Fantasy Football ‘26: The best rookie landing spots for this season

Is Tyson the pick? | Getty Images

The 2026 NFL Draft is in the rear view mirror, and NFL fans are digesting the roster changes. It’s an annual exercise of renewal – hope springs eternal, even for the most down-trodden franchises and their tortured fan bases.

Fantasy football players are noodling on the draft results as well. Those who play the dynasty version of the game – where complete rosters are maintained from year to year, and new players are added via an annual rookie draft – are wrapping up those drafts. Dynasty more closely resembles the NFL, since managers draft rookies with a long-term perspective. Contrast that to redraft fantasy football (and especially leagues with no keepers), and best ball versions of the game, where our interest in NFL rookies is solely centered on what they can do for us on the field in their first season. That’s my focus for today.

What should we make of the 2026 rookie class? We heard all along that this was a weak draft overall, and one that was short on elite playmakers. I won’t sugarcoat this – I’m not expecting a lot this season from the 2026 rookies in fantasy, and I don’t expect to have any rookies ranked inside my overall Top-60 when I finalize my redraft rankings in August. Still, some will be meaningful contributors, as always.

We’ve been spoiled in recent seasons by Jayden Daniels, Jaxson Dart, Jahmyr Gibbs, Bucky Irving, Malik Nabers, Brock Bowers, Sam LaPorta, and several others who were reliable weekly starts – or even fantasy stars — as rookies. Could there be an Amon-Ra St. Brown (fourth round) or Puka Nacua (fifth round) who is a massive surprise in year one? Sure. Could there be one or more rookie running backs who get an unexpected opportunity, and pop with it, later in the season? Absolutely. But looking across the landscape, there aren’t many marriages of major talent and ideal landing spot.

What makes a good landing spot? Opportunity to get on the field is at the top of the list. Some rookies have a clear path to playing time, but for others it’s murkier. Infrastructure and coaching are also big factors. Would you rather take a player who is catching passes from Justin Herbert, with Mike McDaniel calling the plays, or someone who had the misfortune of landing with the Jets? Related to that is fit in a particular system/offensive scheme. Talent obviously matters too. Draft capital used on the player is also worth considering, as teams typically view higher draft picks as players who should contribute right away.

With those factors in mind, here‘s my 2026 fantasy football landing spot analysis for the more prominent rookies.

OUTSTANDING/TERRIFIC LANDING SPOTS – None. Sorry folks, but I don’t expect any rookies to have an average draft position (ADP) inside the Top-50 for redraft. This just isn’t that kind of class.

GREAT LANDING SPOTS

Jordyn Tyson, WR, Saints (Round 1, 8th pick)

Tyson gets my top spot, by a decent margin. Opportunity? Check. Assuming he can stay healthy, he should be out there immediately in two and three receiver sets, alongside WR1 Chris Olave, as the Saints don’t have much quality or depth at receiver and tight end. Talent? Definitely, and many scouts think Tyson has the highest upside in this receiver class. Draft capital? Tyson was a Top-10 pick. System and infrastructure? Sure. Tyler Shough showed real promise in the second half of his rookie season, and the Saints are building around him as if he’s “the guy”. Kellen Moore’s offense runs fast, and the Saints could find themselves in a bunch of shootouts. They also have ten indoor games. Tyson could be a viable WR3/Flex option right out of the gate, with upside as a WR2.

Jadarian Price, RB, Seahawks (Round 1, 32nd pick).

I have Price ahead of the guy he backed up at Notre Dame, who went 29 picks before him. This is all about opportunity and situation. The Seahawks like to run the snot out of the ball (Seattle was tied with Atlanta atop the NFL with 439 carries by running backs last season, and 23 of those came inside the 5-yard line). The backfield was split between Ken Walker and Zach Charbonnet in 2025. Walker is gone, while Charbonnet suffered a torn ACL in the playoffs and didn’t have surgery until February. It’s hard to know when he’ll return and how big of a workload he’ll get when he does hit the field. Emmanuel Wilson and George Halani aren’t scary competition, and it’s significant that Seattle reached for the speedy Price at the end of Round 1. He wasn’t the lead back on his college team last season, and he needs to work on ball security and pass catching, but I’ll gladly gamble on a guy who could be the top RB option on the defending Super Bowl champs.

