Fantasy soccer – Joe Burrow, Ladd McConkey amongst Matt Bowen’s high 10 draft targets

After doing weekly fantasy soccer mock drafts this summer time at ESPN, now’s the time after I give attention to my high targets. The numbers and projections play a job. So does the tape. It issues in my evaluations. There are occasions I am in search of gamers with a better ground. I will take consistency in my lineup, positive. However I additionally love these with upside, the playmakers who can win weeks with breakout performances.

Under, I’ve ranked my favourite fantasy targets for 2025, a number of gamers per place from my draft board, in various tiers. There’s higher-level expertise from the quarterback and operating again positions, however I additionally checked out worth, figuring out gamers who may also help win your league. To wrap it up, there are 5 late-round fliers to maintain on the radar.

An electrical mover with residence run means and pass-catching abilities, Gibbs can rack up breakout video games (24 or extra factors six instances in 2024), plus he finds the tip zone (20 complete touchdowns final season). Gibbs will once more share the backfield touches with David Montgomery, which limits his scoring upside a bit (18.2 factors per recreation with Montgomery within the lineup final season). Nevertheless, Gibbs is among the greatest purpose line runners within the league, and he gives you strong PPR manufacturing (52 receptions in every of his first two professional seasons). He is a top-five choose who can problem for the general RB1 crown.

I not often goal one of many “huge 4” quarterbacks — Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Jayden Daniels and Jalen Hurts, all going by the tip of Spherical 3 — however after that, if Burrow is on the board? Yeah, that is my choose. In a pass-heavy Bengals system, Burrow led the league final season with 4,918 yards passing and 43 touchdowns whereas averaging 21.9 PPG (QB3). With elite pocket motion and the power to ship the ball constantly with each timing and site, Burrow can run this offense like a degree guard. And he throws to the NFL’s greatest broad receiver combo in Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. I will take that in Spherical 4 of a 10-team league.

McConkey averaged 15.1 PPG as a rookie final season, however his numbers elevated over the second half of the marketing campaign. In Weeks 11-18, McConkey averaged 18.7 PPG and had two video games with 20-plus factors. The tape highlights a ability set that results in fantasy manufacturing. McConkey is an in depth route runner who can create his personal separation, which permits him to get unfastened beneath or on crossing patterns. We’re speaking about high-percentage throws right here because the No. 1 goal for quarterback Justin Herbert. McConkey has WR1 upside in 2025.

A slasher with big-play juice and the pass-catching abilities to supply on third downs, Henderson will share the backfield with Rhamondre Stevenson in New England. Nevertheless, Henderson caught 46 passes over his last two seasons at Ohio State, a quantity that can rise in a professional offense, and he can function as a matchup goal for quarterback Drake Maye from each backfield and cut up alignments. With the anticipated quantity within the run and cross recreation and the flashes we have seen from Henderson on the preseason tape, he has the potential to affix the RB2 dialogue as a rookie.

5. Jameson Williams, WR, Detroit Lions (ADP: WR30)

A dynamic risk with residence run abilities, Williams had a vertical route price of 41.1%, whereas operating crossers (or overs) at a price of 13.3%. And that is how he can create huge performs for this Lions offense. Williams had 16 receptions of 20 or extra yards final season, and he averaged 14.4 PPG, buoyed by 4 video games of twenty-two or extra factors. Regardless of not getting constant finish zone targets (solely 4 final season), Williams’ play velocity and route deployment can produce breakout weeks in one of many league’s top-scoring offenses. And with a bump in quantity, Williams may soar into the WR2 ranks this season.

I see Pacheco as a middle-round worth choose after a 2024 season that was derailed by a fibula fracture in Week 2. Pacheco returned in Week 13 final season, however he wasn’t the identical on tape, and the numbers (5.0 PPG in Weeks 13-18) had been down because of this. However what if we spin the calendar again to 2023? Pacheco averaged 15.3 PPG, scoring 9 touchdowns and catching 44 passes. Bear in mind, in Andy Reid’s system, which options the perfect display screen ideas within the league, Pacheco does carry a dual-threat component to the sphere, whereas his pressing operating type pays off within the crimson zone. So, I am betting on a wholesome Pacheco to fill that RB2 slot in my lineup.

