Tell your friends (just not your leaguemates until next week)

by Bryan Rockwood

Published On: November 15th, 2025

You hear it all the time, but it bears repeating – dynasty is a year-round fantasy football game. Every week, subtle changes in the dynasty market force managers to react. I’ve even written a few pieces on that happening! Even in Week 11, we have to be hustling, on our toes, and always looking ahead. 

In fact, don’t look now, but we are almost done with 2025. The 2026 class is coming, and you need to start glancing over at NCAA box scores to figure out what to expect in your rookie drafts. I need to start the scouting process myself. It’s fun, but you need to know where to start. I have a small list of names that dynasty managers should keep an eye out for as we head into 2026. 

The purpose is to just get some names into the back of your mind. There won’t be a ton of analysis since we don’t know if all of these folks will enter the NFL draft. Let’s start with the QBs.

2026 Fantasy Football Rookie Draft: Quarterback Prospects to Watch

Quarterbacks To Watch

Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

Indiana has been a pleasant surprise this season. The Hoosiers are sitting comfortably as the second-ranked team in the country, thanks to the excellent play of QB Fernando Mendoza. The Cal transfer is tied for first among all QBs with 26 passing touchdowns on the season, with a cool 71% completion rating. Mendoza and Indiana are poised for a deep run in the CFB Playoffs, and dynasty managers should keep a close eye on his performance towards the end of the year. 

LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina

South Carolina isn’t the best team in the SEC this year, but its quarterback certainly is one to watch. LaNorris Sellers flashed in 2024 as a dual-threat QB. With 2,500 yards passing combined with another 670 on the ground, Sellers profiles as an exciting QB to roster for fantasy. He may be one of those QBs who returns to college to boost his draft stock, but if he does choose to declare this season, he will be a player whose stock will rise after the combine.

back-to-back plays that show the highs of LaNorris Sellers.

Drifts in the pocket and nails the throw to convert on 4th & long (while handling the pre-snap operation, too). Next play runs in for a TD on a heroic effort, but it gets called back because of a penalty.

[image or embed]

— Nate Tice (@natetice.bsky.social) October 29, 2025 at 10:39 AM

Garret Nussmeier (LSU) and Carson Beck (Miami)

Carson Beck and Garrett Nussmeier are two QBs cut from the same cloth. Both players returned to college to bolster their draft stock, only to see it remain unchanged. Nussmeier returned to LSU after surpassing 4,000 yards in 2024 in hopes of proving to scouts he can accomplish this in back-to-back years. Beck suffered a season-ending injury at Georgia and is keeping Miami relevant at the top of the ACC, while not necessarily standing out. They are players who seem NFL-ready-ish, and that’s enough for NFL teams to like. 

Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt

I wish Diego Pavia could play college ball for another eight years. But all good things must come to an end. I don’t think Pavia’s skillset will translate well enough to become a true every-week starter for an NFL team. He’s more Taysom Hill 2.0 than anything else, but that’s still fun for fantasy. I will personally draft Pavia at any chance I get. 

Diego Pavia had Joe Tess losing it

[image or embed]

— CJ Fogler (@cjzero.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 1:30 PM

Haynes King, Georgia Tech

If we had a nickel for every time there was a Taysom Hill clone in the NCAA Top 25, we’d have two nickels. It’s not a lot, but it’s pretty fun to see both Pavia and Georgia Tech’s Haynes King have success this season. King is a more “fun” prospect than he is a “good” prospect. I would be shocked to see him go any earlier than the 6th or 7th round in the draft. Great athlete and competitor though!

Marcel Reed, Texas A&M

To be honest with you, reader, I don’t know much about Marcel Reed’s game at this juncture. This article is as much about me becoming familiar with these names as it is about ensuring you are familiar with them as well. Texas A&M is third in the country, sitting at a perfect 9-0 record, and it’s tough to reach those heights without a strong QB. A&M will most likely make the CFB Playoffs, and that is the perfect stage for Reed to showcase his talents to all of us dynasty managers.

Cade Klubnik, Clemson

Klubnik is another player who returned to school after a strong year to improve his draft stock further. Sadly, he’s another player who failed to reach the same heights as he did in his previous season. Clubnik has plenty of tools that NFL teams will like, but the question remains if he can compete at a higher level after experiencing a sluggish 2025 season.

Ty Simpson (Alabama), Dante Moore (Oregon), Jayden Maiava (USC)

Lumping all these names together because they all fall under the same umbrella – very talented QBs that could easily choose to forgo the 2026 draft. All three QBs are leading their teams to top-20 seasons in their first stint as the full-time starter. Be sure to keep tabs on these three to see what comes next for the exciting young prospects. 

Other names to know, but most likely aren’t going to the NFL in 2026:

There are still plenty of other names that will pop up from now, all the way up to draft day. This is a little primer for those who want somewhere to start their rookie prospect process. Please let us at Optimus know if there’s a name we didn’t mention that you think we should take a closer look at!

Bryan Rockwood is an Analyst with Optimus Fantasy who’s always on the lookout for the next deep dynasty sleeper. You can find him putting out articles here, on Fantrax, or FantasyNow+!

