Fantasy Football Player Notes
2025 Draft Rankings
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1.
Saquon Barkley
PHI
Undoubtedly, the consensus RB1 in 2025 will be Saquon Barkley after arguably the greatest season we have ever seen from the position. Over 2,000 rushing yards as the only skill player to average more than 20 points per game in half-PPR. He led the NFL in touches with nearly 500...running effectively behind the league's best OL.
But as was the case with Christian McCaffrey last season...leading the NFL in touches by such a vast margin is essentially the kiss of death for running backs the following year. Only two RBs finished as RB1s the following year after leading the NFL in touches since 2013. Ezekiel Elliott is the only one over that period to finish inside the top 5. |
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2.
Bijan Robinson
ATL
Michael Penix is going to be the starter moving forward into 2025, and his brief three-game stint as paints an optimistic picture of this offense. Bijan Robinson ended the season on an absolute tear rushing for at least 90 rushing yards in six straight games, with eight rushing TDs. Jahmyr Gibbs was the only non-QB to out-score Robinson from Week 13 onward.
I'm finding it hard to not rank Robinson as my RB1 in 2025. Second in the NFL touches last season and he is going to be just 23 years old. RB4 overall last season. |
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3.
Jahmyr Gibbs
DET
Jahmyr Gibbs was RB2 overall through 18 weeks, averaging just shy of 20 points per game in half-PPR. He led all RBs in weekly RB1 (63%) and RB2 finisher rate (94%).
The Lions RB outscored all non-QB Week 13 onward winning fantasy leagues. Over the last month, he exploded averaging nearly 30 points per game. A lot will be made about how we can project Gibbs in 2025 with David Montgomery still involved. But in Weeks 1-14, Gibbs was RB5 in points per game (16.9). We also saw Gibbs' receiving usage really increase down the stretch, and that could very well increase in Year 3. The floor-ceiling combination for the 23-year-old RB makes him a consensus top-3 RB. |
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4.
Derrick Henry
BAL
I was not high enough on the Ravens' RB in 2024, despite what my colleagues tried telling me. Henry scored 18 TDs. It was his best statistical year since his 2,000-yard campaign. That makes sense, given that Henry rushed for over 1,900 yards.
The King was the RB3 overall through 18 weeks (RB2 in 17 weeks). He "once again" shoved the fantasy football nerds into a locker, who faded him for not having a role in the receiving game. With a core nucleus of Lamar Jackson, Henry and offensive coordinator Todd Monken all returning to Baltimore it's hard to envision Henry as anything but a top-5 fantasy RB in 2025. |
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5.
Ashton Jeanty
FA
Over three seasons, Ashton Jeanty rushed for 4,760 yards on 748 carries (6.4 YPA) with 50 touchdowns. He 5-foot-9 and 215-pound RB had just 10 fumbles on 748 carries (1.3% rate) and displayed steady year-over-year growth, particularly excelling as a receiver in his second season.
According to Football Insights, Jeanty finished his collegiate career with the highest missed tackle forced per touch rate (39%). His career dominator rating ranks inside the top five. His yards per play (3.4) mark is also elite. His dominance as a junior - 43% dominator rating while rushing for an eye-popping 2,595 yards (6.9 YPA) and 29 touchdowns - puts him in an elite company heading into the 2025 NFL Draft. The last two rookie RBs drafted highly in the first round two years ago - Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs - finished as top 10 fantasy RBs in Year 1. |
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6.
Jonathan Taylor
IND
Jonathan Taylor missed time with injuries and inconsistent quarterback play put fantasy football managers in a tough spot out of the gates.
But he was still RB5 in points per game, and he ended the year on an extremely high note, scoring the fourth-most points among all non-QBs despite a bye week in Week 14. When healthy, Taylor is still a top 5 fantasy RB and the engine of the Colts offense. He ended the season with 29-plus carries and 125-plus rushing yards in three straight games. I think he will be a value in 2025 drafts at 26 years old. |
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7.
Josh Jacobs
GB
Production fell into Josh Jacobs' favor from the get-go with injuries hitting the Packers backfield and he took full advantage finishing 5th in touches. RB7 in points per game and RB5 overall in a Green Bay offense that ranked 30th in pass rate over expectation.
He's now been a fantasy RB1 in four of his last five seasons. But in 2025, I think that we might see a more balanced approach from the Packers. Jordan Love was banged up all season. Even though Jacobs was a workhorse in 2024, it seemed so much more out of necessity rather than desire in an offense that traditionally likes to deploy multiple backs. |
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8.
Bucky Irving
TB
It was an epic finish for the rookie RB from Oregon with an RB16 finish through Week 17 (RB14 through Week 18). Bucky Irving was RB6 after the Buccaneers' Week 12 bye week averaging north of 19 fantasy points per game in his five healthy contests.
Irving forced a missed tackle on 36% of his touches this season, the highest rate in the NFL. There might be concern about Irving's size entering Year 2, but his absurd tackle-breaking should limit the injury risks. Besides, second-year RBs tend to be great BUYs. His profile is one to target in 2025. |
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9.
De'Von Achane
MIA
De'Von Achane was the fantasy RB1 in points per game, with Tua Tagovailoa healthy in 2024. And it was related to his receiving numbers rather than rushing efficiency. He regressed immensely in the latter compared to his rookie campaign. His mind-boggling 7.8 yards per carry fell to 4.6 yards per carry.
But Achane's receiving had room to grow in Year 2 and it ultimately MORE than made up the difference with a declining yards per carry. The Dolphins RB has a top 5 fantasy football ceiling based on his explosive and three-down skill set. He finished second in routes run among RBs last year. Let's see Miami upgrade their offensive line in 2025 and watch Achane boom. |
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10.
Kyren Williams
LAR
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11.
James Cook
BUF
James Cook tied a bow on his third season with weekly RB1 finishes in more than half of his games, en route to his second consecutive 1,000-yard campaign. Cook was RB8 overall and RB10 in points per game as he took a massive touchdown leap.
He went from just 2 rushing TDs in 2023 to 19 in 2024. Concerns about Josh Allen taking all the red-zone TDs were overblown. The scores helped boost Cook's production as played fewer than 50% of the snaps. Even so, we have a 28-game sample of Cook in Joe Brady's offense. He has averaged 15.5 points per contest - good for low-end fantasy RB1 production. |
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12.
Chase Brown
CIN
The Bengals RB1 role is elite. Like the Rams, Zac Taylor's coaching staff deploys one RB who plays almost all the snaps.
After Zack Moss went down, Brown took over the Cincinnati backfield in Week 9. He had an eight-game streak of 90+ yards from scrimmage. Brown was the RB5 in points per game (18.4), and first in expected points per game (22.3). The Bengals emerging star was PFF's 14th-highest graded RB and unquestioned bell cow - exactly how he was during his final season at Illinois. With an elite receiving role to boot, Brown projects like a more explosive Kyren Williams in 2025. |
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13.
Breece Hall
NYJ
Breece Hall is coming off a disappointing season as RB18. He scored one fewer TD than the year before and didn't have the marquee big plays. 14th in yards from scrimmage due in part largely of receiving - third in RB targets per game.
Unfortunately, Hall led all RBs in drops (9) with the 8th-worst rushing success rate (34%). But the Jets RB wasn't healthy. He got hurt before the bye week. Before that, he was RB7 through 11 weeks, RB13 in points per game (14.6). A reminder that he will turn 24 years old this year. A full bill of health, high value touches, and explosive plays will catapult Hall's fantasy ceiling in 2025, but another bad Jets offense will hold him back. |
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14.
Christian McCaffrey
SF
I was strongly against drafting CMC as the 1.01 last season for a myriad of reasons.
Can I tell you with any confidence that McCaffrey will be healthy in 2025? No. But I like his odds much better. He was limited to just four games, touching the ball a career-low 65 times. And he still flashed the upside going for 100-plus yards from scrimmage in his first two games back. The knee injury that knocked him out of the regular season is healed, and we know the 29-year-old can score fantasy points with the best of them. Head coach Kyle Shanahan is unable to resist himself by limiting his workload. |
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15.
Joe Mixon
HOU
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16.
Chuba Hubbard
CAR
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17.
Kenneth Walker III
SEA
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18.
James Conner
ARI
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19.
Alvin Kamara
NO
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20.
David Montgomery
DET
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21.
Najee Harris
LAC
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22.
Tyrone Tracy Jr.
NYG
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23.
Isiah Pacheco
KC
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24.
Aaron Jones Sr.
MIN
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25.
Tony Pollard
TEN
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26.
Brian Robinson Jr.
WAS
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27.
Omarion Hampton
FA
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28.
Tank Bigsby
JAC
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29.
TreVeyon Henderson
FA
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30.
Rhamondre Stevenson
NE
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31.
D'Andre Swift
CHI
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32.
Jaylen Warren
PIT
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33.
Travis Etienne Jr.
JAC
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34.
Rico Dowdle
CAR
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35.
J.K. Dobbins
FA
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36.
Quinshon Judkins
FA
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37.
Zach Charbonnet
SEA
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38.
Tyjae Spears
TEN
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39.
