With the NFL draft behind us, ASL's writers have put together their top 30 Dynasty Rookie draft ranking of shiny new NFL talent to help you make the most of your precious few dynasty draft picks.
1. Leonard Fournette – RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Brian Murphy: Let it be known that I’m still worried about Fournette’s apparently chronic ankle problem. But as I said in my pre-draft rankings, he is the easy call at No. 1 if he stays healthy and fulfills his his potential. Let’s hope the Jaguars put a good offensive line in front of Fournette.
Daniel Brown: Fournette went to Jacksonville in the first round, being the first running back selected and it wasn’t a huge surprise. He should be the day 1 starter for Jacksonville, and if Tom Coughlin’s history has an influence on game day for the Jags we should see a lot of Fournette. The main reason we have him sliding to the second spot here is due to concerns that although better, the Jacksonville defense may still be leaky and cause the team to abandon the run earlier than we would like. Also he has a history of ankle problems which is a factor when weighing up Davis vs Fournette.
John Adams: Fournette isn’t going into an ideal situation in Jacksonville, but his power and talent makes him the runaway top rookie in this year’s draft.
2. Corey Davis – WR, Tennessee Titans
Brian Murphy: Davis might be the Titans’ No. 1 wideout this season. He will be their No. 1 wideout for many years afterward.
Daniel Brown: We have a new number 1 in Davis, the landing spot in Tennessee feels like a great fit for him with a solid and still developing quarterback, a solid run game and a couple of weapons in the passing attack he should fit right in and make an impact from week 1. He has the potential to be a WR1 for a long time in this league, and in a dynasty team that’s what you are hoping for – long term impact. An added bonus is immediate impact. Davis should contribute both of these which moves him to the top of my board.
John Adams: Corey Davis is the top receiver in this year’s draft and moves into an ideal situation in Tennessee where the team is starving for top-flight wideout.
3. Christian McCaffrey- RB, Carolina Panthers
Brian Murphy: How will the Panthers use him this year? We’ll find out, but he should become their lead running back -- and a major PPR asset -- before long.
Daniel Brown: His landing spot in Carolina couldn’t be more perfect. He will not be asked to carry the load between the tackles, but will be featured quite prominently in a variety of roles that should expand as the season goes on. He is versatile and has the ability to turn any play into a touchdown. He should see a decent number of targets out of the backfield as well which in a PPR league gives him an added boost.
John Adams: McCaffrey may not be the best fit for Carolina, but he is a playmaker who has all the tools to become a heavy hitter on a team that it short on talent.
4. Dalvin Cook – RB, Minnesota Vikings
Brian Murphy: Latavius Murray kind of kills his 2017 buzz, but Cook should transition into being the Vikings’ three-down lead back in a couple of seasons.
Daniel Brown: We really liked Cook going into the draft and he landed in a good spot for him, although with Latavius Murray there it will limit his immediate impact. It will be interesting to see how the Vikings utilize Cook, however there is a strong possibility that he ends up wrestling the starting role away from Murray, who averaged 4.0 yards per attempt the past 2 seasons behind a very strong offensive line, and now will find himself behind a relatively average line. In addition he had offseason surgery on an ankle injury so any set back during recovery would open the door for Cook.
John Adams: If Dalvin Cook can stay out of trouble, he may earn himself a starting role with the Vikings before the midway point of the season.
5. Mike Williams – WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Brian Murphy: The Chargers have a bevy of quality receiving targets. But with his size, I think Williams has a decent chance of compiling eight-plus touchdowns in his first year. He should score a lot of short touchdowns throughout his career.
Daniel Brown: Landing with the Los Angeles Chargers wasn’t the perfect spot for Williams, however he will benefit from having a pass happy quarterback in Philip Rivers and has the ability to contribute from day 1. With a healthy Keenan Allen (if healthy) there should be chances for him to be one on one in favorable matchups.
John Adams: This is another case where one of the best players in the draft is going into a situation where he can develop very slowly. There is a ton of talent in front of him, so it may be a while before he can crack the starting lineup.
6. Joe Mixon – RB, Cincinnati Bengals
Brian Murphy: As long as he stays out of trouble and as long as the Bengals improve their O-line soon, Mixon has more than enough talent to be a fantasy star. He should be no worse than No. 2 on Cincy’s depth chart this season.
Daniel Brown: He should take on the full duties for the Bengals from early on which will give him the opportunity to become the every-down back. The only risk with Mixon relates to off-field issues and whether they will recur, or whether the past will impact his present.
