NFL Draft 2026 Fantasy Rookie Winners and Losers in Rounds 2 and 3

Day 2 of the draft is here. Once again you can follow Rounds 2 and 3 in SI’s live tracker. Before the round starts, let’s get into what I’m hearing today …

The first night of the 2026 NFL draft was highlighted by fantasy-relevant selections, maybe none more than Jeremyiah Love going to the Cardinals, Carnell Tate landing with the Titans and Jadarian Price heading to the Pacific Northwest. We have them all covered for you right here on Sports Illustrated!

Now it's Rounds 2 and 3. There aren’t likely to be many more truly huge fantasy-relevant selections, there still will be plenty of player selections that have an effect on player values going into fantasy drafts, whether as a sleeper or a handcuff.

Once again, I’ll be providing instant analysis for each offensive skill player picked through Round 3 of the draft.

Winners

Eli Stowers, TE, Eagles: Stowers has played as a tight end for only three years, but he’s super athletic and has developed into a nice pass-catcher. His first year in the NFL is likely to be nondescript with Dallas Goedert still on the roster, but Stowers is the perfect heir apparent in an offense that utilizes the tight end often. While the veteran is still likely to be picked first between the two in redrafts, I could see Stowers showing some flashes and being startable if Goedert were to miss time.

Carson Beck, QB, Cardinals: Let’s be honest … there isn’t a quarterback in this class who will make an immediate fantasy impact (including Fernando Mendoza). Beck is no different. So why did his stock go up? Well, he landed in a great spot with the Cardinals. Their top two field generals, Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew, are both journeymen, so Beck might even get on the field in Year 1. He’ll also be playing for an offensive-minded head coach in Mike LaFleur, and the Cards have plenty of offensive weapons, including a new RB1 in Jeremiyah Love. This is more of a long-term situation with Beck, but at least he's in a positive spot.

Antonio Williams, WR, Commanders: Williams was widely considered a possible rookie sleeper among the wideouts, and he landed in a terrific spot with the Commanders. In fact, he’ll have every chance to earn a starting role opposite Terry McLaurin—he'd have to beat out Treylon Burks, Van Jefferson and Dyami Brown—in Year 1. If he looks good in camp and during the preseason, Williams could warrant some late-round attention in fantasy redraft leagues.

Caleb Douglas, WR, Dolphins: Miami has the ugliest wide receiver depth chart in the league, so Douglas should have a chance to play a prominent role as a rookie. Remember, their current top three wideouts are Jalen Tolbert, Malik Washington and Tutu Atwell. Not good. Douglas, an outside receiver, could be a player to watch as we get into the summer months.

Drew Allar, QB, Steelers: We’re all assuming Aaron Rodgers will be the Steelers' starting quarterback this year, but what about in the long term? Allar, a big, prototypical passer at 6 ' 5'' and 228 pounds, could have a shot to compete with Will Howard for the top spot on the depth chart as soon as 2027 (again, assuming Rodgers is there this year). Playing for an offensive-minded head coach in Mike McCarthy should be seen as a positive for Allar, too.

Zachariah Branch, WR, Falcons: Branch’s NFL stock rose as the draft approached, and now he has landed in a great spot for his fantasy appeal. A speedster who can also be a strong return man, Branch goes to a Falcons team that has just Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus behind Drake London on the wide receiver depth chart. If he can impress in camp and during the summer months, Branch could push to be a late-round flier pick in redraft leagues.

Ted Hurst, WR, Buccaneers: Hurst is a dynamic wide receiver who has drawn comparisons to George Pickens and Tee Higgins. The Buccaneers have a loaded depth chart at wide receiver with Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan at the top, but Godwin is past his prime and neither McMillan nor Tez Johnson is an established player. I’ll be watching Hurst in camp, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he were pushing for more playing time as the season rolls on.

Kaelon Black, RB, 49ers: Surprisingly, the third running back off the board (in the second half of Round 3, Black is a name to remember. He has no chance to unseat Christian McCaffrey atop the Niners depth chart, but he could push Jordan James to be his fantasy handcuff. When you consider that CMC had well over 400 touches last season and is entering his age-30 campaign, would anyone be shocked if he missed time in 2026? If that happens, Black could become fantasy-relevant in Year 1. In any event, any runner in a Kyle Shanahan offense is worth watching … at the very least.

Chris Bell, WR, Dolphins: Bell has first-round talent, but he tore his ACL and fell into the third round as a result. While he’s unlikely to make an impact this year because of the injury, Bell could become a fantasy asset in 2027. As noted earlier, the Dolphins don’t have a lot of talent at wide receiver, so Bell is as good a bet as anyone to emerge as a starter once he’s healthy. This is more of a dynasty “win,” but Bell is a potential winner in fantasy nonetheless.

Losers

D’Zhaun Stribling, WR, 49ers: The selection of Stribling might have been a surprise to some, as Washington’s Denzel Boston was still on the board. The Ole Miss wideout certainly has the tools to become a potential No. 1 down the line for coach Kyle Shanahan, however. Stribling has good size and upside, but can he push Mike Evans, Ricky Pearsall, and Christian Kirk for meaningful targets in Year 1? I’m not so sure. I like Stribling more in dynasty than in redraft leagues.

Denzel Boston, WR, Browns: The Browns have now drafted two wide receivers with their first three picks, KC Concepcion in Round 1 and Boston in Round 2. The latter figures to be their potential future alpha in the passing game for new head coach Todd Monken, but he might take longer than Concepcion to make a fantasy impact … unless the Browns move on from Jerry Jeudy. Boston is another player I like more in dynasty formats than in redraft leagues.

Denzel Boston going to the Cleveland Browns might not pay immediate fantasy football dividends, but it could be a great long-term fit for managers in dynasty leagues. Here's why...@sinow pic.twitter.com/pnPUsmSOyP
— Michael Fabiano (@Michael_Fabiano) April 25, 2026

Germie Bernard, WR, Steelers: I’m actually a fan of Bernard, whoi reminds me of a lighter Deebo Samuel Sr., but the Steelers already have DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. atop their wide receiver depth chart. That will make it tough for Bernard to see enough targets to make a consistent Year 1 fantasy impact … especially when you consider we don’t even know who the quarterback will be in Pittsburgh yet. Bernard is a better long-term option in fantasy land.

Max Klare, TE, Rams: How many tight ends do the Rams need? They did play a ton of 13 personnel last season, but all three of Colby Parkinson, Terrance Ferguson and Tyler Higbee will be back with the team in 2026. Klare has virtually no chance to make an impact this year as a result, and he might not get a chance to see enough targets to be a worthwhile fantasy option for his first few seasons. I’d still prefer Ferguson, who was also a second-round pick, in 2026.

Sam Roush, TE, Bears: The Bears already have Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet, so Roush will be about as useful as a rookie in fantasy as a screen door on a submarine. He’s also mostly a pass-catcher, which won’t help his chances of getting on the field anytime soon. There’s a chance Roush doesn’t even get his name called in smaller rookie-only drafts.

Oscar Delp, TE, Saints: I don’t mind Delp’s landing spot here, but more because of his long-term potential. The Saints already have Juwan Johnson, and Noah Fant will be second on the depth chart among the tight ends. That will leave Delp with a very small role in Year 1, with the fantasy hope that he could see a bigger role in Year 2 and beyond.

Malachi Fields, WR, Giants: Fields is another player who could have some long-term fantasy value, but he’ll be an afterthought as a rookie. The Giants have a ton of pass-catchers, led by Malik Nabers and newly signed tight end Isaiah Likely. Big Blue also has Darius Slayton, and the team inked veterans Darnell Money and Calvin Austin III as well. Fields could very well be a starter (or compete for it) in 2027, but his redraft value will be limited at best.

Ja’Kobi Lane, WR, Ravens: Lane could turn into a nice red-zone target for the Ravens at 6' 4'' and 200 pounds, but will this offense ever throw the ball enough for two wideouts to be consistently productive in the stat sheets? Zay Flowers is entering the prime of his career, and Rashod Bateman is still second on the depth chart among the wideouts. I don’t think Lane will have much redraft value, but he could be a respectable dynasty option in rookie-only leagues.

Chris Brazzell II, WR, Panthers: Brazzell is a tall target with playmaking skills who could be a nice threat in the vertical pass attack for the Panthers … just not right away. Carolina has their alpha in Tetairoa McMillan, and Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker are also ahead of him on the depth chart. Brazzell has a chance to become fantasy-relevant in the long term, but I’d suggest he’ll be mostly an afterthought in the majority of 2026 redrafts.

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