Now that training camps are beginning to wrap up, it’s time to take a fresh look at the rankings for Dynasty rookie drafts.
Dynasty draft rankings are extremely subjective – if you’re in a full rebuild mode, selecting someone who might not take the field this coming season isn’t a huge issue to you, whereas someone with an older roster is likely looking for a player or two who can be at least a part time starter and help them refresh their roster while they angle for a deep playoff run.
We’ll try to avoid getting too deep into the nuances of everyone’s approach in their rookie drafts, and attempt to look at things from an even playing field. We’re going to rank this class of rookies by who we think are the best options over the course of the next three seasons.
We’ll cover a three round rookie draft, and, just to keep it interesting, this will be a Superflex PPR league.
1 – Caleb Williams – QB – Chicago Bears
The number one overall pick is the day one starter who gets to work with a loaded set of offensive weapons. Williams is also sneaky athletic, so he has potential to throw for over 4,000 yards and rush for over 750 yards while he’s still on his rookie contract.
2 – Jayden Daniels – QB – Washington Commanders
Daniels loves to unleash the ball downfield (sometimes to his detriment) and can run better than 99% of quarterbacks in the NFL, so the upside from a fantasy perspective really outweighs the potential injury risk. His aggressive run style doesn’t mesh well with his slender frame, but in a superflex league it’s hard not to fall in love with the ceiling that Daniels brings to the table.
3 – Marvin Harrison Jr. – WR – Arizona Cardinals
Harrison is being drafted as the wide receiver nine in regular redraft leagues as he enters the NFL as one of the best wide receiver prospects in years. He’s a plug and play WR1 in any league you’re participating in this season, and I really think we’ll see the Cardinals offence open up more and more in the coming seasons.
4 – Rome Odunze – WR – Chicago Bears
Odune has been moving up my rankings as of late. He already has chemistry with Caleb Williams, so Odunze might be the target that Williams looks for first. The Bears have a stacked group of receivers, but there’s a real possibility that Keenan Allen gets shoveled into the slot role in this Shane Waldron offence while Odunze gets to work in a more advantageous role on the outside. Allen is also a free agent after this season, so Odunze’s role will only continue to grow.
5 – Drake Maye – QB – New England Patriots
Maye definitely benefits from this being a superflex ranking as I don’t expect the next couple of seasons to go particularly well in New England. Jacoby Brissett could start the majority of the games this season for the Patriots, and putting a rookie behind that shaky offensive line is a terrifying thought. However, I think with another set of early draft picks next year, the Patriots can rebuild their offence and that Maye will be a star by the end of his rookie contract.
6 – Malik Nabers – WR – New York Giants
Nabers is incredibly explosive and would be much higher in the rankings if it weren’t for his landing spot. The Giants don’t have a solid answer at quarterback, and the offensive line is still rebuilding for another season. Nabers will likely be the leading target getter in New York this season, but it feels like there just won’t be enough value in those targets despite how good he is at creating yards after the catch.
7 – J.J. McCarthy – QB – Minnesota Vikings
McCarthy was used as more of a game manager during college, but he was extremely efficient when necessary, particularly on third and long situations. 2024 will be a lost year, but when the Vikings offence is at full strength, they’re near the top of the league in pure skill. McCarthy might never win an MVP, but if he can develop into a Kirk Cousins clone with more mobility, he’ll be a viable fantasy asset going forward.
8 – Brock Bowers – TE – Las Vegas Raiders
While I hate the team fit, grabbing a rookie as talented as Bowers at a position where we rarely have game changers in fantasy is just too valuable to pass at the end of rookie drafts. Bowers is one of the safest prospects in this draft and can secure a spot in fantasy that often has a lot of questions.
9 – Jonathon Brooks – RB – Carolina Panthers
Brooks is still recovering from a torn ACL, and the Panthers staff has already said that he’ll be starting the season on the PUP, so if you need a running back to start the season, Brooks isn’t your guy. However, he’s a supremely talented runner who has a clear path to being the lead back in Carolina. The Panthers invested in their offensive line this offseason, so there’s at least a pathway to this offence taking significant steps forward in the years to come with Brooks being a focal point of that unit.
10 – Brian Thomas Jr. – WR – Jacksonville Jaguars
The fact that Thomas ran a 4.33 forty yard dash (and his 10 yard time was also identical to Xavier Worthy’s) at 6’2” and 209 pounds is somehow being underrated. I could easily argue that it’s more impressive than Worthy’s record breaking time considering the size difference. Thomas needs to work on his route running, but if he can build early chemistry with Trevor Lawrence he can become the Jaguars number one target as early as this season.
11- Ladd McConkey – WR – Los Angeles Chargers
McConkey is already a polished route runner and can easily work his way into becoming Justin Herbert’s best friend on the field. McConkey definitely comes with some risk. The Chargers offence isn’t expected to be as pass dominant as it’s been in the past with Harbaugh taking over. And the early injury concerns to both McConkey and Herbert have been discouraging news since training camps have opened. McConkey has the tools that should transition well to the NFL, so if the Chargers curse can lighten up a bit, he’s a real fantasy threat in PPR leagues.
