My First Top 12 Rankings for 2026 PPR Dynasty Rookie Draft | The Flex Spot

My first top 12 rankings for the 2026 PPR dynasty rookie draft using a 1QB best player available approach. Jeremiyah Love, Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson, Makai Lemon, Jadarian Price, and Kenyon Sadiq lead the class.

Jeremiyah Love

RB - Arizona Cardinals - Notre Dame

3rd Overall

2024 Stats

163 car / 1,125 yds / 17 TD

2025 Stats

199 car / 1,372 yds / 18 TD

Receiving (2025)

27 rec / 280 yds / 3 TD

Career Totals

433 rush / 2,882 yds / 36 TD

This guy is the clear 1.01 and it is not close. Love put up back to back monster seasons at Notre Dame, and the production numbers speak for themselves. In 2024 he had 163 carries for 1,125 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns. Then in 2025 he went for 199 carries, 1,372 yards, and 18 rushing scores while adding 27 catches for 280 yards and 3 more through the air. Those are workload and efficiency numbers that very few prospects ever put together.

He led the class in yards per carry and yards after contact while forcing a ton of missed tackles. His career totals sit at 433 rushes for 2,882 yards and 36 touchdowns, plus 63 receptions for 594 yards and 6 receiving scores. That is a complete back. The Cardinals took him 3rd overall with massive guaranteed money, and he walks in as the undisputed lead back right away in a run-leaning offense. There is no committee to worry about, no veteran to platoon with early, and no questions about his role.

In PPR he has weekly RB1 upside from the jump. The pass-catching ability is real, the workload is coming, and he has plenty of tread left on the tires at this stage of his career. This is a day one three-down starter with the kind of talent that can carry a dynasty team for the next five or six seasons.

Never pass on this pick. Love is the kind of asset that wins dynasty leagues. Trade multiple future firsts to move up if you have to. In a 1QB league it is not close at all. Lock him in and move on.

Carnell Tate

WR - Tennessee Titans - Ohio State

4th Overall

Career Rec

121 catches

Career Yards

1,872 yds

Career TDs

14 TD

2025 YPC

17.2 yards per catch

Ohio State produced another stud. Tate played second fiddle to Jeremiah Smith for most of his college career, but do not let that fool you. Over his career he caught 121 passes for 1,872 yards and 14 touchdowns, and in 2025, despite missing a few games, he still put up 51 catches for 875 yards and 9 scores at a ridiculous 17.2 yards per catch. That efficiency number is not a fluke. He is a genuine playmaker who was sharing a target market with one of the best receiver prospects of the past decade.

He has the hands, body control, and contested catch ability you want from your alpha receiver. The Titans grabbed him 4th overall, making him the highest drafted receiver in team history, and that tells you everything you need to know about how Tennessee views him. He steps right into the WR1 role opposite a young Cam Ward, and you can expect a heavy target share from Week 1. There is no veteran blocker in front of him on the depth chart and no competition for that top spot.

In PPR this is legitimate top 20 overall dynasty value. A young quarterback who needs to lean on his receiver, first-round investment from the team, and a clear path to 100-plus target seasons is the exact combination you want for your dynasty WR core.

The most straightforward pick after Love. Best immediate path to WR1 status of anyone in this class. If you are picking at 1.02, smile and take him without a second thought.

Jordyn Tyson

WR - New Orleans Saints - Arizona State

8th Overall

75 rec / 1,101 yds / 10 TD

61 rec / 711 yds / 8 TD (9 games)

158 rec / 2,282 yds / 22 TD

NFL Pick

Tyson started at Colorado where he flashed as a freshman before a major knee injury derailed his momentum. He transferred to Arizona State and had a full breakout in 2024 with 75 catches for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns. In 2025 he played only 9 games but still posted 61 receptions for 711 yards and 8 scores, which speaks to how impactful he is on a per-game basis. His career totals sit at 158 catches for 2,282 yards and 22 touchdowns across multiple programs.

