Your Draft Starts at the 1.02
Drafting near the top of rookie drafts usually feels thrilling.
This year, once you’re past the 1.01 ... not so much.
There’s no Ja’Marr Chase, no Brock Bowers, and no RB beyond Jeremiyah Love projected for Round 1 draft capital.
Instead, the early rounds hinge on how you sort through a tightly packed WR tier. That debate starts with three names sitting closely in our PPR dynasty rookie rankings:
Let’s see how that group came off the board and break down all 60 picks from the Draft Sharks staff.
Jared Smola: 1-QB, superflex, PPR, non-PPR. Doesn't matter the format: Love is the locked-in 1.01 in this rookie class.
He dominated at Notre Dame over the past two seasons, racking up 2,497 rushing yards, 517 receiving yards, and 40 total TDs. Then he stamped his prospect profile with a 4.36-second 40 time at 212 pounds.
I expect Love to be a top-seven pick in the NFL Draft. He'll be an immediate workhorse wherever he lands.
Jody Smith: Tate is the clear favorite to be the first WR selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. His raw production was capped by a loaded Ohio State WR room, but the traits are undeniable. He brings size, speed, and physicality with a proven ability to win downfield and in contested situations. Pair that with strong hands, and you get a pro-ready X receiver profile.
Tate projects as a top-10 pick and should step into immediate volume. In rookie drafts, he’s a priority early pick with WR1 upside.
Matt Schauf: The top three WRs look close enough that landing spot could do a little sorting. Lemon beats Tyson for me now, at least, because of Tyson's nagging injuries. Lemon, meanwhile, led fellow NFL prospects at USC the past two years. He beat Zachariah Branch and Ja'Kobi Lane in catches and yards in 2024.
Lemon increased the gap in a terrific junior campaign that included these market shares:
Kevin English: Tyson isn’t short on ability. He broke out with 75 catches, 1,101 yards, and 10 TDs as a redshirt sophomore in 2024. His tape shows a smooth mover with contested-catch ability, not surprising given his 6'2, 200-pound frame.
Durability is a real concern here, but Tyson could still come off the board by the middle of Round 1.
Shane Hallam: The 1.05 feels like a tier drop off after Love and the top three WRs. But I'll take a shot on Sadiq as a highly athletic pass-catching TE option who should get first round draft capital.
Sadiq looks like a mismatch nightmare for LBs, and he has enough size at 6'3, 241 pounds to outmuscle slot CBs.
If a team invests a first-round pick into a TE, they will use him ... so Sadiq gets the nod over the next tier of WRs.
Jared: Concepcion is coming off a nice junior season at Texas A&M, accounting for 29% of the team's receiving yards and 35% of the receiving scores while averaging 2.46 yards per route. All three marks rank top-14 among draft-eligible WRs.
But what lands him as my pre-draft WR4 is his freshman-year, 18-year-old breakout at North Carolina State. I expect Concepcion to go in the back half of Round 1, potentially to a strong offense.
Jody: Boston earned a near 28% target share at Washington while posting a career-best yards per route run (2.44). His size, contested-catch ability, and red-zone usage fit a classic boundary profile. He offers limited after-catch upside and didn’t break out early, but sharing targets with multiple future top-100 picks helps explain it.
With Round 1 draft capital in play, he’s a top-12 rookie pick with WR3 upside.
Matt: You've probably seen/heard plenty of people calling this a weak rookie class. That makes me more willing than usual to grab an upside receiving TE late in Round 1.
Stowers sits way behind classmate Kenyon Sadiq on NFL Mock Draft Database's consensus big board and in best ball ADP. But Stowers posted bigger college numbers and then showed out at the Scouting Combine. His blocking deficiency might keep him from finding a full-time role early in his career. But I'll chase his ultimate upside over the RBs and WRs still on the board.
Kevin: Cooper really excels after the catch. He tallied marks of 7.2 and 7.5 yards after catch per reception the past two years. He also forced 27 missed tackles, per PFF, fourth nationally among WRs. Cooper looks like a near lock for top-50 draft capital.
Shane: Price has gotten some late-Round 1 draft buzz, but he will likely settle in as an early Round 2 pick.
The likely RB2 drafted, Price played behind Jeremiyah Love, making him a tough evaluation. Still, the limited film is strong for Price.
He can break long runs and moves fluidly to avoid tackles. He also showcased more pass-catching skills at the Combine than his numbers say. I'll take a chance on him over the next tier of WRs.
Jared: Coleman won't be a big-play threat as a pro. But he's 220 pounds and ranks top three among draft-eligible RBs in both missed tackles forced and yards after contact per attempt.
