We’ll have you covered as you prepare for your 2025 dynasty drafts. In order to dominate your dynasty draft, check out our expert consensus dynasty draft rankings. And sync your dynasty league to practice with fast and free dynasty mock drafts. Below, we dive into dynasty players our analysts are lower on compared to our expert consensus rankings.
Dynasty Fantasy Football Advice
After a triumphant rookie season in 2023, C.J. Stroud‘s production fell dramatically last season. In 2023, Stroud was QB8 in fantasy points per game (18.7) among quarterbacks who made at least nine starts. In 2024, he slipped to QB26 in fantasy points per game (13.7). His passing yardage per game dropped from 273.9 to 219.2. Much of the blame goes to a shoddy offensive line that allowed Stroud to be sacked 52 times and yielded a league-worst 27.2% pressure rate. Houston’s offensive line could still be a problem in 2025. The Texans traded away their best offensive lineman, left tackle Laremy Tunsil, although they acquired a solid replacement in Cam Robinson. The Texans added to Stroud’s pass-catching arsenal by drafting Iowa State WRs Jaden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, but WR Stefon Diggs left via free agency, and WR Tank Dell might not play in 2025 after sustaining a gruesome knee injury in December. It’s probably best to expect something between the highs of 2023 and the lows of 2024, and to regard Stroud as a midrange QB2.
– Pat Fitzmaurice
Let’s call a spade a spade here. Caleb Williams had a VERY tough rookie season. The ballyhooed savior of the Windy City didn’t exactly have the start to his career that many people hoped for and hyped. Williams was the QB21 in fantasy points per game, which was aided greatly by his legs (seventh in rushing yards among quarterbacks). Williams was the QB12 in expected fantasy points per game, so the disappointment was very real. When we discuss what he did as a passer, the true tragedy becomes apparent. Last year, among 40 qualifying quarterbacks, Williams ranked 34th in yards per attempt, 24th in CPOE, and 26th in highly accurate throw rate (per Fantasy Points Data). Williams had the ninth-highest off-target rate and the second-lowest catchable target rate (only Anthony Richardson was worse). The Bears have added a TON of personnel to help Williams find his footing in year two with offensive line upgrades, a strong play-caller (Ben Johnson), and the additions of Luther Burden and Colston Loveland. I do believe Williams will take a step forward, but the real question is how much. Williams is best viewed as a dice roll QB2.
– Derek Brown
David Montgomery could be hard-pressed to turn a profit on his low-end RB2 ADP. He shares work with Jahmyr Gibbs, one of the most talented RBs in the league. Montgomery has averaged 16.8 and 15.8 touches a game in Gibbs’ first two seasons. I’ll bet the under on 15.8 touches a game for Montgomery in 2025, as I expect an uptick in Gibbs’ usage. We could also see a dip in Montgomery’s TD total. He’s scored 13 and 12 touchdowns the last two years, as the Lions ranked first and fifth in scoring those two seasons. If the Lions scale back Montgomery’s usage to give Gibbs more snaps, or if the Detroit offense has hiccups after losing offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to the Bears, Monty’s TD total could slip. He’s a quality running back, but I see Montgomery as more of an RB3 than an RB2.
– Pat Fitzmaurice
Hall is young (24), talented and versatile, but new Jets head coach Aaron Glenn keeps talking about using multiple running backs this season. It’s also worth noting that Hall had trouble against good run defenses last year. He faced four run defenses that were top 10 in DVOA against the run last season and averaged 34.8 rushing yards per game and 3.0 yards per carry in those four contests. Hall has amassed nearly 3,000 yards from scrimmage over the last two years, but he looks like a somewhat risky play for 2025.
– Pat Fitzmaurice
Mixon volume-hogged his way to an RB8 finish last year. Last year, he ranked 14th in snap share, fifth in opportunity share, 17th in weighted opportunity, and sixth in red zone touches. The efficiency aspect hasn’t been there, and I doubt that it will change in 2025 with another year of touches hitting the body odometer. Last year, he ranked 22nd in explosive run rate, 38th in missed tackles forced per attempt, and 29th in yards after contact per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). The Texans added Nick Chubb and Woody Marks this offseason to help out on early downs and in the passing game. With Mixon continuing to deal with a foot injury that has him sidelined for an extended period of time right now, he’s a tough player to get excited about drafting. Mixon has tumbled into risky RB2/3 territory, and I’m avoiding him in most of my drafts this year.
