Award-Winning Fantasy Football Advice

The 49ers drafted Indiana RB Kaelon Black in Round 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft. Black spent his first two seasons at James Madison, emerging as a sophomore with 891 total yards and a 27-254-4 receiving line. He followed HC Curt Cignetti to Indiana and, after a quiet 2024, earned a larger role last fall. Black held the 1B role behind fellow prospect Roman Hemby, posting 186-1040-10 (5.6 yards per carry). He was a non-factor in the passing game, though, mustering only 4 receptions for 36 yards. Overall, Black presents adequate size (5’9, 208 pounds) and a low pad level that helps him fight through contact. He posted a solid 3.47 yards after contact per attempt in 2025. Still, this is a surprising selection considering Black wasn't invited to the NFL Combine. He was graded by The Athletic's Dane Brugler as a 5th-6th round value.

The Miami Dolphins selected Louisville WR Chris Bell in Round 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft. At 6’2 and 222 pounds, Bell looks the part of an NFL starter with red-zone upside. He adds the strength and enough long speed to stress defenses, with insider Jordan Schultz writing last month that Bell’s “in-game GPS tracked him at low 4.3 speed in full pads.” Bell also improved his production each year, capping his career with a 72-917-6 line. An ACL tear on Nov. 22 clouds his short-term outlook and kept him out of Combine drills, but the 2025 season still offered reasons for optimism. Bell’s 2.55 yards per route run ranked 22nd among 105 WRs with 80+ targets. And his 41.2% Dominator Rating, which measures a WR’s share of team receiving yards and TDs, ranked third in this class behind Jordyn Tyson and Denzel Boston.

The Chicago Bears selected LSU WR Zacion Thomas in Round 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft. Thomas was a special teams ace who started for a year and a half at LSU. He flashed gadget ability, but little else while with the Tigers. His 4.28 speed makes Thomas an intriguing deep threat and special teams player. Among the 53 Combine WRs, Thomas ranked 43rd in average depth of target (9.0) and 46th in yards per route run (1.5). He will likely have a significant impact on special teams.

The New York Giants selected Notre Dame WR Malachi Fields with the 74th pick overall in Round 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft. Fields bet on himself after earning third-team All-ACC honors at Virginia in 2024 (58-808-5), transferring to Notre Dame for his fifth season. The spotlight got brighter, but the production didn’t. Fields tallied 36 catches, 640 yards, and 5 TDs for a run-leaning offense. He ranked second on the team in target share, reception share, and receiving yards share. Fields’ statistical decline raised questions about how much situation drove his earlier output. But his traits still demand attention. At 6’4 and 220 pounds, Fields looks the part of an NFL boundary receiver. He brings a wide catch radius, dependable hands in space, and better run-after-catch ability than most receivers his size.

The Buccaneers selected Georgia State WR Ted Hurst in Round 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft. Hurst spent two years at Division II Valdosta State before jumping to FBS-level Georgia State. He set a school record for TD receptions in his first season while averaging 17.2 yards per catch. He followed that with a first-team all-conference season in 2025. The numbers pop: 71 catches, 999 yards, and 6 scores. Primarily an outside player, Hurst posted a nice 14.1 yards per catch and 2.42 yards per route run. At 6’4 and 206 pounds, Hurst looks like an NFL boundary receiver. He pairs size and catch radius with vertical speed. His 34 receptions of 20+ yards across 2024-2025 led all FBS receivers. He’ll need to improve his hands, though, with drop rates of 9.0% and 9.7% over the past two seasons.

The Miami Dolphins selected Ohio State TE Will Kacmarek in Round 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft. Kacmarek started his career at Ohio University with a two-year stint as their top blocking TE. He combined for 42 catches for 527 yards but only 2 TDs over that time. He transferred up to Ohio State and settled as the No. 2 TE behind Gee Scott. He only caught 8 passes in 2024. The Buckeyes brought in Max Klare as the lead pass catcher, but Kacmarek’s elite blocking made him a mainstay in 12 personnel. He went 15-168-2, but drew NFL interest thanks to that blocking. Among the 27 TEs invited to the NFL Combine, Kacmarek ranked 24th in 2025 aDOT (5.5), and last in team market share of receiving yards (9.1%). He ranked 22nd in 2025 receiving yards per team pass attempt (0.81) and 16th in receiving yards per route run (1.46). He is currently 23 years old

The Carolina Panthers selected Tennessee WR Chris Brazzell II in Round 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft. After a shoulder injury limited him to two games in 2022, Brazzell rebounded in 2023 with 44 catches, 771 yards, and 5 TDs at Tulane. From there, he transferred to Tennessee, but his numbers dipped. Brazzell posted a 29-333-2 line on a poor 50% catch rate, hurt by an ugly 17.1% drop rate. His 1.23 yards per route run ranked 242nd among 260 qualifying WRs. Brazzell put his best work on film in 2025, as he led the SEC in regular-season receiving yards. He cleaned up the drops and turned into one of the nation’s top downfield threats with a 13-509-6 line on deep targets alone. At 6’4, 198 pounds, Brazzell confirmed his speed at the NFL Combine with a 4.37 forty-yard dash.

The Steelers added Penn State QB Drew Allar in Round 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft. A former five-star recruit, Allar arrived at Penn State with major expectations and became a three-year starter. He flashed early, even setting an FBS record with 311 straight pass attempts without an INT. His best season came in 2024, when he threw for 3,327 yards with 24 TDs and 8 INTs while helping Penn State reach the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. But Allar’s stock dipped in 2025. He returned to school despite NFL interest, then managed just 1,339 yards, 8 TDs, and 4 INTs before a season-ending ankle injury after six games. The underlying numbers don’t help much. Among 15 Combine QBs, Allar ranked 13th in adjusted completion rate, 10th in aDOT, and last in Big Time Throw rate. His rushing production ranked eighth when removing sacks.

The Baltimore Ravens selected USC WR Ja’Kobi Lane with the 80th overall pick in Round 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft. Lane logged just 76 snaps as a true freshman. He then broke out in 2024, ranking fifth nationally in TD catches (12). Lane punctuated that season with a 7-127-3 eruption in the Las Vegas Bowl. A shoulder injury disrupted his 2025, but the efficiency remained. Lane posted a career-best 4.8 yards after catch per reception and averaged 2.42 yards per route. He plays to his 6'4 size, using his frame to box out defenders and consistently win 50-50 balls. On the negative side, concentration drops pop up on tape. His top-end speed is also average, while USC’s offense didn’t demand a full route tree.