Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Best Takes and Mistakes for 2026

For all we know, the 2026 NFL Draft will go down as one of the greatest ever for offensive tackles.

Maybe even edge rushers, guards and safeties.

But almost surely not fantasy football stars.

It will be no surprise if a couple of productive fantasy wide receivers come out of the April draft. That’s been a common theme in recent years.

But quarterbacks, running backs and tight ends – you’re probably best advised to talk them up before your draft … then let someone else pick them.

Here are my Fantasy Takes and Mistakes among rookies for your upcoming draft …

QUARTERBACKS

• Take: None.
• Mistake: Fernando Mendoza, Raiders.

Nothing against Mendoza. He could be the next Jim Plunkett, a guy drafted 1st overall who leads the Raiders to Super Bowls. It took Plunkett a decade to get to the grand stage, and while their fans would like to see it happen faster with their new franchise quarterback, the Raiders are still at least a year away from being anything but a Bottom 5 offense.

RUNNING BACKS

• Take: Kaytron Allen, Commanders.
• Mistakes: Jeremiyah Love, Cardinals; Jadarian Price, Seahawks.

Allen resides on the consideration list solely because he might be available in the last round of the fantasy draft after all the running backs with a heartbeat have been snatched up. Given the Commanders’ unsettled running back situation … hey, anything’s possible.

Love and Price would be GREAT picks at that point. Unfortunately, they’ll be gone much higher, and therein lies the problem. Love is no guarantee to be an Ashton Jeanty-type workhorse as a rookie in a crowded Cardinals backfield, yet he’s going in the second round in mock drafts. No thanks. And Price? The only reason a college backup is considered a fantasy possibility is that he got drafted onto a real good team (Seattle) with no established back. Well, until Zach Charbonnet returns, which now appears likely to happen sooner rather than later.

WIDE RECEIVERS

• Takes: Makai Lemon, Eagles; KC Concepcion, Browns; De’Zhaun Stribling, 49ers.
• Mistakes: Jordyn Tyson, Saints; Carnell Tate, Titans; Malachi Fields, Giants.

Without question, the rookie skill-position player who landed in the best situation is Lemon, who joins a good offense, playing a weak schedule, that has a big hole for him to fill. He’s unlikely to put up AJ Brown numbers, but that’ll be DeVonta Smith’s task – along with the defensive attention that comes with it. Lemon should slip into Smith fantasy-friendly complementary role – 113 targets last season – and he’s going at a very reasonable price in mock drafts. As a fourth or fifth receiver, he could be a season-saver.

Concepcion is hindered by poor quarterback play, and the 49ers have no established role – yet – for Stribling, but both have potential because: a) The Browns are going to be behind in most games, which will lead to a lot of passing. Concepcion should lead all rookie wideouts in targets (and thus probably receptions); and b) Stribling’s competition for playing time comes from Deebo Samuel, who ran out of gas two years ago. All of Kyle Shanahan’s crossing patterns are there for the taking, especially with newcomer Mike Evans doing his work outside the hashmarks.

Among my three projected disappointments, I feel worst about Tyson, the most talented receiver in this year’s crop who, almost as much as Lemon, lands a great spot with the Saints. But he’s already injured, and that’s concerning, being that half his college career was spent on the trainer’s table. Tate’s problem is that he has to share targets with Calvin Ridley and Wan’Dale Robinson on a team directed by a conservative new coach, while Fields likewise has a lot of competition for touches where he’s no better than the fourth option behind Malik Nabers, Cam Skattebo and Isaiah Likely.

TIGHT ENDS

• Take: Kenyon Sadiq, Jets.
• Mistake: None.

Like the Raiders, the Jets will be a bad offensive team again this season. Brock Bowers overcame that to put himself on the fantasy map last season, and Sadiq has that kind of potential. The best part about Sadiq is that quality runs deeper than ever at tight end this fantasy season, to the point where he doesn’t need to be drafted as anything more than a backup. I normally don’t recommend rostering a backup tight end, but I’ll make an exception for him.

KICKERS

• Take: Trey Smack, Packers.
• Mistake: None.

While some avoid cold-weather kickers – generally not a bad idea – it’s worth noting that Smack’s Packers play a bunch of beatable teams (the Vikings, Jets, Falcons, Buccaneers, Bears, Cowboys, Lions and Panthers) before the tundra turns frozen this year. Yeah, you wouldn’t want him kicking in the snow in the fantasy playoffs, but I say: Get there first.