NFL Play Makers

Players most likely to score from long distance once they have the ball with space.

Below you'll find a handy listing of players with huge potential for breaking the big play.

The below ranking is not a formal Cheat Sheet. But, in some ways, it's just as valuable.

Offensive scheme and/or open field ability (speed, moves, acceleration) limit some player's quick-strike status. Also, keep in mind this analysis is based on potential. As Doug Flutie says, "potential can be dangerous and overrated in sports." This analysis assumes a player has the football in his hands and is in a situation to make something happen.

Next to each player, you'll find his Quick Strike Rating (QSR). The QSR is part judgement and part Measurement (arm strength, 40-speed, etc.). The QSR is only relative within a position. It should not be used to compare players of different positions.

If your league doesn't reward for long distance scores, it's still a good idea to become very familiar with everyone below. If you're looking for a player with breakout potential, the ability to score from long distance never hurts.

An example of how important Quick Strike can be...

Back in 2002, Clinton Portis had a huge breakout seasons. Yet, he was selected late in many drafts that year. Looking at his physical skills, the wise owner grabbed Portis in the mid-rounds in 2002 and won big. While Portis was a hit-or-miss pick before the 2002 season, his upside was outstanding and it was reflected in his Quick Strike Rating.

In 2009, Chris Johnson was a huge value pick during the draft and his Quick Strike Rating refelected his upside.

Chances are this year's top breakout player is high on a list below.

If you're struggling with a 'who should I draft' or 'who should I pickup' decision this season, consult this list. Everything else being equal -- Go for the Play Maker!

QB1	Lamar Jackson Draft Note by John Paulsen Jackson was the overall QB1 last season after a QB3 finish in 2023. He was the QB5 on a per-game basis in an injury-shortened 2022, and was the QB8 on a per-game basis in an injury-shortened 2021. And that’s the only concern with Jackson–his tendency to get nicked up, though he has only missed one game in the last two seasons. All of the key pieces are back–Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Mark Andrews, and Isaiah Likely–and the Ravens added DeAndre Hopkins to help move the chains. Jackson should have another elite season.	BAL	467
QB2	Dak Prescott Draft Note by John Paulsen Prescott finished as the fantasy QB4 in 2023, throwing for 4,516 yards and 36 touchdowns against just nine interceptions. Last year, he left a couple of games early and only played eight total games, but he was on pace for 4,638 yards and 25.8 touchdowns. Those numbers would have made him a high-end QB2 type on a per-game basis. The Cowboys attempted the eighth-most passes in 2023 and were third last year. Since last year’s OC, Brian Schottenheimer, is now the head coach, I’m not expecting a huge sea change in the team’s offensive identity, especially since the team let Rico Dowdle walk and traded for George Pickens. Prescott being available as a midrange QB2 is a good example of the solid depth of the position this season.	DAL	460
QB3	Patrick Mahomes Draft Note by John Paulsen Over the past two seasons, Mahomes has finished QB7 (2023) and QB10 (2024) after three straight top-4 finishes in 2020-22. He seems to be settling into midrange QB1 territory, but we know he has overall QB1 upside. Rashee Rice is back, which helps, especially given the apparent decline of Mahomes’ go-to target, Travis Kelce. Xavier Worthy is a weapon, and Hollywood Brown rounds out a good starting receiving unit. Mahomes’ touchdown percentage and passing volume are both down relative to his fantasy hayday, and that’s not a recipe for an elite-level finish.	KC	460
QB4	Josh Allen Draft Note by John Paulsen Working backward, Allen has finished QB2, QB1, QB2, and QB1 in the last four seasons. He’s done it with a plethora of different receivers, and he has a decent crew to throw to again this season. Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Curtis Samuel, Dalton Kincaid, and Dawson Knox are all back, and the Bills added Joshua Palmer and Elijah Moore to the mix. I’m expecting another high-end season for Allen.	BUF	460
QB5	Jared Goff Draft Note by John Paulsen Every fantasy discussion about Goff has to begin with his home/away splits. From 2023 to 2024, Jared Goff’s location splits were really stark: 21.3 fantasy points per game at home versus just 13.9 per game on the road. Those splits narrowed to 21.4 vs. 17.7 last season, so over the last two seasons he has averaged 21.5 at home versus 16.1 on the road. That’s basically the difference between Baker Mayfield (21.5) and Justin Herbert (16.1) last year, so it’s still pretty stark. Goff has 10 dome games in 2025, and his final six games are indoors. Start Goff at home, and start him in favorable (shaky defense) indoor road matchups. As Marcas Grant said on our pod last summer, “he’s an inside cat.” His ADP (QB10) is higher this year, so people are starting to recognize his fantasy value.	DET	454
QB6	Kirk Cousins	ATL	454
QB7	Matthew Stafford Draft Note by John Paulsen Stafford was the QB26 last season after a QB15 finish the year before. He offers nothing as a runner, and last year’s poor production was probably more about Cooper Kupp’s drop off in production and Puka Nacua’s shortened season. If Nacua can remain healthy, and Stafford vibes quickly with Davante Adams, then Stafford should be able to get back into the midrange QB2 mix. In Sean McVay we trust.	LAR	454
QB8	Russell Wilson Draft Note by John Paulsen From his Week 7 return through the end of the season, Wilson was the fantasy QB14. Wilson won't have much fantasy value as the Giants' starter, but the Giants now have a couple of capable passers (with Jameis Winston) to deliver the ball to Malik Nabers.	NYG	447
QB9	Kyler Murray Draft Note by John Paulsen Murray finished as the QB11 last year after a seven-game, QB26 finish the year before. (He was QB10 on a per-game basis in 2023.) Last year, he played a full season after missing 18 games in his previous three seasons. He’s a good fantasy asset thanks to his quickness, speed, and ability to run the ball. He has averaged 30+ yards rushing in four straight seasons and has 16 rushing touchdowns in that span.	ARI	433
QB10	Joe Burrow Draft Note by John Paulsen Burrow was the fantasy QB3 last season after an injury-shortened QB23 finish the year before. He was the QB4 in 2022 and the QB6 in 2021, so he has a history of midrange QB1 finishes. The defense isn’t particularly good and the Bengals re-signed Tee Higgins, so Burrow has all of his weapons back. I’m expecting another strong season from Burrow and Co.	CIN	433
QB11	Jameis Winston	NYG	433
QB12	Justin Fields Draft Note by John Paulsen Somewhat limited as a passer, Fields still projects to be a solid fantasy quarterback provided he can hold onto the starting job in New York. In six starts for the Steelers, Fields was the fantasy QB6 at the time that Russell Wilson was installed as the rest-of-season starter. In those six starts, Fields threw five touchdowns and rushed for 289 yards and another five scores. That rushing upside makes him a dangerous fantasy asset. As the Bears' starter from 2022 to 2023 (28 starts), Fields racked up the ninth-most fantasy points with the seventh-highest per-game average, so he's done it before. He'll be ranked as a low-end fantasy QB1 as long as he's projected to start for the Jets.	NYJ	413
QB13	Aaron Rodgers Draft Note by John Paulsen Rodgers finished as the fantasy QB16 last season, though he was the QB23 on a per-game basis (14.5 points per game). In his previous full season, with the Packers, he was the fantasy QB15 with the QB23 per-game average, so he’s settled into low-end QB2-type numbers on a weekly basis. He joins a Pittsburgh team that is short on playmakers in the passing game, though the Steelers did trade for both DK Metcalf and Jonnu Smith. Pat Freiermuth, Calvin Austin III, Robert Woods, and Roman Wilson round out the pass-catchers. Rodgers doesn’t have a history with any of these guys, the Steelers’ organization, or play-caller Arthur Smith, so it’s unlikely that this all combines to anything more than what we’ve seen from him in his last two full seasons.	PIT	406
QB14	Geno Smith Draft Note by John Paulsen Working backward, Smith finished QB15, QB19, and QB6 in the last three seasons. On the plus side, he has thrown for the third-most yardage (12,226), the eighth-most touchdowns (71), and has rushed for the 10th-most yards (793) in the last three seasons combined. He also has the third-most starts (49) in that span, so his solid numbers aren’t entirely surprising. He has a great tight end in Brock Bowers and a solid secondary option in Jakobi Meyers, and the Raiders added Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton–who tore up minicamp–in the draft. Fantasy-wise, he’ll be in the low-end QB2 mix this summer, but could surprise with a low-end QB1 season.	LV	406
QB15	Baker Mayfield Draft Note by John Paulsen Mayfield rounds out the Top 6, which is not something I ever thought I’d be saying after his career began to go sideways in his fourth season. But he has finished QB5 and QB9 the last two seasons, has one of the best receiving corps–Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, and Cade Otton–in the league, and he can run a little bit (378 yards, 3 rushing touchdowns last season). My only concern is that he’s on his third offensive coordinator in three years, but new OC Josh Grizzard was promoted from within and was the pass game coordinator last season. Mayfield should post midrange QB1 numbers once again.	TB	400
QB16	Trevor Lawrence Draft Note by John Paulsen Lawrence missed half of the season due to AC joint injury and subsequent surgery. In his nine healthy games, he was the fantasy QB11, though he was the QB16 on a per-game basis since he didn’t have his bye in that span. He was the fantasy QB14 in 2023 with the QB19 per-game average, so he has settled into midrange QB2-type territory in the last couple of years after a QB8 finish in 2022. Christian Kirk and Evan Engram are gone, so Lawrence will be throwing to some new faces–Travis Hunter and Dyami Brown–along with a few familiar ones in Brian Thomas Jr. and Brenton Strange. He profiles as a mid- to low-end QB2 given the depth at the position.	JAX	400
QB17	Malik Willis	GB	393
QB18	Justin Herbert Draft Note by John Paulsen Herbert finished as the fantasy QB13 last season after a 13-game, QB16 finish the year before. (He was QB13 on a per-game basis in 2023.) So after a pretty hot start to his career, he has settled into low-end QB1/high-end QB2 territory and he plays for Jim Harbaugh, who likes to establish the run. His 29.6 pass attempts per game last season were well off his career average of 39.1, though he set a career high in yards per attempt (7.7). Daniel Popper (The Athletic) believes that the Chargers’ passing attack “felt stunted” last year due to a lack of vertical threats; “that will not be the case this year.” The Chargers added Tre’ Harris, Oronde Gadsen, and brought 30-year-old Mike Williams back.	LAC	386
QB19	Sam Darnold Draft Note by John Paulsen In 2024, Darnold was the fantasy QB9 in what was easily the best season of his career. He threw for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns, and rushed for another 212 yards and a score. With D.K. Metcalf landing in Pittsburgh and Tyler Lockett waived, the Seahawks' receiver cupboard is a little bare, though the Seahawks added Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdes-Scantling in free agency. As it stands, without Kevin O'Connell leading the way, and diminished weapons, Darnold is shaping up to be a mid- to low-end QB2, fantasy-wise.	SEA	379
QB20	Daniel Jones Draft Note by John Paulsen Jones is set to make $13.5 million fully guaranteed, and Anthony Richardson is still experiencing pain in his surgically-repaired throwing shoulder. Over the past two seasons, Jones has started 16 games, compiling 2,979 yards, 10 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, while gaining 471 yards and three scores as a runner. His 5.95 yards per attempt in that span is dreadful. On the bright side, Jones has had a couple of competent seasons. He threw 24 touchdowns versus 12 picks as a rookie, and had a 15:5 touchdown-to-interception ratio back in 2022 when he went 9-6-1 as the Giants' starter. Given Richardson’s status, and Jones’s ability to run the ball, he’s an intriguing value pick as the QB35 in early drafts. Any sort of recovery in his passing numbers would vault him into the QB2 conversation.	IND	379
QB21	Mason Rudolph	PIT	379
QB22	Kenny Pickett	CLE	372
QB23	Gardner Minshew	KC	372
QB24	Tua Tagovailoa Draft Note by John Paulsen Tagovailoa averaged 17.2 in his 10 non-injury games, but left early and missed seven games thanks to another concussion and a late-season hip injury, so he finished as the fantasy QB20, which is actually pretty impressive considering he missed so much time. He finished QB10 in a full 2023 season, so his per-game production is typically low-end QB1. If he can stay healthy there will likely be some value to be had given his low-end QB2 ADP. That’s a big “if,” however, given that he’s missed 14 games in the last four years and could be one severe concussion away from retirement. That said, given his ADP, he could be a productive member of a quarterback-by-committee strategy.	MIA	372
QB25	Jalen Hurts Draft Note by John Paulsen Hurts finished as the fantasy QB6 but missed most of Week 16 and all of Week 17. His 22.2 points per game in his 14 non-injury games would have been the fourth-highest average, just ahead of Jayden Daniels. With Saquon Barkley in tow, the Eagles were more run-oriented in 2024, and Hurts’s pass attempts dropped from 31.6 per game in 2023 to 25.5 last year. If his pass attempts remain that low, he will have a tough time challenging Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen for an overall QB1 finish, especially with Barkley keeping his rushing touchdowns in check. He’s still a rock-solid, high-end QB1 even if his ceiling isn’t as high these days.	PHI	372
QB26	Mitch Trubisky	BUF	372
QB27	Jordan Love Draft Note by John Paulsen Call me a homer, but Love is a value as the QB17 off the board. He was the fantasy QB17 last year, and quarterback is deep, so I get the ADP, but he dealt with multiple injuries and still was QB13 on a per-game basis after finishing as the fantasy QB5 in 2023. Sure, the Packers are more run-heavy with Josh Jacobs in the offense, but the Packers drafted two receivers in the first three rounds, and that signals an emphasis on improving the passing game in 2025. Considering he was already the QB13 on a per-game basis last season, if he can improve from there and perhaps get back to his top-five production, he would be a massive value at his current ADP.	GB	366
QB28	Mac Jones	SF	359
QB29	Zach Wilson	MIA	345
QB30	Cooper Rush	BAL	339
QB31	Cam Ward Draft Note by John Paulsen Ward will start immediately, but his fantasy expectations should be kept in check thanks to a so-so set of receiving weapons. Calvin Ridley is the headliner, and he’s solid, but when Van Jefferson is your WR2, you’re probably in trouble. (The team did add Tyler Lockett on draft day; he could play in two-receiver sets ahead of Jefferson.) Ward can run, and my rookie quarterback model projects him to rush for 15.0 yards per game. That’s about what Bo Nix (15.4 projected, 25.3 actual) and Bryce Young (14.9 projected, 15.8 actual) were projected for in their rookie seasons. If the Titans add another good weapon–Keenan Allen?–and Ward runs a bit more than expected, then he could push for high-end QB2/low-end QB1 numbers as a rookie. He’ll certainly be in the mix as an upside QB2-type in two-QB/superflex formats.	TEN	339
QB32	Brock Purdy Draft Note by John Paulsen Purdy was the QB12 last year but was QB9 on a per-game basis. In 2023, he was the QB6 and QB8 on a per-game basis, so he has settled into low-end QB1 status. He lost Deebo Samuel, who is a weapon, and the 49ers are expecting Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall to pick up the slack. Brandon Aiyuk, Christian McCaffrey, and George Kittle return, so Purdy has plenty of weapons to throw to. The 49ers lost a lot of talent in free agency, especially on the defensive side of the ball, so they may struggle to stop anyone, and that could lead to heavy passing volume for Purdy and Co.	SF	339
QB33	Joshua Dobbs	NE	332
QB34	Jarrett Stidham	DEN	305
QB35	Joe Flacco	CLE	298
QB36	Andy Dalton	CAR	284
QB37	Jake Browning	CIN	264
QB38	Davis Mills	HOU	264
QB39	Sam Howell	MIN	251
QB40	C.J. Stroud Draft Note by John Paulsen Stroud suffered a sophomore slump in 2024, finishing as the QB19 with the No. 27 per-game average among quarterbacks. As a rookie, he finished QB12 and had the No. 11 per-game average. It’s pretty common for quarterbacks who thrive as rookies to have a subpar second season now that the rest of the league has plenty of film to figure them out. The Texans lost Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell is unlikely to contribute in 2025, but they did trade for Christian Kirk and added both Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel in the Draft, so Stroud should have enough weapons to throw to, especially with Nico Collins emerging as a star receiver.	HOU	237
QB41	Tanner McKee	PHI	230
QB42	Anthony Richardson	IND	223
QB43	Will Levis	TEN	223
QB44	Kyle Trask	TB	217
QB45	Aidan O'Connell	LV	210
QB46	Tyler Shough	NO	203
QB47	Jaxson Dart	NYG	203
QB48	Jimmy Garoppolo	LAR	203
QB49	Tyrod Taylor	NYJ	203
QB50	Marcus Mariota	WAS	203
QB51	Jacoby Brissett	ARI	203
QB52	Hendon Hooker	DET	196
QB53	Bryce Young Draft Note by John Paulsen Young was benched after Week 2, but when his backup, Andy Dalton, was injured late in Week 7, he got the starting job back. From that point on, he showed serious signs of competency, averaging a solid 210 yards passing and 1.5 touchdowns to go along with increased production as a runner (22 yards, 0.5 touchdowns per game). The resulting 18.0 fantasy points per game were enough to make him the QB12 from Week 8 through Week 18. Drafters are justifiably cautious–he’s being drafted as a high-end QB3–but he may hold value there if he can carry over his progress to 2025, continues to run the ball, and can vibe quickly with first-round draft pick Tetairoa McMillan.	CAR	196
QB54	Joe Milton	DAL	176
QB55	Michael Penix Jr. Draft Note by John Paulsen Penix took over for Kirk Cousins late in the season, drawing the final three starts and posting an average of 246 yards and 1.0 touchdown as a passer. He was the fantasy QB18 in that span. He doesn’t offer much as a runner, so as a pocket passer, he’ll have to be very productive to turn into a fantasy starter. Drafters peg him as a low-end QB2/high-end QB3, and I tend to agree.	ATL	163
QB56	Jayden Daniels Draft Note by John Paulsen My top quarterback target in last year’s fantasy drafts didn’t disappoint, finishing QB4 after being drafted in the QB10-QB12 range all summer. This year, he’ll have another weapon to throw to thanks to the Commanders’ trade for Deebo Samuel. The Commanders also drafted Jaylin Lane in the fourth round to shore up the team’s WR depth.	WAS	163
QB57	Drake Maye Draft Note by John Paulsen Maye is intriguing since he averaged low-end QB1 numbers–17.7 points per game–in his nine full-ish games. The Patriots added a talented yet aging receiver in Stefon Diggs, who could serve as an adequate WR1 if his ACL recovery continues to go well. New England also added big-play receiver Kyle Williams in the third round.	NE	156
QB58	Tyson Bagent	CHI	156
QB59	Caleb Williams Draft Note by John Paulsen As a rookie, Williams finished as the fantasy QB14, though he had seven games with fewer than 10 fantasy points. He ran more than expected (28.8 yards per game), and if he keeps that up while also getting a bump from the arrival of new HC Ben Johnson and his brilliant play-calling, then Williams has a good shot to get into low-end QB1 territory. He has a good receiving corps–D.J. Moore, Rome Odunze, Cole Kmet, and rookies Luther Burden and Colston Loveland–though the loss of Keenan Allen may sting a bit.	CHI	149
QB60	Bo Nix Draft Note by John Paulsen Nix finished QB9 on the season, but after a rough start, he was the fantasy QB5 from Week 5 on. He has dual-threat ability and scored at least 16.1 fantasy points in 10 of his last 13 games. “Good” rookie quarterbacks tend to regress a bit in year two–fantasy points drop on average by 6.3%– but the Broncos added Evan Engram in free agency and two receiving weapons–second-round RB RJ Harvey and third-round WR Pat Bryant–in the Draft, and that could offset a sophomore regression.	DEN	149
QB61	Jalen Milroe	SEA	135
QB62	Spencer Rattler	NO	135
QB63	J.J. McCarthy Draft Note by John Paulsen Last year, three quarterbacks drafted QB20 or later finished in the top 12: Baker Mayfield (QB21), Sam Darnold (QB31), and Bo Nix (QB23). They had a couple of things in common: 1) a strong offensive mind calling the plays, and 2) they can score fantasy points with their legs. Darnold (QB27) can run, but Klint Kubiak is not a certified offensive genius like, say, Kevin O’Connell, who coaxed a QB8 finish out of Darnold last season. That’s why I like QB19 J.J. McCarthy to meet or exceed his draft position. It’s pretty simple: In O’Connell we trust. McCarthy will run a bit and has a nice group of weapons, including Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, and Aaron Jones.	MIN	122
QB64	Nick Mullens	JAX	68
QB65	Dillon Gabriel	CLE	68
QB66	Shedeur Sanders	CLE	68

RB1	Aaron Jones Draft Note by John Paulsen Jones remains one of the most productive dual-threat running backs in the league. He racked up the seventh-most yards from scrimmage (1,546) and the eighth-most receptions (51) at his position, finishing as the fantasy RB15 on the year. His 306 touches were a career-high and it’s unlikely that the 30-year-old back will be able to hold up to that kind of workload. The Athletic’s Alec Lewis reported that the Vikings want more of a “by-committee approach” in 2025, and they traded for a solid committee back (Jordan Mason), so Jones is shaping up to be a low-end RB2/high-end RB3 type.	MIN	624
RB2	Jonathan Taylor Draft Note by John Paulsen Taylor enters his age-26 season still firmly in his prime, but durability remains a concern—he’s missed 16 games over the last three years. In 2024, he played 14 games and finished as the fantasy RB14, but was RB8 on a per-game basis, racking up 1,567 total yards and 12 touchdowns on 321 touches. While he hasn’t been much of a receiving threat the last two seasons (just 1.5 catches per game), he showed pass-catching upside early in his career (76 receptions across his first two seasons), and his receiving role could grow if Daniel Jones wins the starting job. Last season, Jones targeted running backs on 13.5% of his throws compared to just 7.8% for Anthony Richardson over the past two seasons. Taylor was efficient before contact (6th out of 46 qualified backs) but struggled to create after it, ranking 36th in yards after contact per attempt and 35th in broken tackle rate. That could be a function of injury, usage, or offensive design, but it’s something to monitor. Taylor is a strong bet for 300+ touches again in 2025 and remains a midrange RB1 with top-five upside if he can stay on the field and see a bump in receiving usage.	IND	610
RB3	Derrick Henry Draft Note by John Paulsen Henry rushed for nearly 2,000 yards (1,921), and scored 18 total touchdowns. He should continue to defy Father Time, at least for one more season, probably more. He looked great last year, posting the highest yards after contact per attempt (2.8), the fourth-highest yards before contact per attempt (3.1) and the most broken tackles per attempt (0.13). He also posted the highest run grade (93.5) at PFF.	BAL	603
RB4	Christian McCaffrey Draft Note by John Paulsen McCaffrey is coming off a lost 2024 season, playing in just four games and finishing as the RB30 on a per-game basis after battling a PCL sprain and a nagging Achilles issue. Now 29 years old with 20 missed games over the last three seasons, durability is a legitimate concern. That said, his ceiling remains unmatched when he’s healthy—just two years ago, he was the overall RB1 and outscored the RB2 (Raheem Mostert) by more than 100 half-PPR points. He participated fully in 49ers minicamp and appears on track for a full workload heading into 2025. San Francisco’s offense is still loaded with playmakers and remains one of the most efficient scoring units in the league. If McCaffrey can stay on the field, he still has league-winning upside. The risk is higher than in years past, but so is the potential reward—he’s a high-variance RB1 with overall RB1 in his range of outcomes.	SF	582
RB5	Austin Ekeler Draft Note by John Paulsen Now entering his age-30 season, Ekeler is at the stage of his career where durability and workload are both legitimate concerns. He’s missed eight games over the past two seasons and is a good bet to miss a few games in 2025. Still, Ekeler was efficient when on the field in 2024, averaging 9.3 touches for 61.1 total yards and 0.33 touchdowns per game. His 4.8 yards per carry was his best mark since 2018, thanks in part to an elite 3.0 yards before contact per attempt. He’s not breaking as many tackles as he used to, but his vision and burst still pop when the blocking is there. Deebo Samuel’s arrival adds another layer of competition for touches, particularly in the short-area game. Ekeler profiles as a weekly RB3 with some spike-week potential in PPR formats, but the days of him being a top-tier fantasy asset appear to be in the rearview mirror.	WAS	561
RB6	James Conner Draft Note by John Paulsen Conner continues to produce at a high level, finishing as the fantasy RB10 in 2024 after an RB15 per-game finish the year prior. Now entering his age-30 season, he’s still getting it done with outstanding efficiency—among 46 qualified backs, he ranked 9th in yards after contact per attempt, 5th in broken tackles per attempt, and earned the 8th-highest rushing grade at PFF. Despite his physical running style, he’s showing no signs of slowing down just yet. That said, the Cardinals may be preparing to ease his workload. Rookie Trey Benson is waiting in the wings, and head coach Jonathan Gannon recently said, “If [Trey] takes the necessary jump from Year 1 to Year 2, I think we have two starting backs.” That could signal a shift toward more of a timeshare in 2025, especially with Conner entering a more injury-prone phase of his career. Conner’s still a strong, tackle-breaking runner in an offense that looked improved with Kyler Murray back under center. He’s best viewed as a mid-range RB2 with some RB1 weeks in his range, though his age and Benson’s presence add some risk to his season-long volume.	ARI	561
RB7	Antonio Gibson	NE	546
RB8	Raheem Mostert	LV	546
RB9	Alvin Kamara Draft Note by John Paulsen Kamara keeps defying the odds, finishing as the fantasy RB9 in 2024 despite turning 30 this summer and operating in an inconsistent Saints offense. His rushing efficiency has clearly declined—he ranked 40th in yards after contact per attempt, 28th in broken tackles per attempt, and posted just the 19th-best PFF rushing grade among qualified backs. But he remains serviceable before contact (16th), and more importantly, he's still one of the league’s premier receiving backs. Over the last two seasons, Kamara leads all running backs in receptions (143) and ranks second in receiving yards (1,009), and his 2nd-place finish in yards per route run in 2024 highlights just how dangerous he still is as a pass-catcher. The problem? The Saints’ quarterback room is among the worst in the league, and scoring opportunities may be few and far between. Kamara’s age and declining rushing efficiency are real red flags, but his elite passing-game role keeps him firmly in the RB2 mix in PPR and half-PPR formats. Just temper expectations in standard scoring leagues or if the offense completely stalls.	NO	539
RB10	Saquon Barkley Draft Note by John Paulsen Barkley finished as the fantasy RB1 in 2024, racking up 2,005 rushing yards, 278 receiving yards, and 15 total touchdowns while averaging 21.2 half-PPR points per game. He was the engine of the Eagles’ offense, handling a massive workload with little competition for touches. With Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith still in place, the unit remains dangerous and should continue to generate scoring opportunities. Barkley’s elite volume and goal-line role make him one of the safest picks in fantasy, and if the offense takes a step forward in 2025, he has a real shot to repeat as the overall RB1.	PHI	539
RB11	D'Andre Swift Draft Note by John Paulsen Swift finished as the RB19 in half-PPR scoring last season, and while the Bears didn’t make any major moves at running back—only adding seventh-rounder Kyle Monangai—there’s still some uncertainty about how this backfield will shake out. Roschon Johnson was wildly inefficient (2.7 YPC), so Swift has a clear path to lead the backfield, even after a mediocre 2024 campaign of his own (3.8 YPC). Efficiency was a real concern: among 46 backs with at least 100 carries, Swift ranked 28th in yards before contact, 39th in yards after contact, and 45th in broken tackles per attempt. His PFF rush grade (45th out of 57 qualifiers) supports what the numbers and tape showed—he left a lot of meat on the bone. Still, new head coach Ben Johnson has a strong track record with running backs, and Swift played under him in Detroit back in 2022, when he averaged 5.5 YPC in a reduced role behind Jamaal Williams. The Lions moved on from Swift due to durability concerns, not talent. If he stays healthy, he should be the lead back in an offense that could take a big step forward with Johnson calling plays and Caleb Williams under center. Volume alone gives him RB3/FLEX value, with upside for more if Johnson can unlock his big-play ability.	CHI	539
RB12	Devin Singletary	NYG	525
RB13	David Montgomery Draft Note by John Paulsen Montgomery continues to be a reliable fantasy option in Detroit’s high-powered offense, finishing as the RB17 in 2024 despite missing three games—he was the RB13 on a per-game basis. That followed a strong 2023 campaign where he finished RB14 overall and RB8 in per-game scoring. As Jahmyr Gibbs' role grew, Montgomery’s touches dipped slightly from 16.8 per game in 2023 to 15.8 in 2024, but he made up for it with a larger receiving role—jumping from 16 receptions to 36 year-over-year. Efficiency-wise, he remains a tough, physical runner: he ranked 36th in yards before contact but 15th in yards after contact and 4th in broken tackles per attempt. His 16th-place PFF rushing grade was solid, reinforcing his reputation as an above-average grinder who can get the tough yards and score touchdowns. Montgomery’s weekly upside is somewhat TD-dependent, but his consistent workload and role near the goal line make him a dependable RB2, even as Gibbs becomes the flashier fantasy asset.	DET	525
RB14	Josh Jacobs Draft Note by John Paulsen After leading the league in rushing in 2022 with 1,653 yards, Jacobs missed four games in 2023 and ultimately signed with the Packers last spring. He finished as the fantasy RB5 overall with 337 touches for 1,671 total yards and 16 touchdowns. At 27 years old, he’s still in his prime and now entrenched as the lead back in a high-scoring Packers offense orchestrated by Matt LaFleur. He ranked just 32nd in yards before contact per attempt among 46 qualified backs, but he more than made up for it with elite tackle-breaking and post-contact production. He was 8th in yards after contact per attempt, 3rd in broken tackles per attempt, and earned the 5th-highest rushing grade at PFF. That kind of efficiency, paired with a huge workload and goal-line role in a top-tier offense, makes Jacobs a rock-solid RB1. He's a dual threat with dependable volume and a nose for the end zone.	GB	525
RB15	Joe Mixon Draft Note by John Paulsen Montgomery continues to be a reliable fantasy option in Detroit’s high-powered offense, finishing as the RB17 in 2024 despite missing three games—he was the RB13 on a per-game basis. That followed a strong 2023 campaign where he finished RB14 overall and RB8 in per-game scoring. As Jahmyr Gibbs' role grew, Montgomery’s touches dipped slightly from 16.8 per game in 2023 to 15.8 in 2024, but he made up for it with a larger receiving role—jumping from 16 receptions to 36 year-over-year. Efficiency-wise, he remains a tough, physical runner: he ranked 36th in yards before contact but 15th in yards after contact and 4th in broken tackles per attempt. His 16th-place PFF rushing grade was solid, reinforcing his reputation as an above-average grinder who can get the tough yards and score touchdowns. Montgomery’s weekly upside is somewhat TD-dependent, but his consistent workload and role near the goal line make him a dependable RB2, even as Gibbs becomes the flashier fantasy asset. If Gibbs were to get injured, Monty would have top-five upside.	HOU	525
RB16	Ty Johnson	BUF	504
RB17	Najee Harris Draft Note by John Paulsen Prior to the Draft, this looked like the perfect landing spot for Harris, who has averaged 319 touches per season and has never missed a game. However, the Chargers drafted Omarion Hampton in the first round, giving him the likely edge to lead this backfield in touches. Harris’s efficiency is nothing to write home about--4.0 yards per carry, 27th (out of 46) in yards after contact per attempt, 17th in broken tackles per attempt--but he is a solid dual-threat who can carry the load if necessary.	LAC	490
RB18	Javonte Williams Draft Note by John Paulsen It’s put-up or shut-up time for Javonte Williams. Now two full seasons removed from his devastating knee injury, Williams told team reporter Tommy Yarrish that he “feels completely like [him]self” and that the healing process is “done.” That may be true physically, but the numbers suggest otherwise. As a rookie, Williams was a tackle-breaking machine—first in broken tackles per attempt (0.153), with strong marks in both yards before (2.2) and after (2.3) contact per attempt. But in 2024, he averaged just 1.9 yards before contact (20th percentile), 1.8 after contact (20th), and a meager 0.029 broken tackles per attempt (7th). He hasn’t looked like the same explosive runner he was pre-injury. The Cowboys added Miles Sanders in free agency and drafted Jaydon Blue, whose speed and receiving chops could quickly carve out a role. Williams hasn’t been promised anything, but he is getting first-team reps in early practices. He’ll need to fend off multiple challengers to return RB3/flex value, but he has the inside track—for now. Consider him a shaky RB3 with a short leash and limited upside.	DAL	483
RB19	Kareem Hunt	KC	475
RB20	Tony Pollard Draft Note by John Paulsen Pollard was the fantasy RB21 last season. He did benefit from the absence of Tyjae Spears, who missed a few games. Pollard’s workload increased from 16.4 touches per game with Spears to 24.2 touches in the five games that Spears missed. The arrival of Cam Ward should help the Titans’ offense and, in turn, Pollard’s touchdown prospects. He looks more like a low-end RB2 than his midrange RB3 ADP would indicate.	TEN	475
RB21	Justice Hill	BAL	468
RB22	J.K. Dobbins Draft Note by John Paulsen Dobbins bounced back in 2024, finishing as the RB23 despite playing in only 12 games. On a per-game basis, he averaged 13.9 half-PPR points, good for RB17—solid production in a year where he showed flashes of his pre-injury form. The Chargers opted not to re-sign him, and he now lands in Denver, where he'll compete in a Sean Payton offense that could lean on rookie RJ Harvey. Dobbins was a tackle-breaking machine last year, ranking 2nd (behind only Derrick Henry) in broken tackles per attempt. He also finished 7th in yards after contact per attempt, though a surprising dip in PFF’s rush grade (43rd of 57) raises some eyebrows. He added 32 receptions, but his 54th-place finish (out of 59) in yards per route run suggests limited upside in the passing game. The backfield split with Harvey remains unclear, but Dobbins has a real shot to lead this backfield early. If he wins the starting job outright, he offers RB2 value with weekly touchdown upside. At worst, he’s a high-end handcuff with standalone FLEX appeal in a potentially run-friendly system.	DEN	468
RB23	Zack Moss	CIN	454
RB24	Clyde Edwards-Helaire	NO	454
RB25	Travis Etienne Draft Note by John Paulsen Trying to decipher the Jaguars’ backfield in 2024 was like reading tea leaves. Etienne opened the season as the starter, averaging 14.3 touches and a healthy 4.55 YPC through the first four games. But starting in Week 4, Tank Bigsby began to carve out a role, rushing for 90 yards against the Texans. He followed that with a breakout performance against the Colts in Week 5 (14 touches, 129 yards, 2 TDs) with Etienne active, and then dominated in Week 7 against the Patriots (26 carries, 118 yards, 2 TDs) while Etienne was sidelined with a hamstring injury. Bigsby ultimately averaged 4.6 yards per carry—nearly a full yard more than Etienne (3.7)—though Etienne maintained the passing-down role. The Jags also added Bhayshul Tuten in the fourth round of the draft, a superior athlete who adds yet another variable to this backfield. With Etienne healthy and still involved, and Tuten now in the mix, the Jaguars’ backfield could unfold in several ways.	JAX	454