John Adams: Mixon is for the dynasty owners who don’t mind absorbing a little bit of risk. There’s no denying Mixon’s talent, but his hair trigger temper could get him in hot water off the field.
7. O.J. Howard – TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Brian Murphy: You think Jameis Winston is happy? All he needs to do for the next decade is chuck it up to either Howard or wide receiver Mike Evans. They will be taller than all of their competition. Howard being a TE1 in fantasy in 2017 is not a stretch.
John Adams: If a Dynasty owner is looking for a tight end, O.J. Howard is the man. It takes TE’s a while to develop in this league, but he will be worth the wait.
8. Zay Jones – WR, Buffalo Bills
Brian Murphy: I’m very optimistic about Jones. The Bills need wideouts and will probably lose Sammy Watkins after this season. Nobody on the roster has his blend of athleticism and soft hands.
Daniel Brown: Love this landing spot and think Jones may sneak under a few radars and could easily end up being an early to mid-round 2 pick in a 12 team league. We think he has tremendous potential and with the Bills not picking up the 5th year option on Watkins it probably gives Jones a slight uptick in value with the possibility that he is the #1 receiver in Buffalo sooner or later.
John Adams: Jones could wind up as the number two receiver in Buffalo, but the Bills are a run heavy team.
9. Marlon Mack – RB, Indianapolis Colts
Brian Murphy: He’s not the best prospect in the world, but once Frank Gore retires -- which I assume will happen before the next century -- the Colts’ running back depth chart is unimpressive, and the door will be wide open for Mack to own the starting gig.
John Adams: Frank Gore can’t be effective forever, or can he? Mack get’s a great op in Indiana to learn from an all-star while racking up some significant playing time.
10. David Njoku – TE, Cleveland Browns
Brian Murphy: It will probably take him a bit to be fantasy-relevant on a consistent basis, given Cleveland’s issues at QB. But if they give Njoku a competent thrower of the football, he is going to be peppered with targets.
Daniel Brown: Would have loved to have seen him in Pittsburgh but the Browns grab him the pick in front of the Steelers and he should see immediate action. The release of Gary Barnridge the path is cleared for Njoku to come in and produce. The major draw back in this situation is the uncertainty at quarterback.
John Adams: Again, rookie tight ends are NOT the most pleasant options, but Njoku is actually perfect for longer term dynasty league drafting.
11. Evan Engram – TE, New York Giants
Brian Murphy: The tight end hasn’t been a big part of the Giants’ offense recently. But they haven’t had a tight end like Engram since Jeremy Shockey. And Engram is more athletic.
John Adams: The Giants didn’t burn a first round pick to let him warm the bench. New York took Engram to give Eli Manning a viable tight end to work with. Even though he’s a rookie, Engram should get his shot this season.
12. Kareem Hunt – RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Brian Murphy: He might start as a rookie. Who’s to say he won’t own the job for years to come?
Daniel Brown: Has all the skills and likely starts as the back up to Spencer Ware. Ware struggled down the stretch a little, in part due to limited usage, if the Chiefs can’t get him involved consistently, there could be a changing of the guard. Hunt is well worth a pick if he is here in the 15 slot or thereabouts, since he could easily become the lead back.
John Adams: Kareem Hunt was a top tier talent in college, it remains to be seen how successful he’ll be in the pros. But with Coach Andy Reid, he’ll get plenty of opportunities.
13. Samaje Perine – RB, Washington Redskins
Brian Murphy: Another kid who might -- should -- start this season. His main competition is Rob Kelley, a man who is liked by the Redskins’ coaches, but a man who was also an undrafted free agent one year ago.
Daniel Brown: Should compete for carries early on and could end up replicating the success of Jordan Howard last year.
John Adams: After Fournette, Cook and McCaffrey, the Redskins got the running back they wanted in the fourth round. They are reportedly delighted with the team’s pick and are already looking for takers so they can send running back Matt Jones packing.
14. Alvin Kamara – RB, New Orleans Saints
Brian Murphy: He will contribute significantly this season, but looking long-term, I wonder how Kamara’s fantasy value changes once Drew Brees retires. I don’t think it will be for the better.
John Adams: Kamara went from being star material to riding the pine. Playing behind Mark Ingram and Adrian Peterson is NOT an ideal situation for a rookie RB.
15. John Ross – WR, Cincinnati Bengals
John Adams: You be the judge, Is Ross playing opposite A.J. Green a good thing or bad thing for a rookie wide receiver? Temper your expectations accordingly.
16. Curtis Samuel – WR, Carolina Panthers
Brian Murphy: Samuel is a jack-of-all-trades guy with great speed. I think of him as a gimmick player, a Tavon Austin-type who could go all the way every time he touches the ball. I just don’t think he’ll get many touches every week.
