7 Unsung Fantasy Winners from the Draft

The NFL Draft concluded eight days ago, and rookie drafts in Dynasty leagues have already started or will get cooking soon.

7 Unsung Fantasy Winners from the Draft

And in about three and a half months, redraft leagues will choose players to prepare for the 2025 campaign.

Thanks to the draft, several unsung fantasy winners came out of the woodwork, and these are seven of those players, especially in Dynasty leagues.

They’re ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = top unsung fantasy winner)

7. Justin Fields (QB, NYJ)

In SuperFlex Dynasty leagues, Justin Field is suddenly an asset, not just a “maybe.”

While Fields has not taken the world by storm as a starting quarterback in the league — Bears fans have stories — his fantasy value always turns heads because of his legs.

Then, during the draft, New York selected zero rookie quarterbacks, so the QB1 job totally belongs to Fields. He’s now a mid-tier fantasy QB in SuperFlex leagues.

Four months ago, he could be scooped off the wire.

6. Stefon Diggs (WR, NE)

New England drafted offensive tackle Will Campbell in Round 1, running back TreVeyon Henderson in Round 2, and offensive lineman Jared Wilson in Round 3.

No wide receivers until late in Round 3 with Kyle Williams.

In theory, the Patriots could’ve found a way to net Tetairoa McMillan, Matthew Golden, Emeka Egbuka, or Jayden Higgins. Nope.

Diggs stays atop the depth chart as the unadulterated WR1.

5. Keon Coleman (WR, BUF)

The Bills drafted Maxwell Hairston, a cornerback from Kentucky in Round 1, maintaining Coleman’s role in the offense as WR1 or WR2.

Buffalo likes Coleman, and he showed flashes of promise as a rookie. It’s the Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman show in Buffalo. This should help Dalton Kincaid’s TE stock, too.

4. Jake Ferguson (TE, DAL)

The Cowboys, almost laughably, departed the 2025 NFL Draft without a new RB1 or WR2. Many forecasted North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton to Dallas at pick No. 12 or Texas’ Matthew Golden.

Instead, Dallas drafted an offensive guard, Tyler Booker from Alabama.

Consequently, the Cowboys’ wideouts behind CeeDee Lamb include Jalen Tolbert and Jonathan Mingo.

Get your Fergusons in Dynasty, especially in TE Premium leagues.

3. Cedric Tillman (WR, CLE)

With Joe Flacco likely tossing the pigskin on Sundays this fall, Tillman will slide into a WR2 job next to Jerry Jeudy in 2025. Tillman finished the 2024 campaign with a bang, and the Browns have only added Diontae Johnson as notable WR additions this offseason.

Tillman’s path to a breakout is in clear view, even if Cleveland has a muddy quarterback situation.

2. Javonte Williams (RB, DAL)

Some fantasy managers believe rookie tailback Jaydon Blue will do big things, a decent theory because folks have been disappointed by Williams for four seasons.

Still, Williams is the Cowboys’ RB1 entering the spring and summer, and perhaps his career will turn around with a geographic cure.

1. D’Andre Swift (RB, CHI)

One of the hottest takes before the draft? The Bears finding a blue-chip running back so new head coach Ben Johnson could emulate “Sonic and Knuckles” in Chicago like Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery in Detroit.

Chicago exited the draft with Kyle Monangai, a 7th-Rounder. Halfbacks from the 7th Round rarely pan out.

Swift isn’t terribly dynamic, but he’ll get an RB1 workload during Johnson’s first year in charge.

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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the Minnesota Vikings, with 4-7 episodes per week. His NFL obsession dates back to 1989. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL. 

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.