In today's Fantasy Life Newsletter, presented by New Era:

Well, I don't know about you, but I'm f*cking exhausted.

Watching other people breaking a sweat at the NFL Scouting Combine really wore me out!

And for those of you wondering, I clocked a 6.63s 40-yard dash back in November of 2023 while fulfilling a fantasy league punishment. Not to brag or anything …

A New Beginning

But with the Combine officially over, it’s time that we address the elephant in the room: It’s never really just been about the numbers, has it?

Nothing exists inside of a vacuum—even at the Combine. Context matters. And the storylines are just as important (or close to it) as the metrics themselves.

So, if you were only able to focus on the leaderboards last week, here's what you missed from the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine:

TE News

After leading all SEC TEs in receptions and yards (60-786-7) in 2024, Gunnar Helm’s bottom-3 TE performance at the 2025 Combine came as quite the shock.

On Friday, his unexpectedly slow performance in the 40-yard dash (4.84s) was … ridiculed … to put it nicely. Here's what some flabbergasted internet users had to say about it:

"Did he run backwards?" @roqqet

"Bruh might as well play LT" @DRoseDaGreat

"Never got the infatuation with Helm. He's just tall." @DubsKnows

But on Sunday morning, it was brought to light that Helm had suffered an ankle sprain during a false start at the Combine.

It took a few days, but there was finally context! And with it, the numbers suddenly began to tell a different story. Here's what some equally flabbergasted internet users had to say about it:

"His crappy combine is another teams mid round treasure" @Localboysd619er

"Now that's someone who is HUNGRY!!" @VIKINGGIRL4EVER

"That's toughness you can't teach." @MathHashtag

Well, there you have it. Though, I’m still not sure which happened quicker … Helm’s 40 time or his draft stock decline-and-resurgence cycle.

WR News

On Friday, WR Isaiah Bond assured reporters that he would break the NFL Combine's 40-yard dash record during Saturday's drills: “I anticipate running 4.20 or, possibly… 4.1.”

But on Saturday, the stopwatches revealed that Bond (4.39s) did not break Xavier Worthy's 40-yard dash record. In fact, 17 total players ran faster 40 times than Bond —none of them able to break Worthy's record of 4.21. 

Instead, it was Matthew Golden (4.29s) who took home the "fastest 40 among WRs" award. It does make you wonder …

OL News

Quarterbacks better watch out, because the 2025 OL class is shrinking!

QB News

Quarterbacks better watch out (x2), because Jalen Milroe is … 

ALEXA, WHAT IS THE OPPOSITE OF "SHRINKING"? 

RB News

Not to be hyperbolic or anything, but the 2025 RB class is quite possibly the best RB class … ever. With some NFL Draft analysts even calling it “historic”.

Don't worryyyyy. Saquon Barkley is still the RB1. (For now…)

More on the top NFL Draft prospect, RB Quinshon Judkins, below …

IN THE MEANTIME, WE HAVE SOME NFL DRAFT COVERAGE FOR YOU

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Quinshon Judkins’ Humble Rise To Top NFL Draft Prospect

by Thor Nystrom

After Quinshon Judkins ran a blistering 4.48 40-yard dash at 221 pounds and posted an excellent 9.88 RAS at the NFL Scouting Combine that further cemented him as one of the top RB prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft, it was important to take stock of the young man who as a child was struggling to walk. What a journey on the way to a national championship with Ohio State and now on the doorstep of the NFL. Thor Nystrom told his story:

Quinshon Judkins was born bow-legged. Learning to walk, Judkins kept tripping over his own feet. Doctors suggested leg braces. During this period, Judkins developed a forward-leaning gait, walking on his tiptoes. He never got the braces. His mother, Teva Judkins, says this is where Quinshon’s “very large calf muscles for a little kid” came from. 

Read the rest of Judkins’ amazing story👇

QUINSHON JUDKINS NFL DRAFT PROFILE

2025: Top-150 Dynasty Rankings: Too High on Jayden Daniels and Brock Bowers?

by Sam Wallace

Where would you rank Jayden Daniels in dynasty? Ahead of Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson? Can you draft Brock Bowers too high? Probably not. Same for BrIan Thomas Jr.? See where Sam Wallace has some of your favorite players ranked in his preliminary Dynasty Rankings for the 2025 season

YOU WON’T BELIEVE NO. 63

Here’s some NFL news to sift through while you’re resting on the couch. You’ve earned it:

🫡 Deebo Samuel’s move to DC is filled with fantasy implications. Hail to the Commanders! Hail victory!

👀 ICYMI: Instant reactions from the NFL Scouting Combine for QB/RB/WR, along with TEs and a few defenders.

👀 Wow, these are unprecedented levels of commitment. Aaron Rodgers can’t keep getting away with this!

🏆 Here’s a full list of the 2025 NFL Combine results. Not too shabby …

💤 Go to sleep on Kaleb Johnson’s speed at your own risk.

🦅 Fly Eagles, Fly! What does Philly need to do it again?

📉 Stock down for this QB who was getting first-round chatter recently.