Taking a look at the Ted Hurst dynasty fantasy football value, including where you should draft the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ WR in your rookie draft.
Add us as a preferred source on Google searches!
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Ted Hurst with the 84th pick overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. Hurst has garnered plenty of pre- and post-draft buzz in the dynasty fantasy football world thanks to having a physical prototype befitting that of a high-end NFL receiver.
What makes Hurst such an interesting prospect is the fact that he never played college football at a power program. He spent the entirety of his collegiate career in his home state of Georgia. After beginning at the Division II level, Hurst transferred to Georgia State where he had little difficulty standing out against Sun Belt Conference competition.
Thus, one of the big questions surrounding Hurst is whether he will be able to perform up to expectations against NFL-caliber defensive backs. Let’s take a closer look at the Ted Hurst dynasty value, including both his immediate and long-term outlooks. You can also see where he is ranked in our dynasty fantasy football rookie rankings.
Ted Hurst Dynasty Fantasy Football Projection
Year 1 Value for Ted Hurst Fantasy Owners
While this year’s NFL Draft class was not viewed as being laden with standout talent overall, the depth at the wide receiver position has perhaps been undersold a bit. Ted Hurst was part of a middle tier of WRs and stands to benefit more than several others given his landing spot. While there are snaps and opportunities available in Tampa Bay following the free agency departure of Mike Evans, Hurst will no doubt have to earn his playing time.
The Buccaneers have at least five solid wideouts populating Baker Mayfield’s arsenal of weapons for the 2026 season. Chris Godwin projects as the starter in the slot, offering the presence of an accomplished veteran. However, the rest of the Bucs’ receiving corps has undergone a youth movement of sorts over the last couple of seasons.
Evans choosing not to resign leaves Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan and Tez Johnson as Hurst’s primary competition for playing time in his rookie season. All three of those receivers entered the NFL in the year 2024 or later.
Based on his production as a rookie and the first-round draft capital that the team spent on him, Egbuka clearly projects as being a step ahead of the rest of this group. However, Hurst figures to be afforded every shot at competing on an even playing field with McMillan and Johnson.
The departure of Evans leaves a major void at the X receiver position. For those not keen on football jargon, the X receiver typically lines up on the line of scrimmage on the opposite side of the field from the tight end. A combination of physical size and length along with speed should excite Ted Hurst dynasty owners as he has the tools needed to excel in this role. He will no doubt see meaningful snaps as a rookie as the Bucs aim to diagnose exactly what they have in their third-round pick.
Ted Hurst Dynasty Fantasy Football Value
Given that he comes into the league from a small school, it’s only fair to expect that the Ted Hurst dynasty fantasy football value will need time to achieve its full potential. That being said, there’s a reason for why he has created plenty of buzz within the dynasty community.
No one can deny Hurst’s physical assets. He has a long stride and great speed, two vital ingredients of a successful vertical receiver. The big concern is that the corners he will be battling with on Sundays will be far more athletic and talented than the coverage he typically saw at Georgia State. Thus, the real key to Hurst’s dynasty fantasy football outlook likely hinges on how well he can hold his own against press coverage.
Assuming he is up to the challenge, Hurst absolutely has a chance to become a fixture of the Buccaneers’ passing attack for years to come. Chris Godwin’s contract is structured with a club option for next season. Given the severe injury he sustained two years ago and that he is north of 30 years old, the team could very well opt to cut him loose after 2026.
In the event that this does come to fruition, what exactly is preventing Hurst from becoming the second option or better at the position as soon as 2027? His skill set figures to complement that of Emeka Egbuka beautifully. The Bucs could realistically have drafted their next great WR tandem to anchor the passing attack for the foreseeable future.
Where to Draft Ted Hurst in Dynasty Rookie Drafts
For those in dynasty fantasy football leagues yet to host their rookie drafts, Ted Hurst should be firmly on your radar as a mid-round target that is teeming with upside. At a base level of comparison, Hurst’s dynasty value equates to that of a late second-round pick in 2026 rookie drafts. His consensus ADP has him at 23rd overall and 13th among wide receivers.
With that said, rare is the fantasy draft that falls in exact alignment with consensus projections. Given the positive buzz surrounding Hurst as a “sleeper” since the NFL Draft, managers may need to pull the trigger in the middle portion of the second-round. ADP can serve as a guide, but 2026 rookie drafts are very much based on individual perspectives on players given the lack of clear game-changing talent.
I personally view Hurst as capable of being a top-10 player at the WR position in this rookie class. I would draft him over Zachariah Branch and Malachi Fields, two names situated just ahead of him in the latest ADP.
To lean even further into subjectivity, I would consider passing up on Denzel Boston earlier in rookie drafts when addressing the WR position. Boston’s landing spot in Cleveland is not ideal, and the same can be said regarding his ability to create separation. When compared to Hurst, I’d rather have the preferred quarterback situation in Tampa than the higher draft pedigree. Opting to either trade back or prioritize a different position in Boston’s ADP range to then draft Hurst a full round later is a move I’d happily make.
For those in dynasty fantasy football leagues that utilize a rookie taxi squad, the argument to take a swing on Hurst at or above his true valuation is further incentivized. He should see meaningful snaps as a rookie, no doubt, but his outlook beyond the 2026 season is where the real boom potential lies.