Meyers averaged 14.4 PPG final season with 10 video games of double-digit fantasy manufacturing and 6 video games with not less than 10 targets. A bodily route runner with the body to uncover and work the inside of the sphere, Meyers has the receiving traits to create constant alternatives. And he’ll stay a main goal reverse of tight finish Brock Bowers in an upgraded Raiders cross recreation with quarterback Geno Smith and playcaller Chip Kelly. The Raiders’ foundational method to operating the ball with rookie Ashton Jeanty may result in a dip in complete throwing quantity, but when we’re in search of dependability within the lineup, drafting Meyers later as a WR4 provides up. He will get open.

Mayfield has been on my goal checklist since early in the summertime. Final season, Mayfield averaged 21.5 PPG (QB4) and he had 10 video games with 20 or extra factors. Plus, he was extra prepared to run the ball, ending the season with a career-best 378 yards on the bottom. An aggressive thrower, Mayfield can create exterior of construction, and I like the general play type after I activate the tape. The Bucs are awaiting the return of Chris Godwin (ankle) and Jalen McMillan (neck) will begin the season on IR, however with Mike Evans and 2025 first-rounder Emeka Egbuka able to go, Mayfield has two gifted cross catchers to work with. Plus, you may handle different wants in your lineup earlier than drafting Mayfield within the Spherical 7-8 vary.

With Deebo Samuel now in Washington and Brandon Aiyuk recovering from a torn ACL, the door is open for Pearsall to supply in one of many NFL’s most closely schemed offenses. Pearsall scored 17 factors or extra in three of his seven video games performed as a rookie. In Weeks 17 and 18, he had 14 receptions and averaged 23.8 fantasy factors. An in depth route runner who can present a vertical push in one-on-one matchups, Pearsall may even get alternatives on in-breaking ideas in Kyle Shanahan’s offense off play-action, which ends up in huge performs. You are getting wonderful worth right here at Pearsall’s present ADP.

The Broncos’ system is an improve for Engram, and so is the quarterback play with Bo Nix coming into his second yr as a professional. Engram averaged 9.9 PPG with the Jaguars final season (in 9 video games performed), a yr faraway from his 111 receptions in 2023. Catch-and-run targets will probably be in play right here for Engram, and so will the seam-stretching ideas that enable the tight finish to assault schemed voids within the protection. Over his previous two seasons, 51.4% of his receiving yardage got here after the catch, so count on coach Sean Payton to set the desk for him with fast throws and middle-of-the-field routes, which can present a constant ground. Greatest but, you may wait just a little longer to draft your tight finish and nonetheless land Engram.

5 late-round fliers to have on the radar

Marvin Mims Jr., WR, Denver Broncos
In the event you play in a 12-team league and are in search of a late-round flier with upside potential, take a shot on Mims. Final season, he averaged solely 7.6 PPG, however he had double-digit fantasy manufacturing in 4 of his last seven video games, together with 52.2 factors in Weeks 17 and 18, highlighted by 4 touchdowns. He is a burner who can get down the sphere.

Luther Burden III, WR, Chicago Bears
A receiver with catch-and-run juice, Burden also can produce on screens and fly sweeps. He should compete for targets with DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Colston Loveland, however he has the playmaking expertise to put up huge weeks as a schemed-up choice in Ben Johnson’s offense.

Jordan Mason, RB, Minnesota Vikings
Mason is a brilliant match as a zone runner in coach Kevin O’Connell’s offense. He had three video games with 20 or extra carries and 17-plus factors final season in San Francisco. Choose him up late as an insurance coverage again behind Aaron Jones Sr. He is an damage away from taking part in a quantity function this season.

Jayden Higgins, WR, Houston Texans
At 6-foot-4, 212 kilos, Higgins is a pure hands-catcher and shows the physique management to complete performs. Higgins, who had eight crimson zone landing grabs final season at Iowa State, ought to play an outlined function within the Texans’ three-wide receiver units, and will emerge because the No. 2 reverse of Nico Collins this season.

Tyler Warren, TE, Indianapolis Colts
I do not love the quarterback room in Indianapolis, however in case you wait on the place in drafts, or carry two tight ends, Warren is an upside play late on account of his bodily profile at 6-5, 256 kilos. A rugged mover who can work the center of the sphere and produce after the catch, Warren can impression the Colts’ cross recreation from a wide range of pre-snap alignments. His play demeanor sells right here, too.