2026 NFL Mock for Dynasty Rookie Fantasy Football Drafts - 1st Round Picks

December 22, 2025

2026 NFL rookie mock draft for fantasy football dynasty leagues and rookie drafts. Top NFL prospects to target like Jeremiyah Love, Fernando Mendoza, and more.

In November, I put out my first 2026 rookie mock draft for fantasy football dynasty leagues. It's safe to say that in the month since then, some key things have changed. Namely, Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, who was my 1.02 pick in November, collapsed down the stretch, introducing uncertainty to his future outlook.

Meanwhile, three players have dropped out of the top 12 completely. One of those, South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers, is out because he's expected to return to school, while two others are missing from this list because other players have surpassed them in the rookie rankings.

Here's what a rookie mock draft first round looks like as of mid-December 2025.

1. Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

Yes, quarterback matters more in superflex leagues than any other position does, but Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love is just too much of a sure thing for anyone (who's not super, super desperate for a quarterback) to pass on him with the 1.01.

Love is a three-down back who ends the 2025 season with 1,372 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns while averaging 6.9 yards per carry for the second consecutive season. He's capable of making plays between the tackles but also has the high-end speed to break away from the defense. He's the only true "sure thing" skill-position player in this class.

2. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

The Heisman Trophy winner appears to be on a 2025 Cameron Ward trajectory here, by which I mean that after being mired in discussions throughout his final college season about whether or not he'll be the top quarterback drafted, Mendoza is set to emerge as the very clear No. 1 quarterback by the time the NFL Draft arrives.

His HEISMENDOZA moment 🏆👀

Relive @indianafootball's game-winning drive lead by Fernando Mendoza 🔥 pic.twitter.com/StuhB4724R

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 8, 2025

The gap between where Mendoza and Simpson are taken won't be as big as the gap between Ward and Shedeur Sanders, and the new No. 2 quarterback in this class -- Oregon's Dante Moore -- will go sooner than Jaxson Dart did in 2025, but the parallels still seem notable.

Mendoza is an accurate passer with the arm strength to push the ball down the field. He's not the world's greatest athlete, but he has enough athleticism to extend plays when pressured, even if he isn't going to add much fantasy value on the ground.

3. Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

This is a very good wide receiver draft, but Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson sticks out slightly above the rest of the receivers, making the 1.03 pick one of the most valuable ones in 2026 dynasty rookie drafts.

What really sets Tyson apart is his versatility and route running. An NFL team can stick him anywhere on the field and expect good results. He'll thrive in the short-passing game, and while he's not going to consistently hit on big plays down the field, he should be a PPR monster.

4. Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

There's one smart thing that NFL teams can do every year if they need a wide receiver: draft the best available one from Ohio State.

This year, that's Carnell Tate. He's not quite the athlete that Tyson is, but he's just as good -- if not better -- as a route runner, and Tate's also a skilled blocker, which should help him see the field immediately.

5. Dante Moore, QB, Oregon

With Simpson falling off, it looks like Oregon's Moore will emerge as the QB2 in this class. The one-year starter in Eugene answered many of the questions about his game that had been raised after a rough 2023 freshman season at UCLA.

Dante Moore dimes pic.twitter.com/TTWzZcKSGK

— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) November 30, 2025

Heading into the playoffs, Moore has completed 72.5 percent of his passes for 2,733 yards with 24 touchdowns and six interceptions. He proved to be a very good thrower this season, someone capable of putting the football anywhere it needs to go, but he struggles a bit when pressured. He also hasn't shown an ability to consistently impact the game with his legs.

6. Makai Lemon, WR, USC

There are a lot of reasons to like Makai Lemon. He's a hard-nosed receiver who can be one of the NFL's best slot guys, though his size makes it unlikely that he'll be able to play outside much in the NFL.

That shouldn't be a major concern for fantasy managers, though. Sure, it might lower his ceiling, but his ability to bring in difficult passes in the middle of the field gives him a high floor, especially in full PPR leagues.

7. Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

I had Simpson as the 1.09 throughout the process of drafting this article, but then news broke that my original 1.07 projection -- South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers -- was working on a deal to return to college. Because positional scarcity matters in dynasty drafts, that boosts Simpson up a couple of spots.

Simpson is an accurate passer who definitely understands how to operate out of the pocket, but he's also benefited from playing behind the Alabama offensive line. His lack of athleticism could prove to be an issue against NFL pass-rushers, which definitely complicates his NFL projection. He'll need to land in the right spot, but Simpson definitely has an NFL-caliber arm.

8. Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame

The gap between Love and the rest of the running backs is wide, but you could argue that the second-best back in this class is actually his Notre Dame teammate Jadarian Price.

Price hasn't had a chance to really show what he can consistently do since he's playing behind Love, but he's really popped when he's been on the field. He's got a great set of wheels on him and can turn a routine play into a long touchdown.

THE PRICE IS RIGHT ☘️

5️⃣8️⃣ YARDS

IRISH LEAD BY 3️⃣5️⃣#GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/QKHPfgjf4Q

— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) November 22, 2025

The big question with Price is if he will be a three-down back in the NFL. He probably needs to add some weight to help with his pass blocking and with staying healthy, but the skill is definitely there. In a weak running back class, I like betting on Price's upside.

9. Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

There's a bit of a gap between the top-3 wideouts and Washington's Denzel Boston, the WR4 in this class, but it's not an insurmountable gap. Boston should be a very good NFL player.

Boston is a big player, and his size will help him bully smaller defenders. He's also a sharp route runner who can get open with ease.

However, the big question with Boston is if he has the speed to be more than a possession receiver. His size makes him more of an outside option than a slot option, but his skill set is probably more suited for the slot. Something will have to give there.

10. Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

There will likely be a lot of discussion leading up to the NFL Draft about who the best tight end prospect is between Oregon's Kenyon Sadiq and Vanderbilt's Eli Stowers.

In a vacuum, I lean toward Sadiq because of his physicality and speed. He's more of a potential mismatch in the passing game and can make big plays down the field. The ceiling is higher.

However, the real answer here, as far as fantasy goes, is that whichever tight end is drafted into the better situation will be the one you should pick first.

11. Justice Haynes, RB, Michigan

Michigan running back Justice Haynes has breakaway speed and runs with aggression. However, his NFL outlook is complicated because, despite his speed, he can get lost when forced to run east-west. He also has just 13 receptions this season, so he'll likely come off the field on passing downs.

Still, he has a chance to be a value early down option for the right team. In this running back class, that's enough to make him the RB3.

12. KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

KC Concepcion has been a huge part of Texas A&M's success this season, giving quarterback Marcel Reed a major weapon. He proved this season that he was more than just a role player, showcasing an ability to consistently make big plays for the Aggies.

Concepcion's explosiveness gives him big-play upside any time he touches the ball, but he has plenty he needs to clean up. Drops have been an issue at times, and his frame is a little slight at the moment, so he might struggle against press coverage.

Dropped Out

• Nicholas Singleton, RB, Penn State
• Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
• LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina

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