12 – Keon Coleman – WR – Buffalo Bills
Grabbing a part of the Bills offence is generally a good idea. I’m not a huge fan of how they rebuilt their wide receiver room – as it looks like a lot of slot receivers and no one who naturally fits on the outside. I’m also concerned that they’ll force Coleman to be their outside receiver in his first season which is a lot to ask for the rookie. That being said, Coleman is an imposing figure (6’4”, 215 pounds) and is excellent at tracking the ball and making contested catches – things that should endear him to Josh Allen early in his career.
13 – Xavier Worthy – WR – Kansas City Chiefs
Worthy is a viable deep threat that will help out the Chiefs offence from day one. The landing spot is elite, although the addition of veteran Marquise Brown in free agency might limit Worthy’s usage in his rookie season. Worthy needs some polish, but I trust that quarterback Patrick Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid will find ways to get the ball in the hands of the man with the record for the fastest 40 time in combine history.
14 – Adonai Mitchell – WR – Indianapolis Colts
Mitchell didn’t have the college career that we look for from a statistical perspective, but I believe he has all the traits to be a productive NFL receiver. He’s a 6’2” vertical deep threat that’s shown a knack for clutch performances. He’s also joining an offence that’s in need of some more juice at the receiver position. The recent injury to Josh Downs will at least open up more first team snaps for Mitchell, giving him a chance to be an early contributor.
15 – Trey Benson – RB – Arizona Cardinals
Benson is a pick and stash player, as he’s likely to only be used if/when an injury occurs to James Conner this season. He’s currently battling to be the team’s RB3 at camp which is obviously not a great start to his rookie season, but I believe in the talent and with Connor likely off the team after this coming season, Benson has a fairly clear path to becoming an RB1 in his sophomore campaign.
16 – Blake Corum – RB – Las Angeles Rams
Corum is a top handcuff in redraft leagues as he’s almost a carbon copy of current starter Kyren Williams. Williams has dealt with injuries over the course of his career so there’s potential that Corum will be forced into a starting role at any point in the season. But if Williams does stay healthy, it’s hard to see Corum taking away snaps in an offence that loves to lean on their lead back. We’ll wait and see if Sean McVay’s declaration that Williams will return kicks this year actually plays out in Week 1.
17 – Bo Nix – QB – Denver Broncos
Nix definitely needs polish, but reports from Broncos camp so far have him as the team’s QB1. The ego of Sean Payton is massive, and after spending so much time defending his first round selection, he’ll likely throw Nix right off the deep end this season – for better or for worse.
18 – Ricky Pearsall – WR – San Francisco 49ers
Pearsall has been battling a shoulder injury since the start of camp and just re-aggravated it to boot. But much of his value ultimately hinges on what the club opts to do with Brandon Aiyuk. If the 49ers don’t get a receiver back in any potential trade, Pearsall will be battling Juwan Johnson for some significant snaps for one of the best offences in the league. If Aiyuk suits up, then Pearsall could be a stash until 2025.
19 – Ja’Lynn Polk – WR – New England Patriots
Polk isn’t a burner, but he has excellent ball skills and can make contested catches with ease. It might take a while for Polk to truly break out due to the rest of the Patriots offence, but he has the potential to grow with Maye and become a reliable WR1 for him for years to come.
20 – Jermaine Burton – WR – Cincinnati Bengals
Tee Higgins seems content to play this coming season on the franchise tag, meaning barring injury, Burton will likely peak as the team’s WR3. However, injuries are always a concern in Cincinnati to both Ja’Marr Chase and Higgins, so while Burton is more of a stash pick for next season, he could also contribute in some spot starts this year.
21 – Jaylen Wright – RB – Miami Dolphins
Wright is one of the fastest running backs in his class and joins the track stars Mike McDaniels has assembled in Miami. He doesn’t profile as an every down back as he can be overly patient waiting for holes to open up, but with Raheem Mostert’s age and injury history, as well as the questions surrounding how much of a beating De’Von Achane can take, Wright could become a necessary piece in McDaniel’s offence.
22 – Michael Penix Jr. – QB – Atlanta Falcons
I think Penix will eventually be a fine NFL quarterback. But after backing up the Brinks truck to sign Kirk Cousins, Penix is unlikely to see playing time until at least the third year of his career when he’ll be turning 27 years old. He isn’t the type of dynasty quarterback that I personally like to look for, but he can be a decent taxi squad player while Cousins finishes off his career.
23 – Marshawn Lloyd – RB – Green Bay Packers
Matt LaFleur loves to utilize a running back by committee approach, and given the injury to A.J. Dillon, Lloyd should see at least a rotational role in the early going. If the Josh Jacobs experiment doesn’t work this season, he has limited guaranteed money going forward so all of a sudden Lloyd could become an integral part of the Packers running game.
