Top 2025 Rookie of the Year Candidates: Cam Ward, Ashton Jeanty, & More

The 2025 NFL Draft is behind us, and now we analyze every team’s chance to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. Now that we know where the 2025 rookie class will be playing, we can also analyze where the 2025 Rookie of the Year award could be going.

We’ll break down the top Rookie of the Year candidates below, including analysis and season-long projections for the best players from the 2025 NFL Draft. including Cam Ward and Ashton Jeanty at the top.

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Let's get a way-too-early look at some of the top 2025 Rookie of the Year candidates and their 2025 projections from NFLSZN on PrizePicks. Looking to get real money action on season-long fantasy football? Get started here and claim $50 after your first $5 Lineup.

Titans QB Cam Ward

It is difficult not to have Ward as a leading candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year. Coming in as the No. 1 overall pick and a quarterback, he will likely be the starter in Week 1. 

Although they were the worst team in the NFL last year, it doesn’t mean they can make a turnaround. Look at what new quarterbacks have done for the Texans and Commanders in recent years. The franchise's culture can instantly change if you bring in a talented quarterback with leadership traits.

Ward has all the tools to make an impact right away; he has a strong arm as he led the ACC with 14.1 yards per pass completion, has enough mobility to run when needed, and led Miami to the highest scoring offense in the FBS. 

He has some great receivers with Calvin Ridley, newly-acquired Tyler Lockett, and Tony Pollard as his running back, who is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons. He has everything he needs for a successful first season.

Cam Ward Fantasy Football Projections: 3,174.5 pass yards, 17.5 pass TDs

Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty

Another prospect who had a lot of hype going into the draft was Ashton Jeanty, the top RB in this class. That’s because he had one of the greatest college football seasons of all time for a running back. 

His 2,607 rushing yards were the second most in a season, just behind the great Barry Sanders. That, along with 29 rushing touchdowns, was more than some teams had in total.

Jeanty will undoubtedly be the Raiders' RB1, given how bad the run game was last season. Las Vegas was last in rushing yards per game with 79.8, and it’s even worse when you see the next team's total was 91.8. 

The passing game could struggle; while they did upgrade at quarterback with Geno Smith, the wide receiver room is little thin, so they could lean towards the run. The question is whether this offense will put Jeanty in enough positions to have a Rookie of the Year-level season.

Ashton Jeanty Fantasy Football Projections: 1,050.5 rush yards, 7.5 rush TDs

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Jaguars WR Travis Hunter

This will be one to monitor because it all depends on how the Jaguars use Travis Hunter. We’ll have to see if he plays more on the offensive or defensive side to determine whether he’ll be the leading candidate. Surely we’ll know more as we get closer to the season, but he’s tentatively expected to play more on the offensive side of the ball.

Regardless of what positions he plays, he could be the best rookie at either one. He showed that off throughout his college career, and that two-way ability was why he won the Heisman Trophy. 

Jags WR Brian Thomas Jr. will be the leading wideout, but Hunter will command the slot position, and with his speed and footwork, he should contribute immediately. Hunter should also give Trevor Lawrence a security blanket for quick throws.

Even as a corner, he can make a difference in a game, shutting down some of the best wide receivers in football. 

Travis Hunter Fantasy Football Projections: 699.5 receiving yards, 4.5 receiving TDs

Chargers RB Omarion Hampton

Jeanty received most of the attention amongst the running backs in this draft, but Omarion Hampton was another one that was talked about heavily, and that’s why the Chargers scooped him up in the first round. 

He will likely not get the volume of carries as Jeanty because of RB Najee Harris’ splitting carries, as he was signed this offseason. But if you watched him at North Carolina, Hampton is an electric runner who should outshine Harris. 

He’s also an amazing dual-threat, and his ability to be used in the passing game is a large reason why he could be important in this offense. Alongside QB Justin Herbert, Hampton is exactly the kind of piece this team needed.

Hampton might be off to a slow start, but he could see more usage as the season progresses and make a large impact in this Los Angeles offense.

Omarion Hampton Fantasy Football Projections: 799.5 rush yards. 6.5 rush TDs

Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan

It’s been a turbulent start to the career of the Panthers QB Bryce Young, but as the 2024 season progressed, he improved drastically, and Carolina is now confident that he can be the QB1.

They desperately needed to get Young a playmaker and they went after the best wideout in the draft, to the surprise of many. It will be interesting to see if an explosive run-after-catch receiver like McMillan can utilize that ability with a quarterback who doesn’t prefer to take shots downfield. 

It could be a case where Young didn’t have someone to unlock his upside, while like McMillan could do just that. If that happens, then we could see them propel this offense and McMillan become a top rookie receiver. 

Tetairoa McMillan Fantasy Football Projections: 799.5 receiving yards. 4.5 receiving TDs

Packers WR Matthew Golden

The last time the Packers drafted a wide receiver in the first round was Javon Walker in 2002, but they have to feel confident about the guy they are bringing in. Texas WR Matthew Golden has a ton of speed and could become a downfield threat, which this Packers offense needs to match their deep-shot offense.

He’ll fit right into this style of offense, with Matt LaFleur wanting to be aggressive and push the ball down the field, and QB Jordan Love’s strong arm. 

Golden flourishes in the vertical game. In passes of 20 yards or more, he had 13 catches, a 70% contested catch rate, 33.7 yards per reception, and four touchdowns in college football. The NFC North is becoming a competitive division, and the Packers just got better by bringing in Golden.

Matthew Golden Fantasy Football Projections: 725.5 receiving yards. 4.5 receiving TDs

Pick on Top NFL Rookies on PrizePicks

The Rookie of the Year race was dominated by talent last year, but Commanders QB Jayden Daniels eventually ran away with the award with ease. This year, the field looks a bit more muddy, though Ward and Jeanty stand above the rest before the season gets underway.

Just because we aren't currently in the NFL season, that doesn’t mean you can’t get real money action on the NFL. With NFLSZN on PrizePicks, there’s a whole new way to play season-long fantasy football. Just pick More or Less on players’ season-long stats like yards or touchdowns, and if your picks are right, you’ll win real cash money.

Stay locked in on The Playbook throughout the NFL offseason as we get you ready for the 2025 fantasy football season and NFL DFS.