2025 NFL Draft: Ideal Fantasy Landing Spots

April 28, 2023.

The 2023 NFL Draft started out with a bang. Round One featured three quarterbacks among the first four selections, two running backs inside the top 12 picks, and four first-round wide receivers. We even had a tight end (Dalton Kincaid) sneak into Round One. Fantasy managers were happy and optimistic heading into Day Two. Everything was going well in this thing of ours.

Then Round Two started, and offensive players continued to fly off the board, including a future TE1 overall in Sam LaPorta. Excitement grew as several running backs emerged who could propel dynasty rookie drafts into the stratosphere.

Then, nine fateful words took the wind out of everyone’s sails when pick number 52 came along: “The Seattle Seahawks select UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet.”

Charbonnet went from a potential instant starter to part of a confusing committee alongside 2022 second-round pick Kenneth Walker. Dynasty managers were left frustrated, with more questions than answers.

One round later, the opposite occurred. With pick 82, the Miami Dolphins — coming off a red-hot fantasy season in Year One of the Mike McDaniel era — selected a dynamic, albeit undersized, back with afterburner speed: De’Von Achane. The fit seemed perfect.

Landing spots matter — even for the crème de la crème mega-talents. They matter even more for players selected outside of the first round. A great landing spot can increase and expedite a player’s fantasy value, while a poor one can prevent a player from reaching their potential fantasy ceiling.

The 2025 draft class is an exciting one. It’s a transformative year at the running back position, with several dynamic and electrifying talents, including one of the best prospects in recent memory. There are also multiple wide receivers and tight ends who could make an instant fantasy impact next season.

But which landing spots could propel some of the draft’s elite talents to even greater heights? Here are a few that would be ideal for fantasy.

Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State, 21 Years Old

There are bell-cow running backs, and in the words of Scott Barrett, there are Uber Bell-Cow running backs. Jeanty is the latter.

Unless you were living under a rock this season, there’s a very good chance you’ve heard of Jeanty. A mega-producer at Boise State, he checks all the boxes you want in a running back.

Want high-end production? Jeanty rushed for 2,601 yards — trailing only Barry Sanders for the most all-time in a single NCAA season — and scored 29 rushing touchdowns.

Do you like your running backs to be athletic? Jeanty appeared on Bruce Feldman’s "Freaks List" in The Athletic for feats like a 605-pound squat that could have been even higher if Boise State’s coaches had allowed him to attempt it. He can produce in short yardage and is a home-run hitter capable of taking it to the house at any moment.

His lack of work as a receiver this season was by design — he caught 39 passes in 2023 and had seven games with at least four catches.

Do not overthink it. Even if the Titans select a quarterback with the first pick in the NFL Draft, Jeanty is the 1.01 in your dynasty rookie draft. You’ll probably be considering him in the first round of your redraft league in August as well.

Dream Landing Spot

Could it be any other team than the Cowboys? Dallas is picking early enough (12th) that Jeanty is right in their wheelhouse draft capital-wise.

There are some very logical reasons why Dallas might pass on Jeanty, but do you really think Jerry Jones will want to hear them when push comes to shove? Tony Dorsett. Emmitt Smith. Zeke Elliott. Ashton Jeanty. It’s a poetic landing spot and a legacy pick for Jones.

From a fantasy perspective, the Cowboys have a great track record for production. Even if this isn’t a vintage Cowboys offense, a skill-position trio led by Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and Jeanty would put pressure on opposing defenses and give Jeanty plenty of scoring opportunities.

Tet McMillan, WR, Arizona, 21 Years Old

May I present the next proper alpha outside wide receiver for your fantasy roster: Tetairoa McMillan, aka Tet, aka T-Mac. McMillan has been compared to multiple players, including A.J. Green, Mike Evans, and a twitchier version of Drake London (I like this one the most).

He broke out as a true freshman and continued his rise up the rankings. McMillan finished third in the nation and led the Big 12 in receiving yardage with 1,319 yards this season. He is incredibly versatile and has an outstanding catch radius.

McMillan could handle a high target volume as the featured player in an NFL team’s offense as early as his rookie season. He is an exciting prospect with a high floor/ceiling combo.

Dream Landing Spot

The New England Patriots have to get it right eventually when they draft a wide receiver, right? They could finally correct years of wasted picks by selecting McMillan with the fourth overall pick.

This would be an ideal landing spot for McMillan, allowing him to play with a rising star quarterback in Drake Maye and step into an immediate role as the team’s WR1. He could easily take on an immediate 140-target role and deliver WR2 value right away.

