Welcome back to my fantasy football breakdown of the 2025 NFL Draft’s Day 2, where 60+ rookies (besides Shedeur Sanders) finally found their new NFL homes.
In this featured piece recapping rounds two and three, I will delve into the immediate impact of the newly minted rookies and how their arrival alters the dynamics for veteran players within their teams.
From soaring fantasy stocks of rookies poised to make a significant mark in their debut seasons to veterans who might find their positions threatened or bolstered by these young additions, we’ll explore who emerged as the winners and losers of this pivotal day in the NFL calendar.
Join me as we break down the changing landscapes of NFL squads and assess the potential shifts in strategy and performance prompted by this year’s Day 2 selections. Find my round one breakdown here.
- Dynasty Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- Dynasty Rookie Draft Simulator
- DBro’s Dynasty Rookie Draft Primers
- NFL Draft Guide
2025 NFL Draft Day 2 Winners & Losers
2025 NFL Draft Day 2 Winners
One of the biggest shockers in round two of the NFL Draft was the Denver Broncos selecting UCF running back RJ Harvey.
He was one of my favorite running back sleepers in this class, and he has already exceeded expectations by being selected in the second round.
Harvey is a super explosive running back and was highly efficient at the college level.
The efficiency is worth chasing alongside an elite dominator rating of 43% — tied for second-best in the draft class. He finished in the top 10 in the FBS in forced missed tackles, trailing only Ashton Jeanty in rushes of 10+ yards.
Harvey landed on a team with a wide-open backfield where he can establish himself as the lead back, or at least the 1A, if not the clear-cut No. 1 RB for the Denver Broncos.
Harvey’s stock is way, way up.
RJ Harvey on the Broncos
The limit does not exist ????????
— Andrew Erickson™ (@AndrewErickson_) April 26, 2025
I love the Quinshon Judkins landing spot with the Cleveland Browns. This was a great selection by the #DawgPound.
The Browns needed a running back upgrade, and Judkins represents the exact type of player they needed to select to pair alongside Jerome Ford.
The former Ohio State Buckeye doesn’t have long breakaway speed like Ford, but he more than makes up for it with his vision, burst to the hole and a strong finish to his carries. Judkins finished his three-year career at OSU/Ole Miss with 4,227 yards from scrimmage and 50 touchdowns.
I’d expect him to be the Day 1 starter for the Browns on early downs.
Although I don’t love this landing spot as much as I do the Judkins-Browns pairing, it’s hard not to get excited about Kaleb Johnson ending up in Pittsburgh. The Steelers now have a dynamic 1-2 punch between Johnson and Jaylen Warren.
We’ve seen this Arthur Smith offense have two running backs produce in the past, so I am still holding out some hope that Warren can be solid in fantasy football, even if he is not a three-down workhorse.
Warren is also under contract for just one season after signing his restricted free agent (RFA) tender.
Johnson’s ceiling could be Derrick Henry-esque in this offense if they load him up with all he can handle.
I compared Johnson to Henry in my first article on this rookie running back class. His new offensive coordinator is Arthur Smith, Henry’s former offensive coordinator in Tennessee from 2019-2020.
Johnson was one of the most dominant running backs in college football this past season, posting a 48% dominator rating (96th percentile). He rushed for a career-high 1,535 yards (6.4 yards per attempt) and 21 touchdowns on 240 carries.
The New England Patriots finally gave Drake Maye a pass-catcher, in the form of third-round wide receiver Kyle Williams.
I like the pick not only in real life, but also for fantasy football.
Williams had a very decorated college career, catching at least one pass in 50 career contests.
The 5-foot-11, 190-pound receiver is also coming off a monster 2024 season featuring 14 touchdowns, 70 receptions and over 1,200 receiving yards.
Williams is explosive down the field, finishing third in the class in deep catches. I like the fit a lot with Maye.
The former Washington State wideout has an opportunity to seize targets in an offense that’s been looking for someone to step up.
Keep in mind that Stefon Diggs is essentially on a one-year deal the Patriots can get out of if things don’t work out with the 31-year-old receiver coming off a torn ACL.
The Lions traded up to select Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa in round three. The Lions made some curious selections in this draft (going against consensus), but we all know they had the last laugh when it came to them “reaching” on certain guys.
It’s clear the team highly valued the 6-foot-4, 214-pound receiver’s projection to the next level, making sure they were able to draft him.
I liked TeSlaa as a sleeper pre-draft, but he will be rising in the rankings after earning third-round draft capital.
Although his counting stats in the SEC don’t jump off the page, TeSlaa was very efficient. He had the fourth-highest passer rating generated when targeted in the FBS last season (145.5) and a perfect passer rating on targets of 20+ air yards (eye emojis).
The targets will be hard to come by in the Lions’ offense, but there have been some trade rumors swirling regarding Jameson Williams.
