Top 5 Rookie Fits We Already Love for 2026 (Ep. 292)

Join Joe Pisapia and Pat Fitzmaurice as they highlight their top-5 rookie fits based on what they believe would be both realistic and best for the fantasy landscape!

Timestamps: (May be off due to ads)

Intro - 0:00:00

Jeremiyah Love - 0:00:38

Denzel Boston - 0:02:58

FantasyPros Dynasty YouTube - 0:04:14

Mike Washington - 0:04:44

Omar Cooper Jr. - 0:07:11

Eli Stowers - 0:09:14   

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome in everybody to Fantasy Pros.

Speaker 2 (00:02):
This is the Fantasy Football Podcast. It's be Joey p
Joe piz Apia, and today Pat fitz Morris and I
are gonna have a little conversation about some players who
are entering the twenty twenty six NFL Draft, where they
might land and what that might mean for our fantasy shares,
because that's what we're all about here. So if you're
watching on our Fantasy Pros YouTube channel, or if you

(00:23):
are checking things out on our Dynasty channel where patfits Morrich,
you can see his lovely face all the time talking
all these rookie prospects. Pat, let's get into it. Let's
chat here about the first prospect that you're excited about,
where you'd love to see him land, and maybe if
he did land there, how aggressive you might be drafting him.

Speaker 1 (00:42):
We have to start with Jeremiah Love, don't we, Joe.

Speaker 2 (00:45):
The I think we do. If it's a Pat show,
we do.

Speaker 3 (00:47):
Yeah, pretty much the consensus number one pick in dynasty drafts,
whether one QB league or Super Flex league. I want
to see Jeremiah Love go to the Kansas City Chiefs
at number nine and nothing against the same who could
conceivably take him at number eight or even the Cardinals.
I mean, there's been some talk about Arizona grabbing him
at number three, but.

Speaker 1 (01:08):
The Chiefs first of all.

Speaker 3 (01:10):
Chiefs general manager Brett Veach might have a chance to
correct the egregious mistake he made the twenty twenty draft
when he took Clyde Edwards a lair over Jonathan Taylor.
Love could give the Chiefs the star caliber running back
they have lacked ever since the demise of Jamal Charles,
who played his last season for the Kansas City Chiefs

(01:30):
a decade ago. And Love is just He's an explosive playmaker,
exceptional speed, acceleration, elusiveness.

Speaker 1 (01:39):
Drafting Love would be.

Speaker 3 (01:40):
A great way to take pressure off Patrick Mahomes as
he recovers from a major knee injury. Chiefs just have
to hope he is still around at number nine, all.

Speaker 2 (01:48):
Right, So let's say he lands there just out of curiosity.
How aggressive would you be? I mean, we've been burned
by the rookie rbs, even just as early as last year.
You know, we saw Ashton genty and coming off a
fantastic college career, can't miss prospect. But obviously different set
of circumstances going to the Raiders are supposed to go
into the Chiefs, but the Chiefs won't have Patrick Mahomes
from the start of the season. So what would that

(02:10):
mean should he land there? How aggressive? Would he be
a first round pick? Would he be a second round
pick in fantasy drafts?

Speaker 4 (02:16):
Yeah?

Speaker 3 (02:16):
I mean so obviously he's won on one in rookie drafts,
but like in redrafts leagues, I think he'd still with
the Chiefs. I think probably somewhere late in the second round.
Does that sound right to you?

Speaker 2 (02:29):
I think that does feel about right to me. Making Look,
the plus side is you do have to rely on
the run a little bit more without Patrick Mahomes. But
the downside is you don't have Patrick Mahomes. So yeah,
I think that's I think we need to learn a
lesson to a little bit. It's still a rookie curve
for even the best rookies coming into the league, even
in some good situations too. I mean, we're excited about
the Mary Hampton, We're excited about a lot of things.

Speaker 4 (02:48):
You need.

Speaker 2 (02:49):
You need health to work out, you need situation to
work out. But there's no doubt love is certainly a
fantastic talent that I think would be very excited to see.
Next one is a guy that Deebro and Eye just
down on the twitch a couple of days ago. Denzel Boston.
I want to talk about him wide receiver. We broke
down some tape of him. I'm a big fan, So
let's talk about Denzel Boston. Where would you like to

(03:11):
see that wide receiver land in twenty twenty six That
would really peak his fantasy value.

Speaker 3 (03:15):
So Boston, I think is probably the last of the
four receivers who are mortal locks for the first round
in the draft. And I would love to see Denzel
Boston go to the Buffalo Bills. Joe, and they are
currently drafting twenty sixth. We know how badly the Bills
need a playmaker a wide receiver. Keon Coleman has not
worked out, and based on some of the things that
have been said about him by people in the Bills

(03:37):
organization in recent weeks, it's pretty clear that Keon Coleman
is not a big part of the team's future plans.
So Boston is six', four two hundred and nine, pounds
a TRUE x. Receiver it's good in contested catch. Situations
it's not hard to imagine him being a prolific red
zone guy who threatens double digit touchdowns every, year surprisingly

(03:59):
fast andous after the.

