2026 NFL Draft: Day 1 Fantasy Football Recap

Day 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft captivated us (as per usual). Some of the best prospects are now rookies with NFL cities to call home, and fantasy managers need to start forming opinions about the impact they will have next season. While fantasy draft season may not be close to hitting its crescendo, hardcore gamers have been selecting players prior to the conclusion of the collegiate bowl season.

Let's get to it. This article will focus primarily on players from a redraft perspective. (We will have rookie and dynasty rankings on the site early next week.

Our initial redraft rankings will hit the site later in the week. My signature Big Board - a draft day pool that is one of the principal reasons why I have yet to suffer a losing money season in 25 years of high-stakes fantasy football - will likely be finished sometime in June and updated daily after that. ) Also see: Day 2 | Day 3 1) QB Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders ( Film Profile | Analytical Profile ) Team Fit: There have been a lot of new "eras" for the Raiders since they last won a playoff game during the 2002 season.

It feels like the team is about to become relevant again because it is not difficult to see the plan being laid out. Fortify the offensive line (Tyler Linderbaum), add a proven veteran quarterback (Kirk Cousins) and a play-caller/head coach with a history of overseeing good offenses. The presence of Cousins will almost certainly mean Mendoza will not be the Week 1 starter, which means the rookie will not be exposed to the same kind of punishment early on that typical No.