- The Ultimate 2025 Rookie Big Board 1.0 | Best Players You Need to Know
- The Ultimate 2025 Rookie Big Board 2.0 | Best Players You Need to Know
One of the most challenging aspects of evaluating prospects is figuring out how to align players at different positions. However, that is one of the most important parts of the rookie process. We will spend hours and hours ranking prospects by position, but we don’t draft that way. We draft from a pool of all prospects. Our 2025 Rookie Big Board Series aims to help you navigate the gap between positional rankings and preparing for your upcoming rookie drafts.
This 2025 Rookie Big Board series will provide you a variety of opinions and will be updated throughout the remainder of the season and up to rookie draft season. It will be tailored for Superflex leagues unless otherwise noted.
QB Rankings | RB Rankings | WR Rankings | TE Rankings
Round 1 | 2025 Rookie Big Board
No. 1 | Cam Ward | QB | Miami | 6’2” | 223 lbs.
While the consensus is that the 2025 quarterback class is below average, the player at the top of this class for me is Miami’s Cam Ward. His collegiate season has been nothing short of remarkable, averaging 349 passing yards per game through 10 games. With a 32-to-6 touchdown to interception ratio, Ward has proven that he can take care of the football. But perhaps more importantly for fantasy football, Ward has the rushing upside we crave in our quarterback prospects, scoring three rushing touchdowns on the season.
Cam Ward has come so far, and I love cheering for underdog stories like his. He was a forgotten prospect with no offers who ended up becoming a superstar at Incarnate Word (FCS). He then transferred and took Washington State to a bowl game, and finally transferred to Miami. That said, even with his experience, he is not a polished prospect.
His play can be a bit up-and-down, but he has made many big-time throws and seems to be a consensus lock to be a top-10 pick in this spring’s NFL Draft. I am a firm believer in valuing quarterbacks above all other positions in Superflex drafts. So, Ward was a no-brainer pick for me to be the top player on my early draft board.
No. 2 | Ashton Jeanty | RB | Boise State | 5’9” | 215 lbs.
In the minds and hearts of college football fans, Boise State has become synonymous with two things—their blue turf and their incredible upset win over Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl. Statue of Liberty play? Proposing to a cheerleader after the game? Yes, you know the game I’m talking about. Wait, did I say only two things? Well, enter Ashton Jeanty, the Paul Bunyan of the 2024 NCAA football season.
Ashton Jeanty has joined that Boise State zeitgeist this year with an incredible season. His rushing stats through 8 games? 190-1525-8. Yes, he’s averaging over 190 yards per game through those 8 games. He is within striking distance of Barry Sanders’ absurd 1988 season record total of 2,628 yards.
Given the barren NFL running back landscape, Jeanty will immediately slide up into the conversation with Breece Hall and Bijan Robinson as the premier backs to roster in dynasty fantasy football. In a draft class which is replete with great collegiate running backs, Jeanty is the first name to know at the top of the talented list.
No. 3 | Tetairoa McMillan | WR | Arizona | 6’5” | 212 lbs.
Tetairoa McMillan is the kind of wide receiver who will make any quarterback look like they’ve got a cheat code. With his towering 6’5″ frame, he’s a walking, talking red zone threat. He’s got hands so reliable you’d think he’s got magnets in his gloves. Plus, his ability to turn a simple catch into a highlight reel has scouts and fans alike buzzing with excitement.
The wide receivers in this class are talented, and it is a decently deep group. However, don’t get it twisted. There may be a plethora of talented pass catchers waiting to hear their name called, but McMillan is an absolute one-of-a-kind. No one in this class can match his combination of size and ball skills, and he seems destined to be a top-10 pick come April’s NFL Draft.
No. 4 | Shedeur Sanders | QB | Colorado | 6’2” | 215 lbs.
I am equal parts in love with, and worried, about Shedeur Sanders. Let me explain. Like a phoenix, he has resurrected the Colorado Buffaloes’ football program from the ashes of FBS mediocrity. Shedeur Sanders has a cannon for an arm and football in his DNA, thanks to his NFL Hall-of-Fame father, Deion Sanders.
My worry has to do with the latter. Deion Sanders has hinted that he will only let his son play for certain NFL teams. How does that affect his draft stock? Will NFL coaches and general managers want to put up with the drama that seems all but destined to surround the young man? The talent is there, but as we have seen time and again, talent isn’t everything when it comes to success at the most difficult position to play in sports. When the dust settles, I still foresee Sanders being selected highly in the 1st Round of the NFL Draft. That makes him worthy of this ranking on my 2025 Rookie Big Board.
