The 2025 NFL Draft enters Day 2, consisting of the second and third rounds. Follow along for real-time analysis of the opening round’s impact on fantasy football plans for the upcoming season and beyond.
Fantasy draft season may not be close to hitting its crescendo, but hardcore gamers have been selecting players prior to the conclusion of the collegiate bowl season. It’s time to let the real fun begin!
Also see: Day 1 | Day 3
Round 2 fantasy football reaction
34) WR Jayden Higgins, Houston Texans
This is an interesting pick, given the universal comp for Higgins is Nico Collins. At 6-foot-4, 214 pounds, the Iowa State product enters a favorable situation for an offense that will be among the taller targets in the NFL. The major question here is how soon will Higgins see the field for meaning rep if Collins is healthy. There’s a clear path to action if injuries reappear for Collins, Christian Kirk, and Tank Dell, all of whom missed at least three games last season. Until more is known on that front, the first receiver chosen on Day 2 is merely a late-round flier for fantasy purposes.
36) RB Quinshon Judkins, Cleveland Browns
The Nick Chubb era came to an unceremonious end, and Cleveland’s newest powerback is Judkins, a more versatile option out of Ohio State. He has bell cow written all over him. Unlike Chubb, Judkins is a capable receiver and also stands out in pass pro. The initial burst is what jumps off the screen when evaluating him, and Judkins will be this offense’s RB1, barring unforeseen circumstances, as early as training camp. For fantasy, it shouldn’t surprise anyone if he finishes as the second-best rookie back in 2025 and a No. 2 staple in your lineup.
38) RB TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots
Taken two picks after his former Buckeyes backfield mate, Henderson heads to New England as a home run waiting to happen. He’s an explosive perimeter runner, who happily does the dirty work, too, being among the best pass protectors in this RB class. Paired with Rhamondre Stevenson will give a one-two punch that presents versatility to Josh McDaniels’ play calling, and the aerial game for both only further bolsters the concerted effort to put weapons around quarterback Drake Maye. Expect immediate fantasy contributions from Henderson, although there could be frustrating guesswork trying to decide when to play him. For now, we’ll treat him as a No. 4 fantasy back with weekly flex utility being a reasonable baseline.
39) WR Luther Burden III, Chicago Bears
The Bears invested another pick in the passing game to help quarterback Caleb Williams and lean into the hiring of offensive-minded head coach Ben Johnson. Burden is a weapon in the open field and can be game planned into all three levels of the route tree, but he’ll be at his best with short- and intermediate-area touches to let him do his thing in space. In 2025, he’ll be competing for touches with DJ Moore and Rome Odunze, who both have a leg up on him with a year under their respective belts catching passes from Williams. Burden is a fringe fantasy option on draft day but could creep into fantasy lineups as the season wears on.
40) QB Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints
Turning 26 in September, Shough (pronounced “Shuck”) is old for a rookie and — maybe more worrisome — has extensive injury history. Speaking of being on the mend, quarterback Derek Carr‘s shoulder ailment has the veteran in doubt to play at all this year, though reports suggest it could be more contractually than physically motivated. The Saints have suspect weapons, their offensive line is in flux, and running back Alvin Kamara is long in the tooth. On the plus side, Shough has a lively arm, is mobile enough to escape, and throws accurately from all angles. The talent is there, but will an opportunity be? At any rate, there’s a cloud of uncertainty preventing fair fantasy evaluation of Shough’s 2025 outlook.
42) TE Mason Taylor, New York Jets
The son of Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, this LSU star takes his game to the Big Apple as one of the most NFL-ready players of the class. The younger Taylor was highly productive for the Tigers, setting school records for receiving yards and receptions at the position. In New York, Justin Fields will be slinging the ball his way, and we’ve seen the former Ohio Stater successfully locate TE Cole Kmet in Chicago. The Jets have WRs Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard as their most proven pass catchers, with Breece Hall out of the backfield sure to steal looks. We’ve been spoiled in recent years with the immediate contributions by TEs, so while that helps, as does Taylor’s polish, there is an element of trepidation in projecting him as a draft-worthy option straight out of the gate.
