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

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

D.J. Giddens (RB – Kansas State)

Stats:

2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 16th
- Breakaway rate: 6th
- PFF elusive rating: 22nd
- PFF receiving grade: 118th
- Yards per route run: 59th
2023 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 76th
- Breakaway rate: 117th
- PFF elusive rating: 55th
- PFF receiving grade: 72nd
- Yards per route run: 40th

Scouting report:

Giddens is an upright runner with surprisingly nimble feet and underrated contact balance, especially considering his running style. Most upright rushers get cut down easily with low hits and can struggle in short-yardage situations, but not Giddens. Giddens has the leg drive and finishing power to push piles and carry defenders for a few extra yards after first contact.
Giddens is a second-level yards-creating artist. He has an explosive jump cut and impressive lateral agility. He has a plethora of runs where he sticks his foot in the turf and teleports laterally, evading defenders in the second level. It’s incredibly fun to watch. He loses little speed in the process and can quickly hit his second gear and leave defenders flailing.
Giddens wins with footwork, vision, and explosive lateral agility. While you don’t see him stiff-arm defenders into the ground much, he does have a wicked spin move that can make the opposition look silly. Giddens has plenty of raw speed to hit homers in the NFL. His sixth-best breakaway rate last year is no fluke.
He still needs to grow at the next level in the pass protection department. Giddens will drop his eyes and lunge at incoming defenders. There are plenty of reps where he’ll land his shoulder shot in the mid-section of a rusher, but there are also snaps where he looks like a bull versus a matador. All it will take is for his quarterback to get smushed once when his bull in a china shop routine misses, and he’ll work diligently to rid his game of this approach.
Giddens has some untapped potential as a passing game weapon. He lined up in the slot or out wide with 12.4% of his collegiate snaps. Giddens was utilized as a check-down option in the passing game while also excelling with wheel routes, angle routes, and more. His route tree could be expanded in the NFL, but he does have stiff hips at times, but his crisp footwork helps to cover it up. Giddens did pile up five ghastly drops in 2024, but many of these were more of the concentration variety than Giddens having flawed hands.

Player Comp: Ryan Mathews

Check out my complete Dynasty Rookie Draft Running Backs Primer

Dynasty Rookie Draft Running Backs Rankings

Dynasty Rookie Draft Wide Receivers

Matthew Golden (WR – Texas)

Stats:

2024 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
- Yards per route run: 94th
- PFF receiving grade: 69th

Scouting report:

Golden is a smooth route runner. His varied release package and crisp moves at the top of his stem allow him to gain consistent, easy separation. Golden can gear down easily and drop his hips.
With Golden’s route running and fluid ability to change directions, he can carve up defenses in the short and intermediate areas of the field. He can be a high-volume wide receiver in the NFL while also possessing the speed to get downfield.
When he is utilized downfield, he exhibits strong ball tracking and a quick return to top speed with double moves. Golden can dance in corners blindspots or threaten the outside shoulder before snapping off his routes and leaving them in the dust.
He isn’t a ball-winner at the catch point or a monster after the catch. His lack of play strength can highlight his shortcomings. Golden had only 5.6 yards after the catch per reception in college and less than a 40% contested catch rate in two of his three seasons.

Player Comp: Tyler Lockett

Check out my complete Dynasty Rookie Draft Wide Receivers Primer

Dynasty Rookie Draft Wide Receivers Rankings

Dynasty Rookie Draft Tight Ends

Elijah Arroyo (TE – Miami)

Stats:

2024 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards per route run: 23rd
- PFF receiving grade: 21st
- YAC per reception: 2nd
Career
- 2024: 56.1% of his snaps from the slot or the perimeter
- ACL tear in 2022

Scouting Report:

Elijah Arroyo is an athletic move tight end who can be a mismatch for any pass defense. Arroyo was utilized in motion, up the seam and on screens a ton in 2024. This was done to maximize his after-the-catch abilities, give him free releases off the line and hide some of the route-running growth he still needs to achieve.
Arroyo is an upright runner and long strider who can chew up space quickly in the open field. He has 4.5/4.6 40-yard speed. He has surprisingly good deceleration and nice footwork for his size. He doesn’t use his plus feet enough in his route running or off the line to this point. Linebackers that are physical and can run with him don’t have a hard time staying with him. Arroyo’s routes lack that added nuance that can allow him to separate early and late, and his release package is limited. Arroyo can succeed against zone coverage with a decent feel for finding the holes in the coverage, but he’ll need to grow his game if he hopes to become a true mismatch weapon that can match with man coverage and good coverage linebackers.
Arroyo uses his speed well after the catch, but he needs his play strength to show up more consistently. He forced only five missed tackles in college. He has the athleticism and upper body strength (as exhibited in his blocking) to improve in this area. I’d love to see Arroyo stiff-arm defenders in the NFL.
Arroyo is a functional blocker. He has a decent anchor, can set the edge in run blocking and can operate as a puller. He displaces defenders but isn’t an overwhelming people mover.

Player Comp: Evan Engram

Check out my complete Dynasty Rookie Draft Tight Ends Primer

Dynasty Rookie Draft Tight Ends Rankings