2025 Dynasty Rookie Rankings: Post NFL Draft

by John Laub · Featured
2025 Dynasty Rookie Rankings

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2025 Dynasty Rookie Rankings: Post NFL Draft

Fantastic Fantasy Freshmen Along with Projections 

After a whirlwind 48 hours watching the Draft, it is imperative to once again assess the incoming rookies in a new light after learning their landing spots. I am dismayed at where some players touched down, the draft capital earned by some prospects, and a few organizations’ team-building strategies. Therefore, readjusting pre-draft rankings provides readers with insight into the top rookies in Dynasty and redraft leagues.

The post-draft rankings are affected by three essential elements: a player’s football skills, organizational landing spot, and opportunity for touches. The fantastic freshmen are in tiers—Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude and Cum Laude—to provide flexibility based on a fantasy league’s scoring format, roster construction and starting-lineup requirements.

I also include 2025 projected rookie statistics for fantasy footballers to whet their appetites by examining the tiers and projections incorporating the aforementioned criteria. Please smash the link below to see the rankings for 1-QB and SuperFlex Rookie Drafts…Enjoy, my fellow football fanatics!

Smash link below for 1-QB and S-Flex Post-Draft Rankings 

Scholar’s 2025 Rookie Dynasty Rankings

Summa Cum Laude

RB Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders

Ashton Jeanty stands among the finest running back prospects to enter the league in my 47 years of watching football, and one of the easiest rankings over twelve years of profiling rookies. He produced prodigious numbers at Boise State and will replicate his production for the Raiders and coach Pete Carroll. It is nearly a perfect match between offensive scheme, coaching philosophy, and football talent. In Seattle, Carroll made studs out of Marshawn Lynch, Chris Carson, and Kenneth Walker. In Las Vegas, Jeanty instantly joins the shining neon lights on the Vegas Strip and ascends to fantasy stardom this fall.

Notebook: “There is special makeup in Ashton. His ability to make plays when there isn’t anything there—Marshawn (Lynch) did that throughout his career. Ashton found a physical way to bank and bounce off people and keep (a run) alive. It is one of the aspects of Ashton’s style that his burst complements,” new Raiders’ coach Pete Carroll said (Raiders.com).

2025 Projections: 1,400 rushing yards, 400 receiving yards, 55 catches, and 12 total touchdowns

WR Travis Hunter, Jacksonville Jaguars

In January, I stated that Travis Hunter was a better receiver than a corner as a prospect. At the time, I received some comments that questioned my sanity and ability to assess rookies. Now, it seems like the fantasy community, and more importantly, the Jaguars, agree with my analysis. It is difficult for some prospect analysts, media members, and fantasy fans to identify unicorns: Hunter is in the same pantheon as Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders as a generational athlete, and many do not recognize it. With elite ball skills and athleticism, the Heisman winner must be employed on both sides of the ball as a professional to maximize his talents.

Last year, Hunter played over 1,400 snaps for the Buffaloes and dominated defensive backs as a receiver. Jacksonville traded up for Hunter and plans on employing him on both sides of the ball. There is no question that he can play over 1,200 snaps as a rookie, and it would be coaching malfeasance not to have a pre-planned strategy to get the ball in his hands as often as possible. Do not overthink it—draft Hunter with unwavering confidence in 2025.

Notebook: “We know (Hunter) is going to be able to play both (WR and CB). We feel that in our bones. We’re going to set that up with a schedule, from an operations standpoint, the way that we’re going to operate for him, to set him up to have the most success that he can. Then, his (unique skills) help the Jacksonville Jaguars become the best version of ourselves,” new Jaguars coach Liam Coen stated the day after the Draft (Jaguars.com).

2025 Projections: 60 catches for 840 yards and 7 touchdowns

RB RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos

Coach Sean Payton has rebuilt the Broncos’ offense over the past three Drafts. Last year, Payton snagged QB Bo Nix in the first round, and this year, he selected RJ Harvey in the third round to excel in his ground game. In New Orleans, Payton produced a plethora of fantasy ball carriers: Deuce McAllister, Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas, Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara. It is the system! Harvey only has to battle Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime for carries. He is a three-down back who will garner touches via the air, and the rookie will easily ascend to the top of the depth chart. He has skyrocketed up rookie rankings, and an astute fantasy manager will be bullish on acquiring the Broncos’ back.

Notebook: “His running style—we feel he’s dynamic. Harvey has really good vision, really good instincts, really good contact balance, and is highly explosive. We watched every carry, every catch. He’s got soft hands. He does a lot of those things well. His ability to get in and out [of his breaks], his ability to catch [stood out]. You can see he has instincts in the pass game. Man, he had a lot of big plays in the pass game,” coach Sean Payton stated after the Broncos selected the former UCF runner (DenverBroncos.com).

2025 Projections: 1,075 rushing yards, 350 receiving yards, 45 catches, and 10 total touchdowns


Magna Cum Laude

RB Kaleb Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers

Like many fantasy fanatics, I identified the Steelers as one of the premier backfields for a running back to land. Hello, Kaleb Johnson! The former Iowa Hawkeye rushed for over 1,500 yards last year and excelled in an outside zone scheme. Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith runs lots of outside zone, which is the near-perfect fit for Johnson. 

Over the past three seasons, Najee Harris earned well over 250 carries and surpassed 1,000 yards in each campaign. He also averaged seven rushing touchdowns from 2022 to 2024. At 6-0 and 225 pounds, Johnson profiles as a workhorse back who is physically tough and employs vision and patience to blast upfield. The rookie’s fantasy ceiling is likely capped based on Smith’s preference to rotate runners, and veteran Jaylen Warren will still have a role in the Steel City backfield. In 2025, I foresee Johnson becoming a Top 24 fantasy runner.

Notebook: “Excited about getting Kaleb Johnson in here. Really explosive running back that we spent some time with on a 30 visit. One of the more instinctive backs that I’ve watched in a couple of years coming out of the draft. Really impressive as a volume runner as the game went on. We also think he’s a great culture fit,” Steelers’ offensive coordinator Smith declared (Steelers.com).

2025 Projections: 1,100 rushing yards, 100 receiving yards, 10 catches and 11 total touchdowns

RB Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers

Who remembers watching QB Jim Harbaugh at Michigan? Can readers recall the 1995 AFC Championship Game when Harbaugh almost led Indianapolis to victory in Pittsburgh? How about the 49ers team that reached the Super Bowl versus the Ravens under the former Michigan coach? I have been watching the Chargers’ head coach for decades. Under Harbaugh, Chargers’ Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman pounded the ball in San Francisco. In Baltimore from 2019-2022, Roman ran the ball down opponents’ throats before coming to Los Angeles last year for another stint with Harbaugh. From a fantasy perspective, the offense is really predictable—start the running back in Roman’s scheme.

In the offseason, the Chargers signed free agent Najee Harris to a one-year contract and drafted his replacement down the road: Omarion Hampton. At 6-0 and 220 pounds, the former Tar Heel is a north-south runner with very good body control and contact balance. He is also elusive in tight spaces and logged 139 missed tackles over the past two seasons. The rookie looks poised to become a star in Los Angeles, but fantasy managers will have to wait one season while Harris garners significant carries for Roman and Harbaugh.

Notebook: “(Hampton) is a guy, through the process in the fall, the scouts identified early on as a player they really love. Coaches got involved, same thing. A lot of love for him, a guy we felt could impact our team and really a guy who’s held his water through the entire process. Absolutely fired up to get Hampton. I feel like we got stronger and better,” Chargers’ General Manager Joe Hortiz added (Chargers.com).

2025 Projections: 700 rushing yards, 125 receiving yards, 20 catches, and 8 total touchdowns

WR Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers

In my pre-draft rankings, Tetairoa McMillan stood atop the wide receivers and still stands tall despite landing in a non-idyllic spot in Carolina. For the aerial assault, the Panthers are seeking to take flight under QB Bryce Young, and McMillan provides much-needed lift. He immediately steps onto the field as the starting X-receiver, commanding the boundary in tough one-on-one matchups with cornerbacks.

