Dynasty Rookie Draft Rankings, Tiers & Advice (2025 Fantasy Football)

It’s that time again. Dynasty rookie draft fever SZN is here. The 2025 NFL Draft will be here before we know it, and rookie drafts will start flying daily. Before you dive head-first into our fantasy football mock draft simulator and run 3,000 rookie drafts in preparation, please read up on this talented prospect class as I roll through my quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end dynasty rookie draft positional primers. Below you can find snippets of my primers along with my dynasty rookie draft rankings and tiers.

Dynasty Rookie Draft Primer

Let’s dive into my dynasty rookie draft content to help you prepare for your drafts!

Dynasty Rookie Draft Quarterbacks

1) Shedeur Sanders (QB – Colorado)

Shedeur Sanders accuracy is IMPRESSIVE.

Incredibly accurate to all three levels with damn good ball placement. Dude is consistently throwing dudes open.

— Derek Brown (@DBro_FFB) February 5, 2025

Stats:

2024 (minimum 150 dropbacks)
- PFF passing grade: 3rd
- Adjusted completion rate: 4th
- Yards per attempt: 12th
- Big-time throw rate: 39th

Deep passing (minimum 20 deep passing attempts)
- Adjusted completion rate: 18th
- Deep throw rate: 63rd
Pressured passing (minimum 50 pressured dropbacks)
- Pressured adjusted completion rate: 17th
- Clean pocket adjusted completion rate: 2nd
- Clean pocket passer rating: 8th

2023 (minimum 150 dropbacks)
- PFF passing grade: 8th
- Adjusted completion rate: 8th
- Yards per attempt: 66th
- Big-time throw rate: 46th

Deep passing (minimum 20 deep passing attempts)
- Adjusted completion rate: 57th
- Deep throw rate: 111th
Pressured passing (minimum 50 pressured dropbacks)
- Pressured adjusted completion rate: 17th
- Clean pocket adjusted completion rate: 5th
- Clean pocket passer rating: 18th

Scouting Report:

Shedeur Sanders’ mechanics are so smooth. He arrives in the NFL with solid and efficient footwork, a lightning-fast release and an easily repeatable throwing motion. Sanders isn’t a hyper-mobile quarterback, but his pocket movement and escapability are impressive. He will slide in the pocket and spin out of incoming rushers and then he will quickly reset his base with his eyes locked downfield.
Sanders will hold the ball at times, and this will be a talking point during the draft cycle, but let’s provide some context regarding this. Last year, he had the 23rd-highest time to throw among all FBS quarterbacks with at least 150 dropbacks. Does Sanders have moments where he should get rid of the ball quicker/on time? Sure, they are there, but it’s not consistent and isn’t a problem. Overall, Sanders does a good job feeling the rush and playing from the pocket on time. The offensive line for Colorado was rough (2024: 51st in pass blocking grade), routinely allowing quick pressure and free rushers in Sanders’ face. Sanders was forced to use his escapability and superb footwork to elude defenders and extend plays far too often. This fact will naturally increase Sanders’ time to throw. The better barometer for his play in this regard is the fact his pressure-to-sack ratio was 20.2% or lower in three of his four collegiate seasons.
He doesn’t have a cannon for an arm, but Sanders has plenty of arm strength to make every throw an NFL offense will need. His accuracy and ball placement are his superpowers. He layers some very nice throws into the second level and beyond, opting for dialing down the velocity, as he instead prioritizes ball placement. Sanders routinely puts the ball where only his receivers can get it. He routinely throws his receivers open and laces deep passes into tight windows. Sanders has no issues standing tall in the pocket and taking a big hit to deliver an accurate ball to his receiver.
Sanders’ high football IQ shows up consistently in the film. He will move up in the pocket and threaten to take off running to freeze linebackers as his wide receivers come open. He is also patient and will wait for his receivers to clear defenders on crossing routes as he waits for a second window to open up.
The Colorado offense was screen-heavy and utilized a lot of quick passing, but this could have easily been a result of the state of their offensive line. Sanders is an intelligent player. His film is littered with him moving through progressions quickly and moving defenders with his eyes. I don’t have a high level of concern with him going through full-field reads in the NFL.
Sanders can scramble when needed, but I don’t consider him to be a rushing threat in the NFL. He will be a pocket passer who can buy time with his legs and pick up the occasional chunk yardage on the ground if the defense falls asleep or a play breaks down.

Player Comp: Brock Purdy

Check out my complete Dynasty Rookie Draft Quarterback Primer

Dynasty Rookie Draft Quarterback Rankings

Dynasty Rookie Draft Running Backs

1) Ashton Jeanty (RB – Boise State)

Stats:

2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 1st
- Breakaway rate: 12th
- PFF elusive rating: 1st
- PFF receiving grade: 103rd
- Yards per route run: 109th
2023 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 3rd
- Breakaway rate: 53rd
- PFF elusive rating: 2nd
- PFF receiving grade: 1st
- Yards per route run: 2nd

Scouting Report:

Ashton Jeanty is an elite rusher of the football. His combination of contact balance and effortless acceleration is incredibly fun to watch. Jeanty doesn’t lose speed when stringing tackle-breaking moves together. He has a Batman-level tool belt to deploy against incoming defenders. Jeanty can juke, jump cut, stiff arm and spin out of wraps.
In his final collegiate season, defenses knew they were going to receive a heaping dose of Jeanty, and they were powerless to slow him down. He had at least 100 rushing yards in every game in 2024 except his season finale (six games with at least 200 rushing yards).
Defenders have to attack Jeanty with superb tackling technique or he’ll make them pay. Jeanty has a unique combo of speed and power packed into a muscled-up frame. He sheds defenders with ease and routinely makes the first would-be tackler miss. It’s rare to see the first defender he encounters bring him down.
Jeanty has a no-nonsense running style. He is quick and decisive, diagnosing how to weave through the offensive line and the second level of a defense. Jeanty has superb vision, as he will also let off the gas at times to allow his blocks to set up in front of him. I have no worries about his speed. His home run gear might not be truly “elite,” but he has plenty of juice to break long runs and snap the spine of a defense in the process.
If there’s one area Jeanty can improve in the NFL it’s his skills as a short-yardage back. He has the leg drive and lower-half power to excel in this role, but at times he runs too upright when there are only a few yards to gain or a goal-line situation. Defenders can get up under his pads and push him back or halt his momentum.
Jeanty is a pass-game weapon. His usage in the passing game changed drastically from 2023 to 2024. In his final season, Boise State stripped him of his versatility and poured more touches into the early downs. In 2023, he lined up in the slot or out wide on 18.3% of his snaps. In 2024, that figure dropped to 2.3%.
Jeanty is fluid in his route running. His smooth hips allow him to turn on a dime. He was utilized mainly on flat routes and as a check-down option. Jeanty did have an expanded route tree in 2023 with some go routes and outs. He displayed easy separation and superb body control with these reps, securing some back-shoulder targets. Jeanty has the skills as a receiver to see his role expand immensely in this area in the NFL.
Jeanty still needs to hone his pass-protection skills. He was a chip-only option on plenty of passing downs. He will drop his eyes at times and lunge at defenders. He also needs to square up defenders better and get low to lock them down and anchor. Jeanty has the necessary lower-half strength, tenacity and play strength to improve in this area in the NFL.

Player Comp: LaDainian Tomlinson

Check out my complete Dynasty Rookie Draft Running Backs Primer

Dynasty Rookie Draft Running Backs Rankings

Dynasty Rookie Draft Wide Receivers

1) Tetairoa McMillan (WR – Arizona)

Stats:

2024 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
- Yards per route run: 17th
- PFF receiving grade: 10th
2023 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
- Yards per route run: 21st
- PFF receiving grade: 11th

Scouting Report:

Wide receivers who are 6-foot-5 should not move the way that McMillan does. When a player of McMillan’s size can run a crisp whip route, I take notice. McMillan can pull this off. His hips are fluid and allow him to uncover quickly at the top of his stem. Add in his footwork, and McMillan moves like a 6-foot-1 receiver. It’s incredibly impressive.
McMillan has no issues separating early and late in his routes. His start/stop ability and short area burst are exceptional. Yes, you’ll see some routes where McMillan has defenders muddying the catch point, but that doesn’t mean he can’t separate.
McMillan is an underrated route technician. He adds subtle head fakes, jab steps, pacing variations and more to his routes. McMillan understands leverage, when to sit down versus zone and when to exploit a corner’s blindspot. He also has multiple moments on film where he waits for a corner to flip their hips in the wrong direction before snapping off his route at the top of the stem.
McMillan has excellent body control in the air to play above the rim and in the red zone. He’s a catch-point bully with vice grips for hands. His catch radius is massive as he also has the flexibility to adjust to ankle biters and scoop them off his shoe laces. Over the last two seasons, McMillan secured 54.6% of his contested targets.
McMillan is battle-tested against man coverage. He has the upper body strength, play strength, release package and route prowess to get loose from man coverage. Over the last two seasons, McMillan has had the third-most and 10th-most man coverage targets (among FBS wide receivers) while also ranking eighth and 10th in Yards per route run against man coverage.
McMillan can create yards after the catch (YAC) unlike many wide receivers of his size. His combination of immediate acceleration and tackle-breaking shows up in the metrics. Last year, he ranked second in missed tackles forced and 27th in YAC.

Player Comp: Drake London with better YAC ability

Check out my complete Dynasty Rookie Draft Wide Receivers Primer

Dynasty Rookie Draft Wide Receivers Rankings

Dynasty Rookie Draft Tight Ends

1) Tyler Warren (TE – Penn State)

Stats:

2024 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards per route run: 3rd
- PFF receiving grade: 2nd
- MTF (Missed Tackles Forced): 2nd
- YAC: 2nd

Scouting Report:

Tyler Warren plays with a palpable chip on his shoulder. There are plenty of plays where, as a runner after the catch or as a blocker, he has those Mike Alstott moments. Where you find yourself saying to your computer screen, “Good lawd… Tyler, that man has a family.” This nastiness will ignite any roster and set the tone for an offense. Warren can run through would-be tackles or maul incoming defenders attempting to bring him down.
Warren is a plug-and-play three-down tight end. He should enter the NFL as a serviceable (if not above-average) run-blocking tight end who can immediately offer competency in pass protection. His skills as a receiver are already well-known.
Warren is a versatile chess piece that can be aligned in the backfield, inline and on the perimeter.
He is a strong route runner with quick feet, fluid hips and a good understanding of how to attack leverage and different coverages. He is more quick than fast, but the loose hips allow him to uncover and create separation at the top of his stem and with stop routes.
Warren has the hops and strength at the catch point to play over the rim and win in the red zone. He can box out defenders and win 50/50 balls in the air. The body control he exhibits in the air is impressive for his size.
Warren doesn’t have 4.5 raw speed, but I won’t be surprised if he runs a strong 4.6 40-yard dash. He can be used down the seam, but he will likely have a defender hanging with him at the catch point. If he is being utilized as a downfield weapon, it’s best with deep crossers and posts/corners.

Player Comp: Jeremy Shockey

Check out my complete Dynasty Rookie Draft Tight Ends Primer

Dynasty Rookie Draft Tight Ends Rankings