January 6, 2026

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza has the Hoosiers still alive in the College Football Playoff and has not officially declared for the 2026 NFL Draft. However, he's the overwhelming favorite to be the No. 1 pick in April if he forgoes his final year of collegiate eligibility, and the expectation is that he will do so when Indiana's season comes to an end. The QB-needy Las Vegas Raiders officially have the No. 1 pick, so it's easy to connect the dots in the offseason. Mendoza, the 2025 Heisman Trophy Winner, has thrown for 3,172 yards, 36 touchdowns, and six interceptions through his first 14 games this year. He's added 256 yards and six scores as a runner. The Miami native isn't a high-end dual-threat quarterback, but he's a tactical scrambler with a touch of rushing upside. Mendoza isn't the most impressive athlete, but he's viewed as an NFL-ready prospect with a great command of the position. If he ends up in Las Vegas, his rookie-season ceiling likely won't excite fantasy managers, but he'd become a valuable piece for a rebuilding superflex dynasty manager. He's projected to be a better "real life" quarterback than fantasy quarterback, but a signal-caller with No. 1 overall pick draft capital has job security baked into his value through a dynasty lens.--Jackson Sparks - RotoBaller
Source: ESPN