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News moves fast at this time of year, and player values will constantly update in the Dynasty Trade Value Chart. The values listed below are current as of the morning of September 2nd. If you revisit this article later in the month, please note that some values may be outdated, and the Trade Value Chart tool is a better resource.

2025 Rookie Draft Class Overview

There's a school of thought that dynasty owners should treat all future year rookie picks equally. The basic argument is that players emerge late in the process every year, and we don't know as much about future classes as we like to think. There's also the idea that rookie picks are generally undervalued, and you should always be looking to acquire them, even in classes that are considered weaker. While there's merit to this line of thinking, I've always believed that getting a feel for the strengths and weaknesses of upcoming classes can be very beneficial for savvy dynasty owners.

The first benefit is simply valuing picks more accurately. Rookie picks will be worth more in a year when the QB1 is Caleb Williams than in a year when QB1 is Kenny Pickett. Second, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of future classes can impact how we view the overall dynasty landscape at a position. If there's a year (like 2024) when six quarterbacks are taken in the top 12, that will affect the overall depth at the QB position. It will also make it harder for fringe starters (think Justin Fields) to hold onto their jobs. It is worth understanding that the depth of the 2025 rookie running back class could finally lead to a changing of the guard with a large number of older running backs being swept to the side.

With that in mind, let's take a brief look at the 2025 NFL Draft class with the first week of the college season in the books:

Quarterback

The 2025 class looks average to slightly below average. There isn't a clear-cut 1.01 prospect like Caleb Williams or Trevor Lawrence in the group. However, this doesn't mean one or two guys won't emerge as high-level prospects. Shedeur Sanders is going to be controversial, but the upside is obvious. His draft stock could be similar to JJ McCarthy's last year, with enough upside to tempt someone into taking him in the top 10. Carson Beck (Georgia) looks like a potential first-overall pick if he can build off what he did last year. A Joe Burrow-like final season glow-up is his best-case scenario.

Other names with the potential to join Beck and Sanders include Connor Weigman (Texas A&M), Drew Allar (Penn State), Jalen Milroe (Alabama), Quinn Ewers (Texas), Will Howard (Ohio State), and Cam Ward (Miami). By the end of the process, one or two from that list should also emerge as first-round picks.

Running Back

The strength of the 2025 class should be the running back position. The 2024 class was incredibly weak, and while the 2022 and 2023 classes had a couple of top prospects each, they lacked depth. It has been a long time since we had a loaded running back class, but 2025 might finally be the year. Ashton Jeanty of Boise State is the early favorite for RB1. In Week 1, Jeanty racked up six rushing touchdowns and 267 rushing yards on 20 carries in Boise State's 56-45 win over Georgia Southern, showcasing his potential as a Heisman Trophy candidate and potential first-round selection.

The number two guy is Ollie Gordon II, who showcased his versatility with 27 carries for 104 yards and two touchdowns, four catches for 42 yards, and another touchdown in Oklahoma State's 44-20 win over South Dakota State.

Third on the list is Omarion Hampton of UNC, who ran for 129 yards on 30 carries in a win over Minnesota. Hampton was fifth in the FBS with 1,504 rushing yards last season and has already surpassed 2,000 career rushing yards.

This position group is deep and could be the best overall RB group in the last five years. If we treat 2025 picks as slightly more valuable than usual, the depth of this running back class would be why. I'd put the over/under for RBs taken in the first two rounds at 4.5, a significant improvement after we saw just one in 2024 when only Jonathon Brooks went in the first two rounds.

Wide Receiver & Tight End

The wide receiver and tight end groups look average, which, especially in the case of wide receiver, is saying something. We've seen a major influx of young talent over the last few rookie classes, and that trend should continue in 2025. Tetairoa McMillan was the star of Week 1, setting a new Arizona school record with 304 receiving yards and four touchdowns on ten catches in a 61-39 win over New Mexico.

The class also includes Luther Burden, a Deebo Samuel-level talent. Travis Hunter is a wild card, as he's a top-10 prospect as a cornerback but might rank just as highly as a WR prospect. Given the direction of NFL contracts at the two positions, the dynasty community should take him more seriously as a wide receiver prospect.

Emeka Egbuka, Isaiah Bond, and Elic Ayomanor are other legitimate possibilities for the late first round. At tight end, Colston Loveland leads what should be at least an average class.

2025 Picks Overall

The 2025 class looks average to slightly above average, depending on how many running backs land in good situations. Don't put a massive premium on early picks like we recommended for the 2024 class, but don't be afraid to value 2025 picks highly in general. It looks to be a quality group, even if the very top is not likely to be as stacked as 2024.

Quarterback

Flight to Quality

In financial markets, a "flight to quality" or "flight to safety" occurs when investors shift from higher-risk investments to safer ones, like gold or other precious metals. This move is typically seen as a sign of fear in the market, with investors prioritizing security over potential high returns.

A similar phenomenon happens in fantasy football as we approach the start of the season. The risk factors associated with young quarterbacks, such as Anthony Richardson, feel more tangible the closer we get to kickoff. As a result, we often see the values of more established players like Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert rise. This is precisely what is happening based on the trade offers flying around in my leagues. The hot upside guys feel like more of a gamble than they did in June when everyone was focused on the upside, and now I see many people trying to limit their risk and trade for a player like Burrow instead.

During the offseason, many of us approached startup drafts with a strategy of building sturdy rosters. We focused our early picks on players we fully trust, those with multiple seasons of proven success. This approach provides comfort as Week 1 nears, knowing that our core roster is built on reliable performers.

In fact, Burrow, Herbert, and even Kyler Murray have experienced a slow but steady rise in value over the past month or two. This trend reflects a broader shift toward safety and reliability as fantasy managers seek to minimize risk in their lineups.

Rookie Quarterbacks: Rising Stock

Evaluating rookie quarterbacks based on preseason action alone can be tricky, especially with most players seeing limited snaps. However, the early flashes from the "Big 6" in the class of 2024 have been enough to make dynasty owners feel bullish about their investments. While we won't have definitive answers for years, the early feedback is encouraging, and those who drafted these quarterbacks should feel optimistic.

This sentiment is especially true for the three QBs selected in the top three overall picks. Caleb Williams showed that the wild plays he made at USC will translate to the NFL. His talent level is ridiculous, and he's already living up to the hype. Meanwhile, the overall vibes surrounding Jayden Daniels are positive in Washington. He's a guy who seems to have won over his locker room, something that other high picks, like Zach Wilson, never entirely managed. Daniels consolidating support in this way is a bullish sign for his future.

Perhaps the most intriguing rookie so far has been Drake Maye. The upside case for him was always that if you combine his physical abilities—he's a big, athletic guy with a good arm, similar to Justin Herbert or Josh Allen—with his high character and work ethic, the odds are good that he'll figure it out and overcome the flaws evident on his college tape. If that was your thesis, you should feel pretty good about it based on his preseason performance. His stock in late rookie drafts and startups has risen.

While the injury to JJ McCarthy will require patience, there's nothing in the early returns to suggest that anyone who drafted him should feel discouraged. Overall, the early signs for this rookie class are promising, and it's clear that their stock is on the rise.