2026 NFL Draft Day 3 Winners & Losers (Fantasy Football)

Welcome back to my fantasy football breakdown of the 2026 NFL Draft’s Day 3, where the remaining college talent finally find their new NFL homes.

In this featured piece recapping Rounds 4-7, I will delve into the immediate impact of the newly minted rookies and how their arrival alters the dynamics for veteran players within their teams.

From soaring fantasy stocks of rookies poised to make a significant mark in their debut seasons to veterans who might find their positions threatened or bolstered by these young additions, we’ll explore who emerged as the winners and losers of this pivotal day in the NFL calendar.

Join me as we break down the changing landscapes of NFL squads and assess the potential shifts in strategy and performance prompted by this year’s Day 3 selections. Find my Round 1 and Day 2 breakdowns by following the respective links.

• 2026 NFL Draft Guide
• 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Reports
• Best Fantasy Football Tools
• Dynasty Rookie Mock Drafts

2026 NFL Draft Day 3 Winners & Losers | Fantasy Football

2026 NFL Draft Day 3 Winners

Jonah Coleman (RB – DEN)

The panic button was on the rookie RBs after only one got drafted on Day 2 (Kaelon Black). But we didn’t wait too long into Round 4 to see another RB selected off the board. Washington’s Jonah Coleman was selected 108th overall by the Denver Broncos.

To me, he seems like the perfect backup to an injury-prone J.K. Dobbins. He might never take over the backfield even if there is an injury, but I see his game as very complementary to the more explosive second-year RB, RJ Harvey.

Coleman is a bowling ball at 5-foot-9 and 229 pounds. Last year, he was hit at the line of scrimmage on 36 percent of his rushes (most among this RB class per SIS).

He also offers so much juice as both a receiver and a pass-blocker (second-most pass pro snaps per game in the class). Averaged 2.3 yards per route run. 31 catches on 36 targets. Also averaged nearly 30 receiving yards per game (29.5) in his final season.

76th percentile target share (per PlayerProfiler.com).

Coleman was also productive at an early age with the Arizona Wildcats. He led the Wildcats in rushing yards during the 2023 season.

Finished as PFF’s 5th-highest graded RB in 2023 at 20 years old. Second in the nation in yards after contact per attempt (5.09).

And over the last two seasons, he has still averaged a 275 dominator rating. Also great in ball security (two career fumbles).

His stock fell this past year as he battled through injuries. Also, didn’t test besides bench press and position work during the pre-draft process.

Not Cam Skattebo…but?

If Jonah Coleman was drafted just eight slots earlier… He’d join this list of RBs drafted on Day 2 or earlier that averaged at least 30 receiving yards/gm in their final seasons: Saquon Barkley, David Johnson, Joe Mixon, Antonio Gibson, Najee Harris, Travis Etienne Jr., Rachaad White, Zach Charbonnet, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Omarion Hampton.

I bring this up because Skattebo was three slots short of this list last season. And obviously, he was a massive hit before he got injured.

Nicholas Singleton (RB – TEN)

Collectively, we can all agree that “rookie RB to Tennessee” would be a great landing spot. Most of us figured it would be Jeremiyah Love at 4th overall and not Penn State’s Nicholas Singleton at 165th overall in the fifth round.

But this landing spot is a big win for Singleton. Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears are both entering the final years of their deals. The Titans can save over $7 million in cap space by cutting Pollard. He will be 29 years old just after the 2026 NFL Draft, which certainly puts him on the wrong side of the age cliff.

Had Singleton not gotten hurt at the Senior Bowl, he would have been able to test at the NFL Combine. And he likely would have performed well and boosted his draft stock after a down year at Penn State.

The fifth-round draft capital guarantees Singleton nothing in both the short and long term, so dynasty managers need to be wise not to overinvest in the landing spot. However, new Titans OC Brian Daboll has no allegiance to any RB (not-named Devin Singletary) on the Titans roster. And we have seen him in back-to-back years thrust a Day 3 RB into a starting role in New York (Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy Jr.).

So, although Pollard is also a “winner,” especially after he finished the second half of last season, he might not have a complete vice grip as the RB1 in the 2026 Titans’ offense.

