The 2026 NFL Draft is in the books. We saw 257 selections over the course of seven rounds in three days. We also saw many additional rookies signed following the draft. But how did their draft position and path to touches improve and decline following the draft? This edition of the Stock Watch is squarely focused on one riser and one faller among each of the fantasy-relevant positions in the 2026 rookie class.
Quarterbacks
Stock Up: Ty Simpson, Los Angeles Rams
About: Simpson was regarded as the QB2 in the class coming into the draft and was taken as the second quarterback off the board. The shock is where he went—at No. 13 overall to the Los Angeles Rams. It’s not only great draft stock, but it’s also a great landing spot with a good team and a great Head Coach in Sean McVay. While Simpson won’t likely have an impact on your lineup in 2026, he becomes an intriguing prospect to grab and stash. Given the weakness of the class and draft overall, this should boost him to the late First Round or early Second Round of rookie drafts.
Stock Down: Garrett Nussmeier, Kansas City Chiefs
About: It wasn’t a great draft for quarterbacks, but Nussmeier was an intriguing pre-draft prospect. His 2025 injury limited his upside on the field, and the question was how it would affect where he fell in the draft. Turns out that, among other things, it took a toll. He landed with the Chiefs, which isn’t bad, but was taken near the end of the Seventh Round. With Patrick Mahomes and Justin Fields in front of him, and Chris Oladokun and Jake Haener on the roster, Nussmeier isn’t a lock to make the roster. He’s little more than a late-round flier in rookie drafts.
Running Backs
Stock Up: Jadarian Price, Seattle Seahawks
About: Price was viewed by most as the RB2 in the class. He was the second back taken in the draft. The shock, again, wasn’t that he went second but where he was taken—at pick 32 in the First Round. This is a significant commitment for the Seahawks, who have Zach Charbonnet returning from a torn ACL in the playoffs and saw Kenneth Walker sign with the Chiefs. Price has a great chance to make an impact for the reigning Super Bowl champions in Week 1 of the NFL Season. He vaulted up the rankings and should be a mid-First Round selection in rookie drafts.
Stock Down: Roman Hemby, Las Vegas Raiders
About: The Indiana running back was among a pool of backs who would be location-dependent. But heading into the draft, many had him in or near the Top 10. Instead, he went undrafted. Then he was signed by the Las Vegas Raiders, where he figures to be buried behind Ashton Jeanty and Mike Washington, Jr., a Fourth-Round selection. He’ll be competing for a roster spot with Dylan Laube and isn’t a lock for touches. That makes him little more than a late-round flier in rookie drafts.
Wide Receivers
Stock Up: De’Zhaun Stribling, San Francisco 49ers
About: It was a strong receiver class in the 2026 NFL Draft, which is why most didn’t have Stribling in the Top 10 heading into the draft. But the 49ers made him the first pick of the Second Round, at 33, which makes him an intriguing post-draft prospect. I don’t have him as high as some have taken after him, but he certainly has to jump up the ranks given his draft capital and potential situation. He should be a consideration in the Second Round of rookie drafts now, too.
Stock Down: Elijah Sarratt, Baltimore Ravens
About: Sarratt had some scouts and rankers mixed heading into the draft. But some sites had him as high as WR7 in the class pre-draft. And yet, he didn’t hear his name called until Day 3 of the NFL Draft. He lands in a decent spot with the Ravens, but he wasn’t even the first receiver taken by the team, who grabbed Ja’Kobi Lane in the Third Round. There is potential in the landing spot, especially if the Ravens become more pass-friendly under their new coaching staff, but he’s got an unclear path to targets. He’s a Third-Round pick in rookie drafts at best.
Tight Ends
Stock Up: Oscar Delp, New Orleans Saints
About: Tight end was a wild position in the draft. We saw many tight ends selected in the Second and Third Rounds of the draft, often going in unexpected places. But Delp is a tight end with upside who got decent third-round capital, landing with the Saints. While the Saints have Juwan Johnson and Noah Fant, who figure to lead the way, or at least block the way, in 2026, I like the potential for Delp in a young, reshaped Saints’ attack. He’s a late Second or Third Round pick I’d take and stash on my Practice Squad.
Stock Down: Michael Trigg, Dallas Cowboys
About: Trigg is a talented player whose on-field production had some viewing him as a potential Top 5 option in the class pre-draft. But he comes with some off-field red flags, and those turned out to be too much for NFL teams. A total of 22 tight ends were taken in seven rounds during the draft, and Trigg wasn’t among them. He lands an undrafted free agent contract with the Cowboys, but it’s unclear what role he’d have if he even makes the final roster. He’s a last-round rookie draft flier at best.
Matthew Fox is a die-hard NFL fan and Broncos’ homer. He’s a member of the FSWA. You can find more from him on Twitter @knighthawk7734 or as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast, a part of the Campus2Canton Network.
