because these are the moves that separate teams that draft… from teams that win.
Every league has its own micro market. Values aren’t universal; what costs a second in one league might take more (or less) in another. Know your room, know your managers, and lean into those differences. But across most leagues, there’s a clear pocket of players sitting in that second-round range, guys managers are willing to move, but shouldn’t be. That’s where we attack. These are five players I believe you can realistically acquire for a second-round pick right now. Players who can help you win next year, or at the very least, gain value and give you more flexibility as the season plays out.
Let’s get into it.
TE Brenton Strange - JAX
This is exactly the type of profile you want to bet on with a second. Brenton Strange already showed us enough. The production wasn’t empty; it just didn’t come over a full season. He averaged nearly 4 catches and 45 yards per game, and when you stretch that out over 17 games, you’re looking at a legit TE1 pace. The only thing that held it back was missing time.
More importantly, the Jaguars trust him. They let Evan Engram walk before last season because they believed Strange could handle the role, and everything we’ve heard since backs that up. This is a player the staff views as a core piece of the offense, not just another rotational tight end. Then you layer in the situation. The wide receiver room is still unsettled. Targets are going to be spread out, and that actually works in Strange’s favor. He already finished in the top three on the team in receptions and yards while missing games. That tells you the role is real and it’s safe. And now you get a full offseason, full health, and more reps in Liam Coen’s system. That’s where the jump comes from. This is a bet on role + trust + ascending usage. Exactly what you want to buy with a second.
Potential 2026 Outcome
The floor here is already usable. He showed that last year. But the ceiling? That’s where it gets interesting. If Strange stays healthy for a full season, you’re looking at something in the range of 60–70 catches, 700–800 yards, and a bump in touchdowns as he becomes more involved near the goal line. With the Jaguars likely funneling more short and intermediate work his way and potentially freeing up red zone looks with Travis Hunter possibly moving to corner full time or in an exppanded role on defense. That’s a top-10 tight end outcome. Maybe better if things really break right. And even if he lands closer to that backend TE1 range, his value is going to climb. Tight ends who produce and hold stable roles don’t stay cheap. You’re turning a second into a weekly starter or an asset you can flip for more later. That’s the play.
