It begins in the heat of August, where steam rises from sun-baked turf. Pads crack in the heavy, humid air, and the pursuit of gridiron immortality officially resumes once more.
It’s been a few months, so my NFL Films voice may be rusty. Nonetheless, football is almost back, baby!
For dynasty fantasy football aficionados, the 2026 college football season isn’t merely a slate of Saturday games. And it’s even more than a series of excuses to get out of that tenth fall festival your wife put on your family’s calendar. This particular upcoming college football season is the epic battleground where the members of our much-anticipated 2027 rookie class will be forged.
Across America’s most storied cathedrals, from the packed bowls of the SEC to the frozen battlegrounds of the Big Ten, our valuable 2027 rookie picks will get paired with actual player names like some kind of bizarre fraternity mixer. From white outs to blackouts and stripes to checkered boards, college football serves as the ultimate proving ground for dynasty’s next wave of superstars.
Let this be your definitive scouting dossier for the preseason Top 10, where we’ll preview the 2027 NFL Draft-eligible players as well as some rising underclassmen destined to be names you should learn as a #NerdHerd member for your future dynasty.
Start Building Your Dynasty
#1 Ohio State Buckeyes
2027 NFL Draft Eligible
- Jeremiah Smith (WR): The consensus 1.01 in 2027 dynasty drafts regardless of format. A physical, boundary threat with elite size-speed metrics. Dane Brugler recently noted that Smith has been clocked at 23.5 miles per hour, comparable to Xavier Worthy’s NFL Combine record 4.21 40-yard dash… except Jeremiah Smith is 60 pounds heavier.
- Julian Sayin (QB): Experienced pocket passer with a fast release and elite processing. Record-setting accuracy, but opinions in the dynasty community on his upside are varied. Is he a product of the talent around him? Does he have the arm strength to succeed in the NFL? Without rushing upside, how high can his ceiling realistically be for fantasy football?
Underclassmen & Rising Stars
- Bo Jackson (RB): No, there’s no relation to that Bo Jackson, sorry. This Bo Jackson is a highly recruited four-star sophomore from Cleveland who was one of Ohio State’s breakout stars last season as a true freshman. He took over the backfield by the middle of the season and ran for over 1,000 yards. How does he follow up in his sophomore campaign?
- Chris Henry, Jr. (WR): True freshman and son of former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry. Attended high school football powerhouse Mater Dei in Santa Ana, CA. Five-star recruit (#2 WR in this recruiting class) who stands 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 211 lbs. Scored a long touchdown in Ohio State’s spring game and has been getting playing time with the first team in preseason camp.
#2 Oregon Ducks
2027 NFL Draft Eligible
- Dante Moore (QB): Would likely have been a top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft before returning to school. Former top recruit who commands the Oregon offense. Offers high-volume passing potential in an explosive scheme. How will he fit into a 2027 class filled with more talent at his position?
- Jamari Johnson (TE): Massive pass-catching tight end who fits Dante Moore’s penchant for finding targets down the seam. Played second fiddle to Kenyon Sadiq last season, but still demanded targets. My TE1 in the 2027 class.
Underclassmen & Rising Stars
- Dakorien Moore (WR): Five-star recruit with game-breaking speed who made an immediate impact as a true freshman. One of my favorite players eligible for the 2028 class.
- Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill, Jr. (RB): In a room consistently full of talent, these young men are the two to keep your eyes on. Davison weighs in at 236 lbs and is the thunder to complement the twitchy speed of Hill. Despite having a top quarterback and outstanding pass catchers, Oregon was only 91st in passing play percentage in 2026, so they like to run the ball a lot. Seeing Davison and Hill, it’s easy to understand why.
#3 Georgia Bulldogs
2027 NFL Draft Eligible
- Nate Frazier (RB): Three-down workhorse with great speed and contact balance. Can make defenders miss in space. Likely to be discussed as a value pick in the second round of your 2027 dynasty rookie drafts after the top tier of prospects are taken.
