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Liz Loza
Faucet. Faucet. Faucet.
Do you hear that?
It is the sound of one thing constructing. Some name it buzz. Others confer with it as momentum. I like the thought of a drumbeat. Sluggish and regular, step by step growing in timbre till growing into recognizable and strong syncopation. That’s the tune of the fantasy football offseason. And the gamers beneath are simply starting to sing.
The sounds are faint proper now, however preserve your ear to the bottom, as a result of a few of these gamers is likely to be worthy of a league-winning ovation by season’s finish.
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Nix galloped into Denver as a rookie, steadily harnessing the frenetic taking part in fashion that had develop into a trademark of his school profession. Rising as a passer over 18 weeks whereas usually extending performs together with his legs, the Oregon product (by means of Auburn) closed out 2024 as fantasy’s total QB7, averaging 18.7 fantasy factors per effort. The primary month may need been messy, however in Weeks 5-18, the 25-year-old logged eight top-12 performances, averaging almost 21 factors per contest.
Greater than 20% of Nix’s fantasy manufacturing got here by way of the bottom, as he registered 92 carries (QB5) for 430 speeding yards (QB8) and 4 TDs (with all 4 TDs coming within the season’s first eight weeks). However as the sport slowed down and Nix constructed chemistry together with his receivers (notably, Marvin Mims Jr.), his scrambling gave option to improved passing effectivity. From Weeks 9-18, his completion proportion jumped from 63% to 69%, his off-target proportion improved from 18.5% to 13.6% and his fantasy factors per sport sprung from 16.6 to twenty.5.
Offseason buzz signifies Nix’s ascent is not slowing, as he has reportedly appeared “smooth and decisive” in camp. In Sean Payton’s offense, working behind a top-3 offensive line and surrounded by a strong supporting forged (together with offseason signings Evan Engram and J.K. Dobbins and rookies Pat Bryant and RJ Harvey), Nix’s sophomore effort is rife with breakout potential. At the moment coming off of draft boards between the eighth and ninth rounds, Nix initiatives as a top-10 producer on the place in 2025.
Hampton was unanimously ranked second amongst rookies (behind Ashton Jeanty) on the place by scouts. He was a constant producer at North Carolina, logging a school-record eight straight video games over 100 speeding yards in 2024. An aggressive downhill runner with glorious contact steadiness, Hampton employs the persistence and instincts essential to find holes whereas operating over or spinning off would-be tacklers. He was the one participant in FBS with greater than 1,000 speeding yards after contact in each 2023 and 2024. Possessing dependable arms whereas remaining enthusiastic in move safety, Hampton boasts every-down capability.
Clearly obsessed on Hampton’s prodigious expertise, the Chargers used their first-round choose (No. 22) on the operating again in April’s draft, regardless of having already added Najee Harris in free company. Although there have been preliminary issues concerning the rookie’s quantity in a shared backfield, Harris has but to observe since struggling an ocular harm throughout a fireworks-related incident on July 4, and Hampton has earned important first-team reps, enhancing his probabilities of clinching RB1 duties. More likely to garner 16-18 touches per contest, Hampton provides fantasy managers strong RB2 worth with top-15 positional potential.
Brown proved to be one in all final 12 months’s finest worth picks, closing out 2024 as fantasy’s RB10 total regardless of being chosen outdoors of the highest 30 gamers on the place. A fifth-round draft choose in 2023, Brown started his sophomore season taking part in second fiddle to Zack Moss. However the Illinois product rapidly gained the vast majority of work within the backfield, registering double-digit carries in Week 4 and amassing 92 complete yards, two TDs and 23 fantasy factors. Moss’ season was minimize quick 4 video games later, leaving Brown on the helm of the backfield the remainder of the best way. From Weeks 9-17, Chase was definitely on the case, averaging 23 touches, 116 scrimmage yards and 20 fantasy factors per contest (RB5).
