PokerNews staff select their favorite 25k dream draft picks

PokerNews staff select their favorite 25k dream draft picks The results of the 2026 WSOP Dream Draft (25k) are in, with Shaun Deeb topping the bid at $133. The PokerNews team recommends five undervalued potential picks, including David Coleman and Isaac Haxton, who could be key to winning the title.


Although Daniel Negreanu earned the top pick in this year's 25k Dream Draft, the current WSOP Player of the Year, Shaun Deeb, was the most expensive player of the night, with a bid of $133.

But as any veteran of fantasy sports knows, winning a league isn’t just about spending money on top players; it’s more about uncovering the underrated gems at the bottom of the leaderboard.

We interviewed PokerNews editors and media team at the draft, asking them to share five value options that could easily exceed their market value and pave the way to your dream of glory.

David Coleman ($26)

A familiar face who has long been considered a success, but at $26, David Coleman might be a "sneak peek" option.

“He’s on fire,” said Chad Holloway, PR and Media Manager at PokerNews. “He just had two consecutive career years, winning $5.2 million in 2024 and $8.3 million in 2025. This year alone, he’s already won nearly $1.1 million.”

"Prizes are one thing, but consistency at the highest level—like he showed on the PokerGO Circuit—is another."

Isaac Haxton ($19)

Can another high-stakes regular, Isaac Haxton, win his second gold bracelet?

"He's hard to ignore," said Will Shillibier, editor-in-chief of PokerNews. "Whether it's the Triton, EPT, or PokerGO circuit, he always manages to deliver outstanding results on the big stage. And there's no bigger stage than the WSOP."

"You bet on him because of his high roller results. Four wins and 276 points last year was a good return, and he almost won a gold bracelet in the $50,000 PLO event. His 100th place finish in the Main Event also proves that he can perform well in big events."

Brandon Wilson ($15)

This was Team Moncek's first pick, and Brandon Wilson's first selection in the 25k Dream Draft.

"He's one of the best No-Limit Texas Hold'em players in the world," said Tyler Boyer, editor and digital media executive at PokerNews. "He's already won two huge prizes at the Triton Jeju Island event: in..." He won second place in the 50k event, earning $948,000; and inHe finished as runner-up again in the 150,000 Triton Anniversary Event, winning $2.2 million.

"Both of these are major events, with a star-studded lineup. Not to mention his two victories at the EPT Paris and his plethora of achievements on the PokerGO Circuit. He's outstanding in the PokerGO studio; I've seen him many times."

Tyler Moncek ($7)

Although Michael Moncek's bid was as high as $130, his brother Tyler joined him for only $7.

“Being very cheap doesn’t always pay off,” said Connor Richards, senior editor at PokerNews U.S. “But if it does pay off, it can be an incredible investment. Whether poker skills are genetic or not, he has the same aptitude for playing well as his brother.”

"Also, being on the same team can be helpful. They'll both participate in all the competitions and try to win as much prize money as possible."

Brock Wilson ($20)

Another player who could continue his strong performance in 2026 under the WSOP spotlight.

"My God, Brock Wilson... that guy wins every time," said PokerNews photographer Adam Peiken. "Every time I watch him play, he ends up winning. We'll have to see how he performs outside the PokerGO studio."

"But this is his year. I can't imagine that things will change just because he moved to the WSOP."

Want to change Texas Holdem from "can understand" to "can win"?

If you want to learn more about Texas Hold'em, you can continue reading:

The Origins of Texas Hold'em: Why is it the World's Most Popular Poker Variant?
Texas Hold'em Hand Rankings and Showdown Rules (Beginner’s Essentials)
Texas Hold'em Betting teaching: Check / Bet / Call /Raise and Betting Strategy Analysis
The importance of Texas Hold'em position? Why is the back position more advantageous?
How to play Texas Hold'em? Novices learn Texas Hold'em rules, processes and betting teaching in 10 minutes
Texas Hold'em Starting Hands Strategy Guide: Which Hands to Play?
Texas Holdem Starting Hands Chart Tutorial: Complete Starting Hand Chart and Position Strategy
How to play Texas Hold'em? Complete rules and a hand's flow (Preflop / Flop / Turn / River)

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