- Trey McBride has been incredibly consistent: McBride finished as a top-six fantasy tight end for over 50% of his games last season.
- Kenneth Walker III has been a top-12 fantasy running back when healthy: Walker has consistently opened seasons strong for fantasy managers before injuries have slowed him down.
- Subscribe to PFF+: Get access to player grades, PFF Premium Stats, fantasy football rankings, all of the PFF fantasy draft research tools and more!
Estimated reading time: 16 minutes
Each season, ESPN produces a list of players who were most represented on fantasy football playoff teams and championship teams. This article highlights five players with the potential to be true league winners in 2025. Each offers excellent value at their current ADP and has a clear path to finishing among the top scorers at their position by season’s end.
The average draft position (ADP) listed reflects a consensus across ESPN, Sleeper and Yahoo!, showing where each player is typically selected in 12-team redraft leagues.
Last updated: Tuesday, August 19
TE Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals (ADP: 3.01)
Trey McBride was the 55th overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. He started his career as Zach Ertz’s backup. Ertz was injured midseason, allowing McBride to become the starter. He was held to 22 total receiving yards in his first three starts without Ertz. He showed a little promise at the end of the year, with seven receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown in Week 17. Ertz returned in 2023 but was again out for the season after Week 7.
McBride took over again, and this time, his play was much different. He caught 10 passes for 95 yards and a touchdown in his first start without Ertz. He averaged 15.0 fantasy points per game over the rest of the season. Ertz moved on to the Washington Commanders, allowing McBride to continue his quality play throughout 2024.
McBride led the league in both receptions per game (6.9) and receptions per route (0.21) last season. His yards per game (71.6) and targets per game (8.7) were both second-best. He’s achieved an 89.9 receiving grade over the last two seasons, which is second-best among tight ends behind George Kittle. Only five other receivers have receiving grades in the 80s, including Brock Bowers, Mark Andrews, T.J. Hockenson, Sam LaPorta and Travis Kelce.
The Cardinals made minimal changes to their offense this offseason, allowing us to expect more of the same from McBride.
Elijah Higgins and Tip Reiman remain the two backup tight ends. They will continue to play in some two-tight-end sets. The top three running backs and top four wide receivers on the depth chart remain identical to last season. Almost all of the Cardinals' additions in the draft and free agency occurred on the defensive side.
It’s worth noting that McBride has a relatively low average depth of target and is rarely targeted on deep passes. McBride caught 90 passes for 727 yards on short passes or passes from behind the line of scrimmage. Both ranked second to Brock Bowers, posting over 100 yards between them and third place. On intermediate and deep passes, McBride has 21 receptions for 419 yards, which ranks fifth among tight ends. The relatively low deep target rate might put a ceiling on McBride, making it unlikely he posts an all-time great season, but he can still be a top-two tight end in this role. Out of 18 tight ends with 11 or more intermediate or deep receptions, he was the only one without a touchdown on those passes. He should get a few more touchdowns on these kinds of passes from some regression.
McBride is one of the safest picks in fantasy football. His role in the offense is consistently catching short passes, which is sustainable. The Cardinals didn’t change the offense, making it easier to pick than most. McBride will likely finish among the top-three tight ends for another season.
RB Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks (ADP: 4.06)
Kenneth Walker III was selected 41st overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. After spending his first month as a backup, Walker took over as Seattle’s starter in Week 6 and has held the role ever since. Across his career, he’s delivered stretches of elite fantasy production but has also been hampered by injuries.
As a rookie, Walker averaged 19.7 PPR points per game over his first six career starts before an ankle sprain slowed him down. He missed one game and struggled in his return but still closed the year with three 100-yard performances. In 2023, Walker again started strong, averaging 17.4 points per game through six weeks, only to see his snaps and effectiveness decline due to injuries. He didn’t play 60% of Seattle’s offensive snaps again that season. The 2024 campaign followed a similar pattern: 22.3 points per game through five weeks, followed by missed time and diminished production as injuries piled up.
