Dynasty rookie rankings

Positional breakdown for rookie drafts

May 05, 2025

By: Josh Frey-Sam

Cam Ward, Ashton Jeanty, Tet McMillian and Tyler Warren. Those are my top fantasy players at their respective positions entering rookie drafts.

Shocking, right?

Not so much, but maybe the rest of my rankings will.

You can get pretty deep into the weeds when trying to figure out player rankings. I’m sure you’ve already experienced that.

A couple of things I personally take into account are a team’s depth chart, the offensive coordinator’s historical tendencies, what coaches have said during interviews and finally — this is one of my favourites — the contract status of other notable names on the team.

The contract statuses can give you a feel for how quickly a guy could emerge into a prominent role.

For example, Packers WR Matthew Golden is in a room that will have six or seven legit mouths to feed at some point (depending on whether Christian Watson returns) this season.

However, look a year from now, and there are only four players on contract entering the 2026-27 season, and Golden is far and away the most promising of the bunch. Right now, that would suggest Golden could be in line for a significant boost in target share in two seasons.

Use this as a guide on draft day, or don’t. I don’t care.

Here are my rookie rankings at QB, RB, WR and TE.

Quarterbacks

  1. Cam Ward (TEN)

  2. Jaxson Dart (NYG)

  3. Jalen Milroe (SEA)

  4. Tyler Shough (NO)

  5. Will Howard (PIT)

  6. Shedeur Sanders (CLE)

  7. Quinn Ewers (MIA)

  8. Riley Leonard (IND)

  9. Kyle McCord (PHI)

  10. Dillon Gabriel (CLE)

  11. Graham Mertz (HOU)

  12. Kurtis Rourke (SF)

  13. Hunter Dekkers (NO) - total flier, only if he makes a roster.

Running backs

  1. Ashton Jeanty (LVR)

  2. Omarion Hampton (LAC)

  3. TreVeyon Henderson (NE)

  4. Kaleb Johnson (PIT)

  5. RJ Harvey (DEN)

  6. Quinshon Judkins (CLE)

  7. Bhayshul Tuten (JAX)

  8. Cam Skattebo (NYG)

  9. DJ Giddens (IND)

  10. Devin Neal (NO)

  11. Dylan Sampson (CLE)

  12. Jordon James (SF)

  13. Ollie Gordon II (MIA)

  14. Jarquez Hunter (LAR)

  15. Jaydon Blue (DAL)

  16. Brashard Smith (KC)

Wide receivers

  1. Tet McMillan (CAR)

  2. Travis Hunter (JAX)

  3. Emeka Egbuka (TB)

  4. Matthew Golden (GB)

  5. Tre Harris (LAC)

  6. Jack Bech (LVR)

  7. Luther Burden III (CHI)

  8. Jaylin Noel (HOU)

  9. Jayden Higgins (HOU)

  10. Kyle Williams (NE)

  11. Elic Ayomanor (TEN)

  12. Jalen Royals (KC)

  13. Pay Bryant (DEN)

  14. Isaac Teslaa (DET)

  15. Tory Horton (SEA)

  16. Tai Felton (MIN)

  17. Savion Williams (GB)

Tight end

  1. Tyler Warren (IND)

  2. Colston Loveland (CHI)

  3. Mason Taylor (NYJ)

  4. Elijah Arroyo (SEA)

  5. Terrance Ferguson (LAR)

  6. Harold Fanning Jr. (CLE)

  7. Luke Lachey (HOU)

  8. Gunnar Helm (TEN)

  9. Oronde Gadsden II (LAC)

I also did a mock draft to see how some players land. Of course, this is kind of inaccurate since we were drafting best player available rather than taking team needs into account.

Nevertheless, this could give you a sense of how your draft could go. I was Team 3.

Thanks for reading and, as always, have a great day.

Josh