FantasyPros - 2026 NFL Draft Rounds 2-3 Reactions: Fantasy Football Impact (Ep. 2003)

Wulcock here, live for day two in Pittsburgh. After a wild first round that included the Rams shocking everyone with Ty Simpson and Jeremiah Love landing in Arizona, we’re rolling into rounds two and three to see how deep this class really goes.

San Francisco stuns us by taking Ole Miss wideout De’Jahn Stribbling, and yeah, that’s a curveball. Is this the biggest reach of the night?

I like Stribbling’s yards-after-catch juice, but he’s a linear player who doesn’t win on a full route tree, and the efficiency data is rough. This screams double-counting speed and feels like a second-round reach on a guy I graded in the day three range.

Mock consensus had him in the 90s overall and outside the top fifteen at receiver. On my board he’s in the low twenties, so this is surprising capital.

If the Niners have a clear role in mind, fine, but I expected Denzel Boston there. Stribbling does fit their perimeter blocking and physical style, I just have limited tape to go deeper.

Cleveland’s on the clock after a savvy day one, and they double down at receiver with Denzel Boston. The room’s crowded now with Casey Concepcion and Jerry Jeudy—how are we feeling?

Love it. They’re rebuilding the pass game around real talent and setting up their next quarterback, whether that’s Shadur or someone in two years. I’m buying Browns pieces.

There’s a clear team identity here—fortify the line, stack weapons, give the QB a runway. That’s the Detroit blueprint, and it can work.

I’m nudging dynasty ranks to respect Boston beside Concepcion, even if it dings KC a hair for target share.

Boston looks like a prototypical X with real ball-tracking and double-move artistry. He can press to the top of this depth chart and be a true number one.

The mix fits: Fanon can be the dump-and-run tight end, KC works inside, and Boston wins outside. I’m taking overs on modest rookie lines for both rookies.

Pittsburgh grabs Alabama’s Jeremy Bernard. He was their one-A in big moments—intriguing fit, but is the ceiling there?

Solid player, limited ceiling. That’s a depth-chart WR3 profile, and I wouldn’t spend second-round capital on it; think more Romeo Doubs outcomes than alpha.

Quick rookie-draft tilt test: Stribbling or Bernard?

Stribbling for the yards-after-catch. Bernard feels like better real-life utility than fantasy juice.

Steelers fans, this might be the deepest receiver room since the AB days. Pour one out for Roman Wilson, though—never really got a fair shot.

Philadelphia snags Eli Stowers at tight end. Pre-draft we debated him versus Sedeq—how’s the landing spot swing this?

I had Sedeq slightly higher on round-one odds, but this spot is great for Stowers with Goddard on a short runway and rumors swirling at receiver. Even if it’s a slow burn, 2027 could be wide open.

Stowers has the pass-catching résumé and alignment flexibility to matter early. Late first in rookie drafts? I’m in.

I’m moving him to the back of round one. The runway looks clear long term, and Howie finally poured capital back into weapons.

Fair note: by 2027 he might still be the third target behind Lemon and Smith, but the tight end edge can still pay off.

I’m not sold Lemon sticks outside. There’s a path for Stowers to be the second option, and at cost I’ll take that swing.

Jacksonville reaches for Texas A&M tight end Nick Borken Hiker. That’s a head-scratcher.

It’s my least favorite pick: thin production, poor efficiency, not even in my top one hundred skill players. Plenty of better blockers still on the board.

I’ve heard sleeper buzz, but round two is rich, especially with needs elsewhere. This screams real-life role more than fantasy relevance.

Houston takes Michigan tight end Marlin Klein. Did either of you rank him?

TE17 for me—inline traits and two-tight-end looks next to Dalton Schultz make sense.

Late-start German prospect, early declare, strong target-per-route when on the field. The upside case is a projection, but I get why teams bit.

The Rams add Ohio State tight end Max Clare after already investing at the position. Love the player, not the fit.

It’s worse than the Klein pick for me—too much overlap with Terrance Ferguson.

Redundant with Ferguson and Parkinson while Higby’s still around; they needed a receiver, not another receiving-first tight end.

Back to Stribbling—going thirty-three overall is wild. You could have traded down and still got him.

He went about where Dane had him among receivers, but taking him as a top-six wideout means they see a Heinz Ward archetype. It’s bold.

