Dynasty Trades - Rookie First Rounders
Chew recommends some dynasty trades for 2026 rookie 1st round picks.
There is still plenty of NFL offseason to enjoy, but it feels good knowing the order of both the NFL and dynasty rookie drafts. And for the real degenerates (myself included), we are dangerously close to being able to trade 2029 rookie picks in dynasty! Let’s focus on the actionable, though, which is the trade value of those 2026 rookie first-round picks.
In case you missed it, I covered in my last article some likely first-round NFL draft selections and where they could fall in dynasty rookie drafts.
Trades were sourced from the Dynasty Daddy trade database. Trades were based on the following settings:
Quarterbacks: 2 (Superflex)
Scoring Format: 1 (Full PPR)
Tight End Premium: 0-0.5
Team Count: 10-12 (Draft pick range noted below extends to 12-team leagues)
Starter Count: 9-11
🏈 PICK 1.01
The Options:
Jeremiyah Love (RB)
Love is the fairly clear-cut first option here. I can understand a QB-needy dynasty team going for Mendoza, but I have him slotted in at the next range.
➕ To BUY:
‘26 1.01 ←→ ‘26 1.04 + TreVeyon Henderson
‘26 1.01 ←→ Brian Thomas Jr. + Quentin Johnston + ‘26 1.03 + ‘26 2.03
➖ To SELL:
Justin Jefferson + ‘28 4th round pick ←→ Theo Johnson + ‘26 1.01
Bijan Robinson + Joe Burrow ←→ Jaxson Dart + ‘26 1.01 + ‘26 1.02
🏈 PICKS 1.02-1.05 ( Early-2026 1st)
The Options:
Fernando Mendoza (QB) - Jordyn Tyson (WR) - Carnell Tate (WR) - Makai Lemon (WR)
It is rarely a bad idea to go with the first pick of the NFL draft in this range, especially when it is a quarterback in a superflex league. I have Denzel Boston ahead of Makai Lemon, but in most rankings, the market indicates Boston would be after this trio of receivers. This is the range to buy that early first if you believe in one of these receivers, or sell it to upgrade at a position like quarterback or receiver.
➕ To BUY:
‘26 1.03 ←→ Marvin Harrison
‘26 1.03 ←→ Jerry Jeudy + ‘26 1.10 + ‘26 1.12
➖ To SELL:
Lamar Jackson + Jayden Reed ←→ ‘26 1.03 + George Pickens
Jayden Daniels ←→ ‘26 1.03 + Michael Penix + A.J. Barner
🏈 PICKS 1.06-1.08 (Mid-2026 1st)
The Options:
Denzel Boston (WR) - Kenyon Sadiq (TE) - Ty Simpson (QB)
The next tier is when we get into the beginning of the tight ends and the second quarterback. Sadiq is an athletic, pass-catching tight end who can be a top-12 fantasy producer if deployed in the right offense. For Simpson, it will depend on landing spot, but he strikes me as a player who will have at least one real chance to be a starter during his rookie contract. I think this tier is the steepest decline amongst the first round of dynasty drafts, but you could still find managers looking to “get their guy”.
➕ To BUY:
Tee Higgins + ‘26 1.06 ←→ Brian Thomas + ‘26 1.05
Tucker Kraft + ‘26 1.06 ←→ Daniel Jones + Oronde Gadsden
➖ To SELL:
‘26 1.06 ←→ Garrett Wilson
‘26 1.06 + ‘26 1.08 + D.K. Metcalf ←→ Justin Jefferson
🏈 PICKS 1.09-1.12 (Late-2026 1st)
The Options:
Zachariah Branch (RB) - Chris Brazell II (WR) - KC Concepcion (WR) - Jadarian Price (RB) - Jonah Coleman (RB)
The list of receivers continues, with these guys on a tier of their own. And we finally get to a running back not named Jeremiyah Love, even if one of them is actually Love’s collegiate teammate. There is not much excitement in terms of depth at either the quarterback or running back positions as compared to recent years. This would be the range to sell for a proven but undervalued veteran or kick the first rounder to 2027.
➕ To BUY:
Jordan Addison ←→ ‘26 1.10
Brian Thomas + ‘27 2nd round pick ←→ ‘26 1.10 + ‘27 1st round pick
➖ To SELL:
‘26 1.10 ←→ Jaylen Waddle
‘26 1.10 ←→ ‘27 1st round pick
So you made it this far, and hopefully you enjoyed it (that’s what she said). If you wouldn’t mind sharing this in your group message with your fellow fantasy football degenerates, I would greatly appreciate it!
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