AFC Hot Takes for Fantasy Football in 2025

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Training camps are officially underway, and that means that fantasy football season is upon us. In less than two months, we will officially be watching Week 1 of the NFL season.

That means it is also time for everybody’s favorite type of fantasy analysis: hot takes! However, these aren’t your typical hot takes. All of these are supported with the excellent data reports and advanced metrics available on PlayerProfiler. Another great resource in general is the PlayerProfiler’s World Famous Draft Kit to help prepare for your leagues.

It is time to start ramping up the research for the 2025 season. Check out a hot take for each AFC team in 2025 below.

Baltimore Ravens

Rashod Bateman outscores Zay Flowers in PPR points per game in 2025.

Injuries hampered Rashod Bateman’s start to his career, but he was healthy in 2024 and had an opportunity to flash the skills that made him a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Bateman caught 45 of 72 targets for 756 yards and nine touchdowns, emerging as the best deep threat for Lamar Jackson in Baltimore.

From Weeks 9 to 18, Bateman (10.3 PPR PPG) was just behind Zay Flowers (11.7) in fantasy points per game, and outscored him in three of nine games. According to PlayerProfiler, Bateman was a top 10 wide receiver in both yards per target (16.8) and yards per reception (16.8). He was also 16th in target separation (1.90) and fourth in fantasy points per target (2.43). More importantly, Bateman has an avenue to big fantasy weeks thanks to his emerging role as a red zone threat.

Bateman was tied for 27th among all wide receivers in the NFL in end zone targets (9) and tied for ninth in end zone touchdowns (6). The only other player on the Ravens who was better than Bateman in that area of the field was Mark Andrews (nine touchdowns on nine targets). Touchdowns are crucial to fantasy success, and Bateman has carved out a role earning those targets in one of the best offenses in the NFL.

Bateman also had a strong showing in the playoffs without Flowers in the lineup (six receptions for 90 yards and two touchdowns in two games), showing his ability to function as the lead wide receiver. Bateman also offers a more traditional wide receiver skillset with downfield abilities that could command more targets now that he has proven he can stay on the field.

In 2025, Todd Monken realizes that the best avenue to wide receiver production is to feature Bateman and allow Zay Flowers to dominate on short to intermediate routes and gadget plays.

Buffalo Bills

James Cook finishes outside the top 20 running backs in 2025.

For two seasons, we wondered what James Cook would look like in fantasy if he scored touchdowns. We got that answer in 2024, and the results were not as great as expected.

Cook led the NFL in rushing touchdowns (16), but finished as the RB11 in points per game (16.7) and the RB8 in total points (266.7). Over 40  percent of Cooks’ fantasy production came from his 18 total touchdowns scored.

In reality, Cook had a mediocre year as a running back. According to PlayerProfiler’s advanced stats, Cook was RB26 in expected fantasy points per game (13.2), 19th in carries (12.9 per game), 32nd in targets (2.4 per game), and 35th in snap share (49.2 percent). He was also outside the top 20 running backs in receiving yards (258), receptions (32), juke rate (18.0 percent), evaded tackles (43), and explosive rating (100.4).

The Bills also got productive seasons from rookie Ray Davis and veteran pass-catching back Ty Johnson. Both players did enough to carve out a similar or greater role in 2025.

Touchdowns are rarely sticky year over year, especially when they are leading the league. If Cook’s role in the offense stays the same, but his touchdown rate falls, he will be back where he was a few seasons ago (a solid RB2 with boom weeks).

Whether it is Ray Davis stealing carries, Ty Johnson stealing targets, or Josh Allen poaching touchdowns, there are too many pitfalls for Cook to repeat as an RB1 with a hyper fragile touchdown total.

Cincinnati Bengals

Andrei Iosivas produces a top 50 finish at wide receiver.

The Cincinnati Bengals led the NFL in pass rate (67 percent) and pass rate over expectation (8.1 percent) while finishing second in pass attempts (652). They averaged nearly 10 passing yards per game more than the second-place team (Detroit) last season.

Despite the high passing volume, the Bengals’ passing attack was highly consolidated between Ja’Marr Chase (27.8 percent target share) and Tee Higgins (17.3 percent target share in 12 games played). The passing attack will remain consolidated again in 2025, but there is room for a third pass catcher to have a role, given the high volume and pass-heavy approach.

Enter Andrei Iosivas.

