Honestly, the 2025 rookie class feels a bit like a fever dream. If you’ve spent any time looking at dynasty rankings or scrolling through fantasy Twitter lately, you’ve probably seen the hype train for Ashton Jeanty moving at a speed that would make a Bugatti look like a tricycle. But here’s the thing: everyone is so focused on the big names that they’re ignoring the "boring" picks that actually won people leagues this past season.
If you’re drafting today, or just trying to wrap your head around why your buddy’s team suddenly looks like a juggernaut, you have to look at how these kids actually performed once they hit the turf.
The RB Renaissance is Real (And Jeanty is the King)
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Ashton Jeanty. When the Las Vegas Raiders took him sixth overall, people lost their minds. And for good reason. He came into the league with the "Beast Mode 2.0" label, and for the most part, he lived up to it.
Jeanty finished the 2025 season as the RB11 in PPR formats. That’s insane for a rookie. He’s the kind of guy who slithers through gaps you didn't know existed. But did you notice what happened in the second half of the year? A fourth-round pick named Cam Skattebo, who went to the Giants, actually outscored him some weeks. Skattebo ended up as the RB10.
Think about that. You probably paid a mid-first-round rookie pick for Jeanty, while someone else got Skattebo for a bag of chips in the third round of their rookie draft.
- Ashton Jeanty (Raiders): RB11 overall. Total workhorse.
- Cam Skattebo (Giants): RB10 overall. The ultimate "I told you so" pick for the grinders.
- Kyle Monangai (Bears): sneaky value. He wasn't the star, but he was the third-highest-rated rookie RB according to PFF metrics.
It’s easy to get blinded by the draft capital. Don’t do it. The Raiders' offensive line was... well, let's call it a "work in progress." Jeanty succeeded despite his situation. If that line improves in 2026, he’s a top-five lock.
The Wide Receiver Room: Size vs. Speed
The 2025 WR class was supposed to be a "one-man show" with Tetairoa McMillan. And look, T-Mac was good. Real good. He went to the Panthers at No. 8 and immediately became Bryce Young’s favorite target.
But did he actually win you your league? Probably not. He was the safest option—high floor, decent ceiling. But the real fireworks came from Chicago.
The Luther Burden III Slow Burn
Everyone expected Luther Burden to be an instant superstar. It didn't happen that way. It was a slow burn. He started the season buried behind D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze. But by the final seven games? He was averaging six targets a pop.
Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams figured out how to use him as an "alpha" in that offense. If you’re in a dynasty league, you should be trying to trade Rome Odunze for Burden plus a pick right now. I'm serious. Burden profiles as the true WR1 in that room for the next five years.
The Travis Hunter Dilemma
Jacksonville is in a weird spot with Travis Hunter. He played 323 snaps on offense and 162 on defense. That's a lot of running.
🔗 Read more: Boo Carter Tennessee Football: What Really Happened in Knoxville
The Jaguars’ GM, James Gladstone, recently hinted that Hunter might play more cornerback in 2026 because of their roster needs. This is a massive red flag for fantasy. If he’s only playing 20% of offensive snaps because he’s busy locking down opposing WRs, his fantasy value evaporates. He was the WR27 on Yahoo! last year, which was great for where people drafted him, but the floor is falling out.
The Quarterback "Meh" Factor
We need to be honest: this wasn't the 2024 QB class. There was no Jayden Daniels or Caleb Williams-level fantasy explosion.
- Shedeur Sanders (Browns): He’s accurate. He’s poised. But he plays for the Browns. He finished the year as a mid-tier QB2.
- Jaxson Dart (Giants): This is the one you want. His rushing upside makes him a fantasy darling. He’s already being valued as a top-15 dynasty QB.
- Cam Ward (Titans): A total gunslinger. High risk, high reward. He’ll give you 30 points one week and 8 the next.
The most surprising thing? Quinn Ewers in Miami. He didn't start the season, but once he got in, he looked like a natural fit for Mike McDaniel's scheme. He’s basically a cheap version of Tua with a better arm.
The "I Can't Believe He's a Rookie" Tight End
If you didn't draft Colston Loveland, you messed up. Simple as that.
✨ Don't miss: Duke Carolina Game Time: How to Catch the Greatest Rivalry in Sports This Season
The Bears' offense was already crowded, but Loveland finished as a top-four rookie in terms of PFF's WAR (Wins Above Replacement) metric. For a tight end, that’s unheard of. Usually, it takes these guys three years to learn how to block and run routes at an NFL level. Loveland did it in three months.
Then there's Harold Fannin Jr. in Cleveland. Everyone ignored him because he played in the MAC. Mistake. Big mistake. He had 117 catches in his final college year and carried that production straight into the Browns' offense. He’s basically Shedeur Sanders' security blanket.
Actionable Insights for Your 2026 Draft
Look, the 2025 season is in the books. The "top nfl rookies 2025 fantasy" conversation is now about who takes the "Year 2 Leap." Here is what you actually need to do:
- Buy Luther Burden III: He is the real deal. People are still enamored with Odunze's draft pedigree, but Burden is the better fantasy asset.
- Sell Travis Hunter: Unless your league gives points for interceptions and pass breakups, his value is at its peak. If the Jaguars move him to CB full-time, you're holding a bag of nothing.
- Target Harold Fannin Jr.: In TE-premium leagues, he is a gold mine. He’s going to get 80+ targets next year.
- Keep an eye on Cam Skattebo: He wasn't a fluke. The Giants love him, and he’s the goal-line back for a team that is finally figuring out how to score.
The 2025 class was deeper than we thought, just not where we expected. Stop chasing the names that were on the cover of magazines a year ago and start looking at the target shares. That's where the money is.
Next steps for your roster:
Go check your league's trade block for Luther Burden. If the owner thinks he's just "the third guy in Chicago," pounce. Also, verify if your platform is changing Travis Hunter's position eligibility—if he loses the "WR" tag, his value in most formats drops to zero.