Every fantasy football season, a handful of rookies rise from obscurity to become potential difference makers in your lineup.
In 2025, a few players have already started to emerge as potential league winners and their average draft positions have been on the rise as a result. These under-the-radar rookies have the upside to break out in a big way and turn the tides in your football football draft.
With preseason battles heating up, here are five rookies who could emerge as true fantasy football difference-makers this season.
TreVeyon Henderson — RB, New England Patriots
The New England Patriots may have found their latest NFL Draft gem in third-round pick TreVeyon Henderson, who wasn’t even the highest drafted running back on his own college team.
Since the start of training camp, Henderson has turned heads with his speed, hands, and his ability in pass protection, something that many rookie running backs struggle with. A true three-down back, Henderson already looks like he has overtaken Rhamondre Stevenson on the Patriots’ depth chart.
Henderson returned a kickoff for a touchdown in his preseason debut against the Commanders. He was electric in joint practices versus the Minnesota Vikings and showed off his burst on a couple of occasions in the Week 2 preseason game, including an eight-yard touchdown run.
Currently ranked No. 23 in ESPN’s PPR RB rankings, Henderson has the type of skill set that could make him a workhorse back and a league winner in 2025 for those who are courageous enough to draft him.
Matthew Golden — WR, Green Bay Packers
Matthew Golden is going to be the WR1 in one of the best passing offenses in the NFL.
Quarterback Jordan Love dealt with injuries last season and still threw for 3,389 yards with 25 touchdowns. Romeo Doubs could be cut and Christian Watson will begin the season on the PUP list, which should give Golden the opportunity to produce from the get go.
The Packers’ first-round pick has the speed to be a serious deep threat but don’t expect him to be a boom-or-bust type player in your lineup. Golden’s crisp route-running should help expand his route tree as the season moves along and his ability to gain yards after the catch will make him a valuable piece of Matt LaFleur’s offense.
Tyler Warren — TE, Indianapolis Colts
Currently ranked No. 13 in ESPN’s PPR tight end rankings, Tyler Warren has a good chance of out-performing his projected draft slot. Whether Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones is starting under center, Warren is expected to get plenty of targets in an offense that prioritizes RPO’s and play-action passes. A reliable tight end can be a quarterback’s best friend and Warren has the type of skill set to keep him on the field in every situation.
In his final season at Penn State, he finished with 104 receptions for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns while adding four rushing scores on the ground. Warren had 2.84 yards per route run, the second-best of any tight end in the 2025 class.
Dont’e Thornton Jr. — WR, Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders drafted TCU wide receiver Jack Bech in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft but it’s been Dont’e Thornton Jr. who has been turning heads since training camp. Thornton Jr. may have been drafted in Round 4, but his physical profile has helped him draw comparisons to Calvin Johnson and D.K. Metcalf.
At 6-foot-5, Thornton Jr. ran a 4.30 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, making him a deep threat in an offense that already features strong short-to-intermediate threats in Jakobi Meyers and Brock Bowers.
While he might end up being a boom-or-bust type of player, he is the kind of deep threat and red zone target that could win you some weeks or be a major asset in the right matchup.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt — RB, Washington Commanders
Despite being selected in the seventh-round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Jacory Croskey-Merritt has the opportunity to be a league winner in 2025. The rookie has already given the Commanders the confidence to move on from incumbent starter Brian Robinson Jr., who has compiled 2,329 yards and 20 total touchdowns over the past three seasons combined.
Austin Ekeler will likely get most of the work on passing downs, but Croskey-Merrit looks like the most dangerous runner and best complement in the backfield to sophomore QB Jayden Daniels. The 24-year-old broke out during training camp and showed impressive burst on a 27-yard touchdown run in Washington’s preseason matchup versus the Cincinnati Bengals.
His one-cut running style is perfect for Kliff Kingsbury’s offense and he also has a knack for getting in the end zone, making him a valuable weapon for the Commanders when they get inside the red zone.
