Tag: Fantasy Football

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: WR Luther Burden III, Missouri

Few receivers offer the dangerous blend of talents found in this explosive slot receiver.

A St. Louis native, wide receiver Luther Burden III chose to stay in Missouri to play for the Tigers, despite receiving over a dozen offers from the who’s who of FBS programs after earning a five-star prep grade.

A top-10 prospect in the nation, Burden made 10 starts as a true freshman, accounting for nine total touchdowns in what proved to be a foreshadowing of his breakthrough sophomore campaign. The Tigers standout was good for 1,212 receiving yards and nine more combined scores in 2023, earning Second-team Associated Press All-American and First-team All-SEC honors.

Despite a dramatic statistical drop-off in 2024, Burden managed to once again garner First-team All-SEC recognition. He sat out of the Music City Bowl knowing the NFL awaited his explosive skill set, and he’s often forecasted to be chosen in the opening stanza of the upcoming draft.

Height: 6-foot
Weight: 206 pounds
40 time: 4.41 seconds

Table: WR Luther Burden III, Missouri (2022-24)

Year Team Class G Receiving Rushing
Rec Yds Y/R TD Att Yds TD
2022* Missouri Fr 13 45 375 8.3 6 18 88 2
2023* Missouri So 13 86 1,212 14.1 9 7 31 0
2024* Missouri Jr 12 61 676 11.1 6 9 115 2
Career 38 192 2,263 11.8 21 34 234 4

*includes postseason/bowl games (stats from Sports Reference)

Pros

  • Dangerous in the open field due to a rare blend of twitchiness, vision, quick feet, and lateral agility
  • Natural hands catcher with plus hand-eye coordination — attacks the ball aggressively
  • Uniquely tough for his size
  • Elite body control to make eye-opening adjustments
  • Adept deep-ball tracking traits
  • Fits most systems as a primary slot receiver
  • Skilled operator at all levels — the vast majority of his targets came around the line of scrimmage by design, but he offers so much more than that
  • Presents punt return value — productive as a freshman, including one return for a TD
  • Top-level NFL WR upside

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Cons

  • Needs to play through the whistle more frequently when the ball isn’t coming his way
  • A few careless drops on tape when in heavy traffic
  • Occasionally gets “too cute” trying to dance his way for a few more yards
  • Limited experience playing on the outside — may struggle with consistently getting off the line in the NFL if he’s playing as an X
  • Offers little in the blocking game despite being known for his toughness

Fantasy football outlook

Burden doesn’t have a great NFL comparison, but a blend between Jeremy Maclin and Deebo Samuel is a fair way to view what he can do.

It will be surprising if he manages to slide too far out of Round 1, so we’ll focus on what is most likely rather than … burdening … you with low-probability speculation. The teams with a need and in reasonable position to choose Burden include Seattle (18th), Tampa Bay (19th), Denver (20th), Green Bay (23rd), Houston (25th), and Buffalo (30th).

Seattle, Denver and Houston should be the best bets if he goes in Round 1 with a trade up. Should he make it into Round 2, Burden is poised to go early to Cleveland, Tennessee, Las Vegas, New England, Chicago, or New Orleans — owner of the 41st pick, which is about as far as he’ll fall.

In fantasy, Burden will be at his best in a creative West Coast system. Sean McVay would be an ideal coach for his talents, although that seems like a long shot in Round 1. Burden’s rookie outlook ranges from WR4 depth to low-end No. 2 upside, but he has long-term WR1 potential written all over him.

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado

Despite being a polarizing prospect, Sanders is poised to be one of the top picks in the draft.

Where to begin … Shedeur Sanders enters the 2025 NFL Draft as a four-year starter in high school and college and son of NFL great Deion Sanders, who served as his head coach at both NCAA stops.

A four-star prep recruit, Sanders the Younger came out of high school committed to play for Florida Atlantic but declined to join his father at Jackson State, where he’d start two seasons prior to following Deion to Colorado and immediate assume the starting gig there. Over the next two seasons, Sanders’ pedigree and natural talent were put under the national microscope, and he emerged from it as one of the premier players in the draft class, regardless of position.