Rachaad White
TB
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40.
Jordan Mason
MIN
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41.
Tyler Allgeier
ATL
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42.
Blake Corum
LAR
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43.
Javonte Williams
DAL
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44.
Ray Davis
BUF
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45.
Austin Ekeler
WAS
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46.
Jerome Ford
CLE
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47.
Nick Chubb
FA
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48.
Dylan Sampson
FA
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49.
Jaylen Wright
MIA
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50.
Braelon Allen
NYJ
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51.
Isaac Guerendo
SF
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52.
Cam Skattebo
FA
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53.
Trey Benson
ARI
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54.
Jaleel McLaughlin
DEN
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55.
Kaleb Johnson
FA
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56.
Audric Estime
DEN
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57.
Bhayshul Tuten
FA
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58.
Devin Neal
FA
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59.
Roschon Johnson
CHI
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60.
MarShawn Lloyd
GB
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61.
Antonio Gibson
NE
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62.
Sincere McCormick
LV
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63.
Kendre Miller
NO
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64.
Kimani Vidal
LAC
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65.
Ollie Gordon II
FA
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66.
Trevor Etienne
FA
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67.
Kenneth Gainwell
PIT
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68.
Kyle Monangai
FA
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69.
Devin Singletary
NYG
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70.
RJ Harvey
FA
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71.
Damien Martinez
FA
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72.
Elijah Mitchell
KC
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73.
Gus Edwards
FA
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74.
Cam Akers
FA
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75.
Kareem Hunt
KC
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76.
Justice Hill
BAL
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77.
Miles Sanders
DAL
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78.
Alexander Mattison
MIA
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79.
Raheim Sanders
FA
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80.
Keaton Mitchell
BAL
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81.
Dameon Pierce
HOU
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82.
Raheem Mostert
LV
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83.
Khalil Herbert
IND
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84.
Donovan Edwards
FA
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85.
Zack Moss
CIN
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86.
Ty Chandler
MIN
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87.
DJ Giddens
FA
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88.
Chris Rodriguez Jr.
WAS
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89.
Ameer Abdullah
FA
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90.
Chris Brooks
GB
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91.
Ty Johnson
BUF
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92.
Isaiah Davis
NYJ
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93.
Brashard Smith
FA
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94.
Sean Tucker
TB
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95.
Tahj Brooks
FA
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96.
Zamir White
LV
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97.
Will Shipley
PHI
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98.
Jaydn Ott
FA
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99.
Woody Marks
FA
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100.
Ja'Quinden Jackson
FA
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101.
Phil Mafah
FA
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102.
Trey Sermon
FA
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103.
Jarquez Hunter
FA
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104.
Marcus Yarns
FA
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105.
Emanuel Wilson
GB
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106.
Jaydon Blue
FA
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107.
D'Ernest Johnson
FA
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108.
Jordan James
FA
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109.
A.J. Dillon
PHI
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110.
Samaje Perine
CIN
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111.
Jonathon Brooks
CAR
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112.
LeQuint Allen Jr.
FA
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113.
Kalel Mullings
FA
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114.
Chris Tyree
FA
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115.
Ezekiel Elliott
FA
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116.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt
FA
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117.
Patrick Taylor Jr.
SF
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118.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire
NO
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119.
Tyler Badie
DEN
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120.
Eric Gray
NYG
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121.
Pierre Strong Jr.
CLE
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122.
Tyler Goodson
IND
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123.
Jeff Wilson Jr.
FA
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124.
Michael Carter
ARI
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125.
Emari Demercado
ARI
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126.
Dylan Laube
LV
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127.
Jamaal Williams
FA
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128.
D'Onta Foreman
FA
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129.
Jeremy McNichols
WAS
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130.
Raheem Blackshear
FA
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131.
Chase Edmonds
FA
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132.
Hassan Haskins
LAC
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133.
Israel Abanikanda
SF
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134.
Nyheim Hines
FA
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135.
Craig Reynolds
DET
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136.
Kenny McIntosh
SEA
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137.
Blake Watson
DEN
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138.
Jase McClellan
ATL
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139.
Keilan Robinson
JAC
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140.
Rasheen Ali
BAL
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141.
Deuce Vaughn
DAL
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142.
Evan Hull
PIT
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143.
Cordarrelle Patterson
PIT
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144.
Julius Chestnut
TEN
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145.
Trayveon Williams
FA
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146.
Mike Boone
FA
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147.
Carson Steele
KC
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148.
Cody Schrader
LAR
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149.
Kene Nwangwu
NYJ
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150.
JaMycal Hasty
FA
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151.
Dare Ogunbowale
HOU
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