Superflex Rookie Draft OTC: What To Do with Picks 1.01-1.04

by Kyle Lesti · Featured

We are hip-deep in #rookieszn! With the combine now behind us, coaches and scouts from around the league are cranking up the volume on their rookie evaluations. The same is true for ardent dynasty fantasy football managers. Most rookie drafts occur shortly after the NFL Draft, in either May or early June. As we parse through combine performances and await landing spots determined in April in Pittsburgh, our rankings and values for some of these players will fluctuate. However, through extensive research and film study, we can get a good sense of where each of these guys should go in a superflex rookie draft.

We’ve got a head start, as there is already a relatively established top 5 to be picked apart ad nauseam. Anyhoo, here is how I’m sizing up the early third of the first round, keeping in mind we are only in early March.

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On the Clock

Pick 1.01

Jeremiyah Love‘s Athletic Profile

Let’s not get cute here. Jeremiyah Love is the number one option across all formats. You’ll have a tough time finding any discrepancies in his production profile toting the rock. Love totaled 2.497 yards on the ground in his last two years at Notre Dame, leading the conference in each. He also set the pace in efficiency, maintaining an impressive 6.9 yards per carry (YPC) over those same two years. Furthermore, he’s shown himself to be a capable receiver. In college, however, the volume was lacking. He caught 28 and 27 balls in 2024 and ’25, respectively, for a total of 594 yards.

At the Combine in Indy, Love almost certainly silenced whatever critics there may have been. He posted an impressive 4.36 40-yard dash time and was quick and fluid through his drills. The former golden-domer then went further and put in some more work participating in receiving drills. There, he showed some smooth hips and nice hands, cementing his profile as a “do-it-all” back.

Trade thoughts

Maybe you’re some years away from really contending in your league. If this is the case, you might be interested in trying to trade this pick to a contender who could seemingly really capitalize on Love’s production over the course of his rookie deal. In most cases, I would advise against this, as Love’s value will almost certainly increase once he takes the field in the NFL.

Malik Nabers or Drake London straight up for this year’s 1.01 would get my attention. Otherwise, unless the other side is willing to really knock my socks off with a “Godfather” deal (you know, the kind you can’t refuse), I’m inclined to take the talent. You can decide later to cash in on his value if that’s the route you wish to take.

Pick 1.02

After the 1.01, there is room for debate. With the second pick, quarterback-needy teams could feel compelled to take Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza. Depending on your team’s construction and your personal style (risk-averse, in this case), Mendoza could be a fine pick. My only hang-up with taking him second overall is that he will very likely be a better NFL quarterback than a high-end fantasy option.

As many dynasty leagues start three wide receivers with two or three flex spots, the wide receiver position is extremely important, even in superflex. For this reason, I’m taking my favorite of the consensus top three wideouts of this class with this pick.

Jordyn Tyson did not participate in the on-field drills at the Combine, but he did turn some heads with his performance on the Bench Press. He came up just one rep shy of tying the record for his position, putting up 26 reps of 225 lbs. More importantly, he came out of Indy with a clean medical report, according to a league source. Given his ceiling with his elite skills as a separator and route-runner (as detailed in my wide receiver rankings), Tyson is still my WR1, and thus my pick here.

Trade thoughts…

Here, I could certainly entertain the idea of trading back a spot or two, especially if you aren’t attached to your personal favorite of the top receivers. Of course, that means you have to find the manager who is. Something like the 1.02 for the 1.04 and a 2027 3rd-round pick or an upside shot like Brashard Smith or D.J. Giddens would make sense.

To trade this pick straight up for a player, I would target players like Omarion Hampton or Nico Collins.

Pick 1.03

Much of what I said regarding 1.02 applies to pick 1.03.

In a vacuum, I’m taking my WR2 of the class, Carnell Tate, here. Tate is a strong, vertical-X type receiver who will start right away for the team that drafts him. His strong hands, large catch radius, and smooth route-running will make him a viable fantasy option for years to come.

Looking at his Combine performance, Tate largely delivered as expected. His 4,53 40-yd dash time may have come in a touch lower than some projected, but he was never classified as a pure burner. Generally, how you felt about the former Buckeye heading into the combine should match how you feel now that it has passed.

Trade thoughts…

If you are not loving your options when on the clock with this pick, moving to the back end of the round could net you an additional mid-late third-round selection. Possible players in that value range (to go with a 1.10 – 1.12 selection) could be Ollie Gordon II/Tank Bigsby, or Marvin Mims/Darnell Mooney.

Straight up, the third overall pick could net you a player like C.J. Stroud. Bucky Irving is another appropriate target within this value range.

Pick 1.04

If your rookie draft were to go as I’ve laid it out thus far, you could be looking at Makai Lemon with the fourth pick. Lemon is a fantastic prospect who’s shown big-time toughness over the middle of the field. The 2025 Biletnikoff Award-winner operated primarily out of the slot, but he can play on the outside. Along with exceptional route-running and the ability to separate, Lemon has a high football IQ. He understands how to leverage defenders and has above-average awareness.

Makai Lemon‘s Athletic Profile

You would not be alone if he is your WR1; in that case, it would be a no-brainer. You can click his name with confidence and go on about your life, excited to have nabbed the value at the bottom of the top tier of wide receivers. The same could be true if you were apathetic to the ranking of the top three wideouts, as drafting the bottom of a tier always gives us the warm fuzzies.

Trade thoughts…

The drop in value from 1.03 to 1.04 is insignificant. So, as far as trading back within the round, we would be looking at a similar compensation.

As far as the straight-up compensation for the 1.04, C.J. Stroud would still be the quarterback to target here. Other options at the skill positions would be Kenneth Walker III, Quinshon Judkins, Zay Flowers, and Devonta Smith.

The Pick is In

The top of this draft class has some great prospects. A pick from inside the top four this year could net you a difference-making asset for years to come.

However, if you are looking to trade out this year, it’s important to have your finger on the pulse of your league. Every league and its respective market is unique. It’s in everyone’s best interest, when making a trade offer, to come in with something reasonable. I try to put myself in the other person’s shoes: “Would I seriously entertain this offer?” or even “Could this be worth countering?”

Feel free to reach out to me on X, Instagram, or Bluesky to let me know how dumb I am for leaving Mendoza out, or any other comments!

Many Successes,

Kyle

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