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 NFC East. 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. Below are the links to the AFC division that were already covered in this series:
Philadelphia Eagles
Quarterback – (0/10)
Jalen Hurts may not be having his best season in the NFL, but he’s been good enough to have the Eagles sitting at 14-3 heading into the playoffs atop their division. There’s no reason for the Eagles to worry about the position in the Draft in any meaningful way.
Running Back – (1/10)
We just witnessed a historic season for Saquon Barkley that may change the way the running back position is viewed in fantasy circles. While Saquon isn’t a young running back anymore, it’s clear he’s still very much in his prime. With Kenneth Gainwell and rookie Will Shipley providing depth for the team, there’s little need to invest a premium draft selection on a running back unless a significant shift in team-building philosophy makes its way into the front office.
Wide Receiver – (3/10)
If we just looked at the starting receivers then the Eagles need would be a 0/10 for sure. Unfortunately for the Eagles though, the level of play drops off drastically after AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith. The Eagles tried to address the position with an intra-divisional trade for former 1st round pick Jahan Dotson, but he hasn’t managed to make any impact for his new team.
A cheap veteran free agent may be more fitting than hoping for another mid-round wide receiver to fill the role, but the draft is a possibility to fill the need at WR3.
Tight End – (3/10)
Dallas Goedert isn’t in urgent need of a replacement, but with Goedert now at 30 years old and entering the final year of his contract, the Eagles may look to bring in his successor before the veteran moves on. That succession plan worked quite well when Zach Ertz left the Eagles and allowed Goedert to jump into the starting role.
Best Fit – Gunnar Helm
(Tight End – Round 2-3)
The Eagles aren’t in need of any skill position starters heading into next season. A 1st round selection to help reinforce the offensive line would be much more beneficial for the team than any backup at a skill position. As the draft goes on, however, the Eagles could look to find a future replacement to learn behind one of their highly paid stars. Both Brown and Smith have term left on their contracts, but veteran tight end Dallas Goedert could be looking for one last payday elsewhere after next season.
Toward the end of the 2nd round, the Eagles could look toward tight end Gunnar Helm to shadow Goedert for a season before taking over in a starting role. At 6’5” and 250lbs, Helm is well built for the next level. He has reliable hands and can use his size to gain position over defenders. With explosive receivers on the outside, Helm’s lack of big-play explosiveness wouldn’t hurt the team. While Helm has work to do in the run-blocking game, his size means that a season in a development role could prepare him to be a well-rounded tight end by the time the team needs him.
Washington Commanders
Quarterback – (0/10)
Jayden Daniels set rookie records for completion percentage and quarterback rushing yards in an electric rookie season. The Commanders have finally found their franchise quarterback after years of searching.
Running Back – (5/10)
Brian Robinson had an up-and-down season this year. Some great early-season performances were overshadowed by a mid-season injury and subsequent slump. With Daniels at quarterback, the Commanders could assemble one of the better rushing teams in the league, but Robinson doesn’t seem like the back that will make that happen.
Austin Ekeler looked like he fit in as a change of pace back for the Commanders, but he’s made it clear that he’s not looking for a workhorse role at this stage of his career. While likely additions on the offensive line could lead to internal improvement at the running back position, adding a rusher in this running back heavy draft wouldn’t be a terrible choice.
Wide Receiver – (8/10)
Terry McLaurin had a breakout season this year, showing off his instant connection with his new rookie quarterback. Unfortunately for the team, there was little depth after McLaurin for Daniels to throw to. Noah Brown was the Commanders' number two receiver before a season-ending injury, and he was cut by the Texans this season. The rest of the receiver room is filled by mid-round selections that haven’t panned out yet and veterans who are on their way out of the league.
The Commanders will need to address the receiver position and likely need multiple players to do so. Getting a top 2nd option on the other side from McLaurin should be a top priority. A big-bodied receiver who can get open on quick in-breaking routes would be a great complement to McLaurin’s big-play ability.
Tight End – (2/10)
Zack Ertz has been the de facto second receiving option for the team most of the year, despite clearly losing a step. Ertz still has a mind for the game and knows how to get open, but his declining athleticism means there’s very little explosiveness when the ball goes his way. Luckily for the Commanders, they added Ben Sinnott in last year’s draft.
While Sinnott hasn’t seen much time on the field, tight end is one of the most difficult positions for players to transfer into the NFL. After a season behind Ertz, Sinnott should be prepared to show what made the Commanders select him in the 2nd round just a year ago.
