Every fantasy football season, a few rookies break through and are thought of as massive steals during the draft. The 2025 NFL Draft brought in a fresh crop of talent, and several players have landed in situations that could make them instant contributors. From under-the-radar ball carriers with clear paths to volume, to explosive pass-catchers stepping into high-powered offenses, this year’s class is stacked with breakout potential.
In this article, we’re spotlighting seven rookies who are flying under the radar now, but won’t be for long. Whether you’re playing redraft, dynasty, or best ball, these are the names to know heading into your 2025 drafts.
RJ Harvey, RB, Denver Broncos
The RJ Harvey hype train has officially taken off. The Broncos shocked everybody by passing on Omarion Hampton instead, rolling the dice on this second-round gem. Sean Payton’s so confident in Harvey, a 6.8 yards-per-carry stud in college, that he was ready to invest a second-round pick on him instead of waiting till his 3rd round draft grade. Javonte Williams is gone, and Jaleel McLaughlin’s a third-down specialist at best. This is the RJ Harvey show.
Harvey’s got the keys to early-down work, and Payton’s track record with backs like Alvin Kamara has us dreaming big. Each of the last two seasons, he has finished over 1400 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns while receiving great grades from PFF. On top of his rushing production, he has ranked inside the top 20 among FBS running backs each of the last two seasons in breakaway percentage and elusive rating. Harvey also ranked top five in running back target share over the last two seasons, suggesting he could carve out a third-down role as well. Harvey is the early RB3 in this class and has top 15 upside this season.
Kyle Monangai, RB, Chicago Bears
The Bears passed on running backs early and ultimately settled for a new ground-and-pound beast, Kyle Monangai. Yeah, the last name’s a tongue-twister, but you’ll wanna learn it quick. This Rutgers powerhouse landed in the perfect spot with Ben Johnson’s high-octane offense. Monangai racked up over 1,200 rushing yards in back-to-back college seasons, and now he’s stepping into a Bears backfield with D’Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson. Don’t sleep on this guy—Swift’s not scaring anybody, and Johnson’s more of a depth piece.
Ben Johnson’s a wizard at scheming up easy carries, and with Chicago’s O-line looking stout, Manongai’s a sneaky RB3 with RB2 upside. Monangai could easily be the player that fills in that David Montgomery and Jamaal Williams role. Sure, free agents like JK Dobbins or Nick Chubb could crash the party, but Manongai’s a deep sleeper you can snag late. His ADP is dirt-cheap right now, so stash him and see if he starts to rise up the depth chart ahead of the season.
Kaleb Johnson, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Next up, we’ve got Kaleb Johnson, the Steelers’ third-round steal who’s about to feast in Pittsburgh’s run-heavy scheme. The Steelers let Najee Harris walk, and now this Iowa bruiser is set to take over the backfield. Johnson’s a north-south mauler, built for short-yardage and goal-line work, which is pure gold for fantasy. He’s got Jaylen Warren to deal with on third downs, but Johnson’s locked in for the lion’s share of first- and second-down carries.
With an ADP of 98 (RB33), you’re getting a guy who could easily hit top-20 RB numbers as a rookie. Think Najee Harris’ volume but with fresher legs and more efficiency. In non-PPR leagues, he becomes even more valuable with the expected early down work in the Steelers’ offense. Johnson might not have the upside of some of these other rookies, but he should have one of the safer floors among this class. Expect him to finish as a high-end RB3 or low-end RB2 this season.
TreVeyon Henderson, RB, New England Patriots
Let’s talk about the biggest home-run hitter in this class: TreVeyon Henderson, the Patriots’ new dual-threat running back. This Ohio State star is a PPR demon, and he’s walking into a New England offense that’s building in the right direction with additions on the offensive line around Drake Maye. Rhamondre Stevenson is solid but inconsistent, and his fumbling issues could open the door for Henderson to steal touches early.
Henderson’s got the juice to be a week-in, week-out starter in PPR and half-PPR formats. Henderson ranked seventh in yards after contact per attempt, tenth in breakaway percentage, and 22nd in receiving grade (per PFF). His pass-catching ability makes him a potential league-winner, and with New England’s offense trending up, he’s got RB2 upside if he can carve out a sizable role in this offense. The ADP might be low due to the projected volume, but Henderson is a home run hitter with massive upside.
Tre Harris, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Switching to the pass-catchers, let’s shine a light on Tre Harris. The Chargers needed another wide receiver outside of Ladd McConkey. They added Mike Williams and still have Quentin Johnston, but both options are uninspiring. Harris is a 6’2”, 205-pound receiver and is built to be the big-bodied, field-stretching WR2 Justin Herbert’s been begging for. Ladd McConkey’s locked in as the slot guy, but Harris has a clear path to leapfrog Johnston and claim the outside role.
Right now, his ADP is laughably low (WR80, around the 200s), but expect him to climb into the 10th-12th round by draft season. Recent history shows mid-round rookie receivers like this can pop off in year one, and Harris doesn’t need a ton of draft capital to deliver flex-worthy numbers. Keep an eye on training camp buzz to see how the Chargers’ depth chart is shaking out ahead of the season and if Tre Harris can be the breakout WR2 in Los Angeles.
Terrance Ferguson, TE, Los Angeles Rams
Terrance Ferguson, the Rams’ second-round pick, is about to make waves in Sean McVay’s pass-happy offense. Tyler Higbee’s been inconsistent and injury-prone, and his best days are behind him, while he only has one year left on his contract. Ferguson, on the other hand, is a fresh face with the chance to lock down the TE1 role early. Ferguson is vastly different than Higbee as he has a 9.32 RAS score and was 3rd in yards after the catch per reception among tight ends last season.
With Matthew Stafford slinging it to Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, and Kyren Williams, there are still plenty of targets to go around in this high-powered attack. Ferguson’s ADP is in the basement right now, making him a perfect stash for deeper leagues or a waiver-wire pickup early in the season. If he lives up to his draft capital, he could be a TE1 streaming option, delivering 8-12 PPR points a week. The Rams’ track record of maximizing talent only boosts his case. Get ahead of the curve and roster this guy before he’s a hot commodity. in the middle of the season.
Luther Burden, WR, Chicago Bears
Back to the Bears, where Luther Burden is ready to be Ben Johnson’s next slot superstar. Drafted in the second round, Burden’s stepping into a crowded but electric offense with Caleb Williams, DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, and rookie TE Colston Loveland. Sounds like a lot of mouths to feed, right? Don’t worry—Burden’s got the talent to carve out a role, especially in the slot, where Ben Johnson turned Amon-Ra St. Brown into a PPR god.
Burden’s ADP (WR70, around 76 overall) screams value, and he’s likely to climb into the 10th-12th round by August. His floor’s a bit shaky with all the competition, but his ceiling’s sky-high. In an offense this loaded, Burden’s a sneaky bet to outproduce his draft cost and maybe even lead the Bears’ receiving corps in fantasy points.
