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Justin's five underrated early rookie sleeper draft targets. His top players to draft outside the first round in fantasy football dynasty rookie drafts in 2025.
We all know at this point who the top names are heading into the 2025 NFL Draft. Ashton Jeanty will be the dynasty rookie RB1. Tetairoa McMillan will be the rookie WR1.
But fantasy leagues aren't won just by getting a top-2 or three rookie pick and grabbing the best guys. Rookie drafts are also a great time to identify sleepers and make sure you get those guys on your roster.
Below are five players who are currently being taken outside of the first round in rookie drafts who you should keep an eye on.
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Cam Skattebo - RB - Arizona State
Cam Skattebo was one of the unexpected breakout stars of 2024. In fact, I'd argue that the fifth-place Heisman finisher was the biggest surprise in college football last season. Jeanty almost breaking the single-season yardage record was impressive, but anyone who'd watched Jeanty closely knew he was in for a big 2024.
But Skattebo came from nowhere. After starting his career at Sacramento State, he was just fine in 2023, his first year at Arizona State, before leading the Big 12 in attempts and rushing yards in 2024 while scoring 21 rushing touchdowns.
Projecting Skattebo forward is tough, though. Only having one real year of top-level college production makes for a difficult evaluation, and he doesn't really possess the kind of high-end speed you want to see from an NFL running back.
However, Skattebo's physicality stands out, and he's the kind of player who just doesn't stop. He's a tough runner who will keep his legs moving through contact, as well as a solid receiver out of the backfield.
One of the biggest breakout stars this season was Cam Skattebo of Arizona State. He ran for over 1,700 yards and 21 touchdowns on the season and in the Peach Bowl had 143 yards rushing, 99 receiving, 50 yards passing and 3 total TD’s. pic.twitter.com/d2Xon30FQ3
— College Football Live (@CollegeFBonX) March 25, 2025
If determination was a fantasy football stat, Skattebo would be a league winner. There are definitely physical limitations with him, but his tenacity makes it hard to bet against the dude. I'm more confident in him having a five-plus year NFL career than in him busting.
Dylan Sampson - RB - Tennessee
It really feels like people are forgetting about Dylan Sampson right now. Part of that was he didn't run the 40 at the NFL Scouting Combine, which stifled some of the growing hype around him. Another part is that at just 5-foot-8, there are concerns about his height and if he'll hold up in the NFL.
But the Tennessee product is explosive with the ball in his hands, capable of busting off a long run at a moment's notice. He's also a solid blocker because despite his lack of height, he's got a strong build and can hold his own in pass protection.
Sure, Sampson is a flawed prospect. He just isn't exactly what a team's looking for in a running back. But his speed gives him plenty of upside, even if he ends up as more of a change-of-pace back than a full-time starter.
There's obviously some risk here. Sampson has to prove that he can survive the increased physicality of the NFL. You can't run away from every defender on every play. Can he break tackles against NFL linemen? Can he create something out of nothing when the defense gets into the backfield right off the jump? We'll just have to see.
Jayden Higgins - WR - Iowa State
Like Skattebo, Jayden Higgins is another player who began his career below the FBS level. Higgins spent two seasons at Eastern Kentucky before making the move to Iowa State in 2023.
Across two years and 26 games, Higgins caught 140 passes for 2,166 yards and 15 touchdowns. At 6-foot-4, he has the size you want to see in a top NFL receiver, someone who can use his height and long arms to go up and grab a jump ball.
He's also shown a ton of reliability. Higgins isn't going to go out there and drop a lot of passes. When you need someone to make a difficult catch in traffic, he's your guy.
I loved what I saw on film from Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel.
Both looked like potential NFL stars.
I looked up their splits when one star WR was off the field. Jayden Higgins saw his production skyrocket 🚀
It's a small sample size, but those are true WR1 rates https://t.co/q9fOwSKjvP pic.twitter.com/b9ZFHMnzdW
— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) March 26, 2025
However, he lacks a lot of the high-end speed that's come to define elite NFL wide receivers. He won't go out there and run away from a defense. He won't consistently get a ton of yards after the catch.
Still, he has the skill set to be a chain mover in the NFL. In full PPR leagues, his ability to make plays out of the slot in the short and medium passing game will provide a solid boost to his fantasy numbers.
Isaiah Bond - WR - Texas
Isaiah Bond transferred to Texas in 2024. I'm betting part of that was he looked at how many recent Texas wide receivers either were early draft picks or were set up to be early draft picks in the future and thought a move to Austin was in his best interest.
Instead, Bond took a step back, catching 34 passes for 540 yards. His five touchdowns were one more than he had in 2023, and he added a rushing score, but at best, he just maintained his level from his last year at Alabama instead of improving on it.
However, let's factor in some other things here. Texas was deep when it came to receiver options this year. Matthew Golden might be a first-round pick. Tight end Gunnar Helm was one of the best at that position in college football. Running back Jaydon Blue had 42 receptions.
It was tough for Bond to stand out on that roster, but that doesn't mean he's a bad player.
The 5-foot-11 receiver has the speed to make big things happen when the ball's in his hand. If an NFL team can scheme to get him open looks in space, he can take advantage of that to gain huge yardage.
Will he be on the field for every down? Probably not. Will he be able to win against physical corners? Not at first. But if he lands somewhere with the right quarterback — specifically, one with good timing and accuracy in the short passing game — then he can carve out a key role in the NFL.
Harold Fannin Jr. - TE - Bowling Green
As a graduate of Bowling Green State University, the fact that I'm writing about a BGSU tight end being one of the top prospects at his position in the NFL Draft is wild.
Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland are the clear top two at tight end in this class, but Harold Fannin Jr. has a strong argument for being third after catching 117 passes for 1,555 yards and 10 touchdowns last year. He led the FBS in receptions and receiving yards.
Bowling Green TE Harold Fannin Jr.'s tape vs. Penn State last season was a fun watch (11 catches, 137 yards, TD).
Seam runs, crossers off play-action, routes out of the slot, screen targets. Dude can move at 6-3, 240. pic.twitter.com/UnhRN2Gk7k
— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) March 25, 2025
As a pass catcher, Fannin is ready for the NFL. He's a versatile receiver who can basically do all the things you want a tight end to do from a receiving perspective. He can make contested catches. He can use his speed to find holes in the second level. He can be a vertical threat.
The issue will be adjusting as a blocker. History is littered with good college receiving tight ends who could change in the NFL to the increased responsibility of playing in-line and blocking NFL-level defensive linemen and linebackers.
With that in mind, Fannin is certainly a risky rookie pick because there's no guarantee he will improve fast enough as a blocker to make an impact as a rookie. Still, he's potentially a huge mismatch because of his catch ability, so drafting him in the third round of rookie drafts feels like a no-brainer.
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