Drafting former Clemson players in Fantasy Football simply because they once wore orange is a quick way to ruin a fantasy roster. The 2026 group does not need nostalgia to make its case.
Travis Etienne Jr. may have inherited a starting opportunity before most fantasy drafts begin. Trevor Lawrence and Tee Higgins are coming off productive seasons but remain available outside the opening rounds. Antonio Williams landed in an offense searching for another reliable receiver. Cade Klubnik requires the most faith and boldness of the group.
The rookie quarterback is currently being drafted as a long-term project. By the middle of the season, he could be starting for the New York Jets. Here are five former Clemson players worth targeting in 2026 fantasy football drafts.
Travis Etienne Jr. was already a reasonable RB2 selection before Alvin Kamara suffered a sprained MCL. The injury may keep Kamara out for the beginning of the regular season and should send Etienne’s average draft position climbing. The New Orleans Saints did not sign Etienne during the offseason just to give Kamara an occasional break. New Orleans committed to the former Clemson running back after he rushed for 1,107 yards and seven touchdowns during his final season with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Head coach Kellen Moore may eventually use both running backs when the backfield is healthy. Kamara’s absence gives Etienne the first chance to control the job and prove that a committee is unnecessary. FantasyPros currently lists Etienne at No. 41 overall and RB19 in PPR drafts. That number was established before Kamara’s injury changed the Saints’ backfield.
Etienne should now be viewed as a strong RB2 with temporary RB1 upside. Selecting him in the fourth round may feel aggressive based on the current ADP, but the same price could look cheap by the time Week 1 arrives. The move: Draft Etienne before the market catches up.
Trevor Lawrence finished as the QB4 last season. Stadium Rant’s 2026 fantasy football rankings include him among the top 10 quarterbacks entering this season. His current QB10 draft price still leaves room for another top-five finish.
Lawrence produced career highs with 4,007 passing yards, 29 touchdown passes, 359 rushing yards, and nine rushing scores during his first season under Liam Coen. His production became even more impressive as he grew comfortable in the system. He averaged 16.6 fantasy points over his first 10 games. The former No. 1 overall pick raised that number to 26.6 across his final seven regular-season appearances.
Nine rushing touchdowns will be difficult to repeat. Lawrence does not need to reach that total again to beat his current price. A second season in Coen’s offense should produce more consistency through the air, while Lawrence’s mobility gives him a scoring advantage over several quarterbacks being selected in the same range. The late-season surge looked less like a temporary hot streak and more like a talented quarterback finally finding the right system.
FantasyPros lists Lawrence around No. 85 overall in PPR formats. That price allows a roster to load up on running backs and receivers before taking a quarterback with top-five potential. The move: Pass on the expensive quarterbacks and take Lawrence several rounds later.
Tee Higgins has developed two reputations among fantasy managers. The first says he is an excellent receiver capable of producing WR1 numbers. The second says he cannot stay healthy long enough to justify a premium draft selection. Both are fair.
Higgins caught 59 passes for 846 yards and a career-high 11 touchdowns in 15 games last season. Joe Burrow missed significant time, yet Higgins remained one of the NFL’s most dangerous red-zone targets.
Higgins has missed 12 games over the past three seasons. That history prevents him from becoming a completely safe selection, but fantasy drafts are not won by eliminating every possible risk. They are won by finding players whose ceilings exceed their prices.
Ja’Marr Chase will remain the center of Cincinnati’s passing game. Higgins does not need to overtake him. A healthy season with Burrow would give the Bengals enough passing volume to support two high-end fantasy receivers.
The most important number may depend on the draft platform. Higgins carries a consensus PPR ADP around No. 40 overall, while ESPN drafts have him closer to No. 51. That difference turns him from a fair fourth-round selection into an outstanding fifth-round value.
Higgins should not be drafted as a consolation prize after missing another receiver. His touchdown potential makes him a legitimate weekly difference-maker. The move: Target Higgins aggressively if he reaches the fifth round.
Antonio Williams did not land in Washington without competition. He landed there without an established receiver blocking his path. The Washington Commanders selected Williams with the No. 71 overall pick in the third round. Terry McLaurin remains the unquestioned leader of the receiving corps, but the depth chart behind him offers an immediate opportunity.
Williams has already received work with the first-team offense during training camp. The former Clemson receiver is competing for a slot role that could put him on the field much earlier than most third-round rookies. Washington does not need Williams to become its top receiver. Winning the slot job and becoming a reliable option behind McLaurin would give him enough opportunities to matter.
That type of role may not create immediate fantasy stardom, but it can create steady targets. Rookie receivers become especially interesting when talent, draft investment, and available snaps point in the same direction. Williams is being selected near the middle of the second round in many dynasty rookie drafts. That is a worthwhile price for a 20-year-old receiver with a realistic path to immediate playing time.
Redraft expectations should remain lower. Williams belongs near the end of deeper drafts rather than inside a Week 1 starting lineup. The move: Select Williams in the second round of dynasty rookie drafts and stash him in deeper redraft formats.
Cade Klubnik is the most interesting former Clemson player in 2026 fantasy football drafts, even if he produces nothing during the first half of the season. The New York Jets selected Klubnik in the fourth round and listed him as the No. 2 quarterback on their first unofficial depth chart. That development alone made him a reasonable taxi-squad stash in superflex dynasty leagues.
Klubnik’s preseason debut provided a reason to think bigger. He completed five of seven passes for 56 yards while leading the Jets to points on both of his possessions. New York removed him after only 16 snaps, leaving Bailey Zappe and Brady Cook to handle the rest of the game.
Klubnik looked calm, accurate, and in control despite receiving limited work with the starters before Geno Smith’s ankle injury placed him in the lineup. He connected with Garrett Wilson, commanded two scoring drives, and avoided the careless mistakes that normally follow a rookie quarterback into his first NFL action.
Head coach Aaron Glenn praised Klubnik’s poise and decision-making after the game. Glenn has continued that praise throughout camp, saying Klubnik gets “better and better” each time he practices. Offensive coordinator Frank Reich has a developmental quarterback who appears further along than his fourth-round draft position suggested.
One productive preseason appearance does not make Klubnik ready to lead an NFL team. His performance becomes more meaningful when combined with the praise coming out of training camp and the Jets’ decision to place him directly behind Smith.
Smith is 35 years old and coming off a disappointing season. He may begin the year as New York’s starter, but he should not be considered untouchable. The Jets will turn to Klubnik by Week 10.
That change could come because of an injury, poor team performance, or a decision to evaluate the rookie before the offseason. The reason matters less for dynasty managers than the opportunity. Klubnik is currently available near the end of superflex rookie drafts. Quarterbacks with a realistic chance to start should not be that inexpensive in leagues where the position carries increased value.
One month of competent starting production would make Klubnik worth considerably more than his current draft cost. A strong performance could establish him as part of the Jets’ future. The move: Draft Klubnik late in superflex rookie drafts, place him on a taxi squad, and resist the temptation to trade him before Week 10.
Etienne offers the most immediate opportunity. Lawrence and Higgins provide proven production at manageable prices. Williams is the type of rookie investment that can gain value before his statistics demand attention. Klubnik is the gamble.
Current fantasy rankings treat Klubnik as a developmental backup with an uncertain path to the field. His preseason performance, place on the depth chart, and growing praise from the Jets suggest that path may be shorter than expected. By Week 10, one of the cheapest former Clemson players in fantasy football could become the starting quarterback in New York.
If you love sports, download Stadium Rant from the Apple App Store and join one of the fastest-growing social sports communities. Be sure to follow us on socials too — you can find all our profiles on our Linktree.
