#276 overall · KC · 47.9 projected half-PPR pts · -69.0 Draft Value
Emari Demercado — 2026 Fantasy Outlook
The case for drafting him
Emari Demercado has been a consistent presence in Kansas City's backfield across three seasons, averaging 42 rush attempts, 273 rush yards, and 23.3 targets per year from 2023 through 2025. He catches passes out of the backfield — 16.7 receptions per season on average — which keeps him relevant in half-PPR formats even when the carries are limited. His 2025 season showed his best rushing output of the three-year stretch: 312 yards on 44 attempts, plus a receiving touchdown. He is a known commodity on a team that has consistently been in high-leverage situations, and his receiving role gives him a floor that pure handcuffs rarely have.
What the model projects
The projection is 47.9 half-PPR fantasy points for 2026. His draft value sits at -69.0, meaning the projection falls below the replacement-level baseline at the running back position. He ranks #276 overall and RB59, placing him in Tier 9 on the board. His bye week is Week 5.
| Att | Comp | Pass yds | Pass TD | INT | Car | Rush yds | Rush TD | Tgt | Rec | Rec yds | Rec TD | Fum | FG | XP | Half-PPR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 58 | 284 | 2 | 30 | 21 | 119 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 62.8 |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 223 | 1 | 20 | 16 | 104 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 46.7 |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 312 | 0 | 20 | 13 | 101 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 51.8 |
| 3-yr avg | — | — | — | — | — | 42 | 273 | 1 | 23.3 | 16.7 | 108 | 0.3 | 0.3 | — | — | 54.3 |
The range of outcomes
Demercado's three-year averages tell a story of a player whose role has been real but narrow. Rush attempts have ranged from 24 in 2024 to 58 in 2023, and receiving targets have ranged from 20 to 30 across the same span. Touchdowns have been scarce — one rush touchdown per season on average, 0.3 receiving touchdowns per season — and he lost a fumble in 2025. The upside scenario requires a meaningful uptick in carries and continued involvement as a receiver; the downside is a repeat of the 2024 workload, where 24 rush attempts and 16 receptions produced a thin stat line. The gap between those two outcomes is wide, and the historical record shows both are plausible.
How to draft him
Demercado is not being drafted consistently enough across platforms to carry a market ADP. That means he is available as a late-round or post-draft addition in most leagues rather than a pick you need to plan around. At RB59 and #276 overall in Tier 9, he projects below replacement level, so the calculus is straightforward: he is a depth add for managers who want a handcuff with a receiving floor, not a player who needs to be targeted in your core draft strategy. Roster him if he is available after your primary picks are in place.
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Questions drafters ask
He has a genuine receiving role. Over the past three seasons he has averaged 23.3 targets and 16.7 receptions per year, with 108 receiving yards per season on average. He is not a high-volume pass-catcher, but he is consistently involved in the passing game.
The projection is 47.9 half-PPR fantasy points. He ranks RB59 and #276 overall, placing him in Tier 9 with a draft value of -69.0 — below the replacement-level baseline at running back.
It has varied considerably. Rush attempts went from 58 in 2023, down to 24 in 2024, then back up to 44 in 2025. Targets ranged from 20 to 30 across the same three seasons. The three-year averages — 42 rush attempts, 273 rush yards, 23.3 targets — smooth out swings that have been meaningful in individual seasons.
He does not have a market ADP — he is not being drafted consistently enough across platforms to produce one. He is available as a waiver or late-roster addition rather than a pick you need to budget for on draft day.