RADIO
Efton Chism III is a fantasy football sleeper and value in 2025 fantasy football rookie drafts. Read the fantasy football outlook for the new Patriots wide receiver.
DRAFT PICK: Undrafted
TEAM: New England Patriots
ROOKIE DRAFT ANALYSIS: No undrafted receiver has been discussed more through minicamps than Eastern Washington University's Efton Chism III. After going undrafted, Chism became a sought-after free agent with many potential suitors, signing with New England on what ESPN beat reporter Mike Reiss believes is the richest UDFA deal the team has ever handed out.
Editor's Note: Steer clear of costly draft mistakes with RotoBaller’s expert Fantasy Football Bust analysis. We break down overvalued players, potential letdowns, and risky ADPs to avoid, so you can build a smarter, safer roster.
The early buzz around Chism was to be expected, given his pairing with returning offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and the success of past slot receivers in McDaniels' system. And by all accounts, Chism has looked the part, earning first looks and targets from every quarterback on the roster and seamlessly stepping in to run with the ones when health and maintenance held some of the presumed starters out of full team activities.
Efton Chism getting in and out of his breaks early in practice. pic.twitter.com/GJAjZyYIKm
— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) June 9, 2025
While the journey from FCS to NFL can be a grueling one, it helps to at least see the path. Chism follows in the footsteps of fellow EWU alums Kendrick Bourne and Cooper Kupp, the former of whom he will now call a teammate and potential mentor, and the latter of whom held the Eagles' school record for receptions until Chism caught a whopping 120 balls on 146 targets in 2024.
While Chism still sits behind fellow jitterbug DeMario Douglas for a primary role out of the slot, he offers a thicker build and willingness to block that McDaniels has long valued from his slot receiver. If Chism continues to gain the trust of quarterback Drake Maye, it's going to be hard to keep him off the field. If he proves to be worthy of a roster spot, McDaniels will find ways to get him the ball in space.
- Patrick McGrath
More NFL Draft Analysis
2025 Fantasy Football Rookie WR Rankings (July Updates): Travis Hunter, Matthew Golden, Jayden Higgins, Elic Ayomanor, Jaylin Noel, Kyle Williams
NFL training camps are set to begin later this month, and it's time to start digging into rookies if you have not done so yet. To get you up to speed on first-year players, check out our 2025 fantasy football rookie wide receiver rankings. Below, check out where key Year 1 wideouts, including Travis Hunter, […]
2025 Fantasy Football Rookie RB Rankings (July Updates): Ashton Jeanty, TreVeyon Henderson, RJ Harvey, Jarquez Hunter, Cam Skattebo, Tahj Brooks
The calendar has flipped to July, which means NFL training camp is set to begin later this month, and the fantasy football season isn't all that far away. To get you up to speed on first-year players, check out our 2025 fantasy football rookie running back rankings. Find out where key Year 1 ball carriers […]
Updated 2025 Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Post-NFL Draft - Travis Hunter, Omarion Hampton, Colston Loveland, Matthew Golden, RJ Harvey, more
The 2025 NFL Draft is officially in the rear-view mirror, which means the thick of dynasty rookie drafts is here! Below you will find our updated 2025 fantasy football rookie rankings after the NFL Draft, with updated ranks for the top 100 NFL rookies. Where do players like Travis Hunter, Omarion Hampton, Matthew Golden, RJ […]
5 Fantasy Football Rookies To Buy Low On: NFL Draft Losers to Trade for or Draft in Dynasty Leagues (2025)
Not every player ends up in the perfect spot in the NFL Draft. Sure, you can look at someone like Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan or Titans quarterback Cam Ward and think, "dang, they landed somewhere with a clear path to playing time," but there are plenty of players who don't get that lucky. Landing […]
Last Year's Fantasy Football Busts to Trade For: 5 Dynasty Buy-Lows and Trade Targets
One of my favorite things in dynasty is buying low on players. Maybe it's because I'm eternally optimistic about my favorite players, but there's just something so rewarding about trading for a guy once everyone else has given up on him and then reaping the rewards. Jonnu Smith, for example, was a great buy-low option […]
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!
