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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.

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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


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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.




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Tanner Bibee

Leaves Opening Day Start Early With Shoulder Inflammation
Tyler Allgeier

Joins a Crowded Backfield in Arizona
Kenneth Gainwell

Can Kenneth Gainwell Maintain PPR Prowess in New Digs in Tampa?
Bilal Coulibaly

Could Miss Friday's Game
Jakub Dobes

Defeats the Blue Jackets on Thursday
NFL

Zachariah Branch a Day 2 Receiver With Game-Changing Speed
Alexandre Sarr

Could Miss Third Straight Game
Cade Otton

Quietly Due for a Bigger Workload?
Noah Cates

has Two-Point Game on Thursday
Tetairoa McMillan

Headed for a Big Year 2?
T.J. Hockenson

Still Trending Down in Dynasty Leagues
Jordan Love

Still Not Back in the QB1 Tier
Kyle Filipowski

Expected Back After Illness
Terrance Ferguson

a Sneaky Dynasty Buy?
Isaiah Collier

to Miss Fifth Straight Game
Cristopher Sánchez

Cristopher Sanchez Makes a Statement on Opening Day With 10 Strikeouts
Deandre Ayton

Off Injury Report Friday
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Questionable Against Brooklyn
Ty Jerome

to Miss Second Straight Game
Anfernee Simons

Unlikely to Play Friday
Jarrett Allen

Iffy for Miami Game
Aaron Nesmith

Expected to Play Friday
Neemias Queta

Questionable for Friday
Derrick White

Iffy Against Hawks
Kevin McGonigle

has Four Hits in Impressive MLB Debut
Killian Hayes

is Returning on Thursday
Tobias Harris

is Active on Thursday
Ausar Thompson

is Cleared for Thursday's Game
Jalen Duren

is Upgraded to Available
Nico Hoerner

Cubs Agree to Six-Year Deal With Nico Hoerner
Trey Murphy III

Ruled Out for Thursday
Precious Achiuwa

is Available on Thursday
Caris LeVert

is Ruled Out for Thursday
Jacob Misiorowski

Shows Off his High-Strikeout Upside in Opening Day Win
Marcus Foligno

Available Against Panthers
Jaylen Brown

Considered Questionable for Friday
Tony DeAngelo

Unavailable Thursday
Anthony Mantha

Good to Go Thursday
Paul Skenes

Greeted Harshly by Mets on Opening Day
Thomas Chabot

Out 4-8 Weeks After Surgery
Jalen Suggs

Available on Thursday
Robert Thomas

Sits Out Thursday's Action
Tyler Toffoli

a Game-Time Call Thursday
Artturi Lehkonen

Returns to Action Thursday
Brandon Lowe

Hits Two Home Runs on Opening Day
Buffalo Bills

Bills Sign Receiver Trent Sherfield
Ketel Marte

Active, Leading Off on Opening Day
Tyler Goodson

Falcons Sign Tyler Goodson for Running Back Depth
Myles Garrett

Browns Won't Trade Myles Garrett
Kevin McGonigle

Batting Sixth in MLB Debut
Jeremy Peña

Jeremy Pena Not in the Lineup on Opening Day
Jonathan Greenard

Colts Interested in Jonathan Greenard
JJ Wetherholt

Batting Leadoff in MLB Debut
Micah Parsons

Expected to Miss First Three or Four Games of 2026
Breece Hall

Still a Chance Breece Hall Plays 2026 on Franchise Tag
Myles Garrett

Browns Modify Myles Garrett's Contract
Kyle Pitts Sr.

Remains a Risky Tight End Option Despite 2025 Breakout
Dalton Schultz

Upside Remains Limited Despite Resurgent 2025 Production
Kimani Vidal

Could Be Sliding Down the Running Back Depth Chart in Los Angeles
Juwan Johnson

Can Juwan Johnson Repeat Steady 2025 Production in 2026?
Jackson Chourio

Placed on Injured List with Fractured Hand
Francisco Lindor

Officially Starting on Opening Day
Tank Dell

Can Tank Dell Re-Establish His Career Coming Off His Serious Injury?
Chuba Hubbard