For all of his efforts, Sanders was honored with the following accolades:

2021: Won Jerry Rice Award (top FCS freshman), Second-team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference, SWAC Freshman of the Year
2022: SWAC Player of the Year, First-team All-SWAC, HBCU First-team All-American
2023: Honorable Mention All-Pac-12 Conference
2024: Second-team Associated Press All-American, Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, First-team All-Big 12

Height: 6-foot-1 1/2
Weight: 212 pounds
40 time: 4.75 seconds (estimated)

Table: QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado (2022-24)

Year Team Class G Passing Rushing
Cmp Att Cmp% Yds TD Int Att Yds TD
2021 Jackson State Fr 13 272 413 65.9 3,231 30 8 103 -17 3
2022 Jackson State So 13 341 483 70.6 3,732 40 6 85 173 6
2023 Colorado Jr 11 298 430 69.3 3,230 27 3 111 -77 4
2024* Colorado Sr 13 353 477 74.0 4,134 37 10 100 -50 4
Career 1,264 1,803 70.1 14,327 134 27 399 29 17

*includes postseason/bowl games (stats from ESPN & Sports Reference)

Pros

  • Extremely accurate ball placement, especially on timing-based throws
  • Superb footwork — rarely caught flat-footed and relies on excellent lower-body mechanics to enhance accuracy
  • Enough movement skills inside the pocket to buy time and climb the pocket — also consistently demonstrates the ability square up while on the move
  • NFL-caliber knowledge for dissecting defenses pre- and post-snap — clearly a benefit of having a Hall-of-Fame father at his disposal
  • Understands how to use nuances to his favor — shrugs, pump-fakes, looking off defenders
  • Played well vs. stiffer competition moving from Jackson State to Colorado
  • Pretty good at layering throws over coverage
  • Willingness to stand in the pocket and take a hit for a developing play
  • Natural fit for a West Coast offensive system

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Cons

  • Slightly undersized — can he withstand the pounding of being an NFL quarterback? Suffered a fracture in his back during the 2023 season
  • Lacks raw athleticism, especially startling given his father’s freakish traits
  • Takes more sacks and hits than necessary — holds the ball too long at times when trying to hit the big play rather than taking incremental wins or throwing it away
  • Personality type may turn off NFL coaches
  • Lacks elite arm talent, which is most apparent if he tries to make a late delivery outside the hashes
  • Limited system fit as a pocket passer — won’t be a good option for RPO-heavy designs

Fantasy football outlook

Sanders’ long-term potential is high but needs to come with the caveat of system fit matters more with him than most quarterbacks. Another issue at play here is fantasy quarterbacking skews heavily toward mobility these days, and Sanders’ ground game offers little more than a short-range TD plunge.

Purely from a passing standpoint, Sanders has QB1 fantasy upside. He figures to be a Day 1 real-life starter in most plausible draft scenarios. Tennessee, Cleveland, and the New York Giants all need quarterbacks atop the NFL draft, but none of those teams reportedly are where Sanders himself wants to play. There appears to be mutual interest from New Orleans, Pittsburgh, and Las Vegas, all teams that need a positional solution.

For immediate results, Pittsburgh would be the best place for Sanders’ fantasy worth — provided the team doesn’t add another veteran (ahem, Aaron Rodgers). Even if Sanders were to start Week 1, he’s still little more than a late-round QB2 in 2025.

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: RB Omarion Hampton, North Carolina

This versatile playmaker will have no shortage of NFL suitors.

An accomplished high school athlete, Omarion Hampton stayed in his home state to attend the University of North Carolina. The four-star prep recruit and three-sport standout was twice named to the all-state team. It didn’t stop there as Hampton flashed out of the gates for the Tar Heels, scoring eight total touchdowns as a true freshman.

He’d go on to dominate the next two seasons before heading into the 2025 NFL Draft as the No. 2 prospect at the position on most boards. Hampton rounded out his collegiate career with consecutive Second-team Associated Press All-American and First-team All-ACC honors — along with being a finalist both years for the Doak Walker Award (nation’s best RB).

