For the third year in a row, these are my rankings for every single QB, RB, WR, and TE selected in the 2026 NFL draft. These rankings aren’t merely based on who is the more talented player. They’re based on which NFL team drafted these guys and what their opportunity looks like in the near future with that NFL team. These rankings are focused on non-superflex rookie drafts. If superflex is your thing, just jack each QB way the heck up from where they’re ranked in this chart.
How did I do with my rankings last year? I had Tetairoa McMillan ranked second and Tyler Warren third above all those RBs not named Ashton Jeanty. Gotta like that. My biggest misses? Maybe Harold Fannin at No. 41 and Oronde Gadsden at No. 44. They quickly became fantasy relevant TEs. Spoiler alert: This list shows that there are a ton of fantasy irrelevant TEs in the 2026 draft. If I wind up being wrong about that, so be it. To put it mildly, I was stunned by the number of TEs taken in the 2026 draft.
By the way, this list was compiled as the draft progressed and completed moments after the draft ended. Enjoy and comment away with your thoughts!
1. Jeremiyah Love
Position: RB
NFL Team: Cardinals
College: Notre Dame
NFL Draft Spot: 1.03
Depth Chart Projection and Fantasy Implication: RB1: The fantasy value of James Conner, Tyler Allgeier, and Trey Benson has fallen off a cliff.
2. Fernando Mendoza
Position: QB
NFL Team: Raiders
College: Indiana
NFL Draft Spot: 1.01
Depth Chart Projection and Fantasy Implication: QB2 initially: If you don’t take Mendoza at 1.01 in superflex, what are you thinking? What are you doing?
3. Jordyn Tyson
Position: WR
NFL Team: Saints
College: Arizona State
NFL Draft Spot: 1.08
Depth Chart Projection and Fantasy Implication: WR2: Tyson is the complement needed in New Orleans since Chris Olave was drafted in 2022.
4. Makai Lemon
Position: WR
NFL Team: Eagles
College: Southern California
NFL Draft Spot: 1.20
Depth Chart Projection and Fantasy Implication: WR3: If the A.J. Brown trade happens, Lemon could be as big as cheesesteak in Philly as a rookie.
5. Carnell Tate
Position: WR
NFL Team: Titans
College: Ohio State
NFL Draft Spot: 1.04
Depth Chart Projection and Fantasy Implication: WR1: Tate was never a WR1 in college. If he’s expected to be that in Tennessee, can he deliver?
6. KC Conception
Position: WR
NFL Team: Browns
College: Texas A&M
NFL Draft Spot: 1.24
Depth Chart Projection and Fantasy Implication: WR3: Concepcion is a big play waiting to happen every time he touches the ball.
7. Germie Bernard
Position: WR
NFL Team: Steelers
College: Alabama
NFL Draft Spot: 2.15
Depth Chart Projection and Fantasy Implication: WR3: Bernard will make a good running buddy for DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman.
8. Kenyon Sadiq
Position: TE
NFL Team: Jets
College: Oregon
NFL Draft Spot: 1.16
Depth Chart Projection and Fantasy Implication: TE1: So much for Mason Taylor emerging as a fantasy viable TE in 2026.
9. Omar Cooper
Position: WR
NFL Team: Jets
College: Indiana
NFL Draft Spot: 1.30
Depth Chart Projection and Fantasy Implication: WR2/3: Cooper, Kenyon Sadiq, and Garrett Wilson give 35-year-old Geno Smith some nice weapons.
