While many bemoan the lack of impact rookies in fantasy football and the overall quality of the 2026 draft class, that doesn't mean there is nothing for us to learn and adjust to as we look ahead to rookie drafts (unless they are already underway) and our fantasy football drafts this summer. Who won and lost when teams told the truth and turned in their draft cards?
Winners
Jalen Hurts (QB-PHI)
Hurts gained a slot receiver with a running back mentality and body who plays 100 mph in Makai Lemon, the Eagles first round pick, and a smart, tough former option quarterback turned giant slot receiver in Eli Stowers. While neither project as a full-time player in their rookie years, both are among the more polished pass-catchers in this class, and they will help Hurts out on passing downs right away. This could be a make-or-break year in Philadelphia for Hurts, only under contract through 2027, but the addition of these players gives him a much better chance to bounce back as a passer in new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion's offense.
Tony Pollard (RB-TEN), Cam Skattebo (RB-NYG), Jacory Croskey-Merritt (RB-WAS)
These are the running backs who would have seen their roles in 2026 shrink significantly if their teams had drafted Jeremiyah Love. But they didn't, as the Cardinals took him at #3 overall ahead of the Titans, Giants, and Commanders. Jadarian Price - Love's teammate at Notre Dame - was the only other running back prospect of note in this class, and he went to the Seahawks at #32, so Pollard, Skattebo, and Croskey-Merritt know they won't have to look over their shoulders for a highly touted rookie who may eventually relegate them to the bench.
Malik Willis (QB-MIA), Chris Bell (WR-MIA), Caleb Douglas (WR-MIA)
New general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan said he wanted a three-year deal with Willis so they could build a team around him, and the way he used his picks backs that up. First-round pick Kaydn Proctor and third-round pick Will Kacmarek will move bodies in the run game. Third round picks Caleb Douglas and Chris Bell are big receivers with deep speed who can harness the quality deep ball Willis throws. Both have an opportunity to win a long-term starting job, with Jalen Tolbert their most formidable competition. This is going to be a run-heavy offense with play-action deep shots and speed at wide receiver to keep the boxes light. Willis is going to get an extended audition, and his fantasy ceiling is at least what Justin Fields was at his peak, but with a chance to stick and improve as a passer.
Tyler Shough (QB-NO), Oscar Delp (TE-NO), Bryce Lance (WR-NO)
The Saints followed up the Jordyn Tyson pick at #8 with two more high-ceiling pass-catchers on the second and third day. Delp is a top-end athlete who has flashed receiving skills despite being underutilized at Georgia. Trey Lance's little brother has legit deep speed and ball skills, but needs to get stronger and up his game after playing at North Dakota State. The Saints are clearly committed to getting more pieces around Shough for Kellen Moore to use in a mix-and-match fashion to attack the opponent's weaknesses that week.
David Montgomery (RB-HOU), Derrick Henry (RB-BAL)
Montgomery and Henry's teams both drafted road grading guards. Olaivavega Iaone went to Baltimore at 14 and Keylan Rutledge to Houston at 26 after trading up from 28. They will be day one starters who instantly improve the running game for these rugged starting running backs. The addition of Rutledge, Braden Smith, and Wyatt Teller this offseason has completed the offensive line overhaul for Houston. These picks also represent a commitment to the running game that only should encourage you to be in on these backs at ADP, especially Montgomery.
Zachariah Branch (WR-ATL)
Branch isn't very accomplished as a receiver, but he'll make an instant impact as a punt and kick returner. His speed, quickness, and footwork give him the makings of a very dangerous slot receiver, but his route running and catch point game have a long way to go. His great uncle is Raiders Hall of Fame WR Cliff Branch, and he only has to overcome Olamide Zaccheaus and Jahan Dotson to start. Few spots could offer more opportunity and familiarity - Branch played his home games at the Falcons stadium - for Branch.
Mark Andrews (TE-BAL)
The Ravens were linked to athletic testing wonder Kenyon Sadiq at #14, but blue chip guard Olaivavega Iaone fell their pick after some speculated that he could go as high as #10 to the Giants. After losing Isaiah Likely to the Giants in free agency, the Ravens were expected to invest in his replacement in the draft, but ended up not taking a tight end until they selected Matthew Hibner from SMU, who will be no threat to Andrews' target share this year. The veteran should have his best numbers in the last few years in the narrow target tree of the Ravens' pass offense.
