Trending

bell

2026 Rookie WR1 Analytical Model, Version 1.0: Rankings 10 to 6

By Chris Museezer | March 20, 2026

The Prospect Analytical Model Rankings are one of our members’ favorite series each year at Dynasty Football Factory. Years of refining and enhancing the models to accurately predict future fantasy value have brought us to today. 

These WR1 model rankings are your ultimate guide to predicting which prospects will produce the most fantasy points in their NFL career. 

You can find the wide receivers ranked 15 to 11 in the WR1 model here.

You can find the running back RB1 model here.

For those new to the WR1 rating, it is a proprietary formula I developed in 2019 that provides a data-driven forecast of future fantasy production for incoming rookie wide receivers. There are many advanced metrics available today; we at DFF know it can be difficult to determine which ones matter and how much each matters. The WR1 model distills all that hard work into a single, easy-to-understand number. The model evaluates rookies across 13 of the most predictive metrics and combines their individual metric scores into a total WR1 rating. It was a pioneer in the fantasy analysis industry, being the first to incorporate a film-grade into the model. The goal is to provide an easy-to-use score for those who don’t want to spend hundreds of hours dissecting different metrics. Based on the prospect’s model score, I provide their probability of achieving at least one top-24 NFL Fantasy Points Per Game Season, using historical prospects with similar score ranges.

The WR1 model consistently outperforms NFL draft capital in predicting the future fantasy success of incoming prospects. For a full breakdown of the model’s past performance, click this link. You can also find the 2025 model here and the 2024 model here, where we were one of the very few publications to have Malik Nabers as the top wide receiver overall instead of Marvin Harrison Jr. Even the NFL had Harrison higher, as Nabers was drafted behind Harrison in the NFL Draft. Here is the WR1 model I published in 2023, featuring Jaxon Smith-Njigba as the WR1. The WR1 model is exceptional at identifying the true elite wide receivers. 17 of the 20 top-scoring prospects with at least three years in the NFL have had a top-24 PPR PPG NFL fantasy season.

Fourteen of the 20 have also had a top-12 PPR PPG NFL fantasy season. Nine have had multiple top 12 seasons, including perennial top-5 studs like Julio Jones, Calvin Johnson, Odell Beckham Jr., Ja’Marr Chase, and Justin Jefferson.

So let’s dive into the 2026 class overall WR1 Model Score.

10. Chris Bell, Louisville | WR1 Model Score: 24.0

Based on historical comps, Chris Bell’s WR1 Model score of 24.0 gives him an 35.8% chance of having at least one top-24 fantasy season in his career.

Historical Players With Similar WR1 Model Scores:

Adonai Mitchell
Malik Washington
Kyle Williams

The Good

Bell posted a very impressive weighted dominator (team share of receiving yards and touchdowns) of 38.2%. This ranked 3rd among wide receivers in this draft class. Louisville was not a prolific passing offense

Skyler Bell

Dynasty Wide Receiver Hit Rates By Rounds

By Joshua Reedy | March 19, 2026

I wanted to see if the NFL has improved at drafting based on rounds over the past 14 seasons. I split it into the first seven years and the last seven years, but I did not include 2025 because rookies typically take a couple of years to produce. More wide receivers have been drafted in Round 1 recently, and the success rates have increased, as have opportunities via bet365 bonus information. It has become easier to identify elite first round wide receivers in recent years.

chig

Always Be Scouting — Episode 7: “St. Patrick’s Mahomes”

By Frank Schook | March 19, 2026

In this week’s episode of Always Be Scouting, @DffFrankPanthro and @John_mancuso5 discuss recent free agency moves and fantasy impact.

stewart

Meet the 2026 Rookie RB With Elite Contact Balance

By Chris Museezer | March 17, 2026

Missed Tackles Forced Per Attempt is one of the more predictive analytical statistics for running backs for future fantasy success. Over the past three years, the top 6 running backs with the highest college career missed tackles forced per attempt rate are: Bijan Robinson – 39.3% Trey Benson – 39.2% Tyrone Tracy – 38.5% Ashton Jeanty – 37.8% Bucky Irving – 36.2% For a singular metric, that is a nice hit rate. Then how is it, in an absolutely horrible running back class overall, there is a prospect with an otherworldly 46.9% missed tackles forced per attempt career rate that no one is talking about?  Fam, meet Terion Stewart.  So why haven’t you heard of Stewart? Well, for one, he was used sparingly at Virginia Tech this past season. Before that, he played four years for Bowling Green. Before you say, “Ahhh, Bowling Green,” well, remember this is the same college that just produced Harold Fannin Jr. The MAC is definitely not the SEC, but it is a competitive conference. While at Bowling Green, Stewart never eclipsed 1,000 yards rushing, staying under the radar of the best teams. He did rush for 917 and 753 his last two years there, however. The Hokies brought Stewart over for his final college season. Stewart suffered a series of injuries that forced him into a walking boot in August, which was then followed by a shoulder injury in October. He finished the year with a mediocre 82 attempts for 469 yards. Oh, and remember how you were concerned about Stewart compiling those stats […]

To access the rest of this post, you must purchase a DFF Membership.

zammit

2026 Freshman Player Card: Derek Zammit (QB – Washington)

By Frank Schook | March 16, 2026

Introducing Derek Zammit, 2026 freshman QB for Washington. View his official scouting card for HS production, strengths, and weaknesses.

To access the rest of this post, you must purchase a DFF Membership.

bell

2026 Freshman Player Card: LaMarcus Bell (RB – Utah)

By Frank Schook | March 16, 2026

Introducing LaMarcus Bell, 2026 freshman RB for Utah. View his official scouting card for HS production, strengths, and weaknesses.

To access the rest of this post, you must purchase a DFF Membership.

jamal

2026 Freshman Player Card: Jamal Rule (RB – Nebraksa)

By Frank Schook | March 16, 2026

Introducing Jamal Rule, 2026 freshman RB for Nebraska. View his official scouting card for HS production, strengths, and weaknesses.

To access the rest of this post, you must purchase a DFF Membership.

bishop

2026 Freshman Player Card: Jermaine Bishop (WR – Texas)

By Frank Schook | March 15, 2026

Introducing Jermaine Bishop, 2026 freshman WR for Texas. View his official scouting card for HS production, strengths, and weaknesses.

To access the rest of this post, you must purchase a DFF Membership.

edwards

2026 Freshman Player Card: KJ Edwards (RB – Texas A&M)

By Frank Schook | March 15, 2026

Introducing KJ Edwards, 2026 freshman RB for Texas A&M. View his official scouting card for HS production, strengths, and weaknesses.

To access the rest of this post, you must purchase a DFF Membership.