Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Rookie Fantasy Fliers With Biggest Boom Potential

News flash: Fantasy drafters love them some rookies.

Many times, that leads to NFL newcomers being overvalued on draft day. At the risk of being pessimistic, Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton coming off the board as the 15th running back is a disappointment waiting to happen.

We aren't here to talk about disappointments, ruined seasons and frowny faces, though. Instead, we're all about positivity and rookies who are essentially free in drafts and have the potential to emerge as viable weekly starters...and valuable fantasy assets.

Are these rookies guaranteed to succeed? No, but these youngsters are talented. They have stood out in training camp and the preseason. And their situations could portend real playing time sooner rather than later.

Sometimes, rookie fever ain't so bad.

RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders

AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough

If you're a fantasy football enthusiast who hasn't heard of Jacory "Bill" Croskey-Merritt, you might want to start living in the now.

The seventh-round pick has been a fantasy hype darling for some time, drawing raves from beat writers in training camp and earning praise from head coach Dan Quinn after the Commanders' preseason opener.

"I like the skills that we're seeing from Bill," Quinn told reporters. "I'm encouraged by what I've seen so far, and I know he was amped and ready to go for tonight. But he makes plays, he's got quickness, I love the ball security that he had tonight. Those are important things that you can’t overlook, and he was really ready to compete."

Croskey-Merritt followed up that performance with a long touchdown run against the Cincinnati Bengals. He barely played last year due to an eligibility issue, but in 2023 with New Mexico, he ran for 1,190 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground.

With Brian Robinson Jr. reportedly on his way out of Washington, Croskey-Merritt could now open the season as the lead back for one of the NFL's most potent offenses.

And his fantasy draft stock has taken off like a rocket.

WR Tory Horton, Seattle Seahawks

AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson

It's a time of great change at wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks.

Longtime starters Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf are both gone. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is still there, and veteran Cooper Kupp was brought in to help offset the departures, but the Seahawks need someone to step up and assume No. 3 wide receiver duties.

The presumption was Marquez Valdes-Scantling would assume that role, but rookie fifth-rounder Tory Horton has pushed hard for an early role in the offense.

As Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald told reporters, the fifth-round pick has made plays on a daily basis throughout camp.

"I'm seeing the same thing you guys are," he said. "A wise man, Steve Smith Sr., once said, 'Rookies need to make a play a day to make a name for themselves.' He's doing that. He's making multiple plays every day. So, it is great for the Seahawks, great for him, and great competition in the receiver room."

A knee injury limited Horton to just six games a year ago, but he caught 193 passes for 2,620 yards and 17 touchdowns in 30 games at Colorado State and ranked seventh among FBS receivers last year in yards per route run among receivers who had at least 94 routes.

A speedy, sure-handed player who excels at generating yards after the catch, Horton has a chance to earn a real target share off the jump. And if Kupp got hurt (again), that could open the door for the Colorado State product to really take off.

RB Ollie Gordon II, Miami Dolphins

AP Photo/Ryan Sun

In a theme of this article, Miami Dolphins running back Ollie Gordon has stood out in a big way in his first NFL training camp.

The hard-charging Oklahoma State product has outplayed presumptive No. 2 running back Jaylen Wright at just about every turn, and Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters he’s been impressed by what he's seen from the youngster.

"I thought he did some good things with the ball in his hands," McDaniel said. "I think that the biggest thing for backs—rookie backs in particular—is I recognize a lot of good things with his game. He was a very tough tackle, and he ran super hard and that's what we really liked drafting him."

Two years ago, Gordon was arguably the best running back in college football, leading the nation with 1,732 yards on the ground. His numbers were down in a disastrous 2024 campaign for the Cowboys, but the 6'2", 225-pounder is a powerful between-the-tackles grinder.

The Dolphins already have significant issues at running back. Veteran Alexander Mattison is out for the season after neck surgery and starter De'Von Achane is dealing with a calf injury.

A compelling argument can be made that Gordon has already played his way into the No. 2 role in the backfield in Miami. And given Achane's frustrating inability to stay healthy, the 21-year-old could see a sizable workload as early as Week 1.

WR Isaac TeSlaa, Detroit Lions

AP Photo/Paul Sancya

The Detroit Lions have no shortage of weapons in the passing game.

Amon-Ra St. Brown is one of the best wideouts in the league. Jameson Williams is a dangerous vertical threat. Jahmyr Gibbs is an excellent receiving back. Sam LaPorta is one of the NFL's better young tight ends.

As it turns out, the rich may have gotten richer because the team appears to be on to something with third-round wideout Isaac TeSlaa.

The 23-year-old has been a preseason star for the Lions, catching a pair of touchdown passes.

Lions general manager Brad Holmes paid TeSlaa a huge compliment by comparing him to St. Brown:

"I thought that (St. Brown) was a real ass-kicker in the run game, and I think (TeSlaa) is too. Again, I know that's not everything, there is route running and development and catching and all that. All those things. And we have great coaches, and I think (assistant head coach) Scottie Montgomery is doing a great job with him in his development. So, all those things, he's got the tools to grow, he's smart, but some of those other things, you either have that, or you don't. You either have that dog in you or you don't, and he's got it in him."

