Trading away rookie picks is an inexact science. So much depends on the timing, the incoming class, the specific roster needs across potential trade partners, and the details of any specific trade. It can feel overwhelming and stressful as you worry about getting fair value in return.

It's also important to understand who you are giving up with the 1.01. In a 1QB league, you will be missing out on either Ashton Jeanty or Tetairoa McMillan. In a Superflex league, you'll be missing out on either Jeanty, McMillan, or Cam Ward/Shedeur Sanders.

With all of that in mind, let me break down five potential players to target if you are looking to trade away the 1.01 draft.

Who's worth trading my 1.01 in dynasty rookie drafts?

Nico Collins, WR - Texans

As mentioned at the top, specific roster needs and potential trade partners make up a big portion of the variables. Regardless of your league format, trading away the 1.01 means missing out on Jeanty, a widely proclaimed generational talent at the RB position.

Knowing the opportunity cost, I want to turn that 1.01 into a sure-fire, long-term asset. That means I'm targeting the WR position, and Nico Collins checks the boxes I'm looking for.

In two seasons (27 games) with C.J. Stroud, Collins is averaging:

  • 7.7 targets per game
  • 5.5 receptions
  • 85 receiving yards
  • 0.5 TDs
  • 17.5 PPG

He just turned 26 years old and is one year into a three-year, $72.7M contract extension. Collins is an alpha in every sense of the word, and his role as the clear-cut No. 1 option for Stroud means his dynasty value will remain steady for the next several seasons.

Collins might not carry the same name-brand appeal of the other elite-tier options, but that just means he'll be easier to acquire. If your dynasty squad needs a boost at the WR position, landing Collins, especially in PPR formats with multiple starting wideouts and/or flex positions, could bolster your lineup for seasons to come.

Drake Maye, QB - Patriots

Let's say you're in a Superflex dynasty league and your QB room is leaving a bit to be desired. You have one solid option at QB1, but the QB2/Superflex spot in your lineup looks … meh.

You could draft Ward or Sanders with the 1.01. You could also trade back a spot or two from the first overall pick and try to draft a QB that way.

Or you could flip the 1.01 into Drake Maye.

Maye didn't get the full-time job until Week 6, but from that point through Week 17, he averaged 17.4 points per game.

 

The points are nice, but a few underlying metrics stand out to me. First, his completion percentage (67%) is excellent, especially when you consider the overall lack of passing options he had to work with. Second, from Weeks 6-17, he averaged 37 rushing yards per game.

Strong accuracy and a solid rushing floor bode well for a young QB heading into his second season.

Speaking of Year 2, the hiring of Mike Vrabel and the signing of Stefon Diggs hint at a more competitive, organized, fantasy-friendly environment for Maye. The Patriots have the resources to make significant improvements to their roster and all of this means good things for their young, talented QB.

In Superflex formats, QBs are the name of the game. Solidifying that position might mean you have to forgo the chance at rostering a generational talent like Jeanty. Be as objective as you can and make the moves you need to elevate your squad.

Trey McBride, TE - Cardinals

Let's keep working our way through a few different positions. This one makes the most sense if you are in a TEP (tight end premium) league where TEs earn a slight boost per reception over their WB/RB counterparts.

Trey McBride has risen to the upper tier of dynasty TEs, so it will likely take a deal like the 1.01 to pry him away from your leaguemate. In his third season, he tallied 147 targets, hauled in 111 receptions, and finished with 1,146 yards, and two TDs.

Despite the Cardinals drafting Marvin Harrison, McBride still appears locked into the No. 1 receiving option role. Even if it's a two-pronged passing attack, I prefer TEs who are in tightly funneled offenses where the target distribution is consolidated around just a handful of options.

For comparison's sake, he's the 2024 breakdown of McBride & Harrison:

 

Combined, they accounted for 52% of the targets and 68% of the air yards. That's the type of consolidation I like to see, especially in my elite TEs.

If you are scraping the bottom of the TE barrel and are in a position to make a seismic swing, trading what is essentially Jeanty for McBride (in a TEP format) could be the move you need to shift your fortunes.

De'Von Achane, RB - Dolphins

Swapping Jeanty (or the equivalent) for another RB? Let's at least explore the possibility.

De'Von Achane has the most desirable raw skill set of any RB in the league outside of Christian McCaffrey. His lightning speed, combined with this dual-threat usage and fantasy-friendly offensive environment, could make him the ideal Jeanty-pivot in a 1QB league.

In his second season, Achane finished as the RB5 in PPR formats with nearly 300 fantasy points. As mentioned, his involvement on both the ground and through the air is what makes him such an enticing dynasty asset.

Here's what he did in 2024:

  • 203 rushing attempts
  • 907 rushing yards
  • 6 rushing TDs
  • 87 targets
  • 78 receptions
  • 592 receiving yards
  • 6 receiving TDs

Age, skill-set, past production, and offensive usage are more than enough reasons to consider shipping away the 1.01 for this hyper-talented RB.

It's the classic "what if" when trading away rookie picks. You are trading away limitless perceived upside for something known. You have to make the call, and assess your own risk tolerance, if moving off an asset with a wide range of outcomes is worth it for something that is more concrete. Achane could be the one to tip the scales in that direction.

J.J. McCarthy, QB - Vikings

This is the riskiest of the moves I've suggested, but it could be one of the most fruitful if you're in a Superflex format.

The Vikings are entering the J.J. McCarthy era, and the team is doing everything it can to provide him a ready-made environment that is set up for success. We know McCarthy wasn't tasked with doing too much at Michigan (which isn't a knock on him), and the way the Vikings are structured could mean something similar heading into 2025.

The Vikings have an elite head coach, phenomenal offensive weapons in Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, Aaron Jones, and a formidable offensive line.

McCarthy will play the entirety of this next season at just 22 years old. His age and overall team environment are enough for me to take a big swing on him, especially if my roster is set elsewhere (like the RB position).

I'm not necessarily saying you need to go out and trade Jeanty for McCarthy right now, but it's one where we might look back in a few years and realize that it actually made a decent amount of sense at the time.