PlayerProfiler is home to award-winning dynasty rankings and tools. Our Dynasty Deluxe package includes complete Dynasty Rankings, Rookie Rankings, Trade Analyzer, Draft Planner, Mock Drafts, and more. Check it out! Below, Jon Helmamp makes his debut with the 2025 NFL Draft Round 1 Recap.
The 2025 NFL Draft was a whirlwind of a round one, and the fantasy football implications are massive. There were all kinds of surprise picks. That included a trade in the top-5 that dramatically changed the landscape of the draft.
I’m all hopped up on coffee, I just got done speaking to players at their podiums, so now I’m going to verbal vomit my initial thoughts onto a page before doing it all over again for Day 2. Here’s my initial takeaways from Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Miami QB Cam Ward Went to Tennessee, As Expected
There was no surprise at the top. Despite reports of fielding multiple phone calls and serious offers in an attempt to trade for the first overall pick, the Tennessee Titans knew that Miami quarterback Cam Ward was their guy, and they made him the first selection of the draft. For fantasy purposes, Tennessee isn’t a great landing spot for 2025, but in dynasty, you’re counting on the organization to do what’s needed to surround Ward with talent and protection moving forward.
Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty Landed in an Elite Spot
It’s not super common that we have running backs go in the top-10 of the NFL Draft, but special ones do. Jeanty, who is in the conversation with Bijan Robinson as the best running back prospect since Saquon Barkley, went 6th overall to the Las Vegas Raiders.
In a team that has Pete Carroll as their head coach and former Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly calling the plays, Jeanty is slated to take on a massive workload immediately in the NFL. In Dynasty rookie drafts, no matter the format, he’s the 1.01. Jeanty is also an RB1 in redraft.
Carolina Gets a Weapon for Bryce Young
A year after taking wide receiver Xavier Legette, the Panthers doubled down and took the lengthy Tetairoa McMillan out of Arizona. Clearly, they’re saying, “Okay, Bryce, it’s on you now.” McMillan will get plenty of looks without double teams. But deciphering the target share and how the two wide receivers are deployed is going to take a little more time. Still, McMillan went 8th overall and has two elite years of production, putting together a very strong profile as the undoubted WR1… outside of Travis Hunter.
Speaking of Travis Hunter, HOLY TRADE!
The Jacksonville Jaguars apparently wanted the unicorn. They gave up a truckload to move up from 5th to 2nd to select the two-way Heisman Trophy winner.
Just like McMillan in Carolina, Hunter goes to an offense with a young quarterback and a second-year wide receiver in Brian Thomas Jr. that will demand respect from opposing secondaries. The only question about Hunter at this point is how the Jaguars will deploy him, but it sounds like they intend to use him on offense first, which is great news for fantasy purposes. In Dynasty, the upside is monstrous. There’s a real case for him to be the 1.02.
Omarion Hampton Lands in the Perfect Spot
Just like Jeanty going to Las Vegas, Omarion Hampton landing with the Los Angeles Chargers is a fantasy goldmine. The workhorse back is in a Greg Roman offensive system under head coach Jim Harbaugh’s run-heavy philosophy. It’s an incredible landing spot that will have Hampton primed to make an immediate impact.
Jaxson Dart Selected in Round 1… and Shedeur Sanders Was Not.
When the New York Giants traded back up into the first round, it was obviously for a quarterback.
Subsequently, they elected to take Jaxson Dart, with Shedeur Sanders falling out of the first round. We’ll see how far Sanders falls. However, Dart will have the opportunity to compete for the starting job, throwing the ball to Malik Nabers (and likely another rookie at some point in this draft). That is a good starting point.
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