4 Dynasty Rookie Draft Picks to Avoid (2025 Fantasy Football)

We’ll have you covered as you prepare for your 2025 dynasty rookie drafts. In order to dominate your dynasty rookie draft, check out our expert consensus dynasty rookie draft rankings. And sync your dynasty league to practice with fast and free dynasty rookie mock drafts. Below, we dive into dynasty rookie draft picks our analysts are higher or lower on compared to our expert consensus rankings.

Dynasty Rookie Draft Advice

Quinshon Judkins (RB – CLE)

The Browns selected Judkins in the second round of the NFL Draft to be their new early down volume thumper. With Judkins and Dylan Sampson added to this depth chart, I expect Jerome Ford to become a sparsely utilized change-of-pace option. I wasn’t high on Judkins as a prospect, as he ranked outside the top 65 backs in each of the last two seasons in yards after contact per attempt and elusive rating (per PFF). The draft capital and immediate high-volume role have helped to quell some of my pessimism, but Judkins could be held back by the overall ecosystem of the Browns’ offense and his lack of pass game upside. Cleveland’s starting quarterback situation is murky at best. Judkins finished college with 0.76 yards per route run, which isn’t an awe-inspiring number. He’s an RB2/3 for 2025.
– Derek Brown

Tyler Warren (TE – IND)

Tyler Warren posted absurd 2024 numbers for Penn State (104 catches, 1,233 yards, 8 TDs) and has ideal size (6-6, 257). But there are reasons for fantasy gamers to consider pumping the breaks on Warren. He’s 22 and will be 23 when his first NFL season begins. The fact that Warren didn’t truly break out until he was a fifth-year senior playing against younger competition makes his numbers from last season slightly less impressive. The age issue is far from disqualifying, however. Warren was a freaking monster in 2024, looking like a George Kittle/Travis Kelce hybrid. Perhaps more concerning is that Warren is going to a team that has Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones at quarterback. Still, he’s a worthy first-round pick in dynasty rookie drafts, and he should probably be considered no worse than a high-end TE2 in redraft.
– Pat Fitzmaurice

Dylan Sampson (RB – CLE)

Among this year’s talented rookie RB class, Dylan Sampson was one of the unlucky ones with regard to landing spot. He went to the Browns in the fourth round, which wouldn’t have been bad if Cleveland hadn’t already taken Ohio State RB Quinshon Judkins early in the second round. Now, Sampson will have to battle both Judkins and veteran Jerome Ford for snaps and touches. Sampson is blazing-fast and has impressive lateral agility but there’s more to his game than pure speed and flashy moves. Sampson has good contact balance for a back who weighs barely 200 pounds. He’s surprisingly effective between the tackles, fighting for extra yardage. A patient runner who reads his blocks well, Sampson seems to understand the design of every play. He doesn’t panic when defenders get penetration, turning losses into gains with quick thinking and fleet feet. Sampson is a capable pass catcher and surprisingly adept as a pass blocker.
– Pat Fitzmaurice

Jalen Milroe (QB – SEA)

The former Crimson Tide dual-threat signal caller fell to the third round of the NFL Draft despite drawing some late first-round buzz close to the draft. The Seattle Seahawks stopped his tumble by punching his card with the 28th pick of round three. Milroe slots in as Seattle’s backup quarterback right now behind Sam Darnold, who has two years of strong money in his newly minted contract. Darnold will need to falter for Milroe to get on the field in the next two years as the team’s starter. His draft capital automatically makes him an outlier if he becomes a multi-year starter for Seattle. The rushing upside of Milroe, if he gets the starting opportunity, is enticing, but his skills as a passer are frightening. In his final collegiate season at Alabama, Milroe ranked 60th in adjusted completion rate, 36th in big-time throw rate, and 66th in adjusted completion rate from a clean pocket (per PFF). Milroe will go before I’m willing to take him in most Superflex rookie drafts. It feels more like burning a rookie draft pick than a well-composed dart throw. He’s a viable late second-round draft pick if you want to take the plunge, but I’m not drafting him until the late third round.
– Derek Brown

Here are our latest Dynasty Rookie Draft Rankings from our consensus of fantasy football experts. You can find the latest Dynasty Rookie Draft Rankings and sync your fantasy football league for specific advice.