The first round is in the books, and almost all the narratives circulating on social media were incorrect. It was a fairly “chalky” first round, with only a few trades and not many splashy picks.
Let’s take a look at the fantasy-relevant players drafted in the First Round last night!
1.01 Cam Ward, QB, TEN
The Titans wasted no time, and there was not much suspense leading into this pick. Will Levis wasn’t cutting it; the Titans needed to take a new quarterback to lead the team.
Cam Ward comes off a prolific college career and has over four years of starting experience. He’s a gunslinging QB and has the arm to make any throws. Ward isn’t afraid to challenge tight windows and has enough mobility to extend plays. He throws with touch and anticipation and is constantly attacking downfield.
The biggest knock on Ward was being overly aggressive and always looking for the big play. He will need to learn to take what’s given and not try to play hero ball.
The fit with Tennessee is decent; the team has veteran receivers, a solid tight end, and a capable rushing attack. The offensive line isn’t the strongest, but it has added pieces to improve its pass blocking. Ward will have time, but he’s going to have to process and get the ball out more quickly than he did in college.
BREAKDOWN: Cam Ward is the top rookie QB for fantasy and should be taken in the first five picks of your rookie draft. In 1QB leagues, he’s a target late in the first or early in the second. He’s going to have a solid 2025 season, but may take a few years to develop a strong NFL game fully. Until then, he’s a QB2 in fantasy.
1.02 Travis Hunter, WR/DB, JAX
The Jaguars made the first trade of the evening, trading with Cleveland to come up to the second pick. The Jaguars selected Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, and he gives the team a versatile playmaker that they desperately need.
As a receiver, Hunter tracks the ball well and creates separation naturally – he understands how to play the position and how to manipulate defensive backs. He’s aggressive and plays with swagger, and then after the catch, Hunter is potent and dangerous.
He struggled against physical defensive backs and fought a variety of injuries in college. Hunter doesn’t have the biggest frame and will play a lot of snaps. How he holds up in the bigger and faster NFL will be answered quickly.
Hunter will line up in the slot most likely, so he isn’t facing the physical corners, and he will get enough reps to be fantasy relevant. He’s the WR2 for Trevor Lawrence as long as he gets 75% of the offensive snaps. Hunter will acclimate fairly quickly; he’s smart and understands the position.
BREAKDOWN: It’s tough to figure out where to take him in rookie drafts. I’m leaning toward the 1.05-1.08 range, regardless of the format. Hunter is in a great situation, and Brian Thomas is the WR1, so that Hunter won’t have to be the primary focus. He will be able to produce when he’s on the field, and I’ve got him as a WR3 from Day 1 with the upside for more if he goes to primarily WR.
1.06 Ashton Jeanty, RB, LVR
As a big fan of Ashton Jeanty, I was still quite surprised to see him taken so early and to a team with so many needs. Everyone thought he would go to the Bears, and if he was still on the board, that is where I think he would have been most productive.
The Heisman runner-up, Jeanty, is an electric runner. Making defenders miss is his calling card, and he runs with tremendous contact balance. He creates on his own, but runs with patience and understanding blocking. Jeanty is an excellent pass-catching back and changes direction on a dime.
Pass blocking is probably his biggest weakness, and he was able to break long runs against weaker competition, but his long speed is limited. Jeanty will still have some big plays, but they will be fewer at this level. He also struggled against tougher competition at times in college.
The Raiders have a bottom-ten run-blocking line, but it improved as 2024 went on. They weren’t blocking for a back anywhere near as talented as Jeanty. The Raiders added stability at QB in Geno Smith and have TE1 Brock Bowers, but the receiver corps is one of the worst in the league.
BREAKDOWN: Jeanty is the 1.01 in rookie drafts on opportunity alone. He’s going to see a massive amount of touches, and new head coach Pete Carroll loves leaning on a workhorse back.
1.08 Tetairoa McMillan, WR, CAR
The Panthers selected the first receiver-only of the draft, grabbing the former Arizona Wildcat, Tet McMillan.