- Gunner Stockton (QB): Play improved as the season went on, including an outstanding performance against Alabama in the SEC Title Game and a strong showing in a tight loss to Ole Miss in the College Football Playoff. Has tools, including a non-zero with his legs, but is he an NFL quarterback? He’d have to jump a lot of talented peers in this class to even be in that conversation.
Underclassmen & Rising Stars
- Elyiss Williams (TE): As usual, Georgia’s roster is full of talented tight ends, including Lawson Luckie and Jaden Reddell. But when it comes to Williams, you can’t coach measurables, and Williams is 6’7’’. He isn’t Brock Bowers, but will he ever become more than Darnell Washington?
- Tayln Taylor (WR): Former five-star recruit with a dud of a true freshman season. Can he rebound in an offense that has rarely been kind to receivers? Spring reports have been positive.
#4 Texas Longhorns
2027 NFL Draft Eligible
- Arch Manning (QB): Comes from a famous football family. You may have heard of them. A bit more controversial evaluation in the NFL draft community than you might expect. Some are very high on Manning, while others believe his warts are being ignored because of his name. Possibly the quarterback crown jewel of 2027 Superflex drafts, but there’s a chance he returns to college. Think Eli Manning more than Peyton Manning. Arch’s pocket processing is improving, and he’s flashed athletic rushing ability. Arch Manning and Texas will be one of the most interesting teams to follow this season.
- Cam Coleman (WR): In any other rookie class, we’d be gushing over Cam Coleman. He will make a heck of a consolation prize, though. He is a physical boundary target with an elite catch radius. Coleman is closer to the 1.01 in 2027 1QB rookie drafts than he is 1.03, and considering the generational talent of Jeremiah Smith, that’s lofty praise.
- Hollywood Smothers (RB), Raleek Brown (RB), and Ryan Wingo (WR): Texas loaded up their offensive roster this season to give Manning every chance to succeed, with many potential 2027 NFL Draft picks.
Underclassmen & Rising Stars
- Dia Bell (QB): The true freshman son of former NBA player Raja Bell will have to wait his turn, but there’s talent in spades. Bell won the Elite 11 Finals MVP award in 2025. He has dealt with injuries, but could be the future starter for Head Coach Steve Sarkisian.
#5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish
2027 NFL Draft Eligible
- CJ Carr (QB): Grandson of former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr, and it shows. CJ Carr is a smart, technical passer who took over the starting job with his deep-ball accuracy. Rarely makes mistakes; a trait NFL coaches will love. There’s enough here for him to become a first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
- Aneyas Williams (RB): Next man up after Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. Versatile back complete with your typical Notre Dame pass-blocking skills (read: very good) and receiving skills. Not the best athlete, but should almost certainly get drafted into the NFL with his skill set and reliability. Think more Audric Estime than Love or Price.
Underclassmen & Rising Stars
- Javian Osborne and Jonaz Walton (RBs): These two talented true freshmen are a big part of why Notre Dame ranked as a top-three recruiting class in 2026. They check all the boxes for future NFL success, but they’ll have to wait their turn. It’s also likely they cap each other’s ceilings playing for the same team, so it’s possible one of them is a future transfer candidate.
- Ian Premer (TE): We don’t often talk about true freshmen tight ends, but Premer could see the field sooner than later in a surprisingly weak tight end room for the Fighting Irish. He is an outstanding multi-sport athlete and a physical mismatch. The Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year caught 40 passes for 734 yards and 14 touchdowns this past season and led his team to an 11-1 record. Premer also rushed for 620 yards and 14 scores, averaging 11.1 yards per carry. Did I mention he was also his class’s valedictorian?
#6 Indiana Hoosiers
2027 NFL Draft Eligible
- Josh Hoover (QB): The next Fernando Mendoza? We’ll see! I have always liked Hoover’s game during his four years at TCU. You don’t throw for nearly 10,000 career passing yards by accident. An experienced quarterback with 31 starts under his belt, there will be a lot of eyeballs on Hoover and the Hoosiers when the season begins. Can they duplicate last year’s magic?