Carson Beck is the third quarterback off the board to Arizona. With Brissett posturing for a new deal, there’s a clear runway—does that move the needle?

I don’t love the franchise direction or his poise under pressure, and day two quarterbacks live in purgatory. He’ll get a look, but I’m lukewarm.

He’s experienced, tightened up mistakes, and walks into real weapons. I won’t bet long-term, but the path to starts this year is there.

Now that we’ve seen landing spots, Stowers or Sedeq?

Team Stowers in Philly with Goddard’s clock ticking.

Same. The Jets are crowded in the middle of the field, which caps Sedeq’s early runway.

Chicago drafts Sam Roush. Fun player, but buried for fantasy right now.

I like him, but behind Loveland and Kmet in a run-heavy pecking order, he’s sixth at best most weeks.

Washington grabs Clemson’s Antonio Williams opposite Terry McLaurin—a legit shot to earn targets early. Is he sneaking into the late first of rookie drafts?

Explosive with the ball and a real route runner. I like him almost as much as Bernard, and in this spot I prefer Williams for dynasty.

I’d still take Ty Simpson over Williams, so he’s more third round for me, but I do have Williams ahead of Bernard given Pittsburgh’s run-first lean and QB fog.

About Simpson—McVay looked icy at that podium. Does that change the grade?

Not really. It’s the Jordan Love template on a contender, and Simpson was excellent for a long stretch in 2025; the environment can mold him.

What stings more for the Rams, Simpson or Clare?

Both ding my tight end ranks—Ferguson and Clare take hits.

Oscar Delp to the Saints, and Malachi Fields comes off the board soon after. Thoughts on Fields?

Big-bodied ball winner with hops who can be a red-zone problem; the forty time scared folks, but at his size the speed score holds up. He’s a clean complement next to a true WR1 once that room is healthy.

Super chat question: with Boston and Concepcion headed to Cleveland, is that neutral for Harold Fanon, or does it ding his outlook in that Browns offense?

Slight downgrade. There are more mouths to feed now, though the added talent should help the unit overall.

It is not neutral. Tight ends pop when they are one of the top two targets, and Fanon can still get there, but it is no longer easy.

Then Miami jumped in with Caleb Douglas, which caught us off guard.

I hate that pick. It felt like a big reach compared to where he sat on consensus boards.

Quick pivot to quarterbacks: for those new to our streams, why are you so out on Drew Aller, and does his landing spot change anything in Superflex?

Big frame, slow processor, stuck in the pocket; I do not trust him. Even learning behind Rodgers with McCarthy around does not move me to draft him.

Atlanta grabbed Zachariah Branch, blazing fast but more of a schemed-touch player than a true downfield winner; where does he go in rookie drafts?

Late second is right. That archetype rarely hits big for fantasy, with a Josh Downs kind of ceiling.

Baltimore took Jacobi Lane, and while the size fits, it did not feel like best player or best value to me.

He can help in the red zone with Andrews, but a run-first setup drags the fantasy outlook even if the draft capital helps him a bit.

Carolina adding Brazl makes that receiver group fun, but in that offense what is his rookie-draft lane?

Legett probably slips down the pecking order, and after talking it through I lean Antonio Williams over Brazl, with Jeremy Bernard behind them.

Tampa Bay took Ted Hurst into a crowded room, so I still slightly favor Brazl over Hurst for rookie drafts.

Miami then grabbed blocking tight end Will Cast Merrick.

That lines up if they plan to pound the rock, but I would have prioritized trenches over a blocking specialist.

Chicago spent a third on Xavier Thomas, essentially a return ace with track speed, and it shocked us.

He is a rocket and a decorated returner, but a day-two pick on that role is eyebrow-raising.

With legitimate receivers still available, it made no sense, especially as returns fade from the game.

San Francisco taking Kaelin Black this early was stunning for a back who missed the combine and was not a college starter.

Miami later took Chris Bell, which we loved relative to cost; he is raw as a route runner but athletic with real opportunity, and the medicals likely explained the slide.

New England’s Eli Raredin is a project I like more than the earlier day-two tight ends, but Hunter Henry still blocks the path right now.

That wraps day two. Join us live Saturday at 7 p.m. Eastern for our day three show where we will recap the draft, hit winners and losers, and get you set for rookie drafts.

Thanks for hanging with us, and if you enjoy the show, drop a positive review on Apple Podcasts; we will see you Saturday night.