In this series, I examine which fantasy-relevant 2025 rookies will be good fits on each NFL team. This week, I’m looking at the teams in the AFC West. In this series, I’ll be highlighting how much of a need each offensive skill position is for each team. I’ll provide a rating out of 10 for how much of a need each position is. Then, I will identify the best (and most realistic) fits among 2025 prospects.
Kansas City Chiefs
Quarterback - (0/10)
Mahomes.
Running Back - (3/10)
Isiah Pacheco is solidified as the starter for this team. He’s been a very consistent contributor to the offense, and when he went down with an injury this season, there was a bit of a scramble to replace him. While Kareem Hunt had some good performances filling in, it’s clear this offense has taken a dip without Pacheco available.
This is a deep running back class, and the Chiefs could be tempted to find a backup for Pacheco to keep him fresh. This would also be an opportunity to prepare for the possibility that Pacheco’s value on the open market is more than the Chiefs can afford following next season.
Wide Receiver - (3/10)
Travis Kelce continues to show his age, and while no one should be surprised if he returns to form come the playoffs, the Chiefs are going to need pass catchers who can perform throughout the regular season.
Xavier Worthy seems to be gaining comfort in the NFL recently, and Rashee Rice showed before his injury that he could be the team’s top option. After that, there’s few options on the depth chart for next season that the Chiefs should be confident about.
While after Rice and Worthy, there are very significant question marks at receiver, I don’t expect the draft to be where those are addressed, outside of a potential late-round flier. Hollywood Brown and DeAndre Hopkins are two vets in the building who could be brought back next season on short-term deals, or the Chiefs could look elsewhere for some veteran depth.
Tight End - (2/10)
Yes, Kelce is getting older, but the Chiefs have been active in building a tight end room behind Kelce that can benefit from learning the game from one of the all-time greats at the position. Once Kelce decides to hang up the cleats, I expect the Chiefs to give Noah Gray and Jared Wiley a chance before looking at outside solutions.
Best Fit – Treveyon Henderson
(Running Back – Round 2)
I wouldn’t call this the most likely draft selection, but I think it’s one that could be a great move for the Chiefs. Pacheco is a tough runner who consistently picks up yards. He’s not the most explosive back, but he hasn’t needed to be in this offense. Henderson could bring a good change of pace as an explosive rusher who can break off huge chunk gains. Henderson is also a good pass catcher who could help fill some of what Jerick McKinnon left behind in third-down situations. This would also protect the Chiefs from a serious injury at a position that they’re thin at but rely heavily on.
I’m higher than most on Henderson, ranking him as the 2nd best running back in the class. I think he’s worthy of late 1st round consideration, so being mocked in the late 2nd round is a great value to me. This would, however, be a terrible situation for both Henderson and Pacheco’s fantasy value.
Los Angeles Chargers
Quarterback - (0/10)
Find yourself someone who talks about you the way Jim Harbaugh talks about Justin Herbert. I imagine replacing Herbert would be more unthinkable to Harbaugh than replacing one of his own children.
Running Back - (5/10)
This could be one of the premier landing spots for a running back in this class. JK Dobbins has been a great story with the Chargers in his return from multiple serious lower-body injuries. Given his injury history and another injury this season that’s landed him on the IR down the stretch, should the Chargers be comfortable with him being the guy that they give 15-20 carries a game to? Gus Edwards has filled in well in Dobbins’ absence, but no one is confusing him for a long-term solution. Kimani Vidal was always a long shot that got more hype than he should have because of the murkiness of the Chargers’ depth chart.
The Chargers have been more comfortable airing the ball out recently, but this is still a team that wants to run the ball, and when healthy can do so extremely well. Behind what’s becoming a very strong offensive line, a rookie selected in the first two days of the draft by the Chargers could be a very valuable fantasy asset.
Wide Receiver - (4/10)
Ladd McConkey is having an exceptional rookie season. He’s surpassed all expectations and looks like he could develop into a very good first option for Herbert and the Chargers. Behind him, things get a little less clear. Joshua Palmer has only had over three catches in a game twice this season. Quentin Johnson has worked his way back from a historically bad rookie season by catching a team-leading eight touchdown passes, but the drops that plagued his rookie season have continued.
Outside of those touchdowns, Johnson hasn’t shown much ability to get open. While McConkey has given Chargers flexibility by ensuring the receiver room isn’t a serious weakness, the team could use a significant addition beside him to bring the passing offense to the next level.
Tight End - (3/10)
Hayden Hurst and Will Dissly combine to make an entirely passable tight end room. The Chargers don’t need to address the position in the draft, but with their need for another impact pass catcher and no standout tight end on the roster, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Chargers made a splash with one of the top tight ends in this draft.
Best Fit – Omarion Hampton
(Running Back – Round 2)
The Chargers want to be a heavy-running team. Yes, Justin Herbert can air the ball out and they’re not going to entirely ignore his talents, but no one loves running the football more than Greg Roman and Jim Harbaugh.
It seems like the coaching staff likes Dobbins and will look to keep him around after this season. Giving him 15-20 carries every week likely isn’t sustainable, though. Edwards has already shown enough of a decline and will be 30 years old when next season begins.
