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Eric Karabell
The 2024 NFL season was fairly eventful, filled with surprises, each constructive and unfavorable. Fantasy football managers should now resolve what to consider and what to not consider shifting ahead. Maybe we may also help. If any of those ideas come true for the 2025 season, effectively, do not be shocked!
NOTE: All references to fantasy factors are for PPR scoring.
Do not be shocked if any of these items occur in 2025 …
Caleb Williams turns into the primary Bears QB to go for 4,000 yards
It is onerous to consider that Erik Kramer boasts the franchise mark with 3,838 passing yards in 1995. The proficient Williams will break it this season. The dysfunctional Bears gave their younger QB playmakers final season, however a shaky offensive line and mind-boggling playcalling/teaching largely torpedoed his rookie marketing campaign. Williams stays a future star and is a borderline QB1 for fantasy.
Drake Maye outscores Caleb Williams
Then once more, if we like Williams, then we actually like Maye. It is all in regards to the working potential right here. Maye didn’t get a lot assist throughout his rookie marketing campaign, however he nonetheless averaged higher than 32 dashing yards per his 13 video games. That quantity ought to rise, and the addition of WR Stefon Diggs saves the passing sport. A brand new teaching workers and upgraded offensive line determine to make issues simpler in Yr 2.
Kyler Murray returns to top-5 QB standing
Murray rushed for 819 yards and 11 TDs in 2020 (his second NFL season), however he hasn’t approached these numbers since. His 4.6 dashing makes an attempt per sport final season had been a profession low. Murray claims his 2023 season-ending knee harm hampered him in 2024, and that is plausible. Murray will run extra this season. The passing numbers are already there, so let’s be optimistic that he actually runs like he used to.
Justin Fields leads the Jets in dashing
This may increasingly appear a bit wild, however just one present Jet has eclipsed 1,000 dashing yards … and it is Fields! He rushed for 1,143 yards in 2022. RB Breece Hall hasn’t achieved it in his three NFL seasons, and he could discover it tougher with a working QB (although he’ll catch many passes). Fields was the No. 6 fantasy QB scorer in his magical season, although his Bears completed 3-14. These Jets are higher, and Fields is an effective match — in the event that they let him run (which they need to).
C.J. Stroud passes for 4,500 yards
Superior as a rookie however working for his proverbial life in his second season, Stroud is much better than he confirmed in 2024, and WR Nico Collins is a star. Stroud was sacked 52 instances, second solely to Caleb Williams. A sturdier offensive line ought to allow Stroud to look rather more like he did in his first season, making him value securing as a starter in deeper fantasy codecs.
Sam Darnold falls to QB3 fantasy standing in Seattle
Give Darnold credit score for resurrecting his profession, however he left the right state of affairs in Minnesota, with a coach and offense taking part in to his strengths, and elite WR choices similar to Justin Jefferson. Do not draft final season’s stats. This isn’t Baker Mayfield, Half II. The journeyman Darnold will not revisit his 2024 statistics with a Seahawks group that options the working sport.
Daniel Jones begins extra Colts video games than Anthony Richardson Sr.
Actually, how rather more convincing do you want that Richardson will not be the reply in Indianapolis? He missed half the video games as a result of harm throughout his first two seasons, and he wasn’t precisely a refined passer when he performed. There may be little query the tantalizing Richardson can run, however he cannot keep on the sector. Jones is not precisely superior or sturdy, both, so it is a mess it’s essential to keep away from.
Saquon Barkley falls exterior the highest 5 RB scorers
What a tremendous first season in Philadelphia for Barkley, with 2,005 dashing yards, 22.2 fantasy factors per sport and a Tremendous Bowl championship. Watch out right here, although. Of the eight prior working backs to hurry for two,000 yards, Chris Johnson is the one one to complete among the many prime 5 PPR RBs the subsequent season. None reached 1,500 dashing yards. A number of missed a number of video games. Barkley entered 2024 with a monitor document for accidents, then he carried the heaviest quantity of his profession (378 touches) into February. The Eagles shall be extra cautious in Yr 2.
Derrick Henry rushes for two,000 yards — once more
Henry was overshadowed by Barkley, however he was additionally a stellar match together with his new group, dashing for 1,921 yards. There are variations right here. Henry, although older than Barkley, is understood for consistency and sturdiness, save for a half-season in 2021. Henry performs little position within the passing sport. His quantity is extra repeatable. Do not essentially choose Henry over Barkley, but it surely is not outrageous to contemplate it.
