Fantasy Football Position Rankings: Exploring Top Options at Each Position Entering NFL OTA's

New faces and rising stars will continue to take over the NFL this year as the league shifts to the younger generation. Many legendary quarterbacks have retired in recent years, although Aaron Rodgers is going to come back for one final outing with the Steelers.

Regardless, Drake Maye, Caleb Williams, and the other youngsters are taking over. So where do they fall in the grand scheme of league QBs? And what other rookies and second-year improvements will we see in 2025 in fantasy football? Tera Roberts answers those questions and more in this Fantasy Football Position Rankings as the offseason workouts continue ahead of July's training camps.

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Fantasy Football Position Rankings: Offseason Workouts Edition

Quarterback Fantasy Rankings

1. Josh Allen

2. Lamar Jackson

3. Jayden Daniels

4. Jalen Hurts

5. Joe Burrow

6. Baker Mayfield

7. Kyler Murray

8. Patrick Mahomes II

9. Bo Nix

10. Jordan Love

11. Jared Goff

12. Drake Maye

13. Justin Herbert

14. Dak Prescott

15. Brock Purdy

16. Justin Fields

17. Caleb Williams

18. C.J. Stroud

19. Bryce Young

20. Matthew Stafford

21. J.J. McCarthy

22. Tua Tagovailoa

23. Michael Penix Jr.

24. Trevor Lawrence

25. Aaron Rodgers

26. Sam Darnold

27. Geno Smith

28. Cameron Ward

29. Russell Wilson

30. Joe Flacco

Drake Maye - Rising Potential

While I’m still not convinced Stefon Diggs is the answer at WR1, it’s undeniable that the Patriots’ revamped receiving corps is much improved from 2024. Maye’s numbers from last season look underwhelming because he had multiple games where he played less than 50% of snaps. In weeks where he played the entire game, Maye never finished below QB17. That’s pretty impressive considering the Patriots had one of the league’s worst offensive lines and no WR1 or even WR2 (sorry, Demario Douglas).

Diggs is finally at OTAs and seems to be on track for the season. Rookie receiver Kyle Williams has looked fantastic in training camp. Maye’s underrated rushing update gives him a solid floor, and an upgraded receiving corps makes him a weekly QB1 candidate. 

JJ McCarthy - Stealthy Sleeper

If superstars were determined by OTA stats and videos, McCarthy would be well on his way to the Hall of Fame. Tight spirals, deep completions, touchdowns and general aura have McCarthy crushing offseason hype. His current ranking is precautionary. While we have no threat to his job, the reality is that McCarthy is essentially a rookie quarterback. His ADP will likely rise, but it’s tough to imagine a scenario where he enters the top 15 with the extreme depth at quarterback this year. 

Quick notes:

• Aaron Rodgers plans to officially grace the Steelers with his presence. While we won’t see his ranking rise significantly, it does provide a positive impact on his pass catchers.
• Caleb Williams’ OTAs have been up and down, including rumors around not wanting to be drafted by Chicago. However, he appears to be acclimating to the new offense.
• Anthony Richardson suffered a shoulder injury, and we have no current definitive timeline on his return. Jones should take the majority of first-team reps.
• Yes, Jaxon Dart is missing from the top 30. The Giants' schedule is daunting, and we may not see Dart start until midseason

Can Drake Maye lead the Patriots to the playoffs? Check out the latest AFC East odds here

