The Top 60 Rookies for Dynasty Fantasy Football
If you’re in a dynasty league, now is often the time of year to start thinking about how to reload your roster with young talent. Here’s how to get your rookie draft right.
Rookie draft season is already in full swing for dynasty fantasy football managers. For those of you with drafts on the horizon (and for those of you who just want to compare notes on already finished drafts), let’s just dig right into my dynasty superflex PPR ranks for the 2021 class.
No one is going to agree completely on the hierarchy of the players below, but here are a few notes for how I formulate my ranks. For starters, a prospect’s draft slot is important: Players chosen on days 1 and 2 of the draft are not only more talented, but they’re given more opportunities than those taken on Day 3. But draft capital isn’t everything: At quarterback, the guys who can run are like a cheat code in fantasy football. At receiver, I keep an eye on prospects who produced big numbers (by percentage of team’s passing yards and touchdowns) early in their college career, and the data has shown that early declares hit at a higher rate than those who break out late or declare for the draft as seniors.
As for running backs, I look for prospects with strong college production and explosive physical traits, which can be apparent on tape and in their vertical jump, broad jump, or 10-yard split testing numbers. Guys with direct paths to snaps or the ability to be featured in the passing game are obviously attractive, too. At tight end, strong college production is a solid starting point, but take note of a prospect’s projected future role (i.e., whether they’ll be used as a blocking TE or receiving TE, with the latter more valuable)—and that player’s overall athleticism works as a nice tiebreaker when everything else is equal. Finally, every case is different, but I tend to prioritize the strength of a player’s prospect profile over their specific landing spot.
Because superflex and PPR have started to become the standard format for dynasty leagues in the past couple of years, that’s how I’ll lay out my rankings here. You can find my rankings for one-quarterback leagues in list form at the bottom of the article.
Okay, with all that in mind, let’s dig in.
1. QB Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars
Lawrence is one of the most highly anticipated quarterback prospects of the past decade, bringing a scintillating combination of passing talent and out-of-structure athleticism. He profiles similarly to Justin Herbert as a fantasy QB: He’ll be more reliant on his arm, which might cap his ultimate fantasy upside and keep him from turning into a true dual-threat quarterback (like Lamar Jackson or Kyler Murray), but the fact is, he can really scoot when he decides to scramble. If Jacksonville chooses to utilize Lawrence in the read-option run game (which he ran at times at Clemson), the sky’s the limit.
2. QB Justin Fields, Bears
I liked Trey Lance’s landing spot better, but I still value Fields just a touch higher. He’s a big-armed, hyper-accurate passer with legit 4.4 wheels as a runner―basically the platonic ideal for what fantasy drafters dream about at the position. It’s a bit of a red flag that the NFL apparently wasn’t quite sold on his talents―he fell slightly to the Bears at no. 11 and was the fourth quarterback to come off the board―but if Chicago can build a strong supporting cast around its new franchise quarterback and help him develop, Fields profiles as a terrifying stylistic blend of Dak Prescott and Cam Newton. That gives him overall QB1 upside down the line.
3. QB Trey Lance, 49ers
Lance hit the jackpot by being selected third overall by Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers, a team that offers a quarterback-friendly scheme (one similar to what he played in college) featuring a plethora of YAC-creating playmakers (George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, and Deebo Samuel can all turn a screen pass into a big gain) and an explosive run game. I do worry slightly about Lance’s lack of experience, both in quality (he played at a lower level at North Dakota State) and in quantity (he attempted just 318 passes in college), but it’s tough to bet against his skill set. With a combination of arm strength and athleticism, Lance offers the potential to develop into an elite dual-threat fantasy quarterback.
