Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft had some interesting landing spots for the new crop of rookie prospects. There were a few running back prospects I was hoping my Dallas Cowboys would target but they decided to wait on the position. Other teams stacked up on some players at the skill positions that should be viable targets for the upcoming fantasy football season. Now that the results are in, let’s take a look at some of the winners and losers from Day 2.
Day 2 Winners
Jayden Higgins, WR – Houston Texans
One of the many taller receivers in the draft, Jayden Higgins landing with the Houston Texans was one of the ideal landing spots for the rookie wide receiver. With Texans receiver Tank Dell expected to miss the majority of the 2025 season due to injuries, Higgins could see time right out of the gate next to leading man Nico Collins and former Jaguars receiver Christian Kirk.
Higgins tall frame and size gives Texans Texans quarterback CJ Stroud another big body to get the ball to. Higgins can play well against press coverage and has displayed late separation speed. Over the last two seasons at Iowa State, Higgins finished with 2,166 yards and 15 touchdowns. Dynasty managers may end up using a mid-late first round pick on him.
Quinshon Judkins, RB – Cleveland Browns
There is life after Nick Chubb and it starts with Quinshon Judkins. One of the top running back prospects not named Ashton Jeanty or Omarion Hampton, Judkins is a “more than capable” three-down back. At 6’0″, 220 lbs Judkins as the size and build of a starting caliber running back. While his 40-time might not blow fantasy managers away (4.48) he’s got more than enough to get away from defenders and is tough enough to break tackles. Judkins ranked 10th in broken tackles amongst his fellow running back rookie class with 20, according to PFF.
Judkins looks to be the future of the Cleveland Browns backfield. I can see Judkins coming off draft boards around the fourth or fifth round after some bigger names have been removed. Judkins is a player that may help you win in your fantasy league as he’s a viable pass catcher and good in pass protection. These traits will keep him on the field more times than not. Dynasty manager are spending a top 8 pick to get him on your rosters.
Luther Burden III, WR – Chicago Bears
Luther Burden enters the Chicago Bears receiving room as the third option on the team behind DJ Moore and Rome Odunze. Burden is versatile enough to play inside in the slot position and outside. He’ll likely start in the slot with Moore and Odunze playing more snaps on the outside. In Ben Johnson’s offensive scheme, that might be a blessing in disguise.
Burden averaged 11.1 yards per reception in 2024 and 12.8 yards per carry, showing that he can even be used on some trick plays. Burden will likely be off draft boards in dynasty leagues early in the second round. Burden could see more playing time if an injury occurs. DJ Moore is also getting older, heading into the 2025 season at 28 years-old.
Tre Harris, WR – Los Angeles Chargers
Another receiver that landed in a good spot, Tre Harris has a pathway to make an immediate impact for the Los Angeles Chargers. Drafted with the Chargers 55th pick in the second round, the Chargers are looking to bolster their wide receiver room. Harris’s draft stock is bad news for wide receiver Quentin Johnston, who struggled last season with untimely drops. The Chargers also added a familiar and reliable weapon in Mike Williams, who has good rapport with quarterback Justin Herbert.
With Ladd McConkey’s stellar rookie performance and Mike Williams return, Tre Harris as an opportunity to take the WR3 spot right from Johnston during training camp. Harris was a thousand-yard receiver over his last two seasons at Ole Miss with 15 receiving touchdowns over that span. Harris’s deep threat ability, good hands, and the ability to make contested catches downfield should provide another layer to the Chargers offense that was lacking last season.
Jack Bech, WR – Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders are revamping their wide receiver corp by adding two wide receivers from the draft in Jack Bech and Dont’e Thorton Jr. Jack Bech, drafted with the 58th pick in the second round signals an immediate role for the receiver in the Raiders offense. Bech stands at 6’1″, 214 lbs and is one of five receivers to record a thousand yard season while at TCU. Lauded for his hand-eye coordination and ability to play well against zone coverage, Bech will be another big target for Raiders new quarterback Geno Smith.
Bech may have a faster track to fantasy value out the gate, while Thorton Jr., even with his speed and size, may have to fight a bit more for targets behind Jakobi Meyers, Brock Bowers, and Ashton Jeanty.
