And just like that, the first round of the NFL Draft is over. We started with an absolute bang, as the Jaguars paid up and moved up in order to select Travis Hunter with the second overall pick. The other biggest story of the night also featured a Colorado player, as Shedeur Sanders, once in the conversation to be the first-overall pick, fell all the way out of the first round. Sanders isn’t the only potential first-rounder who is still on the board, though. Let’s break down the top Dynasty fantasy football prospects still available heading into Friday and Day 2 of the NFL Draft.
NFL Draft Day 2: Top Remaining Dynasty Fantasy Football Prospects
Quarterback
Shedeur Sanders (QB — Colorado)
I absolutely have to start this article off with the aforementioned Sanders. His slide is one of the stories of the night, especially considering that the Giants chose to draft Jaxson Dart while he was still on the board. Although I expect Sanders’ slide to end fairly early once the draft begins again on Friday, the difference between first-round (especially early first-round) and second-round draft capital is massive for quarterbacks. Even in Superflex formats, Sanders is looking like a second-round Rookie pick, especially given that he doesn’t bring much fantasy upside with his legs.
Jalen Milroe (QB — Alabama)
Sanders will probably still go first in the real draft, but Milroe may be the more exciting fantasy option at this point. The former Alabama starter received an invite to the green room and gained some steam as a potential first-round pick late in the process, so he shouldn’t have to wait too long to hear his name on Friday. And from a fantasy perspective, Milroe is an incredibly exciting prospect. He is an elite dual-threat option, having rushed for over 700 yards and an absurd 20 touchdowns in his final season in Tuscaloosa.
With his rushing ability (not to mention 4.51 speed), Milroe’s fantasy upside is the highest of any QB in this class. The big question is whether he will be able to hold down a starting NFL job to make good on that upside – there is a reason he wasn’t drafted on Thursday. Still, assuming he is drafted in Round 2, Milroe’s ceiling will make him a very tempting option in the second round of Superflex Dynasty Rookie drafts … we just have to hope his career path is more Jalen Hurts than Anthony Richardson.
- Honorable Mention: Tyler Shough (QB — Louisville)
Running Back
TreVeyon Henderson (RB — Ohio State)
I’m a little disappointed to be writing this blurb, as there was steam late in the process that Henderson would join Ashton Jeanty and Omarion Hampton in the first round. One of two OSU running backs who should go off the board early on Day 2, Henderson is an explosive playmaker and an excellent receiver. He didn’t see elite volume during his college career, but he made up for it with incredible efficiency. In the right landing spot (looking at you, Cowboys and Broncos), he could immediately be a borderline RB1. Even in the wrong landing spot, he should be a Redraft-relevant player right away and a worthwhile pick in the back half of the first round in Dynasty Rookie drafts.
Kaleb Johnson (RB — Iowa)
Of all the players I’m going to mention in this article, Johnson is arguably the least surprising to still be on the board (well, except for the tight ends). He’s more likely to fall to the third round than he was to be selected in the first. That became even more true after he posted a time of 4.57 seconds in the 40-yard dash – that’s not terrible, especially considering his 224-lb weight, but it was one of the worst marks in this class.
However, Judkins’ potential as an early-down workhorse is very intriguing for fantasy. His pass-catching numbers also aren’t as discouraging as they seem at first glance once we account for Iowa’s low-volume passing offense. He is more landing-spot dependent than someone like Henderson, but Johnson could absolutely be worth a first-round Dynasty pick with the right landing spot in Round 2 or even Round 3.
- Honorable Mention: Quinshon Judkins (RB Ohio State)
Wide Receiver
Luther Burden (WR — Missouri)
At one point in the draft process, it would have been more of a shock that Burden is still on the board after the first round. But the Missouri product seemed more and more likely to fall to the second round as the Draft approached, and here we are. With that said, Burden is easily my favorite of the remaining receivers on the board. His analytical profile is excellent, arguably the best in the entire class.
It’s definitely possible to nitpick Burden’s usage, as he did the majority of his damage from the slot and relied heavily on schemed YAC targets. But it’s still hard to argue with over 1,200 yards and nine touchdowns as a true sophomore in the SEC (even if Burden’s third and final year at Missouri wasn’t quite as impressive). With the right landing spot early on Day 2, Burden should secure his place as a first-rounder in Dynasty Rookie drafts, albeit a late one.
- Honorable Mentions: Jayden Higgins (WR — Iowa State), Jaylin Noel (WR — Iowa State)
Tight End
Harold Fannin Jr. (TE — Bowling Green)
Fannin Jr. isn’t likely to be the next tight end selected in the NFL Draft. Both Mason Taylor and Elijah Arroyo are projected to be drafted before him. But, assuming he is drafted on Day 2 at all, Fannin is the more exciting fantasy prospect. He posted an absolutely unprecedented 49.9% Dominator Rating in Bowling Green’s offense last season at just 20 years old. To put into perspective how absurd that number is, Brock Bowers, deservedly considered a generational TE prospect, posted just a 27.2% dominator rating in his final season at Georgia.
Yes, Fannin’s competition in the Mid-American Conference wasn’t exactly NFL-caliber. But this guy led FBS in both PFF Receiving Grade (96.4) and yards (1,555) – not just tight ends, all players. As long as he gets even mediocre draft capital, I recommend swinging for the fences and ranking Fannin as your TE3 in Dynasty Rookie drafts.
- Honorable Mentions: Mason Taylor (TE — LSU), Elijah Arroyo (TE — Miami)
Ted Chmyz is a fantasy football contributor for FantasyPros.com. Find him on Twitter and Bluesky @Tchmyz for more fantasy content or to ask questions.
