Welcome back to the rookie offseason as our next stop on the dynasty calendar is the NFL Scouting Combine.
If you followed along last year, we released our pre-Combine article breaking down the advanced numbers behind how specific drills and athletic testing have historically impacted future fantasy success. We analyzed which Combine metrics actually correlate to production—and which ones don’t move the needle.
We’ve updated and adjusted the numbers for 2026, but that 2025 study still provides a ton of valuable insight as we head into this year’s testing.
For 2026, we’ll be adding updated data points, including how the 2025 rookie class performed & if there is still hope for some who didn’t live up to their testing.
Be sure to tune in after the Combine for our full breakdown of how the 2026 class tested and what it means for dynasty value.
And remember, these metrics are strictly from official NFL Combine testing. Not every NFL player participates or tests at the Combine, so this data set does not include pro day numbers.
Quarterbacks | 3 Cone | Shuttle 🚀
When recalculating some of the Combine testing data, the biggest factor that stood out was actually draft position. Of the 15 quarterbacks in our sample, 12 were first-round picks. The only non–first-rounders in the group were Jalen Hurts, Dak Prescott, and Brock Purdy.
Draft capital continues to be the strongest predictor of fantasy success at the quarterback position, even more than elite athletic testing.
On average, these quarterbacks didn’t need to be elite testers across the board. Instead, most of them fell into the “good” or “average” range in Combine drills. Extreme outliers—either poor athletes or rare testers—were less common among consistent QB1 producers.
Here are some of the key testing benchmarks that tend to show up among fantasy QB1 seasons:
- 40-Yard Dash – between 4.66 to 4.84 (13 of 15 QB1s)
- Vertical Jump – 28.5” or higher (11 of 14 QB1s)
- Broad Jump – 111” or higher (10 of 13 QB1s)
- 3-Cone Drill – 7.17 or faster (strong indicator) (11 of 13 QB1s)
- Short Shuttle – 4.47 or faster (strong indicator) (12 of 13 QB1s)
Review 2025 QB Class
Click Here to see the 2025 Testing Results
Revisiting the 2025 class, there were only 4 QBs who did the Combine testing but only 2 actually saw the field in 2025
Brady Cook tested well at the Combine with 3 elite testings—but that testing didn’t translate to success on the field.
The other quarterback who made starts last year was Tyler Shough, who posted more average testing scores. Shough falls into that “average testing” range that has actually translated into fantasy success over the years. As mentioned above, many QB1 seasons have come from quarterbacks who tested in the good-to-average range rather than elite across the board, which gives Shough a real path to joining that tier one day.
He showed those flashes in 2025, finishing as the QB5 from Week 12 on. If that late-season stretch was a sign of growth and comfort in the offense, Shough absolutely has a chance to join the future QB1 conversation.
Other QB Stats
- 40-Yard Dash (4.85 or slower) – Out of 39 quarterbacks in that range, only 1 produced a QB1 season.
- Broad Jump (120” or higher) – Of the 26 quarterbacks who cleared 120”, only 3 recorded a QB1 season.
- 3-Cone Drill (slower than 7.20) – Among 35 quarterbacks in that bucket, only 2 achieved a QB1 season.
Running Backs | Broad Jump
Of the 34 running backs who participated in Combine testing and went on to finish as an RB1 in fantasy, 27 of them posted good-to-elite Broad Jump scores. That’s a significant hit rate and reinforces how important lower-body explosiveness is for translating athleticism into production at the NFL level.
Here are some of the key testing benchmarks that tend to show up among fantasy RB1 seasons:
- 40-Yard Dash – 4.58 or faster (28 of 34 RB1s)
- Speed Score – 100.3 or better (22 of 34 RB1s)
- Vertical Jump – 34” or higher (20 of 33 RB1s)
- Broad Jump – 116” or higher (strong indicator) (29 of 29 RB1s)
Review 2025 RB Class
Click Here to see the 2025 Testing Results
The 2025 RB class got off to a slower start than many would have predicted. Only three reached RB2 or better finishes in fantasy. This is the time to buy into this class — especially with the concern that the 2026 class has lesser talent.
Every running back in the 2025 class who participated in the Broad Jump posted a good-to-elite score in that metric. That kind of across-the-board explosiveness is hard to ignore, especially when we already know how strongly the Broad Jump correlates with future RB1 production.
