Way-Too-Early Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Where Will The Rookies Get Drafted?
It's never too early to start thinking about the 2025 season, and what better way to do that than an early fantasy football mock draft?
Two of our great analysts here at Fantasy Life, Ian Hartitz and Chris Allen, joined a slew of other industry experts to do just that. You can read all about the way-too-early mock draft including a breakdown of Chris and Ian's teams, their favorite picks, and early trends they noticed.
There was just one problem: They forgot the rookies! That's why I'm here today to answer the all-important question: Where should the rookies have gone?
Before I dive into the player-specific takes, let's do a quick rundown of the class as a whole.
Evaluating 2025 Rookies for a Fantasy Football Mock Draft
My initial takeaway is that I'm not too impressed. The RB position is the strongest group by a decent margin, and the WR class is deep but lacks top-end talent (it doesn't help that the best WR is projected to be a CB in the NFL). The QB class is not good, and the TEs are fine but will seem underwhelming after what we saw from Brock Bowers in 2024.
Of course, the big caveat to all of this is that we don't know where these rookies will be playing. Landing spot and draft capital will matter for projecting their 2025 production, but waiting until April to start speculating about the class would be no fun. For this article, I am using Thor Nystrom's most recent NFL mock draft as a baseline for landing spots and which players will earn Round 1 draft capital.
Draft capital expectations for everyone else are based on a combination of my own scouting and what I have seen from sources I trust.
With that in mind, let's dive into where the rookies should have been drafted.
Adding Rookies To Our Fantasy Football Mock Draft - Round by Round
Second Round
Ashton Jeanty - RB, Boise State
If you paid any attention to college football this year, you probably heard about Jeanty's remarkable season. The runner-up in Heisman voting had one of the all-time great college campaigns, totaling 2,739 scrimmage yards and 30 TDs. He fell just short of Barry Sanders' single-season rushing record, but being in that conversation at all is insanely impressive.
Jeanty has some of the best contact balance I've ever seen and should be able to immediately step in as a workhorse for his NFL team. His production in the passing game fell off during his final season, but he did have 43 catches in 2023, so don't overlook his ability to be a three-down back at the next level.
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty (2) is tackled by Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Dominic DeLuca (0) and cornerback Audavion Collins (29) during the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Based on how the mock draft board played out, Jeanty would have been a good pick anywhere in the second half of the second round, which featured a run of seven straight RB selections from the 2.7 to 3.1. Personally, I would take Jeanty over most of the RBs drafted in that range, especially if he goes to the Dallas Cowboys as he did in Thor's mock draft.
I don't see any landing spot that should cause him to fall out of the second round of fantasy drafts. If anything, by the time August drafts roll around we could be talking about a later Round 1 selection.
Fifth/Sixth Round Turn
Tetairoa McMillan - WR, Arizona
The WR1 in Thor's mock draft is the next rookie off the board. McMillan is a big-bodied (listed at 6'5") pass catcher who broke out early at Arizona and was extremely productive in his three collegiate seasons. Expect to see a lot of comps to Drake London in his scouting profiles in the lead-up to the NFL Draft.
While I don't view him as a truly elite WR prospect, there is a lot to like about his game and I think McMillan can be productive right away in the NFL. I won't penalize him for a hypothetical landing spot, but it is worth noting Thor had him slotted to the Raiders with the sixth overall pick. T-Mac and Bowers would make for a really nice duo, but I would prefer to see him land in Carolina with how well Bryce Young played to end the season.
In the way-too-early mock draft I would have taken him over Jerry Jeudy, who went at the 5.12, but anywhere in the late-fifth to early-sixth-round range would be a reasonable spot to select him.
Sixth Round
Quinshon Judkins - RB, Ohio State
This is where consensus rankings start to break down. Behind Jeanty, there is a pretty big tier that features a handful of really promising RB prospects along with one or two WRs. For me, Judkins is the guy I want next. He led the SEC in rushing yards and TDs as a freshman at Ole Miss and was a nightmare for defenders to get to the ground throughout his three seasons.
