2025 Fantasy Football Bold Predictions

What will happen in the 2025 Fantasy Football season? Which players will rise up and become legends? Who will win the NFL MVP Award? Which rookies will be league-winners? And who will finish as the overall RB1 and WR1?

If you’re searching for those answers, welcome—you’ve come to the right place.

Here are my BOLD PREDICTIONS for the 2025 Fantasy Football season. This article may be the most important thing you read all year — and for some, the most important thing you’ll ever read. Seeing the future is a powerful tool — use it for good, and avoid going full Biff Tannen. Use these bold calls (and your Fantasy Points subscription) to win fantasy championships.

Enjoy the ride, because the 2025 Fantasy Football season is going to be a wild one. There’s never a dull moment in this thing of ours…

1. Brock Bowers will set an NFL record for the most Targets and Catches by a Tight End.

Zach Ertz has held the record (156 targets, 116 catches) since 2018. Bowers nearly eclipsed it last season, just missing out, but shattering rookie records (153 targets, 112 catches). This year, Bowers will break another. He will finish with 125 catches on 168 targets — setting new bars for what a Tight End can accomplish. Bowers will be a first-round pick in all formats in 2026.

2. Bowers will not be the only Tight End Target MONSTER

Ertz had a nice run, but records are made to be broken. Trey McBride will join Bowers as the duo finishes 1-2 in the record books. McBride will finish the season with 118 catches on 160 targets. Both players will finish with equivalent scoring numbers as WR1s, but at the TE position, and raise the bar for what elite TE volume can look like in a season.

3. Bowers will not be the only Tight End Target MONSTER

Three tight ends are a charm. 2025 will be a vintage season for elite TE scoring. George Kittle will join Brock Bowers and Trey McBride as 17+ PPG scorers. Kittle will finish as the TE3 overall but deliver a significant ADP win rate.

The answer to “Should I be investing in elite TEs this season?” is a resounding YES.

Ryan Heath notably disagrees. Check out his fantastic study on Bowers and McBride.

4. De’Von Achane will join an elite group

Achane will become the fifth running back in NFL history to finish with 100 or more catches in a season. Christian McCaffrey (twice), LaDanian Tomlinson, Austin Ekeler, and Matt Forte all accomplished this elusive feat. Ekeler was the most recent one in 2022 when he caught 107 passes on his way to an RB1 overall season.

Jonnu Smith’s departure, combined with Tua Tagovailoa's abilities and a mediocre at best offensive line’s limitations, will make Achane the best and most consistent threat on the Dolphins' offense, potentially leading to a 105-catch season. Achane’s efforts will propel him to a massive fantasy scoring season. He will just miss out on an RB1 overall finish. Achane will average 20 PPG, but will finish as the RB3 overall as some familiar company edges him out.

5. The Class of 2023 Running Backs win Fantasy Leagues

Bijan Ribinson will narrowly edge out Jahmyr Gibbs in a battle for RB1 overall supremacy. Robinson will average 22.5 PPG as he takes his production to another level under second-year OC Zac Robinson. Gibbs will absorb a career-high snap share, relegating David Montgomery to mid-level RB3 numbers as he just misses out on an RB1 overall season but averages 21.5 PPG.

The difference will be in Week 17. Gibbs will score a respectable 17 points as Detroit wins a hard-fought NFC North battle against Minnesota on the road on Christmas Day. Four days later, on Monday Night Football, Robinson will put up 37 PPR points in a 37-34 thriller over the LA Rams indoors in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Robinson will catch 9 passes, pushing his season-long total to a career high 82 catches.

Chase Brown will join the big three inside of RB1 land, finishing the season as the RB7. Zach Charbonnet will continue to be one of the better handcuff backs in football and finish the season with five RB1 weekly finishes in six starts. The class of 2023 RB class is a cheat code.

6. Jameson Williams levels up

Gibbs will not be the only Lions skill position player with a high league-win rate. After a breakthrough 2024 season in which he averaged 14.2 PPG and finished with 1,001 receiving yards, Williams will take his game to another level under new OC John Morton. Increased usage, opportunities, and a featured role will propel Williams to a 12-touchdown season.

