For a long time, one of the biggest edges in fantasy football has been rookies. Year after year, they represent some of the best picks fantasy managers can make. With the 2026 class one of the weakest in recent memory, managers need to be a bit more selective. These are the rookies set to have the biggest impact in redraft leagues this year.
Jeremiyah Love, RB, Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals stunned the league by taking Jeremiyah Love with the third overall pick. From a traditional football perspective, the move is baffling. Arizona finished last season with the No. 29 defense in PFSN Impact Score. Their current starting quarterback, Jacoby Brissett, struggled to a 1-11 record. This roster has holes across the offensive line and secondary that many expected the front office to address. Instead, they opted for an explosive athlete to sell jerseys and provide a spark.
While the real-life logic is questionable, the fantasy environment is pretty good. You do not invest a top-three pick in a running back to put him in a committee with replacement-level talents (unless you’re Arthur Smith, who was fired for good reason).
Love is walking into a situation where he will likely be a true workhorse. Even on a bad team, volume remains the ultimate currency. We saw Bam Knight and Michael Carter find stretches of relevance in this system last year. Love is an elite talent who should easily surpass 300 touches.
History suggests that top 10 running backs are as close to a sure thing as exists in this game. Since 2012, players like Ezekiel Elliott, Saquon Barkley, and Christian McCaffrey have dominated after being selected early. Even recent additions like Bijan Robinson and Ashton Jeanty maintained high floors despite team struggles. None of those players averaged fewer than 14.0 points per game in their debut seasons. Love should follow that same trajectory.
In redraft leagues, Love belongs in the borderline first-round conversation. He sits in a tier alongside Omarion Hampton and James Cook.
While the Cardinals might lose a lot of games, Love is not at risk of being shut down late in the season. Unlike veterans who might be preserved for next year, rookies are often used more heavily as the season progresses. His workload is secure regardless of the record.
Carnell Tate, WR, Tennessee Titans
This is about as good a landing spot as we could’ve hoped for. Cam Ward showed improvement toward the end of last season, and now the Titans have a new coaching staff to hopefully help him ascend even further.
Carnell Tate becomes the most talented wide receiver in Tennessee the instant he steps on the field for the first time. Wan’Dale Robinson is a solid player, but he more of a complementary WR2 than the primary target he was forced to be in New York last year following the Malik Nabers injury. Calvin Ridley is 31 years old, coming off a significant injury and the worst season of his career.
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Tate is a downfield threat capable of making splash plays. He can also run precise routes and be utilized underneath.
While certainly not a bulletproof prospect, Tate comes with a high foor and is very likely to matter in fantasy football immediately.
Jordyn Tyson, WR, New Orleans Saints
The Saints’ drafting Jordyn Tyson at No. 8 overall is a logical move for a team needing secondary options. New Orleans has very little established talent at wide receiver behind Chris Olave.
While Tyson does not have the profile to be the top option on the team, the fit is excellent. Olave is the clear alpha who wins on the outside. Tyson spent his college career as a primary slot receiver. This allows both players to stay in their natural roles without stepping on each other’s toes.
Targets in this offense will likely consolidate around this duo. Tyson will not necessarily steal Olave’s work. Instead, he will vacuum up the opportunities previously distributed among the lower-level depth pieces.
Draft capital is one of the most predictive metrics for success. Being the second receiver off the board and a top ten pick gives Tyson a very high floor. However, there are red flags that managers must weigh.
Tyson has a significant injury history. He tore nearly every ligament in his knee during his collegiate career. More recently, he has struggled with persistent hamstring issues. These durability concerns could be a problem for his long-term outlook.
There is also a historical hurdle to consider regarding his collegiate career length. Tyson is not an early declare. History has been unkind to receivers who stay in school longer. Since 2011, no non-early declare first-round wide receiver has averaged more than 14.0 points per game across their first three seasons.
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This is more of an overall concern, though. The reality is that Tyson will matter for fantasy this season and should be a top 36 WR in redraft leagues.
Jadarian Price, RB, Seattle Seahawks
Apparently, this is the Seahawks’ thing. They trade into the back end of the first round to take a running back who has no business being drafted there. It is no hyperbole to say that Jadarian Price has one of, if not the worst prospect profile for a Round 1 RB in NFL history.
Price never surpassed 120 carries in a single collegiate season. He has no receiving profile to speak of with just 15 career receptions. Most notably, Price has never started a football game above the high school level.
Of course, this is easily explained. Jeremiyah Love was the starter. By no means am I saying Price is dead on arrival. He’s on this list, isn’t he?
Fantasy managers should certainly approach Price with a high degree of skepticism. The reality is, based on what we saw transpire in Day 2 of the NFL Draft, Seattle very likely could’ve waited on Price.
They didn’t, though. Price did receive first-round draft capital, which signals an intention to use him.
Volume is king in fantasy football. Zach Charbonnet will start the season on PUP and is unlikely to be ready until the second half. Kenneth Walker III is in Kansas City. Emanuel Wilson is a 27-year-old journeyman former UDFA. Price projects to start immediately in a good offense.
Price will dictate whether he’s a target, but there’s no denying Price (the player) will matter
Antonio Williams, WR, Washington Commanders
Antonio Williams? Not KC Concepcion, Omar Cooper Jr., or Denzel Boston? Yes. I firmly believe that Williams is more likely to make an impact as a rookie in fantasy football.
If the Browns drafted one wide receiver, his name would probably also be on this list. The fact that they took both Concepcion and Boston decreases the likelihood of either making an impact. The Jets did something similar with Kenyon Sadiq and Cooper.
That brings us to Williams. Obviously, far from a complete prospect, this one is mostly about landing spot. The Commanders do not have a viable second option in the passing game behind Terry McLaurin, who, coincidentally, was also a third round pick.
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We rarely see rookie WRs taken outside the top 50 picks or so make an impact, so I’m definitely going out on a limb a bit here. Williams is a four-year player who had solid production at a premium program in Clemson as a freshman, posting 604 yards. His true breakout came in his junior year when he caught 75 passes for 94 yards and an ACC-high 11 touchdowns.
This one is about opportunity. As things currently stand, Williams has a great chance to carve out an immediate role as Jayden Daniels’ No. 2 option. The Commanders’ offense as a whole should rebound after a dismal 2025 season marred by Daniels’ inability to stay healthy.
Of course, there is the risk that Washington trades for Brandon Aiyuk, which would put a significant damper on Williams’ chances of being fantasy relevant. But in a class that truly lacks superstar rookies beyond Love, Williams is a cheap late-round dart throw who is worth the swing.