At 6-5 and 212 pounds, McMillan is an elite ball tracker with good hands who wins vertically. In contested-catch situations, he uses a large wingspan and catch radius to snatch the pigskin. If Young continues to play better and improve as a passer, McMillan will be one of the main factors in Young’s progress and the Panthers’ upgraded air attack. The newest Carolina receiver is in a good position to make an instantaneous impact on fantasy rosters.

Notebook: “McMillan is a baller. There’s a simple way to look at it. Watch film, and the ballers show up. And they make plays in big moments, and they’re always looking to do something special,” Panthers’ coach Dave Canales noted (Panthers.com).

2025 Projections: 68 catches for 840 yards and 6 touchdowns

WR Matthew Golden, Green Bay Packers

When an NFL team composes a wide receiver corps, razor-sharp organizations understand the simpatico nature of putting five competitors together with different skill sets. Three years ago, the Packers selected Christian Watson as a vertical threat to take the top off the defense. Unfortunately, he has not been able to remain on the field, and the offense needs a reliable home run hitter to open up the middle of the defense. After logging a 4.29 in the 40-Yard Dash, Matthew Golden shot up draft boards, and Green Bay took the former Longhorn with the 23rd pick in the Draft.

In the past, I have been very wary of speedsters transitioning to the NFL. Lower than consensus rankings on Kadarius Toney, Henry Ruggs, Mecole Hardman, and John Ross, I avoided all of the sprinters in Dynasty or redraft leagues despite the draft capital by NFL organizations. Golden is a better route runner than the aforementioned players, and I am confident that he will be far more productive as a professional. Breaking out as a freshman at Houston, he left college after three seasons and landed in a strong organization with a great coach and strong-armed quarterback. The explosive gamebreaker provides a needed deep threat for Green Bay and will settle into a coveted role in coach Matt LaFleur’s passing game.

Notebook: “(Golden) showed everyone his speed and explosiveness at the Combine, but what a great player Matthew is. What I really loved about him was the way he worked, his commitment to his craft, and how he got better as the year went on. The end result was that he was our most productive and reliable receiver,” Texas Longhorns’ coach Steve Sarkisian reflected (Packerswire.com).

2025 Projections: 55 catches for 825 yards and 6 touchdowns


Cum Laude

RB TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots

The Patriots acquired their franchise quarterback last year and drafted four consecutive offensive players to give Drake Maye an opportunity to take a dramatic step forward. New England selected two offensive linemen (LT Will Campbell and C Jared Wilson), WR Kyle Williams, and RB TreVeyon Henderson. All four players will contribute to an offense that needs a jump start after finishing 31st in Total Offense last year. 

A home run hitter, Henderson is explosive out of the backfield and is a nice complement to the incumbent Rhamondre Stevenson. The former Ohio State star is a three-down back with natural hands and the best pass protector among all the rookie runners. The offense, and more importantly Maye, needed a difference maker out of the backfield. In 2025, Henderson will fulfill the role for the Patriots and fantasy footballers.

Notebook: “Honestly, I had no clue that New England was going to be the spot. It was definitely a surprise for me. When I was getting the call, I was shocked. I was definitely shocked,” Henderson revealed after the Draft (patspulpit.com). 

2025 Projections: 700 rushing yards, 350 receiving yards, 40 catches and 7 total touchdowns

RB Quinshon Judkins, Cleveland Browns

In 2018, I had to make a very challenging decision to select either Derrius Guice or Nick Chubb in rookie drafts. I ranked Guice over Chubb, but the gap between the two was very close. So, I took a middle ground and selected both runners on two teams among my seven leagues. Of course, Chubb turned out to be the correct choice. I feel like the same option confronts Dynasty players between former Ohio State teammates TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins. 

