When it comes to fantasy football, the conservative approach tends to result in a middle-of-the-pack finish. If you stick purely to ADP, you’ll just be drafting the players that the rest of the people in your league think are good, too. And that’s a great way to finish in fifth place. If you want to win your league, you have to be bold and take some chances. Sure, some of them won’t work out. But the right mix of solid picks and high-upside swings could result in a championship roster come January. That’s where our FantasyPros analysts come in. We cast a wide net and came up with several fantasy football bold predictions for the 2025 season.
The primary objective of bold predictions isn’t to get them exactly right; it’s to highlight the players with a strong chance to produce an outlier season and paint a picture of what that ceiling or floor looks like and why it could happen. Read on for our analysts’ bold predictions.
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2025 Fantasy Football Bold Predictions
What is one bold fantasy prediction for the 2025 season, and why could it happen?
D’Andre Swift (RB – CHI)
“I think that there is a chance that the Bears’ D’Andre Swift finishes as a top-5 RB in PPR this season. Everyone’s focusing on the fact that the current Bears Head Coach, Ben Johnson, traded Swift away when he was the Offensive Coordinator in Detroit. The prevailing narrative is that Johnson didn’t like Swift and wanted to get rid of him. Instead, I think that Swift only became expendable once the team was able to draft stud Jahmyr Gibbs. OC’s don’t usually get to decide who to trade away by themselves, and given how much Johnson used Gibbs in Detroit, I think Swift can be a terrific sleeper option at RB this year in Chicago. He doesn’t have much competition either, with only Roschon Johnson and seventh-round rookie Kyle Monangai behind him on the depth chart. Swift could be both a bellcow RB1 and a PPR machine this year, which is a rare combo in fantasy these days. I’m planting my flag on him.”
– Andrew Hall (FantasyPros)
Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR – ARI) & Rome Odunze (WR – CHI)
“Marvin Harrison Jr. and Rome Odunze will both finish as WR2s this season. I’m giving Odunze a mulligan for his rookie campaign, given how bad Caleb Williams and his protection were. The Bears are all in on Williams now, and a second off-season will assuredly advance the Williams-Odunze rapport. Harrison just has too much talent not to progress as a sophomore. He and Kyler Murray were grotesquely rusty at times in 2024. Each receiver will surpass the 1,000-yard mark and drastically outperform their ADPs on their way to their respective WR2 seasons.”
– Zach Greubel (Gridiron Experts)
Dak Prescott (QB – DAL)
“Dak Prescott can finish QB1 this season. Is it an uphill climb? Of course! Without his mobility, it’s going to lean heavily on his arm. However, the Dallas Cowboys have a limited run game, a defense that wants to create turnovers, and a trio of pass catchers (CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Jake Ferguson) ready to help elevate Dak’s stats. They will need to throw to win, and we have seen Dak take fantasy by storm before.”
– Joe Pepe (Beyond The Gridiron)
Drake London (WR – ATL)
“My bold fantasy prediction is that Drake London will be the overall WR1 in FPPG. Last season, London averaged 23.2 FPPG in the three games that Michael Penix Jr. started. London had 39 targets, 352 yards, and two touchdowns in those three games. The Falcons’ defense was one of the worst in the league last year, and while I think they are going to be better, the Falcons should still have to throw the ball a lot to stay in games. London could see 175 targets this year, and that will put him in contention to be the WR1.”
– Nick Penticoff (Fantasy Football Astronauts)
“Is Drake London finishing as THE WR1 overall bold enough? I’m going to go ahead and assume that this write-up is already in someone’s Freezing Cold takes exposed folder, that’s how bold it feels, but it also feels so right! If you follow my work, then you already know that I can’t shut up about Drake London this off-season, to quote Seinfeld, “Love the Drake.” After posting a career-high 100 receptions for 1,271 yards and 9 touchdowns, London showed signs that he’s not just progressing, he’s on the brink of elite. The real signal came during the final three games, when Michael Penix Jr. took the helm. In that stretch, London averaged 13 targets, 117 receiving yards, and 23.1 PPR points per game.
