Fantasy soccer – Mike Clay’s rating of the 192 gamers who must be rostered

We’re closing in on the beginning of the 2025 NFL common season, which implies it is time for “The 192” for fantasy football.

Fantasy leagues are available all sizes and shapes, however many have settled into the neighborhood of 12 groups and 16 roster spots. “The 192” is a list of the 192 gamers who must be drafted (and thus rostered) in such a league with PPR scoring and commonplace settings. The gamers are technically listed within the order they need to be drafted, although it is essential to recollect drafts are fluid and your choices must be altered primarily based on what’s left on the board and your earlier alternatives.

What should you’re in an eight-team league? Or a 16-teamer? “The 192” can nonetheless enable you win, however you may actually must make tweaks within the middle-to-late rounds. For instance, in a deeper league, you must determine cutoff factors at sure positions to make sure you land a viable starter (maybe you need to be sure you get one of many prime 11 quarterbacks, or one of many prime eight tight ends, otherwise you need two of the highest 22 operating backs). In a shallower league, you may need to wait even longer at quarterback or tight finish should you’re comfy with eight to 10 starters at that place.

“The 192” ought to function a easy information that will help you maximize the worth of your beginning lineup whereas making the absolute best choice in every spherical.

For a deeper look, take a look at Cheat Sheet Central.

Join ESPN Fantasy Football. Play the No. 1 Fantasy sport without cost!

1. Ja’Marr Chase, CIN, WR1
2. Bijan Robinson, ATL, RB1

Might you make a case for Justin Jefferson or maybe a operating again like Saquon Barkley or Christian McCaffrey right here? After all. However my choice is to decide on certainly one of Chase or Robinson. Whereas Jefferson shall be coping with one other QB change and Barkley and McCaffrey have age and workload considerations, Chase and Robinson are early of their prime and positioned very equally to how they had been throughout massively productive 2024 seasons. Chase outscored Jefferson (the No. 2-scoring WR) by 85.5 fantasy factors and, after a sluggish begin, Robinson was fantasy’s top-scoring RB after Week 5 final season.

3. Justin Jefferson, MIN, WR2
4. Saquon Barkley, PHI, RB2
5. Jahmyr Gibbs, DET, RB3

Regardless of the nitpicking, Jefferson and Barkley are too good to go on right here. Gibbs very nicely might repeat as fantasy’s highest-scoring RB, although with inside offensive line questions and the return of David Montgomery, he is greatest valued a hair decrease than Robinson and Barkley.

6. CeeDee Lamb, DAL, WR3
7. Christian McCaffrey, SF, RB4
8. Puka Nacua, LAR, WR4
9. Malik Nabers, NYG, WR5
10. Amon-Ra St. Brown, DET, WR6
11. Ashton Jeanty, LV, RB5
12. De’Von Achane, MIA, RB6

Let’s be trustworthy: It may be exhausting to mess up your first-round choose. There actually is not a giant drop-off from our second to 3rd tier, as any of those gamers might simply tempo their respective place in fantasy factors. That features McCaffrey, who’s riskier than ever at age 29 off one other injury-plagued season, however who has maybe the best ceiling on the place, in addition to first-round rookie Jeanty.

13. Nico Collins, HOU, WR7
14. Brian Thomas Jr., JAC, WR8
15. A.J. Brown, PHI, WR9
16. Drake London, ATL, WR10
17. Jonathan Taylor, IND, RB7
18. Josh Jacobs, GB, RB8
19. Derrick Henry, BAL, RB9
20. Brock Bowers, LV, TE1
21. Trey McBride, ARI, TE2
22. Bucky Irving, TB, RB10
23. Kyren Williams, LAR, RB11
24. Ladd McConkey, LAC, WR11
25. Tee Higgins, CIN, WR12
26. Tyreek Hill, MIA, WR13
27. Davante Adams, LAR, WR14

The majority of Spherical 2 features a handful of stable RB1 and WR1 choices, in addition to prime tight ends Bowers and McBride, who determine to battle it out to tempo the place in fantasy factors this season. There are age considerations for Henry (31), Adams (32) and Hill (31), however all three are nicely positioned for yet one more huge fantasy marketing campaign.

