For dynasty nuts, that first rookie draft is like Christmas.
You can’t wait. Then the draft begins, and, all too often, you learn that anyone who knows what they’re doing has the same strategy, the same ideas.
Then your second rookie draft comes along, and, all too often, it mirrors that first draft. Then the third rookie draft, same thing.
Chalk, chalk, chalk.
Why the 2026 Rookie Draft Might Be Different
This is what could be great about 2026: It might not be chalk. Lots of so-called experts are poo-pooing this draft class for fantasy football. I say, go on with your bad selves. Who really knows? I’m betting there will be gems. And it’s our job to find them.
Most sites say Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love should be the first pick in non-superflex rookie drafts. OK. I can buy that, but he’s no Bijan Robinson. So, if you like someone better, go for it.
What about Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza? If I have 1.01, I’d be really tempted to take him in that spot, superflex or not. He sure seems to be the whole package, from between the ears right on down to his little toe.
Other than those two guys, who knows? So, 2026 rookie drafts could be a heckuva lot of fun. No chalk. Just all over the place. First- and second- and maybe even third-round guys all interchangeable depending on who likes who.
The Importance of NFL Draft Landing Spots
We’ll definitely get some clarity with the NFL draft. Landing spots are critical. Landing spots tell us what sort of opportunity is available and how many doors are already closed for the rookies who want some real snaps in year one.
The NFL draft begins April 23. Real dynasty nuts are glued to every round, right down to Mr. Irrelevant, who could be truly relevant in 2026 rookie drafts.
20 Rookie Prospects to Watch
What follows is a list of 20 guys I’m curious about – where they will land, what kind of opportunity they will have, and what doors will already be closed.
- Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame RB, 6 feet, 210 pounds – If I’m RB needy, and I have 1.01, yep, I’ll take him. But I don’t see him as a sure-fire NFL stud. His landing spot will be huge. Before the Chiefs signed Kenneth Walker, it looked like Kansas City would be a great destination for him. Now, who knows? He ran a 4.36 40 at the combine.
- Fernando Mendoza, Indiana QB, 6-5, 235 – Unless something crazy happens, he’s the Raiders’ starting QB. I like him. A lot. If he’s available when I draft in any rookie draft, I’ll have a hard time passing him up. He was a spectator at the combine, and that’s perfectly OK in my book. What did he really need to prove?
- Carnell Tate, Ohio State WR, 6-2, 190 – A lot of so-called experts see him as the best WR in the draft. Could be a little Buckeye bias in there. Those who think he’ll be the next Jaxon Smith-Njigba likely will be sorely disappointed. Ditto Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, or Emeka Egbuka. Now, he might be the next Marvin Harrision Jr. – or a decent WR3 one day on your fantasy team. He ran a 4.53 40 at the combine.
- Denzel Boston, Washington WR, 6-4, 210 – Now we’re talking. His size catches my eye. His landing spot will be decisive. He could be the first WR I want. He did not run the 40 at the NFL combine, and his exact speed seems to be a mystery. Still, in the right offense and with the right QB, this guy could develop into a red zone monster.
- Chris Brazzell, Tennessee WR, 6-4, 200 – Another guy with attractive size. He’s your classic wild card in what could be a crazy rookie draft for dynasty. I could see this guy going anywhere from the first to third round in drafts. He ran a 4.37 40 at the combine.
- Nicholas Singleton, Penn State RB, 6-0, 220 – Another total wild card in rookie drafts. Depending on who drafts him and what the opportunity looks like, he could be like Cam Skattebo in 2025 – late first round or early second round. Or maybe he’s still there in the third round. He has been timed at 4.39 in the 40 but ran 4.72 at the combine. What’s up with that?
- Kaytron Allen, Penn State RB, 5-11, 215 – Another Nittany Lion? You bet. He’s not a first-round guy, but his landing spot could put him in the second round of rookie drafts. He did not run the 40 at the combine, and speed is not considered his strength. However, his college film says he could be a decent NFL RB. If he’s there in the third or fourth round of rookie drafts, he’s mine.
Side note: Pre-pandemic, I was still helping with high school football coverage for The Virginian-Pilot when Allen was playing for Norview High School in Norfolk, Va. I saw him play as a freshman before he transferred to IMG Academy in Florida. I also saw Indiana RB Kaelon Black, whom I did not put on this list, play during that timeframe while he was at Salem High in Virginia Beach.
