2025 Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Drafts: A View from the 1.06

For many dynasty players, the highlight of the off-season is the annual rookie draft and we are now mere days away from many of those drafts kicking off. Once our respective dynasty teams are eliminated from contention (and sometimes even before), we turn our attention to the incoming rookie class and delusions of grandeur take over. In fact, dynasty players spend nearly the entire off-season preparing for how they will use their draft picks, or if they will use them at all.

In this twelve-part series, our team will use the latest data available here at Dynasty League Football, namely our April Superflex Rookie ADP and the Dynasty Trade Finder to ensure you are as prepared as possible when your draft begins. Based on our most recent ADP data, we’ll suggest the player you could be soon adding to your team, and if you don’t like that, we’ll also include a potential pivot option. In addition, we’ll include options based on the updated 1QB rookie ADP for those who play in that format. Finally, using the Dynasty Trade Finder, we’ll examine some recent trades that have taken place with each specific draft pick.

We all know the first round of rookie drafts includes the players we’ve been hearing about for months, if not years, but difference-makers can be found in the second round and beyond, as well. Because of that, we’ll also address the other picks that accompany each respective first-round draft slot.

Rookie Selection 1.06

The Pick: Quinshon Judkins, RB Ohio State

Judkins was outside the top 500 prospects in the 2022 class but exceeded expectations right away. He became the starter at Ole Miss and never looked back.

Chart courtesy of Sports Reference CFB.

After two huge years at Ole Miss with over 2,700 yards and 31 touchdowns, Judkins decided to go into the transfer portal. He ended up at Ohio State and shared a backfield with another premier back, TreVeyon Henderson. Judkins had fewer yards per game but raised his yards-per-carry average over five and ran for 1,000 yards again.

The move did not raise his production, and he only had three 100+ yard games with the Buckeyes. Judkins was able to play on a bigger stage and win a championship. The concerns of speed did creep up as on long runs, he was caught from behind. Judkins eased some of those with his 4.48-second 40-yard time at the Combine. Judkins showed off good blocking ability when he and Henderson were in the game together. He can be a three-down back and is a downhill runner that shows good instincts. He should be able to produce right away as a rookie.

Trade Value.

• 1.06 for Bucky Irving
• 1.06/3.03 for Josh Jacobs and Cade Otton
• 1.06/2.10/Kenneth Walker/Josh Downs for Breece Hall/Evan Engram/Tee Higgins

Possible Pivots

• Tyler Warren
• Travis Hunter
• Emeka Egbuka

1 QB Options

• Luther Burden
• Tyler Warren
• Matthew Golden

Rookie Selection 2.06

The Pick: Jayden Higgins, WR Iowa State

Higgins was the 459th-rated WR and 376th-ranked player in Florida in the 2021 recruiting class. He committed to Eastern Kentucky but after two years transferred to Iowa State.

Chart courtesy of Sports Reference CFB.

Higgins had success at Eastern Kentucky with over 1,000 yards and 13 touchdowns in two years. At Iowa State, he took off. In his first year, he finished with 983 yards and six touchdowns. Last year, he continued to improve with 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns.

Higgins has the versatility to play inside and outside. He had over a 58% contested catch rate in college and showed off those skills at the Senior Bowl. His off-season continued to raise his stock at the combine, where he recorded an overall RAS score of 9.92 out of 10. At this position, this seems like a steal with his speed and size, as he should be a quality WR2 at the next level.

Trade Value

• 2.06/Zay Flowers for DeVonta Smith
• 2.06/Keon Coleman for 2.01/4.12
• 2.04/2.06/Christian Watson for Justin Fields

Possible Pivots

• Dylan Sampson
• Jalen Royals
• RJ Harvey

1 QB Options

• Elic Ayomanor
• Devin Neal
• DJ Giddens

Rookie Selection 3.09

The Pick: Damien Martinez, RB Miami

Martinez was an under-the-radar prospect coming out of high school. He was the 600th overall prospect and the 48th-rated running back. Martinez showed off his ability right away, running for 982 yards in his freshman year.

Chart courtesy of Sports Reference CFB.

Martinez had another great year in 2023 with over 1,100 yards and nine touchdowns. Once his coach, Jonathan Smith, took the Michigan State job, Martinez decided to transfer to Miami. In 2024, he started slow, only having over 80 yards once in his first six games. In his last seven games, he finished with 80 or more yards in five games.

The problem for Martinez is how deep this running back class is. In another year, he may go in the second round of rookie drafts. He is a capable receiver but only had 32 catches in three years. He is a tough runner but best fits as a first and second-down player, which limits his ceiling at the next level.

Trade Value.

• 3.06/Cole Kmet for Xavier Worthy
• 3.06/Andrei Iosivas for Isaac Guerendo
• 1.11/2.11/3.06 for 1.06

Possible Pivots

• Elijah Arroyo
• Trevor Etienne
• Savion Williams

1 QB Options

• Jaxson Dart
• Mason Taylor
• Jaydon Blue