Training camp is in full swing, and the first preseason game of the year took place last week, when the Lions and Chargers played in the Hall of Fame Game. The rest of the NFL gets its first taste of the preseason this week. Thus, we’re in the heart of fantasy football draft season and swings in average draft position (ADP). Let’s look at notable fantasy football risers and fallers in half-point per reception (half PPR) ADP from July 29th through August 5th. The highlighted players mainly were inside the top-150 players, with one exception at quarterback and another at tight end.
Training camp is in full swing, and the first preseason game of the year took place last week, when the Lions and Chargers played in the Hall of Fame Game. The rest of the NFL gets its first taste of the preseason this week. Thus, we’re in the heart of fantasy football draft season and swings in average draft position (ADP). Let’s look at notable fantasy football risers and fallers in half-point per reception (half PPR) ADP from July 29th through August 5th. The highlighted players mainly were inside the top-150 players, with one exception at quarterback and another at tight end.
Fantasy Football Risers & Fallers: Late July to Early August
Quarterbacks
Upward quarterback movement was minimal in the week from July 29th to August 5th, but Brock Purdy, Dak Prescott and Drake Maye each moved up precisely one spot among signal-callers. Interestingly, only Purdy’s ADP actually moved up, as Prescott’s remained the same, and Maye was selected one pick later on August 5th than on July 29th on average.
Jared Goff didn’t move among his peers at quarterback, but he slid a quarter of a round (12-team leagues) in ADP. Goff is still being over-drafted as a strictly pocket quarterback. Justin Fields and Caleb Williams have had dubious training camps, with ample negative reports about their respective performances. Fields’ elite rushing ability makes him an intriguing back-end starting fantasy option with the upside for spiked weeks.
I’ve beaten the drum for fading Williams. So, I’m not shocked by his struggles in training camp and will continue to avoid and suggest avoiding him in fantasy football leagues. Matthew Stafford is one of the non-top-150 players I alluded to in the intro. Stafford is tending to a back injury, and drafters are reacting accordingly.
Running Backs
As long as Christian McCaffrey continues to practice and stay healthy, he has wiggle room to move up a bit more. Omarion Hampton has a runway to claim a stranglehold on his backfield, while a forthcoming veteran in the next section remains without a timetable for returning to practice.
Tank Bigsby and Nick Chubb are the other two names on the table above who warrant a shoutout. Bigsby appears in line to open the year as Jacksonville’s top ball-carrying option, with Travis Etienne working as a change-of-pace and pass-catching option. Chubb’s climb is a direct response to Joe Mixon‘s mysterious foot injury. Sadly, Chubb might not have anything left in the tank.
Ashton Jeanty slipped behind CMC and Derrick Henry, and I agree with the slide. Of course, that doesn’t make Jeanty an unappealing pick, but he’s more appropriately drafted after moving behind the veteran duo. I noted Mixon’s mysterious foot injury above, and his ADP slide will likely continue.
Quinshon Judkins is unsigned. He was arrested on July 12th and faces accusations of domestic abuse. The details of the accusation are disgusting, and it would be understandable if people had him off their draft boards for moral reasons. Even for those who can separate the accusations from Judkins’ fantasy value, he might provide zero production this year, namely if Judkins is suspended or the Browns don’t sign him. Additionally, he could get Wally Pipped by fellow rookie Dylan Sampson.
Najee Harris was the not-so-mystery player I hinted at in Hampton’s analysis above. Harris could be a reasonable handcuff if he began practicing soon, but he’s an unappetizing selection until he practices for the Chargers. Finally, Bhayshul Tuten could emerge during the 2025 fantasy football season. Unfortunately, he’s likely behind Bigsby and Etienne to start the season. It’s fine to draft Tuten late in drafts as a bench stash. However, he might be a fantasy roster casualty when the byes start in Week 5.
Wide Receivers
Mike Evans and Emeka Egbuka should be Tampa Bay’s top two wideouts to start the season, as a teammate continues to work back from a significant injury. Xavier Worthy‘s ADP has climbed approximately half a round in a week. Yet, it could climb more if or when the NFL announces a suspension for an upcoming teammate.
Frankly, I’m surprised the NFL hasn’t announced a suspension for Rashee Rice yet. I fully expected an announcement shortly after Jordan Addison‘s three-game suspension was announced. Instead, it remains a mystery how many games Rice will be suspended, and his movement could go in either direction, depending on the length of his punishment.
Chris Godwin reportedly underwent a second surgery in the spring for his ankle injury and could miss some regular-season games. Godwin could also require a ramp-up period and time to shake off the rust before he begins to resemble his pre-injury self — if he does so at all in 2025.
Brandon Aiyuk tore his ACL and MCL in his right knee in late October last year. He’s a candidate to open the year on Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list and would be required to miss at least four games. Darnell Mooney is also banged up. He’ll miss a few weeks with a shoulder injury that he suffered on the first day of training camp, but the Falcons haven’t ruled him out for Week 1 yet. Mooney is an appealing bench option at his reduced ADP.
Tight Ends
Tucker Kraft was the only tight end in the top 12 who moved up at the position. David Njoku was included since he moved up three picks inside the top 100. Jake Ferguson is knocking on starter territory in 12-team leagues after leapfrogging two players ahead of him on July 29th.
The Steelers’ wide receiving corps is inexperienced and unexciting behind DK Metcalf. Nevertheless, Jonnu Smith shouldn’t be drafted as a starter in 12-team leagues. Pat Freiermuth hasn’t gone anywhere. Smith should fall further. Dalton Kincaid missed a day of training camp with knee soreness, and that might have contributed to his two-spot fall. Finally, Isaiah Likely fractured a bone in his foot, requiring surgery. John Harbaugh hasn’t ruled him out for Week 1 yet, but expecting him to suit up for the opener is probably too ambitious.
Subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeart | Castbox | Amazon Music | Podcast Addict | TuneIn
Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