Brown significantly impressed as a move catcher throughout that span, logging 38 of his 54 receptions. The 25-year-old had the second-most catches amongst RBs in that stretch and ranked fifth total in receptions on the place for the season. That versatility — and the truth that he averaged nearly 19 carries per contest after Week 8 — suggests huge quantity for Brown heading into 2025, particularly given Moss’ launch. Lately in comparison with Austin Ekeler by offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher, Brown seems on the precipice of a profession season. His ADP will doubtless proceed to climb, however with a consensus rank of RB12 the fourth spherical stays an applicable time to roster such a promising participant.
After a rocky begin to his professional profession, Williams broke out in his third marketing campaign. The Alabama product showcased his big-play capability, recording 16 grabs of 20-plus yards, together with 5 over 50 yards (tied for many amongst WRs), on his option to his first 1,000-yard season. He additionally appeared to diversify his ability set, operating a median of 11 extra routes per sport whereas upping his route participation from 53% in 2023 to just about 86% in 2024.
Williams wasn’t simply used as a deep menace. He additionally drew seems to be within the intermediate vary of the sector, as his common goal distance dropped from 15.6 in 2023 to 11.4 in 2024. That is a pattern that ought to proceed in 2025, particularly when noting the buzz surrounding new OC John Morton’s aggressive and expanded playbook. Plus, Dan Campbell’s feedback about Williams’ progress, each on and off the sector, point out that the 24-year-old figures to be a key contributor within the Lions’ offense.
Quantity might be a problem, given the workforce’s stacked corps, however contemplating that Williams completed second in targets final season to Amon-Ra St. Brown (a lot to the chagrin of Sam LaPorta buyers), he is shaping as much as work as Detroit’s No. 2 possibility once more this season. Williams is projected to clear 100 targets and 1,000 yards, and his eighth-round ADP provides managers a possible WR2 at WR3 worth.
Egbuka gained notoriety working as Ohio State’s major slot goal, recording 1,920 receiving yards from the alignment since 2022 (seventh most within the FBS), earlier than being drafted nineteenth total by the Buccaneers in April. A former baseball standout, the 22-year-old is a savvy route runner who can fluster defenders with delicate tempo adjustments and efficient head fakes. Related in taking part in fashion to former school teammate Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Egubka seems to have taken all that polish to Tampa, the place the teaching employees has usually famous his superior method {and professional} mindset throughout coaching camp.
Egubka may discover himself thrust into a big position quite rapidly. Chris Godwin has lengthy thrived because the Bucs’ beginning slot man. Sadly, a left ankle dislocation and subsequent surgical procedure restricted him to seven video games final season. There was preliminary optimism the vet can be wholesome in time for his 2025 marketing campaign, however he has but to return to observe and stays on the PUP checklist. With Godwin’s Week 1 availability in jeopardy, Egbuka has usually lined up with Tampa Bay’s first-team offense in camp and will start the season as a starter. The rookie’s ADP has subsequently shot up, however he nonetheless comes at an unbelievable worth within the thirteenth or 14th spherical and is a worthwhile funding.
A former highschool quarterback (who additionally lettered in baseball and basketball), Warren blossomed right into a do-it-all prospect at Penn State. The John Mackey Award winner developed into an excellent mover, usually showcasing a capability to run routes in any respect three ranges, and set Penn State tight finish single-season information with 104 receptions and 1,233 receiving yards in 2024. Chosen No. 14 total in April’s draft, Warren fills an enormous want for the Colts, a workforce that hasn’t had a top-5 fantasy TE since Eric Ebron in 2018.
Current newcomers have challenged the “rookie tight ends do not produce in fantasy” narrative, however trepidation surrounding first-year gamers lingers. That works out properly for Warren’s ADP, as he is staying on draft boards till the 14th spherical. Whereas the QB scenario stays muddled, Daniel Jones and/or Anthony Richardson Sr. are going to wish a dependable possession goal. That position has belonged to Michael Pittman Jr., however the 27-year-old has struggled to remain wholesome. He performed by way of a again harm for the majority of 2024 and is presently coping with a groin concern that has saved him sidelined at observe. In the meantime, Warren has impressed with highlight-worthy grabs” throughout coaching camp. Given his formidable expertise and noting Kylen Granson’s exit, Warren has the chance to ship top-10 tight finish fantasy numbers in 2025.
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