The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft is over, and we've seen some skill players come off the board. Jeremiah Love is the headliner, but there are several top wide receiver prospects who are finding themselves in attractive landing spots and, of course, there are quarterbacks and tight ends who have come off the board.
Let's dive into our fantasy football analysis of where each skill player taken in Round 1 ended up. Note, we're doing this in the order they were chosen.
RELATED: Winners, losers from Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft
Fernando Mendoza, QB, Las Vegas Raiders
How do you feel about Jared Goff? That's pretty much all you're going to get from Fernando Mendoza in his peak years. The good news is that he already has an All-Pro offensive weapon in Brock Bowers, and we're confident that Clint Kubiak can get the most out of Mendoza. For 2026, we don't see any realistic outcome where Mendoza is a top-16 fantasy quarterback. Looking ahead to the next decade, his status could be one of their top-12 fantasy options.
Jeremiah Love, RB, Arizona Cardinals
Was this the ideal landing spot for Jeremiah Love from a fantasy football perspective? No, not even close. The Arizona Cardinals' offensive line leaves a lot to be desired and, as helpful as Jacoby Brissett was in increasing their number of pass-catchers, Love will face a stacked box because of who Arizona has under center. As the saying goes, it's the talent that counts. Ashton Jeanty averaged the 11th-most fantasy points among running backs on ESPN as a rookie, and Love's pass-catching ability is better. We see Love as a top 10 fantasy pick this season and, if the situation ever improves in Arizona, he could be a top three RB in the offseason alongside Bijan Robinson and Jahmir Gibbs.
RELATED: 2026 Dynasty Positional Rankings
Carnell Tate, WR, Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans made it abundantly clear tonight that they are fully in on Cam Ward and are willing to invest premium draft capital to back him up. Carnell Tate, the most polished wide receiver prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft, steps in as the clear No. 1 receiver in Brian Daboll's offense. When people compare him to Calvin Ridley, remember this is the version of the player who put up 3,061 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns in his first three seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. We'd feel confident drafting Tate as a mid-tier WR2 in fantasy football this year, and he could be a high-tier No. 2 long-term.
Jordan Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Medical care is the primary concern for Jordan Tyson. Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall with very good speed and excellent ball skills, he is capable of making big plays both downfield and in the red zone. He's already a very good route runner who knows how to isolate downfield, a perfect pairing with Tyler Shaw. Some will point to the downside that he'll share looks with Chris Olave, but Kellen Moore is a very good play-caller, and there are a growing number of examples of a passing game that can support two high-end receivers from a fantasy perspective. We think Tyson can become a low-end WR2 this season, but there will be some instability, and you must remember he has a long track record of lower body injuries.
Ty Simpson, QB, Los Angeles Rams
Well, that's what happened. Ty Simpson clearly has no fantasy football value in 2026. So, it's really an attempt to look at him through the lens of the dynasty perspective. There really isn't a better landing spot for a young quarterback, as this Los Angeles Rams offense will have Sean McVay and Puka Nakua for years to come. It appears we are optimistic about Simpson long-term. Except that, Simpson is only a pedestrian athlete at the quarterback position, with arm strength and playmaking ability that can only be described as adequate. There is no top five fantasy QB upside here, not by a long shot. We don't view him as a quarterback prospect worth passing on.
Kenyon Saadiq, TE, New York Jets
The fantasy football landscape at tight end isn't as thin as it used to be. That said, Kenyon Saadiq has the potential to be a top-five player at the position. He is "only" 6 feet 3 inches tall, but his athleticism is off the charts. He is just as capable of leapfrogging a defender (43.5″ vertical leap) or making an acrobatic catch in the end zone as he is taking a short pass and turning on the jets with his speed (4.39 40-yard dash time). Plus, landing with the New York Jets means he's in the offense with the No. 1 wide receiver, who immediately draws the defense's attention, and New York's other first-round pick (Omar Cooper Jr.) creates even more open space. NFL comparisons to Vernon Davis and Trey McBride; Sadiq is that special someone as an athlete and he could be one of the best fantasy players in the coming years.
Makai Lemmon, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
So it is clear that AJ Brown is being traded to the New England Patriots in the first week of June. Makai Lemon, who almost landed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, immediately moved into the No. 2 role in the Philadelphia Eagles offense. This assumes he's playing DeVonta Smith's role (113 targets in 17 games last season). There are Amon-Ra Saint Brown-lite qualities here with Lemon, and his skill set is perfect for making an impact in his rookie season. However, his upside is limited as he will be in a run-heavy offense and catching passes from a quarterback whose accuracy issues have already frustrated his two star wide receivers. Lemon may be a high-end WR2 in fantasy at some point in his career, but he'll become a WR3 in 2026.
Casey Concepcion, WR, Cleveland Browns
While the quarterback situation is still a bit fluid with the Cleveland Browns, we like this landing spot for Casey Concepcion. He has an opportunity to immediately become the best receiver on the Browns offense, and play-caller Todd Monken has a proven track record of finding ways to get the football in the hands of his playmakers. As a rookie, we could also see Cleveland take advantage of his explosiveness as a returner. Our guess is that Concepcion will become a risk-reward WR3 this upcoming season and, in the long term, if he cleans up the downs and gets a great quarterback, he could be a high-end WR2.
Omar Cooper Jr., WR, New York Jets
Reporting in the weeks leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft made it clear that the New York Jets were relying heavily on Omar Cooper Jr. Sure enough, they moved late in Round 1 to stop him. The NFL comparisons to Deebo Samuel are legitimate; Cooper offers attractive YAC ability at 6 feet tall, and defensive backs have a tough task bringing him down. He's also running in a situation where Garrett Wilson and Kenyon Saadiq will already draw defenders away, creating more open space for Cooper to operate. He profiles as a low-end WR3 in fantasy for the 2026 season, but there is a very real long-term benefit to him being a strong WR2.
Jadarion Price, RB, Seattle Seahawks
Jadarion Price has certainly landed in a relatively favorable spot from a fantasy football perspective. Zach Charbonnet faces a long recovery from ACL surgery in January, and Emmanuel Wilson isn't much of a depth prospect. Price entered the NFL with minimal tread on tires, handling only 295 career touches in three seasons at Notre Dame. He averaged more than 6 yards per carry in each of his previous seasons and scored a total of 20 scrimmage touchdowns on 243 attempts. The approach he brings bodes well for immediate success, and a clear path to a leading role in the Seahawks' offense. However, his current limitations at third in PPR scoring impact his value. For now, he projects as a low-end RB2 in 2026 with more solid flex play.
