Dynasty Detour Ryan here now that the draft is officially in the rearview and the rookies we’ve spent all offseason scouting finally have a home. For some of them, this is better news than for others. This is genuinely one of the best times to be a dynasty freak all year, I will not hear any arguments. I’m pumped to have sat down with Tom and hammered out a consensus top 12 rookies. Things will change with time, but here’s what we’re thinking right now ⬇

A ton went down this weekend in Pittsburgh that I was NOT expecting, and thus some of my favorite names from film reviews are off the list, and some guys I didn’t even think were worth the full scouting breakdown rose way up it. Here’s where things stand for Tom and I.

Projected Depth Chart: Jeremiyah Love, James Conner, Trey Benson

High: 1 (Both of us)

The best offensive prospect in the draft went even earlier than some thought he would. The Cards offense wasn’t the most exciting last year (31st in Rush Yds, 27th in Rush TDs) but with Rams OC Mike LaFleur now scheming things up in the post-Kyler era, things could get different quickly. L.A. was 9th and 14th in those categories, respectively but no one in that running back room holds a candle to the ability of Jeremiyah Love. We saw Jeanty stall in his rookie year because of a putrid offense around him, but I think Arizona offers a high enough floor that Love delivers buyers some return on investment right out of the gates.

Projected Depth Chart: Kirk Cousins ⇋ Fernando Mendoza, Aiden O’Connell

High: 2 (both of us)

This was close for me personally, but in superflex quarterbacks are king. I likened Mendoza to Jared Goff back when writing his film review, and that’s a comparison I’ve only grown to love more with time. I don’t think he comes in totally pro-ready, but I do have confidence this Klint Kubiak Raiders offense will have a much better cache of weapons come next year. I think the transition won’t look the smoothest in the beginning, but that Mendoza possesses everything he needs physically and is set up to learn from some really great mentors.

Projected Depth Chart: Carnell Tate, Calvin Ridley, Wan’Dale Robinson, Elic Ayomanor

High: 3 (both of us)

As a huge fan of Tate’s since his film breakdown, I am PUMPED about the landing spot. Now even as a fan of Tate’s I think being taken with draft capital of this stratosphere might have been more of a symptom of how the draft went to that point and team need than Tate being a top 4 pick worthy talent, but I think it’s incredible telling the Titans had no interest in moving back and risking losing him. Brian Daboll looks to revive his own image around the league and does so with far and away the most talented QB he’s had under him in the league (yes, I said it), and he and Tennessee’s top brass saw it fitting to get their developing signal caller a premiere weapon. Keep in mind that just two years ago Daboll fed a rookie Malik Nabers a record amount of targets and receptions, and while I don’t think Tate sees quite that many, we’re going to see a hot start.

Projected Depth Chart: DeVonta Smith, Makai Lemon, Dontavion Wicks (+ Goedert & Stowers)

High: 4 (both of us)

Once again we agree on who should go next in any drafts going this week, and it’s our hometown Eagles’ shiny new toy: Makai Lemon. There was practically no speculation Lemon would end up in Philadelphia, so I don’t think there have been any deep-cut analytics on how Lemon figures to fit in this scheme exactly, but I do not believe the Eagles won’t be able to get the rookie plenty featured in his first year and beyond. Assuming A.J. Brown departs, Lemon is stepping into an offense vacating the 10th most targets of any in the league entering 2026, and is already head and shoulders better of a receiver than the small free agent signings Philly made.

Projected Depth Chart: Chris Olave, Jordyn Tyson, Devaughn Vele, Mason Tipton

High: 5 (both of us)

Rumors have it that New Orleans is working on a long-term extension for Olave this offseason, so between the potential for competition and his scary injury history, I can’t justify putting the very talented Tyson any higher. In many drafts he’d even be lower, but there are not a lot of blue chip options in this class, so I’m going to agree with Tom here and go for upside. The Saints will need to see a big uptick in offensive production to support two fantasy relevant WRs but I do believe Kellen Moore will see some improvement this year and that the QB of their future just might be found next offseason (sorry Shoughmaniacs).

Projected Depth Chart: Jadarian Price ⇋ Zach Charbonnet, George Holani

High: 6 (Tom) Low: 7 (Ryan)

Because Price might have the biggest opportunity of any rookie RB in Week 1, I’m willing to overlook the fact that I was not the hugest fan of his tape. I think there was certainly a lot to love, and though Charbonnet figures to return at some point and eat into Price’s touches, I think the two compliment each other well. I worry about just how good Price can be between the tackles, especially behind offensive lines that can’t get him looks as clean as Notre Dame’s was last year, but I think Seattle’s front five should pave the way to an exciting rookie campaign, even once the vulture returns.

