The Nerds App League between the writers, rankers, and podcasters was undertaken with the goal of producing content for our readers and listeners. After getting my own league invite, I convinced the-powers-that-be to adopt a unique Nerds rookie draft format that we have used in a couple of my home leagues over the last several seasons. I call it the Nostradamus Draft (s/o and thanks to Nick Heim and Jason Winterling for the original idea).

In a Nostradamus Draft (coined after the great prognosticator), the first two rounds of the rookie draft are conducted before the NFL draft. The last three rounds of the draft are held after the NFL draft. By conducting the draft in this manner, the early 3rd round picks hold considerably more value than in a standard rookie draft.

The Nerds App League recently finished the first two rounds of our 2025 rookie draft. It is a 12-team SuperFlex, Tight End Premium league with 12 total starters. I will say, the NFL Draft has a whole new level of excitement when you’re watching to see how well you did based on the landing spots of your 1st and 2nd round picks. Without further ado, let us examine how the draft unfolded.

Round 1 | Nostradamus Nerds Rookie Draft

1.01 | Ashton Jeanty | RB | Boise State | 5084 | 211 lbs

Garret Price | @DynastyPrice

This was and is the easiest pick of the draft. I have done numerous mock drafts and a couple of Nostradamus rookie drafts at this point. Ashton Jeanty was the top pick in each and every one of those drafts. He is talented enough that managers are foregoing the likely top QB taken in the upcoming NFL draft. Just check out his tape below and you will see why this is such an easy decision at the top.

Garret took this rookie pick with the 2.02 in our startup draft. He clearly had the intention of building his team around young, talented RBs after taking Jahmyr Gibbs in the 1st. Only time will tell if Ashton Jeanty belongs on the same level as RBs like Breece Hall and De’Von Achane, both of whom went a full round behind this pick in the startup draft. But, I wouldn’t want to be the man betting against this talented rookie.

1.02 | Tetairoa McMillan | WR | Arizona | 5101 | 202 lbs

Taylor Christianson | @MySleepers

Next up here at no. 2, our lead editor Taylor was on the board and selected Tetairoa McMillan as the top true wide receiver in this year’s class. I was a bit surprised that Cam Ward wasn’t the pick here, but it is hard to argue with building your team around young WRs. They tend to hold their value much longer than RBs, and usually wideouts taken in the 1st Round of the NFL Draft, the way that McMillan is likely to be, are safe bets. He is big and physical in the mold of a Mike Evans.

This rookie pick went off the board at 3.12 in our startup draft. A.J. Brown and Rashee Rice were the next two WRs to go off the board after that selection. It is always interesting to balance the rookie pick against the veterans after the startup to see how that decision panned out. Tet McMillian is an exciting player, and it will be intriguing to see where he ends up later this week.

1.03 | Cam Ward | QB | Miami | 6015 | 219 lbs

Keith Ensminger | @TheSmingDynasty

At 1.03, we had our first QB come off the board. Keith snagged the 3rd pick of the rookie draft at 4.02 of our startup draft. For perspective, that puts Cam Ward ahead of Jared Goff, Trevor Lawrence, and Dak Prescott. This one feels like somewhat of a bold move given the QB talent that was still on the board, but there is no question that Cam Ward offers some really nice upside. We will have to see if his value equals the likes of those other QBs.

Keith has certainly built a really nice group of young signal callers. Ward was added to an already talented group of Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix, and Bryce Young. It is fair to say that this squad will not be worried about the QB position for years to come. The best part about taking Ward is the safety of the pick. It is a virtual lock that he will go in the 1st Round and most likely the top selection overall.

1.04 | Omarion Hampton | RB | North Carolina | 5116 | 221 lbs

Matthew Cooper | @CouchScoutsFF

Matt was up at no. 4 and went back to the well at the running back position with the selection of Omarion Hampton. This RB is big and physical with a remarkably soft pair of hands. He has true 3-down potential at the next level. Add his skill set to his sub-4.5 40-yard dash, and you have a player that could go as early as the 1st Round of the upcoming NFL rookie draft.

This team has an interesting build. Matt drafted a team that has a number of stud WRs and TEs. His QB position is a bit up in the air with old and young players. Hampton is a really nice player, and an RB he will surely look to build around moving forward.

1.05 | TreVeyon Henderson | RB | Ohio State | 5101 | 202 lbs

Keith Ensminger | @TheSmingDynasty

Keith was back up at no. 5 and looked to the RB group, selecting TreVeyon Henderson. The Ohio State star has been a constant feature early in our mock drafts here at Dynasty Nerds. He brings an electric skill set that lends itself to scoring tons of PPR points. He is probably the best pass catcher in the class and is a nice runner to boot.

Keith took this pick at the beginning of the 6th round. Kenneth Walker was the next RB off the board. In my opinion, that turned out to be a really nice value. Henderson will most likely come off the board long before the end of Day 2 of the upcoming NFL Draft. This looks like a savvy selection already.

1.06 | Luther Burden III | WR | Missouri | 6000 | 206 lbs

Jon Glosser | @Glosser13

Just two picks later in the startup, our IDP guru, Jon Glosser, started a full-blown run on draft picks. He grabbed the 1.06 and eventually used the selection on Missouri WR Luther Burden. Burden was a stud for two seasons. Last year, he struggled after a monster 2023 at Missouri. Jon will surely be looking for the vintage form of this dynamic playmaker.

Looking at the other WRs that went in this range, we had Jerry Jeudy and Chris Olave a couple of picks later in the round. Burden could be a really nice player for this team moving forward. I like Jeudy a little better myself, but it is hard to argue that Burden is poised to be drafted early in the upcoming NFL Draft. He will add to the young WR core of Xavier Worthy, D.K. Metcalf, Xavier Legette, and others that Jon is building.

1.07 | Tyler Warren | TE | Penn State | 6054 | 256 lbs

Taylor Christianson | @MySleepers

Penn State’s Tyler Warren was our next player off the board here at 1.07. Our Editor-in-Chief made Warren the top TE selection in the class. Warren is big and dynamic with the ball in his hands. He was a major playmaker as a rusher, receiver, and passer last year at Penn State. He set Big 10 and school records for a single season across the board. Most reports indicate he will be a top 10 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Taylor has built an interesting team. With this being a TE Premium league, he clearly sought to make the TE position one of strength on his roster. Warren is joining Taylor’s duo of George Kittle and Jake Ferguson. Warren should be a solid player moving forward in a format this deep.

1.08 | Quinshon Judkins | RB | Ohio State | 5115 | 221 lbs

Rich Dotson | @DynastyRich

The Boss was the next manager to snag a rookie pick. He grabbed this pick at 6.10 in the startup and used it on Quinshon Judkins. Judkins represents a nice value in my opinion. This rookie pick went two spots ahead of Kenneth Walker. Chase Brown and Alvin Kamara were the next two RBs off the board after that. It is hard to argue with getting Judkins here at this point in the startup draft.

Rich has built a team that is both young and can compete immediately. Judkins will almost surely slide into this team’s RB2 slot behind Saquon Barkley. Most reports have Judkins going sometime on Day 2 of the upcoming NFL Draft. This has the makings of a homerun pick.

1.09 | Shedeur Sanders | QB | Colorado | 6014 | 212 lbs

Nick Piovano | @DynastyStump

Toward the back end of the 1st, we had our next QB come off the board. Nick traded up with Garret Price in order to draft Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders. The price was relatively steep, with “Stump” giving the 1.10, 2.01, and 4.01 in exchange for the 1.09, 4.03, and a future 2026 2nd.

This trade helped to lock down Nick’s QB position. Prior to the rookie draft, he had only Caleb Williams and Kyler Murray on his roster. Reports have been all over the place as to the eventual destination of Shedeur Sanders. While I could certainly see him slip out of the top 5, I cannot see him outside of the 1st Round. When it comes to the dynasty SuperFlex format, you can never have enough QBs.

1.10 | Colston Loveland | TE | Michigan | 6056 | 248 lbs

Garret Price | @DynastyPrice

Garret got part of his payoff for Shedeur Sanders right away. He hit up the other bonus-scoring position in this league by selecting Michigan TE Colston Loveland. I personally have Tyler Warren as my clear-cut TE1 in the class, but there is no question that Loveland is also a uniquely talented TE. Most reports indicate that he will be taken in the 1st Round of the upcoming NFL Draft. He has some quality traits that will lend themselves to scoring fantasy points at the next level.

Garret had punted the position somewhat in the startup by waiting until the 10th round to select Jonnu Smith. The addition of Colston Loveland was a much-needed boost to his TE spot and was both a need and value pick at the same time. This roster was already flush at the QB spot, so hitting up the TE position was a wise pivot.

1.11 | Emeka Egbuka | WR | Ohio State | 6007 | 202 lbs

Peter Monahan | @PistolPete26

Peter was up next and selected the Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka. This one felt like a true value here late in the 1st. In my estimation, the 2025 rookie class has a clear-cut top 3 and then sees a significant dropoff. Emeka Egbuka has the talent and physical skill set to play either outside or in the slot at the pro level. He was one of the rare players who stayed the entire 4 years at Ohio State, not jumping to the pros at his first opportunity. As such, he leaves the school as the holder of several records.

Pete was looking to bolster his WR position with this pick. Egbuka will slot in nicely on this team behind Nico Collins and Courtland Sutton. This was clearly a position he wanted to address in the rookie draft as he came back to it again later in the 2nd round. I can find zero fault with this logic and love the value here at the end of the 1st. I would anticipate Emeka Egbuka going sometime during the first two rounds of the upcoming NFL Draft.

1.12 | Kaleb Johnson | RB | Iowa | 6010 | 224 lbs

Jon Glosser | @Glosser13

Jon finished off the 1st round of this blind rookie draft by going back to the RB spot and selecting Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson. Big and physical, this player has some really nice traits to bring to an NFL backfield. While not the fastest player around, his 224-lb frame and decent set of hands make him out as a player you won’t have to take off the field at the next level. Were he just a little bit faster, he would likely come off the board earlier in both this rookie draft and the upcoming NFL Draft.

Kaleb Johnson has a chance to immediately slot into Jon’s starting lineup. From the looks of it, this roster was built with the hero RB strategy. Meaning that one stud RB was taken early in the draft, in this case Breece Hall, then the rest were filled in much later. I am a little surprised that he didn’t go RB earlier instead of taking Luther Burden III, but scooping up Kaleb Johnson gives him a legit shot at a high-end dynasty asset.

Round 2 | Nostradamus Nerds Rookie Draft

2.01 | Cam Skattebo | RB | Arizona State | 5094 | 219 lbs

Garret Price | @DynastyPrice

At this point in the draft, things get very interesting. I have found the 2nd round of a blind dynasty draft to be highly volatile. With that in mind, it is best to get the players you believe in most. Garret did just that by taking the Arizona State RB Cam Skattebo. This player was the engine that drove the Sun Devils to a Big 12 Title and had Texas on the ropes in the college football playoff. He is a physical runner who has everything you want except that homerun gear.

When I watch Skattebo play, I see a cross between David Montgomery and Kareem Hunt. He will always give you maximum effort. He could use a little work in his pass blocking, but aside from that, he can easily lock down a starting job in the NFL. I believe he will be taken at some point on Day 2 of the upcoming NFL Draft and represents a nice 2nd round gamble early on.

2.02 | Travis Hunter | WR | Colorado | 6003 | 188 lbs

Matthew Cooper | @CouchScoutsFF

Colorado’s Travis Hunter is an enigma in today’s football landscape. If we knew that Hunter would focus on the WR position in the NFL, he would go much higher in this (and every) dynasty draft. However, Hunter was seen by many as both the top WR and CB in this 2025 class. He intends to play both positions in the NFL. At this point, it seems that WR will be his focus, but we just don’t know how this one will work out.

This could be a home run pick or a swing and a miss if he doesn’t get enough WR time to justify the selection. Much will depend on the creativity of the staff that selects him in the upcoming Draft. It is hard to bet against such a talented playmaker. Only time will tell if this one is a bust or if it pays off in spades.

2.03 | Jaxson Dart | QB | Ole Miss | 6022 | 223 lbs

Keith Ensminger | @TheSmingDynasty

Jaxson Dart has been steadily climbing up draft boards throughout the pre-draft process. The Ole Miss QB was a prolific playmaker in the SEC. There have been a number of recent reports that indicate that he will not make it out of the 1st Round of the upcoming NFL Draft. If that is true, then Keith may have scored one of the biggest prizes of the draft.

This is the type of pick that makes a blind rookie draft so much fun. If you believe in a player, you can get some fantastic value. If Dart does go in the 1st Round, he will go much, much higher than the 2.03 in a SuperFlex rookie draft. However, there is also the potential that he could slip like Malik Willis a couple of seasons ago and end up not being worth this selection. We just don’t know until the NFL gives us the final word. I have little doubt that Keith will be glued to the television, hoping to hear Jaxson Dart’s name on Day 1 of the Draft.

2.04 | Matthew Golden | WR | Texas | 5110 | 191 lbs

Peter Monahan | @PistolPete26

Pete was back up here in the 2nd round and went with the Texas WR Matthew Golden. This is another player steadily rising up draft boards. Early in the process, Golden felt like he was floating under the radar behind fellow Longhorn Isaiah Bond. But a solid Combine and his body of work in college have propelled Golden up the boards.

This was the second rookie WR taken by a win-now team, adding to the Emeka Egbuka pick at 1.11. The addition of these players gives him a really solid young core of playmakers. It will be interesting to see how high Golden goes in the NFL Draft. There have been some rumblings about a potential 1st Round grade given to him by some teams. If he does go on Thursday night, he will be one of the bigger risers in dynasty rankings.

2.05 | Bhayshul Tuten | RB | Virginia Tech | 5092 | 206 lbs

Matthew Cooper | @CouchScoutsFF

The Virginia Tech speedster Bhayshul Tuten was next off the board. Matt went rookie-heavy in the startup draft and grabbed Tuten to add to his earlier selection of Omarion Hampton. Tuten is a dynamic one-cut runner who tested as the fastest RB at this year’s Combine (4.32s).

Taking RBs here in the 2nd round of a blind draft is always a risky proposition. However, that risk comes with some of the best potential rewards. Tuten has taken multiple meetings with the Commanders. Were he to go on Day 2 of the NFL Draft to a team like Washington, his dynasty value could easily jump into the 1st round. If you are going to gamble on an RB, it’s hard to argue doing against a player like Tuten.

2.06 | Dylan Sampson | RB | Tennessee | 5081 | 200 lbs

Rich Dotson | @DynastyRich

Rich was back on the clock at 2.06. With his pick, he went back to the well on the RB position and selected the SEC’s leading rusher from 2024, Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson. Sampson—like Tuten—is a true speed merchant. He routinely ripped off chunk plays against some of the best defenders in the nation. The Volunteers heavily relied on Sampson last year, and it showed in a big way when he was absent in the college football playoff, leading to the team bottoming out on offense.

Rich added a pair of solid RBs in this draft with Judkins and Sampson. These youngsters will fill in nicely behind Saquon Barkley in his lineup. If both of these players find soft landing spots, it will really bolster Rich’s squad. For me, Sampson profiles as an explosive committee back. His draft capital will immediately tell us if this was a hit or a miss.

2.07 | Tre Harris | WR | Ole Miss | 6023 | 205 lbs

Doc Mitchell | @ReflipeWThenuz

As the next manager on the clock, I acquired back-to-back picks and wanted to supplement my RB and WR positions after making a well-rounded squad in the startup draft. I routinely find myself higher on Tre Harris than most analysts. He is a physical player who dominated on the perimeter during his time at Ole Miss. Last year was his first big breakout 1,000-yard season after landing in the 900 range the previous 2 years. At first, just cracking the 1,000-yard barrier might not appear that impressive until you notice that he did it in only 8 games.

Harris made some of the most ridiculous catches you will see in the college ranks. Some of his plays will be on highlight reels for a decade or more. With Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jerry Jeudy, Brandon Aiyuk, and Michael Pittman Jr. on my roster, I don’t need Harris to play right away. I believe that Harris will go at some point on Day 2 of the Draft. A team like the Raiders would be a nice fit where Harris could work on the outside with Brock Bowers while Jakobi Meyers dominates between the hashes.

2.08 | Devin Neal | RB | Kansas | 5111 | 213 lbs

Doc Mitchell | @ReflipeWThenuz

I was back up at 2.08, and I selected Kansas’ Devin Neal. He has been the focal point of the Jayhawks’ offensive scheme over the past several seasons. Defensive coordinators routinely sought to shut him down, but it didn’t matter—he still racked up impressive stats each and every season.

Neal reminds me of David Montgomery in that he is really good at everything. He just doesn’t have that overdrive gear that would allow him to take it to the house on any given play. That being said, he has a 3-down skill set and is an asset on any down. I believe this is the type of player who can get late-Day 2 draft capital and work his way into a nice share of a team’s backfield touches, not unlike an early career Devin Singletary. With Jonathan Taylor, Chuba Hubbard, Joe Mixon, and Tony Pollard already on my roster, I have the luxury of playing the long game with Neal.

2.09 | Jalen Milroe | QB | Alabama | 6017 | 217 lbs

Jared Wackerly | @JaredWackerlyFF

Jared takes us back to the QB well with Alabama’s Jalen Milroe. Talk about a tough evaluation. Milroe had some brutal outings throwing the ball in 2024. However, he also had some monster games. The thing that separates Milroe from most QBs is his legs. He is one of the most dynamic rushing QBs to come out of college in recent memory. When you watch Milroe at his workouts, he looks like a linebacker.

Jared was looking to add his third QB with this pick. During the startup, he managed to snag C.J. Stroud and Jared Goff, so he doesn’t need Milroe to start for his squad right away. Few, if any, players in this rookie draft offer the same upside as Jalen Milroe. If he manages to put it all together at the next level, he could offer something like Michael Vick or Justin Fields-type rushing upside. That is gold for fantasy purposes, making this an extremely intriguing selection.

2.10 | Mason Taylor | TE | LSU | 6051 | 251 lbs

Taylor Christianson | @MySleepers

Here at 2.10, Taylor went back to the TE position. He selected the LSU TE Mason Taylor. If that name sounds familiar, there is a good reason. Taylor is the son of Miami Dolphins legend Jason Taylor. This young man has adequate size and athleticism for the position. While his college numbers don’t jump off the page like a Tyler Warren, he still brings some tantalizing traits to the table.

Our editor’s team has a really nice group of TEs to build around moving forward. With George Kittle, Jake Ferguson, Tyler Warren, and now Mason Taylor, you could make a case for this being the best TE group top to bottom in the Nerds App League. Mason Taylor will be an interesting player to watch during the draft. The Dolphins could be a really nice spot to allow him to develop behind the veteran Jonnu Smith.

2.11 | Trevor Etienne | RB | Georgia | 5086 | 198 lbs

Tristan Cook | @tristancook

Tristan was up with the final two picks. First up is the Georgia RB Trevor Etienne. The younger brother of Jacksonville RB Travis Etienne, this player has some excellent bloodlines. Beginning his college career at Florida and continuing on to Georgia, Etienne operated as a dynamic weapon out of the backfield. He never wrestled away the lion’s share of backfield touches but was always productive with what he did get. Etienne had over 600 yards in all 3 seasons and put up over 20 catches in each of the last 2 years.

Trevor Etienne profiles as a nice receiving RB at the next level. Tristan built a really nice squad in this league. He already has a great group of RBs, including James Cook, Kenneth Walker, Travis Etienne, and Najee Harris. He will have the time to be patient with Trevor Etienne as he looks to establish himself at the NFL level.

2.12 | Jayden Higgins | WR | Iowa State | 6041 | 214 lbs

Tristan Cook | @tristancook

Finishing off the blind portion of our rookie draft, Tristan pivoted to the WR position with Iowa State’s Jayden Higgins. This is another big WR. Higgins made excellent use of his physical frame, routinely boxing out defenders and making big plays for the Cyclones. Higgins is a player who screams X receiver at the next level. It will be interesting to see just how high he manages to go in the upcoming NFL Draft. The odds appear good that he will go sometime before the end of Day 2, especially given his intriguing 4.47-40 time at the combine.

Here again, Tristan built a solid core of pass catchers for his roster. Higgins will fill in behind a stellar trio of Amon-Ra St. Brown, Malik Nabers, and Jaylen Waddle. I think Higgins offers great upside and has the potential to be a week-winning pick here at the end of the 2nd round.

Closing Thoughts

For those of you who have never heard of these types of rookie drafts, they are extremely fun. It forces managers to put their money where their mouth is when it comes to drafting rookie prospects. The 2nd round, in particular, can lead to some big misses. But if you hit, you can get excellent value. I am truly looking forward to implementing this system into a league with my fellow Nerds. I recommend you give this format a try with your next startup. Who knows, you might be able to convert your current league.