In my process and analysis, I have Henderson over Judkins based on PPR-upside. But I do see the argument for the newest Browns’ running back. At 5-11 and 210 pounds, Judkins is a scheme-adverse competitor who can easily transition to coach Kevin Stefanski’s run scheme. With quick feet, he is a one-cut runner and is difficult to tackle one-on-one. He shines up the middle of the defense and has good lateral agility to make cuts in the hole. Alas, the Browns also selected RB Dylan Sampson in the fourth round: How many carries will the former Tennessee ball carrier earn? Judkins is clearly a first-round selection in rookie drafts, notwithstanding his limited upside as a pass-catcher for the Browns.

Notebook: “Just having to play in the two hardest conferences in college football and playing in two different environments where I feel like the SEC has a different style of play than the Big Ten as well, they’re just too different. But getting the opportunity to play in both of them has helped me excel and further my career and be better as a player,” Judkins reflected after landing in Cleveland (clevelandbrowns.com). 

2025 Projections: 850 rushing yards, 100 receiving yards, 15 catches and 6 total touchdowns

QB Cam Ward, Tennessee

I usually do not highlight rookie quarterbacks in this article, but there are exceptions to rules. Therefore, Cam Ward deserves mention among the fantastic freshmen. Dynasty managers must balance short- and long-term production at quarterback. A rookie signal caller is not likely to score many fantasy points. Nonetheless, rookie quarterbacks Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix finished the season among the top 10 fantasy scorers in 2024. 

While the former Hurricanes’ All-American is not likely to replicate the success of Daniels and Nix, Ward is being overlooked by the Dynasty community. He is a solid quarterback with a high football IQ and live arm. Having already excelled in three different offensive systems in college, Ward will be able to learn the offense rapidly and take over the reins immediately in Tennessee. It would not be surprising if Ward finishes the upcoming crusade among the Top 18 fantasy quarterbacks.

Notebook: “I was hoping (the Titans) would pick me for real, especially when I got to learn more about Coach (Brian) Callahan’s offense, new General Manager Mike (Borgonzi), and President Chad (Brinker). So, I am excited. It all worked out in the long run. At the end of the day, I am just trying to be with my teammates, have command of the huddle, and try to win games, that is our main goal,” Ward expressed after being drafted No. 1 overall (Titans.com).

2025 Projections: 3,250 passing yards, 300 rushing yards, and 20 total touchdowns

WR Jayden Higgins, Houston Texans

I am surprised to hear so many analysts compare Jayden Higgins with his new teammate, Nico Collins. I wonder if any actually watched the tape. Higgins wins far differently than Collins, even though they look similar in size and frame. Collins is a home run hitter who terrorizes secondaries deep, forces safeties to backpedal, and look over their shoulders. Higgins excels in the middle of the defense, running short crossers and quick hitches, using his body to shield off defenders. He is a perfect supplement for QB C.J. Stroud and Collins in the passing game.

Higgins has a massive wingspan, frame, and catch radius at 6-4 and 215 pounds. The former Cyclones’ playmaker is a savvy competitor who is a good leaper and employs leverage to gain positioning. Using shoulder and head fakes, Higgins finds holes in zone coverages and is a versatile receiver who can line up inside and outside of the formation. The Texans’ Twin Towers are going to be a major challenge for secondaries, and Stroud will benefit from a pass-catching duo with size and speed. Higgins has moved up in my rankings after the Draft and looks like a good long-term playmaker in Houston.

Notebook: “Jaylin is a really good football player. Inside receiver, plays outside of formations, is a punt returner, handles the ball. He’s tough. After the Draft, we got feedback from some teams, just unsolicited. Literally one of the best 30-man visits that they had,” noted Texans’ General Manager Nick Caserio (thegazette.com).

2025 Projections: 65 catches for 700 yards and 5 touchdowns

WR Kyle Williams, New England Patriots

I fell out of my recliner when the Patriots selected Kyle Williams with the 69th pick in the Draft. It is an idyllic landing spot for the former Washington State playmaker to flourish. When Drake Maye drilled the football in Chapel Hill, NC, he relied on WR Josh Downs in critical situations. Williams’ skills and route running mirror Downs, and the freshman will become a favorite for the Patriots’ sophomore signal caller. 