46) TE Terrance Ferguson, Los Angeles Rams
The prototypical size/speed combo for a tight end in today’s game, Ferguson is Oregon’s all-time leader in TE catches. No tight end was faster at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine (4.63-second 40), and Ferguson boasts quality hands. In other words, he’s not just a freakish athlete. In LA, he gets to learn the ropes behind veteran Tyler Higbee, and backup tight end Colby Parkinson can help shore up the blocking area of Ferguson’s game. Don’t expect Year 1 offerings for fantasy utility, however, sans another serious injury to Higbee.
50) TE Elijah Arroyo, Seattle Seahawks
A vertical threat down the seam, Arroyo has some of the best feet you find in this class. Durability has been an issue for him, but he also bounced back nicely and has shown to be a resilient player. Sam Darnold gets another weapon, and it won’t be surprising if Noah Fant is sent packing soon. Even in that situation, Arroyo still has to contend with sophomore AJ Barner in order to vault into fantasy relevance. Long term, the former Hurricane has borderline TE1 worth.
55) WR Tre Harris, Los Angeles Chargers
Strongly built, fast enough, and physical on the outside, the 6-foot-2 Harris operates with ferocity over all three levels. He’s a capable receiver around the line with manufactured touches and also can uncork one over the top if defenders underestimate his wheels. The Chargers have a blossoming playmaker in Quentin Johnston paired with a polished sophomore in Ladd McConkey, a second-rounder by the Bolts last year. Now, all aspects of the route tree are in full operation on any given play, and Harris will thrive with play-action passing. For 2025, consider him a late-round flier in deep settings, but he’s best left for the wire in most settings.
58) WR Jack Bech, Las Vegas Raiders
Geno Smith gets a polished, competitive, sure-handed, tough wideout in Bech. With Jakobi Meyers set as one starting receiver and TE Brock Bowers among the most dangerous weapons in the game, look for the TCU product to make his mark early against single coverage. He rarely drops a ball, and the intangibles are off the charts. While the overall stats may not be huge this year, Bech has a place in fantasy lineups as depth with the chance to become a weekly flex option.
60) RB RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos
Running back success often comes down to sheer opportunity, and Harvey will have every chance to show he belongs in an offensive system that loves to divvy up chores in a compartmentalized fashion. At 5-foot-8 and a smidge over 200 pounds, the compact back brings 4.4 speed to a backfield devoid of playmakers. He should immediately battle Jaleel McLaughlin for the “lightning” role in a committee with the more powerful Audric Estime presumably serving as the tough-yardage back. Denver may not be done adding rushers, too, so keep that in mind, but Harvey is dynamic runner and a handful to corral in the passing game. There’s RB3 potential here in PPR scoring.
Round 3 fantasy football reaction
67) TE Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns
Fluid movement skills in the open field make Fannin slippery to take down. He is slightly undersized but has the chops to be flexed into the slot and even line up out of the backfield. Cleveland still has David Njoku to man the TE1 spot, though injuries and age may be taking their toll. Fannin has no immediate fantasy draft value but will be worth watching down the line.
69) WR Kyle Williams, New England Patriots
A 4.4 home run guy, Williams isn’t just a vertical weapon. He runs crisp routes and can shake off defenders in the open field. Just how he will fit into the offense on Day 1 is up for debate, so the early assessment is to wait and see before investing anything in single-year leagues. The Patriots have multiple receivers poised to open the season ahead of Williams, and he may not evolve beyond being a seldom-used deep threat in his rookie season.
70) WR Isaac TeSlaa, Detroit Lions
Tall and fast, TeSlaa brings a 6-foot-4 frame with a 4.3-second 40 time to Motown. He’s still a little raw after spending three years at Division II Hillsdale College, but a couple years at Arkansas saw him show growth. Able to play inside and out, TeSlaa figures to be slowly worked into an already explosive offense, and he currently has no immediate fantasy value.