Jack Bech led all receivers in the class in expected points added (EPA)/target.
Simply put, good things happened at TCU when Bech got the rock.
And that didn’t go unnoticed by Las Vegas, as they selected him 58th overall.
The Raiders are getting great guys in the building as they build out a winning culture amid a new regime. I also loved their selection of Iowa State cornerback Darien Porter.
Bech wasn’t a lock to be a Day 2 pick, so the draft capital solidifies his status near the top of the rookie receiver fantasy football rankings.
The Raiders had a massive lack of wide receiver depth behind Jakobi Meyers (who is in the final year of his deal). Expect Bech’s dynasty value only to rise.
Jayden Higgins (WR – HOU) & Jaylin Noel (WR – HOU)
Jayden Higgins was drafted first by the Texans at 34th overall (which was also heavily juiced in the betting markets before the draft kicked off). Houston didn’t wait much longer to draft his teammate Jaylin Noel in the third round (79th overall).
Both classify as winners, given the Day 2 draft capital and attachment to C.J. Stroud.
Houston had a dire need at wideout behind Nico Collins. They added Christian Kirk for next to nothing from the Jaguars, but Tank Dell will likely be on the shelf for the majority of the 2025 season.
Higgins probably has more immediate appeal given his skillset and draft capital. Noel’s abilities overlap more with Kirk’s.
Higgins should start alongside Kirk and Collins in 2025, with the idea that Noel takes over the slot in 2026 (Kirk is in the last year of his deal).
I’m open to drafting both Iowa State wide receivers in rookie drafts, but can’t help but think that Noel will end up being the better value.
Tre Harris was one of the more polarizing receivers in this draft class, and I felt he would be very landing spot dependent to find fantasy football success.
And I am so glad for Derek Brown’s sake that he landed in Los Angeles with the Chargers.
He can slide right into the Josh Palmer role (whom I compared Harris to a few months back) and take on even more of the target share after he supplants Quentin Johnston.
Because you better believe he is coming right for it. The guy wants to snatch the souls of opposing defensive backs. No wonder Jim Harbaugh made the pick. He recognizes the dog of the former Ole Miss wideout.
And the production ain’t too shabby.
Harris started the season on fire, leading the FBS in receiving yards (nearly 1,000) through seven weeks. He averaged a ridiculous 5.12 yards per route run, ranking first in college football (no other receiver was above 4.0).
The Seahawks needed to add a vertical threat to this offense, and they got exactly that with Miami’s Elijah Arroyo. Noah Fant has been an utter disappointment since arriving in Seattle and will be a free agent at the end of the season.
Terrance Ferguson tested extremely well at the NFL Scouting Combine and finished first in the nation in yards after the catch per reception (9.0) in 2024.
This didn’t go unnoticed by the Rams, who used their first pick (46th) to select the former Oregon Ducks tight end. We know Tyler Higbee isn’t meant for the long haul (32 years old in a contract year), and Colby Parkinson is a limited player.
The Rams were in the running for Brock Bowers last season, so I could see them having big plans for an athletic tight end like Ferguson.
I spoke too soon after round one. Poor Jeremy Ruckert.
Can't believe I neglected to mention Jets tight end Jeremy Ruckert as a big winner after the Jets went OT instead of tight end.
Oh well????♂️
Here are the rest of my winners and losers after Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft!https://t.co/w8Ch5wt84q
— Andrew Erickson™ (@AndrewErickson_) April 25, 2025
New York drafted Mason Taylor 42nd overall, and it’s a great spot for him. All we are asking for when it comes to tight ends is a clear path to targets. The Jets have Garrett Wilson as the No. 1 with Josh Reynolds as the No. 2.
This was a great pick by the Seahawks. Take a developmental quarterback with a sky-high ceiling in case things go south with Sam Darnold.
New Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak utilized Taysom Hill in a hybrid rushing role in 2024 with the Saints.
Quarterbacks With Upgraded Personnel
The Houston Texans traded out of the first round on Day 1, but more than made up for it with a flurry of picks in rounds two and three.
Specifically, they added serious offensive firepower. They drafted both Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, while also selecting offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery.
Ersery was a slam-dunk mid-round two selection for the Texans.
The Patriots made three more draft picks on Day 2, and they were all on offense: running back TreVeyon Henderson, wide receiver Kyle Williams and center Jared Wilson.
Patriots' draft to-do list:
Beef up the offensive line✅
Draft explosive playmakers✅
LFG
— Andrew Erickson™ (@AndrewErickson_) April 26, 2025
In addition to Ashton Jeanty, the Raiders have continued to bolster their offense around Geno Smith. They drafted Jack Bech while adding two developmental tackles late in the third round. Las Vegas also didn’t spend any worthwhile draft capital on quarterbacks.
We shall see if they pull the Shedeur Sanders card on Day 3.
More offensive line and receiver help for the Bears’ second-year quarterback with Luther Burden and Ozzy Trapilo.
