In today's Fantasy Life Newsletter, presented by Xfinity, 4 rookies with bright outlooks, rankings risers/fallers and rookie superflex mock draft.
Any time I think about this bleak 2026 rookie crop—and their mostly unfortunate landing spots—I feel like the girl from the “Dancing While Crying” meme.
Yes, rookies are exciting. Yes, I love drafting the mystery box over the boring vets. And yes, they historically represent the best asymmetric bets you can make in drafts …
But holy hell, this class is testing my faith in those heuristics.
I did four drafts yesterday on stream and I was horrified by the lack of shiny new toys that normally sparkle when post-Draft contests launch.
I won’t pile on with any more “worst draft class evah!!!” sentiments. Instead, I’ll share which rookies I did get excited to draft yesterday:
Jeremiyah Love in Round 3 - The more I’ve thought about it, the more I think Love to the Cardinals is a blessing in disguise. Had he gone to the Titans or Commanders, there’s a real chance we would have been forced to draft him in Round 1. Considering we just did that song and dance with Ashton Jeanty last year, I’m thankful for the discount—even if the depth chart doesn’t look as “clean.”
The talent is so obviously going to win out here. All of our rankers (except Ian, the curmudgeon), have him as a top-11 RB.
Jadarian Price in Round 7 - I put this one on my wish list and I still can’t believe it happened. Price is going to get more and more … fine, I’ll say it once and only once … pricey as the summer progresses—remember how expensive TreVeyon Henderson and RJ Harvey got last year?—so pack your bags now, if possible. I took him at pick 71 in a draft yesterday. He’s a Round 4/5 guy by August.
KC Concepcion in Round 10 & Kenyon Sadiq in Round 12 - I’m lumping these two together because … no one wants to draft Browns or Jets players. And yes, I get it, but we loved both prospects (Dwain’s No. 5 and No. 6 overall rookies) and they are much cheaper than the typical WR and TE drafted in Round 1 because of the team stench. I’m willing to plug my nose and bet on talent with these two, though. In my first draft, I took Concepcion at 116 and Sadiq at 140.
The accomplishments are already significant for Ja’Marr Chase. OROY in 2021, compiling 1,455 receiving yards and 13 TDs. Again, he was a rookie! An otherworldly 127-1,708-17 Triple Crown season in 2024. Last season, with QB Joe Burrow missing nine games, Chase still posted a solid 125-1,412-8. He’s 26 and that’s his floor production. You can lock him in for more big production the next five seasons, and likely beyond.
That’s exactly what the Xfinity 5-Year Price Guarantee means for your wallet: 5 years. The same price. No contracts or commitments. Just peace of mind knowing your connection, and your cost, will go the distance. Sports can be unpredictable, but your internet price doesn’t have to be. Get a reliable price for the most reliable, fiber-powered WiFi. Only with Xfinity.
We spent so much time focusing on rookies and their landing spots, it’s easy to forget how the draft affected current players on their teams. And there were plenty who got impacted. Some got competition that may limit their opportunities, while others saw more sunny skies and extra touches. Dwain McFarland looked into the risers and fallers post-draft, and even though the Eagles haven’t done a big deal for one of their top WRs, it became pretty clear a deal is imminent. And that impacts another receiver:
With A.J. Brown likely headed out of town, DeVonta Smith gets a significant bump. Yes, Makai Lemon will challenge for opportunities, but we shouldn't expect a rookie to command a 30% target share. That means more for Smith. Over the last three seasons, Smith had a 38% target share and a 2.58 yards per route run (YPRR) on 171 routes without Brown on the field. That is elite stuff, y'all.
If Sean Mannion unlocks additional yardage in the passing game with more motion, stacked formations and innovative route combinations, there is a significant ceiling here.
Rookie Superflex Mock Draft: Mendoza or Love at 1.01?
We had our fun with the NFL Draft. Boy did we have our fun. Now comes the other fun part: Rookie dynasty drafts. Now that we know where the rookies are, dynasty leagues all over are already firing up their league chats and talking trade, because it’s rookie draft szn! And we’re here to guide you along.
Jake Trowbridge and Sam Wallace jumped in the water and did a rookie superflex mock draft, and were immediately confronted with the quandary: Jeremiyah Love or Fernando Mendoza at the 1.01? QBs are golden in superflex, but when a player like Love comes along, he has to be consideredfor the top spot. Jake and Sam talk through the logic on each player, and they keep going through an entire first round. What would you do? ⤵️
It looked like Cam Skattebo was going to get company in the Big Apple, and not the kind that would make fantasy managers happy. Jeremiyah Love ended up landing in Arizona, so Skattebo didn’t get the NFL Draft obstacle that some predicted. Now is he rising up the rankings? Ian Hartitz and Dwain McFarland discuss the players rising up and falling down the rankings.
