2025 Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Drafts: A View From The 1.02

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 tend to 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 12-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 soon be 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 1.02

The Pick: Cam Ward, QB

Getting the likely 1.01 of the NFL Draft later than the 1.01 in a rookie draft feels like a steal, but is instead a testament to the generational talent of Ashton Jeanty. However, it wouldn’t surprise me if that value flips come draft day, if people talk themselves into the positional value of taking a quarterback over a running back, regardless of talent levels.

However, Ward’s talent shouldn’t be a question. He has elite arm talent and an incredible ability to play out of structure. He thrives as a playmaker, with athleticism in the open field and the arm to question all areas of a defense. That athleticism is also slightly untapped, with the chance that he could offer more as a rusher in the NFL than he ever did in college. However, there are certainly some footwork issues and difficulties under pressure, evidenced by how often you see him walking behind his offensive line because he was so confident no one would be able to get through that OL.

The draft value of Ward isn’t in question – he’ll go first overall to the Titans. That currently doesn’t feel like the best landing spot, but these things can easily change, especially if the Titans choose to pair him with another weapon in the receiving game with one of their day two picks.

Trade Value:

1.02 for De’Von Achane
1.02 for Marvin Harrison Jr

Possible Pivots:

1QB Options:

Omarion Hampton
TreVeyon Henderson
Tetairoa McMillan

Rookie Selection 2.02

The Pick: Matthew Golden, WR

Golden’s value seems to go back and forth. He might be the only receiver in history whose outstanding combine seemed to drop him down fantasy analysts’ rankings, with the theory being that he was being overhyped because his 4.29 speed never showed on tape.

That might be true – Isaiah Bond always played like the quicker Texas WR, despite the forty time – but Golden has some traits that will see him thrive in the NFL. He can win at all three levels of the field and has showcased a crispness to his route running that’s being overlooked. Not only does he have blazing long speed, but he’s able to decelerate as quickly as he gets up to his top gear, making him incredibly difficult to get close to.

The NFL seems to have fallen in love with Golden, with real hype over him being the first receiver drafted. Whether that’s true or not, he’s a lock to go in the first round and should find a great landing spot to contribute as a Z/Slot in the NFL, no matter if that’s as a team’s WR1 or WR2.

Trade Value:

2.02 + 2026 third for Anthony Richardson
2.02 for Justin Fields

Possible Pivots:

1QB Options:

Cam Skattebo
Cam Ward
Jaylin Noel

Rookie Selection 3.02

The Pick: RJ Harvey, RB

I’m delighted any time I get to write about RJ Harvey. He’s one of the most elusive backs in this draft class – despite being slightly undersized, he’s just incredibly hard to actually get your hands on. He showcased an incredible ability to put his foot in the ground, stop on a dime, and burst in the opposite direction. And when that’s paired with his short-area quickness, it leads to a running back who has a real chance to thrive in the NFL.

Harvey is also a weapon in the passing game, with great hands and some of the best route-running ability in the class. The question is whether he’ll be limited to this role, or whether he’ll be able to find a spot as a workhorse back, given size and power concerns.

Harvey is currently being mocked towards the back of day two, but hype over his draft stock is beginning to gain steam, with a lot of analysts falling for him. He’s my RB6 in this class – if I can draft him at the 3.02, I’ll be laughing in every single rookie draft.

Trade Value:

3.02 for Mike Gesicki
3.02 for Quentin Johnston

Possible Pivots:

Isaiah Bond
DJ Giddens
Jack Bech

1QB Options:

Author
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Lewis Wood

Contributor at Dynasty League Football

Lewis is a Rams fan from the UK who is obsessive over dynasty leagues. League mates have accused him of being way too trade happy but it works out when you bring home titles!

You can hear more from Lewis on his YouTube channel 'Fantasy Pancake' https://youtube.com/@fantasypancake?si=U7BLlUCqY38dTsEv