10. Denzel Boston
Position: WR
NFL Team: Browns
College: Washington
NFL Draft Spot: 2.07
Depth Chart Projection and Fantasy Implication: WR4: Is there enough in front of Boston in Cleveland to keep him off the field? No. No, there is not.
|
Player/ Team |
Pos./ Draft Spot |
Depth Chart Projection and Fantasy Implication | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Jadarian Price / Seahawks | RB / 1.32 | RB2: Zach Charbonnet, Seattle’s RB1, had knee surgery in February. Price could be the man in Week 1 and beyond. |
| 12 | Antonio Williams / Commanders | WR / 3.07 | WR2: Williams looks like he’s going to get a big-time opportunity in Washington. |
| 13 | Chris Brazzell / Panthers | WR / 3.19 | WR4: Don’t be surprised if Brazzell is Carolina’s WR2 by the middle of his rookie season. |
| 14 | Mike Washington / Raiders | RB / 4.22 | RB2: Could Las Vegas have drafted a better complement to Ashton Jeanty? Maybe not. |
| 15 | Emmett Johnson / Chiefs | RB / 5.21 | RB3: Don’t be surprised if Johnson is splitting reps with Kenneth Walker right out of the box. |
| 16 | Nicholas Singleton / Titans | RB / 5.25 | RB4: Singleton isn’t high on the Tennessee depth chart, but he’s good enough to rise quickly. |
| 17 | Ja’Kobi Lane / Ravens | WR / 3.16 | WR3: Is Lane a better WR2 in Baltimore than Rashod Bateman? Probably. |
| 18 | Jonah Coleman / Broncos | RB / 4.08 | RB4: Horrible landing spot for a solid RB. Coleman won’t get enough touches to be viable in 2026. |
| 19 | Elijah Sarratt / Ravens | WR / 4.15 | WR5: Sarratt definitely has a chance to climb the depth chart in Baltimore. |
| 20 | Malachi Fields / Giants | WR / 3.10 | WR3: Can Fields beat out Darius Slayton and be WR2 behind Malik Nabers? Yes. Yes, he can. |
| 21 | Justin Joly / Broncos | TE / 5.12 | TE3: This is the potential steal of the draft. Joly, a premier receiver, could be Denver’s TE1 pretty darn soon. |
| 22 | Skyler Bell / Bills | WR / 4.25 | WR5: Can Bell take reps away from Joshua Palmer and Keon Coleman? Quite possibly. |
| 23 | Zavion Thomas / Bears | WR / 3.25 | WR3: The door appears wide open for Thomas to get some targets in three-WR sets. |
| 24 | Kaelon Black / 49ers | RB / 3.26 | RB3: It’s not hard to envision Black becoming Christian McCaffrey’s relief pretty much right away. |
| 25 | Kaytron Allen / Commanders | RB / 6.06 | RB3: Great landing spot for Allen. The door is wide open for him to get touches as a rookie. |
| 26 | Eli Stowers / Eagles | TE / 2.22 | TE2: Dallas Goedert is 31 years old. Stowers is the likely heir apparent Philadelphia has been seeking for years. |
| 27 | Caleb Douglas / Dolphins | WR / 3.11 | WR3: They’re rebuilding in Miami. The opportunity for targets should be there. |
| 28 | Chris Bell / Dolphins | WR / 3.30 | WR4: Bell is in the same boat as Caleb Douglas. The opportunity should be there. |
| 29 | Kevin Coleman / Dolphins | WR / 5.37 | WR6: They’re loading up on WRs in Miami. Who gets the regular-season targets is up for grabs. |
| 30 | De’Zhaun Stribling / 49ers | WR / 2.01 | WR4: Stribling has geezers ahead of him on the depth chart, so he could get a shot when they start ailing. |
|
Player/ Team |
Pos./ Draft Spot |
Depth Chart Projection and Fantasy Implication | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Ted Hurst / Buccaneers | WR / 3.20 | WR4: Even with Mike Evans gone, Tampa’s WR room looks pretty stacked. |
| 32 | Zachariah Branch / Falcons | WR / 3.15 | WR4: Drake London is the only stud in front of Branch on the Atlanta depth chart. |
