Mike Clay’s 2026 NFL Draft Rookie Rankings: Fantasy Football Outlook

With the NFL combine concluded and the draft rapidly approaching, ESPN Senior Writer Mike Clay has released his initial fantasy football rankings for the incoming rookie class. Mike Clay, a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame, uses his player projections – which power the ESPN Fantasy Football game – to assess the potential impact of these prospects. These rankings, based on observations from college careers, aim to provide a scouting advantage for fantasy football enthusiasts.

Top 80 Rookie Prospects

Clay’s rankings cover the four key fantasy football positions: quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end, evaluating the top 80 players who attended the March combine. It’s important to note that these rankings are preliminary and will likely shift once players are drafted to their NFL teams.

Top Players by Position

Running Backs (RB)

1. Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame (RB1): Love boasts excellent size and speed (4.36 40-yard dash) with a three-down skillset. He led the class in yards per carry (6.66) and yards after contact (4.16), ranking second in forced-missed tackle rate (3.5%). A capable receiver and blocker, Love is projected as a potential fantasy superstar.

Wide Receivers (WR)

2. Carnell Tate, Ohio State (WR1): Tate was efficient at Ohio State, averaging 13.1 yards per target and 3.06 yards per route run in 2025. He has big hands and a large wingspan, despite a 4.53 40-yard dash time.
3. Makai Lemon, USC (WR2): Lemon is a skilled slot receiver with a class-best 3.04 yards per route run and a 1.6% drop rate. He had a dominant 79-1,156-11 receiving line in 2025.
4. Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State (WR3): Tyson led the class with a 35% target share in 2025, despite missing time due to injury. He finished with a 158-2,282-22 receiving line.
5. Denzel Boston, Washington (WR4): Boston is a big receiver with strong ball skills, recording 62-plus receptions, 830-plus yards, and nine-plus touchdowns in his last two seasons.

Tight Ends (TE)

6. Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon (TE1): Sadiq has the potential to develop into a top pass-catching tight end. He broke out with a 51-560-8 receiving line in 2025 and impressed at the combine with a 4.39 40-yard dash.

Additional Top Prospects

7. KC Concepcion, Texas A&M (WR5): A quick and explosive short-to-intermediate receiver with a 27.2% career target share.
8. Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana (WR6): A breakout performer in 2025 with a 69-937-13 receiving line.
9. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana (QB1): The reigning Heisman Trophy winner, Mendoza is a big, accurate quarterback with a solid arm.
10. Jadarian Price, Notre Dame (RB2): Showed well with a 4.13 YAC and 3.6 forced missed tackle rate, though limited as a receiver.

Key Insights from Clay’s Rankings

• Efficiency Matters: Players like Makai Lemon and Carnell Tate stand out for their efficiency and ability to maximize opportunities.
• Combine Performance: Athletic testing at the combine, such as Kenyon Sadiq’s impressive 40-yard dash time, significantly impacts rankings.
• Versatility is Valued: Running backs like Jeremiyah Love, who excel in all facets of the game (rushing, receiving, blocking), are highly regarded.

Looking Ahead

As the NFL draft approaches, these rankings will continue to evolve based on player landing spots and team needs. Mike Clay’s analysis provides a valuable starting point for fantasy football players preparing for the 2026 season. Stay tuned to ESPN for further updates and in-depth coverage of the NFL draft.