Running Back Fantasy Rankings

1. Saquon Barkley

2. Bijan Robinson

3. Jahmyr Gibbs

4. Ashton Jeanty

5. Derrick Henry

6. De'Von Achane

7. Jonathan Taylor

8. Bucky Irving

9. Josh Jacobs

10. Christian McCaffrey

11. Kyren Williams

12. Chase Brown

13. Breece Hall

14. James Cook

15. Alvin Kamara

16. Joe Mixon

17. Chuba Hubbard

18. James Conner

19. Kenneth Walker III

20. David Montgomery

21. RJ Harvey

22. Omarion Hampton

23. Tony Pollard

24. D'Andre Swift

25. Aaron Jones Sr.

26. TreVeyon Henderson

27. Isiah Pacheco

28. Quinshon Judkins

29. Tyrone Tracy Jr.

30. Brian Robinson Jr.

31. Travis Etienne Jr.

32. Jaylen Warren

33. Javonte Williams

34. Najee Harris

35. Rhamondre Stevenson

36. Kaleb Johnson

37. Tank Bigsby

38. Jordan Mason

39. Zach Charbonnet

40. Cam Skattebo

41. Tyjae Spears

42. Rachaad White

43. Ray Davis

44. Trey Benson

45. Rico Dowdle

46. Austin Ekeler

47. Isaac Guerendo

48. J.K. Dobbins

49. Bhayshul Tuten

50. Jerome Ford

Christian McCaffrey - Finally Healthy… Supposedly

A healthy Christian McCaffrey is unmatched. However, relying on his health became incredibly risky. It was a risk we accepted as we drafted McCaffrey as the consensus 1.01 season after season. After multiple years of being burned by McCaffrey, we’ve finally got some ADP relief. While the dip in ADP isn’t drastic, it’s enough to make us more comfortable with the investment. A 2025 McCaffrey bounce back is very real.. He’s on the field at OTAs, looking explosive, and - given the exit of Deebo Samuel and injury to Brandon Aiyuk - McCaffrey should remain a focal point of the passing game. 

Omarion Hampton vs. RJ Harvey - The Rookie Debate

As expected, Ashton Jeanty is the unquestioned RB1 of the rookie class and has vaulted to a first round draft pick. The real question is which rookie not named Jeanty has the strongest opportunity to ascend to a top-12 running back. While Quinshon Judkins will likely be the Browns' RB1, goal line opportunities are risky with question marks at quarterback. Hampton and Harvey find themselves in line for RB1 roles in strong offenses with ample goal line opportunities. 

Hampton must contend with Najee Harris. Hampton certainly brings more burst, but Harris has been an incredibly reliable back over the years. The Chargers did utilize a committee last year when both Gus Edwards and JK Dobbins were healthy. Yes, Hampton could render Harris irrelevant. However, Hampton himself stated he is excited for their “dominant duo backfield.”

Harvey, on the other hand, could easily slip into a three-down back role. Harvey’s backfield competitors - Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime - are less likely to hold back Harvey’s potential. While we all have trust issues with Sean Payton, the right back in Payton’s vision has true top-5 potential. Harvey has dominated the Denver backfield in OTAs, receiving praise from Bo Nix for crisp routes and explosive runs. Harvey appears set for a significant role with receiving upside that would make him a potential steal at his ADP. The general consensus is ranking Hampton over Harvey. However, for redraft purposes in 2025, my lean is toward Harvey for the higher ceiling, especially in full PPR leagues.

Quick notes:

• Monitor Breece Hall. Hall’s ranking has dropped with the Jets expressing a desire towards a committee. However, Hall remains the top talent in the offense and could be a steal.
• The Cowboys' backfield is one of the least solidified in the NFL. Dallas should provide ample goal line opportunities. Who will receive them is the big mystery. 

Can one of these rookie running backs win Rookie of the Year? Check out the latest Offensive Rookie of the Year odds here

Wide Receiver Fantasy Rankings

1. Ja'Marr Chase

2. Justin Jefferson

3. CeeDee Lamb

4. Puka Nacua

5. Amon-Ra St. Brown

6. Malik Nabers

7. Nico Collins

8. Brian Thomas Jr.

9. A.J. Brown

10. Drake London

11. Ladd McConkey

12. Tyreek Hill

13. Jaxon Smith-Njigba

14. Mike Evans

15. Terry McLaurin

16. Garrett Wilson

17. Courtland Sutton

18. Tee Higgins

19. Davante Adams

20. Rashee Rice

21. Marvin Harrison Jr.

22. DJ Moore

23. Zay Flowers

24. DK Metcalf

25. Jordan Addison

26. DeVonta Smith

27. Jameson Williams

28. Jerry Jeudy

29. Xavier Worthy

30. Calvin Ridley

31. Chris Olave

32. Rome Odunze

33. Tetairoa McMillan

34. Ricky Pearsall

35. Travis Hunter

36. George Pickens

37. Chris Godwin

38. Jaylen Waddle

39. Brandon Aiyuk

40. Jayden Reed

41. Khalil Shakir

42. Deebo Samuel Sr.

43. Stefon Diggs

44. Jakobi Meyers

45. Cooper Kupp

46. Keon Coleman

47. Jauan Jennings

48. Matthew Golden

49. Darnell Mooney

50. Michael Pittman Jr.

Travis Hunter - Two-Way Phenom

Hunter began OTAs with the Jags stating he’ll have the majority of reps at receiver. However, he’s showing off exactly why he’s a potential generational talent on both sides of the ball with impressive work at corner, including a beautiful tip and interception. Hunter’s movement this offseason will be fascinating to watch. Because of Brian Thomas’ rookie breakout and the unknown around Hunter’s workload, Hunter isn’t getting the drastically high ranking that we typically see from top picks. Whereas a player like Marvin Harrison Jr. was overdrafted in 2024, Hunter offers a very reasonable low-end WR3 ADP. While it may rise a bit, Hunter could offer extreme value, especially if Trevor Lawrence can progress under Liam Coen. 

