FantasyPros Fantasy Football Podcast: 2025 Rookie Class Sophomore Rundown

Episode: "Is Tetairoa McMillan a Top 10 Wide Receiver? | 2025 Rookie Class Rundown: Which Players Will Be Sophomore Studs? (Ep. 1963)"
Host: Joey P. (Joe Pisapia)
Guests: Jake Seeley (The Athletic), Laquan Jones (NFL Network)
Date: February 18, 2026

Overview

In this episode, Joey P. is joined by Jake Seeley and Laquan Jones to break down the 2025 rookie class and forecast which players are poised to become sophomore studs in 2026. They take an entertaining, energetic approach to analyzing the RB, WR, QB, and TE sophomore crops, debating value, roles, and breakout potential for dynasty and redraft fantasy formats.

Running Back Sophomore Forecasts

Ashton Jeanty (Las Vegas Raiders)

Discussion:

• Joey frames Jeanty’s outlook around the promises and pitfalls of a talent stuck behind a poor offensive line in 2025.
• New head coach Clint Kubiak inspires hope because of his recent success with RBs Kamara and Walker.
• Volume is not the concern; blocking and supporting cast are.

Laquan (06:07):

“Genty with the beefed up o-line and Clint Kubiak on the sticks…we’re gonna see this offense move forward. Genty hit that full RB1 potential... Last season we saw him get sprinkled with them targets –– he had 860 yards after contact. That's among the elites up there.”

Jake (07:47):

“Volume was already there. The only person with a higher running back touch percentage was Jonathan Taylor…this might be peak RB7 unless things fall right.”

Notable Insight: Both see top-10 RB potential if the OL improves, but consider RB7 Jeanty's likely ceiling unless the team makes significant upgrades.

RJ Harvey (Denver Broncos)

Discussion:

• Emerged late (RB8 over the last 6 weeks), but early-season woes cost managers.
• Risk of a timeshare persists in Sean Payton offenses.

Jake (09:41):

“He had a really high success rate carries inside the five... I think why he's [consensus RB16] is because what if they sign somebody big and turn it into a timeshare? That's Payton's way.”

Laquan (11:24):

“16 is where it's at, because, watch out –– I'm calling it now –– Tyler Allgeier is on the way.... Harvey is the most talented back in that backfield.”

TreVeyon Henderson (New England Patriots)

Discussion:

• Flashes of breakaway talent, but role limited behind Rhamondre Stevenson, who is entrenched as starter.

Laquan (13:43):

“Stevenson's bishop in this. Like there is no way…that snap percentage [for Henderson] get above 45%. We're gonna keep playing this game because the talents there, we all want it, but the coaching staff has told us no.”

Jake (15:09):

“All the numbers are higher for Stevenson... Even if that sees an uptick for Henderson, he's just trying to battle even with Stevenson at this point.”

Omariyan Hampton (LA Chargers)

Discussion:

• Seen as the breakout candidate of the group with a McDaniel offense and improved OL.
• Top-10 RB is likely range; top-five requires efficiency spike and more scoring opportunities.

Jake (16:49):

“He'll get the work... don’t put Hampton inside the top five [yet] – McDaniel and Harbaugh's teams are always at the bottom of the league in plays per game. Top 10 is where I have him.”

Laquan (18:39):

“I’d probably go Hampton, because…he's another one of those freak athletes.... He can handle the workload as if he's Derrick Henry…[all-in] sophomore year.”

Quinshon Judkins (Cleveland Browns)

Discussion:

• Hot and cold rookie year with external factors (OL injuries, musical QBs).
• Current ECR RB23 seems fair, given situational uncertainty.

Laquan (20:53):

“23rd, right? That's the line where you start getting into some high-end backup RBs... A lot of his [late-season] downfall was the constant musical chairs at QB.”

Jake (22:30):

“I actually have him a bit higher... Cleveland’s OL just as bad as the Raiders. If they shift to more zone runs, I like his upside.”

Wide Receiver Sophomore Outlooks

Tetairoa McMillan (Carolina Panthers)

• Impressive rookie (1,000+ yards), ECR WR14, but top-10 status held back by QB situation.

Jake (26:54):

“Top five is a big fat zero... Top 10? Slim chance. [He] needs a leap in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. All comes down to Bryce Young being better.”

Laquan (29:25):

“Everything and every point Jake made, it’s Bryce Young... There’s another emerging factor, Jalen Coker. Top 15 we can make the case, top 10 he’d have to be in the TD department more often than not.”

Emeka Egbuka (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

• Electric opening to rookie year as injuries hit veteran WRs, then faded. ECR WR29 as a possible value if Mike Evans departs.

Laquan (31:13):

“29 feels like a value... we may take a little jump on him, remember what he was able to put off... If Mike Evans moves on, this just opens more opportunity.”

Jake (33:01):

“That’s too low if Evans is gone. But if Evans comes back... it’s tough to get there (fantasy WR2 value) with three mouths to feed.”

Luther Burden (Chicago Bears)

• ECR WR23, but crowded offense.

Jake (35:38):

“Wait one more year because they can't get away from DJ Moore unless someone trades for him. Too many options for Caleb Williams –– Burden can be the third guy, but tough for fantasy.”

