Fantasy Football Rookies To Buy In Dynasty Leagues (2026)

February 23, 2026

Which fantasy football rookies should managers buy in dynasty leagues? Dominick Petrillo looks at eight 2026 rookies who you should buy in early dynasty drafts.

If there is one thing we know about football, it is that if you want a running back, you want them early. Running backs in the NFL over the age of 30 are going the way of the Dodo bird. This means finding one at an early age is important to your dynasty league success. This is why players like Omarion Hampton and Ashton Jeanty were taken early in dynasty drafts.

Running backs are not the only players we need. Some wide receivers and quarterbacks will also make a difference. Choosing the correct ones can make or break a roster.

Here is a list of some players to look at if you have an early dynasty draft in 2026. Of course, we do not know where these players will land yet. But the same was said before and after A.J. Brown was taken by the Tennessee Titans.

Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

What can be said about Mendoza that has not been mentioned already?

After transferring from Cal to Indiana for his final season, the 6-foot-5, 225-pound QB from Miami led the Indiana Hoosiers to an improbable undefeated season and a national championship, the first for Indiana University and head coach Curt Cignetti.

Being the next No. 1 selection in the NFL Draft is all but a certainty for Mendoza. This means a trip to Las Vegas and an attempt to fix the Raiders alongside new head coach Klint Kubiak.

While he will be happy to have Brock Bowers at TE, the rest of the offense leaves a lot to be desired. He will be forced to perform more miracles in Las Vegas, much harder miracles than his game-winning drive against Penn State and his enormous game against a talented Oregon defense in the Peach Bowl. This completed a season in which the Heisman Trophy winner finished with 3,535 yards with 41 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Mendoza has the mindset to be successful. He also has the size to be the prototypical franchise QB the Raiders need to compete in an ever-ascending AFC West. If Las Vegas can surround Mendoza with more talent, he will be the linchpin for many years to come on your dynasty team.

Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

The Heisman Trophy favorite for much of the season, Simpson was a magician on third and fourth downs, especially late in games for the Crimson Tide.

The running game for Alabama left a lot to be desired. Simpson, after waiting behind Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe, took his opportunity to shine.

At 6-foot-2 and 208 pounds, Simpson is not the massive size of Mendoza. But he has enough athleticism to make plays and find receivers downfield with 3,567 yards and 28 TDs to just five INTs in his lone year as a starter.

It will be interesting to see where Simpson lands for his future. With Dante Moore returning to Oregon for his final season, Simpson is the QB2 on many boards. This will make him a first-round selection.

The best bet for Simpson is to be drafted by a team like the Los Angeles Rams, who will be looking to replace newly minted MVP Matthew Stafford soon.

If this is his landing, he can learn behind a veteran for a season before potentially taking over in 2027. He may not be Patrick Mahomes taking over for Alex Smith, but he is talented and will have talented weapons surrounding him in the Sean McVay offense.

Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

A massive reason Notre Dame made the championship game in the 2024 season, Love returned in 2025 and dominated the backfield for the Irish alongside fellow back Jadarian Price.

Love finished the 2025 season with 1,372 rush yards and 18 TDs on the ground while also catching 27 receptions for 280 yards and an additional three receiving TDs for the Irish. His dual-threat ability will make him a valued member of whatever team he joins.

Ashton Jeanty, the No. 6 selection in 2025 for the Las Vegas Raiders, was talented, but many analysts have stated that Love is a better prospect. He also has less mileage on the tires, as he was able to split his time with Price. Thus, this makes him a better candidate to have a better rookie season.

Love, who can be a three-down back, will be just as happy to be on a committee. His physical style and vision will lead him to be the first back in those committees and make him first in your heart for dynasty running back rooms.

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE☘️

THERE. HE. GOES. #GoIrish☘️ | @JeremiyahLove pic.twitter.com/C2cSTYLo2N

— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) November 15, 2025

Nicholas Singleton, RB, Penn State

While Love spent 2025 on a committee, Singleton spent his entire college career in one at Penn State.

Coming out of high school, Singleton was the Gatorade National Player of the Year and the No. 1-ranked recruit at the position. He remained loyal to his home state of Pennsylvania for four years, even as Kaytron Allen continued to usurp a portion of his carries.

With only 123 carries for 559 yards in 2025, Singleton did not have monster numbers. But he compiled 13 rushing TDs on those 123 carries, showing his innate ability to find the end zone.

At 6 feet and 224 pounds, Singleton can be a bruiser. But his speed allows him to be more elusive and faster than his teammate Allen. This allowed Singleton to gain big yardage when the Nittany Lions needed it. This will also be his biggest benefit to a team that drafts him in the middle rounds of the NFL Draft.

