Coach: Jim Harbaugh 6 PPG
QB: Patrick Mahomes 29 PPG
It’s been a couple of years since we’ve seen peak fantasy football goodness from Patrick Mahomes. Over the past two seasons, Patrick has evolved with his offense into a more efficient, slow-paced game manager. The term ‘game manager’ has a negative connotation, but it is precisely what the team as needed, given their back-to-back Super Bowl appearances. In his current era, he hovers around 4,000 passing yards with a 25/12 TD/INT ratio. His 300-400 rushing yards certainly help keep him in the fantasy starting conversation, too. Mahomes will always be a threat to return to his 5,000-yard, 40 TD days, but it can no longer be an annual expectation. For now, he’s a mid-range QB1 for the IFL.
RB/WR/TE: Joe Mixon 22 PPG, David Montgomery 19 PPG, Drake London 19 PPG, D’Andre Swift 18 PPG, Ladd McConkey 17 PPG 6th men: Chris Olave 16 PPG, Josh Downs 15 PPG, Tetairoa McMillan 15 PPG, Jakobi Meyers 15 PPG, Ricky Pearsall 14 PPG, George Pickens 14 PPG, Wan’Dale Robinson 11 PPG, Devin Singletary 10 PPG, Bryant 9 PPG, Savion Williams 5 PPG, Brashard Smith 4 PPG, Pat Ben Sinnott 3 PPG
Joe Mixon has been a superstud from pretty much day one. Yes, there have been some lows, like when he punched a woman in a Subway in college, but he has mostly stayed out of trouble from that point on. Joe was traded during the 2024 offseason to Houston, where he immediately became their starter and didn’t miss a beat. He tallied 245 carries (13th), 1016 rushing yards (15th), and 11 rushing TDs on a below-average 4.15 YPC. He still functions as a dual-threat player, too, with 36 receptions and 309 receiving yards. There is a litany of aging running backs, and the end is near for some. We saw Dalvin and Zeke fall off in recent years, and Mixon (29) is trending in an unfortunate direction. Ankle issues have marred his offseason, but he should be good to go for the regular season.
It finally happened… Jahmyr Gibbs passed David Montgomery as the main running back on the Detroit Lions. Granted, Monty still received more carries in close to 50% of the games, but this represents progress for the Gibbs’ Bros. Monty is one of the beneficiaries of our 0.4 points per carry rule, as he retained value as a physical, grind-it-out running back. He is a tone-setting rusher, one that the Dan Campbell Lions love. New Lions OC John Morton has emphasized explosive plays as part of his big picture plan in replacing Ben Johnson, which should not mean much of a change, as they were one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL. However, there is a very real risk Monty is not utilized as much, especially with Gibbs coming into his own in his third season. They may also want to keep him healthy by scaling back his workload, as he missed the end of last season with a torn MCL and is prone to annual injuries. At a 19 PPG projection staying at a 40/60 timeshare with Gibbs, but there is some risk of regression both from a carries and TD perspective. He’s an excellent 3rd or 4th option on a championship offense.
It took forever, but we finally got out of the doldrums of an Arthur Smith-led offense (sorry DK stans) and Drake London ascended into startability. Even with the precarious QB situation in Atlanta, he still delivered elite receiver numbers, and it appears consistency could be on the horizon. Drake finished with 100 receptions (10th in the NFL), 1,271 receiving yards (4th), and 9 TDs, an expected touchdown rate with his size (12th). His redzone usage checks out as well, tying for third among pass catchers. Everything is checking out for London to remain in the upper echelons of the wide receiver ranks, and he’ll be the focal point of the Falcons’ passing game, which doesn’t have much else.
It was a season of avoiding landmines in free agency and the draft for D’Andre Swift, who truly felt like it was only a matter of time until he was going to exit stage left as the clear starter in Chicago. Incoming head coach Ben Johnson was the OC in Detroit when they let Swift leave, so it was assumed he wasn’t a fan, but he certainly didn’t prioritize a replacement. With no clear competition for touches, it’s safe to project a startable PPG, similar to his 18 PPG in 2024. Swift notched 253 carries (10th), 959 rushing yards (18th), 6th rushing yards (23rd) on a pathetic 3.79 yards per carry. Thankfully, he was a more than competent passing down back with 42 receptions (15th) and 386 receiving yards (10th). The ol’ Swifter should be fantasy relevant once again, but keep an eye on his usage in the redzone with the physical tandem of Rochon Johnson and Kyle Monangai fighting for opportunity.
