All of the Fantasy Football Winners and Losers from the 2026 NFL Draft

While many bemoan the lack of impression rookies in fantasy soccer and the general high quality of the 2026 draft class, that does not imply there’s nothing for us to be taught and regulate to as we stay up for rookie drafts (until they’re already underway) and our fantasy soccer drafts this summer time. Who gained and misplaced when groups informed the fact and turned of their draft playing cards?

Winners

Jalen Hurts (QB-PHI)

Hurts gained a slot receiver with a working again mentality and physique who performs 100 mph in Makai Lemonthe Eagles first spherical decide, and a wise, robust former choice quarterback turned big slot receiver in Eli Stowers. While neither challenge as a full-time participant of their rookie years, each are amongst the most polished pass-catchers on this class, and they may assist Hurts out on passing downs instantly. This may very well be a make-or-break 12 months in Philadelphia for Hurts, solely below contract by means of 2027, however the addition of these gamers offers him a a lot better probability to bounce again 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 working backs who would have seen their roles in 2026 shrink considerably if their groups had drafted Jeremiah Love. But they did not, as the Cardinals took him at #3 general forward of the Titans, Giants, and Commanders. Jadarian Price – Love’s teammate at Notre Dame – was the solely different working again prospect of observe on this class, and he went to the Seahawks at #32, so Pollard, Skattebo, and Croskey-Merritt know they will not need to look over their shoulders for a extremely touted rookie who could finally relegate them to the bench.

Malik Willis (QB-MIA), Chris Bell (WR-MIA), Caleb Douglas (WR-MIA)

New basic supervisor Jon-Eric Sullivan mentioned he wished a three-year take care of Willis so they may construct a crew round him, and the method he used his picks backs that up. First-round decide Kaydn Proctor and third-round decide Will Kacmarek will transfer our bodies in the run sport. Third spherical picks Caleb Douglas and Chris Bell are huge receivers with deep pace who can harness the high quality deep ball Willis throws. Both have a chance to win a long-term beginning job, with Jalen Tolbert their most formidable competitors. This goes to be a run-heavy offense with play-action deep pictures and pace at vast receiver to maintain the containers mild. Willis goes to get an prolonged audition, and his fantasy ceiling is at the very least what Justin Fields was at his peak, however with an opportunity to stay and enhance as a passer.

Tyler Shough (QB-NO), Oscar Delp (TE-NO), Bryce Lance (WR-NO)

The Saints adopted up the Jordyn Tyson decide at #8 with two extra high-ceiling pass-catchers on the second and third day. Delp is a top-end athlete who has flashed receiving expertise regardless of being underutilized at Georgia. Trey Lance‘s little brother has legit deep pace and ball expertise, however must get stronger and up his sport after enjoying at North Dakota State. The Saints are clearly dedicated to getting extra items round Shough for Kellen Moore to make use of in a mix-and-match trend to assault the opponent’s weaknesses that week.

David Montgomery (RB-HOU), Derrick Henry (RB-BAL)

Montgomery and Henry’s groups each drafted highway grading guards. Olaivavega Iaone went to Baltimore at 14 and Keylan Rutledge to Houston at 26 after buying and selling up from 28. They might be day one starters who immediately enhance the working sport for these rugged beginning working backs. The addition of Rutledge, Braden Smith, and Wyatt Teller this offseason has accomplished the offensive line overhaul for Houston. These picks additionally characterize a dedication to the working sport that ought to solely encourage you to be in on these backs at ADP, particularly Montgomery.

Zachariah Branch (WR-ATL)

Branch is not very achieved as a receiver, however he’ll make an on the spot impression as a punt and kick returner. His pace, quickness, and footwork give him the makings of a really harmful slot receiver, however his route working and catch level sport have a protracted technique to go. His nice uncle is Raiders Hall of Fame WR Cliff Branch, and he solely has to beat Olamide Zaccheaus and Jahan Dotson to begin. Few spots might provide extra alternative and familiarity – Branch performed his dwelling video games at the Falcons stadium – for Branch.

Mark Andrews (TE-BAL)

The Ravens had been linked to athletic testing marvel Kenyon Sadiq at #14, however blue chip guard Olaivavega Iaone fell their decide after some speculated that he might go as excessive as #10 to the Giants. After shedding Isaiah Likely to the Giants in free company, the Ravens had been anticipated to put money into their alternative in the draft, however ended up not taking a good finish till they chose Matthew Hibner from SMU, who might be no menace to Andrews’ goal share this 12 months. The veteran ought to have his finest numbers in the previous couple of years in the slender goal tree of the Ravens’ cross offense.