- Charlie Becker (WR): Another difficult and polarizing evaluation. Some see Becker as a high-volume field stretcher while others point to his poor recruiting profile. How will he perform with Hoover now that Mendoza is gone? He has the work ethic and great body control, but does he have the traits to make it in the NFL?
- Nick Marsh (WR): Another high-profile transfer for Indiana, this time from Michigan State. Marsh is a physical target with great hands who dominates in 50/50 contested catch situations. Of the two receivers, I think Marsh has the better shot for professional success and for being a fantasy-relevant player for our dynasty rosters.
#7 Miami Hurricanes
2027 NFL Draft Eligible
- Darian Mensah (QB): High-profile transfer quarterback from Duke who earned a bag of NIL money and command of a powerhouse offense. Has an NFL arm and the poise to match. Carson Beck. Cam Ward. The trail to dynasty relevance is there for Mensah.
- Mark Fletcher Jr. (RB): 225-pound workhorse leader who put Miami on his back in the 2025 College Football Playoffs. You’ve likely forgotten how good of a game (17 carries for 112 yards and 2 touchdowns) he had in Miami’s eventual loss to Indiana in the title game. I really like Fletcher Jr. and think he’s being underrated in a deep rookie class. As I mentioned earlier with Nate Frazier, I’ll place a bet that Fletcher will be a favorite sleeper pick in the second round of our 2027 dynasty rookie drafts.
- Cooper Barkate (WR): “Reunited and it feels so good…” Like Mensah, Barkate transfers to Miami from Duke. I know several NFL Draftniks who are big Barkate fans, but his profile makes me skeptical. He spent three years at Harvard before becoming Mensah’s security blanket last season. Runs good routes but lacks explosiveness and gives little after the catch. Will be 24 years old by the time the 2027 NFL Draft rolls around.
Underclassmen & Rising Stars
- Malachi Toney (WR): The biggest and perhaps most surprising freshman breakout star of the 2025 season. A three-star recruit who quickly earned targets with Carson Beck last season with efficiency on short routes. With a new quarterback in town, are we in for a sophomore slump à la Alabama’s Ryan Williams? Toney could be one of the jewels of the 2028 rookie class or even 2029. He’s still just 18 years old.
- Gavin Mueller (TE): Another name to watch in a strong incoming freshman class of tight ends, Mueller is still raw. He only played 2 years of high school football, but he is a physical specimen at 6’5’’ 255 lbs while running a 4.6 40-yard-dash. Mueller played all over the field, scoring an eye-popping 30 touchdowns and gaining over 1,100 yards of total offense. If he puts it all together, he could be the next great Miami Hurricanes tight end.
#8 Texas A&M Aggies
2027 NFL Draft Eligible
- Mario Craver (WR): Dynamic slot receiver and deep threat who creates separation against man coverage. Dropped 7 catches for 207 yards and a touchdown in a win at Notre Dame in mid-September, but at just 5’9’’ and only 165 lbs, will his size limit him at the next level?
- Marcel Reed (QB): Dual-threat college quarterback providing a high rushing baseline for fantasy formats. Don’t get too excited, though, because although I’ll give him credit for developing over the past year, I just don’t think he has the size, arm, or accuracy to be a starting quarterback. At only 6’1’ and 185 lbs, he’s like a slighter, less accurate Bryce Young.
Underclassmen & Rising Stars
- KJ Edwards (RB): Going to the campus that De’von Achane called home, Edwards is the third-ranked running back in the 2026 freshman recruiting class. Do you like your running backs fast? Edwards runs a sub-11.0 in the 100-meter dash. In his senior season, he rushed for 2,085 yards and 31 touchdowns en route to leading his team to a third consecutive state title. In a thin Texas A&M running back room, Edwards could see the field sooner than many of his true freshman peers.
