Fantasy Football 2025 Rookie Rankings: Honorable Mentions

We have had time to digest the NFL draft, peruse depth charts and dig into the picks a bit. Now it’s time for the real work to begin for fantasy owners – preparing for draft season. As always, my prep begins in earnest post-draft, as I start thinking about these newcomers and the effect they’ll have on the existing players. These seven rookies probably won’t be super impactful in 2025, but they have a chance. Keep them in mind as fliers when draft day hits later this summer, and keep tabs on their progress throughout the preseason. These players are listed in ascending order based on my anticipated contributions in 2025 as rookies.

Mason Taylor, TE, Jets (Round 2, No. 42 overall)

Taylor was a big time riser as the pre-draft process wore on, with many experts viewing him as a very comparable prospect to the elites like Penn State’s Tyler Warren and Michigan’s Colston Loveland. While I am not sure I see that potential for an immediate impact as a rookie, Taylor is very talented. He posted 55 receptions, 546 yards and two scores for LSU in 2024, which doesn’t leap off the page, but was a big improvement from his previous two seasons. His reception total was good for third on the team, and on the Jets he will benefit from a key role on Day 1. Taylor possesses all the requisite athleticism to succeed as a playmaking NFL TE, and that athleticism is housed in a 6’5, 251-lb. frame. He’s an absolute beast physically, with speed to make plays deep down the field, and size to box out DBs in the end zone.

Of course, athleticism and size doesn’t always equal success. He has to prove his wares as a master of the NFL craft, and his landing spot is exciting. The Jets are bereft of impact pass-catchers outside of WR1 Garrett Wilson, so Taylor will be heavily involved right away. That sword cuts both ways, however, because a Justin Fields-led passing attack with minimal pass-catching options inevitably makes you question how much production there is to go around. There are more useful TEs than you’d think heading into 2025, so Taylor is, at most, an end-of-draft stash in very deep leagues. He does have significantly more value in dynasty formats though, as it’s easy to see him being one of the top fantasy TEs in a few seasons.

Ollie Gordon II, RB, Dolphins (Round 6, No. 179)

Gordon’s landing spot doesn’t seem awesome at first glance, as he figures to be behind star RB De’Von Achane, and Jaylen Wright in the Miami backfield. But I’m higher on what Gordon will be able to accomplish as a rookie for a few reasons. First, he is a monster. At 6’1, 226 lbs. Gordon brings real thunder to an offense that is replete with lightning all over the skill positions. His 2024 stats fell off a cliff for an Oklahoma State team that had a disastrous season, but in 2023 he logged 285 carries and put up more than 1,700 rushing yards with 21 touchdowns on the ground. He has a prototype build for a workhorse back, and while he won’t be that in Miami, they are always going to need depth at the position in order to preserve Achane. In 2023 we saw Raheem Mostert log over 200 rushing attempts, and while Achane was over the 200 mark last season, his efficiency dropped in games without Tua Tagovailoa at QB, and he was often nicked up. Gordon will immediately be a contender for a standalone workload in one of the more explosive offenses in the NFL, and his size and hard-charging style makes him a candidate for goal line work. Lastly, in the event of an injury to Achane, it’s feasible that Gordon becomes a three-down back. Jaylen Wright’s role was very limited in 2024, and Gordon did catch 39 passes in 2023.

Cam Ward, QB, Titans (Round 1, No. 1 overall)

You would think the No. 1 overall pick would be higher up the immediate rookie ranks, but Ward doesn’t quite fit the instant fantasy impact criteria. He’ll likely be a dramatic upgrade in real life for the Titans’ offense overall, but his lack of added rushing value on the ground is a limiting factor for the rookie in 2025. Ward enters the NFL with a lot of starting experience, and he was prolific for Miami last season. Ward has never been surrounded with elite skill talent in college, but it has never stopped his teams from overachieving. In Miami he did get an upgrade in weaponry and responded with career bests in yards (4,313) and touchdowns (39).

With the Titans, Ward will not have one of the NFL’s premier skill groups to work with, although competent veterans Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett should be competitive. But while Ward will occasionally provide decent yardage on scrambles and the occasional rushing score, he’s a pure pocket passer. Ward is cool as a cucumber in the pocket, hanging in there and using his rocket arm to deliver strikes. It’s great for a real offense, but if you are excited about him as a potential QB1, ask yourself if he can get to 4,000 yards and 35 touchdowns. Those are the benchmarks for non-rushing QBs to compete with the dual threats all over the league, so Ward in 2025 looks to me like an upside QB2 in appropriate formats, and someone who is really exciting in SuperFlex dynasty formats.

Jack Bech, WR, Raiders (Round 2, No. 58 overall)

Bech went in the second round of this draft to a WR-needy team in the Raiders making for a pretty exciting rookie outlook. This isn’t a player who will wow anyone with flashy downfield plays. Based on his Reception Perception profile, nines and corner routes aren’t his bag, proof of where his lack of elite speed can be a hindrance. But that doesn’t mean he can’t be a high-level NFL receiver, and he hit some impressive marks at TCU last year. Bech torched man coverage, winning at a 74.5% rate and ranking in the 85th percentile, and he was one of the best in the nation at beating press coverage as well (79.4%, 91st percentile). Bech is a real technician, posting 80%+ success rates on slants, curls and digs while also dominating on out-breaking routes. His 100% success rate on outs literally can’t be better.

