The 2026 NFL Draft is in the books and that means it is officially dynasty fantasy football season. We will have you covered on positional breakdowns first thing Monday, but in the mean time, here’s a preview of some of the players that should be on your radar.
Dynasty Fantasy Football Quick Hits: 2026 Rookie Class
QB Fernando Mendoza (1st overall pick, Las Vegas Raiders)
Fernando Mendoza was the first overall pick, heading to the Las Vegas Raiders. Last season, Mendoza completed 72% of his passes for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns, with only 6 interceptions. He also ran for 276 yards and 7 touchdowns on 90 carries, leading Indiana to an undefeated season and a national championship.
Mendoza has polished mechanics, a strong arm, toughness, and underrated mobility. He’s also very accurate, at least when he isn’t under pressure. When defenders got to him, his accuracy and efficiency dropped. He wasn’t bad, just a bit more inconsistent.
Mendoza brings both a solid baseline and real potential for growth. His football IQ and ball placement should help him pass efficiently in the NFL. He’s also shown he can score in the red zone, especially with Brock Bowers as a main target.
His ability to run adds extra value. It’s realistic to expect 300 to 400 rushing yards and a few touchdowns in a season. However, Klint Kubiak’s offense doesn’t usually feature high passing volume.
Mendoza is a strong late first-round rookie draft option for teams that need a quarterback in 1-QB leagues. He’s a good bet to start as a rookie and has the potential to become a reliable starter in the future. In a year with an uncertain rookie class, Mendoza looks like a safe pick who can contribute right away.
RB Jadarian Price (32nd overall pick, Seattle Seahawks)
Price brings a combination of size and speed. He runs downhill with more of a one-cut running style. He’s also shown good vision and can be successful when trying to find running lanes.
Try it: FREE Dynasty Fantasy Football Trade Calculator
He can also be a productive runner outside the box on stretch plays. He’s also displayed deceptive quickness to accelerate and outrun defenders’ angles. Price’s ability to change directions and continue to gain positive yards while cutting is unmatched, and he’s also displayed good contact balance. Ball security is an area of improvement, but if he tightens it up then there are no limits to how much impact he can make as a rookie.
Yes, Price was never the starter at Notre Dame, but the fact that they were comfortable taking Jeremiyah Love off the field for significant periods of time speaks volumes about how good Price is. Price also possesses elite vision in the open field and enough speed to turn short runs into big plays, just look at the three kick returns he ran back for touchdowns last year.
The Seahawks need to replace Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III, which won’t be easy, but Price, with his inside/outside slasher ability, is a great fit with Zach Charbonnet.
WR Jordyn Tyson (8th overall pick, 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.
Check It Out: Round 2 Pass Catchers With Dynasty Appeal
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.
This is more of an overall concern, though. The reality is Tyson will matter for fantasy this season and should be a top 36 WR in redraft leagues.
