Super Bowl 60: 2026 Rookie Outlook

Estimated reading time: 12 minutes

The Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX. Neither team received meaningful box score contributions from starting skill position players, despite three players selected in the first three rounds of the 2025 NFL draft being active for the game.

The article below breaks down the 2026 prospects for all three players, plus two more players who earned Super Bowl rings without stepping foot on the field.

RB TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots

Henderson has had mixed results in PFF’s stable stats this season, while failing to overtake veteran starting running back Rhamondre Stevenson. Henderson can be expected to improve in 2026, although sharing the backfield workload in a near-equal split with Stevenson could be the ceiling for Henderson. Stevenson’s PFF offense grade of 77.2 is better than Henderson’s PFF offense grade of 68.0.

The rookie running back finished as the RB18 from Weeks 1-18 at half points per reception (half PPR), buoyed by three outings in which he scored more than 27.5 points. He scored single digits 10 times.

Henderson (6-foot-1, 208 pounds) is effectively picking up rushing yards after contact. Additionally, he needs to improve his overall efficiency per play, both as a rusher and as a receiver.

Henderson’s rushing data among 35 NFL running backs with at least 155 rushing attempts and his receiving data among 32 NFL running backs with at least 35 targets.

Of the 43 NFL running backs with at least 150 offensive touches, Henderson’s 16.8% missed tackles rank 32nd.

Of the 42 NFL running backs with at least 45 pass-protection snaps, Henderson’s 30.7 PFF pass-blocking grade ranks 37th.

Stevenson was sidelined with a toe injury in Weeks 9 through 11, allowing Henderson to act as a fill-in starter, having a 74.0% touch share (57 touches) among the Patriots’ running backs during that span and earning a PFF offensive rating of 67.2. He rushed 47 times for 264 rushing yards and four touchdowns, forcing tackles at a 0.15 rate while averaging 5.4 yards after contact. He caught 10 of 11 targets for 66 receiving yards and one touchdown while averaging a 0.79 yards per route run (YPRR).

Henderson’s three positively volatile weeks moved him into the season-long RB2 ranks. He needs to improve his overall game if he wants to achieve such a finish again in 2026.

WR Kyle Williams, New England Patriots

Williams produced erratic but intriguing results operating as a downfield receiver in his rookie season of 2025. He caught one of two targets for seven yards in Super Bowl LX. Williams’ 59.4 PFF offensive rating ranks ninth among the 10 Patriots skill position players with at least 300 offensive snaps.

Williams earned five goals in Weeks 1 through 9, serving as an ineffective rotation backup.

He produced his first explosive passing game by scoring a 72-yard touchdown in Week 10, catching one of two targets while playing 30-plus offensive snaps in his second straight game. Williams played a season-high 45 offensive snaps the following week, but squandered the opportunity by failing to catch any of his three targets. He played only five offensive snaps the following week and played on 42.8% of the offensive snaps in Week 16 – Super Bowl LX.

Despite the mid-season flop, Williams showed starter-worthy qualities. Of the nine Patriots skill position players with at least 25 targets, he ranks first in average depth of target (aDot, 18.7), yards per reception (18.6) and number of deep targets (37.0%). His target rate of 12.1% ranks last, and his target rate of 1.00 yards per route (YPRR) ranks eighth.

Williams’ ability to earn goals bodes well for his advancing fantasy scoring prospects, although he will need to improve his per-game reliability to secure a starting, fantasy-relevant role in 2026.

WR Efton Chism III, New England Patriots

Chism was surprisingly rarely used in the postseason despite his offensive contributions late in the season. He was declared inactive for Super Bowl LX, but deserves consideration as a late-round option in 2026. Of the 26 NFL rookie wide receivers with at least 100 offensive snaps, Chism’s 70.5 PFF offensive rating ranks fourth, and his 73.2 PFF receiving grade ranks third.

