Fantasy Football Today: 2025 Dynasty Rookie Rankings REFRESH! Rookie Tier List and Outliers

Release Date: May 20, 2025
Hosts: Heath Cummings and Dan
Guests: (None explicitly mentioned)

Introduction to Rookie Rankings Refresh

In this episode of Fantasy Football Today, host Heath Cummings and analyst Dan delve deep into the 2025 dynasty rookie rankings, offering fresh perspectives and updated tier lists based on the latest OTA reports, mock drafts, and expert analyses. The discussion centers around how recent developments have influenced player valuations and the strategic adjustments fantasy managers might consider when preparing for their drafts.

Adjusting Player Valuations Post-Draft

Heath kicks off the discussion by addressing the reasons behind recent changes in player rankings despite the draft already being completed. He mentions the influx of new information from OTA reports, mock drafts, and Matt Waldman's post-draft rookie analysis, which have all contributed to reshaping their evaluations of certain rookies.

Heath Cummings [02:23]:
"The draft had already happened. Well, we've had a lot of OTA reports. We've had a lot of rookie mock drafts. I've had time to talk to some really smart you guys have heard these conversations. Some really smart Dynasty analysts."

Dan echoes Heath’s sentiment, emphasizing the value of participating in multiple mock drafts to gain a clearer picture of where players are falling in various formats, which in turn helps in projecting their future performance.

Dan [02:23]:
"Gaining that information through seeing not what others are doing, but just where these players are falling helps kind of build your plan and then you get a better feel for how you really want to project these players moving forward."

Top Three Rookie Tiers and Notable Moves

Heath outlines his updated top three tiers in the rookie rankings, mentioning plans to publish an extensive top 50 list post-episode. He highlights his excitement about some players moving up and down in the rankings based on their fit within NFL schemes and their demonstrated skills.

Heath Cummings [05:00]:
"We're going to go over my updated top three tiers in the rookie rankings and when we finish this show I'm going to go back to the CMS system and I'm going to publish my updated top 50."

Dan [03:19]:
"I like to always go after the advanced stats and some of the analytics that can shape my opinion."

Key Rookie Comparisons and Preferences

The hosts engage in a detailed comparison between specific rookies to determine which players offer better value in dynasty leagues.

Colston Loveland vs. Tyler Warren

Heath introduces the first debate between Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren, focusing on why he prefers Loveland despite Tyler’s late breakout before the draft.

Heath Cummings [03:19]:
"We're mostly going to talk about some guys I put on the rundown, but there are some names that I haven't moved as much as everyone thinks I should have after realizing I was an outlier."

Dan explains his preference for Loveland, citing Loveland’s film grade and scheme fit as major factors. He compares Loveland to Nico Collins, highlighting his route-running and potential within his NFL team's offensive system.

Dan [04:43]:
"The reason I lean toward Loveland is because he was the player I had a higher grade on from a film standpoint. And I think he reminds me a lot of Nico Collins..."

Heath expresses his concerns about Tyler Warren’s quarterback situation, especially after the draft, which has influenced his decision to lean towards Loveland.

Heath Cummings [06:27]:
"I was a little concerned about Warren's late breakout before the draft and now I'm a little bit worried about Warren's quarterback play after the draft."

Travis Hunter vs. Tet Toroa McMillan

The second debate centers on evaluating Travis Hunter against Tet Toroa McMillan, with Heath initially considering Tet but Dan advocating for Hunter based on his comprehensive skill set and fit within the Broncos' offense.

Dan [07:00]:
"I think Travis Hunter is the best receiver in this class. He does everything you want as a receiver besides maybe the deep speed, which we haven't seen tested."

Heath points out the early challenges in the Broncos' offense, particularly with quarterbacks, but remains open to adjusting his rankings based on new developments.

Rookie Tiers Breakdown

Heath presents a tiered list of rookies, primarily focusing on wide receivers and running backs, tailored to different league formats like Super Flex and half PPR.

Heath Cummings [12:24]:
"If you told me it was a half PPR or non-PPR league, then Hampton probably moves up to pick two."

Dan [14:23]:
"The only player that would come across as maybe not belonging for me would be Judkins. I wasn't as high on his film."

Heath emphasizes the importance of positional needs post-tier 1, suggesting that managers tailor their picks based on their specific team requirements rather than sticking rigidly to the rankings.

