X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

Updated Rookie Rankings - Fantasy Football Drafts

RotoBaller's updated fantasy football rookie rankings for 2021 fantasy football drafts. Use our updated rookie rankings to target the highest-upside NFL rookies.

Welcome back RotoBallers! Below you will find our staff's updated fantasy football rookie rankings for the 2021 NFL season. These rankings are a great resource for you to use in your fantasy football drafts, whether it's a redraft league or a dynasty league. Having a rookie draft, or just looking for the highest-upside rookie to target in drafts? Just reference the list below.

These fantasy football rookie rankings will continue to be updated until Week 1, so be sure check back regularly for updates. You can also see our ongoing rankings analysis articles discussing players to target and avoid in your fantasy football drafts. Be sure to also check out our entire 2021 fantasy football rankings dashboard. It's loaded up with our rankings for all other league formats and scoring settings including:

Three of our lead fantasy football analysts - Pierre Camus, Brandon Murchison and Phil Clark - have analyzed the NFL offseason moves, recent injuries, and preseason action. Below you will find their consensus fantasy football Half-PPR rankings for 2021 fantasy football drafts. Feel free to click those links and give these fine gentlemen a follow, and let them know how much you love or hate their rankings.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

 

Updated Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings

Rankings table below last updated on September 5th, 2021

Tier Rank Player Name Pos
1 1 Najee Harris RB
1 2 Kyle Pitts TE
1 3 Ja'Marr Chase WR
1 4 Javonte Williams RB
1 5 DeVonta Smith WR
1 6 Trevor Lawrence QB
2 7 Jaylen Waddle WR
2 8 Elijah Moore WR
2 9 Justin Fields QB
2 10 Trey Sermon RB
2 11 Trey Lance QB
2 12 Michael Carter RB
2 13 Kenneth Gainwell RB
3 14 Terrace Marshall Jr. WR
3 15 Rashod Bateman WR
3 16 Amon-Ra St. Brown WR
3 17 Mac Jones QB
3 18 Zach Wilson QB
3 19 Rhamondre Stevenson RB
3 20 Rondale Moore WR
3 21 Chuba Hubbard RB
3 22 Dyami Brown WR
3 23 Nico Collins WR
4 24 Josh Palmer WR
4 25 Amari Rodgers WR
4 26 Kadarius Toney WR
4 27 Pat Freiermuth TE
4 28 D'Wayne Eskridge WR
4 29 Elijah Mitchell RB
4 30 Tutu Atwell WR
4 31 Kylin Hill RB
4 32 Tylan Wallace WR
4 33 Jacob Harris TE
4 34 Seth Williams WR
4 35 Brevin Jordan TE
4 36 Demetric Felton WR
5 37 Larry Rountree III RB
5 38 Chris Evans RB
5 39 Jermar Jefferson RB
5 40 Ihmir Smith-Marsette WR
5 41 Hunter Long TE
5 42 Jaret Patterson RB
5 43 Khalil Herbert RB
5 44 Dazz Newsome WR
5 45 Dez Fitzpatrick WR
6 46 Jaelon Darden WR
6 47 Kyle Trask QB
6 48 Kene Nwangwu RB
6 49 Kellen Mond QB
6 50 Noah Gray TE
6 51 Anthony Schwartz WR
6 52 Marquez Stevenson WR
6 53 Josh Imatorbhebhe WR
6 54 Davis Mills QB
6 55 Jake Funk RB
6 56 Frank Darby WR
7 57 Sage Surratt WR
7 58 Pooka Williams Jr. RB
7 59 Tommy Tremble TE
7 60 Shi Smith WR
7 61 Cornell Powell WR
7 62 Kenny Yeboah TE
7 63 Javian Hawkins RB
7 64 Tamorrion Terry WR
8 65 Tre' McKitty TE
8 66 Mekhi Sargent RB
8 67 Cade Johnson WR
8 68 Sam Ehlinger QB
8 69 Austin Watkins WR
8 70 Shane Buechele QB
8 71 T.J. Vasher WR
8 72 Ian Book QB
9 73 Simi Fehoko WR
9 74 Stevie Scott III RB
9 75 Deon Jackson RB
9 76 Marlon Williams WR
9 77 Trey Ragas RB
9 78 Feleipe Franks QB
9 79 Whop Philyor WR
9 80 Dax Milne WR
9 81 Rakeem Boyd RB
9 82 Trevon Grimes WR
9 83 Jamie Newman QB
9 84 Brennan Eagles WR
9 85 Reggie Roberson Jr. WR
9 86 K.D. Nixon WR
9 87 Raheem Blackshear RB
9 88 Johnathan Lovett RB
9 89 JD Spielman WR
9 90 JaTarvious Whitlow RB
9 91 Eli Stove WR
9 92 Brady White QB
9 93 Shakif Seymour RB
9 94 K.J. Costello QB
9 95 Damonte Coxie WR
9 96 Vavae Malepeai RB
9 97 Zach Smith QB
9 98 Zac Thomas QB


Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!

