A previous roundtable discussed rookies who landed in unfavorable spots for fantasy football success. That was about 2021 value, but what about the long haul?
There are a good bunch of players in this draft class to be excited about, so we asked our ESPN Fantasy analysts to list one of their favorites for dynasty leagues.
In the next few months leading up to the start of the regular season, we will cover many key storylines like this. Check out our 2021 fantasy football rankings, which will be updated throughout the offseason. They serve as a great starting point as you prepare for fantasy draft season.
Which rookie are you excited about in dynasty leagues?
Stephania Bell: Michael Carter, RB, New York Jets
Trey Lance and Kyle Pitts are my two favorites, but in the spirit of going off the board a bit, I'll go with Carter. This is for dynasty formats, so I'm willing to be patient for the payoff ... but that's not to say Carter can't establish himself fairly quickly. He's a pass-catcher with power, which enhances his value in the red zone. Carter is solid in pass protection, too, providing the team with another reason to keep him on the field. And the Jets are clearly making moves to shore up the offensive line -- a source of so many of their recent woes -- which will only help facilitate Carter's production potential.
Matthew Berry: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
You can make strong arguments for Ja'Marr Chase or Pitts, but many dynasty leagues use a superflex format these days (where you have the ability to start two QBs). And while QBs are generally devalued in fantasy, that's not the case in superflex and especially in dynasty, where their careers can span 15-plus years. Lawrence is the most complete QB prospect since Andrew Luck. He quietly had 17 rushing touchdowns in his final two seasons at Clemson. He will run more than he gets credit for, adding to his fantasy value.
Matt Bowen: Trey Lance, QB, San Francisco 49ers
Let's look at the physical tools with Lance here and the pass-game structure under Kyle Shanahan. Remember, this is a heavily schemed offense in San Francisco. That means more rhythm throws for Lance, plus the deep-ball shots that cater to his arm talent. And with the dual-threat ability he brings to the offense, Shanahan can get Lance to the edge of the pocket on play-action, and also scheme for the quarterback on designed rushes. I see an extremely high-ceiling for Lance given his easy fit in this offense, plus the receiving targets who can produce after the catch.
Mike Clay: Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Chase is highly intriguing in both the short and long term, as top-five draft picks at WR tend to play a sizable role right out of the gate. Sure, he'll need to compete with Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins, but Chase is the best raw talent of the group, and the Bengals rely heavily on three-WR sets. Chase's combination of speed, strength, post-catch prowess and great hands sets him up with elite upside. His age (21) sets him apart from Najee Harris (23) as the top rookie in dynasty leagues.
Tristan H. Cockcroft: Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
When it comes to dynasty structure, it's the wide receivers I want first -- quickest skill-position adjustment to the NFL game, more year-over-year consistency, and the top-shelf talents do produce building-block fantasy production when using PPR scoring. Chase was this draft class' best and he landed in a dream situation from a dynasty angle, on a Bengals team that telegraphed its plans to throw, throw, throw, and which reunited him with college teammate Joe Burrow, a quarterback-to-wide receiver connection that should be one of the game's best in short order.
Daniel Dopp: Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons
I almost went with Chase here, but with the depth of the WR position, the positional scarcity of elite TEs and the massive production dropoff after Travis Kelce, George Kittle and Darren Waller, I had to go with Pitts. Did you know that last season, the difference between TE2 and TE3 was 102 fantasy points. 102 points! Add to this the immense talent of Pitts, who gets to play alongside Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley this season with an established QB in Matt Ryan and it's easy to see why his future's so bright. In a couple years, we're gonna be talking about Ridley and Pitts taking over for Tyreek Hill and Kelce as the best WR/TE combo in the game.
Eric Karabell: Justin Fields, QB, Chicago Bears
Yeah, I know there are million quarterbacks for redraft formats and Fields was not even one of the first few chosen in the draft. But my top choice of Pitts is already profiled in a couple spots in this column, so I'll discuss Fields. He can really run and pass and this is really a nice situation for him to thrive. Lawrence should be great as well, but in a different way. Think of how we view quarterbacks that add fantasy value with their legs. We like them a lot!
Field Yates: Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons
Pitts for a few reasons. 1.) He plays the most elusive position in fantasy football, as elite tight ends are hard to find. 2.) He has a shot at early success in Atlanta, with a solid veteran quarterback and a team that is orchestrated by an innovative offensive mind. 3.) Perhaps most importantly, he's a certified baller who is only 20 years old.