RELATED: See Overrated Rookies here.
Rookies are the shiny new toys, and it's often fun to add them to your roster. Despite this craze, some rookies still fly under the radar and are undervalued. Finding those underrated talents is what pushes fantasy rosters into championship contenders.
We asked the Footballguys staff which 2026 rookie they think is the most underrated. Here's what they said.
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A quick note on staff opinions: One of the strengths of Footballguys is the range of opinions across our staff. Features like this one are designed to show you where individual analysts differ. But we don't waffle. For our final say on where we see a player, check the Footballguys Consensus Rankings, where we bring the staff together and plant a flag on how we think the players should be ranked.
Underrated Rookie With 5 Votes
WR KC Concepcion, Cleveland
Phil Alexander: We don't want to overreact to preseason highlights, but watching KC Concepcion score on a jet sweep and nearly break free on a 31-yard punt return in his first NFL game action gave us evidence of two things. Concepcion is dangerous enough with the ball in his hands to overcome a bottom-tier offense, and Todd Monken understands how to deploy him as more than a stationary wide receiver. Even with his ADP climbing, few receivers in his range offer a comparable ceiling or will be as much fun to watch on Sundays.
Jeff Haseley: KC Concepcion is one of the most undervalued wide receivers in redraft formats. Selected 24th overall in the draft, his cerebral knowledge and versatile skill set have allowed him to step right into a potential lead receiver role for Cleveland. Securing him in the eighth round or later yields a dynamic pass-catcher, capable of handling any load presented to him. He can be an immediate fantasy starter from day one and easily outperforms his current draft price.
Will Grant: De'Zhaun Stribling is flying up the draft charts, but KC Concepcion is still stuck in the WR5 tier in most fantasy leagues. Yet now that Deshaun Watson has been named the starter, Concepcion feels like he could press into the flex starter position in PPR leagues. The Browns don't have a lot to be excited about, but the first-round rookie has looked solid in pre-season and should give Cleveland fans something to be excited about. If the quarterback situation stabilizes, Concepcion will be a nice sleeper this year.
Ben Cummins: KC Concepcion put up 1,159 total yards and 10 touchdowns as a true freshman back in 2023. He's a dual-threat with rushing ability and was just drafted 24th overall in the first round of the NFL Draft. Concepcion's game and projected utilization allow for production despite Cleveland's fire quarterback situation. He offers inside and outside versatility, plays tough for his size, has strong hands at the catch point, and creates yards after the catch with athleticism and jukes. Especially if you play in full PPR, make it a goal to leave your draft with Concepcion on your team. He'll be a big contributor all season. Eight receptions in Week 1 is possible!
Gary Davenport: Not gonna lie—had you asked me in May if I'd rather have Denzel Boston or KC Concepcion in Cleveland, this idiot would have said Boston. In related news, I'm an idiot. Concepcion hasn't played a game that counts, but the drops that plagued Concepcion in college haven't been evident over the summer. What has is the versatility and athleticism that got him drafted in the first round. The Browns desperately need playmakers—period. They are going to scheme Concepcion touches. And he's going to (deep breath) smash his asking price in drafts. Hope in Cleveland. It might be the Apocalypse.
Underrated Rookie With 3 Votes
WR Denzel Boston, Cleveland
Jason Wood: Denzel Boston is coming off the board at the tail end of the WR5 tier, which completely overindexes on the Browns' poor reputation and fails to account for how well Boston has acclimated to the NFL. He's already listed as a starter and has the size-speed combination that fits Deshaun Watson's preferences, based on how Watson targeted downfield boundary receivers in Houston.
Bob Harris: While I do not doubt that Browns head coach Todd Monken plans to get first-round pick KC Concepcion the ball in a bevy of ways, after talking with multiple reporters on the Browns beat, second-rounder Denzel Boston is the receiver I have an eye on. Boston, who was voted the offseason MVP for the offense by local media, has the size and physical style of play to not only emerge as a threat in the red zone, but also draw more targets and catch more passes than the rest of the team's wideouts.
Sam Wagman: Denzel Boston has shown throughout camp that he can be relied upon to be the Browns' X receiver and improve on the early second-round draft capital he got in April. Beat reporters have raved about his movement and attitude this summer, and with a new era of Browns football on the horizon, Boston looks set to lead the team this year in high-value targets downfield and around the red zone.
