2 weeks ago
6
As we continue to do more mock drafts following the NFL Draft, I'm fascinated by the Fantasy value for the rookies. So far, the market doesn't seem to be out of control for these new players.
Usually, there is one or two rookies who get overdrafted -- think Ashton Jeanty in Round 1 last year -- because we all love the shiny new toy. But that might not happen in 2026.
In our recent 12-team, half-PPR mock draft, which featured members of our CBS Sports staff, as well as Jake Ceily from The Athletic and Joe Pisapia from FantasyPros, Jeremiyah Love was the first rookie off the board in Round 3 at No. 29 overall. He was the No. 15 running back selected, and I love him at that cost.
I'm hopeful that you don't have to overpay for Love, who could be in a timeshare with Tyler Allgeier and James Conner this season. I expect Love to lead the Cardinals in touches, but he could perform more like a No. 2 Fantasy running back than a top-10 option. And, for example, that's what happened with Jeanty last season when he was the No. 16 PPR running back.
The next rookie selected was Jadarian Price in Round 5 as the No. 23 running back. Again, I love this price tag for Price, who should be the lead option in Seattle's backfield, but we don't yet know when Zach Charbonnet (knee) will play this season.
If Charbonnet can play early in the season, then Price's value will decline. But a lengthy absence for Charbonnet could push him into Round 4. We'll know more about Charbonnet in August, but I expect Price's Average Draft Position to be in Round 5.
Carnell Tate was the first rookie receiver selected in this draft in Round 5. I don't love him at that cost as WR29 overall, especially when Rome Odunze and Christian Watson were still available. But Tate should be the first rookie receiver drafted this year, and this is the range he should come off the board. He will hopefully lead the Titans in targets this season and perform like a high-end No. 3 Fantasy receiver.
I liked the value better for Makai Lemon in Round 7 and Jordyn Tyson in Round 8 compared to Tate. I have all three of those rookie receivers in the same tier, and I'd rather wait for Lemon or Tyson if the ADP will reflect how this draft worked out.
There were seven other rookie receivers selected in this draft, including KC Concepcion and Omar Cooper Jr. in Round 10, Antonio Williams, Chris Brazzell II and Denzel Boston in Round 12, Brenen Thompson in Round 13 and Germie Bernard in Round 14. Concepcion or Boston could lead Cleveland in targets this season (I favor Concepcion), and both were good value picks. And Williams is one of my favorite sleepers this season with his landing spot in Washington.
We also had four rookie running backs selected late with Emmett Johnson, Mike Washington Jr. and Jonah Coleman in Round 13, and Demond Claiborne went in Round 14. These are good handcuff running backs, and Coleman and Claiborne could earn roles without an injury. I also would consider drafting other potential handcuffs who didn't get selected here, including Nicholas Singleton, Kaytron Allen, Kaelon Black and Adam Randall.
No rookie quarterbacks were drafted in this mock -- Fernando Mendoza is only worth selecting in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues -- and Kenyon Sadiq was the lone rookie tight end picked. He went in Round 6 as the No. 7 tight end off the board.
Sadiq has plenty of upside, and he could emerge as a significant playmaker for the Jets. But I wouldn't draft him in Round 6. Hopefully, you can draft Sadiq with a late-round pick as a No. 2 Fantasy tight end with upside.
As a reference point for this mock draft, all touchdowns are worth six points, and we award one point for every 10 yards rushing and receiving and one point for every 25 yards passing. We also award 0.5 points for every reception. We feature a starting lineup of QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, TE and FLEX (RB/WR/TE) with six reserves for a 14-round draft.
Our draft order is as follows:
1. Jake Ciely, The Athletic
2. Jamey Eisenberg, Senior Fantasy Writer
3. Jake Ignaszewski, FFT Social Media Producer
4. Erik Guenther, FFT Podcast Listener
5. Dave Richard, Senior Fantasy Writer
6. Brandon Howard, Fantasy Editor
7. R.J. White, Managing Editor, SportsLine and CBS Fantasy
8. Adam Aizer, FFT Podcast Host
9. Joe Pisapia, FantasyPros
10. Robert Thomas, FFT Facebook Moderator
11. Brad Curnett, FFT Podcast Listener
12. Heath Cummings, Senior Fantasy Writer
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