4. WR Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals
Chase is a rare receiver prospect who checks pretty much every box fantasy drafters look for at the position: He’s a former four-star recruit and Biletnikoff Award winner who boasts explosive athleticism (4.38 40, 41-inch vertical, and 11-foot broad jump at his pro day), good size (6-feet, 200 pounds), top-end early production (he notched an 84-catch, 1,780-yard, 20-touchdown line as a 19-year-old), and elite draft capital (fifth overall). The cherry on top is that he gets to play with his college quarterback, Joe Burrow, in Cincinnati. Chase shouldn’t take long to establish himself as the alpha no. 1 receiver in the Bengals’ high-volume passing attack.
5. RB Najee Harris, Steelers
I compared Harris to Steven Jackson in The Ringer’s 2021 NFL Draft Guide, but I kinda wish I had gone with former Steelers star Le’Veon Bell instead. Harris has plenty of similarities to Bell, combining elite size (6-foot-2, 230 pounds) with good vision, quick feet, and natural talent as a pass catcher. I could see him playing that fantasy-league-dominating Bell-type of role for Pittsburgh too, carrying the ball on early downs before lining up all over the formation and catching passes on third downs. We always want to chase volume in fantasy, and Harris will get plenty of it―both in the ground game and passing attack―right from the jump. He brings the upside to be an RB1 in year one.
6. TE Kyle Pitts, Falcons
You can throw out all the typical “slow start” caveats assigned to rookie tight ends, because Pitts really might be the outlier of outliers. He possesses such a rare combination of top-end athleticism (4.44 40-yard speed), prototypical size (6-foot-6, 240 pounds with a 83-inch wingspan), and elite route-running skills that I almost expect him to shatter rookie receiving yard records for the position. (Jeremy Shockey’s 894-yard campaign in 2002 is the current bar.) It doesn’t hurt either that the Falcons just traded Julio Jones to the Titans, slotting Pitts as in as the team’s no. 2 pass catcher in 2021. That’s exactly the type of role you’re looking for when drafting tight ends.
7. QB Zach Wilson, Jets
Wilson was the second overall pick and heads into 2021 as the unquestioned Week 1 starter. He possesses an elastic, accurate arm and plenty of out-of-structure playmaking athleticism. And crucially, the Jets appear to be smartly surrounding him with talent, both on the offensive line and at the skill groups. Wilson’s talent as a passer is enticing, but his pure rushing ceiling is likely lower than those of Lawrence, Fields, and Lance. That’s a variable that could cap his upside in fantasy―but I expect he’ll still present problems to opponents as a scrambler and tack on a couple of fantasy points per game on the ground (like, say, a guy like Patrick Mahomes, who averaged 2.9 fantasy points per game as a rusher in 2020).
8. RB Travis Etienne, Jaguars
Etienne has good size (5-foot-10, 215 pounds), breakaway speed (4.41 40), pass-catching chops (he caught 102 catches for 1,155 yards and eight touchdowns in college), and a bona fide nose for the end zone (he scored a ridiculous 78 total touchdowns at Clemson). His first-round draft capital (25th overall) implies he’ll almost surely play major snaps as a rookie, but his landing spot in Jacksonville creates some uncertainty as to exactly what type of role he’ll play. He’ll have to compete with James Robinson for early-down carries in year one and he was reportedly lining up as a receiver at the team’s rookie minicamp, sparking debate over how the team views the playmaking back: Is he a three-down running back or more of a Percy Harvin–Curtis Samuel–type “slash” player in Urban Meyer’s scheme? He may lack the high-end volume of a three-down back early in his career, but I’m willing to bet on Etienne’s talent and undeniable big-play ability nonetheless.
9. WR DeVonta Smith, Eagles
Smith’s lack of size (he weighs just 170 pounds) and his status as a senior declare are both dings on his dynasty profile, but his outrageous college production, refined pass-catching skill set, and silky smooth (yet explosive) style all help to allay those concerns. The fact he was chosen 10th overall helps, too. The Heisman winner, who led the nation with 117 catches for 1,856 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2020, is just a straight-up baller; he should slot in as the go-to guy in Philly, where he’ll see plenty of target volume early in his career.