He is an explosive separator who consistently creates yards after the catch. The Saints took him 8th overall and he lines up alongside Chris Olave in a scheme under Tyler Shough that loves quick passes and space. With Olave likely heading toward free agency after 2026, there is a real and realistic path for Tyson to ascend to the WR1 role in New Orleans within the next year or two. The Saints offense has the ingredients to be a legitimate passing attack, and Tyson is positioned to be the centerpiece of it long term.

The injury history is the one thing that keeps him behind Tate on this list. When healthy, there is a genuine argument that Tyson is the best dynasty receiver in this class. You just have to price in the durability risk knowing what you know.

Highest ceiling of any receiver in this draft. There is a real world where he ends up being the best dynasty asset in the entire class. Know the injury risk going in, but do not let it talk you completely off him. The upside is that real.

Makai Lemon

WR - Philadelphia Eagles - USC

20th Overall

52 rec / 764 yds / 3 TD

79 rec / 1,156 yds / 11 TD

137 rec / 2,008 yds / 14 TD

Award

2025 Biletnikoff Winner

Lemon won the Biletnikoff Award in 2025 and earned it. He put up 79 catches for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns while posting a microscopic drop rate and ridiculous yards per route run. He had multiple 150-yard games and dominated both in the slot and outside. In 2024 he added 52 catches for 764 yards and 3 scores as a younger contributor, and his career totals sit at 137 receptions for 2,008 yards and 14 touchdowns. The production is real and the tape is elite.

The Eagles traded up to 20th overall to get him, which signals how much they valued him. He has immediate playing time behind DeVonta Smith with the A.J. Brown era in Philadelphia winding down, and the upside here is massive if that target share opens up over the next 12 to 18 months. The main concern in the near term is that Philadelphia is a lower-volume passing offense under Jalen Hurts, so early production may come in waves rather than consistently week to week.

That said, when this offense fires and Lemon gets into a rhythm with Hurts, you are looking at a PPR monster. He is the kind of after-the-catch weapon who turns short passes into chunk gains, and that skill set is worth a premium in PPR formats. High floor, even higher ceiling.

Best pure receiving tape in the entire class. The Eagles situation requires some patience early, but the long-term upside is firmly WR1 territory. A PPR asset you can build around for years.

Jadarian Price

RB - Seattle Seahawks - Notre Dame

32nd Overall

113 car / 674 yds / 11 TD

6 rec / 87 yds / 2 TD

280 rush / 1,692 yds / 21 TD

Notre Dame's other back behind Love, and a really good football player in his own right. In 2025 Price had 113 carries for 674 yards and 11 touchdowns, adding 6 receptions for 87 yards and 2 more scores. His career totals are 280 rushes for 1,692 yards and 21 touchdowns, and the receiving work showed solid hands and the ability to contribute in the passing game when called upon. Keep in mind he was operating behind a top three overall pick at the same position, so his opportunities were naturally capped.

The Seahawks took him late in the first round at 32nd overall, and the situation could not be cleaner. Kenneth Walker III is gone, Zach Charbonnet is still recovering from a torn ACL suffered in the divisional playoffs, and Seattle's offense has a built-in commitment to running the football. Price should lead or share the backfield early and then potentially take over as the full-time lead back long term in a run-heavy attack. Good vision, good burst, good receiving skills. This is a complete back stepping into a near-perfect situation.

Dream landing spot for any running back in this class. Near-zero competition early, first-round capital, and a team built to run the football. Take him with confidence at 1.05 and expect real RB2 production in year one.

Kenyon Sadiq

TE - New York Jets - Oregon

1st Round Pick

51 rec / 560 yds / 8 TD

~80 rec / 892 yds / 11 TD

Size

6'3" / 241 lbs

40 Time

4.39 (98th percentile)

Oregon's main tight end who led them in receiving in multiple games and was one of the best receiving tight ends in college football in 2025. He put up 51 catches for 560 yards and 8 touchdowns, and his career totals sit around 80 receptions for 892 yards and 11 scores. The numbers are good, but the athletic profile is what makes him special. At 241 pounds he runs a 4.39 forty, posted a 43.5-inch vertical (99th percentile), and a 133-inch broad jump (98th percentile). That is a freak athlete at the tight end position.

The Jets made him a first-round pick because they see exactly what dynasty managers should see: an instant mismatch piece who wins in the slot and in the red zone alongside the rest of their young weapons. The plan is apparently to get both Sadiq and Mason Taylor on the field simultaneously, which would create one of the more dangerous two-TE sets in the league. His 2026 production may be limited by the crowded Jets passing game, but this is a dynasty pick you make for 2027 and beyond when New York upgrades at quarterback.

He is the top tight end in this class and it is not a close call. The spike week potential in PPR with this athletic profile is very real.

Best TE in the class and not close. First-round capital with a freakish athletic profile. Do not expect fireworks in 2026 with the Jets situation, but this is a dynasty investment you will be glad you made. Positional scarcity at TE is real and Sadiq is the answer to it.

KC Concepcion

WR - Cleveland Browns - NC State / Texas A&M

24th Overall

2023 (NC State)

71 rec / 839 yds / 10 TD

2025 (Texas A&M)

61 rec / 919 yds / 9 TD

Rushing (2025)

10 car / 75 yds / 1 TD

Concepcion was a true freshman stud at NC State in 2023 with 71 catches for 839 yards and 10 touchdowns before transferring to Texas A&M where he exploded for 61 receptions, 919 yards, and 9 touchdowns in 2025, adding 10 carries for 75 rushing yards and another score. He is a big, fast hybrid weapon who wins in the slot and outside with strong hands and serious versatility. His ability to create separation against man coverage is considered the best in this entire draft class.

The Browns took him 24th overall and the opportunity in Cleveland is real. Their receiver room has plenty of vacancy, and Concepcion should start right away and become a PPR target hog early in his career. The concerns are well documented: he had a drop problem in college that showed up most clearly in 2024 before he cleaned it up at A&M, and Cleveland's quarterback situation is the elephant in the room. If Shedeur Sanders develops into a legitimate starter, the entire upside picture changes rapidly. If not, Concepcion is still getting his targets regardless and the separation ability will keep him relevant.

High variance but real upside. Best separator in the class with first-round capital and immediate WR1 opportunity. The Cleveland QB situation is the risk you are taking. At pick seven in a 1QB PPR rookie draft, this is a fair price for that upside.

Omar Cooper Jr.

WR - New York Jets - Indiana

30th Overall

69 rec / 937 yds / 13 TD

College

Indiana

Role

Primary slot (NYJ)

NFL Draft

Indiana product who had a genuine breakout in 2025 with 69 catches for 937 yards and 13 touchdowns. He added serious after-catch juice throughout the season and forced missed tackles on a consistent basis. He is a dynamic slot receiver with reliable hands who can make something happen every time he touches the ball. The Jets moved back into the first round to grab him, which is a meaningful signal about how they view his fit in Frank Reich's quick-passing scheme.

He projects as the primary slot option for New York immediately, stepping into a role in an offense that uses that position heavily. The Jets do have a crowded target picture right now with Garrett Wilson at the top, Adonai Mitchell developing, and now Sadiq also in the mix at tight end. But Cooper's slot-specific role carves out his own defined space and gives him PPR relevance right away. The bigger payoff comes when New York upgrades at quarterback and this offense operates at its full potential. There is big play upside mixed in with the consistent PPR floor.

Immediate PPR relevance with the slot role locked up from day one. The Jets timeline for a real quarterback upgrade is the key variable here. Good pick at the back end of the first round for any manager willing to play the long game.

