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Michael Florio's elite targets for 10 QBs and TEs to put up video game numbers and explode in 2025. Which QBs and TEs are league-winners for fantasy football?
Everyone wants that player who will put up video game numbers in fantasy football. For QBs, that means one who can run. Just look at Joe Burrow, who put up video game passing numbers last year. He finished as the QB3 in fantasy PPG, well behind the top two.
It is possible that Burrow, or say Patrick Mahomes, can do so, but it would have to be a historic season to make up for the lack of running. Expecting history is never a great strategy. As for tight ends, it typically comes down to lots of volume and lots of touchdowns.
There are only a handful of players at each position who truly have the potential to put up league-changing performances this season.
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QBs Who Could Put Up Video Game Numbers In 2025 Fantasy Football
Josh Allen has finished as the QB1 in total points in three of the last five seasons. In those other two, he finished as the QB2. The floor is very high, and we have seen he brings one of the highest ceilings in the game, both on a weekly and seasonal basis. However, there is room to grow. Last year, Allen had his fewest passing yards and touchdowns since 2019. If he could get back to his usual passing numbers with the increased rushing touchdowns we have seen the last two years, he could reach a new height fantasy-wise.
Josh Allen fantasy points per game and rank:
2020: 24.7 (QB2)
2021: 23.7 (QB1)
2022: 24.7 (QB2)
2023: 23.1 (QB1)
2024: 22.3 (QB2)— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) July 15, 2025
Lamar Jackson is coming off a literal video game season. Last year, he scored the most fantasy points by a QB in NFL history. He led all QBs in rushing yards for a second straight season. He posted a career high in yards per attempt and a TD-to-interception rate. He had the highest TD rate compared to his career norm. Jackson mastered Todd Monken’s offense and had a truly historic season. All he has to do to put up a video game-like season in 2025 is fight off regression.
Jayden Daniels had a historic rookie season, scoring the second-most fantasy points by a rookie QB ever (Cam Newton). He looked more and more comfortable as the season went on. Once his rib injury was behind him, he was all systems go. All it will take is more volume. Last season, from Weeks 1 through 7, his high mark in pass attempts was 35. From Week 8, he averaged 33 per game. From Week 10 on, he threw at least 30 times per game.
Add in that Daniels is in a better situation with Laremy Tunsil and Deebo Samuel Sr. now on board. Samuel had more YAC than any of the Commanders' receivers last year. Daniels only had a league-average amount of YAC as a rookie. Having short passes turn into chunk plays is another recipe for Daniels to go truly nuclear.
Jayden Daniels had 51.6% of his passing yards come after the catch last year - pretty much league average (which was 51.3%)
Deebo may not be Deebo still, but I think a weapon like this helps Jayden https://t.co/KI6hTP7JX7
— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) March 3, 2025
Jalen Hurts has put up video game numbers in the past. Just last year, he ran for 630 yards and 14 touchdowns. That gives him a very safe floor. Career lows in most passing categories held back his ceiling last year. That is a possibility again this year, but so much went right for the Eagles last year. Some regression is expected here. The road to video game numbers is simply throwing more. If he does, Hurts going off and finishing as the QB1 remains in his range of outcomes.
Justin Fields is the dark horse candidate of the bunch, but it is possible. Running for 1,000-plus yards and double-digit touchdowns is very much a possibility for Fields. Especially if we see the Jets utilize their own version of the tush push. Those numbers would lead to Fields being a top-3 to five fantasy QB. For him to reach video game status, he would need a career year as a passer, which is also on the table. I wrote why here. Thankfully, his injury scare from the first week of training camp is a minor issue.
Tight Ends Who Could Put Up Video Game Numbers In 2025 Fantasy Football
Brock Bowers finished as the TE1 as a rookie, putting up truly video game numbers. He set the rookie record for catches while breaking the rookie tight end record in fantasy points and receiving yards. His three deep touchdowns were a tight end rookie in the Next Gen Stats era. The generational prospect more than lived up to the billing.
The scary part is that he could still reach a new level. Not only as he continues to develop heading into just year two, but also because he had a huge QB upgrade with Geno Smith joining the Raiders. That should lead to higher-quality targets and more scoring opportunities. Bowers only scored five touchdowns last year, so he still has room to grow. He will once again be the focal point of the passing attack. The only concern is if his volume will take a hit with Ashton Jeanty now in town.
Trey McBride is an elite tight end. That is evident by his 111 catches and 1,146 yards last year. He had the highest target rate of all tight ends and brings an extremely safe floor week-to-week. The only issue is that the Cardinals are allergic to getting him the ball in the end zone. He had just two touchdowns last year and six in his three-year career. That was despite having the highest red-zone target share of all tight ends and the fourth-most end zone targets. If positive TD regression hits, he could easily put up video game numbers and be the runaway TE1.
If you simply gave Trey McBride his expected TD total (8) last year – he would’ve averaged 17.9 PPG.
More than CeeDee Lamb, Nico Collins, AJB…
McBride led ALL TE’s in targets inside the 10-yard line (12).
Correction is coming.
SMASH pick in RD3. pic.twitter.com/I8i2HruTh1
— David J. Gautieri (@GuruFantasyWrld) July 13, 2025
George Kittle low-key led all tight ends in fantasy points per game last season. He led the NFL in catch rate, yards per target, and fantasy points per target. He led all tight ends in yards per route run. Kittle has also benefited when Samuel is not there. In the seven games that Samuel missed in the last three years, Kittle has averaged 17 fantasy PPG. With Samuel no longer there, Brandon Aiyuk up in the air, it is very possible Kittle is the top target for the 49ers.
Kittle has only topped 100 targets twice in his career. Despite that, he has proven to be a very reliable fantasy option throughout his career. We just never really got to see his full fantasy potential. We did get to see his fantasy ceiling with a lot of targets in 2018. He is still capable of putting numbers like that; he just needs the ball to go his way more. Volume is all he needs to go crazy this season.
T.J. Hockenson is now a year removed from a torn ACL, and that is typically when a player gets their full burst and speed back. We have seen Hockenson put up big numbers before, but a career year is possible this season. He is playing in Kevin O’Connell’s system. In 2023, before getting injured, he was on a 17-game pace for 149 targets, 111 catches, 1,095 yards, and six touchdowns. That stat line would have made him the TE1 in 2023 and the TE2 last season, behind only Bowers.
Camp takeaways:
1. Vikings defense could be the best in the league
2. JJ McCarthy has shown massive growth from Year 1
3. TJ Hockenson was the biggest standout amongst the offense
— Paul Hampton (@PaulHampton_) July 23, 2025
J.J. McCarthy could rely heavily on Hockenson as a big target in the middle of the field. His catch-and-run ability could shine in this system, as it did prior to injury. As the number two target in a very fantasy-friendly system, he could explode.
Dark Horses: We have seen in recent years that rookie tight ends can contribute immediately now in fantasy football. The TE1 in each of the last two years has been a rookie. Both Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland have the talent and draft capital to do so. Warren is my preferred pick of the two, as he has less target competition. He could realistically lead the Colts in targets and is a catch-and-run monster.
From The Insiders: Four Scorching Hot Fantasy Takes! 🔥😎 pic.twitter.com/yAxClilTqs
— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) July 23, 2025
Loveland has more target competition, but he was a handpicked first-round draft selection by Ben Johnson, who compared him to Sam LaPorta. He is also tied to the better QB and offense. Both are worth taking a shot on as lower-end TE1s in drafts this summer.
Make sure to follow Michael on X, @MichaelFFlorio.
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