Quarterbacks
The 2025 rookie quarterback class presents a mix of potential and uncertainty for fantasy football managers. While it may lack the top-tier talent of previous years, several prospects offer intriguing upside, particularly in Superflex and dynasty formats.
Redraft and Dynasty Leagues
Cam Ward (Miami)
Ward is widely regarded as the top rookie quarterback in the 2025 class. His combination of arm strength, mobility, and experience makes him a compelling option for fantasy managers. Ward’s ability to extend plays and contribute on the ground adds to his fantasy appeal. In Superflex dynasty leagues, he’s often considered a top-three pick in rookie drafts. While unlikely to make a significant impact in redraft leagues, he could be worth a late-round stash depending on what Tennessee does to support him throughout the rest of the draft.
Dynasty Options Only
Shedeur Sanders (Colorado)
Sanders brings a polished skill set and high football IQ to the table. Despite concerns about his NFL transition, he’s demonstrated poise and accuracy throughout his college career. His leadership qualities and pedigree—being the son of NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders—add intrigue as well. He’ll need a strong supporting cast to flourish, but he’s usually drafted well behind Ward in Superflex rookie draft formats.
Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss)
Dart is a polarizing prospect with a strong arm and aggressive style. While his decision-making remains inconsistent, his upside keeps him in the top tier of dynasty rookie quarterbacks. He’s generally ranked as the third or fourth QB in rookie drafts. If he lands in a good infrastructure and is given a year or two to develop, he can become a regular fantasy starter in two to three years.
Jalen Milroe (Alabama)
Known for his athleticism and rushing ability, Milroe draws comparisons to Lamar Jackson. He offers immense fantasy upside if he lands in a system that maximizes his dual-threat skill set. Though his passing consistency remains a concern, he’s viewed as a high-upside stash in dynasty leagues.
Other Notable Prospects
- Tyler Shough (Louisville): Seasoned with a strong arm, but ultimately held back by his injury history making him a long-term developmental pick.
- Will Howard (Ohio State): Great size and leadership; a solid project with upside.
- Kyle McCord (Syracuse): Experience in a pro-style offence gives him backup potential with room to grow.
Wide Receivers
The 2025 wide receiver class may not feature the elite top-end talent of last year’s draft, but there are plenty of noteworthy prospects who could offer value in fantasy leagues—particularly in dynasty formats and the mid-to-late rounds of redraft leagues.
Redraft and Dynasty Leagues
Travis Hunter (Colorado)
A rare two-way player, Hunter’s agility and ball skills make him a dynamic offensive weapon. Comparisons to Odell Beckham Jr. when he was making the leap to the NFL suggest massive upside, but his fantasy value depends on his full-time role on offence. He could be the second pick in dynasty rookie drafts—or a bust if he splits time between offence and defence. More clarity is expected by training camp, which unfortunately doesn’t help many dynasty drafters.
Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona)
At 6’5″, 212 lbs, McMillan offers elite size and route-running skills. With back-to-back seasons over 1,300 yards and 8 TDs, he projects as a WR1 in the NFL. Though not a burner, his red-zone presence and catch radius make him a reliable fantasy asset with WR2 upside.
Dynasty Options Only
Matthew Golden (Texas)
Golden ran a 4.29 40-yard dash and has elite efficiency metrics. He may not always look that fast on the field, but his knack for big plays in clutch moments makes him a boom-or-bust dynasty asset with breakout potential depending on landing spot.
Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State)
A polished route runner with strong hands, Egbuka posted 70 receptions for 896 yards and 10 TDs in 2024. He’s viewed as one of the safest PPR assets in the class and could see immediate volume as a slot specialist in the right offence.
Luther Burden III (Missouri)
Burden’s speed (4.41 – 40) and route precision give him first-round talent, but concerns about attitude and work ethic may have dropped him into day two. If drafted by a team that can channel his potential, he could be one of the steals of the class.
Jayden Higgins (Iowa State)
At 6’4″, 215 lbs, Higgins offers a strong physical profile with red-zone upside. He’s expected to go early on day two and could carve out a fantasy-relevant role as an outside receiver, especially in touchdown-heavy formats.
Tre Harris (Ole Miss)
Harris’ physical profile mirrors Higgins but Harris offers a safer PPR floor due to better route-running and short-area quickness. He projects as a possession receiver who moves the chains and sees consistent targets early on.
Jaylin Noel (Iowa State)
Noel brings elite speed and return ability, making him a vertical slot weapon with home-run potential. His fantasy value rises in leagues that reward kick return points and big plays.
Jack Bech (TCU)
Bech shined at the Senior Bowl, earning MVP honors. One of the best route runners in this class, he plays physical and smart. While he lacks elite speed, he has a high football IQ and could surprise as an early contributor in the right system.
Other Notable Prospects
- Elic Ayomanor (Stanford): Big-bodied (6’3″, 210 lbs) red-zone weapon, inconsistent college production. Deep dynasty stash.
- Jalen Royals (Utah State): Deep threat with big-play burst; best suited for best ball formats if used as a vertical option in spread offenses.
- Kyle Williams (Washington State): PPR depth piece with smooth routes and safe hands. Reliable WR3/flex in deeper dynasty leagues.
- Savion Williams (TCU): Big-play potential with raw route-running; boom-or-bust dynasty stash. Think Cordarrelle Patterson.
- Isaiah Bond (Texas): Track speed with limited polish. Intriguing dart throw with WR2 upside in a creative offense.
- Tory Horton (Colorado State): NFL-ready, polished route runner with contested catch skills. Dynasty mid-round gem.
- Xavier Restrepo (Miami): Slot machine with great short-area quickness. PPR-friendly with a low ceiling.