Speaker 1 (04:00):
Catch for a bigger wide, receiver he would Give.

Speaker 3 (04:03):
Josh All on the pass catching help he so desperately,
needs and they just have to hope he makes it
down to them at number twenty, six or Maybe Brandon
bean actually makes an aggressive move to trade Op.

Speaker 2 (04:13):
All, right before we get to the next prospect on our,
list don't Forget Fantasy Pros dynasty channel up live doing rookie,
rankings doing, drafts doing, mocks doing rookie, drafts doing everything right.
Now so if you're Into Fantasy Football dynasty, version make
sure you go check it, out make sure you, subscribe
make sure you ring that bell to leg goes ding
so you never miss a piece of. Content you could
check it out on the audio side as. Well but

(04:35):
the YouTube channel is. Up it's growing very, quickly as
we expected it to, do because we know how you
all are about your football and you know how seriously
we take it as. Well next guy on the, LIST
i want to talk About Mike, washington a guy That
i'm very excited about we have this conversation on our
last Mock draft show a little. Bit we haven't gotten
to him yet because we've only have done one round
of that show so. Far the two point zero you

(04:55):
could check out on the Regular Fantasy pros channel right.

Speaker 1 (04:58):
Now but.

Speaker 2 (05:00):
This is a GUY i like a. LOT i think
he's got maybe somewhere between A Matt. Forte if he
grows a little bit, more could he be A Stephen.
Jackson he's a bigger running, Back he's a three down.
Back he's a guy THAT i think could really make
an impact in. Fantasy where would you like him to
land in twenty twenty?

Speaker 3 (05:16):
Six, YEAH i know he is A joe piece OF pa,
guy and The Stephen jackson comp is an interesting. ONE
i hadn't thought of, that SO i kind of want
to See Mike washington go to The Houston Texans joe and, so,
yeah this is a, big big, dude six feet two
hundred and twenty eight, pounds and he moves well for
a big, back and that's where maybe The Stephen jackson

(05:38):
comp kind of is easy to. SEE i think he's
going to put up a good forty time at the
combine for a two hundred and twenty eight pounds. Back
he's not without his, flaws like his run vision just.
Okay he's had some issues with, fumbles AND i don't,
know like he had twenty eight, CATCHES i want to
say For arkansas last.

Speaker 1 (05:57):
YEAR i don't know if there's a lot.

Speaker 3 (05:59):
Of pass catch, Potential LIKE i don't know if he's
ever a guy who catches fifty or. Sixty BUT i
do Think washington has a chance to be a very
effective early down, back and that's kind of WHY i
want to see him with The texans. Show they were
Using Woody marks in that role for much of the,
season AND i Think marx is just badly miscast as
an early down guy Like mark's more of a third

(06:19):
down skill set coming out of. College and Yet Woody
marx didn't catch a lot of, passes but he handled
a lot more. CARRIES i think that we thought he
was going to handle in his rookie. Year SO i
would love to See houston Draft Mike, washington let him
go to work on early downs and Let Woody marx
play his more natural third down.

Speaker 2 (06:37):
ROLE i would love that landing spot, too BECAUSE i
Think Demiko ryans is looking for defense and controlling the,
football don't turn the football. Over let's be smart on,
Offense let's play, defense drain the clock a little. Bit
let's see J stroud make plays when he needs big.
Plays AND i think that would be the recipe for
them to get to AN Afc championship, game if not
to The Super. BOWL i really. DO i think That
texans defense is that. Good they just need a little

(07:00):
bit more help on. Offense and unfortunately they could not
control anything offensively when they got into the. Playoffs there
at the, end the things really kind of fell apart
for them a little. Bit so that will go a long.
Way all, right we got two more names to. Go
you've got somebody you want to put on The. Raiders,
no Not Fernando, mendoza because that's a foregone. Conclusion somebody, Else,
Pat who is it that you'd like to see in
silver and black in this year's UPCOMING Nfl.

Speaker 3 (07:22):
Draft it's one Of Fernando mendoza's college. Teammates It's Omar Cooper,
junior also From Indiana. UNIVERSITY i Love Omar Cooper. Junior
joe like he is not especially. Big he's about six
feet two hundred pounds and he is not going to
melt stopwatches when he runs the forty at the.

Speaker 1 (07:39):
Combine But cooper has great. Hands he makes tough.

