Milroe is a great athlete who is dangerous with the ball in his hands. However, his abilities as a passer are very questionable. A good showing in the Senior Bowl could improve Milroe's draft stock, but he remains more of a project than we'd like him to be. Regardless, if Milroe ends up starting at some point, his rushing prowess will make him fantasy relevant.
Perhaps one of the more underrated running backs in a very deep class, Devin Neal has the physical statute of a three-down back, while possessing the skill set of a satellite back. It's a lethal combination that could turn him into one of the unheralded stars of this class. Neal had nearly identical seasons his final two years at college, rushing for 1,280 and 1,266 yards with 16 rushing touchdowns in each. A creative runner with good vision, but questionable pass blocking skills, it will be interesting to see how he fares in a game with college's best seniors.
Few players have done more for their draft stock this year than Cam Skattebo. He had three games with 170 rushing yards or more. Famously, he rushed, received, and threw for a touchdown against the Texas Longhorns despite losing in the College Football Playoff. Skattebo is an excellent downhill runner who can patiently set up his blocks with good lateral agility. He is also equally skilled as a receiver. These strengths make him all the more dangerous when paired with his infectious energy, which will make him a valuable asset on the field and in the locker room. Another good showing in the Senior Bowl could secure Day 2 draft capital for Skattebo, which would do wonders for his fantasy upside.
It's pretty impressive that Elic Ayomanor is good enough to declare for the NFL Draft despite redshirting his entire freshman season. In the 12 games he played this past season, Ayomanor finished with 63 receptions for 831 yards and 6 touchdowns. Having spent two years in the Cardinal’s starting lineup, he led the team in receptions and receiving yards both years, leading in receiving touchdowns in 2023 and tying for the lead in 2024. Ayomanor has the look of a classic X receiver. He still has work to do as a route runner, but a strong effort at the Senior Bowl could lock him in as a Day 2 selection.
Currently projected to be an early third round pick, Tez Johnson could work his way into Round 2 with a nice outing at the Senior Bowl. The Oregon product put together a career year, totaling 86 receptions for 1,182 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also stepped in as Oregon’s primary punt returner, averaging 9.5 yards per return on 20 returns. Johnson profiles as a slot receiver at the NFL level. He has good hands, good feel for getting open, and is excellent after the catch. However, he doesn't really offer much on the outside, limiting his versatility. Johnson is also undersized, weighing just 165 pounds. Already set to be 23 years old as a rookie, Johnson should be looking better than the competition at the Senior Bowl. Let's see if he can put on a show.
The Miami WR is likely the type of player that will go as far as his quarterback takes him. Xavier Restrepo benefited heavily from Cam Ward improving the quality of the Hurricanes' offense. Restrepo is built to play in the NFL at 202 pounds, but his likely too short to be a primary outside receiver at just under 5'10". He has great hands and is not afraid to do the dirty work that comes with being a receiver, but that doesn't pay the bills in fantasy football. Nevertheless, he's one to watch in the Senior Bowl.
Currently projected for Day 3 draft capital, Jayden Higgins would be well-served to do enough at the Senior Bowl to convince a team to take a shot on him in Round 3. There's a significant difference in upside for Day 2 vs. Day 3 picks. Higgins only spent two years at a Division I FBS program, initially playing at Eastern Kentucky. His two seasons at Iowa State were certainly good ones. CFN's Dalton Miller was impressed by Higgins, stating "Higgins not only has the size and length to pluck passes out of the air, but the fluidity to uncover as a route runner from multiple alignments." Let's see how he performs with college football's best seniors.
It's hard to get a gauge as to how good Jaylen Royals actually is, largely due to the lack of competency of Utah State's offense. Royals is great at generating separation, but it remains to be seen how much he can work downfield, as Utah State rarely used him in that capacity. Hopefully, we can see something from Royals in the Senior Bowl.
Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren are pretty much locked in as the top two tight ends in this class. The No. 3 spot is up for grabs, though, and Harold Fannin Jr. has a strong claim. Fannin owns the record for most single-season receptions by a TE in FBS history with 117 and most single-season receiving yards by a TE in FBS history with 1,555. That doesn't happen without talent. Fannin is a stocky 6’4″ and 240 pounds but moves with eye-popping contact balance and has the route-running skills to impact every level of the field. His run blocking is nothing to write home about, but any deficiencies he has there are made up for down the field.
If Fannin isn't this year's TE2, it will likely be Gunnar Helm. Ironically, Helm's mediocrity as a blocker works to his benefit at the NFL level. Fantasy managers want their tight ends to be running routes. Helm does only have one year of quality production as a receiver, but it was a good one, catching 55 passes for 668 yards and 6 touchdowns. Helm can route up defenders from any alignment and has the innate ability to make defenders miss for yards after the catch. Given the recent surge in production from rookie tight ends, Helm could surprise in 2025.
