5 UDFAs Most Likely to Make Fantasy Football Impact in 2026 NFL Season

It's difficult for an undrafted free agent to make a 53-man NFL roster. It's almost impossible for one of these unheralded rookies to break out and shine in fantasy football.

Despite the long odds they face, there have been some recent examples of undrafted talent who went on to make fantasy waves. Jaylen Warren, Jakobi Meyers, Rashid Shaheed, Rico Dowdle, Juwan Johnson and Jordan Mason are amongst the best active players who didn't hear their name called during a draft. All managed to overcome the snub by carving out successful NFL careers and remain on the fantasy radar in 2026.

While hundreds of UDFAs will be fighting for a coveted roster spot during training camp, only a select few stand out for their potential to move the needle in Year 1.

These players possess the talent to thrive in the NFL and landed with an organization capable of maximizing it. They still need to show out in camp to secure their place in the lineup, but these five undrafted free agents are worth keeping an eye on due to their breakout potential.

RB Robert Henry Jr., Washington Commanders

AP Photo/Julio Cortez

The Washington Commanders have been in the market for a talented running back for years. They may have finally found one in Robert Henry Jr.

Henry has potential to be a true diamond-in-the-rough find for the Commanders. Although he wasn't ranked on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's final big board and didn't get selected in the 2026 NFL draft, the UTSA product could make waves in Washington.

Henry is coming off a stellar final collegiate campaign. The fifth-year senior racked up 1,045 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 151 totes, bringing his final tally to 2,339 yards and 27 scores on the ground across three seasons with the program. Henry has some skill as a pass-catcher, evident by 428 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 58 catches since the start of the 2023 season.

The moment never seemed too big for Henry, as he proved during a 177-yard, two-touchdown outing versus Texas A&M in the 2025 opener. He has a fantastic burst and can quickly jump-cut to elude defenders, using that agility to find lanes and pick up big yardage. He's only a shade over 5'9" and tips the scales at just 196 pounds, but he's sturdy enough to be a realistic early-down option for the Commanders.

With Washington's backfield primarily consisting of seventh-round sophomore Jacory Croskey-Merritt, fading veteran Rachaad White and sixth-round rookie Kaytron Allen, there's a real chance Henry could slip onto the final roster. If he's able to survive the last round of cuts, he'll be in position to work his way up the depth chart and put some fantasy points on the board as the season wears on.

RB Noah Whittington, Houston Texans

AP Photo/Karen Warren

Noah Whittington may not have gotten picked during the 2026 NFL draft, but he will still have ample opportunity to put his stamp on the league. The Houston Texans scooped up the Oregon running back, adding him to a backfield that is desperate for young talent to emerge.

The Bleacher Report Scouting Department had Whittington ranked as the No. 15 running back and No. 269 overall prospect in the 2026 class. B/R scout Dame Parson described him as a "low-center-of-gravity, well-rounded running back prospect who offers value in both the running and passing games", highlighting his "natural feel" for the position.

While the 5'8", 205-pound Whittington isn't going to be an every-down back at the NFL level and will not see many touches in short-yardage situations, he can take advantage of his smaller stature thanks to a low center of gravity and hardnosed style of running. He's a quick processor who is patient and waits for blocks to develop. Whittington doesn't have breakaway speed, but he still finds ways to get into the second level and can create big plays.

Although he's unlikely to leapfrog free-agent pickup David Montgomery or incumbent Woody Marks on the depth chart, Whittington can still secure a rotational spot in Houston's platoon with his high-effort pass-blocking ability. This aspect of the game often holds rookies back from earning playing time, but Whittington stands out in pass protection and should be able to leverage that ability to get valuable reps in Year 1.

Whittington may not open his career as a must-roster fantasy piece, but an injury or two during the campaign would open the door for a far larger role, one that could make him one of the hotter waiver wire pickups of 2026.

WR J. Michael Sturdivant, Green Bay Packers

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

The Green Bay Packers landed one of the biggest post-draft steals with their signing of J. Michael Sturdivant. Although he was rated No. 219 on Pro Football Focus' big board and earned a Round 5/6 grade from NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein, the Florida receiver shockingly remained up for grabs at the conclusion of the draft.

