Dalton Del Don reveals his fantasy football expectations for members of the 2025 NFL Draft class.<\/p>\n
Day 2 and 3 running backs<\/p>\n
Quinshon Judkins\u2019 ugly tackle-breaking numbers<\/a> need to be contextualized<\/a>, but he enters with some real questions<\/a> regarding his prospect profile<\/a>, including production against non-Power Four defenses<\/a> (IE he racked up stats against weaker competition<\/a>). Judkins has second-round capital and only Jerome Ford to beat on Cleveland\u2019s depth chart, but the Browns also added Dylan Sampson in the fourth round<\/a>. Judkins is the RB39<\/a> in early ECR, as he\u2019s the favorite for carries in a committee on a bad offense.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n TreVeyon Henderson went after his Ohio State teammate Judkins in the draft, but that might\u2019ve been a mistake. New England\u2019s offense is going to be greatly improved, but this isn\u2019t an ideal situation for fantasy purposes. Henderson (RB31<\/a>) and Rhamondre Stevenson (RB29<\/a>) will likely split work<\/a>, with Antonio Gibson remaining in the mix as well.<\/p>\n [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season<\/a>]<\/p>\n RJ Harvey looks like one of the drafts biggest winners with a path to Denver\u2019s starting running back job. Sean Payton clearly loves him<\/a>, grabbing Harvey in the second round. Harvey was highly productive throughout college<\/a>, where he flashed elite burst<\/a> while recording the most 15+ yard runs<\/a> over the last two seasons. Harvey owns the highest career EPA\/rush<\/a> among this year\u2019s draft class, and he\u2019s also a strong receiving back<\/a> who\u2019s joining a Denver offense with a top-three O-line that also led the NFL in check down rate last season. Harvey will need to prove he can hold up in pass protection, but there\u2019s an opportunity here for a three-down role<\/a> in a Payton offense. Harvey could be this year\u2019s Bucky Irving. Harvey is the RB60<\/a> in early ECR, but he\u2019s a top-25 RB on my board.<\/p>\n Kaleb Johnson was drafted by Pittsburgh in the third round, which obviously hurts Jaylen Warren\u2019s outlook. Expect Johnson to fill Najee Harris\u2019 old role, including at the goal line. Johnson lacks speed, but he appears to be a great fit<\/a> for Arthur Smith\u2019s zone-scheme. Still, he\u2019ll lose work to Warren, and scoring opportunities will be limited with Mason Rudolph currently the team\u2019s QB1.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Cam Skattebo had a highly productive college career<\/a>, when he became one of only two players in CFB history<\/a> with 1,600 rushing yards and 600 receiving yards in the same season (Christian McCaffrey is the other). Only Ashton Jeanty averaged more fantasy points<\/a> among this year\u2019s RB draft class. Tyrone Tracy Jr. impressed as a rookie and Skattebo was taken in the fourth round, so expect a timeshare in New York\u2019s backfield.<\/p>\n Jarquez Hunter is a fantasy sleeper landing with the Rams. Sean McVay loves Kyren Williams, but Blake Corum should be easy to leap. Hunter brings explosion that\u2019s missing from Los Angeles\u2019 backfield<\/a>, and he\u2019ll be an RB to target later in fantasy drafts<\/a>.<\/p>\n Jordan James looks like a Jordan Mason clone<\/a>, and he\u2019ll battle Isaac Guerendo for San Francisco\u2019s RB2 role. He\u2019s a rookie to remember<\/a> given his situation and injury history of CMC and Guerendo.<\/p>\n Jaydon Blue only needs to beat out<\/a> Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders and has upside<\/a>. But he\u2019s also 195 pounds with only 214 career rush attempts who\u2019s a fifth-round pick with a serious fumbling problem<\/a>. Dallas still needs a true RB1 (and a WR2).<\/p>\n Jeanty looks like a special prospect<\/a>, finishing with the second-most rushing yards (2,601) in FBS history last season. He\u2019s a tackle-breaking machine<\/a> who had more yards rushing after contact than any other player had rushing yards. Jeanty is short, but he\u2019s not small<\/a>, and he\u2019s proven he can handle heavy workloads<\/a>.<\/p>\n There are some negatives; Pro Football Focus graded Jeanty 112th out of 148 qualifying running backs in pass protection last season, and his huge numbers came against weak competition<\/a>. But Jeanty is a former wideout with receiving upside<\/a> not revealed by his college stats (Boise State went after the rushing record force-feeding carries). Jeanty\u2019s receiving yards per team pass attempt (1.88) was in the 92nd percentile<\/a>. Give him opportunities, and Jeanty can be a legit receiving threat.