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
There was no surprise at the top of the draft. No, last-minute shifting of the pick or drama. Tennessee zeroed in on Cam Ward, and he’s now the face of the franchise moving forward. Ward walks the highwire from down to down. There are plenty of high-end moments and special plays, but Ward also has plenty of misfires and can run through cold stretches in games. If he hits his ceiling, he could be a franchise-changing player who becomes a yearly QB1. This cements him as a top-six pick in Superflex dynasty rookie drafts and as a mid-second-round pick in 1QB formats at the latest. The big worries for Ward entering year one are the lack of proven or high-end receiving talent outside of Calvin Ridley and this new-look offensive line. Without rushing upside to pad his fantasy stats weekly, can Ward produce enough with his arm, with Ridley leading the way to be a steady fantasy quarterback in his rookie season? We’ll see, but I’m skeptical. Selecting Ward in rookie drafts comes with immediate production from Week 1 and a floor of QB2 production. He’s an upside swing that might not consistently flash that upside until 2026.
Stats:
- 2024 (minimum 150 dropbacks)
- PFF passing grade: 2nd
- Adjusted completion rate: 16th
- Yards per attempt: 4th
- Big-time throw rate: 12th
- Deep passing (minimum 20 deep passing attempts)
- Adjusted completion rate: 15th
- Deep throw rate: 48th
- Pressured passing (minimum 50 pressured dropbacks)
- Pressured adjusted completion rate: 22nd
- Clean pocket adjusted completion rate: 32nd
- Clean pocket passer rating: 2nd
Scouting Report:
- When Cam Ward is locked in, he looks like a Pro Bowl-level/difference-making quarterback. He has a rocket arm with easy velocity. He can reach back and chuck it through a brick wall. Ward likely enters the NFL immediately knocking on the door of the top 12 ranks for strongest arm in the league.
- When Ward is on, he is lacing well-timed ropes to every level of a defense. He has some of the prettiest layered second-level and deep throws you’ll see. His high-end flashes are exquisite, with on-the-money ball placement and the velocity to fit it in any tight window. Ward has a quick release and can access multiple arm angles.
- The problem is his accuracy can be erratic. There are plenty of times when he needs to take something off the fastball in the short and intermediate areas of the field. Ward’s ball placement can be erratic. There are plenty of throws where he tosses it at a receiver’s back shoulder when he should have led them further down the field or a crosser or out route will be out of the reach of his receiver. Ward will also sail throws at times as he tries to fastball it to a receiver. He has to improve his down-to-down consistency and accuracy to reach his ceiling.
- Ward is also inconsistent with moving through his progressions. There are plenty of reps where he moves seamlessly to his third option or check down. He also has several plays where he feels a tick behind and misses an open receiver running across the field. Some of this is tied to his aggressive nature. Ward will take what a defense gives him with underneath routes, but he is also always a big-play hunter. This aggression is nice when he is dialed in, but it can also get him into trouble and impact his field vision. Ward plays with a swagger and has obvious confidence he can fit throws into any small window.
- He is a creative player who can craft some off-script wizardry. Ward will stand tall, cool and collected in the face of pressure. When he is locked in, he never looks rattled against pressure. When he is off and missing throws, things can pile up for him. This all goes back to the need for his play-to-play consistency floor, which needs to be raised.
- Ward has short-area agility that allows him to move well in the pocket. He will primarily be a pocket passer in the NFL, but he can take off and gain some yards with his legs if needed. Ward shouldn’t be considered a rushing quarterback or hyper mobile.
Player Comp: Jordan Love
Check out my complete Dynasty Rookie Draft Quarterback Primer 
Dynasty Rookie Draft Quarterback Rankings
Dynasty Rookie Draft Running Backs
Hampton lands in Los Angeles with first-round draft capital attached to his name. While I know that Najee Harris is already on this roster, I’m not worried about Hampton establishing himself as the team’s workhorse in short order. Harris was signed to a cheap one-year deal this offseason to give the Bolts a trusted running back to carry the load in case they missed out on a running back early in the draft. Well, Hampton dropped into the Chargers’ lap, and they were unable to pass on him. In Greg Roman’s 11 years of coordinating NFL offenses, he’s never finished lower than 11th in rushing attempts (last year). Hampton is in the conversation as soon as the 1.02 in dynasty rookie drafts, regardless of format.