Denzel Boston

WR - Cleveland Browns - Washington

Day 2 Pick

63 rec / 834 yds / 9 TD

62 rec / 881 yds / 11 TD

6'4" / 209 lbs

"X" WR in CLE

Boston chose to stay at Washington rather than follow the program's coaching transition, and it paid off. He posted 63 receptions for 834 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2024, then followed it up with 62 catches for 881 yards and 11 scores in 2025. He was a consistent 60-plus catch, 800-plus yard producer in back to back seasons at the Power Four level. At 6'4" and 209 pounds, he dominates contested catches and is a natural red zone threat with that size and catch radius.

He was considered a lock to be drafted on Day 1 and his Day 2 slide was genuinely surprising. The Browns took him and he should start at the X receiver role immediately, creating a really interesting young receiver tandem with Concepcion. That same Cleveland quarterback question mark applies here, but if Shedeur Sanders develops into anything functional, this duo is going to be a real problem for opposing defenses and a real asset for dynasty managers. Good complementary piece with a solid PPR floor and real upside tied to the team's quarterback development.

Draft-day value play who should have gone earlier. The Cleveland situation is the risk you accept, but a 6'4" contested catch machine with back to back 800-yard seasons and immediate starting opportunity is worth a late first-round pick in any format.

Fernando Mendoza

QB - Las Vegas Raiders - Indiana / California

1st Overall Pick

2025 Comp %

273/379 (72.0%)

2025 Passing

3,535 yds / 41 TD / 6 INT

2025 Rushing

444 yds / 7 TD

Awards

Heisman, National Title

Indiana star who won the Heisman Trophy and a national championship. In 2025 he completed 273 of 379 passes for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns with only 6 interceptions, adding 444 rushing yards and 7 rushing scores. That is an absurd stat line. He flashed plenty of arm talent earlier at Cal before transferring to Indiana, and the Raiders made him the No. 1 overall pick with full conviction that he is their franchise quarterback.

He sits behind Kirk Cousins for now but should see real playing time in 2026 before eventually taking over the starting job full time. The landing spot is genuinely excellent. He steps into a Klint Kubiak offense with Brock Bowers available at tight end and Ashton Jeanty as one of the best young running backs in the league to take pressure off the passing game. That is a supportive environment for a developing quarterback to grow in.

In 1QB leagues his value sits a bit lower than Superflex, but the long-term starter upside with good weapons around him makes him a legitimate first-round pick here. You are buying into a multi-year development arc, and the payoff when it clicks is significant.

In 1QB leagues QBs rarely justify premium first-round picks, but the situation here is too good to ignore entirely. Mendoza at the back end of the first round is the right price. If you have a need at QB in your dynasty league, this is your guy.

De'Zhaun Stribling

WR - San Francisco 49ers - Ole Miss

33rd Overall

55 rec / 811 yds / 6 TD

Path

Wash. State -> OkSt -> Ole Miss

33rd Overall (Round 2)

Team

San Francisco 49ers

Stribling took the long road, starting at Washington State where he posted 44 catches for 471 yards and 5 touchdowns as a freshman, then passing through Oklahoma State before landing at Ole Miss in 2025 where he put up a career high 55 catches for 811 yards and 6 touchdowns. He has been a consistent producer at every stop, which tells you something about the player. He is an athletic, physical receiver who wins contested catches and creates yards after the catch, traits that translate well to the NFL.

The 49ers took him at 33rd overall as a high-upside scheme fit, and he joins a contender with star weapons in Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle already in place. He starts in a depth role for now, which is the honest reality, but the spike potential is real if injuries create opportunities in San Francisco's offense. Kyle Shanahan knows how to scheme receivers into big games and Stribling has the physical traits and contested catch ability to be dangerous when called upon. Strong YAC traits for PPR value in what is normally a run-first attack.

Depth role early on a contender limits his 2026 floor, but the second-round capital and physical profile give him real long-term upside. A worthy stash at the back of round one who could look very cheap in two years.

