To celebrate Sleeper inputting the 2025 rookie class into their database, the DFF squad got together to do a spontaneous rookie mock. We are taking the best player available in a Superflex, PPR, Tight End Premium format.
With that, let’s jump right into the picks.
Round 1
1.01 – Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise St – @force_fantasy
Jeanty should get first-round pedigree and has a bell-cow profile. He grades out as a Bijan Robinson-level prospect for me, maybe a slight notch below due to competition. Jeanty/Robinson metrics are nearly identical. Career MTF/A 37.8%/39.3%, Breakaway Run% 9.4%/9.0%, Yards per att 6.4/6.1, Yards after contact 4.8/4.4, Best season PFF rush grade 96.6/96.1.
1.02 – Cameron Ward, QB, Miami – @jim_DFF
Cam Ward was the 1.01 in Mel Kiper’s most recent NFL Mock Draft, and he’s my QB1 of the class. He wouldn’t have been a top-four quarterback in the 2024 class, so I’m not ecstatic, but a projected Day 1 starter and the first overall pick deserves to go early in Superflex. And I do believe Ward has many NFL qualities to him. He’s a high IQ guy, mobile enough to extend plays (should have some rushing upside), can throw to all levels, and is completely unbothered by pressure in the pocket.
1.03 – Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona – @DFF_Matt_T
Tetairoa McMillan should get top-three pedigree as he’s a safer WR option with a similar upside to Travis Hunter, who could get announced at the NFL Draft as a CB and not WR. McMillan is a very physically imposing prospect at 6’5”, and he had a strong year for Arizona, catching 84 passes for 1,319 yards and eight touchdowns. McMillan moves with fluidity and can quickly get up to top speed with long strides. He’s received Mike Evans player comparisons and will have great value if he ends up in a solid landing spot like the Patriots.
1.04 – TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State – @DFF_MR
Henderson feels like he’s already been drafted by the Dallas Cowboys with rumors of Jeanty going to Chicago at 10. Regardless, he’d be primed to produce immediately at a high level as the RB1 for a squad that made Rico Dowdle Dynasty-relevant for the first time at age 26 in Year 4. Should Hendo land somewhere else RB-needy like Denver, I’d still be smashing him at the 1.04.
1.05 – Harold Fannin Jr., RB, Bowling Green University – @BWinkNFL
Every draft class has its share of flashy blue-chip prospects from big-time programs, and there is plenty of that available here. But there are few things I love more than a classic small-school homegrown demon of a prospect such as Harold Fannin Jr. Statistically, Fannin put together the most impressive and dominant receiving season of any player at any position this college season, and yet, I believe the analytics don’t even quite do the tape justice.
Fannin is a refined route runner and an extremely explosive YAC weapon. He breaks on inside routes with a similar crispness to many elite power slots in the NFL, which is the role I project the most success for him in the league. He attacks the ball well at the catch point and has the ability to track balls downfield. Fannin is also a dynamic weapon in the screen game, with good vision and borderline elite athletic traits despite his smaller stature.
He’s a true 3-level scorer as a receiver from the Y/Power F roles, and regardless of whether you think there are more complete tight ends in this class, Fannin is far and away the most dynamic receiving threat, and, thus, the fantasy TE1.
1.06 – Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State – @Evan_Kerr_
Emeka Egbuka never shined as the top receiver for the Buckeyes but is their all-time leader in both receptions and yards. He is one of only two receivers in OSU history with multiple 1,000-yard seasons. He is an extremely polished route runner with sticky hands, exceptional footwork, and great ball-tracking ability. He profiles as more of a power slot wide receiver, but his ability to get separation and yards after the catch elevates his ceiling to a perennial WR1. If there were one wide receiver I would pick to have a chance at entering the elite tier of receivers for fantasy, Egbuka would be my choice.
1.07 – Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina – @force_fantasy
There were four players I had pretty close at this pick. Luther Burden, Shedeur Sanders, Kaleb Johnson, and Omarion Hampton. I felt Johnson had the best chance of making it back around to my next pick, so I ruled him out. I feel Hampton offers the most receiving upside in this class for the running back position, and receiving running backs are the key to sustained fantasy success. Hampton was second in the class in yards after contact (4.0) to Ashton Jeanty (4.8).
1.08 – Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado – @jim_DFF
Similar to Ward, I’m not overly opinionated on Sanders as an NFL prospect. However, if the NFL sees him as a Top 5 pick like many mock drafts suggest, you kind of have to soak in that value at 1.08. Sanders’ pocket presence is a concern, as he tends to hold onto the ball too long and take sacks he shouldn’t. But he’s highly athletic and has above-average arm strength and accuracy. Unfortunately, he doesn’t use his athleticism and mobility to pick up yards on the ground, so his fantasy ceiling will be capped to an extent.
1.09 – Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State – @DFF_Matt_T
Quinshon Judkins has good but not great athleticism, but he’s a very good physical runner. He looks like he seeks contact with defenders rather than trying to avoid them. He might not have the top-end breakaway speed, but he has a fast first step and great short-area quickness. He is also a good receiver of the ball, but not great. At this point, I believe he is good value in the rookie draft. Overall, if he gets drafted by a run-heavy team that likes to pound the rock, he could get a higher grade, and if he can live up to the Joe Mixon and Kareem Hunt pro comparisons, he’ll have a very solid career.
1.10 – Luther Burden, WR, Missouri – @DFF_MR
Luther Burden at 10 feels like a borderline steal; all of my Devy Leagues have him as a top 5 2025 SuperFlex asset (including underclassmen). Should he land in Carolina or NOLA, I like the boom upside this late in the first, with Carolina as my preferred spot. The WRs in the class tumbling a few spots because of the RB hype is something to take advantage of without question.
1.11 – Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State – @BWinkNFL
I had the pleasure of getting to take not one but two potential first-round TEs in this mock with the league’s consensus TE1 in Warren. While my words about Fannin as the rookie TE1 in fantasy still hold, Warren is admittedly a more all-around player at the position, which will likely lead to better draft capital and an easier route to a large role in the offense.
Both of these guys are marked by their alignment versatility, with both Warren and Fannin possessing the ability to flex out to the slot and out wide or line up in the backfield. However, the two exist on opposite ends of the blocking and receiving spectrum, with Fannin being a completely maxed-out receiver and Warren being one of the most dynamic run weapons we have ever seen, almost on a Kyle Jusczyk level (to a slightly concerning degree). It’ll be interesting to see where Warren lands (Colts, I’m looking at you), but he will provide an immediate TE1, an elite blocking piece, a plus receiving piece, and likely easily a low-end TE1 in fantasy once he settles in.
1.12 – Travis Hunter, WR, Colorado – @Evan_Kerr_
If we knew at this point whether or not Hunter would be a full-time wide receiver at the next level, he probably would be taken a bit higher. At the 1.12, I think the risk is baked in enough to make the selection and hope that he doesn’t take snaps on the defensive side of the ball. He is an elite athletic specimen who still has a ton of refinement to do as a wide receiver, but the talent is tantalizing. He wins most of the time with speed transitions and tempo but showed drastic improvements in his footwork and route running this season. If he can harness all of his athletic abilities, he will be the steal of any draft in the late first round.
Round 2
2.01 – Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa – @force_fantasy
I actually have Johnson in the same tier as Hampton. Hampton is more heralded, so I decided to take him last pick, hoping Johnson would fall to the 2.01, which he did. Johnson has great size at 225 pounds. He is a punishing runner who will wear down NFL defenses. His advanced metrics are right there with Hampton in PFF rush grade, breakaway %, and targets per route run.
2.02 – Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan – @jim_DFF
I can’t say I expected a premier tight end like Colston Loveland to be available in the second round of a TEP rookie draft, but I’ll gladly take it. Loveland may not have put up the raw numbers that Fannin and Warren did this year, but much of that can be attributed to the offensive scheme at Michigan. Loveland was the clear number one receiving option in Ann Arbor and was elite from a per-route perspective. He’s a speedy route technician with soft hands and great body control. From a fantasy perspective, he has all the traits we look for in a tight end.
2.03 – Matthew Golden, WR, Texas – @DFF_Matt_T
It might surprise some, but Matthew Golden is higher ranked on most boards than Isaiah Bond. Golden really emerged in 2024 as the top WR for Texas. He had 58 receptions for 958 yards and nine TDs. Golden may not have world-class speed, but he has plenty for the NFL. He’s a good route runner with explosive playmaking ability. There’s a good chance he might rise a few more spots from now until the Draft. This year’s wide receiver class is not like last year’s, but Golden can still be a solid playmaker in the right landing spot and become WR2 or WR3.
2.04 – Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State – @DFF_MR
OG2 had admittedly slipped down my rankings a bit over the back half of the CFB season, but I’m sticking to my guns here with the talent. Seeing a bit of a parallel with fellow OSU alumni Chuba Hubbard’s career arc that had Devy Heads wide-eyed in 2020. If you have patience and OG2 gets Day 2 capital, I’m loving this value.
2.05 – Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss – @BWinkNFL
While the rumors of Dart making a “Jayden Daniels-esque rise” up draft boards may be a false conjecture, I do think there’s a high likelihood that Dart ends up a victim of some wicked supply and demand that this year’s rookie quarterback currently faces. Dart could end up going as high as 6 to my Raiders, which many have laughed at me for but will soon appear to be a real possibility; I can almost guarantee. This kind of draft capital will make him an easy pick in the late 1st or early 2nd, akin to Bo Nix last year, who was much older, still a similar tier of prospect, and translated extremely well to the league.
2.06 – Devin Neal, RB, Kansas – @Evan_Kerr_
I have Devin Neal ranked as a top 5 running back in the class and strongly believe he is supremely underrated due to the logo on his college helmet. If you watch the film, it speaks for itself. Neal has excellent vision at the line of scrimmage and lets his instincts take over behind his blocking. He is also a natural pass catcher who can provide as good of a PPR floor as any back in the class. Neal is creeping up NFL mock draft boards, and I expect the hype to continue to grow after he puts together a strong performance at the upcoming senior bowl.
2.07 – Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss – force_fantasy
5.15. This number represents the most incredible stat of anyone in this rookie draft. Tre Harris amassed a 5.15 yards per route run this past season for Ole Miss. Yards per route run is widely thought of as one of the most predictive advanced metrics for projecting college prospects to the NFL. Harris is the only one to eclipse a mark of 5 since the stat was recorded in PFF’s database. Now, Harris did have unique usage at Ole Miss that inflated this number. But 5.15 is 5.15. Anything over 3.00 is very good. Over 4.00 is excellent. Over 5.00 is unheard of.
2.08 – Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State – @jim_DFF
Higgins was part of the dynamic receiving duo at Iowa State alongside slot receiver Jaylin Noel, as both young men surpassed 1,000 receiving yards on the year. Higgins is your prototypical X receiver at 6’4” and 215 lbs. He’s not the greatest separator in the world, but he will win with his physicality and strong hands. He’s the type of receiver that quarterbacks are willing to throw jump balls up to. I don’t see a WR1 ceiling for Higgins in dynasty, but he could turn into a very reliable every-week fantasy starter in the right environment.
2.09 – Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State – @DFF_Matt_T
Being from a smaller school, Jalen Royals is definitely under the radar, and the pre-draft process will be very important for him. However, he was a dominant force in the passing game for Utah State. Prior to cutting his season short, Jalen Royals totaled 55 receptions for 834 receiving yards and six touchdowns. He has an intriguing combination of speed and ball skills and could be a second-round steal of Dynasty Rookie Drafts, especially if he has a nice landing spot.
2.10 – Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama – @DFF_MR
Seeing Milroe slide to 2.10 confirms the DFF Squad is largely fading this year’s QB Class. I don’t blame them. This late second round in SuperFlex, shooters shoot, hoping that Milroe eventually ascends to a starting position in ‘25 or ‘26. He certainly has everything you want in a fantasy QB, primarily with his legs, but much of his ceiling is contingent on where he ends up playing.
2.11 – Dylan Sampson, RB, Tennessee, – @BWinkNFL
Dylan Sampson is an early-declare who had a big breakout season this year for the Vols, rushing for nearly 1,500 yards and 22 touchdowns. He’s slightly undersized but an effective rusher, finishing 8th in the FBS in PFF Run Grade in 2024 (min. 100 attempts). Sampson has the lateral agility and long speed to be a home run threat at the next level. However, his vision is questionable, and he struggles to keep his shoulders square through contact, which may push him out of Day 2 in the draft.
2.12 – Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas – @Evan_Kerr_
At one point during the season, Isaiah Bond was in my top 5 wide receivers for this class. Some injuries this year caused a clear difference between the first half of the season and the second. He is a good route runner with reliable hands, dangerous YAC ability, and is a playmaker who can create explosive plays. He should get drafted on Day 2 of the NFL draft, and I have no issue taking a shot on a versatile receiver in the late second round of rookie drafts.
Round 3
3.01 – Cam Skattebo, RB, Arizona St. – @force_fantasy
Skattebo’s production was off the charts in 2024. His 32.4 fantasy points per game this past season for Arizona St. was second highest in the class to only the chosen one, Ashton Jeanty. He runs with reckless abandon, rarely going down on first contact. His 34.3% missed tackles forced per attempt were 3rd best in the class. His 94.6 PFF Rush Grade was second-best to Jeanty. His athletic testing is likely to be pedestrian, and in turn, he is likely to be a day three draft pick.
3.02 – Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford – @jim_DFF
Elic was a prospect I was very much into after his redshirt freshman year in 2023, but I have cooled on him since then. He had a down year in 2024, and his film leaves a bit to be desired. I just don’t see much burst or explosion on tape, and I am worried he won’t be able to separate at the next level. However, Elic has excellent ball skills, functional athleticism, and a strong frame to help him win at the catch point. I wouldn’t be surprised if he transitioned to more of a flanker or slot guy in the NFL, as he seems to have more success in this area. Either way, he’s projected to be a 2nd round pick on NFL Mock Draft Database, so grabbing him at the 3.02 feels like a value.
3.03 – Oronde Gadsden, TE, Syracuse – @DFF_Matt_T
Syracuse’s Oronde Gadsden II is not a complete product, but he has shown exciting flashes at the TE position. He’s the son of a former NFL player, Oronde Gadsden, who played for the Miami Dolphins, so he has NFL bloodlines. Gadsden dominated this past season in college with 73 receptions for 934 yards and seven TDs. He profiles as an athletic TE who could also play WR, similar to Darren Waller, who I believe is a solid pro comparison for him.
3.04 – Xavier Restrepo, WR, Miami – @DFF_MR
Big fan of what Restrepo did with Cam Ward at Miami this season. Feels like a mix between Cooper Kupp, Julian Edelman, and Hunter Renfrow. Chance to be a productive piece in the right offensive system.
3.05 – Tez Johnson, WR, Oregon – @BWinkNFL
The fifth-year slot man out of Oregon has been a big-time producer at the collegiate level for quite some time. Johnson started his career at Troy, breaking out as a true sophomore before finally transferring to Oregon, where his success continued. Tez is a twitchy athlete, an elite separator, and has the ability to beat defenses vertically as well. He’s always demanded a large target share, and his game is perfect for PPR formats. Tez is extremely undersized, and although he’s highly competitive, play strength is a legitimate concern here.
3.06 – Will Howard, QB, Ohio State – @Evan_Kerr_
The Ohio State signal-caller and now national champion has been climbing up draft boards recently, currently sitting as an early Round 3 pick on NFL Mock Draft Database. He’s an underrated athlete with more rushing upside than many realize. Howard has adequate size and strength to be an NFL starting quarterback. He’s an excellent processor and can handle the big moments, as he showed us throughout the College Football Playoffs. If Howard gets the opportunity to start at the next level, he may not give it back.
3.07 – DJ Giddens, RB, Kansas @force_fantasy
Giddens has great vision combined with the burst to accelerate through gaps. He is among the leaders in this running back class in missed tackles forced with a stout 28.6% rate.
3.08 – Damien Martinez, RB, Miami – @jim_DFF
Listed at a whopping 241 pounds, Damien Martinez is the largest RB in this year’s draft class. He’s an early-declare who found success at multiple P4 programs (Oregon State and Miami), hitting 1,000 yards rushing in back-to-back years. Martinez got off to a slower start in 2024, with teammate Mark Fletcher seeing a large role, but proved to be the stronger back and really turned it on to end the season. Martinez projects to be more of a two-down grinder in the NFL but has the size and strength to see the field as a pass blocker as well. Martinez was very efficient this past season, finishing third in the FBS in PFF Run Grade and sixth in yards after contact per attempt (min. 100 attempts).
3.09 – Tai Felton, WR, Maryland – @DFF_Matt_T
Tai Felton was one of the best receivers in college football this season, stat-wise. He had 96 receptions for 1,124 yards and nine touchdowns. He also added two rushes for 23 yards, showing off his versatility. Even with a strong season, Felton seems to be slightly under the radar. He’s one of the better route runners in this class and is a threat once he has the ball in his hands. At this point in the draft, depending on landing spot, he has some nice upside.
3.10 Mason Taylor, TE, LSU – @DFF_MR
This is a lottery ticket in tight end premium. Mason Taylor was hyped in Devy circles enough to take a chance on a deep sleeper with the format, hoping some of that Jayden Daniels, Malik Nabers, and BTJ-like LSU goodness carries over.
3.11 Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas – @BWinkNFL
Say what you will about Quinn Ewers as a quarterback, but he did declare early, so he likely got some good feedback regarding potential draft capital this year. Ewers has the raw skillset to succeed at the next level but needs to improve as a processor and against pressure if he hopes to see the field. Regardless, getting an assumed Day 2 quarterback at the end of the third round in a Superflex rookie draft feels like a steal.
3.12 Ricky White, WR, UNLV – @Evan_Kerr_
Ricky White was one of the best G5 receivers in the country each of the past two seasons. He has a smooth, effortless running motion and excellent boundary awareness. He doesn’t have any elite characteristics to his game but checks enough boxes to where you can squint and see a world where he’s worth starting in Dynasty. Late in the third, most of these prospects will be dart throws, but at least with White, he has the production profile to back him up.
That wraps things up for our three-round rookie mock! For additional coverage on the 2025 rookie class, just click the link here. And remember, #AlwaysBeBuilding!
