They say the NFL Draft starts in Mobile, and so can fantasy football. With the current college landscape and players staying in school longer than ever, the Senior Bowl talent has gotten better with each passing year. Seahawks guard Grey Zabel was the practice MVP last season, Quinyon Mitchell was the star the year before, who shined this past Saturday to raise their NFL Draft stock? Football analyst Joel Smyth breaks down the future fantasy rookies who were Senior Bowl winners.
WR Malachi Fields, Notre Dame
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Projected Draft Round: Second
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Fields will become one of the top drafted WRs this April, an outlook that was cemented after his Senior Bowl week. Following four years at Virginia, Fields transferred to Notre Dame for his final season. His raw production dipped slightly, but Fields played a vital role in the Notre Dame offense, which is more known for its run game.
At 6 -foot-4, 205 pounds, he is a deep threat playmaker who averaged 17.5 yards per reception last season. Yes, his contested catch ability is a strength, but unlike many young, big wideouts, he does not rely solely on his size. This practice week gave him a chance to showcase his strong route running skills, reliable hands and the versatility NFL teams look for. I would love to see the Notre Dame WR land in with Fernando Mendoza in Las Vegas as his new X receiver, or a team in need such as the Saints or Giants.
QB Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
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Projected Draft Round: Third
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Nussmeier, the Senior Bowl MVP, passed for 57 yards to go with a rushing touchdown. His interception came on an accurate throw deep over the middle that went through his tight end’s hands. Nussmeier was receiving top-10 NFL Draft hype last summer, which has since cooled off, but he looks like another NFL QB taken out of LSU after this week of practice.
Now back healthy, Nussmeier looked much more like himself after struggling in his final two games of the season. An interesting storyline to watch will be the temptation for New Orleans to take Nussmeier, whose father is the team’s offensive coordinator. The Saints made Doug Nussmeier a first-time offensive coordinator for his former NFL team, which he played QB for in the 1996 and 1997 seasons.
RB Mike Washington Jr., Arkansas
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Projected Draft Round: Fifth
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Washington’s best season came against the best competition. After pedestrian numbers at Buffalo and New Mexico State, Washington Jr. transferred to Arkansas for his fifth year, posting nearly 1,300 yards on great efficiency. In his four matchups versus top-25 opponents, Washington averaged 125 yards per game, leading to his draft stock rising into the better half of Day 3.
NFL offenses have relied on Day 3 RBs to handle bellcow volume, and Washington is even more capable to handle a bigger workload than the average player at 6-foot-2, 223 pounds. In recent history alone, Chase Brown, Bucky Irving and Kyren Williams have gone from Day 3 selections to workhorse backs.
RB Jaydn Ott, Oklahoma
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Projected Draft Round: Seventh
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Ott needed a positive Senior Bowl experience more than almost anyone this past week after a senior season that fell short of his production at California Berkeley. Following two incredible campaigns for the running back, Ott was plagued by injuries and moved onto Oklahoma for a new start. His draft stock heavily slipped until this last week, where Ott looked healthy and produced in key moments. The senior RB’s pass blocking was noted by several scouts, a crucial factor of a rookie running back’s playing time, especially those drafted in later rounds.
WR Kevin Coleman Jr., Missouri
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Projected Draft Round: Fifth
Coleman played for his third team in as many years in 2025, bringing in 66 receptions for the Missouri Tigers, after catching 74 as a junior at Mississippi State. Although consistency was his strength in 2024, it was the opposite story for the senior WR this past season. Coleman had a season low of four receptions in 2024, catching 5+ targets in 11 out of 12 games. However, after another transfer, Coleman failed to have consecutive weeks of 5+ receptions following the first month of the season, including three games under five total receiving yards. The strengths come after the catch and his versatility, as both a playmaker out of the slot and as a long-time punt returner.
WR Tyren Montgomery, John Carroll
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Projected Draft Round: Sixth
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The Senior Bowl gives opportunities for draft hopefuls to shine, especially for those who may not face quality competition as frequently. Montgomery set a school record with 119 receptions, but the opponents John Carroll faces are usually not stocked with NFL talent.
Montgomery showed last week in practice that he’s more than a product of his competition. His path is nothing short of absurd. After playing college basketball at LSU, Montgomery eventually shifted to football as a walk-on at Houston. He had never worn shoulder pads, had no high school football experience and is now in line to be drafted into the NFL. The talent is there, and it can be an amazing coaching opportunity for an NFL WR coach.
RB Kaelon Black, Indiana
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Projected Draft Round: Seventh
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Coming off a National Championship, Black could’ve chosen to stay on the sidelines, and nobody would blame him. Instead, he straps back up and gets right back to work. The former James Madison RB who followed his head coach to Indiana saved his best for last. In IU’s last five games of the season, Black had 60+ rushing yards in every contest, adding five rushing touchdowns. Keep in mind, these were against defenses such as Ohio State, Oregon and Miami as part of a committee backfield. He won’t be the dominant bellcow in the league, but that doesn’t mean the Hoosier RB can’t continue to be a significant contributor as a role player. He looked the part one more time in Mobile, including putting his receiving chops on display, and can sneak into being a Day 3 pick this April.