David’s Daily Digest
August 24th 2026
Monday Night Edition
THE FANTASY SPORTS PAGE
Making the headlines out here in California, not only is the weather heating up (with no end in sight), so is the fantasy football draft season. It’s all the rage, at least in my circles and probably most NFL fans. Whether you play on the ESPN platform or any other sites, you are prepping mad and planning your draft strategy.
For myself and my 9 league mates, we are one down with our most competitive (deepest-35 player roster that includes IDP) and longest running draft having just completed yesterday (Sunday, 8/23). It was a marathon of a draft, but very enjoyable and filled with all of the nuances and phases of draft anxieties, highs, and lows.
The first highlight of our draft without question, was our annual spread. I am very lucky, in this league I play with a couple of armchair chefs who are pretty good. There’s nothing like endless sides (such as meatballs, queso, potato salad, chips with homemade salsa) paired with smoked brisket and whiskey flavored ribs. This graded out off the charts with an A+.
Throughout the day, the draft was filled with those moments of drafting Kenneth Walker (ADP 22.1) in the first - a small reach that could pay huge dividends, and selecting D’Andre Swift (ADP 45.8) in the 3rd round. While a 5th round pick of Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (ADP 51.9) seemed like such an early take with the 44th pick, a 5th round selection of Panthers wideout Tetairoa McMillan (32.6) at the end of round offered lots of value.
There were plenty of debates as we ventured deeper into the draft, with Raiders running back Mike Washington Jr (ADP 148.5) being taken with the 99th pick. But there’s always that one guy, even without the help of Autodraft he finds a way of grabbing a kicker (Brandon Aubrey in the 12th round) much earlier than the consensus. One of the biggest reach without question, but I am a homer, so don’t ask me, was the pick of Broncos rookie running back Jonah Coleman (ADP 155.4) with the 114th pick - I loved it and think he'll be relevant by week 6 this season.
At the conclusion of the draft, after 25 rounds of drafting we all anxiously awaited for our draft grades, as if our lives depended on it. Our reigning champion staked his claim for his run at back to back titles, coming out on top with a draft grade of A - his top pick and overall number one running back Jahmyr Gibbs and 3rd round pick tight end Brock Bowers anchored his draft. My team rated a solid B, as I found value with a 4th round selection of tight end Trey McBride and 8th round quarterback Joe Burrow.
My sleeper pick and probably the best of the draft came in the 23rd round when I took the Dolphins tight end Greg Dulcich. The best thing for me with this pick, he was my backup tigh
All-in-all, when it was all said and done, this year’s draft was a great success, filled with more memorable moments, great food, and great friends. Here’s to the 2026 fantasy football season!
That’s My Take.
~David Ortega