More Fantasy Football Analysis


Check out all of RotoBaller's fantasy football rankings. Staff rankings are updated regularly for all positions and include standard formats, PPR scoring, tiered rankings and dynasty leagues.




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Kevon Looney

Questionable Versus OKC
Chase Briscoe

Probably Won't Win the Title
Joey Logano

Could Play Spoiler in Championship Battle at Phoenix
Tyler Reddick

Seeking to End Winless Drought, but Probably Won't Have the Speed
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Looks to Protect Top-10 Points Finish at Phoenix
Brad Keselowski

Hasn't Been Fast at Phoenix With RFK Racing
Daniel Suarez

With Nothing at Stake, Expect Little From Daniel Suarez
Kyle Busch

Qualifies Well, but Will Probably Finish Worse Than he Starts
Chris Buescher

Ryan Preece has a Shot to Overtake Chris Buescher as RFK Racing's Lead Driver
Austin Dillon

Looks to Avoid Finishing Last in NASCAR Playoffs
AJ Allmendinger

A.J. Allmendinger Might be a Worthy DFS Option
Cooper Kupp

Not Expected to Play Vs. Washington
Alvin Kamara

Saints Expect Alvin Kamara to Play Vs. Rams
Travis Hunter

Optimism Surrounding Travis Hunter's Knee Injury
Jakob Poeltl

to Remain Sidelined Sunday
Jakobi Meyers

Raiders "Set a High Price" on Jakobi Meyers
Walker Kessler

Out on Sunday
Mitchell Robinson

Listed as Questionable for Sunday
Trey Benson

Moving Closer Toward a Return
Dillon Brooks

to Miss Fourth Straight Game Sunday
Jalen Green

Unavailable Against Spurs
Norman Powell

Questionable to Suit Up Against Lakers
Jaylen Waddle

Miami "Highly Unlikely" to Trade Jaylen Waddle
Jeremy Sochan

Remains Absent Sunday
De'Aaron Fox

Still Out Sunday
Daniel Gafford

Makes Season Debut With Minutes Restriction
D'Angelo Russell

Cleared to Play Saturday
Deandre Ayton

Listed as Probable for Sunday
Paul George

Unavailable Sunday
Joel Embiid

to Sit Out Sunday's Action
Sam Merrill

May Skip Another Contest Sunday
Jarrett Allen

Questionable for Sunday
Darius Garland

to Remain Out Sunday
Donovan Mitchell

Could Miss Another Game Sunday
Chet Holmgren

Not Ready to Return Sunday
Trae Young

to Be Re-Evaluated in Four Weeks
Payton Pritchard

Ready to Face Rockets
Tua Tagovailoa

Benching "Not off the Table"
Connor Brown

Won't Play on Saturday
Dylan Strome

Ready to Return Saturday
Sean Couturier

Out on Saturday
Ilya Mikheyev

Set to Return Saturday
Warren Foegele

Kings Place Warren Foegele on Injured Reserve
TOR

Chris Tanev Cleared for Action
William Nylander

Remains Out Saturday
Shohei Ohtani

to Start Game 7 of World Series
Kyler Murray

Making Progress, but Won't Start on Monday Night
Tony Pollard

Titans Fielding Trade Calls on Tony Pollard
Chris Olave

Saints Expected to Retain Chris Olave Through Trade Deadline
Joe Flacco

Planning to Play Through Shoulder Injury in Week 9
Alejandro Kirk

X-Rays Come Back Negative on Alejandro Kirk's Hand
Alejandro Kirk

Goes for X-Rays After Being Hit on the Hand
Mackenzie Blackwood

Set for Season Debut Saturday
Ryan Reaves

Remains Under Evaluation
Trevor Moore

Expected to Return Saturday
Zach Benson

Placed on Injured Reserve
Pierre-Luc Dubois

Sustains Lower-Body Injury Friday
Jacob Markstrom

Devils Sign Jacob Markstrom to Two-Year Extension
Connor Brown

Considered Questionable for Saturday
Gleyber Torres

Undergoes Sports-Hernia Surgery
Dylan Strome

Remains Out Friday
Elias Lindholm

to Miss Several Weeks
Kaapo Kakko