You hear it all the time, but it bears repeating – dynasty is a year-round fantasy football game. Every week, subtle changes in the dynasty market force managers to react. I’ve even written a few pieces on that happening! Even in Week 11, we have to be hustling, on our toes, and always looking ahead. 

In fact, don’t look now, but we are almost done with 2025. The 2026 class is coming, and you need to start glancing over at NCAA box scores to figure out what to expect in your rookie drafts. I need to start the scouting process myself. It’s fun, but you need to know where to start. I have a small list of names that dynasty managers should keep an eye out for as we head into 2026. 

The purpose is to just get some names into the back of your mind. There won’t be a ton of analysis since we don’t know if all of these folks will enter the NFL draft. Let’s start with the QBs.

2026 Fantasy Football Rookie Draft: Quarterback Prospects to Watch

Quarterbacks To Watch

Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

Indiana has been a pleasant surprise this season. The Hoosiers are sitting comfortably as the second-ranked team in the country, thanks to the excellent play of QB Fernando Mendoza. The Cal transfer is tied for first among all QBs with 26 passing touchdowns on the season, with a cool 71% completion rating. Mendoza and Indiana are poised for a deep run in the CFB Playoffs, and dynasty managers should keep a close eye on his performance towards the end of the year. 

LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina

South Carolina isn’t the best team in the SEC this year, but its quarterback certainly is one to watch. LaNorris Sellers flashed in 2024 as a dual-threat QB. With 2,500 yards passing combined with another 670 on the ground, Sellers profiles as an exciting QB to roster for fantasy. He may be one of those QBs who returns to college to boost his draft stock, but if he does choose to declare this season, he will be a player whose stock will rise after the combine.

back-to-back plays that show the highs of LaNorris Sellers.

Drifts in the pocket and nails the throw to convert on 4th & long (while handling the pre-snap operation, too). Next play runs in for a TD on a heroic effort, but it gets called back because of a penalty.

[image or embed]

— Nate Tice (@natetice.bsky.social) October 29, 2025 at 10:39 AM

Garret Nussmeier (LSU) and Carson Beck (Miami)

Carson Beck and Garrett Nussmeier are two QBs cut from the same cloth. Both players returned to college to bolster their draft stock, only to see it remain unchanged. Nussmeier returned to LSU after surpassing 4,000 yards in 2024 in hopes of proving to scouts he can accomplish this in back-to-back years. Beck suffered a season-ending injury at Georgia and is keeping Miami relevant at the top of the ACC, while not necessarily standing out. They are players who seem NFL-ready-ish, and that’s enough for NFL teams to like. 

Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt

I wish Diego Pavia could play college ball for another eight years. But all good things must come to an end. I don’t think Pavia’s skillset will translate well enough to become a true every-week starter for an NFL team. He’s more Taysom Hill 2.0 than anything else, but that’s still fun for fantasy. I will personally draft Pavia at any chance I get. 

Diego Pavia had Joe Tess losing it

[image or embed]

— CJ Fogler (@cjzero.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 1:30 PM

Haynes King, Georgia Tech

If we had a nickel for every time there was a Taysom Hill clone in the NCAA Top 25, we’d have two nickels. It’s not a lot, but it’s pretty fun to see both Pavia and Georgia Tech’s Haynes King have success this season. King is a more “fun” prospect than he is a “good” prospect. I would be shocked to see him go any earlier than the 6th or 7th round in the draft. Great athlete and competitor though!

Marcel Reed, Texas A&M

To be honest with you, reader, I don’t know much about Marcel Reed’s game at this juncture. This article is as much about me becoming familiar with these names as it is about ensuring you are familiar with them as well. Texas A&M is third in the country, sitting at a perfect 9-0 record, and it’s tough to reach those heights without a strong QB. A&M will most likely make the CFB Playoffs, and that is the perfect stage for Reed to showcase his talents to all of us dynasty managers.

Cade Klubnik, Clemson

Klubnik is another player who returned to school after a strong year to improve his draft stock further. Sadly, he’s another player who failed to reach the same heights as he did in his previous season. Clubnik has plenty of tools that NFL teams will like, but the question remains if he can compete at a higher level after experiencing a sluggish 2025 season.

Ty Simpson (Alabama), Dante Moore (Oregon), Jayden Maiava (USC)

Lumping all these names together because they all fall under the same umbrella – very talented QBs that could easily choose to forgo the 2026 draft. All three QBs are leading their teams to top-20 seasons in their first stint as the full-time starter. Be sure to keep tabs on these three to see what comes next for the exciting young prospects. 

Other names to know, but most likely aren’t going to the NFL in 2026:

There are still plenty of other names that will pop up from now, all the way up to draft day. This is a little primer for those who want somewhere to start their rookie prospect process. Please let us at Optimus know if there’s a name we didn’t mention that you think we should take a closer look at!

Bryan Rockwood is an Analyst with Optimus Fantasy who’s always on the lookout for the next deep dynasty sleeper. You can find him putting out articles here, on Fantrax, or FantasyNow+!