Demond Claiborne (RB – MIN)

Similar to Singleton, Demond Clairborne ends up in a favorable backfield between two veterans on expiring contracts. The issue, though, is Claiborne is just a sixth-round pick, and KOC might have more trust in his Aaron Jones/Jordan Mason tandem for 2026 (both veteran winners in my estimation as well). Even if both guys walk after the year, no guarantee that Claiborne inherits starting duties in 2027 as a sixth-rounder. The former Wake Forest RB is not a third-down back and had big fumbling issues in college this past year. The pass-catching and pass protection are a major question mark. He’s explosive and twitchy, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he ends up being 2026’s version of Jaydon Blue. He just doesn’t find a way to crack the game day roster behind two established veterans.

Cade Klubnik (QB – NYJ)

As I wrote in my Day 1 winners and losers column, I’m optimistic about the 2026 Jets offense with Geno Smith at the helm. That being said, if the losses keep piling up and coaches get canned, New York will have to turn to their fourth-round rookie QB at some point. And unlike Carson Beck, Cade Klubnik can add more as a rusher. Because he was a Day 3 selection, he will go very late in Superflex rookie drafts. Even if he is just a one-year stopgap for the Jets, I think some late-season production might help him outdo his rookie draft cost. I like to go after BOTH Jets QBs in Superflex formats for what they can provide in 2026.

Klubnik can feed his top playmakers (locks onto first read per SIS). His on-target passing rate last season was 77 percent – second in the class. And in 2024, Klubnik was fifth in the nation in PFF passing grade with 36 passing TDs (third). He was also the highest graded college QB under pressure.

The Jets’ current passing game coordinator (Seth Ryan) is also a Clemson alumnus.

Skyler Bell (WR – BUF)

The Bills drafted Skyler Bell 126th overall in the fourth round. The Bills’ fourth-round investment in Bell suggests that they haven’t “completely” closed the door on Keon Coleman. But if Coleman flops, well, that’s an opportunity for a guy like Bell to step up. Keep in mind that Bell is the new Bills HC Joe Brady’s first drafted offensive weapon.

Also, the fact that we have seen Buffalo embrace Day 3 WRs such as Gabe Davis and Khalil Shakir in bigger roles as they gained more experience encourages me about Bell’s long-term appeal. Also, Josh Allen has his QB (can’t hurt).

Cyrus Allen (WR – KC)

My favorite WR landing spot on Day 3? Cyrus Allen to the KC Chiefs. We know the Chiefs probably aren’t going to trust Rashee Rice in the long term. Xavier Worthy has been inconsistent through two seasons. Jalen Royals was a non-factor in Year 1.

Travis Kelce could be gone as soon as 2027.

Kansas City only has three veteran receivers on the roster under contract in 2027 entering the offseason — Royals, Xavier Worthy, and Tyquan Thornton. There’s room for an under-the-radar receiver to emerge, and I love Allen’s sleeper appeal.

NFL Draft Analyst Mike Renner opened my eyes to Cyrus Allen after he spoke about him on several different shows. Allen didn’t pop for me at first, given the unknowns about his age, so I did some more digging. He was also not invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, further bolstering his under-the-radar status. Allen ran at his Pro Day, posting modest numbers (4.47 40-yard dash with an 11-inch broad jump).

If we presume Allen was 18 coming out of high school as part of the 2021 recruiting class, that would make him 23.2 years old (confirmed by PFF) entering his rookie year. He started his first two years at Louisiana Tech, producing immediately as a true freshman despite competing for targets with future NFL wideout Tre Harris. OK, I’m intrigued.

Allen played 10 games in 2022 and blew up in his first game of college action — five catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns on six targets.

If we prorate the 10 games he played, we get a “true” breakout for Allen at 19 years old. Impressive. Maintained his production in 2023 (averaged over 70 receiving yards per game) before transferring to Texas A&M for the 2024 season. Didn’t play much and got hurt before entering the transfer portal. He spoke about wanting “production,” which was clearly not happening in the Aggies’ offense.