TeSlaa didn't post big numbers at Arkansas, and consistent targets in a crowded Detroit passing game could be difficult to come by. But any time a young pass-catcher is making a name for himself in an offense as prolific as the Lions', fantasy managers would be well-served to take notice.

RB Dylan Sampson, Cleveland Browns

AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

Plenty of the rookies featured in this article have made waves in the preseason, but Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson apparently made so many in joint practices with the Philadelphia Eagles last week that he wasn't even out there when the two teams met in the preseason.

The 5'8", 200-pounder was the SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2024 after rushing for 1,491 yards and a school-record 22 touchdowns at Tennessee.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters that the fourth-rounder has acclimated quickly to the NFL:

"He's very conscientious, very intelligent, been very impressed with what he can do in a bunch of different facets of the game. I've been really impressed with how he picks things up very quickly. He doesn't make the same mistake twice. He fits in well. He works really hard, got a great personality. He's going to push himself out here, which I see him doing."

Sampson is a bit undersized, but that didn't stop him from tearing up the SEC, including breaking a 95-year-old record for rushing scores for the Volunteers.

Second-round rookie Quinshon Judkins remains unsigned and may face league discipline after an offseason arrest. Jerome Ford led the Browns in rushing last year, but no one is confusing him with Jim Brown any time soon.

At worst, Sampson could have a sizable role in the Cleveland backfield until Judkins gets into shape. And with the Browns starting the season against a Bengals run defense that has looked abysmal in the preseason, it could mean a hot start.

WR Dont'e Thornton Jr., Las Vegas Raiders

AP Photo/David Becker

The Las Vegas Raiders have a proven starting quarterback in Geno Smith. But outside veteran Jakobi Meyers, their wide receivers are a question—a question that fifth-round rookie Dont'e Thornton Jr. is trying to answer.

While third-rounder Jack Bech has spent most of the summer running with the second team, Thornton has spent considerable time as the Raiders' starting X receiver.

The 6'5", 205-pounder out of Tennessee told reporters that Smith has already expressed confidence in his ability to win at the catch point.

"He tells me every single day, 'If you've got a one-on-one matchup, I'm coming to you,'" Thornton said. "It means a lot to me. Being a rookie and just getting here … just knowing that he believes in me a lot, it gives me a lot of motivation to keep getting better."

In Meyers, the Raiders have a dependable veteran slot receiver. Second-year pro Brock Bowers is arguably the best tight end in the NFL, but Vegas badly needs someone to step up on the boundary—a player who can take the top off a defense.

With a big frame and legit 4.30-second speed, Thornton is just that kind of player. He has evoked comparisons to names such as DK Metcalf and even Calvin Johnson.

Comparing Thornton to Megatron may be pushing it, but the 22-year-old has the physical tools to be a force in the NFL.

And it's looking more and more likely he will get a chance to show those tools off.

RB Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars

AP Photo/Butch Dill

The Jacksonville Jaguars' running back situation is, well, a mess.

Travis Etienne Jr. is coming off a horrendous 2024 season. Tank Bigsby was more effective as a runner last year, but he was a complete non-factor in the passing game and fumbled four times. And then there's Bhayshul Tuten, who was selected in the fourth round of the draft.

After an impressive camp, Tuten has been effective in both of Jacksonville's preseason games. He had eight total touches for 40 yards and a score against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The following week against the New Orleans Saints, it was 11 touches for 41 yards and another score.

Tuten told reporters he’s finding his place with the Jaguars and just doing whatever he can to help the team win.

"I think just taking it one play at a time," he said. "Being an all-around player, being accountable to every part of the game. If it's special teams, doing what I can there. Now, if it's offensively, helping the team out in whatever way to win is my ultimate goal."

To be fair, Tuten had ball security issues of his own in college—rather a lot of them. But he also topped 1,100 yards on the ground last year, scored 15 touchdowns on the ground, averaged over six yards per carry and ran the fastest 40-yard-dash of any running back at the 2025 combine.

He may not start the season as Jacksonville's lead back, but it won't be a huge upset if he ends the season in that role.

TE Mason Taylor, New York Jets

AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis

We started this piece with a rookie who has been a fantasy darling for some time.

Let's end it the same way and with a little love for the tight end position. Lord knows it could use it.

There's no question who the top two rookies are at tight end this year: Tyler Warren of the Indianapolis Colts and Colston Loveland of the Chicago Bears. The third rookie TE isn't coming off draft boards until TE27 on average.

However, there's reason to believe Mason Taylor of the New York Jets will outpoint that non-existent asking price—and not just because he is already drawing rave reviews from his teammates.

"He's a dog," Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson told reporters. "It's consistent work. Consistent work is the best way I can put it. He's got great hands. He trusts his hands, and he finds a way to be open when he needs to be. Then the ball finds him, and he makes the play. You know, for a position like that, he's as good as I've seen in just making the play, finishing the play and being open."

Taylor caught 55 passes and flirted with 550 receiving yards last year at LSU, and while those aren’t eye-popping numbers, the opportunity ahead of him is intriguing.

The 21-year-old is already receiving first-team reps in New York, and the wide receiver depth chart in the Big Apple behind Wilson is…well, let’s just say he could see quite a few targets in 2025.