Walker’s inconsistency has been tied to his health and Seattle’s bottom-10 offensive line, but his flashes of dominance are undeniable. His 0.42 avoided tackles per attempt in 2024 was the highest mark in PFF’s 19-year database (minimum 50 carries). For context, the next-best mark by a player with at least 150 carries is 0.31, shared by Marshawn Lynch (2014) and Nick Chubb (2020). Over the past two seasons, Walker has also earned a play-level grade of +1 or better at the third-highest rate among all running backs, trailing only Jahmyr Gibbs and Derrick Henry.
In addition, Walker’s role in the passing game expanded in 2024, with increases in both routes run per game and targets per route run. His receiving grade over the past two years ranks ninth among backs with at least 400 routes.
Klint Kubiak joins the Seahawks as their new offensive coordinator after spending five seasons in similar roles across five different teams. In three of his last four stops — including both of his previous stints as an offensive coordinator — his offenses produced a top-12 fantasy running back. That list includes Alvin Kamara (fifth in fantasy points per game last season) and Christian McCaffrey (first in 2023). A common thread in Kubiak’s schemes has been a heavy emphasis on the run game and involving running backs in the passing attack. His offenses have also ranked in the top seven in zone concept frequency at all four stops, suggesting Seattle will shift back to primarily zone runs in 2025 after leaning more on gap concepts last season. That shift could benefit Kenneth Walker III, who has historically been more effective on zone runs.
In his introductory press conference, Kubiak emphasized the importance of building the offense around the run game and specifically cited Walker as their best back, saying they’d “get him the ball any way we can.” Seattle also plans to convert two tight ends into fullbacks, further signaling a commitment to the ground game.
One consistent issue for Walker has been Seattle’s offensive line, which regressed from an average unit in his first two seasons to a bottom-10 group in 2024. However, there’s reason for optimism. Charles Cross took a major leap forward last year, earning a 77.9 run-blocking grade and 81.3 pass-blocking grade, establishing himself as one of the league’s best young left tackles. The Seahawks also spent a first-round pick on guard Grey Zabel, who posted an 86.4 run-blocking grade in his final season at North Dakota State and should provide an immediate upgrade.
The remaining three projected starters are recent mid-round picks. Injuries played a large role in last year’s struggles — Cross and Laken Tomlinson were the only linemen to log at least 11 starts. The starting five graded significantly better than their backups, so with improved health and natural development, this group has a chance to rebound to league-average or better in 2025.
Walker finished 12th among running backs in fantasy points per game last season, showcasing the talent that makes him one of the league’s most explosive backs. With Klint Kubiak’s run-focused scheme and improved offensive line play, Walker has the upside to crack the top eight in 2025. However, durability concerns and Seattle’s still-unproven line remain potential hurdles that could limit his consistency over a full season.
RB RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos (ADP: 6.07)
Harvey steadily climbed UCF’s depth chart, going from a non-factor in 2021 to an efficient backup in 2022 before excelling in a lead role across the 2023 and 2024 seasons. His breakout came despite UCF’s jump from the American Athletic Conference (AAC) to the Big 12, where he continued to shine. Harvey earned a 93.4 PFF rushing grade against Power Five opponents over the past three years — higher than Blake Corum, Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, and just behind Cameron Skattebo, Damien Martinez and Bucky Irving.
As a receiver, Harvey’s production was generally strong throughout his college career. His grade dipped slightly in 2024 due to a small sample (31 targets, 22 catches) that included one fumble and two drops, which skewed the numbers.
Our draft guide highlighted Harvey’s impressive elusiveness as a runner and receiver. Lead draft analyst Trevor Sikkema even named Harvey his favorite prospect in the class, praising his unique skill set and compact frame (5-foot-8, 205 pounds). Among recent NFL backs with similar builds, Devonta Freeman carved out the most success, while Darrell Henderson and Michael Carter have also flashed at times.
