The 2025 NFL Draft is less than five weeks away, meaning dynasty rookie drafts aren’t too far behind. Last year, fantasy players wanted to secure a top-seven pick, guaranteeing them Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, Drake Maye, Brock Bowers, or Rome Odunze. After the first seven players, there was a significant drop in talent.
However, this year’s rookie draft class doesn’t have the upside as last year’s group. Furthermore, there is no certainty on which order the rookies will drafted after pick 1.01. Therefore, fantasy players should rely on tiers and target certain ranges over specific draft picks.
Let’s look at some rookie draft pick ranges that fantasy players should target in trade talks based on a 12-team superflex format.
The 2025 NFL Draft is less than five weeks away, meaning dynasty rookie drafts aren’t too far behind. Last year, fantasy players wanted to secure a top-seven pick, guaranteeing them Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, Drake Maye, Brock Bowers, or Rome Odunze. After the first seven players, there was a significant drop in talent.
However, this year’s rookie draft class doesn’t have the upside as last year’s group. Furthermore, there is no certainty on which order the rookies will drafted after pick 1.01. Therefore, fantasy players should rely on tiers and target certain ranges over specific draft picks.
Let’s look at some rookie draft pick ranges that fantasy players should target in trade talks based on a 12-team superflex format.
Dynasty Rookie Draft Picks to Target
Pick 1.01
Ashton Jeanty is the clear-cut 1.01 pick in dynasty rookie drafts. While some have argued for taking Cam Ward over the superstar running back with the top pick in superflex rookie drafts, that would be a massive mistake. The former Boise State star was the top running back in college football last season, leading the country in rushing yards. Furthermore, his yards after contact were more than any other running back’s total rushing yards in 2024. Jeanty is on par with Saquon Barkley and Bijan Robinson as pre-draft prospects.
The Next Six Picks
Fantasy players will likely have to overpay to secure the 1.01 pick at this point in the offseason. However, trading for the second through seventh picks is an excellent backup plan. Ideally, fantasy players want the 1.02 pick, allowing them to draft anyone but Ashton Jeanty. Yet, landing the 1.07 at a much cheaper cost is the better move to make. Fantasy players can secure one of the second-tier players with a top-seven pick: Cam Ward, Tetairoa McMillan, Shedeur Sanders, Omarion Hampton, Tyler Warren, or TreVeyon Henderson.
2.01-2.04 Range
Remember to trust your tier rankings. The next target zone for me is an early second-round pick. Fantasy players in the 2.01 to 2.04 range will catch the tail end of the third tier made of Matthew Golden, Emeka Egbuka, Quinshon Judkins, Luther Burden III, Travis Hunter, Colston Loveland, Jaxson Dart, Kaleb Johnson, and Tre Harris. Furthermore, early second-round rookie picks are valuable trade assets, just like in the NFL Draft, because someone will want a certain player they felt shouldn’t have slipped and will pay up to draft them.
Third & Fourth Rounders
Third and fourth-round picks are some of my favorites to trade for every year. This is the draft range where you go get “your guy.” Sometimes, it doesn’t work out, and you draft Luke Musgrave or Roman Wilson. However, sometimes it becomes a massive steal, and you land Puka Nacua or Bucky Irving. Whether it works out or not, this is the time to trust your gut and target your guy. Dylan Sampson and Quinn Ewers are two players in this range I will draft multiple shares of this year.
2026 & 2027 Rookie Picks
The best time to acquire future year draft picks is during the current rookie draft. Fantasy players tend to be shortsighted and will trade future picks to draft another player now. The 2025 class is solid but lacks multiple elite upside prospects or significant depth. Therefore, fantasy players should explore trading this year’s picks for 2026 and 2027 selections. The 2026 class should be better than this year’s group. However, the 2027 picks are the ideal target, with Arch Manning, Jeremiah Smith, and Ryan Williams headlining the elite draft class.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.
