It’s that time again. Dynasty rookie fever SZN is here. The 2025 NFL Draft is in the rearview, 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 positional primers. You can find each of them in our 2025 Dynasty Draft Kit.
- Dynasty Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- Dynasty Rookie Draft Simulator
- Dynasty Rookie Draft Rankings
- DBro’s Top 100 Rankings & Notes: 1QB | Superflex
Dynasty Rookie Draft Advice
Let’s dive into my dynasty rookie draft content to help you prepare for your drafts!
Dynasty Rookie Draft Quarterbacks
Well, it happened. Jaxson Dart got first-round NFL draft capital. In the end, only Dart and Cam Ward walk away with first-round draft capital, and they stand alone in their own tier in this rookie draft class. I know Ward was selected as the first overall pick, and Dart didn’t arrive in New York until the 25th selection, but Dart is now my QB1 for this class. I have had him above Ward during the entire NFL draft cycle. I love his combination of arm talent and rushing upside. He’s currently the 1.07 in our Superflex rookie ECR. Dart should be a locked-in first-round rookie draft pick. The conversation for me with Dart begins at the 1.05. In 1QB, the Dart conversation begins in the early second round of rookie drafts. I expect to see him start games sometime during the 2025 season. Russell Wilson’s play and Dart’s progression in training camp and the preseason will determine how early that is.
Stats:
- 2024 (minimum 150 dropbacks)
- PFF passing grade: 2nd
- Adjusted completion rate: 11th
- Yards per attempt: 1st
- Big-time throw rate: 8th
- Deep passing (minimum 20 deep passing attempts)
- Adjusted completion rate: 26th
- Deep throw rate: 9th
- Pressured passing (minimum 50 pressured dropbacks)
- Pressured adjusted completion rate: 66th
- Clean pocket adjusted completion rate: 10th
- Clean pocket passer rating: 1st
- 2023 (minimum 150 dropbacks)
- PFF passing grade: 9th
- Adjusted completion rate: 36th
- Yards per attempt: 8th
- Big-time throw rate: 39th
- Deep passing (minimum 20 deep passing attempts)
- Adjusted completion rate: 50th
- Deep throw rate: 70th
- Pressured passing (minimum 50 pressured dropbacks)
- Pressured adjusted completion rate: 61st
- Clean pocket adjusted completion rate: 35th
- Clean pocket passer rating: 9th
- 2022 (minimum 150 dropbacks)
- PFF passing grade: 44th
- Adjusted completion rate: 83rd
- Yards per attempt: 34th
- Big-time throw rate: 15th
- Deep passing (minimum 20 deep passing attempts)
- Adjusted completion rate: 93rd
- Deep throw rate: 40th
- Pressured passing (minimum 50 pressured dropbacks)
- Pressured adjusted completion rate: 99th
- Clean pocket adjusted completion rate: 57th
- Clean pocket passer rating: 26th
Scouting Report:
- Jaxson Dart has the arm strength to make every NFL throw. He has a “strong enough arm” but doesn’t have a cannon. He relies upon ball placement with his throws, but he can zip it in the short/intermediate areas of the field. Dart made a living in 2024 by hitting his receivers with bucket shots on the perimeter on go balls and deep outs.
- Dart moves through progressions fairly well. He accesses the middle of the field plenty and can get to his tertiary options plenty. Dart also has no issues expecting his first read to win 50/50 balls and exhibiting that type of trust he’ll need in the NFL when his receivers are “NFL open” on plenty of plays.
- Dart flashes impressive ball placement on a ton of throws. He isn’t perfect, though, as the ball can sail on him when he reaches back for that extra oomph for his fastball. It’s not a consistent issue, though. Dart will also make anticipatory throws instead of waiting for his receivers to uncover.
- Dart is calm and collected in the pocket. He will boot when he feels pressure and navigating a muddy pocket isn’t viable. He will also hang in the pocket when needed to deliver an accurate pass. There are plenty of plays where he stands tall in the pocket and gets smacked at the end of the play. Dart will also utilize pump fakes and subtle movements to manipulate corners in coverage.
- Dart likely has 4.7 40-speed. I don’t see him as a quarterback who derives a lot of his value from his rushing ability in the NFL. Can he scramble successfully and create with his legs? Yes. Will he be a quarterback for whom an offensive coordinator draws up a handful of quarterback runs weekly? I doubt it, but he can still add value by scrambling and creating with his legs.
Player Comp: Dollar store brand Jalen Hurts
Check out my complete Dynasty Rookie Draft Quarterback Primer
Dynasty Rookie Draft Quarterback Rankings
Dynasty Rookie Draft Running Backs
Jacksonville added to their backfield with the selection of Tuten in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. Travis Etienne is gone after this year, and Tank Bigsby has only two years left on his rookie deal. Tuten could easily be the future of the Jags’ rushing attack. The combine superhero posted strong tackling breaking numbers over the last two years, ranking top-ten in elusive rating in each season (per PFF). He was also tenth in Yards after contact per attempt and breakaway percentage last season. It doesn’t take much effort to see that Tuten could be this year’s Bucky Irving, but it also wouldn’t surprise me if Etienne and Bigsby do just enough to hold him off this season, and the true breakout isn’t until 2026. Tuten is a late second-round home run swing in dynasty rookie drafts.
Stats:
- 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 10th
- Breakaway rate: 10th
- PFF elusive rating: 8th
- PFF receiving grade: 77th
- Yards per route run: 114th
- 2023 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 34th
- Breakaway rate: 91st
- PFF elusive rating: 10th
- PFF receiving grade: 99th
- Yards per route run: 60th
Scouting Report:
- Bhayshul Tuten has a solid burst and nice long speed, but Tuten doesn’t consistently win the edge on stretch plays. He’s best suited for a run scheme that will allow him to get north/south with one cut and hit the gas.
- He has good bend in traffic and can utilize decent footwork to solve problems in space, but you won’t see Tuten with jump-cut highlights where a defender is launched into the shadow realm. He loses speed substantially when attempting to string together multiple moves to spring himself.
- Tuten has a short, squatty build and can run through weak wraps with decent power, but don’t expect him to be a short-yardage back or pile mover in the NFL. He needs momentum built up to access this, with these flashes occurring in the second level of defenses.
- Tuten’s ball security issues will be brought up at the beginning of any conversation regarding his game. That’s an unfortunate fact when you have nine fumbles over the last two years. This could be related to small hands, as his faulty hands have also plagued him in the passing game, with nine drops over the last three seasons.
- He’s a decent check-down option in the passing game, operating with flat routes, leaks out of the backfield and with swing passes primarily. His short-area lateral agility limitations and questionable hands cap his upside in the passing game.
Player Comp: Elijah Mitchell
Check out my complete Dynasty Rookie Draft Running Backs Primer
Dynasty Rookie Draft Running Backs Rankings
Dynasty Rookie Draft Wide Receivers
Noel was disrespected by the NFL as he dropped into the third round of the NFL Draft. The Houston Texans stopped his tumble and called his name with the 15th pick in the third round. I expect Noel to use this as fuel for the fire and walk into the building with a chip on his shoulder. Noel has the play strength, route prowess, and speed to play in the slot or on the outside. He could struggle to find playing time in his rookie season with Nico Collins, Christian Kirk, and his former collegiate teammate Jayden Higgins all sitting above him on the depth chart. Collins and Kirk have had their injury issues over the last few years, so it’s easily possible that Noel will be starting by midseason. While Noel’s short-term playing time is up in the air, he has the talent to exceed expectations. If there was ever a time to bet on talent over situation and landing spot, IT’S NOW with Noel. He has the goods. Last year, Noel ranked in the top 30 in receiving grade and Yards per route run while sitting second in deep receiving yards among FBS wide receivers (per PFF). Noel has been consistently falling to the tail end of the second-round or the top of the third-round in rookie dynasty drafts. He’s my 17th overall player in 1QB and Superflex rankings. While you might not have to draft him that high, that’s the time when you should start surveying the draft board and plan out when or how you’ll get into position to draft Noel.
Stats:
- 2024 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
- Yards per route run: 29th
- PFF receiving grade: 26th
- 2023 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
- Yards per route run: 36th
- PFF receiving grade: 84th
- YAC: 32nd
Scouting Report:
- Jaylin Noel is an impressive route runner. He adds subtle jab steps, pacing shakeups, and head fakes to his routes. Noel was primarily a slot receiver in college (72.7% slot), but he also has the skills to win from the perimeter. Noel can also win downfield and has solid ball tracking.
- Noel attacks defenders with a varied release package. He has smooth, easy acceleration with the raw speed to nail big plays downfield. He can pull away from corners in routes and the open field.
- Noel plays through contact well. He has the upper body strength and the route skills to beat physical corners and press coverage. Noel flashed an increasingly dependable set of hands in college, with a 4.8% drop rate in his final season and a 52% contested catch rate.
- His play strength shows up at the catch point as he has more than a few snags with multiple defenders competing with him for the ball. He attacks the ball outside of his frame with aggressive hands.
Player Comp: Steve Smith
Check out my complete Dynasty Rookie Draft Wide Receivers Primer
Dynasty Rookie Draft Wide Receivers Rankings
Dynasty Rookie Draft Tight Ends
Arroyo is headed to Seattle after the team called his name in the second round of the NFL Draft. The former Miami Hurricane is an athletic mismatch weapon who will push Noah Fant for snaps from the jump if his blocking is up to snuff. Fant is an unrestricted free agent after this season, so while the outlook for 2025 has its worries, it should be wheels up for Arroyo in 2026. If Copper Kupp also proves in 2025 that he doesn’t have much left in the tank, Kupp could be gone, which would leave Arroyo as the second target in the passing attack behind only Jaxon Smith-Njigba. In his final season in college, Arroyo ranked 23rd in Yards per route run and second in yards after the catch per reception among tight ends (minimum 20 targets, per PFF). Arroyo is a late second-round selection in dynasty rookie drafts that will occasionally fall into the third round.
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
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