1st Round Landing Spot Analysis 🧐

The 2025 Upper Hand Fantasy Rookie Draft Kit has been updated!

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• Seahawks HC Mike MacDonald says that QB Sam Darnold will take ‘90% of the snaps’

  • Of course, 90+% of snaps wouldn’t be a cause for concern for anyone hoping to draft Sam Darnold this season – but it is interesting to hear that Jalen Milroe could have some run in a gadget capacity for the Seahawks in 2025. The Taysom Hill game (yes, that game – 44 fantasy points) brings back fond memories and nightmares at the same time for fantasy managers, and if utilized as a short yardage/goal line ball carrier, Milroe could have some value as a moonshot flex in deeper leagues. He could also have the potential to take over sooner rather than later should Sam Darnold underperform, and on an offense featuring weapons like JSN, Cooper Kupp, Elijah Arroyo, and the three-headed monster of Walker, Charbonnet, and Martinez in the backfield, Milroe could have some nice upside as a handcuff to Darnold – whether that be from injury or from a coaches decision to bench him.

• The Athletic’s Dianna Russini says that the Cowboys were among the teams to inquire about Steelers WR George Pickens during the draft

  • It’s no secret that the Cowboys are looking to get Ceedee Lamb a running mate after neglecting to draft a wide receiver in this past weekend’s draft, and it sounds like Jerry isn’t ruling out swinging a potential deal to go and get one. The possible pairing of Lamb and Pickens would be intriguing, to say the least, as both players have opposite, but complementary, skill sets. That being said, the Cowboys remain strapped for cash and have Micah Parsons on deck for a mega deal, and Pickens would almost certainly be looking for an extension should he wind up being traded from Pittsburgh. Among other options available to the Cowboys include the former himself, Amari Cooper, who the Cowboys reportedly have growing interest in bringing back given their lack of depth at the position. Jalen Tolbert, Jonathan Mingo, and Ryan Flournoy hardly provide reassurance behind Lamb and TE Jake Ferguson, so keep an eye on Dallas in the coming weeks as a potential suitor for a veteran pass catcher.

Emeka Egbuka to TB

• His short-term prospects are dashed by the presence of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin for 2025, but his long-term outlook is extremely encouraging as he joins last year’s 4th-highest scoring offense that’s returning all of its key starters for 2025. Egbuka has a bulletproof profile as a productive slot receiver, got the first round draft capital, and should be treated as a premium dynasty asset moving forward given his combination of efficiency and landing spot.

Omarion Hampton to LAC

• Najee Harris will be a thorn in the side of Hampton during his rookie season, but Harris is only under contract with the Chargers for the 2025 season. Landing in Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman’s run-first scheme is a nice fit for Hampton, and the added first-round draft capital gives his profile a nice boost. That being said, he’s still a distant RB2 to Jeanty in this class – and while his long-term ceiling does have multiple RB1 finishes in his range of outcomes, his ceiling in 2025 is likely in the RB2 range more than the top-12.

Colston Loveland to CHI

• Loveland saw his draft stock surge strongly in the 12th hour before the draft and ultimately leapfrogged Tyler Warren as the first tight end off the board, landing in Chicago with former Lions OC and new Bears HC Ben Johnson. It seems like Johnson wants Loveland to be for him with the Bears what Sam LaPorta was for him with the Lions, but the outlook is still a bit murky with Cole Kmet still in the building and plenty of target competition in Rome Odunze and D.J. Moore. On an offense that’s destined to improve, though, and with a full rookie contract to ascend to the top spot on the depth chart, Loveland looks, sounds, and smells like a future fantasy TE1 with the potential to hit that mark as early as 2025.

Tyler Warren to IND

• There’s no reason not to believe in Warren’s ability to finish as a fantasy TE1 in the next few years with the Colts, but it’ll take Indianapolis solving its QB problem for that to happen – especially with Josh Downs, Michael Pittman Jr. and company presenting significant target competition. Continue to bet on the talent despite the immediate uncertainty, but Warren looks more like a long term investment at TE than a plug-and-play starter for 2025. Nab him at his newly-discounted price at the back of the first round of rookie drafts.