No. 5 | Jalen Milroe | QB | Alabama | 6’2” | 220 lbs.
Asking around the dynasty community, perhaps the most polarizing rank I have on my 2025 Rookie Big Board is Jalen Milroe at no. 5. Many will tell you this ranking is far too high. Do you know who else has Jalen Milroe at no. 5 on their 2025 big board? Pro Football Focus. That’s right, skeptics. Jalen Milroe’s PFF grade for this season through 9 games sits at 85.0 overall with a 90.0 grade at the intermediate level and 90.0 deep.
For a prospect that has been described as the fastest and most athletic player on the Alabama Crimson Tide—pause to consider their talent-rich roster. How can you not believe someone in the NFL is going to fall in love with this kid come draft season? Milroe is going to electrify the NFL Combine and continue rising up draft boards both in the NFL and dynasty circles.
Mark my words, if Milroe is taken in the 1st Round, which I adamantly believe, he’s going to be a top pick in dynasty rookie drafts. Who’s going to say no to drafting a quarterback who hits over 20 miles per hour running? Who’s going to say no to someone with 565 yards rushing and 16 rushing touchdowns in his first 9 games this season? Not me.
No. 6 | Travis Hunter | WR | Colorado | 6’1” | 185 lbs.
The draft and dynasty communities are going to twist themselves into knots over the evaluation and projection of Travis Hunter. How many snaps will he play on offense? How many on defense? Will he be used enough? I can just hear Rich, Matt, and Garret discussing it at length on the rookie breakdown podcasts. Regardless of how it ultimately shakes out, Travis Hunter has exceptional ball skills and can track the ball in the air like few others. He is both sudden and explosive in the open field.
Travis Hunter is currently PFF’s top-ranked receiver in this class over Tetairoa McMillan, which shows you just how phenomenal of a season Hunter is having. He is not just a cornerback dipping his toes in the wide receiver waters. Travis Hunter is a legitimate pass catcher, averaging 95.1 yards and a touchdown per game through 9 games played. He is still inexperienced, however, and does tend to get manhandled by better corner play. I would still bet on his incredible football acumen and talent winning out on Sundays as much as it has been displayed on Saturdays.
No. 7 | Omarion Hampton | RB | North Carolina | 6’0” | 220 lbs.
The 2025 rookie class includes so many phenomenal running back prospects. One of the most talented backs out of the Power Four conferences is Omarion Hampton from North Carolina. A three-sport athlete in high school, Hampton chose to stay close to home in Carolina despite having offers to programs like Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State.
Omarion Hampton is an explosive, violent runner who has solid straight line speed. He may not be as elusive or twitchy as other backs in this class, but he makes up for it by finishing off runs with lowered shoulders into the heart and guts of tacklers. Hampton has gone over 100 yards rushing in all but one game this season with a line of 213-1178-13 through 9 games. Perhaps more notably for a back of his type, Hampton adds a receiving threat, averaging over 3 receptions per game. Hampton still seems to be going under-the-radar compared to other backs in this class. I can’t wait until the larger dynasty community discovers him.
No. 8 | Kaleb Johnson | RB | Iowa | 6’0” | 225 lbs.
You will likely notice a trend with my rankings in this 2025 Rookie Big Board. Running back early and running back often! The NFL is nearly saturated with wide receivers. The middle of startup dynasty drafts are nothing more than a glut of similar players who will score you a similar amount of points. What the NFL needs is an influx of running back talent, and we have started to see a shift by teams and coaches this season toward running the ball more often than what we have seen over the past decade.
After two nondescript seasons in the Hawkeye backfield, Kaleb Johnson was not on anyone’s dynasty draft radar heading into this season. His rise has been something to behold, making his mark with 1,279 yards and 19 touchdowns in 9 games for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Even in a 35-7 blowout loss to Ohio State, Johnson rushed for 86 yards and a touchdown on 15 attempts. Despite averaging 7.5 yards per carry, Johnson’s draft prospects may be living in the shadow of Ashton Jeanty at the moment, but his time to shine will come soon enough.
No. 9 | Quinshon Judkins | RB | Ohio State | 5’11” | 210 lbs.
Quinshon Judkins burst onto the college football scene at Ole Miss but transferred this season to Columbus to play for the Buckeyes. He may not have the eye-popping stats that some of the other backs in this class have, but that is due to the number of mouths that Ohio State needs to feed. Judkins has impressive weekly PFF grades and has an 84.4 rating on the season. Like Kaleb Johnson, Judkins is a bruising back with good but not great speed and elusiveness. Combine his rushing ability with more than adequate pass catching skills, and I think he will be drafted on Day 2 of the NFL Draft.
