With the first week of college football action behind us, let’s go over five players who significantly increased their stock for 2026 dynasty rookie drafts.
Many players had surprising performances in Week 1; some were fantastic, while others were disappointing. It’s important to remember that it’s only been one week, meaning that teams still have plenty of time to adjust and improve to get ready for the rest of the season.
Some players shone above the rest over the weekend with stellar performances that most likely impressed NFL scouts. These players could end up being major dynasty fantasy football assets in 2026, so let’s go over five risers after Week 1 of the college football season!
Garrett Nussmeier (QB, LSU)
LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was arguably the most impressive player at his position during the first week of college football action. In a win against Clemson, Nussmeier converted 28 of 38 pass attempts for 232 passing yards and a touchdown.
Against a stacked Clemson team, the veteran quarterback looked decisive, dishing the ball out to several receivers with elite timing and ball placement. He showed the ability to get out of the pocket when necessary and put some spectacular throws on tape.
He’s got the talent to succeed in the NFL, so it will be interesting to see how the rest of the season goes for LSU. Nussmeier’s potential is through the roof, so the sky is the limit for how far LSU can go in 2025.
His dynasty stock is skyrocketing at the moment, and if he keeps up this same pace against similar competition, he could be a name to watch in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
LaNorris Sellers (QB, SC)
South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers displayed everything we were hoping to see during his team’s Week 1 matchup against Virginia Tech. The Gamecocks quarterback completed 12 of 19 pass attempts for 209 yards and a touchdown in an impressive effort.
Sellers also carried the ball 13 times for 25 rushing yards during the win. Even if his rushing total wasn’t very high, Sellers used his legs to pick up some key first downs, even running in one of his attempts for a touchdown early in the game.
Sellers showed flashes of dominance at times during this game, and if he’s able to develop into a more consistent player, especially as a passer, he has a great chance to be selected in the first round of next year’s draft.
Overall, LaNorris Sellers showed why he’s such a highly-regarded prospect in the 2026 class. He has an incredibly high ceiling as a prospect and may just be scratching the surface of his potential.
Germie Bernard (WR, ALA)
In a losing effort for the Alabama Crimson Tide against Florida State, wide receiver Germie Bernard put up one of the only inspiring performances on the team. Bernard took in eight receptions for 146 receiving yards, leading the team in receiving and serving as a bright spot for Alabama despite the loss.
The veteran receiver entered this season as one of the biggest sleepers in all of college football. The 6’1”, 204 lbs pass-catcher is a versatile receiver who is deployed fairly evenly between the slot and outside positions in formations.
Bernard is a crisp route-runner with sure hands that should help him continue to have a major role in Alabama’s offense. He has the chance to take over as the leading receiver for Alabama this season, but even if he doesn’t, the journeyman wideout is set up to have a productive season.
Jonah Coleman (RB, WAS)
During Week 1 against Colorado State, Jonah Coleman showed exactly what he flashed on film last season: physicality and burst. He managed to turn 24 rush attempts into 177 rushing yards and two touchdowns with an average of 7.4 yards per carry in the Huskies’ season-opening win. He also took his lone receptions for 22 yards.
Coleman took over the game, breaking off big runs and bouncing off of tackles with his 228 lb frame. The Huskies’ running back has a habit of gashing the defense after making a jump-cut, and he was able to log some massive plays by doing just that.
If Coleman is once again one of the top rushers in college football, it would be hard for NFL teams not to select him in the 2026 NFL Draft. Even at 228 lbs, the massive back has the ability to make defenders miss and gain yardage with surprising acceleration. His massive frame allows him to run through defenders, break tackles, and operate effectively on the goal line.
He could absolutely end up being one of the top running back prospects heading into the 2026 NFL Draft by the end of the 2025 season. If that’s the case, you’ll want to be familiar with Coleman’s impressive tape. He’s a name to watch this season.
Justice Haynes (RB, MICH)
After transferring from Alabama this offseason, Justice Haynes landed with the Michigan Wolverines. A team with a history of running the football, Michigan immediately gave Haynes a massive workload, perhaps to take some of the pressure off of their true freshman quarterback, Bryce Underwood.
Nonetheless, the third-year running back took 16 carries for 159 rushing yards, averaging a whopping 9.9 yards per carry versus New Mexico. Haynes showed off some ridiculous quickness, especially when running laterally. He’s prone to making explosive plays, and he was no different in the Wolverines’ season-opening matchup.
I expect Haynes to rise up NFL draft boards as the season goes on. He will likely get plenty of volume in what could end up being a run-heavy Michigan offense and has been stunningly efficient thus far, even if it’s just been against middling competition.
I’m extremely excited to see how the rest of the college football season goes for Justice Haynes and the Michigan Wolverines. He’s always had a high ceiling as a prospect and is now getting the volume to prove why he was such a highly-recruited prospect out of high school.
HM. Aaron Anderson (WR, LSU)
HM. C.J. Baxter (RB, TEX)
HM. Josh Hoover (QB, TCU)