The 1.01 rookie pick is pure gold; especially in 2025 superflex, PPR leagues. This year that pick likely means Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty is the consensus top rookie prospect. For rebuilding teams, deciding whether to draft Jeanty or trade the 1.01 for multiple assets is a franchise-defining choice.
I’ll break down five trade examples involving the 1.01 pick. For each, we’ll analyze if the deal makes sense for a rebuilding team weighing long-term value, risk, positional importance, and upside. But first, here’s a quick snapshot of the trades we’ll be discussing:
Note: In Trade 5, the rebuilding team’s perspective is that of the manager who received Waddle + 1.01 by giving up Lamb.
Trade 1: The Mega-Haul
1.01 for Garrett Wilson
DJ Moore & 1.04 pick
The 1.01 for the 1.04, Garrett Wilson, and DJ Moore. In other words, the team gave up the chance to draft Jeanty (1.01) and instead got a mid-1st rookie pick plus two established receivers. For a rebuilding team, this mega-haul is about as good as it gets.
Long-term value check: Garrett Wilson, 24, is a budding star WR (over 1,100 yards as a rookie) and just 24 years old, exactly the kind of young cornerstone you want in a rebuild. DJ Moore, 27, is a proven 1,000-yard receiver in his prime.
Wide receivers typically have longer fantasy lifespans than running backs, so adding two quality WRs mitigates the risk of Jeanty (an RB) flaming out early. Plus, the extra 1.04 pick could net another top rookie. In the 2024 class, the 1.04 might be a blue-chip like QB Cam Ward or WR Tet McMillan in superflex, giving the rebuilding team two top prospects instead of one.
Positional importance: In superflex, quarterbacks are king, but here the return was elite WR talent. For a rebuilder who maybe already has young QBs or can find one at 1.04, loading up on WRs is smart.
Wilson profiles as a long-term WR1; Moore is a steady WR2 who can also be flipped later if needed. Neither has the short shelf life of a running back. And remember, young elite WRs tend to hold value better than all but the very top tight ends.
Upside vs. risk: Jeanty is hyped as a “generational talent” at RB, so trading away that shot is tough. But the haul here spreads the risk across three assets.
Even if Jeanty becomes a superstar, the rebuilding team could still come out ahead if Wilson ascends to elite status (think Ja’Marr Chase-lite) and the 1.04 pick hits. In contrast, if Jeanty busts or suffers injury, the manager who held 1.01 gets nothing, while the rebuild squad still has two productive receivers and another rookie.
Rebuild verdict: Slam dunk. This trade is absolutely advisable for a rebuilding team. It accelerates the rebuild by turning one pick into multiple core pieces.
Getting Wilson, Moore, and a high pick for 1.01 is an excellent haul. The long-term value tilts heavily toward the package. A rebuilder should gladly take this depth and youthful talent.
Trade 2: The Star Swap
1.01 for A.J. Brown +
a Second-Rounder
My next trade saw the 1.01 dealt in exchange for veteran star WR A.J. Brown and a 2.10 rookie pick. Here the package is smaller, one elite player plus a late 2nd, so it raises a key question for rebuilders: is one established star worth giving up a potential new one?
Long-term value check: A.J. Brown (age 27) is in his prime and one of the league’s top wideouts. If you’re rebuilding, acquiring Brown means you get an immediate centerpiece for your roster, he’s a locked-in WR1 for the next few years.
But by the time the rest of your rebuild comes to fruition (say 2-3 years), Brown will be pushing 29-30. Will he still be elite then? Possibly, as many WRs do dominate through age 29 (think Mike Evans, Davante Adams in recent years). The 2.10 pick is a modest sweetener, likely a flyer on a younger prospect or depth piece.
Positional and format considerations: In a vacuum, trading an unproven rookie pick for an elite veteran WR is a “win-now” move. However, for a rebuilding squad, you have to consider timeline.
