As I mentioned in the draft recap—this year was a tough one to evaluate. No team truly dominated the draft, and there’s more balance across the league than we’ve seen in years. You could take the teams I have ranked 6-8 and drop them into the top-three and I would struggle to find a good argument not to do that.
Hell, a team currently sitting in the top three could just as easily tumble into the bottom three by next week. That’s how tight this thing is.
Also, let’s not forget—I’m historically terrible at preseason predictions. The last time my No. 1 ranked team actually won the title? That was Neatock… in 2017. And that’s the only time my preseason favorite brought home a mug since I started doing these in 2002. So yeah—take all of this with a grain of salt… maybe even the whole salt shaker.
1. The Genius (Matt)
The lineup isn’t without its flaws—Kelce’s finally starting to creak, and Metcalf might be entering the “angry possession receiver” phase of his career—but there’s still plenty to like. Hurts, Henry, and Irving form a formidable three-headed monster, and if Irving gets the touches he deserves, he could realistically outscore the Big Dog himself. Worthy enters Year 2 with Rice suspended and a golden opportunity to build chemistry with Mahomes. If he emerges as the WR1 in Kansas City, this could quietly be the best starting lineup in the league. What really stands out, though, is that nearly every starter plays in a high-octane offense—Eagles, Chiefs, Ravens and even the Bucs can put up some points. That’s not just firepower—it’s weekly matchup-proof upside.
2. AI Build Me a Team (Don)
Holy hell, I have Don ranked second? What kind of fever dream is this? And yet… here we are. This isn’t charity—this is cold, hard fantasy logic. I’m still a sucker for a dominant backfield, and both Gibbs and Jacobs are legit All-Robio candidates. Bo Nix should take a solid Year 2 leap in Denver, and while the days of Adams and Moore being elite WR1s are probably over, both are fully capable of dropping 1,200-yard seasons—which is all Don really needs with that backfield doing the heavy lifting.
But as always, the big question with Don isn’t talent. It’s attention. Will he be dialed in enough to steer this roster to the promised land? If things go sideways, will he even notice before it’s too late? 2006 Don would’ve had it handled. 2025 Don? That’s the mystery.
3. Dudelove (Michael)
Michael’s team starts with a strong foundation: an elite quarterback in Joe Burrow, a dependable three-down back in Kyren Williams, and a top-five tight end in Trey McBride. But the real cornerstones of this squad are those explosive second-year wideouts—Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. Both caught fire down the stretch last season, and both have the talent to post WR1 numbers all year long. The wrinkle? They’ll be catching passes from new quarterbacks in 2025 (Thomas Junior’s best games came with the Jaguars backup quarterback). Then again, with their skillsets, maybe it doesn’t matter who’s under center—they might just be QB-proof.
Beyond that, the cracks start to show. Tyrone Tracy Jr. is a questionable option as an RB2, and there’s little comfort in the depth behind him. Bigsby, Najee Harris, and Dylan Sampson don’t exactly scream “reliable insurance.” If Tracy stumbles, Michael may be left scrambling for RB help faster than you can say “waiver wire.”
4. The Dick-Taters (Rich C)
Calderon enters the 2025 regular season the same way he exited 2024—armed with the best player in fantasy football, Saquon Barkley. Pair him with James Cook, and you can make a strong case that Rich boasts the top backfield in the league. Throw in George Kittle—who could finish as the TE1 if his hamstrings ever sign a peace treaty—and the spine of this roster is as strong as ever.
But the shine fades a bit once you hit the wide receiver room. DeVonta Smith and Garrett Wilson are quality WR2 types, the kind of guys who can quietly bank you 1,000 yards—but expecting 1,500-yard, league-winning production from either is probably wishful thinking.
And then there’s the elephant in the quarterback room. In a league where QB scoring really matters, Rich is riding with Justin Herbert—a guy with top-5 talent but underwhelming results, especially under this current coaching regime. He’s not bad… he’s just not nearly enough. Not in this league when he’s’ up against teams with Hurts, Allen, Lamar or Burrow.
5. Thunderpants (Rich B)
Just like last year, Burrier enters the season with arguably the league’s top receiver (Ja’Marr Chase) and the top tight end (Brock Bowers). That’s a hell of a foundation. But after that? Things start to wobble. He added some solid pieces in the draft, but there’s a noticeable absence of true difference-makers beyond the headline stars.
James Conner and D’Andre Swift are both capable backs who can deliver RB1 numbers—but rarely do it consistently across an entire season. Mike Evans, assuming his hamstrings holds, offers a dependable, if aging, WR1 presence. And Brock Purdy? He may not look like much walking off the team bus, but he just wins in fantasy matchups.
Burrier’s got a playoff-caliber team, no question. But to make a deep postseason run? He’s going to need one more elite piece to emerge—or a little of that old-school Burrier magic we haven’t seen since flip phones were in style.
