Projecting Tyler Warren, Top NFL Prospects in 2025 Fantasy Football Rookie Mock Draft

The 2024 fantasy football season has come and gone, but for managers who play in dynasty formats, fantasy is just like the NFL itself—the ride never ends. No sooner is a champion crowned than the page turns to the new season. Managers play Let's Make a Deal and swing trades for veteran help. Or swap those vets out for added picks in the upcoming rookie draft.

That rookie draft is incredibly important, whether teams are looking to rebuild or reload. Contenders need to fill in cracks on the team or address roster attrition. Tomato cans need to add talent that can help them be more competitive in 2025. Fringe contenders need to add that missing piece that can get them into the postseason.

Now before we get into this admittedly early two-round mock for PPR dynasty leagues that start a single quarterback, there's an important consideration that must be mentioned. With the pre-draft process only just now beginning, how NFL teams (and fantasy managers) view the rookie class will change a great deal, The Senior Bowl, Scouting Combine and pro days will cause some players to shoot up draft boards and others to plummet.

It can be argued that they shouldn't as much as they do (Tape…Don't…Lie), but there's going to be a ton of player movement between now and April 24.

Still, it's never too early to glance ahead—especially when you know that the first overall pick in most rookie drafts is already locked in.

Some years there's a question as to who the first pick in dynasty rookie drafts should be.

This is not one of those years. In non-"superflex" formats, the top pick is almost always going to be Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty. And by "almost always," we mean always.

All the 5'8", 217-pound Jeanty did last year was peel off the second-best single-season rushing campaign in FBS history—374 carries, a staggering 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns. Jeanty averaged seven yards a carry despite constantly facing defenses that loaded the box in an effort to slow him down.

As Reese Decker wrote for Pro Football Network, Jeanty is the best running back prospect to come along in quite some time.

"The 2024 Heisman Trophy runner-up is a bona fide blue-chip prospect and generational talent," he said. "He is a dynamic playmaker who possesses elite contact balance, remarkable power and durability, dangerous top-end speed, and the ability to flip the field on a single cut. He has the ability to be an instant game-changer and a foundational piece for a rebuilding organization."

That holds as true for fantasy football teams as NFL squads.

Losing on Jeanty in dynasty rookie drafts is admittedly a bummer. But there are a number of consolation prizes who could make an immediate impact in fantasy leagues.

Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan certainly fits that bill.

In each of the past two seasons, the 6'5", 212-pounder has eclipsed 80 catches, topped 1,300 receiving yards and scored at least eight touchdowns. His combination of size, speed and versatility are a nightmare for opposing defenses. McMillan is equally adept playing the boundary as in the slot. He's too explosive for bigger outside corners to cover and too big and physical for nickel backs to contend with.

Especially Chad Kroeger.

Bleacher Report's Dame Parson compared McMillan to Drake London of the Atlanta Falcons and Tee Higgins of the Cincinnati Bengals, writing that McMillan should be an immediate impact player at the professional level.

"McMillan is a fantastic receiving threat who brings a ton to the table," he said. "NFL offensive coordinators will appreciate his versatility and the litany of ways he can win in their offensive structure. He projects as a No. 1 wide receiver who you pepper with a high amount of targets per game."

For fantasy managers in need of WR help, McMillan is the cream of this year's crop, even if he's not the pass-catcher everyone will be talking about in the weeks and months to come.

There is no player who could bounce around rookie draft boards more between now and May than Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter of Colorado.

In Boulder, Hunter played both ways—he was equal parts shutdown cornerback and explosive wide receiver. But the reality is that while Hunter could see some dual usage in the NFL, he's going to have to pick a side. No player—not even one as talented as Hunter—can play both ways full-time in the 21st century NFL.

It's that uncertainty about Hunter's NFL future that makes him so difficult to slot this early in the pre-draft process. But Hunter isn't going to fall outside the top-five in Green Bay on April 24, and he's not likely to make it outside the top-five in dynasty rookie drafts.

That because many pundits, including ESPN's Matt Miller, believes Hunter's future lies at wide receiver.

"We've seen Hunter make exceptional plays on both sides of the ball this season," Miller said. "He has double the receptions of Colorado's No. 2 receiver and has been an eraser at cornerback. But his long, lean frame might make him a better fit on offense, where he can better avoid contact and dictate impact. That's how to get the most production and career longevity out of him."

Hunter isn't the most refined wideout prospect in this class. But there isn't a player at any position with a higher fantasy ceiling.

Ashton Jeanty may have dominated the running back conversation in college football this season. But he was far from the only wildly productive player in the backfield.

