Fantasy
3/1/25
7 min read
2025 Dynasty Fantasy Football: Buy Or Sell Combine Hype On Biggest Breakouts
Saturday was the big day at the NFL Combine as the quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers worked out in Indianapolis. While several top-end receivers and tight ends didn’t end up performing, there were plenty of standouts from the workouts. This is one of the best running back classes in recent memory, and that was shown during the 40-yard dash.
But which players stood out the most at the combine? And should we be buying or selling the breakout players in our dynasty leagues? Let’s take a look at the five biggest stars from this weekend and discuss their dynasty stock:
Buy Or Sell Combine Hype On Biggest Breakouts
Matthew Golden, WR, Texas 
The 2025 wide receiver class is not viewed as a very top-heavy group, and there has been heavy debate about who the top player is in this group. However, one player who has gained a lot of momentum over the last few months is Matthew Golden.
The expectation was that Golden’s teammate, Isaiah Bond, would run in the 4.2s. Instead, it was Golden who ran the official 4.29 40-yard dash. Xavier Worthy, another Texas wide receiver, ran a 4.21 40-yard dash last year but did so at 165 pounds. Golden weighed in 26 pounds heavier and still ran in the 4.2s (191 pounds).
Golden was widely viewed as the No. 5 or No. 6 receiver in this class going into the NFL Combine, but that will surely change moving forward. His elite speed, plus his big-time performance in the College Football Playoffs, will make him a sure-fire lock for the first round, assuming he wasn’t already there.
Now, the only question is, how many receivers can he pass? We’ve seen several mock drafts over the past few weeks where he was selected ahead of Luther Burden III and Emeka Egbuka, and that surely won’t stop now.
With that type of elite speed, it’s fair to wonder if Golden could be the first receiver off the board in April. And if that’s the case, he should be considered inside the top seven or eight picks in our Superflex rookie drafts. The hype is real.
Verdict: BUY
Tyler Shough, QB, Louisville
If there is one quarterback that has had positive momentum coming out of the NFL Combine, it’s Tyler Shough. He ran a 4.64 40-yard dash and did well during the passing drills, which was encouraging to see. He’s gained a lot of steam from the national media in the last month, and it sure seems like he’ll be a Day 2 pick in the NFL Draft.
Shough is being drafted as QB10 in Superflex drafts, but that will surely change over the next two months. Don’t be surprised if he ends up as QB3 or QB4, just behind Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders. However, it would be a mistake to buy him at any price for a variety of reasons.
Shough will be 26 during his rookie season and certainly isn’t guaranteed to start. That dramatically limits his dynasty ceiling, and the fact that he had just 733 rushing yards in seven collegiate seasons means that his legs likely won’t be a big factor in the NFL. There is no doubt that he’s athletic, but he wins from the pocket and very rarely scrambles (just 42 carries in 12 games during the 2024 season).
There is a chance that Shough could turn out to be an NFL starter, but the odds of him doing so at his age are very low. The lack of first-round draft capital will also mean that he won’t have a long leash as a starter, and you can see why he is easy to pass up in rookie drafts. Expect his ADP to rise dramatically, but don’t get fooled.
Verdict: SELL
Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State
Quinshon Judkins was often viewed as the “other” running back at Ohio State, and that’s understandable with how explosive TreVeyon Henderson was during his career. But Judkins produced for three straight years including his final year at Ohio State. He’s a no-nonsense runner that brings intensity and physicality to the offense.
There were some moderate concerns about the long speed for Judkins coming out of college, but those were squashed on Saturday when Judkins ran a 4.48 40-yard dash. The expectation was that he was more of a 4.55 type of player, so getting into the 4.4s is great news for Judkins and his draft stock. But that wasn’t the only impressive number for Judkins.
Judkins posted a 1.51 10-yard split, which is in the 87th percentile for all running backs since 1999. That was the second-fastest time among all the running backs this year, with Tuten (1.49) edging him out. Judkins also posted an 11’0 broad jump and a 38.5” vertical, which are incredible numbers for a player of his size.
With Judkins now acing the measurables with flying colors, there just aren’t a lot of questions remaining in his game. He should be a sure-fire second-round pick in April and will be a first-round pick in our rookie drafts. Buy him now before the price gets any higher.
Verdict: BUY
Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Virginia Tech 
It wasn’t a surprise that Bhayshul Tuten tested off the charts at the NFL Combine. He was the favorite to run the fastest 40-yard dash among all the running backs, and he accomplished that. His official time came in at 4.32, which was 0.06 seconds faster than any other running back in this class.
But here is the thing: we knew Tuten was fast. His game is based on athleticism, and if you turn on the tape, that’s what you see. The numbers are obviously fantastic but don’t count them twice. Unfortunately for Tuten, this is a really strong running back class with at least a dozen future starters.
Tuten is not a polished running back, and his inconsistencies will drive coaches crazy. In the last two seasons, he had eight fumbles, and drops were a big problem in the passing game. He has a tendency to try to bounce every run outside to show off his speed, and that just won’t work consistently in the NFL.
Tuten certainly raised his draft stock on Saturday, but there are still double-digit running backs that will be drafted ahead of him. It’s okay to get excited about the testing numbers, but this feels very much like Isaac Guerendo once again.
Verdict: SELL
Dont’e Thornton, WR, Tennessee
Thornton wasn’t really on the dynasty radar coming into the NFL Combine, as he was ranked No. 329 on the NFL’s consensus board. Frankly, it was a bit of a surprise that he even was invited to the NFL Combine, but he showed why that was the correct call on Saturday.
Measuring in at 6045, 206 pounds, Thornton ran a 4.30 40-yard dash. He is the only wide receiver in NFL Combine history to run a 4.35 40-yard dash or faster at 6’4 or taller. Not even Calvin Johnson (4.40 40-yard dash) was able to accomplish that feat.
Thornton was one of our top five sleepers coming into the NFL Combine, and you can see why. He’s a rare athlete at his size and is one of the top receivers in this class at making plays after the catch. He’s far from a polished receiver, but he should be on our dynasty radars.
Given his upside, be ready to take him in the fourth and maybe even third round of your dynasty drafts this summer, pending where he lands in the NFL Draft.
Verdict: BUY