28. Josh Allen, BUF, QB1
29. Lamar Jackson, BAL, QB2
30. Jayden Daniels, WAS, QB3
31. Jalen Hurts, PHI, QB4

Spherical 3 is after I’m keen to contemplate pouncing on a quarterback, just because the large 4 of Allen, Jackson, Daniels and Hurts have a transparent edge over the remainder of the sphere. If I miss on any of those 4 (be at liberty to organize them nonetheless you want), I am content material ready fairly some time earlier than grabbing a passer.

32. Chase Brown, CIN, RB12
33. James Cook, BUF, RB13
34. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, SEA, WR15
35. Terry McLaurin, WAS, WR16
36. Garrett Wilson, NYJ, WR17
37. Kenneth Walker III, SEA, RB14
38. Alvin Kamara, NO, RB15
39. Joe Burrow, CIN, QB5
40. George Kittle, SF, TE3
41. Chuba Hubbard, CAR, RB16
42. Omarion Hampton, LAC, RB17
43. James Conner, ARI, RB18
44. Breece Hall, NYJ, RB19
45. Mike Evans, TB, WR18
46. Marvin Harrison Jr., ARI, WR19
47. DK Metcalf, PIT, WR20
48. DJ Moore, CHI, WR21
49. Rashee Rice, KC, WR22
50. Xavier Worthy, KC, WR23
51. Joe Mixon, HOU, RB20

This tier covers the vast majority of the fourth spherical and consists of most of our RB2 and WR2 choices, in addition to Kittle (who really led the TE place in fantasy PPG final season) and Burrow. The massive query right here is whether or not we purpose towards confirmed, veteran RBs like Kamara (age 30), Conner (30) or Mixon (29), or pivot to the younger choices, which embody first-round rookie Hampton. … Harrison is an intriguing “post-hype” goal after failing to dwell as much as his lofty rookie-season ADP in 2024. … Rice could be larger and Worthy somewhat decrease if not for Rice’s pending multigame suspension.

52. D’Andre Swift, CHI, RB21
53. Zay Flowers, BAL, WR24
54. Courtland Sutton, DEN, WR25
55. Calvin Ridley, TEN, WR26
56. DeVonta Smith, PHI, WR27
57. Jaylen Waddle, MIA, WR28
58. Jerry Jeudy, CLE, WR29
59. Jameson Williams, DET, WR30
60. George Pickens, DAL, WR31
61. Sam LaPorta, DET, TE4
62. Patrick Mahomes, KC, QB6
63. Baker Mayfield, TB, QB7

We’re attending to WR3/flex territory right here. Every of those receivers has the look of a viable weekly starter, although they don’t seem to be with out query marks, together with QB modifications for Ridley (Cameron Ward), Jeudy (to be decided) and Pickens (Dak Prescott). … Swift, our lone operating again on this tier, has little competitors to a different hefty workload in a Bears offense with a much-improved line. … LaPorta, Mahomes and Mayfield are midrange choices at tight finish and quarterback.

64. Rome Odunze, CHI, WR32
65. Tetairoa McMillan, CAR, WR33
66. Travis Hunter, JAC, WR34
67. Aaron Jones Sr., MIN, RB22
68. David Montgomery, DET, RB23
69. T.J. Hockenson, MIN, TE5
70. Kaleb Johnson, PIT, RB24
71. TreVeyon Henderson, NE, RB25
72. RJ Harvey, DEN, RB26

We’re attending to the purpose within the draft during which you are still working in your beginning lineup however can be ok with taking over extra threat. Odunze and rookies McMillan and Hunter are breakout candidates on the WR place, whereas Johnson, Henderson and Harvey are rookie RBs who must fend off veteran competitors for lead again duties. … We even have just a few “safer” choices right here in Jones, Montgomery and Hockenson.