His yards per route run (YPRR) over that stretch? An astounding 3.52, which would’ve led all wide receivers over a full season. Even more encouraging: he saw 23 red-zone targets (tied for third among all wide receivers) and 14 end-zone looks, but only converted six of them into scores. That kind of gap screams positive touchdown regression, especially if the offense as a whole takes a step forward under Zac Robinson in Year 2. London also expanded his role last season, lining up in the slot on 38% of his snaps, up from just 20% the year prior. That shift opened the door to more favorable matchups and schemed opportunities. London led all wide receivers in yards per route run from the slot (2.57) and earned PFF’s No. 3 slot WR grade, trailing only Puka Nacua and Nico Collins.
His 90.1 PFF receiving grade overall tied for 4th-best in the league, showing he was efficient, dynamic, and dependable at every level of the field. We’ve seen this kind of usage bump act as a catalyst for elite fantasy seasons before. In 2023, CeeDee Lamb‘s slot rate jumped from 23% to 45.5%, unlocking career highs in volume and red-zone production and ultimately propelling him to the WR1 overall finish. The same thing happened again in 2024 with Ja’Marr Chase, whose slot usage climbed from 23% to 31% in his Triple Crown-winning campaign. The blueprint is becoming clear for fantasy: increased slot usage is the key that unlocks true WR1 overall upside. “The Drake” now has everything in place: the usage, the scoring opportunity, the talent, and now the quarterback to realize a WR1 overall season. The path to the top isn’t just possible, it’s plausible. And if it happens? It won’t just be me who loves the Drake. Everyone will love the Drake.”
– James Emrick-Wilson (Armchair Scouting)
Calvin Ridley (WR – JAC)
“Old man Calvin Ridley will be a top 12 PPR fantasy WR in 2025. With shaky-at-best QB play in 2024, he managed a 64-1017-4 line on 120 targets, led the league in air yards, ranked 6th in downfield receptions, and finished as the 28th-ranked PPR WR. Cam Ward (who ranked 4th among all 2024 College QBs in deep-ball completions) is now at QB, and the two have been seen taking extra reps together during OTAs. With no real competition added to the WR room, coach-speak from Bill Callahan indicating a pass-heavy offense, another year in the Titans’ system, locker narrative (they’re neighbors), and a shifting landscape amongst other top WRs, Ridley’s path to a top-12 PPR finish in 2025 becomes clear.”
– Avery Thrasher (The Branded Sports)
Ja’Marr Chase (WR – CIN)
“While calling for Ja’Marr Chase to finish as the WR1 seems far from a bold prediction, we haven’t seen a wide receiver repeat as the top guy in back-to-back years since Antonio Brown in 2014 and 2015. Last season, Chase was the WR1, averaging 20 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. He scored 73.5 more fantasy points than the next closest wide receiver. More importantly, the superstar had over 1,700 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns last year, making him the only player in NFL history to hit those marks in the same season. The Bengals’ offense will be pass-happy again this year, especially with their below-average defense. Don’t be surprised if Ja’Marr Chase improves on his numbers from last season.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)
J.J. McCarthy (QB – MIN)
“J.J. McCarthy will be the QB6 in fantasy points per game this season. I could have easily just said, “McCarthy will be a top-eight fantasy quarterback,” but I wanted to get more specific with this one. The top five fantasy quarterbacks are cemented this year, and I don’t really have any pushback about any of them, so I’m sliding in McCarthy as the next best thing. In Weeks 1-17 last year, Sam Darnold was the QB8 in fantasy points per game. I fully believe that McCarthy is a better quarterback and can outdo that production in 2025. Minnesota will remain a pass-happy offense after ranking eighth in neutral passing rate and third in pass rate over expectation last year (per Fantasy Points Data). The skill player cupboard for McCarthy is fully stocked. McCarthy proved in his final collegiate season that he has the talent to make the most of this situation. In his final collegiate season, McCarthy ranked inside the top 12 FBS quarterbacks in passing grade, adjusted completion rate, yards per attempt, adjusted completion rate with downfield throws, and against pressure (per PFF). J.J. szn is here, and it’s glorious.”
