The 2026 NFL Draft has come and gone. Now that this phase of the NFL offseason has ended, it’s on to fantasy football drafts for many leagues. That will often start with dynasty drafts both startup and rookie drafts. We’ll have you covered with our dynasty rookie draft rankings and advice to help you dominate your leagues. Here’s a look at a few dynasty rookie draft prospects to know as you prepare for your draft.
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Dynasty Rookie Draft Advice: Players to Target
Here are a few rookies our fantasy football experts love to target in dynasty rookie drafts.
Eli Stowers (TE – PHI)
The Eagles took Eli Stowers in the second round of this year’s NFL Draft, 54th overall. Stowers won the John Mackey Award last year as the best tight end in college football, finishing his senior year at Vanderbilt with 62 catches for 769 yards and four touchdowns. Stowers had a 27% target rate last year and averaged an impressive 2.55 yards per route run. And like fellow rookie TE Kenyon Sadiq, Stowers is an athletic marvel. Stowers ran a 4.51 at the combine, and the former Texas state high school high-jump champion had a vertical jump of 451/2 inches. The 6-4, 239-pound Stowers might not be heavy enough to play as an in-line tight end, which could potentially limit his snaps. It’s hard to project big things for Stowers in his rookie year when his usage and role are uncertain, but his athleticism and college production suggest he’s capable of big things sooner or later.
– Pat Fitzmaurice
KC Concepcion (WR – CLE)
KC Concepcion heads to Cleveland with first-round draft capital in tow. Concepcion has the talent and draft capital attached to his name to be the team’s WR1 from the jump. At this point, we know who Jerry Jeudy is, and that’s an underwhelming volume-dependent ancillary wide receiver. Concepcion’s main competition for leading the team in targets in 2026 is Harold Fannin Jr. Concepcion remains my WR2 of this class and a top-five pick in rookie drafts regardless of format. I’m not worried about the Cleveland quarterback situation. Could that hurt his floor and ceiling in 2026? Sure, but quarterbacks’ situations change quickly in the NFL, and I won’t let that deter me from drafting a talented wide receiver. Bet on talent with your rookie draft picks, especially when hefty draft capital is attached to their names. You’ll be better for it in the long run.
– Derek Brown
Chris Bell (WR – MIA)
Chris Bell‘s rookie season outlook is tied heavily to his recovery timeline after suffering an ACL injury late in 2025, but Miami offers a strong long-term landing spot given the lack of pass-catching depth. The former Louisville standout brings legitimate alpha traits and was one of college football’s premier target earners before getting hurt. Miami can afford to be patient, potentially setting Bell up for a larger role once healthy in an offense lacking long-term answers at receiver. He’s a better dynasty investment than immediate redraft target, though his upside remains appealing if he returns to full strength quickly.
– Andrew Erickson
Ted Hurst III (WR – TB)
The Bucs drafted Ted Hurst in the third round of the NFL Draft. Hurst is immediately the WR4 on this depth chart ahead of Tez Johnson, in my opinion. I would not be surprised if Hurst cracks the Week 1 starting lineup with only Jalen McMillan to beat out for that job. The runway for Hurst is clearer than it might appear at first glance. The Bucs could easily let Chris Godwin walk after the 2026 season, as they have an out with a 16.3 million dead cap hit, which would also be Godwin’s age-31 season. Hurst is the upside swing to take in rookie drafts at the top of the second round. Don’t be shocked if Hurst and Emeka Egbuka are leading the Bucs passing attack entering 2027 after he puts up a solid rookie campaign.
– Derek Brown
Eli Raridon (TE – NE)
Eli Raridon arrives in New England after getting drafted in the third round. He has a shot to be the immediate TE2 on the roster behind only Hunter Henry, with only Julian Hill and CJ Dippre as his main competition. Hunter Henry is a free agent after the 2026 season, so the runway is clear for Raridon to get substantial playing time in 2026 and walk into 2027 as the team’s unquestioned starter. I’ll be drafting him heavily in the second round of rookie dynasty drafts.
– Derek Brown
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