Iosivas has excellent size (6-foot-3, 205 pounds) and speed (4.43 40-yard dash), but his collegiate career at Princeton led him to be a sixth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He didn’t play much as a rookie, but established himself as the Bengals’ WR3 in 11 personnel over 2024 third-round pick Jermaine Burton.

Iosivas was 11th among wide receivers in routes run (560) and seventh in slot snaps (443), but he didn’t have a strong role as he acclimated to the NFL game. Still, this was a late-round developmental pick who was making an impact (36 receptions for 479 yards and six touchdowns) in his second season.  Iosivas was 19th in target quality rating (5.80) and caught a touchdown on 16.7 percent of his targets in his second season.

Iosivas was the WR68 last season thanks to his ability to score touchdowns, but if he can build even more rapport with Joe Burrow, he can climb even higher in his third year. If he can continue to earn routes from the slot, there is no reason why Iosivas can’t be a FLEX-level WR50 or higher in his third season.

Cleveland Browns

Jerome Ford is a top 30 running back in 2025.

Jerome Ford had an excellent opportunity to build on a strong 2023 season (12.4 PPR PPG). Unfortunately, a hamstring and ankle injury limited him to just 14 games played in an offense that struggled to find its identity consistently. Ford was the RB34 in fantasy points per game last season (9.6).

The veteran running back was viewed as an afterthought in 2025 after the Browns drafted running backs in the second (Quinshon Judkins) and fourth (Dylan Sampson) rounds of the NFL Draft. Ford had to take a pay cut just to remain with the team. However, Ford finds himself relevant again with Judkins awaiting trial (or a plea deal) for domestic violence in Florida.

There were some positives to Ford’s 2024 season. The veteran running improved his yards per carry (5.4) and yards per touch (5.6) to career-highs despite running behind a poor offensive line. Ford was a top 15 running back in route participation (39.9 percent, 14th) and routes run (236, 10th). He was also 10th in explosive rating (106.8), 13th in juke rate (23.4 percent), and fourth in yards created per touch (4.54).

More importantly, Judkins’ ongoing legal issues allow him to maintain his role as the third-down running back for the foreseeable future. It was a role he could have maintained over two rookies in 2025.

Cleveland’s offense has a chance to be the worst in the league, but that means more passing attempts in negative game scripts. Ford just needs to stay healthy to provide RB3/FLEX value in 2025.

Denver Broncos

Evan Engram finishes as a top-3 tight end in 2025.

Most are anticipating that rookie running back R.J. Harvey earns the coveted “Joker” role that is peppered with targets all over the field in Sean Payton’s offense. That hype has allowed another offseason acquisition who fits the mold, tight end Evan Engram, to fall under the radar.

Engram is coming off a disappointing final season in Jacksonville, where he was limited to just 64 targets, 47 receptions, 365 receiving yards, and one touchdown in nine games played. Engram still finished as the TE3 in target share (25.1 percent) and the TE2 in target rate (33.2 percent) while also commanding 15.1 percent of the Jaguars’ air yards in 2025.

The success of fantasy running backs in Sean Payton’s offense is well-known, but he also has shown the ability to produce big tight-end seasons when he has an athlete at the position. From 2010 to 2014, Jimmy Graham averaged 119.0 targets, 77.2 receptions, 950.4 receiving yards, and 10.2 touchdowns per season.

Graham was a bigger player (6-foot-6, 259 pounds) than Engram (6-foot-3, 234 pounds), but Engram is the more athletic tight end.

We have seen Evan Engram earn 100+ targets on three different occasions in his career. His most recent time (2023) allowed him to finish as the TE4 in fantasy thanks to 114 receptions, 963 receiving yards, and four touchdowns. Denver has very little proven receiver talent outside of Courtland Sutton, setting Engram up to be a massive target earner again in 2025.

Injuries are always a risk for Evan Engram, but if he’s on the field, he will have an excellent opportunity to be used as a versatile weapon all over the field in 2025. Engram will have an opportunity to match the target volume of the top tight ends in football; he just needs touchdown luck to break into the top three in 2025.

Houston Texans

Christian Kirk finishes as a top 36 wide receiver in 2025.

Christian Kirk has quietly been one of the most reliable wide receivers in fantasy football since 2018, even if he isn’t a “league-winning” player. Kirk scored at least 12.0 PPR points four times in his first six seasons. 2024 was the first time that he ever had fewer than 10.0 points in a season in his career.

Kirk missed most of 2024 due to a broken collarbone and was then traded to the Houston Texans during the 2025 offseason. That move allows Kirk to have a big fantasy season in 2025.

