2025 fantasy outlooks for Addison, Shakir, Shaheed, Flowers, Godwin, Aiyuk, McLaurin, Mooney, Harrison Jr., and Diggs outline clear paths to value and risk. Addison is primed for a breakout with a high ceiling in Minnesota, while Flowers remains a hype candidate with a solid floor in a run-heavy Ravens attack. Shaheed hits as a late-round big-play bet in New Orleans, but quarterback flux could cap weeks. Godwin carries injury risk yet offers-by-week upside if he stays healthy; Aiyuk, McLaurin and Diggs anchor the group with proven floor and elite volume. Mooney, Harrison Jr. and Shakir present deeper-league intrigue, with Harrison Jr. representing rookie-dynasty upside. The piece leans on draft-tool guidance and format-aware projections to steer decisions across standard, Half-PPR and PPR leagues.

In short, target McLaurin, Diggs, and Aiyuk for solid weekly floors; chase Addison or Flowers for ceiling, depending on round. Shaheed and Mooney reward late-round grabs in best-ball and depth formats, while Harrison Jr. is a cornerstone pick for long-term rosters. Shakir and Godwin demand conditional stashes given health and target competition. The draft tool is highlighted as a core aid to compare up to four players at once and to optimize picks by scoring format and format-specific projections.

Buffalo comes to Soldier Field for a Sunday night preseason date with Chicago in unsettled weather terms. Kickoff around 76 and humid, with storms possible and a dew point near 72 that could sap passing efficiency. The Bills entered with a reshuffled receiving corps and a QB competition behind Josh Allen, as Mitch Trubisky returns to the Chicago stage where he was once drafted. Fantasy angles tilt toward the Bills’ depth players and their backup QB reps: James Cook likely anchors the backfield, while Elijah Moore, Khalil Shakir, Tyrell Shavers and the veteran Curtis Samuel could carry the lightweight targets if top receivers sit out again. The Bears present a test of Bills depth and live-bullet play, with tempests potentially tempering big play options. Historical context notes Buffalo’s 35-13 win in 2022 behind a strong rush attack and a shallow passing line in that late-season clash. Odds react with Bills favored by 1.5 and a 39.5 over-under, but weather could nudge passing production down roughly 12% in rain, per some sportsbooks. The matchup on Aug. 17 remains a test of depth chart decisions that fantasy managers should monitor closely as rosters trim.

Khalil Shakir earns No. 8 on Bills 2025’s top-30 countdown after a breakthrough 2024 season that saw him post career highs in targets (100), receptions (76) and receiving yards (821) while Josh Allen leaned on him as Buffalo’s primary outside weapon. He locked in a four-year, $53 million extension, underscoring the team’s plans to lean on him again in 2025. With Josh Palmer and Elijah Moore adding, Shakir’s role remains pivotal though a persistent ankle sprain could delay Week 1 usage. The Bills’ offense should continue to funnel targets his way, especially if he maintains Week 1 readiness.

Buffalo’s 2025 outlook centers on Shakir as the WR1-ish talent in a revamped group that also includes Keon Coleman and Dalton Kincaid, plus a backfield led by James Cook. Shakir’s route-running elusiveness and catch-after-the-catch ability remain his calling cards, even as external additions pressure the defense to respect more options. The health question—an ankle sprain in August—remains the wild card that could shape his early-season workload and fantasy value.

Beyond Shakir, the countdown highlights Bills core contributors who shape fantasy upside: James Cook at running back, Connor McGovern at center, Tyler Bass as a reliable kicker, and a defensive line anchored by Ed Oliver, AJ Epenesa and DaQuan Jones, plus Tre’Davious White in the secondary. Together they form a high-upside, offense-driven core with room to grow as Buffalo chases a Lombardi.

Injury news dominates early NFL camp chatter as top stars hobble through August. Jefferson, Stafford, Jennings, Shakir, and Mixon are among the high-profile names sidelined, testing early-season floor and upside for their teams’ pass games. Stafford’s health and the Rams’ surrounding weapons create question marks for a passing attack that leaned on efficient play-action. Jefferson’s absence would push volume toward the Vikings’ other receivers, while Shakir’s role grows for Buffalo if the WR corps is unsettled. The Eagles’Lineup disruption around Dickerson elevates nearby blockers to a more critical role early on.

Philly’s Landon Dickerson suffered a leg issue, with Kenyon Green and Brett Toth lined up to compete for his guard spot if the injury lingers. The trades that brought Green to Philadelphia for Gardner-Johnson add intrigue to the Eagles’ front five. Meanwhile, other veteran quarterbacks and backfields across the league—Stafford in Los Angeles, Mixon in Houston—face early-season tests as teams pace themselves through preseason injuries. Fantasy managers should monitor practice reports closely and be ready to pivot around these shifts as Week 1 approaches.

James Cook returned to practice with the Bills amid a contract hold-in, signaling movement toward resolution after negotiations began in the offseason. Buffalo officials indicated things have shifted and Cook could practice on Tuesday, though the hold-in’s official end wasn’t announced. Cook, 25, was Buffalo’s lead back last season in a historically productive offense, sharing the backfield with Ty Johnson and Ray Davis on certain packages. The Bills stressed their intent to pay Cook, while the preseason loss to the Giants left fantasy managers weighing the backfield’s volatile usage. Cook’s status remains pivotal to Buffalo’s early-season projections, with his health, contract progress, and snap distribution likely dictating how the Bills attack a high-octane offense. Fantasy managers should monitor practice reps and any updates on a long-term deal as Week 1 approaches, since Cook’s role could swing on the speed of a potential extension or a renewed mandate to share touches in a crowded RB room.