If you had to guess where Ladd McConkey was from and didn’t guess Georgia, Alabama, or South Carolina, you should return to 4th-grade geography. I mean, the name McConkey is the most southern thing I’ve ever heard since watching Steel Magnolias hearing Dolly Parton say “The higher the hair, the closer to God!” Unfortunately, his professional fate found him in Los Angeles, but at least he did make the most of it, becoming an instant fantasy starter. While there were some hickups along the way, it was a quality introduction to the league, compiling 82 receptions (19th in the NFL) on 110 targets (25th), 1155 yards (10th) and 7 TDs ( 21st). The man profiles as the perfect #4 RB/WR/TE, who can be a PPR cheat code on any given week. His upside will always be tapped due to the run heavy scheme and his lack of redzone usage (8 targets within the 20), but he’s this era’s Jarvis Landry/Adam Thielen.
PK: Joshua Karty 7 PPG
PN: Tory Taylor 10 PPG
DT: Adam Butler 13 PPG (Maason Smith 10 PPG)
It was an encouraging year for Adam Butler, who was the mainstay for the Raiders’ interior with Christian Wilkins going down. He posted adequate numbers, tallying 65 tackles, 1 forced fumble, and 5 sacks, finishing as the DT14. The 31-year-old UDFA out of Vanderbilt is sliding right back into this role, and DC Patrick Graham was retrained under Pete Carroll. (he also survived the McDaniels to Pierce transition) Chock Butler up to a low-end DT1.
DE: Alex Highsmith 18 PPG, Khalil Mack 13 PPG (Jaelan Phillips 13 PPG, Myles Murphy 9 PPG)
Alex Highsmith toughed it out through nagging groin and ankle issues, playing in a full nine games. Those games were highly profitable; however, they ranked among the top 10 EDGEs. Highsmith has the immense pleasure of playing opposite All-Pro TJ Watt, who will always command the extra blocker. The 27-year-old out of North Carolina-Charlotte has proven to be a major IDP factor, and he should easily do so again next year, so long as he’s healthy. Highsmith totaled 6 sacks on 20 pressures, along with 45 tackles. He’s one of the most underrated IDP players in the game and is a locked-in top 16 play.
Unsurprisingly, 34-year-old Khalil Mack took a significant step back after his sensational 17-sack 2023, which included setting the all-time single-game point record of 96. His 200-point 2024 was a far cry from his best career totals, and Mack seriously pondered retirement. He decided to run it back for another season in LA, but the end is near. Opportunity won’t be hard to come by, as he’ll likely be tasked with starter snaps, especially with Joey Bosa released. Mack still serves as a competent IDP EDGE, but is best served as a #3.
I want to note I’d love to rank Jaelan higher, but we didn’t see it come together during his brief healthy period in 2024. Let’s see him do it before ranking him back into the top 16. (Even 13 PPG feels a bit aggressive)
LB: Kaden Elliss 20 PPG, Bobby Okereke 18 PPG, Bobby Wagner 17 PPG, Alex Anzalone 16 PPG
For the second straight year, it was the Kaden Elliss show in Atlanta. The 30-year-old 7th-round pick out of Idaho has turned into one of the most consistent IDP options across our game. The last two years have seen him post over 122 tackles and 4 big plays or more. One thing that sticks out in his profile is his ability to get after the QB, with 16 sacks over the last three seasons. That will likely always be a part of his game, giving him an elite ceiling when the sacks and tackle numbers come together. If you rostered him during the fantasy playoffs, you came away impressed as he didn’t score under 27 points. He’s a foundational piece for any defense.
It was a roller coaster of a season for Bobby Okereke, who was receiving some flak for his slow start. He certainly turned it around, particularly from week 8 on, where he didn’t score under 17 points. His season, unfortunately, came to an end in week 14 due to a back issue, but he returns to man the middle of an improving New York defense. There’s hope the Giants can take a step forward as a team, but the back 7 is certainly suspect. Okereke can hopefully provide a stable presence and continue to provide a 130+ tackle floor with 4-8 big plays to boot.