The Texans will likely utilize Kirk in the slot, a role that can see a lot of volume in 2025 due to the team’s offensive line. C.J. Stroud had the third-highest pressure rate in 2024 (37.5 percent) and the second-lowest clean pocket rate (56.2 percent). Houston then spent the offseason cutting Shaq Mason and trading Laremy Tunsil to improve the locker room. Culture is important, but replacing the best two offensive linemen in a bad group with ineffective veterans is a dangerous play.

Last season, Houston had Stefon Diggs operating in the slot until he tore his ACL. From Weeks 1-8, Diggs was sixth among all wide receivers in targets (62) and receptions (47) and was the WR25 in targets per route run (0.25). The veteran receiver was the WR15 in PPR points per game (15.2) due to his high-volume role.

Quarterbacks who are facing pressure consistently target players who can get open quickly in the slot. That is exactly who Christian Kirk is as a player.

Nico Collins will certainly lead the Texans in receiving; there is no doubt about that. But Christian Kirk will see enough volume in the quick game to scam his way to a WR3 in PPR if he’s on the field. We have seen him do it before.

Indianapolis Colts

Michael Pittman Jr. finishes as a top 20 WR in 2025.

2024 was not Michael Pittman Jr.’s year. Pittman struggled through a lingering back injury while also battling the constant erraticism of Anthony Richardson at quarterback. The veteran receiver played in 16 games, but had just 69 receptions (on 111 targets) for 808 yards and three touchdowns. It was his worst statistical season since his rookie year, when he was limited to just 18 games.

Just 68.9 percent of Pittman’s targets in 2024 were catchable, which was 155th among qualified pass catchers. He had the 11th most contested targets in the NFL (28), converting just 14 into catches.

There is hope for Pittman entering 2025, even if all of the hype is centered around teammate Josh Downs in the slot. In 2023, Pittman was the WR14 in PPR points per game (15.6) thanks to a high-volume role centered around him being the primary read in RPO passes. That season, Pittman led all receivers in the NFL in RPO routes (40), targets (23), receptions (18), yards (142), and touchdowns (2). Most of that production came with Gardner Minshew under center.

The Colts should consider returning to that style of play (which nearly resulted in a playoff berth) with Daniel Jones under center in 2025. During his career with the Giants, Jones completed 43 of 58 RPO passes for 316 yards. If Indianapolis opts to go safe at quarterback with Daniel Jones completing quick passes, Pittman will thrive again in 2025. Pittman can wall off defenders and the catch radius and route running to find open zones on RPO schemes.

The Colts’ coaching staff needs to win in 2025, which means they will likely simplify the offense to maximize their talent at receiver. Anthony Richardson will almost certainly start games, but betting on Pittman is a bet that Daniel Jones will start more games.

Pittman won’t be expensive in fantasy drafts in 2025, but he’s the most likely player to lead Indianapolis in targets and will be the team’s most targeted red zone threat while rookie tight end Tyler Warren gets up to speed at the NFL level.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Brian Thomas Jr. finishes as the WR1 in fantasy points.

What more can be said about Bryan Thomas Jr.’s rookie season? Thomas Jr. caught 87 of 133 targets for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns, finishing as the WR11 in PPR points per game (16.7) despite catching passes from Mac Jones for the majority of the season.

Thomas Jr. struggled early in the season but eventually found his groove as a downfield threat with explosive yards after the catch ability. The rookie was fifth among wide receivers in deep targets (28), but also finished fourth in yards after catch (562), eighth in yards per route run (2.55), and ninth in yards per team pass attempt (2.35). He was also the WR2 in PlayerProfiler’s dominator rating as a rookie (43.6 percent).

The Jaguars added legitimate target competition in 2025 in free agency (Dyami Brown) and the draft (Travis Hunter). However, the bigger addition for Thomas Jr.’s fantasy production is the new head coach, Liam Coen. Coen is fresh off a season of pushing Baker Mayfield to his career-best year (4,500 passing yards and 41 touchdowns) by utilizing Mike Evans in the middle of the field. He can do the same with Thomas Jr. to elevate his game to the next level in his second season.

Brian Thomas Jr. will be the focal point of the Jaguars’ offense in 2025 and will likely spend time moving all over the formation to utilize his size and explosiveness. The additions of Travis Hunter and Dyami Brown are certainly meaningful, but this is also a team that has 215 vacated targets to fill (potentially more if you reduce Parker Washington‘s 51 targets out of necessity) from the 20th-ranked passing offense in 2024 (32.1 attempts per game).