- Tai Felton (Maryland): Field stretcher with splash-play appeal. Late-round redraft or best ball flyer.
- Tez Johnson (Oregon): Undersized but explosive. Gadget appeal with strong PPR upside if used creatively.
Running Backs
The 2025 rookie running back class boasts a combination of runners with speed, power, and versatility. While there are some standout prospects who could make an immediate impact, there’s also depth throughout the class, providing fantasy managers with multiple options in various league formats. Since fit matters most to running backs, we include a quick description of what situation would maximize each player’s fantasy value.
Redraft and Dynasty Leagues
Ashton Jeanty (Boise State)
Jeanty is widely regarded as the top running back in this class, combining elite vision, burst, and receiving ability. His three-down potential makes him a prime candidate for fantasy managers looking for a high-upside player in dynasty and redraft leagues. He finished the 2024 season with the most rushing yards and strong yards after contact, and had surpassed 1,000 rushing yards before even reaching 100 carries.
Best Fit: Teams looking for a versatile back capable of contributing both as a rusher and in the passing game (so anywhere).
Omarion Hampton (North Carolina)
At 6’0″ and 221 lbs, Hampton is a physical back with the ability to handle a full workload. His vision and balance allow him to churn out consistent gains, and his ability to contribute in the passing game adds to his fantasy potential.
Best Fit: Power-run teams that need a three-down back capable of handling heavy carries.
Quinshon Judkins (Ohio State)
Judkins has ideal size and power for the NFL. His blend of speed and vision allows him to gain yards both inside and outside the tackles.
Best Fit: Teams looking for a workhorse back capable of being a focal point in the run game.
TreVeyon Henderson (Ohio State)
Henderson is known for his explosive speed and ability to hit home runs on any given play. His elite level pass blocking will guarantee he will see the field in his rookie season and his high upside makes him an enticing pick in any type of PPR format.
Best Fit: Teams looking for a dynamic, big-play back to work in a rotation.
Dynasty Options Only
Cam Skattebo (Arizona State)
Skattebo’s quickness and agility allow him to break big plays despite lacking high end top speed. Skattebo’s appeal comes from his dual-threat capability as both a runner and receiver giving him more value in PPR formats.
Best Fit: Teams looking for an aggressive runner with pass catching attributes.
Damien Martinez (Miami)
Martinez’s size and power make him a solid prospect. While he lacks top-end speed, his ability to break tackles and control the clock gives him appeal as a bruising back.
Best Fit: Teams with a power-run scheme looking for a dependable back.
D.J. Giddens (Kansas State)
Known for his speed and ability to elude tacklers, Giddens has great upside in the right system.
Best Fit: Teams that utilize a spread offense or pass-heavy attack.
Devin Neal (Kansas)
Neal is an elusive back with good vision and pass-catching ability.
Best Fit: Teams looking for a versatile, quick back to complement a larger rusher.
Deep Dynasty Sleepers
Ollie Gordon II (Oklahoma State)
A physical back with excellent vision and good receiving skills.
Best Fit: Teams needing a versatile back to use in short-yardage and passing situations.
Trevor Etienne (Florida)
Etienne has burst and quickness, which allow him to make big plays.
Best Fit: Teams looking for a quick, explosive back to use in specific packages or rotations.
Jaydon Blue (Texas)
Blue’s natural running style and burst make him an intriguing developmental back.
Best Fit: Teams that can develop him as a change-of-pace or third-down back.
Brashard Smith (SMU)
An electric back with impressive vision and acceleration.
Best Fit: Teams that use a quick, fast-paced offense or rely on backs who can contribute as receiving threats.
Jordan James (Oregon)
A well-rounded back who has demonstrated both power and speed.
Best Fit: Teams looking for a balanced back to contribute in multiple ways.
Tight Ends
The 2025 rookie tight end class is considered one of the most promising in recent years, featuring a blend of elite prospects and intriguing developmental talents. While the position has traditionally been a slow burn for fantasy production, several of these rookies have the potential to make an immediate impact, especially in dynasty and keeper formats.
Redraft and Dynasty Options
Tyler Warren (Penn State)
Warren is widely regarded as the top tight end prospect in this class, with a versatile skill set that includes strong blocking and reliable hands. His ability to contribute in both the passing and running games makes him a potential early-round pick in dynasty drafts.
Colston Loveland (Michigan)
Loveland offers excellent route-running and ball skills, making him a dangerous red-zone threat. His polished receiving abilities could allow him to contribute early in his NFL career, particularly in PPR formats.
Dynasty Options
Elijah Arroyo (Miami)
Arroyo combines size and athleticism with the potential to develop into a three-down tight end. While still refining his blocking and route-running, his upside makes him a compelling dynasty target.
Mason Taylor (LSU)
Taylor is known for his steady hands and football IQ. His high floor and potential for growth make him a solid mid-round dynasty pick.
Terrance Ferguson (Oregon)
Ferguson offers a balanced skill set with experience and positional versatility. While lacking elite traits, his reliability and potential to develop into a TE1 make him a valuable dynasty asset.
Harold Fannin Jr. (Bowling Green)
Fannin Jr. has shown impressive production but may lack the athleticism to be a top-tier NFL tight end. His college performance suggests he could be a depth piece in deeper dynasty leagues.
Mitchell Evans (Notre Dame)
Evans brings size and experience but may need to improve his athleticism and route-running to succeed at the next level. He could be a developmental project for teams in need of depth.
Gunnar Helm (Texas)
Helm’s underwhelming combine results have raised questions about his upside. However, his college tape shows potential as a reliable blocker and occasional receiving threat.
-Devon Gallant
Twitter: @DevGallant
Photo: JL 2.8. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.