After two extremely productive years at Ole Miss, Judkins transferred to Ohio State to share a backfield with TreVeyon Henderson. This ultimately cost him some production, but he was a key part of the Buckeyes' championship run, so I think he's happy with that tradeoff.
In the way-too-early mock draft, I would have slotted him between David Montgomery and Isiah Pacheco in the early sixth round.
Kaleb Johnson - RB, Iowa
Johnson is right there with any other back in this class when it comes to his ability as a pure rusher. Phenomenal contact balance and tackle-breaking ability along with a smooth stride and quick acceleration allow Johnson to eat up yards. The biggest red flag in his profile is that he wasn't much of a pass catcher with just 29 career receptions in three seasons.
Johnson seems like a good fit for how NFL offenses are currently operating, so assuming a team spends decent draft capital on him, I like his upside in the late sixth round where the likes of Tony Pollard and Jaylen Warren were drafted.
Seventh Round
TreVeyon Henderson - RB, Ohio State
The second RB in Ohio State's dynamic duo, Treveyon Henderson broke out as a true freshman in Columbus before missing time in his second and third seasons. There was speculation he would enter the draft last season, but he returned to Ohio State and that decision paid off with a National Championship and the most efficient season of his career.
Jan 20, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback Leonard Moore (15) attempts to tackle Ohio State Buckeyes running back TreVeyon Henderson (32) during the second half the CFP National Championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
On pure talent, Henderson should go higher than this, and if he is selected in the early-to-mid second round of the NFL Draft, he will quickly rise up fantasy rankings. However, his injury history and concerns about how much volume he can handle are enough to keep him in the Travis Etienne - Tyrone Tracy range until we get more information.
Omarion Hampton - RB, North Carolina
Hampton is the second RB in a lot of rookie rankings, but I have him just a few spots lower. Similar to the sixth round RBs, Hampton is a big, physical back who isn't easily tackled. He's also a plus pass catcher with 73 career receptions.
Hampton is the RB that I am most interested in seeing testing numbers for because my biggest concern is that he isn't in the same tier of athleticism as the other top RB prospects. If he surprises me, I would have no problem moving him up a round.
I would be willing to take him right around Rhamondre Stevenson (pick 7.9), which is actually a decent comp for his skill set.
Luther Burden - WR, Missouri
If we went back twelve months, Burden was in the conversation with McMillan for the top WR prospect in this class. Unfortunately for him, Missouri had a dismal 2024 season and he wasn't able to overcome that. His production fell off a cliff, which is definitely a knock on his profile, but the ceiling is high enough to keep him as the number two WR in this class.
Burden is a shifty YAC threat who thrives with the ball in his hands but can also make plays down the field. Thor still has him as a mid-first round pick, and if that's the case I may be undervaluing him here. He could easily move up a full round if he gets that kind of draft capital. My concern is that there is still a decent amount of volatility to where he goes in the NFL Draft.
Eighth Round
Emeka Egbuka - WR, Ohio State
Egbuka has been Ohio State's WR2 for three consecutive seasons. He ran 73% of his routes in college from the slot and projects as a good No. 2 option in the NFL. He's not the flashiest player, but he is reliable and a good route runner.
As a potential late-first-round pick, he should land in a good offense. Thor's landing spot of the Baltimore Ravens would be pretty nice, but I think my ideal landing spot for him would be the Washington Commanders to give Jayden Daniels another weapon.
I would put him in just ahead of Keon Coleman in the way-too-early mock draft.
Ninth Round
Matthew Golden - WR, Texas
A huge draft board riser during the 2024 season, Golden was one of the best deep threats in college football. He's expected to run a sub-4.4-second 40-yard dash which should keep the hype train rolling.
I'm very intrigued with where he lands and really hope it is with a QB capable of getting him the ball deep downfield. Without knowing which team he is playing for, he should go around Darnell Mooney and Christian Kirk, but there is upside for him to rise from there if he lands with a team like Washington or Buffalo.
10th Round
Tre Harris - WR, Ole Miss
Harris spent three years at Louisiana State before transferring to Ole Miss. Being a fifth-year senior is definitely a knock on his profile, but he did average more than 100 yards per game during his two seasons in the SEC.
