2026 NFL Draft Sleepers: Dynasty stashes plus possible Year 1 contributors
We all know the top prospects in this draft class. Players like Fernando Mendoza, Jeremiah Love, Carnell Tate and Kenyon Sadiq will be selected early in the 2026 NFL Draft and are expected to contribute early in their NFL careers. As we move forward in the draft, it becomes more and more difficult to find the Fantasy stars of tomorrow, but it is certainly possible.
The 2026 NFL Draft has been touted as probably good for the trenches, but not so much for the skill positions. However, the more players I have studied, the more players I have discovered who I wholeheartedly believe will have a chance to become fantasy contributors in year one. If the following players don’t show signs of life during their Rookie season, they will at least be worth drafting and stashing in Dynasty leagues.
QB, Taylen Green, Arkansas
As long as putting points on the board is the main goal, Taylen Green should still be considered a quarterback prospect. A true dual-threat quarterback, he is able to put the ball in the end zone with his arm and legs. At 6-foot-6 and 224 pounds, he has the arm strength to make up for falling behind on any downs that force him to play off schedule. He also has above-average athleticism for the quarterback position, as he is expected to run the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds or less. Look for Green to put on a show at the NFL Combine and put himself firmly on the radar of teams in need of a quarterback heading into the 2026 NFL Draft. If he’s able to sit and learn behind a veteran for a year or two, he could be the perfect player to draft and stash in Dynasty leagues.
Comparison: Randall Cunningham
Perfect Fits: Las Vegas Raiders, Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts
Honorable mention: Drew Allar | King Hayes | Milestone Daniels | Diego Pavie
Adam Randall, RB, Clemson
Adam Randall is a very intriguing prospect. At 6-foot-2 and 233 pounds, Randall has great versatility. Coming out of high school, he was a four-star wide receiver prospect. He did not transition full-time to the running back position until his final season at Clemson, when he totaled 814 yards and 10 touchdowns and added another 254 yards and three touchdowns on 36 receptions. Despite his size, he runs behind his pads quite well, and with his background as a wide receiver, he doesn’t match up with most linebackers and safeties. Due to his size, most defenders tend to go after his legs, and his legs tend to die on contact. He will need to get slightly stronger in his lower half to maximize the distance covered through contact with his lower half at the next level. That said, I wouldn’t be shocked to see him carve out a role for himself early in his NFL career.
Comparison: James Stark
Perfect Fits: Baltimore Ravens, Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills,
Rahsul Faison, RB, South Carolina
When it comes to patience and start-stopping ability, there is no better running back in the 2026 NFL Draft than Rashul Faison. He really understands what it means to be slow and fast through the hole. He does a wonderful job setting up his blocks, and he has the ability to make defenders miss once he bursts onto the field. While he didn’t put up big numbers at South Carolina, his 1,109 yards and eight touchdowns in 2024 at Utah State are proof he’s capable of taking on a three-down role at the next level. Faison will actually be a 26-year-old rookie, so it would be in the best interest of any team that selects him to get the most out of him now. That said, the movie says the juice is certainly worth it and he has the talent to be a good RB2.
Comparison: Kevin Smith
Perfect Fits: New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans
Mike Washington Jr. RB, Arkansas
If there’s one player whose Combine performance can make teams go back and rewatch film, it’s Mike Washington Jr. Washington recorded 1,070 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground and added another 226 yards and a touchdown on 28 receptions. At 6 feet and 228 pounds, Washington is much more explosive than many people give him credit for in scouting circles. He has a sharp running style with the speed to easily get away from secondary defenders. His acceleration is visible on film, and while I’d like to see him lower his pad level a bit at or behind the line of scrimmage, he always seems to lower his pads just before contact. Washington may not be the best in the 2026 draft, but as far as upside goes, he’s probably my favorite running back in this class. Expect its stock to skyrocket with a stellar performance at Indy.
Comparison: DeMarco Murray
Perfect Fits: Houston Texans, Cincinnati Bengals, Washington Commanders
Honorable mention:
Nick Singleton, Penn State | RB, Demond Claiborne, Wake Forest | Noah Whittington | Eli Heidenreich, RB/WR, Navy
Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee
Unfortunately, Tennessee’s receivers have a bad reputation in league circles. The Volunteers’ offense tends to rely on a player’s overall athleticism, as opposed to the nuance and savvy of the wide receiver position. While volunteer receivers haven’t worked out in recent years, there’s reason to believe Chris Brazzell might be different. Although he is 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds, he has great speed and would be best suited as a “Z” receiver. The receiver or “Z” flanker is often positioned off the line of scrimmage and is frequently used in motion. Flankers are often given a free release after being positioned off the ball or used on the move, making a player with Brazzell’s size-speed combo all the more dangerous. If he lands in an offense that has an established #1 WR and uses a lot of pre-snap moves, he could carve out a deep threat role early in his career.
Comparison: DJ Chark Jr.
Perfect Fits: Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
Any team in need of a player who can take their short passing game to another level will definitely want to consider Zachariah Branch. Many coaches view short passes and screens as extended handoffs, and Branch is definitely a guy who will receive a lot of them in the NFL. Many of his receptions came behind the line of scrimmage at Georgia. This will likely continue to be a theme early in his career, making him the ideal young receiver to play in PPR leagues. As he continues to hone his game, he will be best suited to a West Coast offense that allows him to flourish as a runner after the catch. With his quickness and long range, any coach worth his salt will quickly realize that he is simply too explosive to stay on the sidelines.
Comparison: Marquise “Hollywood” Brown
Perfect Fits: Cleveland Browns | Miami Dolphins | Arizona Cardinals
Brenen Thompson, WR, Mississippi State
This is a receiver with real track speed. He ran a personal best of 10.18 in the 100-meter dash, and it’s possible he leaves Indianapolis as the fastest man at the 2026 NFL Combine. Although Thompson is listed at 5’9 170, he shouldn’t be relegated instead. He has the speed to win away from home. Any defender who tries to block him unassisted over the top could have a very long day. Because of his speed, many teams gave him a lot of room, and I wouldn’t be shocked if that was the case for him in the NFL as well. Brenen may need to add a little more muscle to his body, but he’s a player who deserves a lot more fanfare. Expect his draft stock to increase exponentially after this weekend.
Comparison: Santana Moss
Compatible with the NFL: Kansas City Chiefs | Philadelphia Eagles | Carolina Panthers
Honorable mention:
Emmanuel Henderson Jr., WR, Kansas | CJ Daniels, WR, Miami | Bryce Lance, WR, NDSU | Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson
Michael Trigg, TE, Baylor
Michael Trigg has a huge catch radius and will be a great security blanket for a young or struggling quarterback. He can play above the rim and is the ultimate matchup nightmare. He’s too big for most safeties and he’s too athletic for an average linebacker. He’ll need to grow and work on improving his base to become a better blocker, but as it stands, he’s the perfect “movement” tight end.
Comparison: Noah Fant
Compatible with the NFL: Houston Texans | New England Patriots | Denver Broncos
Khalil Dinkins, TE, Penn State
Although he isn’t used much in the passing game, Dinkins’ athleticism definitely stands out whenever the ball is thrown his way. Due to a lack of production, he will need to make his presence felt at the Combine, and he certainly has the athleticism to improve his draft stock. He has exceptional body control when the ball is in the air and he does a great job of catching the ball at its highest point. He’s expected to be a Day 3 selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, but given his explosiveness and natural hands, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him build a 53-man roster and carve out a role for himself late in the season. If he runs in the low 4.5 zone in the 40-yard dash and is up to snuff in on-field drills, he certainly deserves a draft pick and a stash in Dynasty leagues.
Comparison: Chig Okonkwo
Honorable mention:
Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia | Dae’Quan Wright, TE, Mississippi | Eli Raridon, TE, Notre Dame | Jack Endries, TE, Texas
