Week 2 of the 2025 NFL preseason showcased a fresh wave of rookies proving their fantasy upside via elite PFF grades. Andrew Mukuba dominated the safety grade leaderboard with a 95.7 overall mark after a 75-yard pick-six and a fumble recovery, plus a 94.2 coverage grade. Jackson Meeks flashed out wide for Detroit, snagging seven targets for 93 yards and a touchdown while operating as a zone-coverage mismatch. A handful of other first-year standouts joined them in the top 10, including Josh Priebe, Makari Paige, and Efton Chism III, who posted strong multielement performances in pass protection, run-blocking, and target efficiency. The list spans positions from guard to linebacker to receiver, all logging at least 25 snaps to qualify, underscoring how quickly rookies are earning roles and how PFF grades can translate into real fantasy value.

These Week 2 performances helped to sharpen a clearer picture of true rookie potential for 2025 fantasy drafts. Mukuba’s ball skills and instant impact in Cleveland pale beside Meeks’s consistent target volume and big-play ability for Detroit. The others—Priebe, Paige, Chism III, Clark, Wease, Harris, Campbell and Mascarenas-Arnold—demonstrated a mix of immediate contributions and development curves that fantasy managers should monitor. With the Commanders-Bengals game still on the slate for grading release, the rookie landscape remains dynamic, and these graded showings give a concrete basis for rostering or fading in early fantasy lineups.

Cleveland’s preseason opener highlighted a potential influx of disruptive pieces on defense. Rookie Carson Schwesinger flashed in limited action, posting 4 tackles and 2 assists over 13 snaps, with 3 run stops on five run-defense plays and a game-high run-defense grade per PFF. The Browns’ defensive line depth shone: Julian Okwara logged 2 sacks and 2 TFL, Alex Wright contributed a sack, and Adin Huntington added a sack and a TFL while racking up multiple special-teams stops. Mason Graham also saw 13 snaps with steady, if quiet, deployment. Carolina’s squad showed resilience, with Nathaniel Watson and Winston Reid racking tackles for the Panthers, and Chigozie Anusiem and Easton Mascarenas-Arnold among the defenders who hit solidly. The Browns allowed 1 TD, held Carolina to 25% on third down, logged 4 sacks and 251 yards allowed, underscoring a promising, depth-laden performance that could tilt roster decisions in the coming weeks. Fantasy takeaway centers on Schwesinger’s burst and the Browns’ edge rotation—Okwara and Wright in particular—plus the potential headline-grabbers at corner and depth linebackers vying for roles as the season nears.