NFL Draft

Denzel Boston

2026 Rookie WR1 Analytical Model, Version 1.0: Rankings 5 to 1

Dynasty, Rookie / By /

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 wide receivers ranked 10 to 6 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 […]

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Eli Stowers

Is Eli Stowers the Best Tight End in the 2026 Dynasty Rookie Class?

Dynasty, Rookie, Rookie Player Profiles / By /

Eli Stowers is a high-upside fantasy prospect and should be considered the premier receiving tight end in the 2026 rookie class, with borderline TE1 potential. His value stems from “WR-type” athleticism: a 4.51 40-yard dash and an all-time NFL Combine record for tight ends with a 45.5-inch vertical jump. Stowers now owns that record, and it wasn’t close. He didn’t just break it, he shattered it.

Whatever team selects him in the 2026 NFL Draft will likely deploy him as an explosive “move” TE or big slot option, with a projected landing spot in the second round. He did line up and play WR at times in college. Now, I know the NFL isn’t college, but that nugget alone speaks for itself. Ask yourself: What other tight end can say that?

The Con

Stowers isn’t a George Kittle type who’ll get it done in the trenches. He profiles more like Travis Kelce, Tyler Warren, or Brock Bowers: below-average blockers, or perhaps worse. But all of them are legitimate receiving tight ends, and nobody questions their fantasy value.

The Pro

No team drafting Stowers is taking him for his blocking. That’s exactly what creates the discount in your rookie drafts, and make no mistake, he’ll be drafted with the intent of being a lethal weapon. Organizations don’t spend Day 2 capital on someone they view as a JAG. As long as Stowers is designated as a TE and not a WR, we’re essentially looking at
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Marvin Harrison Jr.

Dynasty Trade Disasters: The Moves DFF Analysts Still Regret – Volume 1

Dynasty / By /

Make no mistake, the game we play is fueled in many ways. It’s difficult to argue that winning championships doesn’t lord over all, but as someone who’s played in fantasy football leagues for money since 2003, I’ll attest that the closest high is often accompanied by a monumental trade. As players, we have to understand that we’re not going to win every transaction, and when we do lose, it’s best to limit the damage. But now and then, and we’re all guilty, we make a move so heinous that years later you can pinpoint the exact day and time the transaction occurred, sort of like a natural disaster or a painful surgery. Being accountable is key as an analyst, so here are a few of the DFF Crew’s most regrettable moves, starting with my own.  Sent Ja’Marr Chase for Marvin Harrison Jr. – 2024 @DFF_MR In a 2024 Dynasty Football Factory League Startup, I traded away Ja’Marr Chase for Marvin Harrison straight up. My initial offer of Chase for Marv plus Zach Charbonnet had been rejected, and since MHJ was selected a mere four slots after Chase, this unraveled into a scenario where Rookie Fever got the best of me. I opted to sacrifice value in favor of the shiny toy.  It was Marv’s rookie season, and expectations were high as the “generational prospect” hype was generating steam via the Dynasty Community as a potential future Dynasty 1.01 selection. Conversely, Chase was coming off a somewhat mediocre 2023 campaign (by his standards), posting 16.8 FPPG, much of it fueled by

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Adam Randall

2026 RB1 Analytical Model Rookie Rankings: Running Backs 10 to 6

Dynasty, Ranking, 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 seven of the first eight 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.  This 2026 running back draft class isn’t good. It isn’t bad. No. It is downright atrocious. In these model series, I can typically find 15 “draftable” running backs and wide receivers with ease. Last year, 26 running backs were drafted. This year, even with a terrible overall 2026 class, I don’t have 15 running backs with a “draft-worthy” grade. You can find the rankings for

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Skyler Bell

Dynasty Wide Receiver Hit Rates By Rounds

Dynasty, Rookie / By /

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.

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Omar Cooper Jr.

Wide Receivers to Target in Your 2026 Rookie Drafts

Dynasty, Rookie / By /

I wanted to do a deep dive into wide receivers. I have struggled in years past with my wide receiver model. I am happy with my other models for fantasy purposes. As I just wrote in my rookie draft hit rate article, after the top 6 wide receivers in each class, the hit rate is not good, so I wanted to find out who to target in those top 6. Some of the people that I have dug deeper into their stuff from Twitter were @NoFilm_Analysis, @DynoDayTraders, and @DynastyZoltanFF. I want to combine what I have read from the three of them and apply it to the first and second round wide receivers since 2019.

