Six offenses are pegged as potential busts this fantasy season in a brand-new Yahoo Fantasy Forecast, with the discussion centering on ADP versus Wisdom of Crowd projections and what that means for the top fantasy names on those teams. The Raiders, Cardinals, Vikings, Falcons, Seahawks, Dolphins, and Jets loom as high-draft risks, while the conversation zeroes in on the plausible paths these units could take to underperform and how that shapes decisions for Week 1 and beyond. The chat keeps a critical eye on efficiency, pace, and matchup turbulence that could mute expected ceilings for star skill players.

Raiders, Cardinals, and the Vikings plus Falcons come into focus as the clearest risk clusters, where coaching decisions, quarterback health, or architectural shifts could curb big-play upside. Seattle and Miami are questioned for tempo and play-calling, while the Jets are scrutinized for how quickly their upgraded offense might gel. Fantasy managers are reminded not to chase ADP blindly and to consider safer pivots and smarter rostering moves as the season unfolds.

Justin Jefferson is trending toward Week 1 with a positive hamstring outlook, as Minnesota has kept him on a cautious ramp-up but not ruled out participating. The hamstring history adds risk, yet the Vikings are known to protect him early, aiming to maximize his long-term value. Jefferson’s elite route work and target upside keep him a cornerstone pick for fantasy rosters, and his presence dramatically shapes Minnesota’s offense and overall fantasy projections for 2025.

Expect Jefferson to command a massive target share even as the Vikings integrate J.J. McCarthy at quarterback. While chemistry with a new starter may temper some efficiency initially, Jefferson’s consistency and high-volume profile suggest Week 1 involvement is likely and fantasy managers should plan around him as a weekly WR1. Monitor practice reports, but don’t overreact to early tweaks; his floor remains extraordinarily high.

Adam Koffler unveils seven dark-horse league-winners for the 2025 fantasy season, all with ADP outside the top 90. The crew includes Ricky Pearsall, Matthew Golden, Emeka Egbuka, Drake Maye, JJ McCarthy, Rashid Shaheed, and Tyler Warren. These sleepers aren’t aiming for a weekly top-3 ceiling, but their paths to league-winning production are plausible if opportunity materializes and situations break their way in 2025.

Pearsall could inherit a sizable target share in San Francisco if Jauan Jennings and Brandon Aiyuk miss time, while Golden lands in a Packers WR room starved for playmakers and should see volume early. Egbuka steps into a Buccaneers attack that could lean on him with Godwin sidelined, and Maye’s dual-threat skills add a potent floor-ceiling mix in New England’s revamped offense. McCarthy’s rushing-boosted ceiling in Minnesota’s fast-paced system is intriguing, Shaheed’s fit in New Orleans’ more design-heavy pass game stands out, and Warren offers intriguing rookie TE upside in Indianapolis.

Two male Vikings cheerleaders sparked a firestorm after the team announced their addition, drawing fire from fans and a surprising political response from U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville, who called the move woke and a threat to masculinity in the sport. The chatter underscores how branding and culture wars swirl around NFL marketing decisions, potentially shaping fan engagement and attendance.

Rams and Ravens previously ventured into male-cheerleader territory, and Auburn’s cheer photos highlighted broader shifts in football culture. The piece notes some Vikings season-ticket holders have canceled, signaling that narrative risk can touch revenue and buzz—yet there’s no sign the on-field product or fantasy-relevant roles will change soon.

For fantasy managers, the drama matters mainly as context. Minnesota’s projection remains centered on offense and health, not pom-poms. Narrative volatility could spark early-season chatter, but the core fantasy engine is still skill players, schemes, and schedule, not the optics of cheerleading.

Maltese line depth: the Vikings enter roster-cut season with a stacked interior DL that defensive coordinator Brian Flores has been quick to praise. Harrison Phillips anchors a rotation that also features Javon Hargrave, Jalen Redmond and Jonathan Allen as core pieces, with Levi Drake Rodriguez and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins emerging as clear depth options. The rest—Elijah Williams, Taki Taimani and Jon Harris among others—are bunched on the bubble, competing for limited spots on a crowded 53-man roster.

Offensively, Minnesota navigates a receiver corps without warm bodies in Jefferson’s absence and Addison’s three-game suspension. Nailor’s unclear outlook and Rondale Moore’s injury add urgency to a group mixing Lucky Jackson, Jeshaun Jones, Tim Jones and Thayer Thomas for first‑team looks. On the ground, Zavier Scott has flashed versatility, pushing for a pathway from UDFA obscurity to a real roster spot.

The club signed Xazavian Valladay and Zack Bailey to bolster depth ahead of the preseason finale, and coach Kevin O’Connell has signaled a rest-heavy approach in games to evaluate more players. The overarching theme: a deep, malleable roster that will force tough cuts and reward players who put tape on display in the coming days.