Fantasy
2/27/25
8 min read
2025 Dynasty Fantasy Football: 5 Players Whose Value Could Rise At Combine
The NFL Combine is underway, and there are already plenty of rumblings coming out of Indianapolis. The on-field testing drills are set to begin on Thursday, and this is our chance to see the top players in the 2025 NFL Draft competing against one another.
But which players could benefit the most from a strong performance in the drills? Here are five players who could see their dynasty value rise the most over the next few days. All ADP is courtesy of Dynasty League Football Rookie ADP:
Dynasty Risers At Combine
Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas 
Current SF ADP: 27.5 (QB5)
We know that Shedeur Sanders won’t be throwing at the NFL Combine, nor will he participate in any of the on-field testing. It wouldn’t be surprising if Cam Ward followed suit, as well as a few other quarterbacks, as most of the top passers usually wait until their Pro Day to throw.
Quinn Ewers is one quarterback set to participate in the NFL Combine who has been lost in the shuffle. Ewers is ranked as the No. 86 overall player in the 2025 NFL Consensus Board, but he is being drafted as QB5 in rookie drafts behind Ward, Sanders, Jaxson Dart, and Jalen Milroe.
Ewers has NFL size and a good arm, but his best trait might be his willingness to play through injuries. We saw him deal with several injuries last season, including an oblique injury. Still, he still went out and played and led Texas deep into the College Football Playoffs.
With a strong showing at the NFL Combine, it wouldn’t be a shock to see him get right back into the QB3 discussions with Dart and Milroe. He is clearly talented, and the expectation is that he will be fully healthy enough to do the drills.
This is a big opportunity for Ewers to show that he belongs, and with a good week, he could climb into Round 2 of our rookie drafts this summer.
Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa
Current SF ADP: 8.8 (RB4)
Johnson is highly regarded by the dynasty community, but his overall ADP is still a bit lower than you would expect. Johnson is the fourth running back coming off the board in Superflex rookie drafts, which is a bit perplexing considering he could be a first-round pick in April’s draft.
Johnson was highly productive at Iowa, rushing for more than 1,500 yards and scoring 23 touchdowns during the 2024 season. He has a violent running style with great size and power. Athleticism isn’t a concern, but he’ll have a chance to quiet any doubts during the NFL Combine.
Could he run in the 4.4s at 225 pounds? That’s certainly on the table, and posting big testing numbers could elevate him over someone like Tre’Veyon Henderson, who was only a part-time player at Ohio State. While Ashton Jeanty is the clear-cut RB1 in this class, the discussion for RB2 is open and a strong combine by Johnson could put him right back into that conversation.
Johnson is a lock to be a first-round pick in our rookie drafts this summer. But a strong week in Indianapolis could solidify his spot within the first six picks. This is a big opportunity for Johnson to show that he deserves to be a top-40 pick in the NFL Draft.
Brashard Smith, RB, SMU 
Current SF ADP: 43.4 (RB19)
This is one of the deepest running back classes in recent memory, and there is value to be had in every round of our rookie drafts. However, one player to keep an eye on during the week is Brashard Smith, who successfully made the transition from wide receiver to running back this year. He was one of the most productive running backs in the country and could be a top-100 selection in April’s draft.
Smith has the size and production to be an every-down back in the NFL, but does he have the athleticism? The whispers are that he could run in the 4.4s at the NFL Combine, which would be fantastic for him and his real-life NFL value. But if he were to run in the mid-4.5s, that would significantly decrease the hype and excitement around him heading into the draft.
Smith should also excel in the change-of-direction drills that highlight his movement skills. So even if he does run an average 40-yard dash, he might be able to make up for it with exceptional 3-one and short shuttle times.
In a class with so much depth at the running back position, Smith has a chance to stand out in a big way at the NFL Combine. Don’t be surprised if he goes from RB19 to a top-12 running back in rookie drafts during the next two months.
Tez Johnson, WR, Oregon
Current SF ADP: 30.8 (WR12)
There aren’t many sub-170-pound wide receivers in the NFL, but we have had an influx of them over the past few years. Xavier Worthy and Tank Dell are two recent success stories that have paved the way for Tez Johnson (5-foot-9, 156 pounds) to make an impact at the next level.
Johnson should put on a show in Indianapolis, and he has a great chance of running in the 4.2s at the NFL Combine. He'll need to gain some weight in the NFL to become a productive receiver but expect that to happen after the combine. Johnson will want to run as fast as possible, and he is capable of posting an absurd time in Indianapolis.
While speed alone won’t get him drafted high, he could have the type of performance that locks him into being a top 100 selection in April. We've seen far worse prospects get drafted inside the top 100 (Anthony Schwartz, Tyquan Thornton, Marquise Goodwin) after running in the 4.2s. And we saw Worthy sneak into the first round after running a 4.22 40-yard dash last year and was the fifth receiver drafted in a loaded class.
While Worthy is the better player and prospect, Johnson has a chance to run at a similar time and get himself noticed in a weaker receiver class. If Johnson tests the way everyone expects, look for him to move up our dynasty rankings and inside the top 10 wide receivers by this time next month.
Mason Taylor, TE, LSU
Current SF ADP: 36.3 (TE5)
Colston Loveland and Elijah Arroyo were originally in this spot, but both have since opted out of testing drills in Indianapolis due to injuries. We’ll see if Tyler Warren actually does anything on the field or if he’ll wait until his Penn State Pro Day, but that leaves plenty of opportunities for someone like Mason Taylor to shine.
Taylor performed well during the Senior Bowl practices, but he didn’t receive as much buzz as Arroyo or Harold Fannin Jr. Taylor has great size (6--foot5, 250 pounds) and should run in the mid-4.6s during the combine. He is a very natural athlete, and his NFL bloodline (father is Jason Taylor) should help him excel during the drills.
Taylor is one of the youngest players in the draft (20.8), and he has a chance to show the world that he is a much better athlete than anyone might think. He also has three years of solid production under his belt and recorded a 400-yard season as an 18-year-old freshman in the SEC. There just isn’t a lot not to like, and with a big combine in Indianapolis, he could easily start to get top-50 buzz from NFL scouts and executives.
Don’t be surprised if Taylor is near the top of all of the testing drills. In fact, he might even have the higher RAS score among all the tight ends leaving the week.
Taylor is that good of an athlete, especially for someone his size. He is currently being drafted in the third round of Superflex drafts, but expect that to change soon and for him to potentially pass up other tight ends in our rankings.