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Kaytron Allen

Kaytron Allen: The Rookie Running Back Who Wins the Boring Way

Dynasty, Rookie, Rookie Player Profiles / By /

Kaytron Allen is the type of running back I fall in love with. Not because he’s going to run away from everyone. Not because he’s going to give you 60-yard highlights every week. But because he’s the kind of back that keeps drives alive. He finds the hole, stays square, and gets you what’s there. Over and over. At ~5’11” and 220-225 pounds, Allen is built like a real NFL runner. Compact. Strong. Low center of gravity. He’s hard to stop once he gets moving, and when contact shows up, he’s still finishing forward. Production That Actually Means Something Allen’s 2025 season was the best version of himself. He ran for 1,303 yards and 15 total touchdowns while averaging 6.2 yards per carry. He had five 100-yard games, and his biggest outings were loud: 226 yards at Rutgers, 160 yards and two scores against Nebraska, and 181 yards with two touchdowns at Michigan State. But the real headline is simple. He became Penn State’s all-time leading rusher with 4,180 career rushing yards, passing Evan Royster’s record. He also finished with 769 career carries, and that kind of workload tells you what Penn State thought of him. Trust. Durability. Give him the ball again. How Allen Wins Allen’s game starts with vision and patience. He’s not dancing behind the line, trying to bounce every run outside. He presses the line, lets defenders show their hand, and then makes one clean decision and goes. That one cut style is what makes him steady. It keeps him on schedule and keeps the offense

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Carnell Tate

What to Do After 1.01 and 1.02 in 2026 Superflex Rookie Drafts

Dynasty, Rookie / By /

In 2026 rookie drafts, Jeremiyah Love is the clear 1.01, and Fernando Mendoza sits right behind him at 1.02 in Superflex, PPR, and Tight End Premium formats. After those two, my next pick starts with Carnell Tate, then Makai Lemon, then Kenyon Sadiq, and then Jordyn Tyson. That order comes down to a mix of safety, upside, positional value, and how clean the path feels to early fantasy relevance. Tate is the safest wide receiver in the group. Lemon brings the most explosive upside. Sadiq gets a real bump in tight end premium because the athletic ceiling is different at that position. Tyson has the talent, but the risk profile is heavier than the other three.

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Ja'Kobi Lane

DFF Mock Startup: A Guide to the Unobvious

Dynasty, Mock Drafts, Strategy Content / By /

In Dynasty Fantasy Football startups, the roadmap usually starts to crystallize around Round 9. By that point, I’ve generally established the direction of my roster and identified the players I want as long-term building blocks. It’s also the stage of most drafts where managers begin wheeling and dealing to refine their strategy. For this particular mock, however, we kept things strictly business. The DFF crew came together for a pre–free agency startup draft and ran it without trades, letting the board fall naturally. Below are some of my favorite selections from this team build.

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Mike Washington Jr.

Mike Washington Jr.: The “Power-Speed” Workhorse

Dynasty, Rookie, Rookie Player Profiles / By /

Running backs come in a lot of shapes, but the ones who last in the NFL usually bring a mix of size, speed, and toughness. Mike Washington Jr. checks those boxes. At 6’1” and around 223 pounds, he looks like the kind of back built to handle a heavy workload. What separates him from most runners his size is the speed. When he hits open space, he can erase angles in a hurry. Washington spent his college career climbing the ladder. He started in the MAC before finishing at Arkansas in the SEC, proving along the way that his game translated against better competition. By the time the 2025 season ended, he had established himself as one of the most productive backs in the conference.

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Tucker Kraft

Arts and Kraft: Time to Show Tucker the Love in Dynasty Leagues

Dynasty / By /

Let’s talk about a tier one tight end that isn’t getting enough love. If #85 Packers TE Tucker Kraft wasn’t injured last year, he would be tier one right now. And it’s not crazy to say he could be the best tight end overall. 25 years old. Kraft is a key offensive weapon who has shown high-level performance. Especially with his yard after catch (YAC). He was phenomenal in a 2025 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, where he caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Love. Kraft was the major factor in the success versus the Cardinals. 

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D.J. Moore

Dynasty Fantasy Football Rapid Reaction: D.J. Moore to the Buffalo Bills

Dynasty / By /

Goodness, gracious. This trade is gold for both parties. D.J. Moore made it possible for Buffalo and Chicago to become better. It cost the Buffalo Bills a 2026 second-round pick. In exchange, the Bears sent D.J. Moore and their 2026 fifth-round pick. For Chicago, this opens up so much in a crowded offensive room. Caleb has the weapons to throw to, even with Moore being shipped out. This opens up opportunities for two promising second-year players to shine: Luther Buden III (WR) and Colston Loveland (TE). Hello, young men! These youngsters will have a chance to be special, special. I guarantee they are both already soaring in Dynasty as hot commodities and will be hot as a spoon is a trap house at the beginning of the month. They have shown they are capable of producing in their 2025 rookie campaigns.

