Another year, another big game coming…which means that the Grant & Danny Show did another food draft, because these big galoots can’t let anything – big games, holidays, weddings, funerals, one of them having a kid (it’s like a yearly deal now between ‘em) – go without snake-selecting the foods they want to gorge on!
With the latest in the books with the 2026 Big Game Party Food Draft, we’ve asked our 106.7 The Fan Food Draft experts, Meal Kiper Jr. and Todd McShake, to put together their official G&D Big Game Party Food Draft Report Card!
ICYMI, you can watch the whole thing above, and here’s the final draft sheet:
And now, the awards:
BEST PICK: Darris Dameron (No. 1 overall, Chicken Wings)
Hot, medium, mild, BBQ…hell, plain, chicken wings and big games go together like the Dallas Cowboys and sucking. A bigger slam dunk No. 1 than Bryce Harper, LeBron James, and Peyton Manning combined! -McShake
If chicken wings aren’t the greatest food draft No. 1 pick ever, I'm done. That's it. I'm out. -Kiper
BEST VALUE PICK: Tobi Altizer (No. 7 overall, Chips)
If there’s one thing we know about any draft, it’s this: when you have two picks back-to-back or within a couple spots, you can always reach with one of them, and if you find a value pick out there, even better. Tobi, you sir have done both in the second round, as somehow, chips were available at No. 7 and ended up as your first second-round pick. The Top 5 picks were slam dunks, and when went with another dip at No. 6, Tobi scooped up THE backbone of any party. We’re calling No. 9 a reach since we still don’t know what pizza dip is, but it combines two great tastes that we’re gonna guess taste great together. -Kiper
Are we talkin’ potato? Corn? Whatever a Muncho actually is? Doesn’t matter, that’s a steal in the mid-second. -McShake
POTENTIAL STEAL OF THE DRAFT: Ryan Clary (No. 16 overall, Tater Tots)
Corporate Clary had the tough position of two sets of back-to-back picks. He managed to get a staple with pigs in a blanket at 5 followed by two dips, but the real winner may be his last pick to start round 4: EVERYONE (especially his new boss, who may or may not have written this) loves tater tots, but they’re just not found on a lot of menus anymore. That’s a shame, and here, they may be the second-best potato option available for an event like this, so to get them at 16? Unreal. -McShake
It’s all about the carbs when it comes to these parties, and this starchy one has high upside of flavor. Not gonna knock your socks off on the surface, but this is a great second option on a winning team. -Kiper
BEST PLATE: Danny Rouhier
Two dips AND a vessel for them is smart for a party that’s always heavy on the apps, but potato skins is the piece de resistance for Danny. A staple in every good sports bar’s app sampler platter, and the rest is a perfect mix of carbs, protein, and cheesy goodness. -McShake
My mailman knows more about setting up a draft than he does, but damn can he actually make the picks. -Kiper
WORST PLATE: Grant Paulsen
We know Grant loves to trade for the sake of trading, but we also found out that his big game menu is apparently inspired by a third-grader’s birthday party – which, given that he has four children under age seven, maybe we’re misjudging here. But, come on, trading 4 and 7 to get pizza at No. 2? I don't care how much you like its versatility, it has done nothing to show a value that high. -Kiper
I’m with Meal here – doing pizza as your top pick for the big game is like socks as a Christmas present. You can do that any time of the year and not look wild, but here, it just doesn’t fit. Cold cut sandwiches and brownies in the late rounds just scream “I have no creativity.” Might as well put out some donut holes, too, to really complete the ‘meal you can get anywhere, anytime’ motif. -McShake
That’ll do it, but of course, we can’t leave you without…
KIPER AND MCSHAKE’S BEST AVAILABLE PLATE: Mozzarella Sticks, Jalapeno Poppers, Charcuterie Board, Guacamole