Top 200 Value Based Rankings

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

​​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.