2026 NFL Draft: Fantasy football rankings, projections, takeaways for first-round prospects

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Yahoo’s Justin Boone breaks down every fantasy-relevant selection in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, including their projections and rankings moving forward.

Analyst Joel Smyth graded every fantasy-relevant pick from Round 1.

  • Fantasy potential: ★★★★☆

  • 2026 projection (13 starts):2,743 passing yards, 18 TDs, 14 INTs, 251 rushing yards, TD

  • Redraft ranking:QB26

  • Dynasty startup value (Superflex): QB17 (fourth-round pick)

  • Dynasty rookie value (Superflex):1.02-1.05

Mendoza isn’t the kind of dominant quarterback prospect that can singlehandedly change the fortune of a franchise, but his arrival in Las Vegas comes at the perfect time. New head coach Klint Kubiak has gotten the most out of the offenses at his last couple stops, including turning Sam Darnold into a Super Bowl-winning QB. 

The Raiders have also made an effort to upgrade the offensive line this offseason, including the signing of top free-agent center Tyler Linderbaum – an important addition for a rookie passer. 

With the presence of two young superstars in Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty (who are both 23 years old), as well as the likely selection of at least one rookie receiver on Day 2 or Day 3 of the draft, Mendoza has enough weaponry to succeed whenever he steps under center. 

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Though veteran Kirk Cousins will do his best to hold him off, Mendoza will be starting sooner rather than later. The Heisman Trophy winner has the ability to return fantasy QB2 value in his starts as a rookie, with a chance to reach low-end QB1 production in future years. 

Prospect profile: Mendoza has proven himself to be a good leader with excellent on-field awareness who displays the toughness needed to overcome adversity during games. He has a strong arm to make any throw, but it’s his touch passing that stands out.

Though the 22-year-old has enough speed to scramble his way out of trouble and pick up yards on the ground, he’s not fast enough to be a meaningful runner in the pros.

He profiles as a long-term NFL starter, who will need the right environment around him to become a star. 

Fantasy stock up: Brock Bowers, Ashton Jeanty, Raiders WRs
Fantasy stock down: Kirk Cousins

  • Fantasy potential: ★★★★★

  • 2026 projection (15 starts):247 carries, 1,072 rushing yards, 6 TDs 45 receptions, 339 receiving yards, 2 TDs

  • Redraft ranking:RB11

  • Dynasty startup value (Superflex):RB4, Late 2nd-early 3rd round pick

  • Dynasty rookie value (Superflex):1.01

The Titans, Giants and Commanders were all hoping Love would fall to them in the top-10, but the Cardinals put a quick stop to that by selecting the clear top running back in this class at third overall. 

It’s a surprising move given the massive contract that draft slot requires, which now locks Love into a clear lead-back role in an Arizona backfield that was decimated by injuries last year. 

Love might be a tier or two below the truly elite RB prospects from past years like Bijan Robinson or Saquon Barkley, but he is the total package and player who’s going to be an impact NFL starter right away. There’s an excellent chance that he’ll post fantasy RB1 numbers as a rookie. 

The biggest loser in this situation is Tyler Allgeier, who signed with the team in free agency. Allgeier was escaping the shadow of Bijan Robinson in Atlanta and now finds himself stuck behind another top prospect in Love, keeping him in the backup RB mix for the foreseeable future. 

Prospect profile: Love has the size, skill and athleticism to be a three-down workhorse at the next level. 

The 20-year-old displays good vision and patience, letting blocks develop in front of him, while also having the breakaway straight line speed necessary to create big plays. He’s also a comfortable pass-catcher (56 receptions over the last two seasons) who’s dangerous out in space. 

Operating behind an elite Notre Dame offensive line certainly helped his production, but Love is a set-it-and-forget-it fantasy RB1 with a path to being a high-end producer. 

Fantasy stock up: None
Fantasy stock down: Tyler Allgeier, James Conner, Trey Benson

  • Fantasy potential: ★★★★☆

  • 2026 projection (16 starts):72 receptions, 1,002 receiving yards, 5 TDs

  • Redraft ranking:WR24

  • Dynasty startup value (Superflex):WR14, 4th-round pick

  • Dynasty rookie value (Superflex):1.02-1.04

The Titans finally found a No. 1 target for quarterback Cam Ward, spending the fourth pick overall to secure his services. 

Ward played better than his stats showed last season, but he lacked quality talent in his receiving corps. While the addition of Wan’Dale Robinson in free agency was the first step in addressing the issue, he does his best work from the slot. Now Tate steps in as a real weapon on the outside and gives the Titans the start of a promising group of pass-catchers under the new coaching staff that includes OC Brian Daboll. 

Though Tennessee was a team that fantasy managers could often avoid watching last season, that won’t be the case in 2026. 

With the potential volume and role Tate will command, he will immediately enter the low-end WR2 conversation for fantasy. 

Prospect profile: Tate is a more traditional big-bodied X-receiver, who also overcomes a lack of elite speed with a variety of high-level traits. 

The 21-year-old is a smooth athlete with good awareness, who carves up defenses with strong hands, quality route running and excellent contested catch ability. He does a great job tracking the ball, high-pointing passes and using his body to box out defenders.

His college production wasn’t as massive as you might expect, due to the level of target competition at Ohio State and some durability issues. While he would be wise to add some bulk to his frame, Tate has all the tools to become a difference-maker in the NFL.

Fantasy stock up: Cam Ward, Tony Pollard
Fantasy stock down: Calvin Ridley, Chimere Dike, Epic Ayomanor

  • Fantasy potential: ★★★★☆

  • 2026 projection (15 starts):66 receptions, 897 receiving yards, 5 TDs

  • Redraft ranking:WR31

  • Dynasty startup value (Superflex):WR18, 4th-5th round pick

  • Dynasty rookie value (Superflex):1.03-1.05

Don’t look now but the New Orleans Saints offense is quickly becoming one of the more fantasy-friendly units in the league. 

We already witnessed Tyler Shough and company overachieve last year under head coach Kellen Moore. They’ve continued to build this offseason by addressing their offensive line, signing one of the best running backs in free agency, Travis Etienne Jr. and drafting one of the top wideouts in Tyson. 

He instantly gives them another playmaker to pair with Chris Olave, who takes a small hit to his projection since he won’t earn the same massive volume that he saw last season. However, Olave remains a fantasy WR2 and someone worth targeting in your drafts. 

Unfortunately for Tyson, he doesn’t end up in an offense where he’s the clear No. 1 option, but there’s plenty of opportunity in New Orleans given the fairly bare depth chart behind Olave. 

Consider Tyson a fantasy WR3/flex option who can push for more as he gets comfortable in the Saints’ attack. 

Prospect profile: Tyson is a versatile weapon who separates well and is a smooth route runner. He displayed a knack for making clutch plays in college and will be a reliable target for his next quarterback thanks to a big catch radius. 

The 21-year-old has excellent ball skills, combining good body control and an ability to high-point passes. Even his occasional drops often came on more difficult attempts. When he gets the rock in his hands, he positions himself well to earn extra yards.

He certainly looks the part of being a potential star from his skills to his athleticism to his confidence on the field. That, combined with his high-end draft capital, makes for a smart selection in all fantasy formats.  

Fantasy stock up: Tyler Shough, Travis Etienne Jr.
Fantasy stock down: Chris Olave (slightly), Devaughn Vele

  • Fantasy potential: ★★★☆☆

  • 2026 projection:Backup to Matthew Stafford

  • Redraft ranking:QB36

  • Dynasty startup value (Superflex): QB27, 8th-round pick

  • Dynasty rookie value (Superflex):1.10-1.12

This is a massive shock from a fantasy perspective. Not because the Rams drafted an heir apparent to Matthew Stafford, but because they used the 13th pick overall to take Simpson, specifically. 

You can read my prospect profile for Simpson below, which left me believing he was a borderline NFL starter. That has to be completely reconsidered now that the Rams valued him this highly and the fact that he’s attached to Sean McVay. 

This gives L.A. some insurance in case the 38-year-old Stafford, who has dealt with back issues, gets injured or misses time for any reason. While that doesn’t change Stafford’s fantasy outlook, it does provide a succession plan that will help Puka Nacua’s dynasty stock in the long run. 

However, this all comes down to whether Simpson can develop into a competent starter and I will continue to have doubts about that until he shows me otherwise. 

