Last Updated: Tuesday, 6/17/25
It’s officially the 2025 Fantasy Football Season
Summer 2025 has arrived, and you can taste fantasy football in the air. Consequently, I will be updating his 2025 Fantasy Football Rankings and Big Board far more regularly over the coming weeks and months. Same goes for my 2025 Fantasy Football Best Ball Rankings.
For the first time, I will also be keeping a 2025 Fantasy Football Rankings Update Log. Here, I will track the biggest risers and fallers, and provide a summary with my reasoning. I will date each and keep the most recent updates at the top.
Revisiting the Bears Backfield for 2025 Fantasy: D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai Rise, what about Roschon Johnson? (6/17/25)
No changes have been made to the Bears backfield… which is exactly why they are all risers in my 2025 Fantasy Football Rankings.
Both Nick Chubb (Texans) and JK Dobbins (Broncos) have officially signed for the 2025 season, clearing out the last true land mines remaining for the Bears Backfield to dodge.
Consequently, D’Andre Swift rises BIG into my “solid RB2” tier. Ben Johnson has been effusive in his praise for Swift since the pair reunited.
Meanwhile, the Montgomery-inspired “Big Back” role seems up for grabs between Roschon Johnson and Rutgers Rookie RB Kyle Monangai. While Johnson would seem to be the favorite, Monangai was hand-picked by this staff and has reportely been the most impressive player in early camp. I’ve bumped down Roschon quite a bit while Monangai becomes one of my favorite late-round sleeper targets in redraft and Best Ball.
Oronde Gadsen = THE Sleeper TE of 2025 Fantasy (6/17):
The hype train on Chargers Rookie TE Oronde Gadsden is at a fever pitch. He’s received praise from HC Jim Harbaugh, OC Greg Roman, and now TEs Coach Andy Bischoff has compared him to Darren Waller?!
With only Tyler Conklin and Will Dissly to beat in a Roman-scheme that has fed TEs before, Gadsden is quickly becoming my favorite 2025 Sleeper TE. He’s reportedly been to the facility by 5:30am every morning, and become a go-to target for Justin Herbert as he works his way into first-team reps. Gadsden is now inside my Top-200 Fantasy Football Big Board for 2025.
JK Dobbins to Denver: Fantasy Riser, Plus Impact on RJ Harvey’s 2025 Fantasy Outlook (6/16/25)
JK Dobbins to Denver Fantasy Impact covered in greater depth here
JK Dobbins joins the Broncos, home of Sean Payton‘s GOLD MINE RB scheme. Dobbins, who finished second in comeback player of the year, ranked 10th in Rush Yards per game & RB17 in FPPG (just ahead of Breece Hall and just below Chase Brown). While his long speed seemed sapped, Dobbins’ elite vision and constant “churn forward” mentality were fully on display, and he should fit perfectly into Payton’s “Big Back” role.
The Broncos ranked second in PFF Run Blocking Grades, 10th in total points per game (25), and project to take a meaningful step forward in Bo Nix‘s second year. This is a phenomenal environment.
Especially considering Sean Payton‘s historic deployment of RBs in the passing game. Since 2013, Payton-led offenses have ranked Top-5 in RB Target share in every season. In 17 seasons, Payton’s backfields have ranked Top-2 in total fantasy season a whopping 12 times (70%). Payton has directed 120+ passes to his RBs 12 times since 2006, when he became a head coach — this has happened just 32 total times in that span (& Payton is TWELVE of them!). In 17 years, he has NEVER ranked outside the Top-5 in expected receiving points to RBs.
All this to say: I think both Dobbins and electric rookie RJ Harvey can thrive in 2025 at their current prices. In 2017, Alvin Kamara was the RB3 and Mark Ingram was the RB6. He has had TWO Top-24 RBs from the same backfield four different times. Payton’s RB2’s have average 13.4 PPR FPs over the course of his career!
Harvey brings 4.4 speed and elite contact balance to the table. Payton has only gushed over Harvey, saying, “Harvey—[he] was kind of our pet cat throughout the process. His running style, he’s dynamic, really good vision, really good instincts, really good contact balance, highly explosive. We thought maybe he had the best vision in the draft. You see the plus-10s, I think he leads everyone with plus-10 runs. Home run ability… We feel like he can improve in the pass game. He wasn’t featured there, but we really liked this [running] back.”
And if you need any further convincing, just look at the quads:
Best Ball Impact: Ultimately, I love both Broncos RBs at their current prices. I had 42% of JK Dobbins before the signing, scooping him in the 170-190 range in close to half of my drafts. With his price now in the 140s & RB47, I still foresee plenty of Dobbins in my future. I also had nearly 30% of Harvey, and see myself continuing to hold around this number as his price dips into the 60s. Harvey may not be the clear-cut three-down horse any longer, but Payton’s historic success with RBBC’s, Harvey’s elite athleticism, and a phenomenal Broncos’ environment make him a smash still in Round 5-6.
Anthony Richardson’s Shoulder Injury Makes Daniel Jones More Likely Week 1 Starter (6/15/25) – Josh Downs, Michael Pittman 2025 Fantasy Risers
The Colts were planning to hold an open competition at QB, but Anthony Richardson suffered a shoulder injury. He’s missed all of minicamp, allowing Daniel Jones to soak up 1st team reps and create some distance in the QB race. While Richardson’s injury won’t require surgery and could even be ready for camp, Jones has reportedly looked solid:
Jones has always been a check-down machine, feeding slot weapons like Wan’Dale Robinson and even Richie James. This is great news for underneath threats like Josh Downs and Michael Pittman, who has sneakily been working with Jones all offseason and is among my favorite fantasy values right now. Exciting rookie TE Ty Warren also sees a nice surge and fits Jones’ strengths well too.
Shoot, when Jones got hot ahead of the Giants’ surprise playoff run two seasons ago, Isaiah Hodgins and James were both Top-24 WRs in FPPG over the last stretch of the season. Downs and Pittman both have significantly higher ceilings and floors now.
Alec Pierce, among my highest-rosted Best Ball players, takes a fair hit as Jones often shies away from the big-play. Jones does have a strong arm, he simply plays conservatively — perhaps Steichen can help him push it.
This also sneaky-boosts up Jonathan Taylor and the RBs. Sure, Jones is mobile, but he is not nearly the GL Vulture threat of a towering Anthony Richardson.
Best Ball Fantasy Impact: Jones himself is actually palatable, perhaps even desirable, in 2025 Best Ball Fantasy as a QB3 with spike-week upside due to his rushing. Don’t be surpised if he’s a popular early season 2025 Waiver Wire add for QB-needy teams.
Currently going around 190-200 ADP, Jones could be a true impact player. I love his upside in that range compared to the other fliers, and given Downs and Pittman are now targets in Round 8 as WR4s or WR5s, I love stacking DJ late — but only as a QB3!
Nick Chubb to Texans 2025 Fantasy Football Impact (6/9/25)
Nick Chubb joins the Texans on a one-year, $2.5M contract worth up to $5M with incentives. While Chubb is most likely to just be a depth signing / handcuff, Mixon isn’t exactly in his prime any more either. There’s a real shot Chubb steals some work, especially at the goalline, which bumps Mixon down slightly. Chubb is just a late-round handcuff stab after all his injuries.
Woody Marks also is now dead. Maybe he carves out some standalone receiving usage, but without the “handcuff upside,” there’s no ceiling here.
Rashee Rice Football Riser: Full-Go at Minicamp (6/5/25)
Rashee Rice continues to climb up my 2025 Fantasy Football Big Board. He is a full-go a mini-camp and looks explosive & without limitations, according to Patrick Mahomes.
At the time of his injury, Rice ranked 10th Overall on my Rest of Season Fantasy Football Big Board. He was Mahomes’ Amon-Ra S. Brown “lay up” guy, with 9, 6, and 14 targets and three-straight Top-18 PPR FP performances (21.6 FPPG):
A suspension could still be lingering, but the Chiefs never get hit by the NFL, so I feel that is minimal. As of now, I have Rice back into my Top-24 overall (+16 Overall).
Best Ball Impact: Rice is already starting to climb in to Round 2, and I fully support it. In a WR-heavy market, I am hoping to lock in 20%+ bags of Rice even if it costs me Round 2 capital.
Jonnu Smith Fantasy Football Faller: Trade Possibility? (6/5/25)
Jonnu Smith is reportedly holding out of 2025 Mandatory Minicamp in hopes of a new deal. Smith is not wrong to want more, as his $4.6M salary is below luminaries like Austin Hooper, Will Dissly, and Josh Oliver, and he just set career highs with 88-884-8 TDs (Fantasy TE4).
Previously a target of mine, Smith now falls from TE6 to TE9. The Steelers are reportedly the most interested (thanks, Arthur Smith), which would be fantasy death for Smith. Should Jonnu remain in MIA and show up, I’d shoot him right back to my Top-6 TEs. Yet, the risk of a horrific landing spot makes Jonnu tough to stomach ahead of the other sure-fire TE1s.
Best Ball Impact: Jonnu had been a heavy target of mine, but I am largely fading even with his reduce 100-115 price tag. Granted, I have still scooped Smith when he dips to 125+ (especially if it completes a Bucs vs. MIA Week 17 stack). At that price, the huge upside is worth the near-zero risk.
Dak Prescott and George Pickens 2025 Fantasy Football Risers; Aaron Rodgers to Pittsburgh (6/5/25)
The Cowboys pulled off a heist, getting George Pickens for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder.
Pickens leaves a horrendous environment in Pittsburgh for a potentially fruitful one in Dallas. Steelers OC Arthur Smith can’t even generate enough volume to sustain one viable fantasy WR, so when DK Metcalf arrived, it seemed like fantasy doom for both of them.
Now, Pickens finds himself in Dallas. Typically, Cowboys HC Brian Schottenheimer has been run-heavy as a playcaller. However, this move suggests the team is open to chucking more often, and Pickens should feast on single-coverage next to stud CeeDee Lamb. His volume and surrounding talent both get a boost, even in a number two role, bumping Pickens 20+ spots into my Top-75 now.
Dak Prescott also gets a nice 30+ spot boost, now on the fringe of my Top-100. I still question his true upside in Schottenheimer’s scheme, but we’ve seen THE QB1 upside many times, so Prescott is definitely a worthy QB1 in a deep 2025 pool.
On the Pittsburgh side, DK Metcalf now becomes the sole No.1 WR in Pittsburgh, and gets a notable QB upgrade in Aaron Rodgers. Still, Arthur Smith’s run-obsessed scheme is death for WR production. His last 4 WR1’s (incuding two seasons of Drake London) = WR38, WR31, WR37, WR42. AJ Brown, among the greatest in the game right now, was WR21 & WR14 under Smith. Metcalf rises to 58th overall on my Big Board — still -11 ECR, but definitely more palatable.
Bookmark this page, which The Wolf will keep regularly updated all summer! Don’t forget to also save The Wolf’s 2025 Fantasy Football Rankings & Big Board (as well as Best Ball Rankings if you play!)