Plus, he exits college with 87 career catches. There's three-down upside here.
Jody: Bell was in the first-round conversation before tearing his ACL in November. He brings an intriguing blend of size (6’2, 222) and speed, along with reliable hands and strong after-the-catch ability. He’s aiming to be fully cleared by training camp.
He looks like a Day Two pick in the NFL Draft, with plenty of dynasty appeal.
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Matt: I'm not sure I'll land on Mendoza this early once we have draft outcomes for everyone. But this is the range where he belongs.
I don't think we're looking at special fantasy upside. I'd bet on a profile more like Baker Mayfield's or Sam Darnold's, with upside into low-QB1 range but also downside to low-QB2 range. I'm taking that over the ensuing RB-WR group that looks overrated.
Kevin: After two years of part-time work, Johnson broke out with 1,451 rushing yards and 46 catches in 2025. His film supports the numbers, showing a runner who wins with vision, pacing, and legit pass-game value.
That receiving skill set gives him a real shot at dynasty value, even if he never becomes a between-the-tackles grinder at 202 pounds.
Shane: A 223-pound RB who runs a 4.33? I'm interested.
Washington was the focal point for the Arkansas offense in 2025, showcasing vision, athleticism, and receiving skills. If he enters the NFL and continues developing his short-area game, Washington can be an NFL starter.
Jared: Omar Cooper generates more buzz, but Sarratt was Indiana's best WR by most metrics last year. He beat Cooper in yards per team pass attempt, Dominator Rating, Pro Football Focus receiving grade, and PPR points per game.
Sarratt goes 6'2, 213 pounds with strong ball skills. And he also owns the second-best career yards per route vs. zone coverage in this year's WR class. Underrated!
Jody: Brazzell’s blend of size (6’4) and speed (4.37) makes him an intriguing prospect. But he ran a limited route tree as a perimeter deep threat and struggled to consistently separate underneath.
He projects as a Day 2 pick with clear boom/bust potential. In dynasty rookie drafts, he fits best as a second-round target.
Matt: Would Mike Washington have ever gone ahead of Singleton in this draft if the Penn State alum had never fractured his right foot at the Senior Bowl? I doubt it. This guy racked up 102 catches at 9.7 yards per reception, 5.6 yards per rush for his career, and 54 total TDs (plus one via kick return). And Singleton was likely headed for a sub-4.4-second 40 time at the Combine.
The foot injury could turn him into a steal in rookie drafts. I leaned toward teammate Kaytron Allen over Singleton in our first round of mock drafts, but Singleton's superior receiving profile has swayed me the other direction.
Kevin: There's some projection required here, as Branch saw 43% of his 2025 targets come on screens. While he excelled in that role at Georgia, it begs the question: Can he develop a more extensive route tree in the pros? At this point in the draft, I’ll take a shot.
Branch is one of the most explosive WRs in this class. He confirmed it at the Combine, posting a 4.35 forty-time and a 38” vertical. Round 2 draft capital is in play.
Shane: Williams' profile isn't super inspiring. A 190-pound slot WR without a 1,000-yard season usually won't find Day 2 draft capital. But watching Williams, he profiles as an advanced route runner with little wasted movement in and out of his breaks.
He'll never be a No. 1 in the NFL, but he could be a reliable slot with enough targets to be a fantasy starter.
Jared: Nicholas Singleton's size-speed combo makes him the higher upside Penn State RB, but Allen was the more productive runner over the past three seasons. That includes beating Singleton 1,308 to 549 in rushing yards and 6.2 to 4.5 in yards per carry last year. Allen also ranked top six among this year's RB class in 2025 yards after contact per attempt, missed tackles forced per attempt, and rush yards over expected per attempt.
He has the potential to emerge as a lead runner as a pro (although probably not a true three-down weapon).
Jody: Lane’s dynasty profile centers on size and scoring upside. He broke out in 2024, finishing fifth nationally in TD catches and flashing with a 7-127-3 bowl game. A 2025 shoulder injury limited him, but efficiency held with 2.42 yards per route and improved YAC.
At 6’4, he wins at the catch point, though average speed, drops, and a limited route tree add risk. Day 2 capital would make him a Round 2 rookie target.
Matt: Bernard enjoyed a quietly solid college run. He found 34 receptions on a 2023 Washington team that sported early-round NFL picks Rome Odunze, Ja'Lynn Polk, and Jalen McMillan. Bernard beat draft classmate Denzel Boston in usage in their lone shared season. Then he led Alabama in receptions each of the past two years, topping high-level 2027 draft prospect Ryan Williams.