10. RB Javonte Williams, Broncos
Williams is a good-sized runner (5-foot-10, 220 pounds) with tackle-breaking prowess, and he boasts gyroscopic balance with the burst and physicality to create yards on his own. His team traded up into the early second round (35th overall) to take him, indicating they have big plans for him. And while Williams may be stuck playing in a committee with Melvin Gordon for now, it’s not hard to envision him taking over lead-back duties sometime around midseason (or sooner). Williams reminded me of Josh Jacobs on tape, and like Jacobs, he’ll need to emerge as an impact pass catcher to really maximize his fantasy potential. But I love Williams’s floor as a tough and elusive foundation back.
11. WR Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins
Waddle is an undersized (5-foot-10, 182 pounds) but super-dynamic playmaker with true field-tilting speed and running back–like elusiveness after the catch. There are a few red flags to consider: He was never an elite producer in college (his 45-catch, 848-yard, seven-touchdown campaign as a freshman was his best season), and a serious leg injury kept him off the field for most of 2020. But the Dolphins’ brass clearly believes Waddle can be a game-changing playmaker in their scheme: They passed on the chance to take an elite left tackle prospect in Penei Sewell to select the Crimson Tide speedster at no. 6 overall (and don’t forget, they traded a 2022 first-rounder to move back up to that spot, too). His familiarity with starter Tua Tagovailoa should help plenty, and I’m expecting the second-year QB to pepper his former teammate with targets early on.
12. QB Mac Jones, Patriots
Jones landed in a near-ideal situation under Bill Belichick in New England. With Josh McDaniels calling plays and an elite offensive line providing him some protection, Jones should be able to operate as an efficient ball distributor early in his career. His lack of mobility as a runner caps his fantasy upside, but Jones brings the accuracy and poise in the pocket to develop into a high-floor fantasy starter. Stylistically, Jones reminds me of Matt Ryan.
13. WR Rashod Bateman, Ravens
Bateman has a superb prospect profile: He’s a highly athletic and productive early declare with first-round draft capital (27th overall). But after being chosen by the most run-heavy offense in the NFL, he’ll offer a strong test of conviction for those like me who try not to overreact to landing-spot concerns. Ultimately, I wish he’d been picked by some other team, but I’m still betting on his talent―and his ability to help turn Lamar Jackson and the Ravens offense into a more efficient (and hopefully voluminous) passing squad.
14. WR Elijah Moore, Jets
Moore played in only eight games in 2020 but led the FBS in catches (10.8) and receiving yards (149.1) per game. Add in his 64 rushing yards on 14 carries, and Moore’s 157.1 scrimmage yards-per-game-average ranks no. 1 for any Power Five receiver in the past two decades. He’s a baller; as the 34th pick of the draft, Moore lacks ideal size at 5-foot-9, 178 pounds, but he plays bigger than that and can be utilized all over the field and all over the formation. It wouldn’t be too surprising to see him quickly emerge as Zach Wilson’s favorite target.
15. WR Terrace Marshall Jr., Panthers
Concerns over previous lower leg and foot injuries reportedly caused Marshall to fall slightly on draft weekend, but despite losing out on what many anticipated would be first-round draft capital, the former LSU star landed in an intriguing spot in Carolina in the second round (59th overall). Marshall is one of the few top-level pass catchers in this class with a combination of alpha receiver size (6-foot-3, 200 pounds) and athleticism (4.38 40, 39-inch vert). He’s also reunited with a guy who should know how to deploy him in the Panthers offense: former LSU passing game coordinator Joe Brady. Marshall can play outside or in the slot, and could emerge as a high-volume receiver if the team lets Robby Anderson walk in 2022.
16. WR Rondale Moore, Cardinals
Moore caught 114 passes for 1,258 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2018 as an 18-year-old true freshman, but then saw a good chunk of his past two seasons derailed by injuries. Still, he’s one of the most explosive players in this draft, full stop. He’s undersized at 5-foot-7 and 181 pounds, but he makes up for it with blazing speed (4.29 40), quick-twitch burst (6.68 three cone) and jump-out-of-the-gym hops (42.5-inch vert). The 49th pick in the draft, Moore should get plenty of targets in Arizona’s spread-out passing game, and I expect he’ll be utilized frequently on sweeps and screens from the get-go.