6. Brooklyn Libtards (Colby)
Josh Allen is back under center for Colby’s team, and thank God—because without him last season, Colby would’ve missed the playoffs faster than a Chiefs fan dodging a Taylor Swift reference. The big question heading into 2025? Jonathan Taylor. It’s been a while since he looked like the guy, and Colby needs more than RB2 energy from someone once viewed as a top-five pick.
Breece Hall? The talent is there. The workload? Not so much. The Jets offense has been a fantasy graveyard, and unless that changes, Hall may continue to be more hype than help. Tyreek Hill still has game-breaking ability with a healthy Tua—and pairing him with McConkey could make for a sneaky-good wideout duo, assuming McConkey’s rookie season wasn’t a one-hit wonder.
And then there’s Mark Andrews—Baltimore’s version of a mystery box. Yes, he opened 2024 looking like fantasy quicksand, but for one glorious six-week stretch, he averaged 160 fantasy points per game and made us believe again. If that guy shows up, tight end won’t be an issue.
The starting lineup has talent, but it doesn’t scream “title run.” What does have promise, though, is the bench. Rome Odunze, Jordan Addison, and Aaron Jones all have the juice to contribute meaningful points, and Skattebo is one “next man up” moment away from being a breakout waiver-wire darling.
7. Football? (Jeff)
When healthy, this is a really good squad. Chuba Hubbard and De’Von Achane give Jeff a pair of legit RB1s, while Drake London and Amon-Ra St. Brown headline one of the more underrated WR duos in the league. But right out of the gate, this team is rolling out three-wide—because Achane is already nursing an injury. Fortunately, with Marvin Harrison Jr., Isiah Pacheco, and Javonte Williams waiting in the wings, Jeff might have the depth to survive it… if any of them step up and prove they’re more than just hype and hope.
The real red flag, though? Quarterback. Just 66% of CBS fantasy teams are starting either of Jeff’s QBs—and that’s a combined percentage. In this league, you don’t need to burn a top pick on a quarterback to be a contender, but you do need someone who can flirt with 300 points on a weekly basis. Fields and Love can’t just be “fine.” One of them has to be really good—and that’s a gamble.
8. Lolita Express (Bob)
What could go wrong with Bob’s squad? Well… quite a bit, actually. Jayden Daniels could hit the dreaded sophomore slump now that defensive coordinators have had a full season to dissect him like a frog in a high school biology class. Christian McCaffrey’s body—held together by hope and tape—could finally betray him. Jaxon Smith-Njigba might wilt under the pressure of being Seattle’s WR1, while Terry McLaurin could quietly fade into WR2 territory as Deebo siphons off his targets in Washington. A.J. Brown and the Eagles might suffer a post-Super Bowl offensive identity crisis, and Sam LaPorta might reveal that his rookie season breakout was just a mirage. Oh, and let’s not even start on that RB2 spot—Kaleb Johnson and David Montgomery both look like committee passengers, not drivers.
Of course, flip the script and this team could be terrifying. Daniels could prove Year 1 was no fluke and ascend into elite fantasy territory. CMC might (somehow) stay healthy and once again command a workhorse role. JSN could become a top-8 receiver with a target hog’s appetite, and McLaurin might thrive in an offense that finally opens up with a better ground game and Deebo drawing attention. If Laporta repeats even 80% of his rookie magic, and Kaleb Johnson emerges from the Pittsburgh backfield morass, Bob will be sitting on a goldmine.
What’s the most likely outcome? Split the difference. Daniels takes a leap. McCaffrey misses some time but is healthy when it matters. JSN and McLaurin don’t quite hit WR1 ceilings, but they’re both productive. A.J. Brown keeps cooking, Laporta continues to take a minor step back, and the RB2 spot remains the soft underbelly of this otherwise dangerous team.
Congratulations on Griff for spawning a third child, Layla. Can we all chip in and buy him this for his backyard?
9. Real Men Produce Porn (Griff)
Lamar Jackson and Justin Jefferson are the cornerstones of this squad—and together, they’re capable of dragging Griff into weekly contention almost single-handedly. Kenneth Walker can add some much-needed bite from the backfield, if he can stay on the field and if the Seahawks remember they’re allowed to hand him the ball.
But let’s be honest: starting George Pickens, Emeka Egbuka, and Tucker Kraft doesn’t exactly scream “championship formula.” It’s more like a late-night waiver wire experiment gone wrong. Still, all hope is not lost. For Griff to make real noise in 2025, he’ll need one or two of his wild cards—Egbuka, RJ Harvey, or Keon Coleman—to break out in a big way.
If that happens, this horse might have a second gallop left in him. If not, it could be another long, lonely trot through fantasy purgatory for the once-mighty stallion.