Omarion Hampton, RB, UNC, 21 Years Old

Players who have rushed for consecutive 1,500+-yard and 15+-touchdown seasons in ACC history: Lamar Jackson, Dalvin Cook, Travis Etienne, and Omarion Hampton. Not a bad list to be on.

In many years, Hampton would be the highest-rated running back in his draft class. He thrived this season despite a transitional year for the program offensively, with Drake Maye off to the NFL. Hampton set the UNC record for yards from scrimmage with 2,033.

He has the size (6'0", 220 lbs) and two-way ability coveted in today’s NFL. Over the past two seasons, Hampton has hauled in 67 catches, showcasing his versatility as a receiver.

Dream Landing Spot

Hampton could push his way into Round One and seems like a lock for Top-40 draft capital. The Cleveland Browns are a team very much in transition at the running back position.

Selecting Hampton with the 33rd overall pick at the top of Round Two would be a coup for them. Nick Chubb is headed for free agency, and his return to the team is very much in question, given his injury woes. Jerome Ford is more of a role player.

Hampton would step into a featured role and immediately become one of the focal points of the Browns' offense. The Browns need an offensive identity, and Hampton could quickly resolve that problem.

Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa, 21 Years Old

Johnson dominated this season in the Big Ten and gained considerable NFL draft capital — as well as dynasty value. He could become a three-down workhorse running back right away.

He broke out as a true freshman with 779 yards, setting an Iowa freshman record. This year, he delivered one of the best seasons in school history, accounting for 40.3% of Iowa’s total yards on his way to 1,535 rushing yards on 6.4 yards per carry and 21 rushing touchdowns — an Iowa single-season record.

With his combination of size and explosiveness, he is a virtual lock to be selected in the first round of dynasty rookie drafts. Johnson could join Jeanty in the first round of the NFL Draft as well, with his floor being the second round.

Dream Landing Spot

A Big Ten reunion sounds about right. Last year, the LA Chargers were connected to multiple Day Two backs before drafting Kimani Vidal in the sixth round. This year, expect them to be much more aggressive in finding their running back of the present and future as early as Day One.

Johnson would be an ideal fit for the Jim Harbaugh/Greg Roman-led offense. LA ranked 11th in the NFL in rush attempts per game, has a very strong offensive line, and boasts long-term stability at the quarterback position with Justin Herbert.

Johnson’s dynasty stock would be en fuego if he landed here.

Luther Burden, WR, Missouri, 21 Years Old

Burden is one of the most dynamic players in this class when the ball is in his hands. He has been compared to players like Deebo Samuel and DJ Moore.

An in-state mega-recruit, Burden broke out as a true freshman in 2022 with 10 touchdowns. He had his best season in 2023, recording over 1,200 receiving yards, 86 catches, and 12 touchdowns.

Last season, Burden’s production dipped, but he still projects as a near-lock for the first round. He would thrive on a team that utilizes him in the slot and commits to getting the ball in his hands.

Dream Landing Spot

There have been many mock drafts projecting Burden to Dallas with the 12th overall pick, but in this exercise, we have Jeanty landing there.

So how about a few picks later to the Atlanta Falcons? The friendly confines of Mercedes-Benz Stadium on an ascending offense alongside Drake London and Bijan Robinson sounds like a perfect fit. He could step into a big play role and draw advantageous coverages game after game.

Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State, 21 Years Old

There is some prospect fatigue in the fantasy community regarding Judkins. If he had been eligible last season, he likely would have been the first running back off the board. Instead, he finds himself in the elite but non-Jeanty tier, battling it out in the 2025 class.

In 2022 at Mississippi, Judkins rushed for 1,567 yards — the second-most by a freshman in SEC history, behind Hall of Famer Herschel Walker — and 16 touchdowns. He followed it up with 15 more rushing scores in 2023 before transferring to Ohio State, where he added another double-digit touchdown season with 12 scores. Over his career, he averaged 5.1 yards per carry at the highest levels of college football and demonstrated competence in the passing game, hauling in 57 career catches.

Judkins has ideal size at 6'0", 219 pounds, and excellent ball security, with only three fumbles on 728 career rushing attempts. There’s very little to dislike about this profile. He will be a starting running back in the NFL and could step into that role immediately.

Dream Landing Spot

We do not know who the coach will be, but few football teams need a running back as much as the Las Vegas Raiders. Judkins would step into a high-volume role immediately if they select him with the 37th overall pick in the early second round.

Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State, 22 Years Old

Egbuka could have been selected in the second round of the NFL Draft in 2023 but chose to return to Columbus. Now, he has a strong chance of hearing his name called in Round One.

A true power slot, Egbuka combines size, exceptional route-running ability, and reliable hands. He can win in the red zone and be a featured target. Egbuka can also gain tough yards and serve as a first-down maker with his YAC ability.

