Exiting the NFL Combine, we are digging into the 2026 fantasy rookie class for Dynasty rookie drafts, startups, and seasonal formats.
Even before the NFL Draft in April, rookies are available in Best Ball formats across all platforms.
That information gets applied to athletic models and layered alongside production profiles to shape each prospect's complete portfolio.
Let's look at the pre-draft profile for Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love, including his strengths, weaknesses, and fantasy outlook for both redraft and Dynasty formats.
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Jeremiyah Love Pre-Draft Fantasy Profile
Rookie Age*: 21.3
*Age on 9/1/26
As a 19-year-old sophomore in 2024, Love was given the keys to the Notre Dame backfield, and he delivered on all of the expectations as the top running back recruit entering college.
That season, Love turned 191 touches into 1,362 total yards (7.1 yards per touch) and 19 touchdowns.
Following that breakout, Love came back this past season at age 20 and produced 1,652 yards and 21 scores on 226 touches (7.3 yards per touch).
He rushed for 6.9 yards per carry in each of his two seasons as the lead back.
Love led this running back class with 4.2 yards after contact per rush.
This past season, Love did that with only 35.2% of his rushes coming against light boxes (six or fewer defenders), the lowest rate in the class.
When Love faced those light boxes, he punished them with a gaudy 9.1 yards per attempt.
That led the country this past season.
For some added context, going back to the last decade of early-round running backs, Love’s 9.1 YPC against light boxes is by far the highest in his final season.
Ashton Jeanty posted 8.0 YPC against light boxes in his final season, which was the most by a first-round running back over the past decade.
Love cleared him by over a full yard on those attempts.
Of course, Love may not get to see many light box runs in the NFL.
25.1% of Love’s runs came against heavy boxes (2nd highest in this class) since everyone knew he was getting the ball.
Against those loaded boxes, Love posted 5.0 YPC, which was second in this class.
When hit at or behind the line of scrimmage, Love averaged 2.5 yards per carry (2nd) and forced a missed tackle on 32.5% of those runs, the highest rate in the class.
When Love gets into space, he is electric.
He averaged a robust 10.0 yards per rush when he was contacted beyond the line of scrimmage.
Not only did that lead all running backs in this class, but that was also the highest yards per rush on runs hit beyond the line of scrimmage for a back with 100-plus attempts over the past 10 years.
I do not believe Love is as good a pass catcher right now as Reggie Bush or Jahmyr Gibbs were entering the NFL (players whom Love is frequently compared to), but he has a solid foundation in that area to build on as he enters the league.
Love caught 28 and 27 passes in each of his two seasons as the starter.
In 2025, Love was targeted on 22.2% of his routes (2nd in the class) and posted 1.83 yards per route run (3rd).
Love also finished with the fifth-highest grade in pass protection in this class per Pro Football Focus in 2025.
Apply any grains of salt you have to, but Love is a willing player in protection.
We did not see Love do much at the NFL Combine, but he did run a 4.36 40-yard dash at 6-foot, 212 pounds.
That 96th-percentile speed score was more than he needed to cement himself as the premier back in this draft class.
No prospect is guaranteed to succeed in the NFL, but Love truly checks every box.
He is young, athletic, and hyper productive.
In a class without much front-end talent, not only at the offensive skill positions, Love also stands out even greater among his peers in this class.
He is a complete player who can be inserted into an offense tomorrow as a foundational component.
If there is anything to really try and tear down with Love, he has a leaner build and has not yet handled a massive workload.
Low tread on the tires could also be another feature for him, but he has not had to shoulder a high workload to the degree of other front-end prospects.