2025 Rookies to Know for Season-Long Drafts

Rookies are the highest-variance group in fantasy football. They can win you your league, but many end up irrelevant, stuck behind incumbent veterans with no hope of seeing the field. Below, we’ve profiled 30+ rookies to give you a better sense of the type of player you’re drafting when you’re considering one in a season-long fantasy draft. As season-long drafts approach, we’ll update this list with players who are on the radar in typical fantasy drafts. For each player, we’ll list their name, height, weight, NFL Combine 40 time, Mike Renner’s pro comparison from his appearances on the ETR podcast, and a couple of paragraphs introducing them and explaining how they fit on their new team.

QBs: Cam Ward, Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough, Jalen Milroe

RBs: Ashton Jeanty, Omarion Hampton, Quinshon Judkins, TreVeyon Henderson, RJ Harvey, Kaleb Johnson, Bhayshul Tuten, Cam Skattebo, Jaydon Blue

WRs: Travis Hunter, Tetairoa McMillan, Emeka Egbuka, Matthew Golden, Jayden Higgins, Luther Burden III, Tre Harris, Jack Bech, Kyle Williams, Isaac TeSlaa, Pat Bryant, Jaylin Noel

TEs: Colston Loveland, Tyler Warren, Mason Taylor

Cam Ward (Miami)

Height: 73.6

Weight: 219

40 Time: N/A

Mike Renner’s player comparison: Steve McNair

Ward was an underdog story coming out of high school with his only two offers coming from Incarnate Word and Texas Southern, neither of which offered FBS football. Ward committed to Incarnate Word and threw for 4,648 yards and 47 TDs (10 interceptions) as a sophomore, earning the opportunity to transfer up to Washington State in the FBS ranks. Ward played well in his second season at WSU with 3,736 passing yards on 7.7 yards per attempt and a 25:7 TD-to-INT ratio and took his talents to Miami for his final year of eligibility. It was in South Beach last season that he really took his game to another level, averaging 9.5 yards per attempt and throwing for 39 touchdowns with only seven picks en route to a top-five Heisman finish. Ward is a creative passer who can throw from multiple arm angles and boasts above-average arm strength. Daniel Jeremiah and Dane Brugler both noted that Ward could use some reining in, and he gained notoriety in the college ranks last season for his nonchalant style of play, but the arm talent is clearly there.

Ward will be a 17-game starter as a rookie after going No. 1 overall, but his WRs beyond Calvin Ridley aren’t great, and, while he’s mobile, he’s certainly a pass-first QB. Projecting how rookie QBs will translate is notoriously difficult, so maybe Ward comes in and lights the world on fire right away, but our expectation is that he’s a fantasy QB2/3 whose primary draw for fantasy is that he should start 17 games.

Best ball summary: Ward is likely a 17-game starter who has best ball QB2/3 value as a result, but he doesn’t run enough or have good enough weapons to warrant more than a late-round swing.

Travis Hunter (Colorado)

Height: 72.4

Weight: 188

40 Time: N/A

Mike Renner’s player comparison: Chad Johnson with elite ball skills

Hunter played an absurd 119.4 snaps per game last season for Colorado playing full-time on both sides of the ball en route to a Heisman Trophy. He accumulated 84/1,319/8 as a wide receiver while totaling 67 tackles, five picks, and 11 passes defended as a cornerback. Daniel Jeremiah highlighted his body control and hands, while Lance Zierlein compared him to DeVonta Smith for his burst and focus at the catch point, while acknowledging that he has room to grow as a route runner. Hunter’s versatility propelled him to a Heisman-winning campaign and the No. 2 overall pick, but make no mistake: He’s an elite, albeit imperfect, WR prospect, too. Anthony Amico’s model compared him to Jaylen Waddle and Ladd McConkey as his closest prospect matches as a receiver — that’s great company.

The Jaguars have indicated that Hunter will be a WR first and a cornerback second to begin his career. Those plans could certainly change, a risk for fantasy that every other WR in football doesn’t have, but we have no reason at this point to believe Hunter’s offensive snaps will be limited. Brian Thomas Jr. played like one of the best wide receivers in the league down the stretch last year, but Jacksonville is lacking at pass catcher beyond him.

Best ball summary: This could end up being a highly concentrated target tree between BTJ and Hunter, and Trevor Lawrence is a competent QB with an exciting young coach in Liam Coen coming in to call the offense. It’s a strong spot for Hunter, who should be a fantasy starter from the jump.

Ashton Jeanty (Boise State)