Sturdivant could quickly make teams regret passing on him. He has all the physical tools to be a fantasy star, packing an immense amount of speed and athleticism into a 6'3", 207-pound frame. He posted a 4.40-second 40-yard dash speed and a 39-inch vertical leap at the combine, marks that stack up well against his peers in the NFL.

While Sturdivant's production left a lot to be desired over the past two seasons—he tallied a total of just 721 yards and five touchdowns on 49 catches across his final 23 games—the potential for him to finally put it all together in Green Bay is glaringly obvious. He'll benefit from a top-flight quarterback in Jordan Love, as well as a deep, talented receiving corps that will afford him soft defensive matchups.

Sturdivant still has to improve his route tree and clean up his release to take the next step, but he has the toughness and talent to realize his ceiling in the NFL. The Packers could deploy Sturdivant in a variety of ways, although he profiles best as a vertical threat on the outside.

Even if he only sees a couple looks per game on Sundays, Sturdivant could still be worth rostering in fantasy leagues as a big-play creator and scoring threat.

WR Harrison Wallace III, Arizona Cardinals

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

The Arizona Cardinals may be at the onset of a rebuilding period, but they added several pieces this offseason who have a chance to factor into the team's long-term plans. One of these young, promising prospects is Harrison Wallace III—a scrappy wideout who the Cards managed to snatch off the undrafted free agent pile.

While Wallace wasn't a consensus Day 1 pick who plummeted out of the draft, it was still rather surprising that a player who the B/R Scouting Department had ranked as a top-40 receiver in the 2026 class wasn't selected. He was a major contributor to two programs that went on College Football Playoff runs over the last two years, posting a combined 1,654 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on 107 catches at Penn State and Ole Miss since 2024.

Wallace may not boast elite size or athleticism, but at 6'0", 192 pounds with a 4.54-second 40-yard dash time, he has enough of both to play in the NFL. Even if he's not creating much separation, the 23-year-old has the strength and ball skills to come down with contested catches against defensive backs.

Issues with press coverage and a lack of run-after-the-catch ability might lower his ceiling, but Wallace has a knack for finding soft spots in zone coverage and isn't afraid to work over the middle and absorb contact. That grit will help him not only catch on with the Cardinals as a depth receiver, but potentially even tally a couple of grabs per game during the regular season.

The Cardinals have one of the weakest receiving corps in the league heading into the 2026 campaign, so there will be plenty of chances for Wallace to make the team. Even if he's unlikely to be a fantasy superstar, the wideout could still emerge as a suitable bye week fill-in and deep league pickup.

TE Dan Villari, Los Angeles Rams

AP Photo/Butch Dill

With their pickup of Dan Villari, the Los Angeles Rams acquired one of the year's most intriguing undrafted free agents. Villari began his collegiate career as a quarterback at Michigan—throwing nine passes as a freshman—before transferring to Syracuse and converting to tight end.

While it took some time for Villari to get used to the adjustment, it truly came together for him last season when he tallied 39 catches for 412 yards—both personal bests for the tight end. B/R scout Daniel Harms credited Villari's "incredible work ethic" and athleticism for allowing that successful transition from QB to TE. 

Although Villari didn't see a ton of usage during his time with the Orange, he put enough on tape to show that he's a smooth strider with a knack for fighting through contact while also bringing decent blocking skills to the table. Villari has great size at 6'4", 245 pounds and is extremely versatile—he can throw, catch and run well—which just may afford him a chance to become L.A.'s Swiss-army knife.  

The Bleacher Report Scouting Department graded Villari as the No. 222 overall prospect and No. 20 tight end on their final big board, making his undrafted free agent status somewhat of a surprise. Harms noted that he still needs to improve at the point of attack and generate more push as a blocker, become more consistent with his route-running and avoid drops, but Villari has the makeup of an NFL-caliber player.

The biggest issue Villari has to overcome is the amount of competition he's set to face within a crowded Rams tight end room. The team has several proven veterans and a prized second-round rookie in Max Klare on the roster, but head coach Sean McVay leaned heavily into 13 personnel—meaning three tight ends on the field—to great success last year. The Rams will likely continue to use that grouping often in 2026, especially if Villari makes the roster.

If Villari can distinguish himself during training camp and earn a spot on the squad, he should have upside-based fantasy value as a Taysom Hill-esque contributor in one of the NFL's most creative schemes.