Has Chuba Hubbard Reclaimed the RB1 Role in Carolina?
Mika Zibanejad

Pots Two Goals Versus Toronto
Pavel Zacha

Adds Two More Points Against Buffalo
Nicolas Roy

to Be Out For "a Little Bit"
Anton Lundell

Likely Out for Rest of Regular Season
Anthony Mantha

Day-to-Day With Lower-Body Injury
Evgeni Malkin

to Remain Out Thursday
Mattias Samuelsson

a Game-Time Call Wednesday
Jonathan Quick

Remains Unavailable Wednesday
Victor Hedman

Takes Leave of Absence
Sean Murphy

Lands on 10-Day Injured List
Bryce Miller

Placed on 15-Day Injured List With Oblique Strain
Lars Nootbaar

Will Begin the Season on 60-Day Injured List
Jackson Holliday

Placed on 10-Day Injured List
Jeremy Peña

Jeremy Pena on the Astros Opening Day Roster
Blake Snell

Dodgers Place Blake Snell on 15-Day Injured List
John Carlson

Sets Up Three Goals Tuesday Night
Joel Hofer

Picks Up Sixth Shutout of the Season
John Tavares

Records Three Assists in Tuesday's Win
Ryan Fox

a High-Upside Value in Houston
Marco Penge

a Boom-or-Bust Option in Houston
Aaron Rai

Looks to Bounce Back in Houston
Jason Day

a Volatile Option at the Texas Children's Houston Open
Kirby Yates

Angels Place Kirby Yates on 15-Day Injured List
Harris English

Eyes a Bounce-Back at the Texas Children's Houston Open
Ben Griffin

Looks for Turnaround at the Texas Children's Houston Open
Rickie Fowler

Brings Strong Form Into Texas Children's Houston Open
Nick Lodolo

Will Open 2026 on the Injured List Due to Finger Ailment
Ryan Gerard

Can Continue Rolling at Texas Children's Houston Open
Pierceson Coody

Bounces Back at Valspar Championship
Rasmus Hojgaard

Trying to Get Back on Track at Texas Children's Houston Open
Michael Thorbjornsen

Playing Well Heading to Texas Children's Houston Open
Harry Hall

Looking for Consistency at Texas Children's Houston Open
Brooks Koepka

Continues Building Momentum
Scottie Scheffler

Withdraws From Texas Children's Houston Open
Luke Clanton

Might Have a Problem in Houston
Sam Stevens

Happy to See Houston This Week
Keith Mitchell

Tries to Rebound After The Players Championship
Will Zalatoris

Returning This Week at Houston
Wyndham Clark

Trending in the Wrong Direction Heading to Houston
Shane Lowry

Seeking Better Luck in Houston This Weekend
Kurt Kitayama

Poised to Bounce Back at the Houston Open
Lerone Murphy

Suffers His First Loss
Movsar Evloev

Edges Out Lerone Murphy
CFB

Notre Dame Ranks No. 1 in Returning Production for 2026
Michael Aswell

Jr. Drops Decision At UFC London
Michael Aswell

Luke Riley Outclasses Michael Aswell Jr.
Sam Patterson

Suffers Unanimous-Decision Loss
Michael Page

Wins Lackluster Decision
Austen Lane

Suffers First-Round TKO Loss
Iwo Baraniewski

Delivers 28-Second TKO
Tyler Reddick

Overcomes Adversity for Fourth Victory of the Season At Darlington
Brad Keselowski

Falls Short of Darlington Victory Despite Domination
Ryan Blaney

Recovers From Pit-Road Struggles to Score Career-Best Darlington Finish
Carson Hocevar

Rallies to Finish Fourth at Darlington
Kyle Larson

Decent Performance Ends with Technical Issues At Darlington
Tyler Reddick

the Clear Favorite at Darlington
Kyle Larson

a High-Risk, High-Reward Driver at Darlington
Ryan Blaney

Is Getting Better at Darlington
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Not Slowing Down at Darlington
Chris Buescher

Should be a Top-10 Contender at Darlington
Austin Cindric

a Sleeper at Darlington
Erik Jones

Quickest in Practice at Darlington
Denny Hamlin

Qualifies Ninth for this Week's Cup Race at Darlington
Chase Briscoe

Is One of the Top DFS Options of the Week for Darlington
William Byron

Is William Byron A Playable DFS Option for Darlington Lineups?
Christopher Bell

Could Christopher Bell be Considered A Decent DFS Option for Darlington?
Chase Elliott

Is Chase Elliott Worth Rostering At Darlington This Week For DFS?
Joey Logano

May Not Have the Speed to Warrant A Darlington DFS Lineup Spot
Ross Chastain

Should DFS Players Trust Ross Chastain at Darlington?
Kyle Busch

Could Kyle Busch Be A Worthy DFS Option for Darlington?
Brad Keselowski

May be A Contriarian DFS Tournament Option At Darlington
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