Three days and 257 picks later, the 2025 NFL Draft is behind us. NFL teams sent a clear message with their use of draft capital as to what they’re prioritizing ahead of the season.
The draft came weeks after the start of free agency which saw plenty of movement in the veteran market. Former Pro Bowl and All-Pro players are in new places, like Davante Adams in Los Angeles and DK Metcalf in Pittsburgh.
Both moves brought plenty of fantasy football implications with them. The same goes for the draft as teams used their draft picks on offense powered by a very deep, talented running back class.
Many teams have a roster reset following the draft’s completion. Fantasy football stars and starters from last year could see a smaller role while others might have a better chance to thrive.
We’re taking a look at who has much to gain from the 2025 NFL Draft and those who do not. Here are six winners and six losers from the draft results:
Fantasy football winners from the 2025 NFL Draft
Geno Smith, QB, Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders picked the best running back (Ashton Jeanty) in an outstanding class in the first round then followed it up with one of the top possession receivers (Jack Bech) in the class in Round 2. By the end of Day 3, Las Vegas had selected two more receivers: an outside receiver (Dont’e Thornton Jr.) and a prospect for the slot (Tommy Mellott).
Smith already had record-breaking tight end Brock Bowers to throw to in his first year with the Raiders. Now the team has multiple legitimate threats in the passing game and brought in depth on the offensive line to keep Smith protected.
Bryce Young, QB, Carolina Panthers
Carolina invested in offense last offseason and continued to build up even more in the draft this year. First-round pick Tetairoa McMillan and sixth-rounder Jimmy Horn Jr. bring different skillsets to the wide receiver room alongside 2024 top pick Xavier Legette.
Young looked much improved down the stretch of 2024 and, with more investment in the receiving corps and running backs, should be in for more improvement. Carolina now has a mix of youth and experience in the pass catchers and lots of depth at running back. The offense as a whole could take a step forward.
Justin Fields, QB, New York Jets
New York prioritized offense early on in their draft class and it should pay off. With 2024 top pick Olu Fashanu at left tackle and 2025 top pick Armand Membou at right tackle, the Jets have one of the more talented young tackle duos in the league. That should provide Fields with consistent protection.
The Jets followed the Membou pick by taking tight end Mason Taylor in the second round. That move should provide Fields a great No. 2 option in the passing game behind Garrett Wilson. Fields likely will be a featured runner a lot as he was in 2024 with the Steelers, but this opens up more possibilities in the passing game in his first year in New York.
Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints
New Orleans spent their top pick on offensive line with Kelvin Banks Jr. and then got great value on Day 3 by selecting running back Devin Neal. The Kansas running back was one of many good early-down running backs in this class. Neal has the skillset to get chunk yards thanks to his patience.
Bringing Neal in should take some of the load off of Kamara in the running game. Kamara hasn’t played more than 15 games in a season since his rookie year and is entering his age-30 season. Neal’s arrival and the upgraded offensive line should be to his benefit.
Aaron Jones, RB, Minnesota Vikings
After investing in free agency to change the offensive line, the Vikings spent their top pick on another offensive lineman in Ohio State’s Donovan Jackson. That bodes well for Jones and the other Minnesota running backs. Jones had a career-high 1,138 rushing yards last season, but could see an even bigger jump in his production thanks to the improved line.
Ladd McConkey, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
McConkey was one of many impressive rookie wide receivers in 2024. The second-round pick finished top-10 in the league in receiving yards as he quickly became quarterback Justin Herbert’s top target in the passing game.
The Chargers hit offense early and often in the 2025 draft. Los Angeles took running back Omarion Hampton and wide receiver Tre Harris with their first two picks in the class. Both should take some attention away from McConkey from opposing defenses. McConkey should operate from the slot very well again in 2025, but could face less coverage.
Fantasy football losers from the 2025 NFL Draft
Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers
McCaffrey had a tough 2024 season due to nagging injuries. The league leader in scrimmage yards and touchdowns in 2023 posted career-lows in carries, yards and touchdowns.
San Francisco was one of many teams to take a running back on Day 3 and chose Jordan James in the fifth round. James is very unlikely to be the starter over McCaffrey but offers a great skillset to take some carries off of him. James is a stout, powerful runner and accomplished receiver. That could take some early down carries away from McCaffrey in a bounce-back year.
Jakobi Meyers, WR, Las Vegas Raiders
The upgrades at wide receiver on offense in Las Vegas will cut into Meyers’ target share in the passing game. He was viewed as the No. 2 option behind Bowers but now will have to compete with Bech and Thornton Jr. Add in Jeanty as a receiver out of the backfield and that could see him drop down the hierarchy for what will likely be a run-first offense.
Romeo Doubs, WR, Green Bay Packers
Doubs is entering a contract year after finishing behind Jayden Reed on the Packers in receptions, yards and touchdowns among wide receivers. Then Green Bay went out and drafted Matthew Golden in Round 1 and Savion Williams in Round 3.
Golden is likely to be a vertical threat for quarterback Jordan Love and Williams will be a developmental piece who should get involved in the running game. Neither are Doubs’ strengths but both players will likely diminish his role in a crucial year.
Travis Etienne, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville made major moves in the draft and prioritized defense in their first two picks. On Day 3, they made a lot of depth moves, including at running back by bringing in the dynamic Bhayshul Tuten and the pass-catching threat LeQuint Allen.
New Jaguars coach Liam Coen made an offense work very well with multiple running backs, but those two rookies likely can take Etienne’s responsibilities. Tank Bigsby, a third-round pick last season, still has value as a power back and should still get a share of the backfield touches.
Calvin Ridley, WR, Tennessee Titans
Tennessee invested in the wide receiver room in free agency and then hit it again in the draft. Fourth-round picks Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike bring youth and a new wrinkle to the passing game. Ayomanor could compete for reps at outside receiver sooner than later. Add in free-agency additions Van Jefferson and Tyler Lockett, and Ridley won’t have a clear path to being the top receiver in Tennessee.
Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay re-signed Godwin in free agency after a devastating ankle injury and looks to be on the right timeline to playing in 2025. But then the Buccaneers went and took Emeka Egbuka with their first-round pick.
Egbuka was one of the most pro-ready receivers in the 2025 class thanks to his impressive route running and quarterback-friendly approach to the position. Egbuka is best in the slot where Godwin’s operated for years and could take a sizable share of targets away from him.
All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY’s 4th and Monday newsletter. Check out the latest edition: How did your favorite team fare in the 2025 NFL Draft?