Everyone is panicking about the 2026 class. They say it’s thin. They call it "top-heavy." Honestly, after staring at the tape and watching the 2025 college season wrap up, I think that's a massive oversimplification.
Yes, it’s not the 2024 class. You aren’t getting three generational quarterbacks and a generational receiver in the top five. But if you’re sitting on a mid-first-round pick in a dynasty rookie mock draft, you shouldn't be looking to trade out for a 2027 pick just yet. There is real, actionable value here if you know where the tier breaks actually live.
The Consensus 1.01: Jeremiyah Love is the Truth
If you have the first pick, don't overthink it. Seriously. Jeremiyah Love is the engine of the 2026 cycle.
The Notre Dame star has spent the last two years proving he’s a "force multiplier," as some scouts like to say. He’s 212 pounds of pure efficiency. Last season, he put up nearly 1,400 rushing yards and proved he’s more than just a thumper by snagging 27 catches. In a 1QB format, he’s the locked-in 1.01. Even in Superflex, the scarcity at the running back position makes him a legitimate threat to go over any of the quarterbacks.
Why? Because the drop-off after him is a cliff.
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Justice Haynes decided to hit the transfer portal instead of declaring, and while players like Jonah Coleman and Jadarian Price are solid, they don't have Love’s "break the game" ceiling. If you miss on Love, you're essentially betting on a volatile wide receiver group or a quarterback class that lacks a true "blue-chip" prospect.
Navigating the Wide Receiver Tiers
The "Big Three" receivers this year—Makai Lemon, Carnell Tate, and Jordyn Tyson—are often treated as a monolith. People draft them 1.02, 1.03, and 1.04 in almost every dynasty rookie mock draft I've seen lately.
But they are very different players.
- Makai Lemon (USC): He’s the technician. Think Amon-Ra St. Brown. He just won the Fred Biletnikoff Award and lives in the slot. If you play in a full PPR league, he’s probably your 1.02.
- Carnell Tate (Ohio State): The pedigree is there. We’ve learned never to bet against Ohio State receivers. He’s been playing behind Jeremiah Smith, but when he gets the target share, he’s a beast on the boundary. He feels like a safe, high-floor Z-receiver at the next level.
- Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State): He is the wild card. Honestly, he’s the most gifted athlete of the bunch. But the injuries? They're scary. He’s had surgeries on his knee and collarbone. If he stays healthy, he’s an alpha. If he doesn’t, he’s a "what if" story.
I’d argue that Denzel Boston from Washington is the guy nobody talks about enough. He’s 6'4" and plays like George Pickens. In a class that lacks size, Boston is going to be a massive riser once the NFL Combine hits and teams see that 6'4" frame running a sub-4.5.
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The Superflex Quarterback Conundrum
Superflex is where things get weird this year. Usually, the QBs fly off the board. In 2026, there’s a lot of hesitation.
Fernando Mendoza from Indiana is the Heisman winner, so the hype is real. He’s a massive human—nearly 6'6"—and he’s basically a pocket surgeon. But he doesn't run. Like, at all. In modern fantasy football, a QB who doesn't give you 300 yards on the ground is playing with one hand tied behind his back.
Then you have Ty Simpson at Alabama. He’s the Stafford-lite of the class. Big arm, can make every throw, but he only has one year of real tape. If he lands with a coach who lets him rip it, he could be the steal of the draft.
Dante Moore is still polarizing. The talent is obvious, but the consistency is... well, it's not there. Most mock drafts have him going in the mid-to-late first round of Superflex drafts. I’d personally rather take the shot on the rushing upside of someone like Ty Simpson or even a sleeper like John Mateer if he gets the draft capital.
Why Tight End Scarcity Changes Everything
We have to talk about Kenyon Sadiq.
The Oregon tight end is basically a wide receiver in a 245-pound body. In Tight End Premium (TEP) leagues, Sadiq is a top-eight lock. He moves effortlessly. The 2026 class is actually secretly deep at TE—players like Eli Stowers from Vanderbilt and Max Klare from Ohio State are going to be valuable second-round picks.
If you’re in a rebuilding phase, taking Sadiq at the 1.06 or 1.07 is a "galaxy brain" move that could pay off for a decade.
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Actionable Strategy for Your Draft
- Tier 1 (The Elite): Jeremiyah Love. If you have 1.01, do not trade down unless you're getting a king's ransom.
- Tier 2 (The Starters): Makai Lemon, Carnell Tate, Fernando Mendoza (SF only), Jordyn Tyson. This is where the 1.02 through 1.05 lives.
- Tier 3 (The High Upside): Denzel Boston, Ty Simpson, Kenyon Sadiq, Jonah Coleman.
- The Late First Steal: Look at Elijah Sarratt. He’s physical, he wins over the middle, and he’s the kind of player who becomes a "coach's favorite" and ends up with 100 targets as a rookie.
Don't let the "weak class" narrative fool you. The depth isn't there, but the top 15 players are legitimate NFL starters. Focus on securing multiple picks in the top 10 and avoid the "clutter" of the late second round, where the hit rates drop significantly this year.
Check the NFL Combine results for Denzel Boston’s 40-time. If he’s fast, he’s a first-round lock. If not, he’s the perfect early second-round target for a team needing a red-zone threat.
Proceed with the understanding that the 2026 NFL Draft is about individual talent evaluation over blind "class strength" faith. Watch the landing spots for Mendoza and Moore carefully—if they end up in dysfunctional situations like the Jets or Raiders, their fantasy ceilings might be capped for the duration of their rookie contracts.