Fantasy Football Rookie Draft Steals Going into 2025

The 2025 NFL Draft is in the books, so now it's time to start assessing rookies going into the upcoming season.

Opinions will change as time passes, but I wanted to put together a list of rookies who could be fantasy draft steals and busts. I'll begin with steals - check back later for the bust story.

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Quarterback Steals

It's weird to put the No. 1 overall pick in the draft steal section, but I think Cam Ward is going to be undervalued going into the season.

Ward joins a Titans' offense that isn't stacked with talent, but that will actually work in Ward's favor as a fantasy asset. He should open the season as the team's starting QB, and because he impacts the game as a passer and runner, he should be a pretty solid fantasy asset.

I wouldn't expect a season like Jayden Daniels had in 2024, but Ward could definitely become a fantasy asset in all league types if he puts up decent numbers on a consistent basis.

I'm also going to call Shedeur Sanders a draft steal. He fell to the fifth round, but landed in a great situation in Cleveland.

Deshaun Watson is unlikely to play this coming season, so the team's options at QB are Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel or Sanders. He might not open the season as the starting QB, but I think Sanders eventually takes over the lead role.

He was a highly-touted prospect, but probably fell after not being picked in the first round because of the attention he and his family would bring to an organization. The Browns' offense is not very good on paper, but again, that could help Sanders be a decent fantasy asset.

He'll be a deep-league fantasy asset when he first starts, but could become a standard league streaming option, at least, if he proves he can hang in the NFL.

Running Back Steals

I'm taking another highly-drafted player as a steal. Most fantasy owners think Ashton Jeanty is going to soar in fantasy as a rookie, but I think he is going to exceed expectations.

Las Vegas doesn't have a ton of fantasy assets to begin with, so Jeanty is going to get the ball early and often. Jeanty's fantasy outlook could be capped a bit if the Raiders are trailing often, but I think the addition of Pete Carroll and Geno Smith will help the team be competitive, which will allow Jeanty to shine as a fantasy player.

I think Jeanty will exceed his fantasy expectations, as long as he isn't drafted too high.

Quinshon Judkins could be another fantasy steal in Cleveland.

That offense is lacking playmakers, so the rookie back should be able to rack up touches and fantasy points as the season moves along. I'd expect Judkins to be a top-100 fantasy pick, but to outplay his average draft position by a good bit.

RJ Harvey is going to have higher fantasy expectations than you think going into the season, but I think he too will exceed those expectations.

He's likely to be RB1 in Denver, and on an offense that is getting better, Harvey could really be a good/great fantasy asset. He'll be overlooked a bit because he wasn't a huge name in college, but Harvey could be a fantasy star in Denver if all goes right.

Wide Receiver Steals

Tetairoa McMillan could be a fantasy steal after landing with the Panthers with the eighth overall pick.

Carolina is lacking a ton of playmakers on offense, and McMillan is probably already the best pass catcher on the team. It will all come down to if Bryce Young can take the next step as a quarterback. McMillan could be a weekly fantasy starter if Young improves a bit.

Jayden Higgins looks like he could be a big-time playmaker for the Texans.

Nico Collins is the top dog there, but with Tank Dell injured and not a lot of other proven pass catchers in place, Higgins should start and play a ton of snaps right from game one. Higgins will likely gain fantasy hype as the season nears, but for now, he's a big-time steal candidate for me. Third-round pick Jaylin Noel could also surprise some people. 

I think Kyle Williams could star for the Patriots.

The team signed Stefon Diggs in the offseason, but he's really the only proven receiver in New England right now, and he's coming off a major injury. Williams could form a connection with Drake Maye early on and become a weekly fantasy starter in a short time.

Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike are both fantasy steal options after being drafted by the Titans in round 4. 

Calvin Ridley is really the only notable receiver in Tennessee (I'm not counting Tyler Lockett), so the two rookies could absolutely be big-time contributors right away. It helps that the team has a rookie QB as well, so Ayomanor and Dike could both form early connections and maybe one of them emerges as a weekly fantasy option as the season progresses.

Pat Bryant has a chance to be a steal in Denver.

Courtland Sutton is the go-to receiver for the Broncos, but Bryant could overtake Marvin Mims Jr. and Devaughn Vele pretty easily I'd think. The Broncos' offense could really take off if Bryant emerges as another reliable pass catcher.

Jalen Royals is another steal in my eyes - he went in the fourth round to the Chiefs.

He'll have Patrick Mahomes throwing to him, which is always a plus. Rashee Rice, Marquise Brown and Xavier Worthy are in place, but Rice could be suspended, and Brown is already past his prime, so Royals could absolutely be a big-time contributor as a rookie.

Jack Bech is another receiver I like - he should be a starter in Las Vegas after being taken in round 2.

Jakobi Meyers is the top receiver there, but Bech is probably already the No. 2 guy. Rookies Dont'e Thornton Jr. and Tommy Mellott are other possible steals on an offense searching for pass catchers still.

Tre Harris is another second-round pick (of the Chargers) who could star as a rookie.

He's got Justin Herbert throwing to him, and might be the No. 2 receiver behind Ladd McConkey already. Fifth-round pick Keandre Lambert-Smith also has a chance to carve out a big enough role to be another good fantasy asset this season.

Jaylin Lane was a fourth-round pick of the Commanders, and he too could shine as a rookie.

Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel Sr. are the big names for Washington, but Lane could play enough to put up decent fantasy totals. There should be enough targets to go around in a high-flying Commanders' offense.

Isaac TeSlaa has a chance to be the No. 2 guy in Detroit, so he could be another steal. 

That all depends on if Jameson Williams is on the team or not, but after Amon-Ra St. Brown, TeSlaa could absolutely step into a prominent role right away.

Jordan Watkins is a fourth-round pick who could be heavily involved for the Niners.

Ricky Pearsall, Jauan Jennings and Brandon Aiyuk are the top wideouts in San Fran, but Aiyuk is coming off a major injury. Watkins could play a big role early on this coming season, and play well enough to never give up the spot.

Tight End Steals

Mason Taylor has the chance to carve out a huge role for the Jets after being selected in the second round.

Taylor is probably already a starter for New York, and he could be a great checkdown option for Justin Fields. The Jets don't have a ton of established pass catchers anyways, so that will also work in Taylor's favor.

Gunnar Helm has the chance to earn a big role in Tennessee. He was drafted in the fourth round.

Chig Okonkwo is the starter there, but with a new QB in place, Helm could form a connection and be the starter, or play enough snaps, to be a good fantasy asset.

Terrance Ferguson has the chance to become the top TE for the Rams after being taken in round 2.

Tyler Higbee is the presumed starter there, but the Rams won't have a problem playing Ferguson a ton if he's ready to contribute right away. He could be a great fantasy asset with a ton of attention on Davante Adams and Puka Nacua.

Elijah Arroyo could be a big asset for the Seahawks right away - he was drafted in round 2 as well.

Noah Fant is the starter there for now, but Arroyo could absolutely pass him up before the start of the season. New QB Sam Darnold could look Arroyo's way often with a lot of attention being spent on Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp.