If you haven't noticed, our team has been hard at work updating their 2025 fantasy football rankings and breaking them down along the way.

While we've been able to pick the brains of our rankers individually, we had to round up Dwain McFarland, Kendall Valenzuela, Matthew Freedman, Ian Hartitz, and Rob Waziak to get some answers to the lingering questions on everyone's minds …

Introducing The 2025 Rankings Roundtable

1. Which non-Jeanty rookie RB will you be targeting in your non-dynasty drafts?

Dwain: Omarion Hampton is the obvious and slam-dunk answer here. Hampton earned a 79 rating in the Rookie Super Model, and 73% of backs with that score notched a top-12 RB campaign in their first three seasons. Can Hampton overtake Najee Harris in Year 1? That's the big question, and the answer is yes, but it's a matter of when. 

While it wouldn't be surprising to see it happen in Week 1, given Hampton's similar size but superior speed profile, the safe bet is around mid-season. That means Hampton likely misses the cut for top-12 status as a rookie, but he might be performing like a top-six option by the time the fantasy playoffs come around.

Freedman: The chalk answer might be RJ Harvey, given that he landed in a great spot and received more draft capital than anticipated. But I'm going with Quinshon Judkins, because everything I just said about Harvey also applies to him.

Judkins, the fourth selection of Day 2, went off the board maybe half a round before expected (before teammate TreVeyon Henderson), and the only veteran RBs on the Browns are Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong, neither of whom is a true lead back.

Judkins should benefit running behind a top-quartile offensive line, and I expect the offense to be serviceable, given that 1) QB Joe Flacco knows the system from his five-game Comeback Player of the Year stint with the team in 2023 and offensive HC Kevin Stefanski (2020 & 2023 HCOY) is one of the league's best playcallers.

With the success Judkins had in college (three straight seasons of 1,200-plus scrimmage yards) and his near-elite physical profile (4.48-second 40-yard dash at 6-0, 221 lbs.), I don't see why he should be any worse than a low-end RB2—and he has the upside to finish as a mid-range RB1.

Ian: Hampton is the easy answer since he was the second RB drafted and only non-Jeanty back to get non-Round 1 draft capital. So if you want to take that slam dunk, go for it.

That said, the world still might be underestimating what RJ Harvey can do in this Denver backfield. Consider the elements at play:

  • Depth chart: With all due respect to Audric Estime and Jaleel McLaughlin, this is one of the least-proven RB rooms in the league.
  • Scheme: Despite not even having a bona fide stud receiving back, Sean Payton’s Broncos offense leads the league in targets to RBs over the past two seasons.
  • Scoring upside: The Bo Nix-led Broncos ranked 11th in offensive points per game in 2024.
  • Offensive line: PFF ranked this unit as the league’s second-best o-line in 2024.

While Javonte Williams only managed to turn in RB31 and RB37 finishes in PPR points per game over the last two seasons, Payton’s 15 years in New Orleans produced a top-18 RB on 14 occasions! That’s good for a median rank of RB8 and an average of RB12.

Now, it’s not a given Harvey provides Alvin Kamara-level production from day one or anything, but goodness gracious does he find himself in a fantasy-friendly environment–don’t be surprised if the rookie makes the most out of it despite few analysts having him ranked as a top-five talent at the position entering the draft.

Kendall: Just so we have multiple names here I am going to go with TreVeyon Henderson, but please note that this might be a trust the process situation in New England. The Patriots drafted Henderson in round two with the 38th overall pick in the NFL Draft, and he now joins Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson in the backfield. I say this is a "trust the process" landing spot because Stevenson isn't going to disappear entirely. 

New offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has a history of utilizing a committee in the backfield—according to PFF, in 18 years as a head coach or offensive coordinator, there has only been one season where the running back leading the team in carries was also the back receiving the most third-down snaps. 

Still, I'm drafting Henderson and betting on the talent. He has the big-play ability and has shown flashes as a receiver as well (aka he has all the talent). But we booed Dwain McFarland off the Fantasy Life podcast for a reason once he gave us the projections, with 50% of the rushing attempts going to Stevenson and 35% going to Henderson, he has the rookie projected for 8.1 fantasy points per game—GROSS. I'm betting on the talent with Henderson in redraft and love drafting him in best ball.

Waz: I’m fully aligned with Hampton being the top rookie RB to chase after Jeanty, as he is fully capable of surpassing Harris on the depth chart by midseason, but I’m with Kendall on targeting Henderson for added value in drafts.

Henderson’s 4.43 40-yard dash, 2024 production (1,013 yards; 7.1 YPC), and 77 score in Dwain’s Rookie Super Model–where 16% of similar RBs hit top-six status–make him a standout. The Patriots drafted him to spark their offense around Drake Maye, complementing Stevenson. His vision, cut-back ability, and pass-catching fits McDaniels’ scheme which could have him seeing 10-12 touches a week early, with RB2 upside in PPR formats.

2. Marvin Harrison Jr. was a consensus 2nd round pick with an ADP around 16 last year. Where are you putting him heading into 2025?

Dwain: Harrison is a low-end WR2 heading into the 2025 campaign as my WR21. He is still one of the best prospects we have ever seen in the Rookie Super Model, matching Ja'Marr Chase's rating of 100. We can't ignore his non-Chase-like rookie campaign, but there were still positives in Harrison's underlying data.

  • Targets: 23% (WR2 worthy)
  • Air Yards: 43% (WR1 worthy)
  • PFF Receiving Grade: 77.2 (WR2 worthy)

Based on those criteria, which are typically sticky to WRs, here is Harrison's Year 1 historical comparison group:

We are right back to a WR2 ranking as Harrison's sweet spot with this analysis—Evans, Green, and Allen went on to become WR1s while Waddle, Smith, and Flowers have been WR2/3s. Time will tell whether Harrison can join the top three names, but it is in his range of outcomes for 2025.

Freedman: Harrison is my WR21. His 62-885-8 receiving performance last year is probably his 2025 floor, which would give him the production of a WR2 (or thereabouts).

But of course his ceiling is similar to what we saw last year out of fellow classmates Brian Thomas (87-1,282-10), Malik Nabers (109-1,204-7), and Ladd McConkey (82-1,149-7), especially given that the Cardinals didn't add any pass catchers in the draft.

That said, I'm not sure how much I want to bet on that ceiling.

Ian: Harrison comes in as my WR26–the lowest among our consensus rankers. And honestly, that still feels a bit generous: We’re talking about the reigning WR40 in PPR points per game! QUENTIN F*CKING JOHNSTON out-scored the artist known as Maserati Marv last season both overall and on a per-game basis.

Could 2024 have simply been a relatively down year? Sure, but that essentially needs to be your bet considering all key parties that helped produce the mid rookie campaign are back. There will not be a change in offensive philosophy under incumbent OC Drew Petzing, pint-sized franchise QB Kyler Murray is back under center, and the offense’s real No. 1 target Trey McBride recently signed a massive four-year, $76 million extension.

Honestly, ranking Harrison ahead of guys like Chris Olave and Calvin Ridley (higher target ceilings) as well as the likes of DeVonta Smith, Jameson Williams, and Jaylen Waddle (more proven fantasy upside) feels generous. There are worst things than being a top-30 fantasy WR, unfortunately the cruel world of expectations makes this seem more rough for Marv than most.

Kendall: Maybe we weren't wrong, just a year too early? Marvin Harrison will be closer to WR20 for me because I believe last year was the outlier. He was going off draft boards around WR9 and finished as the overall WR30 in PPR formats (ick).

The level of play from Kyler Murray severely impacted Harrison's season, and with Murray admitting that he was still hampered by his leg injury during the 2024 season, it feels like another full offseason will not only get Murray to 100% health but also strengthen the connection between the two. I'm in on the WR18 price tag right now on Underdog because of the potential value a third-round pick with Harrison's talent could bring.

Waz: Harrison is also my WR21. As Dwain referenced, his 2024 target share, air yards share, and PFF grade all align with ideal WR2 output. Arizona signed Zay Jones and Simi Fehoko, but both are nothing but depth pieces, keeping Harrison as Murray’s top target. Still, Harrison could benefit more from the offense running more plays.

In 2024, the Cardinals ran a league-middling 60.47 plays per game, down from 62.71 in 2023 and 66.29 in 2022. Murray only played in 8 games in 2023 and 11 in 2022, but the team was still dropping back at an increased rate in those years. If the Cardinals offense can improve in tempo, and Murray and Harrison can further establish a rapport, Harrison’s ceiling could flirt with fringe WR1 production.

3.  The Steelers have an odd QB situation, and there’s a lot of Aaron Rodgers speculation, but that’s far from a guarantee. As you rank a talented group of pass-catchers, how are you valuing that x-factor?

Dwain: On paper, the prospect of DK Metcalf and George Pickens bullying defensive backs all over the field is appealing. However, the lack of a quality quarterback is holding them down in my rankings at WR28 and WR41, respectively.

While I'm not sure Aaron Rodgers is what he once was, he certainly helped fuel Davante Adams to a massive finish in 2024. However, the question is whether Rodgers wants to play under Arthur Smith, who prefers to run the ball and get the veteran quarterback under center more often. 

That was a battle between Rodgers and Matt LaFleur back in the day. If Rodgers is willing to buy in, Smith's scheme is solid (my main concern is his tendency to rotate his best players off the field too often), and Rodgers might still have a good season ahead. However, I could also see a scenario where there is massive friction between the two, and when you add Pickens and his antics into the mix, we could have a combustible situation.

If Rodgers signs, I will move Metcalf and Pickens up in the ranks, but they will still not be my priority targets in drafts. I struggle to envision a realistic scenario where either player becomes a must-have, league-winning fantasy player in 2025.

Freedman: I'm working on projections right now, and in our projections I'm assuming that Mason Rudolph will start 14 games with the remainder being split by Skylar Thompson and Will Howard.

But I'm making that "assumption" only because Rodgers isn't currently on the roster, and I don't project team-associated production for people who aren't on the team.

In reality, my true assumption is that Rodgers will play for the Steelers this season and start every game he's healthy.

The Steelers are a serious organization with Super Bowl aspirations. There's no possible way they can plan to go into the 2025 season with Rudolph as their starter.

So why hasn't Rodgers signed with them yet?

I believe he didn't want to get 2024 Kirk Cousin-ed (or 2020 Rodgers-ed) by them selecting a QB early in the draft, and so he casually mentioned the prospect of retirement on the Pat McAfee Show before the draft and waited to sign his agreement (which is already in place) until he could see what the Steelers did, especially on Days 1-2.

Is that diva behavior? Maybe.

But it also makes sense that a QB who turns 42 in December and is near the end of his career would want his team to maximize its odds of winning a championship by investing its premium draft capital in someone who can contribute immediately on the field, not sit on the sideline as a backup.

So I expect Rodgers to play for the Steelers this season—and that means I expect the team to have a functional offense. With that in mind, I expect DK Metcalf and George Pickens to be solid WR3s with upside.

Ian: Reading between the lines should lead most to believe Aaron Rodgers will be wearing black and yellow come Week 1. Yes, the man is old. Also yes, A-aron could still very well be the best pure passer to grace this offense since pre-elbow surgery Big Ben.

Of course, that might not overly matter in fantasy land if Arthur Smith and Mike Tomlin continue to run the rock at one of the league’s highest rates. The real-life tandem of DK Metcalf and George Pickens figures to cause defenses problems, considering the OG Paranormal Activity-scare level of leaving either on an island, but how much can either really boom with such limited potential volume?

From Fantasy Life’s own in-house projections:

  • Metcalf: 104 targets (WR38)
  • Pickens: 98 (WR43)

While it’d make sense if those targets are more fantasy-friendly than most thanks to Smith’s penchant for dialing up play-action deep balls, both Metcalf and Pickens have largely been boom-or-bust WR3s throughout their career, regardless of the QB. I don’t expect that reality to change for either in 2025.

Kendall: I really still can't believe Aaron Rodgers is someone we are talking about in 2025, but here we are. On the one hand, Rodgers peppered his BFF Davante Adams with targets in New York, but he was still more of a mediocre quarterback when we look at it. But still, DK Metcalf is 27 years old (turning 28 in December), and it feels like the right receiver can succeed in this offense.

Plus, it's hard to ignore just how run-happy this Steelers team was in 2024. Only three offenses threw the ball at a lower percentage than Pittsburgh (50.7%), and the team's 533 total rush attempts were only behind the Eagles (621), Ravens (554), and Lions (534). Overall, I'm in line with everyone else here, while I like Metcalf's upside, he's never really lived up to his expectations. For that, I'll keep both Metcalf and George Pickens in that WR3 range. 

Waz: Metcalf (WR31) and Pickens (WR34) are both ranked conservatively for me right now due to the unknown at QB, but when Rodgers signs with the Steelers, all pass-catchers will be elevated. While Metcalf is QB-proof, Pickens would greatly benefit from Rodgers at QB, seeing how he is more dependent on the deep ball. Rodgers under center would also elevate Pat Freiermuth (TE14) and put him in the running for weekly TE1 output.

4. Who do you really want to move up, but there’s a little voice in your head saying, “Just wait, pal. We can do it in August when we have more info,” but you want it on the record right now, you like him a lot?

Dwain: Rashee Rice suffered an LCL injury that required season-ending surgery late last September, but current timelines have him ready for the start of training camp. However, we know how these timelines work this early in the offseason—last year, we heard Jonathon Brooks would be ready for training camp, and he didn't see the field until Week 12. Yes, Brooks' injury the season before was later in the season, but that isn't the point; the point is that there is a wide range of outcomes on these timelines.

Of course, there is also the legal situation hanging over Rice's head with eight felony charges. The NFL will let the legal process play out before taking action. Drew Davenport noted that the case remains in the same spot as it was at this time last year, and there is a possibility that legal action may not take place during the 2025 season.

If Rice is ready to practice in training camp and his legal situation is off the table for 2025, we are drafting him too low. As a reminder, Rice was the WR3 in fantasy with 21.6 points per game and an 8.5 Utilization Score in his three games before the injury last year. Even if he starts slow, he would be a value as a low-end WR2, which is where his ADP currently stands on Underdog.

Currently, I have Rice as my WR25 because of that nagging little voice, but if Rice isn't indicted soon, we could make a case for him as high as WR13 in the range of Tee Higgins.

Freedman: I'm already high on James Cook, who's my RB11. As I mentioned in my pre-draft rankings article, in 2023 Cook had 1,567 scrimmage yards but only six TDs, and then in 2024 he had only 1,267 yards but 18 TDs. Why couldn't he shoot the moon in 2025 with 1,567 yards and 18 TDs while playing alongside MVP QB Josh Allen?

The Bills didn't add another RB in the draft, and they didn't select any skill-position players at all until Round 5. Given the players he will be competing with for touches (RBs Ty Johnson and Ray Davis, WRs Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, and Josh Palmer, and TEs Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox), it would make sense for the Bills offense to flow through Cook—and the Bills were No. 2 in the league last year with 30.9 points per game.

So I want to be high on Cook … but he's in the final year of his contract, and the Bills appear to be in no hurry to extend his deal. As a result, Cook is making noise about not showing up to team activities, etc., and I don't want to be high on a guy who might intentionally sit out games or who might enter the season out of shape because he didn't participate in training camp.

And that means I'm just waiting to see what happens.

Ian: Dual-threat QBs tend to be quite awesome in fantasy football land. You’ll see the top five of our Fantasy Life rankings littered with them, while even relative real-life disappointments like Justin Fields and Kyler Murray maintain top-12 standing thanks to little more than their ability on the ground.

And yet, lost in the QB2 abyss of veteran pocket passers stands one man who has briefly looked like a world-beater in fantasy land during his injury-riddled two-year tenure. Someone whose growing pains were fully expected due to his lack of experience under center. Someone who is still two years away from being able to legally rent an RV in continental America.

That’s right: Colts QB Anthony Richardson is someone being thrown into the trash in terms of fantasy ranks, even though he’d be tough to keep out of the top 12 the second we know he’s starting. And the reason for the lack of confidence is … Daniel f*cking Jones?

A trendy pick as a legit top-six option at the position last year, injuries and a mid-season benching led to a frustrating 2024 for Richardson fantasy truthers such as myself. And yet, five rushing TDs in his last five starts reflected the reality that we’re still looking at someone capable of providing booms. Good luck finding another QB regularly being drafted outside the top 150 who simply needs to stay on the field in order to provide the sort of upside that Richardson possesses.

Kendall: Now listen, we never want injuries in the NFL, but we always want to keep our eyes on the timeline to return so we can use it to our advantage. I'm keeping an eye on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and, more specifically, Chris Godwin. He suffered a left ankle injury in Week 7, and even though he just agreed to a new three-year deal worth $66 million that includes $44 million guaranteed, I want to make sure he's 100% by the time Week 1 rolls around.

This was one of the worst landing spots rookie Emeka Egbuka could have been drafted to, but with the draft capital (19th overall pick), it's hard to ignore the upside. In the past three seasons, Egbuka was 95th percentile in separation percentage, and his 5.5% drop rate (per PFF) on 205 career receptions made him more than reliable.

We can't escape that this was a less-than-ideal landing spot, but I'm still keeping my eye on Egbuka just in case we get bad news out of Tampa Bay. Right now, he's a better long-term bet and a great pickup in dynasty formats. 

Waz: The name has been exhausted through the media over the last few weeks and beyond, and I’m not entirely sure just how much I like him considering the situation, but Shadeur Sanders should be the Browns starting QB.

I currently have all five rostered Browns QBs ranked in the same tier (Sanders QB36, Pickett QB37, Flacco QB39, Gabriel QB40) due to the competition, but feel that Sanders should be ranked among the top 25. I’m just not sure he’ll play a snap this season. But he should. At least most of them.

5. How are you approaching Travis Hunter right now, say in early best balls, or if you just had to draft today?

Dwain: The Jaguars have already told us that they envision Hunter primarily as an offensive player, which is the sort of endorsement we were hoping for. With James Gladstone and Liam Coen looking to re-ignite Trevor Lawrence's career, I project a 75% route participation rate for Hunter.

While that isn't ideal if you are hoping for WR1 upside, it is good enough for a player of Hunter's caliber to push for a WR2 season. Right now, I have Hunter projected for a 20% target share, but we could see the Jaguars prioritize the No. 2 overall pick on easy, quick-hitting plays that could push that target share up to 22 to 23% despite the lower route participation.

Hunter ranks as the fifth-best WR ever in the Rookie Super Model with a rating of 93, which makes him a player I want to bet on now before his ADP climbs too high. I am comfortable drafting him as a high-end WR3 to low-end WR2, ranking him as my WR24, which is well above our consensus of WR35. He is currently the WR30 on Underdog, which I doubt lasts.

Freedman: I want him in dynasty but will probably avoid him in redraft, where I expect him to be strongly overvalued.

First of all, he's competing with Brian Thomas for targets. He's highly unlikely to be the No. 1 WR on his own team.

Second, he enters the NFL with a lot of hype, which means I expect his short-term valuation to be inflated.

Third, we don't know the extent to which he'll be a full-time player on offense.

Fourth, he's a rookie. And expectations should often be kept in check for first-year players.

Right now, Hunter's season-long receiving yardage prop at FanDuel is 700.5 with -114 odds on both sides, which means that the market is yet to look at that number and think it's exploitably wrong on one side or the other.

