NFL Combine (2025): NFL Draft Rookies to Watch and Target for Fantasy Football

The 2025 NFL Combine is coming up soon. It's strange to think it happens not long after the Super Bowl, but the league never sleeps. And it's a time of excitement for teams, incoming rookies, and most importantly for us, dynasty fantasy football managers.

How every player who attends performs is important, but you should keep an eye out for certain players -- for example, watching the 40 times to see how fast certain speedsters can clock in, or looking for red flags and deciding how to evaluate them for players who don't perform so well.

So, let's break down some key players you need to watch for at the soon-upcoming combine.

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Dylan Sampson, RB, Tennessee

This is pretty simple. There is a group of players you should always watch at every NFL Combine -- those who can run the fastest and have proved that they can be highly productive in college. For running backs, home-run speed for rookies is MASSIVELY important for fantasy football because being able to break off long touchdowns is incredibly valuable.

This is especially true for rookies, as you can pick them up later than usual in redraft leagues, and big-play potential gives them a huge upside that you usually can't find in the later rounds. And Tennessee Volunteers running back Dylan Sampson has blazing speed.

The Colts need someone like Dylan Sampson (preferably Sampson himself) really, really badly pic.twitter.com/XLW9JZEVm1

— John (@colts_report) January 30, 2025

How they produced in college is important, but you can essentially put all the guys within a certain range of stats in a bucket. If they rushed for between 1,250 and 1,500 yards in a season, you know they can be workhorse guys at the next level and be very efficient. But once they're in the league, stats don't matter -- and the most explosive guys tend to find a way to get plenty of touches.

If Sampson can run in the 4.3s (hint: he will, because he's that fast), he's a dynamite pick for fantasy football. He's massively underrated in dynasty and should be drafted in 100 percent of your redraft leagues at his ADP because he is a stud.

Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss

My WR1 of the 2025 NFL Draft class does have some questions swirling about his top-end speed, so it will be important to see how he runs. A slower 40-yard dash (around a 4.6) could sink his draft stock a bit. He had no problems producing at an elite level in his senior season and before that, but NFL teams could get cold feet if he doesn't run very quickly.

It's a bit stupid, though, because we've seen wide receivers who don't run fast at the combine still succeed at the next level. But it does matter for fantasy football because generally if he's chosen later in the draft, he may not be worked in as a prominent part of the game plan right away, which will affect his production in the NFL.

TOP 5 ROOKIE WRs

(Fantasy Football 2025)

5. Tre Harris - Ole Miss

Last Year Amongst ALL WRs
- 4.1 Yards/Route Run vs Zone (2nd)
- 9.3 Yards/Route Run vs Man (1st)

2024 Only 8 Games Played
- 1,000+ Rec Yards
- 7 TDs

Player Comparison
- Brian Thomas Jr. pic.twitter.com/G3yTMSovi9

— No Expert Fantasy Football (@NoExpertFF) February 18, 2025

WRs in today's two-high safety shell-dominated defenses win with short-area quickness, route-running savviness, and setting up their defenders to fail more often than they used to. There are plenty of wideouts who ran 4.6 or worse and have had fantastic careers.

However, if he doesn't test well, that could be a good thing because he will likely fall in ADP in all formats. You should scoop him up no matter what his ADP is because he's a fantastic receiver. With enough opportunities, he will likely be a league-winner.

Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Virgina Tech

Much like Sampson, Tuten is another track star who deserves more recognition than he gets. However, he's been slowly getting more attention because his college tape is elite. And he runs with rocket boosters on his back, which, as stated, is important for picking up big gains.

Tuten, like Sampson, is likely capable of running in the 4.3s. And running backs who can get under 4.4 have a much better chance of beating NFL defensive backs, at least when the backs have a step on them. His tape shows us plenty of lateral agility and burst as well, so it will be interesting to see his other numbers.

Virginia Tech RB Bhayshul Tuten has easy speed: rare acceleration ability and a top gear that even NFL DBs will have difficulty matching.

Zone-centric teams looking for a change of pace back that can change the game with one touch should be all over him on day three. pic.twitter.com/Gzb8ckoGgT

— Derrick (@Steelers_DB) February 18, 2025

There isn't a lot to say here that wasn't already said about Sampson. Tuten is a certified league-winning player if he gets put in the right situation. He has great college production and efficiency (over 1,100 rushing yards and 6.0 yards per carry in his senior season) and is loaded with talent.

It's difficult to poke holes in his game, though a lot of geniuses in the community like to bash players for lack of pass-protection skill as if that isn't something that can be developed. And often, RBs aren't asked to put a ton of those reps on tape -- Tuten scored 15 rushing touchdowns for his team. That matters a lot more.

Cameron Ward, QB, Miami

It will be interesting to see how fast he runs. Unfortunately, the rest of the combine isn't relevant for quarterbacks. So much of the game is mental (the vast majority of it, really) at the QB position. Generally, the combine will give you a somewhat misleading view of signal-callers because they can throw the ball very accurately when not in a game setting.

CAM WARD TOUCHDOWN RUN!!!

LETS GO CANES!! pic.twitter.com/U4JraGG3u0

— NMD Grant (@NMDgrant) September 28, 2024

The tape doesn't show great speed, though. Perhaps he can surprise us, but those making comparisons to Jayden Daniels might be better off comparing him to Caleb Williams instead, who doesn't have quite as much rushing upside.

Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina

Naturally, in such a stacked running back class, it makes sense that the players to watch out for will mostly be from that position group. Boise State Broncos RB Ashton Jeanty and North Carolina Tar Heel Omarion Hampton don't have elite breakaway speed like Sampson and Tuten do, but what they run will likely be important.

Both of them have a long list of big plays, and though DBs are typically faster in the NFL than they are in college, sometimes small differences in speed can mean the difference between a 10- and a 40-yard run. Simply being nearly as fast or just a bit faster than the average NFL defensive back and being able to accelerate past them with good angles is very important.

UNC star RB Omarion Hampton listed as 6’0 220 pounds…putting this filthy dead leg on the alley defender 🤯 🔥 pic.twitter.com/4QJ9xbbI9h

— Full-Time Dame 💰 (@DP_NFL) August 30, 2024

The acceleration factor is also very important. Being able to break through closing linebackers and turn sure big hits into arm tackles, potentially break away for more, or at least drive through the bad angles from the defenders to pick up a few extra yards is important.

In the league, you can't usually hit tacklers head-on and win consistently. No one does that. The extra speed and acceleration will help both Hampton and Jeanty consistently pick up extra yardage and keep their teams' drives going, helping them get more volume in the long term throughout the season.

Top speed might not be the most important thing for tailbacks in the NFL, but for fantasy football, it matters a lot!

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