There are several rookies in dynasty fantasy football capable of immediate contributions to rosters who are being slept on heavily by dynasty managers during rookie drafts. Whether it stems from pro-ready talent, extensive experience on the field, or strong position on a depth chart, the following four rookies are underrated in terms of their ability to pitch in on a winning dynasty team.
As a reminder, we won’t be listing the obvious rookies, such as Ashton Jeanty and Tetairoa McMillan, who everyone expects to make immediate impacts. Sleepers will be the main focus of this article as we attempt to identify four rookies who have a great chance to receive extensive playing time and make the most of it in their inaugural seasons.
Let’s get into the list!
Emeka Egbuka (WR, TB)
FantasyPros Rookie Ranking - WR3, 7th Overall
Former Ohio State slot receiver Emeka Egbuka is one of the most pro-ready and well-balanced players in this year’s draft class. A four-year playmaker during his college days, Egbuka was one of the biggest leaders of the Buckeyes’ championship-winning offense in 2024. He finished his senior season with 81 receptions, 1,011 receiving yards, and 10 receiving touchdowns.
As a prospect, Egbuka boasts impressive play speed, solid route running, and great athleticism. He is fantastic in clutch situations and was consistently productive across his college career.
The 2024 National Champion landed with Tampa Bay after being selected 19th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. This is a perfect situation for Egbuka; quarterback Baker Mayfield is coming off of a career-best season, in which he passed for 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns.
Veteran wideout Mike Evans is also entering his 12th NFL season in 2025, meaning that if his age catches up to him (to be fair, it hasn’t yet), Egbuka could see more targets.
Longtime Buccaneer wide receiver Chris Godwin is also returning from a season-ending ankle injury that cut the elite beginning of his 2024 season short. Even though Godwin started off 2024 with 576 yards in seven games, if his injury keeps his snap counts down or prevents him from being at 100% this season, the rookie Egbuka could see extra volume.
Overall, Emeka Egbuka landed in the perfect destination to contribute immediately in dynasty fantasy football. If he is given a solid shot to earn volume, he is talented enough to work his way onto the field. I have no doubt in his ability to start right away if Tampa Bay needs him to. Egbuka is a sleeper in dynasty formats for teams ready to compete for a championship.
Jayden Higgins (WR, HOU)
FantasyPros Rookie Ranking - WR6, 15th Overall
Texans rookie wide receiver Jayden Higgins has a great chance to start opposite of star wideout Nico Collins this fall. If that’s the case, he will see a multitude of targets early on in his NFL career, most likely even in his rookie season.
Jayden Higgins, like Egbuka, is a very pro-ready prospect. His size (6’4”, 215 lbs), physicality, and surprising athleticism and quickness allowed him to dominate during his college career at Iowa State. His current NFL comparison is a faster version of Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr.
Quarterback C.J. Stroud’s situation also couldn’t possibly be as bad as it was last season. In 2024, Houston’s offensive line was perhaps the worst unit in the league. Stroud took 58 sacks and struggled to get the ball out due to immense pressure, causing his statistics to drop after a stellar rookie season.
Higgins’ quickly translatable talent and high position on the Texans’ depth chart should allow him to see significant snaps with ease right off the bat. He should also be available for a mid-second-round pick in dynasty rookie drafts this season, which is a fairly cheap price for an immediate contributor.
Make sure to draft Higgins in dynasty if you’re looking for quick production!
Mason Taylor (TE, NYJ)
FantasyPros Rookie Ranking - TE3, 23rd Overall
LSU’s Mason Taylor was one of my favorite targets in a stacked 2025 rookie tight end class. I had Taylor and Oregon’s Terrance Ferguson neck-and-neck in my rankings, but decided to give Taylor the nod in this list due to the lack of competition for targets around him in New York.
Taylor was one of the best tight end prospects in this year’s class and heard his name called on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. Taylor is a skilled receiver and blocker, with good separation skills, a massive frame, and reliable hands. He should have no trouble becoming one of newly-signed quarterback Justin Fields’ favorite targets in no time.
Taylor is an extremely well-balanced prospect who has the tools to become a dominant fantasy tight end if the team around him develops and adds talent. At the moment, the only other currently-relevant pass-catcher on the Jets is star receiver Garrett Wilson, who just signed an extension with the team this offseason.
If Taylor can develop a connection with Fields, who has always heavily targeted his tight ends, the pair could become extremely productive quickly. In the end, Taylor, similarly to Egbuka and Higgins, is a high-floor prospect in a great situation to play meaningful snaps in Year 1.
Kyle Williams (WR, NE)
FantasyPros Rookie Ranking - WR10, 22nd Overall
Kyle Williams is the final player I’ll go into detail about in this list before I reveal several honorable mentions. Williams is a player who shot up draft boards late in the pre-draft process after an impressive showing at the Reese’s Senior Bowl earlier this year.
At the event, Williams put on a show in one-on-one drills with his shifty release package and sharp route-running skills. Now in New England, Williams should get the chance to prove himself in a thin wide receiver room while catching passes from future superstar quarterback Drake Maye.
Williams should separate himself as a clear starter at some point this season, leading to a bigger role in this young offense. He should share a strong chemistry with Maye if he displays himself to be a reliable target for the 2024 first-round pick.
Williams is a high-upside player who could see playing time early due to New England’s below-average receiver room. He’s relevant to dynasty fantasy football this season.
HM - Tyler Shough (QB, NO)
HM - Terrance Ferguson (TE, LAR)
HM - Bhaysul Tuten (RB, JAX)
HM - Jack Bech (WR, LV)
HM - Tre Harris (WR, LAC)
HM - Jaylin Noel (WR, HOU)