How Jeremiyah Love will bolster the Cardinals’ offense (0:56)How Jeremiyah Love will bolster the Cardinals’ offense. (0:56)
ESPN FantasyApr 24, 2026, 11:30 PM ETCloseFollow on XMultiple Authors
No. 33: De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, San Francisco 49ers
No. 71: Antonio Williams, WR, Washington Commanders
Who has immediate fantasy potential, who’s worth a late-round flier and who’s an intriguing dynasty stash?
Our ESPN fantasy football analysts Liz Loza and Matt Bowen have you covered, as they offer their analysis of each skill position player selected in the first three rounds of the draft, and Mike Clay provides his projections for these incoming rookies.
Mike Clay’s 2026 projection: 304-of-481, 3,220 yards, 16 TDs, 11 INTs; 52 carries, 225 yards, 2 TDs (15 starts)
Mike Clay’s 2026 projection: 234 carries, 1,049 yards, 7 TDs; 88 targets, 67 receptions, 516 yards, 2 TDs (17 games)
A three-level glider at 6-foot-2, 194 pounds, Tate can create his own separation in the route tree. In his final season at Ohio State, he scored nine touchdowns and had 875 receiving yards. Look for Tate to play the Z receiver spot in Tennessee, giving quarterback Cam Ward a perimeter target with newly signed Wan’Dale Robinson working out of the slot. Tate has the upside to potentially finish as a top-25 wide receiver under the Titans’ new playcaller, Brian Daboll. — Bowen
I see this as the best possible landing spot for Simpson — and his pro development. In L.A., Simpson gets the necessary time to develop behind starter Matthew Stafford while learning a system under Sean McVay that caters to his traits as a thrower. More play-action, boot and defined reads will allow Simpson to play on time at a consistent rate as the future starter. For now, fantasy managers can target Simpson as a dynasty stash. — Bowen
Mike Clay’s 2026 projection: 101 targets, 65 receptions, 773 yards, 3 TDs; 6 carries, 34 yards, 0 TDs (17 games)
A power strider with explosive open-field traits, Cooper averaged 7.28 yards after the catch last season at Indiana, plus he scored 13 touchdowns. There’s a playmaking element to his game. Garrett Wilson remains the clear No. 1 with the Jets, and the team also drafted versatile tight end Kenyon Sadiq earlier in Round 1. Managers should target Cooper as a WR3 who has the potential to produce some breakout weeks. — Bowen
Mike Clay’s 2026 projection: 213 carries, 902 yards, 7 TDs; 35 targets, 27 receptions, 216 yards, 1 TD (17 games)
Boston has the frame (6-foot-3, 212 pounds), strong hands and ball skills to emerge as a red zone target early in his pro career. Boston caught seven of his 11 touchdowns last season at Washington on red zone throws. He can go get it. Boston will also use his physical catch and run skills to get loose on in-breaking concepts. Boston, who joins first round wide receiver KC Concepcion in Cleveland, can provide some WR3 weeks as a rookie in redraft formats. — Bowen
There’s an old school feel to Boerkircher’s game as the “Y” tight end, playing in-line to win as a blocker at the point of attack. Boerkircher, who only had 19 receptions in his final season at Texas A&M, can operate an underneath outlet for the quarterback, but he lacks the juice to create consistent matchups in the pass game. Boerkircher won’t carry enough fantasy value to show up on the radar as a rookie. — Bowen
The scheme fit works for Klare in Sean McVay’s offense. He can win on the underneath levels, and the Rams are a heavy play-action and boot team. However, Klare, who caught 43 passes at Ohio State last season, joins a very deep tight end room in L.A. We don’t see a path here for Klare to post viable fantasy numbers as a rookie. — Bowen
Mike Clay’s 2026 projection: 40-of-64, 441 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INTs; 7 carries, 30 yards, 0 TDs (2 starts)
Roush’s pro route tree will focus on the underneath levels and middle of the field targets. But with Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet in Chicago’s two tight end sets, Roush will have a tough time finding opportunities to post receiving totals as a rookie. He should be viewed as a developmental prospect from a fantasy perspective. — Bowen
Delp had only 20 receptions last season, but he flashed the foot quickness and straight-line speed that translates to Sundays on boot concepts and second-level throws. However, with veterans Juwan Johnson and Noah Fant ahead of Delp on the Saints depth chart, the rookie has limited fantasy value in 2026. — Bowen
At 6-foot-4 and 218 pounds, there’s an intriguing old-school element to Fields’ game. A jump ball king who regularly wins 50/50 balls, the Notre Dame product managed a contested catch rate of 48% in 2025. He has a chance to surpass Darius Slayton on the G-Men’s depth chart but is unlikely to post consistent fantasy numbers in his inaugural campaign. — Loza
A long, perimeter target at 6-foot-3, 206 pounds, Douglas flashes playmaking upside on his college tape, showing the ability to track the ball and finish down the field. Douglas will have to improve on focus drops (six last season), and he has average separation quickness, but there are opportunities to see early playing time given the lack of depth in the Dolphins wide receiver room. Keep Douglas on the radar this summer. — Bowen