Harris is a big, versatile receiver but appears to lack the athleticism needed to be a difference-maker in the NFL. He does the basics well but will need to land in a good offensive system to be someone who cracks your fantasy lineup. Anywhere after Quentin Johnston would be a reasonable place to take him.
Xavier Restrepo - WR, Miami
A late breakout at Miami, Xavier Restrepo is a QB's best friend and was a big part of Cam Ward's success in 2024. He's an undersized, shifty slot receiver with reliable hands and plenty of toughness. Restrepo will probably be a more valuable piece to his NFL team than his fantasy managers, but he should be able to rack up catches for PPR formats.
Nov 9, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Xavier Restrepo (7) catches a pass for a touchdown against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the fourth quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
He doesn't have the size or long speed to be a consistent downfield threat, so I expect him to have a low aDOT in the NFL. He should be able to fill a Wan'Dale Robinson-type role, so I have him as a late-10th-round value just like Robinson in the way-too-early mock.
11th Round
Cam Skattebo - RB, Arizona State
One of the coolest names in this class, Skattebo was ridiculously productive in two seasons at Arizona State. He amassed 3,385 scrimmage yards and 34 TDs in those two years and put up a monster performance against Texas in the College Football Playoff to help quiet some of the criticisms about the defenses he faced.
Skattebo is a physical runner who can handle a large workload and was also accomplished as a pass catcher. There are some questions about his athleticism and ball security, but he should be able to contribute as part of a committee backfield in the NFL. Taking him in the same range as backups who get some playing time like Ray Davis seems appropriate.
Isaiah Bond - WR, Texas
Coming into the 2024 season, Bond was the more highly regarded of the Texas WRs turning pro this year, but he failed to break out. Just like Golden, Bond is an explosive big-play threat who can beat defenses with his speed. How much more he can bring to the table is still up in the air.
One point in Bond's favor is that he is still just 20 years old, so there is time for him to develop. The talent is there, but he is one of the tougher evals in this class. If he falls in the NFL Draft I will quickly move him down my ranks, but for now, I have him going in the same range as Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims.
More Rookie Notes For Fantasy Football Mock Drafts
The two-way wildcard
The biggest unknown when it comes to the 2025 rookie class is just how much WR Travis Hunter will play. The majority of scouting reports and projections I have seen consider him a CB first, but he is absolutely talented enough to play WR at a high level in the NFL. I do expect him to see some snaps on offense as a rookie, but for fantasy purposes, he only becomes relevant if he's regularly running 50+% of routes.
At this point, I'm not confident that he will meet that threshold, so he didn't make it into my list above. However, Hunter is such a special player it is worth talking through what it would mean if the team that drafts him says they plan to give him a significant number of offensive snaps. As a rotational WR (50%-70% of routes), he could be in consideration from the 10th round on.
In the unexpected event that the team who drafts him says they plan to play him as a full-time WR and just a rotational defensive piece, then Hunter would jump all the way up to the number one WR on my board and a fourth- or fifth-round pick for fantasy depending on landing spot.
Where are the TEs?
None of the rookie TEs cracked my mock draft board, but there are at least a few names worth knowing. Tyler Warren is pretty clearly the top TE in this class and could be in consideration around pick 150 in fantasy drafts if he goes in the middle of the first round of the NFL Draft like Thor projects. He's the only TE on my radar for redraft, but guys like Colston Loveland, Harold Fannin Jr., Gunnar Helm, and Mason Taylor are good names to know for your dynasty rookie draft.
Superflex considerations
It wasn't a Superflex mock draft and none of this year's rookie class is coming close to my top 12 QB rankings, but it seems wrong to not include anything on this year's crop of signal callers. Thor's most recent mock draft has three rookie QBs going in the first round: Shedeur Sanders, Cam Ward, and Jalen Milroe.
None of those three strike me as elite prospects, but all will be viable Superflex picks if they are projected to start early in the season. Milroe is the best rushing threat of the three but also the worst passer. Ward and Sanders are the more polished passers, and of those two Ward is the more mobile, so I lean towards him as my early favorite of the three, but I will need to do more scouting before definitively ranking them.
