Let’s dive into Andrew Erickson’s fantasy football outlook for some of the dynasty rookies drafted Day 2. Here is our fantasy football outlook for: Max Klare, Germie Bernard, Sam Rousch. And here are all of Erickson’s Day 2 fantasy football winners & losers.
- 2026 NFL Draft Guide
- 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Reports
- Best Fantasy Football Tools
- Dynasty Rookie Mock Drafts
Fantasy Football Outlook: Max Klare, Germie Bernard, Sam Rousch
Max Klare (TE – LAR)
We know the Rams love their tight ends…but it’s getting a bit out of control. I still firmly believe that last year’s second-round pick, Terrance Ferguson, will be a stud. Tyler Higbee is 33 years old, even after signing a two-year contract extension with L.A. this offseason. He has been hurt the last two seasons, playing just 13 regular-season games. Colby Parkinson is also still under contract for another year, as is Davis Allen. Maybe in 2027, the optics for the former Ohio State tight end look better. But he will still likely be splitting with Ferguson regardless of how the Rams handle the rest of their veteran TEs.
I think this is a really great fit for the Steelers’ real-life offense, but it makes it hard to get really excited about Bernard in fantasy. Every year, we get rookie WRs who land on depth charts behind two decently strong veteran WRs. Bernard looks to be that “lucky” WR in 2026 – although many of those before him were drafted in Round 1. Pittman is under contract until 2030 (with a potential out in 2027) while Metcalf’s contract is set up the same way. Furthermore, we are looking at a Pittsburgh QB situation potentially led by 2026 third-round pick Drew Allar. Not great, fam.
If Bernard falls enough in rookie drafts, I could see taking some stabs on the decent floor his profile offers (also a top-50 overall pick). But I think the ceiling in Year 1 and beyond is very far out of reach.
Sam Rousch (TE – CHI)
Rousch is a really fun player and a great real-life fit in the Bears’ offense that loves to deploy a ton of 12 personnel.
He blew up the 2026 NFL Combine, posting in the 94th percentile in both the vertical and broad jumps. The Stanford tight end is built at 6-foot-6 and 267 pounds. Last year, he posted a 22% target share (second in the nation in routes run), which ranked third best in the class (behind Stowers and Tanner Koziol). Rousch is definitely more of the full package at tight end, offering blocking and receiving abilities (Y tight end) as an underneath/checkdown option.
Alas, being on the same team as Colston Loveland is going to hurt your fantasy appeal pretty substantially.
FWIW, Cole Kmet also has an out in his contract, so the team could move on from him to shift MORE focus toward Loveland and their third-round rookie tight end.
However, the Bears love to use two-TE sets… so I don’t think they’ll dump Kmet given the value he adds to the offense in 2026.
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