ESPN analyst Field Yates unveiled his 2026 “Field’s Favorites,” a list of players he is willing to “overpay” for relative to their average draft positions, saying he enters drafts with a plan and a list of targets, according to ESPN.
Quarterback Justin Herbert (Los Angeles Chargers) is ranked as Yates’ QB6. Yates cited his belief in Herbert as a player and confidence in playcaller Mike McDaniel, noting Herbert rushed for 498 yards in 2025—more than Tua Tagovailoa has compiled in six combined NFL seasons, according to ESPN.
Tight end Colston Loveland (Chicago Bears) emerged as a focal point late in the season, seeing 10, 13, 15 and 10 targets over the team’s final four games including the playoffs and leading all Bears players in each of those contests, Yates wrote for ESPN. Loveland is Yates’ third-ranked tight end and sits 36th overall on his top-160 list, nearly a full round ahead of his ESPN ADP of 45.3.
Running back Derrick Henry (Baltimore Ravens) finished as the NFL’s second-leading rusher for four straight seasons, per ESPN. Yates noted Henry had just 34 catches and 343 receiving yards over the past two seasons but produced 13 games with 20-plus fantasy points—tied for third most among running backs—and recorded 12 games of 125-plus rushing yards in that span, the most in the NFL (Saquon Barkley had nine). Henry is listed 11th on Yates’ big board, nearly a round before his average draft position.
Kansas City running back Kenneth Walker III arrives after a season in which Chiefs running backs combined for one run of 20-plus yards in 2025, while Walker himself had 10 runs of over 20 yards in 2025, the third-most in the league, according to ESPN. Yates said the Chiefs need Walker to improve their rushing explosiveness and to ease pressure on Patrick Mahomes as he returns from a major knee injury; Walker is 15th on Yates’ board, six spots ahead of his ADP.
Wide receiver Justin Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings) is ranked 12th overall by Yates, in line with his current ADP, and figures as Yates’ preferred late first-round pick, ESPN reports. Jefferson had just two receiving touchdowns in a disjointed Minnesota offense in 2025; Yates also noted that Kyler Murray is viewed as an upgrade at quarterback over J.J. McCarthy and that Jefferson had been largely “QB-proof” prior to last season’s struggles.