Height: 6-foot
Weight: 221 pounds
40 time: 4.46 seconds (estimated)

Table: RB Omarion Hampton, North Carolina (2022-24)

Year Team Class G Rushing Receiving
Att Yds Y/A TD Rec Yds Y/R TD
2022* North Carolina Fr 13 88 401 4.6 6 6 40 6.7 1
2023* North Carolina So 13 253 1,504 5.9 15 29 222 7.7 1
2024* North Carolina Jr 12 281 1,660 5.9 15 38 373 9.8 2
Career 38 622 3,565 5.7 36 73 635 8.7 4

*includes postseason/bowl games (stats from Sports Reference)

Pros

  • Backbreaking blend of size, speed, and power to carry an offense
  • Quick feet to regather once stopped
  • Excellent contact balance and body control
  • Three-down utility
  • Fits most NFL systems well but will be best in a gap design that allows his north-south style to shine
  • Formidable jump-cut and enough lateral agility to create space as well as stack moves — also sports a capable stiff arm
  • Determined runner who bulls through opponents and often requires multiple defenders to take him down
  • Adequate receiver who still has room to grow
  • Remarkably consistent from 2023 through ’24

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Cons

  • Intentionally takes excessive levels of brutal contact — serious longevity concerns if this doesn’t change
  • Has a couple of successfully repeatable moves in the open field but lacks a full repertoire of maneuvers
  • Limited exposure to more complex routes out of the backfield
  • Eyes are inconsistent for spotting the proper lane at the optimal time
  • Effort blocker who will need refinement to handle the best the NFL has to offer

Fantasy football outlook

Hampton almost certainly will go behind Ashton Jeanty as the second running back chosen, and being a top-15 pick is in play. Teams with a reasonable probability to draft him include the Dallas Cowboys (12th), Chicago Bears (10th), Denver Broncos (20th), Las Vegas Raiders (6th), and Pittsburgh Steelers (21st), though it will depend on how early Jeanty is selected — perhaps No. 6 to Vegas.

The nation’s No. 3 leading rusher’s game reminds of former NFL back DeShaun Foster, and there’s a lot of Joe Mixon in there, too. A career similar to the latter would be a major win for fantasy purposes, and Hampton should be considered a priority RB2/No. 3 in 2025 drafts, depending upon where he lands.

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: TE Tyler Warren, Penn State

How early will he go after such a prolific senior season?

Anyone who has watched Penn State tight end Tyler Warren should recognize his uniquely diverse skill set. What you may not know is how naturally it comes to him as a three-sport prep standout, lettering in basketball, baseball and being a three-star footballer. He also was born to student-athlete parents.

After a dominant senior performance, the Virginia native took his top-20-ranked game to Happy Valley in what wound up being a slower path to stardom than many may have expected.

Warren would see action in only two games during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, which gave him an extra year of eligibility, and he mustered only four receiving touchdowns over the next two campaigns before showing legit potential as a redshirt junior.

In 2023, he’d catch seven TD passes and assert himself as one to watch entering Warren’s final year with the program. Penn State, which boasts a few pro-grade TEs in recent years, now has a new leader in all-time catches at the position, and Warren’s phenomenal 2024 performance earned him just about every honor imaginable for a tight end. He’d win the John Mackey Award (nation’s best TE), along with Second-team All-American, First-team All-Big Ten, and Big Ten Tight End of the Year recognition. Heck, he even finished seventh in Heisman voting.

Height: 6-foot-5 1/2
Weight: 256 pounds
40 time: 4.68 seconds (estimated)

Table: TE Tyler Warren, Penn State (2020-24)

Year Team Class G Receiving Rushing
Rec Yds Y/R TD Att Yds Y/A TD
2020 Penn State Fr 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
2021* Penn State rFr 13 5 61 12.2 1 6 6 1.0 2
2022* Penn State rSo 12 10 123 12.3 3 0 0 0
2023* Penn State rJr 13 34 422 12.4 7 0 0 0
2024* Penn State rSr 16 104 1,233 11.9 8 26 218 8.4 4
Career 56 153 1,839 12 19 32 224 7.0 6

*includes postseason/bowl games (stats from Sports Reference)

Pros

  • Dynamic skill set that allows him to play all over the field doing anything a coaching staff asks of him — can play H-back/fullback, classic Y, flexed into the slot, and direct-snap QB in wildcat
  • Elite production in 2024 not only as a receiver but rusher — set the program’s record for career TE receptions
  • Excellent hands, especially in traffic — concentration is impressive
  • Top-end upside in the NFL — easily could develop into a top-three player at the position in no time
  • Fluid route runner who understands how to manipulate defenders with subtly
  • Fits any system and scheme in the pros — will be at his best in a creative West Coast design
  • Talented blocker out of the backfield
  • An unteachable passion for playing that comes through the screen
  • High-character guy who will serve as an energetic team leader early on

