Fantasy Sports

Must have fantasy options 2025

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WR

Nico Collins, Houston Texans, ADP 14

If injuries weren’t a factor over his first four NFL seasons, Nico Collins could be talked about in the conversation for the #1 overall pick heading into the 2025 campaign. Collins averaged 17.6 fantasy points per game last season while having to share targets with Stephon Diggs and Tank Dell.  Diggs is in New England and Dell will likely not play this season. That leaves a hole in the Texans depth chart that will be filled by more Nico. 

Collins has a proven connection with CJ Stroud and with Bobby Slowak out as offensive coordinator, we can hope that opens up more downfield action for the Texans offense.  This is the year of Nico and I want to be a part of that.

Tre Harris, Los Angeles Chargers ADP 135

The retirement of Mike Williams opens up opportunities for 2nd round pick Tre Harris in 2025.  Justin Herbert had limited options outside of 2024 breakout star Ladd McConkey.  Josh Palmer is gone and Quentin Johnson and Jalen Reagor do not excite anyone.  Harris is 6ft 3inches, which makes him an ideal red zone threat and downfield option.  The Chargers are a run first team but Harris is the type of player that has the ability to break a game open.  

Even with the signing of Keenan Allen, I still see Tre Harris as the breakout player of the WR core in Los Angeles, he will begin the season as a WR3 but will finish as the #1 option.

RB

De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins, ADP 15

Achane’s fantasy value has been linked to the health of Tua Tagovailoa.  When Tua plays, Achane is an undisputable RB1.  With Tagovailoa in the lineup Achane was on pace for 1,800 yards, 104 catches, and 17 touchdowns in 2024  

Heading into 2025 Tua is healthy and Achane projects to have a huge season. The Dolphins will need to lean on his running and pass catching skills as a somewhat baffling decline for Tyreek Hill had the offense searching for answers last year.  Raheem Mostert is no longer in town and the backfield behind Achane is questionable at best.  By the end of the season we could be talking about the 2026 #1 overall fantasy player.

RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos, ADP 52

I was patient in 2024 hoping to see the progression of Javonte Williams in the Sean Payton offense.  I was very much wrong.  Sometimes the player just doesn’t work in the system.  This will not be the case for RJ Harvey in 2025.  

Harvey was a workhorse back at Central Florida, in his final season he 6.8 yards per carry with an astounding 22 touchdowns.  His ability to catch the ball showed as well, amassing 22 catches and 3 touchdowns through the air.  Sean Payton’s offense historically leans on backs that are able to catch the ball as well as run and Harvey gives him that option.  The addition of JK Dobbins to the backfield will likely scare off some fantasy owners, which may allow you to grab Harvey later than he should be available. 

TE

Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys ADP 123

In 2023 Jake Ferguson was a top-ten fantasy tightend recording 71 catches and 5 touchdowns.  2024 was set to be a breakout season for the third year player, as he was set to take over the rains as the #1 tightend in Dallas.  Injuries forced him to miss a few games, but the biggest determining factor was the injury to Dak Prescott.  Ferguson ended the 2024 campaign with zero touchdowns but with the addition of George Pickens the middle will be wide open for Ferguson in 2025.  The return of Dak Prescott will also factor into the red zone production for Ferguson.  He is currently projecting to be in the late rounds, he could be a steal for someone that waited for a high upside tightend.

Waiver Wire adds week 3

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Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Miami Dolphins

Tua threw for 469 yards in a miracle comeback in week 2.  Should we overreact to this heading into week 3?  The answer is yes, but honestly it isn’t actually an overreaction. The Dolphins brought in the fastest receiver in all of football, adding Tyreke Hill to go along with Jaylen Waddle.  Collectively the Dolphins arguably have the two most talented receivers in all of football.  

Miami has a tough matchup with the powerful Buffalo Bills but after that matchup they have five straight awesome matchups.  The Dolphins may have been a sleeping giant that was woken up by the abilities of their QB and receivers.  SnagTua now and stash him as your future starter the rest of the season. 

Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets

Remember Elijah Moore? Nope me either.  It has been the Garrett Wilson show in New York.  Joe Flacco targeted the rookie out of Ohio State 14 times on Sunday.  Those targets were productive, Wilson finished with 114 yards and 2 touchdowns.  His breakout performance wasn’t out of nowhere, he had 8 total targets in week one.  