He will lead the NFL in catches of 40 yards or more with 10 and be a human highlight reel. His targets will increase from 91 to 117. Williams will also have 18 rush attempts, including a touchdown. This increase in scoring will result in Williams’ first WR1 finish.

7. Rookie Wide Receivers remain a Cheat Code

Tetairoa McMillan will make it five out of six seasons with a rookie wide receiver putting up top-10 numbers. McMillan will not reach the level of Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. in 2025, but will exceed Ladd McConkey’s. McMillan will average 16.1 PPG and set Carolina Panthers rookie records for targets, receptions and tie Kelvin Benjamin’s touchdown record with 9. McMillan will establish himself as a top-8 wide receiver in dynasty and become a 2026 second-round pick in redraft. He will not be the only rookie wide receiver to make an immediate impact.

Travis Hunter will thrive in Jacksonville and finish as a WR2. Matthew Golden will lead all Green Bay Packers receivers in fantasy scoring and finish with 900 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns. Luther Burden will have a slow first half of the season, before a second-half lift-off.

Oh, and there is more.

8. Emeka Egbuka leads Tampa Bay in Receptions

Egbuka’s ascension in Tampa Bay will be fast-tracked. Chris Godwin is rumored to be starting the season on the PUP list, and his inability to bounce back from last year’s season-ending injury is a troubling way to begin the year. Jalen McMillan will miss the first half of the season — at least — with a neck injury. Enter Egbuka.

Tampa selected the talented rookie with the 19th overall pick in last year’s draft. More than a few eyebrows were raised at the time, with many viewing it as a luxury pick. A narrative quickly formed that Egbuka might follow the JSN–Odunze track — a player better suited as a Year Two breakout candidate. But Egbuka has silenced those doubts. He has been dominant in every minicamp and training camp session, and the drumbeat surrounding him could not be stronger.

He will be on the field — a lot — and will quickly develop into Baker Mayfield’s preferred target in one of the league’s best offenses. Egbuka will pace Tampa Bay with 87 receptions (edging out Mike Evans in the process), set a new Buccaneers rookie record, and establish himself as a Top-15 dynasty value.

9. Ja’Marr Chase breaks the streak

There has not been a repeat WR1 overall finisher since Antonio Brown. Chase will break the streak and then some. He will set a record for the highest PPG finish by a 25-year-old WR ever with 24.2 PPG — leading all skill positions in the process. Chase will once again lead the NFL in TD catches, but best his 2024 mark by finishing with 20 — the third most in NFL history. He will head into 2026 as the consensus 1.01. Chase’s magical season will be the highlight of what is set to be another great season for LSU alumni.

10. Joe Burrow does a Peyton Manning impersonation

After leading the NFL in touchdown passes and passing yards in 2024, Burrow will take his game to another level. Game flow will be heavily in favor of Borrow, and all Cincinnati Bengals skill position players will benefit this season, as the Bengals' defense continues to be a sieve, allowing the fifth most points in the NFL. But the Bengals offense will compensate in a major way with the Burrow-Chase combination (with plenty of Brown and Tee Higgins mixed in) leading the charge.

The Bengals will average 30 PPG this season — trailing only their AFC North rivals, the Baltimore Ravens, in overall tean scoring, and be one of the least balanced and most flawed 11-win teams in recent memory. Burrow will continue to redefine what a peak season looks like for him. He will finish the season with 51 touchdown passes, becoming the third QB in NFL history to finish the season with 50 or more and the first since Patrick Mahomes in 2018.

11. It’s good. To be. An LSU Tiger. It’s good. To be. An LSU Tiger. Part Two……a Tiger wins the MVP

Jayden Daniels will join Burrow as a Top-4 QB scorer. Daniels will build on his incredible rookie season by leading all quarterbacks in rushing yardage. He will edge out Lamar Jackson, finishing with 1027 yards, becoming just the fourth QB in NFL history to finish with 1K+ in a season. His efficiency in year two will be even better than in year one. He will go on to win the NFL MVP award.