Allen produced in 2025 with the Bearcats, with a 32 percent dominator rating. He scored 12 touchdowns as the team’s No. 1 WR while competing for targets with another sleeper in this year’s class in Jeff Caldwell, who was invited to the combine instead (and not drafted, signing with KC as a UDFA).

Allen has played both inside and outside over his four-year career (hitting over two yards per route run).

During his breakout 2025 season, Allen had just five of his 69 targets deemed as contested. Had over 100 targets the last two seasons, with eight labeled as contested. He clearly can create separation from defenders.

Justin Joly (TE – DEN)

If you are a “tweener” tight end in a Sean Payton offense…you have my attention. The Evan Engram experiment seems like an utter failure (one year left on his contract), so I’d be open to the Broncos going in a different direction at tight end in the future. They drafted Justin Joly in the 5th round.

As I wrote in my pre-draft values of the rookie TEs:

Joly has a very strong and impressive production profile (20 percent career dominator rating), albeit through four years at UConn and NC State. He also did not test at the combine, which begs the question of how athletic he is (which matters for tight ends). Built and plays like a big wide receiver. 241 pounds (9th percentile). But absolutely massive mitts (91st percentile hand size).

Adam Randall (RB – BAL)

The Ravens were likely to add another RB on Day 3, given Derrick Henry’s age and Justice Hill’s impending free agency status in 2027. Randall is a WR/RB convert, so he still has a long way to go before I think he is ready for RB at the NFL level. But definitely a player that has room to grow, and he’s in the right situation to be a “draft/develop” type of player that the Ravens are known for investing in.

Randall only has 172 carries on his resume from college. Huge frame for an RB at 6-foot-3 and 232 pounds.

Finished outside top-50 in yards after contact per attempt – but that’s because he was hit at the LOS on 34 percent of his carries (2nd-most in the class). Ohh Clemson.

65 percent of his yards came after contact as a result (same as Jeremiyah Love).

In his first year playing RB – 19th in PFF rush grade (four spots lower than Mike Washington, two spots lower than Jonah Coleman). But also fifth in catches (36).

He’s big, explosive, and can catch passes. Also improved in the second half of the season. Give this guy a season to learn RB under the King, Derrick Henry? Color me intrigued.

It has also recently come to my attention that Randall was hand-picked by the Ravens’ owner. Good person in the building to have your support.

Cole Payton (QB – PHI)

The Eagles are a QB factory. So when they take a guy (even on a Day 3), I think it’s wise to pay attention. Especially with all the heat that has been on Jalen Hurts this offseason, entering the last year of his contract, which is fully guaranteed.

Tanner McKee is also in the last year of his contract and might be traded if the Eagles feel Cole Payton could be the QB2. The Eagles also brought in veteran Andy Dalton, who figures to be in the backup QB mix.

I’m a sucker for QBs that offer rushing juice. And Payton does/offers exactly that. He ranks third in the 2026 QB class in rushing yards per game (68.8) last season, with the vast majority of that production coming on scrambles. His career average is around 40 rushing yards per game, with him playing a part-time role as purely a rusher. Close to players like Jaxson Dart and Josh Allen from their college careers. But his 69-yard mark is above college rushers like Justin Fields and Daniel Jones from 2025. Nearly 6-foot-3 and 232 pounds. He looks to escape, extend plays, and run. That’s GREAT for fantasy.

The 2026 appeal isn’t necessarily great – but there’s some long-term appeal where we look at Payton very differently (and more positively) in 2027.

Rachaad White (RB – WAS) / Jacory Croskey-Merritt (RB – WAS)

Washington was primed to add an RB in this year’s draft, but they waited until Round 6 to select Penn State’s Kaytron Allen. Early down grinder that will likely just fill the void left by Chris Rodriguez. That means Bill and White will take on the lead back duties.

Read the full breakdown of my projection for Washington’s backfield here.

TLDR version: If the Commanders maintain a two-back rotation, both players could deliver fantasy value — but White currently projects as the safer option thanks to his established track record of production/pass-catching. White is also reuniting with his former college quarterback, Jayden Daniels, as the two spent two seasons together at Arizona State before entering the NFL.

Obviously, veteran RBs such as Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy, David Montgomery, and Woody Marks are all winners after their teams failed to add any worthwhile RBs during the draft.