Chris Brazzell II

WR - Carolina Panthers - Tennessee

Round 3 Pick

62 rec / 1,017 yds / 9 TD

Tennessee

Profile

Size, speed, big wingspan

Carolina Panthers

Tennessee product who put together a strong final season against SEC competition. In 2025 he posted 62 catches for 1,017 yards and 9 touchdowns. That is real production against real defenses, and you cannot dismiss what he did in that conference.

He wins with his size, his blazing speed, and a massive wingspan that makes him a legitimate jump ball and downfield threat at the next level. He showed up on Freaks lists for a reason. The tools are genuinely there.

The Panthers took him in round three and the landing spot works. Carolina's receiver room is not crowded, which means Brazzell has a real path to earning snaps and targets as a rookie rather than sitting behind a logjam of veterans. His best case in 2026 is carving out a consistent role as a vertical threat and red zone weapon. More realistically he develops into a starter over the next 18 months, but the arrow is pointing up.

Higher variance pick, but the athletic profile and SEC production make him worth a dart throw at the back end of your first round or early in round two. The kind of guy who sneaks into relevance when you least expect it.

Ted Hurst, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

84th Overall

Georgia State - Round 3

Full disclosure: I am a Bucs fan, so I may be a little biased here, but I really like what I see with Hurst and think he has a very bright future. Tampa grabbed him at No. 84 overall and he is a big 6'4", 206-pound X receiver type with great college production. At Georgia State he posted 56 catches for 961 yards and a school record 9 touchdowns in 2024, then followed it up with 71 catches for 1,004 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2025. That is 127 catches for 1,965 yards and 15 touchdowns over his final two college seasons, which is real production.

He also showed up on Freaks lists because of his size and speed combination. With Mike Evans now in San Francisco, Hurst has a real shot to help fill that big-body outside X role in the Bucs offense alongside a healthy Chris Godwin and Baker Mayfield. He is already talking about playing X receiver in minicamp and catching everything in sight, which is encouraging. Sneaky upside as a developmental WR3/4 with rotational potential in Week 1 and a legitimate starter ceiling if he earns targets in Tampa's pass-heavy attack. Worth stashing around the second round in rookie drafts. Go Bucs!

Jonah Coleman, RB, Denver Broncos

108th Overall

Washington - Round 4

Explosive Washington product who rushed for 758 yards and 15 touchdowns at 4.9 yards per carry in 2025. The Broncos selected him in round four at No. 108 overall. He steps in as a complementary change-of-pace back behind J.K. Dobbins and others, but he has receiving chops and legitimate big play ability. Sean Payton tends to use his backfield creatively, and Coleman has the skill set to carve out a flex role in PPR if he earns time on the field. Upside stash in the late first or early second round of your rookie draft.

Eli Stowers, TE, Philadelphia Eagles

Round 2 Pick

Vanderbilt (transferred from New Mexico State) - Round 2

Former quarterback turned tight end who produced well at Vanderbilt. In 2025 he had 62 catches for 769 yards and 4 touchdowns after posting 50 catches for 644 yards and 5 scores the year before. Strong athletic profile with second-round capital, and he is the clear heir apparent to Dallas Goedert in a tight end friendly scheme in Philadelphia. This is a buy-and-hold dynasty asset with legitimate TE1 upside by Year 2. The patience required may be frustrating in the short term, but the long-term payoff in a Hurts offense is worth it.

Antonio Williams, WR, Washington Commanders

Clemson - Round 3

Reliable Clemson veteran with 55 catches for 604 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2025 and career totals of 208 receptions, 2,336 yards, and 21 touchdowns. He is one of the most experienced slot receivers in this draft class and lands with Washington, which lost Deebo Samuel who played primarily from that slot position. A mobile quarterback in Jayden Daniels is a great situation for a quick-twitch slot receiver. High floor PPR contributor with immediate rotational work virtually guaranteed from day one.

