Football season is upon us and for fantasy football players, it’s essentially an early Christmas for them. Some players will disappoint while others surprise. In this article we will take a look at some players from the ladder. These players could help you win your league and could be keepers in fantasy leagues that allow you to keep one player per year. I will be using Yahoo Sports Top 300 for the rankings to prevent any confusion. Now let’s get to the good stuff.
Travis Hunter WR/CB-Jacksonville Jaguars
WR Rank: #25
Overall Rank: #53
Starting off this list we have Jaguars rookie two way player Travis Hunter. How much time the 2nd overall pick will play on both sides is to be determined. But for this analysis we will exclusively value him as a Wide Receiver. The 2025 Heisman Trophy winner enters a pretty adequate situation down in Duval. Hunter joins a wide receiver room that includes a rising star in Brian Thomas, who will surely command attention from opposing #1 Cornerbacks. While Hunter may be the #2 wideout on his own team, he’ll still be heavily involved in rookie Head Coach, Liam Coen’s pass happy offense. He has all the intangibles to be a productive wide receiver at the NFL level.
Many of the NFL’s top wideouts evolved into #1 options very quickly after being drafted, even if they aren’t projected to be the top pass catcher on the depth chart. Some notable examples of this are Amon-Ra St. Brown, Terry McLaurin, and Drake London. Most mock drafts have Hunter going in the 7th or 8th round. If he happens to fall into your lap, you could have a gem on your hand.
Emeka Egbuka WR-Tampa Bay Buccaneers
WR Rank: #35
Overall Rank: #67
Sticking in the state of Florida, we have Buccaneers rookie Wide Receiver Emeka Egbuka. Tampa Bay already had a strong receiving corps before adding the Ohio State Star and National Champion, headlined by future Hall of Famer Mike Evans and star Chris Godwin. While Evans is likely to remain the top dog in the Buccaneers offense, there’s a chance Chris Godwin misses time in action this season as he is still recovering from a dislocated ankle from Week 7 of last season.
With this situation in mind, Egbuka has the chance to be the #2 wideout on the Bucs depth chart and should see a lot of footballs thrown his way. If he performs well enough, he could possibly solidify himself as the #2 Wide Receiver given Godwin’s dubious injury history over the last couple of years. There is also a possibility Godwin is clear to play by the time Week1 rolls around, which would leave Egbuka at #3 on the depth chart. Even if starting out as the third option, Egbuka starting his career against most #3 corners should work favorably for him.
He has the route running to create many opportunities to create separation. Egbuka is projected to be drafted in the 8th to 11th round range. Definitely a small price to pay for what could be one of the NFL’s more exciting rookies.
Braelon Allen RB-New York Jets
RB Rank: #37
Overall Rank: #106
Breece Hall will still be the top back in Gotham, but expect Braelon Allen to take a significant tick up in production this year behind an improved Jets Offensive Line. The Jets will likely have to win games through running the football and Allen should contribute a fair bit. He is also a pretty big back that can be used in goal line situations for some easy touchdown points.
His receiving ability can also get you a few extra points. I can definitely see him being a touchdown vulture this year, a guy who while he might not get massive numbers in the yards department, can easily snag you a victory with a goal line score late in the game. Allen is still only 21 years old and still has a lot of time to improve. He is expected to go anywhere from the 10th to 13th round and could prove to be excellent value late in the draft.
Matthew Golden WR-Green Bay Packers
WR Rank: #41
Overall Rank: #77
This rookie class of wide receivers has potential to hit the ground running and Matthew Golden might be in the best position to succeed out of all of them in Green Bay. Jordan Love has one of the strongest arms in the NFL. Combine that with Golden’s scorching speed could create a lethal combination deep down the field.
Receptions could be hard to come by early with wide receivers Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks and tight end Tucker Craft getting a ton of action. But as the season progresses, Golden can definitely hit his stride and possibly become the new WR1 in Green Bay. Projected to go in the 7th or 8th round, Golden could become a secret weapon for a fantasy team looking for quality depth.
Thank you for taking your time and reading this article. I hope I was able to help you in your conquest for Fantasy Football supremacy with some potential surprise gifts. For more from Northern Lights Gazette click here.