John Adams: Much like his new teammate Christian McCaffrey, Samuel has a chance to shine in a Carolina offense that could certainly use the help. Carolina was looking for players who could fill multiple roles and Samuel seems to fit the system.
17. Deshaun Watson – QB, Houston Texans
Brian Murphy: His upside isn’t enormous, but being surrounded by DeAndre Hopkins and Lamar Miller certainly helps. I think he will be a solid bye-week QB in fantasy who can run enough to keep his floor high.
Daniel Brown: Probably starts week 1. He’s a proven winner and the Texans defense is solid enough that he should be able to overcome some bad decisions and some rookie learning experiences. Doesn’t have to do a lot to beat out the competition and if not week 1 it will likely be early in the season. He lands in a great spot given the talent around him and that has him shooting up my rankings.
John Adams: Watson is a quarterback who is loaded with second round talent. He knows how to throw touchdowns, but he also throws a ton of picks. Let someone else take the risk on Watson.
18. Jamaal Williams – RB, Green Bay Packers
John Adams: Jamaal Williams has little resistance in his pursuit of being the top dog in Green Bay, the question is, can he make the most of this his golden opportunity.
19. Juju Smith-Schuster – WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Brian Murphy: As with Kamara, I like his talent, but his quarterback is getting near the end of the line. Life after Big Ben is probably going to be rough for Steelers receivers.
Daniel Brown: Back a little on the depth chart but Pittsburgh has a history of developing wide receivers. Great landing spot for him long term.
20. D’Onta Foreman – RB, Houston Texans
Brian Murphy: Foreman is in a good spot to produce, but I probably ranked him too high in my pre-draft rookie list. He really needs to learn how to catch and pass block in order to be a big-time fantasy commodity.
Daniel Brown: Slated as the change of pace back in the Texans offense, he is an injury to Lamar Miller away from being very relevant in re-draft leagues and we think he takes over starting duties at some point later this season or worst case early next season. Good dynasty prospect.
John Adams: Foreman faces many of the same challenges as fellow rookie Jeremy McNichols. The difference is that Foreman can’t catch and it’s a skill he will have to develop if wants to succeed at the pro level.
21. Carlos Henderson – WR, Denver Broncos
Brian Murphy: If one the Broncos’ young quarterbacks actually develops into a competent starter, Henderson will be that person’s best friend for a long time.
22. Jeremy McNichols -RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Brian Murphy: A possible three-down back with not a ton of fierce competition ahead of him. McNichols should see a good amount of playing time right away.
John Adams: McNichols has Dynasty potential, but this rookie season has warning signs posted all over the Tampa Bay area. At this point, the Bucs backfield is too crowded.
23. Chris Godwin – WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Brian Murphy: The Bucs certainly don’t lack for young, high-upside talent on offense. Give him time, but Godwin will be ready to replace DeSean Jackson in a couple of years.
Daniel Brown: Will be back in the depth chart initially due to the presence of Desean Jackson and Mike Evans, and with other tight end targets (and likelihood of 2 TE sets), he is not really expected to have a huge contribution this year, however he is one to hold for the future. With a young group of talented players in Tampa Bay, he could have a bright future.
24. Cooper Kupp – WR, Los Angeles Rams
Brian Murphy: I like him more than the Rams’ other wide receiver draft pick, Josh Reynolds, because he does a lot of short-range work and should be a nice safety blanket for Jared Goff.
25. ArDarius Stewart – WR, New York Jets
John Adams: Anyone with proven pass catching ability has a chance to move up on the depth chart playing for the NY Jets. But the QB situation is a mess so this project could take a while.
26. Patrick Mahomes – QB, Kansas City Chiefs
Daniel Brown: Kansas City selected their QB of the future. A huge arm and ability to escape the pocket, Mahomes is an interesting choice for the Chiefs. He is everything that Alex Smith appears not to be, however will learn valuable experience sitting behind Smith this year.
John Adams: Mahomes may not be in the lineup for K.C. this year, but he does have some real long range potential. He’s a smart kid with a cannon for an arm and the heart of a lion. He’s a project, but might just be worth the risk in Dynasty formats.
27. Mitch Trubisky – QB, Chicago Bears
Daniel Brown: The surprise pick of the 1st round, he likely sits behind Glennon this year and if Glennon can be the success that many think he can, there’s a chance that Trubisky carries a clipboard for a couple of seasons, however if Glennon struggles the reigns will likely be turned over early. Chicago struggled to keep the QB clean last year and it would likely benefit Trubisky to sit for a year or two before being thrown into the fire.