Ricky Pearsall vs. Brandon Aiyuk - Who’s the Real WR1

While McCaffrey’s presence at OTAs is making a positive impact on his ranking, the notable absence of Brandon Aiyuk has pushed Aiyuk back to the WR4 range. Aiyuk is not on the field. There’s no timeline for his recovery. To make matters even worse, Aiyuk appears to be disgruntled yet again. It seems unlikely that Aiyuk will start the season healthy, and he may be the riskiest pick from the entire 49ers offense.

In contrast to Aiyuk, Ricky Pearsall is setting up to be a potential steal at his ADP. I am significantly higher than consensus currently on Pearsall. Pearsall has the potential to be the top target in the 49ers offense for the majority of the season. George Kittle will remain a focal point, and Jennings should continue to be a strong beneficiary of Aiyuk’s absence. However, I believe we are all underestimating the upside of Pearsall. Pearsall’s rookie season debut was delayed, and once he returned to health, the 49ers would be understandably cautious with workload and snaps were a bit inconsistent. At the end of the season, we finally saw two breakout performances from Pearsall - WR8 and WR14 performances in half-PPR. Pearsall is currently dealing with a hamstring injury and not participating in OTAs, but it seems more precautionary.

Quick notes:

• Davante Adams is reportedly having a positive impact on Puka Nacua.
• Tetairoa McMillan is thriving in Carolina through mentorship from the veteran receivers and forming a strong connection with Bryce Young.

Tight End Fantasy Rankings

1. Brock Bowers

2. Trey McBride

3. George Kittle

4. Sam LaPorta

5. T.J. Hockenson

6. Jonnu Smith

7. Mark Andrews

8. Evan Engram

9. Travis Kelce

10. David Njoku

11. Tucker Kraft

12. Tyler Warren

13. Dalton Kincaid

14. Dallas Goedert

15. Jake Ferguson

16. Pat Freiermuth

17. Colston Loveland

18. Kyle Pitts

19. Hunter Henry

20. Isaiah Likely

21. Mike Gesicki

22. Mason Taylor

23. Zach Ertz

24. Dalton Schultz

25. Brenton Strange

26. Cade Otton

27. Ja'Tavion Sanders

28. Cole Kmet

29. Elijah Arroyo

30. Juwan Johnson

Jonnu Smith and Pat Freiermuth - Developing Situation at Tight End

Keep your eyes on Jonnu Smith. The Steelers are actively trying to acquire Smith, a move that would have a significant impact on both the Pittsburgh and Miami offenses. The Steelers are short on weapons after the George Pickens trade and need to find additional targets for Aaron Rodgers. Freiermuth is set for a potential steal at his ADP if he remains the second look behind DK Metcalf.

Freiermuth’s start to the 2024 season was awful, but Arthur Smith finally increased his usage in the back half of the season. From Week 10 through the end of the season, Freiermuth was TE10 in average points per game, scoring five of his seven total touchdowns. While two tight ends can work, I struggle to see a scenario where Freiermuth could remain a weekly reliable fantasy option and Smith would likely see a dip in value as well.

The effect on Miami’s offense would be massive. Mike McDaniel’s offense calls for a very specific type of tight end, and Miami consistently struggled at the beginning of his tenure to find a tight end who could truly fill the role. Smith was the perfect fit and thrived in 2024. After Tua Tagovailoa returned from injury, Smith was TE4 in half-PPR average points per game in Weeks 8 through 18. However, while Smith excelled, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle suffered from inconsistency. If Smith is traded to Pittsburgh, Hill and Waddle would be big beneficiaries and could return to 2022/2023 production. 

Smith’s movement would have a ripple effect, adjusting rankings for several players.

Quick notes:

• Fantasy managers will be understandably skeptical of any Colts’ pass catcher, but don’t underestimate Tyler Warren’s potential to be the first-look as a receiving option.
• Colston Loveland is still recovering from a shoulder injury and not participating in OTAs.

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