He is the one of only two receivers ever to put up 30 fantasy points in one of their first two games of the season in the last decade. Wilson was a top ten pick in the 2021 draft for a reason, right now he appears to be Joe Flacco’s favorite receiver.  

Evan Engram, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars

Every week I am going to keep trying to find a tightend worth the start.  This week I focused on Jacksonville’s new tightend, the often disappointing Evan Engram. Engram is coming off of an 8 target day against the Colts.  He hauled in 7 catches for 46 yards, in a PPR league a TE with those kinds of numbers going along with a snap share over 70% is a need. 

The Jaguars have moved the ball around on offense but the upside of Engram is impossible to ignore.

2020 MLB Breakout Candidates

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Dinelson Lamet, P,  San Diego Padres

Dinelson Lamet quietly had a dominant second half of the 2019 season.  Lamet averaged 12.9 K/9 ranking third just behind Gerrit Cole and Chris Sale.  From July 18 – Sept 18 Lamet lowered his ERA by nearly three runs while opponents hit just .224 against him. Lamet brings a 96mph fastball to go along with a devastating slider that held hitters to a .129 batting average last year. Surprisingly Lamet’s biggest concern was his troubles in his home park, hitter friendly Petco Park was not kind to him.  Giving up a 5.25 ERA and a surprising .432 slugging percentage.  

At just 24 years old the Padres have a potential ace to continue to progress along with fellow flame thrower Chris Paddick.  Lamet’s biggest issue is his control averaging 3.71 walk per nine last season, actually improving from his career mark of 4.04.  Lamet brings ace caliber stuff to a team that should be much improved in 2019 with the full time production of Fernando Tatis Jr.  Lamet will be a steal for fantasy owners as well as the Padres. Big things are coming for him in 2020. 

Jesus Luzardo, P, Oakland Athletics

Luzardo would have cracked the Athletics rotation out of spring in 2019 if an injury hadn’t derailed his season.  The 22-year old Luzardo eventually had his chance during the tail end of last season and immediately made an impact with 16 strikeouts in 12 innings and showing the ridiculous stuff that have baseball scouts drooling.

Luzardo is projected to be the 4th starter for the A’s which means he will daily be matched up with pitchers that don’t even scratch the surface of his ability.  Luzardo has the stuff to become an ace as long as he stays healthy.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr, INF, Toronto Blue Jays

Gurriel has serious holes in his game. His 25% strikeout rate and his subpar defense are both things that need to be improved on.  Despite his issues Gurriel still brings a lot of power to the table, 20 homers in just 84 games last year show’s what he has the possibility to do in a full season.  Gurriel’s .264 ISO and .541 SLG allow him to be in the middle of any lineup. The Blue Jays have a young core of hitters Vlad Guerrero Jr, Cavan Biggio and Bo Bichette are the headliners of the organization while Gurriel is still just 24 year old and will be a mainstay in the lineup for years to come. 

Austin Hays, OF, Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles have become the 76ers of baseball.  Since losing the 2016 wild card game Baltimore went into the cellar of the AL East and the entire league.  The Orioles moved all players with any major league success in order to rebuild the organization from the bottom. Austin Hays ranked as high as the 21 in the MLB Pipeline prospect rankings.  Hays got a surprisingly September call up in 2019 and he immediately paid off. 309/.373/.574 in 21 games during the month forced the organization to move quickly inserting Hays as the prospect to watch heading into 2020.  

Hays will have the chance to start the year in th majors during the upcoming season.  His defense in center along with his potential should make him a pre-season candidate for AL Rookie of the Year.

David Dahl, OF, Colorado Rockies

David Dahl has been a preseason favorite of mine for a number of years.  2020 seems like the time for Dahl to take the next step. Injuries have continually derailed Dahl’s potential.  From 2016-2019 Dahl played only 63, 77 and 100 games, missing the entire season in 2017. Dahl’s splits favor Coors field as do many of the players that wear the Rockie uniform, he still brings together a great mix of power and speed. What sets Dahl apart from others is his ability to produce versus both lefties and righties.  His slugging percentage and batting average are similar no matter who he is facing.  

A healthy David Dahl will be placed right in the middle of the Rockies lineup either right behind Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story or right before them.  It really doesn’t matter what part of the lineup Dahl ends up, if he is able to stay healthy he will be in for a season that should make him a household name by the end of the season.

Honorable Mention:

Willie Calhoun, Texas Rangers (Get well soon)

Brandon Lowe, Tampa Bay Rays