– Derek Brown (FantasyPros)
Kyle Williams (WR – NE)
“It may not sound bold given the number of times his name has been said over the course of the last month post-NFL Draft, but Kyle Williams being the Patriots’ WR1 may be bold. Yes, Stefon Diggs and his contract come to town; however, Williams has already done work with the Patriots’ starting offense this spring. Not to mention, Williams gives the Patriots a home run threat that simply does not exist on this roster. 65+ catches is absolutely doable for the former Washington State product, and at the cost of a late-round selection, is a must-have for fantasy managers come draft time. Kyle Williams TO THE MOON.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)
Quinshon Judkins (RB – CLE)
“Quinshon Judkins is a bold pick to finish as a top 5 fantasy RB in 2025. He’s been electric in Browns camp, flashing burst, balance, and vision that have him trending toward a week 1 starting role. Cleveland is expected to lean heavily on its ground game, and there’s growing optimism that the offensive line, which finished 30th in run-blocking with a 50.2 grade from PFF in 2024, will rebound after signs of late-season improvement. Judkins’ explosiveness and ability to create yards after contact make him a strong candidate to handle both early downs and goal-line opportunities. With that kind of workload, he has the volume and juice to deliver a substantial amount of fantasy points and crash the top tier.”
– Lawrence Iacona (Gridiron Experts)
Brandon Aiyuk (WR – SF)
“Brandon Aiyuk will not be a factor in 2025. This isn’t the boldest take out there, but after I saw Brandon Aiyuk‘s current consensus ranking at WR 43, I almost fell over. I think some of my fellow analysts have been enjoying too many beverages this summer. Apparently, they never had to rehab from a major reconstructive knee injury. I have. (Note- Brandon Aiyuk is coming off a gruesome knee surgery for his ACL & MCL, which was done on November 12th.) And, I’m telling you, there is no way Aiyuk will be anywhere close to a top forty WR in 2025. Don’t believe me? Okay, let’s go back to last summer. How did Nick Chubb and T.J. Hockenson do after tearing both of their ligaments the prior season? Go ahead, look it up. I’ll wait…….Ringo thinks it’s time for drafters to “Escape from Aiyukatraz” and go with Jauan Jennings instead.”
– Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)
Ricky Pearsall (WR – SF)
“Ricky Pearsall will be a top-20 fantasy wide receiver in 2025. After being shot during an attempted robbery last August, the 2024 first-round draft pick made it back on the field in October and flashed his tremendous potential over the closing weeks of the season. In Weeks 17 and 18, Pearsall caught 14 of 18 targets for 210 yards and two touchdowns. With Deebo Samuels gone and Brandon Aiyuk likely to miss the start of the season as he recovers from a torn ACL and MCL, Pearsall could run away with the WR1 job in San Francisco. That role translated to a top-15 fantasy performance in each of 2021, 2022, and 2023.”
– Jason Willan (Gridiron Experts)
Rookie Tight Ends
“A Rookie Tight End finishes Top-3 for the third straight year. Over the last two years, we’ve seen Sam LaPorta finish as the PPR TE1 in total points (TE3 in PPG) and Brock Bowers finish as the TE1 (TE2 in PPG). Before these two electric players entered the league, we spent years decrying rookie tight ends as unfathomable for fantasy football, but perhaps the game has changed. We’re seeing more rookie tight ends be pro-ready when they enter the league, and more coaches willing to play to their strengths. Both Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren got elite draft capital, and if things fall their way, one of those two could break out straight away. Behind Bowers and McBride, the tight end position looks somewhat flat, and maybe, just maybe, one of them sneaks into TE3 overall.”
– Tom Strachan (NFL Best Ball)
Jameson Williams (WR – DET)
“Jameson Williams out-scores Amon-Ra St. Brown in 2025. Quietly went over 1,000 yards last year on limited volume last season – and after returning from suspension in Week 10, he ranked as the WR10 in fantasy points per game. And the breakout smoke from Detroit cannot be ignored. HC Dan Campbell and new OC John Morton have made it clear: Jamo is the guy. Meanwhile, the Sun God just had offseason knee surgery and might not be as featured in the post Ben Johnson offense, which may not be dedicated to the slot. Keep in mind that Jamo ended last season with a 21% target share – closing the target gap to St. Brown’s over the back half, minus that 18-target outlier game in Week 15. Williams is a former 12th overall pick, only 24 years old, with elite explosiveness and a clear opportunity. He has 15 career TDs – 9 of which came on plays over 40+ yards. All gas and no brakes. Giddy up. “
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
“Jameson Williams finishes as a WR1. Jameson Williams hasn’t quite lived up to the hype after being taken 12th overall in the 2022 NFL draft. Recovery from an ACL injury suffered in college marred his rookie campaign, and a six-game gambling suspension derailed his 2023. In 2024, head coach Dan Campbell talked up the young wideout’s commitment to the team and his craft, and Williams came through with over a thousand yards and eight total touchdowns. At just 24 years old, and a physical freak, if “Jamo” can put it all together, he could easily be the fantasy steal of the 2025 season. ”
– Lee Wehry (FantasyPros)
DK Metcalf (WR – SEA)
“DK Metcalf will finish as a Top 10 WR in most 2025 fantasy football leagues. We’ve all seen DK Metcalf dominate in the past, so why is this a “bold prediction?” For starters, Metcalf hasn’t even finished in the Top 12 in Half-PPR leagues since 2021 (2020 in full PPR). Also, he’s catching passes on a new team in a new offense from a 41-year-old quarterback…whose backup is Mason Rudolph. Aaron Rodgers has lost his mobility, but still possesses above-average arm talent along with the acumen of a seasoned veteran. More importantly for fantasy, he has a propensity for feeding his top receiving option with reckless abandon, most recently Davante Adams. Unless we believe that Calvin Austin III or Roman Wilson is going to emerge as a target hog, DK’s only realistic competition for steady target volume on a weekly basis is Pat Freiermuth, who has drawn 80 or more targets only once so far in his four-year NFL career. Smash DK Metcalf at his current ADP as the consensus WR21.”
– Drew DeLuca (QB List)
Drake Maye (QB – NE)
“Drake Maye finishes as a top-5 fantasy quarterback. We know that rushing ability is a cheat code for quarterbacks, and Maye has the potential to put up exotic rushing numbers. Take out the Week 18 game in which he only played one series, and Maye averaged 37.2 rushing yards per start, which works out to 632 rushing yards over a full season. I think Maye could get to 800 rushing yards in Year 2 based on how aggressively he ran in college. As a sophomore, he had 698 rushing yards — and remember that college quarterbacks have sack yardage deducted from their rushing yardage. Maye lost about 200 yards in sacks that year. And Maye only had two touchdown runs last season. In two seasons as a college starter, he had 16 touchdown runs in 26 games. Maye was competent as a passer last year (67.2% completion percentage, 6.7 yards per attempt) despite having one of the worst supporting casts in the league. The Patriots have diligently upgraded their offensive line and WR corps. The second-year breakout is coming. Buy your tickets while they’re still cheap.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
Saquon Barkley (RB – PHI)
“Saquon Barkley is going to defy the “Curse of 370” and repeat as the RB1 in fantasy football for 2025. Despite the fact that leading the league in rushing and reaching 370 touches has been a death sentence for running backs the following season, Barkley’s exceptional talent and favorable situation with the Philadelphia Eagles has me betting on him to repeat his performance of a year ago. His 2024 performance, where he led running backs in fantasy points, showcased his ability to handle a heavy workload while maintaining elite efficiency, averaging 5.2 yards per carry and excelling as a receiver. The Eagles’ top-tier offensive line and high-powered offense, driven by Jalen Hurts, create consistent scoring opportunities and open running lanes, reducing wear and tear compared to his time with the Giants. Barkley’s age is a concern (28 in 2025), but Derrick Henry has shown the ability for generational talents to produce into their 30s and his improved durability, and lack of significant injury concerns in recent seasons suggest he can sustain his production. Additionally, his dual-threat role in a pass-heavy offense ensures a high floor and ceiling, mitigating the historical risks associated with running backs who exceed 370 touches. With a chip on his shoulder and a perfect system fit, Barkley is set to break the curse and dominate again.”
– Aaron St Denis (Fantasy Sports Advice Network)
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