Bryce Young (QB-CAR)
The Panthers drafted the left tackle with the highest ceiling in the first round, which should help after their starting left tackle, Ickey Ekwonu, went down with a patellar tendon tear in the Wild Card round loss to the Rams. Then, in the third round, they added Chris Brazzell II, who compares to George Pickens in both his rare length/speed/ball skills/hip sink combination and his off-field questions that caused him to fall in the draft. Young now has a third target who can do damage in the vertical game, where he has had his best moments as a pro.
Dallas Team Defense
For those of you who still play in leagues with team defenses, consider Dallas as a last-round pick. They added the best safety prospect since Eric Berry in Caleb Downs, who should be an instant leader who lifts the level of play of the entire defense. They also added two vicious edge defenders in first round pick Malachi Lawrence and third round pick Jaishawn Barham, who can help on passing downs right away in a rotation with offseason acquisition Rashan Gary and 2025 second round pick and rookie year hit Donovan Ezeiruaku, and to top it off, they dealt a fifth round pick for 49ers LB Dee Winters, who can start right away and add experience to their young off-ball linebacker corps. Oh, and 2025 third-round pick CB Shavon Revel Jr. is healthy and could pay off on the draft-day discount the team got last year because he was recovering from a torn ACL. The Cowboys have put together a nasty, fast, athletic defense that is stout up front.
Chris Rodriguez Jr. (RB-JAX), Bhayshul Tuten (RB-JAX)
The Jaguars were rumored to be in on Jadarian Price, who went #32 to Seattle, and any number of backs projected to go on the second day or early third day of the draft. Instead, on the second day, they drafted a blocking tight end with pass-catching upside in Nate Boerkircher (Texas A&M), which made head coach Liam Coen's dream come true, and a massive guard, Emmanuel Pregnon (Oregon), who "imposes his will on others whether they like it or not". The running game should get an immediate boost as Tuten and Rodriguez jockey for the larger share of early-down work without added competition.
Demond Claiborne (RB-MIN), Kaytron Allen (RB-WAS), Nicholas Singleton (RB-TEN), Adam Randall (RB-BAL), Emmett Johnson Jr. (RB-KC)
Only one running back was drafted on the second day (Indiana's Kaelon Black to San Francisco at pick 90). With a night and morning to restack their boards for the third day, NFL teams still only saw two running backs worth taking in the fourth round - Jonah Coleman (Washington) and Mike Washington Jr. (Arkansas) - and they went to Denver and Las Vegas, respectively, which are not exciting destinations for fantasy football. The fifth and sixth rounds cheered us up. "Diet De'Von Achane" Demond Claiborne landed in Minnesota, who has no clear back of the future, Kaytron Allen landed in Washington, where he might be the best inside runner on a team looking to establish the run, Johnson (a similar talent to Kareem Hunt) landed in Kansas City, where he only has to beat out Brashard Smith and Emari Demercado to back up Ken Walker III, who spends a lot of time on the injury report. Singleton, a size/speed back who NFL.com's Lance Zierlein described as playing like "his brake lines are cut", and Randall, an athletic wonder who converted from wide receiver and is still learning the finer points of the running back position, both get to sit behind veteran starters to develop their game before large opportunities could present themselves with Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears both heading for free agency next year and Derrick Henry heading into his age 33 season next year with a non-guaranteed $11 million salary.
Will Howard (QB-PIT). Carson Beck (QB-ARI), Cade Klubnik (QB-NYJ), Drew Allar (QB-PIT)
It was a poor quarterback class, but we could still see some mid-round prospects get a chance to start, which should put them on your radar in superflex leagues. Howard, last year's sixth-round pick, is listed first because he should stand out in practice and endear himself to the new coaching staff in Pittsburgh when compared to 2026 third-round pick Allar, who has the size, athleticism, and arm strength to play in the NFL, but needs to improve at everything else. Beck is a high-floor/low-ceiling, very seasoned quarterback who should get a chance to start when the Cardinals season is over, and Klubnik, a limited prospect who can fit in a West Coast-style offense, could win the backup job behind Geno Smith and start when the Jets season is over.