Now, while Bech has a clear path to big reps for a Raiders team that lacks receiver depth, he’s also pretty clearly the No. 3 receiving option behind superstar TE Brock Bowers and veteran receiver Jakobi Meyers. And while the Raiders have massively upgraded their QB situation, they have also hired Pete Carroll as their head coach. Carroll likes to relentlessly run the football, and the Raiders spent their No. 6 overall pick on a prolific RB in Ashton Jeanty. Bech will have a steady role for the Raiders and might even be a contributor for managers in deep leagues, but if you see comparisons to Puka Nacua do yourself a favor and manage expectations.

Jaylin Noel, WR, Texans (Round 3, No. 79 overall)

Noel is a small receiver, but his skills are deceptive if you just assume the player type based on his stature. Many will look at Noel and see a slot receiver. And he may well be Houston’s primary slot man this season, but he has the chops to play on the outside and do damage down the field. For starters, while he’s built like a typical slot he’s actually a better man beater (74.1%, 84th percentile) than zone (81.8%, 64th percentile). Both numbers are plenty good, but beating man at that level opens up the possibilities for how he can be used. Noel has 4.39 speed which allow for him to burn defenses on corners and posts and even put up a 58.2% success rate on nine routes.

His size does affect him on contact, but his speed helps him avoid that initial contact. He also plays like a bigger receiver when the ball is up for grabs, with Reception Perception noting that he had an 80% contested catch rate with 19% of his opportunities being contested catch situations. Noel seems like a very strong complement to Nico Collins. He’s joining an offense with a clear need for a No. 2 to emerge and an elite QB at the helm. The WR room is a bit crowded, but it’s crowded with players who are beatable on the depth chart. Noel and Bech both have paths to big snap rates, but while Bech seems to be a more of a short and intermediate target whose value is derived from volume, Noel strikes me as a player who will do damage with chunk plays and has both a higher ceiling and a lower floor in Year 1.

Kyle Williams, WR, Patriots (Round 3, No. 69 overall)

Williams is a similar prospect to Noel in that he’s a small and slight receiver with blazing speed, and coming into an offense that needs what he brings to the table. At Washington State Williams was prolific, putting up 1,198 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns, but also efficient, amassing those numbers on 70 receptions. Williams played most of his snaps as Washington State’s X receiver, but even though he has that skillset, he’ll likely move around the formation for New England, as his X receiver status in college was probably because he was so far and away the top talent. Williams cleared 80% vs. zone, critical for a young receiver who will see slot time, but he was also at 73.3% vs. man coverage, and posted an 82nd percentile mark vs. press (73.5%).

Williams was downright dominant on short routes, with his win rates on slants, curls and flats all clearing the 85% mark, and he also put up an 83.9% win rate on Outs. Williams does not have Noel’s contested catch prowess, but he does clear Noel in after the catch ability. The Patriots did sign Stefon Diggs this offseason to be their top receiver, but he’s aging and coming off a serious knee injury. Williams is coming into a crowded room that includes several players with similar builds; DeMario Douglas, JaLynn Polk, Kayshon Boutte and Kendrick Bourne are all vying for work while Mack Hollins figures to occupy a lot of X receiver snaps. But having a slew of No. 2 options also kind of means you don’t have any in a lot of cases. That’s where the Pats are at, and Williams has the advantage of being brought in under a new regime that targeted him with high draft capital. If he can earn the starting job out of the gate and oscillate between the slot and flanker he has a chance to be fantasy relevant.

Luther Burden III, WR, Bears (Round 2, No. 39 overall)

Burden is joining an offense that is very crowded. He will have to compete with D.J. Moore, a bona fide WR1 in the league, Rome Odunze, a Top 10 pick from last season, fellow rookie Colston Loveland, a Top 10 pick in this draft, and do so in an offense that was the NFL’s 26th-ranked pass offense per FTN Fantasy’s DVOA. Burden is stepping into a likely slot role, where veteran Keenan Allen was last year with middling results. But Burden has a leg up on Allen. He’s got Caleb Williams entering Year 2, and a brand new offense with former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson bringing order where there once was chaos.

Burden’s college career had its ups and downs, as did his productivity, but at his best Burden was an explosive playmaker and a menace after the catch. Yes, his 79.4% success rate vs. zone would ideally be a little higher, but it’s not too bad and we have to expect him to improve as a pro. Unlike Allen, a master route runner with an extensive tree, Burden has clear strengths. Outs, digs, curls and flats are where he shined magnificently, and also allow him to get the ball where he can wreak havoc after he’s caught it. His posts and nine routes leave much to be desired, but he also isn’t going to be counted on for that in Chicago with Moore and Odunze around. He’s projecting as the fourth option in this passing game; Chicago fell victim to the “too many mouths to feed” cliché in 2024, and this is a big red flag for Burden’s Year 1 expectations. However, this offense should be much better in 2025 with better coaching, and Burden fits the role they need better than Allen did. I’d predict an inconsistent rookie season production-wise for Burden, but if everything clicks he could become a high-upside FLEX option.