VERY GOOD LANDING SPOTS

Jeremiyah Love, RB Cardinals (Round 1, 3rd pick).

I went back and forth between Love and Carnell Tate for the third spot. The Cardinals took a lot of criticism for using such a high pick on a running back, but there’s no denying Love’s talent, game-breaking speed, pass catching chops, and penchant for breaking big plays. That’s what lands him in this spot for me. As for the situation, it’s not great. The Cardinals have a below-average line, uncertainty at QB, and the much-maligned Nate Hackett running the offense. In addition, they have Trey Benson, James Conner, and newcomer Tyler Allgeier currently on the roster. Benson figures to be traded before the season starts, but it’s still a crowded backfield and Allgeier is efficient at the goal line. The Cardinals might not want to overload Love in his rookie year given that depth. Much like Ashton Jeanty last season, I likely won’t have Love on many teams this year, as he figures to be overpriced.

Carnell Tate, WR, Titans (Round 1, 4th pick).

Tate was a bit of a surprise at Pick 4, but it wasn’t surprising that he was the first WR drafted. He’s a pro-ready player with an all-around skillset who catches what’s thrown his way. The Titans brought in Brian Daboll to run the offense and develop Cam Ward, and getting Ward more weapons has been a priority. Newcomer Wan’Dale Robinson, who had 140 targets and more than 90 catches for the Giants in each of the last two seasons, figures to be busy working from the slot, but Tate should immediately get plenty of run with the starters, as the returning depth chart at WR is weak. How Ward progresses under Daboll in Year 2 will be a big factor in how Tate performs.

DECENT LANDING SPOTS

Antonio Williams, WR, Commanders, Round 3.

Is this ranking too high? Maybe. Williams disappointed in his final season at Clemson, but so did the entire team. He put up 75-904-11 the year before, though, and was thought of as a potential 2026 first rounder coming into the 2025 season. I’ve got him ahead of multiple receivers drafted before him, and the main reason for that is opportunity. After Terry McLaurin, the Commanders have a bunch of JAGS (just a guy) at receiver and tight end, and a healthy Jayden Daniels should be able to support a solid passing game for more than just McLaurin. The landing spot will get worse if the team signs Brandon Aiyuk or Jauan Jennings. But even if that happens, I’m keeping Williams on my sleepers list.

Caleb Douglas, Dolphins, Round 3.

Chris Bell, who the Dolphins also took in Round 3, is a first-round talent, but he’s recovering from an ACL repair and unless and until there’s a concrete timetable for his return, I’ll put Douglas down as the top rookie to target on Miami. The Dolphins came into the draft with the NFL’s weakest depth chart at WR and TE, by a decent margin. Malik Washington is a capable slot guy, but Douglas and/or Bell should be able to find the field early, as Jalen Tolbert and Tutu Atwell are situational players, at best. Miami is going to want to run the ball as much as it can behind its massive O-line, but game scripts should lead to more passing. Whether Malik Willis can produce as a thrower remains to be seen, and any Dolphins’ receiver is a risky proposition. Still, Douglas and/or Bell could be fantasy-relevant on a bad team with a talent-starved offense.

MEDIOCRE LANDING SPOTS

Germie Bernard, Steelers, Round 2, 47th pick.

The electric Bernard is one of my favorite receivers in this class, and my ranking assumes Aaron Rodgers will be back for Pittsburgh. If he isn’t, it’s a big drop. Even if Rodgers is there, the Steelers have D.K. Metcalf, Michael Pittman, and multiple tight ends, so the path to consistent playing time and targets isn’t clear. He’s a playmaker, but I just don’t know how many plays he’ll get to make in 2026.

KC Concepcion, WR Browns, Round 1, 24th pick.