He will leave Columbus ranked in the top two in program history for receptions and receiving yardage. It’s hard to envision Egbuka not succeeding in the NFL for teams looking for a “safe” addition to their rosters.

Dream Landing Spot:

Chris Godwin is an impending free agent, and Egbuka could be a perfect choice to replace him. Mike Evans is also going to be 32 next season, and the Buccaneers could use an injection of youth at the position. Egbuka could step right into the Tampa offense alongside Evans and Jalen McMillan in an exciting trio, before leading Tampa in targets in 2025 (think like Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s progression in Seattle).

Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State, 22 Years Old

Brock Bowers. Trey McBride. We are in the age of the high-target-earning, focal-point tight end. While Warren isn’t Bowers, there will be multiple teams thinking, “This player can instantly help our offense.”

There’s no doubt about it — the NFL is a copycat league, and this dynamic should elevate Warren even higher in this draft cycle.

A former high school quarterback, Warren will leave Penn State — aka Tight End U — as the best player they’ve ever had at the position. His stats are staggering, even by wide receiver standards. Warren led the Big Ten with 104 receptions and finished second in receiving yardage with 1,233 yards.

If that weren’t enough, Penn State found creative ways to utilize him on designed runs, with Warren rushing for 218 yards and 4 touchdowns.

In terms of size, he’s a throwback at 6'6" and over 260 pounds. When it comes to draft capital, expect Warren to be selected inside the top 20 overall picks.

Dream Landing Spot

While I fully expect Warren to be selected higher, the Cincinnati Bengals would be an ideal landing spot. Warren could absorb a significant target share if Tee Higgins leaves in free agency.

Mike Gesicki — another former Nittany Lion — had multiple fantasy-friendly performances catching passes from Joe Burrow in games when Higgins was absent this season. The offense would undoubtedly evolve, but Warren joining Ja’Marr Chase and Chase Brown while catching passes from Burrow sounds like fantasy gold. If the Bengals somehow keep Higgins while adding Warren, it would have face-melting potential for fantasy managers.

TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State, 22 Years Old

Much like Egbuka, Henderson could have been playing on Sundays this season but chose to return to Columbus. He burst onto the national scene in 2021 with one of the best freshman seasons in school history, totaling 1,560 combined yards and 19 touchdowns in an offense featuring a who’s who of Ohio State NFL talent, including Marvin Harrison Jr., Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Garrett Wilson.

A foot injury derailed his 2022 season, but he has since bounced back in a major way, producing consecutive seasons with at least 1,100 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns. This season, he thrived in a split backfield with Judkins, leading the Big Ten with 7.3 yards per carry—the highest mark in the conference over the last four seasons.

Henderson compares favorably to a pre-injury J.K. Dobbins. His explosiveness and pass-catching ability were on full display in Ohio State’s semifinal win over Texas.

Dream Landing Spot

Henderson’s two-way ability could be showcased in Denver. He would thrive alongside Bo Nix and be a foundational piece of an offense desperate for running back production. Sean Payton and OC Joe Lombardi are synonymous with fantasy-friendly running back usage. Javonte Williams was fifth among all players at the position with 70 targets but averaged only 3.7 yards per carry. Henderson would thrive in this role and offensive situation.

Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan, 20 Years Old

Not to get too technical with my evaluations, but the 2025 tight end class is insane. The depth and talent at the position are rarely seen collectively. Last year, Bowers and Ben Sinnott were the only tight ends selected in the first two rounds. This year, there could be as many as three tight ends taken in the first round.

Colston Loveland will be one of them. He has the athleticism, size, blocking ability required to get on the field immediately, and excellent hands. Loveland also possesses the versatility (60%+ slot rate) and route-running ability to move around the offense. At 6'4", 250 pounds, he compares favorably to the modern, fantasy-football-friendly archetype stylistically.

Loveland has been a key contributor since arriving in Ann Arbor. In 2023, he nearly led the national title-winning Wolverines in receptions, finishing in a dead heat with Roman Wilson (trailing 48-45). This year, he elevated his game even further despite Michigan’s offensive struggles. Loveland led the team in receptions, targets, touchdowns, and receiving yardage by a wide margin, evoking memories of Sam LaPorta’s dominating usage at Iowa.

Dream Landing Spot

The Denver Broncos offense is a recurring theme here, and the 20th overall pick falls right into Loveland’s wheelhouse in terms of draft capital. Sean Payton has coached multiple tight ends to high-end fantasy production, including Jimmy Graham, Jason Witten, and Jeremy Shockey. Loveland could be the next in line.

Plus, it wouldn’t be an offseason without hearing about the “Joker” role in a Payton-led offense.