Other than free agent signee Stephon Diggs, the New England depth chart is wide open at receiver: Demario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker are not a difficult quartet to overcome. Williams’ fantasy production will clearly be dependent on the improved passing of Drake, and selecting rookie wideouts attached to young rocket-armed passers is always a good wager to make at the right price in Dynasty drafts.

Notebook: “Kyle is fast, can play outside and inside, really good with the ball in his hands. For an undersized guy, he’s really tough. He doesn’t shy away from anything. His ability to win off the line with his releases and accelerate. There are still some things that he could work on and clean up, which I’m sure Todd [Downing] and Josh [McDaniels] will work with him on, but that was something that stood out to us throughout the process,” Patriots EVP of player personnel Eliot Wolf declared (patspulpit.com). 

2025 Projections: 60 catches for 730 yards and 4 touchdowns

WR Luther Burden, Chicago Bears

While the national media and casual fans focused on the fall of QB Shedeur Sanders, hardcore footballers watched to see if Luther Burden would be taken on Day 1. He went undrafted, and at long last, the Bears plucked him off the board on Day 2. Regrettably, Burden will suit up for a team with many offensive weapons (DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, Colston Loveland, DeAndre Swift, and Cole Kmet) under first-year coach Ben Johnson. Is there enough fantasy production for all of the Chicago playmakers?

Burden kicked off the 2024 campaign as one of the top receiver prospects in the country, but disappointed scouts and fans with a poor season at Missouri after earning All-America the year before. Despite ranking among the top two receivers by many draftniks, he was the sixth receiver selected (Hunter included). An optimist will believe that Johnson and the coaching staff have a plan for Burden’s unique skill set in the offense, and he will be peppered with targets. A pessimist will be of the opinion that there are too many quality playmakers and the ball will be spread around, which limits Burden’s fantasy outlook. Without question, there is a wide range of outcomes for the rookie; nevertheless, Burden is a high-ceiling prospect who is a nice pick in the second round of Dynasty rookie drafts.

Notebook: “It was clear (Burden) was the most talented player on the board. We think he’s an electric player, highly competitive (playmaker), and the run after the catch is special, probably best in this class. When you add that to the group that we have, things get pretty exciting,” Bears General Manager Ryan Poles said after selecting Burden in the second round on Friday (chicagetribune.com).

2025 Projections: 65 catches for 700 yards and 4 touchdowns

TE Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts

In Dynasty drafts, I do not select tight ends in the first round. The strategy has been successful for the most part, allowing me to avoid Eric Ebron, Hunter Henry, O.J. Howard, Kyle Pitts, and Dalton Kincaid. I prefer to uncover a hidden gemstone in the second round at the position. Of course, it cost me Brock Bowers in last year’s rookie drafts, but I am not willing to alter my strategy after one season. 

Therefore, when is the correct time to select Tyler Warren? In non-TE premium leagues, Warren is a mid-first-round selection in early drafts. I am not likely to select the newest member of the Colts and will seek value at the position in the second or third rounds, i.e., Mason Taylor, Jets, or Terrance Ferguson, Rams, who both landed in terrific spots to produce fantasy points. 

At 6-6 and 256 pounds, Warren is a versatile playmaker who was employed all over the formation at Penn State. A late-breakout competitor, the former Penn State star played five seasons in State College and won the John Mackey Award last season. Every fantasy owner must ask: To Draft or Not to Draft Warren in the first round?

Notebook: “(Warren) is a guy that can do it all. He’s an in-line (player), he can block, you can split him out wide, you can throw middle screens just get the ball in his hands however you can. You got a target that big with that size, he plays above the rim. Sometimes when guys are on him, he’s still open,” Colts’ coach Shane Steichen asserted (Colts.com)

2025 Projections: 45 catches for 550 yards and 5 touchdowns

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