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Omarion Hampton

2026 Dynasty Football Factory Startup Mock: The New Relationship

All Access, Dynasty, Mock Drafts, Strategy Content / By /

Dynasty Startup Season is often reminiscent of beginning a new romantic relationship. In many ways, you’ve learned valuable lessons about what works and, more importantly, what doesn’t. You promise yourself you won’t repeat old mistakes. You tell yourself you’ll stay patient, trust your board, and not reach for the shiny new thing just because everyone else is swooning. And yet, when you’re finally on the clock, emotions tend to creep back in.

2026 Dynasty Football Factory Startup Mock: The New Relationship Read More »

Justin Jefferson

The Jefferson Tax Act: Dynasty Fantasy Football’s Most Expensive WR2

All Access, Dynasty / By /

Let’s just say it out loud: Justin Jefferson is being drafted like it’s still 2022. But it’s not 2022 anymore. And the numbers don’t care about reputation. I’m not saying Jefferson is bad. I’m not saying he suddenly forgot how to run routes. I am saying that fantasy managers are paying for a version of Jefferson that no longer exists — and may not be coming back, despite where he lands in NFL fantasy rankings. This is not my Packers’ bias coming into play – although I do enjoy seeing him fail. What this actually is is a classic case of name value outrunning production.

The Jefferson Tax Act: Dynasty Fantasy Football’s Most Expensive WR2 Read More »

Buy Tyler Allgeier in Dynasty While You Still Can

Dynasty / By /

In the past, trading Tyler Allgeier in Dynasty was advisable because his value was heavily capped as a backup to Bijan Robinson. He gave us good games here and there, but his upside was always capped. While talented, his limited long-term upside in Atlanta has been capped since the arrival of Bijan. Allgeier is a prime candidate to trade for, offering a second round pick or a package of other assets. In my opinion, this is the time to both acquire or sell him.

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Malik Willis

The Superflex Cheat Code: Stashing Backup Quarterbacks

Dynasty / By /

In Superflex leagues, your quarterback room is absolutely vital. It can make or break your season. In 2024, 59 signal-callers started at least one NFL game. In 2025, that number grew to 63. Every year, more and more, we’re seeing Dynasty contenders have their campaigns derailed by injuries or benchings. Having a stash of QBs at your disposal could help you get through those rough patches. The reality is a backup QB who gets even a start or two is almost always more useful — and valuable — than a WR9 or TE5 rotting away on your bench. You can either plug them into your lineup as needed or flip them for picks or an upgrade at another position. Those fringe skill players will rarely ever crack your lineup. Get those roster cloggers out of there. Instead of keeping them, use those precious spots on backup QBs who can become instant difference-makers should they get thrust into a starting gig. With that in mind, here is a list of backup QBs I believe you should be trying to acquire for 2026. 

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Demond Claiborne

Running Back Sleepers to Target in Your Rookie Drafts

Dynasty, Rookie / By /

Everyone gets excited for their rookie draft picks, hoping to find the next superstar. It can really change the trajectory of your team if you hit on your picks, but it can also destroy your team if you do a poor job drafting. In this article, I will examine running backs who are sleepers, drafted outside the top 100. The players that should be picked in Rounds 3 or 4 of rookie drafts. If you hit on one of these guys, they can help make you a contender year in and year out and provide valuable targets for your rookie drafts. Most third and fourth-round picks are busts in rookie drafts, so hitting on one of these gives you a big edge on your league mates. First, let us look at how many running backs have been drafted in Rounds 4 and 5 since 2015. Since 2015, 75 players have been drafted in Rounds 4 and 5. A lot of them are landmines in rookie drafts, and my goal is to help you avoid them.

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Drake Maye

Why You Should Fade Quarterbacks (Including Drake Maye) in Dynasty Startup Drafts

Dynasty, Strategy Content / By /

Dynasty startup drafts are where leagues are won or lost. Not because of flashy picks. Not because you landed a superstar quarterback. They’re won through positional leverage — understanding where real weekly edges exist and where managers are paying for name recognition instead of production. After reviewing five Dynasty startup drafts and comparing positional scoring, one conclusion became impossible to ignore: Quarterbacks are being massively overdrafted in early rounds.

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