RB26	Cam Akers	NO	440
RB27	Craig Reynolds	DET	440
RB28	Cordarrelle Patterson	PIT	440
RB29	Ashton Jeanty Draft Note by John Paulsen In his final collegiate season, Jeanty racked up 2,739 total yards and 30 touchdowns for Boise State. His receiving numbers (23-238-1) were modest, but he was far more utilized as a receiver in the previous season (43-569-5), so he has the receiving chops to be a dual-threat in the NFL. The Raiders struggled to run the ball last year (3.6 YPC as a team), and Jeanty should vastly improve the team's per carry and overall production. He's a dual threat and should see a bell cow workload, so he's a threat for fantasy RB1 numbers from the get-go. The only knocks on his game appear to be his shaky pass protection and suspect ball security. The former might impact his snaps if the Raiders elect to pull him out on obvious passing downs. Regardless, I’m expecting a huge workload, and that should lead to RB1 fantasy production. Follow the touches.	LV	426
RB30	Omarion Hampton Draft Note by John Paulsen Hampton was the second running back off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft, landing with the Chargers late in the first round. Historically, that’s a promising signal—since 2010, running backs drafted in the back half of the first round who played at least 14 games have averaged 234 touches for 1,160 total yards and 6.7 touchdowns as rookies. The Chargers also signed Najee Harris, so a committee could emerge, but Hampton—armed with first-round draft capital and superior athletic traits—has the inside track to lead the backfield in touches. His closest comp on Player Profiler is Jonathan Taylor, and it’s easy to see why: 4.46 speed, a 94th percentile speed score, and 91st percentile burst. He also earned the 7th-highest PFF rushing grade in this year’s class, and he showed three-down capability with 38 catches for 373 yards and two scores as a junior. With head coach Jim Harbaugh expected to continue to lean on the run game, Hampton could push for 225+ touches as a rookie. If he seizes goal-line work and maintains a passing-game role, he’ll offer midrange RB2 value right away—with room for more if Harris fades into a complementary role.	LAC	426
RB31	Jaydon Blue Draft Note by John Paulsen Blue enters the 2025 season in a three-headed backfield with Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, but he’s easily the most intriguing option of the trio. His 4.43 speed and 73rd percentile speed score (per Player Profiler) give him home-run potential that neither Williams nor Sanders can match at this point in their careers. While he ranked just 48th out of 67 qualified backs in PFF’s collegiate rushing grade last season, he stood out as a receiver, finishing 9th out of 64 in yards per route run. He’s not built to handle heavy volume between the tackles, but he doesn’t need to. Given the lackluster production and durability concerns of his backfield competition, Blue could carve out a valuable 10–12 touch-per-game role—especially in a pass-heavy, fast-paced Cowboys offense. He’s a high-upside late-round dart throw in PPR formats, with standalone FLEX value if the touches materialize early.	DAL	426
RB32	Quinshon Judkins Draft Note by John Paulsen The Browns used the No. 36 overall pick on Judkins, signaling their confidence that he can be a foundational piece in their post-Nick Chubb backfield. Since 2010, second-round backs who’ve played at least 14 games have averaged 188 touches for 931 total yards and 5.4 touchdowns as rookies—numbers well within reach for Judkins given the opportunity in Cleveland. With Chubb no longer on the roster, the depth chart is wide open. The Browns also drafted Dylan Sampson in the fourth round, but Judkins’ superior draft capital and athletic profile (92nd percentile speed score, 94th percentile burst score) give him the clear edge heading into camp. He was 9th in PFF’s rushing grade among this year’s rookies and is already regarded as dependable in both pass-catching and pass protection, which should earn him early-down work with potential for more. Judkins could flirt with 250+ touches as a rookie in a run-heavy scheme. He’s a high-upside RB3 with the potential to rise quickly into RB2 territory if he wins the job outright. His July arrest for domestic violence may cause him to miss time, however.	CLE	426
RB33	RJ Harvey Draft Note by John Paulsen Javonte Williams is gone, so the Broncos headed into the Draft with Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime as their top two running backs. Running back was clearly the priority, and despite the J.K. Dobbins signing, Harvey is the slight favorite to lead the backfield, given the second-round draft capital the Broncos used to acquire him. He is 88th percentile or higher in Burst Score, Speed Score, and 40-yard speed (4.40) per Player Profiler. "When you look at the running skill set, it was, 'wow,' and explosive runs, all of those things," HC Sean Payton said of Harvey following the draft. "I know the question is, ‘Is he a three-down back?’" Payton said. "Well, he’s going to play on third down, but he could play on third down where the tight end is in protection opposite. There’s a lot we can do relative to really suit his strengths.” Payton went on to invoke Darren Sproles’ name, referencing how he deployed the diminutive Sproles in pass protection. (Sproles had the eighth-most PPR points from 2011 to 2013, playing for Payton. What I’m getting at is that it’s a good thing that Payton is comparing Harvey to Sproles.) As for Dobbins, he has a career 5.2 YPC–4.6 last year–and is a much better pass-blocker than Harvey, so the veteran is a threat to Harvey’s snaps on all three downs.	DEN	426
RB34	C.J. Ham	MIN	426
RB35	TreVeyon Henderson Draft Note by John Paulsen The Patriots used the No. 38 overall pick on Henderson, and that kind of early second-round draft capital strongly suggests they view him as more than just a change-of-pace back. Since 2010, second-round running backs who played at least 14 games have averaged 188 touches for 931 total yards and 5.4 touchdowns as rookies—production well within Henderson’s range if he can carve out a consistent role. New GM Eliot Wolf called him “a three-down back and a really good complement,” which doesn’t clarify much, but it’s notable considering Rhamondre Stevenson has averaged just 3.91 yards per carry over the last two seasons. Henderson offers another gear—he ran a 4.43 with an 81st percentile speed score and 91st percentile burst score per Player Profiler—and he ranked 4th in PFF rushing grade in this year’s draft class. Chad Graff of The Athletic wrote that Henderson “might be the most exciting player for Patriots fans to watch in camp” and that “it’s frankly astounding how quickly he gets to top speed.” If that explosiveness translates early, he could quickly leapfrog Stevenson and push for lead-back duties. For now, Henderson profiles as a high-end, upside RB3 with the potential to be a weekly RB2 if he grabs the top spot in what should be an improving offense.	NE	426
RB36	DeeJay Dallas	ARI	419
RB37	A.J. Dillon	PHI	412
RB38	Kyle Juszczyk	SF	390
RB39	Chuba Hubbard Draft Note by John Paulsen In a bit of a surprise, the Panthers signed Rico Dowdle in free agency. Last year, Dowdle and Hubbard both averaged 2.2 yards after contact per attempt, while Hubbard had the advantage in broken tackles (17.9 att/broken tackle vs. 21.4 att/broken tackle for Dowdle) and PFF rush grade (87.0 vs. 74.4). Hubbard handled 73.1% of the team's backfield carries and 60.6% of the receptions. With a healthy Dowdle in the mix, I could see those shares being closer to 65% of the carries and 50% of the receptions. That being said, Miles Sanders fared a lot better as a receiver than Hubbard did (6.2 YPR vs. 4.0 YPR) yet Hubbard nearly doubled Sanders in receptions (43 to 24), so Hubbard's backfield shares may depend mostly on his playing time versus specific roles for him and Dowdle.	CAR	390
RB40	Patrick Taylor	SF	383
RB41	Khalil Herbert	IND	383
RB42	James Cook Draft Note by John Paulsen Cook finally found the end zone in 2024—after scoring just four rushing touchdowns across his first two seasons, he punched in 16 on the ground last year, propelling him to an RB8 finish in half-PPR formats. While that spike in touchdowns was a welcome development for fantasy managers, some regression is likely in 2025, especially with Josh Allen still handling a healthy share of goal-line work. Cook was solid across the board as a runner, ranking 12th in yards before contact, 14th in yards after contact, and 24th in broken tackles per attempt among 46 qualified backs. He remains a key piece of a high-scoring Buffalo offense that should continue to give him plenty of scoring opportunities, even if last year’s touchdown rate proves unsustainable. He’s currently seeking a contract extension but showed good faith by attending the team’s mandatory minicamp. Cook enters 2025 as a rock-solid RB2 with upside in an explosive offense—just don’t count on another 16 rushing scores.	BUF	383
RB43	Jordan Mason Draft Note by John Paulsen Mason posted the No. 20 PFF rush grade this year, was 16th in yards after contact per attempt, and 14th in broken tackles per attempt. Prior to Christian McCaffrey's return, he averaged 18.3 carries for 95.3 yards (5.21 yards per carry) and 0.43 touchdowns. He was the fantasy RB9 in that span. After the trade to Minnesota, Mason will likely form a 1-2 punch with Aaron Jones and could eventually take over as Minnesota's lead back if/when Jones moves on. Mason is a great target for Zero RB drafters given his 9th/10th-round ADP and upside if anything were to happen to the somewhat injury-prone Jones.	MIN	376
RB44	Alexander Mattison	MIA	376
RB45	Rhamondre Stevenson	NE	376
RB46	Jaylen Warren Draft Note by John Paulsen Warren took a step back in 2024, finishing as the RB40 after an RB24 campaign the year before. When the Steelers traded away Najee Harris, it looked like Warren might finally see lead-back touches—but then Pittsburgh spent a third-round pick on Kaleb Johnson, a downhill runner who could take over Harris’s early-down and goal-line role almost entirely. With Arthur Smith calling plays, this backfield looks destined for a committee. Smith has a history of deploying multiple backs, and Johnson’s size and draft capital suggest he’ll be involved right away. That likely leaves Warren in a change-of-pace and passing-down role, which still holds fantasy value—he ranked 13th in yards per route run among running backs last season and remains one of the better receiving backs in the league. Warren is a solid RB3/FLEX in PPR and half-PPR formats, but his weekly ceiling may be limited unless Johnson stumbles or gets hurt.	PIT	362
RB47	Dare Ogunbowale	HOU	362
RB48	Nick Chubb	HOU	355
RB49	Kenneth Gainwell	PIT	355
RB50	Pierre Strong Jr.	CLE	355
RB51	Miles Sanders	DAL	355
RB52	Samaje Perine	CIN	355
RB53	Tyler Allgeier	ATL	348
RB54	Breece Hall Draft Note by John Paulsen After finishing as the fantasy RB6 in 2023, Hall took a step back in 2024, ending the year as the RB18 in both total points and points per game. While the Jets’ offensive dysfunction certainly didn’t help, Hall’s rushing efficiency also left something to be desired. Among 46 qualified backs, he ranked 26th in yards before contact, 22nd in yards after contact, and 42nd in broken tackles per attempt. His PFF rushing grade (39th of 57 backs) echoed the underwhelming ground performance. What keeps Hall firmly in the fringe RB1 conversation is his elite receiving workload. Over the past two seasons, he leads all running backs in receiving yards (1,074) and ranks second in receptions (133). Even with a middling 20th-place finish in yards per route run, that volume matters—especially in PPR and half-PPR formats. If the Jets’ offense can stabilize with better quarterback play from Justin Fields, Hall has top-10 upside based on passing-game usage alone, even if the rushing efficiency doesn’t bounce back.	NYJ	348
RB55	Kyren Williams Draft Note by John Paulsen He’s 25 years old, finished as the RB6 last season, and was third in touches per game (21.9). He was undervalued last year after the Rams drafted Blake Corum, and he appears to be undervalued again this season. The only thing that gives me pause about the 24-year-old Williams is his propensity to fumble the ball. He had five fumbles last year and three the year before, but in the season after the Rams drafted Corum, Williams handled a career-high 350 touches for 1,481 total yards and 16 touchdowns. Corum only averaged 3.6 yards per carry, so he didn’t do anything to justify a lead-back role in 2025.	LAR	333
RB56	Isiah Pacheco Draft Note by John Paulsen Pacheco just couldn’t get it going after returning from a fractured fibula early in the season. He averaged just 35 rush yards on 9.8 carries post-injury and ultimately was playing behind Kareem Hunt in the Chiefs’ postseason run. I would normally not worry too much about Pacheco’s production immediately after a nasty leg injury, but the Chiefs re-signed Hunt and acquired Elijah Mitchell, so I’m certainly worried about Pacheco’s prospects of regaining the lead back role in Kansas City. This is a backfield to monitor this summer.	KC	326
RB57	Rico Dowdle	CAR	326
RB58	Jeremy McNichols	WAS	326
RB59	Brian Robinson Draft Note by John Paulsen Robinson finished as the RB21 last season, but his week-to-week workload largely hinged on Austin Ekeler’s availability. In five games without Ekeler, Robinson averaged 18.4 touches per game—strong RB2 volume. In the nine games they played together, that number dropped to 12.8 touches, pushing Robinson into low-end FLEX territory most weeks. Durability is another concern—he’s missed 10 games over his first three seasons, and his bruising running style hasn’t exactly helped his longevity. With Deebo Samuel now in the mix and potentially siphoning off a handful of carries on gadget plays, Robinson’s weekly ceiling is even more capped in what could be a crowded, unpredictable backfield. Unless Ekeler goes down again, Robinson profiles as a low-ceiling, touchdown-dependent RB3. He’s a viable depth piece in best ball or deeper formats, but tough to trust for consistent starting value in traditional leagues.	WAS	312
RB60	Kenneth Walker Draft Note by John Paulsen Walker has been productive when healthy, finishing as the fantasy RB20 in 2023 (RB18 on a per-game basis) and RB26 in 2024 despite missing time—he was RB14 on a per-game basis last season. Health has been an issue, though, as he's missed 10 games over his first three years. His rushing efficiency was a mixed bag in 2024. Among 46 running backs with at least 100 carries, Walker ranked just 42nd in yards before contact per attempt and 30th in yards after contact, but he was 13th in broken tackles per attempt and earned the third-highest rushing grade at PFF. He continues to show strong vision and elusiveness, even if the Seahawks' offensive line doesn't always open consistent lanes. He caught a career-high 46 passes last season, so his role seems to be growing in the passing game.	SEA	312
RB61	Tyler Goodson	IND	312
RB62	Dameon Pierce	HOU	298
RB63	Chris Rodriguez	WAS	298
RB64	Jahmyr Gibbs Draft Note by John Paulsen Gibbs finished as the RB3 in half-PPR in 2024, piling up 1,412 rushing yards, 517 receiving yards, and 20 total touchdowns while averaging 18.3 fantasy points per game. In the three games that David Montgomery missed, Gibbs exploded for 30.4 fantasy points per game, but he still averaged a rock-solid 17.6 in the 14 games they played together—proof that he doesn't need a full workload to deliver elite production. The Lions will have a new playcaller in 2025 after Ben Johnson took a head coaching job, which introduces a bit of uncertainty, but the offense still projects to be one of the league’s best with Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and an elite offensive line in place. Gibbs is a high-floor, high-ceiling RB1 and a worthy first-round pick in all formats.	DET	298
