Hitting on a late-round dynasty rookie draft targets is one of the easiest ways to increase your roster value substantially for minimal cost.

With the depth at the tight end and running back positions in this year’s rookie class, there are several prospects I’ve seen fall to the fourth round who are strong bets to outperform their average draft position (ADP) and even hit our starting lineups.

I’ll cover four prospects I’ve been targeting heavily in the late-third and fourth rounds of my rookie drafts, and explain why I’m so confident in these players from a fantasy perspective.

• Dynasty Fantasy Football Draft Kit
• Dynasty Rookie Draft Simulator
• DBro’s Dynasty Rookie Draft Primers

Late-Round Dynasty Rookie Draft Targets

Oronde Gadsden II (TE – LAC)

Going into the 2025 NFL Draft, the consensus was that the Los Angeles Chargers were one of the premier landing spots for a rookie tight end. We saw them grab a tight end in round five, yet this prospect is getting zero buzz.

Orande Gadsden II was a wide receiver who converted to tight end, which is apparent when you watch his tape. He’s a fluid mover and a natural athlete with elite body control. Gadsden has some of the best hands in this draft class across all positions and projects to be a reliable red-zone target for Justin Herbert, who desperately needed some pass-catchers.

Gadsden racked up nearly 1,000 receiving yards and six touchdowns as an underclassman for Syracuse, making him one of the more highly touted assets in devy formats. Following a Lisfranc injury early into the 2023 season, Gadsden was all but forgotten, but he bounced back in a big way in 2024 and reminded us all of just how exceptional an athlete he is.

With only Will Dissly and Tyler Conklin ahead of him on the depth chart, there’s a real chance Gadsden earns No. 1 TE honors this coming season. Dissly and Conklin are reliable blockers (which Gadsden will need to improve upon), but they can’t provide the value Gadsden can in the receiving game.

Gadsden is currently ranked as my 29th overall Superflex prospect, but you should be able to get him around pick 40 or later in your rookie drafts.

Jarquez Hunter (RB – LAR)

In my opinion, Jarquez Hunter finds himself in one of the best situations in terms of NFL backfields. The Los Angeles Rams need some explosive plays from the running back position, which is something Kyren Williams simply cannot provide.

Out of 46 running backs with 100+ rush attempts in 2024, Kyren ranked 37th in yards after contact per attempt (2.75) and 41st in breakaway rate (13.1%). On top of this, Williams had a tough time hanging onto the football, fumbling six times this past season. He needs a ton of volume to hit RB1 (top-12) numbers in fantasy.

Hunter has the skillset to fill this void in the backfield, and I expect he’ll cut into Williams’ workload significantly. I don’t see Blake Corum as a legitimate threat to Hunter, as he was wildly disappointing in his limited action as a rookie.

Rookie running backs with college career:

+30% missed tackles forced per attempt
+6 yards per carry
+9% breakaway run % (+15 yards)
+4.0 yards after contact

Ashton Jeanty (of course)

and

Jarquez Hunter

— Dynasty Football Factory⚙️ (@DFF_Dynasty) May 6, 2025

As you can see, Hunter has one of the best analytical profiles of any RB in this draft class. Sean McVay has a history of switching things up at the RB position, so Kyren’s spot may not be as secure as many assume.

I have gotten several shares of Hunter in the mid-to-late third round of Superflex rookie drafts, which is an absolute steal for McVay’s potential future RB1.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt (RB – WSH)

Jacory Croskey-Merritt was not a household name entering the NFL Draft, partially because he only played in one game this past season. The NCAA claimed he had run out of eligibility, forcing him to watch from the sidelines in 2024.

Croskey-Merritt broke out in 2023 for New Mexico, rushing for nearly 1,200 yards and 17 touchdowns. He finished that season in the top 20 in the country in yards per attempt, missed tackles forced, yards after contact per attempt and Pro Football Focus (PFF) run grade (minimum 100 attempts).

Being a seventh-round selection and an older prospect, Croskey-Merritt is mostly an afterthought in the dynasty community. He’s consistently falling to the fourth round of my rookie drafts, where I’ve scooped up many shares. Nobody on Washington’s depth chart outside Brian Robinson can hold off Croskey-Merritt. Austin Ekeler is headed into his age-30 season and has fallen off a cliff, and 29-year-old Jeremy McNichols has barely cracked 600 rushing yards in his whole career.

Woody Marks (RB – HOU)

We’ll end with another running back in Jo’Quavious Dequane “Woody” Marks. Like Croskey-Merritt, Marks is an older prospect, having already turned 24. He started his career with Mississippi State before transferring to USC for his fifth and final season, and he produced every single year.

Marks was never the most efficient rusher on the ground, but he was maybe the best receiving back of this draft class, and one of the best receivers in NCAA history at his position. Marks’ 261 career receptions rank 61st in NCAA history, which includes wide receivers. Marks could be a future Flex option in PPR formats if he can land a third-down role at the NFL level.

The Texans didn’t draft any other backs, so Marks is the presumed No. 2 RB behind Joe Mixon entering Year 1. Mixon is on contract through 2026, but Houston can save money by cutting ties after this year. Marks should be available in the fourth round of your rookie drafts.

At worst, you’re grabbing a premier handcuff on an above-average offense. And if things fall his way, he could be much more than that.

Subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeart | Castbox | Podcast Addict | TuneIn