17. RB Trey Sermon, 49ers
I was a fan of Sermon during the predraft process (he came in at no. 89 on my top-100 big board) and was glad to see him land on a smash-mouth run team like the 49ers, who traded two fourth-round picks to move up and grab the Ohio State star in the third round (88th overall). It’s anyone’s guess who will lead the team in carries from game to game this year―my money’s on Raheem Mostert, with Sermon and sixth-rounder Elijah Mitchell both mixing in―but I’d expect Sermon to take over lead-back duties in 2022. Then it’s wheels up for the big, elusive back.
18. WR Kadarius Toney, Giants
Toney is a former quarterback slash “athlete” who broke out late in his career at Florida after switching to receiver full time. That muddies the waters of his underwhelming prospect profile, but I can’t deny his playmaking talent―nor can I ignore his first-round draft capital (20th overall). I don’t exactly trust Jason Garrett to figure out a way to utilize Toney, but with elite burst (4.39 40, 39.5-inch vert, 11-foot-4 broad jump) and uncanny tackle-breaking ability, the former Gator has a Percy Harvin– or Curtis Samuel–type profile.
19. RB Michael Carter, Jets
I loved Carter on tape―he came in at no. 56 in my predraft ranks―and he lands in a great situation in New York, where he has little obstruction to a major role in year one. He’s a capable pass catcher and brings vision, balance, and jitterbug quickness to the ground game, and he should fit into the Shanahan-style scheme that Mike LaFleur is installing for the Jets. But Carter is less than a sure thing in dynasty: He’s undersized (5-foot-8, 201 pounds), and it’s a huge red flag that he fell all the way to the fourth round (107th overall), which casts doubt over his long-term security with the Jets. New York could easily invest in a higher-drafted running back in 2022, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see this team go to a full-on committee approach at the position.
20. WR Dyami Brown, Washington
Brown is an explosive early declare who just got done posting back-to-back 1,000-plus yard seasons for North Carolina. The third-rounder (82nd overall) will start his career as the tertiary receiver in Washington (or worse) behind Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel, but it also wouldn’t be a big surprise to see him emerge as one of Ryan Fitzpatrick’s favorite YOLO-ball targets down the sideline.
21. WR D’Wayne Eskridge, Seahawks
Eskridge isn’t exactly a dynasty-community darling as a diminutive 24-year-old MAC receiver who moonlighted for stretches at cornerback during his college career. But his numbers from the 2020 season are enough to create some intrigue, at least for me: In six games, he caught 34 passes for 784 yards and eight touchdowns, a 130.7 yard-per-game average that ranked fourth in the country (behind only Elijah Moore, DeVonta Smith, and Tampa Bay’s Jaelon Darden). His 213 all-purpose yards-per-game average was tops in the FBS, and his 23.1 yards-per-catch average ranked first in this class. Now, Eskridge should play third fiddle to DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, but he provides a run-after-the-catch skill set that the Seahawks sorely lacked last year.
22. WR Amari Rodgers, Packers
Rodgers broke out his senior season for Clemson, hauling in 77 passes for 1,020 yards and seven touchdowns in the team’s Trevor Lawrence–helmed offense. A third-round pick for the Packers (85th overall), he’s built like a running back with excellent burst and balance, and offers a hybrid skill set to catch passes downfield or take carries out of the backfield. Picture a Randall Cobb–type profile. The uncertainty around Aaron Rodgers’s future dampens my excitement somewhat, but the uncertain receiver depth chart behind Davante Adams gives the rookie receiver a chance to earn an early role.
23. WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions
St. Brown is a physical and nuanced route runner with strong hands and a bully-ball presence in the red zone. And with the Lions’ receiver depth chart wide open, the rookie has a chance to grab the starting slot spot early in his career. His fourth-round draft capital (112th overall), though, makes him a little more risky long term compared to the rest of the receivers in this area.
24. TE Pat Freiermuth, Steelers
Freiermuth doesn’t excite in any one particular area, but he’s also pretty good at just about everything. A second-round pick for Pittsburgh (55th overall), he’ll likely be stuck behind Eric Ebron (or in a committee) in year one but projects as the team’s starter in 2022.
25. WR Josh Palmer, Chargers
I was well above consensus on Palmer predraft (he landed on my big board at no. 81) and I really liked his landing spot with Los Angeles in the third round. He posted dismal production in a subpar offense at Tennessee (he never tallied more than 500 yards in a season there and led the team with a 33-catch, 475-yard, four-touchdown line in 2020), but he has good size (6-foot-2, 210 pounds) and speed (4.51 40) with very strong, reliable hands. If the team moves on from Mike Williams after 2021, he could slot into a pretty major role in the Justin Herbert–helmed passing game.
26. WR Tutu Atwell, Rams
Atwell is a highly polarizing prospect because of his extreme lack of size (he weighed in at just 155 pounds at his pro day), and in some drafts I’ve seen him going as late as the fourth round. But there’s still plenty to like about his profile as a prospect. He’s an early declare who exploded for 1,276 receiving yards (an ACC best) and 12 scores in 2019, and followed that up by leading the team in receptions (46) and touchdowns (seven) in a shortened 2020 season. He’s small, no doubt, but the combination of his draft capital (57th overall) and versatile skill set makes me believe he’ll have a fantasy-relevant role on the Rams before too long.
27. RB Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles
Gainwell’s fall into the fifth round (150th overall) saps a lot of the excitement around his future potential, but if he can beat out Boston Scott for the team’s pass-catching-back role, he could still make his fantasy mark. There’s always the chance the team utilizes him as a de facto slot receiver, too, a role he played at times at Memphis.
28. RB Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots
Stevenson is a big back with a smooth gait and the skill set to factor into both the Patriots’ goal-line looks and their passing game. As a fourth-round pick (120th overall), he won’t project for a heavy workload early on with Damien Harris, Sony Michel, and James White still in the picture. But if Michel gets cut prior to the season, Stevenson could earn some snaps in 2021.
29. WR Anthony Schwartz, Browns
Schwartz is a work in progress as a route runner, but he brings world-class speed to Cleveland. If the team moves on from either Odell Beckham Jr. or Jarvis Landry in 2022 (or both), Schwartz—who the team chose in the third round (91st overall)—could be in line for a major role.
30. QB Davis Mills, Texans
The former top-rated pro-style quarterback in the country, Mills has an intriguing skill set as a passer but arrives in the NFL with just 11 college starts under his belt. The fact he was the Texans’ top pick (67th overall) could bode well for the rookie, who has a path to a potential starting role in 2021 with Deshaun Watson’s future with the team in flux.
31. WR Nico Collins, Texans
Collins is a big-bodied pass catcher (6-foot-4, 222 pounds) and with very good speed (4.43 40). The third-rounder’s production in college wasn’t impressive (he caught 37 passes for 729 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games in 2019), but he lands on an ambiguous and wide-open receiver depth chart in Houston and could earn a role early in his career.
32. RB Chuba Hubbard, Panthers
Hubbard fell back to earth in 2020 (625 yards, five touchdowns) after racking up a ridiculous 2,094 yards and 21 touchdowns in his All American season in 2019, and now he has a chance to play the backup role to Christian McCaffrey in Carolina. The fourth-rounder is mainly a handcuff option, at least early in his career, but a McCaffrey injury would make him a hot fantasy commodity.
33. WR Tylan Wallace, Ravens
Wallace averaged 107 receiving yards per game through his final three seasons at Oklahoma State. A fourth-round selection by a low-volume passing offense was a disappointing outcome for the dangerous deep threat and jump-ball dominator, but Wallace has the talent to win a role on either the outside or in the slot for the Ravens.
