RADIO
Hayden Epinette's rookie fantasy football sleepers to target in 2025 redraft leagues. His first-year breakout candidates and late-round draft targerts, including Kyle Williams and more.
The 2025 NFL Draft is already two months in the past. That means it is time for fantasy managers to lock in and do the research necessary for their upcoming fantasy drafts. With the elite seasons that rookies Jayden Daniels, Brian Thomas Jr., Brock Bowers, and more had last year, it would be wise to take particular interest in this year's rookie class.
No one would be surprised if highly touted prospects like Ashton Jeanty and Omarion Hampton turn in strong rookie campaigns. There are interesting options further down the draft board, however. In 2024, fourth-round rookie Bucky Irving outperformed expectations in a big way; who will do the same this year?
Inevitably, some first-year players who are not considered prime fantasy options now will enter that conversation by season's end. This article will provide six names of rookies who could provide great value at their ADPs for fantasy managers in 2025, just as Irving did a year ago. Continue reading to find out which fresh faces you should be targeting to gain an edge over your opponents.
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Jaydon Blue (Dallas Cowboys)
The Dallas Cowboys got a solid season out of running back Rico Dowdle last year. Dowdle rushed for 1,079 yards on 4.59 yards per carry in his first season as a starter. Dallas opted not to re-sign the 27-year-old, though, and instead added Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders in free agency. The team then proceeded to draft former Texas running back Jaydon Blue in the fifth round of this year's draft.
Blue has a small stature at just 5-foot-9 and 196 pounds, but he does possess great speed, having run a 4.38-second 40-yard dash at the combine. He rushed for 730 yards on 134 attempts as a junior at Texas in 2024, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. More notably, though, he expanded his role as a receiver, catching 42 balls for 368 yards and six TDs a season ago. Blue's speed and versatility should allow him to earn a sizable role immediately.
SO NICE THEY HAD TO DO IT TWICE 🤘
Quinn Ewers finds Jaydon Blue for six on the exact same route as their first touchdown 🤝 pic.twitter.com/AhIaxYZyBD
— ESPN (@espn) January 11, 2025
Moreover, Blue's competition in Dallas is lackluster, to say the least. Williams averaged merely 3.6 true yards per carry last year, and that marked an improvement from his 2023 campaign. Sanders also has two consecutive sub-4.0 true yards per carry seasons now after a solid start to his career. Blue can provide a level of explosiveness that the other big names in this backfield cannot.
Blue is currently going as the RB46 in fantasy drafts, putting him behind Williams (RB37). While Williams has the most experience and the inside track to the top spot in the backfield, it is a long season. Blue's talent could easily win out over both Williams and Sanders in the long run, giving him a role involving both rushing and receiving in a Dallas offense that should be improved. That is an appealing outlook at his current price.
Dylan Sampson (Cleveland Browns)
Running back Nick Chubb had an excellent stint with the Cleveland Browns that included four straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons from 2019 to 2022. A devastating knee injury in 2023, though, derailed his time there, which has now come to an end. With Chubb in Houston, the Browns needed to address the running back position in the draft. They chose to take Ohio State's Quinshon Judkins in the second round and Tennessee's Dylan Sampson in the fourth.
Judkins has gotten most of the hype, but Sampson is an intriguing prospect, too, and should not be overlooked. Sampson dominated defenses in 2024 at Tennessee, rushing for 1,491 yards and 22 touchdowns in 13 games. While his receiving usage wasn't remarkable, he does possess decent skills in this area. Browns running backs coach Duce Staley mentioned this recently and said Sampson has been getting work as both a running back and a receiver.
DYLAN SAMPSON CONTINUES TO BALL THIS SEASON 🔥
A 27-YD TOUCHDOWN TO RETAKE THE LEAD VS. GEORGIA 😤 pic.twitter.com/HmuJLppFvZ
— ESPN (@espn) November 17, 2024
Thus, Judkins and Sampson could both be able to thrive in a two-headed backfield. Of course, Jerome Ford remains in the mix, but the team drafting two RBs in the first four rounds was not exactly a vote of confidence in him. Moreover, Judkins, like Sampson, is yet to see NFL game action; his draft capital advantage will become irrelevant quickly if Sampson outperforms him.
Sampson is currently going as the RB53 in fantasy drafts. The presence of Judkins, and to a lesser extent, Ford, does justify some trepidation about drafting Sampson too highly. However, how this backfield shakes out is yet to be seen, and Sampson's résumé and skill set are worth betting on at his current range.
Emeka Egbuka (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers already had a quality receiving room entering the draft. With Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, they boasted a strong duo atop the pecking order, and Jalen McMillan fared well as a third-round rookie a season ago. Tampa Bay decided to address the receiver position anyway, adding Ohio State's Emeka Egbuka with the 19th overall pick in this year's draft.
The 6-foot-1, 202-pound Egbuka had two seasons of at least 70 catches, 1,000 yards, and 10 TDs with the Buckeyes. He is a smooth route runner, which in turn allows him to pick up solid yards after the catch. Bucs QB Baker Mayfield was also recently quoted saying he thinks the team could "plug-and-play [Egbuka] at any receiver spot," per ESPN, which is a promising sign for Egbuka's involvement this season.
Buckeyes add 6 more!