Omarion Hampton fills in perfectly as a complement to Dobbins. While Dobbins is super explosive and can pull off huge chunk gains, he’s not consistently gaining yards between the tackles. Hampton is the type of aggressive runner that can consistently shorten the distance on 1st and 2nd down. He’s shown he can take the punishment of a large workload over the past two seasons.
Together, Hampton and Dobbins can try to replicate the success that the Lions have had with their complementary running backs. In the middle of the 2nd round, I think Hampton would be a good value and help push this offense toward the type of style that Harbaugh and Roman envisioned when taking over the team.
Denver Broncos
Quarterback - (0/10)
Bo Nix is having an excellent rookie campaign and is cemented as the quarterback of the future in Denver.
Running Back - (5/10)
The Broncos have one of the largest committee backfields I’ve ever seen. On any given week, you can expect an even split between at least three of their running backs. That’s not because they have three exceptional rushers that all deserve touches, it’s because they don’t have a single rusher that’s separated themselves as deserving of a large role.
Javonte Williams was the most obvious candidate to be the main back and was given that chance to start the season, but Williams has only managed 3.62 yards per carry on the season. Jaleel McLaughlin has seen the next most usage in the backfield, and while he’s been more efficient than Williams, his numbers don’t jump off the page. He’s also very undersized for a running back, which means he’s unlikely to ever be given a large workload as a rusher.
Audric Estime and Blake Watson are rookie running backs that haven’t been given much-extended run for the Broncos despite the struggles and limitations of the players ahead of them on the depth chart. If they haven’t been able to separate themselves with the poor play ahead of them, I’m not confident they’ll ever make a serious impact in the NFL.
Sean Payton is known for involving his running backs heavily in the passing game, so any rusher that gets drafted to this team with any pass-catching ability could be in line for a significant fantasy output.
Wide Receiver - (8/10)
Courtland Sutton has been great for the Broncos this season as their top, and really only, receiving option. Sutton certainly has some good years ahead of him, but heading into 2025 with a soon-to-be 30-year-old receiver as your only threat in the passing game is not a good long-term strategy.
Marvin Mims and Troy Franklin still have a chance to make an impact in this offense, but neither has made enough impact to be relied on as the WR2 for the team heading into next season.
Tight End - (8/10)
The Broncos have not received tight end options on the roster that inspire even a small amount of confidence. Adam Trautman has shown absolutely no consistency in an offense that is starved for reliable pass-catchers. Of the 61 tight ends that have seen at least 15 targets this season, Trautman has the 50th-ranked receiving grade by PFF. The other option in the Bronco’s tight end room is Lucas Krull, who ranks 54th on that list.
Best Fit – Colston Loveland
(Tight End – Round 1)
The Broncos need pass catchers. They do have a few young wide receivers behind Sutton with potential and could get away with adding some depth alongside those young players at wide receiver. They can’t say the same for the tight end position. It’s a position that needs to be addressed, and Loveland is probably the best option in this class.
Loveland is a super athletic receiving tight end that can be used in a variety of passing situations. He’s not a catch-and-drop type of tight end. He can create after the catch and can run routes down the field as well. Loveland would project as the Broncos number two receiving option of the future.
Las Vegas Raiders
Quarterback - (10/10)
There’s a reason this team is on pace to finish with the top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. There’s lots of holes on this team, but quarterback simply needs to be addressed. Maybe Tom Brady can help solve the problem.
Running Back - (8/10)
Did you fall for the Zamir White hype? A late pick running back that had a good run to end the previous season when injuries occurred ahead of him and then he was expected to take over the job the next season because there was no one else to take the job? How did that not work out? I mean, did you see his biceps?
The Raiders have no NFL-caliber starting running back on their roster. They have Zamir White and last year’s Zamir White (Alexander Mattison) as their top two backs. If the Raiders don’t address the running back position this offseason, may I present Sincere McCormick (aka next year’s Zamir White)?
There are so many holes on this roster that they may not get to running back this offseason, but that says more about the rest of their roster than it does the adequacy of their running back room.
Wide Receiver - (8/10)
By this point in writing the Raiders section, I’m feeling a very strong empathy for Raiders fans. Jakobi Meyers is the top receiver on the Raiders. He’s a solid WR2 that’s being given a bigger role than he should out of necessity. Tre Tucker has had some flashes, but there’s been no consistency in his production.
It’s hard to evaluate receivers when the quarterback play is as bad as it is, but Tucker certainly hasn’t separated himself as someone worth building around. Next on the depth chart is... Terrace Marshall. Yeah, let’s move on.
Tight End - (0/10)
Finally, something positive to talk about. Brock Bowers has been everything he was advertised to be and more. He’s on pace to have the best rookie tight end season of all time and is easily the best playmaker on the roster. If it weren’t for Bowers, this team would... well, let’s just say the Raiders are lucky to have Bowers. Whoever is under center next season will have at least one reliable target to throw to.
Best Fit – Cam Ward
(Quarterback – Round 1)
Ward is my highest-graded quarterback in this class and has been for most of this season. He has great size, a big arm, can make any throw asked of him, can move effectively in the pocket, and has the confidence to be an NFL quarterback.
The biggest thing working against Ward is that he wasn’t part of a big college program until his final season. If his final college season is any indication, though, I think Ward will be a very successful NFL quarterback and start the process of moving the Raiders out of the basement of the AFC West.