Speaker 3 (07:43):
Catches just witnessed the game winning touchdown catch he made
Against Penn state last, fall which was one of the
best Catches i've ever seen anyone make at any level of.
Football cooper is fantastic after the. Catch he can play insider,
Outside he's a great. Blocker this this guy is just
a baller. Man And i'm convinced That Omar Cooper junior

(08:03):
is going to be a GOOD nfl. Receiver so let's
Keep cooper with his quarterback At, Indiana Fernando. Mendoza there's
an outside chance That cooper could sneak into the first
round of THE Nfl, draft BUT i think he's probably
going to be there for The raiders early in the second.
Round so let's see them double tap The Indiana hoosiers
for their pitch and Catch. Combo raiders badly need help

(08:26):
at wide, receiver AND i Think Omar cooper could be
productive for them right, away pretty much, instantly passing Like
Jack bash And Dante.

Speaker 2 (08:34):
Thorpe, oh that was my question to, You, like where
would he slot in in your, opinion in terms of
the pecking, order obviously you know you have gent who's
going to catch the? Ball you have Brock bower is
probably the number one, target but then he Got Trey,
Talker Jack besh And Thornton. Junior so where Would cooper
fit him in terms of the pecking order for targets
for your, opinion.

Speaker 3 (08:50):
Day one, starter AND i think he leads the wide
receivers and targets and his number two Behind Brock.

Speaker 1 (08:54):
Powers, okay you know he's already got.

Speaker 3 (08:57):
That he's got that established chemistry already With Andano. Mendozas
SO i think it's just an easy.

Speaker 1 (09:02):
Fit it would be.

Speaker 2 (09:04):
NICE i like the coaching hire, Too get a guy
who an offensive mining coach in there to fix some.
Things got to get some protection, though they got to
get some offensive line help first and foremost. Too you
gotta figure that. Out that's gotta improve this all, right
last here on our, list pat you're giving somebody to my.
PATRIOTS i love. This so let's talk about this, prospect
who it is and why you think it's a good
fit For New.

Speaker 1 (09:24):
England, well this is all about appeasing, You, Joe so
you know.

Speaker 2 (09:28):
What it's nice that someone. Tries that's ALL i.

Speaker 3 (09:30):
Care So i'm want to give The Patriots Eli stowers
the tight end From. Vanderbilts and we know The patriots
need help out wide receiver and that has talked about ad,
nauseum but they could also add to their pass catching
core by taking one of the best pass catching tight
ends in.

Speaker 1 (09:47):
This class On day.

Speaker 3 (09:49):
Two Hunter henry is thirty one and going into the
final year of his. Contract Austin hooper is thirty two
and he is about to become an unrestricted free. Agents
he began his career in college as a quarterback At
TEXAS a AND m Transferred New mexico To New Mexico
state and switched to tight. End then he transferred To

(10:10):
vanderbilt and that's when he had his breakout as AN nfl.
Prospect two really good seasons At. Vandy he is a
really good athlete who was A Texas state high jumping
champ in high. School good route, runner dangerous after the,
catch really good, hands excellent body, control like you can
see that high jumping background when he high points the

(10:31):
ball on some of his end zone red zone. TARGETS
i would love to See Eli stowers paired With Drake
may and have these two grow, together because we've, seen
especially early this year For Drake may he was leaning
On Hunter henry a lot some weeks he, was.

Speaker 2 (10:48):
And Hunter henry's a little older, now you, know HE'S
i think people forget he's been the league a long.

Speaker 3 (10:52):
Time, yeah so you, know And henry certainly has been
a really good tight, end went, healthy BUT i think
brings a touch more speed athletic system to the party
Than Hunter henry does these days six.

Speaker 2 (11:05):
Four two thirty. Five it's not a small, human that's for.
Sure that would be a presence. There for. Sure it
would Help Drake may, out and anything that can Help
Drake may, OUT i am all For. Pat so these
are some landing spots That pat would be very excited,
for and obviously we're very excited to continue to give
you all the content we can regarding the. Rookies so of,
course the rookie rankings are available right now at fantasypros

(11:26):
dot com slash. Rankings if you're looking to see Where, Stours, Cooper,
Washington boston And love might fit in those, rankings, well
get ready for Your dynasty, Drafts get ready for your rookie,
drafts get ready for your, startups all the, Above but
you can't do that unless you go to fantasypros dot
com slash rankings to see what the early ranks tell
you and where the landing spots will, be and of

(11:46):
course when they land those will get updated for you
so you can make the best decisions you can for
all of Your dynasty. Leagues and of course don't forget
to subscribe to The dynasty podcast as well in the
new YouTube channel over At Fantasy. Football Fantasy's Dynasty podcast
is out there on YouTube right, now so subscribe to
the new. Channel, pat these are some fun landing. SPOTS

(12:06):
i hope they all come, true AND i hope they
all play well in their rookie. Year that'll do it for,
us but the story of the game goes on For
pat Fitz, Morris I'm JOEY. P we'll see you next. Time.

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