Stats:
- 2024 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 12th
- Breakaway rate: 30th
- PFF elusive rating: 16th
- PFF receiving grade: 49th
- Yards per route run: 32nd
- 2023 (minimum 100 carries & 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 11th
- Breakaway rate: 82nd
- PFF elusive rating: 26th
- PFF receiving grade: 28th
- Yards per route run: 85th
Scouting Report:
- Omarion Hampton is a north/south, upright and linear runner. Hampton has quick acceleration as he gets to top gear quickly. He doesn’t have a high-level second gear or elite long speed. He’ll get caught from behind on long runs, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be a chunk play artist in the NFL. He has only one year in college where his breakaway percentage eclipsed 40%.
- Hampton isn’t the most fluid runner when changing direction in the open field. He’ll utilize jump cuts at the line to get to a free lane, but in the open field, he is a straight-line runner. His footsteps get choppy and he loses speed in the second level when attempting to change course. His hips look stiff at times.
- Hampton is a volume-gobbling machine. In his final collegiate season, he had 20+ carries in 67% of his games. His physical running style can wear down a defense throughout a game. Hampton will lower the boom plenty throughout a game, serving as a tone-setter. This physical running style doesn’t do much in the realm of gaining him extra yards as he doesn’t fall forward many times when lowering his shoulder and instead gets stood up. However, the physicality still isn’t something defenders want to deal with 20-25 times during a game. He can soften up a defense with these repeated body blows.
- Hampton’s upright running style can get him into trouble at times. His lower half is strong enough to run through weak wraps and defenders diving at his ankles, but if a defender can wrap him up decently, he can get chopped down.
- Hampton is a check-down option only in the passing game. He is reliable in this realm, with only two drops and a 90% catch rate in college, but I don’t see him growing into a pass-game weapon in the NFL. His stiff hips, short-area agility and raw speed limitations will limit his route-running upside.
- He isn’t a skilled pass protector at this juncture. Hampton has a decent punch but doesn’t engage or anchor in pass protection well right now. He can chip and slow defenders down, but his pass-protection technique is lacking. He drops his eyes and lunges at defenders too often.
Player Comp: Zach Charbonnet
Check out my complete Dynasty Rookie Draft Running Backs Primer
Dynasty Rookie Draft Running Backs Rankings
Dynasty Rookie Draft Wide Receivers
The Jaguars paid a hefty price, but they got their guy in Travis Hunter. The Jags have stated that Hunter will begin his NFL career with the main focus being on the offensive side of the ball, which makes sense. It’s not impossible but improbable that a team would make an aggressive move of this magnitude for a full-time cornerback. Hunter looks to be a full-time wide receiver with TBD status next to his corner usage. Evaluating Hunter as a wide receiver only makes him a top-five pick in every dynasty rookie draft, regardless of format. Hunter still has some substantial growth to make as a wide receiver, but he’s in good hands with Liam Cohen and company. I’m curious how much slot usage Hunter will get in year 1, but I’m guessing it could be at least 40-50% of his snaps. This will be immensely helpful for a player that last year (among all FBS wide receivers with at least eight slot targets) ranked fourth in slot Yards per route run (per PFF).
Stats:
- 2024 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
- Yards per route run: 38th
- PFF receiving grade: 6th
- 2023 (FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
- Yards per route run: 86th
- PFF receiving grade: 42nd
Scouting report:
- Hunter is an insanely talented player with a high ceiling as a wide receiver (if a team utilizes him in a full-time receiver role). He’s a fluid lateral mover with strong hands and plus body control.
- During his final season in college, he was heavily utilized on screens, hitches, and go-routes. Colorado also tried to get him moving laterally when possible.
- Hunter still has growth as a route runner, which will have to occur on the job in the NFL. His release package needs to continue to deepen, and his footwork has to become more efficient. Hunter’s snap at the top of his stem can be inefficient. He’ll also attempt to add jukes and extra nuance in his routes, which are simply too much and slow him down, don’t help with separation, and put him off schedule. This doesn’t surprise me with his split focus on both sides of the ball and only so many hours in a day for Hunter to hone his craft.
- If an NFL team drafts Hunter to play full-time wide receiver, I hope that he will not be forced into a “true X” role immediately. While Hunter excels versus zone coverage, he had some serious issues with man/press corners, which were physical and could also run with him. Hunter gave up his chest too easily on plenty of routes and allowed corners in and to hang around in his back pocket. Last year, among 268 qualifying wide receivers, Hunter ranked 40th in yards per route against zone (2.65) but 78th in Yards per route run against man coverage (2.30). Hunter has the play strength and fluidity to improve in this area, but it’s a developmental step that has to occur.
- Hunter can be a liability in the blocking department. That won’t be how he’s cashing his checks weekly but there were plenty of screen plays that were blown apart with Hunter at the forefront of the blocking design.
- Hunter flashes plenty of strength at the catch point with a 63.3% contested catch rate in college. He can offer some YAC with his combination of upper body strength and speed, but his missed tackles forced numbers last year are somewhat flimsy. Last year, he had 24 missed tackles (eighth-best), but seven of those occurred (Texas Tech) against a defense that ranked 131st out of 134 qualifying FBS programs in tackling grade.
Player Comp: Unicorn (Hunter’s ranking is related to his status as a possible part-time wide receiver. If he is a full-time wide receiver in the NFL, he’s a Tier 1 level prospect in the draft class.)
Check out my complete Dynasty Rookie Draft Wide Receivers Primer
Dynasty Rookie Draft Wide Receivers Rankings
Dynasty Rookie Draft Tight Ends
Loveland surprised some in the NFL Draft as the first tight end off the board. I’m not shocked by it, but I did think Warren would hear his name called first. Loveland’s top ten first-round capital is notable. Ben Johnson seemingly got his Sam LaPorta. I don’t think Loveland is on the same talent plane as LaPorta, and I don’t mean that as shade, but their skill sets are different. Loveland has stellar per-route efficiency and the route running chops to match, but he isn’t the same mauler after the catch, with only eight missed tackles forced in his collegiate career (per PFF). I worry a tiny bit about Loveland’s weekly route share with Cole Kmet, who is still on this roster. Loveland should be the Week 1 starter, but don’t be shocked if Kmet can be enough of a thorn in his side (ala Dawson Knox) to hurt his ceiling and floor in 2025. I also haven’t even mentioned a crowded target hierarchy for this season with D.J. Moore, Rome Odunze, D’Andre Swift, and Luther Burden on the roster and Caleb Williams’ worrisome 2024 play. In dynasty, we’re still betting on Loveland’s talent, a solid landing spot, and draft capital winning out. Loveland is a top-ten selection in dynasty rookie drafts, regardless of format.
Stats:
- 2024 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards per route run: 5th
- PFF receiving grade: 3rd
- YAC: 17th
- 2023 (FBS TEs, minimum 20 targets)
- Yards per route run: 5th
- PFF receiving grade: 10th
- Career
- 56.2-68% slot/out wide snap rate over the last two years
Scouting Report:
- Colston Loveland is a high-cut runner. His movement skills more closely resemble those of a big wide receiver than those of a tight end. His quick feet and loose hips allow him to succeed as a route winner more than his raw speed or physicality. He can juke defenders at the top of his stem or uncover quickly by flipping his hips.
- Loveland has more build-up speed than explosion off the line, but he does have enough raw speed and juice to stretch the seam.
- Loveland is a strong route runner. He flashes a varied release package and can win on the perimeter. His play strength shows up best mid-route or off the line, as he can hold his own with physical linebackers or corners.
- Loveland isn’t a physical mauler or tackle-breaker. He managed only 5.4 yards after the catch per reception and eight total missed tackles in his collegiate career at Michigan. He can avoid some defenders with his footwork and quick acceleration at the catch, but he won’t bully defenders or stiff-arm them into another area code with the ball in his hands.
- He’s an adequate blocker in all phases. He has enough power and anchor to stand up a linebacker when blocking for a screen or setting the edge for a rushing play. Blocking won’t be his calling card in the NFL, but it also won’t deter a team from feeding him a 70%-plus snap rate immediately.
Player Comp: Dennis Pitta
Check out my complete Dynasty Rookie Draft Tight Ends Primer
Dynasty Rookie Draft Tight Ends Rankings
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