- Jadarian Price, Notre Dame RB, 5-11, 205 – We have two Penn State RBs on this list, so we definitely need another Irish RB. A lot of folks seem to think he’ll be the second RB off the board in the NFL draft. He looked pretty darn good in South Bend, but his injury history is a bit scary. He ran a 4.49 40 at the combine.
- Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State WR, 6-2, 205 – Some rate him as the top WR in the draft. He just might be. Scouts love his ability to get open. His injury history is sort of mind-numbing, though, so be careful. He didn’t run the 40 at the combine, but he has run 4.50 in the past.
- Makai Lemon, Southern Cal WR, 5-11, 190 – He’s right up there with the top WRs in the draft, too. He won the Biletnikoff Award in 2025, and he could be the best WR in the draft. He has been likened to, drum roll, please: Amon-Ra St. Brown. He didn’t run the 40 at the combine but ran 4.48 during the Trojans’ pro day.
- KC Concepcion, Texas AM WR, 6-0, 195 – Undersized WRs are not my cup of tea, and he’s bigger than many seem to perceive. Given all that, if this guy is drafted by a team in serious need of a starting slot receiver, he could be the rookie you need on your roster. He ran a 4.42 40 at the combine. He’s explosive and elusive.
- Chris Bell, Louisville WR, 6-2, 220 – He’s coming off ACL surgery, so look for him to fall in the NFL draft. In dynasty, he could be a good stash if you can afford to snag him in the fourth round of your draft. He did not run the 40 at the NFL combine but is seen as a 4.4 guy.
- Omar Cooper, Indiana WR, 6-0, 200 – He’s viewed as a potential stud slot receiver as a pro. Scouts like his versatility in what he can do as a receiver as well as his willingness to be a blocker. He ran a 4.42 40 at the combine.
- Elijah Sarratt, Indiana WR, 6-2, 210 – We have two Penn State RBs and two Notre Dame RBs on this list, so why not two Indiana WRs? Sarratt did not run the 40 at the combine, and there’s no public record of a 40 time for him. Still, NFL scouts like his quickness and his route running.
- Germie Bernard, Alabama WR, 6-1, 205 – There are a fair number of WRs in this draft class who could become NFL starters by 2028. Bernard is one of those guys, and you likely can get him in the second round of a rookie draft. Go for it. He ran a 4.48 40 at the combine.
- Jonah Coleman, Washington RB, 5-8, 220 – On the right team, in the right offense, with the right coaching staff, this dude could be a goal-line back from day one in the NFL. He did not run the 40 at the combine, but he’s a guy whose 40 time seems irrelevant. He scored 34 touchdowns in 50 college games.
- Emmett Johnson, Nebraska RB, 5-10, 200 – He’s a power runner who could get snaps as a rookie if he lands in the right place. He ran a 4.56 40 at the combine.
- Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon TE, 6-3, 240 – I’m not a fan of taking a TE in the first round of a rookie draft. Sadiq is getting first-round hype. Odds of me making him a first-round pick in any of my many rookie drafts are slim and maybe none despite the fact that he ran a 4.39 40 at the combine, the fastest 40 by a TE at the NFL combine since at least 2003.
- Mike Washington, Arkansas RB, 6-1, 225 – He came out of the combine as the RB with all the buzz. If I need an RB, and he’s still on the board, I certainly won’t object to adding him to my roster. He ran a 4.33 40 at the combine, the fastest of all RBs at the combine.
- Ty Simpson, Alabama QB, 6-1, 210 – If I have spot for a QB or a need for a QB, and his landing spot doesn’t bury him on his team’s depth chart, I think he’s worth a shot. He did not run the 40 at the combine, but that’s no big deal.
Good luck with your rookie drafts! I have at least a dozen of them on the horizon. Can’t wait. But all of mine are after the NFL draft. I’m not one of those guys who likes to gamble on rookies before I even know what city they land in. If you do like to roll those dice, more power to you – and I hope your superpower is clairvoyance!
Question for the readers:
Which rookie are you targeting in the 2026 dynasty draft?
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Fantasy Granddaddy
Fantasy Sports Writer