5 NFL Draft Veteran Losers to Buy Low in Dynasty Fantasy Football Leagues (2026)

April 26, 2026

Dave Ventresca looks at five 2026 NFL Draft losers who managers should look to buy in their 2026 dynasty fantasy football league. These players may offer hidden value.

The 2026 NFL Draft is officially in the books. That means dynasty rookie drafts will begin shortly. The incoming rookie class did not receive as much buzz as we’ve seen in recent years. With only four quarterbacks and three running backs selected on Days 1 and 2, it’s easy to see why this was the case.

Still, just like every year, some veteran players emerged as winners following the NFL Draft, as well as a few veterans who saw their stock decline. However, just because a player is deemed a “loser” following the NFL Draft, it doesn’t mean you should immediately look to sell that player. Sometimes the opposite is true, and the NFL Draft creates unique buying opportunities for players who have seen their value decline.

Make sure you’re following RotoBaller on X and download the RotoBaller app for all your dynasty fantasy football needs. Let’s discuss five losers from the 2026 NFL Draft who managers should acquire in their dynasty fantasy football leagues.

Chris Olave - WR, New Orleans Saints

Olave comes out of the 2026 NFL Draft looking like a big loser. His status as the Saints’ "clear" WR1 is now in question after the team selected wide receiver Jordyn Tyson with the eighth overall pick. Tyson was considered by some to be the WR1 of the class, so this move looks troublesome for Olave.

However, some issues could prevent Tyson from reaching his ceiling. While he had a productive collegiate career and flashed some impressive traits on tape, he is a bit overrated as a route runner and doesn’t always understand how best to create separation against defenders.

Olave is a technician as a route runner, and this distinction between these two players could be all that’s needed to keep Olave atop the depth chart.

CHRIS OLAVE 62 YARDS

NOvsCAR on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/e9BXTPaXQb

— NFL (@NFL) November 9, 2025

The other issue working against Tyson is that he struggled to stay on the field during his time in college. Availability is often the best ability. If Tyson’s injury woes follow him to the NFL, then Olave should continue seeing plenty of targets.

In fairness, Olave has had some issues with injuries/concussions, but he put those behind him this last season and played a full 17-game slate to post the best season of his career.

This is a tricky situation because while quarterback Tyler Shough flashed as a rookie, it’s totally unknown if he’s capable of supporting two fantasy-relevant receivers. That could mean one of Olave or Tyson falls short of expectations.

Tyson is the shiny new toy, but Olave entered the league as a more refined route runner and has proved to be a very good NFL player. Tyson still has to improve as a route runner and also has to put any injury concerns to rest. These reasons make Olave one of the best post-draft buy-low targets, and he could be set for another big season in 2026.

Harold Fannin Jr. - TE, Cleveland Browns

Fannin looked poised for a major role in the Browns offense in 2026. Those plans have been thrown up in the air after the team selected wide receiver KC Concepcion in Round 1 and wide receiver Denzel Boston in Round 2.

The Browns clearly made a point to address their wide receiver room in this draft and seemed to have accomplished that goal. While that’s good news for the Browns offense, it could be bad news for Fannin’s fantasy football outlook. He now faces a ton of target competition in the form of Concepcion, Boston, and incumbent WR1 Jerry Jeudy.

However, despite these concerns, now could be an excellent time for gamers to buy Fannin. He produced fantastic numbers in college and immediately posted a 72-731-6 line as a rookie. His advanced metrics were also quite good. Among 32 tight ends with 50+ targets, Fannin finished:

• Second in missed tackles forced, per PFF
• Ninth in PFF's receiving grade
• Ninth in yards after catch, per PFF
• Ninth in yards per route run, per PFF
• 12th in yards after catch per reception, per PFF

wide open look for the rooks!#CLEvsNE on FOX and NFL+ pic.twitter.com/mgAtR67fC8

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) October 26, 2025

Also working in Fannin's favor is the fact that it can take rookie wide receivers a few years to fully develop/produce. That could mean Fannin gains an advantage in the pecking order due to his experience.

We also have to consider how NFL offenses are utilizing tight ends to attack modern defenses. The increased usage of two high-safety looks has led to offenses using tight ends as a way to produce explosive plays.

