Fantasy Football 2025: Way too Early Rankings

Gibbs: Top-3 in 2025?

As January 2025 nears its end, the Super Bowl looms just two weeks away, marking the end of the 2024 NFL season. With the next fantasy draft season still eight months out, many uncertainties linger: Who will be cut? Where will Tee Higgins sign? Which team will draft Ashton Jeanty? By September 2025, NFL rosters could look vastly different. Remember, at this time last year, Stefon Diggs was still with the Bills, and the (failed) outcome of the Kirk Cousins sweepstakes was still up in the air.

Why Bother with Early Fantasy Football Rankings?

You might ask, why the rush to rank players for next year? Here's why:

• It's Fun: The fantasy football season might be over, which can be disheartening for fans. However, looking ahead to the next season is not only fun but keeps the excitement alive. It's like watching the trailer for a much-anticipated movie; it gives us something to look forward to.
  

• Strategic Value: There's more to it than just entertainment. Early rankings are valuable because:

  • Recency Bias: Right now, our memories of the 2024 season are at their freshest. Over time, our perceptions of players can fade or shift. By ranking players now, we're capturing our current, informed opinions before they get clouded by time or influenced by offseason news or hype.

  • Memory Aid: This exercise serves as a personal record of player evaluations. When draft season rolls around, I can refer back to these notes. They'll remind me, for instance, of Jahmyr Gibbs' breakout potential or how DK Metcalf, despite his physical gifts, has serious flaws as a wide receiver.

By documenting these insights now, I'm setting a benchmark for my future self. It's a way to combat the forgetfulness that comes with the long off-season and to ensure my draft strategy is informed by the most recent, clear memories of player performances.

So, while the unknowns loom large, starting fantasy football ranks now isn't just about scratching an itch for football; it's about laying the groundwork for smarter, more informed decisions when the time comes to draft again.

Join the Conversation:

If you have insights to share or if you disagree with any of my assessments, I'd love to hear from you. Leave a comment below and let's discuss how we can all better prepare for the upcoming fantasy football season.

2025 Way too Early Rankings:

Rank	Player	Positional Rank	2024 Fpts/G	Notes
1	Saquon Barkley (PHI)	RB1	RB1
2	Bijan Robinson (ATL)	RB2	RB4
3	Jahmyr Gibbs (DET)	RB3	RB2	Don't worry about Monty. Gibbs is mini-Saquon. His role will only increase.
4	Ja'Marr Chase (CIN)	WR1	WR1
5	Justin Jefferson (MIN)	WR2	WR2
6	Derrick Henry (BAL)	RB5	RB3	When will Henry fall off the age cliff? He showed no signs of slowing down last year.
7	Josh Jacobs (GB)	RB4	RB7	Jacobs will be only 27 and will likely be undervalued, as usual.
8	CeeDee Lamb (DAL)	WR3	WR9	Lamb was WR9 in Fpts/G despite losing Dak and playing hurt. He should slot right back in the top 3.
9	Puka Nacua (LAR)	WR4	WR5
10	Joe Mixon (HOU)	RB6	RB9	Mixon tailed off at the end of the season, likely due to injury and the offense falling apart. He may come at a discount.
11	Nico Collins (HOU)	WR5	WR6	This rank is optimistic about HOU addressing their O-line.
12	A.J. Brown (PHI)	WR6	WR12
13	Jonathan Taylor (IND)	RB7	RB5
14	Breece Hall (NYJ)	RB9	RB18	The Jets offseason moves at QB and with the offense as a whole will significantly impact how we view Breece. He has incredible upside in a good offense.
15	Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET)	WR7	WR4
16	Kyren Williams (LAR)	RB8	RB8
17	Malik Nabers (NYG)	WR8	WR7	Excelled in a terrible environment, already looking like a polished, elite receiver.
18	Brian Thomas Jr. (JAC)	WR9	WR11	See: Nabers
19	James Cook (BUF)	RB10	RB10
20	Rashee Rice (KC)	WR10	WR16	Should be healthy and was viewed as a mid-WR1 before injury.
21	Chase Brown (CIN)	RB11	RB16	The Bengals will bring in another RB. A good acquisition could dampen Brown's upside as a workhorse.
22	De'Von Achane (MIA)	RB12	RB11	Achane's '24 stats are somewhat inflated by 6 rec TDs, which are hard to rely on for an RB.
23	Bucky Irving (TB)	RB13	RB19	Bucky has the talent to take over this backfield, and already somewhat has, but Rachaad White won't completely disappear.
24	Mike Evans (TB)	WR11	WR8
25	Terry McLaurin (WAS)	WR12	WR15
26	Jaxon Smith-Njigba (SEA)	WR13	WR22
27	Drake London (ATL)	WR14	WR14
28	Tee Higgins (CIN)	WR15	WR3	Rank assumes he stays with the Bengals; accounts for always getting injured.
29	Josh Allen (BUF)	QB1	QB2
30	Lamar Jackson (BAL)	QB2	QB1
31	Brock Bowers (LV)	TE1	TE3
32	Trey McBride (ARI)	TE2	TE4
33	George Kittle (SF)	TE3	TE1
34	Christian McCaffrey (SF)	RB14	RB30	Injury and age makes him a huge risk, but someone in every league will bite on the league-winning upside.
35	Alvin Kamara (NO)	RB15	RB6	Folks will sleep on Kamara after seeing that offense fall apart at the end of the season, and forget just how effective he was.
36	Kenneth Walker III (SEA)	RB16	RB15	Walker looked electric before tailing off at the end of the season. He has high upside but needs to be more consistent to fend off Charbs.
37	Zay Flowers (BAL)	WR16	WR36	Zay was a bit up and down but I believe in the talent, and very much in the offense.
38	Ladd McConkey (LAC)	WR17	WR18	Ladd was fantastic but may get over-hyped. Will be interesting to see what LAC does at WR in the offseason.
39	Tyreek Hill (MIA)	WR18	WR33	Huge upside but high risk. Teams did not let Tyreek beat them over the top, and he looks like he may have lost a step.
40	George Pickens (PIT)	WR19	WR44	Worlds of talent but a massive head-case.
41	Joe Burrow (CIN)	QB3	QB3	Will come at a value because he doesn't have "rushing upside," but we've seen what his passing upside can be.
42	Jayden Daniels (WAS)	QB4	QB5	Daniels is the real deal. Sky's the limit.
43	Sam LaPorta (DET)	TE4	TE8
44	Mark Andrews (BAL)	TE5	TE6	Was the TE1 in standard from week 6 on. People will undervalue due to how the playoffs ended.
45	Garrett Wilson (NYJ)	WR20	WR23	Very contingent on what the Jets do at QB.
46	Chris Olave (NO)	WR21	WR55
47	DJ Moore (CHI)	WR22	WR32	High upside if Caleb improves in Ben Johnson's offense.
48	Chris Godwin (TB)	WR23	WR13	Free Agent. How healthy will he be after such an awful injury?
49	Jalen Hurts (PHI)	QB5	QB6	Hurts will go higher because of his goal line equity but I'm convinced he's still not a good QB.
50	Tyrone Tracy Jr. (NYG)	RB17	RB32	Great young talent. Folks may assume the Giants will be terrible, but we thought the same of the '24 Commanders.
51	James Conner (ARI)	RB18	RB14
52	Brian Robinson Jr. (WAS)	RB19	RB28	BRob is an underrated lead back in a high-powered offense.
53	David Montgomery (DET)	RB20	RB13	High TD upside in a great offense, though Gibbs has been taking some of the goal line work.
54	Chuba Hubbard (CAR)	RB21	RB12	Could come at a discount if his value drops due to Brooks truthers. Chuba is the lead and a very solid RB.
55	DeVonta Smith (PHI)	WR24	WR17
56	DK Metcalf (SEA)	WR25	WR34	Could he move teams? People will make excuses but I think his physical abilities can no longer mask his flaws as a WR.
57	Davante Adams (NYJ)	WR26	WR10	Unclear what team he will be on. He has lost half a step but is still a very good receiver. May not be the sole focus of any QB not named Rodgers.
58	Stefon Diggs (HOU)	WR27	WR19	Free Agent. Will have to see how he bounces back from injury. He may have lost a step but still has elite short and intermediate game.
59	Jordan Addison (MIN)	WR28	WR21	Fantastic end to the season, he is excellent but production could be volatile next to Jefferson.
60	Aaron Jones Sr. (MIN)	RB22	RB20	Free Agent. Age and health questions make him risky despite the talent and offensive environment.
61	Isiah Pacheco (KC)	RB23	RB44	Could take some time to get back to full strength after his injury, and this Chiefs offense is not what it once was.
62	J.K. Dobbins (LAC)	RB24	RB17	Free Agent, though I think he re-signs.
63	Tony Pollard (TEN)	RB25	RB23
64	Patrick Mahomes II (KC)	QB6	QB13	Here as the safest option of the remaining QBs, maybe a value with upside once Rice returns.
65	Najee Harris (PIT)	RB26	RB26	Free Agent. Ranking is based on him re-signing.
66	D'Andre Swift (CHI)	RB27	RB22
67	Rhamondre Stevenson (NE)	RB28	RB29
68	Travis Kelce (KC)	TE6	TE11	Could he retire?
69	Tucker Kraft (GB)	TE7	TE9
70	Khalil Shakir (BUF)	WR29	WR43	Has downward mobility if the Bills add a target-hogging WR.
71	Courtland Sutton (DEN)	WR30	WR24
72	Brandon Aiyuk (SF)	WR31	WR63	Worlds of talent and scores of questions. Health? Attitude? Drive?
73	Jameson Williams (DET)	WR32	WR20	Desean Jackson.
74	Josh Downs (IND)	WR33	WR35	Emerging as a very good receiver but limited upside with Richardson at QB.
75	Rashid Shaheed (NO)	WR34	WR28	Talented receiver, not just a deep threat, and was trending up before getting hurt.
76	Travis Etienne Jr. (JAC)	RB29	RB43
77	Jaylen Warren (PIT)	RB30	RB46	Ranking is based on Najee re-signing.
78	T.J. Hockenson (MIN)	TE8	TE20	Could round back into form after fully recovering from injury.
79	Rome Odunze (CHI)	WR35	WR66	Incredibly talented but I'm afraid the hype will get too high.
80	Jayden Reed (GB)	WR36	WR38	Very talented but has not been prioritized in GB's offense.
81	Marvin Harrison Jr. (ARI)	WR37	WR42	Not a complete WR at this stage in his career but he can improve. Folks will likely make excuses for last season and be too high on him.
82	Deebo Samuel Sr. (SF)	WR38	WR50	What does SF's offense look like next year? Deebo seems to have lost a step but he's still a useful player with high weekly upside.
83	Jared Goff (DET)	QB7	QB8	I have very little confidence in Goff, especially post Ben Johnson. I'll wait at QB at this point.
84	Baker Mayfield (TB)	QB8	QB4	See: Goff
85	Austin Ekeler (WAS)	RB31	RB33
86	Jonnu Smith (MIA)	TE9	TE5	Will likely be overvalued. He thrived off of volume that he's unlikely to sustain.
87	Dallas Goedert (PHI)	TE10	TE12
88	Calvin Ridley (TEN)	WR39	WR40
89	Jakobi Meyers (LV)	WR40	WR26
90	Cooper Kupp (LAR)	WR41	WR25	Can he even play anymore? His dropoff end of season was monumental.
91	Jaylen Waddle (MIA)	WR42	WR57
92	Caleb Williams (CHI)	QB9	QB24	Here purely for upside but you will have to take a second QB if you go this route.
93	Dak Prescott (DAL)	QB10	QB23	Will have to see if he makes a full injury recovery.
94	Ray Davis (BUF)	RB32	RB48	Love the talent and I think he gets worked more into the offense. High RB2  upside if Cook gets injured.
95	Tyler Allgeier (ATL)	RB33	RB50
96	Jerry Jeudy (CLE)	WR43	WR29	Who's the QB?
97	Xavier Worthy (KC)	WR44	WR45	Some upside. Not a complete WR and could be deprioritized with a healthy Rashee Rice.
98	Darnell Mooney (ATL)	WR45	WR37
99	Cedric Tillman (CLE)	WR46	WR81	Who's the QB?
100	Tyler Higbee (LAR)	TE11	TE13	Looked solid in the playoffs.
101	Hunter Henry (NE)	TE12	TE18
102	Bo Nix (DEN)	QB11	QB9	Had amazing TD luck, but played very well and has a bit of rushing floor.
103	Justin Herbert (LAC)	QB12	QB16	Upside could improve if LAC adds another high end WR.
104	Jordan Love (GB)	QB13	QB18	He's a solid QB on a good offense. The materials are there.
105	Drake Maye (NE)	QB14	QB33	Great floor last season with a terrible cast. Has rushing upside. Could be a great value pick.
106	Zach Charbonnet (SEA)	RB34	RB31
107	Michael Pittman Jr. (IND)	WR47	WR52	Worth a flier after playing hurt most of last season.
108	Jalen McMillan (TB)	WR48	WR46	Love the talent but his upside will be capped if Godwin returns. If not, this rank gets much higher.
109	Romeo Doubs (GB)	WR49	WR51
110	Tua Tagovailoa (MIA)	QB15	QB15
111	Brock Purdy (SF)	QB16	QB12	Concerned that SF is falling apart, and Purdy was always a bit overrated.
112	Sam Darnold (MIN)	QB17	QB11	Free Agent. I think we saw the real Darnold when it counted.
113	Trevor Lawrence (JAC)	QB18	QB25	Can Liam Cohen fix him? Great late-round high upside pick