The Dolphins boosted the offensive line with Arizona guard Jonah Savaiinaea
Miami traded up with the Raiders at No. 37, using their third-rounder to ensure more protection for their quarterback.
The Vikings added another receiver in Tai Felton in round three for the Vikings’ young quarterback to throw to. The 6-foot-1, 183-pound receiver truly saved his best for last with an eye-popping senior season that culminated with a 38% dominator rating.
Note that Felton must have been high on Minnesota’s board, given he was the only selection they made on Day 2.
2025 NFL Draft Day 2 Losers
After drafting Colston Loveland in round one, the Bears drafted another pass-catcher in round two (39th overall) in Missouri’s Luther Burden.
It’s a weird landing spot for the ultra-polarizing receiver, given we don’t see a clear path for targets with Rome Odunze and DJ Moore as the top two guys. There was no need to draft another wide receiver so highly.
Burden stans will back his slot usage – 85%+ of his snaps from the slot, continuing to operate as a heavy yards after the catch playmaker, immediately putting him in that Ben Johnson wide receiver slot role that oozes fantasy production. To the moon… right?
And I’ll acknowledge that’s in his range of outcomes. But it’s also possible that Burden is just another offensive toy for Johnson to use to “flex” on other defenses with creative plays, etc.
I think it’s more likely Burden will see similar schemed touches around the line of scrimmage in a similar manner to what we saw a bit from Jameson Williams during the 2024 season. Perhaps a more souped-up version, given that Burden’s heavier than Williams. But the basic premise is to get this guy the ball in space, given his 35% missed forced tackle rate.
I can squint and see the upside path for Burden attached to Williams in a potential full-time slot role, but there are so many other pieces (Odunze, Loveland) that I’d rather bet on than Burden in the Bears’ offense. And when second-round wide eceivers don’t fire right away, they often get replaced rather quickly.
The Patriots needed to add an explosive playmaker, so they drafted TreVeyon Henderson in the second round. It puts a damper on Rhamondre Stevenson’s fantasy value after he struggled last season. Stevenson is under contract with the Pats for the next two seasons before the team can get out in 2027, whereas Antonio Gibson has an out in 2025.
I think New England is envisioning a two-man backfield, similar to how Henderson was used at Ohio State. The former Buckeye has had his fair share of injuries, so it wouldn’t be wise to overload him with touches.
Hendorson gives the Patriots’ offense the juice that it has so severely lacked. And given that all three backs on the roster can catch passes, it helps avoid specific running backs signaling to the defense whether it’s pass or run.
We have seen plenty of Josh McDaniels offenses run by committee, and that’s how I’ll likely project the Patriots’ offense in 2025. The examples of McDaniels using one running back almost always came in the second season of contracts (Josh Jacobs in 2022).
There’s potential for it to be a total backfield mess. But if Henderson can produce with his explosive skill set and pass-catching, he could end up being a massive value in an offense that could take massive strides in Maye’s second season.
RIP Jaylen Warren SZN. I thought the running back the Steelers would select wouldn’t be nearly the caliber of Kaleb Johnson’s talent, considering they didn’t have a second-round pick. Whoops.
Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough will duke it out for No. 1 QB duties in New Orleans. Woof. At least the offensive line is littered with former first-round picks…
Tank Dell probably won’t play this season, and his long-term outlook looks very grim after the team drafted two more talented wide receivers in Day 2 of this year’s draft.
If anything, all the wideouts make it so the team does not need to rush Dell back. His fantasy value is not looking great.
Not only did the Browns not draft Shedeur Sanders, but they also drafted Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel as a rookie to compete with Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco.
To make matters worse for David Njoku, the team also drafted Bowling Green tight end Harold Fannin 67th overall. I’m sure the Browns have seen enough of the Ravens’ Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely tight end duo to think they should also give it a try.
I wouldn’t panic too much with Njoku — he did have a great stretch of production with Flacco in 2023 — but how Fannin will be deployed in the Browns’ offense is worth monitoring.
The TCU wide receiver served as a dual-threat rusher and receiver at the college level, so there was always a path to him finding fantasy football success on the right NFL roster.
Matt LaFleur is a creative play-caller, but with another body added to this already crowded wide receiver room, it’s an uphill battle betting on Williams to hit. It’s hard enough to bank on the established veteran receivers in Green Bay as it currently stands.
Adding more wideouts makes sense in real life, given the injury to Christian Watson (contract year) and Romeo Doubs entering the last year of his rookie contract after dealing with a flurry of concussions in 2024.
But, hey, at least Jordan Love has another weapon (along with a second-round offensive lineman) after all his wide receivers got hurt last season. It’s worth noting that Green Bay has made no defensive upgrades in the draft despite desperately needing both a cornerback and an EDGE rusher.
So much for prioritizing wide receiver, huh, Jerry Jones?
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