Fantasy football 2025: Jaydon Blue, Tory Horton, Shedeur Sanders among later-round rookies to draft

This is a running back I target often in the double-digit rounds. Blue has blazing speed, as evidenced by his 4.38 40-yard dash at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine. He is a shifty runner who has good hands as a receiver. While watching his college tape, I envisioned his ceiling as being a C.J. Spiller type. If he can beat out Javonte Williams, who has struggled with efficiency for years now, the fifth-round pick brings breakout upside in this offense.

Williams has been a favorite of mine since before he came off the board early in Round 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft. He has blazing speed and is just as much of a threat to win after the catch as he is downfield. Watching his college tape, he reminded me of Marvin Mims Jr. He is on a Patriots team that needs pass catchers to step up, meaning he should see opportunities in Year 1. Additionally, he is paired with a strong-armed QB (Drake Maye) who can win downfield. He is a nice late-round flier in drafts.

If you want to dive deeper into New England's WR depth chart, Efton Chism III made his presence felt in the first preseason game, leading the Pats in targets (8), catches (6) and receiving yards (50) while scoring a touchdown. The undrafted rookie has been turning heads in camp.

Higgins and Noel are both later-round picks in fantasy, as each brings upside if given a chance. Higgins is a big-bodied receiver best suited to play the X. The early second-round pick can make his presence felt on contested catches and as a red zone beast. Noel is more of a slot receiver who can use his route running and strong hands to win quickly, but the third-round selection also can stretch the field from the inside. Think Khalil Shakir. Both are behind Nico Collins and (likely) Christian Kirk to start the year, but could receive opportunities in three-receiver sets. And when it comes to Collins and Kirk, both have missed time due to injuries in previous seasons. If that happens in 2025, it's arrow up for the Iowa State rookies.

As a 6-foot-5 receiver who ran a 4.30 40-yard dash at the combine, Thornton drew comparisons to Calvin Johnson and DK Metcalf. Aggressive comps for a fourth-round pick, no doubt, but the truth is that few human beings are this big and this fast. The Raiders are searching for a viable receiver to complement veteran Jakobi Meyers. Thornton's ability to stretch the field should make life easier underneath for Las Vegas -- creating plenty of space for dynamic tight end Brock Bowers -- so do not be surprised if he sees regular playing time. Thornton likely will be a bit boom-or-bust, but he certainly brings upside.

Arroyo is one of my favorite tight ends in this draft class. At 6-5 and 254 pounds, he's a huge target who could become an immediate factor in the red zone for the Seahawks. He also has better speed than you'd imagine for a player of his size. The combination of size and speed led to him having a lot more downfield usage than you typically see from a college tight end, and he can win after the catch. With Noah Fant no longer in Seattle, opportunity is up for grabs at the tight end position. This second-round draft pick could blossom into a weekly starter as the season progresses.

Taylor is the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Jason Taylor -- and the nephew of HOFer Zach Thomas. He has a very high football IQ and was consistently able to find the soft spot against zone coverage at LSU. He excelled as a catch-and-run option in the short-to-intermediate game. An ankle injury halted his progress a bit in training camp, but the Jets are searching for a consistent No. 2 target in the passing game behind star WR Garrett Wilson. (And they have been searching for consistent tight end production for decades.) This second-round draft pick has a chance to become that second target, and if he does, he'll have weekly fantasy value.

Sanders played great in the first preseason game. It wasn't just the highlight touchdown passes -- his pocket presence, use of his legs to create time and, most of all, his touch and ball placement really stood out to me. I was in on Sanders as a prospect and believe he has the highest ceiling of all the Browns QBs. If the fifth-round selection gets the chance, he could become a streaming option off the waiver wire.

Milroe flashed his fantasy upside in his first preseason game, running for 38 yards on three carries. He also completed six of his 10 passes for 61 yards. The third-round pick is a long shot to start any games this season, but if that opportunity does arise, he will be effective in fantasy due to his rushing ability.

Second-round pick Quinshon Judkins will not face charges for misdemeanor battery after prosecutors decided not to move forward. The NFL is continuing with its own investigation, so we'll have to see what comes of that. If and when Judkins returns to the gridiron, I expect him to operate as Cleveland's lead back, but that doesn't mean Sampson won't have a role. The fourth-round pick is a good runner with strong contact balance. If Judkins ultimately leads the way, Sampson could be the passing-down back for the Browns. That is worth a later-round dart throw, considering the rookie is playing on a team that could be trailing often.

Fannin jumps off the screen when you watch his Bowling Green tape, moving like a receiver in a tight end's body. He was the focal point of his college offense, and even when the entire stadium knew the ball was going his way, he still shined. The third-round pick can win both downfield and after the catch, reminding me a bit of Dalton Kincaid. The only issue: David Njoku is standing in his way. But Fannin is talented enough to be fantasy relevant if given a shot.

Shough has a ton of college experience and a gunslinger's mentality. He may not always have the arm to match, but there is no throw he is afraid to make. We saw exactly that in the first week of the preseason, as he threw a pick-six and then immediately responded with a 54-yard touchdown pass. There will be ups and downs, but the rookie could be the Saints' Week 1 starter. He is a good athlete and is not afraid to run, even if he has to take a hit. The No. 40 overall pick is in play as a third QB in super flex leagues.

This size/speed receiver has been gaining steam in Detroit. TeSlaa has shown strong hands and good route-running ability in camp. It will be difficult for him to create immediate fantasy value, given all the targets on the Lions, but the third-round pick could blossom into a waiver-wire addition later on in the season. He is in play as a late-round pick in best ball leagues.

Horton stood out in the first preseason game with three catches (on a team-high seven targets) for 31 yards and a touchdown. The fifth-round pick is a speedster who can be utilized to stretch the field. He could compete with Marquez Valdes-Scantling for the WR3 job on a Seattle team that is searching for someone behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp. He is a late-round dart throw but could climb up draft boards if the strong preseason continues.

Smith could be Jerick McKinnon 2.0 for Andy Reid and the Chiefs. The converted receiver has shown strong hands and explosiveness in training camp. He has been a bit buried on the depth chart early on, so it may take some time, but the seventh-round pick has the upside to blossom into a fantasy-relevant option if he plays on passing downs for Kansas City.

Monangai is a compact, powerful back who is competing to be the Bears' RB2 behind D'Andre Swift. That matters, because Ben Johnson's offenses finished top two in RB goal line carries every year he was Detroit's offensive coordinator. He could become a modern-day Jamaal Williams (touchdown-or-bust flex) playing that role in this offense.

Lambert-Smith has created a buzz at Chargers camp. He is a big receiver who has the speed to win downfield. The Bolts are in need of a receiver with that skill set, so Lambert-Smith has a chance to make the roster and be a contributor. For fantasy, though, he would need to see consistent volume, which could be difficult behind Ladd McConkey and Keenan Allen.