Tier 11 (Continued)
151. Tahj Brooks (RB49, CIN) – Shoutout to our very own Chris Helle for putting me on to Tahj Brooks. The Bengals’ release of Zack Moss elevates Brooks to actual handcuff status, and if he gets enough work in the pass game, he has potential standalone FLEX value.
152. Geno Smith (QB25, LV) – The McDouble of Quarterbacks. If a McDouble passes a touchdown to a McDouble, is that a McDouble Double?
153. DeMario Douglas (WR62, NE) – We saw flashes from Pop Douglas last season, but he has become an afterthought with the Patriots’ acquisition of Stefon Diggs. Opportunities are plentiful in an offense in need of playmakers and an emerging talent at quarterback.
Tier 12
154. Mason Taylor (TE18, NYJ) – The competition for targets behind Garrett Wilson is a washed Allen Lazard and a couple of J.A.G.s. Mason Taylor‘s path to targets is a wide-open, freshly paved four-lane highway. Warren is the only tight end at LSU to ever hit 100 catches and 1,000 yards. The pass-catching chops are not a question. His only concern is his blocking; if that doesn’t keep him off the field, Taylor has the skill and opportunity to be this year’s breakout.
155. Jerome Ford (RB50, CLE) – Currently slotted in as the Browns’ starting running back with the uncertainty surrounding Quinshon Judkins. He failed to do anything when he had this backfield to himself in 2023 after Nick Chubb’s injury. He’s a warm body with little to no upside.
156. Roschon Johnson (RB51, CHI) – Chicago’s offensive line has been significantly upgraded this offseason, and with Ben Johnson on the sidelines calling plays, the offense is expected to be substantially improved. Johnson is still just 24 years old; if he can become the “Knuckles” to Swift’s “Sonic”, Johnson would be in line for major fantasy production. A $1 scratch off where you’re trying to win $1,000,000.
157. Dalton Kincaid (TE19, BUF) – Still holds some upside strictly due to his age and athletic profile, but Dalton Kincaid is part of the tight end glob of mediocrity.
158. Matthew Stafford (QB26, LAR) – Reports are “confident” out of Rams camp that Matthew Stafford will be ready for Week 1 despite his current back issues. But I’m staying far away from the 37-year-old quarterback with a history of back issues who had to get an epidural because of bulging disc pain.
159. Jarquez Hunter (RB52, LAR) – The rookie has sky-high upside if he finds himself with significant touches, but Jarquez Hunter is nothing more than a handcuff for now.
160. Woody Marks (RB53, HOU) – Houston traded up and gave a 2026 third-round pick to draft Woody Marks, so there’s obviously something they see in him. With Joe Mixon and Nick Chubb already dealing with injuries, Marks could find himself in a position to earn a role in the offense early in the season.
161. Jaylen Wright (RB54, MIA) – The handcuff to De’Von Achane, it appears Jaylen Wright is also the goal line back for the Dolphins. He offers sneaky touchdown upside if that holds throughout the season.
162. Quinshon Judkins (RB55, CLE) – Until his legal matters are resolved, Quinshon Judkins is the biggest question mark of 2025. If he misses fewer than six games, I’d be willing to draft him somewhere in the 80-100 range. Anything more than that, he’s outside the top 50 RBs.
163. Marquise Brown (WR63, KC) – The Temu Xavier Worthy. Hollywood Brown could have some big games in a Chiefs offense expected to air it out more, but he’s not in the top four in Mahomes’ target hierarchy. He’d need a long Rashee Rice suspension or injuries ahead of him to have real fantasy value.
164. Adonai Mitchell (WR64, IND) – A big play threat in a crowded group of pass catchers on a team with mediocre quarterback play. A potential waiver wire watch.
165. Cedric Tillman (WR65, CLE) – He had a Travis Fulgham-esque three-game stretch that looks to be more of a flash in the pan than a potential breakout.
166. Bhayshul Tuten (RB56, JAC) – The chiq late-round rookie running back is everyone’s obsession this year. If he earns significant touches, he’s got the wiggle and zoom to put up some crooked numbers. But he’s more likely a target for 2026, when free-agent-to-be Travis Etienne Jr. is likely no longer on the team.
167. Rashod Bateman (WR66, BAL) – A better Baltimore Raven than a member of your fantasy team. Rashod Bateman will have a few blow-up weeks, but chances are he’ll be on your bench when he does.
168. Brashard Smith (RB57, KC) – Nothing more than a name to watch. Brashard Smith has serious upside, but has multiple names ahead of him to start the season.
169. Jalen McMillan (WR67, TB) – Jalen McMillan will have a role in the Bucs offense, but lacks the upside of rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka. Don’t be fooled into overdrafting him after his TD onslaught to finish 2024–there is too much target competition in this offense.
170. MarShawn Lloyd (RB58, GB) – His rookie season was over before it started, playing in just one game before succumbing to injury. Appears fully healthy and could be the handcuff to Josh Jacobs in a potent Packers offense.
171. Kyle Williams (WR68, NE) – Keep an eye on rookie Kyle Williams. If he can carve out a role in the Patriots’ offense, he has the talent to become more than just fantasy viable. For now, he’s probably not cracking your rosters in redraft leagues as more than a late bench stash.
