FantasyPros Staff | Sat, Aug 30th 2025, 3:05am EDT

5 Rookie Risers to Target (2025 Fantasy Football)

Here are a few fantasy football rookies who stood out to me over the last several weeks of the 2025 NFL preseason, and I feel will have a significant impact on the 2025 season.

Fantasy Football NFL Preseason Rookie Risers

Jaxson Dart (QB – NYG)

Jaxson Dart finished the preseason with a stellar 113.1 quarterback rating, routinely guiding New York’s offense up and down the field from under center. In addition to completing several throws in relatively tight windows, Dart also flashed his rushing potential and upside, eluding pressure and stepping up in the pocket amidst defenders.

During the 12 series that he started, Dart passed for 372 passing yards and three touchdowns, adding another score and 52 rushing yards on the ground. The Giants seem comfortable with veteran Russell Wilson starting the season, but any time he falters or has issues, expect the drumbeat for Dart to grow louder.

Head coach Brian Daboll understands that he is on a very short leash with the front office, and expectations are that he turns things around quickly. In a “best-case” scenario for New York, Wilson would hold things down and keep the team competitive until their bye in Week 14. Is that realistic?

The Giants have one of the most demanding schedules on paper in the entire league, and the chances of more than a handful of victories are slim. Whenever the staff makes the switch, Dart will have the opportunity to work amidst one of the youngest rosters in the league, surrounded by mostly unknown talent outside of Malik Nabers and Darius Slayton. As a dual-threat option, Dart immediately becomes intriguing in 2-QB or Superflex leagues, with the potential for more if he continues to shine.

Jalen Milroe (QB – SEA)

Jalen Milroe played the entirety of Seattle’s final preseason game, completing 13 passes on 24 attempts for 148 yards and a score, adding 31 yards scrambling on the ground. These aren’t eye-popping numbers by any stretch, but we did catch glimpses of why the Seahawks front office is so excited for his long-term prospects.

The best pure-rushing option in the most recent class of quarterbacks, Milroe has a Justin Fields-esque feel to him — a raw athlete with elite rushing upside, who needs refinement as a passer. Head coach Mike Macdonald recently revealed that the team already has a package of plays in place for Milroe this season, and that, per Kevin Patra of NFL.com, he will receive reps with the starters in practice, slowly integrating him into the offense.

Milroe’s inclusion here is a slow burn. I don’t expect him to vault ahead of veteran Sam Darnold out of the gate. But should Darnold pick up an injury mid-season or struggle, the rushing upside alone of Milroe makes him worthy of consideration.

Ollie Gordon II (RB – MIA)

Ollie Gordon finished his rookie preseason with 126 rushing yards, the third-highest total in the league. Averaging close to five yards per carry (YPC), he made a serious case to open the season as the handcuff to De’Von Achane, vaulting over the oft-injured Jaylen Wright on the depth chart.

Wright is already dealing with a leg issue that is expected to keep him out of Miami’s Week 1 contest against Indianapolis on September 7th, and Achane (who is no stranger to injuries himself) has been nursing a calf strain the past week. Gordon is a compact 6-foot-2, 225-pound bruiser who excels at converting short-yardage and goal-line situations. He should already be considered one of the best handcuff stashes in the NFL.

The Dolphins’ issues converting short-yardage situations are notable, as the team ranked 24th in the league on third-down conversions in 2025. They are the second-worst team in the NFL over the last three years in that category. Gordon could carve out a nice role in this offense in short order.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt (RB – WSH)

A seventh-round selection this past April after six seasons at the collegiate level, Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt has impressed Washington’s brass so much that they decided to ship out starter Brian Robinson Jr. to San Francisco, paving the way for early-down work alongside veteran Austin Ekeler.

The potency of Washington’s offense shouldn’t be understated, and grabbing any available pieces of it is a wise decision for fantasy managers to pursue. Fantasy managers should expect Ekeler to handle the vast majority of work in passing situations, with Croskey-Merritt being used as the grinder between the tackles. The presence of Chris Rodriguez and Jeremy McNichols is a detriment to some, but this is one “Bill” worth backing. He’s an RB3 with upside in deeper formats.

Isaac TeSlaa (WR – DET)

Detroit’s third-round pick selection dazzled this preseason, capping things off with a strong finale in Week 3, catching both of his targets for 41 yards and a touchdown against Houston. Questions remain about what sort of impact the loss of former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson will have on the Lions’ potency, but I’m confident that Dan Campbell will keep this well-oiled machine running at high speed.

I’m not worried about Isaac TeSlaa starting behind veteran Kalif Raymond on the depth chart, as his athleticism and 4.4 speed should make him irrelevant in short order (the team already sent Tim Patrick packing). Keep in mind that Detroit invested heavily to add TeSlaa in April, trading up in the draft to grab him. He will make a nice complement to Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams.

NFL

MLB

NBA

NHL