Combine fallout: Fantasy Football risers in the 2026 rookie class

The 2026 NFL Combine was explosive with some of the best sports testing we’ve seen across the board since the NFL’s premier scouting event. While sports testing doesn’t always translate into Fantasy Football success, it often translates into draft capital. What I mean by that is that wide receivers who ran a sub-4.30 40-yard dash most often moved up to Day 2 (and often second-round picks). And what we’ve learned in Fantasy Football is that early draft capital often leads to early opportunities/volume. And of course, volume leads to consistent Fantasy production.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the biggest risers and a few sleepers that stood out at the NFL Combine and will now be on your Fantasy Football radar for your upcoming Dynasty drafts, drafts, and guard leagues.

Five risers

Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

Sadiq is a dark horse to be the first skill position player selected in April, and we know draft capital is important in Fantasy Football – especially at the tight end position. See: Colston Loveland, Tyler Warren, etc. The first skill pick will most likely be Jeremiah Love, but Sadiq could end up being selected ahead of any of the wide receivers after proving to be one of the best athletes in the entire draft class. At 6-3 and 241 pounds, Sadiq ran a 4.39 40-yard dash. Sub-4.4 speed at 241 is unheard of and not only is he a horizontal mismatch for future NFL signal-callers, but he has the vertical speed to throw long touchdowns that can change the trajectory of a Fantasy Football game in the blink of an eye. It wasn’t just about the 40-yard dash. Sadiq displayed elite verticality and ability to point the ball with his vertical jump and explosiveness with his broad jump, in addition to elite splits of 10 and 20 yards that show off his quickness and acceleration.

Jeremiah Love, RB, Notre Dame

Love was already projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in Dynasty’s rookie drafts, and that could extend to the SuperFlex and 2QB formats, but burning a 4.37 40-yard dash has started discussions about whether he could be in the Bijan Robinson tier of running backs — or better — right away. Love looked fluid in drills, explosive with stop-and-start ability, and may be a better answer than all but a few guys at the NFL level. This is a skill set that dominates in Fantasy Football. What makes things even more interesting is that this draft class features very few blue-chip prospects, and almost all of them play non-premium positions in the NFL. That means Love could leave sooner than expected and be drafted into a great NFL offense with the Chiefs as the best fit. It’s very likely that love will rise to the first round of your revamped leagues in August.

Mike Washington Jr., RB, Arkansas

Washington is the biggest performer in the entire Combine among talented players after posting a 4.33 40-yard dash at 223 pounds. But it didn’t stop at the simple combination of size and home run speed. Washington had a 92nd percentile burst score and performed well in the 10- and 20-yard splits. These are Chris Johnson (CJ2K) type testing numbers, and even though he doesn’t run like Johnson on tape, this type of upside home run is coveted by NFL teams. This will lead to earlier draft capital, which is a big harbinger of fantasy success.

Bryce Lance, WR, NDSU

Yes, we’re talking about Lance, the brother of former first-round pick Trey Lance. And Lance also played at North Dakota State, and if you blink twice you might feel like you’re watching a thicker, more explosive version of Christian Watson when you watch Lance’s tape. He easily separates from defensive backs on post routes and vertically oriented concepts. He has breakaway speed in the open field and can burn from end to end. It’s impossible to predict how he will fare against NFL cornerbacks, but when healthy, his predecessor, Watson, was an excellent fantasy contributor in Green Bay.

Here are Lance’s testing numbers at the Combine and, in parentheses, where he ranked among all receivers at the event.

40-yard dash: 4.34 (5th)

10 yard split: 1.49 (2nd)

Vertical jump: 41.50″ (4th)

Long jump: 11’1″ (3rd)

Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt

Stowers has tested so well that he is now being discussed as a potential first-round draft pick in April. If he goes in the first round, that means a team has a plan to feature him early, and he should be on everyone’s Fantasy radar. Stowers had a vertical jump of 45.5 inches – the best of any tight end dating back to at least 2003. This shows his ability to elevate the level of the football and could make him a team’s primary immediate threat in the red zone. Stowers ran a 4.51 40-yard dash, which is very fast for a tight end prospect. He also posted elite test scores in quickness, burst, and short-area explosiveness (broad jump).

According to David J. Guetieri of Guru Fantasy Wrld, Stowers, if drafted in the first or second round (and he will be), will join Trey McBride, Sam LaPorta and Kyle Pitts as the only tight ends to average over 2 yards per route and run a sub-4.60 40-yard dash entering the NFL as a tight end prospect. This is great company to be in.