KC Concepcion will be fantasy's top rookie WR in 2026
Yahoo Sports fantasy analyst Hayden Winks is joined by Jakob Sanderson and Sam Sherman to discuss how the Browns wideout could produce for fantasy managers this season -- and be a much better fantasy option over Titans wide receiver Carnell Tate. Check out the full conversation on "Yahoo Fantasy Football with Josh and Hayden" - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , YouTube or wherever you listen .
Video Transcript
Yeah, I'll stick with exciting rookies that I'm targeting this year.
I think Casey Concepcion should be the highest drafted rookie wide receiver, and I think he'd be going ahead of Carnell Tate.
Looking at Yahoo ADP, that is, a bold take versus consensus.
I think Concepcion's going in the 11th round and Carnell Tate is going in the seventh round.
I think the biggest pushback to this point immediately would be looking at the NFL draft order and saying, "Hey, Sam, did you see Carnell Tate went fourth overall and Concepcion went 24th overall?"
And I totally understand that.
I am firmly a believer in, in draft capital matters.
I, I trust NFL teams to evaluate players generally more than, guys with spreadsheets.
But I do think you have to consider the archetype of player that these two guys are.
I think Carnell Tate in Tennessee, he's gonna be lined up on the outside for a huge variety of snaps.
They have Wan'Dale Robinson there.
In college for, for Matt Harmon's charting, Carnell Tate was lined up on the outside for 85% of his snaps.
So that means he's gonna be on the outside against number one corners, having to win in one-on-one situations with Cam Ward as his quarterback.
And after what I've seen, I know we shouldn't overreact too much to the preseason, but after what I've seen in the preseason, I am very bearish on this Brian Daboll, Cam Ward offense in year two.
And for Concepcion, you could say, "Hey, he's on the Browns.
Are, are things gonna be much better at quarterback?"
I would say probably not.
But the thing about Concepcion is he's much better in terms of a guy that you can get schemed touches to.
He had 70 rush attempts in college, 25 kick returns, and was very effective in both of those facets.
He's a guy you can get the ball to in jet sweeps, screens, carries.
I have a package of a handful of design touches per game, so he can be much more of that sort of PPR scam in a way that actually still pays off, even in an offense that You know, let's be honest, the Browns are gonna be bottom five in scoring this year.
I'm, I'm conceding that.
But I do think that sort of volume could be there for Concepcion.
So I think, like zooming all the way out when we're talking about rookie wide receivers and, like, you're kind of investing in this, like, mystery box of talent, I wanna be thinking about, you know, how can I do it more cheaply, and how can I find a player that can succeed despite being in a bad environment?
And I just think Concepcion checks way more of those boxes than Tate does.
And I would I- in, in a managed league with all my money on the line, I would be betting on Concepcion over Carnell Tate this season