Singleton would make a perfect complement to a player such as Derrick Henry in Baltimore or as a replacement for Zach Charbonnet in Seattle.

KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

After two solid seasons with the NC State Wolfpack, Concepcion took the bag and left for the Aggies in College Station, Texas. He made an excellent choice.

Having one of the easiest schedules in the SEC, Texas A&M used Concepcion to the fullest as he finished with 61 receptions for 919 yards and nine receiving TDs. On top of this production, Concepcion also made major contributions on special teams and finished with 75 yards and one TD on 10 rushes. While not a WR1 in the NFL at 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, Concepcion will make a difference as a WR3.

Although he may be bumped up to a first-round dynasty selection, if you can grab him in the second round, he could be a productive contributor for you for the better part of a decade.

KC CONCEPCION TAKES THE PUNT RETURN BACK FOR THE TD 🔥

The Aggies extend the lead 👀 pic.twitter.com/sNF1o01FHn

— ESPN (@espn) October 26, 2025

Makai Lemon, WR, USC

USC was disappointing in 2025. Lemon was not.

As WR1 for the Trojans, Lemon finished with 79 receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 TDs. This showed his ability to take over an offense and raise the level of a team that was struggling mightily in other areas of the game.

Lincoln Riley has not yet shown the ability to get USC over the hump. This was something all fans were hoping for when getting the coach from Oklahoma.

The 5-foot-11 and 195-pound Lemon is a comparable size to Concepcion but has more talent and is a higher-level receiver.

Heading into this draft, Lemon could make an elite WR2 for a team that has a top WR1. A landing spot with the Los Angeles Rams alongside Puka Nacua or even heading to the Eagles as DeVonta Smith looks to take the role of A.J. Brown would make Lemon a star.

If he heads to a team that prefers to run the ball and minimize the passing game, he could be another in an extensive line of what ifs!

A dot to Makai Lemon in the endzone! TOUCHDOWN @uscfb ✌️ pic.twitter.com/s8wjizLzI5

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 15, 2025

Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson

Before the season, Clemson had a No. 4 ranking in the polls, and upward of seven players were considered for a first-round draft pick. This is why we do not play games on paper.

Clemson limped to a 6-6 record in the regular season, and the likelihood of even four Clemson players going in Round 1 is next to none.

Williams is one of those players who was once thought to be a high pick. After his own disappointing season, he now looks to be a Day 2 pick at best. This could benefit him, though.

Instead of coming into the NFL with all the expectations of Sammy Watkins or Mike Williams, he can now enter the league like Deebo Samuel Sr. or Tee Higgins.

Much like Samuel, Williams can also be used all over the field, having 55 receptions for 609 yards and 13 rushes for 78 yards during his final season in college. He did so while missing two games with injury and sitting out the bowl game.

While this draft is not heavy on big receivers, Williams is another one of those 5-foot-11, 190-pound guys who can make plays in the NFL for the right team. Any team that gets Williams will hope he can find his form from 2024, when he finished with 75 receptions, 904 yards, and 11 TDs.

Of all the receivers listed here, Williams may have the highest upside and is worth the highest draft selection in your dynasty league.

Max Klare, TE, Ohio State

Klare came over from Purdue for two reasons: to win a national championship and make the NFL.

While his first goal flopped like an NBA player trying to get a foul call, he has succeeded in his goal of being better prepared for the NFL.

With the likes of Carnell Tate, Jeremiah Smith, and Brandon Inniss holding defenses with their talent, Klare was able to find open seams while also being one of the best blocking tight ends in the country. This will allow him to be a benefit in all aspects for the team that drafts him in the mid rounds.

At 6-foot-5 and 243 pounds, Klare is of average size for a tight end. But despite being on the field with the best collection of wide receivers in the nation, he still caught 43 passes for 448 yards and had two TDs.

While he may not be a blocker of Rob Gronkowski or George Kittle's level, he does have the ability to get downfield and become the best friend of his new QB.

Many teams will be looking to replace tight ends this offseason. From the Titans to the Rams, Klare could find a good fit in many offenses. Unless you are in a TE-premium dynasty league, you will not be forced to draft him highly, either. This makes him even better.

With Smith and Tate out, Max Klare has reminded everyone that Ohio State also has one of the best tight ends in the country.

The Purdue transfer is now over 100 yards today. Another playmaker for defenses to worry about in the CFP. pic.twitter.com/3aLwmHHrxE

— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) November 22, 2025

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