C.J. Daniels (WR – LAR)

Another sleeper WR from my pre-draft list lands favorably in LA as a sixth-rounder. I don’t think I need to oversell the situation. Great offensive situation. Two WRs entrenched at the top with question marks about them in the long term.

C.J. Daniels burst onto the scene at 19 years old at Liberty in 2021. He competed for targets with future NFL pro DeMario Douglas.

The 2023 season was a monster campaign for Daniels after he missed most of 2022. He logged 14 deep catches and a 34 percent dominator rating (and nearly four yards per route run). Daniels averaged 76.2 receiving yards per game that season.

However, his overall production tailed off after he transferred to bigger programs (LSU/Miami) after he had already logged four years at a smaller school. At LSU, he was outproduced by Kyren Lacy and Aaron Anderson.

But Daniels has operated as a serious deep threat. He posted a nearly perfect PFF rating on 20+ air yard throws in 2025.

Has good size at 6-foot-2 and 202 pounds. But the fall-off in production amid higher competition creates a scary projection for Daniels at the NFL level as a 24-year-old rookie receiver. But if he stumbles into playing time due to injury or some other reason in Year 1…he could make a splash in LA.

Also, never underestimate the WRs the Rams draft on Day 3 (see Puka Nacua).

Seth McGowan (RB – IND)

One of the few true RB sleepers I liked in this class, Seth McGowan, was drafted in the seventh round by the Colts. He will compete for RB2 duties with DJ Giddens, who didn’t show much as a rookie. I don’t hate taking shots on McGowan late, given the workload Jonathan Taylor will have to handle in 2026. If JT gets banged up, I’m not completely convinced it’s Giddens’ job.

McGowan has the ideal size at 6-feet and 223 pounds. Tested very well at the NFL Combine. Strong receiving numbers over 3 collegiate seasons. (9.7 percent college target share).

He produced as a true freshman at Oklahoma before he ran into several off-field issues that resulted in three months of jail time.

As a result, he was dismissed from the Sooners’ program. Played at Butler Community College in 2023 after missing football for two years. In 2024, he went to New Mexico State, the first FBS action since 2024. At New Mexico State, Mike Washington split the backfield with McGowan. But McGowan was more efficient.

Just very old – at 25 years old. But we know why. Last year alone, RJ Harvey, Woody Marks, and Jacory Croskey-Merritt were all 24 or older at selection. All produced in Year 1.

Among this year’s Combine invitees, he ranks top-five in career missed tackles forced per attempt, per PFF.

2026 NFL Draft Day 3 Losers

Mike Washington Jr. (RB – LV)

Welcome to the Raiders. LV drafted Mike Washington with the 122nd overall pick to back up last year’s first-rounder Ashton Jeanty. Now it’s possible that Big Mike can be more than a handcuff if Klint Kubiak is true to his word of wanting a two-headed backfield. Following suit on what he did in Seattle until Zach Charbonnet went down. However, given that Washington could have gone to a backfield with a much worse No. 1 guy, he falls in the losers category even if there might be some sneaky handcuff-plus appeal if he tumbles down rookie draft boards.

Emmett Johnson (RB – KC)

Similar to Mike Washington, Emmett Johnson ends up in a backfield where he is decisively the backup. The Chiefs drafted him in Round 5. Obviously, the path to opportunities and draft capital makes Johnson a loser. But I don’t hate this fit in Andy Reid’s offense.

During my prospecting, my NFL comp for Johnson was LeSean McCoy. Reid knows a thing or two about McCoy and RBs that can shake/bake weak tackle attempts.

Johnson posted the highest forced missed tackle rate (SIS). Most forced missed tackles per PFF (68). 21 missed tackles forced as a receiver. Overall, a 30 percent missed tackles forced broken rate.

The Chiefs paid Kenneth Walker to be their guy, and that’s what I expect. But could Johnson be a high-end handcuff option to an RB that has had trouble staying healthy and taking on a massive NFL workload? Absolutely.

