2026 Fantasy Football Draft Targets: Travis Etienne and More With Red Zone Upside
Tipp Major highlights a trio of players with red-zone upside that is not being baked into their current fantasy football ADPs.
If you are not hunting for upside in your upcoming fantasy drafts, you are doing yourself a disservice. League-winning players rarely come from playing it safe.
There are plenty of indicators pointing to breakout potential, but one underrated category fantasy managers need to pay closer attention to is red-zone usage. After all, touchdowns are what swing matchups and win championships.
Take Bijan Robinson, for example. With touchdown vulture Tyler Allgeier now out of the picture, Robinson has a legitimate path to finishing as the overall RB1 in fantasy. His previous career-high in red zone touches came in 2024 with 66, but do not be surprised if he blows past that number in 2026.
Still, we are not here to talk about the obvious names. Let us dig into a few overlooked players who could see a major spike in opportunities where fantasy points matter most inside the red zone.
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Upside Fantasy Football Picks For 2026
Travis Etienne Jr. Big Easy Win …
The New Orleans Saints feel like one of those teams ready to take a real step forward in 2026. Over their final eight games last season, New Orleans won five, and the momentum feels real. I’m bought in. In fact, they have a legitimate path to winning the NFC South.
Tyler Shough looks poised to build on last season’s progress, and adding rookie WR Jordyn Tyson in the first round should only help keep this offense moving. That is great news for Travis Etienne.
Etienne quietly set a career high with 67 red zone touches last season, finishing as the RB10, and there is every reason to believe that number climbs in a rejuvenated Kellen Moore offense. No Saints running back logged more than 20 red zone opportunities in 2025, making this a clear area of need near the goal line.
We have already seen what Moore can do with touchdown-heavy backs like Saquon Barkley and Ezekiel Elliott. If Etienne locks down that role in New Orleans, the touchdowns could come in waves. Double-digit scores for Etienne feel very much in play down in the Big Easy.
Chris Rodriguez … Thumper!
Fittingly, let us talk about the player who could replace Travis Etienne in Jacksonville. Chris Rodriguez is starting to build real momentum.
Rodriguez already has familiarity with Liam Coen from their time together at Kentucky, where touchdowns were never an issue for C-Rod. Coen has already emphasized the importance of “hard yards,” and he believes Rodriguez can help deliver exactly that.
The opportunity is there, too. In 2025, Jacksonville ranked second in the NFL behind the Los Angeles Rams in red zone attempts per game at 4.0, meaning touchdown chances should once again be plentiful in this offense.
With Rodriguez sitting at an 11th-round fantasy football ADP, managers may want to rethink the bargain bin pricing. I would rather reach a couple rounds early than watch someone else cash in on the breakout.
Mike Evans Will Be Gold for the 49ers …
No way this article was going to be dominated by running backs, so let us talk about a wide receiver built for the red zone.
At 6-foot-5, Mike Evans has spent his entire career bullying defenders at the catch point, and a Kyle Shanahan offense knows exactly how to weaponize that skill set. With George Kittle aiming to return sooner than expected, but a long shot, Evans could quickly emerge as a featured goal-line option.
The ideal fantasy setup is landing Evans as your WR3. Many managers will fade him because of age, injuries and uncertainty surrounding his new situation, but that discount is exactly what makes him appealing. Shanahan is smart enough to preserve his veteran wideout with more intermediate work, premium red zone usage, and the occasional deep shot. Keep those hamstrings loose, Mike.
Do not rule out the possibility that, if Evans stays healthy, he becomes this year’s version of Davante Adams. A 30-plus-red-zone-target season could generate some absolutely stupid fantasy production.
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