Christian McCaffrey permits you to down — once more
A wholesome McCaffrey is an excellent participant, as most not too long ago seen in 2023, however the 49ers — and fantasy managers — merely can not depend on his attendance. The 49ers should monitor his workload and hope for one of the best. It is a unhealthy mixture for somebody prone to be an early-round draft choose. Maybe McCaffrey, 29, returns to a excessive degree of efficiency and carries the 49ers and your fantasy group, however he is been a top-10 RB in solely two of the previous 5 seasons.
Two Seahawks RBs end among the many prime 20 scorers
Nothing towards Kenneth Walker III, a confirmed standout who added extra receiving work throughout an injury-plagued 2024 season, however Zach Charbonnet can do these issues, too. New offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak could copy the Lions’ technique of utilizing two working backs in tandem, maybe reducing Walker’s quantity to maintain him wholesome. Every RB can and may thrive, however Charbonnet could be the higher draft-day worth.
Chase Brown delivers RB1 numbers
Brown proved he may deal with a serious workload, averaging higher than 23 touches per sport over the ultimate eight video games, when he was among the many prime 5 fantasy working backs. And there may be little purpose to anticipate the Bengals to pressure him again right into a timeshare. Solely 4 working backs caught extra passes, and Brown did most of that injury from November on. He shall be a draft-day discount.
Tyreek Hill returns to top-3 WR manufacturing
One disappointing, injury-plagued season and now Hill falls out of everybody’s prime 10. It simply appears too handy an excuse. Hill caught 119 passes in every of his first two Dolphins seasons, reaching 170 targets with QB Tua Tagovailoa. He’s recovered from offseason wrist surgical procedure, he and his offensive-minded head coach are motivated to show skeptics improper, and we have already seen how Hill can carry fantasy managers.
Deebo Samuel Sr. is a bust in Washington
Samuel enters his seventh NFL season with a brand new franchise and might be a bit overrated by fantasy managers. Samuel has completed among the many prime 25 fantasy WRs in two of his six seasons, buoyed by dashing manufacturing he could discover difficult to duplicate with the Commanders. This group has a working QB, a strong RB timeshare, and an elite WR already in place.
Marvin Harrison Jr. is a secure WR2 choice
Harrison’s rookie season was statistically disappointing, as he did not strategy 1,000 receiving yards, however his utilization ought to solely rise in Yr 2. The Cardinals want Harrison to common much better than 2.6 yards after the catch, among the many lowest figures within the league, and there may be ample purpose to anticipate enchancment. Harrison is not Malik Nabers or Brian Thomas Jr. (higher rookie producers from the 2024 draft), however give him time.
Rome Odunze turns into an WR2 choice, too
Chicago’s offense goes to enhance, and Odunze, a top-10 choose within the 2024 draft (5 spots after Harrison), has a lot to achieve statistically. As famous with Caleb Williams, every thing has modified with the Bears, and with WR Keenan Allen (and his 121 targets) gone, Odunze will see extra probabilities downfield and within the purple zone. Count on 75 catches and 1,000 receiving yards, at the very least.
Lions TE Sam LaPorta outscores WR Jameson Williams
LaPorta starred in his rookie season, however he spent the primary half of Yr 2 combating for targets, largely with the rising deep risk Williams, whereas possible coping with ankle and hamstring accidents. LaPorta had an enormous second half, incomes six or extra targets in every sport after Week 10. These are two vastly totally different playmakers. Williams averaged 17.3 yards per catch, almost doubling LaPorta’s common, however the tight finish is extra dependable and extra of a purple zone goal.
Trey McBride scores 10 touchdowns
McBride would have completed his third NFL season as fantasy’s prime tight finish if he had a bit extra luck close to the purpose line. He sailed previous 100 receptions and 1,000 receiving yards, however he did not rating his first TD till Week 17. Then he scored once more within the season finale. McBride noticed ample purple zone targets, and his greatest fantasy season awaits.
T.J. Hockenson returns to top-5 TE standing
Hockenson was at all times prone to disappoint keen fantasy managers in 2024 as he fought again from a critical knee harm late the prior season. Frankly, we must always ignore Hockenson’s 2024 numbers and keep in mind his affect in 2022 and 2023. Don’t be concerned about new QB J.J. McCarthy. A wholesome Hockenson will simply eclipse 100 targets.