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Eric Karabell
The 2024 NFL season was fairly eventful, filled with surprises, each constructive and detrimental. Fantasy soccer managers should now determine what to consider and what to not consider shifting ahead. Maybe we will help. If any of those ideas come true for the 2025 season, properly, do not be shocked!
NOTE: All references to fantasy factors are for PPR scoring.
Do not be shocked if any of this stuff occur in 2025 …
Caleb Williams turns into the primary Bears QB to go for 4,000 yards
It is laborious to consider that Erik Kramer boasts the franchise mark with 3,838 passing yards in 1995. The gifted 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 concerning the working capacity right here. Maye didn’t get a lot assist throughout his rookie marketing campaign, however he nonetheless averaged higher than 32 speeding yards per his 13 video games. That quantity ought to rise, and the addition of WR Stefon Diggs saves the passing recreation. A brand new teaching employees 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 speeding makes an attempt per recreation final season have been a profession low. Murray claims his 2023 season-ending knee damage 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 speeding
This may occasionally appear a bit wild, however just one present Jet has eclipsed 1,000 speeding yards … and it is Fields! He rushed for 1,143 yards in 2022. RB Breece Corridor hasn’t performed it in his three NFL seasons, and he might discover it harder 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 efficient 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 occasions, 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 enjoying to his strengths, and elite WR choices reminiscent of 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 workforce that options the working recreation.
Daniel Jones begins extra Colts video games than Anthony Richardson Sr.
Truthfully, how rather more convincing do you want that Richardson isn’t the reply in Indianapolis? He missed half the video games because of damage throughout his first two seasons, and he wasn’t precisely a sophisticated passer when he performed. There’s little query the tantalizing Richardson can run, however he cannot keep on the sphere. Jones is not precisely superior or sturdy, both, so it is a mess you could keep away from.
Saquon Barkley falls exterior the highest 5 RB scorers
What an incredible first season in Philadelphia for Barkley, with 2,005 speeding yards, 22.2 fantasy factors per recreation 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 high 5 PPR RBs the following season. None reached 1,500 speeding yards. A number of missed a number of video games. Barkley entered 2024 with a observe file for accidents, then he carried the heaviest quantity of his profession (378 touches) into February. The Eagles will likely 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 workforce, speeding for 1,921 yards. There are variations right here. Henry, although older than Barkley, is thought for consistency and sturdiness, save for a half-season in 2021. Henry performs little position within the passing recreation. His quantity is extra repeatable. Do not essentially choose Henry over Barkley, but it surely is not outrageous to think about it.
Christian McCaffrey enables you to down — once more
A wholesome McCaffrey is an excellent participant, as most lately seen in 2023, however the 49ers — and fantasy managers — merely can’t depend on his attendance. The 49ers should monitor his workload and hope for the very best. It is a dangerous 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 workforce, however he is been a top-10 RB in solely two of the previous 5 seasons.
Two Seahawks RBs end among the many high 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 might copy the Lions’ technique of utilizing two working backs in tandem, maybe lowering 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 might deal with a serious workload, averaging higher than 23 touches per recreation over the ultimate eight video games, when he was among the many high 5 fantasy working backs. And there’s little motive to anticipate the Bengals to drive him again right into a timeshare. Solely 4 working backs caught extra passes, and Brown did most of that injury from November on. He will likely 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 high 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 mistaken, 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 high 25 fantasy WRs in two of his six seasons, buoyed by speeding manufacturing he might discover difficult to copy with the Commanders. This workforce has a working QB, a strong RB timeshare, and an elite WR already in place.
Marvin Harrison Jr. is a secure WR2 possibility
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’s ample motive 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 possibility, 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 realize statistically. As famous with Caleb Williams, every part has modified with the Bears, and with WR Keenan Allen (and his 121 targets) gone, Odunze will see extra probabilities downfield and within the pink zone. Anticipate 75 catches and 1,000 receiving yards, not less than.
Lions TE Sam LaPorta outscores WR Jameson Williams
LaPorta starred in his rookie season, however he spent the primary half of Yr 2 preventing for targets, largely with the rising deep risk Williams, whereas doubtless coping with ankle and hamstring accidents. LaPorta had an enormous second half, incomes six or extra targets in every recreation after Week 10. These are two vastly totally different playmakers. Williams averaged 17.3 yards per catch, practically doubling LaPorta’s common, however the tight finish is extra dependable and extra of a pink zone goal.
Trey McBride scores 10 touchdowns
McBride would have completed his third NFL season as fantasy’s high tight finish if he had a bit extra luck close to the objective 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 pink zone targets, and his greatest fantasy season awaits.
T.J. Hockenson returns to top-5 TE standing
Hockenson was all the time prone to disappoint keen fantasy managers in 2024 as he fought again from a severe knee damage late the prior season. Frankly, we should always ignore Hockenson’s 2024 numbers and keep in mind his impression in 2022 and 2023. Don’t fret about new QB J.J. McCarthy. A wholesome Hockenson will simply eclipse 100 targets.