10. Two Headed Rushin Attack (Rob M)
The running backs are the lifeblood of this squad, and everything flows through them. We already know what Chase Brown can do: he gets the ball—a lot. While he’s not exactly Marshawn Lynch after contact, in fantasy football, volume is king. But the real X-factor here is Omarion Hampton. The Chargers rookie is expected to start Week 1, and if he’s not splitting carries with Najee Harris, then buckle up. Hampton is the preseason favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year, and if he lives up to even half the hype, Rob could be marching back to the playoffs. Even if Hampton flames out like a USC quarterback in the NFL, Rob has Tony Pollard waiting in the wings, hoping Dallas remembers how to use him correctly.
Nico Collins gives Masterson a legitimate WR1 with top-10 upside, while Tee Higgins is a fine WR2—albeit forever stuck in Ja’Marr Chase’s shadow like he’s the Robin of Cincinnati. But depth is where this team shines. If either starting wideout stumbles, both Courtland Sutton and Travis Hunter are waiting on the bench, ready to jump in and contribute. There’s enough talent here to survive some bumps.
At tight end, T.J. Hockenson is back and healthy and should return to his usual top-five form—assuming Minnesota’s offense hasn’t completely fallen apart. The only real concern on this roster is quarterback. Last year, if you were starting Caleb Williams or C.J. Stroud, you probably weren’t smiling on Sundays. Rob needs one of them to hit. Williams is the starter—for now—but Stroud might quietly be the better option as the season unfolds.
11. Stroud Boys (Eric)
Heading into 2025, there’s really only one guarantee on this roster: CeeDee Lamb is that guy. If he’s healthy (he is… for now) and his quarterback is upright (he is… for now), you can practically Sharpie in 1,500 yards and double-digit touchdowns. That’s certified All-Robio stuff. But after Lamb? The foundation starts to feel more like fantasy sand.
Patrick Mahomes may be the real-life GOAT-in-waiting, but in fantasy? He’s become a guy who casually dodges 300-point games. It’s Mahomes, so I get it. He won’t be bad… but will he win Eric a week? That’s a big “maybe.”
At WR2, Eric’s choosing between Zay Flowers and Jameson Williams—both of whom are capable of 300-point blowups or 50-point duds that make you question your life decisions. Meanwhile, the ghost of Stefon Diggs is on the bench, waiting to remind us that wide receivers age like milk once they hit 30, and Jaylen Waddle’s still out here trying to be fantasy-relevant and failing.
And then… there’s Kyle Pitts. Yes, that Kyle Pitts. The one who’s been “on the verge of breaking out” for the past three seasons. The truth is, he’ll probably always be on that verge—never quite crossing over, always whispering promises of greatness while delivering tight end purgatory.
But the real story for Eric’s squad? The running backs. Ashton Jeanty and Alvin Kamara are both locked into starting roles and should absolutely dominate touches—on two of the least exciting offenses in the league. You love to see volume, but how much fantasy goodness can you squeeze out of the Saints and Raiders in 2025? Probably not enough to overcome the fact that the other two backs (J.K. Dobbins and Jerome Ford) are currently on the losing end of training camp battles against rookies who weren’t even born the last time Dobbins had two healthy knees.
12. Class of 2029 (Robio)
While Bijan Robinson has all the tools to be a fantasy cornerstone, my team looks more like a promising long-term rebuild than a 2025 juggernaut. The foundation is there, sure—but right now, I’m trotting out two rookies in TreVeyon Henderson and Tyler Warren to start the year. Henderson could be a 1,300-yard back… or he could be splitting carries with Rhamondre Stevenson while the coaches play spin-the-bottle with his running backs. The talent is undeniable, but the workload? TBD.
Just like the backfield, the wide receiver room is built around a single alpha: Puka Nacua. He’s my guy, my WR1, my second-round steal. He produced with Kupp, without Kupp, in rain, snow, and probably in his sleep. But after Puka, the drop-off is steep and unsettling. We’re talking Calvin Ridley (who’s still living off that one good Falcons season), Ricky Pearsall (who was shot last year, not metaphorically), and Matthew Golden, a rookie who might be great someday… just not today. Ridley gets the Week 1 nod, assuming he’s not nursing a hamstring or placing Fanduel bets again.
At quarterback, Dak Prescott feels like the fantasy equivalent of a Camry: reliable, gets you where you need to go, but when he breaks down—it’s catastrophic. With his injury history and age (32, which is ancient in running QB years), I felt the need to hedge with Jared Goff and Drake Maye. I don’t love it, but I don’t hate it.
The Giants’ defense is sneaky-good and the Tyler Bass pick at kicker is perfectly fine. But the elephant in the room? I’m relying on two, possibly three, players who have never played a meaningful NFL snap. And that’s not ideal—unless I’m accidentally in a dynasty league.