Bernard brings a nice size-speed combo (6'1 and 206 pounds, with a 4.48-second 40 time) and looks to me like a solid floor bet pretty much anywhere in Round 2.
Kevin: Overall, I felt uninspired after reviewing Fields’ dynasty value. But at the cost of the 2.12, I’ll add a potential top-50 draft pick.
While he brings separation concerns, Fields presents the size (6’4) and contested catch ability to deliver as an X receiver.
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Shane: If Lance had played at the FBS level, he would likely draw top-50 buzz. The North Dakota State WR had two strong receiving years and just tested in the 94th percentile or better in the 40, broad, vertical, and 10-yard split at the NFL Combine.
The combination of athleticism, production, and bloodlines is enough to draw my interest.
Jared: Hurst is an exciting athlete, registering a 4.42-second 40 time and 99th percentile Relative Athletic Score at 6'4, 206 pounds. That gives him a better chance to make the jump from Georgia State to the NFL.
Hurst dominated the lower-level competition over the past two seasons, totaling 1,965 yards and 15 TDs. His 37.3% yardage market share last year ranked second among draft-eligible WRs.
Jody: Randall is a converted WR with rare size (6’3, 232) and 4.5 speed. His receiving background showed up in 2025, with 36 catches for 250 yards and three TDs, while also leading Clemson with 814 rushing yards and 10 scores.
He remains raw, but the blend of size, speed, and pass-catching ability puts him firmly on the Day 2 radar.
Matt: Bell brings decent size (6'0, 190 pounds), good speed (4.40-second 40 time), and nice scores in Dominator rating (81st percentile) and target share (94th) from his two UConn seasons.
Last year found Bell racking up 101 catches, 1,278 yards, and 13 TDs, setting school records for receptions and receiving scores.
Kevin: Burks goes just 5’9, 188 pounds, but he makes up for it with exceptional speed and burst. Oklahoma made it a point to give him catch-and-run opportunities, leading to aDOTs of 8.8 and 6.7 over the past two seasons and a total catch rate of 70%.
The 23-year-old is a candidate for Day 2 draft capital.
Shane: Klare appears destined for Day 2 draft capital as a pass-catching TE who developed as a blocker in 2025 at Ohio State. He was utilized at all three levels and can provide big plays up the seam as a three-down TE.
Klare should be a reliable TE for my bench who can develop into a fantasy starter or trade piece.
Jared: If you can get over the size (5'9, 164 lbs. with third percentile arm length), there's a lot to like about Thompson. He's coming off a 1,054-yard season in the SEC, posting a 34.3% Dominator Rating that ranked ninth among draft-eligible WRs. Thompson also ranked top seven in yards per route and yards per team pass attempt.
The diminutive frame will be a factor at the next level, but so will his 4.26 speed.
Jody: Claiborne is undersized (5’10, 195), but he brings juice. He pairs strong speed, lateral agility, and balance with added value as a returner. He’s also shown pass-catching ability with 20+ receptions in each of the past two seasons at Wake Forest, giving him a path to a complementary role.
His 4.37 40-yard dash ranked third among RBs at the Combine, boosting his late-round dynasty appeal.
Matt: Joly didn't even make it into our initial 1-QB mock draft, so maybe I'm overvaluing here. The NFL Draft will certainly help us do some sorting of the TE crowd. But if some team spends meaningful capital on this 241-pounder, it'll be for his receiving upside rather than blocking help.
Joly broke out as a 19-year-old sophomore at UConn. He then trailed only KC Concepcion in receptions at N.C. State in 2024 before leading the team by 10 catches in his final season.
Turning 22 just before his first training camp stands as another mark in his favor, especially at a time when the draft pool is hitting the league a little older than we're used to.
Kevin: At 6’4, 240 pounds, Trigg isn’t a towering force at TE. But he brings exceptional length with an 84 3/8" wingspan, per MockDraftable. He shows that on tape, while he’s also one of the best after-catch TEs in this class.
The Baylor standout forced the second-most missed tackles among TEs last season (17).
Shane: Stribling went undrafted in our last draft, but an excellent Combine (4.36 40-yard dash, 36" vertical) put him back on the radar. Stribling had two straight years of 800+ receiving yards and 6 TDs across two different schools.
A deep threat who has upside to be a more well-rounded WR, he could find his way into Day 2 of the NFL Draft.
Jared: McAlister is "my guy" in this year's WR class.
There are character concerns after a pair of arrests in 2024, but the production profile is strong. McAlister led Boise State with 47 catches and 873 yards as a redshirt sophomore in 2023 before transferring to TCU. He ranked second on the 2024 Horned Frogs with 762 receiving yards, behind only Jack Bech. Then McAlister busted out for a 72-1,190-10 line last year, ranking top eight among draft-eligible WRs in Dominator Rating, yards per route, and yards per team pass attempt.
He looks like a Day 2 pick minus the off-field stuff. We'll see how far that sinks him.
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Jody: Koziol brings rare size at 6’7, 250 pounds and strong production across two stops, posting 94-839-8 at Ball State and 74-727-6 at Houston over the past two seasons. He led all FBS TEs with 20 contested catches and ranked top-10 in both PFF receiving grade (78.9) and yards per route run (2.26) last year.
One of my favorite late-round targets in rookie drafts.
Matt: Simpson's likely to go earlier than this if he sneaks into Round 1 of the NFL Draft. I'm not sure he should, though. Conversely, if he slides to Round 3 -- remember the year of Malik Willis, Desmond Ridder, and Matt Corral? -- I probably wouldn't bother with Simpson even here. This QB class doesn't appear likely to help you rebuild that position in dynasty.
Consider making a move for a lower-end vet with short-term upside if you're in need.
Kevin: Cameron looks like an imposing WR at nearly 6'2, 220 pounds, and that size shows up in his game. He also shows reliable hands with a career drop rate of only 4%. Cameron didn’t run at the Combine or his Pro Day because of a calf injury, but that only keeps his sleeper status intact.
He has a shot at early- Day 3 draft capital.
Shane: Roush's profile looks fairly uninspiring on the surface. A short-armed, in-line TE who blocks as much as he goes out to catch passes usually doesn't hit in the NFL. But Roush improved as a receiver every season and really flashed when given opportunities at the Senior Bowl.
Maybe it's helmet scouting, but I'll trust a Stanford TE (think Zach Ertz, Colby Parkinson, Dalton Schultz) to outperform his draft position.
Jared: Daniels spent six years in college and only reached 700 receiving yards once. But his career 2.66 yards per route vs. zone -- fourth best in this WR class -- makes him an intriguing late-round flier in rookie drafts.
Jody: Miller (5'10, 221 pounds) brings a compact, explosive profile with legit burst and contact balance. He consistently created yards after contact at Alabama and flashed big-play ability despite sharing touches in a crowded backfield.
He also showed functional receiving ability, giving him a path to a rotational role at the next level. Miller likely lands as a mid- to late-round pick, but his efficiency and explosiveness make him an intriguing late-round dynasty stash with contingent upside if he earns more volume.
Matt: Moss looks like a Day 3 pick, and I won't be chasing him if lingers late into that day. But there's intriguing burst and good enough size here.
He reportedly sports 4.42-second speed in the 40 but didn't run it at the Combine. That's linked to his biggest issue: durability. Moss lost time to lower-body injuries each of the past three years. If that pushes him behind Kentucky's Seth McGowan in the NFL Draft, then I'd take McGowan here instead. Why didn't I make that selection anyway? McGowan's about three years older.
Kevin: Caldwell joined Cincinnati in 2025 following a three-year run at Lindenwood, an FCS school. He wasn’t a standout producer, accounting for 14.2% of the team’s receptions and 15.9% of the receiving yards. But the appeal here is tied to his superhuman combination of size and athleticism.
At 6’5, 216 pounds, he ran a 4.31 forty-yard dash, adding a 42-inch vertical and an 11-foot, 2-inch broad jump. His performance earned him the second-highest Relative Athletic Score out of 3,830 WRs since 1987.
That alone makes him attractive as a late-round pick.
Shane: A rookie RB who will turn 25 in October doesn't scream fantasy value, but McGowan showed enough of a skillset over the last two seasons.
In 2024, he outperformed Mike Washington Jr. at New Mexico State. Then, transferring to Kentucky, McGowan showed improvement as a between-the-tackles runner.
Jared: Coleman is undersized (5'11, 179 lbs.) and a subpar athlete (6.45 RAS score). But he led two different schools in receiving over the last two years, going for 74-932-6 at Mississippi State in 2024 and 66-732-1 at Missouri this past season.
There's potential for him to develop into a starting slot receiver as a pro.
Jody: Taylor is undersized at 5’9, 205 pounds, but operated as Virginia’s offensive centerpiece last season. He led the ACC in rushing, scored 15 TDs, and added 43 catches while ranking top-5 in this class in missed tackles forced.
He projects as a mid-round NFL pick with enough pass-catching upside to make him a strong target this deep in rookie drafts.