McMillan gives the Panthers something they sorely needed – a true WR1. He’s a prototypical X-receiver in size, but his game isn’t without warts. McMillan has phenomenal hands and uses his massive wingspan to catch everything thrown his way. He has excellent body control and works the sidelines well, and then understands how to get open when a play goes off script.
McMillan isn’t going to win by creating separation with moves; his change of direction and movement skills aren’t awe-inspiring. He’s a solid route runner and has struggled with physical defensive backs at times.
The Panthers have an improving Bryce Young at quarterback, and Young needs a sure receiver he can lean on. Xavier Legette and Adam Thielen give them a few secure second and third options, and a few stable but unsexy tight ends. McMillan could see a lion’s share of targets right away.
BREAKDOWN: T-Mac is the first or second rookie receiver off the board for me in fantasy. He’s got a great situation and fits what the Panthers need. I’d be targeting him in the 1.02-1.07 range.
1.10 Colston Loveland, TE, CHI
Tight end was also a popular option for Da Bears, but many were surprised when they went with Michigan’s Colston Loveland instead of presumed TE1 Tyler Warren.
Loveland fits what new head coach Ben Johnson loves in his offenses. Loveland is a good athlete, creating separation at all points in his route-running, and gets open by understanding coverages. He runs and catches like a receiver and one can’t help but draw parallels to what Sam LaPorta was in Detroit for Ben Johnson.
Loveland had an injury-riddled senior season, but it wasn’t major injuries, just the nagging little ones that sometimes plague tight ends. He’s not the most physical tight end; he can be affected by contact at the catch point and isn’t the strongest blocker. Loveland puts forth tremendous effort in blocking, though.
The Bears are building a potent offense around Caleb Williams, which could be the biggest roadblock to fantasy production for Loveland. DJ Moore and Rome Odunze will command a majority of the targets. De’Andre Swift and Cole Kmet could also see a few targets.
BREAKDOWN: Loveland is a first-round pick for fantasy, but I would be targeting him in the 1.10-2.02 range in TE-premium leagues. If not premium scoring, Loveland is a mid-second-round pick for me; I want to see how he fits into this offense before making a more significant investment.
1.14 Tyler Warren, TE, IND
Another popular pick by the consensus, the Indianapolis Colts selected the dynamic weapon Tyler Warren with the fourteenth pick of the first round.
Warren is a versatile chess piece in a tight end’s body. He can play H-Back, QB, Wildcat QB, slot receiver, and even as a tight end! He is tough at the catch point with strong hands, and when he converts to a runner, Warren is tough to bring down. He runs clean routes and creates separation with strong movement skills.
Warren has improved as a blocker, but he will need to work on it to play more in the traditional TE alignments. As tough as he is and as hard as he plays, Warren can get pushed around in route running from time to time.
The Colts have a QB conundrum, Warren gives them an answer at a key position for whoever wins the job, though. Michael Pittman, Alec Pierce, and Josh Downs are all good role receivers, but none of them is as dynamic in their role as Warren is in his.
BREAKDOWN: This is one of my favorite picks of the first round, and Warren is someone I will target in the 1.06-1.10 range in TE-premium formats. I’d still consider him at the end of the first if your league doesn’t have position premiums, but Warren is more likely an early second-round rookie pick without it.
1.19 Emeka Egbuka, WR, TBB
With Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Jalen McMillan on the roster, the Bucs taking Emeka Egbuka in the first round seemed like a puzzling one.
The former Buckeye receiver is the best route runner in the class. He’s got soft, sure hands and the versatility to play any receiver spot. He’s strong after the catch, with good movement skills.
Egbuka doesn’t have homerun, breakaway speed, and he’s not particularly explosive. He wins with technique and being a smart receiver, and won’t wow you with physicality or speed.
