Fantasy: NFL draft Round 1 takeaways and projections
theScore's lead fantasy analyst Justin Boone provides his analysis and projections for every fantasy-relevant selection in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Cam Ward, QB, Titans (1st)
Fantasy potential: ★★★★☆
2025 projection (17 starts): 3,529 passing yards, 20 TDs, 13 INTs
197 rushing yards, TD
After dealing with subpar quarterback play in his first season as head coach, Brian Callahan will finally have a true playmaker under center in Tennessee this season. Unfortunately, the Titans' supporting cast still leaves a lot to be desired, so keep your Year 1 expectations in check for Ward. But he does have the talent to be a future low-end fantasy QB1.
Redraft ranking: QB28
Dynasty startup value (Superflex): 4th-round pick
Dynasty rookie value (Superflex): 1.02-1.04
Fantasy stock up: Calvin Ridley, Tony Pollard
Fantasy stock down: Will Levis
Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Jaguars (2nd)
Fantasy potential: ★★★★★
2025 projection: 67 receptions, 974 receiving yards, 6 TDs
The Jaguars made a splash by moving up to get Hunter second overall. While there's no doubt he'll be used on both sides of the ball in his career, his new head coach, Liam Coen, has already said Hunter will start primarily on offense while he learns the defensive scheme. If that's the case, he'll offer WR3 fantasy value right away. This move also gives Trevor Lawrence a path to reviving his fantasy value, as Hunter and Brian Thomas Jr. form one of the best young receiver duos in the league.
Redraft ranking: WR29
Dynasty startup value (Superflex): 4th-round pick
Dynasty rookie value (Superflex): 1.02-1.05
Fantasy stock up: Trevor Lawrence
Fantasy stock down: Parker Washington, Dyami Brown
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Raiders (6th)
Fantasy potential: ★★★★★
2025 projection: 278 carries, 1,224 rushing yards, 9 TDs,
41 receptions, 315 receiving yards, 2 TDs
Jeanty heading to Las Vegas was one of the least surprising picks in the first round and immediately breathes life into the Raiders' backfield. The talented 21-year-old will join the exclusive club of bell-cow backs, making him a top-15 pick in redraft leagues and the unquestioned 1.01 in dynasty rookie drafts. This has very quickly become an offense to invest in, with Chip Kelly calling plays and a corps led by Jeanty, Brock Bowers, Geno Smith, and Jakobi Meyers.
Redraft ranking: RB8
Dynasty startup value (Superflex): 2nd-round pick
Dynasty rookie value (Superflex): 1.01
Fantasy stock up: Geno Smith, Brock Bowers, Jakobi Meyers
Fantasy stock down: Raheem Mostert, Sincere McCormick
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Panthers (8th)
Fantasy potential: ★★★★★
2025 projection: 79 receptions, 1,010 receiving yards, 5 TDs
Not only did McMillan get top-10 draft capital, he also landed on a team in desperate need of a No. 1 receiver. Even though the 22-year-old lacks elite upside, he's more than capable of posting top-30 fantasy stats as a rookie. His arrival is also great news for the continued development of quarterback Bryce Young, who showed flashes of a significant fantasy ceiling in the second half of his sophomore campaign.
Redraft ranking: WR26
Dynasty startup value (Superflex): 5th-round pick
Dynasty rookie value (Superflex): 1.02-1.05
Fantasy stock up: McMillan, Bryce Young
Fantasy stock down: Xavier Legette, Adam Thielen
Colston Loveland, TE, Bears (10th)
Fantasy potential: ★★★★☆
2025 projection: 64 receptions, 752 receiving yards, 5 TDs
With Jeanty off the board, the Bears elected to add a different type of weapon to their offense in their ongoing attempt to raise the skill level around Caleb Williams. Loveland is an explosive pass-catching tight end who will join wideouts DJ Moore and Rome Odunze to form a dangerous trio for new head coach Ben Johnson. Don't forget the impact Sam LaPorta had as a rookie tight end in Johnson's offense.