73. Chris Godwin, TB, WR35
74. Jakobi Meyers, LV, WR36
75. Chris Olave, NO, WR37
76. Cooper Kupp, SEA, WR38
77. Stefon Diggs, NE, WR39
78. Matthew Golden, GB, WR40
79. Jordan Addison, MIN, WR41
80. Tony Pollard, TEN, RB27
81. Isiah Pacheco, KC, RB28
82. Javonte Williams, DAL, RB29
83. Travis Kelce, KC, TE6
84. David Njoku, CLE, TE7
85. Mark Andrews, BAL, TE8
86. Evan Engram, DEN, TE9
87. Bo Nix, DEN, QB8
88. Kyler Murray, ARI, QB9
89. Brock Purdy, SF, QB10

This tier is flush with viable flex choices and a piece of mid- to back-end starters at QB and TE. This large receiver group actually exhibits off the depth of the place, as Godwin (who could be a lot larger if totally wholesome), 32-year-old Kupp and Diggs (31) had been lately elite fantasy choices and positively might have one other huge season within the tank. … It must be famous that Addison will serve a 3-game suspension to start the 2025 common season.

90. Tyrone Tracy Jr., NYG, RB30
91. Brian Robinson Jr., WAS, RB31
92. Jaylen Warren, PIT, RB32
93. Rhamondre Stevenson, NE, RB33
94. Cam Skattebo, NYG, RB34
95. J.K. Dobbins, DEN, RB35
96. Khalil Shakir, BUF, WR42
97. Jauan Jennings, SF, WR43
98. Deebo Samuel, WAS, WR44
99. Ricky Pearsall, SF, WR45
100. Keon Coleman, BUF, WR46
101. Michael Pittman Jr., IND, WR47
102. Jayden Reed, GB, WR48
103. Caleb Williams, CHI, QB11
104. Justin Herbert, LAC, QB12
105. Dak Prescott, DAL, QB13
106. Justin Fields, NYJ, QB14

This tier is headlined by operating backs who’re battling for work in committee backfields, in addition to large receivers who’re primarily both breakout candidates (Pearsall, Coleman) or stable flex choices with restricted upside (Shakir, Pittman, Reed). Williams, one other breakout candidate, leads an inventory of fringe-QB1 choices.

107. Keenan Allen, LAC, WR49
108. Darnell Mooney, ATL, WR50
109. Josh Downs, IND, WR51
110. Rashid Shaheed, NO, WR52
111. Jayden Higgins, HOU, WR53
112. Emeka Egbuka, TB, WR54
113. Tucker Kraft, GB, TE10
114. Austin Ekeler, WAS, RB36
115. Travis Etienne Jr., JAC, RB37
116. Tyjae Spears, TEN, RB38
117. Tank Bigsby, JAC, RB39
118. Jerome Ford, CLE, RB40
119. Rachaad White, TB, RB41
120. Jordan Mason, MIN, RB42
121. Drake Maye, NE, QB15
122. Jordan Love, GB, QB16
123. Jared Goff, DET, QB17
124. J.J. McCarthy, MIN, QB18
125. Colston Loveland, CHI, TE11
126. Dallas Goedert, PHI, TE12
127. Jake Ferguson, DAL, TE13
128. Dalton Kincaid, BUF, TE14
129. Tyler Warren, IND, TE15
130. Quinshon Judkins, CLE, RB43
131. Dylan Sampson, CLE, RB44

We’re getting deep into the draft and also you’re primarily wanting so as to add both one final flex possibility (in deeper leagues) or high quality bench choices. Rookies Higgins, Egbuka, Loveland and Warren had been Day 1-2 draft picks value a lottery ticket, whereas second-year gamers Maye and McCarthy are upside targets at quarterback. … The Browns’ backfield state of affairs is value watching, with second-round rookie Judkins unsigned and doubtlessly going through a considerable suspension following a home violence arrest. If he isn’t on the sphere, Ford and Sampson would deal with backfield work.

132. Trey Benson, ARI, RB45
133. Zach Charbonnet, SEA, RB46
134. Tyler Allgeier, ATL, RB47
135. Najee Harris, LAC, RB48
136. Adam Thielen, CAR, WR55
137. Xavier Legette, CAR, WR56
138. Cedric Tillman, CLE, WR57
139. Hollywood Brown, KC, WR58
140. Brandon Aiyuk, SF, WR59
141. Hunter Henry, NE, TE16
142. Kyle Pitts Sr., ATL, TE17
143. Tua Tagovailoa, MIA, QB19
144. Matthew Stafford, LAR, QB20
145. C.J. Stroud, HOU, QB21

This can be a enjoyable tier, because it consists of a few of the greatest insurance coverage RBs within the sport, together with Charbonnet, Benson, Allgeier and Harris. All could be lineup locks if their respective staff’s starter went down with an harm. … Aiyuk is anticipated to overlook regular-season motion as he recovers from a torn ACL suffered in Week 7 final season.

146. Jaylen Wright, MIA, RB49
147. Bhayshul Tuten, JAC, RB50
148. Braelon Allen, NYJ, RB51
149. Isaac Guerendo, SF, RB52
150. MarShawn Lloyd, GB, RB53
151. Ray Davis, BUF, RB54
152. Jack Bech, LV, WR60
153. Wan’Dale Robinson, NYG, WR61
154. Marvin Mims Jr., DEN, WR62
155. Kyle Williams, NE, WR63
156. Rashod Bateman, BAL, WR64
157. Luther Burden III, CHI, WR65
158. Jalen McMillan, TB, WR66
159. Tre Harris, LAC, WR67
160. Roschon Johnson, CHI, RB55
161. Jaydon Blue, DAL, RB56
162. Will Shipley, PHI, RB57
163. Michael Wilson, ARI, WR68
164. Pat Bryant, DEN, WR69
165. Chig Okonkwo, TEN, TE18
166. Darren Waller, MIA, TE19
167. Zach Ertz, WAS, TE20
168. Jonnu Smith, PIT, TE21

This tier rounds out the remaining non-kickers and defenses try to be deciding on on draft day. This record consists of fairly just a few intriguing rookies (Tuten, Bech, Williams, Burden, Blue, Bryant), in addition to second-year RBs who’ve insurance coverage attraction in the event that they’re in a position to lock down No. 2 duties (Wright, Allen, Guerendo, Lloyd, Davis, Shipley).

169. Texans D/ST, HOU, DST1
170. Steelers D/ST, PIT, DST2
171. Broncos D/ST, DEN, DST3
172. Vikings D/ST, MIN, DST4
173. Seahawks D/ST, SEA, DST5
174. Ravens D/ST, BAL, DST6
175. Patriots D/ST, NE, DST7
176. Lions D/ST, DET, DST8
177. Eagles D/ST, PHI, DST9
178. Bills D/ST, BUF, DST10
179. Colts D/ST, IND, DST11
180. Jets D/ST, NYJ, DST12
181. Jake Bates, DET, K1
182. Chase McLaughlin, TB, K2
183. Cameron Dicker, LAC, K3
184. Brandon Aubrey, DAL, K4
185. Jason Sanders, MIA, K5
186. Tyler Bass, BUF, K6
187. Jake Elliott, PHI, K7
188. Chris Boswell, PIT, K8
189. Harrison Butker, KC, K9
190. Cairo Santos, CHI, K10
191. Tyler Loop, BAL, K11
192. Matt Gay, WAS, K12

Wait till your closing two alternatives to pick your kicker and protection.