The truth is that I could have all of these late 1st-Round running backs in any order. Until we know a bit more about each player following the NFL Combine, they’re all in a highly-talented and in-demand tier for me.
No. 10 | Nicholas Singleton | RB | Penn State | 6’0” | 227 lbs.
As a lifelong Penn State fan, I have the privilege of watching Nicholas Singleton play for my Nittany Lions each Saturday in the fall. A highly touted prospect, Singleton continues the legacy of other great Penn State running backs like Saquon Barkley and Miles Sanders. Following a down season last year, Singleton has re-emerged this season to the tune of 81 rushes for 498 yards on the ground and 3 scores. He’s also added 19 receptions and 4 receiving touchdowns through 7 games.
A Gatorade National Player of the Year in high school, Singleton is explosive through the line. He is a big play waiting to happen. He made Bruce Feldman’s freak list and like other recent products of Penn State’s weight and training program, will almost certainly put up mouth-watering numbers at the NFL Combine. I don’t foresee a world where Singleton is drafted later than the 3rd Round in the NFL Draft. He has a long NFL career ahead, and dynasty managers are going to be yearning to take him when rookie draft season rolls around.
No. 11 | Isaiah Bond | WR | Texas | 5’11” | 180 lbs.
Seeing me rank Isaiah Bond here at the end of the first round may be a deja vu moment for those reading our early mock drafts. I have unexpectedly, but unashamedly, become President of the Isaiah Bond Fan Club here at Dynasty Nerds. I took Bond with the 6th pick in our first 1QB mock draft, and later at 2.03 in our first Superflex mock.
Bond is my WR3 in the class behind Tetairoa McMillan and Travis Hunter. He has elite speed, but Bond is so much more than just his quicks. He tracks the ball well and is elusive in the open field. Bond can also quickly stop his route to come back to the ball. The offense he lands in will ultimately be the biggest deciding factor in his value, but he is one my favorite pure receivers in the class. With soft hands and dangerous YAC ability, don’t be surprised when Bond blows up the NFL Combine and is selected in the 1st Round next April.
No. 12 | Garrett Nussmeier | QB | LSU | 6’2” | 200 lbs.
Let me pull back the curtain on the industry here a bit. If anyone tells you they undoubtedly know which quarterbacks will be taken in the 1st Round of the NFL Draft, they’re lying to you. Do I like Garrett Nussmeier and believe he will be a 1st Round quarterback? I do. Am I confident about it? I am not. He has elite arm talent, but he’s inexperienced. His collegiate career highlights at LSU however, have been outstanding. Like Chris Berman used to say on NFL Primetime, “We know nothing!”
Nussmeier broke out in the 2022 SEC Championship game, passing for 294 yards and 2 touchdowns in the second half against the mighty Georgia defense. In 2023, after starter Jayden Daniels opted out, Nussmeier led LSU to a 35-31 bowl game victory over Wisconsin, completing 31 of 45 passes for 395 yards and 3 touchdowns on his way to winning MVP. We here at Dynasty Nerds have run the numbers and, much like recently drafted round one quarterbacks Michael Penix and Bo Nix, this rank is contingent on Nussmeier going in the 1st Round of the NFL Draft. Could this be Carson Beck instead? Jaxon Dart? We just do not know enough yet to say.
Round 2 | 2025 Rookie Big Board
No. 13 | TreVeyon Henderson | RB | Michigan | 5’10” | 207 lbs.
Don’t take TreVeyon’s Henderson’s ranking here in the second round as a slight to him. It’s more-so an understanding of how deep this class potentially can be. Another five-star prospect like Nicholas Singleton, Henderson would have been the premier RB of the 2024 class—had he declared. Henderson is patient, decisive, and elusive. He is a fantastic prospect, combining NFL size and speed to be molded into a team’s RB1 of the future. Dynasty managers who draft him should also count themselves as fortunate.
No. 14 | Colston Loveland | TE | Michigan | 6’5” | 245 lbs.
Dynasty and draft analysts have been espousing the running back strengths of this class, but don’t sleep on the number of talented tight ends available, too! The best TE fantasy prospect is Colston Loveland of the Michigan Wolverines. In high school, Loveland once had 19 receptions in a single game, so it’s pretty clear he is comfortable catching the football. He has excellent size and strength and is a phenomenal blocker, which will help him see the field early in the NFL. Most importantly for his fantasy football future, Loveland has open-field skills to gain yards after the catch. Loveland is my TE1 in a strong field.