Brian Thomas Jr. was great in 2024 in spite of his surroundings. In 2025, those surroundings will get him the ball in easier ways (play calling) or elevate his talent (better supporting cast with a healthy Trevor Lawrence) to the WR1 in fantasy.

Kansas City Chiefs

Xavier Worthy is a top-12 wide receiver in 2025 in PPR points per game.

Xavier Worthy was viewed as a deep shot artist coming out of Texas thanks to his combine-record 4.21 40-yard dash. When he was drafted by the Chiefs, it was viewed as a perfect marriage of his speed and Patrick Mahomes‘s arm strength. The rookie would finally give the Chiefs the deep threat they’ve been searching for since trading Tyreek Hill.

Worthy was utilized just that way to start his career (with gadget carries to boot) as the team tried to find his fit in an offense with Rashee Rice and Travis Kelce returning. Before Rice’s injury in Week 4, Worthy averaged 3.8 targets and 1.3 rushing attempts per game on a 62.7 percent snap share.

From Weeks 5 to 9, his role increased slightly (5.9 targets and 0.8 rushes on a 64.6 percent snap share), but still didn’t evolve into fantasy-relevant production.  Eventually, the Chiefs started to shift Worthy’s role closer to the line of scrimmage and raised his workload.

From Weeks 11 to 17, Worthy ranked 18th in targets (56) and was the WR25 in targets per route run (0.24), tied with DeVonta Smith and Justin Jefferson. He caught 39 passes for 392 yards and three touchdowns. That role continued into the playoffs, where Worthy caught 19 of 21 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns.

The biggest area of growth for Worthy is arguably his greatest skill, his ability to make plays down the field. Worthy was 34th among wide receivers in 20+ yard targets (17), but ranked 80th in 20+ yard completion percentage (17.3 percent). Patrick Mahomes is historically an accurate deep passer, so it is fair to treat this as an aberration for at least one season.

It seems likely that Rashee Rice will miss time in 2025 after accepting a plea in his court case, which means we will likely see a similar role for Worthy to start the season. However, when Rice returns, Worthy should see his targets move further down the field.

Worthy is not your traditional deep threat, which gives him more of a floor in fantasy football. In 2025, he will emerge as the pillar of Kansas City’s passing attack and push into a top 12 fantasy receiver.

Las Vegas Raiders

Geno Smith will finish as a top-15 QB in fantasy.

2024 was not a banner year for Geno Smith from a fantasy perspective. Smith finished as the QB17 in PPG (16.5) despite playing behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL. Geno had the sixth most drop-backs under pressure in 2024 (197). He had the 12th highest completion percentage under pressure (50.4 percent) and seventh most passing yards (807) in pressure situations. 12 of his 15 interceptions came when pressured.

However, Smith shone when he was operating in a clean pocket. The veteran quarterback had the second-highest completion percentage (76.3 percent) and the fourth most passing yards (3,513) with a 14 to 3 TD: INT ratio while operating in a clean pocket.

The Seahawks surprisingly traded Smith to the Raiders this offseason, reuniting him with former Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll. Smith played in 35 games with Carroll from 2021 to 2023, averaging a 67.5 percent completion percentage for 2,869.3 yards and 18.3 touchdowns and 7.0 interceptions per game. Smith posted a QB11 finish in 2022 (17.9 PPG) and a QB23 finish in 2023 (15.2) as the full-time starter. He also had back-to-back seasons as a top 12 quarterback in red zone passing attempts and expected points added (EPA) while quarterbacking for Carroll in Seattle.

With Las Vegas, Smith will once again have access to one elite option in the passing attack (Brock Bowers), one above-average option (Jakobi Meyers), and intriguing rookies (Ashton Jeanty, Jack Bech, and Dont’e Thornton). More importantly, he will be behind an offensive line that is close to league average, which is magnitudes better than Seattle’s.

Geno Smith is a good NFL quarterback who was handcuffed by a subpar scheme and a terrible offensive line in 2024. If the Raiders can protect him better than Seattle, he can return to a high-end QB2 again in 2025.

Los Angeles Chargers

Omarion Hampton will finish as a top 10 running back in PPR points per game.

The Chargers used a first-round pick on North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton in the 2025 NFL Draft. Hampton was one of the best rushers in football over the last two seasons, racking up 534 carries for 3,164 yards and 30 touchdowns, along with 67 receptions for 595 yards and three touchdowns.