– Derek Brown
Rashee Rice was electric early last season, averaging 21.6 PPR fantasy points per game over the first three weeks. But he tore his LCL in Week 4 and missed the rest of the year. It’s possible Rice goes right back to being Patrick Mahomes‘ favorite short-area target and picks up where he left off. But young WR Xavier Worthy asserted himself for the Chiefs down the stretch last season. Rice is also facing a potential suspension for his involvement in a multi-car crash in Dallas in March 2024. His disciplinary hearing with the league is scheduled for Sept. 30. The league reportedly wanted to suspend Rice for 10 games, but the NFLPA objected. Fantasy managers should probably plan on a suspension of at least 4-6 games for Rice.
– Pat Fitzmaurice
Zay Flowers has settled in as a consistent WR3 for fantasy purposes, and I don’t see that changing in 2025, especially with the addition of DeAndre Hopkins this offseason. Over the last two seasons, Flowers has been the WR31 and WR32 in fantasy points per game. He’s outplayed expectations as he was the WR38 and WR33 in expected fantasy points per game in each season. Last year, among 85 qualifying receivers, he ranked 14th in target share (24.1%), 27th in receiving yards per game (62.3), 17th in yards per route run (2.35), 18th in first-read share (30%), and 20th in first downs per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). With the addition of Hopkins and an impending bounceback season for Mark Andrews, Flowers likely won’t be leaping into WR2 territory this year and could regress into low-end WR3 territory.
– Derek Brown
DK Metcalf joins the Steelers as their new No. 1 WR after finishing 2024 as the WR32 (WR33 per game) with 992 yards and a career-low 5 TDs in 15 games. However, before a knee injury in Week 7, Metcalf was off to a scorching start – ranking top-5 in targets, yards, and air yards. Now in Pittsburgh’s run-heavy Arthur Smith offense, target share won’t be an issue, but overall passing volume/efficiency may be. Even with Aaron Rodgers at QB, this offense will have a low pass rate. Metcalf’s fantasy ceiling hinges on red-zone usage and big plays. The opportunity is there, but his 2025 value depends entirely on the Steelers’ offensive competency with the 41-year-old QB under center.
– Andrew Erickson
T.J. Hockenson missed seven games in 2024 while recovering from the devastating knee injury he sustained in December 2023. Upon his return, he had 41 catches for 455 yards in 10 games but didn’t score any touchdowns. Hockenson has been a trusted brand name at the TE position, but he’s entering his age-28 season and has missed 26 games over the last four seasons. Hockenson must share targets with Vikings WRs Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, and those targets will be coming from a quarterback who’s never started an NFL game, top 2023 Minnesota draft pick J.J. McCarthy.
– Pat Fitzmaurice
Last year, David Njoku finished as the TE4 in fantasy points per game, easily the best per-game production of his career. He did miss seven games last year, though, with hamstring and ankle issues. Injuries have sadly been a part of Njoku’s career, and at this point, I don’t think they are going away, so they have to be factored into his 2025 equation. Last season, among 47 qualifying tight ends, Njoku commanded a ton of volume, ranking fifth in target share (21%), seventh in receiving yards per game (45.9), and sixth in first-read share (21.7%, per Fantasy Points Data), but he wasn’t efficient with his volume ranking 32nd in first downs per route run and yards per route run. Injuries, efficiency concerns, quarterback worries, and target competition are all factors that impact his 2025 outlook. Njoku will likely finish as a low-end TE1 this season, but I’m not targeting him aggressively.
– Derek Brown
Here are our latest Dynasty Draft Rankings from our consensus of fantasy football experts. You can find the latest Dynasty Draft Rankings and sync your fantasy football league for specific advice.