Laquan (36:55):

“It's more of what we saw last season because... too many mouths to feed and Caleb needs to complete the ball... not ready to jump on this hype train yet.”

Trey Harris (LA Chargers)

• Little rookie impact, flashed late. Upside as a speculative, late/bench pick.

Laquan (38:43):

“Yes. I love Trey Harris. The future is bright... If Trey Harris is sitting there for free for me in drafts, you know I’m grabbing him up.”

Jake (40:19):

“Absolutely, buy in for free now. But if QJ and Gadsen are factors, too, it's a muddled volume situation, like the Bears... Great for DFS, best ball, but we need to see the pecking order.”

Sophomore Quarterbacks

Tyler Shough (New Orleans Saints)

• Steady, gradually improving rookie season, currently QB19.

Jake (43:11):

“He also runs…could probably give you 400-500 on the ground and a couple TDs if let free. Mid-QB2 –– yes. No ceiling for more but definite value.”

Laquan (44:51):

“Feels right to me... Shuck was out there shucking it for fantasy!”

Jackson Dart (NY Giants)

• Huge fantasy ceiling due to rushing, but durability a concern. ECR QB7.

Laquan (47:22):

“20 fantasy points per game... that's top five potential. He gives us a full season, we may be talking about him in the top five. But... 50% of games, he was in the medical tent!”

Jake (48:36):

“I have him right at QB7 – biggest risk: injury and concussions. 43% of fantasy production came from rushing. The risk is you don't have your QB half the season (like Anthony Richardson), but upside is top five.”

Cam Ward (Tennessee Titans) vs. Shedeur Sanders (Atlanta Falcons)

• Ward finished strong, new play-caller Brian Daboll is a positive.

Jake (51:10):

“Who has the bigger impact? It’s Cam Ward, and then it’s Cam Ward... Dabol wanted to trade the farm for him. Could be top 15 if things break right.”

Laquan (53:22):

“Brian Daboll is key... This is another first-round QB he gets to work with. The future is bright. All in on Cam Ward in superflex or even as a deep 1-QB sleeper.”

Tight End Sophomore Crop

Colston Loveland (Chicago Bears)

• Rises to TE3 in ECR after a breakout stretch.

Jake (58:16):

“I have him at four [assuming Kraft healthy], but the big take here is: tier one McBride/Bowers, then pick your poison. Target share at year’s end was ridiculous for Loveland.”

Harold Fannin Jr. (Denver Broncos)

• ECR TE5 with breakout upside.

Laquan (56:54):

“I’ve been rocking him for some time…he will be a top five fantasy TE and I’d dye my hair blonde if so.”

Tyler Warren (Indianapolis Colts)

• TE6; quarterback uncertainty is a drag on projections.

Laquan (56:54):

“Warren…question marks in Indy. I like Riley Leonard, but Daniel Jones coming back from Achilles at 29, that doesn’t sound great.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• (02:11) Jake Seeley on his high school basketball “career”:
  “My career point total, career point total is 13, by the way. Just so you know, three three pointers, a field goal and two free throws...”

• (18:39) Laquan on Omariyan Hampton's physique:
  “Have you seen the photo of him shaking Jim Harbaugh's hand... I copped this guy to Brock Lesnar. The dude is a freak athlete, bro.”

• (44:51) Laquan on Tyler Shough:
  “Shuck was out there shucking it for fantasy. Like we seen my boy run a 34 yard touchdown out of the pocket, making magic under pressure.”

• (46:48) Joey on the Giants:
  "The Giants are kind of fun. You know, not a statement that I've said in my lifetime, very much. Even when the Giants were good, most of the time they were pretty dull."

• (53:06) Joe (playful):
  “I mean I have a pretty damn good competitive tournament flag football resume…”

Key Timestamps

• Jeanty, RB Outlook: 05:34–09:10
• RJ Harvey Analysis: 09:10–12:51
• Henderson/Pats Backfield: 12:51–16:08
• Amari Hampton Breakout Chat: 16:08–19:59
• Judkins’ Uncertainty: 19:59–22:30
• Tetairoa McMillan Top 10 WR?: 26:08–30:33
• Egbuka’s Value: 30:33–34:47
• Bears WR Room (Burden): 35:16–38:13
• Trey Harris Sleeper Case: 38:13–41:59
• Shough & Dart Debate: 41:59–50:39
• Cam Ward/Sanders Comparison: 50:39–55:57
• TE Sophomore Talk: 55:57–60:43

Summary Takeaways

• Most Bullish Sophomore RB: Hampton, potential for top-5 ceiling but more realistically top-10.
• Love/Hate Breakout WR: McMillan (needs QB boost), Egbuka is a buying opportunity if Evans leaves.
• Buried Value Picks: Trey Harris (if role grows), Cam Ward (if Daboll’s offense clicks), Harold Fannin Jr. (at tight end).
• Quarterback Caution: Dart is a high-upside, high-risk dual threat; Tyler Shough a stable mid-QB2.
• Tight End Depth: Exceptional young class with Loveland, Fannin, and Warren – each has a path to weekly relevance but also some risk based on circumstances.

Original Language & Tone Preserved. For more, subscribe to the FantasyPros Dynasty channel on YouTube and join the conversation on sophomore standouts for 2026!