No. 15 | Tyler Warren | TE | Penn State | 6’6” | 259 lbs.
If Colston Loveland is TE1, then Penn State’s Tyler Warren is TE1-B. Warren has been Mr. Everything this year in State College, PA—catching passes, running the ball, and even throwing an occasional goal line pass. NFL coaches are going to love Warren with his imposing size and skill set. Like Loveland, Warren can make plays after the catch, and in the end, I don’t think you’ll go wrong drafting either player. It’s likely neither of them last past the 2nd Round in the 2025 NFL Draft.
No. 16 | Luther Burden III | WR | Missouri | 5’11” | 205 lbs.
You will likely see Luther Burden III much higher on other analysts’ rankings than I have him here. Burden is a fine receiver, but I don’t think he will be a consistently big difference maker in the NFL. He has not been consistent in college, and too many of his touches must be manufactured in the SEC for my liking. The NFL landscape is overloaded with wide receivers, and I would much rather take the quarterbacks, running backs, and tight ends listed earlier ahead of “yet-another-wide receiver.” This doesn’t mean I dislike Burden or think he is a bad player, it is merely how I value those positions against mid-tier wide receivers.
No. 17 | Emeka Egbuka | WR | Ohio State | 6’1” | 205 lbs.
As with Luther Burden, Egbuka is a perfectly fine wide receiver coming out of Ohio State. He will have a long NFL career, but so has Parris Campbell. As has Curtis Samuel. Noah Brown. Are you starting any of them in your fantasy lineups each week? Me either. Again, I don’t dislike Egbuka. He is a polished prospect and will probably be an immediate starter in the NFL. I just see his ceiling as a WR3, and there are dozens of those around the league.
No. 18 | Xavier Restrepo | WR | Miami | 5’10” | 198 lbs.
I wanted to put Xavier Restrepo higher, but in the end, I pumped the brakes a bit. I believe Restrepo has a chance to be this year’s Ladd McConkey. While that isn’t a perfect player comparison, Restrepo has great hands and a knack for getting open. Perhaps a better comparison athletically would be to a receiver like Julian Edelman who had a long career in the slot. Restrepo is one of my favorite players in this class, and I am excited to see where he lands. He is now the career leader at Miami in both receptions and yards, more than Hurricane legends such as Michael Irvin, Reggie Wayne, and Andre Johnson.
No. 19 | Tre Harris | WR | Ole Miss | 6’2” | 210 lbs.
When the dust settles, this might be too low of a ranking for Tre Harris. A transfer from Louisiana Tech to Ole Miss, Harris is an older prospect playing in his fifth collegiate season. His stats this year have been eye-popping as he is averaging 109.7 yards per games through 9 games. With his size-speed combination that many of his positional peers in this range lack, if there’s any player from this tier of wide receivers who could break into consistent fantasy production, it’s Tre Harris.
No. 20 | Devin Neal | RB | Kansas | 5’11” | 215 lbs.
Devin Neal is such a fun player to watch, and from all accounts I have read, he sounds like a great person, too. I like that in the players I go to bat for. Neal could have entered last year’s draft, but he chose to stay in Lawrence, KS to further cement his status as a hometown hero for his Kansas Jayhawks. He is their all-time leader in career touchdowns and is approaching their all-time record of 3,841 rushing yards. Neal is dangerous in open space and excels in the screen game. If you’re looking for the “late-round PPR Guy” in this year’s draft, look no further than Devin Neal.
No. 21 | DJ Giddens | RB | Kansas State | 6’1” | 212 lbs.
Real fans know that DJ Giddens should have been the MVP of the 2024 Pop Tart Bowl in Kansas State’s 28-19 victory over NC State over his teammate Avery Johnson. If you think I only mention that because I wanted to give a shout out to our good friends at the Pop Tart Bowl, you’re absolutely correct.
In that meme-ably iconic game, DJ Giddens rushed for 151 yards on 28 carries and scored 2 touchdowns, one on the ground and the other through the air. I think Giddens is being slept on by the draft and dynasty communities, and I think he is another back like the aforementioned Devin Neal—who will end up being a value taken early on Day 3 of the NFL Draft.
No. 22 | Kalel Mullings | RB | Michigan | 6’2” | 233 lbs.