Omarion Hampton toiled on a so-so (to be kind) North Carolina team, but that didn't stop the 6'0", 220-pounder from finishing second in the nation in rushing with 1,660 rushing yards, He also set a Tar Heels record with 2,033 total yards and averaged almost six yards a carry despite playing behind a suspect offensive line.

Per Kyle Crabbs of the 33rd Team, Hampton's power and vision should enable him to make an immediate impact at the NFL level.

"This is a big back with a slippery feel--not just thanks to his feet and power but thanks to strong vision and processing out of the mesh point," Crabbs said. "He's quick to ID and attack holes that are present immediately but is also accustomed to having to press the line of scrimmage and make a snap decision through a small crease. These qualities, which are amplified by a modest front blocking for him at UNC, make him a reliable singles and doubles hitter. Don't expect a lot of turndowns on quality looks in the box for a modest gain."

There are some questions about Hampton's top-end speed, but if tests well at the scouting combine, he should cement his status as the second-best back in his class—and a top-five rookie pick in fantasy drafts.

There was a time when some expected Missouri's Luther Burden III to be the top wide receiver in the Class of 2025. But after hauling in 86 passes for over 1,200 yards in 2023, Burden numbers dropped considerably in 2024.

Still, that drop in stats had a lot more to do with injuries around Burden than the player himself. As Keith Sanchez wrote for Draft Network, the 5'11", 210-pound Burden is a versatile and explosive pass-catcher capable of a house call every time he touches the rock.

"After the catch, Burden turns into a playmaker and can pick up significant yardage," he said. "Burden has the short-area quickness, start/stop ability, and burst to get past defenders and convert short throws into big plays. Defenses should always be aware of Burden because of the volume of targets he receives combined with his ability to make big plays all over the field and his ability to score from anywhere."

There are concerns about how Burden will fare on the boundary against bigger press corners. But he also possesses a skill-set that should translate well to the athletic testing of the combine and pro days.

In other words, it wouldn't be all that surprising for there to be drumbeats for Burden to go earlier than this. At any rate, fantasy managers picking in the middle of the round in rookie mocks have an array of options available who could make a fantasy impact sooner rather than later.

It may well have been the Year of Jeanty. But this is also quietly one of the deeper running back classes in recent memory. In some years, Iowa's Kaleb Johnson may well have been the top prospect at his position.

Another running back who spent the entire 2024 campaign staring at eight-man fronts, the 6'0" 225-pound Johnson was still able to pace the Big 10 with 1,537 rushing yards and 21 scores on the ground while averaging 6.4 yards per tote. A capable receiver with excellent balance and vision, Jeremy Popielarz of FTN believes that Johnson can be an immediate impact player in the NFL—especially if he lands in the right spot.

"The best part about Kaleb Johnson may not even be his physical traits. It's his head, the vision he possesses and his ability to run within a zone or gap scheme that will have many NFL coaches salivating," he said. "This will help make Johnson a very fantasy-friendly option, he can excel as a third down back or even an every-down player, which will allow him to get on the field early and often. If he lands in one of the running back needy offenses I would expect a strong fantasy output early, but if he lands in a crowded room the points may be on hold until the talent wins out."

We're to the point in Round 1 where just about every running back will carry the landing spot caveat. But as we just saw with less-heralded prospects like Bucky Irving of the Buccaneers, NFL teams are more willing than ever to give the keys in the backfield to rookies.

In each of the past two years, a rookie was the top tight end in fantasy football—Sam LaPorta of the Detroit Lions in 2023 and Brock Bowers of the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024.

It wouldn't be an upset if Penn State's Tyler Warren made it three in a row in 2025.

The 6'6" 249-pounder did a little bit of everything for the Nittany Lions in 2024. Entering Thursday's College Football Playoff semifinal, Warren had caught 98 passes for 1,158 yards and eight scores. He also added 24 carries for 197 yards and four scores on the ground.

As is the case with many young tight end prospects, Warren's in-line blocking is a work in progress. But Bleacher Report's Dame Parson feels that Warren's soft hands, red-zone prowess and ability to play different positions could help him become an NFL contributor in short order.

"Warren is a talented pass catcher who is handling the role as the top offensive option," Parson wrote. "He should be used as an H-back and flex tight end early in his NFL career until his inline run-blocking improves. Warren's receiving versatility and upside will add another element to an NFL offense and elevate their passing attack."

In TE-premium fantasy leagues, it can be argued that Warren should be a top-five pick, But regardless of format, Warren's a solid target in the second half of Round 1.