Emeka Egbuka for @OhioStateFB 🔥 pic.twitter.com/zZYRbpuXhE
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 29, 2024
The roster in Tampa Bay has fantasy managers bearish about Egbuka's outlook for this season, but perhaps that should not be the case. Godwin is returning from a terrible ankle injury he suffered last October. Evans has been remarkably consistent, but he is soon to be 32 years old. Finally, McMillan is a surmountable obstacle despite his decent performance in 2024. Given Egbuka's versatility, his paths to a large target share are multiple and plausible.
Egbuka's ADP currently stands as the WR50 due to the names ahead of and around him in Tampa Bay. Talent has a way of shining through regardless of the situation, however, and Egbuka has plenty of talent. In his current draft range, fantasy managers can get bogged down by analyzing depth charts instead of simply taking swings on good football players. Do not make that mistake.
Tre Harris (Los Angeles Chargers)
The Los Angeles Chargers made a great choice in last year's draft when they nabbed receiver Ladd McConkey with the second pick of the second round. McConkey totaled 82 catches for 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns en route to a WR12 finish in PPR scoring. Now, the Chargers have spent a second-round pick on another receiver. Former Ole Miss wideout Tre Harris will join the team in 2025.
Harris dealt with several injuries last year, but he put up amazing numbers in the games he played. He accumulated 60 catches for 1,030 yards and seven touchdowns in just eight appearances. While Harris does not have elite athleticism, he did show physicality, good game speed, and excellent ball-tracking skills with the Rebels. These traits should help him be a viable deep threat at the next level.
THERE GOES THAT MAN 🤯@_treharris13 | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/QTNtw028to
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) September 22, 2024
With McConkey as the established WR1 now in Los Angeles, Harris will need to contend with Quentin Johnston for the WR2 role. Fortunately for Harris, Johnston has a well-earned reputation for dropping passes at this point. The Chargers also signed veteran receiver Mike Williams this offseason, but Williams informed the team of his retirement as training camp opened. A lot of snaps alongside McConkey are up for grabs, and Harris is well-positioned to claim them.
Harris is currently being drafted as the WR61. The Chargers offense should have an emphasis on the running game again with rookie Omarion Hampton and veteran Najee Harris in the backfield, so the upside of the WR2 role there is limited. Still, Justin Herbert is a very good quarterback, the Chargers should score a decent amount of points, and McConkey is the only other impressive receiving option on the team. Scooping up Harris at this price would make a lot of sense.
Kyle Williams (New England Patriots)
The New England Patriots reshaped their receiving room this offseason to support second-year quarterback Drake Maye. They signed both Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins in free agency while retaining DeMario Douglas. Then, New England rounded out the crop of weapons by adding former Washington State receiver Kyle Williams to the mix with the fifth pick of the third round.
Williams is a smaller receiver who stands at 5-foot-11 and weighs 190 pounds. He ran a 4.40-second 40-yard dash at the combine, though, showing off his excellent speed. Williams is also a good route runner with good release, helping set up opportunities for gaining yards after the catch. He used these skills to catch 70 balls for 1,198 yards and 14 touchdowns last year as a Cougar.
Kyle Williams hit the JETS for @WSUCougarFB on this 66-yard TD 💨 pic.twitter.com/r6XXxtz84t
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 28, 2024
The situation in New England also appears favorable for Williams to make an immediate impact. Diggs was the big addition this year, but he is now 31 and coming off a torn ACL. Douglas has been reliable, but his aDOT last season was just 5.9 yards. Other options like Hollins, Kayshon Boutte, Kendrick Bourne, etc., are all limited to varying extents as well. Williams has a real chance at emerging as Maye's favorite downfield target as a rookie.
As the WR69 in fantasy drafts, Williams provides great value. Maye will continue to make strides as a passer, and some receiver or receivers in New England will reap the rewards. Diggs is the likeliest beneficiary, but Williams' youth and tantalizing skill set make him an extremely interesting candidate for fantasy drafts. Take a chance on Williams and target him to join your bench for 2025.
Elic Ayomanor (Tennessee Titans)
The Will Levis era is over in Tennessee, as the Titans drafted Cam Ward first overall this year to be their quarterback of the future. The team's plan also involved overhauling the receiving corps. While the top option in Calvin Ridley remains, Tennessee also added veterans Tyler Lockett and Van Jefferson in free agency. It then drafted both Florida's Chimere Dike and Stanford's Elic Ayomanor in April.
Both Dike and Ayomanor were fourth-round picks, but Dike went 33 picks earlier. Ayomanor, though, is the more intriguing choice for fantasy. Dike will likely be used more as a return man and gadget speedster, whereas Ayomanor will be used as an X receiver. Because Dike's projected special teams contributions contributed to his higher draft capital but aren't useful for fantasy football, Ayomanor is the preferred target here.
Additionally, while Ridley is the WR1, he is 30 years old now, and Lockett is 32. One of the young guys on the roster, UDFA Xavier Restrepo included, should rise to the occasion, and Ayomanor is the likeliest of the bunch. At 6-foot-2, he is adept at making contested catches, and he also ran a 4.44-second 40-yard dash.
Ayomanor is also responsible for one of the most dominant halves of football I have ever seen; he caught 13 passes for 294 yards and three touchdowns, all in the second half against Travis Hunter and the Colorado Buffaloes in 2023.
ELIC AYOMANOR OVER Travis Hunter IN OT 😱#SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/5odnyQrttn
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 14, 2023
Ayomanor can become Ward's favorite possession receiver in short order, which makes him an appealing selection at his ADP of WR79. Fantasy managers should monitor the news coming out of Tennessee about who is making waves. As it stands now, though, Ayomanor would be a strong value pick in fantasy drafts.
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