Prospect profile: Simpson is the second-best quarterback in a weak class behind Mendoza. That inflated Simpson’s value in a league that’s desperate for starters at the position. 

The 23-year-old has underwhelming arm strength, accuracy concerns and sometimes his lack of decisiveness leads to negative plays. He has the mobility to escape the pocket, but can get chaotic when trying to make plays off script.

Consider me skeptical that Simpson will emerge as a quality option in the NFL. He also doesn’t have the speed required to be a true rushing threat, which is another limiting factor for his fantasy potential. 

Fantasy stock up: None
Fantasy stock down: None

  • Fantasy potential: ★★★☆☆

  • 2026 projection (16 starts):42 receptions, 485 receiving yards, 4 TDs

  • Redraft ranking: TE23

  • Dynasty startup value (Superflex): TE7, 9th-round pick

  • Dynasty rookie value (Superflex): 1.07-1.10

There was a lot of hope surrounding Sadiq’s fantasy potential pre-draft and while that hasn’t disappeared completely, this landing spot puts a damper on his upside in the short term. 

The Jets haven’t been an offense to target in fantasy for the last few seasons and have actually held back the ceiling outcomes for their stars like Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson. Sadiq might be on the verge of suffering a similar fate. 

While Geno Smith will provide an upgrade at quarterback, Sadiq will be competing for targets with Wilson, Hall, Omar Cooper Jr., Adonai Mitchell and last year’s second-round pick Mason Taylor (who is also a tight end!). 

Perhaps Sadiq can overcome the hand he’s been dealt, but this is an unfortunate Year 1 scenario for a promising player.

Prospect profile: While Sadiq might not be a truly elite prospect, he’s not far off. He excels as a pass-catcher with incredible hands who catches like a wide receiver. 

Whether he’s hauling in tough contested passes, making receptions in traffic amidst multiple defenders or sacrificing his body on diving grabs, Sadiq is a dangerous weapon.

The 21-year-old has a smooth athleticism that lets him glide around the field making plays. Though he’s not much of a tackle breaker, Sadiq is shifty enough to juke defenders and create more yards after the catch. 

Fantasy stock up: Geno Smith
Fantasy stock down: Mason Taylor

  • Fantasy potential: ★★★★☆

  • 2026 projection (16 starts):71 receptions, 902 receiving yards, 5 TDs

  • Redraft ranking:WR28

  • Dynasty startup value (Superflex):WR15, 4th-round pick

  • Dynasty rookie value (Superflex):1.03-1.05

Somehow, most situations end up working out well for Eagles general manager Howie Roseman, which seems to be a result of his ability as an executive mixed with a bit of luck. 

In this instance, as the team prepares to trade A.J. Brown in the coming months, one of the best receiver prospects in the draft in Lemon, fell into a range where the Eagles were able to move up and draft him. 

Not only does this fill a need at a position that’s about to lose a star player, but it also puts Lemon in an offense where he can thrive alongside DeVonta Smith. 

Fantasy managers should be excited about this landing spot, while aggressively targeting Lemon in redraft as a WR3 with upside and dynasty as a top-15 wideout. 

Prospect profile: Lemon is a scrappy playmaker who’s dangerous all over the field, with his best work coming in the short to intermediate range. 

His contested catch ability and toughness are notable given his 5-foot-11, 195-pound frame. He’s also quick and decisive with the ball in his hands, shaking defenders en route to extra yards. 

While he lacks elite speed, he moves very well and will always find ways to beat the defense he’s facing. The slot is where he does his best work, but he can be effective all over the formation. 

Fantasy stock up: Jalen Hurts
Fantasy stock down: Dallas Goedert

  • Fantasy potential: ★★★☆☆

  • 2026 projection (16 starts):55 receptions, 629 receiving yards, 4 TDs

  • Redraft ranking:WR44

  • Dynasty startup value (Superflex):WR29, 7th-8th round pick

  • Dynasty rookie value (Superflex):1.06-1.08

While some prospects like Lemon find the perfect home for their fantasy potential, others like Concepcion go to Cleveland, which has been a rough destination for wideouts. 

Uncertainty at quarterback and late-season bad-weather games will be routine for Concepcion. However, the reality is the Browns are desperate for a playmaker in their WR room and Concepcion fits that role nicely. 

