The NFL draft is coming to town, and a new crop of promising young athletes will hear their names called on stage. If you’re a fantasy manager, this is an opportunity to stuff your bench with league-winning upside.
Last year continued a trend of rookie relevance, with three rookie wide receivers, two rookie quarterbacks and a rookie tight end finishing top-12 at their positions in Year 1 (including the TE1). Aiming for this group, starting Ashton Jeanty and Omarion Hampton early on, targeting rookie running backs TreVeyon Henderson and RJ Harvey in the middle rounds, and grabbing Tyler Warren or Colston Loveland in the later rounds could pay off this season.
It’s important to understand how the NFL draft works in a real-world context to make informed fantasy decisions throughout the process. Cynthia Frelund breaks it down, including what each round is for and how teams have 10 minutes to make their picks in the first round, seven minutes in the second through fourth rounds and four minutes in the final round.
The more you know, the better your fantasy draft will go. Eric Karabell offers up a list of players going earlier than they should in 2025, while Mike Clay and Field Yates identify reliable backups who can help you win. Plus, Liz Loza identifies six young players who are getting a lot of hype. If you follow these tips, you’ll be ready for any surprises on draft day.