Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Final Pre-Draft Rankings (2026)

April 22, 2026

RotoBaller's updated rookie fantasy football rankings for the 2026. These tiered rookie rankings are from before the 2026 NFL Draft and include all positions.

The NFL Draft is almost here, and it's time to check in on RotoBaller's final pre-NFL Draft dynasty rookie rankings for fantasy football. There will be major shake-ups after prospects officially land on new teams, but some leagues draft rookies right before the real NFL Draft. We're here to help.

We will update these rookie rankings all offseason long, and there will be major shake-ups based on all of the NFL prospect offseason activities, including the NFL Draft. It's never too early to start your research and homework on rising NFL players, so let's get to it! These updated 2026 rookie rankings are put together by Matt Donnelly, Phil Clark, Jackson Sparks, and Andrew Lalama.

In addition to these rookie rankings, in our 2026 fantasy football rankings dashboard, you will also find our team's Dynasty League rankings. Bookmark that page, and use it to prepare for all of your 2026 fantasy football dynasty league drafts.

Rookie Fantasy Football Rankings (Pre-NFL Draft)

Check out our PPR fantasy football rankings and standard (non-PPR) fantasy football rankings as well:

Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings Player Outlooks & News

Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

The Arizona Cardinals are linked to Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson "more than any other team," according to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports. Jones adds that the "noise across the league is impossible to ignore." He has the Cardinals mocked to trade up four spots with the Miami Dolphins to No. 30 overall in the first round on Thursday night in the 2026 NFL draft to take Simpson. The 6-foot-1, 211-pound quarterback only started in his final season at Alabama, which has many draft analysts questioning how quickly he can develop into a starting-caliber QB in the NFL.

If he were to land in Arizona, Simpson would likely compete with Gardner Minshew for the No. 2 job in the desert behind veteran Jacoby Brissett in 2026. Simpson was considered a lock to be a first-rounder back in March, but his stock has fallen somewhat, and he could slip into the early portion of Day 2 this Friday. In dynasty/keeper leagues, any fantasy managers who select Simpson need to be prepared to be patient.

Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt

The Athletic's Chad Graff writes that one of the few certainties in this year's 2026 NFL draft for the New England Patriots is that they will "exit with a tight end who is a strong receiver." The Patriots desperately need a pass-catching complement to the all-around play of Hunter Henry and the blocking prowess of Julian Hill. Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers "would check that box in a big way," according to Graff. The Patriots last drafted a TE within the first two rounds back in 2010, when they took Rob Gronkowski.

Henry is entering the final year of his contract in 2026. Stowers has some work to do as a blocker as he heads to the next level, but he could give New England a mismatch weapon in the passing game alongside Henry this year. Austin Hooper served as the pass-catching complement to Henry last year, but he left in free agency to rejoin the Atlanta Falcons. Stowers profiles as a joker tight end in the NFL, and he's generally projected to be a Day 2 pick in the second or third round, but there's a chance he could sneak into the first round this Thursday night.

Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

ESPN's Jordan Reid is mocking Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love to the Washington Commanders in the first round of this year's NFL draft at No. 7 overall. Love is widely considered the best overall prospect in this year's draft class, and he's an explosive playmaker waiting to happen. Reid believes that Love "would unlock multiple layers" of Washington's playbook that they couldn't access in 2025. Adding Love in the backfield would be a huge boost to quarterback Jayden Daniels as he looks to bounce back from an injury-plagued year in his second season in the NFL.

Love rushed for 1,372 yards and a whopping 18 touchdowns last year for the Fighting Irish and had 39 runs of 10-plus yards, which was fourth-most in college football. A landing spot in D.C. would make Love quite attractive in both dynasty and redraft leagues in 2025. Other potential landing spots for Love in the top 10 picks in this year's draft include the Cardinals, Titans, and Giants. The Commanders could represent one of the best opportunities for the clear top RB in the 2026 NFL draft.

Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee

Tennessee wide receiver prospect Chris Brazzell II continues to turn heads ahead of the NFL Draft, with most mocks projecting him in the middle of the second round. As a redshirt junior in the SEC last year, Brazzell caught 62 passes for 1,017 yards and a conference-high nine touchdowns. He's viewed as an immediate No. 3 receiver in the NFL, with the upside to develop into an impactful No. 2 or even low-end No. 1. At 6-foot-4, he's a big-bodied receiver with large, reliable hands.

He lacks the speed and elusiveness needed to blow by defenders, but he can still beat them in 1-on-1 situations with his size. From a fantasy perspective, Brazzell's outlook will depend on his landing spot. If he does slot in as an immediate No. 3, he might not have redraft appeal in 2026. However, there's plenty of dynasty upside here. As it stands, Brazzell is the #14 prospect and #8 wide receiver in RotoBaller's latest rookie fantasy football rankings.

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