Yes, it’s the Browns, who’ve been at or near the bottom of the NFL in multiple offensive categories for two years running. QB is a huge question mark, but the overall situation on Todd Monken’s offense could be a little better than you think. Jerry Jeudy might not be with the team in 2026, and Concepcion should have a pretty clear path to playing time. We saw Harold Fannin, Jr. thrive on this team as a rookie last season, so it’s not totally impossible. Concepcion is talented, and I think he’s worth a late-round flier. I can’t say the same for second round pick Denzel Boston, who will likely see the field less than Concepcion, and will need to hit on big plays downfield to return value.

Fernando Mendoza, Raiders, Round 1, First pick.

Mendoza’s final year of college mimicked Joe Burrow’s in so many ways, but unlike Burrow, it’s hard to envision a scenario where Mendoza is fantasy-relevant as a rookie in 1-QB leagues. Even in a Superflex format, I don’t see a ton of value. The position is deep with quality, and it’s unclear when Kirk Cousins will give way to Mendoza. The situation isn’t so bad for a first overall pick, and especially with Klint Kubiak bringing his offensive philosophy there, plus Tom Brady’s influence. But let’s wait a year.

DeZhaun Strobling, 49ers, Round 2, 33rd pick.

The 49ers’ selection of Strobling at the top of Round 2 raised a lot of eyebrows, and I really don’t know what to think about him. On the one hand, Kyle Shanahan is as good of a schemer and play caller as there is in the league right now, and they clearly have a plan for Strobling or they wouldn’t have reached for him. On the other hand, they brought in Mike Evans and Christian Kirk, and maybe Ricky Pearsall will finally stay on the field, plus a lot of targets go to Christian McCaffrey and the tight ends.

Jonah Coleman, Broncos, Round 4, Mike Washington, Raiders, Round 4, and Kaelon Black, 49ers, Round 3.

All three of these backs head to backfields where they’re going to be fighting for playing time in 2026, with the best realistic outcome being primary backup to the starter. Any real fantasy value would probably require an injury in front of them – which can always happen. That makes them interesting in fantasy as late round dart throws, and especially Black, given what we’ve seen McCaffrey’s various backups do when given the opportunity.

POOR LANDING SPOTS

Kenyan Sadiq and Omar Cooper, Jets, Round 1, picks 16 and 30

I like both players, but I hate the landing spot for several reasons. In the case of Sadiq, the Jets used a second rounder on Mason Taylor last season, plus despite recent history, it’s rare for rookie tight ends to blow up. In the case of Cooper, Garrett Wilson is the clear WR1 and I think the team would like to see what it has in Adonai Mitchell alongside Cooper. Throw in that it’s the Jets, with a declining Geno Smith under center, and I think the best strategy is to stay away unless it’s a very late selection.

Denzel Boston, Browns, Round 2, 39th pick (discussed above).

Makai Lemon, Eagles, Round 1, 20th pick

Lemon was the third receiver taken, and he’s going to a very good team. It’s clear that A.J. Brown is going to be traded. So why am I so low on a guy who’s clearly a very good prospect? First off, the Eagles are as run-heavy as it gets. Their 478 carries last season (including QB runs) led the NFL. Jalen Hurts also had the league’s lowest rate of throws to the middle of the field, and that figures to be where the shifty Lemon is most effective. They also brought in both Dontayvion Wicks and Hollywood Brown, and they used a second rounder on TE Eli Stowers (who I’m also not high on for this season), and they use a lot of 12 personnel. I wonder if Lemon will have even a 60% snap share. Throw it all together and I think he’ll be overpriced in redraft leagues.

OTHER Third Round and Day 3 rookies – It’s early, but here are other rookies who are on my deep sleeper/early waiver wire watch lists:

Nick Singleton, RB, Titans, Kaytron Allen, RB, Commanders, Bryce Lance, WR, Saints, Zachariah Branch, WR, Falcons, Malachi Fields, WR, Giants, and Chris Brazzell, II, WR, Panthers.

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