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.

Tampa Bay squeezed out a 17-14 win at Acrisure Stadium behind a sharp showing from Bridgewater and a splash of early offense from TB’s youngsters. Bridgewater completed 6 of 11 passes for 85 yards with two touchdowns and two big-time throws, posting a sparkling 93.2 PFF passing grade on first look. Bucky Irving caught a 15-yard TD on one of his two targets, Emeka Egbuka added a five-yard score, and Jalen McMillan secured an 18-yard grab before leaving with a concussion protocol evaluation. TB’s attack was capped by a late 42-yard field goal from Chase McLaughlin after a Logan Woodside interception was returned by Antonio Grier, sealing the comeback. Pittsburgh’s defense bent at times but the Steelers’ backs piled up after contact, 90 of their 132 rushing yards coming after contact, while the line struggled in the run game. PFF’s grading and snap counts are coming, but the data already shout depth for TB at receiver and backfield, plus a potential QB2 spotlight in Bridgewater if this form sticks.

Tampa Bay opened with a 29-7 preseason win over Tennessee, but the spotlight centered on Rachaad White, who left with a groin injury on his final carry. Bowles labeled it day-to-day, signaling a precautionary approach rather than a long-term setback. With the run game critical to Tampa’s plan, White and Bucky Irving are the top two backs tasked with shouldering workloads in 2025, while Sean Tucker and Owen Wright provide depth and potential breakout bursts if White misses time.

Sanity for Buccaneers fans came in Bowles’ update, which eased fear of a serious issue. The team still explored other backs—Tucker and Wright—who flashed in the Titans tilt, and Wright ripped off 87 yards and a TD on 13 carries, suggesting a real floor if White’s groin lingers. Tampa’s next test against Pittsburgh could lock in rotation notes and highlight how the backfield might distribute carries once regular-season hits. Fantasy managers should monitor White’s status closely, with Irving and Tucker looming as viable insurance/floor options.

Overall, the playbook emphasizing the run remains intact, but the health guardrails around White will shape early-season usage. If White sits again, Irving and Tucker become intrinsic depth players with upside in favorable matchups, while Wright’s preseason showing hints at a potential sleeper path in deeper fantasy formats as the backfield committee crystallizes.

Braelon Allen showed strong short-yardage chops for the New York Jets, hinting at reliable TD upside in 2025 as a late-round target. He’s positioned to hybridize between goal-line duty and early-down work behind fellow backs, offering a floor in standard formats amid a potential committee.

Trey Benson remains a prime handcuff for Arizona’s backfield, backing James Conner and presenting late-season or in-game upside if Conner misses time. The 2025 profile favors Benson as a practical dart throw in deeper leagues, with Conner absorbing the main workload unless injury opens Benson’s path.

The 2024 RB class underdelivered, with Bucky Irving standing out and Tyrone Tracy Jr. in prime starter contention. Several second-year backs could become meaningful backups, especially in offenses leaning into committee usage. ADP data from ESPN/Sleeper/Yahoo suggests a handful of late-round backs may carve value if roles crystallize and efficiency improves.