Freshmen QBs and RBs
The 2026 Freshman Recruiting Class: Early Standouts, Real Opportunity, and the Dynasty Reality Check
The dynasty/Devy calendar has officially turned its eyes toward the future. While the 2026 NFL rookie class dominates headlines right now, the true long-term builders in dynasty fantasy football are already starting to scout the 2026 high school recruiting class—the players who will enroll in college this fall and become eligible for supplemental drafts as soon as 2026 (with full NFL Draft eligibility in 2029).
On a recent episode of the Devy Devotional podcast, hosts John Arrington, Aaron Wilcox, and Andy Starr gave an early, honest breakdown of the group. The verdict? This isn’t a “generational” class across the board, but it does feature legitimate star potential—especially at running back—and several blue-blood landing spots with wide-open depth charts that could create real Year-1 (or Year-2) fantasy relevance.
Here’s what matters most right now: the top talents, the situations that scream opportunity, the red flags worth respecting, and the hard truth about freshman hit rates that every dynasty manager needs to hear before getting too excited.
Running Backs: The Clear Strength of the Class
If you’re looking for the highest-upside position in the 2026 freshmen, it’s running back—hands down.
The top tier features multiple five-star prospects with pro-ready builds, verified speed, tackle-breaking power, and receiving ability. Even better: several of them landed in programs where the depth chart is genuinely wide open.
Ezavier Crowell (Alabama) stands as the consensus RB1 in most early rankings. At roughly 6'0" with a thick, powerful frame, Crowell combines vision, burst, contact balance, and pass-catching chops. He racked up over 6,000 career high-school rushing yards (despite skipping his senior season) and ran in the 10.7–10.74 range in the 100-yard dash. Alabama’s backfield has no entrenched star—no one eclipsed 300 rushing yards last year—and the transfer portal additions have been modest. For a true freshman with Crowell’s traits, that’s a dream runway.
Right behind him (and interchangeable for many evaluators) is Savion Hiter (Michigan). Slightly more sudden and elusive, Hiter has flashed 21+ mph bursts on tape and elite lateral cutting ability. Michigan’s room has question marks after injuries and transfers, and new staff influence (Kyle Whittingham’s run-game pedigree) could unlock big things. Jordan Marshall is solid but not an insurmountable roadblock for elite talent.
Jonathan Hatton Jr. (Oklahoma) brings downhill power and decisiveness in a similarly open situation post-transfers. KJ Edwards (Texas A&M) is electric—elite lateral agility, receiving skills, and on-field speed—but carries legitimate size concerns (listed ~187 lbs). He’s the boom-or-bust lottery ticket of the group.
DeShaun Redeaux (USC) rounds out the early top five with good size (5'10"/202) and speed in a system that should provide continuity at QB. Wayman Jordan and King Miller return, so Year-1 snaps may require health luck, but the traits warrant attention.
Early RB Strategy: In thin running-back classes, prioritize size + production + opportunity. Crowell and Heiter belong in high-end supplemental discussions. Don’t sleep on the open depth charts at Alabama, Michigan, and Oklahoma—these are real paths to early touches.
Quarterbacks: Traits Over Landing Spot in the Transfer Era
The QB group has a strong top 5–6 with real arm talent and athleticism, but many landed in non-traditional developer programs (Houston, Vanderbilt, ASU, BYU). The transfer-portal/NIL landscape means Year-1 starts are possible, but patience—or a portal exit—will likely be required.
Keisean Henderson (Houston) leads many early boards as a dynamic dual-threat with Lamar-like rushing upside. He’ll sit behind Connor Wegman in Year 1, creating transfer risk.
Faison Brandon (Tennessee) is the pod favorite for several evaluators: big frame, legitimate mobility, arm strength, and age-17 upside. Tennessee hasn’t produced recent NFL QBs, but the talent + SEC exposure could flip the narrative.
Jared Curtis (Vanderbilt) brings elite arm talent and production. Recent QB success at Vandy (Diego Pavia) shows opportunity exists.
Jake Fetty (ASU) and Dia Bell (Texas) round out a talented top tier—Fetty with dual-threat juice, Bell with high-end traits but stuck behind Arch Manning (and injury history concerns).
Lower-tier names like Ryder Lyons (BYU) face multi-year waits behind Bear Bachmeier, making them riskier bets.
QB Strategy Tip: In today’s game, bet on elite traits and athleticism first. Landing spot matters less when transfers are common. The top five could be mid-to-late supplemental values if they fall—don’t overpay for blocked situations.
The Hard Truth: Freshman Hit Rates Are Still Ugly
Andy Starr delivered the blunt reality check that every dynasty manager needs to hear:
“80% of the guys we mentioned today will not be drafted in your dynasty rookie drafts. Maybe more.”
That’s not pessimism—it’s math. Freshman bust rates remain brutal, even for five-stars. The class has star potential at the very top, but the middle and back end are dart throws. Smart managers will focus on the 15–20% who check every box (traits + size + open runway) and avoid chasing every name.
Where to Be Aggressive Right Now
RB premium leagues → Target Crowell, Hiter, Hatton early. Open depth charts at Alabama/Michigan/Oklahoma are gold.
QB-needy teams → Take shots on Henderson, Brandon, Curtis in the mid-to-late rounds.
Size concerns → Monitor camp weight gains (especially Edwards). Don’t write off sub-200 RBs completely—Bucky Irving, Devin Singletary, and James Cook prove it can work.
Spring & summer watch list → Early enrollee buzz, weight-room reports, depth-chart movement, and portal fallout will shift values dramatically.
This 2026 freshman class isn’t overflowing with sure things, but the elite running backs and select quarterbacks offer legitimate lottery-ticket upside in a landscape where proven college production is harder to come by. Focus on traits, opportunity, and realistic paths to snaps—then be ruthless about cutting bait on the rest.
Which 2026 freshman are you already targeting in supplementals? Or are you waiting for spring ball to move? Share your early rankings or fades below.
