The NFL draft is coming up April 24 through 26, and if you haven’t done so already, it’s time to ponder who you want in non-startup dynasty drafts. That is, if you aren’t one of those crazies who play in dynasty leagues that draft before the NFL draft is even held. How do you do that? Do you own a crystal ball like the one in “The Wizard of Oz”?
So, here’s a look at 24 rookies on my dynasty radar:
1. Ashton Jeanty of Boise State is the obvious top choice – except maybe in superflex leagues. Some so-called experts see him as a generational RB. He’s 5-8, 210 pounds. He has it all – fast, tremendous burst and balance, power, good vision, breaks tackles, ankle-breaking cutbacks. Jeanty rushed for 2,601 yards and had 30 total touchdowns in his final college season. He averaged 7 yards per carry. The only negative: he had about 400 touches last season and about 850 in his college career. That’s a lot of wear and tear. Still, you would be a fool to pass him up if you have 1.01.
2. Tetairoa McMillan of Arizona. This is where the debate begins. I’m putting the WR known as T-Mac in the two spot. He has the size to be an NFL stud – 6-4, 220 pounds. The numbers for his final two college seasons: 174 catches for 2,723 yards and 18 touchdowns. He’s a long strider known for making highlight-reel grabs with advanced skills for adjusting routes when his QB scrambles.
3. TreVeyon Henderson of Ohio State. If you need an RB, and Jeanty is long gone, this is the guy I want – 5-10, 200 pounds. He averaged 7.1 yards on his 144 carries, so, with that workload, there should be no concerns about the tread on the tires. Once he’s in the open field, who is going to catch him? Not many. Get this: He didn’t fumble in any of his final three college seasons –and that’s despite the fact that he’s known for punishing would-be tacklers. He also has proved to be a solid receiver in a college program loaded with NFL-caliber WRs.
4. Omarion Hampton of UNC. I’m an NC State grad – a long time ago. I’m not supposed to favor Tar Heels, and I don’t. But just like when Javonte Williams came out of Chapel Hill, how can you not like this RB for fantasy football – 6 feet, 220 pounds. He rushed for 1,660 yards and had 17 total touchdowns in 2024.He’s a big back and built like a brick you-know-what. His jump cuts are deadly, and there won’t be many solo tackles registered when he has the ball.
5. Tyler Warren of Penn State. Don’t want to take a TE this early in a dynasty draft? That’s fine. I’ll grab him. Brock Bowers turned everyone’s crank at the TE position last year, and fantasy managers continue to search for the next Travis Kelce. Warren could be him. Dude is an absolute stud with remarkable athleticism. He’s 6-5, 255 pounds. He caught 104 passes in 2024 for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns. He also rushed for four more TDs. I’m putting him fifth on my list, but it would not be difficult to talk me into moving him up to the No. 2 spot.
6. Cam Ward of Miami. It’s about time a QB showed up on this list. I’ll put Ward here, but I can’t say I’m sold on him being this high. OK for superflex, but in one-quarterback leagues, I’m not so sure. He’s 6-2, 220 pounds. He completed 67 percent of his passes in 2024 for 4,313 yards for 39 touchdowns. Those are tremendous numbers. Scouts love his arm and quick release. The potential is certainly there, but if he’s all that, why didn’t Miami win more with him? He tries to be a hero at times, and that too often leads to interceptions. NFL coaches don’t like interceptions.
7. Jaxson Dart of Mississippi. To keep the superflex folks happy, let’s stay with QBs for this spot. There are those who feel Dart is the most pro-ready QB in the draft. He’s 6-2, 220 pounds. Scouts love his accuracy and the way he surveys his progressions, plus he has some ability to run with the ball. In his final season at Ole Miss, he completed 69 percent of his passes and threw for 4,279 yards and 29 touchdowns, with just six interceptions. I don’t play much superflex, but if he’s on the board when I draft, I’ll have a hard time passing him up.
8. Kaleb Johnson of Iowa. Unlike 2024, there are a lot of intriguing RBs in this draft, and this guy is certainly one of them. He’s 6-1, 225 pounds and could be a best-is-yet-to-come RB. In his final season with the Hawkeyes, he rushed for 1,537 yards – 6.4 yards per carry – had 1,725 all-purpose yards, and 23 total touchdowns. He turns22 in August. He played three college seasons with about 550 total touches. There should be years worth of fuel left in his tank.
9. Emeka Egbukaof Ohio State. The Buckeyes just keep churning out NFL WRs. Because of all the stud wideouts he has played with during his college career, Egbuka has flown somewhat under the radar. Check out this list: Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison. Then, as a senior, he played with star freshman WR Jeremiah Smith. Egbuka is 6-1, 200 pounds – 81 catches for 1,011 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2024. Great athlete. He probably needs the right NFL fit, but don’t underestimate him.
10. Luther Burden of Missouri. There are many rankings that list Burden as one of the top two WRs. He’s 6 feet, 205 pounds. He had 61 catches for 876 yards in 2024 after snagging 86 for 1,212 in 2023. The tools are there. He’s a playmaking WR who needs the right NFL fit. I’ll take him late in the first round of a dynasty rookie draft but not likely early in that first round.
11. Quinshon Judkins of Ohio State. The Buckeyes did win the national championship, so, yes, there’s another Ohio State RB you need to know about. Judkins is 6 feet, 220 pounds. He rushed for 1,060 yards in 2024, a tad more than Henderson totaled, but his yards per carry, 5.5, were a good bit less. Scouts liken him to Joe Mixon, so that’s nothing to sneeze at.