Bobby Wagner keeps trucking along. He went to the Washington Commanders, which felt like a stat-padding signing, only to lead this defense to an NFC Championship berth—truly a shocking feat. Wagner continued to be a tackle machine and not miss any games, notching 132 tackles, 1 forced fumble, and 2 sacks, finishing as the LB17. Imagine a world where you didn’t expect him to do this again? At 35, he’s gonna keep doing his thing.
It’s been an offseason of adversity for Alex Anzalone, who got a nice pay bump after being disgruntled for not receiving a contract extension. It also appears he’s lost playcalling duties of the defense as well, which could potentially reduce his snap share. Anzalone was historically a maddening player to own before coming to Detroit, but has been a stable asset since 2022. There are signs of regression brewing for the soon-to-be 31-year-old. He’s still slotted in as a low-end LB2, but if he begins to lose snaps to someone like Derrick Barnes (like what Jack Campbell has in recent years), he could fall further down the ranks.
CB: Keisean Nixon 13 PPG, Alontae Taylor 13 PPG (Christian Gonzalez 11 PPG)
It was a questionable choice for Keisean Nixon to mention he won’t be returning kicks anymore, as that’s not what CB1s do.’ Granted, he’s walked back that statement during training camp and is routinely being cited as their primary kick returner on the depth charts coming out of Green Bay. With added incentive for additional kick returns this year, that bodes well for Nixon’s chances to continue to be an elite corner for our game. Combined with his high tackle volume, which sat at 88 despite playing wide corner, makes him one of the favorites to be this year’s CB1. Fire him up with confidence.
A lotta fantasy hoes are banking on Alontae Taylor replicating his past two seasons of elite corner production. In 2023, he averaged 12.7 PPG, and last year, an insane 16 PPG. In 2024, he tallied 89 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 4 sacks, and 16 PDs. It’s expected he’ll be their slot corner again this year, potentially profiling for another STAR-studded season, playing multiple alignments across the defense. It’s expected to be an aggressive unit as well, so Taylor could be looking at many opportunities for sacks. I love his profile, and he could certainly repeat as the CB1.
S: Talanoa Hufanga 13 PPG, Calen Bullock 10 PPG (Demani Richardson 8 PPG)
Talanoa Hufanga began his career as a high-potential prospect, as he was a big-play machine during his time at USC. He quickly proved himself in San Francisco, leading to a full-time role in 2022, which ultimately resulted in an incredible All-Pro selection. The two years after were marred by injuries to his ACL and wrist. The 9ers elected not to resign him, and he signed a multi-year deal with the Broncos. From a fantasy perspective, it’s about the worst-case scenario. They already have box safety delux in Brandon Jones and tackle hog linebacker Alex Singleton. Unfortunately, I don’t expect great things here from a fantasy perspective. Hopefully, he can finally stay healthy, but he’s shaping up to be one of the litany of opportunity options at safety.
It looks like Calen Bullock is back to be the deep safety for the Houston Texans. He was a part of the safety rotation from week 1 as a rookie, and played 100% of the snaps most weeks from week 4 onward. Unfortunately, that didn’t translate to IDP production as he only totaled 54 tackles. He did, encouragingly, snag 5 INTs, but his numbers only sat at 9.8 PPG. I doubt Bullock will recreate 5 INTs his sophomore year, but let’s hope for a progression in the tackle department. In case it wasn’t obvious, he shouldn’t be a starter.
Off: Los Angeles Chargers 11 PPG
PPG: 322
W-L: 7-10
X-Factor: Transitioning incredible depth on offense for DT, EDGE, and safety help.
Nate ain’t gonna have to worry about bye weeks on offense! With 11 players projected to average 14 PPG or more, that’ll help keep him in games across the middle of our season. Nate is undergoing a season of transition, focusing on his future after dealing Jamyr Gibbs and Kyren Williams for draft picks. That doesn’t mean he’s not focused on this season, as he has a quality trio of backs and 4 veteran linebackers on the squad, too. The weakness lies in the defensive line and safety room, which could be addressed with some retooling of some of his offensive prospects. At 7-10, he’s not looking like a serious playoff team as of this writing, but that could change come September 4th.
