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Brandon Murchison dives into his fantasy football winners and risers from the 2025 NFL Draft. His top fantasy football risers and potential draft targets post-draft.
The 2025 NFL Draft has reshaped the fantasy football landscape, creating fresh opportunities for both rookies and veterans to shine. Each year, the draft injects new talent into the league, with highly touted prospects landing in ideal situations that can catapult them into immediate fantasy relevance. Meanwhile, established veterans often benefit from the ripple effects of these selections, whether through improved team dynamics, reduced defensive attention, or new offensive schemes tailored to their strengths. This year’s draft has set the stage for a thrilling fantasy season, with several players -- new and old -- emerging as clear winners poised to deliver standout performances.
For rookies, the draft is a make-or-break moment that determines their fantasy upside. A high draft pick landing with a team in need of a workhorse running back, a dynamic wide receiver, or a dual-threat quarterback can instantly become a fantasy darling. In 2025, we only saw two potentially meaningful quarterbacks drafted while several running backs slotted into run-first systems, giving them the volume and opportunity to rack up points early. These young players are often overvalued in fantasy drafts due to what I like to refer to as "shiny new toy syndrome," and can provide tremendous value for savvy managers who capitalize on their favorable landings and project their roles in high-powered offenses.
Veterans, on the other hand, can see their fantasy stock soar when the draft aligns the right pieces around them. A quarterback with a new elite receiver can elevate his passing numbers, while a running back paired with a bolstered offensive line might see more running lanes and scoring chances. The 2025 draft has reshuffled depth charts and offensive philosophies, creating scenarios where veterans are now better positioned to exploit defenses. Whether it’s a wide receiver benefiting from a rookie drawing coverage or a quarterback thriving with upgraded weapons, the draft’s impact reverberates across the league, making these players prime targets for fantasy managers looking to build a championship roster.
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The Veterans
Justin Fields - QB, New York Jets
Justin Fields’ fantasy football stock has surged following the 2025 NFL Draft, as the New York Jets bolstered their offensive line with a high-upside pick, enhancing his protection and mobility. In 2024, Fields averaged 4.66 yards per carry and 28.9 rushing yards per game. With a stronger line, he could approach his 2022 peak of 1,143 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, a rare feat for a quarterback.
The addition of a dynamic rookie tight end (to go along with stalwart Garrett Wilson) also complements his passing game, which saw a career-high 65.8 percent completion rate in 2024, and could potentially increase his upside as a passer in fantasy.
Optimism after the draft could now project Fields as a top-10 fantasy quarterback in 2025 due to his dual-threat ability in an improved offensive scheme.
Chase Brown - RB, Cincinnati Bengals
Chase Brown’s fantasy football stock will now skyrocket following the 2025 NFL Draft, as the Cincinnati Bengals only selected running back Tahj Brooks in the sixth round, solidifying Brown’s role as the primary back. From Week 9 onward in 2024, Brown averaged 21.7 points per game in PPR formats, ranking as the RB5 in points per game (18.4) and first in expected points per game (22.3), showcasing his elite production when given the lead role.
His 90+ yards from scrimmage in eight consecutive games and PFF’s 14th-highest-graded RB status highlight his ability to handle a bell-cow workload. The lack of significant competition, with only a late-round rookie added, positions Brown as a high-end RB2 with RB1 upside in 2025, likely commanding a second-round pick in fantasy drafts.
Brown’s safety as the Bengals lead back should boost his value as a potential top-24 overall player.
Khalil Shakir - WR, Buffalo Bills
Khalil Shakir’s fantasy football stock surprisingly went unaffected after the 2025 NFL Draft, as the Buffalo Bills did not select a high-profile wide receiver, leaving Shakir as Josh Allen’s primary target. In 2024, Shakir led the Bills with 76 receptions on 100 targets for 821 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 10.8 PPR points per game despite a crowded receiver room.
The departure of Amari Cooper and the addition of Joshua Palmer, a complementary outside receiver, ensure Shakir’s slot role remains secure, where he logged the eighth-most slot snaps among NFL receivers last season. His 88 percent catch rate in 2023 and 2.18 yards per route run in nine high-snap games last year underscore his efficiency and reliability.
With no significant rookie competition and a pass-heavy offense, Shakir projects as a low-end WR2 for 2025, offering a high floor in PPR formats.
Jake Ferguson - TE, Dallas Cowboys
Jake Ferguson’s fantasy football stock has soared post-2025 NFL Draft, as the Dallas Cowboys added only a late-round tight end, reinforcing Ferguson’s role as Dak Prescott’s go-to target (after CeeDee Lamb) in the passing game. In 2024, Ferguson recorded 59 receptions on 86 targets for 494 yards while not finding the end zone, finishing as the TE22 in PPR formats with an average of 7.5 points per game.
