Thursday and Friday garnered much attention from fans and the national media, with viewership ratings of the first three rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft breaking records. Fans cheering for prospects to fill holes for their favorite teams brings forth one of the most powerful emotions in sports — hope.
Don’t be fooled, as plenty of talent remains on the board, especially at the fantasy-relevant positions (QB/RB/TE/WR). Below is a listing of my top prospects available on Saturday, accompanied by ideal landing spots. Fingers crossed these players are drafted by teams that allow them to compete for starting roles, rather than be buried deep down depth charts.
- Dynasty Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- Dynasty Rookie Draft Simulator
- DBro’s Dynasty Rookie Draft Primers
- NFL Draft Guide
Day 3 NFL Mock Draft
Quarterbacks
Shedeur Sanders (QB – Colorado)
Anyone who has tuned in for more than 15 minutes on either coverage platform is probably sick of the Shedeur Sanders discussion and debate at this point, but the topic needs to be addressed.
Entering Thursday, I had Sanders ranked third on my prospect list, behind Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart, but ahead of Jalen Milroe and Quinn Ewers. Arguably the most “NFL-ready” player at the position, Sanders offers teams above-average accuracy and has demonstrated extreme toughness throughout his college career.
That aside, his skillset has limitations as well — middling arm strength and mediocre pocket awareness that lead to unnecessary sacks. Given his limited ceiling, I expected him to fall out of the first round, but like many of you, I’m surprised he has lasted until Day 3.
With five quarterbacks already off the board, there are limited locations for Sanders to land in and have an immediate impact. His talent justifies an early selection on Day 3, and at this point, the hate has gone too far.
- Ideal Landing Spot: Indianapolis Colts — to compete with Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson.
- Alternatives: Cleveland, Las Vegas
Quinn Ewers had a strong junior season at the University of Texas, but with Arch Manning already eating into his playing time, the writing was on the wall for him to declare for the draft. Anchored by a strong supporting Longhorns cast, Ewers threw for over 3,400 yards in consecutive seasons, with a high completion rate and 53 touchdowns since 2022.
Prior injuries and a slightly smaller frame (6-foot-2, 214 pounds) have caused him to fall, but he still offers a world of upside as a backup in the league with fantastic arm talent. He will need to focus on ball security and improved durability in the short term.
- Ideal Landing Spot: Jacksonville Jaguars — to pressure incumbent Trevor Lawrence.
- Alternatives: Dallas, Los Angeles, Minnesota
Running Backs
Cam Skattebo (RB – Arizona State)
I pegged Cam Skattebo to be selected as a late third-round/early fourth-round prospect, so we are right in the territory where I can see him fly early off the board. A 5-foot-0, 219-pound no-nonsense bruiser who is content running over (and through) defenders at a whim, Skattebo was the first FBS player since 2015 to have at least 1,500 rushing and 500 receiving yards in a season.
Simply put, he was the Sun Devils offense and carried them to a playoff run. Skattebo runs low to the ground and is extremely difficult to bring down, and he constantly fights for extra yardage at every opportunity. Something tells me that no matter where he lands, he will be a weekly favorite to be featured in Kyle Brandt’s “Angry Runs” segment on Good Morning Football.
Skattebo is a fantastic option as an early-down and short-yardage bruiser for a team looking at a complementary piece.
- Ideal Landing Spot: New York Giants. This isn’t just due to my fandom. Big Blue brought Skattebo in for a top-30 visit earlier this year, and he would be a great “thunder” alternative to Tyrone Tracy‘s “lightning” on a team looking to re-establish their identity.
- Alternatives: New Orleans, Dallas, Cincinnati, Minnesota, Los Angeles
Dylan Sampson (RB – Tennessee)
A first-team All-SEC player in 2024, All-American and Offensive Player of the Year in the SEC, Dylan Sampson was one of the most electric players in college football last season. A high school track star who modeled his game after Reggie Bush, it is easy to see parallels in his game.
