Hill, 31, definitely is not the lone large identify on this season’s record of fantasy bounce-back candidates, however he may be one of the prone to return to his degree of former statistical greatness. Previous to managing solely 81 receptions for 959 yards and 6 TDs final season, Hill had hauled in 119 receptions for over 1,700 receiving yards in consecutive seasons (2022-2023). He boasts three seasons with greater than 100 catches (from 2021-23) and has six seasons ending among the many top-seven PPR large receivers and 6 seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards.
Anticipate a wholesome, motivated Hill to supply numbers extra commensurate together with his record-setting 2023 season, when he led the league in yards per route (3.85) and piled on the touchdowns (13). Mike Evans, Davante Adams and DeAndre Hopkins are the one lively large receivers with extra receiving touchdowns, and they’re all older than Hill. With a wholesome Tagovailoa, a rejuvenated offensive line and an progressive offense led by coach Mike McDaniel, Hill seems to be a notable fantasy discount going exterior the highest 30 in ESPN reside drafts. Anticipate a return to WR1 efficiency.
Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers: 2023’s No. 6 QB regressed some in 2024, definitely partially due to the well being of others surrounding him. Purdy nonetheless carried out at a excessive degree, ending third in yards per try and greater than doubling his dashing manufacturing. The 49ers have been fast to make a longterm funding in Purdy, hardly forgetting his monster 2023 season. Purdy has the abilities to be a protected QB1 choice, however he certain is not being drafted that manner.
Justin Fields, New York Jets: Whereas Fields was the No. 6 QB in 2022, since then he hasn’t obtained a lot of an opportunity to point out that season was professional. The 2023 Chicago Bears have been a large number in some ways and, final season in Pittsburgh, Fields was benched in favor of Russell Wilson regardless of averaging 18.9 PPR factors (QB6) by means of six begins. Fields is an elite dashing QB and if the Jets let him do his factor, one other top-10 QB season lurks.
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys: Prescott has been featured on this annual column earlier than. After ending as fantasy’s No. 2 QB in 2019 and lacking most of 2020 because of harm, Prescott returned to fantasy relevance in 2021. Whereas Prescott is coming back from a torn hamstring suffered in Week 9 final season, he was the No. 3 fantasy QB in 2023. OK, so Prescott is not essentially the most constant performer at QB, however WRs CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens give him one of many high duos within the sport to focus on.
C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans: 12 months 2 of “The Stroud Expertise” annoyed myriad fantasy managers who anticipated a repeat of his historic rookie marketing campaign. It did not occur, however maybe Stroud by no means had an opportunity behind a pitiful offensive line, struggling 52 sacks. The road needs to be improved in 2025, and Stroud will get to focus on each Nico Collins and thrilling rookie Jayden Higgins.
Working backs
Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers: Fantasy’s dominant non-QB for the 2022 and 2023 seasons burned each the 49ers and fantasy traders final season, as a preseason calf harm delayed his debut – not for mere weeks, however till Week 10 in November. McCaffrey ended up taking part in solely 4 video games and at an bizarre degree, scoring nary a landing. McCaffrey won’t be the No. 1 choose in 2025 drafts, however many will fade him in early rounds because of the excessive danger of potential missed video games. McCaffrey has performed in double-digit video games in simply two of the previous 5 seasons.
Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks: Walker’s third NFL season upset, as he missed six video games because of decrease physique accidents. He did carry out fairly properly in his 11 video games, averaging 16.5 PPR factors per recreation, and performed his largest position but in Seattle’s passing recreation. Zach Charbonnet lurks and he catches passes as properly, however Walker is the higher participant and will get an opportunity to return to protected RB2 manufacturing.
Breece Corridor, New York Jets: Corridor’s third NFL season additionally did not progress as anticipated, as he fell in need of 1,000 dashing yards and noticed a lower in receiving targets. The Jets offense was a relative fiddle Corridor, and solely time will inform if Fields can stabilize it. A wholesome Corridor needs to be a RB1 choice, however an atypical dashing QB would possibly complicate his typical fantasy manufacturing.
Isiah Pacheco, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs: Pacheco emerged as a stable RB2 choice in his second NFL season, however a damaged fibula in Week 2 ruined his 2024 marketing campaign. Even when Pacheco returned in Week 13, he didn’t run with the identical ferocity and was barely an element within the passing recreation. The Chiefs produce other choices, however Pacheco ought to earn an opportunity to repeat his 2023 season.
Large receivers
Rashee Rice, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs: Rice loved an enormous rookie season with Patrick Mahomes in 2023 and began the 2024 season with much more spectacular numbers. He then tore his proper LCL in Week 4, ending his season. A wholesome Rice gives vital upside, even with gifted choices surrounding him, however fantasy managers must also put together to take care of a possible suspension because of prior off-field issues.
Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins: Issues did not go so properly for Waddle in Miami final season and difficult QB play was solely a part of the difficulty. Waddle completed with fewer than 1,000 receiving yards for the primary time in his profession, and his goal share dropped precipitously. He scored solely two touchdowns and traders should hope for enchancment again to prior ranges.
Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints: A dependable, 1,000-yard receiver in each of his first two NFL seasons, Olave missed 9 video games in 2024 coping with concussions, and it’s affordable to fret he would possibly miss extra video games sooner or later. The Saints are retooling with a brand new offensive system, new coaches and new quarterbacks, however a wholesome Olave ought to nonetheless be fantasy related.
Cooper Kupp, Seattle Seahawks: Fantasy’s high participant in 2021 has struggled to remain on the sphere since, lacking 18 video games over the previous three years. Now he strikes to Seattle, and can try to switch DK Metcalf. You should not anticipate Kupp to return to his prior WR1 glory, particularly in an offense with the rising Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Nonetheless, Kupp was productive when wholesome final season.
Deebo Samuel Sr., Washington Commanders: Like Kupp, Samuel has moved on after a few years in a productive offense, with questions on his sturdiness. In contrast to Kupp, Samuel was by no means a serious goal choice with the 49ers, and a part of his worth was tied to his dashing alternatives – one thing that won’t exist in Washington.
Stefon Diggs, New England Patriots: One other high-profile receiver who’s altering groups, Diggs now joins his fourth NFL group. Diggs had six consecutive seasons with at the very least 1,000 receiving yards and was on tempo to proceed that streak in 2024 earlier than tearing his proper ACL in Week 8. The Patriots coveted a star WR for Drake Maye to focus on, and a wholesome Diggs is a advantageous match.
Tight ends
T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings: Hockenson’s 2024 season was delayed till Week 9 as he recovered from an ACL tear. Fantasy managers who waited for TE1 manufacturing obtained one thing else. Hockenson averaged fewer than 50 receiving yards per recreation and scored nary a landing. Nevertheless, he was a top-six fantasy TE in three of the previous 5 seasons so fantasy managers can definitely hope for elite manufacturing once more in 2025.
Evan Engram, Denver Broncos: Engram caught 114 passes for 963 yards and 4 touchdowns for Jacksonville in 2023. Nevertheless, that model of Engram by no means emerged in what was a truncated 2024 season. He reached 50 receiving yards in solely certainly one of his 9 video games performed, scoring only one landing earlier than shoulder surgical procedure ended his season prematurely. He’s anticipated to deal with a key position in Denver’s offense.