Redraft ranking: TE11
Dynasty startup value (Superflex): 7th-round pick
Dynasty rookie value (Superflex): 1.08-1.12
Fantasy stock up: Loveland, Caleb Williams
Fantasy stock down: Cole Kmet
Tyler Warren, TE, Colts (14th)
Fantasy potential: ★★★☆☆
2025 projection: 48 receptions, 542 receiving yards, 4 TDs
Warren is an excellent all-round tight end prospect, but this landing spot hurts his value. Even if he overcomes the Colts' recent history of using a TE-by-committee approach, he'll have to deal with a low-volume passing attack led by the often erratic play of Anthony Richardson. This won't destroy his fantasy outlook; it just increases the degree of difficulty.
Redraft ranking: TE15
Dynasty startup value (Superflex): 8th-round pick
Dynasty rookie value (Superflex): 1.11-2.02
Fantasy stock up: Anthony Richardson
Fantasy stock down: Warren
Emeka Egbuka, WR, Buccaneers (19th)
Fantasy potential: ★★★★☆
2025 projection: 47 receptions, 569 receiving yards, 4 TDs
Egbuka is another exciting prospect who finds himself in a less-than-ideal landing spot as a rookie. The Buccaneers' offense already boasts skilled veterans Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, while mixing in intriguing younger options like Jalen McMillan and tight end Cade Otton. Egbuka can certainly emerge here, but it might take time before he carves out a sizeable target share.
Redraft ranking: WR58
Dynasty startup value (Superflex): 7th-round pick
Dynasty rookie value (Superflex): 1.07-1.10
Fantasy stock up: Baker Mayfield
Fantasy stock down: Egbuka (short term), Jalen McMillan, Cade Otton
Omarion Hampton, RB, Chargers (22nd)
Fantasy potential: ★★★★★
2025 projection: 241 carries, 1,085 rushing yards, 8 TDs
33 receptions, 274 receiving yards, TD
In addition to getting first-round draft capital, Hampton joins an offense that would love nothing more than to feed its new starting back. This is the perfect destination for Hampton, whose skills will shine as a north-south runner in Greg Roman's scheme. The only downside is that it turns out the Najee Harris signing wasn't as meaningful for fantasy as it may have seemed at the time. Be prepared for Harris to eventually settle in as an overqualified backup.
Redraft ranking: RB17
Dynasty startup value (Superflex): 3rd-round pick
Dynasty rookie value (Superflex): 1.02-1.03
Fantasy stock up: Hampton, Justin Herbert
Fantasy stock down: Najee Harris
Matthew Golden, WR, Packers (23rd)
Fantasy potential: ★★★☆☆
2025 projection: 47 receptions, 758 receiving yards, 4 TDs
The Packers finally drafted a first-round receiver, but it doesn't feel like it. Golden is far from a proven No. 1 option, and, for the time being, it seems like Green Bay added another No. 2 wideout to a receiver room already filled with them. This might end up being a better selection for real life than it is for fantasy.
Redraft ranking: WR49
Dynasty startup value (Superflex): 8th-round pick
Dynasty rookie value (Superflex): 1.08-1.12
Fantasy stock up: Jordan Love
Fantasy stock down: Christian Watson
Jaxson Dart, QB, Giants (25th)
Fantasy potential: ★★★☆☆
2025 projection (6 starts): 1,274 passing yards, 8 TDs,
5 INTs, 139 rushing yards, TD
The Giants moved back into the first round to get their quarterback of the future. However, when that future will be is unknown, and Dart will likely begin his career as a backup behind Russell Wilson. At worst, Dart should see starts in the second half of the season when New York falls out of the playoff race.
Redraft ranking: QB33
Dynasty startup value (Superflex): 7th-round pick
Dynasty rookie value (Superflex): 1.09-2.01
Fantasy stock up: Malik Nabers, Tyrone Tracy
Fantasy stock down: Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston
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theScore's Justin Boone was first overall in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition in 2019 and finished among the top seven each of his last seven years in the contest.