The 2025 NFL combine is over, and now it's time to consider what happened last week and the fantasy football fallout it might have.

2025 NFL Combine - Fantasy Football Risers and Fallers

Quarterbacks

Matthew Stafford Stays With the Rams

Not everything that happens at the combine is about the rookies.

It's not uncommon for rumors to spread and news to break when all the league decision makers and insiders huddle together for days in Indianapolis—and during the combine Ian Rapoport reported that QB Matthew Stafford will stay with the Rams for another year.

With the Rams, Stafford has the continued support of offensive HC Sean McVay, and a Stafford-led offense is probably best for the skill-position players on the Rams.

The prospect of playing for McVay made Rodgers intriguing—but that option is now off the board. The Raiders and Giants were possible landing spots for Stafford in the event that he left the Rams. Their WRs would've gotten a boost from playing alongside the veteran QB. Now, not.

Cam Ward to Browns at No. 2?

In my most recent mock draft, I have WR/CB Travis Hunter (Colorado) going to the Browns at No. 2 and QB Cam Ward (Miami) going to the Giants at No. 3.

But at the combine, the prevailing scuttlebutt was that Ward will go to the Browns (per Hayden Winks and Brett Kollmann).

Who knows if that will happen … but in my next mock … I'll have Ward going to the Browns.

Ward would be in a good situation with the Browns, given that offensive HC Kevin Stefanski—a two-time Coach of the Year—has had success with every QB he's ever worked with (except for Deshaun Watson). With Ward, Jeudy and Njoku get a young passer with upside.

  • Stock Down: Raiders WRs

With Stafford unavailable, the Raiders might like to get a rookie QB, but if Ward goes to the Browns at No. 2, then the Giants might take Shedeur Sanders at No. 3—and that would mean the Raiders would have no real QB options at No. 6.

Running Backs

The Greatest RB Class of All Time?

Every Saturday edition of the Fantasy Life Newsletter is now dedicated to the NFL draft, and a couple of Saturdays ago I mentioned that this year's RB class reminds me of the one from 2008, which I think is probably the greatest of all time: Five RBs in Round 1 … and then Matt Forte and Ray Rice in Round 2 and Jamaal Charles and Steve Slaton in Round 3.

Outrageous.

Well, on Saturday, the RB class just averaged a 4.48-second 40-yard dash, which is the best cohort mark in combine history.

I'm not saying that this year's RB class is the greatest ever. It probably isn't. But it's unquestionably a strong class.

And it might be the best of all time.

  • Stock Up: Almost every rookie RB
  • Stock Down: Almost every non-stud veteran RB

A Trio of Studs

Everyone knows about RB Ashton Jeanty. But after him, there are three RBs I also like a lot.

  • Omarion Hampton: 6-0, 221 lbs., 4.46-second 40-yard dash
  • Quinshon Judkins: 6-0, 221 lbs., 4.48-second 40-yard dash
  • TreVeyon Henderson: 5-10, 202 lbs., 4.43-second 40-yard dash

All of them checked the boxes on Saturday by weighing more than 200 lbs. and running the 40-yard dash in under 4.5 seconds. And Hampton and Judkins checked the boxes emphatically. It wouldn't surprise me if both of them, along with Jeant,y went in Round 1, and Henderson shouldn't be too far behind them as a Day 2 selection.

And it's not as if these guys are just athletes. All of them produced in 2024.

  • Omarion Hampton: 2,033 yards, 17 TDs in 12 games
  • Quinshon Judkins: 1,221 yards, 16 TDs in 16 games
  • TreVeyon Henderson: 1,300 yards, 11 TDs in 16 games

All three have the potential to be long-time and big-time NFL contributors.

  • Stock Up: Hampton, Judkins, Henderson

Check out Thor Nystrom's prospect profiles on these three backs.

It's not a good time to be a veteran lead back slated to enter free agency this offseason.

Kaleb Johnson: Not Fast, Not a Problem?

Thor likes Kaleb Johnson. I also like Johnson.

Even so, before the combine Thor predicted that Johnson would run slower than 4.45 seconds in the 40-yard dash.

But even Thor wouldn't have predicted 4.57 seconds—and neither would've Johnson, with whom Thor had this exchange in Indianapolis.

  • Thor: Are people sleeping on your speed?
  • Johnson: Yes, but I’m going to showcase it tomorrow.
  • Thor: You’re going to run tomorrow?
  • Johnson: Yes, sir. 
  • Thor: Prediction?
  • Johnson: Just fast, that’s my prediction.

I hate to say it, but 4.57 seconds is not fast for the 40-yard dash—and it looks even worse when compared to the times for so many of the other backs in this class.

Here's the thing: 4.57 seconds also isn't terrible, especially given Johnson's great size (6-1, 224 lbs.).

That makes him athletically comparable to many RBs who've had NFL success.

  • Le'Veon Bell: 6-1, 230 lbs., 4.6-second 40-yard dash
  • James Conner: 6-2, 233 lbs., 4.65-second 40-yard dash
  • Jeremy Hill: 6-1, 233 lbs., 4.66-second 40-yard dash
  • T.J. Yeldon: 6-1, 226 lbs., 4.61-second 40-yard dash
  • David Montgomery: 5-10, 222 lbs., 4.63-second 40-yard dash
  • Kareem Hunt: 5-11, 216 lbs., 4.62-second 40-yard dash

His modest long speed might cause Johnson to fall a little in the draft, but it probably won't impact his ultimate NFL fate, which could mean that whoever drafts him in reality and fantasy will get him at a discount.

Silver lining.

  • Stock Steady: Johnson

Wide Receivers

Deebo Samuel Traded to Commanders

Occasionally, trades involving veterans get ironed into place during the combine, and that happened on Saturday night, when the Commanders agreed to acquire WR Deebo Samuel from the 49ers for a fifth-round pick (per ESPN's Adam Schefter).

During the combine, Matthew Berry highlighted this as a trade that could happen, and overall the trade makes a lot of sense, considering that Samuel wanted out of San Francisco.

This is a top-three landing spot for Samuel, and it's a sign that the Commanders remain committed to supporting Daniels. As for the 49ers, this creates more opportunities for all the remaining pass catchers, specifically WRs Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings as well as Kittle, who has done well without Samuel over the past four years.

While the addition of Samuel is great for Daniels, it does create additional target competition for McLaurin, and it also takes away a high-end option for Purdy with the 49ers.

WR Class Better Than Expected?

Let's ignore the fact that Isaiah Bond said he would break the combine 40-yard dash record and then ran it in "only" 4.39 seconds. I guess he gets a little credit for having the second-fastest peak MPH of any combine participant … but, still, that's not the same thing as having an all-time showing.

But aside from Bond, who now has no chance of going in Round 1, I was generally impressed with the athleticism of many WRs, especially the guys who have been on the borderline of Rounds 1-2 in mocks.

  • Matthew Golden: 5-11, 191 lbs., 4.29-second 40-yard dash
  • Luther Burden: 6-0, 206 lbs., 4.41-second 40-yard dash
  • Elic Ayomanor: 6-2, 206 lbs., 4.44-second 40-yard dash

Golden and Burden now seem locked into Round 1, and Ayomanor is a viable option in Round 2.

We also saw great performances from two other guys who have had my eye.

  • Jalen Royals: 6-0, 205 lbs., 4.42-second 40-yard dash
  • Savion Williams: 6-4, 222 lbs., 4.48-second 40-yard dash

With their verified athleticism, both Royals and Williams seem likely to go on Day 2.

  • Stock Secured: Golden, Burden
  • Stock Up: Ayomanor, Royals, Williams
  • Stock Down: Bond