Rookie Fantasy Football Impact

Which NFL Draft prospects will make an immediate fantasy football impact in 2025? Mike Fanelli provides his eight favorite early impact rookies for fantasy football.

The 2024 NFL Draft class had several elite quarterback and wide receiver prospects. While the 2025 NFL Draft class lacks an elite quarterback or wide receiver prospect, the running back and tight end groups are loaded.

Fantasy players should start preparing for their dynasty rookie drafts. The next few months will sneak up quickly. While landing spot isn’t the most important factor when determining rookies’ fantasy football outlook, it plays a significant role in their early career success.

However, some players will make an immediate fantasy impact as rookies regardless of their landing spot. Let’s look at eight rookies who will have early fantasy football success in 2025.

• 2025 fantasy football rankings
• Running back (RB) rankings
• Wide receiver (WR) rankings
• Quarterback (QB) rankings
• Tight end (TE) rankings
• Defense (D/ST) rankings
• Kicker (K) rankings
• FLEX rankings
• Dynasty rankings

Cam Ward, QB, Miami

Reportedly, many down at the Senior Bowl believe Ward will be the first overall pick by the Tennessee Titans. After dominating at Washington State, the talented quarterback took his game to another level in his lone season at Miami, finishing fourth in the Heisman Trophy race. Ward completed 67.2% of his pass attempts for 4,313 yards and an ACC-high 39 touchdowns.

Furthermore, he made plays with his legs, totaling 17 rushing touchdowns in his college career. Fantasy players should expect him to have early fantasy success in the NFL because of his experience and rushing abilities. Don’t be surprised if Ward has a Bo Nix-like rookie season, relying on his legs early in the year while he develops the passing game with his receiving core.

Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama

Fantasy players know rushing quarterbacks can be a cheat code. Justin Fields isn’t a starting-caliber NFL quarterback. However, he has been a solid QB1 for fantasy players because of his rushing abilities. Hopefully, Milroe will develop into a quality passer in the NFL. Yet, fantasy players can rely on him early in his career because of his legs.

The former Alabama star had 5,678 passing yards and 39 touchdowns in his two years as the starting quarterback. More importantly, Milroe had 329 rushing attempts for 1,257 yards and 32 touchdowns over the past two seasons, including a team-high 20 scores in 2024. He isn’t just a short-yardage runner. Milroe can score from anywhere on the field.

👀👀👀

📺: ABC pic.twitter.com/kIfdICmlES

— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) November 10, 2024

Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

Anyone with the first overall pick in their dynasty rookie drafts this year can’t wait to get their hands on Jeanty. He finished second in the Heisman Trophy race after leading Boise State to the College Football Playoffs. More importantly, the superstar had arguably the best season in college football history by a running back in 2024.

Last year, Jeanty had 374 rushing attempts for 2,601 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns, leading college football in every category. While he fell short of breaking Barry Sanders’ rushing record, the superstar was unbelievable. Jeanty will likely be a top-15 pick in the NFL. Expect him to have a massive rookie season regardless of his landing spot.

Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina

While Ashton Jeanty is the superstar of the running back draft class, several other runners will be stars in the NFL. Hampton didn’t get much national attention because of North Carolina’s 6-7 record last season. However, the star running back was outstanding, totaling over 1,500 rushing yards for the second consecutive year.

Furthermore, Hampton had over 16 offensive touchdowns for the second straight season, including a five-score performance in the win over Florida State. He can be a three-down running back in the NFL after totaling 38 receptions for 373 receiving yards and two touchdowns last year. Hopefully, Hampton lands a featured role as a rookie.

What a Game: Omarion Hampton

265 Total Yards

5 Touchdowns

• 172 Rushing yards 4 TDs
• 3 rec 93 yards 1 TD pic.twitter.com/XAT5FaImJM

— Jay (@JayHardy252) November 2, 2024

Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

Unfortunately, this year’s wide receiver class lacks the elite prospects that last year’s class offered. However, several wide receivers in the draft class can make an impact early in their rookie seasons. McMillan will likely be the first pass catcher off the board and a top-10 pick. Many fantasy players have already penciled him into the 1.02 pick in their rookie drafts.

The former Arizona star totaled at least eight receiving touchdowns every year of his college career. Last season, McMillan had 84 receptions for 1,319 receiving yards, leading the Big 12 in yards. Furthermore, he had 90 receptions for 1,402 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in 2023. Don’t be surprised if McMillan has a Brian Thomas Jr.-like rookie season after an excellent college career.

Matthew Golden, WR, Texas

Golden has a chance to unseat Tetairoa McMillan as the first wide receiver drafted in April. The former Texas star has seen his draft stock skyrocket after projecting as a mid-round pick entering the 2024 college football season. Reportedly, many scouts and general managers love Golden and his ability to play all over the field.

After two solid years at Houston, Golden transferred to Texas last season and became a star. He had 58 receptions for 987 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, leading the SEC in receiving scores. More importantly, Golden shines during the Longhorns’ playoff run, totaling seven receptions for 149 receiving yards and a massive touchdown in the win over Arizona State.

Texas WR Matthew Golden vs Arizona State:

🤘 7 REC
🤘 149 YDS
🤘 1 TD@TexasFootball pic.twitter.com/jhcoufrZWc

— PFF College (@PFF_College) January 1, 2025

Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State

While Warren won’t be the 1.01 pick in dynasty rookie drafts, the former Penn State star will be my favorite rookie to draft and one of my highest-rostered players this summer. He should follow the recent trend of tight ends shining early in their careers. Brock Bowers and Sam LaPorta have been the overall TE1 in back-to-back years despite being rookies.

Fantasy players who missed out on drafting Bowers last year should make Warren a must-have pick this year. He isn’t the same receiving threat as Bowers was coming out of college. However, the former Penn State star is a do-it-all tight end. Warren led the Big 10 in receptions last season (104) while having a role in the run game, totaling 26 rushing attempts for 218 yards and four touchdowns.

Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green

This year’s tight end class might be the deepest in recent memory. Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland are first-round NFL Draft pick locks. Meanwhile, Fannin and Elijah Arroyo could sneak into Day 1. While Arroyo is an athletic freak, Fannin is more pro-ready and should have an immediate impact in the NFL after putting up massive numbers in his last year at Bowling Green.

Many will knock the tight end’s production because it wasn’t against elite competition. However, Fannin had a record-breaking 1,555 receiving yards in 2024, over 200 more than any other tight end in college football history, despite not turning 21 years old until July. Typically, younger prospects take time to become fantasy stars. Yet, I’m betting on Fannin to be a star early in his rookie season.

When people talk about this being a very special TE class, here's what they mean...

1⃣ Harold Fannin had a record-breaking 1,555 receiving yards last year, +203 more than any other FBS TE in CFB history. (He'll be 20 years old on draft day.)

2⃣ Tyler Warren had a…

— Scott Barrett (@ScottBarrettDFB) February 12, 2025

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