172. Sam Darnold (QB27, SEA) – Good on Sam Darnold for cashing in all his chips from his career revival in Minnesota, but he won’t have the Vikings’ offensive line in Seattle, where he may find himself seeing ghosts once again. Seattle was one of the worst pass-blocking units in the entire league in 2024, with an average time to pressure for their quarterbacks of 2.5 seconds. When Darnold had over 2.5 seconds before pressure last season, he completed 73.8% of his passes. But when he had 2.5 seconds or less? His completion percentage plummeted to 45.5%. The Seahawks did make moves in an attempt to shore up the o-line. But even if the line improves, Darnold’s going to see an exponential increase in pressure when he drops back in Seattle. I’m avoiding at all costs.
173. Xavier Legette (WR69, CAR) – I like the talent. I love the person even more. But I don’t trust Bryce Young to be able to support multiple wide receivers for fantasy, and I expect Tet McMillian to eat targets like Kirby.
Tier 13
174. Dalton Schultz (TE20, HOU) – See: Ferguson, Jake.
175. Blake Corum (RB59, LAR) – I’d be much more interested had the Rams not drafted Jarquez Hunter, but Blake Corum still has upside if he found himself with significant touches.
176. Ollie Gordon II (RB60, MIA) – Not draftable, but a name I’m watching very closely on the waiver wire.
177. Hunter Henry (TE21, NE) – Another esteemed member of the tight end glob of mediocrity.
178. Austin Ekeler (RB61, WAS) – Wonderful human being. Former fantasy stud. Nothing more than a low-tier FLEX.
179. Pat Freiermuth (TE22, PIT) – If you wait on tight end like I tend to do, pair Pat Freiermuth with an upside play along the lines of Kyle Pitts (I still believe), Isaiah Likely, or Mason Taylor. If they fall flat, you’ll have a firm foundation to fall back on.
180. Mike Gesicki (TE23, CIN) – Gesicki’s borderline starter status took a tumble with the Bengals’ addition of Noah Fant. He’ll have some solid games, catch a few touchdowns, and dazzle us with some horrendous dance moves, but he should live on the waiver wire in most leagues.
181. Daniel Jones (QB28, IND) – A potential post-hype sleeper who costs nearly nothing, if Jones wins the starting job and the Colts’ o-line can give him time, Danny Dimes could come out of hibernation and offer solid QB2 numbers. Yes, you read that right.
182. Anthony Richardson Sr. (QB29, IND) – I’m unsure if Anthony Richardson Sr. can ever put it together. But he’s worth stashing just in case. He’ll have a QB1 overall ceiling until the day he retires. Hopefully, he can learn to pass.
183. Tyler Allgeier (RB62, ATL) – Bijan Robinson‘s handcuff, nothing more.
184. Jalen Royals (WR70, KC) – A talented fourth-round rookie, Jalen Royals is buried on the depth chart by talented receivers all around him.
185. Elijah Mitchell (RB63, KC) – Outside of Elijah Mitchell, the only additions at the position for the Chiefs were re-signing soon-to-be 30-year-old Kareem Hunt and seventh-round pick Brashard Smith. Significant opportunity if Isiah Pacheco were to miss time or is unable to return to pre-injury form, but the fact that there are multiple potential handcuffs makes this handcuff’s upside less clear.
186. Cade Otton (TE24, TB) – Had a solid six-game stretch for the Bucs, but Cade Otton is yet another esteemed member of the tight end glob of mediocrity.
187. DJ Giddens (RB64, IND) – Didn’t look great in his first preseason game, but it’s too early to write him off just yet. Worth watching as Jonathan Taylor‘s handcuff.
188. Darren Waller (TE25, MIA) – From retirement straight to the PUP list. Waller could catch a few touchdowns, but he’s not fantasy relevant.
189. Miles Sanders (RB65, DAL) – Could stumble into a few starts based on the Cowboys’ RB room, but not much upside.
190. Jordan James (RB66, SF) – Any running back on the 49ers roster is worth keeping an eye on.
191. Isaac Guerendo (RB67, SF) – Any running back on the 49ers roster is worth keeping an eye on. Was that an echo?
192. Terrance Ferguson (TE26, LAR) – Not someone I’m drafting, but I do like the potential for Terrance Ferguson to become one of those “lightning in a bottle” tight ends if he can carve out a role in the offense. A name to remember.
193. Jacory Croskey-Merritt (RB68, WAS) – The belle of the preseason fantasy football (I’m sorry), and an intriguing deep sleeper who’s impressed this preseason.
Tier 14
194. Nick Chubb (RB69, HOU) – Even with the injury status of Joe Mixon, I’m not interested in Nick Chubb this season. He’s talented enough to make me eat my words, but he’d have to find the fountain of youth first.
195. Russell Wilson (QB30, NYG) – A sneaky Superflex target who could put up some solid point totals. Nothing more than a QB3/backup, but intriguing with Malik Nabers as his WR1.
196. Jaxson Dart (QB31, NYG) – I expect to see Jaxson Dart make a few starts this season, but the question is when. He’s off the 1QB radar, but a name to watch for Superflex leagues if/when he becomes the Giants starter.
197. Elijah Arroyo (TE26, SEA) – A tad more intriguing with the Seahawks’ release of Noah Fant, but he has to beat out AJ Barner first.
198. Jalen Nailor (WR71, MIN) – A potential FLEX starter while Jordan Addison is suspended for the first three weeks of the season.
199. Isaiah Davis (RB70, NYJ) – Isaiah Davis could see some run in a potential Jets committee, but would need an injury to Breece Hall or Braelon Allen to become fantasy viable.
200. Dyami Brown (WR72, JAC) – Dyami Brown could see more run than most WR3s with Travis Hunter‘s snaps limited by playing both sides of the ball.