RJ Harvey, RB – Denver Broncos
The Broncos said they were going to get a running back and they closed the deal with RJ Harvey. Harvey isn’t the biggest back Sean Payton could have drafted in the second round but maybe what attracted Payton to Harvey was his skill set. Harvey had the fourth-fastest 40-time among the rookie running backs during the combine. Harvey is also one of the more dangerous pass catchers out there, finishing with 720 receiving yards at UCF. Harvey also averaged 13.4 yards per reception during the 2024 season.
Harvey may not be a “every-down” back because of his size but don’t be surprised if the Denver Broncos deploy him as their version of Bucky Irving. Harvey could have a lane in PPR formats with his pass catching agility and the Broncos need more juice out of the backfield after having Javonte Williams and Audric Estime low performances last season.
Kaleb Johnson, RB – Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers were in the market for a new running back after letting Najee Harris leave in free agency. Kaleb Johnson has the makings of a solid three-down back. Johnson isn’t lightning fast but he’s got more than enough speed to pull away from defenders. Johnson lands in an offense looking to get back on track at the running back position. Najee Harris averaged just 3.9 yards per attempt on the ground while in Pittsburgh. Johnson averaged 5.5 yards per attempt over his tenure with Iowa and a whopping 6.4 yards per attempt in 2024 where he rushed for over 1,500 yards.
Johnson is expected to be drafted as the RB4 in dynasty rookie drafts and for good reason. The Steelers will have to run the ball a ton this season with their quarterback situation still up in the air. Standard PPR leagues should look at Kaleb Johnson as a back to grab before the fifth round. He might not be there after that.
Day 2 Losers
TreVeyon Henderson, RB – New England Patriots
This one stung. TreVeyon Henderson landed with the New England Patriots early in the second round of the draft. Rhamondre Stevenson is already the lead dog for the Patriots backfield and Antonio Gibson is the current “change of pace” back on the roster. With the top two spots currently locked up, Henderson may have to wait for an injury to showcase what he can do if he can’t beat out Gibson for the RB2 role.
Henderson has plenty of upside if given an opportunity. Henderson was part of a two-man tandem in Ohio St. with Quinshon Judkins. Henderson displayed capable hands as a pass catcher, enough balance to break tackles, and is a danger to take a play to the house. His fantasy value would be greater if he had landed with a team in need of a running back. Henderson is still considered to be a high value dynasty back. But Rhamondre Stevenson is in the way of his immediate impact this season. This feels like a future type of pick. Valued as an RB3 in dynasty formats, Henderson may be back that is just too good to pass up. Just don’t expect too much in his rookie season.
Savion Williams, WR – Green Bay Packers
Savion Williams landed in one of the worst spots for a rookie wide receiver taken third round. The Packers could opt to trade one of the many receivers they already have as they also took Matthew Golden in the latter part of the first round. The current Packers receiver room is just crowded with guys.
The fact that the Packers took Savion Williams in the third is a bit of a puzzler. Williams does bring size and speed with his 6’4″ frame and 4.3 speed. Williams has also drawn comparisons to Deebo Samuel because of his versatility and usage as a runner. On the surface, this isn’t a great landing spot as there are too many bodies ahead of him. If the Packers offload on or two of their other receivers, then we can see a change in his immediate fantasy value.
Rookie Watch List
Kyle Williams, WR – New England Patriots
The Patriots are trying to give quarterback Drake Maye as many weapons as they can. Kyle Williams is a wide receiver out of Washington State who averaged 17.1 yards per catch during the 2024 season. Williams is a big-play threat waiting to happen and could pair nicely with Stefon Diggs. Being able to play on the outside should help his case.
The Patriots may opt to run the ball a bit more than they have in the past under new head coach Mike Vrabel. If that should be the case, Williams fantasy stock could take a hit. There are targets to go around as there wasn’t a dominant receiver doing damage last season that would command major targets aside from Diggs. Williams is a player I’m putting on my watch list for the training camp.
Isaac TeSlaa, WR – Detroit Lions
The 6’4″ product out of Arkansas landed with the Detroit Lions, who already have a few good wide receivers on the roster already. There were reports that Jameson Williams could be traded during the draft but the team recently activated Williams fifth-year option, keeping him under contract with the Lions through the 2026 season. Still, the addition of TeSlaa is an interesting one.
If the Lions do end up flipping Williams, that would provide a lane where TeSlaa can see immediate time on the field with Jared Goff and company. For now, there are a couple of guys in his way but the rumors of a possible trade haven’t died down just yet. I’m keeping tabs on TeSlaa for now.