You hear it all the time, but it bears repeating – dynasty is a year-round fantasy football game. Every week, subtle changes in the dynasty market force managers to react. I’ve even written a few pieces on that happening! Even in Week 11, we have to be hustling, on our toes, and always looking ahead. 

In fact, don’t look now, but we are almost done with 2025. The 2026 class is coming, and you need to start glancing over at NCAA box scores to figure out what to expect in your rookie drafts. I need to start the scouting process myself. It’s fun, but you need to know where to start. I have a small list of names that dynasty managers should keep an eye out for as we head into 2026. 

The purpose is to just get some names into the back of your mind. There won’t be a ton of analysis since we don’t know if all of these folks will enter the NFL draft. Let’s start with the QBs.

2026 Fantasy Football Rookie Draft: Quarterback Prospects to Watch

Quarterbacks To Watch

Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

Indiana has been a pleasant surprise this season. The Hoosiers are sitting comfortably as the second-ranked team in the country, thanks to the excellent play of QB Fernando Mendoza. The Cal transfer is tied for first among all QBs with 26 passing touchdowns on the season, with a cool 71% completion rating. Mendoza and Indiana are poised for a deep run in the CFB Playoffs, and dynasty managers should keep a close eye on his performance towards the end of the year. 

LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina

South Carolina isn’t the best team in the SEC this year, but its quarterback certainly is one to watch. LaNorris Sellers flashed in 2024 as a dual-threat QB. With 2,500 yards passing combined with another 670 on the ground, Sellers profiles as an exciting QB to roster for fantasy. He may be one of those QBs who returns to college to boost his draft stock, but if he does choose to declare this season, he will be a player whose stock will rise after the combine.

back-to-back plays that show the highs of LaNorris Sellers.

Drifts in the pocket and nails the throw to convert on 4th & long (while handling the pre-snap operation, too). Next play runs in for a TD on a heroic effort, but it gets called back because of a penalty.

[image or embed]

— Nate Tice (@natetice.bsky.social) October 29, 2025 at 10:39 AM

Garret Nussmeier (LSU) and Carson Beck (Miami)

Carson Beck and Garrett Nussmeier are two QBs cut from the same cloth. Both players returned to college to bolster their draft stock, only to see it remain unchanged. Nussmeier returned to LSU after surpassing 4,000 yards in 2024 in hopes of proving to scouts he can accomplish this in back-to-back years. Beck suffered a season-ending injury at Georgia and is keeping Miami relevant at the top of the ACC, while not necessarily standing out. They are players who seem NFL-ready-ish, and that’s enough for NFL teams to like. 

Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt

I wish Diego Pavia could play college ball for another eight years. But all good things must come to an end. I don’t think Pavia’s skillset will translate well enough to become a true every-week starter for an NFL team. He’s more Taysom Hill 2.0 than anything else, but that’s still fun for fantasy. I will personally draft Pavia at any chance I get. 

Diego Pavia had Joe Tess losing it

[image or embed]

— CJ Fogler (@cjzero.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 1:30 PM

Haynes King, Georgia Tech

If we had a nickel for every time there was a Taysom Hill clone in the NCAA Top 25, we’d have two nickels. It’s not a lot, but it’s pretty fun to see both Pavia and Georgia Tech’s Haynes King have success this season. King is a more “fun” prospect than he is a “good” prospect. I would be shocked to see him go any earlier than the 6th or 7th round in the draft. Great athlete and competitor though!

Marcel Reed, Texas A&M

To be honest with you, reader, I don’t know much about Marcel Reed’s game at this juncture. This article is as much about me becoming familiar with these names as it is about ensuring you are familiar with them as well. Texas A&M is third in the country, sitting at a perfect 9-0 record, and it’s tough to reach those heights without a strong QB. A&M will most likely make the CFB Playoffs, and that is the perfect stage for Reed to showcase his talents to all of us dynasty managers.

Cade Klubnik, Clemson

Klubnik is another player who returned to school after a strong year to improve his draft stock further. Sadly, he’s another player who failed to reach the same heights as he did in his previous season. Clubnik has plenty of tools that NFL teams will like, but the question remains if he can compete at a higher level after experiencing a sluggish 2025 season.

Ty Simpson (Alabama), Dante Moore (Oregon), Jayden Maiava (USC)

Lumping all these names together because they all fall under the same umbrella – very talented QBs that could easily choose to forgo the 2026 draft. All three QBs are leading their teams to top-20 seasons in their first stint as the full-time starter. Be sure to keep tabs on these three to see what comes next for the exciting young prospects. 

Other names to know, but most likely aren’t going to the NFL in 2026:

There are still plenty of other names that will pop up from now, all the way up to draft day. This is a little primer for those who want somewhere to start their rookie prospect process. Please let us at Optimus know if there’s a name we didn’t mention that you think we should take a closer look at!

Bryan Rockwood is an Analyst with Optimus Fantasy who’s always on the lookout for the next deep dynasty sleeper. You can find him putting out articles here, on Fantrax, or FantasyNow+!

By Published On: November 15th, 2025

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