After the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, several rookies have emerged as potential fantasy football stars. From dynamic wide receivers to game-changing tight ends and key offensive line upgrades, these players are poised to make a big impact on the fantasy landscape. In this article, we break down the biggest risers in fantasy football, including Tet McMillan, Colston Loveland, Travis Hunter, and a handful of tackles who could dramatically improve their teams’ offensive output.
Panthers Offense: The New Look with Bryce Young and Tet McMillan
The Carolina Panthers are going all-in on their future with Bryce Young potentially being their long-term solution with the addition of Tet McMillan. McMillan, a dynamic wide receiver, has the potential to become Young’s go-to target in 2025. The Panthers have Thielen on the roster, but McMillan’s explosive playmaking ability gives them a serious deep threat. His size, speed, and skill set make him a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses.
With McMillan alongside veteran Adam Thielen, Young has a solid group of weapons to work with. McMillan’s route running and ability to win contested catches will give Young a reliable target, especially in the red zone. You could see McMillan emerge as a WR2 right out of the gate, and he might even climb into WR1 territory if his chemistry with Young is instant.
As for Bryce Young, he sees a slight boost to his value with another addition to the offense. Towards the end of last season, we saw Young put together some QB1 performances, and that might be more of the norm for him next season. His stock is rising, but he still is outside of my top twelve quarterbacks to start the season.
Colston Loveland: The Tight End to Keep an Eye On
The Chicago Bears shook up their offense with the selection of Colston Loveland, one of the top tight ends in the 2025 class. Although Cole Kmet is still the top tight end in Chicago, Loveland’s skill set is too good to ignore. At 6’5” with solid blocking and receiving abilities, Loveland has the chance to carve out a significant role, particularly in the red zone. His ability to catch passes over the middle and his length will make him a tough matchup for opposing linebackers and safeties.
In fantasy terms, Loveland’s value might be a bit unpredictable at first, but if he gets involved early and often, he could easily sneak into TE1 territory. D.J. Moore should receive a healthy target share but outside of him there are a lot of targets up for grabs in Chicago. Loveland has a legitimate shot to become a key piece in the Bears’ offense as we saw with Sam LaPorta in Detroit. He is turning into a high-upside option at the tight end position that will likely finish as a TE1 in his rookie year.
Jaguars Offense: Travis Hunter Adds a New Dimension
The Jacksonville Jaguars made waves by selecting Travis Hunter, a player who’s as versatile as they come. While Hunter is known for his dual-threat ability as both a wide receiver and cornerback, his upside on offense is what’s intriguing to fantasy managers. Trevor Lawrence has the talent to elevate any receiver, and adding a dynamic playmaker like Hunter gives him another weapon in the passing game. Hunter can stretch the field, make contested catches, and contribute in both the short and long game.
This addition could also benefit the Jaguars’ other wideouts, especially Brian Thomas Jr., who will have another playmaker that defenses need to pay attention to. With Hunter pulling coverage, Lawrence should have more opportunities to make big plays. For fantasy purposes, the situation raises all three of these players mentioned. Hunter has the skillset of a WR1 but will always draw the second-best coverage guy due to BTJ being there. The Jaguars’ offense is officially on the rise.
Tackles Making a Big Impact: The Unsung Heroes of Fantasy
When it comes to fantasy football, it’s easy to overlook the offensive line, but the 2025 draft saw several tackles who could make a huge impact on their respective teams’ fantasy outputs. Teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets took major steps forward in upgrading their offensive lines, and that’s going to have a direct effect on the fantasy production of their quarterbacks and running backs.
For the Chiefs, the addition of Josh Simmons to the offensive line is a massive win for Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes already has a knack for making plays when things break down, but a solid offensive line gives him more time to find his playmakers like Rashee Rice and Hollywood Brown. A better line means more time for Mahomes to work his magic, and that’s a huge boost for his fantasy ceiling. It could even push him into the top-tier conversation again if the protection holds up.
Meanwhile, the New York Jets used their high pick to add Armand Membou, a tackle who could drastically improve Justin Fields’ ability to stay upright in the pocket. This will have a ripple effect on Breece Hall’s production as well. With more holes to run through, Hall could see his efficiency skyrocket from last season. It’s these types of moves that make a big difference in fantasy, even though they don’t get as much attention as the skill players.
With more to come today during day two of the NFL draft, stay tuned for more risers and fallers!
