Top 3 Dynasty Rookie Draft Targets: Quarterbacks (Fantasy Football)

The fantasy playoffs are in the rearview, and for dynasty fantasy football managers, that means one thing: 2026 rookie draft season has arrived. Dominating your rookie draft is the most cost-effective way to increase your roster value and transform a middling team into a perennial contender.

Drawing on my experience in devy and Campus 2 Canton formats, I’ve spent years scouting this class to identify elite producers and avoid landmines. Today, I’m breaking down the prospects I believe can hold first-round value in dynasty fantasy football Superflex drafts. Here are all of the first-round prospects to consider in dynasty rookie drafts. And below we dive into the top quarterbacks of the 2026 dynasty rookie class.

Top Dynasty Rookie Draft Targets: Quarterbacks

Quarterbacks

Fernando Mendoza (QB – Indiana)

The 2025 Heisman Trophy winner is my QB1 of the 2026 NFL Draft class, though I don’t believe he should be taken in dynasty Superflex rookie drafts until pick 1.05 or later. Fernando Mendoza projects to be better in real life than in fantasy football, given his limited rushing upside. His biggest strengths include his ability to diagnose defenses and his accuracy at all three levels.

At nearly 6-foot-6, Mendoza has the size many scouts are looking for in their franchise quarterback. The problem is, it’s highly likely Mendoza will go on the top three to a struggling organization like the Raiders or Jets, where he’ll experience some growing pains. Mendoza has benefited from an extremely clean pocket all season at Indiana, and I don’t expect him to have that same luxury at the next level.

Dante Moore (QB – Oregon)

My QB2 of the class is Dante Moore, a former UCLA prospect who transferred to Oregon in 2024 and broke out as a top prospect in 2025. Moore hasn’t officially declared for the 2026 NFL Draft yet, and his Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) earnings potential could sway him to stick around in 2026, but I expect he’ll ultimately declare.

Moore projects very similarly to Mendoza; he’s a pocket passer by nature who hangs his hat on carving up defenses with his arm and limiting turnovers. I could see him landing on a team like the Browns, which would be a scary investment from a fantasy perspective. There are four rookie prospects I expect to rank above Moore and Mendoza in virtually any scenario, whom we’ll discuss shortly.

Ty Simpson (QB – Alabama)

Ty Simpson will wrap up my list of quarterbacks I expect to earn first-round draft capital in Superflex formats. Simpson is currently projected as a top-15 pick at NFL Mock Draft Database, with his consensus landing spot being the Pittsburgh Steelers.

I’m less confident in Simpson as an NFL prospect than I am in Fernando Mendoza and Dante Moore; I just don’t see the same arm talent, consistency or pocket awareness when I watch him play. He’s also slightly undersized and lacks some athleticism and physicality compared to other top prospects. That said, if he’s expected to be stepping into a starting role right away, he’s going to be a first-round dynasty rookie pick by default.