Best Fit – Tre Harris
(Wide Receiver – Round 2)
I’ve already listed Harris as the top option for a couple of AFC teams, but the Commanders would be the most lucrative landing spot for both him and fantasy managers. Daniels has shown that with his cannon of an arm and elusive running ability defenses can’t account for everything he can do. What’s prevented the Commanders' offense from truly dominating in the passing game is the lack of weapons outside of Terry McLaurin. The other receivers have trouble separating and aren’t reliable targets for the Commanders.
Tre Harris would come in and immediately compete for the WR2 role on this team. He is a big-bodied receiver that thrived on a heavy target diet both on short and deep routes. That makes him both a perfect complement to McLaurin and a great fit for Daniels’ deep ball ability. Harris put up 1st round production before his season ended early due to injury.
Harris played only 8 games, yet finished with 1030 yards on the season, good for 22nd among FBS wide receivers. Of the 21 receivers above him, 20 of them played at least 12 games, with 10 of them playing in 13 or 14 games. Harris’ production in such a limited amount of time cannot be ignored. If he manages to make it to the Commanders selection in the 2nd round, he needs to be the selection.
Dallas Cowboys
Quarterback – (0/10)
Dak Prescott is the quarterback of the future for the Cowboys, for better or worse. Despite his flaws, he’s nowhere near the top of the list of people to blame for the failures of the Cowboys.
Running Back – (7/10)
Rico Dowdle put together a great 2nd half of the season. Despite that, it wouldn’t be in any way surprising to see the Cowboys add an early-round talent at running back in this draft class. Dowdle could stick around as a solid complementary back, but I don’t see many teams viewing him as a workhorse starter.
Wide Receiver – (4/10)
After CeeDee Lamb the Cowboys are need of help at receiver. Brandin Cooks seems to be on the decline, Jalen Tolbert showed signs of improvement, but is far from an above average number two, and KaVontae Turpin is more of a gadget receiver and returner.
Tight End – (3/10)
Jake Ferguson had a much less productive season than a year ago with Prescott spending much of the season on IR. While he didn’t shine the way he did a season ago, his role on the team is likely safe with much bigger holes elsewhere on the roster.
Best Fit – Ashton Jeanty
(Running Back – Round 3-4)
This is exactly the type of player the Cowboys have been waiting to add. After passing up on big free agent running backs and punting the position in the draft a season ago, the Cowboys are primed to add one of the most exciting rushers to come out of college this decade. This selection has already been widely predicted.
It’s the easy choice. An explosive running back that can take the pressure off Prescott and Lamb in the passing game would add a very difficult element to gameplan against. If you’re not familiar with Jeanty thus far, a quick look at the tape and you’ll see why he was in discussion for the Heisman Trophy, and many think he should have won it.
New York Giants
Quarterback – (10/10)
I don’t know if any team in the league is as obvious a candidate to take a 1st round quarterback as the Giants this season. Whichever quarterback the Giants select will have a pretty good group of skill position players to spread the ball around to, but with little time to do so behind a poor offensive line.
Running Back – (3/10)
Watching Saquon Barkley dominate the league on a division rival this season likely wasn’t a great feeling for Giants fans. Luckily for Giants fans, the team managed to grab an explosive playmaker in the 5th round in Tyrone Tracy Jr. Tracy should be set as the starter heading into next season.
Wide Receiver – (3/10)
Malik Nabers was absolutely phenomenal in his rookie season but held back by subpar quarterback play – as expected. Wan’Dale Robinson took a large jump this season beside a true number one receiver. Slayton, although his future on the Giants is up in the air, put together another solid season that seemed even better now that it didn’t come as the top option. Whoever takes over at quarterback will have options to throw to in the passing game.
Tight End – (2/10)
Rookie Theo Johnson had some major ups and downs throughout his first year in the league before it prematurely ended following a Lisfranc injury. If Johnson is able to get back to full health ahead of the 2025 season then the Giants will almost certainly give him another shot at being the top tight end in New York.
Best Fit – Shedeur Sanders
(Quarterback – Round 1)
While I’ve been very outspoken in my opinion that Cam Ward is the top quarterback in this class by a significant margin, Sanders has all of the physical skills to succeed in the NFL. Whether or not he has the leadership skills to lead an NFL team is another question. It’s unlikely that the Giants will have a choice between the top two quarterbacks when they select third (neither quarterback may be available) but Sanders could fit in well on the Giants.
Sanders has performed well with a dominant number one target throughout college, and he’ll have one in Malik Nabers if he does end up a Giant. Sanders is also used to playing behind an offensive line that leaves him little time to throw. Hopefully, at the next level he’ll learn that blaming the guys that block the 300lbs defensive linemen to the media isn’t a good strategy.