Sampson has an uncanny ability to reach top gear quickly, has elite speed and moves galore in open space to break tackles or evade defenders. He would be an ideal fit as a home-run hitter and receiving down back for a team with an established starter looking for a change of pace alternative.
Sampson’s main limitation is poor pass-blocking skills (some would argue non-existent) that could place quarterbacks in dicey situations when he is on the field.
- Ideal Landing Spot: Green Bay — as a polar opposite to Josh Jacobs.
- Alternatives: Kansas City, Baltimore, Tennessee
DJ Giddens (RB – Kansas State)
DJ Giddens is a more well-rounded option than either Skattebo or Sampson above, with a combination of speed (he ran a 4.43 40-yard dash) and power in the open field. A one-year starter, Giddens is a taller and larger option who runs physically, but with a high pad level that allows defenders to have a large contact radius.
Giddens showed chops as a receiving threat in college, and his ability to cut quickly raised my eyebrow constantly. He averaged 6.6 yards per carry (YPC) during his junior season, and his games against Oklahoma State and Cincinnati were some of the best you’ll see at the position. He offers “jack of all trades” versatility, who can challenge for a starting spot in short order.
- Ideal Landing Spot: Chicago — to push D’Andre Swift.
- Alternatives: Dallas, Jacksonville, Tennessee
Trevor Etienne played right down the road from me in Athens, and I’ve been a fan of his skillset since his time with the University of Florida before he transferred. The younger brother of Travis on the Jacksonville Jaguars, Etienne is an elite receiving back capable of finding small holes in the defense to exploit, before reaching a high gear and exploding for extra yards.
A patient runner willing to set up blocks despite a smaller frame (just 5-foot-9 and 197 pounds), Etienne is a nightmare to cover on screen/swing passes to the flat, who runs with strength and always falls forward. Mounting injuries and a short fuse are the main reasons Etienne hasn’t already been selected.
Etienne is a player I could see taking to social media to complain about a lack of touches if not involved enough. However, his upside warrants a Day 3 pick as a passing game threat.
- Ideal Landing Spot: Baltimore — to take some work away from Derrick Henry. I think he’s a major upgrade over Justice Hill or Keaton Mitchell.
- Alternatives: Cleveland, Kansas City
Wide Receivers
Jalen Royals (WR – Utah State)
Jalen Royals caught my eye at the NFL Scouting Combine after I didn’t see him much in college, running the fastest 10-yard split (1.49) out of all invited players. A two-time All Mountain West player who led the nation with seven touchdowns over 50 yards, Royals is a raw product with a wealth of potential, but he will need to work on expanding his route tree and versatility.
Following a breakout 71/1,080/15 season as a sophomore, Royals dealt with a foot injury that hindered his explosiveness during the season. He was still dealing with the fallout and recovery until the Senior Bowl. Teams who are willing to view him as a long-term investment and tertiary option rather than a No. 1 WR will benefit from bringing him along slowly, especially if they are willing to use his skillset as a returner on special teams.
- Ideal Landing Spot: Arizona Cardinals. I could easily envision Royals behind Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson. he would quickly develop into a favorite target for Kyler Murray.
- Alternatives: Atlanta, Buffalo, Dallas, Miami, Seattle, Washington
Of the receivers that remain on the board, Isaiah Bond has the most name recognition for good and bad reasons. A transfer from Alabama to Texas in his junior year, Bond is a former state champion sprinter in high school with outstanding speed traits as a pure burner.
Before the combine, he boldly predicted he would break the 40-yard dash record held by Xavier Worthy, only to fall short with a 4.39 mark. Bond isn’t lacking in confidence or self-belief, that is for sure.
Character concerns and lack of maturity, coupled with inconsistent ball skills and an inability to play through press coverage, have seen him tumble so far. It will be interesting to see which team is willing to take a chance on his one-trick skillset.
- Ideal Landing Spot: Las Vegas. Bond’s downfield speed would be a strong complement to Jakobi Meyers and fellow rookie Jack Bech as underneath threats, with Brock Bowers drawing away coverage.
