The NFL Combine begins on February 23 and runs through March 2. This is a look at which rookies will be the best to target for 2026 NFL dynasty drafts.
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2026 NFL Dynasty Rookie Rankings
It’s hard to exactly predict where these rookies will land in fantasy drafts until we know what team they will be on. However, just based on general potential and upside, this is my initial NFL dynasty rookie rankings ahead of the 2026 NFL Combine.
| Player | College | |
| 1. | Jeremiyah Love, RB | Notre Dame |
| 2. | Carnell Tate, WR | Ohio State |
| 3. | Jordyn Tyson, WR | Arizona State |
| 4. | Makai Lemon, WR | USC |
| 5. | Denzel Boston, WR | Washington |
| 6. | Jadarian Price, RB | Notre Dame |
| 7. | Jonah Coleman, RB | Washington |
| 8. | Kenyon Sadiq, TE | Oregon |
| 9. | K.C. Concepcion, WR | Texas A&M |
| 10. | Fernando Mendoza, QB | Indiana |
| 11. | Kaytron Allen, RB | Penn State |
| 12. | Nicholas Singleton, RB | Penn State |
| 13. | Emmett Johnson, RB | Nebraska |
| 14. | Eli Stowers, TE | Vanderbilt |
| 15. | Omar Cooper Jr., WR | Indiana |
Tier 1 Picks
Jeremiyah Love, RB
Jeremiyah Love is a special player. For the second straight year (Ashton Jeanty), a running back should be the top rookie taken in dynasty leagues. He might not go as high as Jeanty in the draft, but that could work to his benefit. Love should still go in the top-half of the first-round, and there is a chance he lands with a team like the Chiefs or Cowboys, who have competence on offense. Love is a workhorse back and a great athlete with the ability to produce right away.
Carnell Tate, WR
Carnell Tate lived in the shadow of other great receivers at Ohio State. However, he is more than ready to be a WR1 in the NFL. Just like Love, Tate has a chance to land in a great spot like Kansas City, or with Jaxson Dart and the Giants. He had the best season of his career last year and has all of the traits to be great in the NFL.
Jordyn Tyson, WR
It is a coin toss between Jordyn Tyson and Makai Lemon for WR2 in this year’s draft, but as of now, I’m giving the slight edge to Tyson. Tyson has incredible speed and is arguably the best route runner in the class. He has all of the tools, as long as he can stay healthy at the next level.
Makai Lemon, WR
Makai Lemon has a chance to be the best receiver in this class, despite him being my current WR3. He is a fantastic route runner and finds ways to create just enough space to get open. That is going to be a valuable trait in the NFL, along with his great hands. Lemon can also play out of the slot, which might give him a better chance of being a Week 1 starter than some other pass-catchers in the draft.
Tier 2 Picks
Denzel Boston, WR
Denzel Boston is not quite on the same level as the first three receivers in this class. However, he is the best player on this second-tier. Boston was incredible at Washington, despite working with a first-year starter at quarterback last season. He isn’t as polished as the top-tier receivers, but at 6’4, 209 pounds, he has great physical traits. Boston is ready to battle with NFL cornerbacks for jump balls and knows how to use his size to his advantage.
Jadarian Price, RB
Jadarian Price is a unique case study in this year’s draft. He is arguably the clear RB2, despite only being the RB2 on his own team in college. That is because he was behind the obvious RB1 in this draft, Jeremiyah Love, on the Notre Dame depth chart. However, anytime Price got touches, he showed that he was capable of creating plays. He is a fantastic athlete and should translate well to the NFL. The only question mark is his durability as an every-down back, since he wasn’t that guy at Notre Dame either of the last two seasons.
Jonah Coleman, RB
Jonah Coleman has a case to be the RB2 in this draft because he proved more at the college level. Coleman’s best season was actually his junior year at Washington, but he was once again one of the top backs in the nation last year. At 5’9, 228 pounds, he is an Ashton Jeanty-type physical runner. Coleman had 15 touchdowns last year and will be a valuable goal line back for whoever takes him.
Kenyon Sadiq, TE
Kenyon Sadiq is the consensus TE1 in this draft. Tight ends have done a great job of translating to the NFL right away in recent years. Brock Bowers was a record-setting tight end as the TE1 in 2024. Last year, it was a great tight end class, including Tyler Warren, Harold Fannin Jr. and Colston Loveland. Sadiq is expected to go in the mid-to-late first-round, so he could end up in a great situation with a team like the Eagles or Broncos. If that’s the case, Sadiq could be an instant impact guy in his rookie season.
KC Concepcion, WR
KC Concepcion is a great route runner. He was a star at NC State, then moved to Texas A&M for his junior season. Despite stepping up against SEC competition, Concepcion had his best season last year. He is great at going across the middle of the field and making plays after the catch. The biggest concern around Concepcion is his size, at just 5’11, 190 pounds.
Fernando Mendoza, QB
Fernando Mendoza is going to be the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft. However, he is not a sure-fire hit as a fantasy prospect. Mendoza doesn’t run the ball very often, despite his great effort in the national title game. That hurts his fantasy stock. Not to mention how much of a disaster the Raiders’ offense was last season. Vegas will have a brand new coaching staff, though, so hopefully Mendoza clicks right away. Regardless, it’s worth a shot on some of these high-ceiling skill position players instead of Mendoza.
Tier 3 Picks
Kaytron Allen, RB | Nicholas Singleton, RB
Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton have always been talked about as a duo, so why not continue to do so here? Allen and Singleton arrived at Penn State together in 2022, and both spent all four seasons in the Nittany Lions’ backfield. Allen rushed for 4,180 yards in his career with 39 touchdowns, while Singleton rushed for 3,461 yards and 45 touchdowns. Singleton got more usage as a receiver out of the backfield, so that’s a big plus for him. However, Allen is still capable of working as a pass-catcher. I give a slight edge to Allen in my rankings, but both running backs should be great at the NFL level, if given a real chance.
Emmett Johnson, RB
Emmett Johnson is the last running back in my top 15. Johnson had a breakout junior season, rushing for 1,451 yards at Nebraska last year. He was in one of the most run-heavy offenses in the nation, ranking sixth in carries. However, Johnson is a stud and should be ready to contribute at the next level right away.
Eli Stowers, TE
Eli Stowers is my TE2 in this draft and cracks the top 15 of my dynasty rankings. This is a bit higher than Stowers is ranked on other lists, but I’m buying into to how well tight ends have translated to the NFL as of late. Stowers is experienced and has consistently produced at the NCAA level, despite spending his college career with an unconventional quarterback, Diego Pavia. At 6’4, 235 pounds, Stowers is physically ready for the NFL. He has a chance to be a starter right away, if he lands in the right spot, and should be a weapon for his future quarterback.
Omar Cooper Jr., WR
Omar Cooper Jr. rounds out this list. It was tough to choose between Cooper and his fellow Hoosier, Elijah Sarratt. While Sarratt might be a better pure route runner, Cooper has a higher ceiling. He has great hands and an incredible ability to catch anything that comes his way, as evidenced by his jaw-dropping game-winning grab against Penn State last season. Cooper can do it all and has a chance to be an instant impact guy if he ends up in a good spot.