Ja’Kobi Lane (WR – BAL)

USC’s Ja’Kobi Lane was drafted by the Ravens in Round 3. But he wasn’t the only WR the Ravens added. They also drafted Indiana’s Elijah Sarratt at the top of the fourth round. Lane’s draft capital will naturally push him ahead of Sarratt (35 spots ahead), but I had the latter ranked higher pre-draft.

Interestingly, these two WRs find themselves on the Ravens (where both will be vying for targets in a lower-passing offense behind WR1 Zay Flowers). Neither guy was the true No. 1 on their college offenses, as their college teammates (Makai Lemon and Omar Cooper) were both drafted in the first round.

Needless to say, I don’t think either guy (not alphas) will infringe on Flowers as WR1 in the offense.

And if I have to pick one, I’m going to Sarratt. If Mark Andrews is really cooked, I could see Sarratt emerging as a go-to guy for Lamar Jackson in the red zone.

Sarratt’s career passer rating when targeted (per Tej Seth) would rank 11th atop a list of some notable college WRs who went on to be very productive pros.

The Ravens’ new passing game coordinator was with the Chargers last year. My pro comp for Sarratt? Keenan Allen. Baltimore also filled their TE3 void with SMU’s Matthew Hibner in Round 4 and Josh Cuevas in Round 5.

WR Bryce Lance (WR – NO)

The Saints took Bryce Lance with the 136th overall pick in the fourth round. I could see Lance provide splash plays in the Saints offense, but he projects as the No. 3 WR at best. And that’s presuming he can overtake Devaughn Vele, who the coaching staff continues to praise. Not sure there’s much fantasy juice to squeeze from a boom-or-bust WR5. Not to mention, the Saints also drafted tight end Oscar Delp in the third round.

I haven’t called him our direct loser either, but fantasy managers have to be concerned about tight end Juwan Johnson. I don’t think there’s any way he sees nearly the same volume he saw last season with all these offensive additions the Saints have made.

New Orleans also drafted LSU’s Barion Brown in the sixth round. I highlighted him as a Day 3 sleeper pre-draft. He might get the game day nod over Lance based on what he can do on special teams as an elite returner (perhaps the next Rashid Shaheed for New Orleans).

Eli Heidenreich (RB – PIT)

Tough to get overly excited about Eli Heidenreich landing on the Steelers in the seventh round. The backfield is loaded with three RBs, and the Steelers still have plenty of WR options. Also, it’s either Aaron Rodgers or Drew Allar at QB. Woof. But he was announced after being selected as an “RB” so that will be his designation in fantasy football, even if he is deployed more as a slot WR (Julian Edelman-like).

I’m probably still going to draft him in all my rookie drafts.

Mike McCarthy has echoed that want for “versatile” WRs during the pre-draft process, and that is clearly Heidenreich. And once upon a time, McCarthy did embrace a WR-RB convert by the name of Ty Montgomery.

We’ll see if the Navy slotback can eat into some of the more established names on the Steelers’ roster. I wouldn’t bet against him.

Garrett Nussmeier (QB – KC)

Viewed as the QB3 by consensus, the LSU QB fell all the way to the seventh round. The landing spot is great in KC, especially given the injury to Patrick Mahomes. But the seventh-round capital suggests to me (and helps confirm) Nussmeier is just destined to be a career backup. He would really have to show out to supplant Justin Fields as QB2 in Kansas City.

WRs/TEs with additional competition from a Day 3 pass-catcher

• Quentin Johnston (WR – LAC)
• Tre Harris (WR – LAC)
• Oronde Gadsden II (TE – LAC)
• Mark Andrews (TE – BAL)
• Zay Flowers (WR – BAL)
• Chris Olave (WR – NO)
• Juwan Johnson (TE – NO)
• Keon Coleman (WR – BUF)
• Evan Engram (TE – DEN)
• Brenton Strange (TE – JAC)
• Tre Tucker (WR – LV)
• Jalen Nailor (WR – LV)

My highest-ranked rookies to go undrafted:

• TE Dae’Quan Wright (signed with Philadelphia)
• WR Eric McAlister
• WR Eric Rivers (signed with Tampa Bay)
• RB Le’Veon Moss (signed with Miami)
• RB J’Mari Taylor (signed with Jacksonville)
• RB Roman Hemby (signed with Las Vegas)

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