What We Learned from a 1-QB Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft

Whether you’ve already completed a few or your league is getting theirs started soon, this part of the fantasy calendar means you should be prepared for rookie drafts.

Having the opportunity to buy in on the NFL’s future stars at the beginning of their career(s) is perhaps one of the best parts of participating in the dynasty format of fantasy football. It’s what makes rookie drafts so thrilling, and the 2025 rookie class is chock-full of promising prospects.

If you’re unsure what to expect from your 1-QB league’s rookie draft, allow this exercise to provide a framework for draft day. I assembled a group, including myself and 11 other fantasy football analysts from around the industry, and completed a four-round mock. Below is a full analysis of the results and some surprising standout selections.

Let’s break down this 1-QB, PPR rookie mock draft:

1-QB Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft

The Drafters

1. Jeff Krisko — Football Absurdity (@jeffkrisko.bsky.social)
2. Jay Felicio — FTN Fantasy/The Athletic (@GMenJay)
3. Mike Faiella — Dynasty League Football (@DaddysHomeFF)
4. Tyler Orginski — FTN Fantasy (@FFTylerO)
5. LaQuan Jones — NFL Network/FTN Fantasy (@RealDealFantasy)
6. C.H. Herms — FTN Fantasy/Fantasy Points (@herms.bsky.social)
7. Jake Trowbridge — Matthew Berry’s Fantasy Life (@jaketrowbridge.bsky.social)
8. Kacey Kasem — RotoBaller/Fantasy Six Pack/Optimus Fantasy (@TheKaceyKasem)
9. Sam Wagman — Sports Illustrated/Footballguys (@swagman95)
10. Jake Parry — FF RPG/IBT Media/Fantasy Alarm (@Parry_FF)
11. Andrew Hall — FantasyPros (@AndrewHallFF)
12. Nate Polvogt — Optimus Fantasy (@NatePolvogt)

Round 1

• 1.01: Ashton Jeanty, RB Las Vegas Raiders (Krisko)
• 1.02: Travis Hunter, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars (Felicio)
• 1.03: Omarion Hampton, RB, Los Angeles Chargers (Faiella)
• 1.04: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Carolina Panthers (Orginski)
• 1.05: RJ Harvey, RB, Denver Broncos (Jones)
• 1.06: Quinshon Judkins, RB, Cleveland Browns (Herms)
• 1.07: TreVeyon Henderson, RB, New England Patriots (Trowbridge)
• 1.08: Tyler Warren, TE, Indianapolis Colts (Kasem)
• 1.09: Colston Loveland, TE, Chicago Bears (Wagman)
• 1.10: Kaleb Johnson, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers (Parry)
• 1.11: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Hall)
• 1.12: Luther Burden III, WR, Chicago Bears (Polvogt)

Much of the first round went as expected. Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty came off the board first to the surprise of no one. If that doesn’t happen in your league, something has gone horribly awry.

I recently wrote some about what to expect from Jeanty in 2025, but suffice to say he’s the best player available. There isn’t much to dig into regarding these picks, as the results were somewhat chalky. However, we’d be remiss not to talk about LaQuan Jones’ surprise pick at the 1.05.

Denver Broncos rookie RJ Harvey is a player who typically goes around the late first and into the early second round of the rookie drafts, so naturally, I had to consult with Jones about the selection. The case he made for “Harvey to the freakin’ moon” (as he colorfully put it) was rather compelling.

As he points out in this X thread, the Broncos’ offense with quarterback Bo Nix at the helm frequently targeted the running back in the passing game in 2024. Plus, any longtime fantasy enthusiast (anecdotally) knows what head coach Sean Payton’s offensive system typically brings to a backfield.

Can Harvey be the Alvin Kamara-type dual threat in Denver? Quite possibly! It’s a bold stake to plant in the ground at 1.05, but a move that could look very smart with the benefit of hindsight. Time will tell if LQ is onto something here.

Round 2

• 2.01: Matthew Golden, WR, Green Bay Packers (Krisko)
• 2.02: Jayden Higgins, WR, Houston Texans (Felicio)
• 2.03: Tre Harris III, WR, Los Angeles Chargers (Faiella)
• 2.04: Jaxson Dart, QB, New York Giants (Orginski)
• 2.05: Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars (Jones)
• 2.06: Mason Taylor, TE, New York Jets (Herms)
• 2.07: Cameron Ward, QB, Tennessee Titans (Trowbridge)
• 2.08: Cam Skattebo, RB, New York Giants (Kasem)
• 2.09: Jack Bech, WR Las Vegas Raiders (Wagman)
• 2.10: Jaylin Noel, WR, Houston Texans (Parry)
• 2.11: Kyle Williams, WR, New England Patriots (Hall)
• 2.12: Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Cleveland Browns (Polvogt)

With many possibilities still on the table, the second round of this mock was an intriguing experience. Watching new Packers wideout Matthew Golden drop into Round 2 is something I’ve seen more and more as rookie drafts unfold, and at this point, it might be one of my favorite “value” picks to make if he does.

In addition to being the only non-quarterback with first-round NFL Draft capital to go in this round, Golden finds himself with an immediate opportunity to be a key contributor to Green Bay’s offense. I discussed this in an article from March, but quarterback Jordan Love badly needed a downfield threat to take the top off of opposing defenses.

That’s precisely the type of dimension Golden adds to the team with his 4.29-second 40-yard speed. The “big play” field-stretcher isn’t the ideal archetype for a full-PPR scoring format, but it’s a bet I’m willing to make at this cost.