Allar has the physical tools, size (6-foot-5, 228 pounds) and arm strength to operate as a pocket thrower in the league. Allar suffered a season-ending ankle injury in November 2025, but in 2024, he threw for over 3,300 yards with 24 touchdowns … and there are a lot of positives on that tape. While the Steelers await Aaron Rodgers’ decision to return for next season, Allar joins Will Howard and Mason Rudolph in the Steelers’ QB room. He should be targeted as a potential dynasty play. — Bowen
A prototypical X receiver with an impressive catch radius, Lane emerged as one of USC’s most relied upon red zone performers, hauling in 16 TDs over his final two college campaigns. A solid showing at the Senior Bowl and the combine (40-inch vertical, 10-foot-9 broad jump) boosted his draft stock. The Ravens clearly have a need for Lane’s particular skill set, but a limited number of targets figure to depress the rookie’s immediate fantasy appeal. — Loza
Brazzell (6-foot-4, 198 pounds) has the long speed and the vertical stretch ability to create explosive plays. However, Brazzell can also separate on intermediate cuts and three-step concepts, as he had over 1,000 yards receiving and nine touchdowns for Tennessee last season. Brazzell has competition for targets in Carolina with Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette on the depth chart, so let’s keep him on the dynasty radar for now. — Bowen
Hurst has surprising bounce and speed for a big guy (6-foot-4 and 206 pounds). He ran a 4.42 40-yard-dash time (95th percentile size-adjusted speed score) and registered the best broad jump among wide receivers (11 feet, 3 inches) at the combine. A frequent target at Georgia State (28%), Hurst could thrive as a “Z” receiver at the next level. In a stacked receiver room, however, he doesn’t offer much immediate value from a fantasy perspective. — Loza
A true run-blocking tight end, Kacmarek caught only 23 passes in his two seasons at Ohio State. With his limited upside as a pass catcher, Kacmarek will remain off the fantasy radar. — Bowen
Recording the third-fastest 40-yard-dash time at the combine (4.28), Thomas’ calling card is his speed. Deployed from a number of alignments while additionally wowing as a return man, the LSU product is brimming with wiggle and burst. However, a limited route tree and underwhelming college production caps his ceiling at the next level. He’s likely to work as a gadget for Ben Johnson rather than carving out a regular role on an already stacked offense. — Loza
Raridon plays with the coverage awareness to find open spaces, and he can use his 6-foot-6 frame to box out defenders at the catch point. With experience aligning in flexed alignments at Notre Dame, Raridon also brings some formation versatility to the league. The Patriots are set with Hunter Henry as the No. 1 tight end, so put Raridon on the dynasty radar. — Bowen
As expected, Mendoza goes No. 1 to Las Vegas, and we like the scheme fit under new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak. We’ll see rhythmic play-action throws and movement concepts that cater to Mendoza’s accuracy and timing as a passer. He led the nation with 41 touchdowns last season at Indiana. However, with the club adding veteran QB Kirk Cousins to the mix this offseason, Mendoza’s 2026 ceiling in redraft formats is limited. He’s best served as a target in 2QB and superflex leagues and dynasty formats. — Bowen
Largely believed to be a generational talent with shades of Jamaal Charles to his game, Love was highly productive at Notre Dame, finding the end zone 21 times (third most in the FBS) in 2025 alone. A daylight-maker on the ground as well as a reliable slot option via the air, Love is set to bring his trademark explosiveness and dual-threat ability to the Cardinals’ backfield. Despite having numerous other needs, Arizona couldn’t pass on Love’s elite talent. Volume figures to make him a top-12 fantasy pick at the position, and the selection also signals that the Cardinals are moving on from James Conner. — Loza
A versatile player who can thrive at all levels of the field, Tyson led Arizona State in receptions (61), receiving yards (711) and receiving scores (8) in 2025. Coached up by two-time Super Bowl Champion Hines Ward, Tyson’s ball skills and route running set him apart. Simply put, he just moves differently. Injuries have marred his college career and unfortunately forced the Sun Devil to skip the athletic testing portion of the Combine. He figures to work as a dynamic complement to Chris Olave, offering fantasy managers WR3 potential with upside, assuming health.– Loza
Sadiq is a future star in the making. With vice-grip hands, contortionist-level body control and alignment versatility, his elite athleticism pops off the tape. It was also verified at the combine, where the Oregon product ran the fastest 40-yard dash ever (4.39) by a tight end while additionally recording a 43.5-inch vertical jump (tied for the second highest by a TE on record). Sadiq’s route technique is still evolving and Omar Cooper Jr figures to draw upwards of 80 looks, but the former Duck figures to make an immediate impact in New York. Despite drafting Mason Taylor in the second round just a year ago, New York clearly desired an upgrade. Fantasy managers can consider Sadiq a top-eight producer at the position in his inaugural season. — Loza