Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price is squarely in the conversation to be the second running back selected in the 2026 NFL Draft despite never handling more than 10 offensive touches per game in any of his three collegiate seasons. Sharing a backfield with one of the best offensive players in this year's draft class, Jeremiyah Love, Price saw his career production nearly doubled by the presumed early first-round pick, but he was still productive on his limited workload. Price averaged more than six yards per carry in his collegiate career and reached double-digit touchdowns in 2025. As one of the best kick returners in the country, he displayed excellent vision and the ability to slash through shifting lanes without gearing down, traits that should translate in a larger role out of the backfield. Price has good size and runs low and behind his pads, and with the right landing spot, he could emerge from a lackluster running back class as Love's largest threat to finish the year as the rookie RB1.

Louisville wide receiver prospect Chris Bell will be one of the riskiest selections in the NFL Draft and dynasty rookie drafts alike. For much of his senior season, early draft analysis had him ranked right alongside what has now become the Big Three of receiver prospects in Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon, and Jordyn Tyson as a potential first-round pick. An ACL tear in his final game of the season all but shattered that possibility, and he now profiles as more of a mid-to-late Day 2 pick who may require what amounts to a redshirt season as a rookie. While Bell's production doesn't stack up to the receivers at the top of the class, his pre-injury athletic profile was what made him stand out. At 6'2" and 222 pounds, he hit an in-game speed of 22 MPH, allowing him to win after the catch with both physicality and acceleration. How the injury will impact him in the all-important early stages of his professional career is yet to be seen, but if he can return to anything resembling his senior year form without falling too far behind the NFL pace, he could become a steal for whoever is willing to make the gamble.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith is a former Heisman Trophy winner and 2021 first-round pick, and while he's generally recognized as one of the best pure separators in the league, he's had a fantasy finish inside the WR20 only once in his five-year career. His 9.6 Half-PPR points per game in 2025 were the lowest since his rookie season, and yet, even set to turn 28 during the 2026 season, he could be one of the smartest buys in dynasty. Jalen Hurts is owed no guaranteed money beyond this season, and very public rumblings from Philadelphia's front office have implied they want to see a marked improvement in quarterback play before reinvesting in him. Saquon Barkley, now 29, has entered a stage of his career where workload considerations may become a factor. But perhaps most importantly, more and more writing on the wall has suggested that AJ Brown has played his last down with the Eagles. Should Brown be traded after June 1st, as many around the league are expecting, the path would clear for Smith to assume a true alpha role for the first time since he was a 22-year-old rookie.

Houston Texans running back Woody Marks handled more than 230 opportunities as a rookie, the third-highest total of any first-year player in his class, despite being the ninth running back selected in the 2025 NFL Draft. He flirted with low RB2 status over the second half of the season but got there on volume alone, as his efficiency numbers ranked near the bottom of the league. Marks could buck the trend, but historically, rookie running backs who receive that sort of workload after falling to the third day of the draft tend to get there because of a lack of surrounding talent, and that kind of situational success has been mostly unsustainable. In Marks' case, Houston has already added David Montgomery via trade, and he should be able to add the sort of between-the-tackles presence they may have thought they had in Nick Chubb last season. Marks is unlikely to see another 200 carries in year two, but where he could see a boost is through the passing game. He saw only a 6.7% target share after leaving USC as one of the most prolific pass-catching backs in college football history. With Montgomery in the fold to handle early down work, Marks could settle into his more natural role as a third down, change of pace back, offsetting some of his fantasy production as a receiver, even if his overall volume should drop.