Because of that, it makes sense to buy high (or at least take calculated shots) on running backs from this class. While it may be tough to acquire TreVeyon Henderson, Quinshon Judkins, Omarion Hampton, and RJ Harvey (all of whom tested well), the investment is supported by the data.
Bhayshul Tuten, Cam Skattebo, and Dylan Sampson are running backs worth buying low on this offseason, as they could see a spike in value during the season. They all performed well during the NFL Combine. They all flashed showing they were good picks in rookies drafts depsite not reaching RB2 value just yet.
Kyle Monangai (who flashed despite poor testing) and Woody Marks, who underperformed in one or more testing areas but caught favorable breaks as rookies. Both should be viewed as potential sell candidates while their value remains propped up by early production rather than long-term athletic indicators.
Other RB Stats
- 40-Yard Dash (4.66 or slower) – Out of 34 running backs in that range, only 1 produced an RB2 season.
- Speed Score (115.2 or better) – Of the 12 running backs who finished with a 115.2 score, recorded an RB2 or better season. Trey Benson still has a chance to join the 7.
- Speed Score (93.5 or worst) – Of the 79 running backs who finished with a 93.5 score or worst, only 1 recorded a RB1 season. (Kyren Williams)
- Broad Jump (115 or lower) – Among 41 running backs in that bucket, only 3 achieved a RB2 or better season.
Wide Receiver | Fast But Not Too Fast
Wide receivers come off similar to quarterbacks, where production has leaned more toward the middle of the testing spectrum rather than strictly elite athletic profiles.
When it comes to the 40-yard dash, the sweet spot isn’t necessarily blazing speed or slower times — it’s the middle range between 4.35 and 4.54. That window has historically produced the most consistent fantasy results.
Among receivers who tested at the Combine and went on to produce at least one WR2 season or better, 33 qualified — and 25 of them ran within that 4.35–4.54 range, including many who eventually posted WR1 seasons.
The takeaway: you don’t need a 4.29 burner to project fantasy success. Functional speed — paired with route running, usage, and opportunity — has proven to be the more reliable indicator.
Here are some of the key testing benchmarks that tend to show up among fantasy WR1 seasons:
- 40-Yard Dash – between 4.35 & 4.54 (28 of 31 WR1s)
- Shuttle – 4.29 or Faster (15 of 22 WR1s)
- Broad Jump – 121” or higher (23 of 33 WR1s)
Review 2025 WR Class
Click Here to see the 2025 Testing Results
Unfortunately the 2025 rookie class as expected didn’t dominate their rookie season outside of a few receivers who didn’t test at the NFL Combine. There are still a few players worth buying low based off their testing. Issac TeSlaa, Jayden Higgins and Tre Harris all tested well and fall in that range of testing that make us think potential WR1. TeSlaa may be a few years away (think Alec Pierce 2 years from now), but is a good buy low for a long term builder. Higgins and Harris look to take a step in year 2 after both flashing a bit as rookies.
While it may be tough, it may be better to get out now on Matthew Golden who falls in a 40-time category grouping that just don’t end up producing WR1 production.
Kyle Williams also falls into a grouping where we think there is a rise, but his 119 Broad Jump is low. 122 receivers tested 119 or lower Broad Jump with only 5 receivers ending up being a WR1. May not be worth buying into despite an opening to be the WR1 in New England.
Other WR Stats
- 40-Yard Dash (4.56 or slower) – Out of 139 receivers in that range, only 3 produced a WR1 season.
- 40-Yard Dash (4.32 or faster) – Out of 15 receivers in that range, only 1 produced a WR2 season.
- Vertical Jump (40.5 or higher) – Of the 34 receivers who finished with a jump of 40.5”of higher, only 2 recorded a WR1 season.
- 3 Cone (7.10 or slower) – Among 41 quarterbacks in that bucket, only 1 achieved a WR1 season. (D.K. Metcalf)
Tight End | Combine Matters
Tight ends are actually one position where Combine testing does matter, as it has consistently translated to fantasy production down the line. Over the last decade, the vast majority of TE1 seasons have come from players who tested well at the NFL Combine.