24 Javon Baker – WR – New England Patriots
In a thin wide receiver room, Baker has a chance to be the Patriots big play threat in his rookie season. It seems like he only dropped in the NFL draft due to off field issues. If he can remain focused on becoming a professional, he’s a very high level receiver that can explode for a big play at any moment.
25 Xavier Legette – WR – Carolina Panthers
Legette had four dismal seasons in college before breaking out in year five, and entered the NFL as a 23 year old rookie. He’ll have an opportunity to earn snaps in a rebuilding Panthers offence, but there are serious question marks at quarterback after Bryce Young’s disappointing rookie season. While the offence should be improving, I have doubts it’ll be taking major steps in the next two to three seasons, or that Legette is a difference maker for Carolina.
26 – Ben Sinnott – TE – Washington Commanders
Sinnot played all over the formation for Kansas State after making the team as a walk-on, and the 22 year old moves very well considering his 6’4”, 245 pound frame. The Commanders have veteran Zach Ertz, who will likely spend this season as the team’s starter, but Sinnot’s athletic ability paired with his size make him an intriguing option going forward.
27 – Jalen McMillan – WR – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
McMillan’s ideal role would be a vertical slot threat as he showed in college the ability to win at all three levels of the field. However, he tends to work much better inside than he does outside. With the Bucs planning on moving Chris Godwin back to the slot full time, McMillan’s fit is a little bit uncomfortable for the time being. The Bucs receiving group is aging, so McMillan could find himself in a big role fairly soon.
28 – Troy Franklin – WR – Denver Broncos
Franklin’s college breakout happened during his sophomore season alongside Bo Nix, who’s expected to be his starting quarterback in the pros so that rookie chemistry will be there. Franklin showed deep speed and advanced route running, finishing his last collegiate season with the sixth best yards per route run rate at 3.32. The Broncos depth chart is very thin, so Franklin will have a chance to earn snaps early in his career. However, this offence isn’t expected to be very good this season.
29 – Malachi Corley – WR – New York Jets
Corley is a strong, powerful offensive weapon. He doesn’t offer much of a deep threat and his route running leaves much to be desired, but he’s a threat every time he has the ball in his hands. I just don’t trust Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett to find enough creative ways to keep Corley fantasy relevant for the time being.
30 – Audric Estime – RB – Denver Broncos
Estime will never be a major factor in the passing game, but he’s a bruising back that can make a career out of punching in red zone touches. The Broncos running back room has been a question mark all offseason, so throwing a late round pick at Estime to see if Sean Payton wants to use him as the thunder to the lightning in the backfield might just pay off.
31 – Ray Davis – RB – Buffalo Bills
Davis racked up back to back 1,000 yard rushing seasons at two different schools. Last fall, he put together his best season, averaging an impressive 3.81 yards after contact per attempt on a 73% share of the team’s rushes. Davis is short and shifty, and can contribute in the passing game for the Bills as well. He should be able to earn a rotational role on this offence this year.
32 – Roman Wilson – WR – Pittsburgh Steelers
After trading away Diontae Johnson, the Steelers are in need of someone to line up across from George Pickens as they try to revamp their offence. Wilson is a smooth route runner, shows excellent body control, and would make an ideal partner opposite of Pickens. But I have doubts that an Arthur Smith run offence can support two receivers and that a combination of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields have the passing ability to do so.
33 – Bucky Irving – RB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Irving is an undersized back, but he did force a missed tackle every 2.5 carries from 2022 to 2023, which is an impressive feat. Irving bombed at the combine which brought his athleticism into question, but the Bucs depth chart is shallow behind Rachaad White, so he has an opportunity to earn snaps in his rookie season.
34 – Spencer Rattler – QB – New Orleans Saints
The Saints are financially tied to Derek Carr for the time being, but his on field play leaves the door open for someone to come in and take his starting job. Rattler was replaced at Oklahoma by Caleb Williams and faltered to start last season in South Carolina. But he was once a five star recruit and has decent arm talent. He’s a risky selection, but the landing spot affords him a pathway to becoming a starter.
35 – Kimani Vidal – RB – Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers offence is expected to be one of the top running teams in the league with Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins at the top of the depth chart. Both these players have a lengthy injury history, so despite being a sixth round pick, Vidal could end up playing a big role for LA this coming season, whether that was the Chargers plan or not.
36 – Luke McCaffrey – WR – Washington Commanders
McCaffrey, a former quarterback, has only spent two seasons at wide receiver but still produced over 1,700 yards and 19 touchdowns during that span. He’s a developmental project, but he has the work ethic and raw athletic traits that can turn him into a real NFL player.
-Devon Gallant
Twitter: @DevGallant
Photo: Tammy Anthony Baker. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.