Beyond Golden, the other interesting move to highlight is Tyler Orginski’s selection of Jaxson Dart over Cameron Ward as the first quarterback off the board at 2.04. To quote Orginski, the reasoning behind the pick is that “Dart has more long-term upside, better tools and a cleaner college profile. Ward’s lack of rushing, shaky film, and a bad offense cap his ceiling. Dart may sit early, but I’m betting on talent over short-term opportunity in 1-QB formats.”

I tend to agree with this assessment and found myself to be a bigger fan of Dart throughout the pre-draft process. It’s not a choice I would’ve made this early in a 1-QB necessarily, but the reasoning isn’t something that will be pressed too hard against.

Round 3

• 3.01: Jaydon Blue, RB, Dallas Cowboys (Krisko)
• 3.02: Jalen Milroe, QB, Seattle Seahawks (Felicio)
• 3.03: Jarquez Hunter, RB, Los Angeles Rams (Faiella)
• 3.04: Dylan Sampson, RB, Cleveland Browns (Orginski)
• 3.05: Elijah Arroyo, TE, Seattle Seahawks (Jones)
• 3.06: Devin Neal, RB, New Orleans Saints (Herms)
• 3.07: Pat Bryant, WR, Denver Broncos (Trowbridge)
• 3.08: Jalen Royals, WR, Kansas City Chiefs (Kasem)
• 3.09: Terrance Ferguson, TE, Los Angeles Rams (Wagman)
• 3.10: Woody Marks, RB, Houston Texans (Parry)
• 3.11: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Cleveland Browns (Hall)
• 3.12: Elic Ayomanor, WR, Tennessee Titans (Polvogt)

We’re all just taking our shots on upside plays by this point in the draft. It’s entirely conceivable that none of these players amount to much, though previous years have given us names like Chase Brown or Puka Nacua from this range. Superstardom isn’t impossible!

I’m not going to go too far in saying that either of these players will reach those levels of fantasy relevance, but Terrance Ferguson and Woody Marks are guys in this range for whom I like their chances.

Starting with the latter, he’s a running back who has been a favorite target of mine in later rounds this year. Both Jake Parry (maker of the pick) and I are big fans considering the potential opportunity for carving out a role behind Joe Mixon,

Parry noted in the explanation of the choice that “the lack of competition (Dameon Pierce and Dare Ogunbowale) can give him both immediate touches and elite handcuff upside” in Houston. Plus, Marks roped in 261 receptions across five college seasons, per Sports Reference, and that pass-catching element is unique to this backfield.

As for Ferguson, my pal Sam Wagman pointed out the slip in the draft chat, saying “He was early-mid second forever, sometimes back end of second” and executed at 3.09. Recent rookie draft ADP from DLF confirms this, as the former Oregon standout typically comes off the board as the TE4.

The only real playing-time threat to Ferguson in Los Angeles is veteran Tyler Higbee, whose contract with the Rams ends after 2025. Plus, the Sean McVay-led coaching staff did take Ferguson somewhat early in the NFL Draft (46th overall). Carving out immediate targets might be tough, although the obvious long-term path makes it easy to form the bullish case.

Round 4

• 4.01: Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Washington Commanders (Krisko)
• 4.02: Gunnar Helm, TE, Tennessee Titans (Felicio)
• 4.03: Ollie Gordon II, RB, Miami Dolphins (Faiella)
• 4.04: Isaac TeSlaa, WR, Detroit Lions (Orginski)
• 4.05: Damien Martinez, RB, Seattle Seahawks (Jones)
• 4.06: Jordan James, RB, San Francisco 49ers (Herms)
• 4.07: Tahj Brooks, RB, Cincinnati Bengals (Trowbridge)
• 4.08: Oronde Gadsden II, TE, Los Angeles Chargers (Kasem)
• 4.09: DJ Giddens, RB, Indianapolis Colts (Wagman)
• 4.10: Tyler Shough, QB, New Orleans Saints (Parry)
• 4.11: Dillon Gabriel, QB, Cleveland Browns (Hall)
• 4.12: Xavier Restrepo, WR, Tennessee Titans (Polvogt)

The hopeful YOLO nature of the fourth round is even more prominent than in the third. As such, we’ll close this exercise by saying expectations should be very low for any players chosen in this portion of the draft.

Of all the long shots, however, something about Jeff Krisko’s pick of Jacory Croskey-Merritt sticks out in particular. Eligibility issues, unfortunately, limited the 24-year-old to just one game with the Arizona Wildcats in 2024. Still, he took his small opportunity at this year’s East-West Shrine Bowl (11 carries, 97 rushing yards, two touchdowns) and quite literally ran away with the showcase’s MVP honors.

Beyond Brian Robinson Jr. and the aging Austin Ekeler, there isn’t any substantive running back depth on the Commanders’ roster. Occasional practice squad injury fill-in Chris Rodriguez Jr. has been OK in spurts across three professional seasons, but not good enough to prevent the D.C.-based franchise from taking a shot on Croskey-Merritt at the end of the seventh round (245th overall pick).

Call it a hunch, but I’m very much here for these vibes. Croskey-Merritt may only be one injury away from a committee role. Taking him with a final pick or just waiting to pick him up from the waiver wire post-draft is a fun, low-risk/high-reward move I’d encourage all dynasty managers to make.

PRESALE PRESALE PRESALE PRESALE PRESALE

Football Almanac 2025

$40.00 $35.00

Get Almanac for $35.00

Full Draft Board