It’s definitely hot-take season in fantasy football. Everyone has their bold takes, some spicier than others. It’s fun to say outlandish things, but actually getting away with it is the best part. I put together a variety of fantasy football hot takes, making sure to cover every position.
Let’s start on the mild side and slowly crank the temperature up a notch. By the time we reach that final hot take, we’ll be predicting something that has never been done before in NFL history.
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Fantasy Football Hot Takes
Jake Ferguson Falls to TE3 Territory
Someone in this Cowboys offense is going to disappoint. There are just too many mouths to feed, and my bet is on Jake Ferguson taking the hit. Don’t fall for his PPR overall finish of TE5 last season. There was a big difference in production when CeeDee Lamb was healthy and when he was injured.
Ferguson led all tight ends in receptions and was second in targets from Weeks 3 through 6 while Lamb was nursing a high-ankle sprain. He was on fire as the highest fantasy points per game scorer, averaging 18.6.
As soon as Week 7 came, Ferguson crashed. He fell to TE17 in points per game, averaging only 8.1 fantasy points. As great as this offense is, there are only so many targets to go around between Lamb, George Pickens, Javonte Williams and Ferguson.
Jonah Coleman Wins the No. 1 RB Job in Denver
Let’s be honest, this backfield is a committee to start, but the competition is winnable for the rookie out of Washington. J.K. Dobbins is serviceable, but he hasn’t been able to stay on the field.
When Dobbins got hurt, RJ Harvey didn’t exactly run away with the job either. From Week 11 onward, after Dobbins’ injury, Harvey only averaged 46.6 rushing yards per game.
Per the Fantasy Points Data Suite, among running backs with at least 75 carries during this span, Harvey ranked 26th in explosive run rate, tied for 22nd in first-down runs and was 24th in yards after contact per attempt.
If Coleman comes in and impresses early, the talent he possesses may be hard to take off the field. He’s tough to bring down, and when defenders do get him, he finds a way to fall forward.
According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), over the course of his four collegiate seasons, Coleman averaged just over four yards after contact per attempt. If he earns early-down work and goal-line usage, there’s a path to finishing as an RB2 in fantasy.
Tyler Shough Finishes as a Top-10 QB
This entire Saints offense is being slept on, aside from Chris Olave, who is WR12 in expert consensus rankings (ECR). Tyler Shough finished last season red hot. He averaged 18.6 fantasy points per game from Week 10 on, tying Dak Prescott for QB8.
The Saints added another weapon with Jordyn Tyson in the first round of the draft, who can climb the ladder and win those 50-50 balls. Be warned, however, that Tyson suffered a hamstring injury, and the extent of his absence is yet to be determined.
The biggest pushback against Shough finishing as a QB1 is a lack of rushing. He’s a bit underrated in that regard, however. He’s not Josh Allen by any means, but he is capable of taking off and running. From Week 10 to the end of the season, he finished as the QB10 in total rushing yards with the fifth-most attempts.
With the added weapons in the draft and another year under Kellen Moore’s offense, Shough is set up to be drafted as a QB2 and finish as a QB1.
Cam Skattebo Finishes as a Top-5 RB
Obviously, for this to happen, Cam Skattebo would need to avoid the injury bug and play a full season. Tough ask with his running style. But when he was on the field, he showed elite metrics.
According to the Fantasy Points Data Suite, Skattebo’s numbers among 37 qualifying running backs through the first eight weeks:
- Tied for first in missed tackles forced per attempt (0.26)
- Eighth in yards after contact per attempt (2.82)
- Tied for sixth in red-zone carries (23)
- 12th in first-down runs (27)
- 1.70 yards per route run
- 0.25 targets per route run
- 24 receptions
- 25.9 receiving yards per game
Skattebo’s talent was already on display through just the first eight games of his NFL career. You can’t help but wonder what could have been if he didn’t get hurt.
When you combine his rushing and receiving capabilities, Skattebo has the profile to be a three-down workhorse. If he stays on the field and produces at the level we saw last year, a top-five finish at the position is certainly in play.
Ja’Marr Chase Wins the Triple Crown (And Records 2,000+ Yards & 200+ Targets)
If winning the triple crown isn’t hot enough, I threw some ghost peppers on top by predicting Ja’Marr Chase to hit 200 targets and 2,000 receiving yards. Although 200 targets has been done before, no receiver has ever hit 2,000 receiving yards in a single season.
Joe Burrow continues to look Chase’s way early and often. Even with Burrow only playing in eight games last season, Chase saw a total of 182 targets. In 2024, with Burrow playing a full season, he saw 172 targets.
To hit this milestone, Chase would need to average nearly 118 yards per game. He averaged just over 100 yards per game in 2024. We have seen him go nuclear in games, flirting with 200 yards and hitting 264 before.
If Burrow can stay healthy, Chase has the talent and the volume to turn this scorching-hot take into NFL history.
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