John Adams: Mitchell Trubisky was the second pick in this year’s draft. However, this is an unproven player with limited starts going into a rocky situation in Chicago. Dynasty owners are taking a big risk.
28. Wayne Gallman – RB, New York Giants
29. DeShone Kizer - QB, Cleveland Browns
John Adams: The Browns say they can be patient and not rush Kizer into a starting role this season. Cleveland says the same thing every year, but somehow, the latest, greatest rookie quarterback ends up in the starting position.
30. Joe Williams - RB, San Francisco 49ers
Daniel Brown: Will likely be 3rd on depth chart behind Carlos Hyde (oft injured) and Tim Hightower (some flashes but not consistently) and therefore finds himself in a good spot to contribute throughout year 1 with a high ceiling for the future. The 49ers were bad last year and probably struggle somewhat again this year before we expect them to right the ship and become competitive again. So Williams is one for the future not necessarily this year and would be reasonable value here towards the end of the second round.
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The Table below shows the consensus ranking and each writer’s rankings.
| Rank | Player |
Consensus Ranking |
Best | Worst |
| 1 |
Leonard Fournette |
1.3 | 1 | 2 |
| 2 |
Corey Davis |
2.0 | 1 | 3 |
| 3 |
Christian McCafferey |
3.0 | 2 | 4 |
| 4 |
Dalvin Cook |
3.7 | 3 | 4 |
| 5 |
Mike Williams |
5.0 | 5 | 5 |
| 6 |
Joe Mixon |
6.3 | 6 | 7 |
| 7 |
O.J Howard |
7.3 | 6 | 8 |
| 8 |
Zay Jones |
11.7 | 9 | 14 |
| 9 |
Marlon Mack |
12.3 | 11 | 13 |
| 10 |
David Njoku |
12.7 | 10 | 14 |
| 11 |
Evan Engram |
12.7 | 10 | 17 |
| 12 |
Kareem Hunt |
12.7 | 7 | 16 |
| 13 |
Samaje Perine |
12.7 | 9 | 18 |
| 14 |
Alvin Kamara |
13.3 | 9 | 16 |
| 15 |
John Ross |
15.3 | 7 | >30 |
| 16 |
Curtis Samuel |
17.7 | 15 | 21 |
| 17 |
Deshaun Watson |
17.7 | 12 | 22 |
| 18 |
Jamaal Williams |
19.3 | 13 | 23 |
| 19 |
JuJu Smith-Schuster |
19.3 | 10 | >30 |
| 20 |
D’Onta Foreman |
19.7 | 18 | 22 |
| 21 |
Carlos Henderson |
21.7 | 12 | >30 |
| 22 |
Jeremy McNichols |
21.7 | 18 | 26 |
| 23 |
Chris Godwin |
24.7 | 16 | >30 |
| 24 |
Cooper Kupp |
25.7 | 20 | >30 |
| 25 |
ArDarius Stewart |
26.7 | 24 | 29 |
| 26 |
Patrick Mahomes |
26.7 | 19 | >30 |
| 27 |
Mitchell Trubisky |
27.7 | 20 | >30 |
| 28 |
Wayne Gallman |
27.7 | 24 | >30 |
| 29 |
DeShone Kizer |
28.0 | 23 | >30 |
| 30 |
Joe Williams |
30.3 | 20 | >30 |
Brian Murphy's Rookie Ranking:
1 Leonard Fournette - RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
2 Corey Davis– WR, Tennessee Titans
3 Christian McCafferey- RB, Carolina Panthers
4 Dalvin Cook – RB, Minnesota Vikings
5 Mike Williams – WR, Los Angeles Chargers
6 Joe Mixon – RB, Cincinnati Bengals
7 Kareem Hunt – RB, Kansas City Chiefs
8 O.J Howard– TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
9 Zay Jones – WR, Buffalo Bills
10 Evan Engram – TE, New York Giants
11 Samaje Perine – RB, Washington Redskins
12 Carlos Henderson – WR, Denver Broncos
13 Marlon Mack – RB, Indianapolis Colts
14 David Njoku – TE, Cleveland Browns
15 Alvin Kamara – RB, New Orleans Saints
16 Chris Godwin – WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
17 JuJu Smith-Schuster – WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
18 Jeremy McNichols -RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
19 D’Onta Foreman – RB, Houston Texans
20 Cooper Kupp – WR, Los Angeles Rams
21 Curtis Samuel – WR, Carolina Panthers
22 Deshaun Watson – QB, Houston Texans
23 Jamaal Williams – RB, Green Bay Packers
24 Wayne Gallman – RB, New York Giants
25 Gerald Everett - TE, Los Angeles Rams
26 Dede Westbrook - WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
27 Taywan Taylor - TE, Tennessee Titans
28 Josh Reynolds - WR, Los Angeles Rams
29 ArDarius Stewart – WR, New York Jets
30 DeShone Kizer - QB, Cleveland Browns
Daniel Brown's Rookie Ranking:
1 Corey Davis– WR, Tennessee Titans
2 Leonard Fournette - RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
3 Dalvin Cook – RB, Minnesota Vikings
4 Christian McCafferey- RB, Carolina Panthers
5 Mike Williams – WR, Los Angeles Chargers
6 Joe Mixon – RB, Cincinnati Bengals
7 John Ross – WR, Cincinnati Bengals
8 O.J Howard– TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
9 Samaje Perine – RB, Washington Redskins
10 JuJu Smith-Schuster – WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
11 Evan Engram – TE, New York Giants
12 Zay Jones – WR, Buffalo Bills
13 Marlon Mack – RB, Indianapolis Colts
14 David Njoku – TE, Cleveland Browns
15 Kareem Hunt – RB, Kansas City Chiefs
16 Alvin Kamara – RB, New Orleans Saints
17 Curtis Samuel – WR, Carolina Panthers
18 D’Onta Foreman – RB, Houston Texans
19 Deshaun Watson – QB, Houston Texans
20 Joe Williams - RB, San Francisco 49ers
21 Carlos Henderson – WR, Denver Broncos
22 Jamaal Williams – RB, Green Bay Packers
23 Cooper Kupp – WR, Los Angeles Rams
24 Wayne Gallman – RB, New York Giants
25 Chris Godwin – WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
26 Jeremy McNichols -RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
27 ArDarius Stewart – WR, New York Jets
28 Taywan Taylor - WR, Tennessee Titans
29 Patrick Mahomes – QB, Kansas City Chiefs
30 Mitchell Trubisky – QB, Chicago Bears
John Adams' Rookie Ranking:
1 Leonard Fournette - RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
2 Christian McCafferey- RB, Carolina Panthers
3 Corey Davis– WR, Tennessee Titans
4 Dalvin Cook – RB, Minnesota Vikings
5 Mike Williams – WR, Los Angeles Chargers
6 O.J Howard– TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
7 Joe Mixon – RB, Cincinnati Bengals
8 John Ross – WR, Cincinnati Bengals
9 Alvin Kamara – RB, New Orleans Saints
10 David Njoku – TE, Cleveland Browns
11 Marlon Mack – RB, Indianapolis Colts
12 Deshaun Watson – QB, Houston Texans
13 Jamaal Williams – RB, Green Bay Packers
14 Zay Jones – WR, Buffalo Bills
15 Curtis Samuel – WR, Carolina Panthers
16 Kareem Hunt – RB, Kansas City Chiefs
17 Evan Engram – TE, New York Giants
18 Samaje Perine – RB, Washington Redskins
19 Patrick Mahomes – QB, Kansas City Chiefs
20 Mitchell Trubisky – QB, Chicago Bears
21 Jeremy McNichols -RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
22 D’Onta Foreman – RB, Houston Texans
23 DeShone Kizer - QB, Cleveland Browns
24 ArDarius Stewart – WR, New York Jets
25 Chris Carson - RB, Seattle Seahawks
26 Brian Hill - RB, Atlanta Falcons
27 Chad Hensen- WR, New York Jets
28 Jake Butt - TE, Denver Broncos
29 Bucky Hodges - TE, Minnesota Vikings
30 Isaiah Ford - WR, Miami Dophins
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Brian Murphy has been writing about sports -- fantasy, pro and college -- since 2001. He has written for numerous fantasy sites, including Scout.com. He has a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Central Florida and a master's degree in mass communication from California State University-Northridge. He currently lives in Orlando.
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Daniel Brown is a sports fanatic. Growing up in Australia, he followed English Premier League soccer, NFL, NBA and many other sports. Since relocating to the US over 12 years ago, Daniel has been heavily involved in fantasy football including Dynasty Leagues, Re-draft and Daily Fantasy. The NFL Draft and Fantasy Football are his passion and devotion. You can follow Daniel on Twitter @brownsnake76 for sports comments and general musings, or hit him up with your fantasy questions!
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John Adams has nearly 20 years of television network reporting experience covering professional and college teams across the country including the Denver Broncos, Colorado Rockies, Colorado Buffaloes, Carolina Panthers and the Florida State Seminoles. |