This is the point in Round 1 of this rookie mock where potential becomes as important (if not more so) than production.

It's possible that Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins will crack 1,000 rushing yards for the third straight season—Ohio State has at least one more game left, and Judkins is just 76 yards short.

But Judkins' drop-off in production wasn't due to any decrease in his on-field play. The Buckeyes simply utilized a two-headed backfield of Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, so both backs saw fewer carries. But Judkins averaged 5.3 yards per carry, and we have seen him serve as an every-down back at Ole Miss—two straight years with 270-plus carries, over 1,100 yards and 15 scores.

Tyler Forness of A To Z Sports believes that Judkins is more than capable of serving as a three-down back at the NFL level.

"Judkins provides a versatile, three-down back who can do a little bit of everything for you," he said. "He can run inside zone, power and run outside where he softens angles and creates advantages with his burst. Judkins can also handle a heavy workload with over 235 carries in his first two seasons at the college level."

Frankly, if Judkins lands with a team where there's a clearer path to early playing time, it's entirely possible he'll outproduce backs taken ahead of him in rookie drafts.

The Ohio State University has been a factory for NFL receivers in recent years. Terry McLaurin in 2019. Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave in 2022. Jaxon Smith-Njigba in 2023, And Marvin Harrison Jr. in 2024.

Emeka Egbuka is the latest model to come out of the factory.

Egbuka was overshadowed this season by the exploits of star freshman Jeremiah Smith in Columbus, but he made quite the dent in his own right. Depending on how the College Football Playoff pans out, Egbuka could leave Ohio State as the most prolific wideout in team history—quite the achievement given all the names I rattled off.

If Egbuka can tally another 104 yards by season's end, he'll have recorded his second collegiate season with 1,000 yards and double-digit touchdowns. As Rob Willette wrote for DLF, while Egbuka may not be Batman, he could be one heck of a Robin for NFL teams—and fantasy managers.

"Egbuka is routinely on the fringe of the first round in mock drafts," he said. "He has the type of game which most teams could find a way to use yet may not profile as a true number one for NFL teams. He is often compared to former Buckeye and teammate Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who went 20th overall to the Seahawks. There are a number of teams slated towards the back half of round one (Commanders/Broncos/Chargers/Rams) who could use more weaponry out wide and the early second round is always a popular spot for teams to nab a receiver. Egbuka's range seems around 25th-45th overall, making him a logical candidate to go in the first round of rookie drafts."

For contenders picking at the back of Round 1 in rookie drafts, refined, NFL-ready players who can contribute immediately are a bonus. There may not be a more NFL-ready wideout in this class that Egbuka.

Yep. That's right. Three straight Buckeyes. It's almost as if that offense is loaded with skill-position talent.

Jeremiah Smith would probably be the 1.02 this year. And he's 18.

TreVeyon Henderson is one of the more polarizing running back prospects in this year's class. He's not an especially big back, but as Sam Teets wrote for Chiefs Wire, Henderson more than makes up for that with explosiveness.

"Henderson's play often overcomes his measurables," Teets said. "He possesses true track speed that, even on a very fast Ohio State offense, puts him in a class of his own. Henderson is an explosive athlete who demolishes pursuit angles and runs so fast that he naturally breezes through some arm tackles. Henderson's footwork pops on tape. His light feet easily spring through sudden cuts and help him cover significant ground horizontally on jump cuts. He weaves through tight spaces with natural footwork but lacks the power to create between the offensive tackles."

And that speed? Well, ask the Oregon Ducks if Henderson is fast.

The issue with Henderson is durability. The 5'10", 210-pounder has stayed healthy in 2024 splitting time with Quinshon Judkins, but both his 2023 and 2022 seasons were marred by injury.

The talent is worth the gamble at the back end of Round 1 though—if things break the right way, Henderson could easily wind up the second-best back in this class.

They don't get the run that schools like LSU and Ohio State do when it comes to cranking out NFL wide receivers, but Ole Miss has produced a few of late.

A.J. Brown and DK Metcalf are pretty good at football.

Actually, Tre Harris shares some qualities with those receivers—like Brown and Metcalf, the 6'3", 210-pounder is a big-bodied pass-catcher who excels at boxing out opponents winning 50/50 balls. Wyatt Brooks of NFL Draft Buzz sees more than a little potential with Harris—especially in the right offensive scheme.

"Harris has the makings of a chain-moving X-receiver with plus red-zone chops at the next level," he said. "His ability to high-point the rock and win 50/50 balls will make him a QB's best friend on critical downs. While he's not a burner, Harris's deep ball tracking and ability to box out corners on vertical routes make him a three-level threat. Scheme fit will be crucial for Harris to maximize his toolkit. He's tailor-made for a system that leverages big-bodied pass-catchers and doesn't hinge on separation. His skill set screams West Coast offense or a heavy play-action scheme that creates chunk play opportunities down the seam."

It goes without saying that landing spot matters with any rookie—a lot. But even a neutral one for Harris could make him a quality addition for fantasy contenders picking at the back of Round 1.

The Penn State Nittany Lions were one of the last four teams left standing in college football this season, and while star tight end Tyler Allen may have driven the most headlines Penn State also had a pair of running backs eclipse 1,000 yards in Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton.

It's Singleton who was the more effective back on a per-carry basis, averaging well over six yards a carry. He's hit over 23 MPH on GPS this year and reportedly has 4.35-second speed. In his scouting report for Singleton here at Bleacher Report, Dame Parson talked up Singleton's three-down skill-set while comparing the 6'1", 226-pounder to former Cardinals star David Johnson.

"Singleton is an athletically talented three-down running back," Parson said. "His near-complete skill set fits more of a gap scheme offense than pure zone. He is versatile enough to find success in both offensive concepts. Singleton has breakaway speed and best attacks the line of scrimmage with his shoulders squared. In a gap scheme with pin/pull concepts, Singleton will bring explosive playmaking to his offense."

That Singleton could ostensibly fall out of the first round of dynasty rookie drafts speaks to the depth at the position in this year's class. It also potentially presents fantasy managers with an opportunity. If they need a running back but can't get Jeanty, trading back a few spots and adding draft capital might not be a bad idea.

2.01: Cam Ward, QB, Miami (Fla.): Shedeur Sanders of Colorado may be the first overall pick in April's draft, but Ward is the superior scrambler. In fantasy football, that dual-threat ability is very appealing.

2.02: Dylan Sampson, RB, Tennessee: Sampson was the SEC rushing champion in 2024, racking up almost 1,500 rushing yards and over 20 scores on the ground. At 5'11" and 201 pounds he's a bit undersized, but Sampson has the potential to be an every-down back.

2.03: Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas: There may not be a wide receiver in America whose stock will rise more between now and April than Bond. He battled injuries and caught just 33 passes in 2024, but his speed and athleticism should show well at the NFL Scouting Combine.

2.04: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan: Lovelace's numbers this season were disappointing, but that says a lot more about Michigan's dismal offense than the 6'5" 245-pounder. He's the complete package at tight end and a likely starter from Day 1.

2.05: Xavier Restrepo, WR, Miami (Fla.): Restrepo doesn't have great size. Or great speed, But the 5'10" 197-pounder has eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards each of the past two seasons and has the potential to be a productive chain-mover from the slot.

2.06: Evan Stewart, WR, Oregon: Stewart entered 2024 as one of the more heralded wide receivers in the country, but the production never really matched the potential. If Stewart can come close to hitting his ceiling though, he'd be a bargain in the middle of Round 2.

2.07: Devin Neal, RB, Kansas: The 5'11", 215-pounder surpassed 1,000 rushing yards each of the past two seasons for the Jayhawks. Neal isn't an especially powerful runner, but he's a plus receiver out of the backfield who could excel in the right scheme.

2.08: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado: The clubhouse favorite to be the first overall pick in the NFL draft, Sanders doesn't have a cannon for an arm but he's an accurate passer who can make all the throws at the NFL level and extend plays when needed.

2.09: Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford: Ayomanor has the combination of size and speed that NFL teams drool over, and he roasted Travis Hunter and Colorado for almost 300 receiving yards in a half. But he's something of a project who could take time to acclimate to the NFL.

2.10: Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green: Who's up for a small-school standout. The level of competition he faced in college is a consideration, But Fannin caught a whopping 117 passes, topped 1,500 receiving yards and scored 10 touchdowns in 2024.

2.11: D.J. Giddens, RB, Kansas State: This is not a good year to be a veteran running back clinging to a gig. A 6'0" 216-pounder who surpassed 1,300 yards and averaged 6.6 yards per carry last year, Giddens is another talented young back with the potential to be a quality NFL starter.

2.12: Jordan James, RB, Oregon: James final game with the Ducks against Ohio State was forgettable, but the 5'10", 200-pounder topped 1,200 rushing yards, averaged 5.4 yards a carry and has 26 rushing touchdowns over the past two years.

Looking for more insight to help make some tough roster or lineup decisions? Check out all the latest B/R Fantasy Football essentials here.

Gary Davenport is a two-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year. Follow him on X at @IDPSharks.