RB65	Rachaad White	TB	291
RB66	De'Von Achane Draft Note by John Paulsen Achane followed up his electric rookie season with another strong campaign in 2024, finishing as the fantasy RB7 overall and RB11 on a per-game basis. He handled 281 touches for 1,499 total yards and 12 touchdowns, carving out a huge role in Miami’s high-powered offense. His 78 receptions on 87 targets made him one of the most valuable backs in PPR and half-PPR formats--he lead all running backs in receptions and was 10th in yards per route run (1.45) at his position. While his explosive playmaking remained a calling card, Achane's underlying rushing efficiency wasn’t elite. Among 46 running backs with at least 100 carries, he ranked 18th in yards before contact per attempt, 26th in yards after contact per attempt, and 41st in broken tackle rate. That said, Mike McDaniel continues to scheme him into space, and Achane’s game-breaking speed and pass-catching role give him one of the highest ceilings among RB1s. As long as he stays healthy, he’s a weekly difference-maker with top-five upside, especially in formats that reward receptions.	MIA	291
RB67	Bijan Robinson Draft Note by John Paulsen Robinson finished as the fantasy RB4 in 2024, racking up 1,456 rushing yards, 431 receiving yards, and 15 total touchdowns while averaging 17.6 half-PPR points per game. He saw a big jump in usage and efficiency with a more consistent offensive structure under Zac Robinson, and now he’ll enter 2025 with Michael Penix Jr. under center. While young quarterbacks can be volatile, Penix’s downfield ability could help open up space underneath for Robinson in both the run and pass game. The Falcons didn’t add serious backfield competition, so Bijan should once again be in line for 300+ touches. With a playcaller committed to using him as a true three-down weapon, Robinson is locked in as a top-five fantasy back with a realistic path to finish as the overall RB1.	ATL	291
RB68	Jerome Ford	CLE	291
RB69	Cam Skattebo Draft Note by John Paulsen Skattebo lacks long speed, but he makes up for it with burst (89th percentile) and one of the most productive and well-rounded resumes in this year’s rookie class. He finished second only to Ashton Jeanty in PFF’s rushing grade and became the first FBS player since Christian McCaffrey in 2015 to post at least 1,500 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in a single season. SNY’s Connor Hughes called Skattebo “a very good receiver out of the backfield” and suggested he “might be the Giants’ most talented receiving back.” With rookie Tyrone Tracy struggling in pass protection, there’s a clear path for Skattebo to earn the third-down role right away—and if his rushing ability translates, he could push for early-down work, too. Tracy started strong last year but faded late, averaging just 3.5 YPC from Week 12 to Week 18, and much of his receiving value in that span may shift to Skattebo. He’ll likely begin the year as a rotational piece, but Skattebo has the three-down skill set to carve out a larger role in short order. He’s an intriguing late-round pick in PPR leagues, especially for drafters using a Zero RB approach.	NYG	284
RB70	Emanuel Wilson	GB	284
RB71	Elijah Mitchell	KC	284
RB72	Emari Demercado	ARI	284
RB73	Chris Brooks	GB	284
RB74	Ronnie Rivers	LAR	277
RB75	Raheem Blackshear	CAR	277
RB76	Jaleel McLaughlin	DEN	270
RB77	Ty Chandler	MIN	263
RB78	Zamir White	LV	255
RB79	Chase Brown Draft Note by John Paulsen Brown was a pleasant surprise in 2024, finishing as the fantasy RB11 overall and RB16 on a per-game basis. He took over the backfield after Zack Moss went down and made the most of his opportunity, ranking as the RB6 from Week 9 to Week 17. He caught 54 passes—5th among running backs—and played a key role in one of the league’s best offenses with Joe Burrow under center. Efficiency-wise, Brown impressed before contact (11th out of 46 qualified backs) and showed strong elusiveness (6th in broken tackles per attempt), though he struggled to generate extra yardage after contact (43rd). The Bengals brought Moss back and added Samaje Perine, who could siphon off passing-down work and limit Brown’s weekly floor. Still, Brown looks like the favorite to lead this backfield in touches and carries high-end RB2 value in a high-scoring offense. If he holds onto the passing-game role, there’s room for more.	CIN	255
RB80	Zach Charbonnet Draft Note by John Paulsen Charbonnet remains one of the most intriguing Zero RB targets in 2025 drafts. He’s shown high-end RB1 upside when given the chance—in eight games over the past two seasons where he saw extended run, he averaged 18.5 touches for 95 total yards and 0.88 touchdowns. That’s elite production if (or more likely, when) Kenneth Walker misses time. Walker has already missed 10 games in his first three seasons, so it’s a good bet Charbonnet will get a few usable starts even if Walker stays relatively healthy. The Seahawks want to "establish the run," according to John Boyle of Seahawks.com, and that philosophy could translate into a more balanced workload even when Walker is active. Charbonnet’s passing-game chops gives him standalone RB3/FLEX appeal, especially in favorable matchups. As a ninth- or tenth-round pick in most formats, he’s a great stash with plug-and-play upside. If Walker misses any time, Charbonnet becomes an instant RB1 candidate in a run-committed offense.	SEA	255
RB81	Tyjae Spears Draft Note by John Paulsen Spears has shown flashes of explosiveness through his first two seasons, but the volume just hasn’t been there—he averaged 8.9 touches per game in 2023 and 9.5 in 2024, even after Derrick Henry was replaced by Tony Pollard. Despite the limited usage, Spears continues to impress on a per-touch basis, with 2.2 yards after contact per attempt and strong tackle-breaking metrics. He also finished 17th among 59 qualified backs in yards per route run, flashing legitimate receiving chops. Coaches have hinted at a more balanced approach in the backfield this season, which could open the door for Spears to carve out a larger role alongside Pollard. And with rookie quarterback Cam Ward now under center, the Titans’ offense may be more efficient and offer more scoring opportunities than in years past. As long as Pollard is healthy, Spears remains a high-end handcuff and occasional FLEX option. But if Pollard were to miss time, Spears would immediately become a plug-and-play RB2 with upside in both the run and pass game.	TEN	241
RB82	Sincere McCormick	LV	227
RB83	Kendre Miller	NO	220
RB84	Tank Bigsby Draft Note by John Paulsen Trying to decipher the Jaguars’ backfield in 2024 was like reading tea leaves. Travis Etienne opened the season as the starter, averaging 14.3 touches and a healthy 4.55 YPC through the first four games. But starting in Week 4, Bigsby began to carve out a role, rushing for 90 yards against the Texans. He followed that with a breakout performance against the Colts in Week 5 (14 touches, 129 yards, 2 TDs) with Etienne active, and then dominated in Week 7 against the Patriots (26 carries, 118 yards, 2 TDs) while Etienne was sidelined with a hamstring injury. Bigsby ultimately averaged 4.6 yards per carry—nearly a full yard more than Etienne (3.7)—though Etienne maintained the passing-down role. The Jags also added Bhayshul Tuten in the fourth round of the draft, a superior athlete who adds yet another variable to this backfield. With Etienne healthy and still involved, and Tuten now in the mix, the Jaguars’ backfield could unfold in several ways. But if Bigsby earns the lion’s share of early-down work and goal-line touches, he’s a viable RB3/FLEX with RB2 upside in the right game scripts.	JAX	213
RB85	Julius Chestnut	TEN	206
RB86	Sean Tucker	TB	206
RB87	Kenny McIntosh	SEA	206
RB88	Isaiah Davis	NYJ	184
RB89	Bucky Irving Draft Note by John Paulsen Irving finished RB16 on the year, so uninformed drafters may view him as a fantasy RB2, but he’s a clear, rock-solid RB1 in my book thanks to his productivity after the first month of the season. He started seeing more touches in Week 6, and from that point on, he was the fantasy RB8. He had the fourth-highest PFF rush grade in that span, and was fifth in yards after contact per attempt on the season. HC Todd Bowles told The Athletic that he “expects greatness” and that Irving’s “opportunities are likely to increase substantially.” He’s a baller and has a great future ahead of him.	TB	184
RB90	Roschon Johnson	CHI	184
RB91	Trey Benson Draft Note by John Paulsen Benson flashed in limited work as a rookie, turning 63 carries into 291 yards (4.6 YPC) while posting above-average marks in both yards before and after contact per attempt. Though he played behind James Conner for most of the year, head coach Jonathan Gannon made waves this offseason by saying, “If (Trey Benson) takes the necessary jump from Year 1 to Year 2, I think we have two starting backs.” Gannon even referred to teams with “two '1s’,” suggesting a potential 1A/1B split with Conner in 2025. That’s big news, especially considering Conner is entering his age-30 season and the Cardinals may want to lighten his load to preserve his health. If Benson can seize a larger role, he could return weekly flex value and be a league-winner if Conner misses time. With a 12th-round ADP, Benson is one of the better late-round dart throws at the position and should be firmly on the radar of Zero RB drafters.	ARI	184
RB92	Isaac Guerendo Draft Note by John Paulsen With Jordan Mason traded and Christian McCaffrey looking healthy heading into the season, Guerendo enters 2025 as one of the top handcuff running backs in fantasy football, provided he can hold off fifth-round rookie Jordan James for the RB2 job in San Francisco. Guerendo showed plenty of juice when given the opportunity last year, turning in 75, 102, 99, and 128 total yards in the four games where he played at least 50% of the snaps. He also ripped off 99 yards on just 10 carries in a limited role (26% of snaps) against Seattle in Week 6. He was also efficient as a receiver, posting 1.42 yards per route run—good for the 81st percentile among running backs—which bodes well for his three-down potential if pressed into service. McCaffrey has missed 20 games over the last three seasons, so the path to touches is clearer than it might seem on paper. Pending the camp battle with James, Guerendo is an elite handcuff and a perfect Zero RB target with league-winning upside if McCaffrey were to miss time.	SF	184
RB93	Keaton Mitchell	BAL	177
RB94	Deuce Vaughn	DAL	177
RB95	Tyrone Tracy Draft Note by John Paulsen Tracy finished as the RB28 in 2024, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. He didn’t take over as the Giants’ lead back until Week 5, and from that point forward, he was the fantasy RB14—delivering strong RB2 value for much of the season. His speed and vision made an early impact, and he ranked 9th among 47 qualified backs in yards before contact per attempt, a credit to both his burst and the offensive line. He didn't break many tackles or generate many yards after contact, however. The cracks started to show down the stretch. From Week 12 to Week 18, Tracy averaged just 3.5 yards per carry, and while his receiving work propped up his value during that span, that role could be in jeopardy. The Giants added Cam Skattebo, a dual-threat back who trailed only Ashton Jeanty in PFF’s collegiate rushing grade and has drawn praise as the team’s most talented receiving option out of the backfield. Tracy enters 2025 as the presumptive starter, but Skattebo looms as a serious threat to his workload. Tracy is a viable RB3/FLEX for now, but his grip on the job isn’t as firm as his 2024 finish might suggest.	NYG	170
RB96	Ray Davis	BUF	149
RB97	Hassan Haskins	LAC	149
RB98	Hunter Luepke	DAL	142
RB99	Jaylen Wright	MIA	135
RB100	Kimani Vidal	LAC	128
RB101	Blake Corum	LAR	128
RB102	Braelon Allen Draft Note by John Paulsen Allen’s rookie year didn’t exactly move the needle—he turned 92 carries into 334 yards (3.6 YPC) and two touchdowns, while adding 19 catches for 148 yards and another score through the air. His advanced metrics backed up the surface stats: he was generally mediocre across the board, lacking the burst or tackle-breaking chops to stand out. Still, there’s reason for cautious optimism. The Jets reportedly want to model their offense after Ben Johnson’s scheme in Detroit, with Breece Hall in the Jahmyr Gibbs role and Allen handling the David Montgomery duties. If that plan sticks, Allen could find himself in a valuable early-down and goal-line role in what should be a more efficient offense in 2025. With an ADP in the RB50s, Allen offers intriguing upside if the Jets’ coaching staff follows through on their vision—and if he proves capable of handling the Montgomery role. In Hall’s lone missed game, Allen turned 15 touches into 81 total yards. He’s a worthwhile late-round flier with low-end RB2 potential if things break right.	NYJ	128
RB103	Alec Ingold	MIA	121
RB104	Carson Steele	KC	114
RB105	Rasheen Ali	BAL	106
RB106	Eric Gray	NYG	99
RB107	Will Shipley	PHI	85
RB108	MarShawn Lloyd	GB	71
RB109	Sione Vaki	DET	64
RB110	Dylan Sampson Draft Note by John Paulsen The Browns doubled down at running back in the draft, selecting Quinshon Judkins in the second round and Dylan Sampson in the fourth. Judkins may have the superior athletic profile, but Sampson isn’t far behind—he boasts 4.51 speed and a 66th percentile burst score (per Player Profiler). More importantly, he was fifth in this year’s class in PFF rush grade, four spots ahead of Judkins. Sampson was incredibly productive in 2024, leading the SEC in rushing yards per game (114.7) and rushing touchdowns (22). He runs with urgency and decisiveness, and his resume suggests he could be more than just a change-of-pace option. Given Judkins’ off-field concerns—his July arrest could impact his availability—Sampson could have a real shot to win the starting job outright. He’s a high-upside flier with the potential to return weekly FLEX value early and grow into an RB2 if he takes over this backfield.	CLE	35
RB111	Jarquez Hunter	LAR	35
RB112	DJ Giddens	IND	35
RB113	Devin Neal	NO	35
RB114	Jordan James	SF	35
RB115	Woody Marks	HOU	35
RB116	Bhayshul Tuten	JAX	35
RB117	Trevor Etienne	CAR	35
RB118	Kaleb Johnson Draft Note by John Paulsen The Steelers spent a third-round pick on Johnson, and while rookie running backs in this range often have limited Year 1 roles, there’s room for meaningful production. Since 2010, third-round backs who played at least 14 games have averaged 145 touches for 730 total yards and 4.8 touchdowns—a useful baseline for Johnson’s 2025 outlook. He’ll split time with Jaylen Warren, who averaged 10.5 touches per game last year behind Najee Harris (17.6). How much more the Steelers are willing to put on Warren’s plate will ultimately determine Johnson’s weekly fantasy value. He’s likely to handle goal-line duties, which gives him sneaky touchdown upside in what could be a more balanced, efficient offense under offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. Johnson was an instinctive zone runner in college and finished 15th out of 67 backs in PFF rush grade among those with 100+ carries. He’s also a capable pass-catcher (22 receptions, 188 yards, 2 TDs as a junior) and showed more functional quickness on tape than he did in Combine testing. If he carves out 10–12 touches per game with red zone work, he could be a flex-worthy option with upside in deeper formats. If he fully assumes Harris's role, then RB2 numbers are well within reach.	PIT	35
RB119	Brashard Smith	KC	35
RB120	Kyle Monangai	CHI	35