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n The Raiders had a historically inept rushing attack (-0.30 EPA\/rush) last season, but the addition of OC Chip Kelly will help Las Vegas\u2019 scheme. The Raiders also upgraded at quarterback with Geno Smith. Brock Bowers is already a superstar, so Las Vegas\u2019 offense will dramatically improve. The team views Jeanty as a \u201cperfect player\u201d for their offense<\/a>. The last five running backs who were taken in the top 10 of the draft averaged 291.4 touches as rookies.<\/p>\n Jeanty is my RB4 given the question marks surrounding Christian McCaffrey (coming off multiple injuries including bilateral Achilles tendinitis, entering his ninth year in the league), Derrick Henry (31 years old, 2,335 career carries, 1.29 targets per game last season) and other backs in his range. One could even argue Jeanty is a \u201csafer\u201d pick than Saquon Barkley coming off a 482(!) touch season that was the 10th most in NFL history. Jeanty is the real deal and well worth grabbing in the first round of fantasy drafts.<\/p>\n Omarion Hampton will require patience<\/p>\n Hampton found a strong landing spot with the Chargers for his dynasty value, but his 2025 outlook would\u2019ve looked far better had Denver drafted him two picks earlier. Hampton finished behind only Jeanty in rush yards after contact<\/a> last season, and he has the tools to be a three-down back<\/a> in the NFL. He\u2019s a solid prospect<\/a> with first-round draft capital, but Najee Harris has averaged 319.3 touches while missing zero games over his four years in the NFL. The Chargers signed Harris to a one-year, $5.25 million contract during the offseason, so he\u2019ll be a big part of Los Angeles\u2019 backfield in 2025.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n The Chargers may very well turn to Hampton down the stretch when he can undoubtedly be a difference maker, but fantasy managers will require patience. My very early ranks have Harris (RB21) and Hampton (RB22) back-to-back.<\/p>\n Travis Hunter lands in Jacksonville<\/p>\n Hunter enters the league a unicorn planning to play two positions, and his upside at wide receiver is massive if given the opportunity. Hunter recorded one of the best Reception Perception profiles<\/a> ever, and he did so while attending zero offensive meetings.<\/p>\n Brian Thomas Jr. is the clear alpha in Jacksonville*, but targets are wide open afterward, and Hunter will surely be utilized; GM James Gladstone said Hunter will start with a \u201cheavy dose on offense,\u201d and coach Liam Cohen said Hunter is an offensive player first<\/a>. The math says Malik Nabers would\u2019ve still been a top-20 fantasy WR last season even if his route share dropped to 75%<\/a>, and Hunter looks like another special talent with a better quarterback.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n * Hunter joining Jacksonville isn\u2019t ideal news for BTJ (you could use it in a tiebreaker versus Nabers), but Thomas remains my WR7.<\/p>\n Hunter is a top 35 fantasy wideout right away with upside for much more.<\/p>\n Bryce Young is coming<\/p>\n The Panthers allowed the most points in NFL history last season, yet they selected Tetairoa McMillan with the No. 8 pick in the draft. McMillan has his detractors<\/a> \u2014 and it remains to be seen if his game will translate to the pros like Drake London and\/or Mike Evans (like he\u2019s most often compared). But McMillan landed in a favorable spot to earn targets right away, with Xavier Legette, Jalen Coker and 35-year-old Adam Thielen his competition. McMillan\u2019s college production was impressive<\/a>, and he says Bryce Young went into GM Dan Morgan\u2019s and HC Dave Canales\u2019 offices and told them both that Carolina needed to pick Tet<\/a>. McMillan can be Carolina\u2019s WR1 as a rookie, so he\u2019s a top 40 fantasy wideout.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Young averaged 26.8 fantasy points<\/a> over the final three games last season, and he ranked #1 in Big Time Throw Rate<\/a> after taking over again in Week 8. McMillan may not help Carolina\u2019s lack of separation problem<\/a>, but he\u2019s another weapon<\/a> for Young to build on last season\u2019s second half breakout.<\/p>\n Young is just the QB24<\/a> in early \u201cexpert consensus ranks,\u201d so he\u2019s someone to target (and another example of how ridiculously deep quarterback is).