Dynasty rookie rankings

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“Colossus Jr.” 2026 Final Rookie RB1 Analytical Model Rankings

Dynasty, Rookie / By /

After years of proven success with my WR1 Analytical Model outperforming NFL Draft Capital at predicting future fantasy success of rookie wide receiver prospects, I unveiled the RB1 Analytical Model last year.  Similar to my long-running WR1 model, which you can find here, this RB1 model was developed using a recipe of the most predictive advanced college statistics that prior NFL fantasy superstars exhibited. 

The goal of these analytical models is to outperform draft capital, as it should. After all, fantasy managers are trying to accumulate the most fantasy points. NFL teams are trying to win football games. For example, in 2024, Bucky Irving and Tyrone Tracy were drafted 6th and 12th in the NFL draft among running backs. The model ranked them 4th and 6th, respectively. 

You can find last year’s 2025 RB1 post-draft published model here. Our model was largely in line with draft capital, with 7 of the first 8 players selected in the NFL draft also in the model’s top 7. A big outlier came a little later. Our model ranked Jacory Croskey-Merritt 11th overall, despite the NFL drafting him 26th among all running backs. 

Now on to the 2026 class. 

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mike

Second Round Dynasty Sleeper: Mike Washington Jr.

Dynasty, Rookie, Rookie Player Profiles / By /

From the University of Arkansas, Mike Washington Jr. has the potential to be one of the second-round steals in 2026 Dynasty Rookie Drafts. The 22-year-old put up some impressive numbers during his final collegiate season. At 6’1” and 223 pounds, his power and speed combination is built to handle a heavy workload. Washington Jr. can run through and past defenders in a hurry, and he’s someone who could very well outperform where he’ll get drafted. To put things simply, he’s someone who will be a problem in the NFL. Washington Jr. is a player who, depending on where he ends up, could quickly become an NFL starter immediately or at some point during the season and become a very valuable Dynasty running back. Let’s take a closer look at him. * Within this article, the statistics were pulled from Sports Reference, KeepTradeCut (KTC), and Sleeper. College Production (2021 – 2025) Washington Jr., a two-star recruit, committed to his first three collegiate seasons at Buffalo, transferred to New Mexico State before entering the transfer portal one more time for his final year of eligibility, where he ended his collegiate time at Arkansas and saw career highs in all statistical categories. This past season, Washington Jr. earned second-team All-SEC, where he rushed for 1,070 yards with eight rushing touchdowns. Additionally, he’s shown he can also be a dual-threat, adding 28 receptions on 226 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.  In 2025, he became the 16th player in Arkansas history to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards, and he was named second-team All-SEC. The highlight […]

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Seth McGowan: The Long Road Back

Dynasty, Rookie, Rookie Player Profiles / By /

Seth McGowan’s path to the 2026 NFL Draft is one of the more unusual stories in this class. Early in his career at Oklahoma, he looked like the next talented running back to come through that program. Instead, a legal incident nearly ended his career before it really started. What followed was a long road back through smaller programs and multiple stops before he finally returned to the SEC and put himself back on the NFL radar. A Promising Start That Fell Apart In 2020, McGowan showed real promise at Oklahoma. The former four-star recruit played in eight games as a freshman, rushing for 370 yards and catching 13 passes for 201 yards. His 143 total yards in the Cotton Bowl showed the kind of playmaking ability that had people believing he could become the next productive Oklahoma running back. That momentum ended in April of 2021. McGowan was arrested following an armed robbery investigation and was dismissed from the Oklahoma program. He later pleaded guilty to felony larceny, served three months in jail, and received a year of probation. Just like that, his football future was suddenly in doubt. The Long Road Back McGowan did not play football for two seasons while rebuilding his life and career. His first stop was Texas College, an NAIA program where he never appeared in a game. From there, he transferred to Butler Community College in 2023, where he played 6 games and began rebuilding his football reputation. In 2024, McGowan returned to the FBS level at New Mexico State. The talent was […]

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Cole Payton: The Small-School Quarterback You Need to Know

Dynasty, Rookie, Rookie Player Profiles / By /

Cole Payton is one of those names that sneaks up on you if you’re not paying attention. Small school. Limited starts. Left-handed quarterback. Easy to overlook if you’re skimming box scores. But once you actually watch him and dig into the season he just put together, it’s hard not to come away impressed. Payton just finished a record-setting year at North Dakota State and put himself firmly on the NFL radar for the 2026 Draft. He’s not a finished product, but the upside is very real, especially in a quarterback class that doesn’t have many players separating themselves. A Late Bloomer Who Made It Count This past season was Payton’s first full year as the starter, and he made the most of it. He led North Dakota State to a 12–1 record and played with a level of efficiency you don’t usually see, regardless of level. He completed nearly 72% of his passes, threw for 2,719 yards with 16 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions, and consistently took care of the football. What really jumps out is how clean the overall production looks when you factor in what he did with his legs. Payton rushed for 777 yards and 13 touchdowns, averaging 5.7 yards per carry. He wasn’t scrambling just to survive. Designed runs, short-yardage toughness, red-zone scores. He became a legitimate problem for defenses once plays broke down. By the end of the year, he finished as the highest-graded quarterback in the FCS and set school records for efficiency and total offense per play. That doesn’t happen by accident. How […]

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Dynasty Football Factory’s 2025 NFL Draft Coverage: Ashton Jeanty

All Access, Rookie, Rookie Player Profiles / By /

With the 6th pick in the #NFLDraft, the Las Vegas Raiders select Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State. Jeanty is ranked 1st overall in the Dynasty Football Factory SF Rookie Draft Rankings. #DFFArmy #AlwaysBeBuilding #AlwaysBeScouting #DynastyFootball #NFL #NFLTrades #NFLTransactions

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