Of the 20 tight ends who posted at least one TE1 season, only three recorded a poor testing score in any of the key athletic categories listed below.
That level of correlation is hard to ignore. At a position where athletic mismatches drive fantasy ceilings, strong Combine testing has proven to be more than just a nice bonus — it’s often a prerequisite for elite production.
Here are some of the key testing benchmarks that tend to show up among fantasy TE1 seasons:
- 40-Yard Dash – 4.79 of Faster (16 of 17 TE1s)
- Vertical Jump – 31” of Higher (18 of 18 TE1s)
- 3 Cone – 7.34 or Faster (14 of 15 TE1s)
- Shuttle – 4.40 or Faster (14 of 16 TE1s)
- Broad Jump – 117” or Higher (17 of 18 TE1s)
Review 2025 TE Class
Click Here to see the 2025 Testing Results
Harold Fannin posted good-to-elite testing numbers at the Combine, and that athletic profile translated immediately as a rookie. His explosiveness and movement skills showed up on the field, reinforcing the data that strong testing at tight end often leads to fantasy relevance. The other two TE1 finishers—Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren—did not participate in Combine testing.
Two tight ends you’ll hear a lot of this offseason are Terrace Ferguson and Gunnar Helm. Both saw poor testing in at least one category which already puts them in a small grouping of TEs who could potentially produce TE1 numbers. It’s not a good group to be in. I think Helm could more be one of the ones who stands the test as he did get injured at the Combine and continued to test, which makes him the cheaper buy-low option at TE right now.
While it’s not the 2025 class, Ben Sinnott (I’ll scream it now) tested very well at the NFL Combine and has a chance to rise in 2026 and is a buy low you should make in all of your leagues.
Other TE Stats
- 40-Yard Dash (4.81 or slower) – Out of 47 tight ends in that range, only 1 produced a TE1 season.
- Broad Jump (115 or lower) – Out of 51 tight ends in that range, only 1 produced a TE1 season. (Mark Andrews is a true outlier among this data set and is often the lone TE1 missing from the benchmarks)
- Vertical Jump (30” or lower) – Of the 20 tight ends who finished with a jump of 30” or lower, none recorded a TE1 season.
- 3 Cone (7.13 or slower) – Among 69 tight ends in that bucket, only 3 achieved a TE1 season.
2025 Combine Testing Results
| Pos | Player | 40yd | Speed | Vertical | Broad | 3-Cone | Shuttle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QB | Will Howard | — | — | 31.5 | 112 | 7.13 | 4.33 |
| QB | Tyler Shough | 4.63 | — | 32 | 117 | — | — |
| QB | Seth Henigan | 4.76 | — | 31.5 | 114 | 7.34 | 4.44 |
| QB | Brady Cook | 4.59 | — | 37 | 128 | 7.01 | 4.17 |
| RB | Woody Marks | 4.54 | 97.4 | 35 | 119 | — | 4.24 |
| RB | Ulysses Bentley | 4.62 | 88.2 | 32.5 | 117 | — | — |
| RB | Trevor Etienne | 4.42 | 103.8 | 35 | 124 | — | — |
| RB | TreVeyon Henderson | 4.43 | 104.9 | 38.5 | 128 | — | — |
| RB | Tahj Brooks | 4.53 | 101.6 | 35 | 120 | 6.90 | 4.06 |
| RB | RJ Harvey | 4.40 | 109.4 | 38 | 127 | — | 4.34 |
| RB | Raheim Sanders | 4.47 | 108.7 | 36.5 | — | — | — |