Germie Bernard, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Alabama (previously Michigan State / Washington) - Round 2

Slot possession receiver who put up 64 catches for 862 yards and 7 touchdowns in 2025 at Alabama. Second-round pick who fits nicely into Pittsburgh's developing passing game and brings a dependable WR4/5 floor with occasional spike week upside. The Steelers have been building something offensively and Bernard could find a role quickly as a reliable target in their scheme. A sensible late first or early second round dynasty stash.

Chris Bell, WR, Miami Dolphins

Louisville - Round 3

Louisville product with size, speed, and contested catch skills who put up 72 catches for 917 yards and 6 touchdowns in just 11 games in 2025. Career totals sit around 151 receptions for 2,166 yards and 12 touchdowns. He bounced back from an ACL injury earlier in his career, which speaks to his resilience. The Dolphins took him in round three and he lands in a pass-heavy offense under Jeff Hafley and Bobby Slowik that needs more weapons. Higher variance pick, but the ceiling in a pass-happy Miami offense is real if he carves out a role. Worth a late first or early second round dart throw in PPR.

Arizona Cardinals

Notre Dame

Unanimous 1.01, day one feature back

Tennessee Titans

Ohio State

Instant WR1 role, 4th overall

New Orleans Saints

Arizona State

Highest ceiling in class, injury risk

Philadelphia Eagles

USC

2025 Biletnikoff, best WR tape

Seattle Seahawks

Feature back role, 32nd overall

New York Jets

Oregon

Top TE, freakish athlete, 1st rd pick

Cleveland Browns

Texas A&M

Best separator in class, CLE QB risk

Slot role locked, PPR floor immediate

Washington

Day 2 value, 6'4" contested catch WR

Las Vegas Raiders

Indiana / Cal

Heisman, 1st overall, 1QB value only

Ole Miss

33rd overall, depth role on contender

Round 3, SEC production, vertical upside

The Call

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DRAFT GUIDE

My First Top 12 Rankings for 2026 PPR Dynasty Rookie Draft (1QB, BPA Style)

Kenyon Sadiq, New York Jets, Tight End

If you are preparing for your 2026 dynasty rookie draft, this is my first look at the top 12 prospects in 1QB PPR formats using a best player available approach. This will evolve as we get closer to draft season, but right now there is a very clear top tier and then a significant drop off.

Landing spots shaped a lot of this class in ways we did not fully expect. A few guys landed in dream situations, a few got stuck in tough spots, and the middle of the board has more variance than usual. There is real value to be found if you know where to look. Let's get into it.

Format note: These rankings are built for 12-team, 1QB PPR leagues using a best player available approach. They reflect post-NFL Draft landing spots and will be updated as we get more information from OTAs, minicamp, and training camp. Check back for updates throughout the offseason.

These players are strong candidates for late first or early second round picks depending on league depth and your specific roster needs. Do not sleep on this group.

Full Top 12 At A Glance

Final Thoughts

This rookie class has a very clear top tier, and if you can get into that range you should be aggressive about it. Love is in a tier by himself, and picks two through five are all legitimate difference makers who you should be comfortable building around. After that it becomes much more about situation, opportunity, and your own roster construction needs.

There is still real value to be found in the late first and early second rounds, especially in PPR formats where volume can turn into weekly production quickly. Do not talk yourself out of a guy you love because the consensus has him a spot or two lower. This class rewards conviction.

As always, trust your evaluations, stay flexible during the draft, and do not be afraid to take your guy if you believe in the talent and the situation. These rankings will be updated as we get more information from OTAs, minicamp, and training camp. Check back throughout the offseason for any changes.

The Flex Spot - Dynasty Fantasy Football Analysis. All rankings are based on a 12-team, 1QB PPR format. Draft capital and landing spot information sourced post-2026 NFL Draft. Rankings as of May 14, 2026. Deviations based on positional need and roster construction are always encouraged.