Rankings Risers: Players Moving Up

Heath discusses players who have recently moved up in his rankings, indicating unexpected improvements or better fit within their new teams.

Luther Burden

Luther Burden has moved up to WR27 in Heath's rankings, with Dan supporting this move based on Burden's performance in the slot and fit within the Bears' offensive scheme.

Dan [28:03]:
"He’s got a little Debo Samuel in his game. He’s got a thicker build than people realize in the lower half and he's good after contact."

Kyle Williams

Another significant riser is Kyle Williams, now at WR54, thanks to his versatile skill set and excellent fit within the Patriots' offense.

Dan [32:00]:
"He’s a smaller receiver, incredibly loose-hipped, can win at the intermediate and deep levels... He can run those routes as well. There's nothing he can't do in my opinion."

Heath notes that Kyle Williams joins Josh McDaniels’ scheme perfectly, comparable to players like Josh Downs.

Trade Discussions and Strategy

The conversation shifts to evaluating potential trades and the strategic considerations involved in trading players like Christian McCaffrey for DeAndre Swift.

Christian McCaffrey for DeAndre Swift and a 2026 First

Heath presents a hypothetical trade scenario and seeks Dan's opinion on its viability.

Heath Cummings [46:13]:
"I think it's a very good offer if I'm trying to win this year."

Dan [47:13]:
"Personally, I don't like this deal for the side getting Swift in a first at all. I believe CMAC is likely to get back to being one of the best players in fantasy this year."

Dan advises against trading away McCaffrey for Swift, citing McCaffrey’s potential to be a top performer and Swift’s uncertainties within the Bears' offense.

Addressing Listener Questions

The hosts address several listener-submitted questions, providing tailored advice based on their expertise.

Question: Trading to Move Up in the Draft

Mike asks about trading from the 103rd pick to the 101st pick to acquire Ashton Genti.

Heath Cummings [56:19]:
"I might trade him for 103 and a 2026 first and a 2027 first and just add two future firsts and take Travis Hunter or Cam Ward and then just keep rebuilding."

Dan responds by expressing the difficulty of justifying moving up for Genti without giving away too much value, emphasizing the importance of strategic depth over minor positional upgrades.

Dan [56:19]:
"I still prefer Genti, I think it's going to be very tough for him to..."

Rookie Waiver Wire Insights

Lou asks for advice on adding Justin Fields from the waiver wire, considering his performance with the Bears and potential as a fantasy quarterback.

Heath Cummings [53:57]:
"He's one of the best values at the quarterback position because people are so concerned about whether he can actually play quarterback in the NFL that they just give up on his upside."

Dan advises similar, highlighting Fields’ potential and the willingness to invest a significant portion of the budget to secure him if needed.

Dan [54:09]:
"I'm willing to spend 60, 65% in one QB even in one QB."

Final Thoughts and Conclusions

Heath concludes the episode by reiterating the importance of staying updated with the latest information to make informed decisions in dynasty leagues. Both hosts emphasize adaptability and the need to continuously reassess player values based on evolving team dynamics and player performances.

Heath Cummings [57:01]:
"Ashton Genti is the guy that you have to overpay for. If I was trading down from 101 to 103, it would probably be a rebuild situation where I didn't think I was going to win in the next two years anyways."

Dan [57:00]:
"Yeah, yeah, yeah."

They thank listeners for their participation and tease future episodes where they will continue to provide in-depth analysis and updates to help fantasy managers dominate their leagues.

Notable Quotes

• Heath Cummings [02:23]:
  "There's so much information to consume, Dan. We're never going to get through all of it, but there's been some changes over the last month in terms of our valuations of these players, right?"

• Dan [04:43]:
  "I think Loveland is a longer player with better route running and a better upside in the seam and intermediate area of the field."

• Heath Cummings [05:00]:
  "Ashton Genti is on an island. He's a first-round pick in any format, whether it's dynasty or redraft."

• Dan [47:13]:
  "Personally, I don't like this deal for the side getting Swift in a first at all."

Conclusion

This episode of Fantasy Football Today offers a comprehensive analysis of the 2025 dynasty rookie class, providing listeners with nuanced insights into player valuations, strategic draft picks, and potential trades. Heath Cummings and Dan leverage their expertise to guide fantasy managers through the complexities of dynasty leagues, ensuring they are well-equipped to dominate their competitions with informed decisions and strategic foresight.