34. TE Hunter Long, Dolphins
Long caught an FBS-best (for tight ends) 57 passes for Boston College in 2020, showcasing reliable hands and savvy route-running skills. The third-rounder has a path to a starting job in 2022 if the Dolphins let Mike Gesicki walk in free agency.
35. QB Kellen Mond, Vikings
Mond is a four-year college starter who set Texas A&M records with 9,661 passing yards and 71 passing touchdowns, tallying just 27 career interceptions in 46 games. The dual-threat signal-caller is a developmental third-round pick who brings the potential to replace Kirk Cousins when Cousins’s contract is up in 2023.
36. WR Jaelon Darden, Buccaneers
Darden is a speedy fourth-round pass catcher who racked up 74 catches for 1,190 yards and 19 touchdowns in just nine games for North Texas in 2020. He lands in a crowded and highly talented receiver corps in Tampa Bay but has a potential path to a starting role if the team lets Chris Godwin walk in 2022. He’s already drawing rave reviews in Buccaneers’ OTAs.
37. WR Cornell Powell, Chiefs
Powell is a former four-star recruit who finally broke out for Clemson in his fifth year with the team (53 catches, 882 yards, and seven touchdowns), apparently in part because of a dramatic shift in his practice habits (head coach Dabo Swinney described the difference as “night and day,” per Dane Brugler’s draft guide). He’s a big-bodied catch-point winner and lands in a Chiefs offense that’s been searching for a legit no. 2 behind Tyreek Hill to emerge.
38. RB Elijah Mitchell, 49ers
Mitchell is an undersized (5-foot-10, 201 pounds) but highly productive (3,259 rushing yards and 41 touchdowns in his four-year college career) runner who lands with one of the league’s best run games in San Francisco. The explosive (4.33 40) sixth-rounder will have to beat out Wayne Gallman II to earn a roster spot, but he has a chance to carve out a rotational role early on.
39. QB Kyle Trask, Buccaneers
I’m not as bullish on Trask’s dynasty prospects as some, but that’s mostly because I believe Tom Brady will play for the next decade. If Brady falls off a cliff performance-wise, though, Trask does have a chance to be the successor.
40. WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Vikings
Smith-Marsette never posted eye-popping numbers in Iowa’s anemic passing offense, but he’s a talented deep threat who consistently got behind defenses in his college career (even if his quarterback couldn’t get him the ball). There’s a relatively easy path to the no. 3 receiver spot in Minnesota’s offense, and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if the fifth-rounder grabs it sooner rather than later.
41. TE Tommy Tremble, Panthers
Tremble is an athletic early-declare with high-end blocking chops and an intriguing pass-catching skill set. He didn’t play a big part in Notre Dame’s passing game (just 35 catches for 401 yards and four touchdowns in his career), but the third-rounder could develop into a hybrid H-back style player who features in Carolina’s air attack.
42. RB Gerrid Doaks, Dolphins
Doaks flew under the radar predraft but I actually liked his tape quite a bit; that combined with his landing spot makes him worth a flier in the fourth round. Myles Gaskin emerged from out of nowhere last year to grab hold of the Dolphins’ ground game, and Doaks has the size to complement Gaskin well. He should have a chance to earn a role as the team’s bruising early-down and goal-line back.
43. TE Jacob Harris, Rams
Harris is a hybrid receiver slash tight end with elite athleticism (4.39 40, 40.5-inch vert, 6.51 three cone) and a natural talent at both tracking the ball downfield and winning at the catch point. A fourth-rounder for the Rams, he’s already drawing praise at L.A.’s OTAs and could work his way into the lineup early on as a situational deep threat or red zone joker piece―with room to grow from there.
44. RB Javian Hawkins, Falcons
Hawkins is an undersized (just 196 pounds) big-play runner who surprisingly went undrafted. He landed in a near-ideal situation, all things considered, and should have a chance to earn a role as a rotational change of pace to starter Mike Davis early on.
