While every draft class brings excitement, this year’s group stands out for its handful of elite offensive prospects headlining the class and a noticeable drop-off in immediate fantasy impact beyond the early selections. For dynasty managers, first-round draft capital remains one of the strongest indicators of long-term opportunity—but not all picks are created equal. Landing spots, positional value, and projected usage will ultimately determine whether these rookies become foundational assets or trade chips.
As teams begin integrating their new talent, now is the critical window to evaluate which players are worth building around, which are best used to capitalize on market hype, and which may already be trending toward becoming roster cloggers.
This article will focus on the key Day 2 selections of the NFL Draft from a dynasty perspective, helping you navigate the early stages of rookie valuation with a clear strategy to determine who to draft, who to try to trade away and/or trade up for, and who to avoid drafting in each round. Please note, all content will be focused around 12 team SF TE premium formats.
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Who To Keep (Draft)
Malachi Fields | New York Giants | Keep
The New York Giants aggressively targeted Malachi Fields when they traded back into the third round. New York sent significant draft capital, which included their fourth-round pick (No. 105), fifth-round pick (No. 145), and a 2027 fourth-rounder. Jaxson Dart has another weapon with Malachi Fields, as he brings a massive frame and catch radius. Fields could be a big-play weapon for the New York Giants. Fields is one of my favorite targets in the second round of rookie drafts.
Ted Hurst | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Keep
I know what you are thinking, and this is not my Tampa Bay fandom clouding my judgment. You are going to need to be patient, as Ted Hurst is not going to provide you with immediate production. Hurst is a big, fast, explosive receiver who will eventually complement Emeka Egbuka very well and fill the void Tampa Bay lost when Mike Evans departed for San Francisco.
Eli Stowers | Philadelphia Eagles | Keep
Much like Ted Hurst, if you draft Eli Stowers, please be aware that you may not see immediate production. This Eagles offense is going to look dramatically different in 2027. An A.J. Brown trade to the New England Patriots is imminent, and Dallas Goedert signed a one-year deal in the offseason. Stowers is one of my targets at the end of the first round in rookie drafts.
Antonio Williams | Washington Commanders | Keep
During the predraft process, I was very high on Antonio Williams and had him as my WR8. Williams is a quick-footed receiver off the line of scrimmage and displays strong yards-after-catch ability, reminding me of Zay Flowers. Williams also graded extremely well in Matt Harmon’s Reception Perception. Williams is currently going in the middle of the second round of rookie drafts and has a path for targets right away in the Washington Commanders offense. I would have no issue drafting Williams at the beginning of the second round in your rookie drafts to secure Williams on your dynasty roster.
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Who to Trade
Denzel Boston | Cleveland Browns | Trade Away
The Cleveland Browns addressed the wide receiver position early and often during the first two rounds of the NFL Draft. First selecting KC Concepcion in round one and then drafting Denzel Boston in the second round. At 6’4”, Boston is a prototypical X wide receiver with fantastic contested catch ability. In our rookie breakdown of Boston, we noted concerns about his struggles against elite cornerbacks and with separation. Many have Boston as their WR4 and drafting him ahead of KC Concepcion and Omar Cooper Jr. For me, if someone wants to take Boston after the big three receivers, I would gladly move down in the draft while picking up additional assets. I am more comfortable drafting Boston at the end of the first round in rookie drafts instead of in the middle.
Carson Beck | Arizona Cardinals | Trade Away
While I am not the biggest fan of Carson Beck, he did land in an ideal spot. The Arizona Cardinals and Jacoby Brissett are currently at a standstill, with Brissett potentially holding out if he doesn’t get starter money. Beck is currently going in the third round of rookie drafts between 3.01 – 3.03. I suspect that Beck will get a chance to start at some point this season while I also believe that Arizona’s 2027 starting quarterback is currently not on their roster. Once Beck gets the opportunity to start, I would trade Beck to a quarterback-needy team and get a positive return on your investment.
Drew Allar | Pittsburgh Steelers | Trade For
It is no secret that I am a fan of Drew Allar. If you haven’t read my rookie profile on Drew Allar, please do so. In the third round of rookie drafts, I like to start targeting my guys. One of my guys is Drew Allar, as he was my QB2 coming into the draft. When you look at Allar, you see a quarterback with prototypical size and arm talent to make any throw on the football field. Allar also displays excellent throwing velocity, allowing him to fit the football in tight windows. My main concern with Allar was that he still has a lot of polish to add to his game, and sitting out a year would help him in the long run. He will get that opportunity in Pittsburgh to sit if Aaron Rodgers decides to return for the 2026 season. Currently, Allar is being drafted in the mid-range of the third round. The price for third-round picks is cheap, especially in this draft.
De’Zhaun Stribling | San Francisco 49ers | Trade For
Round 2 of the NFL Draft started off with a shocking pick by the San Francisco 49ers, who selected Ole Miss WR De’Zhaun Stribling. While I was a fan of Stribling during the predraft process, I did not have him as the sixth receiver coming off the board. There is a lot to like in Stribling’s game as he is a physical receiver with good speed and reliable hands. His game is very reminiscent of Tre Harris, so Ole Miss seems to have a type of receiver they covet. Stribling is currently going in the end of the second round to the early third round of rookie drafts. This is a trade that you will have to wait for the production, as Stribling is joining a crowded offense in San Francisco, but with older players.
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Who To Cut (Avoid)
Zachariah Branch | Atlanta Falcons | Cut (Avoid)
This is more of an indictment of where Zachariah Branch is being drafted than the player. Branch is currently being drafted in the late second round ahead ahead of players that I like more, such as Ted Hurst, Chris Brazzell, and Skyler Bell. Branch is more of a gadget-style player who could have big boom weeks but also many bust weeks.
Nate Boerkircher| Jacksonville Jaguars | Cut (Avoid)
One of the more shocking picks in Day 2 of the NFL Draft was the Jacksonville Jaguars selecting Nate Boerkircher with the 56th pick in the second round. One of Boerkircher’s strengths is his ability to block, as he was graded as one of the best blocking tight ends in the NFL Draft. Boerkircher had very limited offensive production in college, both at Nebraska and Texas A&M. During his five-year college career, Boerkircher caught 38 receptions, 417 receiving yards, and four touchdowns over 52 games. I will be avoiding drafting Boerkircher in my rookie drafts.
Marlin Klein | Houston Texans | Cut (Avoid)
Another pick that shocked me was at the end of the second round when the Houston Texans selected Marlin Klein. Klein joins a crowded tight end room that has Dalton Schultz, Foster Moreau, and Cade Stover, who I view as better options than Klein. Klein possesses a very impressive 9.59 RAS (Relative Athletic Score) but is viewed as more of a developmental project with limited production in college and only 12 college starts. At best, I would consider Klein a taxi squad stash in leagues with deep rosters.
Sam Roush | Chicago Bears | Cut (Avoid)
During the predraft process, I ranked Sam Roush lower than the consensus and had him as my TE8. Roush is an elite blocker, but his hands are inconsistent. With better options in Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet on the roster, Roush will be more utilized on three tight sets to help in the run game.
Review
Thanks for reading, Nerds. Make sure you check out the first article in the series, where I highlight the top prospects from Day 1 of the NFL Draft! Please, come back next week, where I highlight Day 3 players and determine who to draft, who to try to trade away and/or trade up for, and who to avoid drafting.
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