12. Devin Neal of Kansas. Many folks don’t remember that the University of Kansas produced Hall of Fame RBs Gale Sayers and John Riggins. Now, don’t confuse Neal for those two, but Neal could be a solid pro. He’s 5-11, 215 pounds. He rushed for 1,266 yards in 2024, had 17 total touchdowns, and averaged 5.8 yards per carry.
13. Matthew Golden of Texas. Are you ready for Xavier Worthy, part 2? At 5-11, 190 pounds, Golden is a little heavier than Worthy’s 165 pounds. Still, Golden ran a 4.29 40 at the NFL combine – just .08 seconds behind the 4.21 fellow Longhorn Worthy ran in 2023. If you like speedsters, Golden is your guy. He caught 58 passes for 987 yards and nine touchdowns in 2024. If Golden’s speed didn’t catch your attention, scouts see some Chris Olave in him – hopefully without all the concussions.
14. Tre Harris of Mississippi. He’s a 6-2, 205-pound WR who could be quite the find if he can stay healthy. Injuries are one of the few knocks on Harris’ pro potential. Most of the other needed attributes appear to be in place. He caught 60 passes for 1,030 yards and seven touchdowns in his final season at Ole Miss.
15. Dylan Sampson of Tennessee. Don’t be surprised if this RB turns heads as a pro. He’s 5-8, 200 pounds and rushed for 1,491 yards and 22 touchdowns in his last season with the Vols. He averaged 5.8 yards per carry and has shown success between the tackles as well as the burst to bust it outside.
16. Ollie Gordon of Oklahoma State. He’s a bigger back at 6-1, 225 pounds. A downhill runner, Gordon could be a goal-line RB as a rookie.He rushed for 880 yards and 13 touchdowns in his final season with the Cowboys after going for 1,732 and 21 touchdowns in 2023.
17. Jayden Higgins of Iowa State. There’s a lot to like about this WR. He’s 6-4, 205pounds and had 87 catches for 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns in his final season with the Cyclones. Scouts see him as an eventual starter who is versatile enough to line up at any WR spot in any offense.
18. Harold Fannin of Bowling Green. In dynasty drafts, TEs don’t turn my crank much, but this guy put up eye-popping numbers in his final college season – 117 catches for 1,555 yards and 11 total touchdowns. He’s 6-3, 240 pounds. Scouts don’t see him as much of a blocking TE, but they love his hands.
19. Colston Loveland of Michigan. Scouts seem to love this TE, and some say he’ll be an NFL starter as a rookie. Some dynasty gurus rank him ahead of Tyler Warren and see a lot of Sam LaPorta in Loveland. He’s 6-6, 250 pounds. In his last season with the Wolverines, he missed time due to a shoulder injury and finished with 56 catches for 582 yards and five touchdowns.
20. Jalen Milroe of Alabama. Now this an extremely interesting pro QB prospect.He’s 6-2, 215 pounds. With the Crimson Tide, at times he was a star. At other times, he was erratic. He completed 64 percent of his passes in 2024 for 2,844 yards and 16 touchdowns, with 11 interceptions. He also rushed for 726 yards and 20 touchdowns. Did I say interesting? Yes. Yes, I did.
21. Isaiah Bond of Texas. Here we go with another Longhorns WR. This one is 5-11, 180 pounds. After saying he would run faster than Worthy did in 2023, Bond posted a 4.39 40 time at the NFL combine, a tenth of a second behind his college teammate Golden. In his lone season at Texas after transferring from Alabama, Bond caught 34 passes for 540 yards and had six total touchdowns. Scouts liken him to Jaylen Waddle.
22. Mason Taylor of LSU. Another TE? Yes, this draft has several who could have quick NFL impact. At 6-5, 250 pounds, Taylor is one of them. In his final season with the Tigers, he caught 55 passes for 546 yards and two touchdowns. He has great genes – his dad is NFL Hall of Fame defensive end Jason Taylor, and his uncle is Hall of Fame linebacker Zach Thomas.
23. Elic Aymanor of Stanford. He’s a 6-2, 205-pound Canadian. In his final college season, he had 63 receptions for 831 yards and six touchdowns. In 2023, he caught 62 passes for 1,013 yards and six touchdowns. All the tools are there to develop into an NFL starter. But scouts see him as somewhat of a project.
24. Tory Horton ofColorado State. He’s a 6-2, 195-pound WR who ran a4.41 40 at the NFL combine. Some will shy away from him because his 2024 season was cut short due to needing surgery on his right knee. In 2023, he caught 96 passes for 1,136 yards and eight touchdowns. The year before, he had71 catches for 1,131 yards and eight touchdowns. I’ll take him late in the second round of a dynasty draft and smile.
If you’ve read this far, you’re probably saying: Where are the two Colorado stars – QB Shedeur Sanders and WR/CB Travis Hunter? I’ll pass on both. Sanders is a drama waiting to happen, in my opinion, because of his dad: Coach Prime. Don’t want any part of that. Not this year. Not ever. As for Hunter, it seems like NFL scouts like him more as a cornerback than a WR. Sure, he’ll likely get some WR snaps, but I don’t think it’ll be enough to make him fantasy relevant – at least not as a rookie. So, someone else can take him – probably in the first round – leaving the guys I want on the board.
