Dynasty Notebook: Re-ranking the Rookie Class
Seven weeks into the NFL season, Sam Wallace shares how he would re-rank the current rookie class based on what we know now and what we expect to see in the future.
Believe it or not, we're closing in on the halfway portion of the fantasy football season. That means it's time to reflect on the current rookie class. Let's re-rank them in dynasty leagues based on what we know right now and what we expect of them moving forward.
No. 1 - Ashton Jeanty - RB, Raiders
It might have been a slow start to the season for Ashton Jeanty, and the Raiders might be as bad as we thought (no thanks to injuries to some of their best players), but I would still take Jeanty as the 1.01 of this class.
Maybe it was the change in his pre-snap stance, or maybe he's figuring out how to navigate this porous offense live, but Jeanty's combination of youth, pass-catching ability, and overall upside is just something you can't quite find elsewhere.
While I think I would prefer the next two RBs at their respective cost versus spending up for Jeanty, it's hard to keep him out of the 1.01 spot at this stage.
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No. 2 - Emeka Egbuka - WR, Buccaneers
At first, I was a bit disappointed in the landing spot for Emeka Egbuka. The Buccaneers already have Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and a handful of other viable options in the passing game, including RBs and TEs.
However, it's been good for me to be reminded that I shouldn't bet against talented players on great offenses.
Do I believe Egbuka is talented? Absolutely. Do I believe Tampa Bay has a strong offense? You bet. There should have been no reason to doubt that Egbuka could make an impact on this team, even in the short term.
Injuries have certainly afforded him a larger opportunity than initially was expected, but that just goes to show how quickly the landscape can change in the NFL. He's scored five TDs in his first five games and shows no sign of slowing down.
He's an uber-talented player with a wide runway of opportunity in front of him. He's a cornerstone player for both the Bucs and dynasty rosters.
No. 3 - Tyler Warren - TE, Colts
I gotta say, it's been awesome having a rookie TE who's delivered on expectations and then some. Tyler Warren was part of a group of two at the top of this class (alongside Colston Loveland). While Loveland and the Bears have gone through some growing pains, Warren and the Colts are looking like one of the best teams in football.
The TE position remains one of the most scarce in the league. It's nice to have a good one, but if you have a great/elite option, make sure to hold onto that asset for as long as you can. It's often worth more to hold onto those types of players even if it means turning down a "fair" offer.
As for Warren, he's quickly become a key component of the Colts' passing attack. He has topped 60 receiving yards in five of seven games and has scored TDs in three straight contests. There are even bigger games coming.
Whether or not Daniel Jones is the long-term, franchise player that he appears to be, Warren is locked in as a premier target on a great offense.
No. 4 - Omarion Hampton - RB, Chargers
It was a slow start for Matthew Berry's own "Ride or Die" pick, but after an unfortunate injury to teammate Najee Harris, Omarion Hampton took off in a big way. He topped 23 PPR in consecutive games (Weeks 3-4) after taking on a full-time role.
An ankle injury has derailed an otherwise promising rookie campaign, but from a dynasty perspective, there's little reason not to be in love with Hampton. His overall body of work coming into the league, coupled with an elite landing spot with the Chargers, makes him one of the most promising young players at the position.
No. 5 - Quinshon Judkins - RB, Browns
I'm trying not to be a prisoner of the moment and get too caught up in recency bias, but it's hard not to get excited about how effective Quinshon Judkins has looked over the last few weeks.
His three-TD performance on Sunday further cemented his arrival as one of the premier options not only in his class but across the league. If someone wanted to rank him higher than the 1.05, I certainly wouldn't argue.
The Browns might still be figuring out who their long-term option is at QB, but they certainly have the RB position figured out. Judkins looks like a younger Nick Chubb, which is something that both fans and fantasy managers alike should get excited about.
No. 6 - Tetairoa McMillan - WR, Panthers
I've been on the Bryce Young train for a few years now and am grateful they finally spent the needed capital to land him a talented wideout.
