Should you draft Fernando Mendoza or Ty Simpson in your dynasty fantasy football rookie draft? We discuss the decision!
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If your dynasty fantasy football team is in desperate need of quarterback talent, this was not the draft for you. There is no quick solution, as none of the rookies are expected to start in Week 1, including the first overall pick, Fernando Mendoza. Regardless, it looks like three quarterbacks were drafted with hopes that they would be the future starter, with two of them being first-round draft picks.
The expectations are high for first-round quarterbacks. If you’re selected on Day 1, anything but being the future face of the franchise would be a major disappointment. With that in mind, the future leaders of the Las Vegas Raiders and the Los Angeles Rams appear to be Mendoza and Ty Simpson, respectively. It seems like everyone projects Mendoza to be the better long-term player, which is fair. However, once you factor in draft position (which is how much you have to give up to get them), which rookie quarterback is the better value?
Let’s discuss whether Fernando Mendoza or Ty Simpson appears to be the better value pick in dynasty fantasy football rookie drafts. You can see where I have them ranked in my dynasty fantasy football rookie rankings here!
Fernando Mendoza Fantasy Football Outlook
The Raiders selected Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, after paying pretty big money to Kirk Cousins this offseason as well, Mendoza is expected to start his career on the sidelines, learning from Cousins. Not only did Cousins begin his career as a backup, but Tom Brady did as well. It is pretty safe to assume that both will serve as mentors to the Raiders’ rookie, which is a great opportunity.
The offensive line of the Raiders is improved, but it’s not very good. The receiving corps, on the other hand, is among the worst in the NFL. So, facing defenses that love to get after the passer, like the Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs, Cousins will not only serve as a mentor to Mendoza, but he will also be a sacrificial lamb of sorts.
Once the offensive line improves, or Cousins gets injured, Mendoza is expected to enter the game. We shouldn’t assume this is anytime before Halloween, and it may not even be before Thanksgiving. In the meantime, Mendoza will learn how to be a pro, and the Raiders will lose plenty of football games, setting Mendoza up beautifully for the future. Expect the Raiders to give him a shiny new weapon, or two, next offseason.
So, what is the Fernando Mendoza fantasy football outlook? We shouldn’t assume we get anything valuable this season. In fact, if you have a taxi squad on your dynasty fantasy football team, I would put him in there. However, moving forward, the Raiders should be in a position to get a top receiver in the next draft. Mendoza will have valuable time to learn from great quarterbacks, and he will play in a historically quarterback-friendly Kubiak system. Mendoza is smart enough to run the offense. I project him to be a top-14 quarterback in three seasons, but I don’t see top-tier upside.
Ty Simpson Fantasy Football Outlook
The Rams selected Ty Simpson 13th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. While many were surprised to see him drafted this early, some analysts did project Simpson on par, or better, than Mendoza. Still, the overall vibe is that Simpson is heading into a worse situation for fantasy, given that he will be playing behind the reigning NFL MVP, Matthew Stafford. The Rams will stick with Stafford for however long he wants to play.
But in my opinion, I’m not sure we should be projecting Simpson’s situation to be that much worse than Mendoza’s. No, Simpson will not play this season if the Rams’ season goes as well as they hope. The same is true for Mendoza, though, but it feels more likely Kirk Cousins gets injured or plays poorly enough to spark an opportunity.
Looking at the team Simpson heads to, there are few landing spots better than the Rams. Currently, the Rams are the favorites in the odds to win the Super Bowl, showing just how good a team they have. Davante Adams is getting up there in age, so Simpson may not get the luxury of playing with the All-Pro. However, Simpson should have plenty of seasons throwing to Puka Nacua. Sean McVay is also leading the offense, as one of the best offensive minds in the game. I also trust the Rams, given their market, to provide offensive weapons no matter the season.
If we are comparing the Ty Simpson fantasy football outlook to Mendoza’s, I’m not so sure that his value is much lower, if at all. Both the offensive line and offensive weapons are better with the Rams. The coaching situation is both better and safer in LA as well. While Mendoza does appear to be the better talent, I don’t view him as an elite physical talent. But what does this mean for drafts?
Should I Draft Fernando Mendoza or Ty Simpson in Dynasty Fantasy Football Drafts?
If you’re going to take a quarterback, should you draft Fernando Mendoza or Ty Simpson in dynasty fantasy football drafts? In rookie PPR drafts, Mendoza currently has an ADP of 10th, while Simpson is taken at 20th. The difference in value between a first-round pick and a second-round pick is pretty large, which we have to factor into our decision.
While I would prefer to have Fernando Mendoza on my fantasy team, when you factor in the overall value, I absolutely lean towards Ty Simpson in dynasty fantasy football drafts.
You could be presented with the opportunity to draft a top-tier wide receiver or running back in the first round, then you could take Simpson in the second. If you already have the draft position(s) to do this, then I think it’s a no-brainer. However, if you are picking 1.09 through 1.12, for example, you may look to make some trades. In this spot, I love to trade back in the second round, where you will grab Simpson, then pick up another valuable draft pick either this season or next.
I believe you should assume both Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson will be useless this season. So, once you throw out this year, there is a very real chance both are starters next season, in which case Simpson definitely feels like the winning side. But even if Stafford plays past this season, I believe being patient with Simpson pays off, and gaining another draft pick could bring you another incredible player.