Hampton cemented himself as a first-round pick with a 4.46 40-yard dash at 6-foot-0, 221 pounds at the NFL Combine. The Chargers were a fine landing spot thanks to their dedication to the run, but there are concerns about his workload on a team that historically wants to split its backfield.

However, Hampton has been getting rave reviews at training camp while Najee Harris has been sidelined due to a fireworks accident that injured his eye. We have zero clarity on what his status is for Week 1, but every day he isn’t practicing is another opportunity for Hampton to earn a bigger share of the backfield.

The Chargers also weren’t afraid to lean on one running back in 2024. Veteran running back J.K. Dobbins, coming off several lower-body injuries, logged a 63.2 percent snap share in 2024 in his 13 games played. Dobbins was 15th among all running backs in snap share (63.3 percent) and 20th in opportunity share (64.7 percent).

Hampton is the most explosive back in Los Angeles in 2025. Even if Harris is healthy, Hampton’s ability to generate explosive runs (26 in 2024, fourth most in the NCAA) will earn him more opportunities.

The Chargers don’t have a great interior offensive line, but the addition of Mekhi Becton should certainly improve upon a group that generated just 1.8 yards before contact in 2024. Hampton proved throughout his collegiate career that all he needs is a seam in the defense, and he can create a chunk play. It should not take him long to emerge as a reliable fantasy running back in 2025.

Miami Dolphins

Tua Tagovailoa finishes as a QB1 in fantasy.

The Dolphins’ offense fell apart in 2024. The offensive line was terrible, and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa once again missed a significant chunk of the season due to injuries. In turn, that tanked the value of Tyreek Hill (who was already struggling with a wrist injury) and Jaylen Waddle.

As a result, Tagovailoa finished as the QB16 in fantasy points per game (16.5) with just 2,867 yards, 19 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. It was another disaster season due to concussions, but there were some silver linings regarding Tagovailoa’s play when he was on the field.

According to PlayerProfilers’ advanced stats, Tagovailoa was first in pressured completion percentage (71.0 percent), second in play action completion percentage (67.7 percent) and clean pocket completion percentage (73.3 percent), and third in red zone completion percentage (70.0 percent). He was also a top-seven quarterback in completion rate vs. man coverage (58.9 percent) and zone coverage (76.7 percent). From Weeks 11 to 14, Tagovailoa was the QB2 in fantasy with 25.2 points per game. He still possesses an elite ceiling in Mike McDonald’s offense.

The Dolphins’ offense is still one of the most explosive units in the league. De’Von Achane showed that he can be a weapon in the passing game (especially on screens). Both Hill and Waddle are still explosive weapons that can take any touch to the house. Hill’s ability to run a 10.15 100-meter dash at a track meet this offseason suggests that his wrist was more of an issue in 2024 than his speed. The most important thing is finding a way to keep Tua on the field.

The Dolphins did try to upgrade their offensive line this offseason, even if the retirement of Terron Armstead tanked their overall unit. James Daniels is an above-average guard, but he is coming off an Achilles injury. 2025 second-round pick Jonah Savaiinaea can also make a major impact moving from tackle to guard at the NFL level. Depth signings like Daniel Brunskill and Larry Borom will help the team navigate injuries with experienced veterans.

This will be one of the more talented collective units that Tagovailoa has played with in Miami. In turn, this will be the year he stays healthy and delivers a top 12 finish at the quarterback position.

New England Patriots

Stefon Diggs is a top 20 wide receiver in PPR points per game.

Stefon Diggs was the WR15 in fantasy points per game during the first eight Weeks of 2024, averaging 15.2 fantasy points per game. During that time, Diggs was used as a safety valve for C.J. Stroud to help him manage the pressure from Houston’s subpar offensive line. Unfortunately, a torn ACL ended his season early.

Despite the injury, Diggs landed a three-year contract in free agency with another team searching for a reliable veteran to pair with a young quarterback, the New England Patriots. The general expectation was that Diggs would need time to recover from his ACL tear before seeing the field, but he’s participating in training camp and seems like he is on track to suit up Week 1.

In a lot of ways, the Patriots are very similar to Houston in 2024. They have a young, promising quarterback who flashed as a rookie. They have a subpar offensive line that struggles with pressure. The main difference is that in New England, Diggs has virtually no top-end target competition.

If the veteran receiver can make his debut with New England in Week 1, he should be considered the leader in the clubhouse to pace the Patriots in targets in 2025. If that happens, he should once again be a top 20 fantasy receiver in 2025.

New York Jets

Breece Hall is a top-8 running back in fantasy points per game.

Breece Hall burned many fantasy managers who selected him as a first-round pick in 2024. Hall saw a decrease in carries (209), rushing yards (876), targets (76), receptions (57), receiving yards (483), and receiving touchdowns (3) in 2024. He produced a career-low 15.1 PPR points per game, which ranked as the RB17.

Hall’s rushing volume was tanked by Aaron Rodgers, increasing the team’s passing volume and the involvement of rookies Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis on early downs. However, he was able to take his receiving ability to another level.

The veteran running back finished top five among running backs in targets (76, third), receiving yards (483, fourth), receptions (57, fourth), target share (13.8 percent, third), and routes run (423, first). He had all of the makings of the ideal running back in PPR formats, but he just didn’t get the volume he needed, thanks to Rodgers frequently targeting Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams.

On the surface, 2025 doesn’t look much better with Justin Fields under center due to the quarterback’s rushing ability. However, Fields was fourth among all quarterbacks in checkdown rate in 2024 (14.9 percent) in his 10 games played. Fields has had a checkdown rate above 12.0 percent in each of his last two seasons.

The Jets will certainly split their backfield given the new coaching staff’s ties to the Detroit Lions. However, Hall is the most equipped to handle the passing-down work along with his role as a rusher. He will also benefit from an above-average offensive line and the fact that teams will have to give some of their attention to Fields as a runner.

Rushing quarterbacks help running backs be more efficient. However, having Fields under center is an extra boost, given how comfortable he is checking the ball down to his running backs.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Kaleb Johnson finishes as a top 24 running back in fantasy.

The Pittsburgh Steelers were tabbed as one of the best offensive environments for running backs heading into the 2025 NFL Draft. Najee Harris left in free agency after averaging 274.3 carries and 58.3 targets over the last four seasons. The Steelers had just two picks in the first three rounds of the NFL draft (with a lot of holes to fill), so it is telling that they used one of them on Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson.

Johnson fits Arthur Smith’s zone-heavy run scheme like a glove. 79.5 percent of the Iowa products carried in 2024 came on zone blocking concepts. In total, Johnson was fourth in the NCAA in rushing, handling 240 carries for 1,535 yards and 22 touchdowns.

The testing numbers for Johnson weren’t great, but in a zone scheme, they don’t need to be. And despite his subpar long speed, Johnson still finished third in the NCAA in yards after contact (1,060), fourth in 10+ yard runs (43), and third in 15+ yard rushes (28).

Pittsburgh has invested heavily in its offensive line over the last three seasons, giving it a solid young unit heading into 2025. Johnson will likely lose out on targets with options like Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell sharing the backfield, but he is poised to absorb a majority of Harris’ workload as a rusher.

A top 10 running back requires high-end receiving production. Johnson probably won’t have that in his career. However, he could very easily finish as an RB2 in fantasy with enough volume.

Tennessee Titans

Calvin Ridley is a top 10 wide receiver in fantasy points per game.

2025 might just be the best situation Calvin Ridley has been in since his days with Matt Ryan in Atlanta. Ridley was productive in 2024 with Will Levis (64 receptions for 1,017 yards and four touchdowns), but left a lot of fantasy points on the field due to the quarterback’s inaccuracy.

The veteran receiver was top five in air yards (1,883, first), air yards share (44.1 percent, fourth), average depth of target (15.7, fifth), and deep targets (32, third). Unfortunately, he was also first in unrealized air yards (1,097).

Just 59.2 percent of Ridley’s targets were catchable, which was 97th among wide receivers in 2024. However, a lot of the problems lie at the feet of Will Levis. Levis was fourth in danger plays (30), fifth in interceptable passes (20), 25th in deep ball completion (34.9 percent), and 32nd in clean pocket completion percentage (65.2 percent).

Arguably, there is no wide receiver in football who needs a quarterback upgrade more than Ridley. He got it when Tennessee drafted Miami’s Cam Ward.

Ward flashed exceptional deep passing ability during his final collegiate season. He was fifth in PFF deep passing grade (94.9) with 1,051 yards and 12 touchdowns with zero interceptions. Ward was also fifth among the 2025 quarterback class in big-time throw rate (34.7 percent).

The Titans also upgraded their offensive line without making significant additions to the passing attack outside of reliable veterans (Tyler Lockett and Van Jefferson) and day three rookies (Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike). Ridley will be the unquestioned alpha of this group in 2025.

2025 will be the season that Ridley gets both the passing volume and accuracy to push him into the top 10 wide receivers in fantasy points per game.

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