RB upside is the focal point as fantasy managers navigate a wide receiver and tight end-rich landscape. Bijan Robinson at 1.01 anchors a plan to start RB-heavy with even safer floor options like Kyren Williams and De'Von Achane in the conversation. The article emphasizes building around top-5 upside RBs in the first three rounds, highlighting a six-RB cluster (Bijan, Achane, Jacobs, Taylor, Williams, Irving) and then rounding out with Chase Brown. It notes the inherent RB risk—injury and volume dependency—and warns that pivoting off plan when value presents itself is crucial in PPR formats. PFF+ tools and Yahoo ADP frame the assessment, underscoring that two or three top RBs could yield weekly championship leverage in 2025.

In practice, Round 1 offers six viable RBs, Round 2 introduces Achane, Jacobs, Taylor, and Irving, and Round 3 adds Williams and Brown. The takeaway: target a bell-cow lineup early, secure big receiving backs, and be ready to pivot if a richer value domino falls on the board. The strategy leans into PPR advantages, with Achane and Irving highlighted for their pass-game usage, while Williams and Brown bring proven workload profiles that could anchor fantasy teams through Week 1 and beyond.

John Johnson’s 2025 NFL offense rankings spotlight the 16 offenses most likely to deliver fantasy gold, with a sharp eye on league-winners and potential busts. The Eagles sit atop the list, powered by Hurts, Brown and Smith, while the Bengals anchor a high-caliber passing attack with Burrow, Chase and Higgins. The Rams ride a healthy Stafford into top-tier territory, and the Lions, 49ers and Cowboys trail closely, each with multiple viable fantasy options. Coen’s screen game in Jacksonville is highlighted as a driver of Mayfield’s 2025 ceiling, and health and scheme are treated as the core variables separating starts from busts across the spectrum. The piece reiterates the old truth: great offenses tend to produce fantasy stars more reliably than the rest, but injuries, line play and coaching decisions can tilt ceilings in dramatic ways.

Across the league, the analysis underscored the premium of pairing top players with strong offenses in drafts while acknowledging that even star offenses can stumble if quarterbacks lose rushing upside or if pass-catchers can’t stay healthy. The top-half of the chart features a blend of established dynamos and plausible breakouts: Hurts to Brown and Smith in Philly, Burrow to Chase and Higgins in Cincinnati, Herbert and McConkey/Allen in Los Angeles, and Lawrence’s ascent in Jacksonville. The piece also flags potential mid-round values from the 49ers, Lions and Rams, with an emphasis on role clarity, expected target shares and TD opportunities as the key inputs for fantasy projections in 2025.

Cincinnati opened preseason on a high note, riding Joe Burrow’s efficiency and a flourishing connection with Charlie Jones as Cincinnati rolled to a 31-17 win over Washington. Burrow steered three possessions, completing 9 of 14 passes for 62 yards, including a 4-yard TD to Jones on his final throw. Chase Brown capped a 58-yard opening march with a 1-yard TD on fourth-and-goal. The Bengals used starters more, scoring TDs on four of five Burrow-led drives across two exhibition games, signaling a sharp start to the regular season grind for fantasy rosters.

Washington’s lone Daniels appearance flashed athleticism without passing, as the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year scampered for a 14-yard TD late in the first half while the Commanders protected him behind a thinned OL and wet field. Jacory Croskey-Merritt stood out as a training-camp darling with a 27-yard TD run late in the second quarter, and Chris Rodriguez piled up 62 rushing yards to boost his rotation odds. Washington leaned on its run game and chipped-in field goals, underscoring backfield uncertainty and potential late-round upside for fantasy drafters.

Notes stacked on both sides: Cincinnati’s Myles Murphy remains sidelined, Trey Hendrickson sat out, and the depth chart keeps shifting behind Burrow’s likely Week 1 workload. Washington cut into its own plans, with McLaurin absent amid a contract dispute and young backs like Croskey-Merritt showing promise. Mitchell Tinsley snagged two late first-half TDs for Cincinnati off Jake Browning’s throws, a reminder of how the depth chart can surprise in fantasy leagues. Up next, Cincinnati welcomes Indianapolis, while Washington closes its preseason against Baltimore.

Five running backs sit at the epicenter of 2025 fantasy upside: Chase Brown, Kenneth Walker III, Omarion Hampton, D'Andre Swift, and R.J. Harvey. Each is paired with a favorable ADP, and all have a plausible path to finishing among the top scorers at their position by season’s end. Brown, Walker, Hampton, Swift, and Harvey are presented not as one-off breakouts but as versatile, scheme-friendly backs with legitimate league-winning potential if their roles hold or expand, even in uncertain backfields.

Chase Brown's late-season breakout for Cincinnati showcased a lead-back ceiling, averaging among the league's top points per game over an eight-game stretch. Kenneth Walker III has flashed elite efficiency and big-play ability when healthy, and Seattle's shift toward a run-first framework under Klint Kubiak could unlock a top-8 ceiling in 2025. Omarion Hampton lands in a Denver offense investing in the run and a versatile receiving game, making him a strong hit in the right passing-down role. D’Andre Swift's career arc—juggling multiple systems and roles—still carries a high ceiling if Chicago leans into zone runs and maximizes his multi-week usage. Finally, R.J. Harvey arrives with breakout speed and receiving chops in a Denver backfield that could stabilize behind a more predictable ground game, boosting his chances for a top-10 finish if he leads carries and catches on early downs.

ADP ranges from early fourth-round to mid-rounds, underscoring the value of each on draft day. The headline takeaway: these five backs offer clear, attainable routes to league-winning weeks, provided health and opportunity align with their teams’ evolving schemes and offensive lines.

SportsLine's 2025 Fantasy football draft bible tightens the window on top-150 rankings, sleepers, and busts while arming fantasy managers with slot-specific tips for snake and salary-cap formats. It nods to familiar stars like Ja'Marr Chase, Bijan Robinson, and Justin Jefferson, then spotlights rookies such as Malik Nabers, Chase Brown, and Bucky Irving climbing into top-150 consideration. The guide emphasizes drafting from strong offensive teams as a tiebreaker, never letting late-round picks become filler, and using every pick to build depth for late-season impact.

Beyond tier-one stars, the bible champions sleepers and breakouts that can swing titles, and it flags three potential busts with inflated ADPs—cautionary reminders to avoid overpaying for hype. It also provides position-by-position and slot-specific strategies for different league formats, ensuring you tailor your approach to your draft slot and format. The team behind it—Gibbs, Cummings, Schneier, White, and Nagel—brings decades of fantasy acumen to give you a credible, data-driven edge as you assemble a championship roster.