A big reason for optimism with Harvey is his fit in Sean Payton’s offense. Broncos running backs have combined for 214 receptions over the past two seasons — more than any other team in the NFL. Payton’s history with versatile backs in New Orleans is well-documented, where Reggie Bush, Darren Sproles, Pierre Thomas and Alvin Kamara all delivered fantasy relevance, even in split backfields. Kamara is a particularly relevant comparison. Drafted 67th overall (compared to Harvey at 60th), Kamara played just 44.9% of New Orleans’ offensive snaps as a rookie but still finished fourth in fantasy points per game, thanks to 120 carries and 81 receptions.
That said, the Broncos’ backfield has been highly volatile in recent seasons. Predicting which back would lead in carries from week to week was nearly impossible, and Payton’s public comments about player roles often didn’t align with usage. Even preseason rotations proved misleading when it came to final depth chart decisions. While the hope is that Harvey and J.K. Dobbins can stabilize the backfield, there’s no guarantee history won’t repeat itself.
While Payton’s preseason usage hasn’t always led to regular-season usage, Harvey played all but one snap with the starters on first and second downs in the first preseason game, while Dobbins was restricted to playing a third-down role. While we expect a little more rotation for the regular season, this at least points to Harvey potentially leading the team in carries while catching a lot of passes.
Harvey was arguably the biggest winner among rookie running backs, landing in a situation where his skill set could translate to fantasy stardom. A top-10 finish is within reach if he secures the passing-down role and averages eight or more carries per game. Still, Denver’s backfield has been notoriously volatile in recent years, and there’s a chance that unpredictability continues even with Harvey in the mix.
WR Travis Hunter, Jacksonville Jaguars (ADP: 6.04)
Hunter spent the past two seasons as a full-time wide receiver and cornerback for Colorado. His efficiency at wide receiver was strong but not elite, and he produced on a surprisingly high sample size, given his additional playing time on defense. His numbers improved across the board from 2023 to 2024. His production by situation was strong, too, but it’s worth noting that many of his routes were gos or hitches.
His 89.7 PFF receiving grade over the past two seasons is directly in the middle of the other receivers who were drafted in the first or early second round. He racked up the most touchdowns and the fewest dropped passes of the five, and his separation rate against single coverage is the best among the group.
While Hunter wasn’t as accomplished as a receiver as others in the class, many consider him the best receiving option. PFF's Draft Guide notes, “As a receiver, he doesn’t have as much polish in releases, route nuance and beating press. However, all that can be improved and explained by not devoting all his time to one position.” If Hunter becomes a full-time receiver, he will be the top wide receiver in dynasty drafts based on his talent.
Hunter joins the Jaguars, who have Brian Thomas Jr. and minimal other competition for targets. The first preseason game gave us a great look at how the Jaguars plan on using Hunter.
He started the game for Jacksonville and played in 11 of 12 snaps with the starters. The one play he missed was a two-wide receiver set with Brian Thomas Jr. and Dyami Brown on the field. If this ends up being how he’s used in the regular season on offense, he can be a consistent fantasy starter. Several borderline fantasy starters only played in three-receiver sets last season, including Jayden Reed, Josh Downs, Khalil Shakir and Adam Thielen. The differences are that Hunter is more talented and the Jaguars should stay in 11 personnel for most of the game. Head coach Liam Coen’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers ranked eighth in 11 personnel usage last season at 71.9%, despite multiple wide receiver injuries. His 2022 Los Angeles Rams led the league at 90.9%. On the first drive, the Jaguars used it 91.8%.
Coen also commented that they have focused on 11 personnel, and that he’s learning 12 personnel, so he could also start playing snaps in 12 personnel in the upcoming weeks.
