Dynasty Rookie Rankings – Stashes and Sleepers

Do you want to know who the diamonds in the rough are in your rookie drafts or UDFA gems? I’ve got you covered in this post. In full transparency, the hit rates for these players are significantly lower, but these guys will provide value to your rosters. The majority of these players have an opportunity to seize a role and grow into them over the next few seasons. I like to stash these players and watch the dividends they’ll return.

PSA: Do not blindly pick players based on rankings from me or other dynasty pundits. I recommend drafting players that fit your team’s timeline and roster construction, along with your research. Don’t forget, dynasty teams are long-term commitments. Treat them as such!

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Targets

• Player: Elic Ayomanor
• Team: Tennessee Titans
• Position: WR

The Canadian WR is one of my favorite players’ targets, regardless of position.  He’s a highly athletic prospect with 4.44 speed at 6’2”. Many draft experts gave him a Day 2 grade, but he ended up as a Day 3 selection in the fourth round. Ayomanor’s best game in college was against Travis Hunter and the Buffs, where he tallied 13 receptions for 294 yards and three TDs. I like his landing spot in Tennessee with Cam Ward and second-year Head Coach Brian Callahan. 

I get the sense that Callahan wants a passing-heavy offense, similar to what he had in Cincinnati, and will have the chance to do so after hand-picking Ward. The WR1 with the Titans is an aging Calvin Ridley, with other vets in Tyler Lockett and Van Jefferson. His only long-term competition is former first pick, Treylon Burks, who isn’t a lock for the 52-man roster. I will take my chances that Ayomanor develops alongside Ward and provides a handful of WR2 seasons.

• Player: Dont’e Thornton Jr.
• Team: Las Vegas Raiders
• Position: WR

Thornton Jr. is the quintessential  “Al Davis” pick for the Raiders. The speedy Volunteer ran a 4.30 40-yard dash. Did I mention he has an extreme height advantage at 6’5”? Other notable WRs at a similar height are Calvin Johnson, Mike Evans, Brandon Marshall, Plaxico Burress, and Vincent Jackson. While I am not forecasting he’ll be as good as those WRs, but you can’t coach speed and height.

The Raiders need depth at the WR position. The only WR on the roster with any relevant fantasy production is Jakobi Meyers, who enters his seventh season in the NFL. Vegas did draft Jack Bech in the second round, but I foresee him lining up primarily at the slot, while Thornton Jr. should see the majority of his time out wide. It wouldn’t be surprising to me if Thornton Jr. ends up having a larger role than Bech by his third season.

• Player: Jacory Croskey-Merritt
• Team: Washington Commanders
• Position: RB

Croskey-Merritt is the biggest mover in my rankings, breaking into the top 50. Despite being a seventh-round selection, he has great potential with a rare combination of size and speed. He only played one game as a senior transfer at Arizona due to eligibility issues. In his one game with the Wildcats, he recorded 13 carries for 106 yards and one TD. He was invited to the East-West Shrine Bowl and ended up becoming the Offensive MVP after rushing for 97 yards and two TDs. Are you interested, yet?

If he played more at Arizona, it’s plausible he would have higher draft capital, but his landing spot was ideal. Croskey-Merritt joins the Commanders’ offense led by Jayden Daniels. The RB room in Washington is commendable, but they’ve lacked a 1,000-yard rusher since the 2021 season. Brian Robinson Jr. has not topped 800 yards in a single season and is in his final year of his rookie contract. It’s not impossible to think he could be the Commanders’ starting RB in 2026 and beyond.

• Player: Tahj Brooks
• Team: Cincinnati Bengals
• Position: RB

I promise I have no bias with this recommendation, but this Red Raider is legit. Brooks was the third running back in Big XII history to rush over 1,500 yards in a single season twice. The Bengals selected him in the sixth round, but Zac Taylor said they were really lucky to get him. Brooks fits an immediate need in Cincinnati’s backfield as a tough, downhill runner with great vision and patience.

Chase Brown appears to be headed toward fantasy stardom. However, I am not sure Cincinnati wants him to have 20+ touches every game after doing so in seven of his final eight games of the season.  Brooks lacks real competition for the RB2 role with Samaje Perine and Zack Moss. Perine could not take advantage of his time in Kansas City’s injury-riddled RB room. Moss is recovering from a serious neck injury. Brooks should be the thunder to Brown’s lightning in one of the best offenses in the NFL.

• Player: Kyle Monangai
• Team: Chicago Bears
• Position: RB

Any RB attached to Ben Johnson’s offense should always garner your attention. Monangai may have been a seventh-round pick, but he is a powerful back with 66 missed tackles last season, ranking eighth in this draft class. It would not surprise me if he leapfrogs Roschon Johnson as the RB2 behind D’Andre Swift. Let’s not forget Johnson is a holdover from the last coaching staff.

There is significant value as an RB2 under Johnson. During his three seasons with Detroit, his RB2 averaged 14 touches per game. The lowest amount of touches was in 2022 when Swift was his RB2 and averaged 10.5 touches per game. Let’s not forget that Johnson was the Lions when they traded Swift away.  Who knows what the futures looks like, but Monangai could be have the David Montgomery-role in the Bears’ ascending offense.

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