Could Be an Option Saturday
Gustav Nyquist

Ruled Out for Saturday
Bo Bichette

Not Expecting to Need Offseason Knee Surgery
William Nylander

Considered a Game-Time Call for Saturday
Chris Kreider

Returning to Ducks Lineup Friday
Nico Collins

Officially Cleared to Face Broncos on Sunday
Brock Purdy

Questionable to Play, but Won't Start in Week 9
Travis Hunter

ACL is Intact
Alvin Kamara

Questionable for Week 9, Trending Toward Playing
George Springer

Back in Leadoff Spot for Game 6 of World Series
Michael Penix Jr.

Not Listed on Injury Report For Week 9
Drake London

Practices in Full on Friday, Will Play in Week 9
Puka Nacua

Officially Cleared to Return in Week 9
D'Andre Swift

Ruled Out for Week 9 Due to Groin Injury
Rico Dowdle

Will "Start and Get the Bulk of the Carries" in Week 9
Isiah Pacheco

Ruled Out for Sunday
David Onama

Set For UFC Vegas 110 Main Event
Steve Garcia

Returns At UFC Vegas 110
Waldo Cortes-Acosta

Set For Co-Main Event
Ante Delija

In Search For His Second UFC Win
Themba Gorimbo

A Favorite At UFC Vegas 110
Jeremiah Wells

Looks To Return To The Win Column
Yadier del Valle

Looks To Remain Undefeated
CFB

Arizona State Quarterback Sam Leavitt Out for the Season
Isaac Dulgarian

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Daniel Frunza

Looks For His First UFC Win
Charles Radtke

Looks To Bounce Back
Allan Nascimento

Set To Open Up UFC Vegas 110 Main Card
Cody Durden

In Dire Need Of Victory
Jason Dickinson

Aggravates Shoulder Injury Thursday
George Springer

"Strong Possibility" That George Springer Returns in Game 6 of World Series
Bryce Miller

Not Expected to Need Elbow Surgery
Washington Nationals

Nationals Finalizing a Deal to Hire Blake Butera as Next Manager
CFB

Arch Manning Listed as Questionable for Vanderbilt Matchup
CFB

Arion Carter Listed as Questionable Ahead of Oklahoma Matchup
Minnesota Twins

Twins Name Derek Shelton as Their New Manager
CFB

Jordyn Tyson Questionable for Iowa State Matchup with Hamstring Injury
George Springer

Not in the Lineup for Game 4 of World Series
George Springer

Pulled Early in Game 3 With Side Injury
Baltimore Orioles

Orioles Finalizing Deal to Hire Craig Albernaz as the Next Manager
William Byron

Dominates at Martinsville and Advances to the Championship Round
Kyle Larson

Advances to the Championship Round After Top-Five Finish
Ryan Blaney

Falls Short of the Victory and Title Contention at Martinsville
Chase Elliott

Eliminated From 2025 Title Contention Despite Strong Martinsville Run
CFB

Behren Morton Will Start Against Kansas State
CFB

Lane Kiffin Says Money Won't Impact his Decision-Making
CFB

Arch Manning in Concussion Protocol, Misses Practice Monday
Christopher Bell

Eliminated From Championship 4 After a Too Conservative Season
Joey Logano

Lack of Championship-Caliber Speed Leads to Elimination
Chase Briscoe

Finishes Last at Martinsville
Denny Hamlin

Don't Think Denny Hamlin's Engine Failure Affects his Championship Prospects
Ciryl Gane

Fight With Tom Aspinall Ends In No-Contest
Ciryl Gane

Tom Aspinall Vs. Ciryl Gane Ends in No-Contest
Virna Jandiroba

Suffers Unanimous-Decision Loss
Mackenzie Dern

Wins Vacant Strawweight Title
Mario Bautista

Gets Outclassed
Umar Nurmagomedov

Gets Back In The Win Column
Jailton Almeida

Drops Decision
Alexander Volkov

Wins Split Decision At UFC 321
Azamat Murzakanov

Remains Undefeated

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP