Post-NFL Draft Rookie Rankings

While ranking rookies prior to the NFL Draft has never been an exact science, this year’s early rookie rankings were crafted with a seemingly higher than normal amount of uncertainty. We thought we had a pretty good idea who the top three wide receivers were, but in what order? Who is the top running back behind Jeremiyah Love? What about the next tier of wide receivers—how should they be slotted? 

Now that this year’s rookies have homes, we can combine their college production and athletic profiles with their projected opportunity and finally create rookie rankings that inspire some degree of confidence.

Here are my initial post-draft rookie rankings. Players are sorted by position and assume PPR scoring. Rankings are primarily a tool for dynasty research, although if a player should be valued significantly higher or lower in redraft, reasoning for the discrepancies is given in the write-ups.

Quarterback

What we have known for months became official when the Raiders selected Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick. Mendoza was the consensus 1.02 in SF rookie drafts prior to the draft, and him officially becoming the first player off the board in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Raiders signing Kirk Cousins earlier this month may make Mendoza’s best ball/redraft value drop some, as it has been reported that Mendoza will likely be forced to begin the season behind the veteran signal caller. This does not change his dynasty value, however. Mendoza remains the 1.02 in SF and deserves late 1^st consideration for QB-needy teams in 1QB leagues. 

The draft’s consensus QB2, Ty Simpson, received first-round draft capital when he was selected with the 13^th overall pick by the Rams. Simpson’s real-life landing spot is as perfect as it comes…getting to sit behind Matthew Stafford in one of the league’s top offenses. For dynasty managers not in win-now mode, he is in play at the end of the first round of rookie drafts. He should not be drafted in redraft or best ball. 

Carson Beck (Cardinals) and Drew Allar (Steelers) both received early 3^rd round draft capital and land on teams with unsettling quarterback situations. There is a scenario where both start for their teams from Week 1 on, yet both are expected to be readily available at the end of rookie SF drafts, as well as the final rounds of best ball drafts.

Running Back

Jeremiyah Love immediately profiles as an RB1 after being selected by the Arizona Cardinals with the 3^rd overall pick. Love should see elite usage, including passing-down work in an up-and-coming Arizona offense. Tyler Allgeier’s presence may give fantasy gamers concern after being a goal line thorn in Bijan Robinson’s side, but until we hear for certain, nothing can be assumed about how situational carries will be distributed. Love is the clear rookie 1.01 and the RB10 in my initial redraft rankings. 

Jadarian Price should step right into the lead back role for the run-heavy Seattle offense. Price should get as much early-down work as he can handle as Zach Charbonnet recovers from knee surgery. Price receiving limited work behind Jeremiyah Love, including only 15 receptions over three seasons, combined with a solid but not overwhelming athletic profile (5’11” 203 lbs, 4.49 40) should keep expectations in check. That said, RB-needy managers could take him as high as the 1.05 in rookie drafts, and he checks in as a low-end RB2 in redraft. 

Denver muddied its backfield with the addition of Jonah Coleman. RJ Harvey’s dynasty stock took a hit as Coleman is expected to take a percentage of the backfield touches, potentially the goal line carries. 

Tennessee was thought to be in on using the 4^th overall pick on Jeremiyah Love, had he not gone to Arizona a pick before. Knowing the Titans are not sold on Tony Pollard as their feature back going forward, the selection of Nicholas Singleton put the Penn State runner into the early second round of rookie drafts. 

Kaytron Allen could quickly carve out a role in Washington’s uninspiring backfield and is a top choice in the early 3^rdround of rookie drafts. 

Emmett Johnson should slide into the backup RB role for the Chiefs. With a three-down skill set, Johnson should be seen as a true priority handcuff and worthy of a roster spot in redraft and a 2^nd round selection in rookie drafts.  

Wide Receiver

The Big Three wide receivers, Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson, and Makai Lemon, all came off the board within the first 20 picks of the first round. 

Carnell Tate was the first receiver selected, going to the Tennessee Titans with the fourth overall pick. Tate will be paired with newly acquired slot receiver, Wan’Dale Robinson, in an underwhelming Titans offense. The Titans using a top-4 pick reflects Tate’s talent and the opportunity he will be given. I do believe that redraft expectations should be held in check until we have an idea of the overall state of the Titans offense and what we can expect from Cam Ward in his second year. 

Jordyn Tyson is likely to step into a 1a/1b situation with Chris Olave. Who assumes the “a” throne is to be determined, but we could be looking at a situation where the two talented players alternate productive weeks, both finishing with solid but capped WR2/WR3 seasons. 

Similar to Tyson, Makai Lemon will have to share targets with Devonta Smith and Dallas Goedert (assuming an A.J. Brown trade) in a balanced Eagles offense. Lemon profiles as a high-floor, capped ceiling slot receiver his rookie year, with a potentially elite dynasty future. 

KC Concepcion has a clear path to the WR1 role in Cleveland after being selected with the 24^th overall pick. Concepcion is seen as a route-running technician who can play in the slot or outside. The current quarterback situation in Cleveland is messy, but if a solid starting QB can emerge, this year or in the future, Concepcion could quickly find himself being a weekly high-floor option with upside. 

The Jets selected Omar Cooper Jr. with the 30^th overall pick, after having used the 16^th pick on Kenyon Sadiq, the draft’s highest rated tight end. Cooper may find consistent target volume to be elusive, as he will have to compete with Sadiq and established WR1, Garrett Wilson for targets in an offense that also features Breece Hall. Cooper does offer some late-round best ball appeal and is worth considering in the late first/early second rounds of rookie drafts. 

Antonio Williams has the skill set and opportunity for volume to be a PPR flex option early into his rookie season. Williams was used primarily in the slot at Clemson and that is likely to continue in Washington. 

While it is generally a bad idea to either inflate or penalize a rookie wide receiver for landing spot, in a class with so much uncertainty, I have no problem elevating Chris Bell to the top of the 2^nd round of rookie drafts. Bell has a legitimate opportunity to lead the Dolphins in receiving his rookie season, as he should have little trouble ascending to the top of arguably the league’s worst receiving depth chart. 

Tight End

You can now add elite draft capital to Kenyon Sadiq’s otherworldly athletic profile thanks to the Jets selection of the draft’s top tight end with the 16^th overall selection. Sadiq will have plenty of competition for touches in New York’s passing attack, with Garrett Wilson, Omar Cooper Jr. commanding targets in what is expected to be a poor Jets offense. This makes Sadiq more of a dynasty investment and TE2 best ball target than someone you want to count on for redraft. 

Eli Stowers landing with the Eagles is good news for his long-term dynasty outlook, but his potential redraft/best ball value took a hit having to sit behind Dallas Goedert. Stowers could still see the field early in two tight end sets, and as a third receiver, but his ceiling this year is capped. 

Which rookie gained the most value after the NFL Draft in your opinion?

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