NFL Training Camps haven’t even opened yet, but Adam Schefter’s typing fingers are already getting a workout thanks to a flurry of offseason legal drama involving Rashee Rice, Quinshon Judkins, and Jordan Addison. From guilty pleas to troubling charges to looming suspensions, each of these situations could significantly shake up the 2025 fantasy football landscape.
Let’s break down this trio of legal messes, and what they mean for your fantasy teams, as we brace for the official kickoff to the 2025 NFL preseason.
RASHEE RICE 2025 FANTASY OUTLOOK: MULTI-GAME SUSPENSION LOOMING
Chiefs wideout Rashee Rice is expected to face a multi-game suspension in 2025 after pleading guilty for his role in a multi-car crash in Dallas. According to Schefter, Rice was sentenced to five years of probation and 30 days in jail (which can be served throughout those five years).
Now that legal proceedings are wrapping up, the NFL is free to hand down its discipline, and that’s likely to be a multi-game suspension. While the exact number of games remains uncertain, fantasy managers should prepare to be without Rice for the first month of the 2025 season.
Mark Maske of The Washington Post adds that while a suspension is likely, it’s “premature” to assume anything is final. Still, drafters in early best ball and redraft leagues are already reacting. Rice’s ADP is sliding, and that could present value if the ban is short and he returns in time to deliver WR2-level production for the bulk of the season.
With Rice sidelined, Xavier Worthy should benefit most. The Chiefs were already transitioning Worthy into a short-area, YAC-friendly role late last season. Without Rice, Worthy could command more targets underneath, especially in the opening weeks. Travis Kelce, meanwhile, saw a significant jump in yardage (23 YPG with Rice, 58 YPG without) last year and should open the season as Mahomes’ go-to guy as long as he’s in shape and focused.
QUINSHON JUDKINS 2025 FANTASY OUTLOOK: DOMESTIC BATTERY CHARGE CLOUDS FUTURE
The situation surrounding Quinshon Judkins is the most serious, and possibly the most damaging, for fantasy managers. The rookie running back has been charged with domestic battery following an incident in Fort Lauderdale.
Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports that the Browns are in “no rush” to get Judkins signed or into training camp. Instead, the team has emphasized that resolving the legal matter is the top priority. Judkins, still unsigned as of mid-July, could be placed on paid leave if and when he signs, though even that isn’t guaranteed at the moment.
According to the police report, Judkins allegedly punched the victim in the mouth/chin and struck her again in the arm and thigh. The report notes “clearly evident” bruising corroborated by photographs.
This is not only a potential legal crisis and a shitty thing to do, but it’s also a major red flag for Judkins’ availability and value in 2025 fantasy football leagues. He was projected as Nick Chubb’s replacement after the team let the veteran walk, but this arrest could derail his career before it begins. Fantasy managers should remove him from all early redraft consideration until his legal status, and future with the team, becomes clearer.
Without Judkins, Jerome Ford likely lands in the early-down role, while talented rookie Dylan Sampson will get an early chance to make some noise. Both backs, and especially Sampson, are now prime targets at their current ADPs in best ball and redraft.
JORDAN ADDISON 2025 FANTASY OUTLOOK: PLEADS GUILTY, SUSPENSION STILL IN PLAY
Jordan Addison, projected to start opposite Justin Jefferson in the Vikings’ offense, has also entered the legal spotlight, though his case is less severe than the others. Addison pleaded guilty to a reduced “wet reckless” charge after a DUI-related incident.
Per ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, Addison will pay a standard fine and complete two online courses as part of his sentence. His agent believes Addison’s probation could end in six months. Still, the NFL could impose a suspension, depending on how the league views the reduced plea.
While a 2025 suspension remains possible, it would likely be short—think 1–2 games at most. That’s not enough to meaningfully tank Addison’s value in 2025 fantasy drafts. However, it could slightly boost T.J. Hockenson, Jalen Nailor, or rookie Tai Felton in early-season game plans if Addison is forced to miss time.
BOTTOM LINE: DON’T PANIC, BUT PAY ATTENTION
These legal situations come at the worst possible time for fantasy football managers looking for clarity heading into 2025 drafts. Rashee Rice’s looming suspension might create short-term pain but long-term gain if his ADP falls too far. Xavier Worthy and Travis Kelce are both early-season winners.
As for Quinshon Judkins, his redraft value is virtually nonexistent until there’s resolution, while Jordan Addison remains a mid-round WR target with upside barring any additional league discipline.
Keep your ears to the ground and your eyes on Schefter’s timeline because these stories are still developing, and they’ll shape the early 2025 fantasy football season in a major way.