Bryce Young (QB-CAR)

The Panthers drafted the left sort out with the highest ceiling in the first spherical, which ought to assist after their beginning left sort out, Ickey Ekwonu, went down with a patellar tendon tear in the Wild Card spherical loss to the Rams. Then, in the third spherical, they added Chris Brazzell IIwho compares to George Pickens in each his uncommon size/pace/ball expertise/hip sink mixture and his off-field questions that triggered him to fail in the draft. Young now has a 3rd goal who can do harm in the vertical sport, the place he has had his finest moments as a professional.

Dallas Team Defense

For these of you who nonetheless play in leagues with crew defenses, think about Dallas as a last-round decide. They added the finest security prospect since Eric Berry in Caleb Downswho must be an on the spot chief who lifts the degree of play of the complete protection. They additionally added two vicious edge defenders in first spherical decide Malachi Lawrence and third spherical decide Jaishawn Barhamwho might help on passing downs instantly in a rotation with offseason acquisition Rashan Gary and 2025 second spherical decide and rookie 12 months hit Donovan Ezeiruakuand to high it off, they dealt a fifth spherical decide for 49ers LB Dee Winterswho can begin instantly and add expertise to their younger off-ball linebacker corps. Oh, and 2025 third-round decide CB Shavon Revel Jr. is wholesome and might repay on the draft-day low cost the crew received final 12 months as a result of he was recovering from a torn ACL. The Cowboys have put collectively a nasty, quick, athletic protection that’s stout up entrance.

Chris Rodriguez Jr. (RB-JAX), Bhayshul Tuten (RB-JAX)

The Jaguars had been rumored to be in on Jadarian Pricewho went #32 to Seattle, and any quantity 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 finish with pass-catching upside in Nate Boerkircher (Texas A&M), who made head coach Liam Coen’s dream come trueand an enormous guard, Emmanuel Pregnon (Oregon), who “imposes his will on others whether they like it or not”. The working sport ought to get a direct enhance as Tuten and Rodriguez jockey for the bigger share of early-down work with out added competitors.

Demond Claiborne (RB-MIN), Kaytron Allen (RB-WAS), Nicholas Singleton (RB-TEN), Adam Randall (RB-BAL), Emmett Johnson Jr. (RB-KC)

Only one working again was drafted on the second day (Indiana’s Kaelon Black to San Francisco at decide 90). With an evening and morning to repack their boards for the third day, NFL groups nonetheless solely noticed two working backs value taking in the fourth spherical – Jonah Coleman (Washington) and Mike Washington Jr. (Arkansas) – and they went to Denver and Las Vegas, respectively, which aren’t thrilling locations for fantasy soccer. The fifth and sixth rounds cheered us up. “Diet De’Von Achane” Demond Claiborne landed in Minnesota, who has no clear again of the future, Kaytron Allen landed in Washington, the place he is perhaps the finest inside runner on a crew seeking to set up the run, Johnson (an identical expertise to Kareem Hunt) landed in Kansas City, the place he solely has to beat out Brashard Smith and Emari Demercado to again up Ken Walker IIIwho spends lots of time on the damage report. Singleton, a dimension/pace again who NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein described as enjoying like “his brake lines are cut”and Randall, an athletic marvel who transformed from vast receiver and remains to be studying the high quality factors of the working again place, each get to sit down behind veteran starters to develop their sport earlier than massive alternatives might current themselves with Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears each heading without spending a dime company subsequent 12 months and Derrick Henry heading into his age 33 season subsequent 12 months with a non-guaranteed $11 million wage.

Will Howard (QB-PIT). Carson Beck (QB-ARI), Cade Klubnik (QB-NYJ), Drew Allar (QB-PIT)

It was a poor quarterback class, however we might nonetheless see some mid-round prospects get an opportunity to begin, which ought to put them in your radar in superflex leagues. Howard, final 12 months’s sixth-round decide, is listed first as a result of he ought to stand out in apply and endear himself to the new teaching workers in Pittsburgh when in comparison with 2026 third-round decide Allar, who has the dimension, athleticism, and arm power to play in the NFL, however wants to enhance at all the pieces else. Beck is a high-floor/low-ceiling, very seasoned quarterback who ought to get an opportunity to begin when the Cardinals season is over, and Klubnik, a restricted prospect who can slot in a West Coast-style offense, might win the backup job behind Gene Smith and begin when the Jets season is over.

Losers

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