74) WR Pat Bryant, Denver Broncos
More of a technician than pure athlete, Bryant is a sure-handed receiver who operates over the middle of the field but still can get deep, thanks to crafty route running. The Broncos are accumulating pieces that fit the way Sean Payton likes his offense move the ball, and Bryant has a chance to develop into a weekly fantasy option as soon as next year, depending on what happens with Courtland Sutton. Year 1 fantasy returns might be asking a bit much, but Bryant can work his way onto the field with a strong camp. Payton never has shied away from playing young guys who show out in the offseason, so there’s something to watch on that front.
79) WR Jaylin Noel, Houston Texans
Among the hardest workers and most productive receivers of the class, Noel joins his Iowa State teammate in Houston after Jayden Higgins went atop the second stanza. The Texans clearly had a void to fill in the passing game and added a pair of very different guys in these two wideouts. Noel excels vs. zone coverage and finding soft spots to exploit, and his 4.38-second long speed allows him to get over the top vs. man. Standing 5-foot-10, 194 pounds, he his surprisingly reliable in contested situations and will endear himself to C.J. Stroud as one of the first people in the building each and every day. Noel should be added to your 2025 watch list while we monitor the recovery of Tank Dell (knee), who realistically may not play until late in the season. There is an opportunity to be seized, so stay tuned….
83) RB Kaleb Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers
He definitely fits the mold of a Steelers running back! At 6-foot-1, 224 pounds, Johnson is a load to bring down, and he has a nose for the end zone, as evidenced by 21 rushing TDs in 2024 alone. An adequate receiver and effort blocker, Johnson won’t be a liability on passing downs. He’s quick to access an open hole as a one-cut rusher. Look for a tandem approach with Jaylen Warren following the departure of Najee Harris in free agency, and Johnson will be a useful fantasy option as a RB3/No. 4 selection in 2025 drafts.
87) WR Savion Williams, Green Bay Packers
Loading up on receiving help for Jordan Love was a priority, and Williams gives his new quarterback a massive target in the red zone. The 6-foot-4, 222-pounder is about as versatile as an NFL receiver gets. He lines up everywhere and will give Matt LaFleur a unique option for creative concepts. Tough to tackle and hard to outdo in jump-ball situations, Williams’ weakest area appears to be concentration lapses on easy catches, because he’ll make highlight-reel grabs look routine. In 2025 fantasy action, erratic contributions are probably what we can expect from the do-all TCU wideout.
92) QB Jalen Milroe, Seattle Seahawks
Among the best running quarterbacks in recent memory, Milroe remains inconsistent as a passer and will need time to get it together for long-term success in the pros. Sam Darnold has a decent runway and will be given grace, but Milroe lurking doesn’t make life easier on him. The Year 1 outlook is the Alabama quarterback has no immediate value without an injury, but there’s crazy upside here once he manages to get onto the field.
94) QB Dillon Gabriel, Cleveland Browns
Extremely accurate, judicious, and mobile, Gabriel joins a crowded quarterback room in Cleveland. He has time to learn behind veterans in Joe Flacco, Deshaun Watson (Achilles), and even Kenny Pickett, so seeing the field in 2025 will require some assistance. At a tick over 5-foot-11 and merely 205 pounds, Gabriel has the odds stacked against him, despite being wildly successful in college.
102) WR Tai Felton, Minnesota Vikings
Highly productive at Maryland, Felton heads to the Twin Cities as a 4.37-second 40 guy able to get deep in a hurry. He’s thinly built, though, which could be a concern for durability, but the 6-foot-1, 183-pounder has not taken a lot of hits. Felton’s second gear jumps off the screen when he stomps on the pedal, and there’s still upside to be uncovered in the nuances of making him a more complete receiver. He gets to learn from the best in the league and adds yet another target for quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