45. RB Kene Nwangwu, Vikings
Nwangwu played behind both David Montgomery and Breece Hall in Iowa State’s backfield over the past few years, but made his mark as a dynamic kick returner and change-of-pace back in that offense. The fourth-rounder will have to overtake Alexander Mattison for backup duties to Dalvin Cook, but if he can he’ll be a valuable handcuff in fantasy.
46. WR Simi Fehoko, Cowboys
Fehoko’s college career was put on hold by his two-year LDS mission to Seoul, South Korea, but the former four-star recruit has the type of dazzling athletic traits (4.37 40, 10-foot-broad, 6.78 three cone) to develop into an impact receiver down the line for the Cowboys. The fifth-rounder could earn a fantasy-relevant role in 2022 if the team lets Michael Gallup leave in free agency.
47. WR Dez Fitzpatrick, Titans
Fitzpatrick’s 45-catch, 699-yard, nine-touchdown campaign as a redshirt freshman seemed to portend big things, but the former four-star recruit plateaued for most of the rest of his college career. The fourth-rounder has size and speed on the outside, though, and will battle it out with Josh Reynolds for the Titans’ no. 3 receiver role behind A.J. Brown and Julio Jones.
48. WR Frank Darby, Falcons
Darby’s landing spot is pretty interesting, especially after the Falcons traded away Julio Jones. His competition for snaps in year one comes in the form of Russell Gage Jr., Christian Blake, and Olamide Zaccheaus, among a few others. I’ve taken a flier on him in a few drafts.
49. TE Kylen Granson, Colts
Granson is reportedly the apple of Frank Reich’s eye. The athletic fourth-rounder will have to battle with the likes of Jack Doyle and Mo Alie-Cox for playing time early on, but could serve as the team’s new version of Trey Burton down the line.
50. TE Brevin Jordan, Texans
Jordan lands in a wide-open Texans tight end group, but his lack of length and high-end athletic traits could limit his upside, and his lack of draft capital (fifth round) could limit his opportunities. Like Granson, Jordan profiles as a moveable joker piece more than an in-line blocker, a variable that could help give him fantasy relevance down the line.
51. RB Chris Evans, Bengals
Evans is a good-sized back (5-foot-11, 216 pounds) with high-end athleticism (4.44 40, 40.5 inch vertical, 6.56 three cone) and pass-catching chops. He could emerge as Joe Mixon’s backup early in his career, giving him intriguing handcuff value.
52. RB Larry Rountree III, Chargers
Roundtree led Missouri in rushing in each of the past three seasons, and while he doesn’t really stand out in any one area, he’s a steady grinder with the potential to leapfrog Joshua Kelley and Justin Jackson for early-down work (and a complementary role to Austin Ekeler) in the L.A. offense.
53. RB Kylin Hill, Packers
I liked Hill as a prospect but it’s hard to get excited about his landing spot in Green Bay. He’s stuck behind Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon, so he’s unlikely to have a big role without an injury to one of those two guys.
54. RB Jermar Jefferson, Lions
Jefferson rushed for 1,380 yards and 12 touchdowns as a true freshman at Oregon State, but failed to make the leap over his final two seasons there. He lands in a deep running back room that should be dominated by D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams.
55. WR Dazz Newsome, Bears
Newsome lacks elite speed but he’s a shifty slot receiver who lands in a relatively shallow Bears receiver group. He’s got the skill set to earn a role early on, especially if Chicago moves on from Anthony Miller.
56. WR Shi Smith, Panthers
Smith is a speedy and tough slot receiver who started all four years at South Carolina. He’ll likely begin his career stuck behind D.J. Moore, Robby Anderson, David Moore, and Terrace Marshall Jr. on the team’s receiver pecking order, but if he proves to be a reliable middle-of-the-field option in Joe Brady’s offense, he could earn a bigger role.