Chism earned four targets this season (9.8% target rate), catching all four for 95 receiving yards and one touchdown. He picked up first downs on the remaining three receptions and delivered one explosive pass per game in Week 17 through wild-card weekend. Albeit via a small sample size, Chism averaged 2.32 YPRR.

He also posted a PFF kick return grade of 63.2 via 19 kick returns.

Making a starter-worthy move this offseason isn’t guaranteed for Chism, though the Patriots’ wide receiver corps lacks star power and is instead made up of capable role players. The 2025 undrafted free agent could earn a role in three-wide receiver sets with standout performances this spring and summer.

WR Elijah Arroyo, Seattle Seahawks

Arroyo played 19 offensive snaps in Super Bowl LX, but failed to score a goal. As reported in Research on the Positive Outcomes of Second Year Players of the 2025 NFL Season, Arroyo missed the Week 15 NFC Championship Game after recording his career-best third knee injury in four years,” hampering his ability to make a breakthrough late in the season. Arroyo’s rookie season data is concerning for his second-year prospects. His 54.1 PFF offensive grade ranks 70th among 75 NFL tight ends with at least 300 offensive snaps.

Aside from efficiently earning goals down the field, Arroyo’s rookie season’s play has been disappointing.

Arroyo receives data from 55 NFL tight ends with at least 24 targets, his play-action receives data from 62 NFL tight ends with at least eight play-action targets and his run-blocking data from 75 NFL tight ends with at least 300 offensive snaps.

As previously discussed, securing play-action snaps is critical to TE1 productivity. Arroyo’s current play-action efficiency and run-blocking performance are unlikely to earn him more opportunities.

Arroyo’s rookie season performance, coupled with recurring knee injuries, makes him just a speculative late-round option in the early 2026 fantasy football drafts.

WR Tory Horton, Seattle Seahawks

Horton suffered a season-ending shin injury during Week 10 on Thursday excercisejust two days after general manager John Schneider acquired former New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed via trade. The deal caused problems for Horton then and now due to Shaheed’s overlapping skills, although it was somewhat surprising given Horton’s rise. Although Horton wasn’t available for Super Bowl LX, he deserves to be watched this season. Of the 26 NFL rookie wide receivers with at least 100 offensive snaps, Horton’s 71.0 PFF offensive rating ranks third and his 69.1 PFF receiving grade ranks sixth. Among the 17 starting NFL players with at least 15 special teams returns and at least one punt return, Horton’s 79.0 PFF punt return ranks second. Shaheed posted a PFF offensive grade of 63.6, a PFF receiving grade of 61.9 and a PFF punt return grade of 69.0 during his time with the Seahawks.

Shaheed is on the schedule enter free agency this offseason. Horton could have a much easier time earning a starting role if Shaheed leaves.

Horton“plays madeHe worked with the first-team offense all summer and managed 28 offensive snaps in Week 1 despite a costly ankle injury in Seattle’s second preseason game.

In Week 3, Horton produced the longest punt return touchdown, 95 yards, in Seahawks History becoming the third player in franchise history to score a punt return touchdown and a receiving touchdown in the same game.

That was him reportedly forcing coaches to consider him for the No. 2 wide receiver role in early October, making Shaheed’s trade in early November all the more disappointing.

Of the 129 NFL wide receivers with at least 22 targets, Horton’s deep-target rate of 27.3% ranks 18th, and his 16.6-yard aDot ranks 10th, but his 59.1% catch rate ranks 92nd, 15.9% target rate ranks 80th, and his 1.17 YPRR ranks 84th.

Of the 76 NFL players with at least 15 special teams returns and at least one punt return, Horton’s 14.9 yards per punt return ranks third.

Horton’s explosive attributes are undeniable, but he must improve his play-to-play consistency as a receiver to earn weekly flex treatment in 2026. Re-signing Shaheed could limit Horton to a fantasy-unfriendly snap count anyway.