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Cons

  • Occasionally gets sloppy or lackadaisical in his routes
  • In-line blocking as a true Y is inconsistent — minor mechanical issues to address
  • Much better within the first two levels of the route tree than as a vertical threat — capable of the latter, but it’s clearly not where he shines
  • Takes a lot of contact with his playing style — could open him up to elevated risk of injury
  • Only one year of dominant production, despite flashing earlier in career

Fantasy football outlook

All of that paints an idyllic picture for fantasy football owners looking ahead. Before we go down that road, trying to identify where Warren will land is a prudent course to take. It will be shocking if he slides out of Round 1, for starters. Narrowing it down to teams with a significant need at the position, the Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, Indianapolis Colts, and New York Jets make the most sense, barring a team trading up.

Denver could be a sneaky option, but it seems improbable after picking up Evan Engram in free agency … Stranger things have happened of late (see Vegas drafting Brock Bowers with Michael Mayer in the wings). Chicago makes sense but also has higher priorities to address.

While this won’t instill much confidence in fantasy gamers, Hayden Hurst is a fair comp. The athletic, versatile former South Carolina standout’s NFL career hasn’t been particularly successful — one would argue that’s being generous given his first-round draft placement — so it’s easy to feel a certain way about the comparison.

Nevertheless, Warren is too gifted to let this deter you from viewing him as a TE1 by Year 2 and likely no worse than a matchup play in his rookie season, regardless of where he lands.

Fantasy football: 2025 NFL free agency roundup

NFL free agency will drastically help reshape the fantasy football landscape as the new league year begins.

Now that NFL free agency is upon us, we’ll run through the fantasy football outlooks for trades, re-signings, midrange deals, and tag recipients.

This analysis will be updated as players continue to move about in free agency, so be sure to check back regularly.

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2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State

An NFL-ready skill set has Egbuka poised to be a highly coveted selection.

Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, who was rated as a top-10 national prep recruit coming out of Washington state, enters the 2025 NFL Draft as one of the more interesting Day 2 buys at the position.

He made a dent on special teams as a true freshman for the Buckeyes before bursting onto the scene in 2022 with more than 1,200 total yards and a dozen scores.

Life wasn’t as kind on Egbuka as a junior. An ankle injury cost him three games, and his healthy production wasn’t exactly impressive as the offense turned to Kyle McCord after C.J. Stroud left for the pros. Will Howard stepped in as the starter in 2024, and a healthy Egbuka once again thrived with competent quarterback play, showing reliance and proving he wasn’t just a one-year wonder.

Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 202 pounds
40 time: 4.48 seconds

Table: WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State (2021-24)

Year Team Class G Receiving Rushing
Rec Yds Y/R TD Att Yds TD
2021* Ohio State Fr 10 9 191 21.2 0 0 0 0
2022* Ohio State So 13 74 1,151 15.6 10 11 87 2
2023* Ohio State Jr 10 41 515 12.6 4 5 25 0
2024* Ohio State Sr 16 81 1,011 12.5 10 8 33 0
Career 49 205 2,868 14.0 24 24 145 2

*includes postseason/bowl games (stats from Sports Reference)

Pros

  • Excellent feel for exploiting zone coverage and natural instincts to work back to a quarterback under duress
  • Fluid athlete with plus ball skills and flashes late hands
  • Respectable route skills with glimpses of elite potential
  • Creates separation with subtly with body control and hand fighting
  • Reliable hands and great concentration
  • Fearless in traffic and at his best working the middle of the field
  • Athletic enough for manufactured touches out of the backfield and around the line of scrimmage
  • A fair amount of experience returning kicks early in his Ohio State career
  • Can play inside and out but is at his best from the slot
  • Team captain
  • Ideal fit for a modified West Coast offense

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Cons

  • Average top-end speed — he’s tough to catch if he has a step but rarely outright breaks away
  • Can get knocked off his route vs. stronger press corners
  • Mostly a two-level receiver in the route tree — limited vertical profile
  • Despite being adequately built, his blocking game needs a lot of attention from NFL coaches
  • Injury-shortened 2023 season required tightrope surgery on his ankle — gritty playing style and role opens him up to increased injury concern

Fantasy football outlook

Egbuka offers more than enough to find himself landing on Day 2, and he has the traits to make early-career contributions.