| 33 | Adam Randall / Ravens | RB / 5.34 | RB4: From a physical standpoint, Randall is the closest RB Baltimore has to Derrick Henry. |
| 34 | Demond Claiborne / Vikings | RB / 6.17 | RB4: Claiborne provides the Vikings a good depth piece in the backfield. |
| 35 | Seth McGowan / Colts | RB / 7.21 | RB3: McGowan might be the most significant player from the seventh round. He could be Jonathan Taylor’s backup. |
| 36 | Colbie Young / Bengals | WR / 4.40 | WR4: Andrei Iosivas is ahead of Young on the depth chart. Young could be Cincinnati’s WR3 pretty quick. |
| 37 | Ty Simpson / Rams | QB / 1.13 | QB2: Can you afford to carry Simpson on your roster for a year and get nothing? If so, go for it. |
| 38 | Drew Allar / Steelers | QB / 3.12 | QB3 initially: Go ahead and laugh, but if Old Man Rodgers isn’t back, Allar could win the Pittsburgh job. |
| 39 | Malik Benson / Raiders | WR / 6.14 | WR5: The Las Vegas WR depth chart is not daunting, so the door is open for Benson to make his mark. |
| 40 | Brenen Thompson / Chargers | WR / 4.05 | WR4: Thompson figures to be a gadget guy or a return man, at least initially. |
| 41 | Bryce Lance / Saints | WR / 4.36 | WR7: Lance has a chance to climb a weak New Orleans WR depth chart. |
| 42 | Reggie Virgil / Cardinals | WR / 5.03 | WR6: Those immediately above Virgil on Arizona’s WR depth chart are not fantasy relevant. |
| 43 | Cyrus Allen / Chiefs | WR / 5.36 | WR6: Allen could overcome some vulnerable guys above him on the Kansas City WR depth chart. |
| 44 | Kendrick Law / Lions | WR / 5.28 | WR6: The top of the Detroit WR depth chart is stout, so Law appears to be merely a depth piece. |
| 45 | Kaden Wetjen / Steelers | WR / 4.21 | WR5: Wetjen is an elite return man, which makes his fantasy value almost nothing. |
| 46 | Carson Beck / Cardinals | QB / 3.01 | QB3: Beck might be worth drafting in superflex, but that’s about it. |
| 47 | Taylen Green / Browns | QB / 6.01 | QB4: Green is a guy who could be worth grabbing and stashing in superflex and maybe otherwise, too. |
| 48 | Jam Miller / Patriots | RB / 7.29 | RB4: New England’s RB room is pretty studly, so Miller doesn’t figure to get significant work any time soon. |
| 49 | Garrett Nussmeier / Chiefs | QB / 7.33 | QB3: Like many QBs in the 2026 draft, Nussmeier is a superflex flyer at best. |
| 50 | CJ Daniels / Rams | WR / 6.16 | WR6: The Rams have some pretty good young backup WRs. Daniels adds to that corral. |
|
Player/ Team |
Pos./ Draft Spot |
Depth Chart Projection and Fantasy Implication | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | Emmanuel Henderson / Seahawks | WR / 6.18 | WR6: The road to climbing Seattle’s WR depth chart could be bumpy for Henderson. |
| 52 | Barion Brown / Saints | WR / 6.09 | WR8: Brown was the third WR taken by New Orleans in this draft behind Jordyn Tyson and Bryce Lance. |
| 53 | Josh Cameron / Jaguars | WR / 6.10 | WR6: Cameron will have a tough time making much headway on the Jacksonville WR depth chart. |
| 54 | CJ Williams / Jaguars | WR / 6.22 | WR7: Williams will face the same challenge in Jacksonville as Josh Cameron. |
| 55 | Lewis Bond / Texans | WR / 6.23 | WR7: Lots of good, young WRs in Houston, so Bond’s path to a roster spot looks muddy. |
| 56 | Cade Klubnik / Jets | QB / 4.10 | QB3: Like Carson Beck, Klubnik might be worth taking a flyer on in superflex but nothing more. |
| 57 | Cole Payton / Eagles | QB / 5.38 | QB4: Payton is an interesting prospect who could be worth a flyer in superflex. |
| 58 | Anthony Smith / Cowboys | WR / 7.02 | WR7: There are guys ahead of Smith on the Dallas depth chart who have bounced around from team to team. |
| 59 | Deion Burks / Colts | WR / 7.38 | WR6: The Indianapolis WR room is not filled with studs. Burks could climb the depth chart. |
| 60 | Eli Heidenreich / Steelers | RB / 7.14 | RB5: Really cool story with Heidenreich drafted in the ’Burgh by Pittsburgh. He could be a special teams demon. |
| 61 | Oscar Delp / Saints | TE / 3.09 | TE3: Delp might work his way up the depth chart, but that still won’t make him fantasy relevant. |
| 62 | Max Klare / Rams | TE / 2.29 | TE4: The Rams use a lot of TEs. That doesn’t make them fantasy relevant. |
| 63 | Eli Raridon / Patriots | TE / 3.31 | TE2: Raridon could take over for 31-year-old Hunter Henry one day down the road. So what? |
| 64 | Behren Morton / Patriots | QB / 7.18 | QB3: Believe it or not, Morton could wind up being Drake Maye’s backup |
| 65 | Athan Kaliakmanis / Commanders | QB / 7.07 | QB4: Does Kaliakmanis have more fantasy value than all these irrelevant TEs? Probably not. |
| 66 | Matthew Hibner / Ravens | TE / 4.33 | TE3: Well, there is a need in Baltimore for another TE behind Mark Andrews. |
| 67 | Josh Cuevas / Ravens | TE / 5.33 | TE4: Taking another TE in round 5 showed that Baltimore really is seeking Mark Andrews’ successor. |
| 68 | Nate Boerkircher / Jaguars | TE / 2.24 | TE2: The Jags have Brenton Strange, so Boerkircher is one of many fantasy irrelevant TEs in this NFL draft. |
| 69 | Tanner Koziol / Jaguars | TE / 5.24 | TE5: Koziol is the second TE taken by Jacksonville in this draft. What’s up with that? |
| 70 | Riley Nowakowski / Steelers | TE / 5.29 | TE3: Pittsburgh’s offense can use another TE, but Nowakowski won’t help your fantasy team. |
| 71 | Joe Royer / Browns | TE / 5.30 | TE3: Royer could be Harold Fannin’s backup, but that still doesn’t make him fantasy relevant. |
| 72 | Marlin Klein / Texans | TE / 2.27 | TE2: There are a lot of dudes in the Houston TE room. For fantasy, Klein will be another face in the crowd. |
| 73 | Sam Roush / Bears | TE / 3.05 | TE3: Roush is behind Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet, so he has no fantasy value at all. |
| 74 | Will Kacmarek / Dolphins | TE / 3.23 | TE2: Yet another TE in this draft class who is not worth pondering for fantasy. |
| 75 | Seydou Traore / Dolphins | TE / 5.40 | TE3: Traore appears to be a tremendous athlete, but he’s the second TE Miami took in the 2026 draft. |
| 76 | Bauer Sharp / Buccaneers | TE / 6.04 | TE4: Sharp joins a large crowd of fantasy irrelevant TEs taken in this draft class. |
| 77 | Jack Endries / Bengals | TE / 7.05 | TE5: A seventh-round TE who is buried on the Cincinnati depth chart. |
| 78 | Jaren Kanak / Titans | TE / 7.09 | TE4: Another seventh-round TE and another one who is a good way from the top of a depth chart. |
| 79 | Carsen Ryan / Browns | TE / 7.32 | TE5: The tight ends just kept coming in the 2026 draft. Ryan was the second one taken by Cleveland. |
| 80 | Dallen Bentley / Broncos | TE / 7.40 | TE6: Maybe Denver didn’t want to be left out of the TE sweepstakes and grabbed another in the seventh round. |
| 81 | Max Bredeson / Vikings | TE / 5.19 | TE6/FB1: Bredeson was the second Michigan TE taken in this draft. He’s more of a blocking fullback than a TE. |
Who’s your 1.01 in rookie drafts this year?
Do you agree with Jeremiyah Love at the top, or are you going in a different direction?
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Fantasy Granddaddy
Fantasy Sports Writer