His 66.3 percent catch rate and 1.59 yards per route run, paired with a 25 percent target share in games without CeeDee Lamb, highlight his reliability and upside in high-volume situations. The Cowboys’ draft focus on offensive line improvements rather than skill-position players ensures Ferguson faces minimal competition for targets, especially in the red zone, where he saw 15 targets in 2024.
With a favorable offensive environment and consistent usage, Ferguson is poised to solidify his status as a top-6 fantasy tight end in 2025.
The Rookies
Bhayshul Tuten - RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Bhayshul Tuten’s fantasy football stock has surged after being selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fourth round (No. 104 overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft, positioning him in a backfield with an opportunity if the team intends to move on from incumbent Travis Etienne Jr.
Tuten’s blazing 4.32-second 40-yard dash and 40.5-inch vertical jump at the 2025 NFL Combine highlight his elite speed and explosiveness, ideal for Liam Coen’s zone-heavy offensive scheme that fueled Bucky Irving’s 2024 rookie success.
In 2024 at Virginia Tech, Tuten rushed for 1,159 yards and 15 touchdowns on 183 carries (6.3 yards per carry), with 54 percent of his yardage coming on breakaway runs, showcasing his big-play potential. His 228 missed tackles forced over three seasons and 18 percent explosive run rate make him a dynamic complement to Tank Bigsby, though his nine fumbles in two years at Virginia Tech raise ball-security concerns.
As a likely change-of-pace back with passing-game upside (31 receptions for 342 yards in 2022), Tuten projects as a high-upside RB3 in PPR leagues, with RB2 potential if he secures a significant role.
RJ Harvey - RB, Denver Broncos
RJ Harvey’s fantasy football stock will now need to be monitored by NASA after being drafted by the Denver Broncos at No. 60 overall in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, landing in a Sean Payton offense known for targeting running backs heavily.
In 2024, Harvey rushed for 1,577 yards on 232 carries (6.8 yards per carry) and 22 touchdowns at UCF while adding 20 receptions for 233 yards, showcasing his three-down potential.
His 4.40-second 40-yard dash and 97 carries of 10+ yards over two seasons (most in the nation) highlight his explosive playmaking, ideal for Denver’s committee backfield alongside Audric Estime and Jaleel McLaughlin.
Despite fumbling issues (at least one fumble each of the last three seasons), Harvey’s draft capital and fit in a pass-heavy system give him RB2 upside, with projections of 189 carries for 773 yards, six touchdowns, and 38 receptions for 284 yards in 2025.
If Harvey supplants both Estime and McLaughlin as the lead back for the Broncos, the potential is there for him to finish the season as an RB2 in fantasy.
Tre Harris - WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Tre Harris’ fantasy football stock should steadily increase after being selected by the Los Angeles Chargers in the second round (No. 55 overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft, joining a Justin Herbert-led offense in need of a reliable outside wide receiver.
In 2024 at Ole Miss, Harris amassed 59 receptions for 1,033 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 17.5 yards per catch and ranking third in the SEC with 79.5 receiving yards per game, demonstrating his ability to stretch the field.
His 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame, 4.48-second 40-yard dash, and 70 percent contested catch rate make him an ideal fit for Greg Roman’s play-action-heavy scheme, complementing Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston. With the Chargers’ WR2 role open after Joshua Palmer’s uneven 2024 (46 receptions, 615 yards), Harris could command 70-90 targets, projecting out to 55 receptions, 800 yards, and five touchdowns in 2025.
If he can develop an early rapport with Herbert, his red-zone upside could position Harris as a WR3 with WR2 upside in PPR leagues.
Jack Bech - WR, Las Vegas Raiders
Jack Bech’s fantasy football stock could see a very nice bump over the summer after being selected by the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 58 overall in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, landing in an offense with Geno Smith and minimal competition for targets beyond Jakobi Meyers and Brock Bowers.
In 2024 at TCU, Bech recorded 62 receptions for 1,034 yards and nine touchdowns on 91 targets with just one drop, showcasing his reliability and efficiency with a 16.7 yards per catch average.
His 17 contested catches (tied for second in the Big 12) and Senior Bowl MVP performance, including a game-winning touchdown, highlight his ability to excel in high-pressure situations, making him a fit for Chip Kelly’s scheme.
With the Raiders’ thin receiver depth -- although the team did also draft Tennessee WR Dont'e Thornton Jr. -- Bech is poised to compete for the WR2 role, which could project out to 83 targets, 54 receptions, 690 yards, and three touchdowns in 2025.
Even though he will begin the season as a bench player in most formats, the upside is there for Bech to become a matchup-based flex play by the season's end.
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