If Todd Monken can inject some life into this passing attack and get at least average quarterback play out of Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders, Concepcion could be a value in all formats. 

Sadly, I’m not sure that level of hope is enough to make me invest in Concepcion this year. Dynasty is another story though. He should go off the board in the middle of the first round in rookie drafts, en route to emerging as the No. 1 receiver in his offense (even if that offense is the Browns). 

Prospect profile: Concepcion is a high-end athlete who’s a versatile and dynamic playmaker. 

While the 21-year-old might not have lightning-fast straight-line speed, he can still threaten deep and is tricky to deal with in tight spaces. 

His willingness to square up and take on a defender is worth highlighting given his size at 6-foot, 196 pounds. He plays like a more physical Jordan Addison and offers a much higher ceiling than the Vikings’ wideout.

Fantasy stock up: Deshaun Watson/Shedeur Sanders
Fantasy stock down: Jerry Jeudy, Harold Fannin Jr. (slightly)

  • Fantasy potential: ★★★☆☆

  • 2026 projection (16 starts):39 receptions, 461 receiving yards, 3 TDs

  • Redraft ranking:WR52

  • Dynasty startup value (Superflex):WR30, 8th round pick

  • Dynasty rookie value (Superflex):1.07-1.10

Another disappointing landing spot for a first-round prospect, as Cooper Jr. joins Kenyon Sadiq in a Jets offense that all of a sudden has a lot of mouths to feed. 

Cooper was one of my favorite players in the pre-draft process, but it’s tough to get fired up about his short-term potential in New York. As mentioned in the Sadiq section above, the Jets have Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall and Adonai Mitchell, as well as Sadiq and Mason Taylor at tight end. 

That’s a decent group of skill position players who might be stuck in an offense that struggles to support more than a couple of them and fails to allow anyone to reach their apex. A lot is resting on the arm of Geno Smith, who’s coming off a disappointing season in Vegas. 

For the time being, I’m bumping Cooper down the rankings into more of a boom-or-bust flex range for redraft, while keeping a candle lit for his dynasty outlook as a late-first-round rookie pick. 

Prospect profile: Cooper stands out as a versatile receiver who has great contact balance and a big catch radius for his size. 

He fights for every yard after his receptions, pushing off and evading defenders along the way. 

The 22-year-old is also a smooth mover and powerful ball carrier. While it’s a lofty high-end comparison, his playing style has shades of Deebo Samuel Sr. with a pinch of Odell Beckham Jr.

Fantasy stock up: Geno Smith
Fantasy stock down: Adonai Mitchell

  • Fantasy potential: ★★★★☆

  • 2026 projection (15 starts):207 carries, 889 rushing yards, 7 TDs 19 receptions, 127 receiving yards

  • Redraft ranking:RB29

  • Dynasty startup value (Superflex):RB24, 9th-round pick

  • Dynasty rookie value (Superflex):1.06-1.10

The reports linking Price to the Seahawks at the end of Round 1 turned out to be true and it puts him in prime position to be a fantasy starter right out of the gate. 

Seattle is trying to replace Kenneth Walker III (who left in free agency) and Zach Charbonnet (who won’t be back until late in the year due to an ACL tear). Price gives them a strong runner capable of sustaining their ground game, with a little help from Emanuel Wilson early in the season. 

Late first-round draft capital doesn’t always equate to fantasy stardom, but Price enters an outstanding situation as the new centerpiece in the offense of the defending Super Bowl champions. 

That makes him a top-30 redraft RB with the potential to push much higher if he can prove he’s worthy of the job. It also puts him in the running for the sixth pick in dynasty rookie drafts after Love, Tate, Lemon, Tyson and Mendoza go off the board. 

Prospect profile: Price lacks a complete resume and the kind of production you normally want to see from an incoming rookie back, because he played behind Love at Notre Dame. We also have to factor in the efficiency boost that came from their dominant offensive line. Even so, it’s hard not to like Price’s physical style, which often led to broken tackles and at least a few extra yards on most plays. Though he wasn’t asked to be a pass-catcher very often, his hands seem up to the task of being used in that area moving forward.

Fantasy stock up: None
Fantasy stock down: Zach Charbonnet, Emanuel Wilson, George Holani