12. It’s good. To be. An LSU Tiger. It’s good. To be. An LSU Tiger. Part Two: Wide Receiver U

Chase will be joined by Justin Jefferson, Malik Nabers, and Brian Thomas Jr. as repeat WR1 finishers. All will finish as top-7 scorers at the position. BTJ will take a significant leap forward, finishing as the WR3 overall. Nabers will finish as the WR5. Jefferson will take a slight step back as Minnesota has more of a run-heavy approach and finish outside the Top 5. He will also concede touchdowns to an unlikely source.

13. Jordan Mason is this year’s surprise double-digit Touchdown scorer

The unlikely double-digit TD scorer season is more common than you think. Raheem Mostert 2023 and Jamaal Williams 2022 are recent examples, but the streets will never forget LeGarrette Blount’s 18-touchdown 2016 season.

Mason’s Minnesota debut will be a special one. He will finish top-five in the NFL with 12 rushing touchdowns and go over 1000 yards as a runner. Aaron Jones will stay heavily involved in the offense and catch 50 passes, but Mason will be exactly the backfield hammer that the Vikings envisioned when they acquired him in a trade this offseason and then some.

14. George Pickens CRUSHES the ex-Steeler WR Streak and Narrative

When Mike Tomlin moves on from a wide receiver, fantasy managers should as well. Chase Claypool. Juju Smith-Schuster. Antonio Brown. Diontae Johnson. A murders row of ADP failures. But this season, George Pickens will end the streak in a major way. Pickens will have his best season as a pro, finishing as a Top-15 WR scorer.

He will become Dallas’ second leading fantasy PPG scorer behind CeeDee Lamb, and the two will combine to be one of fantasy football and the NFL’s most feared WR duos. Where Pickens will play in 2026 will be one of the biggest offseason storylines of next season, with the Cowboys attempting to re-sign the upcoming free agent amid multiple teams bidding for his services.

15. Jacory Croskey-Merritt leads Washington Running Backs in Fantasy Scoring

Philip Lindsay. James Robinson. Alfred Morris. Late Day 3/undrafted free agent running backs rarely hit, but when they do, they often exceed expectations in a significant way. Croskey-Merritt (who goes by “Bill”) has been an off-season rocket ship with drum beats getting louder and louder and slowly growing.

Ben Standig of The Athletic and many other Commanders’ beat reporters have talked up JCM’s ability to not only get weekly touches but to lead the backfield. With Jayden Daniels behind center, running lanes and big play opportunities will be there. Washington has cited big plays in the running game as one of their goals for offensive improvement in 2025. This is certainly not a trait that we would associate with Brian Robinson or veteran Austin Ekeler (himself an undrafted fantasy star).

Enter JCM.

The Shrine Bowl MVP will make his mark on the league. He will be one of the most heavily added players on the waiver wire early on in the season in shallow formats and lead Washington in running back touches and running back fantasy points.

16. Rookie TEs continue to Thrive

The streak of rookie tight ends finishing as the TE1 overall will end, but rookie tight ends will continue to make their mark on Fantasy Football. Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren were both top 14 selections in the 2025 NFL Draft, and the investment their teams made in them will quickly pay off. Warren will lead Indianapolis in receptions this season and finish as the TE8 overall. Loveland will put up multiple smash weeks' scores, displaying big play ability and a knack for finding the end zone, finishing as the TE6. Both players will settle in as Top-five TEs in Dynasty heading into the 2026 season.

Loveland and Warren will make their impacts over the course of the season, but the depth and quality of the rookie class will shine over the second half of the season. Elijah Arroyo and Mason Taylor will be a top-15 scorers from Week 8 on. Harold Fannin Jr. will be a red-hot scorer in the tail end of the season and in the fantasy playoffs after Cleveland trades David Njoku at the deadline. Dynasty managers who invested in this group of TEs will be in a great place heading into 2026.

17. Zac Robinson is this year’s Liam Coen

Looking for the next offensive coordinator being fast-tracked towards a head coaching job? Head to Atlanta. Zac Robinson’s Falcons offense will take a significant leap forward in 2025.

