The RADical Report: Post 2025 NFL Draft Top 25 Rookies (12-1)

Post 2025 NFL Draft Top 25 Rookies

Now it’s time to close out the rankings of the 2025 NFL Rookie class! The first half of my top 25 is already up. It was difficult to get the ranking done due to the amount of talent that was in the draft. Several players can have an impact this season, as nothing can be set in stone in the NFL. But let’s finish up. Here’s my selection for my top 12 rookies post-draft.

12. Tyler Warren (Penn State) Round 1, Pick 14: Indianapolis Colts

Tyler Warren is the the most versatile TE in the draft this year. As a player who excels as a receiver, Warren can be used as a runner and can even throw the ball effectively in the right situation. That is also what makes him the best Tight End as well. Outside of Jonathan Taylor, the Colts need playmakers in a hurry and Warren is a guy who can do everything. He’s got immediate value as a high-end TE2 and will be looked to early and often by whoever is starting under center when Week 1 rolls around.

11. Cam Ward (Miami) Round 1, Pick 1: Tennessee Titans

As the number one overall pick, Cam Ward will now be the centerpiece on a Titans team that is lacking offensive firepower to have anyone who are worthy of regular starting spots on fantasy teams not named Tony Pollard. Ward will be the starting QB so that in itself is enough reason for him to be on rosters. He does have immediate value in leagues that start two quarterbacks and as the season goes along he is sure to develop into a matchup based starter, especially when the bye week blues begin to strike.

10. Travis Hunter (Colorado) Round 1, Pick 2: Jacksonville Jaguars

There is no denying the playmaking ability of Travis Hunter on this list. Hunter is going to be an immediate impact player for the Jaguars. The reason for his spot on this ranking comes down to the question of which side of the ball that impact will be. The team will have to determine the ratio of Hunter’s playing time between wide receiver and cornerback (or if they even want him to play both sides at all). If they want to have him play on the offensive side then he will be have floor value as a low end WR2 with massive upside. If they want him to devote more time to cornerback, then his fantasy value will suffer and he will be a huge risk to have in your lineups. Unless of course, you draft and start the Jaguars D/ST.

9. Trey’veon Henderson (Ohio State) Round 2, Pick 38: New England Patriots

The backfield situation in New England is quite interesting. Current starter Rhamondre Stevenson is steady but is far from a game changing back. What’s more, he had seven fumbles in 2024, with three being recovered by the other team. Conversely, Henderson did not fumble ONCE in his entire career at Ohio State. That, coupled along with his game-breaking ability, no doubt prompted the Patriots to take him early. If Stevenson (who the team claims to be working with) continues to show that he can’t hold on to the ball then Henderson, who already has mid-round value in seasonal leagues, will have a prime opportunity to be a fixture in fantasy lineups this year and beyond.

8. Matthew Golden (Texas) Round 1, Pick 23: Green Bay Packers

The Packers have operated in a receiver-by-committee for the last few years, with no receiver topping 1000 yards since 2021. Last year, their leading receiver was Jayden Reed, who caught 55 passes for 857 yards. Their new receiver, Matthew Golden had 987 yards. Thus, they may have found their new number one option for Jordan Love. Golden should especially help in stretching the field with home run speed (4.29 40 yard dash time) and help open the field for the team’s other receivers. 

7. Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona) Round 1, Pick 8: Carolina Panthers

Towards the end of last year, Bryce Young finally showed signs of being the player that saw the Panthers make him the top pick in 2023. Now, they have selected a receiver to help him even further. At 6’5″ 220 lbs., McMillain is a towering receiver that excels in jump balls but also has sneaky open field prowess. At eighth overall, McMillan will be fed plenty in his rookie year, so a WR3 with upside is a fair projection for the former Arizona Wildcat.

6. Cam Skattebo (Arizona State) Round 4, Pick 105: New York Giants

Tyrone Tracy was solid for the Giants last year but the Giants may have landed the biggest steal of the draft. Only Ashton Jeanty rushed for more yards than Skattebo last year in the FBS and if you watched Skattebo in the CFP thriller vs. Texas, you know that only his heart exceeds his talent. Skattebo is a violent runner and who seeks out contact and his battering ram rushing style is exactly what the Giants need to restore the identity that made them championship contenders in the late 80’s and again in the late 2000’s. I see him as an excellent complement to Tracy with added value as a goal line bully. Think of him as a more talented version of 2010 fantasy legend Peyton Hillis. He should absolutely be on fantasy rosters in 2025. 

5. Omarion Hampton (North Carolina) Round 1, Pick 22: Los Angeles Chargers

I felt that after Ashton Jeanty, Hampton was the best runningback in college football. Hampton lands in an almost perfect situation; he will have to share the backfield with Pittsburgh import Najee Harris. Harris is the “meat and potatoes” plodder for the team who is sure to get his share of carries. Hampton will provide the explosive “spice and sizzle” element which is what the team did not have last season. The two should combine to uphold Jim Harbaugh’s run based attack, but Hampton will eventually wrestle away the RB1 role and be the big time player the team expects him to be.

4. Quinshon Judkins (Ohio State) Round 2, Pick 34: Cleveland Browns

Had the Browns not drafted Dylan Sampson out of Tennessee a few rounds later, Judkins might have been up another spot or two on this list. Nevertheless, he is the headliner in a Browns draft class that features a plethora of new offensive playmakers that are primed to contribute immediately in Northern Ohio. He was a superstar in the National Championship game and ran all over Notre Dame’s defense which only buoyed his draft stock and with no lead dog (pun intended) in the backfield, there is no reason that Quinshon can’t return high end RB2 value in his rookie year. 