WR1	Marquez Valdes-Scantling Draft Note by John Paulsen Valdes-Scantling made a splash after joining the Saints, catching four touchdowns in his first three games. He had 347 yards in his first six games with the Saints--the fantasy WR20 in that span--before finishing the season with a goose egg and a 33-yard game in Weeks 17-18. With DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett out of the picture, there are plenty of snaps up for grabs and it's a good sign that MVS is playing for the offensive mind (Klint Kubiak) that squeezed some good production out of him in New Orleans. If he's a starter, he could post WR4/WR5-type numbers, though he’ll be fighting for the scraps left by Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp.	SEA	770
WR2	Jameson Williams	DET	718
WR3	Alec Pierce	IND	673
WR4	Christian Watson	GB	673
WR5	A.J. Brown	PHI	643
WR6	Justin Jefferson	MIN	628
WR7	Rashod Bateman	BAL	613
WR8	Brandon Aiyuk	SF	613
WR9	Dyami Brown Draft Note by John Paulsen Brown had his best season as a pro, but that isn't saying a whole lot. He finished with 30 catches for 308 yards and one touchdown, though he began to emerge once Noah Brown was lost for the season. He finished with 42+ yards in four of his last five games and played at a 1,000-yard pace in that span. With Christian Kirk traded to the Texans, there is opportunity for Brown to see significant snaps for the Jaguars.	JAX	598
WR10	DK Metcalf Draft Note by John Paulsen Metcalf had a disappointing sixth season, posting his lowest yardage (992) since 2021 and the fewest touchdowns (5) of his career. George Pickens has moved on, so Metcalf is the lone established threat at receiver. Under OC Arthur Smith, the Steelers attempted the fourth-fewest passes and threw for the sixth-fewest yards in 2024, though Aaron Rodgers may boost the team’s pass percentage a bit. Metcalf should see all the targets he can handle, though the precisness of his route-running may eventually irk Rodgers.	PIT	576
WR11	Tyreek Hill	MIA	568
WR12	Mike Evans	TB	568
WR13	Jerry Jeudy	CLE	561
WR14	Jaylen Waddle	MIA	561
WR15	Mike Williams Draft Note by John Paulsen Williams spent last season with the Jets and the Steelers and never really fit in either offense, finishing with 298 yards on 21 receptions in 18 games played. He's now back with the Chargers, where he had far more success. Working backward, Williams averaged 83.0 yards in three games in 2023, 68.8 yards in 2022, and 71.6 yards in 2021. He's unlikely to reach those heights again given his age (turning 31 in October), the emergence of both Ladd McConkey (1,149 yards, 7 TD) and Quentin Johnston (711 yards, 8 TD), and the arrival of rookie Tre Harris.	LAC	546
WR16	Ja'Marr Chase	CIN	531
WR17	Nico Collins	HOU	531
WR18	Terry McLaurin	WAS	531
WR19	Courtland Sutton	DEN	524
WR20	Tee Higgins	CIN	524
WR21	George Pickens	DAL	509
WR22	DeVonta Smith	PHI	501
WR23	Tyler Lockett	TEN	501
WR24	Josh Reynolds	NYJ	479
WR25	Darius Slayton Draft Note by John Paulsen Slayton has had his moments, especially prior to the arrival of Malik Nabers, but he's at best the third option behind Nabers and Wan'Dale Robinson in what's been a bad passing attack. Barring an injury to one of the Giants' top two receivers, it's unlikely that Slayton holds much fantasy value in 2025.	NYG	464
WR26	David Moore	CAR	456
WR27	CeeDee Lamb	DAL	456
WR28	Chris Olave Draft Note by John Paulsen Prior to missing the second half of the season with a concussion, Olave had his ups and downs, gaining 80+ yards in four of his six healthy games while failing to reach 12 yards in the other two games. In those six healthy games and in 2023, Olave has averaged 5.3 receptions for 68 yards and 0.27 touchdowns, which are high-end WR2 numbers. But that was with the competent Derek Carr at quarterback–the Saints are now looking at starting rookie Tyler Shough, so Olave’s upside depends on how quickly Shough can get up to NFL speed. Olave’s concussion history also gives me pause, since he has five known concussions since 2020.	NO	456
WR29	Matthew Golden	GB	449
WR30	Deebo Samuel	WAS	449
WR31	Travis Hunter	JAX	449
WR32	Calvin Ridley	TEN	441
WR33	D.J. Moore	CHI	441
WR34	Demarcus Robinson Draft Note by John Paulsen With Deebo Samuel traded away and Brandon Aiyuk recovering from an ACL tear that puts his Week 1 availability in serious doubt, the 49ers' receiver room is looking thin. Jauan Jennings had a breakout season--77 catches, 975 yards, six touchdowns--but Robinson will have an opportunity, especially early in the season, to carve out a role. Still, he cracked 500 yards for the first time in his ninth season and is unlikely to make a fantasy splash even if Aiyuk is sidelined.	SF	434
WR35	Kalif Raymond	DET	434
WR36	Christian Kirk Draft Note by John Paulsen Houston waa a good landing spot for Kirk given that Stefon Diggs (free agency) is gone and Tank Dell (knee injury) may not be around in 2025, though the Texans added both Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel in the second and third rounds of the Draft, respectively. Kirk averaged 65+ yards in both 2022 and 2023 before Brian Thomas drank his milkshake last season. He’s still just 28 years old, and could serve as C.J. Stroud’s WR2, though if either or both rookies emerge, Kirk’s role will shrink.	HOU	426
WR37	Jermaine Burton	CIN	419
WR38	Olamide Zaccheaus	CHI	419
WR39	Luther Burden	CHI	411
WR40	Rashid Shaheed	NO	411
WR41	Tetairoa McMillan	CAR	411
WR42	Drake London	ATL	404
WR43	D'Wayne Eskridge	MIA	396
WR44	Rondale Moore	MIN	396
WR45	Treylon Burks	TEN	396
WR46	Dante Pettis	NO	396
WR47	Noah Brown Draft Note by John Paulsen Brown has been sneaky productive over the last three years, especially when he sees big snaps. In his last 23 games with a snap share of at least 70%, Brown has averaged 3.5 catches for 53.1 yards and 0.26 touches. That's a 60-903-4.4 pace over a full, 17-game season. Dyami Brown has moved on, but the Commanders traded for Deebo Samuel, so Brown will be competing for WR3 targets behind Samuel and Terry McLaurin.	WAS	381
WR48	Garrett Wilson	NYJ	381
WR49	Allen Lazard	NYJ	381
WR50	Jahan Dotson	PHI	381
WR51	Nick Westbrook-Ikhine Draft Note by John Paulsen Westbrook-Ikhine finished as the fantasy WR51 despite catching a career-high nine touchdowns. He hasn't cracked the 500-yard mark in five seasons, though he had 497 yards last year and 476 yards back in 2021. He'll have a chance to win the WR3 job but is unlikely to turn into a regular fantasy contributor barring an injury to Tyreek Hill or Jaylen Waddle.	MIA	374
WR52	Ashton Dulin	IND	374
WR53	Jalen Tolbert	DAL	374
WR54	KhaDarel Hodge	ATL	374
WR55	Brandin Cooks	NO	374
WR56	Tylan Wallace	BAL	374
WR57	Anthony Miller	BAL	366
WR58	Michael Pittman Jr.	IND	366
WR59	Mack Hollins	NE	366
WR60	Davante Adams Draft Note by John Paulsen Cooper Kupp’s 8.3 targets per game are up for grabs. Adams has seen 10+ targets per game for seven straight seasons, so it’s possible that either he or Puka Nacua may see a slightly reduced role than what they’ve been used to. Considering Adams’ age (32), he’s more likely to cede work than Nacua, who is just entering his prime target-earning years. Still, Adams’ is riding a five-year streak of at least 1,000 yards and if he can stay healthy, he’s likely to make it six with Sean McVay scheming the offense. That puts him squarely in the WR2 range.	LAR	366
WR61	Scott Miller	PIT	359
WR62	Khalil Shakir	BUF	359
WR63	DeAndre Hopkins Draft Note by John Paulsen The 32-year-old Hopkins averaged a career-low 38.1 receiving yards per game. His yards per route run (1.71) was solid (but not great) for a receiver but it was Hopkins' lowest mark since 2016. He can still contribute as a possession receiver, but his days of elite fantasy WR1 (or even WR2) production are likely over, especially playing for the run-oriented Ravens.	BAL	352
WR64	Darnell Mooney	ATL	352
WR65	Hollywood Brown Draft Note by John Paulsen Brown appeared in five games including three playoff games, catching 14-of-28 targets for 141 yards and no touchdowns. He saw 15 targets in his first two games and just 13 in his final three (playoff) games despite his snap percentage increasing from 27%-40% in the regular season to the 65%-73% in the postseason. Interestingly, the signing comes on the heels of Xavier Worthy’s arrest for domestic assault, though it appears that Worthy won’t be charged at this time. If Worthy and Rashee Rice are healthy, and Travis Kelce is back, Brown figures to be at best the fourth option in the Kansas City passing game.	KC	352
WR66	Elijah Moore	BUF	352
WR67	Chris Godwin Draft Note by John Paulsen Godwin turned down a reported $20 million to re-sign with the Bucs. He’s recovering from a major ankle injury but is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for the 2025 season. At the time of his injury, Godwin was the overall fantasy WR2 through seven games after a WR33 finish in 2023. Godwin ran nearly 62% of his snaps out of the slot, which was a big jump from his 37% mark in 2023 (and certainly helped his overall fantasy production). The arrival of Emeka Egbuka (81.1% slot usage) could impact Godwin’s slot usage, but he was so effective last year that the Bucs would be wise to let him cook. Godwin is typically underappreciated in fantasy circles so given his injury and his elite production in early 2024, he should be a good value on draft day.	TB	352
WR68	Amon-Ra St. Brown	DET	352
WR69	Anthony Gould	IND	352
WR70	Tim Patrick	DET	337
WR71	Jalen Nailor	MIN	337
WR72	Skyy Moore	KC	337
WR73	Stefon Diggs Draft Note by John Paulsen Diggs is 31 and coming off a torn ACL that cost him half of the 2024 season. Prior to his injury, he was averaging 62.0 yards per game, his lowest average since his third season in the league, but he was still on pace for his seventh straight 1,000-yard season had he played the full 17 games. Five months after his injury, he is reportedly ahead of schedule and is on track to be ready for the start of the season, which is key for his potential fantasy value. I'm not too alarmed by his 2024 numbers since he was joining a new team (Texans) in a lesser role, but his decline from 2022 (89.3 yards per game) to 2023 (69.6) was significant. As he enters his 11th-season, he's expected to continue a fairly steep drop off per Ryan Heath's excellent Age Curves Study. The one thing working in Diggs' favor, however, is the lack of target competition in New England. Hunter Henry and Demario Douglas led the Patriots with 66 catches apiece, so Diggs should see all the targets he can handle if he can still get open and can hold off rookie Kyle Williams. Per ESPN's Open Score, Diggs was as good (83) last year as he was in 2022 (83). It doesn't hurt that he'll have the up-and-coming Drake Maye throwing the ball, either. Diggs raised some eyebrows this offseason when video leaked of him on a boat holding a bag of pink powder was leaked, so that’s a situation to monitor.	NE	329
