The NFL season has reached the halfway stage, and analysts are gradually forming a clear picture of who the teams and players to watch are. These individuals are often the cornerstone of fantasy lineups on DFS platforms, but the first weeks of the 2026 campaign have also highlighted the rookies who could be value picks in today’s market.
Following the draft class, players thought that they might know what to expect from the likes of Jeremiyah Love and other first-round picks, highlighting them as potential players to utilize over the course of the season. But these are the individuals on offense who have either lived up to the hype so far, or who have gone beyond expectations.
Denzel Boston
KC Concepcion was singled out as the Cleveland wide receiver to watch this season, and the 24th overall pick of the draft has looked like a solid choice who has added to Cleveland’s offense. But Browns fans have been even more delighted with what they have seen from second-rounder Denzel Boston through the first half of the season.
The former Washington Huskies wideout started the year emphatically, managing 176 yards and one touchdown against Carolina, Pittsburgh, and New York. Production has dipped slightly since then, but with the Browns having a favorable schedule following their AFC North matchup against Pittsburgh, Boston could get back to those heights in the remainder of the regular season.
Carnell Tate
As the fourth overall pick of the 2026 draft, expectations were high for Carnell Tate, who was expected to come in to give Cam Ward more weapons. And while the Titans have been poor for much of the season, the wide receiver has shown signs of promise, managing a 145-yard game against Baltimore before then recording 70 yards and a touchdown against the Colts.
While Tate’s form has caught the eye, picking a player from a struggling team means inconsistent output. The Baltimore game shows his ceiling, but Tennessee’s 1-6 record makes his floor hard to trust. That gap is where protected-entry offers matter, as some of the best DFS apps return credit if a qualifying lineup loses.
Kaelon Black
All the noise for rookie running backs was around Notre Dame pair Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, with one the clear first choice in the backfield while the other joined a franchise in Seattle that had just lost Kenneth Walker III. But while Love has looked impressive when he’s played, Price has been guilty of fumbles and has missed time on IR. Instead, the rookie back in the NFC West who has caught the eye has been Kaelon Black.
Despite being behind Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco, Black has still had a decent amount of touches in games and has made an impact where he can. Sixty-three yards and a touchdown against Atlanta was his best production yet, with his stats steadily rising the longer the season goes on. With the 49ers coming off their bye and facing the Raiders and Cowboys, the two teams that have allowed the most rushing yards this season, Black could be a value pick for some.