| RB | Quinshon Judkins | 4.48 | 109.7 | 38.5 | 132 | — | — |
| RB | Omarion Hampton | 4.46 | 111.7 | — | 130 | — | 4.40 |
| RB | Ollie Gordon | 4.61 | 100.1 | 34.5 | 120 | — | — |
| RB | Montrell Johnson | 4.41 | 112.1 | 35.5 | 123 | — | 4.29 |
| RB | Marcus Tarns | 4.45 | 98.4 | 37.5 | 122 | — | — |
| RB | LeQuint Allen | — | — | 35 | 120 | — | — |
| RB | Kyle Monangai | 4.60 | 94.2 | 34.5 | 117 | — | — |
| RB | Kaleb Johnson | 4.57 | 102.7 | — | — | — | — |
| RB | Jordan James | 4.55 | 95.7 | — | 117 | — | — |
| RB | Jayden Blue | 4.38 | 106.5 | — | — | — | — |
| RB | Jarquez Hunter | 4.45 | 104.0 | 33.5 | 120 | — | — |
| RB | Ja’Quinden Jackson | — | — | 32 | 119 | 7.19 | 4.36 |
| RB | Dylan Sampson | — | — | 35 | 124 | — | — |
| RB | Donovan Edwards | 4.45 | 104.6 | 38.5 | — | — | — |
| RB | DJ Giddens | 4.43 | 110.1 | 39.5 | 130 | — | 4.33 |
| RB | Devin Neal | 4.59 | 96.0 | 37.5 | 124 | — | — |
| RB | Damien Martinez | 4.51 | 104.9 | 35 | 124 | — | — |
| RB | Corey Kiner | 4.58 | 94.5 | — | — | — | — |
| RB | Cam Skattebo | — | — | 39.5 | 123 | — | — |
| RB | Brashard Smith | 4.39 | 104.5 | 32.5 | 117 | — | — |
| RB | Bhayshul Tuten | 4.32 | 114.8 | 40.5 | 130 | — | 4.41 |
| TE | Thomas Fidone | 4.70 | — | 35.5 | 126 | 7.01 | 4.29 |
| TE | Terrace Ferguson | 4.63 | — | 39 | 112 | — | — |
| TE | Robbie Ouzts | 4.91 | — | 34 | 119 | 7.34 | 4.45 |
| TE | Oronde Gadsden | — | — | 34 | 114 | — | — |
| TE | Moliki Matavao | 4.82 | — | 32.5 | 114 | — | — |
| TE | Mitchell Evans | 4.74 | — | 31 | 115 | 7.25 | 4.40 |
| TE | Luke Lachey | — | — | 35 | 120 | 7.18 | 4.47 |
| TE | Joshua Simon | 4.66 | — | 38 | 124 | 7.22 | 4.40 |
| TE | Jalen Conyer | 4.75 | — | 35.5 | 121 | 6.94 | 4.27 |
| TE | Jake Briningstool | 4.75 | — | 31 | 115 | — | — |
| TE | Jackson Hawes | 4.83 | — | 34.5 | 121 | — | 4.40 |
| TE | Harold Fannin Jr. | 4.72 | — | 34 | 118 | 6.97 | 4.39 |
| TE | Gunnar Helm | 4.84 | — | 30 | — | 7.15 | 4.40 |
| WR | Tre Harris | 4.54 | — | 38.5 | 125 | — | — |
| WR | Tory Horton | 4.41 | — | 37.5 | — | — | — |
| WR | Tez Johnson | 4.51 | — | 37 | 131 | 6.65 | 4.15 |
| WR | Tai Felton | 4.37 | — | 39.5 | 130 | — | — |
| WR | Sam Brown Jr. | 4.44 | — | 41.5 | — | — | — |
| WR | Matthew Golden | 4.29 | — | — | — | — | — |
| WR | Luther Burden | 4.41 | — | — | — | — | — |
| WR | KeAndre Lambert-Smith | 4.37 | — | 34.5 | 124 | — | — |
| WR | Jaylin Noel | 4.39 | — | 41.5 | 134 | 6.82 | 4.17 |
| WR | Jaylin Lane | 4.34 | — | 40 | 132 | 6.75 | 4.12 |
| WR | Jayden Higgins | 4.47 | — | 39 | 128 | — | — |
| WR | Dont’e Thornton Jr. | 4.30 | — | 33 | 126 | — | — |
| WR | Isaiah Neyor | 4.40 | — | 38 | 133 | — | — |
| WR | Isaac TeSalaa | 4.43 | — | 39.5 | 129 | 6.85 | 4.05 |
| WR | Chimere Dike | 4.34 | — | 38.5 | 128 | 6.82 | 4.27 |
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Be sure to tune in after the Combine for our full breakdown of how the 2026 class tested and what it means for dynasty value. If you want to see the full data, reach out to me on Twitter: @coachstevenp or Dynasty Nerds Discord: coachstevenp.