The murky depth chart should clear up, as Evans is 32 and Godwin is recovering from an injury, also 29. Evans is likely to be out after this season if the Bucs are happy with their young receivers, but Godwin is likely to be around through at least 2027. Egbuka’s versatility could be valuable, and he’s likely going to see the field as a slot fairly early.
BREAKDOWN: This is another tough spot to evaluate. Without the knowledge of the rest of the draft, Egbuka is a rookie to target later in the first round of your rookie drafts. He’s going to be a solid WR2 in the NFL eventually, but will likely be a WR3 on his team for at least 2025.
1.22 Omarion Hampton, RB, LAC
The Chargers sent a shock to their running back room, taking former North Carolina back Omarion Hampton with the 22nd pick.
Few backs have been as productive the past two years as Hampton, and he’s a yardage grinder. He runs primarily north and south, with physicality and elite contact balance. Hampton doesn’t mess around, and when he hits the open field, he has a second gear to breakaway with speed.
While he caught passes, 38 in 2024, Hampton isn’t a great receiving back. He’s limited in routes and ability to run after the catch. He doesn’t have much patience as a runner, preferring just to get going rather than wait for a play to develop.
The fit is excellent, and while the team brought in Najee Harris, Hampton is the de facto RB1 from Week 1 on. They are a nice thunder-thunder combination, and I could see Jim Harbaugh just pounding defenses to death with the duo. At the same time, Justin Herbert is picking apart secondaries.
BREAKDOWN: Hampton is going to see a bevy of carries and a few pass-catching options, while he’s on the field, Harbaugh is going to lean on him. In rookie drafts, Hampton should be going in the middle of the first round, and I’d have no issue if you wanted to take him in the first three or four picks.
1.23 Matthew Golden, WR, GBP
The Draft hometown team, Green Bay Packers, took my favorite pick of the first round, selecting Texas’s Matthew Golden at pick 23.
Golden is one of the best route runners in the class and has incredibly reliable hands. He makes plays with the ball in his hands and can track the ball, making tough catches in traffic or contested catch situations. Golden has burst, quick feet, movement skills, and puts it all together to create separation consistently throughout his routes.
Consistent production and injuries have been his biggest detractors thus far. When he’s been on the field, Golden has been a legit receiver prospect. He’s not the most physical guy and can get pushed around when blocking.
This being my favorite pick has to do with the group of receivers the Packers have. There are some good players, don’t get me wrong. I love Jayden Reed, Christian Watson has his moments, and Romeo Doubs/Dontayvion Wicks have been productive. They’ve been missing “The Guy,” and they’ve found their Golden ticket.
BREAKDOWN: Breathe, Dwight. Don’t be spouting craziness. Personally, I wouldn’t hesitate targeting Golden as the first receiver taken in rookie drafts. Realistically, it’s probably wiser to call his name around pick 1.06-1.08. I love the landing spot, and I could see Golden getting 150 targets a year if he can stay healthy.
1.25 Jaxson Dart, QB, NYG
The Giants were speculated to take a quarterback, and rather than wait, they traded up to take Jaxson Dart, the former Ole Miss QB, with the 25th pick.
Dart is an interesting prospect and has been a steady riser in the off-season process. His mobility and ability to keep a play alive could be game-changers, and the Giants need that badly. Dart can throw from any angle and has incredible arm strength. He’s tough as hell ,too, which will be necessary with the terrible Giants offensive line and the New York media.
Dart tends to rely on his arm too much at times, which affects his accuracy and leads to negative plays. He will force throws and throw with little anticipation at times. Dart throws to where he sees it, instead of where it will be.
Dart will need time to acclimate, and the Giants have Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston on the roster to give him that time. That’s an interesting mentor duo! Having Malik Nabers to throw to when he does see the field will also help unlock his potential. We may not see Dart until 2026, and that gives the team time to address the line and give him more weapons.
BREAKDOWN: Dart is going to be a play for the future, so I’m taking him a bit later in Superflex rookie drafts. He still needs to be taken in the early to mid-second round. And in 1QB, probably early third round. Dart has potential but needs time to develop.
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