Matt: Rivers presents some later-round intrigue. He opened college as a walk-on DB, took a medical redshirt for a shoulder injury his second season, and then ranked second on his Florida International team in receptions in 2023, his first full season at WR. Rivers followed that with a huge 2024 at FIU -- 62-1,172-12 receiving line, with 18.9 yards per catch -- before closing with a quieter but still-solid year at Georgia Tech.
His 4.35-second 40 time at the Combine could boost his NFL Draft capital. His slight frame (5'10, 176 pounds), however, will probably limit his pro upside.
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Kevin: Benson was the No. 1 JUCO prospect before arriving at Alabama. He disappointed there in 2023 for the run-heavy Crimson Tide. Then in 2024, he posted just 25-311-1 in an awful Florida State passing game. He transferred again in 2025 and started to show progress at Oregon. He flashed sure hands as a deep threat, leading to 16.7 yards per catch on 43 receptions.
At 6’0, 189 pounds, Benson brings excellent play speed and isn’t shy facing contact.
Shane: Brown is a one-speed player who stretches the field as well as any WR in the class. He showed early production at Kentucky but became more of a return specialist at LSU this past year.
As we saw with Chimere Dike last year, a special teams draft capital bump can translate if you have some requisite WR skills, too. Brown could fit that mold.
Brown is one a trick speed pony who stretches the field as well as any WR in the class. He showed early production at Kentucky but became more of a return specialist at LSU this past year. As we saw with Chimere Dike last year, special teams draft capital bump can translate if you have some requisite WR skills too. Brown could fit that mold.
Jared: Delp totaled just 854 yards across his four seasons at Georgia. But I think there's untapped upside here. He averaged 12.2 yards per catch for his college career and looks fluid and explosive on tape.
Delp confirmed the high-end athleticism by earning a 98th percentile Relative Athletic Score.
Jody: Ott went in the early fourth round of our previous mock but has slid after missing a Combine invite. He still brings top-end speed and caught 95 passes over his first three seasons, with a solid nose for the end zone.
If healthy, he has a chance to carve out a change-of-pace role.
Matt: Wallace went Round 3 in our previous version of this mock. This position seems more in line with his expected NFL Draft range, according to the NFL Mock Draft Database consensus big board. Wallace didn't lead a college team in receptions or receiving yards until his fifth season but led both for a playoff Ole Miss squad in 2025.
He also presents good enough size, at 6'0 and 194 pounds.
Kevin: Hemby held the lead back role at Maryland for three straight seasons, then transferred to play with Fernando Mendoza at Indiana. He set career-highs in carries (230) and rushing yards (1,120), adding a solid 3.36 yards after contact per attempt.
Hemby figures to win with power in the NFL, but he also hit 34 catches in his starting seasons at Maryland.
Shane: Is Heidenreich an RB? A WR? Both?
I'm not sure, but whichever NFL team takes Heidenreich will have a plan for him. Either way, a listed RB with slot receiver potential intrigues me enough in PPR leagues.
Jared: Henry's stock took a hit with a poor showing at the Combine, including a 4.52-second 40 time at 196 lbs.
But he remains intriguing after a strong 2025. Henry ran for 1,045 yards and nine TDs on 6.9 yards per carry. And he ranked second among the top-27 RBs in this class in both rush yards over expected per attempt and yards after contact per attempt.
Jody: Endries totaled 91 receptions for 1,030 yards and four TDs over two seasons at Cal before transferring to Texas in 2025. He posted a 33-346-4 line in 13 games with the Longhorns and brings alignment versatility with experience both in the slot and on the perimeter. He also ranked second among all Combine TEs with a 1.59-second 10-yard split, highlighting his short-area burst.
Endries is a polished route runner with the skill set to develop into a downfield, move TE.
Matt: His late breakout is a big reason to leave Law on the board into this range. He didn't reach 20 targets or catch more than 15 passes in a season until his senior campaign. That also required a transfer from Alabama to Kentucky for that final year. He did, at least, post solid market shares amid a weak Wildcats passing game:
All three modest marks led the team. Law followed with strong testing that included a 67th-percentile 40 time, an 85th-percentile broad jump, and a 97th-percentile vertical.
Kevin: Virgil broke out with a 41-816-9 line at Miami (OH) in 2024, thriving as a primary deep threat. He transferred to Texas Tech last year and played a shorter-range role, helping him lead the team in catches (57). At the Senior Bowl, he was mentioned as one of Daniel Jeremiah’s top WR standouts.
The 6'3, 187-pounder looks like a mid- Day 3 draft pick.
Shane: Standing at 6'3 and 206 pounds, Douglas ran a 4.39 40-yard dash at the Combine. He uses his length and speed to his advantage downfield as an outside WR.
My concern with Douglas is simple: I want to see more physicality against better CBs.
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