Brown’s value might gradually decline as he hits late 20s, whereas a 21-year-old Jeanty could be hitting his peak right when your team is ready to compete. On the other hand, running backs have shorter peaks; Jeanty might only give 4-5 years of top production anyway, which overlaps with Brown’s window.
Risk and upside: The risk for the rebuilding team is that by the time they’re competitive, Brown isn’t a top-5 WR anymore or has suffered decline/injuries. The upside is that Brown remains elite and provides a high weekly floor as the young team grows.
Also, that extra 2.10 pick could hit on an upside prospect (think a raw WR like Kyle Williams or a TE in a TE-premium format like Harold Fannin). It’s not a huge chip, but any lotto ticket helps.
Rebuild verdict: Conditional yes. This deal is debatable for a rebuilding team and really depends on how far away your team is. If your rebuild is more of a “retool” and you expect to contend in a year, adding A.J. Brown is fantastic, you get a top-tier receiver to anchor your lineup, and you still have an extra pick to add youth.
A package of a proven stud plus even a small pick can justify moving the 1.01. But if your team is a total dumpster fire that won’t compete for 2+ years, you might prefer to hold the 1.01 or seek a package with multiple younger pieces. Brown alone doesn’t increase in value; picks and younger players do.
Overall, the trade is solid value (you’re not getting fleeced) but a pure rebuilding team might try to flip Brown again for younger assets or picks down the line. Think of this as acquiring currency: Brown can always be traded later, ideally when he’s putting up big numbers and a contender is willing to overpay. In summary: a fair deal, but make sure it fits your rebuild timeline.
Trade 3: The Trade-Down Trap
1.01 for 1.05 and
RB Chase Brown
Not all offers for the 1.01 are created equal. In this example, the 1.01 was sold for the 1.05 pick and running back Chase Brown. On paper, this is trading down from Jeanty to a mid-first and tossing in a fringe player. For a rebuilding team, this kind of deal can be a trap.
Long-term value check: The difference between 1.01 and 1.05 in a strong class is enormous. At 1.01, you’re looking at Jeanty; at 1.05, you’re likely picking from a second tier of rookies.
You might get a good player (maybe the WR2 of this class or the RB3/QB1), but you’re passing on a potential superstar. The other asset here, Chase Brown, is a young RB who was a fifth-round NFL pick and RB10 in 2024.
Positional importance: Trading away the chance at an elite RB (Jeanty) for likely a top Ward/McMillan at 1.05 instead might mean you miss out on a cornerstone position. If the 1.05 ends up being a quarterback or tight end, maybe you address a different need but in superflex, Cam Ward will most likely go by pick 1.03 or 1.04. So at 1.05 you could be settling.
As for Chase Brown, running backs of his caliber are lottery tickets; a rebuilding team shouldn’t count on him with his starting-status being unknown before the 2025 draft. This trade basically gives you one good rookie instead of an elite one, which is usually a poor exchange.
Risk and upside: The team that did this likely wanted quantity over quality, or had multiple holes to fill. But the upside of this trade for the rebuild is low.
Chase Brown would need assurances to start to make this worthwhile. Meanwhile, the risk is huge, you potentially handed your league’s next superstar to someone else and only got a middling prospect in return. It’s the classic mistake of underselling the 1.01.
Rebuild verdict: Not advisable. For a rebuilding team, this trade is underwhelming and likely a mistake. When you have a golden ticket like the 1.01, you should demand a haul.
Simply moving back a few spots for a throw-in player does not maximize your asset, it probably minimizes it. Unless you, for some reason, are convinced the player at 1.05 will be as good as Jeanty (and you don’t care for Jeanty at all), you should hold out for more.
For a rebuild, patience is key. Don’t trade the 1.01 early in the offseason for a subpar package. The closer you get to the draft, the more hype and value that pick will fetch. My advice: if all you’re offered is a deal like this, you’re better off keeping the 1.01 and taking the top prospect.
Trade 4: The Quarterback Play
1.01 for Patrick Mahomes
In superflex formats, quarterbacks reign supreme. It’s no surprise, then, that we’ve seen the 1.01 used as a trade chip to acquire a star QB. Trading the 1.01 straight up for Patrick Mahomes, a former MVP and fantasy star (in a 6-point passing TD, full PPR SF league), is interesting. This kind of 1-for-1 swap, former-elite QB for elite RB prospect, is a fascinating case for rebuilders.
Long-term value check: Patrick Mahomes is 29 years old and under contract long-term. When healthy and clicking, he’s a top-5 fantasy QB with a decent rushing ability. Acquiring Mahomes instantly solves your QB1 slot for the next few years.
But Jeanty, as an incoming rookie RB, could be a top-tier producer for maybe 5+ years if he lives up to the hype. The key difference: certainty versus potential. With Mahomes, you largely know what you’re getting (though he's had mid-tier QB1 finishes recently). With the 1.01, you have the upside of a younger star but zero guarantees.
For a rebuilding team, having a stud QB can actually accelerate the rebuild, quarterbacks have long careers, and you can build around Mahomes as a centerpiece. On the flip side, by the time your overall roster is competitive, Mahomes will be 31 or 32. That’s not old for a QB (see Russell Wilson’s peak years, etc.).
Positional importance: In superflex, you generally build around quarterbacks. It’s often said an elite QB is worth multiple first-round picks. Swapping a single pick (even 1.01) for a proven franchise QB is usually a win value-wise.
However, consider team context: if the rebuilding team trading for Mahomes had zero viable QBs, this could be sensible, they lock in a top QB and can focus future picks on other positions. If they already had a young QB or two, maybe QB wasn’t the most pressing need and they could have drafted a position player at 1.01 instead. It comes down to roster construction.
Risk and upside: By trading away Jeanty, you risk missing out on a potentially special RB on a rookie contract (think prime Saquon or Bijan level impact). If Jeanty becomes the next Saquon Barkley, then the team that gave him up might regret it unless Mahomes is leading them to titles.
On the upside, Mahomes could be the final engine a rebuilding squad needs to start competing. Unlike many RBs, an elite QB can be a 10-year asset. Even a rebuilding team can justify acquiring a QB because by the time the rest of your roster matures, the QB can still be elite.
Rebuild verdict: High risk, high reward. Trading 1.01 for a veteran QB is a bold move for a rebuilding team. It’s advisable only if your team’s rebuild timeline is short and you have a plan to contend while Mahomes is still an elite option. If your team is devoid of quarterback talent, this gives you a cornerstone to build around, and you avoid the uncertainty of the draft.
In many cases, we’ve seen managers hold out for even more in return, but getting a player of Mahomes' caliber straight up isn’t a rip-off by any means. Just remember, as a rebuilder, you don’t want to lean too old. Mahomes is almost 30 now, and for an RB like Jeanty you’d be swapping 7-8 years age difference.
If you make this trade, consider it a signal that your rebuild is nearing its end, you acquired a centerpiece to start competing. If that’s not true (i.e. your roster still has many holes), then trading for a veteran QB could backfire by the time you’re ready to win. In summary: a defensible move if you needed a QB and had depth to spare at RB/picks, but be very mindful of your team’s trajectory.
Trade 5: The Rebuilder’s Bounty
CeeDee Lamb Dealt for
1.01 + Jaylen Waddle
My last example flips the script: a star player was traded away for the 1.01 pick. CeeDee Lamb (an elite WR) was traded for Jaylen Waddle plus the 1.01. Essentially, Lamb (who is already a top-5 dynasty wide receiver at age 25) was cashed in for another good WR (Waddle, 26) and Jeanty. This is a textbook rebuilding move: turn one blue-chip asset into two.
Long-term value check: Let’s break down the assets. Lamb is phenomenal, a 25-year-old target hog tethered to a good offense, basically a dynasty manager’s dream. Waddle, though, isn’t far behind: he’s a 100-catch, 1,300-yard receiver at his best, and also young. By acquiring Waddle and the 1.01, the rebuilding team essentially gets two potentially elite assets for the price of one.