57. RB Khalil Herbert, Bears
Herbert’s tough, physical, and hard to tackle. He’s stuck behind David Montgomery, Tarik Cohen, and Damien Williams in year one, but it wouldn’t be too surprising to see him earn a complementary role down the line.
58. WR Seth Williams, Broncos
Williams is a former four-star recruit with good size (6-foot-3, 211 pounds) and athleticism (4.49 40, 37-inch vertical) who produced solid numbers during his college career (132 catches; 2,124 yards; 17 touchdowns in three seasons). But it’s tough to get excited about his draft capital (sixth round) and landing spot in Denver, where he’ll be stuck behind Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, K.J. Hamler, Tim Patrick, and possibly a handful of others.
59. WR Jalen Camp, Jaguars
Camp is a classic height-weight-speed flier, both in real football and in fantasy drafts (he’s 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, and tested out with a 4.43 40, 39.5-inch vert, and 7.0-second three cone). The Jaguars picked him in the sixth round with the goal of developing him into a professional receiver, and he has been one of my priority waiver-wire adds post-draft.
60. RB Demetric Felton, Browns
Felton brings an intriguing pass-catching skill set to the running back position and might even play a de facto slot-receiver role for the Browns. His dismal athletic testing numbers (4.59 40, 31.5-inch vert, 7.31 three cone, and 9-foot-6-inch broad) don’t really paint the picture of a dynamic game-changer in the passing game, but he was impressive at the Senior Bowl playing as a receiver.
1QB Rankings:
1. WR Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals
2. RB Najee Harris, Steelers
3. TE Kyle Pitts, Falcons
4. RB Travis Etienne, Jaguars
5. WR DeVonta Smith, Eagles
6. RB Javonte Williams, Broncos
7. WR Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins
8. QB Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars
9. WR Rashod Bateman, Ravens
10. WR Elijah Moore, Jets
11. WR Terrace Marshall Jr., Panthers
12. WR Rondale Moore, Cardinals
13. QB Justin Fields, Bears
14. QB Trey Lance, 49ers
15. RB Trey Sermon, 49ers
16. WR Kadarius Toney, Giants
17. RB Michael Carter, Jets
18. QB Zach Wilson, Jets
19. QB Mac Jones, Patriots
20. WR Dyami Brown, Washington
21. WR D’Wayne Eskridge, Seahawks
22. WR Amari Rodgers, Packers
23. WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions
24. TE Pat Freiermuth, Steelers
25. WR Josh Palmer, Chargers
26. WR Tutu Atwell, Rams
27. RB Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles
28. RB Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots
29. WR Anthony Schwartz, Browns
30. WR Nico Collins, Texans
31. RB Chuba Hubbard, Panthers
32. WR Tylan Wallace, Ravens
33. TE Hunter Long, Dolphins
34. WR Jaelon Darden, Buccaneers
35. WR Cornell Powell, Chiefs
36. RB Elijah Mitchell, 49ers
37. WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Vikings
38. TE Tommy Tremble, Panthers
39. RB Gerrid Doaks, Dolphins
40. TE Jacob Harris, Rams
41. RB Javian Hawkins, Falcons
42. RB Kene Nwangwu, Vikings
43. WR Simi Fehoko, Cowboys
44. WR Dez Fitzpatrick, Titans
45. WR Frank Darby, Falcons
46. TE Kylen Granson, Colts
47. TE Brevin Jordan, Texans
48. RB Chris Evans, Bengals
49. RB Larry Rountree III, Chargers
50. RB Kylin Hill, Packers
51. RB Jermar Jefferson, Lions
52. WR Dazz Newsome, Bears
53. WR Shi Smith, Panthers
54. RB Khalil Herbert, Bears
55. WR Seth Williams, Broncos
56. WR Jalen Camp, Jaguars
57. WR Demetric Felton, Browns
58. WR Kawaan Baker, Saints
59. WR Tre Nixon, Patriots
60. WR Austin Watkins, 49ers