If Hunter were on another team—one that didn't already have a true alpha No. 1 WR—then I'd be more excited about Hunter's theoretical ceiling and willing to rank to his upside.

But with the 2025 Jaguars, I simply don't see Hunter's path to upside.

Ian: This one is tricky. Everyone knows how good Hunter is, but do you understand how many great WRs are in the NFL in the year 2025?

Squeezing Hunter in the low-end WR2 territory that he’ll likely be drafted in would mean …

Only 12 rookie WRs have posted top-24 numbers in terms of PPR points per game over the last 10 years combined.

Obviously Hunter wouldn’t have been drafted with the No. 2 overall pick if he wasn’t good enough to join this club, but drafters will need him to 1.) Get a true full-time role on offense, 2.) Receive solid QB play from Trevor Lawrence, 3.) Not get dwarfed by Brian Thomas in target share, and 4.) Immediately play the position at a borderline elite level.

And hey, those things could happen … but I don’t love the idea of using top-five round draft capital on someone projected for just the 34th most targets at the position in the first place. Hunter is more of a mid-tier WR3 for me than a slam-dunk WR2.

Kendall: I'm drafting him and just telling myself he is one of the best picks despite being one of the riskiest. The Jacksonville Jaguars traded up to draft Hunter with the second overall pick because they believe he will change the direction of the franchise. After he was drafted, Jaguars general manager James Gladstone said the plan is to start Hunter on offense and work him in on defense as he grows more comfortable. 

The upside is hard to ignore—like Dwain said, Hunter is the fifth-best wide receiver prospect ever in the Rookie Super Model … and you want me to pass on that?! He is projected to finish as WR50 in PPR.  But what if we're wrong about his usage? If this Jaguars team decided to play Hunter on defense only 30% of the time, then there's a huge upgrade. The best-case scenario here is that Hunter is a borderline WR2 and worst-case a WR4/WR5.

Waz: I currently have Hunter nested at WR34, which admittedly feels a bit too low, but considering the uncertainty surrounding his snap share on offense, and then the uncertainty of his target share alongside Thomas, it also feels about right. He fits in a tier with Rome Odunze and Pickens, but if trends begin to indicate that he can flirt with a 17-20% TPPR rate on a 75% offensive snap share, he could be a WR2 lock. I’m not sure Lawrence is capable of supporting that just yet. This will be a very telling year for him.

6. BONUS: You’ve had chicken in your freezer for almost a year, you thaw it out, and you notice the “use by” date is July 12, 2024 (you froze it on July 9). Do you still cook and eat it?

Dwain: Inflation is a bitch, but a whole Chicken seasoned just the way I want it is $11.25 right now at Wal-Mart. I don't see any upside in taking on this risk or the hassle. Chuck the freaking chicken in the trash and head to the store, you can even go barefoot.

Freedman: If you want to minimize risk—and it seems wise to do that when consuming foodstuff—you should probably chuck the chicken. But in reality I expect that you and the family could consume the chicken and live to tell the tale without any gastrointestinal discomfort.

Then again, maybe you should eat the chicken, and if things don't work out well, that can be the lesson to you to be more organized with your meal prep. 

Ian: No, what the hell are we doing here? We’re risking $12 over a scared bird? I’ve had my eating habits ridiculed by friends and family my entire life, and even I find this repulsive. I can drive down the street and buy 4-5 pounds of chicken for about $15 (shoutout Meijer). I lose $15 gambling on football by halftime of the first slate of Sunday games, and you want me to risk food poisoning on this? Honestly, this question just makes me angry. F*ck.

Kendall: Listen, I'm all for saving money on food (hand up, I still have some Thanksgiving food in my freezer), but I think I draw the line at a chicken.

You will find me at the grocery store buying a rotisserie chicken and calling it a day.

Waz: Hey Google, how long can I freeze chicken for? 

Google: For optimal quality, a whole raw chicken can be frozen for up to a year, while raw chicken pieces should be frozen within 9 months.

I suppose it comes down to the number of pieces, but I’m cautiously leaning toward not eating it. Call me chicken.