Projected Depth Chart: Kenyon Sadiq, Mason Taylor (+ Garrett Wilson & Omar Cooper)

High: 6 (Ryan) Low: 7 (Tom)

Sadiq is another guy I see some promise in but wasn’t over the moon about, especially compared to consensus. The draft capital, however, is enticing. The Jets are looking to rebuild an offense in preparation for their QB of the future in 2027, and clearly it was imperative to them that Sadiq was a part of that. OC Frank Reich has a history long ago of some top tight end seasons, and from 2017-2019 teams he was OC/HC for targeted their TEs 2nd, 3rd, and 6th most in the league. These were far and away his most successful offenses as well. I think he and the Jets plan on trying to make Sadiq a big part of things for when QB1 arrives. Who knows, Geno might just be serviceable and throwing the ball enough to make this year a strong one too.

Projected Depth Chart: Jerry Jeudy ⇋ K.C. Concepcion ⇋ Denzel Boston, Cedric Tillman (+ Fannin)

High: 8 (Tom) Low: 10 (Me)

Concepcion is electric. The struggling offense and busy wide receiver room he currently finds himself apart of? Not so much. Neither Deshaun Watson nor Shedeur Sanders is this team’s QB of the future, so I don’t think this year looks great no matter who gets the nod, and I don’t think Cleveland even wants it to. Without knowing who the next guy to be the face of the franchise will be, I can’t be as confident that they’ll be the type to throw the contested balls Boston thrives with, so for now, I believe in Concepcion a hair more. Either way, I think the two are the Browns WR1 and WR2 of the future.

Projected Depth Chart: Matthew Stafford, Ty Simpson ⇋ Stetson Bennett

High: 7 (Me) Low: 11 (Tom)

Technically tied with Concepcion, we gave the nod to the less polarizing option. I am a HUGE fan of this for everyone involved, though. How long Matthew Stafford wants to go for will be a huge factor here, but for a QB prospect whose only knock from me was a lack of experience and some green-ness to his mechanics and processing basically going to a 2-3 year camp to learn under Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford? It doesn’t get better. I never came around to the Ty Simpson QB1 truthers’ point of view, but I continue to be a huge fan of a lot of what I saw with him, and think that with the right teaching he has all the tools to be an incredible fantasy and NFL QB. I only don’t have him ranked higher because impatient owners might part with him for less after a few years of riding the bench.

Projected Depth Chart: Garrett Wilson, Omar Cooper Jr., A.D. Mitchell (+ Sadiq)

High: 9 (Ryan) Low: 10 (Tom)

Cooper was a favorite of mine through film study, and my excitement for him only rose as time has gone one. Safe to say I was not thrilled with his slide and eventual landing spot. That said, I know it’s crazy but I do think Aaron Glenn and the Jets will put this things together enough that this team will be poverty no longer. Garrett Wilson’s phenomenal, but I do truly believe that with the right development Cooper could one day be just as talented, and when the offense gets good enough to feed all these mouths, I think the two will split pretty evenly. I think Sadiq will definitely play a role as well, and I like him better to produce in the current iteration of the Jets, so he got the nod above, but I am still somehow excited about Omar Cooper Jr.

Projected Depth Chart: Jerry Jeudy ⇋ K.C. Concepcion ⇋ Denzel Boston, Cedric Tillman (+ Fannin)

High: 9 (Tom) Low: 11 (Me)

If the Browns can put it together by this time next year or the year after, I think Boston and Concepcion will have the top two WR spots on lock. I’m just not incredibly certain that’s what we’re going to see. I was a fan of Boston’s, and though he brings less freakishly athletic profile and plays a bit more QB dependent brand of ball than Concepcion, I basically think either both of them pan out or neither do. Boston’s a really good prospect, and I just hope for once the Browns can get the most out of these guys.

Projected Depth Chart: Dallas Goedert, Eli Stowers (+ Smith, Lemon)

High: 12 (Me) Low: 13 (Tom)

As mentioned above, the Eagles are vacating the 10th most targets of any team if A.J. Brown is in fact traded, not to mention their passing offense is due for a bounce back year in a major way. I think Makai Lemon is a huge benefactor of this, but there is so much to go around that Stowers bursts onto the scene as well. The Eagles clearly have an immediate use for Stowers in mind, and seeing as the new offensive mind in the building, OC Sean Mannion, just contributed to the Tucker Kraft take-off we saw at the start of last year, I must say I’m very intrigued. I also think Stowers’ selection signals that Howie Roseman may see an end soon to the team’s reliance on Dallas Goedert, a split that has been speculated about for years. Goedert signed a 1 year deal with Philly this offseason and will be 32 next January. Stowers’ blocking issues are brought up ad nauseum, and they do warrant discussion, but with the way the Eagles began using Goedert in the red zone last offseason, and all the ways Kraft became a weapon for Mannion’s Packers, I see a ton of potential here, whether he gets the blocking down or not.

We’re officially in the swing of things, so be sure you follow us for all the must see events and reactions of every week. Follow us @dynastydetour on Instagram and X/Twitter to get our reactions and opinions in between write-ups, as well as email us with any questions at [email protected]. Thanks for taking the Detour.