WR74	Ihmir Smith-Marsette	NYG	329
WR75	Cooper Kupp Draft Note by John Paulsen The Seahawks cut Tyler Lockett and traded DK Metcalf away so they had some work to do at receiver. Kupp has ties to the area and should soak up plenty of targets playing alongside Jaxon Smith-Njigba, though both players typically line up in the slot (Smith-Njigba 83.6%, Kupp 65.3% last year). Kupp is not the type of player I'd pick to join JSN in the offense, but he can certainly teach the third-year player a thing or two. Kupp averaged 1.88 yards per route run last year, which was well off his career average (2.25), but still above average league-wide and better than JSN's mark (1.81). Kupp's arrival makes Sam Darnold more appealing as a QB2-type.	SEA	329
WR76	Austin Trammell	JAX	322
WR77	Joshua Palmer Draft Note by John Paulsen After flashing significant upside in his second and third seasons--mainly when other Charger receivers were injured--Palmer's 2024 production was disappointing given the departures of both Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. Palmer failed to outproduce Quentin Johnston, who bested Palmer in receptions (55 to 39), yards (711 to 584), and touchdowns (8 to 1). In Buffalo, Palmer replaces Mack Hollins, who signed a two-year deal to join the Patriots.	BUF	322
WR78	JuJu Smith-Schuster	KC	314
WR79	Tutu Atwell	LAR	314
WR80	Devontez Walker	BAL	307
WR81	Jayden Higgins	HOU	299
WR82	Jaylin Noel	HOU	299
WR83	Van Jefferson	TEN	299
WR84	Robert Woods	PIT	299
WR85	Emeka Egbuka	TB	299
WR86	Kyle Williams	NE	299
WR87	Adam Thielen	CAR	299
WR88	Jack Bech	LV	299
WR89	Jacob Cowing	SF	292
WR90	Jauan Jennings Draft Note by John Paulsen One of the biggest values that I see on the board is Jauan Jennings, who I have ranked as a low-end WR2 with a multi-site ADP and a consensus rank of a low-end WR3/high-end WR4. He was 14th in yards per route run (per PFF). Deebo Samuel is gone and Brandon Aiyuk is recovering from a torn ACL/MCL isn’t expected to play until midseason. Jennings has proven to be a rock-solid option for Brock Purdy and actually performed a bit better with Aiyuk in the lineup last season, so I’m not worried about the timing of Aiyuk’s return. He also outscored Aiyuk 10.8 to 7.8 in the six non-injury games they played together. In the five games that both Samuel and Aiyuk played, Jennings averaged 2.8 catches on 46 yards and zero touchdowns on 4.8 targets per game. In the 10 games that either (or both) Samuel and Aiyuk missed, Jennings averaged 6.3 catches for 75 yards and 0.6 touchdowns on 8.9 targets per game. Those are low-end WR1 numbers, folks. Looking at the last two seasons, when Jennings has played at least 70% of the snaps, he has averaged 5.3 catches (on 7.6 targets) for 66 yards and 0.50 touchdowns per game. That works out to 12.2 fantasy points per game, or low-end WR2 numbers.	SF	292
WR91	Ray-Ray McCloud	ATL	284
WR92	Kendrick Bourne	NE	284
WR93	Cedrick Wilson	NO	277
WR94	Romeo Doubs	GB	277
WR95	Sterling Shepard	TB	277
WR96	Curtis Samuel	BUF	269
WR97	Keon Coleman	BUF	269
WR98	Marvin Mims Draft Note by John Paulsen Mims is an intriguing receiver going in the WR5/WR6 range. He’s entering his third season after a strong finish in 2024. From Week 11 to Week 18, he averaged 4.0 receptions for 62 yards and 0.86 touchdowns on 4.7 targets per game. He only played 33% of the snaps in that span, and he isn’t likely to keep up that touchdown production without a bump in snaps, but he deserves to play more. In that span, he had the 18th-highest PFF receiving grade and posted the highest yards per route run (4.54). If his snaps don’t increase, he’s unlikely to become a major fantasy factor, but more playing time could result in fantasy-starter type numbers. Keep an eye on third-rounder Pat Bryant this summer as his progress could impede a potential Mims’ breakout season.	DEN	269
WR99	Wan'Dale Robinson	NYG	262
WR100	Jakobi Meyers Draft Note by John Paulsen Meyers finished WR31 last season, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. In 12 games without Davante Adams (due to injury and after trade), Meyers averaged 6.1 receptions for 73 yards and 0.25 touchdowns, for 12.0 (half-PPR) points per game, or low-end WR2 numbers. His 9.3 targets per game without Adams would have tied Drake London for the sixth-most in the league over the course of a full season, and he’s getting a quarterback upgrade in the form of Geno Smith. He’s a WR4 in both multi-site ADP and consensus rank, though I have him agood bit higher. Jack Bech is an interesting sleeper at WR61–Matt Harmon of Reception Perception loves him–but Meyers should still garner more targets. Fellow rookie Dont’e Thornton apparently tore up minicamp so he’s worth monitoring as well.	LV	262
WR101	Jayden Reed	GB	254
WR102	DeAndre Carter	CLE	254
WR103	Diontae Johnson	CLE	254
WR104	Zay Jones	ARI	247
WR105	Calvin Austin III	PIT	247
WR106	Ben Skowronek	PIT	247
WR107	Tre Tucker	LV	239
WR108	David Bell	CLE	239
WR109	Tory Horton	SEA	224
WR110	Chris Blair	ATL	224
WR111	John Metchie	HOU	224
WR112	Savion Williams	GB	224
WR113	Jordan Addison	MIN	224
WR114	Jalin Hyatt	NYG	217
WR115	Collin Johnson	LV	217
WR116	Jalen Brooks	DAL	217
WR117	K.J. Osborn	WAS	217
WR118	Tyler Johnson	NYJ	217
WR119	Michael Wilson	ARI	209
WR120	Greg Dortch	ARI	209
WR121	Puka Nacua	LAR	209
WR122	Trey Palmer	TB	202
WR123	Zay Flowers	BAL	202
WR124	Dontayvion Wicks	GB	194
WR125	Brandon Johnson	PIT	194
WR126	Kayshon Boutte	NE	194
WR127	Tim Jones	MIN	194
WR128	KaVontae Turpin	DAL	187
WR129	Andrei Iosivas	CIN	187
WR130	Brian Thomas Jr.	JAX	179
WR131	Quentin Johnston	LAC	179
WR132	Rashee Rice	KC	172
WR133	Marvin Harrison Jr.	ARI	172
WR134	Parker Washington	JAX	165
WR135	Ladd McConkey	LAC	165
WR136	Casey Washington	ATL	165
WR137	Mike Woods	CLE	157
WR138	Erik Ezukanma	MIA	157
WR139	Mason Kinsey	TEN	157
WR140	Adonai Mitchell	IND	157
WR141	Rome Odunze Draft Note by John Paulsen The Bears’ offense is trending up with the arrival of new HC Ben Johnson, who spent the last several years as the primary playcaller for the Detroit Lions. Keenan Allen (121 targets) is gone, and the Bears drafted Luther Burden in the second round as a replacement. Odunze is primed to make a Jameson Williams-type leap in his second season and could perhaps surpass D.J. Moore to become the team’s primary target. Matt Harmon of Reception Perception says that his charting of Odunze “is still pointing us in an extremely positive direction.” With a growing role in what should be a much more productive offense, Odunze should be able to outproduce his low-end WR3 ADP.	CHI	157
WR142	Cedric Tillman Draft Note by John Paulsen Tillman’s ADP has him ranked as a WR6 and I currently have him ranked as a low-end WR4, so there’s some value here. Reports suggest that he’ll be good to go this summer after being placed on IR due to a concussion. Once Amari Cooper was traded, things opened up for Tillman, and he went on a four-game run that included 8-81 on 12 targets against the Bengals, 7-99-2 on nine targets against the Ravens, 6-75-1 on 11 targets against the Chargers, and 3-47 on eight targets against the Saints. He was the WR8 on a per-game basis and averaged the sixth-most targets in that span. One way or another, the Browns’ quarterback situation should be better, and the Browns only added Diontae Johnson to the receiver room. (I think we’re past the point where Johnson’s arrival should be looked at as a detriment to the other receivers on the team.)	CLE	150
WR143	Jordan Whittington	LAR	150
WR144	Bub Means	NO	150
WR145	Jaxon Smith-Njigba	SEA	142
WR146	Jalen Coker	CAR	142
WR147	Demario Douglas	NE	142
WR148	Josh Downs	IND	142
WR149	Ricky Pearsall Draft Note by John Paulsen Pearsall had an interesting rookie season, to say the least. He suffered a gunshot wound in early September, so he missed the first six games of the season. Once he returned, he immediately saw playing time in Weeks 7-8 since Jauan Jennings was sidelined for both games and Brandon Aiyuk missed the second game. With Aiyuk out, and both Jennings and Deebo Samuel active from Week 10 to Week 17, Pearsall saw a 64% snap share and had a couple of good games–4-73-1 against the Bucs and 8-141-1 against the Lions–but also posted three goose eggs and failed to crest 40 yards receiving in the other three games in that span. With Samuel out Week 18, Pearsall posted 6-69-1 on eight targets alongside Jennings, who posted 7-52 on 10 targets. Matt Harmon of Reception Perception wrote that Pearsall’s rookie season was “incredibly encouraging” and the final four games were “outright awesome.” Pearsall has a chance to carve out a large role in an offense that will need him to produce, especially early in the season. Aiyuk is likely to miss a few games, at least, as he recovers from a torn ACL/MCL in October, so Pearsall should see all the snaps he can handle in September.	SF	142
WR150	Jonathan Mingo	DAL	135
WR151	Kendric Pryor	CIN	135
WR152	Charlie Jones	CIN	135
WR153	Derius Davis	LAC	135
WR154	Jalen McMillan	TB	135
WR155	Xavier Hutchinson	HOU	135
WR156	Devaughn Vele	DEN	112
WR157	Xavier Weaver	ARI	105
WR158	Xavier Smith	LAR	105
WR159	Xavier Worthy Draft Note by John Paulsen Worthy’s role grew steadily in the second half of the season. From Week 11 to Week 17, he averaged 5.6-56-0.43 on 7.9 targets per game. He added 9.6 yards and 0.14 rush touchdowns in that span. In three playoff games, he racked up 19 catches for 287 yards and three scores on 7.0 targets per game. Rashee Rice is back and healthy, so Worthy will have more competition for targets in 2025.	KC	105
WR160	Ja'Lynn Polk	NE	105
WR161	Jake Bobo	SEA	105
WR162	Troy Franklin	DEN	105
WR163	Roman Wilson	PIT	105
WR164	Malachi Corley	NYJ	105
WR165	Xavier Gipson	NYJ	105
WR166	Malik Washington	MIA	105
WR167	Malik Nabers	NYG	105
WR168	Ainias Smith	PHI	105
WR169	Xavier Legette	CAR	105
WR170	Luke McCaffrey	WAS	105
WR171	Johnny Wilson	PHI	105
WR172	Jalen Royals	KC	60
WR173	Elic Ayomanor	TEN	60
WR174	Arian Smith	NYJ	60
WR175	Isaac TeSlaa	DET	60
WR176	Chimere Dike	TEN	60
WR177	Jordan Watkins	SF	60
WR178	Konata Mumpfield	LAR	60
WR179	Joshua Cephus	JAX	60
WR180	KeAndre Lambert-Smith	LAC	60
WR181	Pat Bryant	DEN	60
WR182	Tre Harris	LAC	60
WR183	Jaylin Lane	WAS	60
WR184	Dont'e Thornton	LV	60

TE1	Taysom Hill	NO	825
TE2	George Kittle Draft Note by John Paulsen The three-round ADP difference between Brock Bowers and Kittle is too much, given that Kittle is coming off an overall TE1 season and will benefit from the absence of Deebo Samuel. Over the past two seasons, when Samuel has been out, Kittle has averaged 5.4-78-0.47 on 6.6 targets per game (in 17 games) versus 3.6-57-0.43 on 5.1 targets per game (in 14 games). That’s the difference between an overall TE1 season and a midrange TE1 finish. The primary concern with Kittle is probably age/durability, but he’s only missed six games in the last three seasons, and he’s posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with 25 touchdown catches in his last three seasons.	SF	648
TE3	Harold Fannin	CLE	589
TE4	Kyle Pitts	ATL	530
TE5	Shane Zylstra	DET	501
TE6	Zach Ertz Draft Note by John Paulsen Ertz surprisingly finished as the TE9 in his 12th NFL season, posting the most yards (654) and receptions (66) since 2021, and the most touchdowns (7) since 2018. Well past his prime, Ertz proved to be a serviceable baseline option at the position. Tight ends tend to age better than running backs or receivers, so it’s not inconceivable that Ertz has another low-end TE1 season provided he can stay relatively healthy.	WAS	471
TE7	Travis Kelce	KC	471
TE8	Cole Kmet	CHI	442
TE9	Colston Loveland	CHI	442
TE10	Tyler Warren	IND	442
TE11	Mark Andrews	BAL	442
TE12	Teagan Quitoriano	ATL	442
TE13	Evan Engram Draft Note by John Paulsen Engram finished with 47 catches for 365 yards and one touchdown while missing eight games with hamstring and shoulder injuries. His 40.6 yards per game were the second-lowest of his career, but not far off his career average (45.6). His 5.2 receptions per game were his third-highest, so naturally his aDOT and yards per reception were relatively low. Tight ends tend to age well, and this is a great landing spot for Engram due to the Broncos' lack of proven pass-catchers and an up-and-coming quarterback, Bo Nix. (This signing is one more reason to target Nix as a rock-solid QB1.)	DEN	412
TE14	Pharaoh Brown	MIA	383
TE15	Devin Culp	TB	383
TE16	Juwan Johnson Draft Note by John Paulsen Johnson finished as the fantasy TE23 after benefiting from injuries to Rashid Shaheed and Chris Olave. He'll be a TE2/TE3-type option in 2025, perhaps higher if he can take advantage of Taysom Hill's probable absence.	NO	353
TE17	Austin Hooper	NE	353
TE18	Hunter Henry	NE	353
TE19	Will Dissly	LAC	353
TE20	Ian Thomas	LV	353
TE21	Foster Moreau	NO	353
TE22	Mike Gesicki Draft Note by John Paulsen Gesicki finished the season as the fantasy TE15, catching 65 passes for 665 yards and two touchdowns. He was eighth at his position in receptions and 10th in receiving yards, though his splits with (3.3-29-0.0 on 3.9 targets) and without Tee Higgins (5.2-62-0.4 on 7.2 targets) tell a different story. He's not a reliable option if Ja'Marr Chase and Higgins are both active.	CIN	353
TE23	Noah Fant	SEA	353
TE24	Chris Manhertz	NYG	353
TE25	David Njoku Draft Note by John Paulsen Njoku missed six games in 2024 and has missed 11 games in the last four years. Otherwise, he’s been a great fantasy asset in Cleveland despite some suspect quarterback play. He was the TE5 on a per-game basis in 2024 while garnering the third-most targets per game (8.8) at his position. One way or another, I expect the QB play in Cleveland to improve, and that should benefit Njoku along with everyone else.	CLE	353
TE26	Adam Trautman	DEN	353
TE27	Andrew Ogletree	IND	353
TE28	Dallas Goedert	PHI	353
TE29	T.J. Hockenson	MIN	353
TE30	Mo Alie-Cox	IND	353
TE31	Dawson Knox	BUF	324
TE32	Darren Waller	MIA	324
TE33	Grant Calcaterra	PHI	294
TE34	Elijah Arroyo	SEA	294
TE35	Jonnu Smith Draft Note by John Paulsen Smith was an excellent draft value in 2024, smashing career-highs in targets (111), receptions (88), and yards (884) as a focal point of the Miami offense. He actually led the Dolphins in catches and was second in receiving yards. He finished TE4 and was the TE6 on a per-game basis. He was shaping up to be an excellent draft day value until the trade to Pittsburgh. It’s not a death knell to his fantasy value, but the lack of certainty in his role makes him a dicier TE1 bet. The good news, probably, is that he is reuniting with OC Arthur Smith, who coaxed a (pre-Miami) career-high 50-582-3 season out of Smith in Atlanta, which was good enough for a TE17 finish. But Pat Freiermuth just signed a healthy extension, and there’s a change at quarterback to Aaron Rodgers, so it’s not clear how the targets will be distributed among the Steelers’ top pass-catching options.	PIT	265
TE36	Dalton Schultz	HOU	265
TE37	Tyler Conklin	LAC	265
TE38	Elijah Higgins	ARI	265
TE39	Colby Parkinson	LAR	265
TE40	Charlie Woerner	ATL	265
TE41	Drew Sample	CIN	265
TE42	Tyler Higbee	LAR	265
TE43	Harrison Bryant	PHI	265
TE44	Johnny Mundt	JAX	265
TE45	Charlie Kolar	BAL	265
TE46	Josh Oliver	MIN	265
TE47	Tanner Hudson	CIN	265
TE48	Kylen Granson	PHI	236
TE49	Tucker Kraft Draft Note by John Paulsen He finished TE8 in his second season and is primed for another leap in production if he can earn a larger role in the offense. But that’s the problem with drafting Packer receivers–Matt LaFleur and Jordan Love spread the ball around so much it’s tough to count on anyone in a given week. But Kraft led the position in yards after contact and broken tackles per catch, so he’s got the talent to join the top 5. He should finish TE8 again at a minimum, barring injury.	GB	236
TE50	Isaiah Likely	BAL	236
TE51	Hunter Long	JAX	236
TE52	Brevin Jordan	HOU	236
TE53	Pat Freiermuth	PIT	236
TE54	Noah Gray	KC	236
TE55	Chigoziem Okonkwo	TEN	236
TE56	John Bates	WAS	236
TE57	Oronde Gadsden	LAC	236
TE58	Luke Farrell	SF	236
TE59	Tommy Tremble	CAR	236
TE60	Daniel Bellinger	NYG	206
TE61	Jeremy Ruckert	NYJ	206
TE62	Brock Wright	DET	206
TE63	Trey McBride	ARI	206
TE64	Cade Otton	TB	206
TE65	Jake Ferguson	DAL	206
TE66	Will Mallory	IND	177
TE67	Lucas Krull	DEN	177
TE68	Luke Musgrave	GB	177
TE69	Darnell Washington	PIT	177
TE70	Sam LaPorta Draft Note by John Paulsen LaPorta’s steep decline in targets per game (7.1 to 5.2) in his second season was surprising, as Jameson Williams (91 targets) took over as the team’s No. 2 target. LaPorta will likely settle in as a perennial top 5 fantasy tight end, but perhaps lacks the overall TE1 target upside with a healthy Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown in the mix.	DET	177
TE71	Michael Mayer	LV	177
TE72	Payne Durham	TB	177
TE73	Brenton Strange Draft Note by John Paulsen A by-product of Evan Engram’s departure is that Strange is primed to see a big jump in snaps as he enters his third season. In the eight games that Engram missed, Strange averaged 3.6 catches for 34 yards and 0.25 touchdowns on 4.9 targets per game. The resulting 6.5 (half-PPR) fantasy points per game equate to solid TE2-type numbers. He was tied for 17th in yards per route run among tight ends. The Jags did draft Travis Hunter, but it’s unlikely that he’ll be a full-time player on offense. Christian Kirk (47 targets) and Gabe Davis (42) are also gone, so there are plenty of targets up for grabs in Jacksonville.	JAX	177
TE74	Brayden Willis	SF	177
TE75	Josh Whyle	TEN	177
TE76	Luke Schoonmaker	DAL	177
TE77	Tanner Conner	MIA	177
TE78	Dalton Kincaid	BUF	177
TE79	Ben Sims	GB	147
TE80	Cade Stover	HOU	147
TE81	Theo Johnson Draft Note by John Paulsen Johnson is poised for a breakout in his second NFL season, thanks to a combination of late-season momentum and elite athleticism. From Weeks 8 to 13 of the 2024 season, Johnson averaged 7.3 half-PPR points per game, making him the TE16 in that stretch. Standing at 6'6" and weighing 259 pounds, he boasts a 4.57-second 40-yard dash (93rd percentile), a 98th percentile Speed Score, a 96th percentile Burst Score, a 78th percentile Agility Score, and a 98th percentile Catch Radius, per Player Profiler. These metrics underscore his rare athleticism for the tight end position. The second season is typically when a tight end breaks out, and Johnson fits the criteria this season.	NYG	147
TE82	Erick All	CIN	147
TE83	Tucker Fisk	LAC	147
TE84	Nate Adkins	DEN	147
TE85	Ja'Tavion Sanders	CAR	147
TE86	Julian Hill	MIA	147
TE87	Jared Wiley	KC	147
TE88	Jaheim Bell	NE	147
TE89	Brevyn Spann-Ford	DAL	147
TE90	AJ Barner	SEA	147
TE91	Brock Bowers	LV	147
TE92	Ben Sinnott	WAS	147
TE93	Tip Reiman	ARI	147
TE94	Gunnar Helm	TEN	88
TE95	Dallin Holker	NO	88
TE96	Mitchell Evans	CAR	88
TE97	Terrance Ferguson	LAR	88
TE98	Mason Taylor	NYJ	88

BETSPERTS MEDIA & TECHNOLOGY GROUP