Tetairoa McMillan has done about everything that's been asked of him at this stage of the season. His ability to command a solid target share, coupled with his first handful of TDs in recent weeks, only solidifies his place as one of the top wideouts in this class.
As of this writing, Young is dealing with an ankle injury, but it's quite possible that Andy Dalton is more willing to push the ball down the field, thus elevating McMillan's floor and ceiling in the short term.
No. 7 - Cam Skattebo - RB, Giants
The next generation of players has arrived in New York as both Cam Skattebo and his QB teammate are looking to turn this franchise around.
While the influx of aura hasn't generated enough wins (yet), there's a palpable excitement to this team that hasn't existed since the days of OBJ.
Through seven weeks, Skattebo is looking like one of the steals of both the NFL Draft and fantasy drafts. His high-energy style of play and willingness to seek out contact have made him a fan favorite, and his coaches are willing to give him a sizable workload.
Opportunity remains one of the best indicators for RB success, and Skattebo is seeing that in spades. He already has six TDs on the season and is quickly turning into a cornerstone-type player for both the Giants and fantasy rosters everywhere.
No. 8 - Jaxson Dart - QB, Giants
Despite the crushing loss to the Broncos in Week 7, Giants fans have plenty to be excited about with Jaxson Dart. He's now topped 23 fantasy points in consecutive weeks and has racked up 10 total TDs to just four turnovers.
He's done all this without his top weapon in Malik Nabers. Imagine what he can do with a fully healthy supporting cast and a full offseason as the unquestioned starter.
Dart makes this list even in 1QB leagues because of his rushing production. That added production keeps his floor high and unlocks a higher ceiling than most other QBs going in his range.
No. 9 - Matthew Golden - WR, Packers
The Packers broke years of precedent when they drafted Matthew Golden in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft (which, coincidentally, took place in Green Bay). A first-round talent, Golden's speed represents a coveted layer this offense has struggled to consistently unlock.
While the truly massive performances haven't happened (yet), it's been encouraging to see Jordan Love & Co. find unique ways to get their star player involved by way of manufactured touches.
The Packers' offense seems to include a range of players each week, so determining which guy(s) to bank on can be tricky. Even so, despite his overall ceiling being a bit capped by how spread out this offense is, Golden represents a top-end dynasty asset with room to grow.
No. 10 - Luther Burden - WR, Bears
This one might be bold based on what we've seen from him this season, but my placement of Luther Burden at the 1.10 spot is more about projection than it is about production.
An early second-round pick, Burden offers a combination of speed and talent that the Bears could desperately use. The presence of both DJ Moore and Rome Odunze certainly caps his upside, but I don't believe Moore will be with the team for much longer.
If you believe in Ben Johnson and/or Caleb Williams, it's worth being patient with Burden for a little while longer.
No. 11 - Elic Ayomanor - WR, Titans
It didn't take long for the Titans to make a significant change to their team this season. They fired their head coach Brian Callahan after a 1-5 start with rookie QB Cam Ward at the helm.
While this team is in desperate need of playmakers, it's been encouraging to see Elic Ayomanor step up with the opportunities that he's had. Standing at 6'2" and 206 lbs, Ayomanor offers the type of downfield threat this team needs.
He has just two receiving TDs this season, but as both Ward and the rest of this team continue to grow and improve, he's someone who could quickly rise up draft boards next offseason.
No. 12 - Harold Fannin - TE, Browns
The Cleveland Browns have two players making this top-12 list? What a time to be alive.
Harold Fannin might be behind David Njoku on the depth chart, for now, but the veteran is in the final year of his contract, which makes the Fannin pick quite astute for this organization.
Through Week 7, Fannin is averaging more than six targets per game, so he's already establishing himself as a primary target on this offense. Aside from Jerry Jeudy, no single player stands out as a true alpha, so there's plenty of room (and opportunity) for Fannin to grow into an even larger contributor for whoever their long-term QB is.
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