- Alternatives: Dallas, Minnesota, Seattle
A two-year starter with the Cardinal after dealing with multiple knee injuries early on, Elic Ayomanor bounced back into the national spotlight after redshirting his freshman season. Despite being surrounded by a lackluster supporting cast at Stanford, Ayomanor finished with 125 catches, 12 touchdowns and nearly 2,000 receiving yards during his collegiate career.
An above-average frame allows him to play physically and work through defenders; his character traits are all top-notch. He isn’t the fastest, largest or most agile athlete at the position, but his consistency and work ethic make him a reliable target for quarterbacks to look for when they need to move the chains. Ayomanor’s balanced skillset and easy-going demeanor give him a high floor.
- Ideal Landing Spot: Dallas would perfectly fit him, working opposite CeeDee Lamb. The Cowboys desperately need help at the position. He would be a strong Day 3 add.
- Alternatives: Atlanta, Los Angeles Chargers, New Orleans, New York Giants, Tennessee, Seattle
Tory Horton (WR – Colorado State)
Tory Horton is one of the players I’m banging the drum for after watching him play for the Nevada Wolfpack and Colorado State Rams. A two-time first-team All Mountain West player as both a receiver and punt returner, Horton offers a world of upside for teams willing to take a chance on someone recovering from a knee injury.
Unafraid to take a hit and play physical, Horton uses his 6-foot-3 stature to come across the middle in traffic, and his long strides can cover ground quickly. Provided he can return fully healthy after his 2024 season was cut short in October last year, Horton is an investment that can plug several holes on special teams or as an over-sized slot receiver for teams.
Horton ran a 4.41 40-yard dash at the combine. I feel he is even faster than that.
- Ideal Landing Spot: Las Vegas is currently building an identity of physical players who are gritty and productive. He fits that mold.
- Alternatives: Buffalo, New York Jets, New Orleans, New York Giants, Tennessee, Seattle
Tight Ends
Gunnar Helm heads the remaining options left at tight end, after the “Big 6” were already taken on Thursday and Friday. A two-year starter with the Longhorns, who earned All-SEC honors last year after an impressive 60-catch season for 786 yards and seven touchdowns, Helm has oven mittens for hands with built-in vacuum cleaners, capable of catching anything thrown remotely in his direction.
An above-average route runner who isn’t afraid to catch the ball in traffic and creates yards after the catch with subtle movements, Helm is a 6-foot-5, 241-pound load difficult to bring down. His blocking skills are mediocre, which could cause him to lose snaps in a committee situation, but I view him favorably to someone like Isaiah Likely of the Baltimore Ravens.
A lack of top-end speed hurts Helm’s ceiling, but he is very consistent at the point of catch and will be a welcome safety blanket for a younger quarterback.
- Ideal Landing Spot: Atlanta would be a fun landing spot for Helm, and I can see ownership making the move following the perennial walking disappointment that is Kyle Pitts. Michael Penix Jr. would love Helm as a chain-moving short-yardage option to work in tandem with Drake London and Darnell Mooney.
- Alternatives: New Orleans, Los Angeles Chargers, Houston, Denver
Mitchell Evans (TE – Notre Dame)
Notre Dame has a long history of producing fantasy-relevant players at the tight end position, and the comp that I drew to Mitchell Evans is Cole Kmet, another Fighting Irish alum. A two-year starter at South Bend, Evans played behind Michael Mayer early in his career before finally breaking out in 2023.
A torn ACL during his junior season put the brakes on his hype train, but he returned for a strong 2024 season. Not the most agile player for his size, Evans uses his large frame and catch radius to out-muscle defenders to win in traffic. His blocking skills will allow him to remain on the field rather than rotate out, and I feel that there is untapped upside as he continues to regain his burst coming off the knee injury.
Some teams have likely written Evans off as a medical risk, but he could be a nice complement to a pure “move” option.
- Ideal Landing Spot: New Orleans should express interest in Evans, who would be a great safety valve for rookie starter Tyler Shough.
- Alternatives: New York Giants, Cincinnati, Denver, Tennessee
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