Fantasy: 5 players we love in 2025
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What's the point of playing fantasy football if you aren't willing to take some bold stands? These are the five players we are most excited to draft this summer.
Nobody would fault you if Fields getting benched for Russell Wilson last season, despite a 4-2 record at the time, was the last straw for your patience with his development. Many of us have been waiting a long time for things to click for him as a passer. At this point, it's possible it never happens.
But that doesn't mean he can't still be a valuable fantasy asset. Think back to that incredible 2022 season. While Fields' shortcomings as a passer were undoubtedly a problem for the Bears in real life, his 1,143 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground still helped him finish as a top-six QB in fantasy.
Fields will get plenty of runway as the Jets' starter after signing a two-year, $40-million deal in free agency. And with a defenive-minded head coach in Aaron Glenn, you can bet New York will favor a run-heavy approach in complementing its defense. The Jets rounding out an impressive young offensive line at the top of this year's draft sets the stage for Fields to lead the charge on that front. He's currently being drafted as the 14th QB off the board. Assuming he stays healthy, I don't see why he can't finish as a top-10 player at the position.
Loving McCaffrey in fantasy football? Bold, I know. But hey, it's probably worth touching on this one. Last season's injury issues seem to have had a major impact on the fantasy community's willingness to count on the 49ers running back. His 9th overall ADP is the lowest its been since 2018.
On one hand, it makes sense. The 29-year-old has a pretty extensive injury history. And there aren't many running backs who maintain elite levels of production at this point in their career. But this is still McCaffrey we're talking about.
There's a reason he's been a top-two fantasy pick for six years running - no other back can offer this much upside both as a runner and as a receiver out of the backfield. And his role as the centerpiece of a Kyle Shanahan offense pushes the fantasy potential through the roof. Will he be able to stay healthy enough to deliver? Beats me. But I'll happily take that chance in the back half of the first round.
I'll admit: I have a hard time giving up on older players. There's something about veteran savvy that all too often tricks me into believing they can produce at a high level for longer than is actually possible. Sue me. I assure you, though, this is not one of those occasions.
Adams' 37th overall ADP - the cheapest he's been since 2017 - can only be explained by fantasy managers overthinking the age. Despite a midseason move to New York, and some clear issues getting back on the same page with longtime teammate Aaron Rodgers, Adams posted 854 yards and seven touchdowns in just 11 appearances with the Jets. Extrapolate that out to a 17-game schedule, and you're looking at 1,300 yards and double-digit touchdowns.
The 32-year-old is one of the best route-runners this league has ever seen. His game was always going to age gracefully. Joining the Rams affords him the perfect situation to prove how much he's got left in the tank. Matthew Stafford is an enormous QB upgrade over a fading Rodgers, Puka Nacua is an ideal running mate, and you can bet Sean McVay has big plans for a new weapon so adept at winning one-on-one matchups on the outside.
Pickens has always been a bit of a one-dimensional player. He can go up and get it as well as anyone, but the rest of his game leaves a lot to be desired. That's probably part of the reason the Steelers were content to move on for little more than a 2026 third-round pick.
And yet here we are getting excited about Pickens anyway. Why? Well, for starters, the situation upgrade is staggering. For as many faults as he may have, Pickens overcame some truly horrific quarterback play to produce at a fairly consistent level in Pittsburgh. The move to Dallas hooks him up with Dak Prescott, one of the 10 best QBs in football when healthy.
Defenses focusing their attention on CeeDee Lamb, mostly lined up in the slot, should open up plenty of opportunities for Pickens to do his thing on the outside. And if the current state of the Cowboys backfield is any indication, it's possible that this ends up being an extremely pass-heavy offense. Pickens may well put together a career year before having the opportunity to cash in as a free agent in March.
Metcalf will be a fascinating player to watch after making the move to Pittsburgh. Going from Geno Smith to a fading version of Aaron Rodgers is a pretty clear downgrade at quarterback. And an Arthur Smith offense is bound to be more run-heavy than what we saw from Ryan Grubb in Seattle last year.
Barring another aggressive move from the Steelers, though, there is effectively no competition for targets. Metcalf is the clear No. 1 receiver, and his areas of dominance - slants and fades - would appear to be a particularly strong fit for what his new quarterback likes to do most.
Nobody in Pittsburgh is going to develop a Davante Adams-like relationship with Rodgers. But the way targets shook out for Adams with the Jets last season - 114 in 11 games - demonstrates Rodgers' clear willingness to feed his top target. Now picture what those numbers could look like on a team that doesn't have Garrett Wilson as the No. 2. Metcalf being drafted at the top of the fifth round feels way too late to me.
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