In the Fantasy industry, we generally rush to our rookie drafts as soon as we can after the NFL Draft. But every season I find that is not the way all leagues work. Some of you are just now preparing for your rookie drafts. Some of you are wondering what's changed with the rookies since I last ranked them back in May. I'm answering those questions below with my updated rankings for one-QB, Superflex, and tight end premium leagues. There's even a column for non-PPR.
If there's another group we overlook in this space, it's the one-QB crowd. While most of my new leagues are Superflex, there are still a lot of one-QB leagues still around. With that in mind, here are my tiers for the first two rounds of a one-QB rookie draft:
TIER 1
1. Marvin Harrison Jr.
2. Malik Nabers
In one-QB leagues, the first two picks are pretty simple. Regardless of need, draft Harrison of Nabers. These receivers both rank inside my top 10 in Dynasty and could both be top five by October. I slightly preferred Harrison before the draft and a better landing spot only increased that preference.
TIER 2
3. Jonathon Brooks
4. Rome Odunze
5. Brock Bowers
The big surprise here relative to consensus is Jonathon Brooks. These guys are all in the same tier, so I don't have a strong preference, but I am adamant Brooks belongs in the tier. He's the best back in this class, has a three-down profile, and just turned 21 years old. As soon as he's fully recovered from his ACL I expect four-plus seasons of RB1 production.
TIER 3
6. Xavier Worthy
7. Ladd McConkey
8. Brian Thomas Jr.
9. Trey Benson
In one-QB, this tier represents both a significant drop from Tier 2 and a big edge over Tier 3 in my book. Worthy, McConkey, and Thomas are tied to good offenses and have a chance to be starting wide receivers in Fantasy in the second half of their rookie year. Benson could be an RB1 if James Conner misses time, and I would expect him to be a top-15 back starting in 2025.
TIER 4
10. Caleb Williams
11. Keon Coleman
12. Jayden Daniels
If you need a QB, the end of Round 1 is where I start considering it in this format. I don't project Williams or Daniels to produce like top 12 QBs as rookies but their skillsets and weapons certainly make it possible. I actually like Daniels slightly more in Year 1 and Williams more long-term. If you're a contender picking here, that's something to consider.
TIER 5
13. Ja'Lynn Polk
14. Adonai Mitchell
15. Xavier Legette
16. Jaylen Wright
17. Blake Corum
18. Marshawn Lloyd
We are definitely out of the sure thing category here. The running backs all probably need an injury to be a starter in the next two seasons, but I also think they have more upside if they get that injury than the wide receivers do. Polk has been one of the biggest risers of the offseason for me and may just be a starter for the Patriots Week 1. The question is how much we should care about any wide receiver starting for the Patriots.
TIER 6
19. Malachi Corley
20. Troy Franklin
21. J.J. McCarthy
22. Drake Maye
23. Ricky Pearsall
24. Roman Wilson
25. Jermaine Burton
I included seven guys in this tier, but once you get to the end of Round 2, it's 100% "get your guys" territory. Corley and Franklin are my guys, but they're also projects. McCarthy and Maye are by for the most likely to be starting in three years, but I'm not sure how much they'll matter in this format. Pearsall is the most likely to make me look dumb, but he's also going to turn 24 in September and as long as Brandon Aiyuk is on the team Pearsall is likely to turn 25 before he's Fantasy relevant.
Here is my full rookie top 40. The far left column in the player's one-QB full PPR rank, then one-QB non-PPR, then Superflex PPR, then Superflex tight end premium:
