The 2026 World Series of Poker is back on tap next week, and PokerOrg’s WSOP Fantasy Freeroll is back in the mix with another summer sweat.
Some of the biggest names in the game are already in full prep mode for the big draft, and you'll need to get smartened up before you make a team of your own.
The contest is simple: Pick your team of eight players with a $200 budget, and follow along throughout the series. The deeper your players run, the more points you score.
Our Fantasy Freeroll draft opens at 4am PT on May 26, and it's completely free for Org members, so sign up now.
Who will deliver?
The key to fantasy poker is value. You need to find that sleeper player that no one else saw coming. You'll also need to know who is playing a full schedule, who is fired up, and who is ready to bounce back after a tough 2025.
The draft will go down next Monday in Las Vegas, but let's take a look ahead to see if we can't predict where some of the prices fall.
The elite
These high-end poker players will need to be part of any lineup. They are among the best in the world, and you'll find them at the WSOP every day.
Shaun Deeb
Deeb, the top scorer in 2025, went for $99 last year. He won Player of the Year, and it looks like he might do it again. He may even eclipse the record set by Jeremy Ausmus in 2025 at $141. Let's say it does by a single dollar at $142.
Jeremy Ausmus
Ausmus broke last year's record, but he underperformed. That could open up an opportunity for value in 2026 because he will definitely be back to play a full schedule. Expect to pay $115 for Ausmus.
Daniel Negreanu
Negreanu has already told us he's a great bet. He plays a reliably busy schedule and will probably cash at least a dozen times. Last year he cost $108, and this year should be around the exact same number.
Other players like Benny Glaser ($99) should go for around their 2025 price, if not slightly more. Phil Ivey will also command a high price, putting him in this range of top-tier players at around $90. Joao Vieira won't sneak by anybody, and he will cost $85.
The middle ground
You will need a few players in the $35-80 range, and they all need to hit if you want to win.
Alex Foxen
Foxen was $66 last year, and he cashed 14 times. He's a good pick in any summer, and he should push the top of this range. Expect to pay $80.
Brian Rast
Rast is a mixed games warrior, and he will be a big threat in major tournaments like the Poker Players' Championship. He went for $57 last year with 292 points, which would put him near the top of the productivity list. His limited schedule may prevent a high price, but big value is still available if he goes for around $70.
Other players like Alex Livingston will go for $75 because of their high-roller volume, and Nick Schulman is great value if you can find him at $80 or below. Maxx Coleman, a quietly consistent player all summer, is a great pick at around $75.
The bargain bin
This is where the contest is won. You will need big points-per-dollar, and this is where you get it.
Viktor Blom
Blom went for $22 last year and scored 310 points, making him one of the best values of the summer. He plays in high-roller events that have a lot of upside, so if he's cashing, he is scoring big. His 2026 price may tick up a bit, but there's still a lot of value around $40 if you are a gambler.
Brock Wilson
Wilson has been hot all year long at the PokerGO Studio, where he is winning big on the PGT and taking down back-to-back series championships. This feels like the year for him to translate that over to the WSOP, and he will probably be available in the $25 range.
Chino Rheem will be available in that range, as well, and he is always a great pick. Sam Soverel usually sneaks into the draft with a lower price, and he is primed to cash big in any of the big high rollers. You might even pick him up for $10. Other high-volume bargains may include Huck Seed and Andrew Ostapchenko, who both scored big on low prices last year.
Make sure you sign up for the PokerOrg Fantasy Freeroll now and join us for live coverage from Las Vegas on draft night, Monday, May 25.
Prizes in the 2026 WSOP Fantasy Freeroll include Amazon vouchers, PokerOrg merch, training courses and subscriptions for Octopi Poker, and books from D&B Publishing.
Octopi Poker helps live and online tournament players sharpen their edge away from the table. Start a free three-day trial and unlock the Octopi Academy’s quizzes and video lessons, a powerful GTO trainer, and the Vault, which lets you study televised final-table hands from elite pros at Triton, the WSOP, the PokerGO Tour, and more.
D&B Publishing is poker’s leading book publisher working with some of the game’s biggest names, including Phil Hellmuth, Jonathan Little, Michael Acevedo, Chris Moorman, Alexander Fitzgerald, Dylan Linde, and many more. Every D&B book is available as an ebook, with many also offered in audiobook format, giving players more ways to learn from some of poker’s sharpest minds. Check out their full range at dandbpoker.com.
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