The former linebacker and special teamer switched to running back during the 2022 season and hasn’t looked back. Playing for the defending National Champion Michigan Wolverines, Kalel Mullings had early experience playing in the Big Ten Championship Game, the Fiesta Bowl, and the Rose Bowl. After being stuck on the depth chart behind Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards, Mullings came back this season for his fifth collegiate season. His week-to-week results have been streaky, but I would chalk that up to Michigan’s putrid offense more than giving blame to Mullings alone. I don’t want to “helmet scout,” but there’s a reason Michigan running backs always get drafted into the NFL. Mullings profiles as next on that list.
No. 23 | Kyren Lacy | WR | LSU | 6’2” | 213 lbs.
Polished. Reliable. Versatile. Consistent. That describes LSU’s Kyren Lacy. He might not do one thing exceptionally well, but he does everything well enough. Lacy is a yards-after-catch threat, showing great burst and elusiveness. He excels in the mid-range passing game. If you look at a few of the current “too early” NFL Mock Drafts, you’ll probably find Lacy with the widest range of draft positions. I’ve seen people mock him as high as the 1st Round and as low as the 6th Round. He is LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier’s favorite target this season and has answered the call in some of the Tigers’ biggest games, including a recent 5-catch, 106-yard effort in a loss to a Top 25 Texas A&M team.
No. 24 | Gunner Helm | TE | Texas | 6’5” | 239 lbs.
When Ja’Tavion Sanders left for the NFL, it was Gunner Helm’s turn to step up. Quickly becoming a favorite target of Quinn Ewers, Helm has soft hands and fluid movements. He is everything you want in a fantasy tight end, and he turns it up a notch when he gets to play on the biggest stages. Against Michigan, he went 7 receptions for 81 yards and a touchdown. Against Oklahoma? He had 5 for 91 and a TD. Against Georgia? He had 6 for 62. Helm is not a finished product, but I think he is a diamond in the rough who can succeed in the NFL given time and development in the right system.
Keith Ensminger’s Sleeper
No. 25 | Jonah Coleman | RB | Washington | 5’9” | 225 lbs.
If you’re looking for a player I believe NFL coaches will fall in love with during the draft process, it’s Jonah Coleman. He is a hard-nosed wrecking ball of a runner who profiles as a workhorse back. Coleman is both consistent and explosive, averaging 6.0 yards per carry for the Washington Huskies through 10 games this season.
He has never lost a fumble in his collegiate career and displays enough acumen with pass-catching that he could find himself in a bell-cow role in the NFL—should he find the opportunity. If you’re into analytics as I am, PFF loves Coleman, grading him as one of the best backs in this class. Their craziest stat on him? Jonah Coleman averaged 5.09 yards after contact per attempt in 2023.
Whenever you have a list of prospects, the focus will inevitably shift toward the players not included. There are many players deserving of being on this list. Here are a few of my favorite remaining players at each position:
QB | Quinn Ewers (Texas), Jaxon Dart (Ole Miss), Connor Weigman (Texas A&M)
RB | Ollie Gordon (Oklahoma State), RJ Harvey (UCF), Ja’Quinden Jackson (Arkansas)
WR | Dane Key (Kentucky), Evan Stewart (Oregon), Jayden Higgins (Iowa St)
TE | Mason Taylor (LSU), Harold Fannin Jr. (Bowling Green)
The beauty of the 2025 Rookie Big Board Series is that it is a living thing. Prospects will move up and down the rankings throughout the remainder of the year based on performance, new information, and potential draft stock. Players will be added, and players will fall out. That is the nature of the beast. Please check back regularly to see our most recent 2025 Rookie Big Board update.
This 2025 Rookie Big Board was aided by the Dynasty Nerds Film Room!
The video clips used in this 2025 Rookie Big Board were curated and arranged by Dynasty Nerds Film Room Manager Matt Cooper (@CouchScoutsFF). A special thanks to Matt and all the Film Room crew for the awesome quality content they provide for us and our subscribers. Use code “Sming“ for 15% off your own Film Room Subscription and start scouting rookie prospects like a Nerd!
QB Rankings | RB Rankings | WR Rankings | TE Rankings
If you’re looking for more 2025 Rookie Big Boards, you can navigate to them at the top of this page. Also feel free to check out our NFL Prospects Director Tristan Cook‘s positional rankings with the toolbar above.
Our staff is working on a new mock draft each week, so be sure to check back regularly for more 2025 NFL Draft content. In case you missed it, here’s our most recent Superflex Rookie Mock Draft:
