Fantasy football 2025 draft kit: Rankings, cheat sheet, player projections, sleepers and more

After what feels like a long wait, the 2025 fantasy football season is finally near. Are you prepared? Do you know the settings of each league you’re in? If there are any holes in your plans or you want to level up this year, we’re here and ready to help you start the season on the right foot.

The Athletic’s draft kit has everything you need to come ready on draft (or auction) day, from rankings and player projections to sleepers and dynasty advice to training camp reports from our NFL writers. And of course, there’s the penultimate Cheat Sheet, a fully customizable tool where you can input our league settings and receive a set of rankings and point projections unique to your team — all from the mind of the one and only, award-winning Jake Ciely, who is among the most accurate prognosticators in the game.

Advertisement

While we offer a lot upon the original publication of this kit, it will continue to expand with new columns and insights as the first regular-season game inches closer and closer. Be sure to check back often to see what’s new. Last year, we published over 110 articles, so please read, enjoy, invest, and let us know how you feel in the comments below.

From the mind of Jake Ciely

Fantasy football 2025 cheat sheet generator: Customizable rankings and projections tool

Ciely’s customizable rankings and projections will help you dominate your 2025 fantasy football league(s).

2025 breakouts: quarterback | running back | wide receiver | tight end

Ciely details his breakout candidates for 2025, broken down by position.

“Draft Chasms of Doom” series: quarterback | running back | wide receiver | tight end | explainer

Ciely illustrates his fantasy football strategy to maximize value at skill positions by locating value drop-offs, and Mike Hume explains the series.

2025 dynasty and rookie-only fantasy football rankings: Training camp update

With training camp underway, Ciely updated his dynasty and rookie-only rookie rankings.

The players I can’t stop drafting in 2025 fantasy football… so far

Ciely shares the most commonly found players on his fantasy rosters, including potential Seattle bell cow Kenneth Walker.

Staff picks for fantasy football 2025 sleepers, including Tank Bigsby, Ricky Pearsall

Who will be this year’s fantasy football sleepers? Ciely and company give their hot takes.

10 fantasy football targets who can go from trash to treasure in 2025

Ciely details players who could be fantasy gold in 2025 after being tossed aside due to poor performances last season.

Stop wasting your bench! The biggest mistake fantasy football managers make

Ciely explains how fantasy football managers often fail when it comes to filling out their team’s bench.

Scoop City

Sign up for the Scoop City newsletter with Diana Russini and Jacob Robinson, which focuses on fantasy every Tuesday.

AFC Divisional previews: AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West

The Athletic’s ‘Scoop City’ crew previews each NFL AFC division with answers to outstanding questions for each team, fantasy sleepers and more.

Advertisement

NFC Divisional Previews: NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West

The Athletic’s ‘Scoop City’ crew previews each NFL NFC division with answers to outstanding questions for each team, fantasy sleepers and more.

Risers and fallers after preseason Week 1

Patrick Mahomes tops Sando’s new QB Tiers, and Dianna’s sources talk Shedeur Sanders.

Six strategies to find football breakouts every season, plus Jake Ciely’s must-draft players

Six timeless principles to help you find league-winning picks this season. And next season. The season after that, too.

A simple fantasy football strategy that works: Last season’s points per game

Alvin Kamara, Chris Godwin and Mike Evans look like top buys.

Redraft

Fantasy football roundtable: quarterback | running back | wide receiver | tight end

In a series of roundtables, The Athletic’s fantasy team answers pressing 2025 fantasy football questions.

Andy Behrens’ weekly roundup: August 8 | August 15

Behrens examines the NFL’s trending news and its 2025 fantasy football implications.

Preseason trends to follow: Week 1 | Week 2

Jacob Robinson identifies NFL trends and makes bold fantasy predictions each week.

Fantasy football draft steals include ADP afterthoughts Trevor Lawrence, Jaylen Warren

Michael Salfino identifies the players who can beat their consensus draft price, starting with the ideally situated Jaguars QB.

Why you need to make ‘shooting for the stars’ your go-to fantasy football draft strategy

Salfino suggests targeting players with tier-busting upside.

Justin Jefferson, Christian McCaffrey and more 2025 fantasy football early ADP traps

Justin Jefferson has been an elite fantasy receiver, but Salfino says his QB situation in 2025 could slow his roll.

Where do Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes fall in 2025 fantasy football QB rankings?

KC Joyner considers everything from offensive line quality to matchup ratings in his rankings of the top 25 fantasy quarterbacks for 2025.

Advertisement

Reviewing the best quarterback options to stack for fantasy football success in 2025

Salfino talks “stacking,” a fantasy football strategy where you draft players from the same NFL team, often QBs, WRs, TEs.

Fantasy football drafts feature four new first-rounders. Are they worthy?

Salfino evaluates Malik Nabers, Ashton Jeanty, Puka Nacua and Brian Thomas as first-rounders, along with who they replaced.

Davante Adams, Travis Hunter and more best buys on the cusp of fantasy football draft season

Salfino thinks new Ram Davante Adams isn’t showing signs of decline and should be targeted in fantasy drafts.

One-man, first-round PPR fantasy football 2025 mock draft: Who to prioritize?

Gary Davenport details who he would take with each first-round pick, beginning with Ja’Marr Chase.

Fantasy football 2025 strategy mock draft: From Hoard RB to Zero RB, and everything between

The Athletic’s fantasy football staff reveals results from their mock draft in which they were required to use a particular draft strategy.4

Fantasy football 2025 backup running back rankings, from David Montgomery to Nick Chubb

KC Joyner gives his opinions on the best backup running backs ahead of the 2025 fantasy football season.

Should you prioritize wide receivers or running backs in fantasy football? Here’s the answer

When is a wide receiver more valuable than a running back and vice versa? Salfino tells all.

Forget the No. 1 slot in 2025 fantasy football drafts, the sweet spot comes later

Mike Vorkunov explains why the fourth pick is the best place to draft in fantasy football this season.

Fantasy football 2025 All-Undervalued team featuring Dak Prescott, Chris Olave, Mike Evans

Davenport reveals his 2025 fantasy All-Undervalued team.

Radar speed, tight-window throw conversion rate and more stats to know for fantasy football

Salfino details the metrics he likes to use in his annual player evaluations for fantasy football.

Advertisement

Cheap fantasy football wide receivers with the best point-scoring floors

These low-cost pass-catchers can protect your fantasy football team from posting a goose egg.

Fantasy football targets and fades: Navigating the draft’s first eight rounds

Dalton Del Don helps you navigate fantasy football drafts with keen insights into the first eight rounds.

Fantasy football traditionally doesn’t prioritize elite QBs. Here’s when it should

When are QBs valuable, and in what situations do you fade them until later in drafts?

What can Browns do for your 2025 fantasy football team? Could Shedeur Sanders be in play?

Gary Davenport is a Cleveland Browns fan, and he tries to find value in the team’s roster for fantasy football 2025.

Beating the consensus: Fantasy football ADP winners from Justin Fields to Cooper Kupp

Salfino shows love to Justin Fields, Cooper Kupp and several other players who’ve been faded by the fantasy football market.

Defying fantasy football conventions, from Saquon Barkley to Justin Jefferson

Salfino looks at commonly held beliefs in fantasy football that could lead to managers overpaying on draft day.

Top 5 fantasy football overvalued and undervalued players for 2025

Joyner shares who he thinks are the top-five over- and undervalued players for fantasy football in 2025.

Dynasty

Dynasty rankings: quarterback | running back | wide receiver | tight end

Jeff Haverlack’s 2025 dynasty rankings for skill position players.

Breece Hall, Bucky Irving and more fantasy football dynasty league buys and sells

The top players to buy or sell in dynasty leagues ahead of the 2025 fantasy football campaign.

