The landscape of dynasty fantasy football changes every single season, and with it, the value of many young players. The dynasty stocks of many players are constantly rising and falling, making it tough to understand a player’s true value. Predicting a player's future is extremely difficult, especially when deciding which rookie to add to your team during dynasty rookie drafts.
Looking back over the last few seasons, many rookies have either outperformed or disappointed their dynasty rookie draft ADPs since their inaugural campaigns. Let’s re-draft the top three selections of each dynasty rookie draft since 2021!
This list was made considering each player’s current value, not their prospect profiles from when they were drafted. We'll be looking at data for a1QB league per Fantasy Pro's rookie ADP. Let’s get into the list!
2021: Original
1.01. Najee Harris (RB, PIT)
1.02. Ja’Marr Chase (WR, CIN)
1.03. Kyle Pitts (TE, ATL)
2021: Updated
1.01. Ja’Marr Chase (WR, CIN)
1.02. Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR, DET)
1.03. Nico Collins (WR, HOU)
HM: DeVonta Smith (WR, PHI)
In a stacked dynasty rookie draft class, wideout Ja’Marr Chase supplants running back Najee Harris as the top selection from this year’s group. He has consistently separated himself as one of the league's top receivers on an every-down basis and even won the triple crown in 2024, securing the most receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns in the NFL. He is the most valuable non-quarterback in fantasy football and is expected to repeat as the overall WR1 in 2025.
Amon-Ra St. Brown checks in at the second-overall selection, rising significantly in dynasty rankings since being drafted by Detroit in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. St. Brown has become a high-volume producer from the slot, cementing himself as one of the NFL’s best red-zone weapons.
The USC product has also created a reputation as one of the safest options in fantasy football every season due to his consistent performance. If you drafted Amon-Ra St. Brown in the third round of your 2021 dynasty rookie draft, you received the best value in the entire class.
Houston’s Nico Collins is our new third-overall pick in this re-draft. Collins broke out in 2023 during quarterback C.J. Stroud's first season at the helm of the offense. While he struggled to stay on the field in 2024, he still managed to compile 1,006 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in only 12 games. Collins will remain the top target in Houston’s passing attack for the foreseeable future.
2022: Original
1.01. Breece Hall (RB, NYJ)
1.02. Drake London (WR, ATL)
1.03. Kenneth Walker (RB, SEA)
2022: Updated
1.01. Drake London (WR, ATL)
1.02. Kyren Williams (RB, LAR)
1.03. Garrett Wilson (WR, NYJ)
HM: Breece Hall (RB, NY), James Cook (RB, BUF)
Drake London truly broke out in 2024 after being a consensus top-three rookie draft selection back in 2022. The young wideout was a top-five receiver in fantasy football and showed tremendous on-field chemistry with multiple starting quarterbacks during his third professional season.
London is a truly well-rounded threat as a receiver, with elite contested-catch skills, surgical route-running, and great athleticism. He profiles as Atlanta’s top wideout for years to come.
Kyren Williams was another massive riser on this list, similar to Amon-Ra St. Brown. Williams was a late-round flyer in many rookie drafts a few years ago but has since put together multiple seasons with 1,100+ rushing yards and 12+ rushing touchdowns.
His usage rose even higher in 2024 after a breakout sophomore season in 2023, making it clear to all that Kyren Williams will remain an integral piece of Los Angeles’ backfield for a few more seasons at the very least.
New York’s Garrett Wilson has found a way to produce three very respectable fantasy seasons so far despite a questionable quarterback room throughout his tenure as a Jet. However, he has yet to truly break out as a receiver in this offense. The former Ohio State Buckeye took a step in the right direction in 2024, setting career-high marks in many receiving categories.
One question remains: Will Justin Fields, Wilson’s college quarterback, be able to help Wilson finally break out as a top-five fantasy receiver?
2023: Original
1.01. Bijan Robinson (RB, ATL)
1.02. Jahmyr Gibbs (WR, DET)
1.03. Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR, SEA)
2023: Updated
1.01. Bijan Robinson (RB, ATL)
1.02. Jahmyr Gibbs (RB, DET)
1.03. Puka Nacua (WR, LAR)
HM: De’Von Achane (RB, MIA), Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR, SEA)
The 2023 dynasty rookie class has been headlined by superstar running backs who have dominated since entering the league. It is truly neck-and-neck between Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson and Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs for the top spot here, but I have to give the nod to the former. Robinson has been unstoppable as the Falcons’ top running back since his rookie season.
The only thing holding back Gibbs from bridging this razor-thin gap is his running mate, David Montgomery, who takes a decent share of the team’s carries when healthy. If Gibbs has Robinson’s level of volume, he would be my 1.01.
Bijan Robinson skyrocketed as a dynasty asset in 2024 after totaling 1,256 rushing yards, 431 receiving yards, and 15 total touchdowns. He is set up for success for years to come behind a strong offensive line and has been able to translate the elite skill set we saw at Texas to the NFL. It won’t be long before Bijan Robinson establishes himself as the league’s best running back.
Jahmyr Gibbs was an undeniable force during the back half of the 2024 NFL season. As a whole, Gibbs was perhaps the most consistent fantasy performer during the 2024 NFL season, making him one of the most valuable assets in the game.
Gibbs and David Montgomery have good reason to make their claim as the best running back duo in the NFL, and Gibbs should continue to slice up defenses as long as he remains a key piece in this high-powered offense.
De’Von Achane became a PPR monster in 2024, leading all running backs in receptions and receiving yards. The versatile back overcame concerns about his ability to stay healthy after only participating in 11 games during his rookie season.
Achane also managed to post strong efficiency on the ground with a greatly increased workload. In his third season, I expect Achane to be even more involved on the ground and through the air. His ceiling is much higher than we think.
2024: Original
1.01. Marvin Harrison Jr (WR, ARI)
1.02. Malik Nabers (WR, NYG)
1.03. Rome Odunze (WR, CHI)
2024: Updated
1.01. Malik Nabers (WR, NYG)
1.02. Brock Bowers (TE, LV)
1.03. Brian Thomas Jr. (WR, JAX)
HM: Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR, ARI)
Malik Nabers was a top-tier rookie in the NFL with one of the worst offensive situations in recent memory surrounding him. I would bet on the LSU product taking the next step in 2025 and emerging as a top-three receiver in the NFL with a decidedly better starting quarterback under center, whoever ends up winning the job.
1,204 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns in a rookie season is hard to ignore, only ranking below this re-draft’s 1.03. Nabers has all the making of an alpha wide receiver with his elite route-running ability and high volume.
Brock Bowers was perhaps the best tight end in the NFL during his rookie season, at least in the world of fantasy football. Entering the NFL, Bowers was considered a generational prospect at the tight end position due to his talents as a receiver. These beliefs were proven correct as Bowers put up a historic rookie season as Las Vegas' top receiving threat. If he improves this year, we could see an all-time great tight end fantasy season.
Brian Thomas Jr. was the most impressive receiver on a statistical level out of the entire class. He posted 1,282 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns and won many managers their fantasy league championships down the stretch. Entering his second season, Thomas should have more space to work with rookie wideout Travis Hunter in the rotation and spreading out the defense. The best could be yet to come for Brian Thomas Jr in 2025 dynasty fantasy football.