1QB Dynasty Rankings Explained: Rob Willette

Dynasty Rankings Explained is back! In this series DLF rankers explain their dynasty fantasy football rankings, including 2025 rookie draft pick selections so you can see how we each value those dynasty rookie picks compared to players as if it were a dynasty fantasy football startup draft. As expected, you will find a great degree of variability in the valuation of these picks as well depending on the style of the ranker. Each draft class has its own quality and depth and, depending on how the ranker values that quality and depth, individual rookie selections will appear earlier or later on the list.

Be sure to catch all of the Dynasty Fantasy Football Rankings Explained series.

DLF has always offered our readers multiple sets of dynasty fantasy football rankings from different experts to provide a broad view of player rankings. With many different strategies for building a successful dynasty team, no single set of rankings could possibly meet the needs of every manager. Instead, we’ve long subscribed to the idea of our experts providing their own individual rankings, ultimately giving our readers the opportunity to gravitate to a particular expert who closely matches their own style of ranking or, perhaps instead, choosing to use an average ranking across all experts.

A note about the tables. The Rank column indicates this ranker’s personal rankings. The AVG column indicates the consensus rankings value at the time these rankings were created. The “+/-” column indicates how much higher or lower the ranker is to the consensus average. We’ll go 120 players and picks deep, so for a deeper list of rankings, please visit our consensus dynasty fantasy football rankings.

1QB DYNASTY FANTASY FOOTBALL RANKINGS: ROB WILLETTE

I am constantly tweaking my dynasty rankings. While dynasty is playing the long game and you do not want to overreact to a small sample, there can be actionable news on any given week.

I condense my dynasty timeframe to about two seasons. The game moves fast and while age can be a tiebreaker, there is value in landing proven veterans with bankable production, even acknowledging their value is constantly depreciating in a dynasty format. There are times to go with a youth movement and opportunities to go all-in; fielding a consistent winner is difficult yet possible if you pull the right levers and understand the market your league has created.

Rankings: 1 - 24

Elite receivers dominate the top of the ranks. After a rookie year which saw him display elite talent weekly, Malik Nabers has joined the top tier of dynasty receivers. It is not far-fetched to believe he can move to the top spot if the Giants can find any semblance of competent quarterback play in 2025 and beyond.

Brian Thomas was a revelation as a rookie, flashing elite ability weekly despite the mess around him in Jacksonville. We knew he was good; we may have underrated just how good he is. He moves safely into the first round of dynasty startups and his ascent may not be done.

Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson have proven to be special players in strong situations, elevating both into first round territory despite our general reticence to invest too much into running backs. I am surprised we are not more enthused about De’Von Achane, an explosive runner who has become the clear lead in Miami. While he will never be a bruising runner, he is free to add good bulk without the track responsibilities he carried at Texas A&M. His 281 touches from 2024 feel like a reasonable expectation moving forward. As the Jets enter yet another transitional period, Breece Hall’s stock is trending downwards. He is still an explosive back with plus receiving skills, preventing the floor from caving in. We just loathe the Jets, and for good reason.

I would expect Ashton Jeanty – safely the 1.01 in most formats – to go very high in most startups, breaking into the first round in many. He is a feature back from day one and has the tools to settle in right behind dynasty’s top runners in rankings.

Drake London looked fantastic with Michael Penix, and the healthy rapport they built helped London deliver on the promise he had hinted at for so long. He now sits on the first and second round fringe. AJ Brown is the trusted veteran here, though his numbers can fluctuate due to the strength of the Eagles rushing game plus Jalen Hurts’ limited passing volume. Still, he is too good to drop too far and has some monster seasons under his belt.

Brock Bowers landing this high despite playing a position that traditionally only starts one is a testament to the talent he possesses and the season he just had. While volume may take a small step back as the Raiders presumably add depth on offense, Bowers is a special player poised to assume Travis Kelce’s role as a premier fantasy player at a non-premium position.

Long a staunch proponent of late-round quarterback in single quarterback formats, the separation the top players at the position have created has me tossing old habits into the trash. The elites who marry plus passing numbers with big rushing totals create a significant weekly advantage, leading me to rank both Lamar Jackson and Jayden Daniels in my Top 24.

Rankings: 25 - 48

I have both Rashee Rice and Jaxon Smith-Njigba lower than consensus, though not excessively so. Rice looks to be on track to return from an LCL injury suffered on a fluky play, but he still has a looming suspension and the added talent in the Chiefs receiving room could reduce his volume, though not significantly so. Smith-Njigba had a strong second season, often looking like Seattle’s best receiver. I like him as a strong WR2 in fantasy; I question the overall upside.

Trey McBride’s brilliant season was muted by some weird touchdown luck. He has clearly established himself as dynasty’s second-ranked tight end, one who should be a mainstay for the foreseeable future.

I see a clear Top 7 in rookie drafts, broken into two tiers. The second tier is seen here, with picks 1.03-1.07 landing in the Top 48. I would be enthused about adding any of these players to my dynasty roster, though the long draft process could change this approach.

Bucky Irving and Kyren Williams are cut from a similar cloth. Both are limited physically yet do nothing but produce, and both are in perfect environments for them to thrive. Irving in particular showed more juice than his testing numbers would indicate, and his fantastic rookie season has set the table for him to be a top running back in 2025.

Chase Brown’s big second season has set him up as a big dynasty riser. Given his performance and how many needs the Bengals have elsewhere, he looks poised to lead this backfield at least through his rookie contract. He has cleaned up many of the issues which caused him to fall to Round 5, and now combines his explosive tools with increased reliability.

I am lower on three receivers in this group. A Tyreek Hill trade would change the equation, but Jaylen Waddle was a victim of the Dolphins changing offense in 2024 and became more of an ancillary piece. Rome Odunze had his moments as a rookie, though even acknowledging the Bears’ offensive struggles, looked more like a solid option as opposed to being a game-changer. Zay Flowers was great, but I worry he is never a volume hog week-to-week. I like all three players individually; it is just a case where I prefer others at cost.

Rankings: 49 - 72

After a sensational rookie season, Sam LaPorta fell within the Lions’ pecking order. He closed the season strong, but his usage did remind us of how mercurial tight ends can be if they are not a top-two option within an offense. Despite the step back, LaPorta is a young player who has been a fantasy factor for two years running. He remains a strong TE3 in rankings.

Chris Olave is at a crossroads. Sadly, concussion issues have plagued his career and the Saints appear finally ready to embark on a lengthy rebuild. Olave is a solid player, though I do not think he is the superstar he looked like he may have been early in his rookie season.

We try to shoo him away every August, but Alvin Kamara remains inevitable. Having signed a recent extension with the team, we can expect to see him continue to post strong numbers due to volume, even if his days of being an explosive back are gone.

Rookie Picks 1.08-1.10 are likely to see different names float in and out throughout the next three months, but they figure to only increase in value. It could be a spot that sees a top quarterback like Cam Ward go. It could be where Tyler Warren settles in. It could also be a sweet spot for the second tier of skill position talent, with players like Quinshon Judkins, Elic Ayomanor, and Matthew Golden lurking as potential risers based on draft capital.

Brandon Aiyuk may be the player I am lowest on versus consensus, down 29 spots (rookie slots create a natural slide for many players). I am not expecting much in 2025 following Aiyuk’s multi-ligament injury, making him a long-term play. He should be back to full strength, but a potential lost year is a big deal when you are talking about a strong yet not elite fantasy producer.

Rankings: 73 - 96

Jerry Jeudy’s move to Cleveland went about as well as anyone could have expected, with the former Bronco crushing previous career highs in both receptions and yards. Cleveland has obvious quarterback questions, and I do not see Jeudy as a dynamic WR1 at the NFL level, but he is still a young receiver with a prominent role in the Browns offense, making him a strong value this far down the list.

A pair of rookies – Jalen McMillan and Tyrone Tracy Jr. – had strong rookie seasons which elevated their stock significantly. McMillan’s value could vacillate based on what the Buccaneers do with pending free agent Chris Godwin. If Godwin departs, McMillan is poised to be a major factor in 2025 with only 31-year-old Mike Evans ahead of him on the depth chart. I like Tracy, but feel he is a good sell candidate if people believe he is the Giants’ future at running back.

Tyreek Hill looked like a lesser version of himself in 2024 and created some drama early this offseason. While he is certainly not washed, I think he is an easy fade as he turns 31 next month.

The picks in this range – from 1.11 to 2.02 – figure to be more contributors as opposed to stars, but the youth and mystery upside (it could even be a boat) given them the nod over veterans whose stock is creeping lower.

Not long ago, Travis Etienne and Rhamondre Stevenson were enticing young backs going in the first few rounds. They are now barely hanging on to Top 100 status. Etienne ceded a ton of work to Tank Bigsby while Stevenson was in and out of the doghouse and never really gained his footing in Jared Mayo’s offense. Maybe a fresh start for each – with new coaching staffs in both locations – proves to be all they need, but it is tough to have much faith in this duo.

Rankings: 97 - 120

JK Dobbins had an incredible comeback season for the Chargers, rushing for 905 yards and 9 scores despite landing on IR late in the year. He is now a free agent, and the Chargers could go a lot of different directions at running back, but I see Dobbins has someone with more upward mobility than most in this range, keeping him ahead of consensus.

Deebo Samuel was never at his best in 2024, with injuries and illness preventing him from really finding a rhythm. His game never figured to age well, however, with his physical style taking its toll over time. I don’t think we have seen the last of Samuel, but I do not have much interest in making moves for him.

It is a sad fall for Jonathon Brooks, whose stock is tumbling through no fault of his own. Tearing the ACL in the same knee is just rotten luck, and we now may have to wait until 2026 to see him up and running.

I expect Isaac Guerendo to gain more helium as the offseason goes on. He had some big moments when he got his opportunity in 2024, and Christian McCaffrey’s health remains a question mark as he heads into his age 29 season. He is an easy call over Jordan Mason, a capable grinder who profiles best as a backup.

Rookie picks litter throughout this range, and many players here could see their stocks tumble following the draft. You never want to overrate picks, but it is unlikely the names here make you regret making an aggressive move for more rookie draft capital.

I do not expect to see Tank Dell this fall, and two serious lower-body injuries raise questions as to how well he will rebound. It is a crushing scene, as he looked like an excellent complement to Nico Collins as a rookie and was poised to be one of the more exciting players in the league.

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Rob Willette

Contributor at Dynasty League Football

Senior Writer @DLFootball. Forever tormented Minnesota sports fan.

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