Even if Jeanty only becomes as good as, say, a mid-tier RB1, that combined value with Waddle far exceeds just Lamb alone. Rebuilders often aren’t in a rush, so doubling up on good-to-elite youth is how you increase your odds of hitting on a superstar.
Positional/format considerations: Both Lamb and Waddle are wide receivers (high longevity positions), so the rebuild isn’t dumping an aging vet, they’re exchanging one young WR for another plus an RB prospect. The team trading for Lamb likely is a contender wanting to consolidate into a single superstar; the rebuilding team is wise to go the other way and diversify talent.
Risk and upside: The risk for the rebuilding side (receiving Waddle and 1.01) is fairly low. Lamb would have been great to keep as a rebuild piece too, but by trading him away they risk Lamb ascending to the WR1 overall on someone else’s roster. However, Waddle carries a similar upside (he’s shown game-breaking ability) and the 1.01 should turn into an Ashton Jeanty.
If Jeanty lives up to the hype, the rebuilder will have a top RB and a top WR. There’s also flexibility: if they later find they have an excess at one position, they can trade either Waddle or the player they pick at 1.01 for other needs. Essentially, the upside is hitting on a two-for-one jackpot, while the downside (barring injury) is minimal because Waddle is already proven himself.
Rebuild verdict: Absolutely advisable. This is the kind of move rebuilders dream about. By selling one asset (even as great as Lamb) for multiple pieces, you increase your chances of building a championship core. In an ideal rebuild, you roll over a current star for a package of youth/picks before that star’s value plateaus.
Lamb is still young, but the value coming back was too good to pass up. For the rebuilding team, pat yourself on the back. You turned one elite asset into two cornerstone assets.
This trade type also highlights a strategic point: no one is untradeable during a rebuild if the return multiplies your assets. Even a 25-year-old star like Lamb can be swapped if you’re getting a WR (Waddle) plus a premium pick. Now this rebuild has an extra first-round dart throw (a pretty high-probability one at that) to go along with a still-awesome receiver.
Dynasty Fantasy Football
Trade Takeaways
Rebuilding in dynasty is a delicate balance of patience and opportunism. The 1.01 pick is your golden ticket, and as we saw, it can fetch huge returns in the trade market.
Don’t undersell the 1.01. Deals like just a mid-first and a mid RB (Trade 3) are not enough. Aim higher.
Target packages of young players and picks. Quantity with quality (like Garrett Wilson + others in Trade 1, or Waddle + pick in Trade 5) can jump-start a rebuild by filling multiple holes at once.
Consider your timeline. Acquiring a 27-year-old star (Trade 2’s A.J. Brown) or a veteran QB (Trade 4’s Mahomes) can make sense if you’re close to contending. If not, you might prefer even younger assets or to hold the pick.
Positional value matters. In superflex, landing a top QB for 1.01 can be justified, but don’t ignore the longevity of elite WRs and the short shelf-life of RBs in PPR. Often a young WR or QB is a safer cornerstone than a rookie RB, no matter how hyped.
Each trade’s context is unique. Always evaluate offers through the lens of your team’s needs and window. A great trade for one rebuilding roster might not be right for another, i.e. you desperately need a QB or you already have WR depth.
The 1.01 rookie pick is a rebuild asset that can reshape your future, whether you draft the next superstar or flip the pick for a king’s ransom. As these example trades show, sometimes trading away that top pick for the right mix of players can accelerate your path to glory.
But if the offers don’t wow you, there’s nothing wrong with staying put and selecting that “sure-fire locked-in 1.01 choice” who might become the cornerstone your rebuild is built upon.
Either way, make sure the move (or non-move) sets your franchise up for long-term success. After all, in dynasty, winning the trade is great, but winning championships is the ultimate goal.