Dynasty league SuperFlex rookie mock draft, starting with the ‘Magnificent Seven’

Haverlack assembles a consensus rookie mock draft based on his observations and those of analysts and other top fantasy players.

Two running backs top the 2025 dynasty league SuperFlex Top 30 rookie rankings

Haverlack ranks the top 30 rookies for dynasty fantasy football.

IDP

Patriots, Giants, Seahawks among 5 defenses primed to break out

The Cardinals and Buccaneers round out Ted Nguyen’s lists of defenses that could improve in 2025.

Travis Hunter’s fantasy football dual eligibility is a cheat code

Travis Hunter could be a game-changer in IDP leagues across the various fantasy football game providers.

Player analysis

Is Tyreek Hill a top fantasy football rebound candidate, or has age caught up with him?

Salfino examines Tyreek Hill closer to determine whether his 2024 slide was anomalous or a sign of age-based decline.

What makes new Steelers RB Kaleb Johnson special? Instincts, physicality and explosive plays

Mike DeFabo details how Johnson’s patience and vision fit perfectly in Arthur Smith’s offense.

Advertisement

Patriots’ Drake Maye has potential to be a fantasy sleeper, if things break just right

Maye could take a step forward this season with better receivers and a better-run offense.

Falcons still believe in Kyle Pitts. Can he be trusted in fantasy this season?

Pitts has had three quiet seasons after a promising rookie campaign. Could he finally break out this season? The fantasy world is skeptical.

Bears Rookie Colston Loveland making an impact for up-and-down offense

Along with Loveland’s impact, DJ Moore gets handoffs out of the backfield, and Rome Odunze continues to impress Ben Johnson in training camp.

Rookie RJ Harvey’s growth on display in Broncos’ padded workouts

The rookie RB had a run in Tuesday’s practice “that was something,” according to head coach Sean Payton.

Giants rookie roundup: Jaxson Dart a quick study; Cam Skattebo boasts ‘elite awareness’

Abdul Carter isn’t the only Giants rookie showing promise in training camp.

With uncertainty in the 49ers’ receiver room, Ricky Pearsall could hold fantasy value

Pearsall had 14 catches — on 18 targets — for 210 yards and two touchdowns over San Francisco’s final two games last season.

Colts’ breakout camp star AD Mitchell torches Ravens in joint practice

Mitchell backed up his trash talk on Tuesday, and QB Anthony Richardson continues to impress.

Vikings WR Jordan Addison suspended 3 games for violating NFL’s substance abuse policy

The 23-year-old wide receiver will miss the Vikings’ first three games against the Bears, Falcons and Bengals.

Why Packers QB Jordan Love will run more in 2025

Love ranked tied for 30th in rushing attempts among quarterbacks last season.

Rookie QB review: What Cam Ward, Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough and Shedeur Sanders showed

The good, the bad and the ugly from four high-profile signal callers in their preseason debuts.

Advertisement

Why Kenneth Walker III could be the biggest beneficiary of the Seahawks’ new offense

If the Seahawks’ offensive line has improved, Walker could thrive in a contract year.

Chiefs’ Rashee Rice expected to play first 4 games as NFL schedules hearing: Source

With his hearing set for September 30, Rice is unlikely to face discipline for his role in a 2024 car crash until after the first four games.

How Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp could co-exist in the Seahawks’ new offense

The Seahawks are banking on two slot-heavy receivers fitting together. Friday, we could get a glimpse at how they’ll be used.

Jets want to use Breece Hall more as a pass catcher. That’s good news for fantasy owners

In a contract year, Hall could be in line for a breakout season with Aaron Glen as his head coach.

Joe Flacco named Browns’ starting QB for Week 1

The 40-year-old Flacco is the only QB on Cleveland’s roster who hasn’t been limited by injury during training camp.

(Illustration: Kelsea Peterson / The Athletic; Photos: Mitchell Leff, Ric Tapia, Candice Ward via Getty Images)

Click here to read article