The aforementioned Bijan Robinson will be joined as a top-five positional scorer with Drake London returning significant value for drafters who selected him inside of the second round of fantasy drafts. Kyle Pitts will have his most consistent season since 2021 and finish as the TE11. Michael Penix Jr. will finish as the QB12. The Falcons will average 26 PPG as a team — their highest scoring mark and reach the NFL playoffs. Robinson will be a hot commodity heading into the 2026 offseason and will be the next Sean McVay assistant to become a head coach. But he will not be the only former McVay assistant to make his mark on the 2025 season.

18. Nick Caley and a C.J. Stroud turnaround

C.J. Stroud was a massive ADP disappointment in 2024. He was selected as a Top-6 QB but failed to deliver in a major way. This year will be the opposite outcome. Drafters have pushed C.J. Stroud down to QB20 in ADP — an almost punitive price.

With new offensive coordinator Nick Caley in tow, Stroud and the Texans’ offense will embrace the passing game at a level we did not see during the Bobby Slowik years. Nico Collins will lead the way, but Stroud will also benefit from newcomers Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel, and Christian Kirk.

Stroud will finish as the QB9 on the strength of a career-high 32 touchdown passes.

19. Calvin Ridley is this year’s Terry McLaurin/Courtland Sutton

Cam Ward will be a massive QB upgrade from the dark days of Will Levis leading the charge. Tennessee fans will rejoice as they find their long-term answer at the position. The biggest beneficiary will be Ridley. Like Sutton and McLaurin last season, the combination of elite WR1 usage and a rookie QB locking in on him and elevating the offense will result in a massive ADP win. Ridley will have his best fantasy season since 2020, finishing with a 15 PPG average.

20. Braelon Allen will Take Over. Breece Hall will be a Dallas Cowboy.

Braelon Allen will split carries with Hall to start the season and thrive in that role. But a mid-season trade will open things up. Hall managers will breathe a collective sigh of relief as Hall is sent to Dallas, turning around his season as the playoff-bound Cowboys go to the mattresses.

Hall’s absence will fully open things up for Allen, and the second year back will be more than up for the occasion. Allen will be this season’s year two breakout at the running back position, finishing with 950 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns while providing better-than-anticipated pass-catching numbers.

21. Ashton Jeanty: VOLUME MONSTER

Jeanty will lead all running backs in touches with 360. He will not hit Barkley-Zeke Elliott rookie year scoring levels, but he will have a strong rookie debut with 17.5 PPG. Jeanty will be locked in as a 2026 first-round pick. He will not be the only class of 2025 back to steam up in 2026 ADP.

22. TreVeyon Henderson: New England STAR

Henderson will finish just behind Achane and Robinson as the third leading receiver at the running back position, finishing the year with 79 catches — the second most by a Patriots back in franchise history and the most since James White in 2018. Henderson will finish as the Patriots' second leading receiver behind Demario Douglas (85 catches). He will develop into one of the most exciting players in the NFL, with three rushes of 40 yards or more.

23. Omarion Hampton: Fantasy Playoffs Hero

Hampton will be a low-end RB1 throughout the regular season, but will save the best for last. He will take his game to another level in the latter portion of the season, culminating in a massive fantasy playoffs performance. In Weeks 15-17, Hampton will score six touchdowns, including a wild three-score game in a Week 16 shootout win over the Dallas Cowboys. He will join Jeanty and Henderson as a Top-18 selection in 2026 early redraft ADP.

24. The Waiver Wire will be Fruitful and Handcuff Running Backs will have their Moments

The everyone stays healthy narrative of 2025 will be short-lived, and more and more NFL teams will be cautious with aging stars. Keaton Mitchell will start four games in Baltimore as the Ravens rest an overworked Derrick Henry for the NFL playoffs. Will Shipley will start three games in Philadelphia as the Eagles do the same with Saquon Barkley. There will be many more. Embrace a return to chaos in this thing of ours.

25. Lamar Jackson will win his first Super Bowl

The Baltimore Ravens will return to Super Bowl glory. They will win going away in a resounding 37-23 victory over the Detroit Lions. Henry and Jackson will win their first Super Bowls. Henry will score two touchdowns, but Jackson will win the Super Bowl MVP with a flawless performance, adding to his ever-growing shelf of hardware.

BONUS 26. Fantasy Points will continue to Produce Fantasy Winners

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