Yahoo’s Justin Boone breaks down every fantasy-relevant selection in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, including their projections and rankings moving forward. Follow along all Thursday night for live updates during the first round.
Fernando Mendoza, QB, Raiders (1st overall)
Fantasy potential: ★★★★☆
2026 projection (13 starts): 2,743 passing yards, 18 TDs, 14 INTs, 251 rushing yards, TD
Dynasty startup value (Superflex): QB17 (fourth-round pick)
Dynasty rookie value (Superflex): 1.02-1.05
Advertisement
Mendoza isn’t the kind of dominant quarterback prospect that can singlehandedly change the fortune of a franchise, but his arrival in Las Vegas comes at the perfect time. New head coach Klint Kubiak has gotten the most out of the offenses at his last couple stops, including turning Sam Darnold into a Super Bowl winning QB.
The Raiders have also made an effort to upgrade the offensive line this offseason, including the signing of top free-agent center Tyler Linderbaum – an important addition for a rookie passer.
With the presence of two young superstars in Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty (who are both 23 years old), as well as the likely selection of at least one rookie receiver on Day 2 or Day 3 of the draft, Mendoza has enough weaponry to succeed whenever he steps under center.
Though veteran Kirk Cousins will do his best to hold him off, Mendoza will be starting sooner rather than later. The Heisman Trophy winner has the ability to return fantasy QB2 value in his starts as a rookie, with a chance to reach low-end QB1 production in future years.
Advertisement
Prospect profile: Mendoza has proven himself to be a good leader with excellent on-field awareness who displays the toughness needed to overcome adversity during games. He has a strong arm to make any throw, but it’s his touch passing that stands out.
Though the 22-year-old has enough speed to scramble his way out of trouble and pick up yards on the ground, he’s not fast enough to be a meaningful runner in the pros.
He profiles as a long-term NFL starter, who will need the right environment around him to become a star.
Fantasy stock up: Brock Bowers, Ashton Jeanty, Raiders WRs
Fantasy stock down: Kirk Cousins
Advertisement
[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL season]
Jeremiyah Love, RB, Cardinals (3rd overall)
Fantasy potential: ★★★★★
2026 projection (15 starts): 247 carries, 1,072 rushing yards, 6 TDs 45 receptions, 339 receiving yards, 2 TDs
Dynasty startup value (Superflex): RB4, Late 2nd-early 3rd round pick
Dynasty rookie value (Superflex): 1.01
The Titans, Giants and Commanders were all hoping Love would fall to them in the top-10, but the Cardinals put a quick stop to that by selecting the clear top running back in this class at third overall.
It’’s a surprising move given the massive contract that draft slot requires, which now locks Love into a clear lead-back role in an Arizona backfield that was decimated by injuries last year.
Love might be a tier or two below the truly elite RB prospects from past years like Bijan Robinson or Saquon Barkley, but he is the total package and player who’s going to be an impact NFL starter right away. There’s an excellent chance that he’ll post fantasy RB1 numbers as a rookie.
Advertisement
The biggest loser in this situation is Tyler Allgeier, who signed with the team in free agency. Allgeier was escaping the shadow of Bijan Robinson in Atlanta and now finds himself stuck behind another top prospect in Love, keeping him in the backup RB mix for the foreseeable future.
Prospect profile: Love has the size, skill and athleticism to be a three-down workhorse at the next level.
The 20-year-old displays good vision and patience, letting blocks develop in front of him, while also having the breakaway straight line speed necessary to create big plays. He’s also a comfortable pass-catcher (56 receptions over the last two seasons) who’s dangerous out in space.
Operating behind an elite Notre Dame offensive line certainly helped his production, but Love is a set-it-and-forget-it fantasy RB1 with a path to being a high-end producer.
Advertisement
Fantasy stock up: None
Fantasy stock down: Tyler Allgeier, James Conner, Trey Benson
Carnell Tate, WR, Titans (4th overall)
Fantasy potential: ★★★★☆
2026 projection (16 starts): 72 receptions, 1,002 receiving yards, 5 TDs
Dynasty startup value (Superflex): WR14, 4th-round pick
Dynasty rookie value (Superflex): 1.02-1.04
The Titans finally found a No. 1 target for quarterback Cam Ward, spending the fourth pick overall to secure his services.
Ward played better than his stats showed last season, but he lacked quality talent in his receiving corps. While the addition of Wan’Dale Robinson in free agency was the first step in addressing the issue, he does his best work from the slot. Now Tate steps in as a real weapon on the outside and gives the Titans the start of a promising group of pass-catchers under the new coaching staff that includes OC Brian Daboll.
Advertisement
Though Tennessee was a team that fantasy managers could often avoid watching last season, that won’t be the case in 2026.
With the potential volume and role Tate will command, he will immediately enter the low-end WR2 conversation for fantasy.
Prospect profile: Tate is a more traditional big bodied X-receiver, who also overcomes a lack of elite speed with a variety of high-level traits.
The 21-year-old is a smooth athlete with good awareness, who carves up defenses with strong hands, quality route running and excellent contested catch ability. He does a great job tracking the ball, high-pointing passes and using his body to box out defenders.
Advertisement
His college production wasn’t as massive as you might expect, due to the level of target competition at Ohio State and some durability issues. While he would be wise to add some bulk to his frame, Tate has all the tools to become a difference-maker in the NFL.
Fantasy stock up: Cam Ward, Tony Pollard
Fantasy stock down: Calvin Ridley, Chimere Dike, Epic Ayomanor