<\/p>\n The Packers break their streak<\/p>\n It surprised many when the Packers selected a wide receiver in the first round for the first time since 2002. Aside from trolling Aaron Rodgers, the Packers grabbed an early WR knowing Christian Watson could be out for 2025 and after Josh Jacobs requested the team acquire a true WR1<\/a>.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Matthew Golden is extremely fast, recording a 4.29<\/a> 40. He now has first-round draft capital and plays for a terrific offensive coach and in a Green Bay system that utilizes four wide receivers<\/a> more than any other team. That last part will help him see the field, but the spreading-it-around aspect has been a killer to fantasy values.<\/p>\n Golden is a polarizing prospect<\/a> who did most of his damage over the final four games<\/a> last season, when Isaiah Bond was hurt<\/a>. Golden\u2019s career YPRR (1.85) was in the seventh percentile<\/a>, and he ranks dead last in career TPRR (18.8%)<\/a> among this year\u2019s top WR draft prospects. Golden also had a drop problem<\/a>. That said, the Packers clearly like him, and Golden can be a dangerous complement<\/a>.<\/p>\n But Green Bay is likely still missing a true WR1, and the Packers remain loaded with secondary pass-catching options<\/a> to make this a crowded situation even with Watson sidelined. Green Bay also ranked second to last in pass rate last season. Golden will have spike weeks<\/a>, but his fantasy expectations should be held in check for 2025.<\/p>\n Shedeur Sanders\u2019 fall not a huge surprise<\/p>\n More than 27%<\/a> of Shedeur Sanders\u2019 passes came behind the line of scrimmage while taking the most sacks in college football each of his two years in Colorado. He also reportedly didn\u2019t interview well at all<\/a>. The extent of which Sanders dropped was surprising, but him falling<\/a> wasn\u2019t exactly shocking<\/a>. That said, Sanders ultimately landed in a spot where he could easily emerge as the best QB on the depth chart.<\/p>\n Other Draft Day Winners and Losers<\/p>\n Winners: Chase Brown, D\u2019Andre Swift, Brian Robinson\/Austin Ekeler, C.J. Stroud, Trevor Lawrence, Drake Maye, Caleb Williams, Justin Fields, CeeDee Lamb, Cedric Tillman<\/p>\n Losers: Russell Wilson, Najee Harris, Tyrone Tracy Jr., Rhamondre Stevenson, Jaylen Warren, Jerome Ford, Jalen McMillan, Packers WRs, Rome Odunze, Christian Kirk, Cole Kmet, David Njoku<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Dalton Del Don reveals his fantasy football expectations for members of the 2025 NFL Draft class. Day 2…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5253,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[4128,1303,4127,4084,4133,797,1476,1036,746,1121,241,4132,304,4124,1501,3744,597,4131,292,4130,833,4121,7,1507,4080,1950,1274,1736,4123,3974,4129,493,274,4076,4126,560,700,4119,4125,6,288,586,4120,2495,894,128,314,1505,4122],"class_list":{"0":"post-5252","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nfl","8":"tag-adam-thielen","9":"tag-ashton-jeanty","10":"tag-bijan-robinson","11":"tag-blake-corum","12":"tag-brian-thomas-jr","13":"tag-brock-bowers","14":"tag-bryce-young","15":"tag-caleb-williams","16":"tag-cam-skattebo","17":"tag-ceedee-lamb","18":"tag-chargers","19":"tag-chase-brown","20":"tag-christian-kirk","21":"tag-christian-mccaffrey","22":"tag-christian-watson","23":"tag-cole-kmet","24":"tag-david-montgomery","25":"tag-david-njoku","26":"tag-derrick-henry","27":"tag-drake-london","28":"tag-drake-maye","29":"tag-expect-johnson","30":"tag-football","31":"tag-geno-smith","32":"tag-jalen-mcmillan","33":"tag-jarquez-hunter","34":"tag-javonte-williams","35":"tag-jaylen-warren","36":"tag-jerome-ford","37":"tag-jordan-mason","38":"tag-josh-jacobs","39":"tag-justin-fields","40":"tag-kaleb-johnson","41":"tag-kyren-williams","42":"tag-malik-nabers","43":"tag-mason-rudolph","44":"tag-mike-evans","45":"tag-miles-sanders","46":"tag-najee-harris","47":"tag-nfl","48":"tag-omarion-hampton","49":"tag-quinshon-judkins","50":"tag-rhamondre-stevenson","51":"tag-rome-odunze","52":"tag-saquon-barkley","53":"tag-travis-hunter","54":"tag-trevor-lawrence","55":"tag-xavier-legette","56":"tag-yahoo-fantasy-football-league"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5252","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5252"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5252\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5253"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5252"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5252"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5252"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}