Dynasty Rookie Draft Sleepers To Target: Kaelon Black Is The Handcuff To Draft In 2026
Sam Wallace highlights four sleepers to target in your 2026 dynasty rookie drafts.
A favorite pastime of dynasty managers everywhere is trying to identify their dynasty rookie draft sleepers. The 2026 draft class certainly has some studs across the board, but let's take a closer look to see just how deep this class truly is. Here are four potential targets for you, all of whom are currently ranked outside of the top-24 in our dynasty fantasy football rookie rankings.
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Sleepers To Target In 2026 Dynasty Rookie Drafts
Emmett Johnson | RB | KC
Following the departure of Isiah Pacheco, the Kansas City Chiefs went out and signed Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker to be the face of their backfield. Then, they traded up to snag Emmett Johnson out of Nebraska in the fifth round last month.
With relatively weak options behind Walker, there's a legitimate chance Johnson could work his way onto the field sooner rather than later.
Coming in at No. 5 in our Rooke RB Model, Johnson was a late bloomer who never really did much until his final season in college. However, that final season was pretty special. Courtesy of Rotoballer, Johnson was the only player in college to average 150+ total yards per game last year. In addition, he finished first in the Big 10 with 1,451 rushing yards and finished second among all RBs in receptions (46). He capped off last season by also scoring 15 TDs.
Dwain McFarland gives these three players as Johnson's closest comps in his Super Model:
It's a mixed bag, but landing with the Chiefs could give the edge to a more positive, long-term outlook. We'll have to wait and see how Patrick Mahomes (knee) rehabs this summer and if he's a full-go by Week 1. Regardless, the offense will funnel through Walker as an elite offensive stabilizer.
Johnson certainly offers intrigue for his profile (both production and film), and his offensive situation should unlock additional opportunities for him as early as Year 1. Overall, he's a worthy dynasty selection and probably won't spend too long on your Taxi Squad before landing on your active roster.
Kaelon Black | RB | SF
Much like the aforementioned Johnson, the landing spot for Kaelon Black is doing a lot of the heavy lifting here, especially when you consider his advanced age (for a rookie).
The 49ers spent a third-round pick on the 24-year-old out of Indiana. In his National Championship season, Black racked up:
- 186 rushing attempts
- 1,040 rushing yards (5.6 YPC)
- 10 TDs
His range of outcomes is pretty broad heading into the 2026 season, but his dynasty appeal is certainly evident. The 49ers offense will continue to run through Christian McCaffrey for as long as CMC's body will hold up. Behind him, both Jordan James and Isaac Guerendo have flashed when given the opportunity, but the team spending a Day 2 pick on an RB matters quite a bit.
If I had to make the call right now, James would begin the season as the RB2 behind CMC, but between James, Guerendo and Black, the incoming rookie has the most intrigue in dynasty formats. Normally, I'd hesitate about drafting an almost-25-year-old RB; however, if that player is a Day 2 pick that lands on a Kyle Shanahan-led offense, that more than makes up for it.
Dynasty managers should feel comfortable drafting Black and even taking him a bit earlier than ADP, especially if you also roster CMC.
Max Klare | TE | LAR
If there's one position the Rams don't mind being flush with, it's TEs.
Heading into this season, you can find reasons to be optimistic about Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson, Terrance Ferguson and now Max Klare. So, what does this mean for dynasty managers? Let's start with the latest addition to the room: Klare.
The Rams spent a second-round pick on Klare, who spent three seasons with Purdue before playing out his fourth season with Ohio State. His best statistical year came in 2024 with Purdue when he tallied 51 receptions for 685 yards and four TDs.
In our Rookie TE Model, Klare came in at No. 3 (72), right behind Eli Stowers (73), with Kenyon Sadiq finishing as the TE1. For some context, he's right in line with Ferguson, whom the Rams drafted in the second round last year. A few other notable TEs with similar Model Scores include Mark Andrews (73), Greg Dulcich (71) and Tucker Kraft (71).
Normally, I'd say following the money, or in this class, the draft capital. Higbee signed a two-year extension, but he's already 33 years old. Ferguson and Klare were both second-round picks in the last two draft classes, which means they're likely not going anywhere anytime soon. That could leave Parkinson as the odd man out.
Regardless, I am fine stashing Klare on my Taxi Squad in the hopes he can rise to the top of that crowded position group. Even so, the Rams are on the brink of life after Matthew Stafford, so this offense could look quite different in the next several years.
Malachi Fields | WR | NYG
Here's a final prospect to consider in your dynasty rookie drafts: Malachi Fields.
After spending four seasons at Virginia, he transferred to Notre Dame for a fifth year. He'll be 24 years old before Week 1 and still managed to become a Day 2 (Round 3) draft pick for the New York Giants.
This is one of those situations where age generally does make a difference, at least historically. RBs can overcome the age barrier with ample opportunity on the field, but the same just doesn't tend to hold true for wideouts. The Giants do need help at the position, though. Outside of Malik Nabers, we're talking about guys like Darius Slayton, Darnell Mooney and Jalin Hyatt.
If there was ever a chance for a big-bodied (6-foot-4/222 lbs) rookie to make an impact, this could be it. On an offense still developing under Jaxson Dart, Fields could be a nice weapon as the season progresses. In the end, Justin Carlucci summed it up perfectly:
The profile is a boundary body-catcher, whose fantasy path runs through a specific kind of offense: vertical, willing to throw contested, and patient enough to wait for him to develop more of a route tree.
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