One surprising part of his usage is that Hunter lined up in the slot on five of his 11 snaps, tying Thomas at five of 12 snaps. Thomas was expected to be the primary slot receiver after leading the league in yards per route run out of the slot. Hunter played significantly out of the slot in 2023, but in 2024, he only lined up in the slot 36 times compared to 736 snaps outside. This is significant because Coen’s top wide receivers, from a fantasy perspective, have primarily played out of the slot. This includes Chris Godwin averaging 19.7 PPR points per game last season, which ranked second-most in the league, and Cooper Kupp leading the league in 2022 at 22.4. This is enough reason to raise expectations for Hunter this season while somewhat dampening expectations for Thomas.
Hunter didn’t play the first drive on defense, but he played left cornerback on the Jaguars’ second and third drives, playing all eight snaps on those drives. Tyson Campbell was one of multiple Jaguars defenders who only played the first drive. Jarrian Jones started the game at left cornerback and switched to right cornerback when Hunter entered. Jourdan Lewis, who joined the Jaguars from the Dallas Cowboys, played as their slot cornerback, even though Jones held that position last season. If Hunter plays on defense in the regular season, it would likely be at Jones' expense. This wouldn’t necessarily need to be in any particular personnel groupings.
The sky is the limit for Hunter, a truly unique athlete. That uniqueness makes it difficult to project how much he can help a fantasy manager at the wide receiver position. As the offseason has progressed, the risks around Hunter have decreased, but his ADP hasn’t increased at a commensurate rate.
QB Justin Fields, New York Jets (ADP: 10.07)
Justin Fields spent three seasons as the Chicago Bears’ starting quarterback after being drafted in the first round in 2021. While his rookie season was largely forgettable, he broke out as a fantasy star in 2022, averaging 20.7 PPR points per game, the fifth-highest among quarterbacks that year. Fields led all quarterbacks with 1,143 rushing yards, nearly 350 more than the next closest player. That season included two historic rushing performances of 147 and 178 yards in November, both ranking in the top 10 for single-game rushing yards by a quarterback in NFL history.
In 2023, Fields continued to flash his rushing upside, averaging 21.2 points per game over the first five weeks and 19.8 from Weeks 11-17, excluding a midseason injury absence. Throughout his career, his fantasy production has been fueled primarily by his legs. Among quarterbacks with at least 2,500 snaps over the past four seasons, Fields ranks third in rushing grade (behind only Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson) and first in scramble yards per game (31.3) and scramble touchdowns per game (0.26). His passing, however, remains a work in progress. His 62.4 passing grade over that span ranks last among qualifying quarterbacks, with Mac Jones and Daniel Jones as the next closest.
After the Bears traded Fields to the Steelers following their selection of Caleb Williams at No. 1 overall, Fields began 2025 as Pittsburgh’s starter while Russell Wilson recovered from injury. In that stretch, he averaged 19.1 PPR points per game, seventh-best among quarterbacks over that span, before returning to a reserve role when Wilson returned. Encouragingly, Fields’ passing grades over his last two seasons have improved significantly from his early career, helping keep him in the conversation as a potential NFL starter.
Justin Fields joins the New York Jets with a fresh start under new offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand. After signing a two-year, $40 million deal last season, Fields is positioned to get an extended opportunity as the team’s starting quarterback.
He will bring a clear rushing element to the Jets’ offense, but how heavily the Jets lean into designed runs remains a key variable. That usage could be the difference between Fields finishing as a top-five fantasy quarterback or landing outside the top 12.
One intriguing wrinkle is the Jets’ vote to keep the “tush push.” Fields has only four career carries from the 1-yard line, converting two for touchdowns, but if New York fully commits to using him in short-yardage situations, his rushing touchdown total could spike. That extra goal-line work could be a key factor in Fields cracking the top tier of fantasy quarterbacks in 2025.
Fields has been a fantasy starter whenever he’s held the job and stayed healthy, and that should remain true in 2025 if he gets enough rushing volume.
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