Fantasy Football Player Notes
2025 Half PPR Draft Rankings
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65.
Quinshon Judkins
RB - (at CIN)
The Cleveland Browns took Quinshon Judkins early in the second round of this year's draft and will probably use him as their lead back, though he'll have to fend off competition from veteran Jerome Ford and fellow rookie Dylan Sampson. A powerful, decisive runner with good contact balance and nifty feet, Quinshon Judkins had 1,567 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns as a true freshman at Ole Miss. His last two college seasons were good but not quite as awe-inspiring. The limitation of the Cleveland offense could keep Judkins' fantasy value in check this year, but he has a chance to provide RB3 or flex value, if not more.
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78.
Jerry Jeudy
WR - (at CIN)
Deshaun Watson started seven games for the Browns in 2024, and Jerry Jeudy averaged three catches and 38 receiving yards in those games. Jameis Winson started seven games for the Browns, and Jeudy averaged seven catches and 112.3 yards in those games. Down the stretch, Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Bailey Zappe combined to make three starts for the Browns, and Jeudy averaged 6.7 catches and 59 yards in those games. The point is that Jeudy produced compelling numbers with every QB he played with last season other than Watson. With so many questions about the Browns' murky QB situation in 2025, Jeudy might not be able to match his 90-catch, 1,229-yard performance from 2024, but his fifth-year surge was legit, and he looks like a bargain at his lower-end WR3 ADP.
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85.
David Njoku
TE - (at CIN)
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.
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150.
Cedric Tillman
WR - (at CIN)
Cedric Tillman had an interesting 2025 season. He didn't play much until Week 7, which was also the week when Deshaun Watson tore his Achilles. Over a four-game stretch from Week 7 to Week 11, Tillman had 24 catches for 302 yards and three touchdowns. He was the WR8 in PPR fantasy points per game (18.6) over that stretch. Then, in Week 12, Tillman sustained a concussion. He went on injured reserve and didn't play again the rest of the season.
It was a short but very promising burst from Tillman in his second NFL season. The surge may have been at least partly fueled by the aggressive downfield throwing of Jameis Winston. The Browns' QB situation is muddy for 2025, but one of the candidates to see significant action at quarterback for the Browns is Joe Flacco, who, like Winston, is a hyper-aggressive downfield thrower. Tillman is an intriguing sleeper for 2025. |
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167.
Jerome Ford
RB - (at CIN)
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191.
Dylan Sampson
RB - (at CIN)
Sampson joins the Cleveland Browns after being selected in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. He'll pair with Quinshon Judkins, forming the new-look duo for the Browns' rushing attack. Yes, Jerome Ford remains on the roster, and Sampson has to outplay him to earn the RB2 job in 2025 officially, but I think that will happen because Cleveland's selection of two backs inside the top four rounds of the NFL Draft speaks volumes about their lack of faith in Ford. This easily could be Cleveland getting an updated version of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt for their offense. No, I'm not saying there's a direct comparison with talent, but the usage could be similar. In 2023, Sampson ranked sixth in receiving grade and 14th in yards per route run (per PFF), so there are some reasons to be encouraged with his profile if he does take over the passing down duties for the Browns.
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258.
Diontae Johnson
WR - (at CIN)
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274.
Cleveland Browns
DST - (at CIN)
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283.
Harold Fannin Jr.
TE - (at CIN)
Harold Fannin put up absurd numbers at Bowling Green last season, catching 117 passes for 1,555 yards and 10 touchdowns. The good news about Fannin's NFL landing spot is that the Browns spent a third-round pick on him. The bad news is that Cleveland already has David Njoku as its primary tight end. Fannin's hands and movement skills should translate to the NFL -- eventually. But at 230 pounds, Fannin might not be an every-down tight end. The prospects of a fantasy-relevant season for Fannin in 2025 seem remote at best.
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285.
Joe Flacco
QB - (at CIN)
Joe Flacco is the favorite to be the Browns' starting quarterback in Week 1 of the 2025 season, but Cleveland has a crowded QB room. The Browns also signed former Steeler Kenny Pickett in the offseason, then drafted Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. After his 11-year run with the Ravens, Flacco has reinvented himself as a daring gunslinger late in his career. In stints with the Jets, Browns and Colts over the last five years, Flacco has averaged 269.9 passing yards over 20 starts, with 36 touchdowns and 21 interceptions. The Browns have incentive to give Gabriel and Sanders 2025 auditions before they decide whether to take a quarterback in what looks like a QB-rich 2026 draft, so the 40-year-old Flacco may not be the starter for long. But Flacco is such an aggressive thrower that he'll be fantasy-viable for as long as he starts.
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319.
Shedeur Sanders
QB - (at CIN)
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380.
Dillon Gabriel
QB - (at CIN)
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383.
Kenny Pickett
QB - (at CIN)
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439.
Jamari Thrash
WR - (at CIN)
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454.
Pierre Strong Jr.
RB - (at CIN)
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474.
Michael Woods II
WR - (at CIN)
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481.
DeAndre Carter
WR - (at CIN)
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497.
Troy Hairston II
RB - (at CIN)
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506.
Deshaun Watson
QB - (at CIN)
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515.
David Bell
WR - (at CIN)
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