Injury-driven depth picks fuel this year’s late-round RB stash. Eight backs across multiple backfields offer true contingency upside in deep leagues, with Keaton Mitchell leading the tier as a potential Ravens fill-in if J.K. Dobbins misses time. The crew also includes Tahj Brooks, Bhayshul Tuten, Kyle Monangai, Jaydon Blue, Devin Neal, and Jordan James, each positioned behind established starters yet with clear paths to meaningful work should opportunities open. Expect waivers and late-draft targets to prize these players for possible burst weeks in 2025.

Mitchell’s speed and rookie efficiency foreshadow a high-ceiling role if volume rises; Brooks and Tuten carry breakout potential in Cincinnati and Jacksonville, respectively, while Monangai, Blue, Neal, and James offer clean depth-chart fits with upside in positive-game-script systems. Injuries to starters are the common catalyst, but even in non-injury weeks these backs can produce in limited touches via breakaway plays, goal-line chances, or as receiving options. The piece stresses that league rankings and late-round values remain fluid, making these players prime waiver-wire adds as the season unfolds.

Houston opens 2025 as the betting favorite to three-peat the AFC South, with Jacksonv ille and Indianapolis right behind and Tennessee trailing. Colts over 7.5 is highlighted as a strong upside pick, while Jaguars under 7.5 is a cautious stance despite the Travis Hunter buzz and Lawrence’s ceiling. Titans over 5.5 is a bold call thanks to Cam Ward’s rookie-year potential and a strengthened line, giving fans a path to divisional relevance. The odds scene fuels fantasy pivots: Colts’ Top WRs plus a dynamic backfield; Jaguars’ rebuild under new expectations; Ward’s mobility boosts Titans, and Lawrence-Etienne still anchor Jacksonville’s floor.

Across the league, the narrative centers on how growth, new around-the-ball playmakers, and line stability will shape fantasy lines. The Colts’ trio of Pittman Jr., Downs, and Pierce anchors a pass game with Buckner-fronted defense; Trevor Lawrence and Etienne remain the core offensive nucleus for Jacksonville; Cam Ward’s arrival in Tennessee adds season-long upside for a division with clear path to overachieve. Houston enters as the practical DFS stack with balanced risk-reward, as healthy offense and an improved defense could surprise expectations.

Ja'Marr Chase sits at the top in a 10-team ESPN PPR landscape, with Cincinnati’s offense providing a near-identical setup for 2025 and Chase’s 2024 numbers bordering historic levels. Bijan Robinson and Saquon Barkley join the high-end first-round conversation, with Barkley’s efficiency and Robinson’s three-down versatility giving managers a compelling start. Justin Jefferson and Jahmyr Gibbs are in the second-round mix, while CeeDee Lamb and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are unlocked targets that shape the mid-round flow.

The piece maps a precise path by draft slot, outlining the earliest “unlocked” options and detailing Tristan’s two-pick plans (Chase then Jacobs, Jefferson then Irving, etc.). It cautions on Barkley’s age risk and injury history but notes his peak upside when he’s in range. Round-2 pivots around RB1s like Jacobs or Taylor, or a WR1/WR2 combo that allows Brock Bowers-style tight-end later value, while keeping a keen eye on 2025 projections and depth-building strategies.

Beyond the stars, the guide highlights how receivers such as Nico Collins and Drake London can anchor a strong second round if the running backs slide, while Puka Nacua and Brian Thomas Jr. offer zero-RB feasibility paths. In short, the playbook emphasizes elite anchors early, smart second-round pivots, and a flexible plan to build depth without overpaying in the opening rounds.

Week 3 of the NFL preseason sends Minnesota to Nashville for a primetime look at Tennessee. Flores’s Vikings defense has become the engine of the team, pressuring quarterbacks and creating week-to-week fantasy intrigue even in exhibition play. Cam Ward headlines the Titans’ rookie qbs, with the Vikings resting J.J. McCarthy to evaluate backups and roster depth. The game is a perfect canvas for rookies Donovan Jackson and Kobe King to push for final-50-man spots along the interior and linebacker groups, while Ward and Co. test Minnesota’s ability to close out drives under pressure.

The Titans have been reshuffling up front and in the backfield, and the Vikings’ offense will be without McCarthy for a stretch, elevating the value of backups and playmakers stepping into more reps. Expect a rotation-heavy script that could spark a few fantasy headlines: turn-key targets at RB/WR for both sides, with a spotlight on how the rookie linemen perform against Flores’s blitz schemes. Kickoff is 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX 9 in Nashville.

In 2025, fantasy managers are circling late-round tight ends as the year of the post-hype breakout returns. Four sleepers stand out: Brenton Strange, Elijah Arroyo, Mason Taylor, and Chigoziem Okonkwo. Each offers a clear path to meaningful snaps and targets despite a crowded position league-wide. Strange benefits from Evan Engram’s departure in Jacksonville, with a likely rise in route participation and a larger share of the offense with Trevor Lawrence healthy. Arroyo profiles as Seattle’s athletic, high-upside option who could seize a bigger role as a third passing-game threat. Taylor eyes the Jets’ TE1 spot amid a thin WR room, while Okonkwo—an explosive athlete in Tennessee—could finally realize a top-tier ceiling as a trusted check-down and big-play mismatch. Collectively they represent four complementary late-round targets to round out rosters and fuel down-ballot fantasy success.