In the best system fit will be in a West Coast design with a creative coach. San Francisco jumps out immediately as not only is an ideal landing spot but also is a team in need. Any number of the Shanahan-based offshoots around the league make plenty of sense. Houston has a clear hole to fill, and the C.J. Stroud connection to Egbuka, too. New Orleans, the Los Angeles Rams, and Miami all could be in play given their connections to this style of play.

One player instantly comes to mind when looking to make an NFL comparison, and that’s Detroit’s Amon-Ra St. Brown. It’s not a perfect one-to-one comp, but they share a similar playing style and fit the same role. Egbuka has a little more versatility than St. Brown but isn’t quite on the same overall level yet as an aerial product.

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: QB Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss

Dart is a ceiling/floor decision for teams looking to groom a quarterback.

One of the more dominant prep recruits in recent memory, quarterback Jaxson Dart went from being named the 2020 Gatorade National Player of the Year out of Utah, which led him to a lone season at USC before transferring to Ole Miss.

Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 223 pounds
40 time: 4.85 seconds

In the three subsequent seasons, Dart would increasingly improve and ended his Rebels career as a First-Team All-SEC honoree. He won the Gator Bowl MVP and finished with the third-most aerial yards in FBS.

Table: QB Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss (2021-24)

Year Team Class G Passing Rushing
Cmp Att Cmp% Yds TD Int Att Yds TD
2021 USC Fr 6 117 189 61.9 1,353 9 5 22 43 2
2022* Ole Miss So 13 226 362 62.4 2,974 20 11 128 614 1
2023* Ole Miss Jr 13 233 358 65.1 3,364 23 5 119 389 8
2024* Ole Miss Sr 13 276 398 69.3 4,279 29 6 124 495 3
Career 45 852 1,307 65.2 11,970 81 27 393 1,541 14

*includes postseason/bowl games (stats from Sports Reference)

Pros

  • Enough arm to make all of the throws despite not having a cannon
  • Best trait probably is playing the distribution role as a point guard
  • Puts excellent touch on intermediate passes — drops it into a bucket back-shoulder placement
  • Dual-threat functionality — looks to pass before running but isn’t going to wow you with his legs
  • Gritty, tough competitor whose moxie jumps off the screen
  • Rhythm-based passer who can go on serious hot streaks
  • Good presnap command
  • Scans the field adequately when he has time
  • Started three years in the SEC and progressed each season
  • Significant upside if multiple factors align in his favor

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Cons

  • Needs more experience playing under center — transition to NFL system might be a longer process than most
  • Can get too cute trying to make something out of nothing — more freelancing than some NFL coaches will tolerate
  • Doesn’t have a signature trait — he’s not exceptional in any regard
  • Anticipatory throws are erratic, suggesting a timing-based system could hinder his career trajectory
  • Inconsistent footwork, especially noticeable when throwing off-platform
  • Too many easy throws missed and slightly underthrown deep balls — the latter isn’t super common, but you’ll see it even on a few of his highlight-reel plays when a receiver bailed him out

Fantasy football outlook

Dart has enough athleticism and requisite intangible tools to develop into a moderate QB1 in fantasy, but it’s not happening without dedication to working on the nuances and being in the right system. He’ll benefit more than most by waiting a year to start and learning behind a veteran.

Given the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ recent courting of Aaron Rodgers while also holding the No. 21 pick in the draft, don’t be surprised to see Dart go that early. If not, he probably slides into the second round.

While he has a high ceiling, Dart also comes with elevated risk. In relation to the conventional quarterback prospect profile. It won’t be alarming if he never puts it together and is a career backup.

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: WR Tre Harris, Ole Miss

A big play waiting to happen, Harris will have no shortage of NFL suitors in the upcoming draft.

Wide receiver Tre Harris spent three years at Louisiana Tech and transferred to Ole Miss in 2023 knowing he’d have two years of eligibility at the program — a decision that worked in his favor.

Harris played well enough vs. Conference USA competition to earn a four-star grade in the transfer protocol, largely because he capped off his time with Louisiana Tech as a member of the first-team all-conference squad.

Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 205 pounds
40 time: 4.54 seconds

His two full seasons before transferring saw him find the end zone 14 times over 105 catches, and Harris maintained a high rate of scoring in relation to receptions secured against tougher competition.

Harris led the Rebels in aerial yardage during his first season at Ole Miss, and he followed it up with Second-Team Associated Press All-American and Third-Team All-SEC recognition — all in a campaign in which he missed five games.

Table: WR Tre Harris, Ole Miss (2020-24)

Year Team Class G Receiving Rushing
Rec Yds Y/R TD Att Yds TD
2020* Louisiana Tech Fr 7 1 20 20.0 0 0 0 0
2021 Louisiana Tech rFr 12 40 562 14.1 4 0 0 0
2022 Louisiana Tech rSo 12 65 935 14.4 10 5 22 0
2023* Ole Miss rJr 12 54 985 18.2 8 0 0 0
2024* Ole Miss rSr 8 60 1,030 17.2 7 0 0 0
Career 51 220 3,532 16.1 29 5 22 0

*includes postseason/bowl games (stats from Sports Reference)

Pros

  • Physical perimeter receiver who brings a vertical element to any offensive system
  • Dangerous around the line of scrimmage on manufactured touches
  • Untapped potential with NFL-caliber coaching
  • Extends, catches away from the body, and tracks well enough over the shoulder
  • Knows how to use pacing variation to make up for a lack of twitchiness and raw speed
  • Attacks the ball and uses above-average body control to his advantage
  • Fights through weak tackle attempts and is routinely drags defenders for a few extra yards
  • Prototypical height-weight combo and wingspan at 78 1/4 inches
  • Potential to develop into a better blocker

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Cons

  • Physical, long corners can derail him at the line in press coverage
  • Durability concerns after suffering injuries in consecutive seasons
  • Average timed speed– in fairness, he does play faster than he times, but it’s a build-up stride defenders can account for with proper game planning
  • Likely limited to playing only on the outside in the NFL
  • Lacks experience running intermediate routes — most of his targets came in the first and third levels of the tree
  • Already being 23 years old means he won’t have as long of a runway to slowly learn

Fantasy football outlook

Harris is a mostly one-dimensional player for now. That won’t deter teams in an ever-compartmentalizing NFL from investing draft capital in the neighborhood of a probable Round 4 pick with a chance to sneak into the third.

In his first year, he probably will find himself used almost exclusively as a deep-ball threat, and that alone limits his fantasy appeal to the level of an intentional flier off the wire or DFS play. Given his age and ability to pick up the Ole Miss offense rather quickly in 2023, it’s not out of line to think Harris can develop into a competent NFL WR2 as a sophomore in 2026. In that case, there’s weekly fantasy appeal down the road.

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: RB Kaleb Johnson, Iowa

Will physical limitations come back to haunt Johnson in the pros?

Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson declared for the 2025 NFL Draft after a season he’d be hard-pressed to top. Before a true breakout season, he kicked off his collegiate career with an All-Big Ten honorable mention for leading the Hawkeyes in rushing as a true freshman.

Johnson missed three games in 2023 with a high-ankle sprain and wasn’t at his best. All of that would be forgiven in 2024 when the junior rusher earned himself plenty of attention that culminated in the following recognition: Big Ten RB of the Year, First-Team All-Big Ten, finalist for the Doak Walker Award, and a Second-Team Associated Press All-American.

Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 224 pounds
40 time: 4.57 seconds

Such a decorated season suggests Johnson will easily translate to the professional ranks, but an uninspiring physical tool set may have something to say about it. He will struggle to enter Day 2 of the draft and profiles as a complementary piece rather than a three-down workhorse.

Table: RB Kaleb Johnson, Iowa (2022-24)

Year Team Class G Rushing Receiving
Att Yds Y/A TD Rec Yds TD
2022* Iowa Fr 13 151 779 5.2 6 4 27 0
2023* Iowa So 10 117 463 4 3 3 25 0
2024* Iowa Jr 12 240 1,537 6.4 21 22 188 2
Career 35 508 2,779 5.5 30 29 240 2

*includes postseason/bowl games (stats from Sports Reference)

Pros

  • A one-cut back who focuses on getting north to maximize his gains on every attempt
  • Patience to let blocks develop while maintaining a keen eye for the cutback
  • Contact balance is one of his better traits
  • Limited mileage on odometer
  • Showed a nose for the end zone in 2024
  • Physical stature to push the pile and shoulder a larger workload if needed
  • Runs with a natural cadence and is decisive once he picks his lane
  • Functional on outside zones and sweeps
  • Low aerial utilization isn’t fully representative of his respectable receiving skills
  • Will be at his best in a timing-based system that doesn’t give too much freedom for freelancing
  • Despite not being particularly elusive, he ranked in the top five of 2024 RBs in forcing missed tackles, per Pro Football Focus

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Cons

  • Likely isolated to being a two-down back in a zone-blocking scheme
  • Lacks breakaway speed
  • Slow to regather burst after coming to a standstill
  • Visibly lacks flexibility in his lower-body movements
  • Limited athletic profile and explosiveness combined with an unimpressive repertoire of open-field moves means an outsized reliance on blocking
  • Pass protection needs a lot of work
  • Limited experience on the route tree

Fantasy football outlook

His game has shades of former NFL running back David Johnson, although the Northern Iowa product was a better receiver than Iowa’s Johnson.

The best-case scenario: He overachieves in a zone-blocking design by improving his pass pro and managing to stay on the field for three downs. Even in that situation, he’s an RB2 candidate. The far more realistic assessment puts him in a shared backfield as a two-downer who may produce enough touchdowns to overcome a lack of yardage and receptions to sneak into the realm of matchup utility.

Given the wide range of possible utilization outcomes, Johnson will receive a dedicated update once the draft placement provides clarity on that front.

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: WR Jack Bech, TCU

There’s a lot to like about Bech in the right NFL system, which is …

Texas Christian wide receiver Jack Bech heads into the 2025 NFL Draft after being named Senior Bowl MVP to cap off his most productive collegiate season.

He dominated high school ball in Louisiana and spent two seasons LSU after backing out a commitment to play at Notre Dame. As a freshman, Bech posted a team-high 43 catches, but he wasn’t able to parlay that into a strong sophomore season behind eventual NFL receivers in Malik Nabers, Kayshon Boutte, and Brian Thomas Jr.

Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 214 pounds
40 time: 4.55 seconds

The lack of playing time led to Bech entering the transfer protocol in 2023, making the move to TCU. He’d remain unproductive that season but go on to pace the program in receptions, yards and TD grabs as a senior. The performance earned Bech Second-Team All-Big 12 recognition.

Table: WR Jack Bech, TCU (2021-24)

Year Team Class G Receiving Rushing
Rec Yds Y/R TD Att Yds TD
2021* LSU Fr 13 43 489 11.4 3 0 0 0
2022* LSU So 12 16 200 12.5 1 0 0 0
2023 TCU Jr 8 12 146 12.2 0 3 -3 0
2024* TCU Sr 12 62 1,034 16.7 9 0 7 0
Career 45 133 1,869 14.1 13 3 4 0

*includes postseason/bowl games (stats from Sports Reference)

Pros

  • Excellent hands and concentration in traffic — displays late and sudden hands in contested situations
  • Excels at working the intermediate area of the field and simple vertical routes
  • Strong body control and spacial awareness — able to box out and outmaneuver for jump balls. Willing to lay out for errant throws
  • Has a natural feel for exploiting soft coverage and holes in zone
  • Tracks the ball well over both shoulders
  • Tough, gritty operator over the middle and along the boundary — tough to take down with glancing blows
  • Clutch performer who will make a name for himself on third downs in the NFL
  • Can play inside and out and fits most NFL systems but will be coveted in a run-heavy, play-action design
  • Physical effort blocker

[lawrence-related id=499893]

Cons

  • Lacks breakaway speed to fully capitalize on his downfield ability
  • Stands to benefit from more experience running the full route tree
  • Tends to round a lot of corners in his route running — more reliant on his ability to feel his way through a route rather than making clean breaks
  • Underwhelming athletic profile
  • Lost a prominent role at LSU and has only one season of strong statistical production

Fantasy football outlook

A fair NFL comparison is Cooper Kupp with just about everything but the route-running skills. Bech has a fairly universal profile for fantasy success but will shine if he enters an offense that uses more play-action passing than average. Some of the teams that most frequently used the running game to set up the pass last year includes the Los Angeles Rams, Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, and Houston Texans.

Given he’s likely a third-round grade on most boards, Bech could land in any number of spots, but he’d be in a great situation to learn Sean McVay’s system behind a similar receiver in Puka Nacua and veteran Davante Adams. Regardless, it’s unlikely Bech has Year 1 fantasy worth, and he’s physically limited as a borderline PPR No. 2 being his career ceiling.