3. RJ Harvey (UCF) Round 2, Pick 60: Denver Broncos

Fewer backfields in the league are up for grabs more than the Broncos and Harvey, whom the Broncos selected late in the 2nd, will be a name that will be featured in many fantasy columns leading up to the season. Even though, he is on the shorter side at 5’8″, Harvey is compactly built at 205 lbs. and is a touchdown machine (25 last year at UCF). Jaleel McLaughlin will likely retain his role as the team’s third down and passing situation back, but Harvey only has to compete with the team’s 5th rounder from last year, Audric Estime. I like Harvey to win the job in what I think will be something like a 50-30-20 time share between the three backs.

2. Kaleb Johnson (Iowa) Round 3, Pick 83: Pittsburgh Steelers

Sometimes in the NFL, opportunity and situation might be just as important as individual talent, if not more so. There are other backs in the league who I think are more talented than Johnson, but Johnson’s situation is ideal for him to emerge as an RB1 sooner rather than later. Najee Harris departed in the offseason, leaving only Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell as the the two backs on the roster. Neither are bellcow types, which means that Johnson should easily win the starting role. He has ideal size too, checking in at 6’1, 224 lbs. If it were not for a heisman-runner up from Boise State, Johnson would be the top rookie to target in fantasy football this year.

1. Ashton Jeanty (Boise State) Round 1, Pick 6: Raiders

Did we really have to wonder who would be number one on this list? Jeanty put up video game numbers in his final season at Boise State, making 200+ yard scrimmage games as routine as inhaling and exhaling. He is the most exciting back to don the Silver and Black since Bo Jackson and the backfield belonged to him as soon as his name was announced. He should rightfully be the overwhelming favorite to win rookie of the year and is the only rookie that you will have to spend a first round pick on. He was selected sixth overall and that is right around where you can expect him to be taken in fantasy drafts.

BEST OF THE REST

Tahj Brooks (Texas Tech) Round 6, Pick 193: Cincinnati Bengals

Chase Brown was very good for the Bengals last year, as he took over the starting RB job midway through the season, and he came up 10 yards shy of rushing for 1000 yards. He will likely be the starting RB this year as well, but that doesnt mean that Brooks, whom the Bengals took in the 6th round, can’t be a contributor. Brooks had back-to-back 1500 yards seasons for the Red Raiders in ’23 and ’24, and last year he ran for 17 Touchdowns. Brown and Brooks could be a nice 1-2 combo for a Bengals running game to complement the team’s elite passing attack.

Devin Neal (Kansas) Round 6, Pick 184: New Orleans Saints

The Saints are at a crossroads in the backfield. Alvin Kamara will be 30 when training camp starts and Kendre Miller is an injury risk (as Kamara has also dealt with some injuires recently as well). The Saints, who drafted multiple offensive players this year, are in a rebuilding mode so there is a chance for Neal to make some noise for the Saints and be a part of the long term project for new coach Kellen Moore.  

Riley Leonard (Notre Dame) Round 6, Pick 189: Indianapolis Colts

Right now, I’d say that on a scale of 1-10, Leonard is probably at a three in terms of getting the job in Indy. The team likely does not want to give up on Anthony Richardson, and Daniel Jones is the most experienced QB on the roster. However, both players’ track record in the NFL is not good, and Head Coach Shane Steichen, at the very least, has a watchful eye on them in terms of whether the team can advance to the postseason. If the Colts struggle again and both QBs continue their below-average play, then changes could be coming, one of which would be Leonard getting his shot under center.

Jalen Milroe (Alabama) Round 3, Pick 92: Seattle Seahawks

As far as physical tools, no other QB in this draft might be better than Milroe. He is a threat both running and passing and watching him may put you in the mind of another recent Superbowl winning Jalen. He was the driving force for Alabama the last two years and may be the new secret weapon in the Seahawks new-look offense. Sam Darnold is still the man in Seattle fresh off a new contract, but if something were to happen to him then Milroe could have borderline QB1 value due in large part to his rushing prowess, much like Hurts did early on in his career. In fact, the Seahawks quarterback situation has an eerily similar resemblance to that of the Eagles QB situation five years ago. 

Shedeur Sanders (Colorado) Round 5, Pick 144: Cleveland Browns

From about the 10th pick onward, the draft became unofficially known as “Shedeur Watch”, waiting to see where the charismatic quarterback from Colorado would be selected. It was not until Day 3 that he heard his name called by the Browns, who like all the 32 other teams, passed over Sanders multiple times prior. Sanders joins a crowded QB room with fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel, Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and Deshaun Watson, which is not necessarily an all-star unit. Nevertheless, Sanders will likely start third or fourth on the depth chart. If he can move up and outperform the others, he will have some modest value in a revamped Browns offense. 

Xavier Restrepo (Miami) – UDFA – Tennessee Titans

Not being drafted may have been the best thing for Restrepo, because it allowed him to be signed by the Titans and reunite with his college QB buddy, Cam Ward. Because of their rapport at Miami and the Titans lack of proven options at receiver, Restrepo appears to have and advantage to get on the playing field rather quickly. You probably aren’t drafting him in standard leagues, but don’t ignore him completely this season.

Who else do you think could be a emerge as a fantasy football championship puzzle piece in 2025? Who on this list has the best chance?