#9 Oklahoma Sooners
2027 NFL Draft Eligible
- John Mateer (QB): Once a rising star at Washington State, Mateer transferred to Oklahoma last season. After getting off to a strong start, he was injured in late September and never looked the same upon his return. Was he rushed back? Likely, but either way, Mateer will have to start strong to regain his draft status. There’s definitely NFL talent with Mateer. If nothing else, we know he’s tough if he can return from a broken thumb on his throwing hand after just one week.
- Isaiah Sategna (WR): Speedster commanding deep targets and open-field touches who surprised many by returning to school for his senior season. Does he get lost in the shuffle of a much more talented rookie class? With his slight stature (5’10’’, 182 lbs), he projects as an NFL slot receiver. Can he rise to anything more? Sategna is likely destined to be a third-round rookie pick in our 2027 dynasty rookie drafts.
- Rocky Beers (TE): Does he have an NFL future? I don’t know, but he is on the Mount Rushmore of College Football Player Names. If I’m an NFL owner, I’m making my GM draft him if only for the marketing and jersey sales. How is this kid not leading the NCAA in NIL money? Let me help the young man out.
Underclassmen & Rising Stars
- Bowe Bentley (QB): You want some stats? I’ll give you stats. During his junior season in 2024, his first as the starter, Bentley threw for 3,211 yards and 47 touchdowns. He added another 923 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns. For a follow-up, Bentley completed over 76% of his passes for 2,911 yards as a senior, throwing 32 touchdowns to only 7 interceptions. Once John Mateer graduates, this job is Bowe Bentley’s to earn. As a dual-threat recruit in a Brent Venables offense, that should excite you.
#10 Ole Miss Rebels
2027 NFL Draft Eligible
- Trinidad Chambliss (QB): From losing the quarterback competition to start the season to becoming the Cinderella story of 2025, what does Trinidad Chambliss do for an encore? After begging and pleading with the courts to allow him to return to school, he got his wish. I love the kid, and I love his game, but unfairly or not, it raises questions as to how he sees his NFL future. He has the arm, but word is he measures on the wrong side of 6 feet tall. Regardless, it’ll be fun to follow him throughout this season. It’s a great story.
- Kewan Lacy (RB): A little blurb from my upcoming 2027 Top 25 Rookie Big Board – There have only been 22 SEC running backs since 1980 who’ve had over 300 touches in a season, and you know many of their names. Derrick Henry. Herschel Walker. Darren McFadden. Shaun Alexander. Mark Ingram. Leonard Fournette. Emmitt Smith. Lacy is an unquestionable NFL talent and a first-round dynasty rookie pick. He is an explosive, compact running back who thrives in open space and commands carries while adding receiving chops. In an era where we collectively yearn for elite running backs for our dynasty rosters, Lacy screams future top 12 finisher.
Underclassmen & Rising Stars
- Jase Mathews (WR): A torn ACL cut short his senior season, but he’s coming into an Ole Miss program that has put more pass catchers into the NFL lately than you might expect. Mathews is a three-sport athlete who blew up for 68 catches for 1,138 yards and 15 touchdowns in his junior year. He’s large at 6’2’’ and plays like it. Let’s hope he rebounds to full health and gets on the field this year with Chambliss.
Conclusion
As we enter year three of the 12-team College Football Playoff era, there’s never been a better time to be a fan of the sport. The cherry on top? It’s the right time to catch the fever of the college game if for nothing else but to watch the players who will comprise the vaunted 2027 dynasty rookie class. Bookmark this watchlist, our staff’s Rookie Big Boards, monitor weekly target shares and backfield rotations, and use Saturdays (and also Thursdays, occasional Fridays, and sometimes even Tuesdays for #MACTion) as your ultimate competitive edge for future dynasty success. Happy scouting!
🔥 Take Control of Your Dynasty Today
Want to see where your lineup stacks up? Start building like the pros with our most powerful tools and resources:
👉 It’s time to take control of your dynasty and see where your lineups truly rank