Given his strong rookie year, it’s uncertain if anyone is willing to part ways with Fannin. If there is, it would behoove managers to acquire him, especially in tight-end premium leagues.

Zach Charbonnet - RB, Seattle Seahawks

Charbonnet is currently rehabbing from a torn ACL he suffered during the NFL playoffs. His injury, combined with the departure of Kenneth Walker III in free agency, led to Seattle taking running back Jadarian Price in Round 1 of the NFL Draft.

Seahawks Draft Jadarian Price at No. 32 Overallhttps://t.co/yYwGc33AaU

— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) April 24, 2026

Seattle using a Day 1 pick on a running back doesn’t seem great for Charbonnet’s outlook. However, Price is not a flawless prospect, and there are some concerns with how he’ll translate to the NFL.

He did not receive a ton of work in college. Most of that can be attributed to him playing behind Jeremiyah Love, but it’s still concerning nonetheless. Price also has a major fumbling issue. If he cannot fix that, it has the potential to derail his career.

We don’t know exactly when Charbonnet will return to the field, but we know how highly the current Seahawks regime thinks of him. Charbonnet also played well in 2026 and posted career highs in carries, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns. He also scored well in several advanced metrics. Among 49 running backs with 100+ attempts, Charbonnet finished:

• Third in PFF rushing grade
• Eighth in PFF's Elusive Rating
• 11th in PFF's yards after contact per attempt
• 15th in PFF's missed tackles forced

While Price will begin the 2026 season with a golden opportunity to receive the lion's share of the work, it’s unknown if he’ll play well enough to hold onto that role for the entirety of the year.

Charbonnet carved out a big role last year playing alongside the more talented Kenneth Walker III. Odds are good he’ll have a role alongside Price whenever he does return to the field. And if Price cannot live up to the billing as a first-round pick, Charbonnet could emerge as the team’s top rusher. That seems like enough to take a cheap flyer on Charbonnet.

Matthew Stafford - QB, Los Angeles Rams

After the Rams selected Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick, Stafford is not necessarily an immediate loser, per se, as the Rams made it clear he is still the team's QB1.

However, the selection of Simpson means the Rams have started planning for Stafford’s eventual departure. Exactly when that happens is unknown, but wherever Stafford plays once his Rams tenure is finished will most certainly be a downgrade compared to his current situation.

For now, though, Stafford remains the Rams' unquestioned QB1 and is fresh off an incredible 2025 season that saw him capture his first career NFL MVP Award.

Stafford to Adams at the goal line is automatic

LARvsCAR on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/toMZiZqs1k

— NFL (@NFL) November 30, 2025

Even though his successor has been drafted, Stafford showed he still has plenty of juice left and can be a great QB2 option for managers in superflex leagues. If you need a quarterback and someone in your league wants to sell Stafford after this weekend, now is a good time to get a deal done for the reigning NFL MVP.

Kirk Cousins - QB, Las Vegas Raiders

To the surprise of no one, the Raiders selected quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick in the NFL Draft.

Raiders Select Fernando Mendoza With First Overall Pickhttps://t.co/4K2E65rw3h

— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) April 24, 2026

Mendoza was obviously drafted to be the Raiders' new franchise quarterback. However, gamers should not completely forget about Cousins in the process. He recently signed a five-year, $172 million deal with the club, but it is effectively a one-year deal for $20 million fully guaranteed.

This is noteworthy because head coach Klint Kubiak has gone on record saying he believes rookie quarterbacks should sit and learn behind a veteran before taking the field. The team’s signing of Cousins seems to indicate that’s the plan for Mendoza and means Cousins will likely operate as the Raiders’ QB1 for most, if not all, of the 2026 season.

Cousins is not the same player from his heyday with the Minnesota Vikings. However, he might not be totally washed and could still be a viable starting quarterback in the right environment. Teaming up with his former offensive coordinator could help him start the final act of his career on a high note.

Cousins' time as the Raiders starter is limited, and he might be sent to the bench as soon as training camp if Mendoza proves to be the vastly superior option. Still, if you’re in a superflex league and are looking for a cheap quarterback, Cousins is a good name to target. If the stars align, he could return a mid-range QB2 value.

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